Feb. 5, 2017, ET Catholic, B section

B Section

Schools accreditation reaches critical phase The Diocese of Knoxville school system is being reviewed by AdvancED for certification as a system of excellence

By Bill Brewer

EMILY BOOKER

D

iocesan-wide schools accreditation, a project Diocese of Knoxville education leaders have been working on for two years, reaches a critical phase this month.

The diocesan school system is officially being reviewed by AdvancED for certification as a system of excellence. During February a team of education professionals will visit all 10 schools in the diocese. The team’s lead evaluator, Louisville Archdiocese schools Superintendent Leisa Schulz, who made a pre-evaluation visit to the diocese Nov. 21, returns with her entire team of superintendents, principals, and other central office personnel from various dioceses and archdioceses to evaluate the schools Feb. 21-22.

The categories under which Diocese of Knoxville schools will be assessed include mission and Catholic identity, academic excellence, governance and leadership, and operational vitality.

Sister Mary Marta Abbott, RSM, superintendent of diocesan schools, recently submitted a final report from the diocese to AdvancED on the 10 schools.

Immediately following the review team’s evaluation later this month, a culminating exit report will be presented to Bishop Richard F. Stika, priests, school leaders, and other stakeholders Feb. 23. Following the quality assurance review, the team will make its final accreditation recommendation.

“The review team will tell us what we’re doing well and what we need to work on,” Sister Mary Marta said. “We know we need to improve our marketing. But I’m confident we will be accredited.”

While nine of 10 Diocese of Knoxville schools already are accredited

by AdvancED, Sister Mary Marta has said it is equally important for the school system as a whole to be accredited by AdvancED. “We’re trying to move from a system of schools to a school system. That will make us all aware as a diocese of where we’re going and what our focus is,” Sister Mary Marta has said, noting that the diocese recently approved new mission and vision statements for

School visit Bishop Richard F. Stika meets with Sacred Heart Cathedral School students in January before Catholic Schools Week. Sacred Heart will be among the 10 diocesan schools to be evaluated during the AdvancED accreditation process this month. the school system as part of the accreditation process.

The mission is “The Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Knoxville prepare scholars, leaders, and saints.”

The vision is “Empowered by the Holy Spirit and recognizing the vital ministry of Catholic education to the future of the Church and nation, we will provide a learning environment that emphasizes quality education and spiritual growth for all.”

The 10 schools currently serve 3,185 students in 36 counties throughout East Tennessee. Students come from both Catholic (84 percent) and non-Catholic (16 percent) families, with an ethnic mix that is approximately 87 percent Caucasian, followed by 9 percent Hispanic, 4 percent Asian, and the remaining ethnic groups at 1 percent or less than 1 percent each. Approximately 47 percent of the students are male and 53 percent female.

Schools data also show that the socio-economic status of families with children in school ranges from wealthy to poverty levels, with 30

percent of the students receiving tuition assistance through parishes or diocesan regional funds. The schools strive to hold down the cost of tuition to make Catholic education affordable for all families while still trying to provide a just wage for school personnel. Even though tuition is the main source of funding, schools have additional revenue through fundraising efforts largely conducted by parent and school communities. St. Mary’s Legacy Foundation grants have recently awarded some schools monetary grants for school improvements and upgrades such as technology upgrades and equipment purchases.

According to diocesan schools data, preschool programs have increased the number of potential students for elementary schools, as well as providing an important service to Catholic communities.

All eight elementary schools have a preschool program.

There are regional differences in the diocese that affect enrollment levels in schools. These differences include competition, a rise in

secularism, population size, family financial need, and a lack of a complete preschool/kindergarten through grade 12 for students in certain regions. The vast majority of students who attend a Catholic elementary school continue on to a diocesan high school. However, there is not a Catholic high school available for students in the TriCities area.

Sedonna Prater, director of curriculum and instruction for diocesan schools who is chairing the accreditation process, explained that AdvancED accredits schools throughout the United States and internationally and works in conjunction with its affiliate, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, which has accredited Diocese of Knoxville schools on a regional basis.

Mrs. Prater has said it is important for the diocese to align itself with the AdvancED system and standards, which include a wide spectrum of academic benchmarks as well as criteria specific to Catholic schools. Mrs. Prater, Knoxville Accreditation continued on page B6

State Knights of Columbus membership efforts are paying off

T

he Tennessee Knights of Columbus’ membership efforts are paying dividends.

In the first six months in the 2016-17 fraternal year, the Knights in Tennessee have recruited about 330 new members, which ranks the state 11th among the order’s 74 jurisdictions around the world, said State Deputy Steve Comm of Nashville.

Mr. Comm, the Knights’ top official in Tennessee, announced at the Knights’ Mid-Year Meeting held Saturday, Jan. 7, at the Catholic Pastoral Center in Nashville, that Tennessee is one of only three jurisdictions to have at least 75 percent of its councils recruit at least one new member so far this fraternal year. In Tennessee there are 94 councils, most based at parishes across the state.

“Last year, I doubt we were much more than 50 percent of the councils,” compared with 78

percent that have added a new member this year, Mr. Comm said.

Tennessee’s goal of the year is to recruit 640 new members. “Our plan is to far exceed that,” he said.

“The key to me has been Kevin Petitte, our membership director,” Mr. Comm said of the past Grand Knight of Council 9317 at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Cordova, a Memphis suburb. “Obviously, the councils have to do the work or nothing gets done. But Kevin has embraced the concept of communicating with the councils directly in a way that hasn’t been done in a very long time.”

The message has been to help prospective members become better men, better husbands, better fathers, better Catholics, Mr. Comm said. “It resonates with the local councils in a way just throwing out numbers never would,” he added.

The Knights of Columbus is a fraternal benefit organization of

By Andy Telli

BILL BREWER

Tennessee Knights councils have recruited 330 new members in first six months of the fraternal year

Leading the way Members of the Knights of Columbus with the Diocese of Knoxville lead the Knoxville March for Life on Jan. 22.

Catholic men, and with 1.9 million members in 17 countries, it is one of the largest lay Catholic organizations in the world. The order was

founded in 1882 to help take care of the widows and orphans of deceased members. From that mission Knights continued on page B6

Parish notes Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Chattanooga Father Jim Mallett offered the noon Mass on Dec. 18 in celebration of the 50th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood. The parish honored him with a reception after Mass in Holy Family Hall. Father Mallett was ordained Dec. 17, 1966.

OLPH seventh-grader and violinist Ian Agbannaoag was selected for the 2016 Lower East Tennessee Junior Honor Orchestra.

derway, in which individuals or families can be involved in the ministry of helping young women who are facing an unintended pregnancy. Bottles are in the narthex for people to take home and fill with loose change. All money collected will be given to the Choices Resource Center and used to support an outreach program for these young women.

The Knights of Columbus sold Italian meat and cheese subs after Masses on Super Bowl weekend, Feb. 4 and 5.

COURTESY OF MARIA RIST

Chattanooga Deanery

St. John Neumann, Farragut St. Jude, Chattanooga Naino Leo has been named the Knights of Columbus’ Knight of the month, and Jason and Andrea Taylor have been named family of the month.

Sandy Pricer is passing on the mantle of leading vacation Bible school after five years. This year’s VBS is set for June 19-23 if enough volunteers and a director can be found. If interested in leading VBS, call Kyra in the parish office at 423-870-2386.

St. Jude School held a kindergarten open house Jan. 31.

A Knights potluck social took place Jan. 23 in the parish life center.

A new coin club was recently formed at St. Jude, meeting for the first time Jan. 16 in the parish life center.

Father Charlie Burton’s Chili Bowl Challenge fundraiser, benefiting Knights of Columbus Council 8576 and the Council of Catholic Women, was held Jan. 10 in the parish life center.

St. Mary, Athens The parish is beginning its fifth year of awarding college scholarships. Applications will be accepted through March 31. Applications, along with the rules, may be picked up at the church office.

Members of the youth ministry will again travel to Osage, W.Va., from April 8-13 for a weeklong Appalachian Experience. The youth will help the needy with home repairs during the week. Any high school youth interested in attending should contact Deacon Al Forsythe.

Sister Patricia Soete, RSM, of St. Jude in Helenwood thanked parishioners for their contributions of toys and clothing for Christmas. The gifts served 250 children.

St. John Neumann School held a fundraiser night Feb. 1 at Newk’s Eatery in Turkey Creek.

The Knights of Columbus conducted their free-throw championship Jan. 22 in the school gym.

A potluck social, in honor of SJN’s 15th anniversary of perpetual eucharistic adoration, was held Jan. 28 in the school cafeteria.

The women’s club hosted an Epiphany Open House on Jan. 8 at the rectory and St. Patrick’s Convent.

Jubilate Deo Youth Schola sings for Epiphany at the basilica On the traditional feast of the Epiphany on Jan. 6, the Jubilate Deo Youth Schola of the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga sang Christmas carols and Gregorian hymns during first Friday adoration, followed by their third annual Epiphany party, which included a three kings’ visit, King Cake, and Bible trivia led by Father David Carter and Father Scott Russell. The choir meets every Friday at 4 p.m. for Ward method chant instruction and rehearsal. They sing for English, Spanish, and ancient form Masses twice a month, as well as Benediction on first Fridays and all Fridays of Lent. Interested families may visit the Youth Choir page at stspeterandpaulbasilica.com or contact MariaRist@comcast.net for more information.

Flaggs celebrating 60th wedding anniversary

S

t. Francis of Assisi Parish in Fairfield Glade recently congratulated Tom and Nancy Flagg, who are celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary Feb. 9.

They were married at Sacred Heart Church in Yonkers, N.Y. Their children are Thomas Jr. of Dayton, Ohio; Christopher of Springfield, Mo.; Michael of Newnan, Ga.; and Jeffrey of Glens Falls, N.Y. They have seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

The Flaggs retired from the Mid-

western Packaging Co. in Dayton and moved to the Glade in September 1999.

A family reunion and anniversary celebration is planned for June in the Glade.

Mr. and Mrs. Flagg bring the Eucharist to the homebound. Mrs. Flagg is a member of the Council of Catholic Women, and Mr. Flagg is a member of the Knights of Columbus, is an altar server and reader, and sings in the choir. They enjoy boating, golfing, and gardening. n

The parish held a Mass of Light & Hope on Dec. 22 for those who may have been experiencing grief, uncertainty, illness, or other challenges during the holiday season.

St. Therese, Clinton

St. Mary Parish congratulated parishioner Kevin Carrillo, named student of the year at Tennessee College of Applied Technology.

The Knights of Columbus held their annual Chili Cook-Off on Jan. 29.

Sts. Peter and Paul, Chattanooga In January, Father David Carter started a monthly Evening of Recollection for men on first Wednesdays and for women on second Wednesdays, from 7-9 p.m. at the basilica. On each evening, Father Carter leads a meditation on the writings of St. Josemaria Escriva, followed by adoration, confessions, and spiritual fellowship. For more information, call the parish office at 423-266-1618.

The basilica will be offering the following devotions each week during Lent: adoration on Fridays following the noon Mass, with Benediction at 5:15 p.m.; Vespers on Wednesdays and Fridays at 5:45 p.m.; Stations of the Cross on Wednesdays and Fridays at 6 p.m. (English) and 7:30 (Spanish); and a Lenten dinner Fridays at 6:30 p.m. All are welcome to participate.

