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 Jerry, All those temptations you mention in your note are quite normal, and you should be careful not to exaggerate their importance. Becoming obsessed with your spiritual battles is
Dear Angela, It sounds a bit like you have put your spiritual life on automatic pilot. That’s understandable, considering how many other things you have going on. Understandable, but not
Dear Wendy, If you continue “being good” just in order to win praise and acclaim from your peers, you are doomed to frustration and anxiety. You cannot please everyone –
Dear Vinnie, Be holy! My dear nephew, don’t WORRY about anything else! Nothing else matters – nothing, do you hear (read) me? NOTHING ELSE! And the fastest way to get
Dear Cosmo, Your mother tells me that you are really making a name for yourself in college, winning all the academic awards and topping the grade charts semester after semester.
Dear Al, I don’t know why you are surprised at the challenges you’re facing as a Resident Assistant. Did you think it would be all fun and games? I guess
Dear Severt, Better to learn this lesson now instead of later. On the one hand, I would wish health problems on no one, but on the other hand, someone needs
Dear Adam, Your last note truly shocked me. Don’t get me wrong, I am only too glad to send you answers to questions about the faith (please see the attachment
Dear Tom, Remember Achilles! You need to take care, my young nephew, that you remember the stuff of which you’re made. You may be tall, strong, good-looking and an All-American
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!
