Georgia Bulletin

Smyrna

• 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

• Father Daniel Ketter appointed Atlanta’s judicial vicar

  By ANDREW NELSON, Staff Writer
  Published October 5, 2017

  SMYRNA—Father Daniel Ketter was recently appointed the judicial vicar of the Metropolitan Tribunal by Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory. Ordained in 2008, Father Ketter has served in the archdiocesan Tribunal since 2015. He earned a licentiate in canon law that same year from Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. Father Ketter is a 1988 graduate […] Full Story

• Georgia Bulletin to offer information session Sept. 21 on upcoming Holy Land pilgrimage

  Published September 7, 2017

  SMYRNA—The Georgia Bulletin is hosting a pilgrimage to the Holy Land early in 2018, with spiritual guidance by Father Michael Silloway, chaplain at St. Pius X High School in Atlanta. An information session will be held Thursday, Sept. 21, from 6:30-7:30 p.m., for those who are considering—or are already signed up for—the pilgrimage. All are […] Full Story

• Tolton Ambassadors Atlanta celebrate blessing of icon

  

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
  Published April 20, 2017

  SMYRNA—Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory blessed an icon of Father Augustus Tolton, a priest who served in the archbishop’s hometown of Chicago, April 5 at the Chancery of the Archdiocese. The icon, by artist Joseph Malham, will be displayed in the archdiocesan Office of Intercultural and Ethnic Diversity. Father Tolton, granted the title of “Servant of […] Full Story

• Local parish leaders gain insights on reaching millennials

  

  By ANDREW NELSON, Staff Writer
  Published April 6, 2017

  SMYRNA—Nearly everyone has a smartphone, which has become the new cathedral, the center of culture, a repository of memory, an expression of identity, in addition to being a wonder of technology. Speaking in the archdiocese on March 30, some scholars from Notre Dame University questioned if these touchscreen gadgets are creating a hunger in digital […] Full Story | En Español

• CCHD contest yields art that aims to make a difference

  

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
  Published April 6, 2017

  SMYRNA—A cardboard cutout of Pope Francis greeted people arriving to judge the Catholic Campaign for Human Development Multimedia Art Contest at the Chancery of the Archdiocese of Atlanta March 16-17. Each year, CCHD sponsors the contest to help engage youth in exploring the causes of domestic poverty in the context of their faith. The theme […] Full Story

• At lively archdiocesan event, young adults assert commitment, potential as Catholics

  

  By ANDREW NELSON, Staff Writer
  Published April 6, 2017

  SMYRNA—Maria Moeakiola was one of the four women and three men huddled around a table, sharing their experiences as millennials in the faith. From discouraging experiences about being overlooked at parishes to the importance of being with others going through common experiences—whether a first job, relationships or living on their own—this diverse group had one […] Full Story | En Español

• Archdiocesan spelling bee declares winner after 14 rounds

  

  Published February 24, 2017

  SMYRNA—The Archdiocese of Atlanta Office of Catholic Schools sponsored its annual Spelling Bee on Jan. 31 as a part of the Catholic Schools Week celebration. The competition was open to all winners of the archdiocesan elementary school level bees. Nineteen schools were represented by students ranging from grades four to eight. The Archdiocesan Spelling Bee […] Full Story

• Five honored for decades of nurturing faith lives of local teens

  

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
  Published February 23, 2017

  SMYRNA—Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory honored leaders in youth ministry and graduates of a University of Dayton faith formation certificate program during a Jan. 30 awards luncheon at the Chancery of the archdiocese. The archbishop celebrated Mass in the chapel prior to the ceremony. He presented five Companions on the Journey Awards of the National Federation […] Full Story

• Judges, sponsors needed for CCHD youth multimedia art contest

  Published January 26, 2017

  SMYRNA—Justice and Peace Ministries of the Archdiocese of Atlanta seeks judges and sponsors for its Catholic Campaign for Human Development multimedia youth art contest in March. Students in grades seven through 12 will be participating in the contest, with the theme of “Being Neighbors in our Common Home.” The students are learning about the causes […] Full Story

• Two from Atlanta observe Catholic efforts to help Rwandans

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
  Published December 1, 2016

  SMYRNA—Ashley Morris and Kathy Montag, who traveled to Rwanda with Catholic Relief Services as diocesan delegates in September, both hope to return to the African nation. Morris is associate director of the Office of Intercultural and Ethnic Diversity of the archdiocese. Montag works in CRS Capacity Building and Justice and Peace Ministries of the archdiocesan […] Full Story