Georgia Bulletin

Jonesboro

• A community reflects on thirst, both physical and spiritual 

  

  By ANDREW NELSON, Staff Writer
  Published March 4, 2022

  At St. Philip Benizi Church’s “I Thirst” program on Feb. 26, about 50 people had a chance to reflect on the plight of those living in areas without access to clean drinking water while sharing their faith before the Lenten season. Majok Marier, who escaped war in South Sudan, spoke about his drinking water project.

• Faith helps family battle coronavirus

  

  By SAMANTHA SMITH, Staff Writer
  Published April 30, 2020

  Faith has taken on new meaning since the COVID-19 virus hit the Paulus family of St. Philip Benizi Church, Jonesboro. While several family members have recovered, father Chuck Paulus remains hospitalized.

• Parish business manager earns master’s degree in church management

  Published September 5, 2019

  Helena Frazier, a May graduate of the master’s program in church management at Villanova University, is already applying what she learned during the intensive two-year program. The parish business manager at St. Philip Benizi Church, Jonesboro, Frazier enrolled in the master’s program at the encouragement of the church’s pastor.

• St. Philip Benizi to hold Nigerian Day celebration

  Published October 4, 2018

  JONESBORO—A Nigerian Day celebration, honoring Nigeria’s independence day and featuring food, cultural dance and music, and more, will be held Sunday, Oct. 7, at St. Philip Benizi Church, 591 Flint River Road, Jonesboro. The Nigerian community will celebrate Mass at 10:45 a.m. The event will follow and will include authentic cuisine, drinks, a choir performance […] Full Story

• St. Philip Benizi dedicates memorial garden, outdoor sanctuary

  

  By YONE DALY, Special to the Bulletin
  Published November 27, 2017

  JONESBORO—With completion of a new memorial garden at St. Philip Benizi Church in Jonesboro, a Mass of dedication and blessing of the garden was held Aug. 23, the feast of the parish’s patron saint. Father John Koziol, OFM Conv., pastor, was the celebrant with Father Gabriel Scasino, OFM Conv., concelebrating. Deacon John Halloran assisted. From […] Full Story

• Youth minister’s quirky office is place teens ‘can be themselves’

  

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
  Published October 6, 2016

  JONESBORO—Most people stand and stare when paying a first visit to the office of youth minister Susan Baker at St. Philip Benizi Church in Jonesboro. From her collection of hundreds of Pez candy dispensers to original artwork and youth group photographs, there’s a lot for the eyes to take in. Baker’s cozy office in the […] Full Story

• Southside parishes join to offer family catechetical event

  Published October 6, 2016

  JONESBORO—Seven parishes from the Southside Deanery will join with the Archdiocese of Atlanta to host “Family: The Faith Lived,” for parents and catechists on Saturday, Nov. 12, at St. Philip Benizi Church in Jonesboro. All are welcome to attend. The day will begin with Mass at 8:30 a.m. followed by workshops through 3:40 p.m. The […] Full Story

• From 40 to 2,300 families: St. Philip Benizi remembers 1965 first Mass

  

  By ERIKA ANDERSON, Special to the Bulletin
  Published September 17, 2015

  JONESBORO—Fifty years ago, in a small Georgia town yet untouched by metro Atlanta sprawl, 40 families took the first steps toward forming a Catholic church. They put their children to work cleaning a drug store that would serve as the first worship space. They optimistically set up chairs for 125 guests. That day—Sept. 12, 1965—more […]

• Jonesboro parish hosts ordination of Conventual Franciscan priest

  

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
  Published February 19, 2015

  JONESBORO—The prayer card for the ordination of Father Gabriel Mary Scasino depicts a wounded pelican feeding her starving young with her own blood. The image has long symbolized Christ’s giving of himself for others. His ordination brought a lot of joy to the parish community of St. Philip Benizi Church where it was celebrated Feb. […] Full Story

• St. Philip Benizi offers free English language, citizen prep programs in January

  Published December 23, 2014

  JONESBORO—English literacy classes for adults who speak other languages and a program to prepare for the U.S. citizenship test will be offered in January at St. Philip Benizi Parish in Jonesboro. The programs are free. The English literacy program has been in existence at St. Philip Benizi since 2009 and has served students from numerous […] Full Story

• Bishop: Like Christ, walk with those suffering from HIV/AIDS

  

