Fr. John Bartunek, LC, S.Th.D, received his BA in History from Stanford University in 1990. He comes from an evangelical Christian background and became a member of the Catholic Church in 1991. After college, he worked as a high school history teacher, drama director, and baseball coach. He then spent a year as a professional actor in Chicago before entering the religious Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ in 1993. He was ordained a Catholic priest in 2003 and earned his doctorate in moral theology in 2010.
He provided spiritual support on the set of Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ while researching the 2005 Catholic best seller, Inside the Passion, the only authorized, behind-the-scenes explanation of the film. Fr. John has contributed news commentary regarding religious issues on NBC, CNN, Fox, and the BBC. He also served as the English-language press liaison for the Vatican’s 2005 Synod of Bishops on the Eucharist.
His most widely known books are The Better Part: A Christ-Centered Resource for Personal Prayer and 60 Days to Becoming a Missionary Disciple.
His most recent book is Spiritual But Not Religious: The Search for Meaning in a Material World.
Fr. John resides in Atlanta and serves as Territorial Vicar for the Legionaries of Christ.
Dear Willy, Every note you send me fills me with jubilation. Clearly, God is hard at work, calling you to a profound life of intimacy with him, and just as
Dear Biff, How propitious that you are entering seminary on the Solemnity of the Birth of St John the Baptist! I detect the hand of Providence in the unanticipated delay.
Dear Audrey, How they ever derived “Audrey” from “Etheldreda” I’ll never grasp, but derive it they did. When I was younger (and still free), I had the opportunity (which I
Dear Tom, I am sure you are making today a bit special – being sure to get to Mass, making an extra visit to the Blessed Sacrament, having an above-average
Dear Al, So the eagerly expected moment has finally come: high school is over and college is imminent. I myself can almost feel the surge of excitement stirring inside you
Dear Cindy, Have you heard the old Latin phrase, “Ubi Petrus, ibi Ecclesia”? You should have, but by your latest note, I would guess that you haven’t. It is no
Dear Ronnie, I am a little concerned that your work for the forestry service may preclude your attendance at Mass this summer. Are there any chapels up there in the
Dear Eleazar, I do so wish that I could tell you where I am. I am certain that as you backpack across Europe this summer (a generous graduation present, if
Dear Bess, How’s life on Madison Avenue? I was glad to hear that you roped such a prestigious summer job/internship (your talents will be shrewdly and fully exploited by those
Alex Kucera has lived in Atlanta, GA, for the last 46 years. He is one of 9 children, married to his wife Karmen, and has 3 girls, one grandson, and a granddaughter on the way. Alex joined Regnum Christi in 2007. Out of the gate, he joined the Helping Hands Medical Missions apostolate and is still participating today with the Ghana Friendship Mission.
In 2009, Alex was asked to be the Atlanta RC Renewal Coordinator for the Atlanta Locality to help the RC members with the RC renewal process. Alex became a Group Leader in 2012 for four of the Atlanta Men’s Section Teams and continues today. Running in parallel, in 2013, Alex became a Team Leader and shepherded a large team of good men.
Alex was honored to be the Atlanta Mission Coordinator between 2010 to 2022 (12 years), coordinating 5-8 Holy Week Mission teams across Georgia. He also created and coordinated missions at a parish in Athens, GA, for 9 years. Alex continues to coordinate Holy Week Missions, Advent Missions, and Monthly missions at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Cumming, GA.
From 2016 to 2022, Alex also served as the Men’s Section Assistant in Atlanta. He loved working with the Men’s Section Director, the Legionaries, Consecrated, and Women’s Section leadership teams.
Alex is exceptionally grateful to the Legionaries, Consecrated, and many RC members who he’s journeyed shoulder to shoulder, growing his relationship with Christ and others along the way. He knows that there is only one way, that’s Christ’s Way, with others!
