If the walkers’ spirits flagged during a 60-mile walk to raise money for breast cancer research, a group of Daisy Girl Scouts from Our Lady of the Assumption Church, Atlanta, were there to cheer them up.

The 6- and 7-year-olds stood in the cold on the edge of Lowe’s in Chamblee holding signs of “Thank you” and “Good Luck” and shaking noisemakers made from recycled water bottles and dried beans.

Walkers received pink bead necklaces, high fives and hugs from the girls.

Be on the lookout for Father Frank McNamee running the hills of Buckhead.

Father McNamee, the pastor of Atlanta’s Christ the King Cathedral, is training for a half marathon in December. He is running 13.1 miles as part of a benefit for the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.

He is part of “Team Andrew,” named for a young man diagnosed with a brain tumor. The Memphis hospital was the only place that could treat the youngster. It is the first National Cancer Institute designated comprehensive cancer center focused on pediatric cancer.

So, Father Frank is raising money for the hospital. To help his effort, go to www.stjudeheroes.org and look for participant Francis McNamee.

“This will be my first attempt at a half marathon so I’ll need your prayers as well!” he wrote in the parish bulletin.

Men are getting it together at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, Atlanta, as a new chapter of the Knights of Columbus was formed at the parish.

Mark Noel, acting grand knight of this new council, said some 62 men are charter members of this council.

They were commissioned on Oct. 23 and it became officially recognized on Oct. 28 as the Deacon Mike J. O’Brien Council 15161.

Noel said the new council was named to honor the late Deacon O’Brien, a respected clergyman and parish member who died in the past year.

The Respect Life Ministry at the Atlanta Archdiocese made a financial donation to representatives of PATH (Post Abortion Treatment and Healing) program.

Mary Boyert, the director of the ministry, made the donation to the organization on Friday, Oct. 22. Accepting the financial contribution were Mary Ann McNeil, director/president of PATH, and Beverly Osterbur, assistant director.

The $5,000 gift will help the organization, based in Chamblee, to continue aiding women who have had abortions.

McNeil said studies show that 27 percent of women who seek abortions are Catholic, so the ministry is aimed at them. As many as 60 women a year are helped by PATH, she said.

“There is mercy. There is forgiveness. The church fully backs our ministry. Everyone needs a way home,” said McNeil.

Women and men both need to know there is spiritual help available to people who have dealt with abortion, she said.

The organization is increasing its outreach to churches to ensure parishioners know about its services, along with a push to increase PATH services for the Latino and African-American communities, she said.

A retreat is scheduled Nov. 12 to 14 as part of the healing ministry.

For more information, visit www.healingafterabortion.org or www.rachelsvineyard.org.

Leaders at St. Mary’s School are fulfilling a pledge to upgrade technology at the Rome school. Two years in the making, the school is on track to install interactive SMART Boards for every grade.

“Since the decision was made, the ongoing challenge has been securing funds for the boards,” said Principal Alex Porto. “But we wanted to ensure that our teachers had access to the latest technology with which to enhance the learning experience for our students.”

Before the pledge, one SMART Board was in each wing of the school. Now, the boards, which combine a whiteboard and a computer, can be found in the media center, four in the middle school classrooms, and three in the upper elementary grades. The goal is to purchase two more.

“People have realized the importance of this process, and we really appreciate everything that they have given,” said Marty Sutton, who headed up the research and development of the school’s technology plan. “Spending on technology products for education is expected to increase 8 percent, and St. Mary’s is committed to remaining competitive with the development and integration of technology in the classroom.”