Georgia Bulletin

Smyrna

• Archbishop Gregory shares memories, asks for prayers

  

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
  Published April 18, 2019

  Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory regularly celebrates the noon Mass at the St. Dominic Chapel at the Chancery of the Archdiocese of Atlanta for employees and visitors. The chapel, which bears the name of the archbishop’s confirmation saint, proved a quiet place for him to take questions about his appointment to Washington and move from Atlanta.

• Archbishop Gregory begins departure, calls Atlanta Catholics ‘family to me’

  

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
  Published April 10, 2019

  Upon returning to Atlanta after his appointment as the new archbishop of Washington, Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory shared heartfelt messages for the Atlanta Catholic community. In a press conference on Tuesday, April 9 at the Chancery of the archdiocese in Smyrna, Archbishop Gregory said he is grateful for the opportunity to have served the people […] Full Story

• Youth ministers earn ‘Companions on the Journey’ awards

  Published February 7, 2019

  SMYRNA—Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory honored leaders in youth ministry and graduates of a University of Dayton faith formation certificate program during a Monday, Jan. 14 parish catechetical leader awards luncheon at the Chancery of the archdiocese. The archbishop celebrated Mass prior to the ceremony. He presented three Companions on the Journey Awards of the National […] Full Story

• Fortunate and Faithful Families to have February gathering

  Published January 10, 2019

  SMYRNA—Fortunate and Faithful Families will host a “Gathering of Hearts” for family and friends of LGBT persons on Sunday, Feb. 24, from 12–7 p.m. at the Chancery of the Archdiocese, 2401 Lake Park Drive, SE, Smyrna. The day will include an opening talk by Father Dennis Dorner followed by activities designed to provide participants support […] Full Story

• Office of Child and Youth Protection seeks to protect, heal

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
  Published September 6, 2018

  SMYRNA—In the Archdiocese of Atlanta, the Office of Child and Youth Protection concentrates on the daily work of empowering parishes, families and individuals to create and maintain safe environments for the young and vulnerable. The office (OCYP) includes both the Safe Environment and Victim Assistance programs. Perla Freed is director of safe environment, and Sue […] Full Story | En Español

• Safe Environment director completes international child protection program

  

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
  Published September 6, 2018

  SMYRNA—Perla Freed, director of the Office of Safe Environment for the Archdiocese of Atlanta, is a graduate of the most recent Safeguarding of Minors diploma program at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, Italy. Eighteen students from 13 different countries took the five-month diploma course, beginning last October and culminating in February. Freed was one […] Full Story | En Español

• Martineck to serve as director of Respect Life ministry

  By ANDREW NELSON, Staff Writer
  Published September 6, 2018

  SMYRNA—Joey Martineck, who was recently named director of the Respect Life ministry for the Archdiocese of Atlanta, believes painters and writers, along with all artists, can “pierce” the hearts of the community to see the beauty of life“Something more is demanded these days. You don’t just hear a lecture, in this day and age, hear […] Full Story

• AACCW members explore the call to holiness at leadership seminar

  By JEAN DRISKELL, Special to the Bulletin
  Published August 3, 2018

  SMYRNA—The members of the Atlanta Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women (AACCW) learned more about Pope Francis’ teaching on holiness at the group’s annual leadership seminar June 16 at the Chancery of the archdiocese. Guest speaker Kathy Kelly-Huey, director of religious education at St. Mary Magdalene Church, Newnan, highlighted the pope’s apostolic exhortation of 2018—“Gaudete et […] Full Story | En Español

• Archdiocesan schools earn AdvancED re-accreditation

  

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
  Published August 3, 2018

  SMYRNA—The Archdiocese of Atlanta’s 18 Catholic schools have received re-accreditation from AdvancED following a February engagement review by the accrediting agency. The archdiocese received its first district-wide accreditation in 2013. The nonprofit AdvancED follows a five-year term of accreditation. Its platform is based upon continuous improvement and educational quality. Using a set of rigorous research-based […] Full Story

• Office of Catholic Schools announces new staff members

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
  Published August 3, 2018

  SMYRNA—The Office of Catholic Schools for the Archdiocese of Atlanta welcomed a new director of marketing and enrollment and a new controller for three of its schools. Diane Starkovich, Ph.D., superintendent of Catholic schools for the archdiocese, announced the hiring of Brian Dooling as director of marketing and enrollment and Brenda Leslie as controller for […] Full Story