The basilica offered a “Vigil of Prayer and Adoration for Our Nation” on Nov. 7 from 8 a.m. to midnight, the eve of the U.S. presidential election. The response was tremendous, with many attendees every hour and a few keeping vigil through the night.

On Nov. 23, the basilica offered a Vigil of Prayer for the deceased children of the school-bus wreck on Nov. 21 and for the community grieving their loss.

Holy Trinity, Jefferson City Michael Cumbie will return to Holy Trinity from Feb. 26-28 to lead a parish mission.

Joe Braschler was recently named Knight of the quarter, and Gordon and Kathy Marshall were named Knights’ family of the quarter.

The Council of Catholic Women is again selling American flags for display at the church for a fundraiser. Flags are $25 and may be in memorial or honor of individuals or for the Armed Forces in general. The flags will be put on display for eight holidays.

Joe Braschler, Peter Dodge, Gene Dunn, Stan Szalkiewicz, and Martin Witberg were thanked for painting the church over a period of weeks. Alice Dodge was also thanked for working on taking wax off the carpet.

Father Erik Richsteig of the Diocese of Salt Lake City led a parish youth mission Feb. 3 and 4.

Anniversaries: Raymond and Helen La Shier (57), Peter and Diane Heinen (52), Stan and Dagmar Szalkiewicz (45), Roger and Kristine Mynatt (25) Newcomer: Alison Jones Notre Dame, Greeneville The parish is planning fundraising efforts for young people to attend the National Catholic Youth Conference in Indianapolis from Nov. 16-19, 2017.

Cost will be $675 per person.

Anniversary: Doug and Mary McConnell (57), Leslie and Mary Law (54)

Cumberland Mountain Deanery St. Dominic, Kingsport Blessed Sacrament, Harriman A Bottles for Babies campaign is unB2 n FEBRUARY 5, 2017

St. Henry Knights make donation As a result of its latest Tootsie Roll Drive, Knights of Columbus Council 8860 at St. Henry Parish in Rogersville recently presented a check for $2,720 to the Chip Hale Center in Rogersville, an agency that provides services and support to citizens with intellectual disabilities. From left are Steven Meyers, Grand Knight; Randi Linkous, executive director of the Chip Hale Center; and Ron Campbell, Knight.

COURTESY OF MIKE SANDLOCK

St. Mary offered Christmas gift bags to the shut-ins of the Meals on Wheels program at the Senior Center of Athens.

COURTESY OF CAROL DEGROFF

Five Rivers Deanery The parish thanked the Knights of Columbus for their donation of $411 from their spaghetti and bingo night.

The parish recently welcomed Danny Parish notes continued on page B3

St. Patrick parishioners generous in supporting Knights’ coat drive This past year, parishioners of St. Patrick in Morristown were extra generous in supporting the local Knights of Columbus’ annual coat drive. In 2015 donations totaled about 820 pounds of various coats, socks, underwear, clothing, and toiletries. In 2016 the Knights took in more than 1,100 pounds. Since the recent Gatlinburg fires, the Knights have decided to split up the donations. Half of the donations were taken to the Mountain Home Veterans Hospital in Johnson City on Dec. 9 by Knights Jim Mach and Joe Giza. The other half of the donations were delivered to the El Ministerio del Espirito Santo Church in Sevierville on Dec. 10

by Mr. Mach and Knight Luis Crespo. The council’s choice for this donation was made in the hope that the warm clothing might reach more of the immigrant population affected by the fires in Sevier County. Above, Mr. Crespo hands coat bags to Santiago, a member of the Sevierville church.

www.di o k no x .o rg

TH E EA S T TEN N ES S EE C A TH OLI C

Calendar

The 35th annual Catholic Charities of Chattanooga dinner will be held Thursday, March 16, at the Chattanooga Convention Center (new venue).

Proceeds support the Chattanooga programs of Catholic Charities. The evening includes a cocktail reception at 5:30 p.m. and dinner at 6:30. For more information, contact Betty Anne at 423-267-1297 or bettyanne@ccetn. org.

All Saints Parish in Knoxville is having a Mardi Gras party to benefit the Gatlinburg Relief Fund from 8 to 11 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24, in the parish hall. There will be a professional DJ, samples of Cajun specialties, soft drinks (or BYOB), a costume contest, a silent auction, and a chance to join a line dance. Proceeds ($15 per single, $25 per couple) will benefit victims of the recent fire disaster in Gatlinburg.

RSVP by Feb. 15 to Bill Beckham at 865-803-6809 or kxvlbeckhm@aol. com.

The next Picture of Love engaged couples retreat is scheduled for 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, June 2, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 3, in the parish life center at St. Stephen Church in Chattanooga. The retreat is to supplement couples’ marriage formation process with their parish priest or deacon. 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. An additional retreat is set for Oct. 20-21, 2017, at St. Stephen.

For more information, contact Marian Christiana of the diocesan Office of Marriage Preparation and Enrichment at 423-892-2310 or mchristiana@ dioknox.org, or visit dioknox.org/ marriage-preparation-and-enrichment/ and click on the “programs designed for engaged couples” page.

The Sacred Heart Cathedral Divorce Ministry will offer a free one-day divorce healing seminar from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, in the Shea Room in the parish office building (next door to the Paraclete Bookstore). This seminar is an overview of the Journey of Hope program that utilizes the book “Divorced. Catholic. Now What?,” the Voices of Hope DVD presentation, and discussion to lead participants through the struggles of divorce. To register or learn more, contact Deacon Walt Otey at 865-388-0690 or wotey@shcknox.org.

The Faith-Based Caregiver Support Group, offered by the St. Joseph’s Care Giver Ministry at St. John Neumann Parish in Farragut, will meet from 10:30 to 11:45 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15, in Seton Hall at SJN Church. The group assists those caring for a loved one who has an illness or disability.

Those interested in attending the meeting should call Brenda Nicholson at 865-310-6790.

Voci Virili Men’s Consort will present a sacred music concert, “A Capella Traditions,” at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 12, at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga. There is no admission fee, but donations are requested. A light reception will follow in Varallo Parish Hall.

As part of the V Encuentro, the Office of Hispanic Ministry and the Office of Christian Formation are organizing a presentation on Pope Francis’s Apostolic Exhortation “Evangelii Gaudium” (“The Joy of the Gospel”), which will be held at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Lenoir City from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, March TH E EAST T E N N E S S E E C A T HO L I C

11. Registration starts at 9:15 a.m.

A donation of $5 per person is requested, with the funds going to V Encuentro expenses. The presentation is in English with interpretation into Spanish. After the presentation there will be a short video about the V Encuentro, discussion, and sign-up sheets for the sessions.

A Retrouvaille weekend, designed to help couples rebuild their marriages, is set for March 3-5. For confidential information about the program, or to register for the weekend, call 800470-2230 or 615-523-0631; e-mail nrv3043@gmail.com; or visit www.

HelpOurMarriage.com.

A Natural Family Planning course will begin at All Saints Church in Knoxville at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23. Course fee is $130 for three classes over three months. Register online at https:// register.ccli.org/class_series/10374.

For more information, contact Jared or Monica Kimutis at 970-980-5009 or jmkimutis@gmail.com.

On Saturday, Feb. 11, from 7-9 p.m. there will be an adult social for Natural Family Planning couples at the Clubhouse at Fox Run on Brochardt Boulevard in Farragut. There will be a Valentine’s theme (wear red and white), games, heavy hor d’oeuvres, cheese, and wine. Those interested in learning about Natural Family Planning are also welcome to attend. To RSVP, e-mail Jared or Monica Kimutis at jmkimutis@ gmail.com.

Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga is currently accepting applications for the 2017-18 academic year.

Visit www.myndhs.com to apply online.

Call Laura Goodhard at 423-624-4618, extension 1004, with any questions. An admissions test, required for all rising ninth-graders, will be held from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, March 4.

Search for Christian Maturity retreat 151, for high school juniors and seniors in the Chattanooga Deanery, will be held the weekend of Feb. 24-26 at All Saints Academy in Chattanooga.

Cost is $60. Contact Irene Scoggins at irenescoggins@gmail.com or 423-5960053 for more information.

A Search for Christian Maturity retreat for high school juniors and seniors in the Five Rivers Deanery will take place Feb. 17 to 19 in the parish center at St. Patrick Church in Morristown. For more information, contact a youth minister or Deacon Jim Fage, Five Rivers Deanery coordinator of youth ministry.

A pilgrimage to EWTN and the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Alabama is set for Feb. 22-24.

Pilgrims will depart by bus Wednesday morning, Feb. 22, and travel to EWTN studios, where they will attend Mass with the friars, have lunch on site, and be given a one-hour guided tour of EWTN studios. Following dinner the group will be part of the live audience for the taping of “EWTN Live” with Father Mitch Pacwa before it boards a bus to St. Bernard Abbey Retreat Center for an overnight stay. On Thursday, Feb. 23, the group will visit the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville, Ala., which will include a guided tour of the shrine and the new St. John Paul II Center, Mass, and the praying of the rosary with the nuns of the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration. There will be plenty of time for adoration and quiet reflection before the return home Friday, Feb. 24, following a tour of the Ave Maria Grotto. The price is $285 per person (based on double occupancy; a single supplement is available for $315) and includes two nights at St. Bernard Abbey Retreat Center, all bus-related costs, two breakfasts, two lunches, two dinners, and the Ave Maria Grotto tour. To learn more or to register, contact Lisa Morris at lccte@bellsouth.net or 865-567-1245.

A Lenten pilgrimage to the Holy Land under the spiritual direction of Monsignor Al Humbrecht is planned for March 6-19. The full package (air and land) is $3,499 (payment by check) or $3,698 (credit card). The land-only package is $2,949 (check) or Calendar continued on page B4

NANCY GELLER

The annual ChattiGras celebration to benefit Chattanooga’s Catholic schools is set for 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, at The Chattanoogan. The evening features dinner, an auction, a casino, and dancing. The event has raised more than $250,000 in the past five years for the Chattanooga Deanery Operating Fund. Sponsorship opportunities are available, and auction items are needed; visit chattigras.com to help.

Tickets are $100; order at chattigras. com or call the development offices at St. Jude School (423-877-6022), Our Lady of Perpetual Help School (423622-1481), or Notre Dame High School (423-624-4618).

Cathedral dedication stone visits Sneedville church The dedication stone for the new Sacred Heart Cathedral visited St. James the Apostle Church in Sneedville on Jan. 15. The dedication stone, blessed by Pope Francis in Rome in 2015, is making a pilgrimage to all diocesan parishes, mission churches, and schools through November 2017. In the photo are (from left) Lucille Gillotte, Barbara Marecic, Steve Reilly, Father Bartholomew Okere, Christine Protzo, and Brother Craig Digmann, GHM. Parish notes continued from page B2 Henninger to the staff as its new youth minister.

Because of parishioners’ generosity in the Home Campaign, St. Dominic has been able to purchase new sound equipment for the church and parish life center, new chairs for the choir, and other support equipment for the music ministry. Father Michael Cummins thanked Steve Hrivnak for shepherding the project.

Parishioners took part in a Pro-Life Prayer Chain on Jan. 22 at the corner of Center Street and Eastman Road.

