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.

Patricia M. Chivers

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, prior to that, in the same role for Georgia Right to Life.

Formerly a Florida resident, she was for six years the associate for social concerns and respect life for the Florida Catholic Conference, where she lobbied the state legislature on social justice and respect life issues for the Catholic bishops of Florida.

In her work as the director of communications and advocacy, she was a spokesperson for the Archdiocese of Atlanta and handled the responsibility for media relations and internal and external communications. Throughout her time at the archdiocese, she has worked closely with Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory on public policy matters.

“It has been a great joy and privilege to work with Archbishop Gregory, the clergy and faithful co-workers at the Archdiocese of Atlanta. The opportunity to serve our Catholic Church has been a time of spiritual and professional growth that I treasure in my heart,” Chivers said.

She has also overseen the ministries of respect life, social justice, disabilities, and prison and jail ministry.

Chivers graduated from Florida State University with a master’s degree in political science and public policy. She also earned a bachelor’s degree in social sciences from Florida State. She is certified in public administration from the Askew School of Public Administration and Policy and certified in nonprofit management by the Case Western Reserve University Mandel Center for NonProfit Organizations. Chivers said that she received training and experience in Catholic communications and media relations during the years she has served the bishops of Florida and Atlanta, and from media training offered by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

She serves on the board of directors of the Catholic Academy of Communication Professionals, with additional professional affiliations with the Catholic Press Association and Catholic Radio Association. During the 2008 visit of Pope Benedict XVI to the United States, she served as a member of the communications team of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

In 2005 she was honored by the Georgia Family Council for her work on behalf of the passage of the Woman’s Right to Know Act.

Chivers and her husband, Ken, have been married for 47 years. Members of St. Monica Church, Duluth, they have three adult children and 12 grandchildren.

Chivers said, “While I look forward to retirement as the next chapter in my life, I will miss the people I have worked with and the blessing of daily Mass in St. Dominic’s Chapel (at the Chancery).”