Feb. 4, 2018, ET Catholic, B section

NEWS FROM THE DIOCESE OF KNOXVILLE

B section

St. Michael Mission celebrates groundbreaking

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he newest building project in the Diocese of Knoxville demonstrates the joy and growth of the Catholic Church in East Tennessee, even in rural, mountainous parts of the region.

St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Mission broke ground for its multipurpose building in Erwin on Dec. 15. Glenmary Father Tom Charters, pastor of St. Michael the Archangel, along with members of the building committee and other parishioners attended the groundbreaking.

The parish was formed in Unicoi County in 2011 by the Glenmary Home Missioners. Since then, it has outgrown several spaces.

“We started with 37 [members], and we now have 300. We’ve been working to get to this point for just

over six years,” Father Charters said. “We outgrew the Elks Club in about a year. Then we found where we are on Jackson Love, and we moved there about six months after we found it and have outgrown that.”

The mission’s current location is a ranch house on Jackson Love Highway. When the parish began looking for property on which to build, it found a lot of support from the surrounding community.

“We were very fortunate to get this spot,” Father Charters said.

“The people from day one when I arrived have—the ministers, the people in the community—have been extremely helpful….People have been telling us, ‘Look over here. Look over here.’ And we go St. Michael continued on page B2

By Emily Booker

EMILY BOOKER

The six-year-old growing community in Erwin hopes to be in its new multipurpose building by Easter Sunday

Shovels in Father Tom Charters, GHM, and members of the building committee turn the earth at the St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Mission groundbreaking ceremony.

Parishioner gives used church candles new life Jean Sohnly of St. Francis - Fairfield Glade re-melts the candles and forms them into decorative ornaments

DAN MCWILLIAMS (2)

J

ean Sohnly hates to see a good church candle go to waste. The parishioner of St. Francis of Assisi in Fairfield Glade has for years taken used candles and re-melted them into crosses, angels, and other designs to hang on Christmas trees.

She uses the purple outer wax of Advent candles to make purple crosses as a remembrance for a loved one who has died.

Mrs. Sohnly said she is sad to see candles tossed out.

“I am, because they usually go in the wastebasket, and I don’t think people know that,” she said. “But when you’re in charge of the candles, which I have done at St. Francis, then I know the loss, so now I start collecting them.”

Her general intention is “to make parishes aware of the waste of the loss of the blessed candles, even if it’s only 1 inch or it’s 1 foot, all the Advent candles and the Paschal candle. All those are redone and remelted. Maybe the other parishes would like to do that, and I’ll be glad to help with directions.”

She said she is “absolutely” willing to help any parishioner around the diocese who wants to salvage his or her parish’s candles for a similar use.

Mrs. Sohnly and her husband of 63 years, John, have lived around the country over the years before coming to the Glade 11 years ago.

Mr. Sohnly retired from Champion Spark Plug in Toledo, Ohio, while Mrs. Sohnly worked as a nurse. Her candle project began at a parish in the Sunshine State.

“I started it in Florida with just the white candles,” she said. “We had a lot of children. I’d give them

By Dan McWilliams

Praying hands ornament Jean Sohnly, in her basement workshop, displays an ornament she made by melting the purple outer wax of an Advent candle. for baptism and first Communions, and when young people would get married I’d give them some. I started doing them, and one thing led to another.”

From Nov. 6 to the end of November last fall, Mrs. Sohnly made 400 ornaments from the candles.

“Over the years I’ve really improved my processes. I’ve cut down the time frame,” she said. “It’s like a four- or five-step process. But after you do a few hundred thousand of them, you get faster. If someone

New batch Mrs. Sohnly pours melted wax into a mold to make more ornaments.

wants to know my process, I’d be more than happy to show them.

It’s an undertaking, but it’s one of love.”

The process has been honed over time.

“I collect all the old candles,” Mrs. Sohnly said. “I cut out the wicks. I re-melt them down in pans. When they’re liquid, I put them into a container. I have to pour one mold first, a half a mold. As soon as they’re set, then I have to put in a hanger. That takes time — you have to watch them to do that.

“Once the hangers are in, then I pour a second set. And then when that’s set I put them in my refrigerator. And then when they’re done I take them into my back room. I have a glue gun. I take out the glue stick and use the heat end, and then I dress every one of them off so they’re smooth. Usually when you pour there’s overrun, so you don’t want that.”

One pot of melted wax will make 40 pieces.

Mrs. Sohnly has made more than 900 ribbon hangers in the past year for the ornaments.

“They’re time-consuming because you have to do them just right. After you get them twisted, then you have to dip them in liquid wax and dip them in water so they stay.

“I’ve been so blessed — people have been donating this particular type of ribbon for me.”

The funeral ornaments are given “to people to put in their home.

They can put them anywhere as long as they know they’re blessed and to treat them with reverence,” Mrs. Sohnly said.

Until now, her production of funeral ornaments has largely been a parish secret.

“People over the years have been donating a few of their old Advent candles and stuff, so I’m blessed that they know I’m doing this,” she said. “But most people don’t know that I’m doing this, the purple ones — I try to keep that quiet.”

Mrs. Sohnly takes the ornaments to residents of nursing homes and shut-ins—“any Christian people — it doesn’t have to be a Catholic. The children love them. I know people collect them now. I’ll go to them and they’ll have half a dozen of these.”

The death of the Sohnlys’ daughter, Suzanne, an aerospace engineer who was a failure analysis specialist for the International Space Station, led Mrs. Sohnly to make the funeral ornaments.

“She inspired me to do the funeral ones because it meant so much to have something special, and knowCandles continued on page B2

Calendar sales program for schools a success St. Albert the Great Parish and president of St. Joseph School, brought the fundraising concept to the Diocese of Knoxville and has been trying for more than two years to make it work.

He said it is patterned after similar fundraisers in other dioceses across the country.

But it’s the purpose that makes this fundraiser unique, according to Father Michelson and Sister Mary Marta. That purpose is increasing the pool of money schools across the diocese rely on in offering tuition assistance to students and families in need.

Father Michelson has explained that each October school administrators from around the diocese gather to discuss the Catholic Schools Regional Fund. The discussion has centered on how there is not enough money in the fund to meet all the requests for tuition assistance.

He said the tuition assistance need is growing each year, so a solution was required to keep up with that growing need.

Official tally St. Joseph School principal Andy Zengel turns in the name he drew out of the basket in the raffle.

Candles continued from page B1

ing that these are all blessed,” she said. “The way I package them to give to the people — I leave that package with the organist, our music director, and he gives them to the people, so they don’t know who it is.

They think it’s just from the church.”

Suzanne Sohnly died at age 48 exactly two years to the day, Dec. 2, St. Michael continued from page B1

knock on those doors or looking at those properties.”

St. Michael the Archangel purchased 12 1/2 acres on North Mohawk Drive in Erwin. The property cost $246,900 and was paid for by the Catholic Foundation of East Tennessee, which has funded numerous property purchases over the years throughout the diocese.

The new facility will be a one-story, 5,000-square-foot building. Half of the space will hold the nave and sanctuary, with the rest of the space including the parish office, kitchen, and classrooms.

The nave will hold up to 200 people, said Steve Miles, the head of the building committee.

The general contractor for the project is Richardson Builders in Elizabethton.

“We did not bid it out. He was recommended to us,” explained Mr. Miles. “We did some research and talked to at least six builders, and we liked him the best.”

“I really commend Father Chris Michelson for what he’s done. He’s a parish priest, he’s president of St. Joseph School, and he’s the founder of this program. I am grateful to him for his dedication to our Catholic schools and tuition assistance,” Sister Mary Marta said.

Father Michelson and Sister Mary Marta assembled a team to launch the calendars and administer the program. Serving on the schools calendar committee were Dickie Sompayrac, Andy Zengel, Diannah Miller, Joni Punch, and Father Michelson.

Marcy Meldahl served as program administrator.

The 10 diocesan schools — Notre Dame High School, St. Jude, and Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Chattanooga, St. Mary in Oak Ridge, St. John Neumann in Farragut, St. Dominic in Kingsport, St. Mary in Johnson City, and Sacred Heart, St. Joseph, and Knoxville Catholic High School in Knoxville — began selling the 2018 calendars in early September.

Proceeds from the sale of the

calendars were divided among the schools, parishes, and the Catholic Schools Tuition Support Funds in the four deaneries of the diocese.

Schools kept $15 from each calendar sold, and parishes kept $15 from each calendar sold.

Money raised through the sale of business sponsorships of the calendars funded $50,000 in prize money that was given away at the January raffle drawing.

Sister Mary Marta was encouraged at how the diocese and its schools got behind the calendar fundraiser, and she’s hopeful parishioners will continue to support it in growing numbers.

“Our principals really embraced this project, and they’re already looking forward to next year. And I believe our raffle winners were spread out evenly across the diocese,” she said. “I certainly wish we had sold more, but I’m hopeful our calendar sales will increase each year. I think we can raise more funds for tuition assistance next year.” n

and their interment and the priest who was there, and then I have ‘eternal rest grant unto them’ with a prayer, and at the end it says ‘these were candles made from the altar of St. Francis,’ so they know where they came from,” she said.

With the funeral ornaments, “you can hang them on a tree. You can put them by a picture. You can do

anything, as long as you’re respectful,” Mrs. Sohnly said.

She shows no signs of slowing down with her candle project.

“I love doing these things,” she said.

For more information on starting your own candle project, call St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Fairfield Glade at 931-484-3628. n

that Mrs. Sohnly spoke to The East Tennessee Catholic.

“She was a beautiful artist,” her mother said. “She designed some of the patches that went up to space.