St. Henry, Rogersville St. Henry Parish held “The Lessons of Nine Carols” on Dec. 20, open to the public. A lasagna dinner followed the program.

St. Patrick, Morristown The parish will have a “Big Mardi Gras Partee” at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, in the parish center. The event will feature Cajun food, a DJ dance, door prizes, drinks, and more. Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door. For information or tickets, contact Justin Cook, John Vasquez, Renee McGarel, Andy Hebert, Mike Sandlock, or Mary Ellen or John Fletcher.

Knights of Columbus Council 6730 of St. Patrick welcomed its class of new brother Knights in 2016: Robelio Alvarado, William Burrows, Cesar Medina-Gonzalez, Gino Hernandez, Justin Jones, Mike Leonard, Robert McMinn, Pedro Mendoza, Murad Mubarak, Hilario Hernandez-Otero, Miguel Quintero, Esteban Ramirez, Brian Wruck, and Luis Velasco.

The Knights thanked parishioners for making possible their recent donation of $3,000 to the Diocesan Gatlinburg Fire Relief Fund. The money came from the sale of Food City and Ingle’s gift cards before and after Masses.

the December food delivery. The next delivery will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Monday, Feb. 13, in the parish hall. To volunteer, learn more about donations needed, or donate, call Karen Blum at 865-748-5445.

The parish honored its volunteers at the fifth annual Epiphany Brunch on Jan. 8 at The Foundry’s Southern Depot site.

IC thanked the women’s group for its gift of $425 to the parish from its fall craft fair.

The traditional blessing of throats took place after the 12:10 p.m. Mass on Feb. 3.

Our Lady of Fatima, Alcoa The Ladies of Faith group will begin a new study on Feb. 9 of Jeff Cavins’ The Bible Timeline: The Story of Salvation.

Participants will meet for eight weeks from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursdays in the Columbus Room of the social hall. Contact Becky Prugh at dbprugh@gmail. com if interested.

The parish’s Mardi Gras dinner and dance will be held from 6 to 11 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 24. Proceeds will benefit the Pregnancy Resource Center’s mobile ultrasound.

The Blount County chapter of Tennessee Right to Life held a Celebration of Life and Remembrance Service on Jan. 17 at Our Lady of Fatima.

St. John XXIII, Knoxville The annual Mardi Gras auction will be held at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24. Bring auction items to the church office by Wednesday, Feb. 22 (cakes by 7 p.m. on the night of the party).

The parish will celebrate the sacrament of confirmation at the 11:15 a.m. Mass on Sunday, June 4.

St. Joseph the Worker, Madisonville

Middle school youth went on an overnight winter retreat Feb. 4-5 at Christ Prince of Peace Retreat Center in Benton.

The Council of Catholic Women held a free bunco night Jan. 17 in the parish center.

Smoky Mountain Deanery Holy Family, Seymour The parish hosted a mission themed “The Spiritual Life” from Nov. 30 to Dec. 2, led by Father Tim O’Toole, outreach priest from Cross Catholic Outreach.

The Knights of Columbus council will again host a Valentine’s dinner/dance from 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, in the fellowship hall at St. Thomas the Apostle in Lenoir City. Tickets are $35 (available from any Knight) and include dinner, dessert, coffee/tea, and dancing to area DJ “Looney Tunes.” Proceeds will be used to fund local charities, including Coats for Kids, the Pregnancy Resource Center in Maryville, and parish Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets.

Holy Ghost, Knoxville

The Knights are selling Solidarity Crosses for $10. The crosses serve as symbols of suffering, unity, and hope.

The Knights of Columbus held a basketball free-throw competition Feb. 4 at St. Joseph School for boys and girls ages 9 to 14.

St. Joseph the Worker hosted an Ecumenical Fifth Sunday Potluck on Jan. 29. Donations for the Good Shepherd Center were taken during the meal.

Immaculate Conception, Knoxville

The Knights presented their fourth annual Christmas concert Dec. 16, featuring a performance by the Rare Notes group. All of the revenue benefited charitable programs.

The Paulist parish of IC celebrated the principal patronal feast of the Paulist Fathers, the Conversion of St. Paul, on Jan. 25. IC also commemorated two other Paulist patrons, St. Francis de Sales on Jan. 24 an St. Thomas Aquinas on Jan. 28.

The Fish Pantry served 51 individuals and two families with nine children at

w ww.di o k no x .o rg

The parish gave a total of $9,207.50 to the Good Shepherd Center in 2016. With that donation, the center provided food, clothing, utility vouchers, and transportation for medical appointments to many Monroe County families in crisis. n FEBRUARY 5, 2017 n B3

Bazaar proceeds go to building fund, Gatlinburg parish The ladies of St. Henry Parish in Rogersville held their sixth annual Christmas Bazaar/Sale on Dec. 2 and 3. Proceeds went to the church’s building fund, with a portion being donated to St. Mary Parish in Gatlinburg for fire recovery.

COURTESY OF DAVID C. CAMPBELL

Young saints at the basilica On All Saints Day Nov. 1, children of all ages came to the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga dressed up as saints for a bilingual sung Mass, which concluded with a procession to the parish hall for a costume party. This is the third such All Saints party that brought the basilica’s bilingual community together in recent years, and this year it was hosted by the basilica’s Spanish-speaking community.

More than 450 attended the sung Mass, celebrated by basilica rector Father David Carter, and the parish hall was packed with families for the party.

COURTESY OF CAROL DEGROFF

COURTESY OF MARIA RIST

Parish news

COURTESY OF CAROL DEGROFF

New lay director for Cursillo The Cursillo Movement of the Diocese of Knoxville recently announced that a new lay director is taking office. Above is Judy Holt, outgoing lay director, welcoming Dick Shriver, incoming lay director for 2016 to 2019.

COURTESY OF JILL PURCELL

Cathedral dedication stone comes to St. Henry The dedication stone for the new Sacred Heart Cathedral was on display at St. Henry Church in Rogersville from Jan. 8-15. Above, parochial administrator Father Bartholomew Okere poses with parishioners and the stone.

Ricos marking 50th wedding anniversary

B

ernardo and Daria Rico of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Fairfield Glade celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary Jan. 25. Father Raymond Schoeder, SJ, officiated their marriage at St. Mary Church in Evanston, Ill. Their three children are Bernardo and Regina Rico of Bethesda, Md.; Andrew and Ann Rico of Atlanta; and Victoria and Shannon O’Connor of Westerville,

Ohio; and the couple have eight grandchildren.

The Ricos lived in Spain, Japan, Mexico, and five states working with chemical companies before retiring to the Glade in 2013. They celebrated their anniversary with friends and family with a trip to Door County, Wis., in January.

They both enjoy several hobbies: hiking, reading, volunteering, golfing, and fishing. n

CCW collects supplies for Avalon Center of Crossville The Council of Catholic Women of St. Alphonsus Parish in Crossville collected supplies (above) at its Jan. 11 meeting to donate to the Avalon Center of Crossville as part of the council’s ongoing support for women who are victims of domestic and sexual abuse. At its Dec. 13 meeting, the CCW collected cleaning products to be donated to the Avalon Center, a domestic- and sexual-abuse shelter covering five counties in East Tennessee. The women also collected Socks of Hope to give out at the Bread of Life homeless shelter at their meal service on Dec. 16.

Calendar continued from page B3 $3,148 (credit card). For more information, contact group coordinator Sister Albertine Paulus, RSM, at 865-207-4742, 865-545-8270, or smaevang@yahoo. com. Download a brochure at www.GoCatholicTravel.com/PaulusHL. Father Bill and Sherri McNeeley of Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Alcoa are leading a centennial pilgrimage, “Fatima 100th Anniversary: The Day the Sun Danced,” to Fatima and Italy from May 22-June 1. Brochures are available in the parish office. For more information, call Father McNeeley at 865-384-1206.

A family-life pilgrimage with Father Michael Cummins to St. Augustine and Orlando, Fla., is scheduled for June 7-11. The pilgrimage is sponsored by the diocesan Office of Marriage Preparation and Enrichment. Pilgrims will attend Mass and pray at the Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche, see the Greek Orthodox Shrine of St. Photios and the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine, and attend Mass at the Mary Queen of the Universe Shrine in Orlando. For more information, contact Marian Christiana at mchristiana@ dioknox.org or 423-892-2310 or Lisa Morris at lccte@ bellsouth.net or 865-567-1245, or visit dioknox.org/ event/family-life-pilgrimage-with-fr-michael-cumminsto-st-augustine-and-orlando-florida/.

A diocesan pilgrimage to Spain, Lourdes, and Fatima, with spiritual leader Father Randy Stice, will take place Aug. 21-Sept. 2. The first stop is Barcelona, where pilgrims will visit the Sagrada Familia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site designed by Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi, as well as the Monastery of Monserrat and the Royal Basilica. The group will then travel north through the Pyrenees on its way to B4 n FEBRUARY 5, 2017

Lourdes for two nights, where pilgrims will visit the site of the apparition of Our Lady to St. Bernadette and join in the candlelight procession at the basilica.

Other stops on the pilgrimage include Madrid, Avila, Santiago, Compostela, the Shrine of Our Lady of the Pillar, the convent of St. Teresa of Avila, O Cebreiro, the Cathedral of St. James, Pontevedra, Porto, and Fatima, where the group will join in the celebration of the jubilee of the apparition of Our Lady to the children. The all-inclusive pilgrimage package is $3,995 per person (land and air). For more information, contact Lisa Morris at 865-567-1245 or lisam@ select-intl.com.

A diocesan pilgrimage to the Holy Land with Father Arthur Torres and Father Miguel Vélez, “Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus!,” is planned for Sept. 1222. Pilgrims will celebrate the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross in Jerusalem as they walk the way of the cross and attend Mass at the Holy Sepulcher.

The group will spend time in Bethlehem and visit the Church of the Nativity and Shepherd’s Field, and in Bethany to visit the tomb of Lazarus. Pilgrims will also take a cable car to Masada, visit Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found, and spend time in Nazareth. They will stay for two nights at the Sea of Galilee, spending time at the Mount of Beatitudes, ascend to Mount Tabor for the view from the Church of the Transfiguration, and visit the baptism site on the River Jordan, the Mount of Temptation, the Dead Sea, Magdala, and Jericho. The all-inclusive package, air and land, is $3,895. For more information, contact Lisa Morris at 865-567-1245 or lisam@ select-intl.com.

A Low Mass in the ancient form of the Roman Rite is normally offered every Monday morning www.di o k no x .o rg

at 7 a.m. at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga.

A Missa Cantata (sung Mass) in the ancient form of the Roman Rite is normally celebrated at 5 p.m. on fourth Sundays at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul. On Feb. 26 at 5 p.m., a Missa Cantata will be celebrated for Quinquagesima. On March 26 at 5 p.m., a Missa Cantata will be celebrated for Laetare Sunday. The basilica’s Gloria Dei Schola and Jubilate Deo Youth Schola will sing for both Masses. All are invited to a basilica potluck afterward.

Mass in the extraordinary form (“traditional Latin”) is celebrated at noon 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; and at 3 p.m. on the first and third Sundays at St. Mary Church in Johnson City. For more information, visit www.KnoxLatinMass.net.

The St. Thomas the Apostle Eastern (Byzantine) Catholic Mission located at 2304 Ault Road, Knoxville, TN 37914 meets for Divine Liturgy each Sunday at 9:30 a.m. All services are in English. Call Father Richard Armstrong at 865-584-3307 or visit www.saintthomasknoxville.org/ for details.

