Georgia Bulletin

Georgia

• Smyrna Catholic leads Georgia Knights of Columbus

  By ANDREW NELSON, Staff Writer
  Published July 9, 2015

  SMYRNA—Mark McMullen felt in awe standing in St. Mary Church, the founding parish of the Knights of Columbus. “Who wouldn’t want to be here?” he remembers thinking about the historic church in New Haven, Connecticut, with its vaulted ceiling. He sat in the wooden pew marked with a plaque noting the establishment in 1903 of […] Full Story

• St. Thomas the Apostle rededicates revitalized sanctuary, commons

  

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
  Published July 9, 2015

  SMYRNA—The parishioners and clergy of St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Smyrna know that any worthwhile endeavor comes with sacrifice. Since the beginning of the year, parishioners have been celebrating Mass in the social hall, while Holy Week and Easter Masses were held at Jim Miller Park in Marietta. As many as 14 weekend Masses […] Full Story

• Marist athletic director inducted into Hall of Fame

  Published July 9, 2015

  ATLANTA—Marist School athletic director Tommy Marshall has been inducted into the Georgia Athletic Directors Association Hall of Fame. The honor is given to coaches who have displayed great leadership and prominence during their career. Marshall was one of three 2015 honorees. He has been in athletic administration for 30 years and at Marist for 19 […] Full Story

• Atlanta archbishop responds to U.S. Supreme Court decision

  

  Published June 26, 2015

  Atlanta Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory released this statement in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision legalizing same sex marriage: “Each U.S. Supreme Court decision that has ever been rendered has resulted in deep disappointment for some people and vindication for others. If we all agreed on the outcomes of these divisive cases, there would […] Full Story

• Archbishop calls Charleston victims’ families ‘courageous … compassionate’

  

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
  Published June 25, 2015

  ATLANTA—Parishioners of Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Atlanta prayed for strength for the people of Charleston, South Carolina, and healing for the nation at a special Mass June 20. Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory celebrated the vigil Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes for the nine victims of the tragic June 17 shooting at Emanuel […] Full Story

• Archbishop Gregory: Pope gives ‘pastoral admonition’ to care for fragile Earth

  Published June 25, 2015

  Pope Francis released today his highly anticipated encyclical on the environment, an authoritative pastoral admonition for all of us to pay much closer attention to the fragile and threatened health of the Earth, which serves as our common home. Using one of the Canticles of St. Francis of Assisi as both the opening line and […] Full Story

• Coaches with spring in their state championship step

  By MICHAEL ALEXANDER, Staff Photographer
  Published June 25, 2015

  ATLANTA–Here are profiles of four coaches who have demonstrated a championship pedigree in Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Atlanta. SARA GEIGER St. Pius X Girls Soccer Coach Age: 29 Hometown: Lilburn Began coaching: 2008 Overall record: 152-16-6 State championships: 2009-2011 and 2013-2015 Coaching philosophy: “I am a very intense coach during our training sessions […] Full Story

• Catholic school teams reap success at the state level

  

  By MICHAEL ALEXANDER, Staff Photographer
  Published June 25, 2015

  ATLANTA—Archdiocesan and independent Catholic high schools captured state championships this spring in sports including baseball, golf, soccer, tennis and track and field. Here is a school-by-school breakdown of the state title winners. Blessed Trinity High School, Roswell The girls tennis team defeated Westminster 3-2 to win its seventh consecutive state championship and the eighth in […]

• Pastor celebrated at jubilee for ‘gracious, loving heart’

  

  By GRETCHEN KEISER, Staff Writer
  Published June 25, 2015

  ATLANTA—As the Mass was beginning for Msgr. Henry Gracz’s priestly jubilee, the words of the hymn “All Are Welcome” resounded off the rafters of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, celebrating the mission of the parish and how the pastor embodies it. “In this setting of word and sacrament, so many of us met Henry […]

• Father Morrow’s prescription for happiness: ‘I’m 85 … and I’m still needed’

  

  By ERIKA ANDERSON, Special to the Bulletin
  Published June 25, 2015

  ATLANTA—Sixty years of priesthood: six decades of ministry, a lifetime of service. Yet, despite this milestone, Father Richard Morrow remains as humble and as dedicated to his vocation as the day of his ordination. To mark his 60th anniversary, Father Morrow celebrated a Mass May 31 at the Cathedral of Christ the King, where he […] Full Story

• Daily rosary at Suwanee City Hall among Fortnight for Freedom events

  