She was a beautiful, wonderful girl.”

Mrs. Sohnly puts a note with each of the funeral ornaments.

“The note tells the [deceased person’s] name, their death, their birth, Mr. Miles said that Ken Richardson of Richardson Builders has been very accommodating, helping the parish find the right design for its budget.

“He came up with one price. We said we couldn’t afford it, because that was the Cadillac price,” Father Charters said. “Then he came back with another price, and that was too much. I figured we wouldn’t hear from him again. He called us three days later and said, ‘I have a design for you.’ And it was just what we’re doing right now. He has really worked hard and well with us.”

Mr. Miles is optimistic about the project. The projected completion date is April 1 — Easter Sunday.

The parish has worked hard to raise the funds for the building.

“We’ve done tamale sales, garage sales. We’ve done Summer Fest, Apple Fest. We’ve written people that we knew and asked them to send money. Knights of Columbus

New site Above is St. Michael the Archangel Mission’s 12 1/2-acre site on North Mohawk Drive.

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And the winner is . . . Sister Mary Marta Abbott, RSM, and Father Chris Michelson watch as the superintendent of diocesan schools prepares to draw a name in the calendar raffle Jan. 3.

EMILY BOOKER (2)

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iocese of Knoxville school leaders are praising the results of the first calendar sales program and raffle to benefit tuition assistance funds for the diocese’s 10 schools.

Sales for the 2018 calendars began in September and concluded just before Christmas. A raffle was held Jan. 3 as part of the calendar fundraiser, and 365 winners of cash prizes were named.

Sister Mary Marta Abbott, RSM, superintendent of diocesan schools, said the results were solid and something to build on for the 2019 calendar sales effort.

“It was our first year, and it was very successful. We made over $225,000 for tuition support,” she said.

Nearly 10,000 calendars were sold at a cost of $36.50 each, according to Sister Mary Marta. Now that the new fundraising program has a year under its belt, the superintendent hopes to sell 25,000 calendars when sales get underway with the beginning of the 2018-19 school year.

Father Chris Michelson, pastor of

By Bill Brewer

BILL BREWER (2)

The program, which included a raffle with 365 winners of cash prizes, raised more than $225,000 for tuition support

Before the groundbreaking Father Tom Charters, GHM, leads a prayer as the gathering of parishioners awaits the chance to break ground on the mission’s new multipurpose building. have been helping us. We’re constantly doing fundraising. Every avenue possible,” Father Charters said.

That work has paid off, as the parish has raised more than $200,000. With help from the Diocese of Knoxville and the Glenmary Home Missioners, St. Michael the Archangel was finally ready to break ground.

The cold temperature and snow flurries didn’t deter the excitement of parishioners at the groundbreaking. They are looking forward to soon having a church building of their own.

“It’s a great moment of joy,” Father Charters said. “It means everything. We have our own

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home.”

He said that he is looking forward to having the space for large parish events. For example, the annual feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe has been held in the local YMCA for several years. But this year, the parish will be able to host it on its own property.

“We’ll be able to have the Blessed Sacrament present for the community, where before we always kept it upstairs in a side chapel. So people weren’t able to spend so much time there where the house is,” Father Charters said.

“This will be our place. That’s what’s important. It’s a place for St. Michael the Archangel members.” n TH E EA S T TEN N ES S EE C A TH OLI C

‘Empty Manger’ caroling at Planned Parenthood Father Patrick Resen and parishioners of Holy Trinity in Jefferson City gathered on Cherry Street in Knoxville in front of Planned Parenthood on Dec. 22 to participate in an Empty Manger Christmas Caroling event. During the event, pro-life advocates all over the country gather to sing carols around an empty manger at Planned Parenthood facilities. Children have been saved when their mothers heard the carols and decided against abortion while recalling the birth of Jesus. Also participating were Father Tim Sullivan, CSP, who led a rosary; Mark Reda, who played guitar; Katie Helms, who played the bagpipes; and members of other churches in the diocese. Sonia Justiniani was the organizer of the event.

COURTESY OF PATRICIA FARNER

COURTESY OF MARLENE YURICK

Parish news

JIM WOGAN (2)

DAN MCWILLIAMS

St. Vincent de Paul council meets at St. Thomas The St. Vincent de Paul district council of Knoxville’s Festival meeting honoring the saint took place recently at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Lenoir City.

Sister Mary Christine Cremin, RSM, then executive director of Catholic Charities of East Tennessee, was the speaker. She spoke on the mystery of suffering. Pictured with her are Deacon Mike Gouge (center), council spiritual director, and Dan Byron, council president. A Festival meeting is a meeting with Mass.

DAN MCWILLIAMS

Hispanic Council tours new cathedral Father David Boettner leads a guided tour of the new Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus for members of the Diocesan Hispanic Council on Jan. 6.

Author Father Greg Cleveland visits Knoxville Father Greg Cleveland, OMV, author of Awakening Love: An Ignatian Retreat With the Song of Songs, speaks to an audience of men and women religious and others at a banquet dinner at The Foundry restaurant in Knoxville on Dec. 15. Father Cleveland’s visit, sponsored by the Office of Consecrated Life, also included a mini-retreat at All Saints Church in Knoxville on Dec. 16.

Food baskets benefit 63 families in need

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COURTESY OF PAT RYAN

KDCCW members attend national convention Women from the Knoxville Diocesan Council of Catholic Women attended the National CCW convention held recently in Dallas. Those attending were (from left, front row) Gigi Chasey; Helen Davis, Louisville province director; and Pat Ryan; (second row), Kathy Morin; Karin Vacaliuc, KDCCW president; and GerriAnne Mason; (third row) Suzanne Erpenbach; Patty Johnson, past NCCW president; and Liz Hocutt; and (fourth row) Arlene Webb and Father Dan Whitman, KDCCW spiritual adviser.

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Ladies of Charity distribute Christmas food baskets Workers (bottom photo) load food into a vehicle for distribution to needy families in the area.

“It was a great gesture of kindness,” said Blanca Primm (top photo, in Santa hat), director of the Office of Hispanic Ministry.

taff and volunteers from the Ladies of Charity in Knoxville on Dec. 22 distributed 63 Christmas food baskets from their Baxter Avenue location to families in need.

Forty of the baskets were offered for distribution to the Ladies of Charity

by Knox County’s Community Action Committee and the Knoxville News Sentinel Empty Stocking Fund. The Ladies of Charity offered an additional 23 of their own baskets to meet the demand.

Susan Unbehaun, executive director of the Ladies of Charity, said families in need were identified through the Diocese of Knoxville’s Office of

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Hispanic Ministry.

“During this season when families come together, especially during the hard times that our Hispanic community is facing, this was a wonderful opportunity to make the Christmas celebration a concrete way to share the love of the Christ Child with many families in our diocese,” said Blanca Primm, director of the Office of Hispanic Ministry for the Diocese of Knoxville.

“We are very appreciative to the Ladies of Charity, the Knox County Community Action Council, and the Knoxville News Sentinel for making these baskets available. They have gone to families in

parishes across our diocese, not just the Knoxville area. It was a great gesture of kindness.”

“This was an opportunity to work with the diocese and identify some families that did not know about the Empty Stocking Fund. This is kind of a stepping stone that maybe next year we can sign up families ahead of time that are in need,” Ms. Unbehaun said.

The Christmas food baskets contained “everything from spaghetti, rice, beans, canned items, potatoes, carrots, onions, a whole turkey or a hen, and everything to make Christmas dinner and dessert,” Ms. Unbehaun added. n FEBRUARY 4, 2018 n B3

Parish notes

The parish Girl Scout troop sang Christmas carols at Erlanger Hospital’s volunteer luncheon Dec. 17. They also decorated mini-Christmas trees and made Christmas cards for the children there.

OLPH thanked Emilia Pastina Jones for helping coordinate the project.

St. Jude, Chattanooga The parish will celebrate Father Charlie Burton’s birthday with a Mardi Grasthemed party at 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 12, and have its second annual Chili Cook-Off on Tuesday, March 13. The two events are cosponsored by the Council of Catholic Women and the Knights of Columbus.

The St. Jude columbarium has been completed, and niches are available for purchase. There are 264 double niches and 72 single niches with space for 600 deceased. A packet of information on columbarium policies, paperwork, and more may be found in the sacristy or the parish office.

Kevin Gabor is the Knight of the month for February, and John and Ana Feurer are the Knights’ family of the month.

St. Stephen, Chattanooga St. Stephen’s Valentine’s Day Dinner and Dance will take place in the parish hall at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10.

Knights of Columbus Council 6099 is sponsoring the event. Music will be provided by The Beaters. Cost is $20, with raffle tickets $10. Call 423-8999989 to reserve a table for eight in advance. Proceeds benefit people with intellectual difficulties.

COURTESY OF MARLENE YURICK

Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Chattanooga

Two classrooms in memory of Lillian and Marie Garrity were dedicated Jan. 27 at St. John Neumann School. Parish pastor Monsignor Pat Garrity made a generous donation to the school in their honor.

The parish held its Adult Winter Dance on Jan. 20 in the school gym.

The women’s club hosted an Epiphany Open House at the rectory and convent Jan. 7.

The annual Potluck Social to celebrate the 16th anniversary of eucharistic adoration at St. John Neumann was held Jan. 6 in the school cafeteria.

St. Joseph, Norris

Christmas caroling for the homebound Members of Holy Trinity Parish in Jefferson City sang Christmas carols to homebound parishioners and those in nursing homes Dec. 30. Above, at Jefferson Park at Dandridge nursing home, are (from left, front) Evangeline Webster, caregiver Flora Butterworth, and resident Diane Longo and (back) Marge Hornyak, Judy Hall, Frank Longo, and Marlene Yurick.