Holy Resurrection Byzantine Catholic Church (Ruthenian), located at 6515 Millertown Pike, Knoxville, TN 37924, celebrates Divine Liturgy at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday and at 7 p.m. on holy days. For more information, call Father Thomas O’Connell at 865-256-4880 or check the website www.knoxbyz. org. n TH E EA S T TEN N ES S EE C A TH OLI C

Rams stand strong The graduating eighth-graders on the Chattanooga Catholic football team compiled a 33-1 record in their years with the team.

S

tudents at St. Mary School in Oak Ridge recently had the opportunity to participate in the Veterans of Foreign Wars Essay Competition.

Conducted nationwide, the Patriot’s Pen is a VFW-sponsored youth essay competition that gives students an opportunity to write essays expressing their views on an annual patriotic theme. This year’s Patriot’s Pen essay asked students to describe “The America I Believe In…” Students were asked in 300400 words to articulate what makes

Landen Cooling, Ben Bambrey, Andy McGann, Boston Eberly, Tucker Berry, and River Stump) controlled each game. The Rams trailed only once all season, and the defense (led by Bennett Brinson) gave up less than a touchdown per game.

Offensive coach Bucky Dearing was quick to praise the backs: “the play of C.J. Petrin, Eric Lindsey, and Charlie Menham helped put us in a position to win each game. And we are beyond excited that two of the best runners in the conference will be returning next season (Christian Robinson and all-conference player Alex Osborne, who led the team in rushing yards and scoring).”

Chattanooga Catholic defeated every member in its conference and was also crowned “Choo-Choo” Bowl champions. The graduating eighth-grade players compiled a 33-1 record during their middle school years.

“We honestly do not measure success by wins and losses. Rather, success for us is whether or not the players give maximum effort and if it is a positive experience,” Coach Dearing said, “and it has been quite a successful run with this group.” n

Gold Award project benefits foster-care children

O

COURTESY OF JERRY DOUGHERTY

Soccer standouts Winners in the Knights of Columbus Soccer Challenge State Championships were (front row, from left) Andrew Dowell, Hayden Dowell, Edy Hernandez, Nicholas Ron, Matias Ron, Alexander Mentado, Nadia Hernandez, Annie Harrison, and Sasha Sylvia. In back are (from left) John McNicholas, youth director for Council 4563, and Jerry Dougherty, youth director for the Tennessee State Council.

Knights crown state soccer champs at Challenge

T

he results are in from the Knights of Columbus Soccer Challenge State Championships held at St. Rose School in Murfreesboro.

Seven boys and three girls from Tennessee, ages 9 to 14, were recently named state champions in the 2016 Knights Soccer Challenge and have earned the right to compete at the national level. Regional (each diocese in Tennessee) winners from across the state were eligible to participate.

Winners by age group were: 9-year-old boys, Andrew Dowell, Murfreesboro Council 4563; 9-yearold girls, Sasha Sylvia, Memphis Council 6321; 10-year-old boys, Hayden Dowell, Council 4563; 11-year-old boys, Edy Hernandez, Chattanooga Council 6099; 12-yearold girls, Annie Harrison, Council 6099; 12-year-old boys, Nicholas Ron, Council 6099; 13-year-old boys, Matias Ron, Council 6099; 14-yearold boys, Alexander Mentado, Council 6099; and 14-year-old girls, Nadia Hernandez, Council 6099.

TH E EAST T E N N E S S E E C A T HO L I C

Each contestant was allowed 25 penalty-kick attempts in the contests. Ties were settled by successive rounds of three kicks per contestant until a winner emerged.

The Knights of Columbus thanked all the boys and girls who competed in the event. Special thanks went to the following Knights who helped make this year’s event a huge success: state youth director Jerry Dougherty, Grand Knight Tex Shellhart, Jim Barnes, Paul Borkoski, Bill Bennett, Frank Borgiono, and John McNicholas.

The Knights of Columbus Soccer Challenge is sponsored annually, with winners progressing through local, district, and state competitions.

International champions are announced by the K of C international headquarters in New Haven, Conn., based on scores from the state-level competitions. All boys and girls 9 to 14 years old are eligible to participate and will compete in their respective age divisions. All contestants on the local level are recognized for their participation in the event. n

our nation unique and great.

Genevieve Robinson’s essay won first place. In her essay, Genevieve wrote, “We have a country in which our differences are celebrated instead of discouraged. Our different talents can be utilized to build a better, stronger nation.”

Commander Mickey Vickery, U.S. Army Infantry, visited Danielle Sasser’s seventh-grade class to present a certificate along with a $100 check.

Winners from the local competitions are submitted to the district and potentially the national level. n

n a cold Saturday evening in early December, the Blount County Foster Care Association held its annual Christmas dinner and party.

For the foster-care children, it meant an opportunity to meet Santa and play with friends. For Erin Smith, it meant the culmination of the biggest project and highest award she could earn as a Girl Scout, the Gold Award.

When Erin decided to tackle her Gold Award project, she knew that the key issue she wanted to address was literacy.

“I love to read,” says the Maryville High School senior and St. Francis of Assisi-Townsend parishioner. She adds that reading is such a key to success in school and feels that every student should have access to books.

To achieve the Girl Scouts’ highest honor, the Girl Scout must complete 80 hours of service, so Erin had to get creative to earn enough hours. When brainstorming, she asked, “What goes with reading?” To curl up with a good book, comfort is important.

That’s when she decided to make pillows.

She teamed up with mentor June Fletcher to learn the best way to sew throw pillows.

Ms. Fletcher, who demonstrated sewing basics to Erin’s Girl Scout troop, seemed like the perfect mentor for the project.

“I knew I wanted to be a part of this worthwhile project and was honored she asked me to help,” Ms. Fletcher said.

The next step was to determine the recipients of the books and pillows. That is when Erin enlisted the help of a fellow St. Francis of Assisi parishioner, Laura Rapien. Ms. Ra-

w ww.di o k no x .o rg

COURTESY OF SUZY SMITH

T

Top writer From left are language-arts teacher Danielle Sasser, Genevieve Robinson, Commander Mickey Vickery, and Sister Marie Blanchette, OP, St. Mary principal.

St. Mary student wins VFW essay contest

Middle school football team undefeated — again he Chattanooga Catholic football team finished the 2016 season with a perfect record, going 11-0.

It was Catholic’s second consecutive undefeated campaign. Chattanooga Catholic, a cooperative middle school football program of Our Lady of Perpetual Help and St. Jude school students, competes in the Independent School Conference. Before 2015, it had been a half-century since the Rams had completed an undefeated season.

Catholic has now reeled off 28 straight victories.

Catholic boasted an “all-conference” caliber line that was big, athletic, and strong.

“We were aware heading into the season that we had the opportunity to showcase an outstanding line — and they didn’t disappoint,” said Catholic coach Billy Dearing. “Like any level of football, the game is usually won or lost on the line of scrimmage. We are accustomed to having tougher, more fundamentally sound players than our opponents — but having one of the larger teams was new to us,” the coach added.

The line (Maverick Tucker,

COURTESY OF SARAH TRENT

COURTESY OF ANTHONY JACKSON

Catholic youth

Addressing literacy Erin Smith distributes books, handmade bookmarks, and pillows at the annual foster-care Christmas party. pien is involved in and works closely with the Blount County Foster Care Association. She suggested that the foster-care Christmas party would be the perfect time to distribute the books and pillows. She added that about 120 children attended the party. One hundredtwenty children meant 120 pillows, which meant that Erin knew she would need help.

When Ms. Fletcher appealed to her sewing friends, they stepped up in a big way. They donated fabric and materials.

When the members of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul heard about Erin’s project, they wanted to contribute financially.

“Erin is such an inspiration, and we wanted to do what we can to help foster children in our community,” says Sharon McKune, president of the St. Francis of Assisi conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, which has a history of providing assistance to foster families with holiday food baskets and Christmas gifts.

Organization and time management were important for the project to be completed on time. Erin

started sewing the pillow shells in May. As a varsity cross country runner, the fall season is a busy one for her. She completed the majority of the 120 pillow shells

by September. With the leftover fabric, she thought matching bookmarks would be a nice added touch.

Those were completed over fall break. Stuffing and sewing the pillows closed was also time-consuming.

“This project required perseverance,” Erin said.

She says there were times when she felt overwhelmed and wanted to quit, but she worked on it in her spare time and also enlisted help from her family and her mentor.

When family, friends, and parishioners heard about her project, they wanted to help. New and nearly new book donations poured in, and she collected more than 150 books.

The annual foster care Christmas party dinner and gathering took place Dec. 3, and Erin was on hand to give the pillows, bookmarks, and books.

“It was rewarding to see the smiles,” Erin said. “It made all the hard work worth the effort.” n FEBRUARY 5, 2017 n B5

Lego Crusaders advance to ET Championship

COURTESY OF SARAH TRENT (2)

T

he Lego Crusaders of St. Mary School in Oak Ridge competed with 27 other Lego teams Dec. 3 to qualify to advance to the East Tennessee Championship.

The annual Lego Challenge requires participants to identify and research a real-world problem, develop and implement a solution, and communicate their results to a panel of judges.

Additionally, the teams are required to design, build, and program a robot using Lego Mindstorms to compete on a table-top playing field. The teams are judged based on their problem/solution, robot design, adherence to the Lego Core Values, and performance on the challenge field.

The theme for this year’s Lego Challenge was “Animal Allies.”

Teams were required to identify a problem that occurs when people and animals interact. The St. Mary

Readying the robot Ethan Hall works to program the robot for competition Lego Crusaders created a website (www.AnimalFAQsNow) to answer questions and present information about close encounters with three threatened species of reptiles found in East Tennessee.

The team received third place in the Robot Design competition and finished 14th overall in the tabletop playing field competition. The

Lego team St. Mary students Mateo Gorrondona, Ryan Rearden, and Miko Zolnierczuk prepare for the Lego Challenge. St. Mary’s team, which also includes Ethan Hall, advanced to the East Tennessee Championship, set to be held at Tennessee Tech in Cookeville on Feb. 11.

Crusaders advanced to the East Tennessee Championship to be held at Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville on Feb. 11.

The St. Mary team members are

Mateo Gorrondona, Ryan Rearden, Miko Zolnierczuk, and Ethan Hall.

The team is coached by Thane Gorrondona with Piotr Zolnierczuk serving as a mentor and Denise Miller as the faculty sponsor. n

Accreditation continued from page B1

Catholic High School president Dickie Sompayrac, and St. Jude School principal Jamie Goodhard have served as AdvancED evaluators on teams assessing schools in other dioceses.

AdvancED has been described as changing the way educators and policymakers think about accreditation and accountability by offering a comprehensive analysis of all aspects of schooling to ensure that schools and school systems don’t improve in one-shot measures, but rather progress across many indicators each year.

Sister Mary Marta and Mrs. Prater believe that accreditation is important because it shows diocesan schools are meeting a national standard for excellence.

“They’re really going to be looking at the system. Hopefully they’ll find things we’re doing very well, and they may identify opportunities for improvement. They are required to find an area we must act on,” Mrs. Prater has said.

