Georgia Bulletin

Georgia

• Culinary ministry imparts kitchen know-how to youth

  

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
  Published June 21, 2018

  NEWNAN—It’s early Saturday morning and instead of sleeping late or playing video games, a group of teens and pre-teens are donning aprons, chopping cabbage and grating apples in the kitchen of St. George Church. The Newnan parish’s culinary ministry, led by longtime parishioner Scott Eldred, teaches youth how to read recipes, basic knife skills and […] Full Story

• Father Tom Francis, Trappist and Trinitarian, celebrates 60 years as priest

  

  By PRISCILLA GREEAR Special to the Bulletin
  Published June 21, 2018

  CONYERS—Celebrating his 60th jubilee of priesthood this year, Father Thomas Francis Smith, OCSO, cheerfully greets visitors on weekday mornings for two hours at the welcome center of the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers after rising at 3:30 a.m. for the 4 a.m. morning vigil, followed by Mass at 7 a.m. Then in the […] Full Story

• St. John the Evangelist Church rededicated June 3

  

  By ANDREW NELSON, Staff Writer
  Published June 21, 2018

  HAPEVILLE—A standing-room-only congregation celebrated the rededication of St. John the Evangelist Church with a service full of symbolism. Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory slathered the wooden altar with chrism oil, making the altar a symbol of Christ, the anointed One. The sweet smoke of incense filled the sanctuary, signifying the people’s prayers rising to God. The […] Full Story | En Español

• Former Atlantan takes over as director of formation and discipleship

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
  Published June 11, 2018

  ATLANTA—It’s home again for Andrew “Andy” W. Lichtenwalner, Ph.D., the new director of the Office of Formation and Discipleship (OFD) for the Archdiocese of Atlanta. Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory announced Lichtenwalner’s appointment in March, and he officially started in his new role May 21. He joins the Secretariat, replacing Amy Daniels, who transferred to the […]

• St. Jude the Apostle students mark year’s end with joyful singing

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
  Published June 11, 2018

  SANDY SPRINGS—The St. Jude the Apostle school community held its third annual Praise and Worship event May 17 in the church sanctuary. Father Tim Hepburn, director of vocations for the archdiocese, led the program. Ed Bolduc, Jeff Simpson, music teacher; Chris Fason, physical education teacher; and Mike Hinton also lent their musical talents. Simpson teamed […] Full Story

• Archbishop announces new priest assignments

  Published June 11, 2018

  ATLANTA—Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory has announced the following changes in priest assignments, effective July 2, unless otherwise noted.   Pastors Father Timothy Hepburn has been appointed pastor of St. Michael Church, Gainesville.   Father Juan Areiza has been appointed pastor of St. Pius X Church, Conyers.   Father Feiser Muñoz Polanco has been appointed pastor […]

• Atlantan Wessels lives the faith by leading Malteser relief efforts

  By PRISCILLA GREEAR, Special to the Bulletin
  Published June 11, 2018

  ATLANTA—In the U.S. Army Reserve, Maj. Gen. Thomas Wessels engaged in missions across the Middle East and Southeast Asia from Bahrain to Saudi Arabia. Now retired after 37 years of military service and a 43-year banking career, he travels from Haiti’s slums to Colombian jungles to lead a new strategic mission: to uplift the hemisphere’s […] Full Story

• Atlanta’s Order of Malta has been helping for 25 years

  Published June 11, 2018

  ATLANTA—Some 50 Knights and Dames and 20 auxiliary members of the Atlanta Region of the Order of Malta exercise their faith in care for the least. The Atlanta Region of the Order of Malta was established in 1993 by Msgr. Edward Dillon, pastor of Holy Spirit Church, Atlanta. The religious lay and chivalrous Order of […]

• Congress speakers emphasize strong messages of faith, joy

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
  Published June 7, 2018

  COLLEGE PARK—United in love of Jesus, thousands of Catholics from all corners of the archdiocese and representing many ethnic backgrounds participated in the morning procession Saturday, June 2, at the 23rd annual Eucharistic Congress at the Georgia International Convention Center. The procession is the traditional launch of Saturday events at the congress, which takes place […] Full Story

• Six years since conversion, Atlanta native ordained deacon

  

  By ANDREW NELSON, Staff Writer
  Published June 7, 2018

  ATLANTA—Finding himself a Catholic is not what Mark White envisioned for himself as a young man. Growing up he wasn’t hostile toward faith, he just didn’t see its point, he said. “I would have presented myself as someone who didn’t care.” The journey has had many twists and turns, as he was inspired by his […] Full Story

