Notable
By ANDREW NELSON, Staff Writer | Published February 17, 2011
It is a tradition at Christ the King School that leaders say feeds both the body and the soul for its families.
As Catholics, when a new sibling is born or a family loses a loved one, prayers are offered. It is second nature.
And at the Peachtree Way school, there is something else. A loaf of sweet bread is delivered to the youngest child in the family.
The bread is taken home and shared as a reminder of God’s “sweet love” during a difficult or exciting time of change. It serves as a symbol that the entire community is celebrating or mourning with the students and their families.
These loaves of love are delivered on Thursdays and each loaf is wrapped with a ribbon—pink or blue for new siblings and purple for the loss of a loved one. Cards are attached to let the family know that the CKS community is praying for them.
“This bread does more than fill an empty belly in a time of need. It feeds the soul,” said Heather Jones, chairwoman of the CKS Spiritual Life Committee.
You know a special young person? Well, Build-A-Bear Workshop’s Huggable Heroes® program wants to hear about him or her.
It is a contest that recognizes young leaders, ages 8 to 18, who give extraordinary service in their communities and around the world. The program will award $10,000 to 10 kids.
Nominations for the eighth annual search for these special people are being taken now.
Anyone, ages 8 and above, is eligible to nominate a candidate (and kids can nominate themselves) by visiting www.lovehu gssmiles.com/HuggableHeroes.aspx or by picking up an entry form at participating Build-A-Bear Workshop stores. Nominations will be accepted through Feb. 28, 2011.
Entries will be narrowed down to 75 semifinalists in March and to 25 finalists by the end of April. Ten new heroes (eight from the United States and Puerto Rico and two from Canada) will be selected. Each new Huggable Hero will receive a $7,500 scholarship toward his or her college education and a $2,500 donation from the Build-A-Bear Workshop Foundation for a charity of his or her choice.
Queen of Angels School, located in Roswell, celebrated the nation as part of Catholic Schools Week, with a patriotic spirit rally.
The third-grade class at Queen of Angels supports military families as a community service project.
Brig. Gen. Larry Dudney discussed the importance of his faith after the attack on the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001. He emphasized the significance of people working together as a team, as in the game of football. In the military, everyone must work together to be successful. After the presentation, the students and teachers participated in a free-throw contest among the class pods.
Dudney came to the school along with: Col. Heath Nuckolls; Marine 1st Sgt. Ronnie Ellis; USAF Master Sgt. Richard Graddy; USAF Senior Staff Sgt. Nick Crawford; USAF Airman Andrew Alexandersen.
Also attending were Phillip Roy, Blue Star member and board member, Georgia USO, and Theresa Milligan, for Sen. Saxby Chambliss’ office.
The visit was coordinated by the Blue Star Organization, a military support group.
Catholic Schools Week is a national event that recognizes the contributions and achievements of Catholic education. This year’s theme, “Catholic Schools: A+ for America,” celebrates that Catholic schools are an added value to the nation and a significant part of American history.
An Atlanta archdiocesan official has been named to the national Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth.
Marilyn Santos, associate director in the Office of Formation and Discipleship, Archdiocese of Atlanta, and president of the National Catholic Network de Pastoral Juvenil Hispana (La RED), will serve in the position from 2011 to 2013.
Anne Renkes, the middle school coordinator at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Alpharetta, reported on a recent project of the Middle School Living Justice Group at the parish to begin a spiritual adoption program.
More than 800 people signed up for this parish-wide project that asked parishioners to “spiritually adopt” an unborn child in danger of being aborted and pray that his or her parents choose to bring that child to life.
The project began on Sunday, Jan. 23, the 38th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision.
Pledge cards were collected from adults and children to pray daily for the next 16 weeks. In the coming weeks, updates of the development of the baby in the womb will be published in the parish bulletin.
On Mother’s Day, parishioners will celebrate the “birth” of their spiritually adopted babies by donating to pro-life organizations.
As part of the project, the group plans on taking this message into the community by wearing T-shirts that ask for prayers to choose life.
Renkes said the motivation for the project came from the youth themselves, through a discussion of their own experience of cultural attitudes about abortion. She said it is enlightening to know that young teens see the value of human life and are willing to make a stand.
Serra Atlanta hosted its 2011 Shepherd’s Night honoring the bishops and priests of the Archdiocese of Atlanta.
Nearly 140 clergy, Serrans and supporters of vocations attended the annual event at St. Peter Chanel Church, Roswell. Jim Aden, president of the North Metro Serra Club, served as master of ceremonies. Atlanta jazz vocalist Kathleen Bertrand entertained the audience following the dinner.