Georgia Bulletin

Georgia

• Doors open at Chancery, parishes to watch key papal events

  By ANDREW NELSON, Staff Writer
  Published September 22, 2015

  ATLANTA–It’s never happened before: the leader of the Catholic Church standing in the well of the U.S. House of Representatives addressing the country’s political leaders. Anyone wishing to watch Pope Francis’ historic address to Congress on Thursday, Sept. 24, is invited to a watch party hosted by Catholic Charities Atlanta. The speech is part of […]

• From 40 to 2,300 families: St. Philip Benizi remembers 1965 first Mass

  

  By ERIKA ANDERSON, Special to the Bulletin
  Published September 17, 2015

  JONESBORO—Fifty years ago, in a small Georgia town yet untouched by metro Atlanta sprawl, 40 families took the first steps toward forming a Catholic church. They put their children to work cleaning a drug store that would serve as the first worship space. They optimistically set up chairs for 125 guests. That day—Sept. 12, 1965—more […]

• Upcoming charismatic conference to focus on keys of Pastoral Plan

  Published September 17, 2015

  ATLANTA—The Atlanta Catholic Charismatic Conference, to be held Oct. 23-24, will be a weekend of teaching, evangelization and spiritual renewal. The event, sponsored by Atlanta Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services, will be at the Wyndham Hotel Atlanta Galleria, 6345 Powers Ferry Road, NW, Atlanta. “Behold, the Old is Gone, the New is Here!” is the theme […] Full Story

• Community leaders to receive St. Vincent de Paul Hope in Action awards

  Published September 17, 2015

  ATLANTA—St. Vincent de Paul Georgia will honor three community leaders with its inaugural “Hope in Action Awards.” The awards will be given at its eighth annual Evening for Hope gala on Saturday, Oct. 17, at the Renaissance Waverly Atlanta hotel. The Catholic organization will be honoring community leaders in celebration of their courage and commitment […]

• Charleston church, community to be honored at Red Mass celebration

  Published September 17, 2015

  ATLANTA—The Catholic legal community will honor the interim pastor at Emanuel A.M.E. Church in Charleston, South Carolina, in recognition of “the spirit of grace” the people of “Mother Emanuel” church demonstrated following the June shootings at the church. Nine African-Americans were killed by a gunman while they attended a Bible study at the Charleston church. […] Full Story

• Christ the King students emulate pope’s prayers, care for creation

  

  Published September 17, 2015

  ATLANTA—Local schools are using the upcoming trip of Pope Francis to the United States and his initiatives to excite students. To celebrate the first World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, middle school students at Christ the King School used a photo promoting conservation for a series of classroom lessons. First up was […]

• Cathedral Hispanic mission takes off in new home on Buford Highway

  By PRISCILLA GREEAR, Special to the Bulletin
  Published September 17, 2015

  ATLANTA—As a boy, Father Rey Pineda received religious education every Saturday at Christ the King Hispanic Mission, meeting in a community center among the apartments off Lindbergh Drive. Then he and his siblings and cousins stuck around for the afternoon to attend Mass in that “magical” but cramped place where he discovered his faith. “It […]

• Toastmasters Club ties mission to Atlanta Pastoral Plan

  Published September 17, 2015

  ATLANTA—St. Leo the Great Toastmasters Club is now inviting all Catholics in the Archdiocese of Atlanta to develop stronger communication and leadership skills. The organization was known as The YAM Toastmasters Club, but recently changed its focus. (The organization was profiled in July 2014. You can read the story: http://bit.ly/gb-1r3sS9X) Club President John Hartwell said […]

• Newnan parish, Decatur school remember Sept. 11

  

  Published September 17, 2015

  DECATUR—St. Thomas More School commemorated Sept. 11 as a National Day of Service Project as the school community honored the police, firefighters and emergency responders in Decatur. It was an out-of-uniform day for students and teachers who brought teddy bears or an appreciative card for DeKalb County firemen, policemen and EMTs. The toys play a […]

• Archbishop Gregory’s statement on changes in the annulment process

  Published September 17, 2015

  On September 8, 2015, our Holy Father, Pope Francis, issued an Apostolic Letter reforming the formal annulment process for declaring the nullity of marriage. The reforms mentioned in this letter go in to effect on December 8, 2015. As a result of the Extraordinary Synod of 2014, Pope Francis appointed a committee chaired by the […]

• Atlanta judicial vicars welcome simpler procedures, no fee, as pastoral outreach