• Mercy Housing Southeast opens affordable senior apartments

  Published June 7, 2018

  ATLANTA—Mercy Housing Southeast cut the ribbon on its latest community, the Senior Residences at Mercy Park, located in Chamblee, April 11. The property, located at 5124 Peachtree Road, has 79 affordable apartment homes for seniors 62 years and older, including 57 one-bedroom and 22 two-bedroom apartments, as well as eight units designated for eligible veterans […] Full Story

• Summer Scout Mass to be celebrated June 17 at camp

  Published June 7, 2018

  COVINGTON—The Atlanta Archdiocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting and the Scouts will have the annual Summer Camp Mass on Sunday, June 17 at Bert Adams Scout Reservation, 218 Scout Road, Covington. Bishop Bernard E. Shlesinger III will be the celebrant for the 4:30 p.m. Mass. Guests should take the road all the way into the camp […]

• The Quest is newest Catholic radio station in Atlanta

  

  By ANDREW NELSON, Staff Writer
  Published June 7, 2018

  ATLANTA—A new Catholic radio station is on the air, broadcasting the faith in a vast part of the Atlanta area. The Quest—1160 AM—is now reaching people in their cars and is simulcast on the Internet. “It’s a great way to spend Atlanta traffic. It makes traffic more bearable,” said Janice Givens, one of three women […]

• American Sign Language track reflects on Jesus, the bridegroom of the church

  

  By CHRISTINE ECKEL, DDS, Special to the Bulletin
  Published June 7, 2018

  COLLEGE PARK—What a perfect start for the American Sign Language track at the Eucharistic Congress—a visit from Bishop Joel Konzen, SM, carrying the monstrance with the holy Eucharist. His prayer about St. Thomas Aquinas spoke of using all of our senses to deepen our faith. About 35 participants knelt before the Eucharist while listening to […] Full Story

• Spanish track speakers proclaim the power of love, holiness, faith

  

  By DANIELA MORENO, Special to the Bulletin
  Published June 7, 2018

  COLLEGE PARK—Rain and thunderstorms have been frightening metro Atlanta residents for several days, but not today. It was a beautiful Saturday morning in College Park as thousands of Catholics gathered at the Georgia International Convention Center to celebrate the 2018 Eucharistic Congress June 2. Once again, the event started with an enthusiastic procession of the […] Full Story | En Español

• Meal-packing, lively sessions launch 2018 Eucharistic Congress

  

  By ANDREW NELSON, Staff Writer
  Published June 7, 2018

  COLLEGE PARK—From quiet prayer in front of a sunburst monstrance holding the Blessed Sacrament to an upbeat assembly line packing food for the hungry, Catholics of all ages and nationalities came to be revived in their faith June 1. Thousands appeared on the opening day of the 2018 Eucharistic Congress held Friday and Saturday, June […] Full Story

• Healing service invites trust in God’s unconditional love

  By JEAN DRISKELL, Special to the Bulletin
  Published June 7, 2018

  COLLEGE PARK—Those needing healing, whether in physical, emotional or spiritual areas of their lives, were invited to look directly at Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and bring him their pain and burdens. “We need faith to be healed, not faith that we will be healed. We need faith in him. We need faith in Jesus,” […] Full Story

• Unity begins with the human heart, says Mother Olga

  

  By ERIKA ANDERSON REDDING, Special to the Bulletin
  Published June 7, 2018

  COLLEGE PARK—The tiny nun packed a big punch. Mother Olga of the Sacred Heart, founder and mother servant of the Daughters of Mary of Nazareth religious community, was one of the featured speakers June 2 in the English track of the 2018 Eucharistic Congress at the Georgia International Convention Center. The only female speaker at […] Full Story

• Mass is privileged encounter with Christ, Bishop Barron teaches

  

  By ERIKA ANDERSON REDDING, Special to the Bulletin
  Published June 7, 2018

  COLLEGE PARK—The crowd was on its feet before he uttered a single word. This was the speaker so many of them had come to see and hear. As the founder of Word on Fire Catholic Ministries and host of the “Catholicism” series on PBS and in thousands of parishes, Bishop Robert Barron is familiar to […]

• Msgr. Stephen Churchwell, pastor and canonist, dies

  Published June 7, 2018

  ATLANTA—Msgr. Stephen T. Churchwell, JCD, a longtime priest and canon lawyer for the Archdiocese of Atlanta, died May 31. He was 68. Born in Carmi, Illinois, on Oct. 4, 1949, he was the son of George and the late Juanita Wilson Churchwell. The oldest of five children, he converted to Catholicism at the age of […] Full Story