“Accreditation is about continuing improvement and growth. It’s really a quality-assurance exercise,” she noted. “Our schools will be adhering to a set of standards that are internationally known.”

Mrs. Prater emphasized that most of the diocesan schools are accredited by AdvancED and SACS. Only St. Dominic School in Kingsport is not yet accredited, but it would be with system accreditation.

Diocese of Knoxville schools also are already accredited by the state of Tennessee and have been since they opened.

Sister Mary Marta and Mrs. Prater also noted that it makes better financial sense to be accredited as a system. Now, each of the nine schools must undergo its own accreditation process involving nine evaluation teams and nine visits.

But with a system-wide assessment, there will only be one comprehensive evaluation involving only one evaluation team.

“We’ve been working a lot with our steering committees and our Knights continued from page B1

has grown the Knights’ life insurance program, one of the most successful in the country.

But the Knights’ founder, Father Michael McGivney, also saw the order as a way to help Catholic men deepen their faith and become more involved in their parishes.

That vision is helping to drive the order’s initiative, “Building the Domestic Church.”

The aim of the initiative is to give Knights and their families more opportunities to participate in a variety of activities that promote the New Evangelization, strengthen their parishes, and grow the order.

“Building the Domestic Church” includes several programs, working with parishes, designed to strengthen families.

“The order is growing in Tennessee,” Mr. Comm said. “More to the point, we think it’s growing in the right way. It’s appealing to famiB6 n FEBRUARY 5, 2017

Steering committee Members of the Diocese of Knoxville AdvancED steering committee include principals, assistant principals, and lead teachers. Making up the committee, from back row left, are Sister Mary Marta Abbott, RSM, superintendent of diocesan schools; Leslie Fox, Our Lady of Perpetual Help School principal; Valerie Hanks, Sacred Heart Cathedral School first-grade teacher; Pat Landry, Notre Dame High School academic dean; Dickie Sompayrac, Knoxville Catholic High School president; Caroline Boswell, St. Mary School Johnson City secondgrade teacher; Michelle O’Hare, St. Mary School Johnson City first-grade teacher; Sarah Bailey, Knoxville Catholic High School assistant academic dean and athletics director; Kim Bellofatto, St. Mary School Oak Ridge assistant principal; and Tucker Davis, St. Dominic School principal. Front row from left, Lisa Maki, Sacred Heart School assistant principal and teacher; Kathy Rankin, St. Joseph School assistant principal; Mary Jo Fowler, St. Dominic School aide; Jamie Goodhard, St. Jude School principal; Sedonna Prater, diocesan curriculum and instruction director and chair of diocesan AdvanceED accreditation program; and Bill Derbyshire, St. John Neumann School principal. Not pictured, Becky Light, Notre Dame High School librarian. school leaders. This process is unifying us as a school system, which is something Bishop Stika has wanted to work toward,” Sister Mary Marta said. “Our mission is to create good citizens and get them to heaven.”

Bishop Stika has issued letters to parents and Catholic schools faculty, offering his gratitude for their support of Catholic education.

“As we conclude celebrating our Catholic schools [in Catholic Schools Week], I would like to take a moment to offer my profound gratitude,” Bishop Stika said.

“Looking around the Diocese of Knoxville, it is very easy to notice the positive impact our Catholic

schools have on their communities.

People like you, who have been involved in our Catholic schools, provide a strong backbone for our diocese. Your involvement makes a difference. No doubt, that involvement is helping our diocese grow.

“As you are aware, the diocesan Catholic schools office is currently involved in the most in-depth self-evaluation ever associated with our schools. The reward for that self-evaluation will be an accreditation by the internationally recognized AdvancED and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). That process has involved internal self-analysis of all aspects of our schools and

the way the diocese supports its schools. The process has included the opportunity for stakeholder input, and for some of our school leaders to visit and evaluate other schools and even other diocesan offices. This has helped us identify areas in which we can become stronger. More importantly, it has helped us affirm just how wonderful our Catholic schools already are – because of you,” the bishop said.

“Thank you for your continued support and involvement in Catholic schools. That involvement is making a difference in our children, our families, our parishes, our community, our diocese, and our world.” n

lies, which leads to ‘Building the Domestic Church,’ which is about bringing families to the Church.”

Much of the membership efforts in Tennessee are focused on moving Knights councils to the center of parish life, Mr. Comm said, noting that Supreme Knight Carl Anderson has talked about the “Building the Domestic Church” initiative as “making us more a part of the parish as opposed to apart from the parish.”

At the Mid-Year Meeting, Mr. Comm announced the formation of two new councils: Council 16523 at Holy Ghost Church in Knoxville and Council 16604 at the Church of the Nativity in Spring Hill.

Several councils and Fourth Degree Assemblies were recognized during the meeting for achieving Star Council and Star Assembly status in the 2015-16 fraternal year.

The Star Council Award is the highest distinction available to a lo-

cal council and reflects the council’s success in charitable and fraternal programs as well as achieving membership and insurance quotas.

Star Councils in the Diocese of Nashville are: 3431 at Church of the Good Shepherd, Winchester; 3537 at Immaculate Conception Church, Clarksville; 7764 at St. Philip Church, Franklin; 8354 at St. Ignatius of Antioch Church, Antioch; 9168 at St. Luke Church, Smyrna; 9282 at St. Stephen Church, Old Hickory; 9787 at St. Frances Cabrini Church, Lebanon; 11074 at St. John the Evangelist Church, Lewisburg; 12012 at St. Henry Church, Nashville; 14931 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Nashville; 15020 at Vanderbilt University, Nashville; 15234 at Holy Family Church, Brentwood; and 15981 at St Mark Church, Manchester.

Star Councils in the Diocese of Knoxville are: 5207 at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Knoxville; 8396 at St. Mary Church, Athens; 12633 at St.

Thomas the Apostle Church, Lenoir City; 14079 at Holy Spirit Church, Soddy-Daisy; 15706 at All Saints Church, Knoxville; and 16088 at St. Francis of Assisi Church, Fairfield Glade.

Star Councils in the Diocese of Memphis are: 7449 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, Germantown; 15393 at St. Brigid Church, Memphis; and 15936 at Church of the Ascension, Memphis.

Three district deputies, Alan Stanley of District 11, which includes the Rutherford County and southeastern Davidson County area, Jake Woods of District 12, which includes councils in Williamson County and part of Davidson County, and John Norfleet of District 13, which includes councils in eastern Davidson County and Wilson County, accepted Star District Awards.

And the Divine Mercy Fourth Degree Assembly 2936 in Nashville received the Star Assembly Award. n

www.di o k no x .o rg

TH E EA S T TEN N ES S EE C A TH OLI C

Praying for Perspective

by George Valadie

The man on the curb in front of the Krystal

A weekend visit to the fast-food eatery leads to fretting over the circumstances of a seemingly homeless person

I

love weekends, especially when our Friday night games have gone well and all the students have made it home safely.

After these many years, with our girls now living out of town, Nancy and I have finally established a Saturday – Sunday routine that we enjoy. I mean there’s no excitement in it; we might as well watch our clothes wash.

I wake up to “feed-the-dogs” duty but we take turns braving the weather for our 99-cent 32-ounce Diet Cokes.

While one is at the drive-thru, the other makes the bed and lights the broiler for our real weekend treats – a bagel for each. (Envy is not pretty if you’re feeling any.)

We’re addicted (what can I say) to the soft drinks and the boredom.

A few weeks ago, we decided to go crazy. We tried breakfast at Krystal.

Don’t mistake that for “we had breakfast with crystal.” No, I’m talking about we had eggs and bacon at THE Krystal — of square burger fame.

As we drove into the parking lot, I noticed a man sitting on the street curb out front.

We came because we had seen an advertisement for the “Big Breakfast Bargain” or some such thing. We ordered one each, then grabbed our plastic utensils and plastic seats. But it was the man on the curb who held my attention.

First from the angle in my car and now 99 percent confirmed from my

viewpoint in the restaurant, I could tell he had no legs. But more troublesome was the fact that I couldn’t see where he had any crutches either.

They really do have a great deal there. Two eggs any style, bacon or sausage, grits or crispers, biscuit or toast – all for less than $3. I mean that’s hard to beat.

Follow that bouncing ball of thought and you’ll see how much I cared — more for my eggs than the guy on the curb.

While enjoying our better-than-abagel breakfast, we finally did begin to discuss how or why this poor man might have gotten there.

After all, it seemed like such an odd place for anyone to choose to be sitting. I really wanted to hope he was waiting on a bus, but even that seemed like a stretch.

I don’t ride public transit, but 8:30 on a Saturday morning didn’t seem like a normal bus-route time – at least not to me. There was no bus stop sign to be seen and obviously no bench either. And even if it were a pause along the path, how was this man going to get up and aboard?

I don’t like to stare but I did. From where we sat inside, his clothes appeared disheveled and dirty. His face was unshaven. He was wearing an old army jacket of sorts, but it didn’t seem nearly heavy enough to fight off the cold of that particular morning. In short, he was a mess. And he was in a

Marriage enrichment

mess.

Glimpsing around at the eatery’s various patrons, each sipping at their hot coffee, none seemed even mildly interested in this man who was right outside our warmth.

As usually happens when we come across any such distraught person, Nancy and I discussed the horribleness of homelessness. There’s never a good time to exist that way, but especially in a stretch of weather like we’d been having.

We pondered the circumstances of his life that had delivered him to his current state – legless, crutchless, homeless.

After we had cleaned our plates and re-filled our Diet Cokes for free, we sat back to relax and soak in the peace of the weekend.

Not typical for the usual Krystals we frequent, this store’s manager was making her rounds, chatting with the regulars on her shift, disposing of their trash, and checking to see if their food had been what they had hoped.

I just had to ask.

“Can you tell me what you know about that man out there? He looks like he’s in pretty bad shape. Do you know if he’s had anything to eat?”

Her reply was as warming as her smile: “That guy? He’s just waiting to catch the bus.” And as if on cue, one pulled right up. I whipped my head around because I just had to watch whatever would happen next.

But like a grandpa having played with his grandkids on the floor, he stood up, unfolded his legs from beneath him, stretched his lanky frame and walked right on just like you or me. Turns out my eyesight was in far worse shape than he was.

“Yeah, he was in here earlier, asked if this was a bus stop and had a cup of coffee.”

Nancy and I both laughed and were relieved. Though not sure, we felt better that his life couldn’t be nearly as miserable as we had imagined.

But here’s the thing.

We had fretted over him. We had lamented his circumstance. We had worried and asked about him.

But we had done nothing. We moved not a muscle to help a man we were sure had no legs and no home.

Turns out he did, but we didn’t know it. We didn’t buy him a “Big Breakfast Bargain” or share ours. I didn’t offer him coffee, the extra pair of gloves in my car, nor did I even offer the man a hand.

Let’s be honest, not too many of us can really “harbor the harborless,” but we can darn sure do better than that.

Dear God – Some need us to care and some need us to help. Please help us know the difference. Amen. ■ George Valadie is president of Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga.

by Marian Christiana

Celebrating the diocese’s longest-married couples A husband and wife married 69 years share their love story, which began in the ‘Magic City’

T

he U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) National Marriage Week annual initiative begins Feb. 7 and ends Feb. 14 this year. Archbishop Charles Chaput, chairman of the Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life, and Youth, states that the week “provides an opportunity to celebrate the gift and blessing of marriage and to affirm and support engaged and married couples.”

