Georgia Bulletin

Georgia

• 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 […]

• 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 […] Full Story

• 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 […] Full Story

• 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 […]

• 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 […]

• 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 […]

• 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 […]

• 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 […]

• 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

• Father Depcik communicates love for the Eucharist as he explains the Mass in ASL track

  

  By KATHRYN R. BYRNE, Special to the Bulletin
  Published June 12, 2015

  COLLEGE PARK—Why does the priest kiss the altar? Which is more important—the tabernacle or the altar? What is the difference between a homily and preaching? These are only a few of the numerous discussion-sparking questions signed by Father Michael Depcik, as he gave a lively and informative presentation to the deaf and hearing attendees of […]

• Catholic new media members hear keynote speaker Greg Willits June 7

  

  By ERIKA ANDERSON, Special to the Bulletin
  Published June 12, 2015

  COLLEGE PARK—In his keynote speech at the Catholic New Media Celebration June 7, Greg Willits brought up topics that could be barriers or keys to success in evangelizing through modern media. Willits, who is the executive director of the Office of Evangelization and Family Life Ministries of the Denver Archdiocese, is also an author, speaker […] Full Story

• Vision 20 years ago of Corpus Christi celebration flourishes in 2015

  

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
  Published June 12, 2015

  COLLEGE PARK—In its 20 years, the Eucharistic Congress has grown by leaps and bounds, and a few Catholics have been on hand since the beginning to witness the progression. Mayfern Barron has attended every single Eucharistic Congress since it started 20 years ago. A parishioner at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Decatur, she recruits […] Full Story

• English track speakers, inspired by the Eucharist, say ‘trust God’

  

  By MARY ANNE CASTRANIO and GRETCHEN KEISER, Staff Writers
  Published June 12, 2015

  COLLEGE PARK—With an emphasis on the Eucharist, speakers in the English track at the annual Eucharistic Congress used deeply personal stories to illuminate their messages of how to know God and know his will for one’s life. Several thousand attendees sat in the large hall hosting the track and listened to the articulate and impassioned […]

• French speakers exhilarated at session led by priest from Ivory Coast

  By ANDREW NELSON AND GRETCHEN KEISER, Staff Writers
  Published June 12, 2015

  COLLEGE PARK–A lively and joy-filled room of French-speaking Catholics danced and clapped as they moved with an excited faith. A priest from the Ivory Coast, Father Leon N’Zi, led the session in their native tongue on the opening night of the Eucharistic Congress. Speaking through an interpreter beforehand, Father N’Zi said he would encourage the […] Full Story

• Vendors, speakers uplifted by seeing families teaching faith to their children

  

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
  Published June 12, 2015

  COLLEGE PARK—Ushers wearing gold T-shirts walked the main hallway of the Georgia International Convention Center ahead of the Eucharistic Congress morning procession, carrying signs reading, “Silence, please kneel.” The volunteers prepared the way for the Eucharistic procession, led by Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory, guest Bishop Robert N. Lynch, of St. Petersburg, Florida, and priests and […] Full Story