On Dec. 12, a group of St. Joseph parishioners together with their pastor, Father Julius Abuh, distributed the Angel Tree gifts for the Norris area. Judy Curtin and Linda Rauch facilitate the Norris-area Angel Tree program for St. Joseph along with St. Francis Episcopal Church of Norris, Norris Religious Fellowship Church, Norris United Methodist Church, Norris First Baptist Church, and Sinking Springs United Methodist Church. The St. Joseph Social Action Committee, in conjunction with the ecumenical group, handed out the Norris-area Good Neighbor Christmas food baskets.

COURTESY OF JILL PURCELL (2)

Chattanooga Deanery

St. Therese, Clinton The St. Therese Mardi Gras party will be held after the 5 p.m. Mass on Saturday, Feb. 10.

Altar server Thelma Gudino made her quinceañera on Jan. 13.

Five Rivers Deanery

The youth thanked parishioners for assisting them in raising $1,512 at a car wash to help fund their trip to the National Catholic Youth Conference.

Anniversaries: Gary and Lisa Calkins (55), George and Irmgard Nix (51), Bill and Patricia Wood (50), John and Debby Sopko (45), Kirk and Karen Steely (45), Walter and Bonnie Skiba (40), Charles and Melissa Grantham (20)

Holy Trinity, Jefferson City The Knights of Columbus will have a corporate Communion Mass at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 11, during which married couples may renew their wedding vows. The Mass commemorates deceased Knights from the Holy Trinity council and elsewhere.

The Knights held their annual brunch for parents and children Jan. 28.

Parishioners donated 229 boxes of saltine crackers for Sharing Christmas in Jefferson County.

Cumberland Mountain Deanery Blessed Sacrament, Harriman The Knights of Columbus sold Italian subs on Super Bowl weekend, Feb. 3 and 4.

St. Francis of Assisi, Fairfield Glade Anniversaries: Paul and Barbara Thrower (61), Jim and Diane Blackmon (58), Dick and Helen Gerlach (58), Gerald and Barbara Philips (56), Herman and Frances Eichnerl (55), Robert and Joanne Jansen (55), Joseph and Loretta Kreskowiak (54), Jerome and Toni Kuchcinski (53), Carmin and Lynne Lynch (53), Dave and Joanie Finnel (52), Mark and Carol Hafford (52), Emmanuele and Isabella Palmeri (52), Bernardo and Doria Rico (51), Edward and Elizabeth Sue Czysz (50) St. John Neumann, Farragut An evening event, “Lent: A Season of Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving,” is set for 7 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 11, in the school library. The event will focus on the traditions of Lent, including the symbolism of the imposition of ashes on Ash Wednesday, fasting, the Way of the Cross, and the veiling of crosses and images. Tips will be provided to help families celebrate Lent. Child care is available upon request. To register, contact Sister Restituta at 865-7774319 or srresty@sjnknox.org.

The St. Joseph’s Caregiver Ministry speakers’ program was held Jan. 28 in Seton Hall. Gordon Rome spoke on “Insights Into Caregiving.” Tony Venafro presented “I’m a Caregiver, Now What?” part 1, and Deacon Marquis Syler spoke on “Caregiving: A Spiritual Work.” For more information, call Brenda Nicholson at 865-310-6790.

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Anniversaries: Raymond and Helen La Shier (58), Peter and Diane Heinen (53), Raymond and Janice Mussio (45), Ken and Raissa Symington (15)

New columbarium dedicated at St. Alphonsus The “Joseph’s Garden at St. Alphonsus” columbarium was recently dedicated by Father Jim Harvey and Deacon Peter Minneci of St. Alphonsus Parish in Crossville. Those who made the project possible were parishioners with their stewardship and hard work; the Sherrill family with their generous donation of stone; Fidel and Cindy Balderas along with the Hispanic community, with their artistic stone masonry; and members of the Council of Catholic Women, who provided the flowers for the dedication ceremony. From left in the top photo are Cecilia Erwin, Teresa Sherrill Duncan, Donna Gocella, Ann Sherrill Morphew, Agnes Bosze, Joe Sherrill, Father Harvey, Minda Tabor, Deacon Minneci, Kathleen Kelly, and Marilyn Sherrill.

Newcomers: William and Linda Bonner; Agustin Carcamo and Araceli Pena and their children, Johan and Jariah Notre Dame, Greeneville The Knights of Columbus hosted their annual Cincinnati Chili and Auction event Feb. 3.

St. Dominic, Kingsport COURTESY OF MARIA RIST (2)

The parish held a special day of eucharistic adoration Jan. 22 in the chapel for the intentions of “respect life” and an end to abortion.

The Knights of Columbus, in collaboration with the St. Vincent de Paul Society, will have a “40 Cans for Lent” food drive. The food will be distributed by the SVDP Society to families it serves and shares with local food kitchens and pantries serving the needy.

The Knights held their annual free-throw contest Feb. 4 in the parish life center.

Parish youth took a trip to the ice skating rink at Bristol Motor Speedway on Jan. 10.

St. Patrick, Morristown Knights of Columbus Council 6730 thanked all who donated and made its recent coat drive a success. The collected coats, pants, shirts, underwear, shoes, socks, scarves, hats, gloves, blankets, and various toiletry items totaled more than 1,500 pounds, exceeding last year’s donations by more than 400 pounds. Items were delivered Nov. 30 to the Volunteers of America organization at the Mountain Home VA hospital in Johnson City for distribution to homeless veterans and Parish notes continued on page B5

Basilica celebrates feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe The Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga celebrated the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Dec. 11. The celebration, led by the Hispanic community, began with a youth-led bilingual rosary in the church. The community processed around the city block with an image of Our Lady (top photo), followed by the vigil Mass in Spanish and a reception and play (bottom photo) in Varallo Parish Hall.

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

‘Tiny Saints’ are living their faith at SJN

The 33rd annual Catholic Charities of Knoxville dinner, “An Emerald O’ccasion,” will be held on Thursday, March 22, at The Knoxville Marriott (501 E. Hill Ave.). The evening will also include the presentation of the seventh annual “Creating Hope” award to an individual or organization for outstanding service to Catholic Charities of East Tennessee. Vallie Smith Collins will be the featured speaker. Mrs. Collins will share her experiences as a passenger on the “Miracle on the Hudson” flight.

Proceeds from the $125-per-plate event benefit all programs and services at Catholic Charities. Contact development coordinator Ashley Pacilio at 865-963-4727 or apacilio@ccetn.org with any questions.

The 36th annual Catholic Charities of Chattanooga dinner will take place Thursday, March 15, at the Chattanooga Convention Center. Proceeds support the Chattanooga programs of Catholic Charities of East Tennessee.

A cocktail reception begins at 5:30 p.m., with dinner at 6:30. For more information, contact Betty Anne at 423267-1297 or bettyanne@ccetn.org.

A young women’s high school retreat is set for 6 p.m. Friday, March 2, through 11 a.m. Sunday, March 4, at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Lenoir City. The purpose of the retreat is to help high school girls nurture their relationship with Christ and turn to Him when looking for answers. Presenters are the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia and University of Tennessee Catholic students. Cost is $40. For more information, contact Margaret Merrill at 865-696-5906 or marg.anne.merrill@ gmail.com.

Bishop Richard F. Stika is again celebrating bilingual Masses throughout the diocese to honor the sacrament of matrimony. The Diocesan Office of Marriage Preparation & Enrichment has planned something special for all couples married in the Catholic Church and their families. Couples will have an opportunity to reaffirm their vows and receive a blessing. Commemorative certificates will be distributed at the luncheon, and a photo of each couple with Bishop Stika will be taken and mailed to the couple’s home. The remaining marriage Mass is set for 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 10, at Immaculate Conception Church, 414 W. Vine Ave., Knoxville, TN 37902. Space is limited, so register right away. To register, contact Marian Christiana at mchristiana@dioknox.org or 423-892-2310.

Bishop Richard F. Stika will celebrate a diocesan-wide adult confirmation Mass at 4 p.m. Sunday, May 20, at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Any adult (18 and over) who has received the sacraments of baptism, penance, and first Communion but who has not been confirmed may receive the sacrament on this date.

Those interested in being confirmed should contact their own parish. For more information, visit dioknox.org/ offices-ministries/christian-formation/ adult-confirmation-2.

The next Picture of Love engaged couples retreat is scheduled for 7-10 p.m. Friday, April 27, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, April 28, 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. For more information, contact Marian Christiana of the diocesan Office of Marriage Preparation and Enrichment at 423892-2310 or mchristiana@dioknox. org, or visit dioknox.org/marriagepreparation-and-enrichment/ and click on the “programs designed for engaged couples” page.

Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga is hosting a free “Parenting With Purity” evening with food, wine, and music at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13. The event features a talk by speaker Jason Evert. Jason and wife Crystalina have spoken to more than 1 million people about the virtue of chastity and have TH E EAST T E N N E S S E E C A T HO L I C

founded The Chastity Project ministry promoting purity.

St. Joseph School in Knoxville will be hosting its 19th annual Mardi Gras fundraising event from 6 to 11 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 24, in the gym and performing arts center. The evening features a dinner buffet provided by Wilson Catering, a silent and a live auction, music, dancing, and opportunities to win more than $3,000 in door prizes. For more information, call the school at 865-689-3424.

Boys and girls ages 9 to 14 are invited to participate in Knights of Columbus Council 8781’s local-level Knights Free Throw Championship at 1 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 11, in the gym at St. John Neumann School in Farragut. For entry forms or additional information, call Peter McKenzie at 865-680-2116.

