Georgia Bulletin

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• Deaf Priest Urges Solidarity With Poor, Suffering

  

  By KATHRYN R. BYRNE, Special To The Bulletin
  Published June 18, 2009

  Is deafness a blessing from God? Many wouldn’t think so. Dominican Father Thomas Coughlin begs to differ. Father Tom, as he is affectionately called, the first deaf Catholic priest to be ordained in the United States, in an interview with Sister Lou Ella Hickman in February, said that “God created me a deaf person for […]

• Adoration Is Highlight For Kids At Congress

  

  By ERIKA ANDERSON, Special To The Bulletin
  Published June 18, 2009

  It was well after 2 p.m. before Nate Boster, head of security for the Kid Track, got the first word that a child was crying for his mother. “That’s pretty impressive, considering these kids have been here all day,” he said. “It shows that everything has gone quite well.” Indeed, in this track, located a […]

• Teen Track Imparts Faith Through Music, Messages

  

  By STEPHEN O’KANE, Staff Writer
  Published June 18, 2009

  When Curtis Stephan and Band took the stage Saturday morning at the 2009 Eucharistic Congress, hundreds of teens rushed the stage to dance and sing along, setting the bar high for the day’s events. But the line-up of musicians and speakers throughout the day successfully kept the energy level at a maximum and continued to […]

• Congress Offers ‘Big Picture’ To Vietnamese Catholics

  

  By GRETCHEN KEISER, Staff Writer
  Published June 18, 2009

  While enriching the Archdiocese of Atlanta with their vital faith, Vietnamese Catholics are blessed in return when they take part in the annual Eucharistic Congress, a Vietnamese deacon said. “The Vietnamese community is active within their parish. In this environment, they can see the big picture outside their boundaries. In my opinion this is a […]

• No Slowdown For Catholic Vendors, Ministries

  By ANDREW NELSON, Staff Writer
  Published June 18, 2009

  The crowds at the Eucharistic Congress had plenty of vendors and ministries to visit where they could fill goodie bags and offer support. There were hand-carved gifts from the Holy Land, Catholic marketing companies and a foundation spreading the word about Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, the Catholic prelate who garnered an Emmy for his work […] Full Story

• ‘Pray Date With Jesus’ For Kids

  Published June 18, 2009

  St. Brigid Church hosts a monthly adoration hour for families and children of all ages this summer. “Pray Date with Jesus” will focus on learning more about the lives of the saints whose statues are in the church and on becoming a “summer saint.” Adoration will take place in the church sanctuary and will include […] Full Story

• From Dance To Adoration, All Find Ways To Worship

  

  By ANDREW NELSON, Staff Writer
  Published June 18, 2009

  “Here comes everybody” is how the writer James Joyce was said to describe the Catholic Church. Joyce’s quip sketches the picture of the 2009 Eucharistic Congress, the biggest Catholic festival in Georgia and the Southeast. It is part family reunion, part musical celebration, part faith education and all Catholic. Here is how some of it […] Full Story

• ‘Isaiah’ To Be Performed By Father HoLung & Friends

  Published June 4, 2009

  A musical production based on the life of the prophet Isaiah will be performed at the Gwinnett Center June 27 and 28 to help build a crisis center for women and children in Kingston, Jamaica. The Missionaries of the Poor, founded by Father Richard HoLung, will present “Isaiah,” assisted by a corps of volunteers in […]

• Norcross Athletes To Swim At Collegiate Level

  Published June 4, 2009

  Three graduating seniors at Norcross High School are among Catholic athletes who will compete at the collegiate level. All three are members of the Norcross swim team, which finished second in the 2008-2009 Georgia high school state championships in its division. Sean Bagent and Andrew Feeney will attend the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. […]

• Monroe Valedictorian Dreams Of Leading Nation

  By ANDREW NELSON, Staff Writer
  Published June 4, 2009

  With graduation a memory, high school seniors are now looking to the future. Four seniors from parishes in North Georgia achieved academic success and were recognized as class valedictorians. This week, a senior from Monroe is profiled. Three others were featured in the May 28 edition. Jessica E. Alcorn, 17, will attend the University of […]