  

  By GRETCHEN KEISER, Staff Writer
  Published September 17, 2015

  ATLANTA—Bishop Luis R. Zarama said he hopes simplifications in annulment case procedures announced by Pope Francis Sept. 8 will bring more people to the Tribunal in the Atlanta Archdiocese seeking to reconcile their marriage status with the church. “I hope so,” he said, when asked if the changes will increase the court’s caseload. “I hope […]

• New Bible study on Letter of James offered for women

  Published September 17, 2015

  ATLANTA—“Oh, so relevant today is the Letter of James,” Keri Allen, presenter of Proclaim My Word ministry, said. “This letter was written to Christians who were under persecution and having trouble remaining faithful.” “Does Your Faith Work?” is the title of this life application Bible study on St. James’ letter, which will be presented by […]

• Blessed Trinity, St. Pius X volleyball teams win academic award

  

  Published September 17, 2015

  ROSWELL—For the third consecutive year, Blessed Trinity High School’s varsity volleyball team has been selected for the American Volleyball Coaches Association Team Academic Award. In order to be nominated for the award, a team must maintain a 3.3 GPA for the entire academic year. The St. Pius X High School volleyball team also was given […]

• St. Michael the Archangel dedicates new, larger church ‘for the glory of God’

  By ERIKA ANDERSON, Special to the Bulletin
  Published September 4, 2015

  WOODSTOCK—It was a day years in the making—the result of the hard work and dedication of a growing community and its pastor. The pride and joy was obvious as Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory celebrated the dedication of the new St. Michael the Archangel Church Saturday, Aug. 29. The Knights of Columbus in their plumed caps […] Full Story

• Long-needed gym, fine arts facilities begin to rise at St. John the Evangelist School

  

  By ANDREW NELSON, Staff Writer
  Published September 4, 2015

  HAPEVILLE—David Ordner, wearing a white construction hard hat, stood on the grassy lawn and pointed to where woods once surrounded St. John the Evangelist School and where the convent had been for the Sisters of Mercy who taught there. He shared memories about his years spent at the school. The class of 1967 graduate is […] Full Story

• St. Andrew Church reaches up and out with renovations, vision for ‘intercultural’ community

  By ANDREW NELSON, Staff Writer
  Published September 4, 2015

  ROSWELL—Under a cloudy sky, the new steeple was hoisted by cranes into place. Father Dan Fleming and Father Fausto Marquez squeezed in a lift bucket decorated with balloons as a crane hoisted them for a bird’s-eye view of the Chattahoochee River and blessed the spire and its four-foot cross. From the heights Aug. 19, Father […]

• Our Lady of Mercy High School implements all-digital campus with online textbooks

  

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
  Published September 4, 2015

  FAYETTEVILLE—No more backpacks weighed down with heavy books for students at Our Lady of Mercy High School in Fayetteville. After nearly three years of study by a parent-staff committee and a pilot project using digital textbooks in some classrooms, Our Lady of Mercy is now a totally digital campus. While all Catholic schools are using […]

• Father Morales begins first pastorate, ‘a privilege’ he is grateful to embrace

  By PRISCILLA GREEAR, Special to the Bulletin
  Published September 4, 2015

  LITHIA SPRINGS—Three years after his ordination, Father Ignacio Morales respectfully declined an invitation to accept his first pastorate, continuing instead to labor joyfully in ministry as a parochial vicar at Good Shepherd Church in Cumming. “I said, no, I wasn’t ready,” Father Morales recalled. “I was kind of enjoying my assignment at Good Shepherd. … […] Full Story

• Pastoral Plan to be focus of upcoming Black Catholic Ministry event

  Published September 4, 2015

  ATLANTA—“Faith in Action” is the subject of an upcoming meeting organized by the Office for Black Catholic Ministry and the black Catholic clergy of Atlanta. The meeting will offer the opportunity to reflect and discuss the Archdiocesan Pastoral Plan for the black Catholic community in Atlanta. All are welcome to attend. The event will be […] Full Story

• Deacon Al Samoranski dies

  Published September 4, 2015

  GAINESVILLE—Deacon Alfred T. Samoranski of Gainesville died Aug. 23. He was 80 years old. He was born Aug. 22, 1935 to Theodore and Stephanie Samoranski in Wilmington, Delaware. Samoranski attended college at St. Mary’s of Orchard Lake in Michigan and the University of Detroit, where he majored in music and education. He taught school for […]