A Retrouvaille weekend to help couples rebuild their marriage is scheduled for March 2-4 in Nashville, with a team available in Knoxville for follow-up sessions. To learn more or register, call 800-470-2230 or 615-523-0631, e-mail nrv3043@gmail.com, or visit www.

HelpOurMarriage.com.

A gathering of people “interested in spreading the good news about Natural Family Planning” will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24. The Souder family will be hosting the evening at their home in Maryville. The focus of the gathering is geared toward learning how people can reach others who could benefit from knowing about NFP. RSVP to Monica Kimutis at jmkimutis@ gmail.com and e-mail her to receive the Souders’ address.

Search for Christian Maturity Retreat 53 for the Five Rivers Deanery will take place at Notre Dame Church in Greeneville from Feb. 16-18. For more information, call Susan Collins at 423-470-2560.

Join Father Steve Pawelk, GHM, and others on a pilgrimage to Our Lady of Guadalupe and the shrines of Mexico from April 9-18. Pilgrims will have Mass and pray the rosary every day. Among the sites visited will be the Cathedral of Guadalajara; the Shrine of San Toribio Romo, martyr and patron of immigrants; San Juan de los Lagos, site of many miracles; Cristo Rey and the city of Guanjuanto; Queretaro, where Father Junípero Serra began his missionary activity; and Mexico City and the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. St. John Paul II, patron of the Diocese of Knoxville, visited most of these sites in his eight journeys to Mexico. All-inclusive package, air and land, is $1,990. For more information, contact Lisa Morris, group pilgrimage coordinator for Select International Tours, at 865-567-1245 or lisam@ select-intl.com.

A Diocese of Knoxville pilgrimage to EWTN and the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Alabama is planned for May 9-11. The group will attend Mass at EWTN studios and attend a live taping of EWTN Live with Father Mitch Pacwa on May 9. The next day, the pilgrims will bus to the shrine and have midmorning prayer with the nuns and noon Mass, followed by a catered lunch and a healing service. They will stay overnight at the St. Bernard Abbey and Retreat Center. Mass at the abbey will start the day May 11, followed by breakfast and an Ave Maria Grotto tour before the bus leaves for Knoxville. Total cost is $280 (based on double occupancy; single supplement is $315). For more information, call Lisa Morris at 865-567-1245.

A World Meeting of Families pilgrimage to Ireland with Father Mike Nolan is set for Aug. 21-Sept. 1. This pilgrimage is sponsored by the Diocese of Knoxville Office of Marriage Preparation and Enrichment. The itinerary includes a Mass with Pope Francis and visits to many holy and beautiful sites such as Glendalough, the Rock of Cashel, the Cliffs of Moher, and the Our Lady of Knock shrine. Mass will be offered daily. The extended deposit deadline is now March 20. For a full description of the itinerary, go to Calendar continued on page B6

By Jessica Tarentino and Richard Tabler

T

he Society of St. Vincent de Paul Conference at St. John Neumann Parish in Farragut now has a group of student affiliate members from St. John Neumann Church and School.

These students joined together with the goal of helping the needy and vulnerable in the community. The group recently elected officers and collectively chose the name “Tiny Saints.”

Three members of the Tiny Saints, Kate Pettinger, Gemma Deyo, and James Long talked about their first project, why they decided to join Tiny Saints, and their plans for future projects.

“We’re going out into the community and putting a smile on the faces of those in need.

It made us feel really good to do that,” said Kate, president of Tiny Saints.

Their first service project involved sewing latches and crosses on prayer shawls for elderly residents at Summit View Nursing Home in Farragut. In December, members went to Summit View to sing Christmas carols, to give residents prayer shawls and prayer request cards, and to visit with them.

“We said a prayer for them before giving them their shawls.

COURTESY OF RICHARD TABLER (2)

Calendar

Here we come a-caroling The Tiny Saints sing for residents of Summit View Nursing Home.

They were so happy we were there. One lady was so happy she was crying and didn’t want us to go,” said Gemma, the Tiny Saints secretary.

Gemma joined the Tiny Saints because “I wanted to help others and make them smile,” she said.

“Our visit made their week,” said James. He said the goal of their work is “to spread the love of God to others who need it.”

“Joining the Tiny Saints was one of the only after-school activities that not only benefits me but benefits others as well,” he said.

“We’re getting to do things most kids our age don’t get to do,” said Kate. “We’re not only giving but getting things back. Helping others helps you, too.”

Some future projects will be collecting used books, making bookmarks, and donating them to service agencies that help the homeless, elderly, or children. The Tiny

Tiny Saints trio From left are Kate Pettinger, Gemma Deyo, and James Long.

Saints will partner with members of St. Vincent de Paul to develop projects they can work on together.

“These children are living their faith in a difficult time in our world,” said the school representative to the Tiny Saints, Joanne Perkins. “As a member of St. Vincent de Paul, this calling brings joy and comfort to me.

In the months that I have worked with our Tiny Saints ministry at St. John Neumann, I have seen this joy on the faces of our young members “This special group of students is excited and devoted to the work they are doing. Their faithfulness to prayer and fellowship and their enthusiasm and love for their ministry is inspiring. We have received tremendous support from our parents and SJN School, especially Christina Deyo, our parent coordinator, and Sister Angela Niko. We all look forward each month to sharing ideas for assisting the less fortunate in our world. The Lord’s work is surely being carried out on the shoulders of these young people.”

Children or parents who would like more information may contact Joanne Perkins at joniperk@gmail. com, Sister Angela, or Christine Deyo at the school office at 865966-4540. n

Parish notes continued from page B4 veterans in need.

The Council of Catholic Women sponsored a Bunco Night on Jan. 23.

$25. Proceeds will benefit Wheelchairs for Veterans.

The adoration chapel remodeling began Jan. 15.

Smoky Mountain Deanery Immaculate Conception, Knoxville A Women’s Lenten Reflection, hosted by the IC women’s group, will be held Sunday, Feb. 11, in the parish hall.

Sister John Catherine Kennedy, OP, will present “Prepare Your Heart for the Gift.” Lunch is at 1 p.m., with the program from 1:30 to 4 p.m. For reservations, contact Sherry Johnson at 630355-5273 or cjdogwalk18@gmail.com.

In preparation for the May celebration of the 50th anniversary of ordination of former pastor Father Jim Haley, CSP, the parish wishes to record videos of parishioners sharing brief stories of their encounters with Father Haley. To participate, contact Mark Reda at 865-9190078 or majreda@gmail.com.

The sixth annual Parish Appreciation Epiphany Brunch for parish volunteers and their spouses was held Jan. 7 at The Foundry.

IC thanked Connie Healy and the Diocese of Knoxville for helping to furnish the youth room.

Our Lady of Fatima, Alcoa A Mardi Gras/Valentine dinner and dance is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 9, in the Fatima Center. Cost is

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Parish youth participated in a “Wreaths Across America” event Dec. 16 at East Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery.

Christmas wreaths were laid on top of headstones.

St. John XXIII, Knoxville The parish Mardi Gras party is set for 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 9. The event features dinner, music, dancing, and an auction with chances to win cakes, gift baskets, and more.

St. Joseph the Worker, Madisonville The Knights of Columbus will again host a Valentine’s Dinner/Dance from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 9, in the fellowship hall at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Lenoir City. Tickets are $35 and include dinner, dessert, and coffee or tea. Tickets may be purchased from any Knight.

The parish hosted the Ecumenical Potluck and Service on Jan. 28, celebrating the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

Donations for the Good Shepherd Center were taken during the meal.

As part of their “Building the Domestic Church” and “Keep Christ in Christmas” themes, the Knights in December offered free children’s prayer books in English and Spanish to parents or grandparents with young children. n FEBRUARY 4, 2018 n B5

COURTESY OF MITCHELL BEENE (4)

COURTESY OF MARIA RIST (2) COURTESY OF JILL PURCELL

Father Okere serves Nigerian cuisine Father Bart Okere (in chef’s hat), pastor of St. Henry Parish in Rogersville and St. James the Apostle in Sneedville, served Nigerian dinner cuisine on Epiphany Sunday as his gift to the two communities. The Knights of Columbus helped in the cooking and serving, with some 75 people attending.

COURTESY OF FATHER BART OKERE

Confirmation students at basilica raise funds for Puerto Rico relief Hispanic confirmation students at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga recently put on a unique fundraiser to aid victims of the hurricane in Puerto Rico. The students raised funds by selling tamales and having the money go to Catholic Charities for Puerto Rico. Mitchell Beene is teaching the confirmation class to the students on Saturday mornings.

CCW hears talk on sacred vessels The Council of Catholic Women of St. Alphonsus Parish in Crossville was given a presentation by spirituality commissioner Kathleen Kelly on sacred vessels after its Jan. 9 meeting. This was to make the women aware of the proper care of the sacred vessels and altar cloths when they serve in the altar care ministry.

Basilica youth schola sings for residents of Alexian Village The Jubilate Deo Youth Schola of the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga sang a pre-Christmas concert (top photo) for the residents at Alexian Village in Signal Mountain on Dec. 20. The concert included ancient Gregorian chants and traditional Christmas carols. The Jubilate Deo Youth Schola is in its fourth year, and this was its first public concert. On Jan. 5, the schola had its fourth annual Epiphany celebration (bottom photo). They began by singing Christmas carols during adoration.

Afterward, they had a party in Varallo Parish Hall with a visit by the “Three Kings,” a traditional king cake, and Catholic trivia led by Father David Carter, pastor.

