Feb. 1, 2015, ET Catholic by Diocese of Knoxville

This issue

He dwells among us ................ 2 Diocesan calendar ................. 12 Deanery news ........................ 13 La Cosecha ......... center pullout

The East Tennessee

Catholic schools......................17 Columns...................................23 Virtus training...........................25

February 1, 2015 Volume 24 Number 3 Bishop Richard F. Stika

News from The Diocese of Knoxville • Visit us at dioknox.org or etcatholic.org

Decade of aid The Catholic Education Trust Fund

40 Days For Life Lenten vigil features parishioners from across diocese

Year of Consecrated Life Religious Sisters of Mercy

‘We gather to offer the light of hope’ Turnout strong as Cardinal Justin Rigali leads Rosary for Life in prayerful support for the unborn

Rosary continued on page 7

DAN MCWILLIAMS

ardinal Justin Rigali was joined by about 250 enthusiastic Catholic faithful Jan. 10 in front of Planned Parenthood’s East Knoxville clinic for the annual Rosary for Life. Cardinal Rigali led the prayer service on the sidewalk in front of the clinic at 710 N. Cherry St., one of two abortion facilities in Knoxville. In the “Painfully and tragically, Diocese of KnoxHerod’s fear has been en-ville there also are shrined in the law of our abortion facilities in country since the fateful the Tri-Cities. ChatSupreme Court decision tanooga remains of Roe vs. Wade 42 years the largest U.S. city ago. So we gather to without an abortion offer the light of hope, clinic. especially for those who The enthusiare afraid because of a astic crowd braved child in the womb. temperatures in the —Cardinal Justin Rigali 20s as they joined in hymns and recited the Apostles Creed, the Joyful Mysteries, Hail, Holy Queen, and the St. Michael Prayer — all led by Cardinal Rigali and several speakers in English and Spanish. “Thank you for joining me on a cold and wintry morning. How grateful Bishop Stika and I are for your generosity in gathering

By Bill Brewer

Praying for life Diocese of Knoxville parishioners take part in the annual Rosary for Life Jan. 10 at the corner of Cherry Street and Washington Avenue in Knoxville. Some 250 pro-life supporters joined Cardinal Justin Rigali in praying the rosary for the sanctity of life.

The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee

He dwells among us

by Bishop Richard F. Stika

Bishop’s schedule

Bucket lists

These are some of Bishop Stika’s public appointments:

Joy comes from being the hands, the face and the heart of Christ to others

ave you ever been asked, “What’s on your bucket list?” For those not familiar with the phrase, it is a list of things that a person wants to do before he or she dies. For some, it’s a dream list of things that they may never get the opportunity to do. For others, it represents a program for living life to the fullest. But, I would like to recommend a different type of bucket list for us to live by if we are to experience the joy our hearts truly seek. Instead of a list of things we would like to do for ourselves, let’s develop a list of things that we can do to help others. Today, there is no shortage of motivational speakers, authors, and celebrities marketing their own brand of joy that they’ll share the secret for obtaining—all for a price of course. But these recipes for joy more often end up resembling a cat’s pursuit of the elusive laser dot that cat owners tease their pets with—just when you think you’ve captured it, it’s gone. This is because our hearts are made for something far beyond just the enjoyments and successes of life. These might bring us pleasure or happiness, but not joy. For joy is not of the body or

Diocesan policy for reporting sexual abuse

Follow Bishop Richard Stika on Twitter @bishopstika and his blog for news and events from the diocese. the mind, but is something that is both human and divine—it is Christ Jesus! And the joy of Christ is never meant for ourselves alone but must be shared if His joy is to grow in us. Christ is both Gift and Giver, and in receiving the gift of Himself, particularly in the Eucharist, we in turn are called to become His givers. This is the reason why the Mass is named after the word for dismissal—missa—it is a command to go and to share what we have received. Just as St. Joseph was instructed in a dream to give the name of Jesus to the child to be born of Mary, so, too, should our works of mercy that are first conceived of faith in our heart bear the name of Jesus in deed. Only then can we truly be the face, the hands, the voice, and the heart of Jesus and know the joy that is His. What a different world it would be if all our actions bore the name of Jesus! What might be on our bucket list? There are so many ways in which

Feb. 2-4: Gatlinburg Study Days

we can be the face, the hands, and the heart of Jesus. Pray about it and spend time with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, asking, like St. Francis of Assisi prayed, to be an instrument of His peace. It might be in deciding to assist in a parish mission trip to a region in need, or in getting involved with groups such as the Ladies of Charity, St. Vincent de Paul Society, or with the Knights of Columbus. It can be simply by being a friend to someone we work with who is lonely or hurting in some way. It can be in visiting the elderly at a nursing home or getting involved in prison ministry. But above all, whatever you do for others, always ask for the grace of a giving heart. Joy, then, is not something we receive and hold onto for ourselves, but something that grows to the degree we make a gift of it to others. So particularly with the start of Lent on Feb. 18, let us strive to be givers of the Gift we have first received. With the help of God’s grace, let us be daring, then, in making a bucket list of things we can do to help others. One idea to consider adding to your bucket list is buying tickets for

The East Tennessee

Feb. 5: 11 a.m., Blessing and open house for Catholic Charities of East Tennessee on Dameron Avenue in Knoxville Feb. 7: 11 a.m., Diocesan-level confirmation meeting at Knoxville Catholic High School Feb. 7: 5:30 p.m., Mass and dedication of adoration chapel at St. Mary Church in Oak Ridge Feb. 8: 5 p.m. Mass for Consecrated Religious in the diocese, followed by banquet at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Feb. 10: 11 a.m., Presbyteral Council meeting at the Chancery Feb. 18: noon, Mass for Ash Wednesday at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Feb. 19: 6:15 p.m. Knights of Columbus Clergy Appreciation Dinner at St. John Neumann Church in Farragut Feb. 20: 10 a.m. CST, Catholic Public Policy Commission board meeting in Nashville Feb. 21: 1 p.m., Rite of Election (two deaneries) at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Feb. 22: 3:30 p.m., Rite of Election (two deaneries) at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Knoxville ■

Bishop continued on page 20

Bishop Richard F. Stika Publisher

Dan McWilliams Assistant editor

Bill Brewer

Margaret Hunt

Anyone who has actual knowlEditor Administrative assistant edge of or who has reasonable 805 S. Northshore Drive • Knoxville, TN 37919 cause to suspect an incident of The Diocese of Knoxville sexual abuse should report such The East Tennessee Catholic (USPS 007211) is published bi-monthly by The Diocese of Knoxville, 805 S. Northshore Drive, information to the appropriate Knoxville, TN 37919-7551. Periodicals-class postage paid at Knoxville, Tenn. Printed on recycled paper by the Knoxville News Sentinel. civil authorities first, then to the The East Tennessee Catholic is mailed to all registered Catholic families in East Tennessee. Subscription rate for others is $15 a year bishop’s office, 865-584-3307, or in the United States. Make checks payable to The Diocese of Knoxville. the diocesan victims’ assistance coordinator, Marla Lenihan, 865Postmaster: Send address changes to The East Tennessee Catholic, 805 S. Northshore Drive, Knoxville, TN 37919-7551 Reach us by phone: 865-584-3307 • fax: 865-584-8124 • e-mail: webmaster@dioknox.org • web: dioknox.org 482-1388. ■

2 February 1, 2015

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Catholic Education Trust Fund marks 10 years of assisting schools Diocese of Knoxville program provides critical funding for parishes, schools to improve religious education

The East Tennessee Catholic

BILL BREWER

t St. Stephen in Chattanooga, the parish is seeing growth in the number of registered families. That’s a good situation for a Catholic church to be in. But it also can present a problem. Limited parish resources and increasing financial burdens faced by families can create challenges for religious education. St. Stephen, which is typical of nearly every parish in the Diocese of Knoxville, has discovered a valuable partner in its efforts to provide a solid Catholic education for its students – the Diocese of Knoxville’s Catholic Education Trust Fund. The fund recently marked 10 years of providing much-needed resources to families and parishes to promote religious education. According to trust fund administrators, it’s no secret that the most recent economic downturn has hurt many in need and has had an extreme impact on many Catholic households. The impact is seen in Catholic families’ ability to afford Catholic schools as well as churches’ ability to offer strong religious education programs. But despite the challenges, a strong Catholic education is widely seen as the bedrock of a strong and vibrant Church. “There are truly few things more important than the education of our children,” Bishop Richard F. Stika said. “Through the Catholic Education Trust Fund, children have been able to attend Catholic schools and parishes have invested in needed resources to teach the faith. Established through the GIFT campaign in 2004, the Catholic Education Trust Fund has had a profound impact in providing support for Catholic education across East Tennessee.” After its founding in 2004, the trust fund began making distributions in 2005 to assist with Catholic schools tuition and parish Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) programs. “That was the result of our first

Promoting Catholic education George Haggard, left, of St. Patrick Parish in Mor-

ristown, who chairs the diocesan Catholic Education Trust Fund, is shown at Sacred Heart School with Father Richard Armstrong, who leads the trust fund.

“There are truly few things more important than the education of our children. Through the Catholic Education Trust Fund, children have been able to attend Catholic schools, and parishes have invested in needed resources to teach the faith. Established through the GIFT campaign in 2004, the Catholic Education Trust Fund has had a profound impact in providing support for Catholic education across East Tennessee.” — Bishop Richard F. Stika diocesan campaign. We were having issues with tuition and parishes having regular CCD classes and committing resources to CCD,” said George Haggard, a member of St. Patrick Church in Morristown and chairman of the Catholic Education Trust Fund board. But the strategy early on was for the diocese’s 10 schools to receive funds for tuition assistance and other programs and for resources also to go to CCD programs at parishes, according to Mr. Haggard. To streamline the administrative process, parishes and schools would submit formal requests for funds from the CETF. Father Richard Armstrong, assistant director of the diocese’s Office of Christian Formation, then joined the CETF board. Initially, the fund had $300,000 to distribute, with $225,000 targeted for tuition assistance and $75,000 for CCD programs. In the decade since its inception, the

fund has distributed $3.6 million, of which $2.8 million has gone to tuition support, according to Father Armstrong and Mr. Haggard, who credit the CETF board for guiding the fund’s growth, especially during the Great Recession. And since being established, the trust fund has enjoyed widespread support. “Our parish priests are very much in favor of it. Most have made multiple requests to the fund and have received funds,” Mr. Haggard said. Rather than wait for parishes and schools to approach the trust fund, Father Armstrong has been working with the CETF board to get the word out about the program. “Part of my responsibility is to advise parishes on what a specific education program looks like and what resources are needed,” he said. “We are providing continuing education through workshops, seminars and conferences to help the growth of their programs.”

The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee

By Bill Brewer

He noted that parishes and schools have requirements for sound catechesis and that a good formation of the catechist and the director of religious education are critically important. Correct formation can have longlasting effects on the Church, as can incorrect formation. Father Steve Pawelk, GHM, pastor of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Parish in Union County and St. John Paul II Catholic Mission in Grainger County, shares that opinion. Father Pawelk said the trust fund has allowed Blessed Teresa and St. John Paul to start faith formation programs critical to the mission of the newer congregations. CETF money has purchased everything from chairs and tables to textbooks for the rural churches that have resulted in a growing number of youth involved in faith formation. “We depend upon it and are grateful for it. It has been a great gift,” Father Pawelk said, noting that student textbooks cost $15 each and workbooks for teachers cost even more. Father Pawelk strongly encourages participation in faith formation at the churches, which offer programs for kindergarten through adult in English and Spanish. “We want our students to receive good faith formation. Everything builds from that formation,” he said. The Catholic Education Trust Fund has been invaluable for Father Joe Campbell as he works to stay up with technology in his faith formation programs. For Father Campbell and other priests and directors of religious education, the challenge is to pique the interest of youth and adults who are studying the Catholic faith using textbooks and multimedia tools. “The Education Trust Fund has allowed us to stay on top of technology for youth and adult programs,” said Father Campbell, who is pastor of Our CETF continued on page 11 February 1, 2015 3

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Diocese of Knoxville’s Lenten season begins with 40 Days for Life Vigil will be held in front of East Knoxville Planned Parenthood facility Feb. 18-March 29; parishioners urged to take part

s issues concerning the sanctity of life and protection of the unborn take center stage in Tennessee following the passage of Amendment 1 and the start of the legislative session, the Diocese of Knoxville will hold a pro-life observance during the 40 days of Lent. Parishioners from across the diocese will again take part in the vigil that will be held in front of Planned Parenthood’s East Knoxville abortion facility at 710 N. Cherry St. The observance is being organized by the diocesan Office of Justice and Peace, which is seeking participation by as many of the diocese's 49 parishes and two missions as possible. The observance is part of an international Catholic effort to pray for the sanctity of life and bring an end to abortion. This Lent, 27 nations and 559 cities will be participating in the 40 Days for Life campaign. It will be the seventh year that the Diocese of Knoxville has participated in the campaign. Last year in the diocese, 18 parishes and five Catholic groups participated in the 40 Days campaign, keeping a daily vigil from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Bishop Richard F. Stika was joined by students from diocesan schools in saying the rosary at the site during the vigil. Paul Simoneau, director of the Office of Justice and Peace, and Lisa Morris of Sacred Heart Cathedral are the co-directors of the diocesan campaign. “Last year was our first year holding the campaign in front of Planned Parenthood and it was also the first time we attempted to have parishes and Catholic groups adopt whole days of vigil,” Mr. Simoneau said. “In previous years we tried to get individuals to fill one- or two-hour blocks of time to cover each day, but this made managing the campaign The East Tennessee Catholic

much more difficult as we frequently had gaps in the day that required us to call for assistance from others. So last year, we decided to try to get parishes and Catholic groups to adopt days of vigil. This significantly eased the work needed to keep our vigil continuously manned. We were able to cover 27 of the 40 days, which was a blessing. This year, we’re hoping we can get all 40 days adopted,” he added. Cardinal Justin Rigali began the year with a Rosary for Life on Jan. 10 in front of the East Knoxville Planned Parenthood building where abortion services are offered. About 250 parishioners from across the diocese took part in the rosary. Pro-life legislation is at the forefront of the General Assembly’s agenda this legislative season, with several bills to more closely regulate abortion under consideration after the constitutional amendment was adopted by voters. While passage of the amendment has no immediate effect on abortion policies in Tennessee, it does give lawmakers more power in enacting abortion regulations and restrictions in the state. The diocese’s 40-day vigil will promote prayer to help make the worldwide movement to protect mothers and babies successful. “We’re off to a good start this year, but we still have lots of work ahead of us to ready for the campaign. I am always indebted to Lisa and Robb Morris who are so generous with their time, prayers and efforts. Without them, this campaign would not be possible,” Mr. Simoneau said. The married couple have for years been active in the diocese’s pro-life ministry. Mr. Simoneau emphasized that the vigil is peaceful and nonconfrontational and meets with all required approvals. “Our primary goal is always the

safety of all who participate. We work closely each year with the Knoxville Police Department and brief them on our campaign. They know that our efforts are meant to be peaceful, prayerful and lawabiding, and that participants must sign a “peace statement” stating as much. We’re not about pushing limits or antagonizing anyone. That’s not who we are. We come to pray and to offer a loving witness to the Gospel of Life,” Mr. Simoneau noted. Mr. Simoneau and Mr. and Mrs. Morris hope every parish in the

