Local News
Notable
Published: July 8, 2010
Sacred Heart Social Hall at Christ Our King and Savior Church, Greensboro, had a special look on June 22. The room was a sea of pink and purple with tables decorated with flowers in hand-painted pink and purple vases.
The special colors were part of a special event for a family that was embraced by this community during a medical hardship.
Grace Callahan was born with a serious heart condition, and in April she underwent surgery at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston to receive a new heart before her seventh birthday.
Grace Callahan, left, and her sister Megan hold new dolls they received at a fundraising dinner held for Grace at Christ Our King and Savior Church, Greensboro, June 22. Grace, whose grandparents belong to the parish, received a heart transplant in April.
Grace and her 5-year-old sister Megan were guests of honor at this fundraising Italian dinner. Pink and purple are Grace’s favorite colors.
Parents Doug and Audrey Callahan, who are both teachers in Gwinnett County, were given an oversized check for $10,000 to help pay some of the medical expenses that can stretch into the many thousands of dollars.
Jack and Barbara Callahan, grandparents of the two girls, have been leaders at the Greensboro church, where Father Philip Ryan is pastor, and in the community. Parishioners and the Lake Oconee community wanted to return the favor by helping the family.
Also on hand for the celebration were the girls’ maternal grandparents, Fred and Janet Ueberschaer.
The dinner was a great success with tortellini, mostocelli, and spaghetti, all with “homemade” sauces, served with salad and bread. More than 400 meals were served as the cooks prepared two settings for diners who wanted to help the family. Also, guests dug into their pockets to buy reverse raffle tickets and other items donated by many community businesses and organizations, as well as personal donations made by friends. Elaine Jaworski coordinated the event.
Eric Johnston returned to his alma mater, Our Lady of Victory School in Tyrone, to complete the highest award given by the Boy Scouts.
Johnston got outdoor Stations of the Cross with a donation from OLV School and the Knights of Columbus at St. Matthew Church.
The stations were mounted on the trees in the St. Francis Garden on the school campus.
A nature path throughout the garden was built to allow people a bit of tranquility to pray and walk the 14 Stations of the Cross.
Eric Johnston, a rising senior at Our Lady of Mercy High School and a member of Holy Trinity BSA Troop 279, is to receive the honor of Eagle Scout in the fall. He helped install Stations of the Cross at Our Lady of Victory School, Tyrone, as his community project.
Eric, a rising senior at Our Lady of Mercy High School in Fayetteville and a member of Holy Trinity BSA Troop 279, is planning to receive the honor of Eagle Scout in the fall.
Good news for the archdiocesan school system.
The average test score at Catholic schools on the Iowa Test of Basic Skills has risen in the majority of grade levels and test areas, according to Tom Campbell, the associate superintendent of schools.
Campbell provided some key statistics for the 51 main areas tested:
• 32 areas increased from last year • 45 areas increased from two years ago (17 areas by 3 to 6 percentage points) • 22 areas were the highest score in the past six years • 17 areas equaled the highest score in the past six years • Math areas had the most dramatic improvementsHe credits the improvements to stability in student enrollment and teacher/administrator tenure, as well as new curriculum guides.
These are all part of an overall commitment to continuous improvement by the schools, he said.
Also, the schools will be getting a new score reporting service that will allow teachers and administrators to examine test score data to help improve classroom instruction.
Rick Medina is the new director of Grace Scholars Inc.
Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory introduced Medina, who is a member of St Andrew Church, Roswell, recently to the Catholic community of North Georgia.
He succeeds Pat Mannelly, who led the organization for a couple of years.
Medina is the director of faith formation at his parish and is currently in the diaconate formation program.
He comes to the position after starting two companies, Level Red Solutions and Energy Imperium. Medina earned a degree in computer science and mathematics from St. Peter’s College, New Jersey, and is a certified financial planner.
As the head of Grace Scholars, Medina is tasked with an aggressive goal of raising $10 million by 2012 for the program.
Last year, supporters of Catholic schools directed $3 million in state tax dollars to tuition assistance to students entering Catholic schools by opting to participate in Grace Scholars. The program helped some 225 students enroll in Catholic schools.
Grace Scholars is the statewide Catholic program that provides a 100 percent tax credit against state taxes for participants. It also is a charitable contribution that reduces federal taxes.
To recognize Msgr. Donald Kiernan’s 60-plus years of service as a priest, there is now a coffee table book about his life.
The longtime pastor of All Saints Church, Dunwoody, is the focus of a 22-page hardcover book that traces his life from birth to his many years of ministry.
The cover of the 22-page hardcover book put together by longtime All Saints parishioner Virginia “Gin” Shaw. It celebrates Msgr. Donald Kiernan’s 60-plus years of service as a priest.
Virginia “Gin” Shaw, a 15-year member of the parish, put the book together. Shaw, who said she has helped publish hundreds of family history books, interviewed Msgr. Kiernan and found his parents’ marriage license and his baptismal records.
Shaw said she’s already heard from 45 people whose lives have been touched by Msgr. Kiernan’s ministry.
“He’s pretty well known across the state,” Shaw said.
A preview of the book, which sells for $50 plus postage, can be seen at www.ginealogygin.blogspot.com. Ordering can be done online.
If you have news item or submissions for Notable, contact Andrew Nelson at anelson@georgiabulletin.org or (404) 877-5512.