Calendar continued from page B5 dioknox.org/marriage-preparation-and-enrichment/ or contact Marian Christiana at 423-892-2310 or mchristiana@dioknox.org.

A pilgrimage to the Holy Land with Father Randy Stice, “Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus!,” will take place Sept. 20-30. Pilgrims will spend time in Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, where they will have a chance to visit the Church of the Nativity, Shepherd’s Field, and Bethany to visit the tomb of Lazarus. They will also take a cable car to Masada, visit Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found, and spend time in Nazareth. Pilgrims will also visit the Sea of Galilee area and the Mount of Beatitudes, ascend to Mount Tabor and the Church of the Transfiguration, and visit the baptism site on the River Jordan, the Mount of Temptation, the Dead Sea, Magdala, and Jericho. All-inclusive package, air and land, is $3,995. For more information, contact Lisa Morris at 865-567-1245 or lisam@select-intl.com, group pilgrimage coordinator for Select International Tours.

Father Michael Cummins will lead a retreat/pilgrimage in Yellowstone National Park from Oct. 14 to 19. The retreat, “God and His Creation,” will consist of wildlife watching each day in the park led by the wildlife tour company “The Wild Side” and talks given by Father Cummins on faith and creation and B6 n FEBRUARY 4, 2018

Bays Mountain Park wolf naturalist Rhonda Shipley Goins on wolves and the dynamics of the wolf pack.

Talks will also be offered by local wildlife experts.

Mass will be offered daily as well as night prayer and opportunities for the sacrament of reconciliation and spiritual direction. For a full description of the retreat/pilgrimage, call the parish office of St. Dominic in Kingsport at 423-288-8101. Cost is $2,140 per person (airfare not included), which covers lodging, all ground transportation, and all meals from the 15th through breakfast on the 19th. Space is limited to 15 participants.

A Low Mass in the ancient form of the Roman Rite is normally offered every Monday morning 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 the fourth Sunday of each month at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul. On February 25 at 5 p.m., a Missa Cantata will be celebrated for Septuagesima Sunday. Following this Mass, all are invited to the basilica potluck dinner at 6:30 p.m. On Palm Sunday, March 25, the basilica will not have a Missa Cantata, but instead will have Mass in the Ordinary Form at 9 a.m., 11:30 a.m. (with procession), and 1:30 p.m. (with procession, in Spanish). www.di o k no x .o rg

The Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga offers morning prayer after the 7 a.m. Mass on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

The Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul offers adoration every first Friday following the noon Mass, concluding with Benediction at 5:30 p.m., sung by the Jubilate Deo Youth Schola. Adoration continues from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m., with songs and prayers through the night led by the Hispanic community. All are invited.

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; every Sunday at 8 a.m. 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., preceded by Great Vespers on Saturday evening at 6:30 p.m. All services are in English. Call Father Richard Armstrong at 865-584-3307 or visit www.saintthomasknoxville.org/ for details. ■ TH E EA S T TEN N ES S EE C A TH OLI C

Praying for Perspective

by George Valadie

A return to a time when we knew better When civility reigned, a minor disagreement would not have escalated into a shooting with a fatality

I

just don’t know anymore. The paper offered up yet one more story about one more shooting death.

Sadly, there are more than a few to read about. But this one grabbed my attention because it was so close to home. Literally, this cold-blooded murder had happened just a mile down the road in a strip-mall parking lot we’d frequented more than a few times.

Here we go again – headlines of another senseless killing caused by what I was sure was another desperate thief wanting what wasn’t his.

But I was wrong. Dinner was over.

A 52-year-old man and his three children had just finished a family birthday celebration in a restaurant, and all four of them were strolling to their car.

They arrived there to encounter a car parked adjacent to theirs and its husband and wife owners. The paper’s account wasn’t quite clear on who said what to whom, but it was clear an argument ensued.

Apparently words were exchanged and tempers were elevated.

Witness accounts say there were some almost-moments of calm followed by some of the couldn’tleave-well-enough-alone variety.

Out comes a gun, down goes a dad. Right in the chest. Three kids watching.

And — I kid you not — the argument was about one car being parked too closely to another.

No car was bumped, no paint was scraped. Nothing and no one had been injured—except for some feelings.

Who would have imagined the results—one funeral and a whole bunch of years in prison?

Seriously, whatever happened to “no harm, no foul”?

“Excuse me sir, but it seems you may have parked your car a little too closely to ours. We’re having a little bit of trouble getting into ours, and we don’t want to scrape yours.

Any chance you could help us with our problem?”

“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry, I didn’t realize how close I had parked to you. I was sure I was centered between the lines. It’s these big cars, you know. I have some trouble parking it in some places.”

“Well, you know both of us have one. It’s just harder than it used to be. Maybe if we tackle this together, we’ll both be good to go.”

Yeah, right! Sounds as if it was more like, “… and move your car or else.”

“Or else what?”

Bang. That’s what!

I just don’t know anymore. Where have our manners gone? Our civility? Our sense of tactfulness? Why do we fire before we aim? Before we think? Why do we make the dramatic leap from irritation to assault?

Use any cliché you want. Look before you leap. Think before you speak. Catch more flies with honey.

Marriage Enrichment

I just don’t know anymore. Where have our manners gone? Our civility?

Our sense of tactfulness? Why do we fire before we aim? Before we think?

Why do we make the dramatic leap from irritation to assault? Use any cliché you want. Look before you leap. Think before you speak. Catch more flies with honey. We know them, but we seem to use them less and less. . . .

Think it? Feel it? Why not say it?

We know them, but we seem to use them less and less.

I’m guessing none of us has actually killed anyone, but it’s not much of a stretch to see an underlying problem. In the last 10 years, I’ve seen a remarkable increase in the quantity of communications I receive that are just plain rude.

I don’t know, maybe I deserve them. Maybe I’m not the principal or the person I used to be. That could very well be. But the numbers are sure greater than they used to be.

I see people (me, too) firing off thoughts that weren’t thought out.

And people replying with words that are intended to out-blast, not outthink. If e-mail had volume, people would turn it up.

We speak, we write, we blurt without passing any of it through the filter we used to have. Think it?

Feel it? Why not say it?

Though e-mail has its obvious advantages, how great would it be if it could tell if we were writing with our heart, our head, or neither?

I’m looking forward to the day when it comes equipped with a memory file of several thousand insulting words. If you type one

of those, your computer will lock up and refuse to “send” until such time you come to your senses. The length of delay will be determined by sensing the degree of force with which you were banging on your keyboard.

Or maybe our computers could read and then rephrase for us, not only searching out typos and lousy grammar but also offering less abusive suggestions that substitute for our thoughtlessness.

Of course no computer will ever stop someone from shooting someone else over an absurd argument about an even more absurd topic.

So maybe that’s a really stupid idea. (We would be allowed to insult ourselves.) But we sure do need some sort of help. Some sort of return to a time when we knew better.

Or maybe to a time when we tried harder.

Dear God – Every so often we forget.

We lose sight and we lose track. Please help us remember there’s a better way.

Yours. Amen. ■ George Valadie is president of Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga.

by Marian Christiana

A month dedicated to love and romance February is a time to focus on marital relationships and a time to celebrate long marriages

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

Our marital relationship can easily be pushed aside in the business of life, so February is a good time to refocus our attention . . . Sometimes it helps to look to other successful married couples to help guide us along our marital journey. nio websites sponsored by the USCCB offer an extensive collection of resources for couples who are married or preparing for marriage. The resources can be found in English and Spanish at ForYourMarriage. org and PorTuMatrimonio.org. Both sites also run Facebook pages (facebook.com/foryourmarriage and facebook.com/PorTuMatrimonio) that provide daily content during National Marriage Week. Check them out each day during National Marriage Week to see what new resource is being offered.

I would also like to draw your attention to two special days during National Marriage Week. One day is Friday, Feb. 9, which will promote a “Call to Prayer for Life, Marriage, and Religious Liberty.” That Friday of National Marriage Week will be a day of prayer and sacrifice. The intention of the day will be for all married couples, and all in need of healing, to rely on God for their strength. More about the Call to Prayer is available at usccb.org/ pray.

The second special day is Sunday, Feb. 11, World Marriage Day. World Marriage Day is sponsored

by Worldwide Marriage Encounter (WWME). In 1993, Pope St. John Paul II imparted his Apostolic Blessing on World Marriage Day. As part of this celebration, WWME holds a national contest to find the longest married couple in the nation. They also recognize the longest married couple in each state.

For the past two years, the Diocese of Knoxville has submitted the name and information of a couple from our diocese whose long-term marriage was nominated for this honor by their family, friends, or parish.

Our diocese has been very blessed by many long-lasting marriages,

COURTESY OF VICTOR WILLIAMS

F

ebruary is nationally recognized as the month dedicated to love and romance. Feb. 14 is Valentine’s Day, a day when people celebrate the established loving relationships in their lives or the loving relationships they are hoping to add to their lives in the New Year.

In the beginning, Valentine’s Day was associated with romantic couples but now is seen in a much larger context. Today people take the opportunity to wish “Happy Valentine’s Day” to anyone they love—be it father, mother, teachers, siblings, friends, co-workers, or anyone special to them. The idea behind this tradition is to celebrate love, be loved, and give love to all those around us.

Sharing and giving love is a wonderful idea, but why does it have to only be one day? Our Catholic faith asks us to do exactly that every day. Unfortunately we are human beings, and try as we might, we do fail to love each other as we should.

Valentine’s Day is a great way to reset our attitude. The day can be a catalyst to start working on the loving relationship we want with our children, friends, siblings, coworkers, and most especially our spouses.