By Bill Brewer

greater Knoxville area will be represented during the vigil. “We’re already blessed with the pledge of groups such as Tennessee Right to Life, the Ladies of Charity, Knights of Columbus, the Frassati Fellowship, Holy Ghost St. Vincent de Paul, and the American Heritage Girls. The larger parishes of All Saints and St. John Neumann churches have again led the way with adopting a number of days each. St. Thomas the Apostle parish in Lenoir City has adopted two days, and when you think of the

Vigil continued on page 9

Help Save Lives from February18 – March 29, 2015

that “with God, all things are possible,” we Recognizing will join hundreds of other cities for 40 Days for Life – the largest internationally coordinated pro-life mobilization in history. 40 Days for Life is a peaceful, prayerful – and proven effective – pro-life campaign that has already been embraced by more than half a million people worldwide, saved more than 8,000 lives from abortion, led to the conversion of 83 abortion workers, and seen 40 abortion facilities close. 40 Days for Life features three components:

1. PRAYER AND FASTING 2. PEACEFUL VIGIL Stand for life in a peaceful public witness outside of Planned Parenthood on 710 N. Cherry St. in Knoxville from 7am – 7pm from Ash Wed, February 18 through Palm Sunday, March 29 3. COMMUNITY OUTREACH: Bring a positive pro-life message to every corner of our city through media efforts, advocacy and public visibility. Paul Simoneau 865-584-3307 or Lisa Morris, 865-567-1245…information@40days.com

www.40daysforlife.com/Knoxville

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February 1, 2015 5

Year of Consecrated Life

Charism is at the heart of Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma Diocesan schools, health care, social services benefit from the Catholic order’s ministries

By Sherrie Shuler

6 February 1, 2015

BILL BREWER

n a bitterly cold evening in January, I pull into the driveway of the Convent of St. Richard in a West Knoxville neighborhood and approach a rather unpretentious entry. The moment I reach for the doorbell, I’m convinced I’m at the wrong address: the persistent barking of a dog...does this convent really have a dog? The door quickly opens – they have been waiting – and yes, the convent does have a dog: Shiloh, I am told, and even he jumps with enthusiasm in a greeting all his own. I am welcomed into the foyer by six Sisters with the Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma, Mich., who immediately dispel the cold with their personal warmth, as palpable as a group hug. They reach for my coat and scarf, bag and gloves, and embrace this stranger among them like a dearest relative. I am immediately smitten. The Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma have been in the Diocese of Knoxville since 2009 at the invitation of Bishop Richard F. Stika. As they’ve spread their medical, education and social services charism throughout the diocese, they’ve forged strong ties in East Tennessee and with fellow men and women religious, including their sister order, the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, which has been in the diocese for many years. Tonight I have requested, and been invited into, a rare opportunity to experience firsthand the life of the sisters inside the convent as they go about their evening routine, unaltered, and as they surround me with the mercy of God that is their charism. Daily, their call is to live their “fourth vow” of service to the poor, the sick, and the ignorant, in their professions, in their apostolate, and in their personal lives. In this case, I am neither poor nor sick, but I am

Prayerful reflection The Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma, Mich., lead Holy Hour at the Convent of St. Richard in Knoxville. The Sisters are joined by Sister Mary Clara Auer of the religious order Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George (in light gray habit) and Brigid Prosser, far right, a pre-postulant who is discerning with the Religious Sisters of Mercy.

certainly ignorant of this life and eager to get at their essence. I am ushered graciously into a sitting room where Sister Mary Timothea explains what to expect in the hour of prayer just ahead, which I am about to experience with them. I look around and see what one would expect in a convent: order, elements of necessity but not extravagance, and a lack of clutter. The interior of the convent is simply furnished, sufficient, and utterly lacking in pretension, as are the sisters. Holy Hour is announced by the chime of a clock, and Sister Mary Timothea ushers me to my place in the chapel beside Sister Mary Christine, who graciously leads me step-by-step

through the ceremony, pointing out the page and paragraph of each reading, each hymn. She whispers, “You can either sit or stand, as you wish.” The service begins. Having never experienced chant outside of the occasional hippie wedding in a field during the 1960s, I’m surprised that its effect seems to suspend us in a space without time. It is mesmerizing – and memorable. After Holy Hour, we adjourn to the dining room for a simple meal together, and I conspicuously place a tape recorder in the center of the table, encouraging them to not be intimidated. “Oh, we’re not easily intimidated,” one sister warns, and we all

laugh and speak at once. Once we’re quiet, I begin with what I hope is not the oh-so-obvious question – “Tell me about your vow of obedience.” With a knowing round of laughter, we launch into a discussion of the discernment process, their educations, their professions, and the leading of the Holy Spirit through the guidance of the superior general and the order’s council. Sister Mary Christine advised that “it’s not like we have to automatically say ‘yes’ (to where we are sent), and we all march off into the sunset. Rather, it’s an informed obedience, one in which we have been encouraged to speak our thoughts.” Each sister is articulate and intelli-

Sisters continued on page 19 The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee

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together to offer this witness to life. Bishop Stika offers his prayers for all of you and joins with you spiritually,” Cardinal Rigali said. “We come together as witnesses to the light of Jesus Christ, as witnesses to the Word made flesh. With the light of faith, the Christmas season we have been celebrating brings us with renewed love and awe to kneel before our Savior as a baby lying in a manger. In choosing to share our humanity, to be nurtured in the womb of his mother and to be given birth, Christ established a new relationship with every human being, including the unborn,” Cardinal Rigali added. He was assisted in the prayer service by Deacon Sean Smith, chancellor of the Diocese of Knoxville, and Paul Simoneau, diocesan vice chancellor and director of the diocese’s Office of Justice and Peace. Participating with Cardinal Rigali in saying the rosary in English and Spanish were Elena Morales of St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Lenoir City, Father Adam Kane of the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Sister Stella Maris, RSM, Eduardo Lopez of St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 12-year-old John Godeicke of St. Christopher Church in Jamestown, Andrew Giminaro of the Frassati Fellowship of Young Adults who is a Sacred Heart Cathedral parishioner, a Knights of Columbus honor guard, and cantor Michelle Pokelwaldt of Sacred Heart Cathedral. A number of priests and Religious Sisters of Mercy were in attendance. And in addition to Jamestown, parishioners attended from Johnson City and Chattanooga. Cardinal Rigali led the Rosary for Life just ahead of the anniThe East Tennessee Catholic

DAN MCWILLIAMS

Rosary continued from page 1

Leading by example Cardinal Justin Rigali leads some 250 people in praying the rosary for the annual Rosary for Life.

that 1973 ruling, estimates place the number of abortions in the United States at more than 56 million, with more than 600,000 of them taking place in Tennessee. Some 25 percent of Tennessee abortions are from women who live outside of the state. In November, Tennessee voters representing communities of faith approved an amendment to the state Constitution that would restore common-sense regulations on the abortion industry. In 2000, the Tennessee DAN MCWILLIAMS Supreme Court ruled Seen and heard Children attending the Rosary for that the state Constitution Life stake out higher ground to show their support guaranteed a woman’s for the sanctity of life. right to abortion above and beyond what the versary of the landmark Roe vs. Roe vs. Wade decision reWade Supreme Court decision quires. On Nov. 4, Amendment that guaranteed every U.S. wom- 1 passed with 53 percent of Tenan’s right to an abortion. Jan. 22 nessee residents casting “Yes” marked the 42nd anniversary of votes. the Roe vs. Wade decision. Since However, opponents of the The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee

measure filed a federal lawsuit in November challenging the method election officials used to count votes for the ballot measures. The lawsuit seeks to force election officials to either recount the vote or invalidate it. Since the lawsuit was filed, three federal judges have recused themselves from hearing the case. As Catholics around the country take part in rosaries and marches for life this month to mark the Roe vs. Wade decision, Cardinal Rigali reminded those attending the diocesan Rosary for Life that the feast of the Epiphany that was celebrated Jan. 4 reminds the faithful of the miracle of life embodied in a small baby in a manger and the simultaneous desire by a those in power to destroy the tiny life out of fear. “Painfully and tragically, Herod’s fear has been enshrined in the law of our country since the fateful Supreme Court decision of Roe vs. Wade 42 years ago. So we gather to offer the light of hope, especially for those who are afraid because of a child in the womb. And I reaffirm with you today to say as a church community that we will stand with, and to the extent possible, help any woman who is pregnant and needs assistance. The same truth that witnesses to the sanctity of human life in the womb witnesses to the sanctity of the human life throughout its span of life, from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death,” he said. Parishes around the diocese participated in the national March for Life, held annually, that took place Thursday, Jan. 22, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Locally, a March for Life sponsored by the Knoxville chapter of Tennessee Right to

Rosary continued on page 8 February 1, 2015 7

Pope Francis celebrates Mass for 6 million during Philippine trip celebration. Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila canceled other Masses throughout the archdiocese to enhance turnout. The crowd was so dense in spots that people passed hosts to fellow worshippers unable to reach priests distributing Communion. The government estimated total crowd size at 6 million-7 million people. According to the Vatican spokesman, Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, that would be the largest number of people ever to gather to see a pope. A Mass with St. John Paul II in the same place 20 years earlier is believed to have drawn 4 million-5 million people, often described as the

By Catholic News Service MANILA, Philippines — Pope Francis told a crowd of an estimated 6 million gathered in a Manila park to protect the family “against insidious attacks and programs contrary to all that we hold true and sacred, all that is most beautiful and noble in our culture.” The pope’s homily at the Jan. 18 Mass also reprised several other themes he had sounded during the four-day visit, including environmental problems, poverty and corruption. Despite continuous rain, the congregation in Rizal Park began to assemble the night before the afternoon

largest live crowd in history. The Mass was celebrated on Santo Nino Day, or the feast of the Holy Child Jesus, one of the most popular feast days in the Philippines. In his homily, Pope Francis said Christians “need to see each child as a gift to be welcomed, cherished and protected. And we need to care for our young people, not allowing them to be robbed of hope and condemned to life on the streets.” The pope praised the Philippines, whose population is more than 80 percent Catholic, as the “foremost Catholic country in Asia,” and said its people, millions of whom work abroad, are “called to be outstanding

Life was held Sunday, Jan. 25. The event began at the Tennessee Amphitheater with a prayer service and then the march followed through the University of Tennessee campus. Patty Johnson of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Fairfield Glade has taken part in the national March for Life through the National Council of Catholic Women, for which she served as president from 2009-2011. Ahead of her support for the annual Washington event, she prayed for the sanctity of life and an end to abortion during the Diocese of Knoxville’s Rosary for Life. “I think of a baby each time I move my fingers through the rosary,” said Mrs. Johnson, who attended the Rosary for Life and held a sign that said “Life is Precious.” “We believe in the value of life. We believe that life is very precious.” Mrs. Johnson said her feelings on the sanctity of life run deep, a feeling shared by Cardinal Rigali and all who attended the prayer service. “It’s probably a little stronger

8 February 1, 2015

BILL BREWER

Rosary continued from page 7

Braving the cold The annual Rosary for Life attracted pro-life faithful from across the Diocese of Knoxville, including Chattanooga and the Tri-Cities, who bundled up to show their support for the sanctity of life.

than an opinion. It’s a belief. It’s ingrained in us. We value life from the moment of conception to the moment of death,” she said. Cardinal Rigali emphasized that the Rosary for Life is a peaceful act to praise the sanctity of life and is devoid of any confrontation or intimidation. He called for the nation to re-double

its efforts to pray for the protection of life, pointing out that so many people are affected by a culture of death from abortion and euthanasia. He also said the Diocese of Knoxville faith community expresses prayers and mercy for those taking part in and supporting the abortion industry. “So we gather to witness to

The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee

missionaries of the faith in Asia.” Yet he warned the developing nation, one of Asia’s fastest-growing economies, against temptations of materialism. Pope Francis, who had urged a group of young people earlier in the day to address the challenge of climate change through dedication to the environment, told Mass-goers human sinfulness had “disfigured (the) natural beauty” of creation. Other consequences of sin, the pope said, were “social structures which perpetuate poverty, ignorance and corruption,” problems he had emphasized in his Jan. 16 speech at Manila’s presidential palace. ■ the Light of Life and to proclaim that God alone is the lord of life. We do so peacefully, with love and mercy, embracing with compassionate understanding the mothers and fathers who have been wounded by their decision to have an abortion. We pray for those who promote the culture of death and its supporters that they might kneel before the Light of Life and discover the mercy and love of Jesus Christ. “Dear friends, dear young people, let us now entrust ourselves, our prayers, and this cause for life to our Blessed Mother Mary – to Our Lady of Guadalupe – so that our witness will be covered by her mantle and thus transformed by the grace of her son. And so we pray to God – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit – that our peaceful witness will help to open the hearts of many of our brothers and sisters to recognize the sanctity of the unborn. Your commitment to the sacredness of human life renders honor to the Lord of Life and contributes greatly toward building a culture of life and a civilization of love,” Cardinal Rigali said. ■ dioknox.org

Pope Francis may add New York, Washington, D.C., to U.S. visit Catholic media reports VATICAN CITY — The Vatican secretary of state said he expects Pope Francis to visit New York City and Washington, D.C., during his September trip to the United States. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who as secretary of state is considered the highest Vatican official under the pope, spoke to reporters Jan. 6, following a ceremony to dedicate a new building at the Pontifical North American College, the U.S. seminary in Rome. Asked if Pope Francis would visit the United Nations in New York in September, Cardinal Parolin

replied: “I think so, I think so, but no official announcement has been done. But everybody is speaking of that.” Asked if the same trip would include a visit to Washington, the cardinal replied: “Of course,” then added with a laugh, “but no official confirmation has been given.” In November, Pope Francis confirmed reports that he would attend the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia in September. So far, that is the only confirmed stop on what is expected to be a more extensive papal visit to North America. The pope had already acknowl-

Vigil continued from page 5

many people give of themselves to make the 40 Days For Life campaign a success. And there are many more who work year-round to promote the sanctity of life. “Giving witness to the Gospel of Life is such a team effort. When I think about this campaign, I also think of those such as Sandi Davidson and those at Catholic Charities of East Tennessee who do so much to give hope to those who are struggling with an unplanned pregnancy. We are so blessed by their day-today efforts. And there are the legislative and educational efforts of those at Tennessee Right to Life who do so much to help build awareness and solidarity. Without their efforts, Amendment 1 would not have passed. “I also think of Pastor Cecil Clark of True Vine Baptist Church, who has been keeping a weekly vigil of prayer in front of Planned Parenthood every Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. since 2012. How blessed we are by so many who give so much of themselves to praying and fasting for life. I pray that this will be our best campaign yet. That prayer can only be answered by those volunteering to help during the 40 days of the campaign,” Mr. Simoneau said. ■

distance they must cover to get to Cherry Street, it is a much-appreciated sacrifice of their time to be present on those days,” Mr. Simoneau said. “I was truly impressed last year to see parishioners from Blessed Teresa of Calcutta in Maynardville and St. John Paul II in Rutledge come together to adopt a day. We even had parishioners from the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga drive up and spend several hours in prayer on a number of occasions,” he added. Mr. Simoneau said he and Mrs. Morris usually set up and take down the prayer site each day and help fill gaps in the vigil schedule. While they welcome any assistance, they are uplifted by the experience. “Though it can be kind of exhausting at times, we both draw such inspiration from those who come each day to brave the cold and rain in order to give a loving witness to life— they really reinvigorate us. If anyone is interested in helping us with the day-to-day operations, we would love to hear from them. We can be reached at psimoneau@dioknox.org and lccte@bellsouth.net,” he said. Mr. Simoneau pointed out that The East Tennessee Catholic

edged receiving invitations to Washington from President Barack Obama and the U.S. Congress, and to New York from the secretarygeneral of the United Nations. “Maybe the three cities together, no?” Pope Francis told reporters in August, adding that he could visit the shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico on the same trip — “but it is not certain.” The Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s director of communications, Kenneth Gavin, clarified that Pope Francis’ official schedule during his trip to the United States in September has yet to be finalized.

