Georgia Bulletin

The Newspaper of the Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta

Notable

By ANDREW NELSON, Staff Writer | Published October 13, 2011

Transfiguration Church, Marietta, awarded its highest recognition honors at its 34th anniversary celebration.

The Lumen Gentium (Light of Christ) Award was one of several handed out at the celebration on Saturday, Sept. 24. Nearly 200 people attended the Blue & Silver Ball with food prepared by the men’s club, and a musical performance by the Radio Kings.

The Lumen Gentium Award was given to Dan and Julie Binney for their contribution to social justice, to those in need, and advancing opportunities for those held back.

Other awards included the Marilyn MacInnis Award to Barbara Rudy and the Theater Players for creating parish entertainment that is enjoyable and inspiring; the Pastor’s Award to Lou Ann Piantieri for her tireless efforts in directing all social activities for the parish and organizations, her dedication to the parish religious education program, and for her work with the Girl Scouts; and the Christian Living Award to Suzanne and Don Heisler for their quiet, dependable and joyful service to the community behind the scenes, and for the way they carry life’s challenges.

Students at Marist School hosted a community-wide paint-recycling event on Saturday, Sept. 24. Organized by the Terra Project and Environment Club, the two-hour event received more than 2,400 gallons of paint.

From the paint collected, Williams Paint Recycling will be able to reconstitute more than 2,000 gallons, saving the paint from being discarded in landfills or hazardous waste facilities.

Because of the success of this event, the eight environment club members along with Marist School’s sustainability coordinator, Amelia Luke, are considering hosting another Paint Recycling Day in the spring.

Seminarians of the Archdiocese of Atlanta are among a revival of students at the Pontifical College Josephinum, in Columbus, Ohio.

The total number of men in discernment at the Josephinum reached 186—the seminary’s highest enrollment since the 1970s, according to a news release.

As a national seminary not governed by any one diocese or religious community, the Josephinum educates seminarians from an average of 25 dioceses throughout the United States. In 2011, six new dioceses were added to the growing list: Victoria, Ogdensburg, Kansas City-Saint Joseph, Birmingham, Lexington, and Great Falls-Billings.

Father James Wehner, STD, rector and president, said the rise in enrollment—53 percent in two years—and the addition of new dioceses is due to the excellence of the seminary’s programs, its highly qualified and dedicated faculty, and to its pontifical status. “Bishops are looking for seminaries that clearly define the character, purpose and intent of priestly formation as it relates to the realities of the church in America, while also considering the universality of the church,” he said. “The Josephinum achieves these expectations in every aspect of its formation program.”

Immaculate Heart of Mary School embraced Hispanic Heritage Month in October with this year’s theme, “Many Backgrounds, Many Stories, One American Spirit.”

Some 12 percent of the IHM students and faculty have Hispanic origins.

A highlight was Cuban-American writer Carmen Agra Deedy reading from her children’s stories. The school collected art and office supplies to benefit Caminar Latino, an organization that supports battered Spanish-speaking women and their children. The festivities conclude with the Sixth Annual IHM Pan American Games on Oct. 14 where students will compete in the games wearing the colors of the country they are representing.

As a Catholic school, IHM celebrated a Mass in thanksgiving for the historical and cultural contributions made by Hispanic Americans.

In honor of the 25th anniversary of The Midtown Assistance Center (MAC), an Atlanta-based nonprofit, the organization recently held a gala fundraising event titled “A Night in Barcelona” to kick off donations to raise $25,000 to create the MAC 25th Anniversary Fund. The fund will support MAC as it continues its mission of providing emergency assistance to the working poor of Midtown and downtown Atlanta. Donations are still happily accepted.

Parishioners at Sacred Heart Basilica are leaders in the organization. Mary Beth Brady is president of the MAC board. And the parish is one of the 11 congregations that financially support the nonprofit.

“Over the past 25 years, MAC has stayed true to its mission of supporting the working poor and we have expanded its coverage area in Midtown and downtown Atlanta,” said Dorothy Chandler, MAC’s executive director. “We are reaching out for support because in today’s economy, the needs are greater than ever.”

In 2010, MAC provided $504,535 of assistance in 5,589 emergency situations, prevented eviction or the homelessness of 682 families, provided 1,416 transportation passes to job seekers and the newly employed, and provided work clothing to 695 men.

Five young teachers working in the Atlanta Archdiocese schools are participating in the Alliance for Catholic Education teacher formation program.

The teachers are Dennis Rankin and Michelle Monk, at St. John the Evangelist School, Hapeville; Margaret Schropp, at St. Peter Claver Regional School, Decatur; and Ryan Bell and Mary Forr at Our Lady of Mercy High School, Fayetteville.

The group lives in community in a house in Atlanta. Their curriculum includes summer studies on the Notre Dame campus leading to a master of education degree and two years of teaching.

If you have items or submissions for Notable, contact Andrew Nelson at anelson@georgiabulletin.org or (404) 920-7433.