Georgia Bulletin

Georgia

• Lenten reflections for the journey to Easter

  

  Published March 6, 2014

  ATLANTA—The season of Lent began on Ash Wednesday, March 5, and Catholics around the world began their yearly observance of this quiet liturgical season with Mass, prayer, fasting and good deeds. The following meditations—for the first three days of Lent—were written by Father Robert Barron, a noted author and speaker, of Mundelein Seminary in Illinois. […] Full Story

• Sophia Academy girls win APAC tournament

  Published March 6, 2014

  ATLANTA—The Sophia Academy middle school girls basketball team successfully completed its season. After defeating The Cottage School in the first round of the Atlanta Private Athletic Conference basketball tournament on Feb. 20, Sophia Academy advanced to the championship game where they defeated The Swift School Feb. 24.  

• Strategies in place at schools, parishes, to help kids face down bullies

  

  By ANDREW NELSON, Staff Writer
  Published February 20, 2014

  ATLANTA—Bullying isn’t just about playground fights anymore. It’s about excluding a student from sitting at a lunchroom table. Spreading rumors about a classmate. Disrespecting someone because she likes different music. Eighth-graders at St. John the Evangelist School, in Hapeville, know what bullying is all about through a program that stresses respect for all. As Eden … Continue reading Strategies in place at schools, parishes, to help kids face down bullies

• Catholics visit legislators at state Capitol March 6

  

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
  Published February 20, 2014

  ATLANTA—The eighth annual Catholic Day at the Capitol has been rescheduled for Thursday, March 6. The event provides the opportunity for lay Catholics to be advocates for public policy in Georgia that promotes the common good. Originally scheduled for Feb. 11, the legislative lobbying day was postponed due to the ice storm. Catholics from both […]

• George Barrie retiring as point man for Catholic construction in archdiocese

  

  By ANDREW NELSON, Staff Writer
  Published February 20, 2014

  ATLANTA—If you have been to Mass in any one of hundreds of new church buildings, attended a new or renovated Catholic school, or learned something about your faith in a new parish center in the Archdiocese of Atlanta, you likely have George Barrie to thank. The longtime head of Catholic Construction Services, Inc., Barrie has […]

• Paving a new path, vicar shepherds aging priests in transition

  

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
  Published February 20, 2014

  ATLANTA—In the Archdiocese of Atlanta, Msgr. Stephen Churchwell is a helping hand for the many retired and senior priests. Msgr. Churchwell is Vicar for Senior Priests and chair of the Priests Retirement Committee and the first to fulfill this role of vicar created in 2010. A priest of the archdiocese for nearly 38 years, he […]

• Promoting chastity with your kids? Try these 10 steps

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
  Published February 20, 2014

  PEACHTREE CITY—Jason Evert travels the world speaking and listening to youth and their parents about chastity and pure love. Evert and his wife, Crystalina, run the ministry Chastity Project, an alliance of young leaders promoting purity. He spoke to parents at Holy Trinity Church in Peachtree City Jan. 25, calling them the best educators of […]

• To navigate teen years, good role models, prayer needed, speaker says

  

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
  Published February 20, 2014

  PEACHTREE CITY—There is one central question that speaker and author Jason Evert poses to teens when speaking about the virtue of chastity: “Are you willing to love your spouse before you meet?” Using humor, statistics and real life experiences, Evert talks to teens about dating, sexual purity and authentic love. On the weekend of Jan. […] Full Story

• Pastor, parents, staff give St. Monica teens a message of God’s love

  

  By SUZANNE HAUGH, Special to the Bulletin
  Published February 20, 2014

  DULUTH—Retreats, mission trips, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Bible studies, and catechesis with the pastor—these components contribute to making St. Monica’s youth ministry program vibrant and attractive to both youth and the parish at large. Its strength was evident at an archdiocesan-wide XLT youth gathering last November, when the Duluth parish brought 100 teens and […] Full Story

• Former US envoy to Holy See to speak at Emory

  Published February 20, 2014

  ATLANTA—The former U.S. envoy to the Holy See is scheduled to speak at Emory University as part of the Major Catholic Speaker series. He is the fifth annual Catholic speaker brought to campus by the Aquinas Center for Theology, in collaboration with Emory University’s Candler School of Theology. Miguel Diaz, Ph.D., will give a talk […]

