Georgia Bulletin

Georgia

• Sweet sounds adorn St. Thomas Aquinas’ Christmas vigil

  

  Published January 12, 2017

  ALPHARETTA—On Christmas Eve, eight students at St. Thomas Aquinas Church formed a brass ensemble and played Christmas carols for those gathering for the children’s vigil. Greer Blackmon, Ismar Miniel, Aileen Nicolas and Blake Hyman play in the University of Georgia’s Redcoat Band. Cole Barkelew, Chase Buckley and Drew Lang are musicians at nearby Milton High […]

• Transfiguration helps Cobb families regain footing from homelessness

  

  By ANDREW NELSON, Staff Writer
  Published January 12, 2017

  January is the time when many Catholics show their support for life. Here is a ministry to help struggling families with children keep a roof over their heads as they find a firmer foundation. MARIETTA—At Transfiguration Church, guests are welcomed—in fact, encouraged—to stay more than three days, turning the old adage about fish and houseguests […]

• Project brings to light history of mob violence against African-Americans

  By JEAN DRISKELL, Special to the Bulletin
  Published January 12, 2017

  DECATUR—The Knights of Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary, Court 313, at Sts. Peter and Paul Church, Decatur, held their annual prayer breakfast, a scholarship fundraiser, at St. Peter Claver Regional School gym on Nov. 12. The theme was “Heeding God’s Call for Mercy.” The breakfast was held in November to coincide with Black Catholic History Month, […] Full Story

• Catholic ethic of life will be lecture topic at Emory Jan. 23

  Published January 12, 2017

  ATLANTA—The Aquinas Center of Theology at Emory University is hosting a program on “The Seamless Garment of Life: Exploring the Catholic Church’s Ethic From Birth to Death” on Monday, Jan. 23. Dr. Cory Labrecque will be the presenter of the 2017 lecture on the consistent ethic of life. The lecture was made possible by the […] Full Story

• Pinecrest community comes together to feed those in need

  

  Published January 12, 2017

  ATLANTA—More than 750 Pinecrest Academy students and their families, along with faculty and staff at the Catholic school, served on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2016, at the Feed My Starving Children MobilePack event at the Cobb Galleria in Atlanta. Feed My Starving Children is a Christian nonprofit organization committed to feeding children hungry in body and […]

• Gail Buffong will speak at Magnificat gathering on Jan. 28

  Published January 12, 2017

  ATLANTA—Gail Buffong, director of religious education at St. Benedict the Moor Church in Columbus, will be the guest speaker at the Magnificat breakfast for women on Saturday, Jan. 28. All women are invited to come and to be refreshed in faith during this morning gathering at Holy Cross Church, Atlanta. Born in Trinidad, West Indies, […] Full Story

• Open Door Catholic Worker community closes home, but leaders will still serve

  

  By ANDREW NELSON, Staff Writer
  Published January 12, 2017

  ATLANTA—On a December evening, residents and volunteers in Open Door Community’s dining room prayed aloud and ended with a verse of “Go Tell It on the Mountain.” They shared a dinner of yellow rice, turkey meatloaf, bite-sized macaroni and cheese balls and salad. Large black and white banners of the faces of executed death row […]

• Brother Laurin Hartzog, OCSO, of the Monastery of the Holy Spirit, dies

  Published December 22, 2016

  CONYERS—Brother Laurin Hartzog, a monk of the Monastery of the Holy Spirit, died in the monastery infirmary on Friday, Dec. 16, after a long illness. He was 86 and had been in monastic life for 38 years. The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated for him on Monday, Dec. 19, at Our Lady of the […] Full Story

• Father DeVore, 91, spent last 30 years of life as priest with gentleness, wit

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
  Published December 22, 2016

  LAWRENCEVILLE—An Army veteran and engineer, Father John C. DeVore answered the call to the priesthood later in life. Father DeVore, a priest of the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales, died Nov. 22. He was 91. At his Dec. 2 funeral Mass, the priest was remembered for his unfailing kindness, gentleness and sense of humor […]

• St. Pius boys, girls sweep Marist in regular season games

  By MICHAEL ALEXANDER, Staff Photographer
  Published December 22, 2016

  ATLANTA—The St. Pius X High School girls basketball team never relinquished a lead they held over Marist School from the end of the first period to the conclusion of their Dec. 6 game at the Pius gymnasium. Guards Emma Drash and Mai Vy Madden and post player Kathryn McKenzie scored 13, 10 and eight points […]