Our marital relationship can easily be pushed aside in the business of life, so February is a good time to refocus our attention on our marital relationship. Sometimes it helps to look to other successful married couples to help guide us along our marital journey.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) wants to help us refocus our attentions on our marital relationships during the month of February. The USCCB has used February and its message of love to recognize marriages, and the effort that it takes to maintain that sacramental bond, through the annual National Marriage Week initiative.

National Marriage Week is Feb. 5-11 this year, and the USCCB website offers resources to help all couples celebrate and live the gift of marital love. For example, the For Your Marriage and Por Tu Matrimo-

Seventy years and counting John and Grace Gridley of St. Stephen Parish in Chattanooga are the Diocese of Knoxville’s nominee for the longest married couple. The Gridleys celebrated their 70th anniversary Jan. 31. and we have had the state winners for the last two years. In 2016, Anthony (Tony) and Dorothy Kliemann from Immaculate Conception Parish in Knoxville won the longest married couple for the state and our diocese. Steve and Mary Lou Knowles, who are parishioners at St. Francis of Assisi in Fairfield Glade, represented our diocese in 2017 and won for the state as well as our diocese. The Knowleses are celebrating their 71st anniversary this year.

There is a rule that a couple is not eligible to win two years in a row. However, the Office of Marriage Preparation and Enrichment decided to share this honor with a new couple each year and run our own diocesan contest while also participating in the WWME program. As I said, our diocese is blessed with marriages that have stood the test of time, and it is a privilege to highlight just a few of them each year.

This year St. Stephen Parish in Chattanooga nominated John and Grace Gridley for the WWME longest married couple contest. On Jan. 31, the Gridleys celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. The WWME winners will be announced in conjunction with World Marriage Day on Feb. 11. The Office of Marriage Preparation and Enrichment received 10 other nominations for

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our longest married couple contest from around the diocese. The marriages ranged from 53-year anniversaries to this year’s diocesan winners, the Gridleys, celebrating six decades together. Each nominee will receive a small gift from the diocese and a letter of congratulations from Bishop Richard F. Stika.

Check to see if the Gridleys won the longest married couple contest for the state of Tennessee at dioknox.org/marriage-preparationand-enrichment/. We will highlight all of our parish winners this month and share a bit about the secrets of their success. I hope by reflecting on the long marriages of our honorees, those marriages will be a catalyst for all of us to become more loving spouses, parents, siblings, children, or friends. Happy Valentine’s Day! “All that has been said so far would be insufficient to express the Gospel of marriage and the family, were we not also to speak of love.

For we cannot encourage a path of fidelity and mutual self-giving without encouraging the growth, strengthening, and deepening of conjugal and family love…”—Benedict XVI, Encyclical Letter Deus Caritas Est (December, 2005) ■ Mrs. Christiana is coordinator of the diocesan Marriage Preparation and Enrichment Office.

FEBRUARY 4, 2018 n B7

Living the Readings

by Father Joseph Brando

Our cathedral: the mission begins

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hat is the function of the Church? One answer may be that the Church exists to make our Risen Lord present in every corner of the world and in every human soul. That job is daunting, if not impossible. Like any great challenge, that job description needs to be broken down into “doable” pieces. As the Church has come to know our Lord better throughout the ages, we can look at our risen Savior as priest, prophet, and king.

As priest, we meet the Risen Christ as we approach the altar at Sunday and daily Mass. We need churches, priests with unlimited schedules, and a method for uniting times and messages. That would be the function of the bishop. However, broadcasting that single clear message is possible but difficult without a cast of thousands assisting him.

The second way to look at the second person of the Blessed Trinity alive here on earth is as prophet. He is, in fact, the Word of God. He can and does speak to us the exact message we need to hear if we prepare our own minds to listen. However, we still face “the problem of the one and the many.” That is the fact of working with a Catholic population of 1.2 billion. In this case, different people may be waiting for a response to a personal problem or be programmed by media to a contrary concept.

The third vision of Christ is as king. The King sets boundaries, organizes, protects, defends, appoints, and judges amid the dozens of functions that basically put him in charge. He sets the tone for life in his realm. However, here we are talking about Christ as King of our universe from creation to eternity. He is a loving king. As such, we people (who see things mostly from our viewpoint) can do things our own way without much fear of punishment. That leads to a lack of unity which covers the Word of God with a blanket of confusion.

Thinking about our task as Church These theological divisions give us a way to think about our task as Church and develop some ways to handle the problem. At this point we can also discern some of the assets we can employ in order to make the Christian task on earth more likely to be successful. One human device that we have at our disposal is church. If we use this term referring to the people of God, the problem becomes even more daunting. If we change the meaning of church to mean a building where Catholics gather to worship in groups of between three and a little over a thousand families, we have a somewhat easier group with which to communicate. Yet, these parishes are scattered enough and socially divergent that speaking to them with clarity is still daunting.

Nevertheless, the problem is somewhat clearer, and we can now take a look at what the universal Church teaches us as to how to approach the problem. If you read between the lines a little bit (something a Canonist would never do), you might even find a solution to

Weekday readings Thursday, Feb. 1: 1 Kings 2:14, 10-12; 1 Chronicles 29:10-12; Mark 6:7-13 Friday, Feb. 2: Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, Malachi 3:1-4; Psalm 24:7-10; Hebrews 2:14-18; Luke 2:22-40 Saturday, Feb. 3: 1 Kings 3:4-13; Psalm 119:9-14; Mark 6:30-34 Sunday, Feb. 4: Job 7:1-4, 6-7; Psalm 147:1-6; 1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-23; Mark 1:29-39 Monday, Feb. 5: 1 Kings 8:1-7, 9-13; Psalm 132:6-10; Mark 6:53-56 Tuesday, Feb. 6: 1 Kings 8:22-23, 2730; Psalm 84:3-5, 10-11; Mark 7:1-13 Wednesday, Feb. 7: 1 Kings 10:1B8 n FEBRUARY 4, 2018

the problem of uniting Catholics.

It involves a proper use of an agesold asset of the Church, namely the cathedral.

Just think of all the important things a church has to keep functioning. The most critical is to keep the faith and spread it, and live it.

Well, that is what the Code of Canon Law mandates. (Effectively, the new and current Code was promulgated in 1983, replacing the Code of 1917.) In this new Code there is a strong desire to implement the insights of the Second Vatican Council and the religious writing that has emerged since the end of the Council.

For the most part, the new Code makes the Church more open and collegial. There are more councils including laity as members as well as women religious. The problems aren’t of distance and membership (many important commissions now are open to women religious and both male and female laity). If you look at the Code carefully, you just might find one or more solutions to the problems we treated in the first part of this article.

Take a look at a map of our Diocese of Knoxville. We are bounded

by Middle Tennessee on the west, Kentucky on the north, Virginia and North Carolina on the east, and Georgia and Alabama on the south.

We are blessed with many highly dedicated people who travel the interstates and the one-lane country roads to get to meetings of committees and other such meetings.

Some are diocesan commissions; others are of equal importance on the deanery level; and others have to do with lay ministry. What it all amounts to is that the word is getting around about diocesan giving, Catholic education, religious goals for the near future, Catholic Charities’ aims, and a host of other meetings that, all together, make us a diocese that gets the job done.

The results of those meetings go to the appropriate boards and commissions in Knoxville. They will be read and responded to and will make a difference.

CNS PHOTO/GREGORY A. SHEMITZ

The new Sacred Heart Cathedral joins all that came before it

Newly inaugurated basilica The Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral in New York is seen Dec. 5, 2010, the day it was inaugurated a basilica by Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan of New York. Dedicated in 1815, the Gothic Revival-style church was the first seat of the then-Diocese of New York, which was established in 1808. Pope Benedict XVI designated St. Patrick’s a minor basilica on March 17, 2010, the feast of its patron. is tamed by such dedicated and effective leaders. And, their numbers are increasing.

Now, we are joining a large number of dioceses around the world who proudly point to their cathedral as the place where bold decisions are made. This is where we go to join our brothers and sisters to spread the Word and welcome newcomers to our community working in harmony for the Lord.

Five critical organizations There has been a large quantity of gasoline being burned getting Catholics to and from Knoxville to attend any one of the many meetings held at or near the cathedral.

Since this began, the wonderful invention and constant improvement of the internet has kept us going at a faster pace The 1983 Code set up, back then, five critical organizations all centered at the cathedral. These are: n Presbyteral Council n Diocesan Consultors n College of Consultors n Diocesan Pastoral Council n Finance Council.

So, the cathedral is the home to this Big 5 with others to come. As in all consideration of moving large numbers there need to be events thanking the participants. There needs to be a reason for rejoicing at having done fine work and all that driving. The new cathedral becomes that symbol of a job well done. It is the symbol that so large a territory

We are here! This is our cathedral: joining the world community of Church architecture The dedication of the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus is much more an accomplishment than providing more space for the Catholic Church community in Knoxville to worship together. Historically, the nature of a cathedral is to serve the Church in many important ways. In order to staff the cathedral to perform all the ministries it had to provide, a cathedral in the Middle Ages would be home to as many as 525 permanent residents.

Modern transportation may have diminished the number of people living at a cathedral, but the number of cathedrals has grown significantly. The earliest Church building that served as a cathedral was discovered by reference from a Church Council in 516 AD. As of January 2017 there were 3,321 cathedrals worldwide and an additional 301 co-cathedrals (where one church shares the function of being a bishop’s seat with another church.).

One can measure the strength of the Catholic Church by the number of cathedrals in a country. In the United States, there are 213 cathedrals.

