Georgia Bulletin

Smyrna

• Study group to address intellectual disabilities in Georgia’s death penalty cases

  Published October 30, 2015

  SMYRNA—A “teach-in” session on the standard of proof for intellectual disability in death penalty cases in Georgia will be offered on Tuesday, Nov. 10, from 7-9 p.m. The event, sponsored by the archdiocesan Disabilities Ministry and the PAPE (Proof to a Preponderance of the Evidence) Project, will be held at the Chancery, 2401 Lake Park […] Full Story

• Training to help serve young people with mental health problems

  Published October 15, 2015

  SMYRNA—The archdiocesan Disabilities Ministry, in partnership with the Georgia State Center for Leadership in Disability, is offering Youth Mental Health First Aid USA training in response to the increasing episodes of violence associated with mental illness. The one-day training will be offered on Thursday, Dec. 10, and Monday, Dec. 14, at the Chancery in Smyrna, beginning […] Full Story

• Chancery Fair Trade sale brings gifts from and to developing communities

  Published October 15, 2015

  SMYRNA—The annual archdiocesan Fair Trade sale at the Chancery will feature handcrafted goods and jewelry, as well as shade-grown organic coffees and delicious chocolates, olive oil from the Holy Land and jams from Africa. The sale, through the initiative of Catholic Relief Services, is to be held Tuesday, Nov. 10, from 9 a.m. to 7 […] Full Story

• New staffer to serve adult, young adult, campus ministry leaders

  By ANDREW NELSON, Staff Writer
  Published September 4, 2015

  SMYRNA—Damellys Sacriste recently began in her new role to facilitate parish outreach to young adults through the archdiocesan Office of Formation and Discipleship. A native of Venezuela, Sacriste, 45, has previously served the multicultural community at St. Patrick Church, Norcross, as the director of faith formation. A certified master catechist of the Atlanta Archdiocese, she […] Full Story

• New Office of Life, Dignity and Justice formed

  Published August 20, 2015

  SMYRNA—Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory has announced the formation of a new Office of Life, Dignity and Justice, comprised of the existing four ministries of Respect Life, Disabilities, Prison and Jail, and Justice and Peace. In a letter to pastors and staff, Archbishop Gregory said, “These ministries, for that is what they truly are, have been […] Full Story

• New Respect Life Ministry director named

  Published July 9, 2015

  SMYRNA—Brendan Dudley is the new director of Respect Life Ministry in the Archdiocese of Atlanta. Mary Boyert, who has served in the post for more than 15 years, retired July 1. A native of Detroit, Dudley spent the past three years in Cincinnati, Ohio, as the director of faith formation at St. Cecilia Church. His […] Full Story

• Smyrna Catholic leads Georgia Knights of Columbus

  By ANDREW NELSON, Staff Writer
  Published July 9, 2015

  SMYRNA—Mark McMullen felt in awe standing in St. Mary Church, the founding parish of the Knights of Columbus. “Who wouldn’t want to be here?” he remembers thinking about the historic church in New Haven, Connecticut, with its vaulted ceiling. He sat in the wooden pew marked with a plaque noting the establishment in 1903 of […] Full Story

• St. Thomas the Apostle rededicates revitalized sanctuary, commons

  

  By Nichole Golden, Staff Writer
  Published July 9, 2015

  SMYRNA—The parishioners and clergy of St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Smyrna know that any worthwhile endeavor comes with sacrifice. Since the beginning of the year, parishioners have been celebrating Mass in the social hall, while Holy Week and Easter Masses were held at Jim Miller Park in Marietta. As many as 14 weekend Masses […] Full Story

• Seminarian from Decatur parish admitted to candidacy as he leaves for Rome

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
  Published June 25, 2015

  SMYRNA—Seminarian Avery Daniel leaves for Rome, Italy, on July 12 to study at the Pontifical Gregorian University for the next five years. Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory celebrated Mass and admitted Daniel to candidacy to Holy Orders June 8 at the Chancery of the archdiocese in Smyrna. Daniel, whose home parish is Sts. Peter and Paul […] Full Story

• Chancery staffer to attend Georgia Archives Institute

  Published May 14, 2015

  SMYRNA—Kevin Brown, a records analyst in the Archives Office of the Atlanta Archdiocese, was accepted into the competitive Georgia Archives Institute for its Class of 2015. The institute offers a comprehensive introduction to the concepts and practices of managing all formats of documentary materials in archives. Brown will be learning more about records’ management, a […] Full Story

