A one-time storage room at St. Luke Church, Dahlonega, is a new chapel for Eucharistic Adoration.

Parishioners in the North Georgia parish started 40 hours of weekly adoration at the chapel, which is named Blessed John Paul II Chapel, said Father Neil Dhabliwala.

The chapel renovation was paid for by parishioners who wish to remain anonymous, said Father Dhabliwala. The renovation involved many parishioners contributing furnishings and time to convert the room into a place of prayer, he said.

The chapel project started in late August and it was dedicated on Oct. 21, a date honoring Blessed John Paul II in the Archdiocese of Atlanta. The 40 hours’ schedule began on Nov. 4, the feast of St. Charles Borromeo, who is the patron of seminarians.

Father Dhabliwala said he has a strong devotion to Blessed John Paul II. He also asked the parish to make it a special intention during their adoration to pray for the seminarians in the Atlanta Archdiocese and for an increase in vocations to the priesthood, especially from St. Luke Church and from North Georgia College, located in Dahlonega.

Emily Holmes thought it was great to hear from Cathy Rush, who coached the legendary 1971-72 Immaculata College women’s basketball team portrayed in the new film “The Mighty Macs.” Rush has a place in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Emily is 21, studying education at Georgia Perimeter College and attends Holy Cross Church, Atlanta, where she is a middle school youth coordinator. She saw Rush when she attended the premiere of the movie in Philadelphia, after entering an essay contest to describe an inspiring person in her life.

Holmes received an all-expense-paid trip for two to “The Mighty Macs” premiere, held Friday, Oct. 14, at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia.

The Archdiocese of Atlanta had 35 representatives from 16 parishes and the Catholic Foundation of North Georgia attend the 2011 International Catholic Stewardship Council (ICSC) Conference in Orlando, Fla., from Oct. 23-26. Eleven of those attending were pastors.

This is the best attendance Atlanta has ever had for this annual conference, said Christine P. Heusinger, associate director of stewardship.

The theme was “Stewards of God’s Grace,” from the New Testament’s First Letter of Peter. Christian stewards understand that they are entrusted with the mysteries of God’s grace in order to have abundant life for themselves, their families, their communities, and a world hungry for God’s peace, Heusinger said.

Lou Holtz, former Notre Dame football coach, spoke to the crowd. Holtz, a devout Catholic, best-selling author, and inspiring speaker, described how the ideals of stewardship are fundamental to his game plan for success, said Heusinger.

Bishop Robert Morneau, auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Green Bay, Wis., gave the keynote address. Bishop Morneau was one of the writers of the U.S. Catholic bishops’ pastoral letter, “Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response.” He is a prolific writer of devotional books, children’s literature and poetry. He kept everybody’s attention with his humor and his frank talk about how every person’s life is enriched by converting to a stewardship way of life.

The eight pastors that attended were: Father Dan Stack; Father Bob Fredericks; Father Mike Kingery; Father Jeff Ott; Father John Koziol; Father Jim Duffy; Father Vic Reyes; Father John Kieran; Father Jim Henault; Father Tom Reilly; and Father Greg Goolsby.

Rick Cavallo, the facilities manager at Our Lady of the Assumption Church and School, Atlanta, is the recipient of the 2011 Risk Management Award. Catholic Mutual Group presented the award during the Oct. 27 meeting of archdiocesan facility managers at the Chancery in Smyrna.

The award is given annually to recognize individuals for their personal attention to parish/school maintenance, protection of property and safety.

Monsignor Donovan Catholic High School hosted Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory on Monday, Oct. 24, for a special Mass and rededication of the school chapel. The rededication celebrated the arrival of a new altar given by Father Omar Loggiodice.

Archbishop Gregory served as the main celebrant in a Mass with the student body, along with concelebrants Father Loggiodice and Father David McGuinness from St. Joseph Church in Athens. In addition, the archbishop toured the campus and visited with students. The board of trustees, alumni, parents and friends of the school were in attendance.

The visit coincides with this year’s school theme: “We stand united as one community through our Catholic identity.”

Principal Patrick J. Yuran declared this theme to be the focus of many school activities this year at the opening schoolwide assembly in August.

Now in its ninth year, the school boasts its highest enrollment to date, with 127 students, including 44 in this year’s incoming class of 2015.

Members of the Knights of Columbus at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Alpharetta, were honored on Oct. 30 for their service.

The members of St. Thomas Council 6532 earned the distinguished Star Council Award for the year 2010-11. The award goes to councils who have shown a “Surge With Service” with their insurance and service programs, membership growth, and their achievement in serving the church to promote family, youth and pro-life activities.