“We are overjoyed that Pope Francis will be with us in September, and planning for his visit is intensely under way,” he said. “However, no final decisions regarding the papal itinerary for Philadelphia have yet been made.” “Certainly, we are exploring a wide variety of potential scenarios and there are numerous factors and contingencies to consider,” Gavin noted, adding that final confirmation of the Pope’s Philadelphia schedule “can come only after consultation with the Papal household.”

Pope continued on page 21

Diocese names Atlanta HR exec as new director of human resources

n Atlanta human resources manager has been appointed director of human resources for the Diocese of Knoxville. Jennifer Mills, who joined the diocese Jan. 20, will be responsible for providing overall human resource management and proactive, on-site guidance, assistance and training to parishes, schools, and agencies to promote compliance with applicable legal requirements, best practices, and Catholic social teaching. She also will maintain and enhance the Diocese of Knoxville’s human resources by planning, implementing, and evaluating employee relations and human resources policies, programs, and practices. Mrs. Mills joins the diocese from INVISTA in Atlanta, a subsidiary of Koch Industries, where she was a human resources business partner. She has more than 10 years of experience in the field of human resources and has an effective leadership management style with strong interpersonal, communication, and customer service skills. She received a bachelor’s degree in human resources development

The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee

from the University of TennesseeKnoxville and has a Senior Professional in Human Resources certification. Mrs. Mills, her husband, Brian, and their Jennifer Mills 11-month-old daughter, Harper Lynn, have relocated to Knoxville and are parishioners at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. “We’ve been looking to get back to the Knoxville area since our daughter was born a year ago. She will be 1 year old this month,” Mrs. Mills said. “We wanted to be closer to family and finding this opportunity has given us the ability to relocate home and to strengthen our faith in the Catholic Church through this role.” In her new role, Mrs. Mills will be working closely with diocesan employees from every area, including parishes, schools, Catholic Charities of East Tennessee, priests, deacons and the Chancery. ■ February 1, 2015 9

Conversation with the Cardinals to feature Dolan, Rigali, Levada Tickets now on sale for once-in-a-lifetime evening with world-renowned Church leaders

early 200 years of Catholic leadership will be on stage when the Diocese of Knoxville presents A Conversation with the Cardinals on April 18 from 7-9 p.m. at the Tennessee Theatre. New York Archbishop Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Cardinal Justin Rigali and Cardinal William Levada will be featured speakers in an entertaining and informative discussion about the Catholic Church. Bishop Richard F. Stika will moderate the show. Tickets for this once-in-a-lifetime event went on sale Jan. 23 and are available through the Tennessee Theatre box office, the Tennessee Theatre website or through Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000. “It was quite good on the part of Bishop Stika to think this thing up. We hope the audience finds it interesting and enticing to know something about the workings of the Church with which they’re not familiar,” Cardinal Rigali said. The event is part of a planned historic weekend as the Diocese of Knoxville breaks ground the next day for a new cathedral at the site of the current Cathedral of

By Jim Wogan

the Sacred Heart of Jesus at 711 S. Northshore Drive in Knoxville. An Evening with the Cardinals will bring one of the Catholic Church’s highest profile and most outspoken personalities in Cardinal Dolan together with two of the Church’s most experienced and revered leaders in Cardinal Rigali and Cardinal Levada. All three men share connections that go back decades. Cardinal Levada More than 50 years ago, Cardinal Rigali and Cardinal Levada studied together at St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo, Calif. Cardinal Rigali was a year ahead in formation and assisted when Cardinal Levada was or- Leading the discussion Bishop Richard F. Stika, left, Cardinal Justin Rigali, center, and Cardinal Timothy Dolan dained a priest at St. Peter’s Basilica in 1953. Cardinals continued on page 26 promise a captivating evening on April 17.

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The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee

dioknox.org

Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in LaFollette and Christ the King Parish in Tazewell. “Kids are so media oriented now. They really respect technology because they have it in their schools.” Father Campbell has found that the technology can transform faith formation books into a multimedia presentation where the stories come alive. “We have to keep updating, and it’s only through these trust fund requests that we’ve been able to do this. I’m a big proponent of this,” Father Campbell said. Mr. Haggard pointed out that students with a sound Catholic education background are more likely to continue attending Mass after graduation. Father Armstrong and Mr. Haggard agree that demand for CETF resources has grown tremendously. Mr. Haggard credits Father Armstrong with continuing to make priests and parishes aware of the resources available to them, and Father Armstrong is quick to credit Mr. Haggard and the other CETF board members for their successful work in administering the trust fund. Father Armstrong said he continually advises directors of religious education about the CETF and how to develop a good proposal for funds. When parishes or schools submit proposals for funds to the CETF board, 10 voting members review the requests and make recommendations. There are eight lay members and two priests on the board plus ex officio members. “In the 10 years since we started, we’ve had a half-dozen or more new parishes, and through us we’ve been able to get their religious education programs going in a very professional way,” Mr. Haggard said. Rapidly advancing technology can be both a hindrance and help to religious education programs. Father Armstrong enjoys helping parishes and schools navigate all the high-tech developments. “Because of the overall quality of the program, we can offer the most updated technology. The playing field has The East Tennessee Catholic

STEPHANIE RICHER

CETF continued from page 3

In praise of Catholic education Bishop Richard F. Stika engages with young students at St. Joseph School in Knoxville during a recent visit.

been leveled,” Father Armstrong said. “One of the most popular requests we get is for technology. And we can’t properly form our youth if we don’t provide these resources.” He noted that the technology requests range from digital projectors and large screen televisions for presentations to digital video discs, Bluray Disc players, and sound systems, which create an onus for him to keep up with technology developments. Mr. Haggard said in recent years parishes typically have received a positive response from the resource requests they make to the CETF. But he pointed out that Diocese of Knoxville schools need more money for tuition assistance. “Over the last couple of years we’ve pretty much funded everything the parishes have asked,” he said. “More families would send their children to Catholic schools if the money was available.” Just as the technology required in today’s education environment has expanded, the scope of what the Catholic Education Trust Fund provides likewise has grown. Father Armstrong said attention originally was focused on the more remote, needy parishes, but that

scope “has expanded.” St. Stephen is a good example. The parish staff has bolstered its religiouseducation program at a time when the demand for resources has been high. “The St. Stephen religious-education program in Chattanooga has been a fortunate recipient of the Catholic Education Trust Fund, offered by the Diocese of Knoxville, for several years. CETF has allowed our program to purchase student books for all grade levels, catechetical programs, catechist training materials, classroom resources, laptops and projectors, and even tables

The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee

and chairs, which replaced broken and worn student desks and tables,” said Marilyn St. Pierre, the director of religious education at St. Stephen. “Without the support of the CETF, many of the advances in our program would not be possible due to budgetary constraints. While our parish is growing in the number of registered families, many of our families face financial difficulties and are not always able to monetarily support the church as they wish,” she added. “Our Diocese is fortunate indeed to have a fund that allows and encourages parishes to seek out resources and materials to nurture and enrich successful religious-education programs. When I worked for a large, metropolitan archdiocese in south Louisiana, such funding was not available to program administrators. I consider St. Stephen blessed to be able to ask for and receive the support needed to ensure a quality religious-education program for its parishioners,” Ms. St. Pierre added. Father Armstrong and Mr. Haggard agree the Catholic Education Trust Fund, like the students it supports, has a bright future. The key is to keep growing the fund and continue to remind parishes and families that it exists to serve them. “Just as the diocese continues to grow, it’s critical that this fund continue to grow,” Father Armstrong said. ■

February 1, 2015 11

Diocesan calendar by Margaret Hunt “A Conversation with the Cardinals” will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, April 18, at the Tennessee Theatre in Knoxville featuring New York Archbishop Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Cardinal Justin Rigali, and Cardinal William Levada. Bishop Richard F. Stika will moderate this entertaining and informative night, the proceeds of which will benefit the St. Mary’s Legacy Foundation Mobile Health Clinic. Tickets can be purchased on a first-come, first-served basis at all Ticketmaster locations, by phone at 800-745-3000, online at www.tennesseetheatre.com, or at the Tennessee Theatre’s Clinch Avenue box office from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. For more information about this special event, visit www. dioknox.org. Catholic Charities of East Tennessee will host an open house from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5, at its new administrative offices located at 119 Dameron Ave. Bishop Richard F. Stika will bless the building at 11 a.m. For more information, contact Carrie McConkey at 865-524-9896 or carrie@ ccetn.org. There will be a Mass for the World Day of Consecrated Life at 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 8, at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart. Bishop Richard F. Stika will preside. For more information, call Sister Mary Charles Mayer, RSM, at 865-584-3307. A Lenten pilgrimage to the EWTN studios and the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament has been planned for March 4-6. The group will have the opportunity to go to Mass, take a tour of the EWTN studios, participate in a live taping of “EWTN Live” with Father Mitch Pacwa, SJ, visit the shrine, and pray with the nuns of the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration. The price is $250 per person based on double occupancy and includes two nights at

12 February 1, 2015

St. Bernard Abbey Retreat Center; bus fare; two breakfasts, lunches, and dinners; and the cost of the Ave Maria Grotto tour. The deadline for registration and payment is Wednesday, Feb. 18. To register or learn more, contact Lisa Morris at 865-567-1245 or lccte@ bellsouth.net. Aquinas College is hosting the St. Thomas Aquinas Theological and Catechetical Forum “Proclaiming and Living the Gospel of the Family” Feb. 13-14 at the St. Cecilia Academy Theater adjacent to Aquinas College in Nashville. Speakers include Archbishop J. Peter Sartain, DD, JCL, archbishop of Seattle; Helen Alvaré, professor of law at George Mason University and consultor for the Pontifical Council of the Laity; Sister Terese Auer, OP, Ph.D., chair of the bioethics department at Pope John Paul the Great High School in Virginia; Richard Bulzacchelli, STD, associate professor of theology at Aquinas College; John Garvey, president of the Catholic University of America; and Katrina Zeno, MTS, coordinator for the John Paul II Resource Center for Theology of the Body and Culture in Phoenix. Registration is $150 per person. For more information, visit www.aquinascollege.edu/forum.

ing, sculpture, or woodcraft and must be able to fit in a small car for transport. Artwork must be submitted on March 7 or 8 at the parishes designated to receive the entries: Smoky Mountain Deanery, St. Albert the Great; Cumberland Mountain Deanery, St. Mary, Oak Ridge; Five Rivers Deanery, St. Mary, Johnson City; Chattanooga Deanery, St. Jude. No early entries will be accepted. Entries must have the child’s name, parents’ names, grade, parish, and contact information included. Judging will take place during the week of March 9-13, with finalists being announced March 28-29. A winner in each age group will be contacted by phone by March 31. The winner in each group (grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12) will be invited for a reception at the Chancery. For more information, contact Sister Mary Charles Mayer, RSM, at 865-584-3307 or srmarycharles@dioknox.org. The Catholic Charities “Emerald O’ccasion” fundraising dinner is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 12, at the Knoxville Marriott. Father Eric Andrews, CSP, president of the Paulist Fathers and former pastor of St. John XXIII Parish, will be the keynote speaker. Contact Sherrie Shuler for tickets or more information at 865684-1894 or sherrie@ccetn.org.

The 40 Days for Life campaign will begin on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 18, and will run through Palm Sunday, March 29. Last year, 19 diocesan parishes as well as a number of Catholic organizations adopted days of vigil to help cover each day of the campaign. Please have your parish or organization pro-life representative contact Paul Simoneau at psimoneau@dioknox.org or 865-8625753 in order to beginning planning for this year’s coming campaign.

Catholic Charities needs volunteers for several of its programs. The Pregnancy Help Center needs Spanish-speaking volunteers to assist with the “Earn While You Learn” program for parents-to-be, giving them the opportunity to learn about pregnancy-related concerns and parenting tips while earning needed supplies for their infants. Contact Sandi Davidson for more information at 865776-4510 or sandi@ccetn.org.

The Diocese of Knoxville is sponsoring an art contest for children in kindergarten through 12th grade as part of activities planned for the Year of Consecrated Life. The theme will be “Wake up the world! Be witnesses of a different way of doing things, of acting, of living!” The art project can be a drawing, paint-

The Children’s Emergency Shelter is also in serious need of volunteers to care for and prepare meals for the residents of the program. Fingerprinting and a background check are required to participate. Contact Jackie Fleming at 865-544-0578 or jackie@ccetn.org for more information.