• Many hands build support for Myanmar refugees

  

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
  Published December 22, 2016

  PEACHTREE CITY—The support of volunteers from Holy Trinity Church in Peachtree City has helped a multi-generational family of refugees thrive since arriving from Myanmar in April. Parishioner Jennifer Harmeling organized the effort, partnering with Catholic Charities to assist the family in adjusting to life in their new country. Harmeling and others greeted the family at […]

• Parish class studies other faiths, tours synagogue, mosque

  

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
  Published December 22, 2016

  ALPHARETTA—Kathy Hoffman, parishioner of St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Alpharetta, uses her experiences as a theology teacher to help others better understand the faith of neighbors in the Jewish and Muslim communities. In September, Hoffman began teaching a weekly class on the Abrahamic religions at St. Thomas Aquinas. The classes neared conclusion Dec. 4 with […]

• Lay Dominicans pursue vocation to preach through their everyday lives

  

  By ANDREW NELSON, Staff Writer
  Published December 22, 2016

  This is the first in an occasional series featuring area Catholics deepening their faith by affiliating with religious orders. ATLANTA—When the alarm in the Peachtree City Fire Department sounds for an emergency, firefighter/paramedic Robert Hebert scrambles into his gear and a seat in the fire truck. He takes his faith with him also. “When the tones go […] Full Story

• Melkite parishioners honor their patron saint

  Published December 22, 2016

  ATLANTA—The Atlanta Melkite parish held three days of celebration to mark the feast of its patron saint, St. John Chrysostom. On Friday, Nov. 11, parish children were treated to an outdoor movie on a giant screen, with popcorn and soft drinks. The ceremony of Great Vespers was celebrated on Saturday, Nov. 12, with the veneration of […] Full Story

• Toccoa parish shares spirit in annual Christmas parade

  

  Published December 22, 2016

  TOCCOA—St. Mary Church transformed a utility trailer into a Christmas parade float for the parish’s first participation in the annual Toccoa City Christmas parade. The parade went through the downtown area of the North Georgia town on Saturday, Dec. 3. St. Mary’s registered in the civic/church category and competed against other local churches and faith-based […]

• Upcoming MLK weekend to emphasize ‘call to peace’

  Published December 22, 2016

  ATLANTA—The Office of Intercultural and Ethnic Diversity will sponsor the 2017 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend Celebration Jan. 12, 14 and 15. All are invited to attend the events. The theme for this year’s celebration is taken from Colossians 3:15, “As Members of One Body, You Were Called to Peace.” The weekend of events […] Full Story

• Food pantry re-opens with improvements, renewed commitment

  Published December 22, 2016

  LITHONIA—The St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry is ready to serve people at Christ Our Hope Church, Lithonia. Meat and other fresh produce are now occasionally offered among the available items, and there’s also a streamlined process for local residents applying for assistance. The revamped food program re-opened a year ago but with little fanfare, […]

• Christ the King students mark 30 years of support for outreach ministry

  

  Published December 22, 2016

  ATLANTA—Christ the King School celebrated its 30th year of service to the Midtown Assistance Center (MAC) through the annual seventh-grade food drive this November. The school provides the longest continuous support to the outreach ministry for the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, integrating Catholic social teaching and Gospel justice. Students collect food and work at […] Full Story

• IHM packs gift boxes for impoverished children overseas

  

  Published December 22, 2016

  ATLANTA—Immaculate Heart of Mary School spread Christmas cheer this year to children in Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Guatemala. Students from kindergarten to eighth grade packed simple “Boxes of Joy” for children who may have never received a gift. The local campaign is part of nationwide effort organized by Cross Catholic Outreach, a Catholic nonprofit […] Full Story

• New place to pray at Prince of Peace Parish

  

  Published December 22, 2016

  FLOWERY BRANCH—Members of Prince of Peace Knights of Columbus Council 13457 designed and installed a new St. Francis Grotto. The addition of this new reflection area culminates another year-long effort to further beautify the trail, which has been adopted by the Knights for quarterly maintenance and renewal. The 3-foot statue sits upon a rebar reinforced […] Full Story