ATLANTA—During the spring meeting of the U.S. bishops in Atlanta, Father Ed Branch, campus minister at Atlanta University, hosted the African-American bishops. On June 15, Father Branch invited the African-American bishops to Lyke House, the Catholic Center at Atlanta University, for dinner, a tour of the center, a vespers service and a reception for all invited Catholics of the archdiocese.

Bishops in attendance were Bishop Dominic Carmon, SVD, auxiliary bishop of New Orleans, Bishop Curtis Guillory, SVD, of Beaumont, Texas, Bishop Leonard Olivier, SVD, auxiliary bishop of Washington, D.C., and Bishop Terry Steib, SVD, of Memphis, Tenn.

Juanita Baranco, a parishioner of Sts. Peter and Paul Church, Decatur, coordinated the event. She, along with her committee, transported the bishops from the Renaissance Waverly Hotel, where the U.S. bishops’ meeting was held, and prepared and served a home-cooked meal to start the evening off. Members of the committee assisting her included Jean Brannan, Pearl Derokey and Cecilia Houston-Torrence, parishioners of St. Anthony Church, Atlanta. Newman Club members of the Lyke House, Emefa Selormey, John Phillips and Will Thomas, served as hosts for the dinner. The archdiocesan Office for Black Catholic Ministry was also instrumental in communicating with and coordinating the presence of the bishops at this event.

Bishop Olivier presided at the vespers service and Val Parker served as cantor. Also participating in and adding to the vespers service were the Lyke House Drummers.

After the vespers service, Nathaniel Goldston of Gourmet Services, Inc., hosted a reception for the bishops and the more than 130 invited guests, which included many priests from throughout the archdiocese.

GATHERING -- (L-r) Shay O’Connor and her husband Gerard, secretary to the late Archbishop James P. Lyke, OFM, converse with Bishop Curtis Guillory, SVD, bishop of Beaumont, Texas. The bishops were treated to a private dinner at Lyke House, followed by a vespers service and public reception.
Photo by Michael Alexander