In Italy, there are 365 cathedrals; in Brazil, there are 283 cathedrals; in India, 177; France has 110; Mexico

10; Psalm 37:5-6, 30-31, 39-40; Mark 7:14-23 Thursday, Feb. 8: 1 Kings 11:413; Psalm 106:3-4, 35-37, 40; Mark 7:24-30 Friday, Feb. 9: 1 Kings 11:29-32 and 12:19; Psalm 81:10-15; Mark 7:31-37 Saturday, Feb. 10: 1 Kings 12:26-32 and 13:33-34; Psalm 106:6-7, 19-22; Mark 8:1-10 Sunday, Feb. 11: Leviticus 13:1-2, 44-46; Psalm 32:1-2, 5, 11; 1 Corinthians 10:31, 11:1; Mark 1:40-45 Monday, Feb. 12: James 1:1-11; Psalm 119:67-68, 71-72, 75-76; Mark 8:11-13 Tuesday, Feb. 13: James 1:12-18; Psalm 94:12-15, 18-19; Mark 8:14-21 Wednesday, Feb. 14 (Ash Wednes-

day): Joel 2:12-18; Psalm 51:3-6, 1214, 17; 2 Corinthians 5:20, 6:2; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 Thursday, Feb. 15: Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Psalm 1:1-4, 6; Luke 9:22-25 Friday, Feb. 16: Isaiah 58:1-9; Psalm 51:3-6, 18-19; Matthew 9:14-15 Saturday, Feb. 17: Isaiah 58:9-14; Psalm 86:1-6; Luke 5:27-32 Sunday, Feb. 18: Genesis 9:8-15; Psalm 25:4-9; 1 Peter 3:18-22; Mark 1:12-15 Monday, Feb. 19: Leviticus 19:1-2, 11-18; Psalm 19:8-10, 15; Matthew 25:31-46 Tuesday, Feb. 20: Isaiah 55:10-11; Psalm 34:4-7, 16-19; Matthew 6:7-15 Wednesday, Feb. 21: Jonah 3:1-10; Psalm 51:3-4, 12-13, 18-19; Luke

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has 100; Spain 87; and the Philippines has 86 cathedrals. The number of cathedrals a country has can be an indication of the strength of the faith in a particular country.

Temperature and style Cathedrals also can tell the “temperature” of the local Catholics.

One can look at a cathedral in a given city and make a fair guess how intense the faith in that area is. You can look at seven indicators. They are: a cathedral’s height, beauty, cost, size, visibility, stability, and centrality to judge how well the Catholics of that city are excited to take you with them to the cathedral.

So, do you not consider it a positive factor that an American Catholic will proudly point out that the second largest church building in the world is the National Shrine in Washington, D.C.? It is second only to St. Peter’s in Rome. St. Peter’s has a gross volume of 5,000,000 cubic meters, and our National Shrine has a gross volume of 1,200,000 cubic meters. It’s big; and every January, when thousands come to our nation’s capitol, the Shrine is a must-see and a great boost to the enthusiasm of all the marchers.

There is another caricature that one tends to look for to judge a church. That is its style. Style indicates where, in the history of architecture, this building belongs.

In order to determine the style we need to travel back to recognize the statement the master-builders of the past wanted to make and how well they accomplished their task.

The earliest Christian church Such a voyage through time and thought obviously starts at the beginning, where the earliest ChrisBrando continued on page B9

11:29-32 Thursday, Feb. 22: 1 Peter 5:1-4; Psalm 23:1-6; Matthew 16:13-19 Friday, Feb. 23: Ezekiel 18:21-28; Psalm 130:1-8; Matthew 5:20-26 Saturday, Feb. 24: Deuteronomy 26:16-19; Psalm 119:1-2, 4-5, 7-8; Matthew 5:43-48 Sunday, Feb. 25: Genesis 22:1-2, 9-13, 15-18; Psalm 116:10, 15-18; Romans 8:31-34; Mark 9:2-10 Monday, Feb. 26: Daniel 9:4-10; Psalm 79:8-9, 11, 13; Luke 6:36-38 Tuesday, Feb. 27: Isaiah 1:10, 16-20; Psalm 50:8-9, 16-17, 21, 23; Matthew 23:1-12 Wednesday, Feb. 28: Jeremiah 18:18-20; Psalm 31:5-6, 14-16; Matthew 20:17-28 n TH E EA S T TEN N ES S EE C A TH OLI C

Guest Column

by Father Arthur Torres Barona

The apostolic pardon ‘May He open to you the gates of paradise and welcome you to everlasting joy’ pardon. But going beyond that, in this prayer we also find the mercy of Jesus toward those who with a contrite heart repent from their sins, as in the case of the repentant thief.

Jesus promised him: “Today, you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). In the Catholic Church, we firmly believe that the dying, after having received the sacraments of penance and of the anointing of the sick along with the apostolic pardon, will be welcomed into heaven.

Other than the sacraments that accompany the process of the dying, the apostolic pardon prayer is considered the greatest act of mercy given by the Church at the hour of our death. Seeing in it an undeserving gift to the soul, the Church brings to the dying Christian consolation and tranquility, speeding up his soul’s process to leave this world in peace. By this blessing, we are asking the Lord to open for this soul the gates of paradise, which in confidence we commend to His fatherly hands. It is the way we in the Catholic Church prepare the dying, who for many reasons did not have the time to prepare himself for the moment of death or to make enough reparation for his sins. As St. Augustine said: “However innocent your life may have been, no Christian ought to venture to die in any other state than that of the penitent.”

As mentioned before, the apostolic pardon is given as part of the Last Rites. In The Handbook of Indulgences, 28, it says: “Priests who minister the sacraments to the Christian faithful who are in a life-and-death situation should not neglect to impart to them the apostolic blessing, with its attached indulgence.”

However, to avoid seeing this blessing as something magic or superstitious, the same Handbook of Indulgences averts: “The dying person must be ‘rightly disposed’” (total desire to reject whatever kind of sin, and true repentance) and have “reg-

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of destroying the Western Empire when the pope asked for military help of the leader of the Eastern Roman Empire. The armies came using for their command and control center the town of Ravenna. Besides buildings to organize the military effort, soldiers asked for buildings at which they could worship. Their request was happily granted. The Easterners’ presence succeeded in its mission. However, the peacekeeping forces had to stay for over three centuries. They built churches in their own style, namely Byzantine.

The most significant of these is now called San Vitali. It took from 526 to 547 to build the church. Interestingly, that is the same building time as Hagia Sophia in the city of Byzantium.

Both are still there where they were built and where thousands of tourists experience them every day.

In 800 AD the Westerners thought they could take care of themselves.

They named Charlemagne to be the new emperor. One of his top priorities was to establish a capital city making the cathedral its chief piece of architecture. Charlemagne needed it to unite his empire and validate his reign. Aachen (also called Aix-la-Chapelle) was the city.

It was originally eight-sided. However, because of the large number of people attending the liturgies and other imperial functions, it had to be enlarged. So, starting at one side they extended two long walls and finished with a new doorway.

That solution to the crowd problem became the model for all the cathedrals built in Europe for all of the Middle Ages.

All those cathedrals changed Europe. Take France from 1050 to 1350: the French built more than 500 cathedrals and more than 1,000 parish churches. That is one church for every 200 parishioners. The French quarried more stone in those 300 years than was used for all the build-

tian Church can be found. It was simple; but it has a big problem. It has been in the malevolent hands of ISIS. The last information is quite negative. The church building is in Dura, Syria. Its layout is similar to many missionary parishes we have built in our diocese. But this church was established around the year 326. It makes the statement that our expression of Christianity is no different than that of the Apostles. It also celebrates our unity with those who are still struggling now to persevere through the life and death challenges to their faith. It is also significant that next to the Christian church there are also a synagogue and a space where pagans worshipped Mithras.

Until the fourth century the Roman authorities prohibited the building of any places of worship due (for the most part) to avoid religious conflicts that may flare up.

Then, when the Western Roman emperor could give some property to the Church, all he had on hand were government buildings. The celebrant at Mass took the spot that was reserved to the judge and so on for all the ministries. Church dignitaries tended to take on the persona of those who sat where the priest or deacon or choir director now sit.

And the bishop’s seat (cathedra) was to the west of the altar facing it.

He was in charge. However, in the Eastern Roman Empire, there seems to be a bit of toleration that allowed a Byzantine style of architecture that sprung up in the East and worked its way West.

‘Migration of the peoples’ For most of the fifth century there was a problem that we now call the “Barbarian Invasion.” Eastern European history books call this phenomenon the “migration of the peoples.” It was in the process TH E EAST T E N N E S S E E C A T HO L I C

ularly prayed during their lifetime” to receive this blessing. We will talk more about this later in the article.

You might be wondering now as you read this article, what does this prayer say? Will I be offered this prayer at my bedside when I’m dying? How can I make sure I have been given the apostolic pardon before I render my soul into God’s hand and that He will be merciful to me on my final judgement?

To answer all this here you can find the proper responses: n The apostolic pardon in the Pastoral Care of the Sick, 156, offers to the priests two options (forms) that he can use at his own discretion. Form A: “Through the holy mysteries of our redemption, may Almighty God release you from all punishments in this life and in the life to come. May He open to you the gates of paradise and welcome you to everlasting joy.” Form B reads as follows: “By the authority which the Apostolic See has given me, I grant you a full pardon and the remission of all your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” n Certainly, you can be offered this prayer when dying. All priests know of this, and they all are dutifully trained on this regard. It is part of the last rites, and it is followed by the sacrament of penance and of the anointing of the sick. However, remember it is only given to those in the near danger of death. n Now that you know of the apostolic pardon, to make sure you receive it at the proper time, tell your family members and friends to kindly remind the priest to give you this blessing before you go to meet the Lord. It also brings peace to our loved ones, who in that time of distress tend to lose faith and hope before the circumstance of death of their relatives. All Christian Catholic families should ask for this grace from the priest, in case the priest giving the last rites doesn’t offer it

or forgets about it.