• Catholic Student Awarded GFCU Scholarship

  Published June 4, 2009

   Georgia Federal Credit Union recently announced Marist student Virginia Gilchrist as the recipient of the second annual Archbishop-emeritus John Francis Donoghue scholarship competition. Gilchrist, who attends Marist School in Atlanta, is an active participant in the community. She has volunteered with organizations such as North Atlanta Health and Rehabilitation Center, Sheltering Arms Daycare, and various […] Full Story

• Career Ministry Workshop Gives Guidance To Parishes

  By STEPHEN O’KANE, Staff Writer
  Published June 4, 2009

  As job losses and unemployment figures continue to grab the headlines, a positive ministry focusing on these issues is spreading throughout the archdiocese and beyond. Caroline McCoy-Hansen, director of Career Ministry at Holy Spirit Church, Atlanta, and John Marotto, director of Career Quest at St. Ann Church, Marietta, presented a workshop May 7 to provide […]

• CRS Sets Goal To Educate 1 Million South Asia Children

  Published June 4, 2009

  From villages surrounded by saw-toothed mountains in Afghanistan to sprawling cities of India, Catholic Relief Services and its partners in South Asia are committing to better education for youngsters. Its five-year goal with the “Reaching Out for the Future” initiative is to reach more than 1 million school-age children. Every $1 million committed to this […] Full Story

• Race Puts Diverse Young Adults In Same Dragon Boat

  By STEPHEN O’KANE, Staff Writer
  Published June 4, 2009

  Nearly 200 young adults participated in a sport thousands of years old as they stroked in unison through the calm waters of Lake Lanier May 30, aiming to bring that same synchronicity to their faith communities. The blazing sun shone brightly on dragon boats—long and narrow human-powered devices used in dragon boat racing, a team […]

• Southern Catholic Awards Degrees To First Graduates

  By STEPHEN O’KANE, Staff Writer
  Published June 4, 2009

  Michelle Lea Bivins, a 23-year-old Owensboro, Ky., native, is looking toward the future after graduating from Southern Catholic College in Dawsonville. Bivins was one of 43 seniors who participated in the college’s first commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 16, at St. Luke Church in Dahlonega. The milestone event was celebrated by family, friends, faculty and […]

• Congress Speakers, Musicians To Exalt True Presence

  

  By MARY ANNE CASTRANIO, Staff Writer
  Published June 4, 2009

  In its 14th year, the Eucharistic Congress will again feature a complement of interesting and eloquent speakers for the Archdiocese of Atlanta’s annual celebration of the eucharistic presence of Christ, and organizers for the event are expecting a diverse and enthusiastic crowd for the upcoming event. Catholics across North Georgia and the Southeast are invited […] Full Story

• Seniors Sign On To Play Collegiate Sports

  By MICHAEL ALEXANDER, Staff Photographer
  Published May 28, 2009

  Many of the area’s high school senior athletes will be showcasing their skills as they play at various colleges and universities around the country. Here is a list of where some of the graduating seniors will be taking their game. This list does not include the athletes announced in the Feb. 12 issue of The […] Full Story

• Priest Assignment

  Published May 28, 2009

  Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory has announced the following change in priest assignment. Father Hieu Minh Ha, parochial vicar at St. Benedict Church, Johns Creek, has been granted permission to enter into active duty as a chaplain with the U.S. Regular Army to serve initially for a period of three years, beginning June 7.

• Local Catholics Inspire As High School Honorees

  Published May 28, 2009

  High school seniors from three North Georgia parishes have been named valedictorian at their respective schools. The three top scholars gave these interviews to the Georgia Bulletin as they looked back on their high school years and anticipated the challenge of college and beyond. Ryan O’Shaughnessy, 18, is attending Georgia Tech in the fall. The […]

• BT Teacher Finds Unique Way To Blend Hobby, Helping

  

  By STEPHEN O’KANE, Staff Writer
  Published May 28, 2009

  Chantal Gourlay always had a love for animals. In 2004 when she got her first German shepherd puppy, which demonstrated a noticeable amount of energy, she wondered if she could find a way to use that youthful stamina for a purpose. First she thought about prepping the dog for competition, considering whether to train Jonah […] Full Story