The same week also includes World Marriage Day on Sunday, Feb. 12. World Marriage Day began as a part of the World-Wide Marriage Encounter (WWME) movement and has been celebrated for the past 28 years. As part of the celebration of World Marriage Day, we will once again honor the longestmarried couple in the diocese by participating in the WWME search for the longest married couple in our state and nation.

Today’s media outlets often highlight unsuccessful marriages and the decline of choosing marriage as a natural progression in the love relationship of two people. This article, however, will be a celebration of all the couples throughout our diocese who are working hard to live out their covenant marriages for the benefit of all of us. Christ can be found in the love that they show one another and give the rest of us hope that strong, sacramental marriages are alive and well in our world.

As I write this article I am taking a break from wrapping up a Morning of Reflection on Mercy marriage-enrichment event held in Chattanooga, and from setting up the upcoming diocesan Picture of Love marriagepreparation program for this Friday and Saturday. I am so grateful that

[T]he couple who had been married the longest came up to me to tell me how much they enjoyed the morning and said that it just proves that you are never too old to learn something new about your spouse . . . my job allows me the opportunity to be part of the exciting beginnings of marital love as seen through our engaged couples but also to witness the deep and abiding love of our married couples in all stages and ages of their marital journey.

At the Morning of Reflection on Mercy we had couples join us whose marriages ranged from five years to 63 years in length. The morning combined talks from Monsignor Al Humbrecht, Missionary Priest of Mercy for our diocese, and couple time when the couples could share their thoughts with each other on the particular topic relating to mercy and forgiveness in private discussions.

After the morning was over the couple who had been married the longest came up to me to tell me how much they enjoyed the morning and said that it just proves that you are never too old to learn something new about your spouse and enjoy some quality time together. I truly appreciated their comments, because they illustrated clearly the ever-evolving nature of the marital journey. During the upcoming weekend for the marriage preparation program, we will strive to provide our engaged couples with some tools to help them develop a good foundation for their everevolving marital journey.

Another aspect of my job is to enter the names of the longestmarried couple in our diocese to the World-Wide Marriage Encounter

contest held each February. This contest identifies and celebrates the longest married couple in each state and ultimately identifies the longest married couple in our nation. Last year Anthony (Tony) and Dorothy Kliemann won the longest-married couple for the state of Tennessee and our diocese. Tony and Dorothy are currently working on 74 and one-half years of marriage. They were not eligible to enter two years in a row. This year Steve and Mary Lou Knowles, who are parishioners at St. Francis of Assisi in Fairfield Glade, will represent our diocese in the WWME contest. Steve and Mary Lou have been married since Nov. 11, 1947.

Recently Mary Lou shared a bit of their love story with me and gave me permission to share some of it with you. She and Steve attended the same high school in Barberton, Ohio. Barberton was known as the “Magic City,” and it was in Barberton that the magic of their long-lasting love started when Steve started walking Mary Lou home from school and work. During their marriage the Knowleses moved with Steve’s job four times and built four new homes together.

Conventional wisdom says that it is difficult on a marriage to build one new house together, so building four together is quite an accomplishment. They also happen to have four children. Sounds like the number four just might be their lucky number!

I asked Mary Lou what was the secret of their marital success, and she did not hesitate to say a shared faith. Steve was not Catholic when they first started spending time together. (Mary Lou said that they didn’t call it dating because no one had a car.) After high school Steve

joined the Army. Steve surprised Mary Lou by converting to Catholicism while still on active duty. They were married at St. Augustine in Barberton when Steve completed his time in the service.

In November 2016 Steve and Mary Lou, along with 35 other couples, participated in the Morning of Reflection on Mercy when it was offered at their parish in Fairfield Glade. Mary Lou said that they really enjoyed attending the event.

They both felt that the morning’s program reinforced how important their shared faith has been in their long-lasting marriage and highlighted how much they have in common.

Once again illustrating the fact that you can always enjoy quality time with your spouse no matter how long you have been married.

On Sunday, Feb. 12, in connection with the World Marriage Day celebration mentioned above, the Knowleses will be acknowledged as the longest-married couple in our diocese for 2017 by the Office of Bishop Richard F. Stika and the Office of Marriage Preparation and Enrichment regardless of the outcome of the Marriage Encounter contest. I appreciate Steve and Mary Lou representing our diocese in the WWME’s search for the longestmarried couple in Tennessee. I also appreciate their showing me Christ in the world through their deep and abiding love for one another. ■ Love that leads to marriage is a gift from God, And a great act of faith toward other human beings.

— St. John Paul II Mrs. Christiana is coordinator of the diocesan Marriage Preparation and Enrichment Office.

St. Therese in Clinton hosting a parish Lenten mission featuring speaker Carlos Taja

S

t. Therese Parish in Clinton is hosting a Lenten mission titled “Returning to God With All of One’s Heart.”

The mission will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Saturday, March 11, at the church. It includes lunch in the church hall. For lunch purposes, call the St. Therese parish office at 865-457-4073 to RSVP.

TH E EAST T E N N E S S E E C A T HO L I C

The mission will be led by Carlos Taja, assistant director of the Secretariat for Evangelization and Catechesis for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington, D.C. At the USCCB, Mr. Taja oversees the doctrinal reviews of catechetical texts for conformity with the Catechism of the Catholic Church. He is also fluent in w ww.di o k no x .o rg

Spanish. Using the Lenten themes of conversion, prayer, forgiveness, and confession, the mission will focus on the following topics: losing your heart to sin, returning to God in Christ, and prayer and penance. Call the office at St. Therese with any questions or call Pete or Jean Chiaro at 865-314-1214 for further details. ■ FEBRUARY 5, 2017 n B7

Living the readings

by Father Joseph Brando

A midwinter retreat Ten weeks of Scripture meditation will prepare you for Easter

I

n this issue we will be looking at all the Sunday Scripture readings in February and March. This period of time starts in Ordinary Time following Epiphany and continues until the day before Holy Week. One might think that these Sundays may be disconnected. However, the contrary is true. There is a distinctive continuity throughout the Sunday readings of February and March that can have a strong impact on your spiritual life and on your understanding of Jesus’ mission in the world. So, what may be mistaken as a season of fill-in biblical readings becomes a textbook carefully leading us to become much more aware of our Christianity and more close to our savior, Jesus Christ. By the time Holy Week arrives, if you meditated deeply on each of the Scriptures for these two months, you will be focused and ready for Easter like you haven’t been in previous years.

Make the next 10 weeks a personal retreat presented by the Sunday Scripture readings.

We begin on Feb. 5 with the Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time. There, Isaiah introduces the retreat telling us we are to become, by the end of the course, Light. We can do so by living the corporal works of mercy.

You wouldn’t think that feeding the hungry and other such activities would make us powerful. Isaiah writes that these actions make you so close to God that He would come to you whenever you call. You will put gloom behind you and replace it with the power of light.

The Gospel each Sunday in February is from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. This Sunday the Lord calls us to be a lamp that provides light to all in the house. In Matthew’s Gospel when he writes about being “in the house,” that usually means that Jesus is together with his closest followers.

So our works of light must be performed to be seen so that the Father might be properly glorified and our fellow Christians may be edified.

Paul, in the second reading, reminds the Corinthian Christians that he did not win them over to Christ by sublime words. He had recently been ridiculed in Athens and was still trembling from that experience when he arrived in Corinth. So in Corinth, Paul evangelized not by words but by his actions. He moved his audience to come to Christ by means of actions that could only be explained by God’s Spirit and power. What they did for Paul they can do for us.

The Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time continues the theme of light and power. First off, Sirach presents a sample of his wisdom. You can choose between two methods of living your life.

You can meticulously keep the commandments, or you could live a life of radical trust in God. Either way is good as long as it keeps you in touch with God. Jesus provides insight on Sirach’s teaching. Regarding the commandments, Jesus says he has come not to abolish them but to fulfill them. Then he gives examples of what he means.

One example uses the command-

Weekday readings Wednesday, Feb. 1: Hebrews 12:4-7, 11-15; Psalm 103:1-2, 13-14, 17-18; Mark 6:1-6 Thursday, Feb. 2: Malachi 3:1-4; Psalm 24:7-10; Hebrews 2:14-18, Luke 2:22-40 Friday, Feb. 3: Hebrews 13:1-8; Psalm 27:1, 3, 5, 8-9; Mark 6:14-29 Saturday, Feb. 4: Hebrews 13:15-17, 20-21; Psalm 23:1-6; Mark 6:30-34 Sunday, Feb. 5: Isaiah 58:7-10; Psalm 112:4-9; 1 Corinthians 2:1-5; Matthew 5:13-16 Monday, Feb. 6: Genesis 1:1-19; Psalm 104:1-2, 5-6, 10, 12, 24, 35; Mark 6:53-56 Tuesday, Feb. 7: Genesis 1:20–2:4; Psalm 8:4-9; Mark 7:1-13 Wednesday, Feb. 8: Genesis 2:4-9, 15-17; Psalm 104:1-2, 27-30; Mark 7:14-23 B8 n FEBRUARY 5, 2017

ment, you shall not kill. You have not fulfilled that command by not taking anyone’s life. Rather, you have ceased to fulfill the law when you brought anger into the world. Or even if you mock someone, calling that person a blockhead (Raqa), you have hurt someone and broken God’s intent when He issued that commandment.

So if we want to be Light for the world we need to look into each commandment to ascertain what kind of a world God wants to create by it.

To make that kind of call we need what Paul calls “God’s wisdom.” He modifies this wisdom, saying it is not of this world. But he tells us how to receive it. Quite simply, this divine wisdom is given to those who love God. And those who possess this wisdom lovingly bring God’s plan to fruition here and now.

The Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time introduces us to another concept by which we can judge if we have fulfilled a commandment of God. Paul asked the question of the Corinthians, “Do you not know that you are the Temple of God and that the Holy Spirit dwells in you?” Then Paul tells them they are holy. Here holy means separated, out of the ordinary and made special for God. To choose the ordinary, or the worldly, or the popular is to choose against God. So, if a person seeks to be considered “wise” in this world, then they have chosen against God. God told Moses that the Israelite community was “holy.” That widens the definition to include an entire people. The whole people can lose their status with God if the mindset of that community loses its relationship with God. That would happen if individuals looking at other countries envied them for their military might, or their wealth, or their culture. None of those things brings people to God. To lead people to value things that diminish their absolute dependence on God would endanger their status of being “holy.”

The Eighth Sunday of Ordinary Time challenges us to deepen our relationship with God. There is a tendency to apply our worldly experiences to the divine. Most everyone has felt the devastating pain of having a close friend hurt him or her in some way.

After a while, such hurts lead us to distrust friends. Some would then apply this “earthly wisdom” to all our relationships, including those that involve God. For example, after a succession of good things happen to us and we judge God is with us, then a bad event devastates us. We often blame God. We claim He has forsaken us.

That is exactly the type of event Isaiah warns us about. “Can a mother forget her infant? Even if she should forget, I will never forget you.” Those words are a quote from God. We need to emblazon those words on our hearts.

Jesus also warns us against serving two masters. The right way to live is by choosing one master to govern our lives. That one master should be our heavenly Father. If we ever get to worrying about anything, then it is a sure thing that God is not our master.

