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 Frieda, Sometimes we are beset with more temptations than other times. It sounds like you are currently at the “more” part of the pendulum swing. Our Lord is certainly
“For our sakes he suffered all the agonies of body and mind, and did not shrink from any torment. He gave us a perfect example of patience and love.” –
Dear Max, If you are afraid to take a stand for Christian morals now, while still in the insulated comfort of college, I blanche to think how you will fare
“To choose rightly it is necessary to concentrate on the end for which I am created, that is, for the praise of God and for the salvation of my soul.”
Dear Tanya, It is brave of your friends to become Catholics, and although it may not seem like it, they need your support. Because of their unusual family situation, their
“Of all divine things, the most godlike is to cooperate with God in the conversion of sinners.” – ST. DENIS THE AREOPAGITE READ: MATTHEW 5:17–19 “Do not imagine that I
Dear Mac, Be careful not to confuse worship and entertainment. Just because you sometimes find Mass “boring” and “get nothing out of” receiving Holy Communion doesn’t mean that your private
“O Christian, be aware of your nobility — it is God’s own nature that you share; do not then, by an ignoble life, fall back into your former baseness.” –
Dear Don, Thank you for asking my opinion of your Lenten program for fasting and sacrifice. It is, if I may be frank, ridiculous. If you follow through with all
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!
