Georgia Bulletin

Georgia

• Amigos for Christ continues work amidst Nicaragua’s political turmoil

  

  By PRISCILLA GREEAR, Special to the Bulletin
  Published July 5, 2018

  BUFORD—The Buford-based Amigos for Christ nonprofit serving Nicaragua’s poorest has canceled all summer mission trips due to the Central American nation’s recent political unrest, violence and roadblocks. Yet several Nicaraguan churches both Catholic and evangelical near the organization’s Chinandega headquarters have stepped in to serve their neighbors and partner with Amigos to meet its Summer […] Full Story | En Español

• Former director bids farewell as new director of vocations takes over for archdiocese

  

  Published July 5, 2018

  ATLANTA—As the Catholic community in Atlanta grows to reflect the global church with worshippers praying in their native languages and celebrating cultural holidays, an immigrant priest was appointed by Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory to accompany men discerning their vocations. Father Tri Nguyen, a native of Vietnam, is stepping into position of director of the Office […] Full Story | En Español

• A two-fold celebration for Kennesaw parish

  

  By ERIKA ANDERSON REDDING, Special to the Bulletin
  Published July 5, 2018

  KENNESAW—There was a lot to celebrate on a recent summer evening at St. Catherine of Siena Church—and a pastor and his flock came together to rejoice in both the past and the future of a church and a life dedicated to Christ. On May 31, parishioners gathered at St. Catherine’s in Kennesaw to celebrate the […]

• Seniors honored by local high schools

  Published July 5, 2018

  ATLANTA—The following recently graduated seniors from Catholic parishes in the Atlanta area were honored by their high schools.   DeKalb School of the Arts, Avondale Estates Richy Wagner was named the 2018 valedictorian at the DeKalb School of the Arts. He is the son of Frank and Betsy Wagner and attends Our Lady of the […] Full Story

• Statement on U.S. immigration policy

  

  Published June 29, 2018

  ATLANTA—Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory has released the following statement on the U.S. government’s recent immigration policy separating migrant families. “The recent immigration policy that has separated children from their parents is deeply disturbing. The administration’s ‘zero-tolerance’ policy resulted in many children being torn from the arms of their parents and placed in separate detention facilities […] Full Story | En Español

• Spring was a season of state championships for Catholic schools

  By MICHAEL ALEXANDER, Staff Photographer
  Published June 21, 2018

  ATLANTA—Archdiocesan and independent Catholic high schools captured individual and team state championships this spring in sports like lacrosse, soccer and track and field. Here is a school-by-school breakdown of the state champions: Blessed Trinity High School, Roswell, Class AAAA Teams: Boys’ lacrosse, defeated Greater Atlanta Christian, Norcross, 6-5; it was the team’s first trip to […] Full Story

• Newspaper, communications office receive 16 Catholic Press awards

  Published June 21, 2018

  GREEN BAY, Wis.—The Georgia Bulletin and the Office of Communications for the Archdiocese of Atlanta earned a total of 16 Catholic Press awards for work done in 2017, some for collaborative projects, at this year’s Catholic Media Conference. The awards were announced at the June 15 banquet that closed the conference. The conference, held June […] Full Story

• Cathedral’s Hyland Center project moving forward

  

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
  Published June 21, 2018

  ATLANTA—As rector of the distinctive Cathedral of Christ the King in Atlanta, Msgr. Frank McNamee wears many hats. His favorite lately is a white hard hat that he dons to go outside and check on the construction progress of the parish’s new Hyland Center. The demolition and construction project in the cathedral’s courtyard began after […] Full Story

• Msgr. Churchwell was ‘always there for the people’

  By JEAN DRISKELL, Special to the Bulletin
  Published June 21, 2018

  ATLANTA—The brother priests of Msgr. Stephen T. Churchwell, JCD, remembered his love of vocation and people at a June 7 vigil at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Atlanta. The longtime priest and canon lawyer for the Archdiocese of Atlanta died May 31. He was 68. “From the earliest of times, Steve knew something was […] Full Story

• Theology on Tap provides unity for young adult community

  

  By C. DANIELS-DUBOSE, Special to the Bulletin
  Published June 21, 2018

  ATLANTA—A Facebook post alerted Michael Brown to the Theology on Tap event May 23 at a brewery in Atlanta’s Grant Park neighborhood. Although the event started in two hours, Brown knew he had to be there. “To see such a young Catholic crowd in Atlanta getting together—you don’t really see that in the Catholic Church,” […] Full Story

• An opportunity to meet the new priests

  Published June 21, 2018

  Father Jack Knight Age: 31 Family: Jack and Lelis Knight; three sisters. Secular career: Assistant in the Office of Catholic Schools, Archdiocese of Atlanta; coffee barista; medical office billing assistant. The Call: “My parents and three older sisters are the ones who formed my heart of service and self-sacrificial love rooted in the person of […] Full Story

• Five priests ordained to serve archdiocese

  By ANDREW NELSON, Staff Writer
  Published June 21, 2018

  ATLANTA—Five men were ordained at the Cathedral of Christ the King June 16 to serve in the Atlanta Archdiocese as priests. As the men take on the ministry in a skeptical age, Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory encouraged them to be “faith witnesses to the living Christ” by serving as “humble credible men of faith.” Archbishop […] Full Story | En Español

• 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 […]

• 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 […] Full Story

• 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 […] Full Story

• 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 […] Full Story