• Parents with special needs children bring common concerns to first conference

  

  By ERIKA ANDERSON, Special to the Bulletin
  Published April 16, 2015

  SMYRNA—It took dozens of doctors appointments, tests and evaluations—not to mention prayers and tears—for Maria and Ben Vigil to finally discover what was causing their son Abraham’s developmental delays. Abraham was diagnosed with hypotonic cerebral palsy and epilepsy when he was in kindergarten. Today, the 13-year-old takes medication to control his seizures. He is unable […] Full Story

• Conference March 29 for parents, grandparents of those with disabilities

  Published March 19, 2015

  SMYRNA—All parents and grandparents of children and adults living with disabilities are invited to join together for faith, family and friendship in a parent conference hosted by the Disability Ministry of the Atlanta Archdiocese. On Sunday, March 29, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., the conference will offer specialized topics that address spiritual, parenting, educational, […] Full Story

• CRS Rice Bowl kicks off, provides a means to give to the world

  

  By MARY ANNE CASTRANIO, Staff Writer
  Published February 19, 2015

  SMYRNA—Justice and Peace Ministries of the Atlanta Archdiocese joined with Catholic Relief Services to host a kickoff for Rice Bowl on Friday, Feb. 13. The lunchtime program included Mass, followed by a sharing of a meal of rice and beans, and a talk by Thomas Awiapo, a senior program officer for CRS Ghana. It took […] Full Story

• Atlanta’s shepherd oversees local church during time of immense growth

  

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
  Published January 8, 2015

  SMYRNA—The New Year will bring a pastoral plan for the Archdiocese of Atlanta, the 20th anniversary of the Eucharistic Congress in June, and the local observance of the Year of Consecrated Life initiated by Pope Francis. This year also marks the 50th anniversary of “Nostra Aetate,” the Second Vatican Council document that set a new […] Full Story

• Marking an Atlanta anniversary: Archbishop reflects on first decade

  

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
  Published January 8, 2015

  SMYRNA—Pausing in St. Dominic’s Chapel at the Chancery of the Archdiocese of Atlanta days before Christmas, Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory reflected on an “incredible” 10 years as leader of the local church. Pope John Paul II appointed the then-bishop of the Diocese of Belleville, Illinois, as Atlanta’s archbishop on Dec. 9, 2004. The archbishop’s installation […] Full Story

• 2014 update: Big sister Sarah Foy honored for unselfish play

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
  Published December 23, 2014

  SMYRNA—Hannah Foy of Smyrna is back on the basketball court again. Last winter, Hannah participated for the first time in the Lil’ Cougars basketball program at St. Joseph School in Marietta. Hannah, 7 years old, has Down syndrome and is in a mainstream class at a public school. Her older sister Sarah attends St. Joseph. […] Full Story

• Archbishop given saint’s relic

  Published November 13, 2014

  SMYRNA—Barbara Weiss gave a family heirloom, a relic of St. Martin de Porres, to Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory. It turns out Archbishop Gregory has a special devotion to the 16th-century saint. St. Martin de Porres, a brother of the Dominican Order, was canonized in 1962 by Pope St. John XXIII. He is the patron saint […] Full Story

• Pat Chivers, communications and advocacy director, to retire

  Published October 2, 2014

  SMYRNA—Patricia M. Chivers, director of communications and advocacy for the Archdiocese of Atlanta, announced Sept. 24 that she will retire Dec. 31. A search for the new director has begun. Chivers was named in July 2006 as director of communications after serving as the director of government relations for the Georgia Association of Broadcasters and, […] Full Story

• New assistant superintendent joins Office of Catholic Schools’ administration

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
  Published August 22, 2014

  SMYRNA—Connie Urbanski, Ed.D., is a new assistant superintendent in the Office of Catholic Schools for the Archdiocese of Atlanta, joining Diane Starkovich, Ph.D., superintendent of schools, and Rebecca Hammel, assistant superintendent. She came on board this summer, bringing years of service in Catholic schools in North Carolina and Louisiana. Her duties will center upon directing […] Full Story

• A welcome back from the superintendent of Catholic schools

  By DIANE STARKOVICH, Ph.D., Special to the Bulletin
  Published August 22, 2014

  Welcome back to the 2014-2015 school year! As the last of our archdiocesan Catholic schools opens this week, it seems appropriate to extend this greeting to all students who are returning to classrooms this fall. Some students are entering school for the first time; others are beginning high school or perhaps college as their proud […] Full Story