Georgia Bulletin

Smyrna

• 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 […]

• 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 […]

• 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. […]

• 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 […]

• 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, […]

• 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 […]

• New car for seminarians thanks to St. Brigid Men

  

  Published August 21, 2014

  Seminarians have golfers to thank for their Nissan Versa. The Men of St. Brigid in May held their annual golf tournament. The financial success of this fundraiser allows them to donate money to the Archdiocese of Atlanta Office of Vocations in the name of their late pastor, Msgr. Paul Reynolds. Money has been donated four […] Full Story

• ‘Pornography Plague’ workshops set for September

  Published August 21, 2014

  SMYRNA—A workshop on “Pornography Plaque: A Pastoral Response” will be offered three times in September, and registration is now open. The workshop will be held Friday, Sept. 5, and Saturday, Sept. 6, at the Chancery of the Archdiocese of Atlanta, 2401 Lake Park Drive, SE, in Smyrna. The same program will be presented both Friday […] Full Story

• Event underscores faith perspective on death penalty

  

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
  Published August 7, 2014

  SMYRNA—More than 85 people, at varying stages in the journey to oppose capital punishment, attended an inaugural event of Georgia Catholics Against the Death Penalty Aug. 2 at the Chancery of the Archdiocese of Atlanta. “Restoration, Reconciliation and Forgiveness: A Catholic Perspective on the Death Penalty” featured speakers, group discussions, a question-and-answer session and afternoon […] Full Story

• Crossroads Pro-Life walkers visit archdiocese

  Published August 7, 2014

  A group of young adults with the Crossroads Pro-Life Walk Across America visited the Chancery of the Archdiocese of Atlanta on Friday, Aug. 1. The walkers joined the staff for Mass in St. Dominic’s Chapel and then shared in pizza and prayer. The Crossroads walkers are visiting various parishes around the archdiocese as part of their […]

• Women’s ‘huge influence’ can be magnified with unified Catholic action, NCCW president says

  

  By JEAN DRISKELL, Special to the Bulletin
  Published July 24, 2014

  SMYRNA—There are 35 million Catholic women in the United States, the president of the National Council of Catholic Women told those gathered for an archdiocesan women’s leadership and networking workshop June 14. “Just think, if we could all act together on a single issue, what we could accomplish,” said Rebecca Woodhull, a Springfield, Illinois, educator. […]

• Death penalty conference to focus on reconciliation

  Published July 10, 2014

  SMYRNA—Georgia Catholics Against the Death Penalty will have an informative gathering, “Restoration, Reconciliation and Forgiveness: A Catholic Perspective on the Death Penalty” on Saturday, Aug. 2, at the archdiocesan Chancery offices, 2401 Lake Park Drive in Smyrna. The program runs from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. The program’s nationally acclaimed speakers will take an in-depth […]

• AACCW to offer leadership workshop in June

  Published May 29, 2014

  SMYRNA—The Atlanta Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women (AACCW) will have a Leadership Networking Workshop on Saturday, June 14, at the Chancery of the Archdiocese of Atlanta, 2401 Lake Park Drive, SE, in Smyrna. The event will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Registration begins with coffee served at 8:30 a.m. A light lunch will […]

• Parents praise team for welcoming Hannah

  

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
  Published March 7, 2014

  SMYRNA—On a Tuesday afternoon, 6-year-old Hannah Foy of Smyrna and her mother, Beth, are tackling homework before heading to the YMCA for a swim. While waiting for older sister Sarah to arrive home from St. Joseph School in Marietta, Hannah eagerly calls out numbers on a calendar as her mom points to each one. Hannah, […] Full Story

• Parents praise team for welcoming Hannah

  

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
  Published March 6, 2014

  SMYRNA—On a Tuesday afternoon, 6-year-old Hannah Foy of Smyrna and her mother, Beth, are tackling homework before heading to the YMCA for a swim. While waiting for older sister Sarah to arrive home from St. Joseph School in Marietta, Hannah eagerly calls out numbers on a calendar as her mom points to each one. Hannah, […]

• Chancery staff bring five in out of the cold

  

  By GRETCHEN KEISER, Staff Writer
  Published February 6, 2014

  SMYRNA—Five stranded people found shelter overnight at the Chancery of the archdiocese Jan. 28, pulled into the warmth of the building by a staff member who had been out helping drivers on Cobb Parkway. Daniel West, one of four archdiocesan employees unable to leave work in time as conditions deteriorated, said after listening to the […]

• Children’s faith center of study day on Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

  

  By NICHOLE GOLDEN, Staff Writer
  Published November 7, 2013

  SMYRNA—Parish catechetical leaders and priests participated in a study day for the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Oct. 29 at the Chancery. The program, “Early Encounters with Jesus: Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, an Approach to Religious Formation,” featured national speakers and breakout sessions on the religious formation methods. The Office of Formation and Discipleship […] Full Story

• Weeping Mary inspires reconciling ministry of La Salettes

  By ANDREW NELSON, Staff Writer
  Published September 26, 2013

  SMYRNA—Father Brian Sheridan’s office is filled with books, greeting cards and a large world map takes up most of a wall. Pointing a finger at some small dot on the colorful map is how this Connecticut-born priest connects with believers from Latin America to Africa as they show him their native cities. “We have to […] Full Story

• Planning ahead for immigration reform

  

  By ANDREW NELSON, Staff Writer
  Published August 1, 2013

  SMYRNA—Some 70 pastors and lay leaders attended the first public meeting of the Atlanta Archdiocese’s Immigration Reform Task Force July 19, as federal lawmakers wrestle with renewed attempts to rewrite the nation’s immigration laws. The goal of the task force is to organize people in parishes and church social services to prepare for what they […] Full Story