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
  Published June 25, 2015

  ATLANTA—The “Fortnight for Freedom: Freedom to Bear Witness” is taking place June 21-July 4, a time when the liturgical calendar celebrates a series of martyrs who remained faithful despite persecution by political power including St. Thomas More and St. John Fisher, St. John the Baptist, Sts. Peter and Paul, and the First Martyrs of the […] Full Story

• Seminarian from Decatur parish admitted to candidacy as he leaves for Rome

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
  Published June 25, 2015

  SMYRNA—Seminarian Avery Daniel leaves for Rome, Italy, on July 12 to study at the Pontifical Gregorian University for the next five years. Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory celebrated Mass and admitted Daniel to candidacy to Holy Orders June 8 at the Chancery of the archdiocese in Smyrna. Daniel, whose home parish is Sts. Peter and Paul […] Full Story

• Georgia Catholic Conference director honored by CLINIC for immigration work

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
  Published June 25, 2015

  ATLANTA—Frank Mulcahy, executive director of the Georgia Catholic Conference, is the 2015 recipient of Catholic Immigration Network’s CLINIC Champion award. CLINIC Executive Director Jeanne Atkinson presented the award to Mulcahy at the nonprofit’s annual convening in Salt Lake City, Utah, May 14. Atkinson said that Mulcahy, a CLINIC board member since 2013, goes above and […] Full Story

• New archdiocesan website to be unveiled July 1

  

  By ANDREW NELSON, Staff Writer
  Published June 25, 2015

  ATLANTA—The Archdiocese of Atlanta’s website is about to have a fresh look on the outside as it also changes internally to a mobile-friendly platform. Changing technology has aged the seven-year-old site. “It was state of the art when it came out, but now it’s not,” said Jonathon Hanten, the webmaster of the archdiocese. The new […] Full Story

• Teen excels at independent study while helping on home front

  By PRISCILLA GREEAR, Special to the Bulletin
  Published June 25, 2015

  SHARPSBURG—As a senior Justin Triggs tended the vegetable garden and six cats and dogs on his family’s 14-acre Sharpsburg property, apprenticed in a photography studio, and completed high school through the Faith Academy independent study program to graduate as valedictorian among some 450 other students. He also supported his parents as they cared for his […] Full Story

• Music lets salutatorian ‘give back to other people’

  

  By PRISCILLA GREEAR, Special to the Bulletin
  Published June 25, 2015

  NEWNAN—Cristina Couvillion performed her way through high school, playing cello in the orchestra, singing alto in the choir and touring with the Spivey Hall Tour Choir around the United States. Her musical creativity enlightened her academic experience: Cristina graduated as salutatorian in her class of 51 at The Heritage School in Newnan. She will attend […] Full Story

• Congress opening Mass invites all to know Jesus, receive grace to be disciples

  By SUZANNE HAUGH, Special to the Bulletin
  Published June 12, 2015

  COLLEGE PARK—Young and old representing many ethnicities and walks of life gathered Friday, June 5, for the opening Mass and healing service of the 2015 Eucharistic Congress to further explore their calling as everyday missionary disciples connected together and nourished by the Eucharist, the real presence of Jesus Christ. On a sunny afternoon as people […]

• Bishop Lynch: Go and share faith; Jesus is present ‘in and through those whom we serve’

  By ANDREW NELSON, Staff Writer
  Published June 12, 2015

  COLLEGE PARK—Tens of thousands of people filled the Georgia International Convention Center, making it the center of the Catholic community in the Atlanta Archdiocese on June 5 and 6. The day-and-a-half event was the 20th annual Eucharistic Congress, as people speaking a variety of languages explored the Catholic faith, worshipped together, and greeted nationally known […] Full Story

• New deacons urged to have ‘keen eye’ for those on the margins of society

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
  Published June 12, 2015

  ATLANTA—The four newest deacons of the Archdiocese of Atlanta are natives of other lands, now ministering to the local church as they prepare for the priesthood. Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory celebrated the ordination of Rev. Mr. Valery Akoh, Rev. Mr. Carlos Cifuentes and Rev. Mr. Roberto Suarez Barbosa to the diaconate May 30 at the […]

• Emotional stories abound at Eucharistic Congress’ Spanish track

  

  By RUTH E. DÁVILA, Special to the Bulletin
  Published June 12, 2015

  COLLEGE PARK­―Analogies of sports and food as well as shocking tales of the occult brought the content to life for thousands of attendees at the Spanish track of the 20th annual Eucharistic Congress. Each of the four speakers, including clergy and laity, built their talks around one of the greatest mysteries of the Catholic Church—the […] Full Story