The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee

The next Picture of Love engaged couples retreat is scheduled for 7-10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Chattanooga. The retreat is to supplement couples’ marriage formation process with their parish priests. The cost is $135 per couple, which includes a certificate good for $60 off a marriage license. Couples must attend the entire program to receive the certificate. Mass will be celebrated during the event. For more information, contact Marian Christiana at 423-892-2310 or mchristiana@dioknox.org. The Office of Marriage Preparation and Enrichment is planning a pilgrimage to the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia Sept. 23-27. Space is limited. Contact Marian Christiana at mchristiana@dioknox.org or 423-8922310 or Lisa Morris at lccte@bellsouth. net or 865-567-1245 for details and trip information. An Engaged Encounter weekend is scheduled for Feb. 13-15 at the Holiday Inn Express in Lenoir City. For more information, contact Jason or Carmen Jeansonne, weekend registration couple, at 865-377-3077, or Tom and Maggie Slankas, local coordinators, at 483-7896 or ceeknoxville@yahoo.com. Mass in the extraordinary form (“traditional Latin”) is celebrated at 1:30 p.m. each Sunday at Holy Ghost Church in Knoxville; at 3 p.m. on first and third Sundays at St. Thérèse of Lisieux Church in Cleveland; at 3 p.m. on second and fourth Sundays at St. Joseph the Worker Church in Madisonville; at 11 a.m. on most Sundays at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Townsend; and at 3 p.m. on the first and third Sundays at St. Mary Church in Johnson City. Visit www.knoxlatinmass.net for updated information.

Father David Carter will celebrate a Missa Privata (low Mass) in the ancient form of the Roman Rite on MonCalendar continued on page 13 dioknox.org

Chattanooga Deanery calendar ChattiGras 2015 is scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, at the Chattanooga Convention Center. The evening will include dinner, dancing to music from the Love, Peace, and Happiness band, a casino, and a silent auction. Tickets are $75. Sponsors and auction donors are needed. Proceeds from the dinner will support Chattanooga Catholic schools. For more information, visit www.chattigras.com. The Family Honor program at St. Stephen Church will present a “Real Love and

Parish notes: Chattanooga Deanery

Real Life” workshop from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7. Parents and children in seventh and eighth grades are invited. The workshop will cover discussions about God’s gift of chastity, communication, and guidelines for positive dating behavior. Space is limited. Register at www.familyhonor.org. There is no charge for the program, but donations are appreciated. For more information, contact Mary Pat Haywood at 706-459-6391 or haywood@epbfi.com. ■

Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Chattanooga OLPH School is accepting applications for the 2015-16 school year for grades pre-K through eight. For more information, contact Teresa Hennen, director of admissions, at 423-698-3274 or teresahennen@catholicweb.com.

St. Jude, Chattanooga St. Jude School is accepting applications for grades PK3 through 8 for the 201516 school year. To learn more or to arrange a tour, contact Nancy Byrne, admissions director, at 423-877-6022 or byrnen@mysjs.com. Family Promise of Chattanooga, an organization that serves the homeless, thanked the parishioners of St. Jude for their service during the Dec. 21-28 homeless project, which involved welcoming homeless families into the homes of participating parishioners and providing meals during the week. The congregation donated more than 623 total hours to the project. The Chattanooga Ladies of Charity thanked the parishioners of St. Jude for their donations to families through their Star Tree program this past Christmas season. More than $12,900 was donated by area Catholic churches who participated. Father Charlie Burton will celebrate a Mass for vocations at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 9. All are invited to attend to pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life.

COURTESY OF JEAN WENN LUCE

The parish will celebrate Mardi Gras and Father Burton’s birthday with a potluck lunch at noon Tuesday, Feb. 17. Dessert and drinks will be provided. Mass will be celebrated at 11:15 a.m. before the potluck. To help with set-up/clean-up, call Kyra Ross at the parish office at 423-870-2386.

Special guest Santa Claus was among the visitors to the St. Thérèse of Lisieux Three Kings Feast.

St. Thérèse holds 25th annual Three Kings Feast

t. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish in Cleveland held its 25th annual Three Kings Feast on Dec. 6, an event where parishioners celebrated and hosted community members to share gifts of time, spirit, and talents. The event attendance has more than doubled over the years when 300 guests were first served in 1989 to nearly 700 in 2014. After a blessing from Father Mike Nolan was given and translated into Spanish, a hot Christmas dinThe East Tennessee Catholic

ner menu was served during a live musical performance of Christmas carols. After the meal, 255 families received a warm blanket, and nearly 400 children received a toy as well as had the opportunity to speak with Santa Claus. Seating started at 11 a.m., but guests started lining up outside of the Parish Life Center at 6 a.m. More than 200 parish volunteers participated. Months of planning preceded shopping for food and Feast continued on page 15

St. Stephen, Chattanooga Father Barth Okere, chaplain at Memorial Hospital, celebrated his 25th anniversary as a priest with a Mass and reception on Jan. 25. Newcomers: Mike and Ann Flanagan ■

Calendar continued from page 12 days at 7 a.m. at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga. A Missa Cantata (sung high Mass) in the ancient form of the Roman Rite is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of every month at 5 p.m. at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul. The next scheduled Masses are Feb. 22 and March 22. A potluck dinner will follow in Varallo Hall after each Mass. For more information, call the parish office at 423-266-1618. The St. Thomas the Apostle Eastern (Byzantine) Catholic Mission has moved to 2304 Ault Road, Knoxville, TN 37914. Divine Liturgy times remain the same. All services are in English. Call Father Richard Armstrong at 865-5843307 or visit www.saintthomas-knoxville.org for details. Holy Resurrection Ruthenian Byzantine Catholic Mission has Divine Liturgy celebrations at 9:30 a.m. Sundays at the old Holy Ghost Church, 1031 N. Central St. in Knoxville. For times of holy-day services or for more information, visit www.knoxbyz.org or call Father Thomas O’Connell at 865-256-4880. ■

The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee

February 1, 2015 13

Cumberland Mountain Deanery calendar

Parish notes: Cumberland Mountain Deanery

The Knoxville Frassati Fellowship for young adults ages 18-35 meets Thursdays at 7 p.m. at the Chancery office, located at 805 S. Northshore Drive next door to the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart. Other events and activities are planned. Visit the Knoxville Frassati Fellowship Facebook page or contact Jess Mearns at 865-206-6026 for more information.

St. Alphonsus, Crossville The St. Alphonsus Council of Catholic Women sponsored a scholarship card party Jan. 23 to raise funds for college scholarships for high school seniors. Qualifying students receive $700 for four years through the program. The CCW has supported the education of 23 students so far.

St. Francis of Assisi, Fairfield Glade

The next Search retreat for high school juniors and seniors in the Cumberland Mountain Deanery is scheduled for Feb. 27–March 1 at Knoxville Catholic High School. Space is limited. Download a registration form at www.allsaintsknoxville.org/religious-ed-high-school or call Annie Nassis at 865-531-0770 for more information. ■

The January CCW meeting featured a presentation about the St. Mary Legacy Clinic. Father Albert Sescon will speak about his home country, the Philippines, at the February meeting. In mid-January 42 red roses were displayed in the church in remembrance of Roe vs. Wade.

St. John Neumann, Farragut Sister Restituta, one of the pastoral associates at St. John Neumann Parish, will present two sessions from 9:40-10:20 a.m. Sundays, Feb. 1 and 8, based on the book, Your Child 6-12: Your Last Great Chance, for interested parents in the St. John Neumann School library. The sessions will discuss instilling values, vocations, and how to best nurture preteen children. For more information, contact Sister Restituta at 865-777-4319 or srresty@sjnknox.org. A mother-daughter high tea will be held Saturday, Feb. 7, in Seton Hall. To RSVP or to obtain more information, contact Mrs. Brehmann at 678-429-3848 or rbrehmann@gmail.com. St. John Neumann parishioner Robert Gipson is collecting men’s clothing to support the homeless served at Knoxville-Area Rescue Ministries. KARM helps clothe around 100 men on a regular basis. To donate, contact Mr. Gipson at 865-2144142 or jeffthechef55@gmail.com.

Parish distributes 238 Christmas food baskets St. Alphonsus Parish in Crossville donated, filled, and distributed 238 Christmas food baskets to families in need throughout the community, feeding a total of 975 people. This annual project has been happening for more than 20 years. Boy Scouts, members of youth ministry, and parishioners packed, delivered, and unloaded boxes for recipients. This year’s project was organized by Helen Davis and Monica Hackett.

Drabeks celebrate 50th wedding anniversary

St. Mary, Oak Ridge St. Mary Catholic School has one final open house for prospective families interested in enrolling their children for the 2015-16 school year scheduled for 9:30-11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 4. For more information, call the school office at 865-483-9700.

St. Therese, Clinton St. Therese will host and serve an Italian dinner from 6-8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6. Parishioners and members of the community are invited. The cost is $10 per adult, $5 for children under 11, or a maximum of $30 per family. Tickets are available after the weekend Masses before the event or by calling the parish office at 865-4574073. ■

14 February 1, 2015

COURTESY OF SARA CAREY

Anniversaries: Peter and Betty Staab (64), Anthony and Rosemarie Stocco (63), Ed and Angela Crowley (60), Tom and Nancy Flagg (58), Paul and Barbara Thrower (58), Ronald and Janice Cashner (56), Charles and Carol Fisher (58), Robert and Marie Price (58), Dick and Helen Gerlach (55), Joseph and Shirley King (53), Gerald and Barbara Phillips (53), Herman and Frances Eichner (52), Robert and Joanne Jansen (52), Joseph and Loretta Kreskowiak (51), Jerome and Tonni Kuchcinski (50), Carmin and Lynne Lynch (50)

rank and Nancy Drabek of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Fairfield Glade recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. The Drabeks were married Nov. 14, 1964, at St. Francis Xavier Church in Ecorse, Mich., with Father Norbert A. Chateau officiating. The couple enjoyed their anniversary together at Market Square in Knoxville and had dinner at Forte’s in

The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee

Crossville. Their four children are Theresa MacDonald of Knoxville, Frank Drabek of Texas, Deborah Burton of Georgia, and Kevin Drabek (deceased), and they have seven grandchildren. They retired from the Ford Motor Co. and moved to the Glade in 1997, where Frank enjoys golfing and Nancy’s hobbies are cards and sewing. ■ dioknox.org

Five Rivers Deanery calendar St. Mary Church in Johnson City is sponsoring “Holiness Revolution,” a program presented by Dan DeMatte and Aaron Richards from the Dynamic Catholic Institute from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 28. The event is open to all, especially families. There will also be an evening presentation of apologetics for teens. For more information, call Stephanie Mann at 423-282-6367. Search 48 is scheduled at St. Dominic Church in Kingsport from Feb. 27–March 1. Leaders are needed but must have completed a Search retreat to be considered. The cost is $60. To volunteer or ob-

Parish notes: Five Rivers Deanery

tain an application, contact Susan Collins at Notre Dame Church at 423-639-9381 or scollins51@hotmail.com. The St. Dominic Church youth group will be participating in a New York City pilgrimage with the Community of Sant’Egidio from June 19-26. Attendees will visit the elderly in nursing homes, work with the homeless, and visit the 9-11 Memorial and the United Nations. The pilgrimage is open to rising juniors and seniors and rising freshmen and sophomores in college and their chaperones. Call Paul Vachon at the church at 423-288-8101. ■

Holy Trinity, Jefferson City The Holy Trinity Council of Catholic Women is participating in the Caps of Love program, which collects funds received from recycling plastic bottle caps to purchase wheelchairs for disabled children. Parishioners who wish to participate should place their donations in the Campbell soup basket in the narthex. Anniversary: Terry and Nobuko Imanishi (35) Notre Dame, Greeneville Planning has begun for the parish 60th-anniversary celebration scheduled for Saturday, April 25, following the 5 p.m. Mass. E-mail the parish office to join the planning committee at notredametn@embarqmail.com. St. Mary, Johnson City Dr. Larry Schmidt will present “Experiencing a Heart Attack: A Doctor’s Perspective” at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 12, in the gathering area. A light lunch will be provided. For more information, call the parish office at 423-282-6367. ■

COURTESY OF SARA CAREY

Catechists gather at Lake Barkley Several catechists and parish catechetical leaders gathered in November at Lake Barkley State Resort Park for the annual Mid-South Catholic Leadership Conference. This year’s speakers included Sister Janet Schaeffler and Bob McCarty. Pictured from left are (front) Brigid Johnson of Immaculate Conception Parish in Knoxville, Judy Holt of St. Mary in Johnson City, Karen Lewicki of St. Dominic in Kingsport, Charlotte Smith of Notre Dame in Greeneville, and Anne Deveaux of St. Dominic and (back) Catherine Wiedeman of St. Augustine in Signal Mountain, Randy Carey of St. Alphonsus in Crossville, Heather Wilson of St. Augustine, Sara Carey of St. Alphonsus, Peggy Long of All Saints in Knoxville, and Susan Collins of Notre Dame. Feast continued from page 13

gifts, decorating, cooking, serving, entertaining, and cleaning-up to make it a special afternoon for the guests. Specific parish groups participating were Knights of Columbus Council 4572, Women of Faith, Boy Scout Troop 133, Hispanic Ministry, and the St. Thérèse of Lisieux The East Tennessee Catholic

youth group. The volunteers also were fed after the guests finished. For more information about St. Thérèse of Lisieux Church, visit www.sttheresecatholicchurch.org or come to the church at 900 Clingan Ridge Drive NW, Cleveland, TN 37312. ■

Staying warm Susan Fox, FRC director, Lance Lyons of Knights of Columbus, Raymond Mouse, Coats for Kids coordinator, Maria Gonzalez, Spanish interpreter, and Linda Tillery, parent educator, are shown with kindergartener Cayden Stephens.

Knights of Columbus give the gift of warmth

he Knights of Columbus Council of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church has been participating in a Coats for Kids program by providing 48 new coats to the Family Resource Center in Lenoir City. Families with young children are struggling to provide sufficient clothing during challenging economic times and Grand Knight Lance Lyons said “this was a good time for the Knights to help by providing warm winter coats to children in the Loudon community.”

The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee

The coats were recently presented to Susan Fox, director of the Family Resource Center of Lenoir City Schools. The coats help support a “Santa’s Helper” program that assists families in need. Ms. Fox said $56,000 was spent to serve 560 families in 2013-14. Civic groups, clubs, or individuals interested in supporting the Santa’s Helper program or volunteering for other FRC programs can contact the FRC at 865-986-0518 or visit www. lenoircityschools.com. ■ February 1, 2015 15

Smoky Mountain Deanery calendar

Parish notes: Smoky Mountain Deanery

The sixth annual Fierce and Fancy Formals event sponsored by Give Haiti Hope will take place at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, at the Historic Southern Railway Station. Dress donations can be dropped off at Knoxville-area Prestige Cleaners loca-

Holy Ghost, Knoxville The administration at St. Joseph School recently mailed surveys to parents of children ages 2-3 to determine the feasibility of starting a PK-3 program for the 2015-16 school year. For those interested in this program and who have not completed a survey, contact Andy Zengel, school principal, at 865-689-3424.

tions through Saturday, Feb. 14. Tickets are $25 per person in advance and $30 at the door. For more information, contact Jennifer Neil at 865-329-3294 or jenniferneil@givehaitihope.org. ■

The parish ministry to children in the Richard L. Bean Juvenile Detention Center in Knoxville is requesting donations of chips, dips, and drinks along with sneakers, boots, and cold-weather footwear. The food donations are used when the group hosts parties with the residents of the facility. To make a donation, contact Carolyn Toal at toalcarolyn@gmail.com.