The next liturgy we will explore is Thursday, Feb. 9: Genesis 2:18-25; Psalm 128:1-5; Mark 7:24-30 Friday, Feb. 10: Genesis 3:1-8, Psalm 32:1-2, 5-7; Mark 7:31-37 Saturday, Feb. 11: Genesis 3:9-24; Psalm 90:2-6, 12-13; Mark 8:1-10 Sunday, Feb. 12: Sirach 15:15-20; Psalm 119:1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34; 1 Corinthians 2:6-10; Matthew 5:17-37 Monday, Feb. 13: Genesis 4:1-15, 25; Psalm 50:1, 8, 16-17, 20-21; Mark 8:11-13 Tuesday, Feb. 14: Genesis 6:5-8 and

not a Sunday. Rather, it is the halfway point of our “retreat,” namely Ash Wednesday. What we’ve already done over the last four weeks has been a perfect preparation for Lent. And Lent is the perfect finish for our winter retreat. It begins with the Prophet Joel crying out, “Return to me with all your heart…for gracious and merciful is he, slow to anger, rich in kindness.”

He has to cry this out because even very good people have a fear of looking for problem areas in our spiritual lives. For them, Joel has a suggestion.

“Perhaps He (God) will again relent and leave behind Him a blessing.”

That would be a great conclusion for Lent. But the worst any introspective soul can accomplish during Lent is

that comes from God.” It’s amazing to see the results to what were undeniably tough moves. Jesus had to make the decision to accept his Father’s will to undergo death by crucifixion. He demonstrates the divine wisdom of this action to Peter, James, and John on the high mountain. Moses and Elijah both accepted very difficult trials in their work for God. But, they succeeded in bringing Israel closer to God. So far we have discovered a few images that can fit people who follow Christ. There have been Light, Salt, Temple, Holy, and Ambassador among others. Now, on the Third Sunday of Lent we confront one of the basic biblical images, that of water. In

Finally, we come to the last week, the Fifth Sunday of Lent. It has the most basic dichotomy anywhere, namely that of life and death. Like all the rich symbols in sacred Scripture, it leads us to Christ. Jesus raised people from death back to life. freeing itself from what is causing its anxiety. This is a time for improvement and blessing.

Lent changes us. Jesus, in today’s Gospel, urges us to look deeper into our souls to find the person we really are. Too often we settle for a surface change, which affects only how others see us. That makes us hypocrites.

Rather, it is worth the effort to go down deep, and the joy of making a change that radically changes us will break through, showing a new and improved us to God and the world.

The change will make a difference.

We become a person we had not been.

Paul tells the Corinthians that we become “ambassadors for Christ.”

An ambassador travels to a foreign country to represent his or her native land. As ambassadors of Christ, we represent heaven. It is a job, a happy job, of being Christ to others. And, it will be better and happier the deeper we go in our self-investigation.

The next Sunday comes up fast. It’s the First Sunday of Lent. The very first reading tells the story of the fall of Adam and Eve. The story ends here with Adam and Eve realizing they were naked and sewed fig leaves together to cover their nakedness. That is, they discovered they were different. In the bliss of Eden, Adam and Eve had seen themselves as one. Their love made them so. One of the most punishing effects of sin (disobeying God) is that we lose true love, becoming separate from God and from those we love.

Paul writes to the Romans that Jesus Christ brings us eternal life in heaven as well as the supernatural life of grace here on earth. We all become one in Christ. Jesus’ obedience (as was demonstrated in the desert temptations) made many people righteous.

Adam’s disobedience bequeaths us death along with a tendency toward sinfulness.

The next week starting with the Second Sunday of Lent challenges us to get out of our comfort zone. God speaks to Abram telling him to move away from your family to a land I will show you. Often the message of God to us is to change from wherever we are in life to some other place, job, attitude, and friends among things.

The changes are always difficult; but if the message is from God it will (like Abram’s) be filled with blessings.

Paul writes to a protégé of his, Timothy, to “bear your share of hardship for the Gospel with the strength

the desert, the Israelites complained to God and threatened Moses until he, too, pleaded to the Lord for water, which God gave. It is such a basic need. In the Gospel, Jesus has a much more pleasant interplay with the woman at the well. He asked her for water. She drew it. He offered her, in return, living water, which she accepted and, in turn, invited all the townspeople to meet Jesus. In Moses’ case, water was an occasion for quarreling with God. At Jacob’s Well, it was a major breakthrough for the faith. Water is necessary for human life on earth. Faith is necessary for human life in heaven. We need to pray for both.

The Fourth Sunday of Lent presents still another basic theme in the Scriptures, that of sight and blindness. People can be blind to realities that are obvious to God. For example, there is the story of the selection of David as the King of Israel. Saul had flunked his test as king. The prophet Samuel now had to find and crown the next king. He went through seven of Jesse’s sons until he got to David.

The message is God sees what humans can’t.

In the Gospel, John tells us the story of the man born blind. Jesus cured him on a Sabbath. That unsettled the Pharisees, leading them to expel him from the synagogue. So the situation resulted in the blind man gaining sight and worshiping Jesus while the Pharisees ended up blindly denying Christ.

Finally, we come to the last week, the Fifth Sunday of Lent. It has the most basic dichotomy anywhere, namely that of life and death. Like all the rich symbols in sacred Scripture, it leads us to Christ. Jesus raised people from death back to life. Here, in the Gospel, he returns Lazarus to life after four days in his grave. Such an action is a sure proof of Jesus’ divinity and of his love for humanity and, in particular, for Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. It is God’s response to Ezekiel’s prophecy that Israel “shall know that I am the Lord when I open your graves and have you rise from them.”

The next week is Holy Week. I hope you can enjoy it taking part in Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday liturgies. It will assure you that your midwinter retreat was worthwhile. n

7:1-5, 10; Psalm 29:1-4. 9-10; Mark 8:14-21 Wednesday, Feb. 15: Genesis 8:6-13, 20-22; Psalm 116:12-15, 18-19; Mark 8:22-26 Thursday, Feb. 16: Genesis 9:1-13; Psalm 102:16-21, 29, 22-23; Mark 8:27-33 Friday, Feb. 17: Genesis 11:1-9; Psalm 33:10-15; Mark 8:34–9:1 Saturday, Feb. 18: Hebrews 11:1-7; Psalm 145:2-5, 10-11; Mark 9:2-13 Sunday, Feb. 19: Leviticus 19: 1-2,

17-18; Psalm 103:1-4, 8, 10, 12-13; 1 Corinthians 3:16-23; Matthew 5:38-48 Monday, Feb. 20: Sirach 1:1-10; Psalm 93:1-2, 5; Mark 9:14-29 Tuesday, Feb. 21: Sirach 2:1-11; Psalm 37:3-4, 18-19, 27-28, 39-40; Mark 9:30-37 Wednesday, Feb. 22: 1 Peter 5:1-4; Psalm 23:1-6; Matthew 16:13-19 Thursday, Feb. 23: Sirach 5:1-8; Psalm 1:1-4, 6; Mark 9:41-50 Friday, Feb. 24: Sirach 6:5-17; Psalm 119:12, 16, 18, 27, 34-35; Mark 10:1-12 Saturday, Feb. 25: Sirach 17:1-15; Psalm 103:13-18; Mark 10:13-16 Sunday, Feb. 26: Isaiah 49:14-15; Psalm 62:2-3, 6-9; 1 Corinthians 4:15; Matthew 6:24-34 Monday, Feb. 27: Sirach 17:20-24; Psalm 32:1-2, 5-7; Mark 10:17-27 Tuesday, Feb. 28: Sirach 35:1-12; Psalm 50:5-8, 14, 23; Mark 10:28-31 n

www.di o k no x .o rg

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

TH E EA S T TEN N ES S EE C A TH OLI C

Understanding the sacraments

by Father Randy Stice

The Word of God in the liturgy

The Lectionary for Mass Supplement contains additions for a number of optional memorials

I

n its Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Vatican Council II stressed the multifaceted role of Sacred Scripture in the liturgy. “Sacred Scripture is of the greatest importance in the celebration of the liturgy. From it are taken the readings, which are explained in the homily and the psalms that are sung. From Scripture, the petitions, prayers, and liturgical hymns receive their inspiration and substance. From Scripture, the liturgical actions and signs draw their meaning” (no. 24). For this reason, in the reform of the liturgy it stipulated that “The treasures of the Bible are to be opened up more lavishly, so that richer fare may be provided for the faithful at the table of God’s word” (SC, no. 51).

The first edition of the reformed lectionary appeared in 1969 and expanded in 1981. New liturgical celebrations were added in the General Roman Calendar and in the Proper Calendar for the United States in the years following. The current four-volume Lectionary for Mass was published between 1998 and 2002 and included all saints and blessed at that time. This was then updated, augmented, and developed into the Lectionary for Mass Supplement that was approved by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in June 2015.

The Supplement contains additions

Citations from the Supplement will be incorporated into participation

aids, ordos, and other resources over the course of the year. May it encourage us ‘to savor God’s Word more deeply and so to grow in holiness.’ for a number of optional memorials, including the Most Holy Name of Jesus (Jan. 3), Our Lady of Fatima (May 13), St. Josephine Bakhita (Feb. 8), The Most Holy Name of Mary (Sept. 12), St. John XXIII (Oct. 11) and St. John Paul II (Oct. 22).

It also includes updated citations for canonizations since 2002: St. Damien de Veuster (May 10), St. Vincent (Jan. 23), St. Junípero Serra (July 1), St. Kateri Tekakwitha (July 14) and St. Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin (Dec. 9). There also are additions for selected Ritual Masses, Masses for Various Needs and Occasions, and Votive Masses.

In the Preface to the Supplement Bishop Arthur Serratelli, committee chairman, writes: “‘Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly’ (Colossians 3:16). May the Lectionary for Mass Supplement be a valuable resource for parishes and liturgical ministers so that the words of St. Paul, first addressed to the Church in Colossae, may also encourage the Church in the United States to savor God’s word more deeply and so to grow in holiness” (Newsletter, Committee on Divine Worship, September 2016).

Bishop Serratelli’s words recall the words of the Second Vatican Council in its Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation: “God, who spoke in the past, continues to converse with the spouse of his beloved Son. And the Holy Spirit, through whom the living voice of the Gospel rings out in the Church – and through it in the world – leads believers to the full truth and makes the word of Christ dwell in them in all its richness (cf. Colossians 3:16)” (Dei Verbum, 8).

This living voice speaks to us individually as well as collectively. In The Word of the Lord (Verbum Domini), Pope Benedict XVI wrote that the relationship between Christ, the Word of the Father, and the Church is not “a mere past event; rather, it is a living relationship which each member of the faithful is personally called to enter into.

We are speaking of the presence of God’s word to us today: ‘Lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age’ (Matthew 28:20)….In the word of God proclaimed and heard, and in the sacraments, Jesus says today, here and now, to each person: ‘I am yours, I give myself to you’; so that

we can receive and respond, saying in return: ‘I am yours’”(VD, 51).

This reveals what Pope Benedict XVI calls “a dynamic definition of the Church’s life…she is a community that hears and proclaims the word of God. The Church draws life not from herself but from the Gospel, and from the Gospel she discovers ever anew the direction for her journey. This is an approach that every Christian must understand and apply to himself or herself: only those who first place themselves in an attitude of listening to the word can go on to become its heralds” (VD, 51).

