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 Chris, All right, maybe you don’t have the mind of Aristotle, the body of Hercules, or the voice of the Muses, but that doesn’t mean you can’t do anything
Dear Jack, I have been praying for you daily. I am glad to hear that everything is set for your entry into the seminary – sometimes the Devil makes a
Dear Tony, Without a doubt, winning membership in Phi Beta Kappa as a junior is commendable. But I have to tell you that I am not surprised. Just remember amid
Dear Polly, Some things, my bright young niece, are more important than promotions. Don’t get me wrong, I am glad you have been offered such a wonderful job right out
Dear Dina, Your notes never fail to uplift me. You are unique among my nieces. None of them has been given such a cross as our Lord has seen fit
Dear Maddy, I only have a minute to answer your latest missive. Something’s going on in the prison today, and in a matter of mere moments they will be escorting
Dear Mariza, I owe you my most heartfelt congratulations. You are now a graduate of one of the world’s finest institutions of higher learning, and the first of your family
Dear Pam, True, growth in holiness does take time. But it seems like you’re using that truth as an excuse to cling to your comfortable, self-indulgent ways. Frankly, the only
Dear Frank, You are understandably looking forward to a well-earned vacation. But I can’t help thinking that you are looking forward to it a bit too much. Is it possible
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!