The IC Women’s Group thanked the parish for their generous support of the Fall Craft Fair held in November 2014. The group made a profit of $4,471.70, $670.76 of which will be donated to the parish Roof and Ceiling Fund. The remainder of the proceeds will support the ministries of the IC Women’s Group and other area charitable organizations.

Sacred Heart, Knoxville Knights of Columbus Council 5207 is sponsoring the annual father-daughter dance from 5-8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13, in the Sacred Heart Cathedral School gymnasium. For more information on the event, call the parish office at 865-588-0249. The groundbreaking for the new Cathedral of the Sacred Heart will take place following the 11 a.m. Mass on Sunday, April 19. His Eminence, Cardinal Justin Rigali, will also celebrate his 80th birthday on the day of the groundbreaking. For more information about the ceremony, contact Mary Mac Wilson at 865-558-4111.

St. John XXIII, Knoxville The St. John XXIII Parish Mardi Gras party is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6. The event will include dinner, dancing, music, and other activities. There will not be an auction this year. Call the office for tickets at 865-523-7931.

St. Joseph the Worker, Madisonville St. Joseph the Worker Parish is hosting the Smoky Mountain Deanery CCW spring meeting Thursday, March 19. Call the parish office for contact information at 423-442-7273. ■

16 February 1, 2015

COURTESY OF JUNIE BORDELON

Immaculate Conception, Knoxville

Diamond event Junie Bordelon recently celebrated her diamond jubilee as Mardi Gras Romany Queen in New Orleans.

Parishioner celebrates jubilee as Mardi Gras queen

unie Baudin Bordelon, a parishioner at Holy Cross Church in Pigeon Forge, has celebrated the diamond jubilee of her selection as Mardi Gras Romany Queen in New Orleans. A native of Louisiana, Mrs. Bordelon attended St. Joseph’s Academy in Baton Rouge and LSU, where she was selected as the 1954 Queen of Mardi Gras. St. Joseph’s Academy has recognized Mrs. Bordelon’s contributions, naming her an outstanding alumna and honoring her with a portrait hanging in the academy. Bishop Richard F. Stika sent salutations to Mrs. Bordelon on her diamond jubilee, writing to her that “Everyone makes a living by what they get, but only a limited few make a life by what they give, whether time or efforts to volunteer

The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee

service. Giving makes you rich.” Mrs. Bordelon and her husband of 57 years, Whitey, retired in 1993 to Sevier County, where they have been active at Holy Cross as well as community organizations such as the Alzheimer’s Association, Knights of Columbus, American Eagle Foundation, Relay for Life, Paralyzed Veterans, and programs to feed those in need. Mrs. Bordelon said she is steadfast in her efforts to promote growth at Holy Cross, noting that “I have done no great things in life, only small things with love.” “Mardi Gras ends Tuesday, Feb. 17, and Lent begins the next day. In this Lenten season, may we each strive to share our lives with others, which is a good idea to practice during the 40 days of penance as we are taught to do,” she said. ■ dioknox.org

Catholic schools

Three from Notre Dame sign with colleges

COURTESY OF GAYLE SCHOENBORN

hree student athletes at Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga signed letters of intent at the Fall Sports Signing Day event held Dec. 10 in the Varallo Athletic Center. Zac Bombassi, son of Tony and Mona Bombassi, signed to continue his golf career with Tusculum College. As team captain, Zac helped lead the Notre Dame golf team to the 2014 district championship. He also had a great run at the state golf championship, finishing in the top 10. Zac was also a member of the 2011 Notre Dame state champion team. Taylor Green, daughter of James and Carla Green, committed to Lee University in her junior year and will continue her soccer career with the Lady Flames in the fall. Taylor has been a member of the Notre Dame Soccer team for the past three years and served as captain her junior and senior years. She was the starting goalie for the Irish in the 2014 state finals. She was also named to Best of Preps in 2013 and named to the All-State team in 2014. Courtney Boyd, daughter of James and Kim Boyd, signed to play soccer for Lincoln Memorial University. Courtney was a four-year start-

Moving to the next level Courtney Boyd (left), Zac Bombassi, and Taylor Green signed with colleges Dec. 10 at Notre Dame.

er for the Irish and played a key role in taking the team to the state finals this year. As a freshman she received the rookie-of-the-year award,

and she was named defender of the year her junior year. She was named to the 2013-14 Best of Preps and the 2014 All-State Team. ■

KCHS athletes selected to All-State teams

number of Knoxville Catholic High School student athletes were named All-State following the fall sports seasons. Football, volleyball, and girls soccer All-State selections were made by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association. Making All-State in football for the Irish were senior quarterback Zac Jancek, senior linebacker Logan Lacey, senior defensive back Dominic Souder, junior defensive lineman The East Tennessee Catholic

Austin Rowan, sophomore defensive lineman Josh Silvey, and freshman offensive lineman Cade Mays. Three seniors made All-State for the Lady Irish soccer team. They were forward and defender Ashley Hickman, midfielder Abby Bower, and defender Gabby Prevost. They were joined on the All-State team by junior teammate Renee Semann, a defender. Lady Irish volleyball senior Riley Clem and teammate Meredith

Bonee, a freshman, made All-State. Cross-country runners placing in the top 10 in the state meet earned a spot on the All-State team. For the Irish boys’ team, senior Joe Bindner and junior Johnathan Chavez made All-State, as did Lady Irish runners Rosa Cisneros, a junior, and Shila Kapaya, a freshman. In golf, KCHS sophomore Kyle Cottam made All-State with a fourth-place finish in the state tournament. ■

The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee

KCHS volleyball team has new head coach Knoxville Catholic High School recently welcomed Brent Carter as the new head coach for the Lady Irish volleyball program. Mr. Carter comes to KCHS with a highly decorated resume. He graduated from Murray State University in 1993, where he co-founded the men’s club volleyball program. He grew up in Paducah, Ky., and moved to Knoxville in 1994. He played for the Smoky Mountain Athletic Conference Knoxville (SMACK) from 1995 until 2002. He has been coaching the 13-year-old division of club volleyball for the past 11 years, where his teams consistently finish in the top 15 nationally, including a fifth- and a third-place team. In addition to coaching volleyball at KCHS, Mr. Carter will continue to work at Great American Opportunities as a fundraising consultant, where he has worked for the past 21 years. “I am honored to have the opportunity to coach at KCHS. The staff and administration have made it very clear that they care deeply for these young women and this program,” Mr. Carter said. “The athletes in the program are very hard workers, so we will play at a high level. The legacy that Mike Jones and Andrew Garland left here will be carried on with great enthusiasm. This will be a very fun year!” “Coach Carter brings a wealth of volleyball knowledge along with a passion for working with young people,” said Jason Surlas, KCHS athletic director. “Most importantly, we feel like he will be a great role model for our girls and help them not only be better volleyball players but also better human beings.” ■ February 1, 2015 17

18 February 1, 2015

Lenoir City Knights sponsor free-throw contest

welve boys and girls from Lenoir City ages 9 to 14 were named local champions of the Knights of Columbus Free Throw Championship and have earned the right to compete at the district level. Father John Savoca Council 12633 from St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Lenoir City sponsored the local competition at the Boy’s and Girl’s Club of Lenoir City. All youngsters 9 to 14 were eligible to participate. Dianna Alonzo-Revilla was the 10-year-old girls champion. Dillon Hynes was the 9-year-old boys champion, while Christopher Gonzales was the 10-year-old boys winner. In the 11-year-old bracket, Christian Gonzales and Hayden Lee Jenkins tied for the championship. The 12-year-old winner in the boys bracket was Pule Revilla. The 13-year-old girls division was won by Clara Revilla, while Luis Cardona was victorious in the

Foul-shot champs Twelve boys and girls won their age divisions in the Lenoir City Knights of Columbus free-throw contest.

boys bracket. The 14-year-old boys winner was Luke Cooney. Each contestant attempted 15 free throws in the contest. Cochampions were named in the 11-year-old bracket after a five-

shot “shoot-off.” Each of the winners will compete in the district competition, to be held at 12:45 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 8, in the gymnasium at St. John Neumann School in Farragut. ■

St. Joseph girls basketball team wins KISL Small League regular-season title On Jan. 16, the St. Joseph School Lady Bulldogs played in what may have been their most meaningful game in more than a decade. The girls varsity basketball team hosted Concord Christian School with the Knoxville Independent School League Small League regular season championship on the line, a feat not achieved by St. Joseph since 2004. After all was said and done, the Lady Bulldogs prevailed 38-32, finishing the regular season undefeated (8-0) and as league champions. This accomplishment earned them the No. 1 seed entering the KISL Small League tournament. At left, Grace Morgan of St. Joseph attempts a free throw. STEPHANIE RICHER

On Nov. 22, nine KCHS students competed in the All-East Choir, sponsored by the East Tennessee Vocal Association in Maryville. Upperclassmen Ethan Adkins, Matt Balo, Elizabeth Geist, Tim McCready, and Jacob Wike were chosen to participate through a competitive audition. Four freshmen, Kate Cacopardo, Natalie Dmockowski, Erica Patterson, and Julianna Saah, were also recommended to sing in the Freshman Chorus. While at the competition, the students spent two days rehearsing under the leadership of guest conductors from around the country and then presented concerts on Saturday afternoon at the Clayton Center for the Arts on the campus of Maryville College. In addition, Elizabeth Geist was one of only 38 women from East Tennessee who were chosen to sing in the All-State Women’s Chorus for the second year in a row. Ethan Adkins was selected as an alternate for the All-State Mixed Chorus, and Tim McCready was selected as an alternate for the All-State Men’s Chorus. All-State will take place in April at the Cannon Performing Arts Center in Memphis. ■

Catholic youth

COURTESY OF LARRY FINNERAN

Nine KCHS students compete in All-East Choir in Maryville

The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee

dioknox.org

gent, qualities that display themselves with humility. Sister Mary Timothea explains that part of the charism of the order is the absolute expectation of “excellence in everything,” including the rigors of higher education, so that each is well-equipped to fulfill the order’s charism, which was the original vision of the Religious Sisters of Mercy’s foundress, the Venerable Catherine McAuley. Another vital aspect of this particular order is the vision of service from within the warmth and hospitality of a home, which has led succeeding generations of the order to work from non-institutionalized locations, as do these Sisters in Knoxville. Relaxed and informal, Sister Mary Marta, the current superior of the local community, invites our group to move into the living room where we chat like any other group of women. It is here that I ask the sisters if they would be comfortable sharing their personal stories with me; it is here that I have a glimpse into each woman’s nature. Sister Mary Charles Mayer, RSM “I am a convert. My brother was converted first, and my conversion took place around my mother’s death. It was a very soul-searching time for me because we were very close. “I began to meet religious people through Sr. Mary Charles my brother. We were in L.A. I asked myself, ‘Why did these people leave the world and want to live in a monastery?’ I had dropped out of school at 19 to work in entertainment and rock ’n’ roll in San Francisco. It was a very shallow way of life, and I saw a lot in that industry that was disillusioning. “I visited the Sisters of Mercy in Connecticut. I was 37 at the time, and I was drawn to the pristine life I saw there. I said to myself, ‘You can’t be The East Tennessee Catholic

BILL BREWER

Sisters continued from page 6

The light of Christ Sister Mary Timothea Elliott, who serves as the Diocese of Knoxville’s director of Christian Formation, concludes Holy Hour at St. Richard Convent.

afraid to live; God is calling you.’ So I took a leap of faith. God protected me and pursued me, and here I am (serving as the diocesan associate chancellor for pastoral services and delegate to religious)!” Sister Stella Maris Linder, RSM “I was raised Catholic, but I never considered religious life until college. My faith was not built on a strong foundation, and it was shaken in college. “I started searching. I did some short-term missionary work and spent two weeks in Sr. Stella Maris Bosnia. The day I got home, my mom got seriously sick and I was her full-time caretaker for a year and a half. When she was well, I took another missionary trip to Russia, and the very weekend of my return, I got a call from Portland, Ore., from a woman whom I don’t even remember meeting who called and offered me a job in a Catholic theater production company. I said, ‘You do know that I have no experience as a stage manager?’ but they

were determined that I was ‘the one.’ “So, I spent the next two years in Portland doing shows in religious communities that had theaters. But, I was experiencing that sense of restlessness, and I decided to enroll in college for an advanced degree in clinical psychology. I was accepted into a school out East, but when I got the acceptance letter, instead of being joyful, I was so sad. So, I visited the Religious Sisters of Mercy for 36 hours, and realized, ‘Oh, no; this is it!’ Literally, I had never considered religious life before, and look where that got me. Now, I am studying to be a fertility-care practitioner, and I love it.” Sister Mary Marta Abbott, RSM “I was raised Southern Baptist in Texas, so I’m a convert. I was converted about 10 years before I met the sisters. My conversion was centered around the Eucharist. I desired that Jesus shine through me as I saw in the sisters I met. I went to Minnesota and lived with the sisters for one year. “My time at the motherhouse had a big impact on me. At first my family was not supportive and would not give me their blessing. But, over time, as they began to see that I was indeed living a Christian life, they

The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee

began to accept my calling, and now they are very supportive. When I entered, I did not even have a bachelor’s degree, so I enrolled in college, and I was encouraged to go into education. Sr. Mary Marta “Along the way, I said, ‘I don’t think I can do education.’ But, I entered into the management side, and that was perfect. We are educated to serve the Church in the best way, and the Holy Spirit works. Even before I finished my degree, the superior general had a call that a superintendent was needed in Knoxville, so as soon as I graduated, I came here and I absolutely love what I do as superintendent (of Diocese of Knoxville schools). So, you see how the Holy Spirit leads perfectly!” Sister Mary Timothea Elliott, RSM “I started out teaching elementary school, second grade, and I thought I would be teaching second grade the rest of my life. And I loved it. When I entered the Sisters of Mercy, it was called the Sisters of Mercy of the Union, and there were 800 of us. Then in 1965, after the (Second Vatican) Council, there were these experiments Sr. Mary Timothea in the orders. Things became very different. Some sisters stopped wearing habits and stopped having common prayer, common life, and instead lived in apartments. It was very difficult to keep the vows. For instance, some sisters were given a monthly allowance and they could spend it any way they wanted, which of course, was against the concept of poverty. Things were very different, and there was a tremendous exodus. It just didn’t work because the vows were not interiorized. Sisters continued on page 20 February 1, 2015 19

Sisters continued from page 19

I said, ‘No way!’ I was raised Catholic and attended Notre Dame, playing in the marching band. Then I went to Tulane School of Medicine on a Navy scholarship. I had a lot of idealistic reasons to serve the poor. I was raised in Western Kentucky. I was commissioned as a Navy officer, and I said, ‘Send me to sea!’ “So, I spent two Sr. Mariana years at sea and then transferred to another program where I spent two more years. I opened a private practice and focused on what made me happy. But, I wasn’t happy. I did everything I wanted, but I wasn’t happy. Finally, I dropped the parameters. Instead of saying to God, ‘Which private practice do you want me to enter?’ I said, ‘Where do you want me

to serve?’ When I joined the Sisters of Mercy, I was sent to serve the poor here in Appalachia (as executive/medical director of the St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic).” Sister Mary Christine Cremin, RSM, LCSW “My entry into the religious life was totally unplanned. I attended Catholic schools and so forth, and the religious life was always held up as something Sr. Mary Christine to aspire to. But, I always said, ‘No, that’s not for me.’ I was even asked directly to consider it, but I said no thanks. It would never have occurred to me to consider, even though the idea was very much pushed. I always thought, ‘not for me.’