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
  Published December 11, 2014

  JONESBORO—With glowing candles in hand, families of loved ones lost to AIDS and volunteers of parish ministries sang “Amazing Grace” at the 2014 World AIDS Day Mass Dec. 3 at St. Philip Benizi Church. The annual Mass commemorates those living with HIV/AIDS, those who have lost their lives, and their caretakers. Prudy and Jim Martino […] Full Story

• Priest chaplain who died in decisive Civil War battle remembered

  

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
  Published September 5, 2014

  JONESBORO—With hands over hearts, community members gathered the morning of Saturday, Aug. 30, on the lawn of the historic courthouse in Jonesboro to recall the sacrifice of the first Catholic chaplain to die on the battlefield in U.S. military history. Benedictine Father Emmeran Bliemel, native son of Bavaria, Germany, died on the first afternoon of […] Full Story

• Local Knights start fund for future Catholic chaplains

  

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
  Published September 5, 2014

  JONESBORO—Named for a Civil War Catholic chaplain killed on the battlefield, the Father Emmeran Bliemel O.S.B. Assembly of the Knights of Columbus marked the 150th anniversary of the priest’s death by announcing a new fund that could help support priestly vocations to serve the military. Following a memorial Mass Aug. 30 at St. Philip Benizi […] Full Story

• Priest killed in Civil War to be honored

  Published July 24, 2014

  JONESBORO—One hundred and fifty years ago this August, a Benedictine priest became the first Catholic chaplain in U.S. military history to be killed in action. Father Emmeran Bliemel, the military chaplain of the 10th Tennessee, died on Aug. 31, 1864, while ministering to soldiers during the Battle of Jonesboro in Georgia. The Father Emmeran Bliemel […] Full Story

• Novena offered for Nigerian schoolgirls’ rescue

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
  Published May 29, 2014

  JONESBORO—The Nigerian community at St. Philip Benizi Church in Jonesboro believes in the power of prayer. The group began a novena Friday, May 23, at the church to offer petitions for the schoolgirls abducted in Nigeria in April by the Islamist militant group Boko Haram. “We have been praying for the kidnapped girls,” said Basil […] Full Story

• Founder To Lead JustFAITH Introductory Workshop

  

  Published August 5, 2010

  “An Introduction to JustFAITH” will be held on Saturday, Aug. 28, at St. Philip Benizi Church. All are welcome to attend the event, which will be held in the parish hall from 8:15 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The founder of JustFAITH, Jack Jezreel, will lead the event, providing an introduction to the 30-week adult formation […] Full Story

• Divine Mercy Conference Seeks To Reach Inactive Catholics

  Published January 21, 2010

    St. Philip Benizi Church will serve as the host site for the Atlanta Conference of Divine Mercy on Monday, Feb. 15. Sponsored by the Apostles of Divine Mercy, organizers of the conference hope to highlight the true meaning of the Divine Mercy feast day and also bring inactive Catholics back into the Church. All […] Full Story

• Secular Franciscans Mark 50th Anniversary Here

  By SUZANNE HAUGH, Special To The Bulletin
  Published April 30, 2009

  For 50 years, members of the Immaculate Conception Fraternity of Secular Franciscans have sought to serve the poor, to live simply and to undergo continual conversion as did their founder, St. Francis. But they have been doing so in Georgia, as part of everyday life. In recognition of the milestone, professed men and women gathered […] Full Story

• St. Philip Benizi Celebrates Its International Diversity

  

  Published October 9, 2008

  Hundreds savored a feast of food from around the world as people at St. Philip Benizi Church reveled in its 10th annual multicultural celebration. Booths from 30 nationalities covered the grounds of the parish: shepherd’s pie from Ireland, kartofelsalat from Germany, tamales from Mexico, jerk chicken from Jamaica, hamburgers from the United States. A mariachi […] Full Story

• Pastor Addresses Abuse Case At Weekend Masses

  By MARY ANNE CASTRANIO, Staff Writer
  Published August 21, 2008

  Parishioners at St. Philip Benizi Church heard a message of explanation, sorrow and prayer from their pastor, Conventual Franciscan Father Gregory Hartmayer, this past weekend. The priest spoke in both English and Spanish at the conclusion of all seven weekend Masses at the Jonesboro church on Aug. 16-17, addressing the concerns and questions of parishioners […] Full Story