The USCCB’s Secretariat of Divine Worship is working with publishers to produce editions of the Lectionary for Mass Supplement in the next few months. It can be used as soon as it appears. Citations from the Supplement will be incorporated into participation aids, ordos and other resources over the course of the year. May it encourage us “to savor God’s Word more deeply and so to grow in holiness” (Newsletter, Committee on Divine Worship, September 2016).n 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.

Once upon a time

The end of an era at The East Tennessee Catholic? Maybe not yet Monsignor Xavier Mankel takes a step back from his duties as a columnist and peer reviewer

A

phrase often overused is “the end of an era.”

Shoppers staying at home and buying their Christmas gifts online instead of crowding the malls and outlet stores might be a trend reversal, but not the end of an era – at least not yet.

Likewise, if I decided to stop reading daily newspapers or The East Tennessee Catholic in their printed format in favor of the digital versions read on smart phones, tablets, and laptops, I might be tempted to call that the end of an era. The Millennials and I may disagree on this one, but to me that doesn’t yet constitute a seismic shift in behavior worthy of public notice. The only ones who would notice are my wife, my Millennial son (undoubtedly remarking “what took you so long?”), and the guy who delivers my morning paper, who can rest easy because I’m not even close to ending an era or reversing a trend.

But Monsignor Xavier Mankel definitely ended an era when he decided to shift gears and step back from his daily priest duties while suspending his monthly column, “Once Upon a Time.” He also is taking a hiatus from being the peer reviewer for The East Tennessee Catholic. As peer reviewer, Monsignor Mankel for years edited the paper with the finest of fine-tooth combs.

The monsignor has been a walking, talking era in the Diocese of Knoxville and the Catholic Church in Tennessee. Now retired as an active priest, the vicar general has watched the Church grow from the barely perceptible presence of a handful of East Tennessee parishes when he was a young boy, to the slow, methodical move into the suburbs through the decades, and now to an East Tennessee Church bursting at the seams with 51 parishes and missions, nearly 90 priests, more than 100 deacons, sisters, and brothers, 10 Catholic schools, and nearly 70,000 registered parishioners.

Monsignor Mankel, born in 1935 and ordained a priest in 1961, has served the Church

TH E EAST T E N N E S S E E C A T HO L I C

Dedication honoree Monsignor Xavier Mankel stands with Bishop Richard F. Stika in 2009 at the dedication of the Monsignor Xavier Mankel Conference Room at the Chancery in Knoxville. Monsignor Mankel has served as a peer reviewer for nearly every issue of The East Tennessee Catholic since its founding in 1991 and has been a columnist for the newspaper for many years, writing Once upon a time each month. across Tennessee at almost every level, as an associate pastor, pastor, administrator, rector, teacher, principal, and chancellor. The reverend monsignor has been a vicar general of the diocese since its founding, and Pope Benedict XVI honored him by appointing him a Prelate of Honor to His Holiness.

But it is as a columnist and an editor of The East Tennessee Catholic that he has labored with love.

Printer’s ink runs in Monsignor Mankel’s blood. He comes by it honestly. His father, George W. Mankel, spent a career – 49 years – in advertising with the Knoxville News Sentinel.

Monsignor Mankel’s interest in and appreciation for newspapering, together with his mastery of the English language honed through Catholic education and teaching, has helped sustain The East Tennessee Catholic. As peer reviewer, Monsignor Mankel has edited nearly every issue of the diocese’s newspaper (and now a magazine, too) over its 25-year history.

To be more precise, Monsignor Mankel has edited more than 500 editions of The East Tennessee

Catholic.

Writing a regular column on the history of the Church, with a focus on East Tennessee, was a foregone conclusion. And through the years Monsignor Mankel has shared his considerable insight with readers through Once Upon

By Bill Brewer ments in his column. That passion will continue, only in a different format. You will still see Monsignor Mankel at Masses, where he will concelebrate, and at diocesan priest and leadership meetings.

Recent health setbacks have limited his mobility, but he is hopeful that therapy will allow him to resume writing and editing for The East Tennessee Catholic.

“Newspapers have been a big part of my life. For years I helped my dad with his advertising, and in college I wrote a column for the college newspaper,” he said, acknowledging that although he has a passion for newspapering, his first love outside of the priesthood is automobiles and rebuilding engines.

Monsignor Mankel recalls when he first began assisting The East Tennessee Catholic soon after it began publishing in 1991. His knowledge of the Church and its new diocese, as well as his historical and liturgical acumen together with his newspaper background, made him a natural fit.

And for more than two decades he and his red pen confirmed facts and marked errors in countless stories, making them fit for print. He often

But it is as a columnist and an editor of The East Tennessee Catholic that he has labored with love. Printer’s ink runs in Monsignor Mankel’s blood. He comes by it honestly. His father, George W. Mankel, spent a career — 49 years — in advertising with the Knoxville News Sentinel.

A Time. Whether retracing the steps of Church leaders in Rome or Diocese of Knoxville leaders in Athens, Monsignor Mankel always placed the advancement of Catholicism in proper perspective and context.

The insight Monsignor Mankel has shared was born of experiences serving the Church in Memphis, Middle and East Tennessee. The monsignor was instrumental in founding the Diocese of Knoxville, even having a seat at the table when the Diocese of Knoxville was officially separated from the Diocese of Nashville.

And he chronicled, with passion, a lifetime of Church develop-

w ww.di o k no x .o rg

would pore over page proofs the night before the newspaper went to press in the after-hours silence of the Chancery, often accompanied by his mother, Willia Mankel, who passed away in 2015 at age 103. He would leave behind the thoroughly edited proofs for final edits to be made before press time.

His tenure as peer reviewer and columnist was in addition to his daily responsibilities as a parish priest.

“It has been a labor of love and a chore. A good side-effect was I had already read the paper when it came out. And I read every syllable before publication,” he said. n FEBRUARY 5, 2017 n B9

COURTESY OF SARAH TRENT (3)

Honored singers St. Mary students (from left) Joey Wood, Anna Kasemir, Jacqueline Audet, Sydney Mesmer, Kayla Kupsch, Paige Halcrow, Elizabeth Brands, and Ian Kilevori made the All-East Honor Choir.

BILL BREWER (2)

St. Mary-Oak Ridge music program excels

Brock for two Brock Jancek of Knoxville Catholic goes for a layup against Christian Academy of Knoxville’s Michael Debusk in the Fighting Irish’s 7454 win on the Warriors’ home court Jan. 27.

Top-ranked KCHS boys team off to 18-1 start

T

Hitting the boards Luke Smith (1) battles for a rebound for Knoxville Catholic against CAK.

Canivale de Venezia” by Gioacchino Rossini.

This year’s conductor was Jane Morison, the artistic director of the Mountain Empire Children’s Choral Academy in Virginia and a member of the music faculty at King University.

St. Mary fifth- and sixth-grade students Emily Corbett, Victoria Corbett, Ilse Dale, Sophie Sherlock, Maggie Trent, and Bethany Walsh were recently selected to participate in the Tennessee Treble Honor Choir. The TNTHC is an auditioned choir made up of 130 to 150 fifth- and sixth-grade students from schools throughout Tennessee, who perform for the Tennessee Music Education Association (TMEA) Conference held in April at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville.

The St. Mary Crusader Ensemble along with eighth-grade singers performed at Methodist Hospital in Oak Ridge on Dec. 2 for the employee holiday celebration.

For more information about the St. Mary school, staff, and student body, visit school.stmarys​ oakridge.org. n

COURTESY OF SARAH TRENT (2)

he Knoxville Catholic High School boys basketball team was ranked No. 1 in the state in Class AA through its first 19 games and had only one defeat going into game No. 20.

The Fighting Irish drubbed Christian Academy of Knoxville 74-54 on Jan. 27 to improve to 18-1 overall and 7-0 in District 4-AA. Luke Smith scored 22 points, Brock Jancek 17, Chase Kuerschen 14, and Jack Sompayrac 11 to lead KCHS against CAK. Luke connected on four 3-pointers and Jack hit on three from beyond the arc.

Knoxville Catholic trailed CAK 6-0 but rallied to lead 22-11 after the first quarter, 43-19 at halftime, and 61-34 after three periods of play.

The Irish’s only loss came on the road at Chattanooga McCallie by a 72-56 count on Dec. 5. n

S

t. Mary School in Oak Ridge participated in the East Tennessee Vocal Association’s annual All-East Honor Choir event held on Nov. 18-19 at Maryville College and the Clayton Center for the Arts.

This year’s All-East Junior High/ Middle School Honor Choir was made up of more than 300 advanced seventh- and eighth-grade vocal students from 35 schools throughout East Tennessee. Other honor choirs at the event included the Ninth Grade Honor Choir, Women’s High School Honor Choir, Men’s High School Honor Choir, and the Mixed High School Honor Choir.

The students learned and memorized their voice part on five pieces of music before attending the honors chorus. The challenging repertoire allowed them to sing in three languages and in a variety of threeand four-part voicings.

Literature from this year’s concert included “Cantate Hodie” by Mary Lynn Lightfoot, “Laudamus Te” by Antonio Vivaldi, “Battle Above the Clouds” by Vicki Tucker Courtney, “Give Me Your Stars to Hold” by Richard Waters, and “Il

Chess champs In the Secret City Tournament (from left) Luke Cheadle won first place, Elliot Barnes second place, Genevieve Robinson first place, and Miko Zolnierczuk fourth place.

St. Mary chess team continues to succeed

Tennessee Treble Honor Choir members From left are (front row) sixthgraders Sophie Sherlock, Maggie Trent, and Emily Corbett and (back row) fifth-graders Ilse Dale, Bethany Walsh, and Victoria Corbett.

S

t. Mary School in Oak Ridge competed in the Secret City Chess Tournament on Nov. 5 at Oak Ridge High School.

The tournament hosted 42 teams composed of 76 students. Both unrated and rated levels included teams from grades K-3, 4-6, and 7-12. St. Mary’s Genevieve Robinson, Elliot Barnes, and Miko Zolnierczuk competed in the unrated 7-12 division and brought home a first-place team victory for the second year in a row. Individually, Genevieve won first place, Elliot earned second place, and Miko finished fourth competing against seventh-12th-graders in their division. Luke Cheadle competed in the unrated 4-6 and won first place.

St. Mary chess club members continued to demonstrate their skill when they competed in the Winter Scholastic Open in Lenoir City on Dec. 3. Elliot and Genevieve competed in the rated 7-12 division.

Luke competed in the unrated 4-6 level and placed first overall.

B10 n FEBRUARY 5, 2017

Top finisher Luke Cheadle placed first in the Winter Scholastic Open.

St. Mary students showcased their problem-solving, visualization, and critical-thinking skills in these tournaments. The school congratulated club members and thanked coach Teri Wiest for teaching and refining their skills. n

St. Mary Crusader Ensemble At the Methodist Hospital employee holiday celebration were (from left, kneeling) Nikki Lee and KelliAnn Corbett and (standing) Bethany Walsh, Bri Milne, Sophie Sherlock, Sydney Mesmer, Jacqueline Audet, Sophia Filigenzi, Elizabeth Brands, Paige Halcrow, Molly Deinhart, Anna Kasemir, and Carol Villaverde.

www.di o k no x .o rg

TH E EA S T TEN N ES S EE C A TH OLI C