“So, my calling was very sudden and straightforward. I can tell you exactly where I was and what I was doing; even what I thought and felt. I had been accepted to nursing school, and I was planning on going. I was putting something away in a dresser drawer at home when it dawned on me, ‘This is not it!’ And, I knew absolutely that I was supposed to go into religious life. I remember lying down across the bed and being completely flabbergasted. “I am very grateful that it happened in such a dramatic way because I’ve never had a doubt that it was the right thing. I lived through the ’60s and all the times of questioning, but there was never a doubt for me. The only Sisters I had been exposed to were the Sisters in my school. And the only thing I knew was that I didn’t want to teach; so I talked to a priest, and he suggested a community of nurses who worked in the homes of the poor. I entered that community, and while I was with them I received a scholarship that the Religious Sisters of Mercy offered to their nursing program at Mercy College of Detroit. Now I’m here with Catholic Charities of East Tennessee (serving as executive director), and I am so grateful.” Pope Francis’s call for men and women religious “to live the present with passion” and “embrace the future with hope,” is embodied in the lives of these women presently living at the Convent of St. Richard. The passion they have for their professions, their order and for the Church is inspiring. The joy they feel for the communal life is palpable. The laughter, love and piety within the walls of the Convent of St. Richard can leave a person in awe. ■

Emeritus of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith) will join Cardinal Justin Rigali for “A Conversation with the Cardinals” at the Historic Tennessee Theatre in Knoxville. I will be moderating the evening’s discussion, which will

be preceded by prayer, Scripture readings, and songs from the Pope Benedict XVI Schola. Proceeds from this event will benefit the St. Mary’s Legacy Foundation Mobile Health Clinic. Tickets can be purchased on a first-come, first-served basis at www.

tennesseetheatre.com. I also hope you can be a part of our historic celebration the following day, on Sunday, April 19, when we will break ground for our new Cathedral Church. May your bucket list bring you much joy in Christ! ■

“When I was asked to get a doctorate in Sacred Scripture, I was sent to the only university in the Catholic Church where one could get such a degree – and that was the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome. I was the ‘only skirt’ in a class of 280 men and the second woman to graduate from that university with a doctorate. I was there for 17 years and it took me 14-and-a-half years to get the degree work. If I had known how long it would take or what was required, well, I might not have been able to do it. I just took one day at a time. “We didn’t have a women’s bathroom at the college, so I had to go down the street to a coffee bar to use the ladies’ room the first two years. They were very primitive facilities, to say the least! “I had to master 10 languages; well, I started with English, of course, and learned Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, and Ugaritic, a pre-Hebrew, cuneiform language. You never knew what language you were going to have when you went to a class. My advanced Hebrew was taught in Latin by an Italian, who switched to Italian for his jokes, and our textbook was in French – and I took notes in English. It was sort of like the Tower of Babel. It was very challenging. I just took one day at a time; that’s the only way you could do it. I taught for many years at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver. Now, I am the diocesan director of the Office of Christian Formation.” Sister Mariana Koonce, RSM, MD “I was one of those people that ran from my vocation for a very long time. Bishop continued from page 2

someone for a once-in-a-lifetime experience that will both inspire your faith and entertain. On Saturday, April 18, from 7 to 9 p.m., New York Archbishop Cardinal Timothy Dolan and Cardinal William Levada (Prefect

20 February 1, 2015

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Evening prayer From left, Sisters Mary Marta Abbott, Mary Christine Cremin and Mary Timothea Elliott take part in evening Holy Hour following work.

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Portrait leads to KCHS invitation for alum Cormac McCarthy Recent graduate who founded school’s Cormac McCarthy Club presents drawing of famed author to faculty

Pope continued from page 9

The update comes after Archbishop Bernardito Auza – a member of the organizing committee for Pope Francis’ upcoming visit to the U.S. — revealed details of the proposed schedule, which includes visits to three cities. The East Tennessee Catholic

tic plan to recognize him in some way, which I can say is happening now,” he said. He has continued studying Mr. McCarthy at Centre College in Kentucky and attended a Cormac McCarthy Conference at Berea College in Kentucky put on by fans of the author. He said the editor of the Cormac McCarthy Chronicle planned to use his charcoal portrait as the cover image for one of the publication’s issues. Mr. Sompayrac voiced appreciation to Mr. Theodore for the gift he created in Cormac McCarthy’s honor. Mr. Sompayrac said it is fitting that the portrait and plaque will hang in the school library in a place of distinction. The plaque reads:

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ulitzer Prize-winning novelist Cormac McCarthy has a standing invitation to return to the high school where he graduated in 1951, which now features a portrait of the author as he appeared in his senior picture and a plaque honoring him for his literary accomplishments. The invitation was extended by Knoxville Catholic High School President Dickie Sompayrac on Oct. 18 as he and 2011 KCHS alumnus Eric Theodore unveiled the charcoal drawing of Mr. McCarthy created by Mr. Theodore. Speaking to about two dozen friends of Mr. McCarthy and KCHS, Mr. Theodore explained how he was introduced to Cormac McCarthy as a KCHS freshman writing a research paper on the literary icon. “Although more than a half century had passed since his graduation, the fall of 2007 was an exciting time to study McCarthy. Earlier that year he was awarded one of literature’s highest achievements, the Pulitzer Prize for fiction, for his novel The Road. That summer he granted his first and only recorded interview on The Oprah Winfrey Show. Shortly afterward, the novel No Country for Old Men was made into a film, which won the Academy Award for best picture the following spring,” Mr. Theodore said, noting that while it appeared Mr. McCarthy was a sudden literary success, he actually had spent decades writing

By Bill Brewer

An invitation drawn in charcoal Eric Theodore and Carolyn Sue (Wright) Huber show the portrait Mr. Theodore drew of author and Knoxville Catholic High School graduate Cormac McCarthy. The portrait hangs in the KCHS library.

critically acclaimed books leading up to his recent series of commercial successes. “Over a decade earlier, Mr. McCarthy had won the National Book Award for All The Pretty Horses, his Border Trilogy and Blood Meridian, which is considered by many to be one of the greatest masterpieces written in the English language and distinctly marked his Southwestern books. Many of his novels from the first part of his career are East Tennessean at their very core. The Orchard Keeper, Outer Dark, Child of God, and Suttree beat with a re-

gional pulse. However, his writing can be traced back even farther to his high school days here at Knoxville Catholic, when he was known as Charlie,” Mr. Theodore added. Mr. Theodore and a group of classmates formed a Cormac McCarthy Club while attending KCHS to continue their interest in the author. “Our goal was simply to raise awareness in the KCHS community. We ended up raising money and bought most of McCarthy’s books for the school library. We also made a tentative and idealis-

A Philippines native, Archbishop Auza is the Holy See’s permanent observer to the United Nations in New York and to the Organization of American States in Washington. The Pope announced in November that he will visit the United States in September, including a

stop at the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia, which will take place from Sept. 22-27. Even before the pope’s announcement, the meeting was expected to draw tens of thousands of people. Archbishop Charles J. Chaput of Philadelphia told a gathering of

The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee

In honor of KCHS alumnus Charles “Cormac” McCarthy Class of 1951 Novelist, screenwriter, playwright. One of the greatest authors in the history of American literature. May his genius and his legacy inspire us to pursue excellence whilst living humbly and deliberately. To know what will come is the same as to make it so. -Suttree, 1979 Cormac McCarthy Club 2010-2011 Artwork by Eric Theodore ‘11 Among those on hand for the portrait unveiling was Carolyn Sue (Wright) Huber, who also was in the class of 1951. Mrs. Huber, McCarthy continued on page 22

Catholic bishops in November that a papal visit would likely result in crowds of about 1 million. A global Catholic event, the world meeting seeks to support and strengthen families. St. John Paul II founded the event in 1994, and it takes place every three years. ■ February 1, 2015 21

Art contest for Catholic students to mark Year of Consecrated Life

he Diocese of Knoxville’s Office of Consecrated Life is holding art contests for all Catholic students to mark the Year of Consecrated Life. Beginning with Catholic Schools Week held Jan. 25-29 and continuing through February, all students of the Catholic faith living in the diocese will have a chance to compete. The competition will be split into age groups for students in kindergarten through second grade, students in third through fifth grades, students in grades sixth through eighth and then students in high school. There will be one winner from each age group. The contest’s theme is “Wake up the world! Be witnesses of a different way of doing things, of acting, of living!” The theme was inspired by Pope Francis.

“The quote is from Pope Francis and we hope that it will inspire the kids to think about consecrated life and their own vocation,” said Sister Mary Charles Mayer, RSM, who is the associate chancellor for pastoral services and delegate to religious for the diocese. “Please encourage our kids to participate. This is to help them think about what consecrated life is and to ask themselves if they have a vocation to become a religious sister, brother or priest. At least it will hopefully focus their attention on the idea,” Sister Mary Charles added. Principals, teachers, parish secretaries and directors of religious education are being urged to get their students involved in the competition. Students do not have to attend Catholic schools, but they must be Catholic. They can be home-schooled or attend public

schools. There will be a prize for each finalist in each age group. The contest rules state that the art project should be a drawing, painting, sculpture or woodcraft; only one entry per student; there will be a finalist per age group in each of the diocese’s four deaneries (Smoky Mountain, Cumberland Mountain, Five Rivers and Chattanooga); the artwork must fit into a small car for transport; each entry must reflect the theme of the contest; students must create the artwork and do all finish work; students must submit their entries March 7-8 and not before or after. Judging will take place March 9-13, and then the finalists’ artwork from each deanery will be transported to the Chancery for final judging. Finalists will be announced March 28-29, and the winners will

be contacted by phone by March 31. Each entry is to have identification on it (student’s name, parent’s name, address, phone number, e-mail address, age, grade and parish) so it can be identified and returned. The winner of each age group will be invited to the Chancery for a reception and to receive their prizes. Then each winner’s artwork will be displayed at their parish. Parishes are not liable for any damage to artwork. “They will have to pick up the art work but I have encouraged our four deaneries to display the artwork so the kids can see it and the parents can appreciate it as well,” Sister Mary Charles said. Later in the year, there also will be a film contest for the older students and a writing contest involving consecrated life. ■

McCarthy continued from page 21

ments,” she said. Mrs. Huber isn’t the only one who hopes Cormac McCarthy gets an opportunity to personally view the portrait. Cormac McCarthy Mr. Sompayrac, Diannah Miller, who is a KCHS graduate and also is director of development and alumni affairs for the school, and other faculty members would welcome a visit by the author. “It would be significant for us because we know how rarely he is in public. It would be awesome,” Mr. Sompayrac said. “It would be so powerful for our students to hear one of the most famous authors in the world,”

Mrs. Miller added. As part of his presentation, Mr. Theodore read a poem titled Autumn’s Magic written by thenKnoxville Catholic student Charlie McCarthy. Mr. Theodore said the idea for a Cormac McCarthy Club originated with several students who had read the author’s books but didn’t realize he was a KCHS alumnus. “It was largely unknown, so we just wanted to raise awareness about this amazing man, one of the greatest writers of our time who went to our school. At the time, the library only had one copy of No Country for Old Men, so that was high on our priority list to raise money to get the rest of his books for the library,” Mr. Theodore said. Another 2011 KCHS graduate, Alec Cunningham, has been inspired by Mr. McCarthy’s writings. She also believes that KCHS

students need to know about Mr. McCarthy’s ties to the school. Ms. Cunningham is a budding writer, majoring in journalism and minoring in creative writing at Tusculum College. “Catholic students need to know about Cormac McCarthy because anybody who wants to be a creative writer or anybody who has that in their blood and knows that an alumnus of the school has gone on to do such great things fires you up,” she said. Mr. Theodore is hopeful the author he follows so closely pays a visit to their alma mater and sees the portrait he has drawn. “I would be thrilled if he stopped by and came to see it. I hope he would think I did him justice,” Mr. Theodore said as he quoted McCarthy scholar Dianne Luce. “Thanks to Cormac McCarthy, whose love of this dark world is a fire illuminating it.” ■

who attends All Saints Church, said she was in school with Mr. McCarthy for most of the 12 years they attended St. Mary School at Immaculate Conception Church and KCHS in the 1940s and early ’50s and described him as a “delightful person.” Mrs. Huber was impressed by Mr. Theodore’s portrait and said it was definitely “Charlie.” “Everybody liked Charlie. He was a nice, polite gentleman who liked to daydream, but he was always listening so he would have something to write about. He was very bright,” she said. She last saw him several years ago at a reunion of classmates at her Knoxville home. She was looking forward to seeing him again at the KCHS portrait unveiling. “We missed him and we were sorry he couldn’t be here, but we understand with all his commit-