• Second “Snow Jam” brings more challenges for hospital

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
  Published February 20, 2014

  ATLANTA—Three weeks ago during the last week of January, the first snowstorm of 2014 had the same impact on Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Atlanta as the rest of the metro area. The hospital staff named the second massive winter storm, which arrived Feb. 11, “Snow Jam Part 2.” The severe weather the second time […]

• Tribute to Father O’Reilly March 14 at Shrine, City Hall

  Published February 20, 2014

  ATLANTA— The Hibernian Benevolent Society of Atlanta is sponsoring events on Friday, March 14, honoring Father Thomas O’Reilly’s heroic actions during the Civil War. All are invited to attend. It is the 150th anniversary of the historic turmoil in 1864 when a large swath of Atlanta was destroyed by fire, but five downtown churches and […]

• St. Joseph drama group wins festival awards

  

  Published February 20, 2014

  St. Joseph School students won national theater awards at the 2014 Junior Theater Festival, which happened Jan. 17, 18-19 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta. The performers from the Marietta school won a Freddie G Excellence in Dance group award, while St. Joseph student Matthew Bielak was the only male student awarded the Freddie G All […] Full Story

• Jesuit Father Schroder dies; family donated land for Ignatius House

  Published February 20, 2014

  ATLANTA—Jesuit Father John F. Schroder, a native of Atlanta, whose family donated the home and land that established Ignatius House Jesuit Retreat Center, died Jan. 25 in Grand Coteau, La. He was 95. He was a Jesuit for 72 years and a priest for 60 years. His active ministry across the South and in Belize […] Full Story

• Marist alumna has Broadway lead

  Published February 20, 2014

  A Marist School grad, Elena Ricardo, just got one of the leads in “Mamma Mia” on Broadway. Ricardo, a member of the class of 2009, is moving from an ensemble role to play bride-to-be Sophie Sheridan. The musical has had a run of 13 years on Broadway. It’s the 10th longest running show in Broadway […] Full Story

• Clayton’s St. Helena receives OCP grant

  Published February 20, 2014

  St. Helena Church, in Clayton, has received a $2,000 grant from Oregon Catholic Press publishing house. Ron Schuessler, who serves on the parish finance council, said the parish grant will pay to update school of religion materials, including those for youth religious education and RCIA classes. Teachers will have access to new DVDs, CDs, textbooks and […] Full Story

• Online program for Spanish catechists wins great support

  Published February 20, 2014

  An online Certificate in Pastoral Theology program for Spanish speakers is achieving great success, according to the archdiocesan Office of Faith and Discipleship. Director Amy Daniels said a second group of students enrolled in the program through the University of Dallas School of Ministry after a successful pilot year in 2013. Eighty-four new students enrolled […]

• Local Catholic athletes sign to play college sports

  

  Published February 20, 2014

  ATLANTA—This year’s National Signing Day took place on Wednesday, Feb. 5. Local Catholic seniors in high school joined other athletes around the country in making it official when they signed binding national letters of intent to play collegiate sports at the college or university of their choice. The list below includes area Catholic athletes who […] Full Story

• SPX boys win first state swim, dive championship

  

  Published February 20, 2014

  ATLANTA—In Class 1A-5A competition, the St. Pius X High School boys swimming and diving team captured the state championship Feb. 8. This is the school’s first state championship in swimming and diving. Senior Gunnar Bentz finished first in the 200-yard individual medley and the 100-yard butterfly with times of 1:45.55 and 47.26, respectively. The 400-yard […] Full Story

• 2014 Archbishop’s Annual Appeal begins

  By MARY ANNE CASTRANIO, Staff Writer
  Published February 6, 2014

  ATLANTA—The Archbishop’s Annual Appeal, the campaign to fund the offices and ministries of the Archdiocese of Atlanta, is underway for this year, and the upcoming commitment weekend for pledges in the parishes is set for Feb. 22-23. The Appeal is an opportunity for local Catholics to support the greater church family of all of north […] Full Story