• David Brown retires as executive director of GRACE Scholars

  

  By ANDREW NELSON, Staff Writer
  Published July 13, 2018

  SMYRNA—When David Brown took over as executive director of GRACE Scholars in 2011, some 240 students were attending Catholic schools in Georgia with the help of the state tax credit program. Now, as Brown retired July 1, more than 1,000 students pursue a Catholic education through the scholarship program. “It is clear it really did […] Full Story

• Archbishop names Savannah native to fill stewardship role

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
  Published July 5, 2018

  ATLANTA—Savannah native Christopher “Kit” Parker is the new executive director of stewardship and development for the Archdiocese of Atlanta. Appointed by Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory May 21, Parker brings a wealth of management and stewardship experience in nonprofit and diocesan settings “Kit comes to us with a deep understanding of stewardship as a Catholic way […] Full Story

• 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

• Information session on May 23 to spotlight Georgia Bulletin pilgrimages

  Published May 3, 2018

  SMYRNA—Pilgrims and interested travelers are invited to an information session on Wednesday, May 23, that will include highlights of upcoming pilgrimages sponsored by The Georgia Bulletin. All are invited to attend this meeting, which will begin at 7 p.m. at the archdiocesan Chancery, 2401 Lake Park Drive, SE, Smyrna. Belinda Held, a representative of tour […] Full Story

• Marist priest and educator named Atlanta’s newest auxiliary bishop

  

  By ANDREW NELSON, Staff writer
  Published February 8, 2018

  SMYRNA—Pope Francis named a longtime administrator of the Marist School as an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Atlanta Feb. 5. Bishop-designate Joel M. Konzen, SM, has served in front of the classroom and as a principal at the respected independent Catholic school for some 28 years. “I look forward to serving the people of […] Full Story | En Español

• Preparation and training for potential violence at church draws parish leaders

  Published December 21, 2017

  SMYRNA—Some 100 people attended a training to prepare church leaders for a potential active shooter attacking at a parish event. At Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory’s request, on Monday, Dec. 4, Bernard King, public programs coordinator for Cobb County Emergency Management Agency, and Alex Hagan, of Catholic Mutual Insurance, led the training The program leaders emphasized […] Full Story

• Family tragedy leads father on quest of forgiveness and mercy

  

  By MICHAEL ALEXANDER, Staff Photographer
  Published November 2, 2017

  SMYRNA—It’s another Sunday morning at Smyrna’s St. Thomas the Apostle Church, and Thomas Brito Sr. is heading to the church entrance in his motorized wheelchair before the 9:30 a.m. Mass. His daughter, Shelia, accompanies him. The 86-year-old widower is wearing a baseball cap with the word “FORGIVEN” written across the front. Around his neck are […] Full Story

• New video series supports youth leaders who ‘accompany’ teens

  

  By PRISCILLA GREEAR Special to the Bulletin
  Published November 2, 2017

  SMYRNA—The Office of Faith Formation and Discipleship of the Archdiocese of Atlanta has launched the first video training series based on the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ framework for youth ministry. A nationwide collaboration, the series is a pithy digital fusion of creative juices to bolster volunteers who are “Called to Accompany” youth. The archdiocese […] Full Story | En Español

• Nichols to serve as new director of parish preschools program

  By ERIKA ANDERSON REDDING, Special to the Bulletin
  Published October 5, 2017

  SMYRNA—Mary Jo Nichols is no stranger to Catholic schools. Now as the new director of parish preschools for the Archdiocese of Atlanta, Nichols will play an instrumental part in helping to grow Catholic early childhood education throughout north Georgia. Nichols assumed the director position from Terry Graham, who retired this summer. Nichols began her career […] Full Story

• Growth of preschools program highlight of Graham’s tenure

  By ERIKA ANDERSON REDDING, Special to the Bulletin
  Published October 5, 2017

  SMYRNA—Terry Graham will miss everything about her job—except her commute. After 13 years as the director of parish preschools for the Archdiocese of Atlanta, Graham began her well-deserved retirement this summer. Mary Jo Nichols, former director of the Holy Family Church Preschool in Marietta, is now serving as Graham’s successor. “When you love your job, […] Full Story