22 February 1, 2015

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Living the readings

Weekday readings Sunday, Feb. 1: Deuteronomy 18:15-20; Psalm 95:1-2, 6-9; 1 Corinthians 7:32-35; Mark 1:21-28 Monday, Feb. 2: Feast, the Presentation of the Lord, Malachi 3:1-4; Psalm 24:710; Hebrews 2:14-18; Luke 2:22-40 Tuesday, Feb. 3: Hebrews 12:1-4; Psalm 22:26-28, 30-32; Mark 5:21-43 Wednesday, Feb. 4: Hebrews 12:4-7, 11-15; Psalm 103:1-2, 13-14, 17-18; Mark 6:1-6 Thursday, Feb. 5: Memorial, St. Agatha, virgin, martyr, Hebrews 12:18-19, 21-24; Psalm 48:2-4, 9-11; Mark 6:7-13 Friday, Feb. 6: Memorial, St. Paul Miki, martyr, and companions, martyrs, Hebrews 13:1-8; Psalm 27:1, 3, 5, 8-9; Mark 6:14-29 Saturday, Feb. 7: Hebrews 13:15-17, 20-21; Psalm 23:1-6; Mark 6:30-34 Sunday, Feb. 8: Job 7:14, 6-7; Psalm 147:1-6; 1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-23; Mark 1:29-39 Monday, Feb. 9: Genesis 1:1-19; Psalm 104:1-2, 5-6, 10, 12, 24, 35; Mark 6:53-56 Tuesday, Feb. 10: Memorial, St. Scholastica, virgin, Genesis 1:20–2:4, Psalm 8:4-9; Mark 7:1-13 Wednesday, Feb. 11: Genesis 2:4-9, 15-17; Psalm 104:1-2, 27-30; Mark 7:14-23 Thursday, Feb. 12: Genesis 2:18-25; Psalm 128:1-5; Mark 7:24-30 Friday, Feb. 13: Genesis 3:1-8; Psalm 32:1-2, 5-7; Mark 7:31-37 Saturday, Feb. 14: Memorial, Sts. Cyril, monk, and Methodius, bishop, Genesis 3:9-24; Psalm 90:2-6, 1213; Mark 8:1-10 Readings continued on page 24 The East Tennessee Catholic

by Father Joseph Brando

What’s in the old closet? There is much in store for us during the month Lent begins

ost every house or apartment has a store-all closet into which all sorts of memories are relegated. Chances are that you recently put your Christmas items up in that same closet so they will be available next December. By then they will have gathered a great deal of meaning and, perhaps, remind us of wonderful times we didn’t quite appreciate when we first experienced them. Some items may fill us with nostalgia for Christmases past and old friends and relatives we won’t see again until we meet in heaven. We need these closets to keep us remembering and moving on at the same time. February’s shortness makes it the ideal closet-month of the year. Look what it has in store as far as the liturgical year is concerned. It begins with the last three of the winter Sundays of Ordinary Time. In those three weeks for East Tennessee, February closes out winter. So, we can celebrate the preparation time for spring, namely Lent, starting in February, which includes the first Sunday of Lent. That’s February’s invitation for us to make Easter the greatest day of the year; if so, little February would have done its job well. So let’s start by opening up the Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time, which falls on Feb. 1. Along with the next two Sundays it reminds us of the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. And it gives us so much more. We will discover reasons for Jesus’ missionary method and what it all means to us. The Gospel readings for each of the three first Sundays are taken from the first chapter of the Gospel according to Mark. In the first Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus is teaching at the Capernaum synagogue and is

Isn’t it amazing to see so many people coming to Mass on Ash Wednesday? ... Large crowds fill our parish churches; and they are anxious to receive ashes indicating their Catholicism to the world. challenged by a troubled man who, Mark says, had an unclean spirit. So did many people in that very difficult time. Mark puts this scene at the beginning of his Gospel to give us a sense of why the Son of God chose the humble way to introduce himself to the world. An encounter with God directly could shatter the nerves of anyone unless you were the Virgin Mary. For the rest of us, we couldn’t take the shock of meeting God face to face very well. Consider this Sunday’s first reading. Moses accedes to a complaint of the people in the desert. They suffered deep anxiety. God was overpoweringly present to them every minute of every day. Night was bright with the presence of God as a tower of fire. And during daylight it became a cloud. In both ways God’s presence was benevolent, keeping them safe from the desert sun at daytime and the dangers that lurk in the night. But, 40 years of this took a toll. People became totally aware of being watched by God. It put them on edge and filled them with anxiety. So, Moses (speaking for God) acquiesces to the will of the people. In the future, God will come as a man like Moses himself. Remember, Moses described himself to God as “slow of speech.” He was somewhat timid and had a speech impediment. No one would be afraid of him. Nor would people have cause for anxiety on meeting the Lord. That explains Jesus’ manner of approaching his people. Paul carries that same thought

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in his first letter to the Corinthians, which is this Sunday’s second reading. He admonishes the Corinthian Christians not to have anxieties. The spiritual life may become overly intense if we don’t watch out. We may become like that man at the synagogue in Capernaum. We become afraid of God. Rather, our religion should be joyous. Others should notice how we praise God and respond to our invitation to join us. The next Sunday’s Gospel, the Fifth in Ordinary Time, is the very next scene from Mark’s first chapter. Jesus is leaving the synagogue and goes to Peter’s and Andrew’s house. There he meets Peter’s mother-inlaw, who is severely sick. He does more than cure her. Jesus, when he cures, usually adds something extra. In this case, he lifts her up out of the bed and back to the life she loves. Now, she is returned to her own environment, freed from all the anxiety of being bedridden. She is free to be herself. So she cooks and provides hospitality, demonstrating that the Christian life is one of happy service. In opposition to the joy of Peter’s mother-in-law is the drudgery that Job, in the first reading, describes as the human lot. People can consider their work in life to be a form of slavery as Job did. However, Peter’s mother-in-law didn’t see it that way. It is, rather, what she does best. She makes people happy through her cooking and her warmth. That’s what Jesus picked her up from the bed to do. I’m sure he enjoyed his dinner. Paul, in the second reading, approaches the notion of seeing work as slavery. He distinguishes two types of work: that which we do unwillingly (someone is ordering us to do it) and that we do willingly. The latter is an exercise in freedom. Christ came to make us free. Paul considers himself doing a slave’s work, but he does it freely. That attitude can dissipate the anxiety that

Lent continued on page 24 February 1, 2015 23

Readings continued from page 23 Lent continued from page 23

the world uses to defeat us. The Gospel for the third Sunday of February, once again, follows immediately after the previous passage. Jesus heals a leper who goes on to spread the word of Jesus’ power. Mark also makes the point that Jesus performed the miracle because he was moved by pity. No wonder news of this event drew large crowds. The first reading takes us back to Leviticus and the rules for lepers. They are to make no contact with non-lepers, calling out “unclean” to anyone coming close to them. I have a narrow knowledge of lepers, having visited only three or four leprosaria. But in all of them the lepers were very anxious to talk and show their wounds and have their pictures taken. They seem to crave attention. My guess is that the leper that Jesus cured had a personality similar to the lepers I met. If so, he disobeyed Jesus’ order not to tell anyone about his healing out of an enthusiasm that overshadowed even the explicit command of the Lord. Paul’s admonition to the Corinthians in the second reading encourages us to have the same attitude as the leper. That is we should do everything we do for the glory of God trying to please everyone in every way for the sake of their salvation. That will keep a smile on our faces at all times. February now takes a radical turn. We leave Ordinary Time to enter the season of Lent. Isn’t it amazing to see so many people coming to Mass on Ash Wednesday? Without the force of Church laws making attending Mass obligation, large crowds fill our parish churches; and they are anxious to receive ashes indicating their Catholicism to the world. They’ll also hear a message in the Liturgy of the Word that should deepen their joy at coming to Mass. The first reading, from the Book of Joel, will urge us to not just show up but to bring our hearts with us so we can be filled with a love for Christ that will wel-

24 February 1, 2015

come the Lord and his salvation into our lives. Perhaps, indeed, he will be merciful to us as he was to the leper. Like the leper, we can spread the good news to all we meet. Then, all of us will comprehend Paul’s message to the Corinthians when he writes that we are ambassadors for Christ. To be so, Paul continues, we need to be reconciled to God. Indeed, we might even become the righteousness of God. Our attitude would be sky high. And, it would give us the power to make people listen. But, first, we need to hear the Gospel. It comes from the center of the Sermon on the Mount and presents the correct way to perform the actions of a holy person. The three actions are, of course, prayer, fasting and almsgiving. All three must be done from deep in the heart. Prayer must be done inside a closet. We want the deepest recesses of our soul to touch God. That cannot be accomplished in public. Fasting must be done with a clean face so we will appear to others to enjoy what we’re doing. The real change takes place in our heart; and only God and ourselves can notice that. Almsgiving is also to be accomplished in secret. It’s a special undercover action that we accomplish as a secret agent of God. Keep it so secret that your left hand shouldn’t even know what the right hand is doing. The reason secrecy is so important in becoming truly religious is that the relationship we are working on in this effort is ours with God. The two of us come closer and we will be forever changed for the best. If we develop “rabbit ears” (a problem young athletes are prone to if they pay attention to the crowd), we might very well miss the essence of what we’re trying to do. The last Sunday of February is the First Sunday of Lent. The Gospel narrates what Jesus did after his baptism in the Jordan. He went to the desert for 40 days, where he was tempted by the devil. As the Second Person of the

Trinity, Jesus had taken on humanity. As a human, he was baptized. That is, Jesus as true man went through the waters not merely to cleanse himself, but also to render all humanity clean from all our sins. So, the Church hearkens back to bring us the story of Noah in the first reading and St. Peter’s commentary on it in the second. Realize that, according to the account, Noah and his family and assorted animals were the only living beings left other than vegetation. Mankind began again, once more freed from sin. Since all of us stem from Noah’s family, it is appropriate to know that we also were freed from our sins by a water event. The evil that had pervaded mankind and even sank Noah has been definitively destroyed by Christ. As God established a new covenant with Noah; he did the same for us in Christ. Christ’s first job after his baptism was to confront evil and defeat Satan and his temptations. For his baptism to be effective, Jesus knew that we, soon enough, would be beset by diabolical temptations. The Lord always does more for us than expected. And there is more than we can see fighting on our side. Peter writes to his readers that we do not come alone to our side of the battlefield in our war with Satan. We have the resurrected Lamb of God with us and the entire angelic force controlling the battle to make the battle turn out best for us. So, if the February environment gets to be too much for us to bear, just remember to go into your tiny closet for a taste of Christmas leftover memories and Scripture passages geared to render you free from problems, empowered to take on the world and ready to meet God. That was quite a lot to store up in the tiniest of months. May each of us strive to enter the kingdom and live it in joy! ■

Sunday, Feb. 15: Leviticus 13:1-2, 44-46; Psalm 32:1-2, 5, 11; 1 Corinthians 10:31–11:1; Mark 1:40-45 Monday, Feb. 16: Genesis 4:1-15, 25; Psalm 50:1, 8, 16-17, 20-21; Mark 8:11-13 Tuesday, Feb. 17: Genesis 6:5-8 and 7:1-5, 10; Psalm 29:1-4, 9-10; Mark 8:14-21 Wednesday, Feb. 18: Ash Wednesday, Joel 2:12-18; Psalm 51:3-6, 12-14, 17; 2 Corinthians 5:20–6:2; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 Thursday, Feb. 19: Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Psalm 1:1-4, 6; Luke 9:22-25 Friday, Feb. 20: Isaiah 58:1-9; Psalm 51:3-6, 1819; Matthew 9:14-15 Saturday, Feb. 21: Isaiah 58:9-14; Psalm 86:1-6; Luke 5:27-32 Sunday, Feb. 22: Genesis 9:8-15; Psalm 25:4-9; 1 Peter 3:18-22; Mark 1:12-15 Monday, Feb. 23: Leviticus 19:1-2, 11-18; Psalm 19:810, 15; Matthew 25:31-46 Tuesday, Feb. 24: Isaiah 55:10-11; Psalm 34:4-7, 16-19; Matthew 6:7-15 Wednesday, Feb. 25: Jonah 3:1-10; Psalm 51:34, 12-13, 18-19; Luke 11:29-32 Thursday, Feb. 26: Esther C:12, 14-16, 23-25; Psalm 138:1-3, 7-8; Matthew 7:7-12 Friday, Feb. 27: Ezekiel 18:21-28; Psalm 130:1-8; Matthew 5:20-26 Saturday, Feb. 28: Deuteronomy 26:16-19; Psalm 119:1-2, 4-5, 7-8; Matthew 5:43-48 ■

Father Brando is retired from the active priesthood in the Diocese of Knoxville.

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Once upon a time

by Monsignor Xavier Mankel

Catholicism’s westward journey

Christ is as present today in Diocese of Knoxville as he was in early days of the Church

t was the mid ‘60s of the first century of the Christian era. Our first Holy Father was well into his fourth decade as Christ’s vicar on earth. The Church was well-established with headquarters in Rome. We do not know about the physical health of Christ’s appointee to lead the Church during the ‘30s, ‘40s, ‘50s, and into the ‘70s of our early Christian days. Besides Sts. Peter and Paul, names like Cletus and Linus were mentioned as leaders of the Church in the city of Rome. Peter must have been in fairly good physical health. He was a public figure, spending some time in the jails of the Eternal City. Persecutions raged off and on and were quite violent from time to time. Historians tells us that both Sts. Peter and Paul were executed, perhaps on the same day. One would think that we would have known every detail about the deaths of these early Church leaders, but we don’t. We do know that St. Peter was martyred near the crypt of the present Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul and that St. Paul was beheaded at what we now call the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls. From the list of Church leaders, somebody was selected to lead. Perhaps St. Linus, followed by St. Cletus and local bishops in Ravenna, Athens, Constantinople, Antioch, and Jerusalem did their share of leading place by place. Although various leadership styles prevailed,

By 2088, our diocese will be 100 years old and articles on the diocese will have more Spanish names than English or Irish or French or Italian – just more “proof,” if you will, of the evolving Mystical Body of Christ in our lives. the Church’s governance style was hierarchical. Please fast forward to the time of St. Ambrose. The popes were elected as were the bishops. The bishop of Milan had died. Some youngster in the crowd yelled, “Let Ambrose be our bishop!” However, there was a problem. Although Ambrose had been a great governor of that metropolitan city, he was not Catholic. So we are told, Ambrose received the shortest possible preparation for bishop. Within just a few days he finished instruction, was baptized, installed in the minor orders, ordained a sub-deacon, deacon, priest and bishop – all within a short time. History attests that it worked out well. Two friends of Ambrose have become our friends, too: St. Augustine took instructions from St. Ambrose, and Augustine’s mother, St. Monica, sought the counsel of the bishop of Milan. By the year 600, the missionary thrust of the Church was in full swing. The pope was a Benedictine monk and he sent missionaries to the British kingdoms. The evangelizers brought some of the converts

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back to Rome. Papal commentaries reported people exclaiming when they saw tall, blue-eyed, blonde converts brought from England, “Look! They’re angels!” One commented, “No, not angels, but angles.” Pope after pope followed. Pope Pius VI established the Church in the United States, although South and Central American and Caribbean archdioceses were well established by 1790 when Baltimore became a see. We Catholics along the East Coast of the United States probably think exclusively of an English-speaking U.S. Church. It isn’t as simple as that. Granted that our Diocese of Knoxville came from Nashville (1988); that Nashville came from Louisville (1837); and Louisville (Bardstown, Ky.) was established in 1808. Who would have thought that just 50 years ago there were so few Spanishspeaking Catholics in East Tennessee. By 2088, our diocese will be 100 years old and articles on the diocese will have more Spanish names than English or Irish or French or Italian – just more “proof,” if you will, of the evolving Mystical Body of Christ in our lives. The Church presently is blessed to be led by Pope Francis, who is from the western hemisphere and is a Jesuit. May God grant him length of days! ■ Monsignor Mankel is a vicar general and the historical archivist for the Diocese of Knoxville. Follow the diocese on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ knoxdiocese

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Upcoming Virtus training sessions The Diocese of Knoxville’s program for the protection of children, youth and vulnerable adults is offered throughout the diocese. The seminars are required for parish and school employees and regular volunteers in contact with children and vulnerable adults. The following training sessions are scheduled: ■ Immaculate Conception Church, Knoxville, 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 3; ■ St. Mary Church, Johnson City, 10 a.m. Saturday, March 7; ■ St. Dominic Church, Kingsport, noon Thursday, March 5; 1 p.m. Saturday, April 11. ■

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February 1, 2015 25

Marriage enrichment

Sacred Heart School seeking principal Sacred Heart Cathedral School in Knoxville is accepting applicants for the position of principal. The successful candidate will be a practicing Catholic with at least a master’s degree in educational administration, three to five years of classroom teaching experience and three years of administrative experience. Interested candidates should e-mail a current resume, cover letter and three references, including a pastor reference, to searchcommittee@shcknox.org. The closing date for applications is March 1. Sacred Heart School (www.shcschool.org), founded in 1956, is a SACS accredited Catholic school, grades kindergarten through eighth, with 580 students and a pre-school with 120 students. It is a ministry of the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a diverse parish of more than 1,400 families located in West Knoxville near the Smoky Mountains, an area with a growing Catholic population. The start date for the position is June 1. ■

Funeral Mass held for Sister Julissa Duggan Sister Julissa Duggan, BVM, 95, died Nov. 28, at Marian Hall in Dubuque, Iowa. Burial was in Mount Carmel cemetery. In the Diocese of Knoxville, Sister Julissa taught elementary school at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Chattanooga. She also taught elementary school and was principal and superior in Davenport, Muscatine, Cedar Falls and Cascade, Iowa; Tucson, Ariz.; Clarksdale, Miss.; and Chicago. She was born in South Garryowen, Iowa, on June 9, 1919, and entered the BVM congregation from St. Raphael Cathedral Parish in Dubuque on Sept. 8, 1937. She professed first vows on March 19, 1940, and final vows on Aug. 15, 1945. She served with the Sisters of Charity BVM for 77 years. Sister Julissa continued on page 27

26 February 1, 2015

by Marian Christiana

Showing caregivers a little love Valentine’s Day is a good time to let them know how we feel

alentine’s Day is the day typically set aside for couples to express their love for each other. Although it is a special day for couples, the greeting card industry celebrates all forms of loving relations. When my father was alive, he would send his four daughters Valentine’s Day cards every year. It was a way to remind his daughters how much he loved them. The memory of those cards from our father will be with me and my sisters forever. This Valentine’s Day, however, I would like to celebrate a type of love that doesn’t usually have a special Hallmark card associated with it. It’s a type of love that reminds us that giving of ourselves is the best gift of all. This Valentine’s Day I would like to honor all of the caregivers in our lives. They are the unsung heroes who put their lives on hold while they care for their parents, their wives or husbands, children or friends who are disabled by illness or age. Let’s celebrate the people who struggle every day to care for a loved one, leaving very little time or energy for themselves. Recently I have been privileged to witness several caregivers in action. These individuals appear to put their Cardinals continued from page 10

Both men served the Church in Rome. Cardinal Rigali worked under Pope John XXIII and worked for Pope Paul VI, Pope John Paul I and Pope John Paul II. He was later appointed archbishop of St. Louis and then archbishop of Philadelphia, but he remained connected to the Vatican. He now resides in Knoxville. Cardinal Levada worked for Pope Benedict XVI.

This Valentine’s Day would be a great time to tell a caregiver that their loving actions have had a positive ripple effect on the world. Their actions are making the world a better place by demonstrating to the people around them what unconditional love really looks like. own lives on hold while they walk or have walked with someone through the last stages of life. From the outside, it might look like their life is standing still while they accompany their loved one, but when you talk to them you understand that impression is completely incorrect. The journey the caregiver is on is a perfect demonstration of love in action. This action of love has a positive effect on the person who is being cared for but also affects the caregiver and anyone lucky enough to be within this special circle of love. A friend of mine passed away in December after a two-year battle with cancer. Her husband was with her every step of the way. They were a private couple, but during all the changes that her illness took them through their deep friendship became visible to everyone around them. Her husband’s care and devotion was an inspiration to all of us who knew them. It gave us a deeper ap “His experience is especially unique. He has experience I don’t have, working under Pope Benedict XVI,” Cardinal Rigali said of Cardinal Levada. “Cardinal Levada was Pope Benedict’s successor, serving as Prefect for the Congregation of the Doctrine of Faith, which was the position Pope Benedict held before he became pope.” Cardinal Levada also served as archbishop of Portland, Ore., and San Francisco. He was elevated to cardinal by

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preciation and love for the people in our own lives. My brother also is a caregiver for his friend living with cancer. It is a blessing to see my brother’s patience expand and his compassion grow through this experience. Life moves slower for my brother now but he is definitely not standing still. Yes, love is an action verb! Caregivers do, of course, get tired and frustrated. Increasing stress is an inevitable issue they deal with every day. This Valentine’s Day would be a great time to tell a caregiver that their loving actions have had a positive ripple effect on the world. Their actions are making the world a better place by demonstrating to the people around them what unconditional love really looks like; how love is most assuredly a conscious decision to act. Take some time this Valentine’s Day to acknowledge the caregivers that you may know in your life and in our community. Take a moment to thank the people who have responded “Here I am, Lord” to God’s call to care for a spouse, aging parent, family member or friend. ■ Mrs. Christiana is coordinator of the diocesan Marriage Preparation and Enrichment Office. Pope Benedict in 2006. As for Cardinal Dolan—his track record speaks for itself. The New York archbishop first served as a priest in the Archdiocese of St. Louis when Cardinal Rigali was archbishop there. He also served as an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of St. Louis and as archbishop of Milwaukee. He was appointed archbishop of New York in 2009 and elevated to cardinal in 2012. ■ dioknox.org

Understanding the sacraments

Sister Julissa continued from page 26

by Father Randy Stice

Preparing for Lent Looking at our campaign of Christian service as we anticipate the Easter celebration

he opening prayer for Ash Wednesday describes Lent in striking military language— we are embarking on a “campaign of Christian service” in which “we take up battles against spiritual evils” and arm ourselves “with weapons of self-restraint.” A disciplined preparation for celebrating Easter has been part of the Church’s life from its earliest days. Christians of the second century observed “a two-day, grief-inspired fast” that was extended to all of Holy Week in the third century (Adolf Adam, The Liturgical Year, 91). The Council of Nicea in 325 (the first ecumenical council) speaks of a 40-day fast “as something obvious and familiar to all” (Adam, 91). The 40 days are an imitation of Christ’s 40-day fast in the desert, prefigured in Moses’ 40-day fast on Mount Sinai (Exodus 34:28), Elijah’s fast on his journey to Mount Horeb (1 Kings 19:8) and Israel’s 40 years in the desert. Devotions and spiritual exercises can enrich our observance of Lent and prepare us for a more fruitful celebration of the Triduum. In this column I would like to suggest a couple that are recommend by The Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy (DPPL) that I introduced in my last column. One of the DPPL’s recommendations is reading the account of the Lord’s Passion, either privately or communally, especially on Wednesdays and Fridays. A prayerful reading of the Lord’s suffering “inspires true devotion: repentance for sins, since the faithful see that Christ died for the sins of the entire human race, including their own; compassion and solidarity for the Innocent who was unjustly condemned; gratitude for the infinite love of Jesus for all The East Tennessee Catholic

the brethren, which was shown by Jesus, the first born Son, in his Passion; commitment to imitating his example of meekness, patience, mercy, forgiveness of offenses, abandonment to the Father, which Jesus did willingly and efficaciously in his Passion” (DPPL, 131). Another devotion recommended by the DPPL is the familiar Way of the Cross. This popular devotion brings together “various strands of Christian piety: the idea of life being a journey or pilgrimage; as a passage from earthly exile to our true home in Heaven; the deep desire to be conformed to the Passion of Christ; the demands of following Christ, which imply that his disciples must follow behind the Master, daily carrying their own crosses (cf Luke 9:23)” (DPPL, 133). The DPPL recommends using different forms of this devotion. One they suggest is a form publicly used by the pope, such as that used by St. John Paul II at the Colosseum in 1991. The complete text used by the saint is available at www. catholicnewsagency.com/resources/ liturgy/lent/stations-of-the-crosswith-john-paul-ii-1991/ . The DPPL also recommends that the Stations “should conclude…in such fashion as to leave the faithful with a sense of expectation of the resurrection in faith and hope” (133). A third devotion recommended by the DPPL for Lent is the Way of Mary, “‘the woman of sorrows,’ whom God associated with his Son as mother and participant in his Passion” (DPPL, 136). This devotion, focusing on seven particular incidents of sorrow in the Blessed Virgin’s life, is modeled on the Way of the Cross and was approved by Pope Leo XIII in 1884. The seven “stations” are as follows: the prophecy of Simeon;

the flight into Egypt; the loss of the child Jesus in the temple; the meeting of Jesus and Mary on the Way of the Cross; the crucifixion; the taking down of the body of Jesus from the cross (the Pietà); and the burial of Jesus. The DPPL identifies several themes from this pious exercise “that are proper to the Lenten season. Since the sorrows of Our Lady are caused by the rejection of her Son… the Via Matris constantly and necessarily refers to the mystery of Christ as the suffering servant (cf. Isaiah 52: 13-53:12). It also refers to the mystery of the Church: the stations of the Via Matris are stages on the journey of faith and sorrow on which the Virgin Mary has preceded the Church, and in which the Church journeys until the end of time” (137). These devotions can help us enter more fully into the mystery of Lent: “In these forty days, Mother Church vests herself simply in violet. Her sacred halls are bare, and much of her gracious music is muted. Flowers at her altars and shrines are set aside…But this is her true springtime [the word “Lent” comes from the Anglo-Saxon word for “spring”], when her children grow in grace, in ways often imperceptible, subtle and varied. Lent thus reminds us that the great graces are given by God, not when our senses perceive them or when our hearts are full of consolations, but in the silence and stillness of “the night” (Ceremonies of the Liturgical Year According to the Modern Roman Rite, Bishop Peter Elliott, 53). Amen! ■

Memorials may be given to the Sisters of Charity, BVM Support Fund, 1100 Carmel Drive, Dubuque, Iowa 52003, or online at www.bvmcong. org/whatsnew_obits.cfm. ■

Funeral services held for Brother Ronald Robert Irving Ruberg (Brother Ronald) died Jan. 11 at age 99. He was a member of the Alexian Brothers Congregation living at Alexian Health and Rehab Center in Signal Mountain. Brother Ronald was born Feb. 25, 1915, in Anderson, Ind. Brother Ronald entered the Alexian Brothers in Signal Mountain on April 12, 1947, and pronounced his life commitment in the congregation on Dec. 8, 1954. He lived 68 years in the religious life as an Alexian Brother. Brother Ronald, who served in both provincial leadership and administrative roles at Alexian Brothers Ministries in Illinois, New Jersey, Missouri and Tennessee, received a funeral Mass on Jan. 16, with burial in Mount Olivet Cemetery. ■

Father Angelo Joseph Nobile dies at age 86 Father Angelo Joseph Nobile, passed away on Dec. 24 at age 86. He resided at Deerfield Beach, Fla. He was a priest in Tennessee for many years and moved to Florida following his retirement, where he continued to serve as an associate priest. Father Nobile graduated from Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga and Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Cincinnati. He recently celebrated 60 years in the ministry. A funeral Mass was held on Dec. 30 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Chattanooga, with burial in Mount Olivet Cemetery. ■

Father Stice is pastor of St. Mary Church in Athens and directs the diocesan Office of Worship and Liturgy. He can be reached at frrandy@dioknox.org.

The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee

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KCHS, Notre Dame students take part in national March for Life

he massive March for Life in Washington, D.C., is getting a boost from students across the Diocese of Knoxville. Bradford Bosarge, director of campus ministry at Knoxville Catholic High School, said 75 students and chaperones arrived in the nation’s capital on Jan. 21 to take part in the annual event. “I hope this helps our students

see the value and dignity of life from conception to natural death,” Mr. Bosarge said before Mass at George Washington University on Jan. 22. “I also hope this helps our students see that the Church can inspire people to do more and spark conversation and faith,” he added. Students from Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga also traveled

to attend the rally. The March for Life, a pro-life walk to the National Mall, has attracted hundreds of thousands of participants protesting the Roe vs. Wade decision that legalized abortion in the United States. This year’s march took place on the 42nd anniversary of the Supreme Court decision—Jan. 22, 1973. For some of the Knoxville Catho-

lic students, it was their first trip to Washington. “It’s amazing, there are so many good people trying to lay witness to life,” Mr. Bosarge said. “We’re at a rally right now with so many amazing and spiritual people—priests and bishops. It is incredible to see how many people show up at one time and in one place to recognize the value of life,” he added. ■

Lenten pilgrimage to EWTN, Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament planned

Lenten pilgrimage to EWTN and the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament is being planned for March 4–6. Those who join the pilgrimage will depart by bus on March 4 and travel to EWTN studios (ewtn.com/pilgrimage/about-us.asp) where Mass will be celebrated with the Friars, lunch will be served on site and a one-hour guided tour of EWTN stu-

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dios will be given. Following dinner, parishioners will be part of the live audience for the taping of EWTN Live with Father Mitch Pacwa, SJ, before boarding the bus to St. Bernard Abbey Retreat Center. (stbernardabbey.com/). On March 5, they will visit the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville, Ala. (olamshrine.org/), which will include a guided tour of

the shrine and the new John Paul II center, Mass, and a rosary with the Nuns of the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration plus. There will be time given for adoration and reflection before returning home March 6 after Mass at St. Bernard Abbey, breakfast, and a tour of the Ave Maria Grotto (www.avemariagrotto.com/). The price is $250 per person (based on double occupancy; single

supplement is available for $300). Payment must be received in full by Feb. 18. The cost includes two nights at St. Bernard’s Abbey Retreat Center, all bus-related costs, two breakfasts, two lunches, two dinners, and the Ave Maria Grotto tour. For more information or to register, contact Lisa Morris, lccte@bellsouth.net or 865-567-1245. ■

T ENNESSEE

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