Another question that can be raised here is, “What if a priest is not present when I die?” Will I be granted the apostolic pardon as well?

The same Handbook of Indulgences, 28, encouragingly stipulates that “If a priest cannot be present, holy mother Church lovingly grants such persons who are rightly disposed a plenary indulgence to be obtained in articulo mortis, at the approach of death, provided they regularly prayed in some way during their lifetime.” One should keep in mind these two conditions. The dying person must be “rightly disposed” and have “regularly prayed.”

Being rightly disposed means to be in the state of grace and without any attachment to any sin. The dying must show — at least in his heart — repentance from his sin and love of God. Now, what does it mean to have “prayed regularly in some way during their lifetime”?

The Apostolic Constitution on Indulgences (Indulgentiarum Doctrina), promulgated by Pope Paul VI in 1967, says: “If one of the faithful in danger of death is unable to have a priest to administer the sacraments and to impart the apostolic blessing, the Church, like a devoted mother, graciously grants such a person who is properly disposed a plenary indulgence to be gained at the hour of death. So, the only condition manifested here is the practice of praying every day without ceasing, as St. Paul tells us in his letter (1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18) during life.

Indeed, in the apostolic pardon we find an extraordinary gift of grace for all the dying: a powerful tool for those preparing to join their souls to the Blessed Ones in heaven, a formula to prepare our way for the Kingdom of God. In Domina Nostra. n Father Arthur Torres Barona is an associate pastor at Sacred Heart Cathedral.

CNS PHOTO/KACPER PEMPEL, REUTERS

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s priests at Sacred Heart Cathedral, we receive phone calls almost every day asking us to come to the hospital or the nursing home to administer the so-called Last Rites to the dying.

Not long ago, a faithful parishioner called me to come to anoint her longtime 66-year-old friend who was dying due to a severe stroke.

I came to the hospital room, and there was her friend lying on the bed. Also, two other faithful women were there waiting for me to arrive.

As usual, I greeted them with a hug and disposed myself to celebrate the sacrament. I did everything required by the Church in this situation, and I asked these two women, “Do you also want me to give her the apostolic pardon?” They all seemed troubled at my question and sort of embarrassed because they didn’t know what I was talking about, even though they were Catholic.

I explained to them that it is an “indulgence given for the remission of temporal punishment due to sin.”

It is a faculty granted to all bishops, and by them it is delegated to the priests (Pastoral Care of the Sick, Nos. 184, 187, 195, 201). At the discretion of the priest, it can be added after the sacrament of penance, the anointing of the sick, and the viaticum (Communion brought to the sick and the dying) or in case of emergency. However, the person must be in the state of grace. So, they agreed, and they said afterward, “Father, we want that for us too, OK?” Now, to have a better understanding of this final blessing that prepares the dying to enter heaven, we need to look at the Scriptures in which the apostolic pardon has its foundation. In the Gospel of Matthew (16:19), Jesus gives to Peter this authority: “Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Hence, we call this blessing the apostolic

Post-Modern architecture Workers walk in front of Poland’s largest Catholic church and one of the largest in the world, the Basilica of Our Lady of Lichen, in Lichen Stary, Oct. 9, 2012. ings of ancient Egypt.

Building frenzy and imagination both continue As the building frenzy continued, so did the imagination of the builders. What started out Byzantine evolved into Romanesque (also called Norman in Britain), which featured rounded arches and vaults and domes. One branch of that developed was the cruciform style in the seventh and eighth centuries that resulted when architects saw what was possible when a four sided dome connects with a vault approximately over the altar. The cathedral becomes a cross! This engineering feat is credited to Justinian, an emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire. The time between 1150 and the 16th century saw the rise of Gothic architecture. Gothic buildings were larger and imposing. They are logical and modulating, pleasing to the eye. Next came Renaissance Architecture.

It put Greco-Roman design back into structures. And the development of style continues to Gothic

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Revival (beginning in the 1740s), Baroque (starting in the 1770s), and Post-Modern (an example of which is Our Lady of Lichen Cathedral in Poland, built between 1994 and 2004.) It is the seventh largest Church in the world.

So, we pray that our wonderful cathedral will live up to the heritage it inherits from all the cathedrals that have come before it. Cathedrals have a tendency to remain standing. One received 70 direct hits from bombers in World War II and is still functioning.

So, what is its function? It’s used every day from now on. These functions are celebration of daily Mass, recital of the Divine Office, and center of pilgrimage (especially for those who live at the extremities of our Diocese of Knoxville). It also serves as the mother church of the diocese. It is where all the major committees of the diocese meet. It is where the bishop’s teaching ministry comes forth. n Father Brando is retired from the active priesthood in the Diocese of Knoxville.

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Catholic youth

KCHS sports teams making move to Division II The Fighting Irish will begin competing in the financial-aid division starting in 2019-20

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noxville Catholic High School sports will begin competing in Division II starting with the 2019-20 school year.

The TSSAA Board of Control approved KCHS’s request for the move at its Jan. 11 meeting.

Division II is the financial-aid division in which most private schools in the state compete. KCHS does not offer aid as a Division I member and may not be able to offer much after the move to Division II, school president Dickie Sompayrac said.

“Currently, families that have athletes that play a TSSAA sport on any level at KCHS (varsity, junior varsity, or freshman) cannot receive any financial aid,” he said. “This will be the case for 2018-19 as well.

We do not have a plethora of funds available for tuition support for our

move into Division II.” Moving to Division II “will allow our diocese to provide need-based scholarships to our Catholic families with student athletes who also want to receive a Catholic education,” said Sister Mary Marta Abbott, RSM, superintendent of Catholic Schools.

“Mr. Sompayrac has continually reviewed what is best for our families. For a long time it seemed that Division I was the best choice, as our students would not have to travel such distances to play sports.

Yet over the past couple of years the TSSAA has continually changed its bylaws so that no athlete, whether freshman or varsity, could receive any form of need-based scholarship and still participate in sports,” Sister Mary Marta said.

“Many Catholic families want

By Dan McWilliams

their children to have a faith-based education, yet not all families can afford tuition; however, with the TSSAA rules our athletic students who need financial assistance were being forced to choose between a Catholic education or playing in sports — at any level. Once we move to Division II, the need-based scholarship students who chose a faith-based education over sports will be able to play sports once again while attending a Catholic school,” she added.

Knoxville Catholic has done well in Division I, with state titles last year in football, girls tennis, and boys track and field, and runner-up finishes in boys basketball, volleyball, and boys cross country. That made KCHS an unwelcome guest at the sports table with other area D-I schools.

“We are the only private school in East Tennessee that is still competing in Division I,” Mr. Sompayrac said. “You combine that with the fact that we are having success, and that contributes to the feeling that we are not welcome in Division I.” A move to Division II may mean the return of Webb and Notre Dame to the KCHS football schedule.

“We will have to wait and see how the Board of Control divides up the districts,” Mr. Sompayrac said. “There is a movement to have an I-75 conference for all sports that does not include football that would be Catholic, Webb, CAK, Grace Christian Academy, Notre Dame, Chattanooga Christian, Baylor, and McCallie. We would very much be in favor of this type of conference.”

KCHS has a current enrollment of 610. n

St. Mary students take part in Honor Choir

Five student athletes sign with colleges at KCHS Knoxville Catholic High School hosted an Early National Signing Day ceremony in the school gym Dec. 20, during which five student athletes signed letters of intent with colleges and universities. From left are Cameron Blakely, who signed with Miami University of Ohio in football; DaShon Bussell, who signed with Western Michigan in football; Cade Mays, who signed with Georgia in football; Derrik DJ Mitchell, who signed with Eastern Kentucky in football; and Connor Pinkard, who signed with Tusculum College in baseball.

Cade Mays reveals his choice: Georgia KCHS’s Cade Mays, one of the top offensive lineman recruits in the country, revealed his college choice­—the University of Georgia—on Early National Signing Day on Dec. 20. Mays, who stands 6-foot-6 and weighs 318 pounds, has a rare five-star rating by recruiting services. A onetime Tennessee commitment, Mays chose the Bulldogs over Clemson and Ohio State.

COURTESY OF SARAH TRENT

DR. KELLY KEARSE (2)

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t. Mary School in Oak Ridge recently participated in the East Tennessee Vocal Association’s annual All-East Honor Choir event held 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 approximately 260 advanced seventh- and eighth-grade vocal students from 35 schools throughout East Tennessee.

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 multiple languages and styles

Top singers From left are St. Mary music teacher Carol Villaverde, Ryan Audet, Luca Filigenzi, Amelia Van Berkel, Sophie Sherlock, Elizabeth Brands, Kayla Kupsch. and Ethan Kilevori. and in a variety of three- and four-part voicings. Literature from this year’s concert included “Babethandaza” by Victor C. Johnson, “I Sing Because I’m Happy”

by Kenneth Padden and Rollo Dilworth, “The River Sleeps

Beneath the Sky” by Victor C. Johnson, “I Lift My Eyes” by Bob Chilcott, and “Rest Not” by Laura Farnell.

This year’s conductor was Martha Shaw, the director of choirs at Reinhardt University in Waleska, Ga. n

More national recognition Jake Renfree (left) competes in the Foot Locker Cross Country Championship, while Keegan Smith (right) runs in the AAU Cross Country National Championships. in the top 10 with Joanna Thompson, who finished 10th in 2010.

Jake’s finish qualifies him as a first-team All-American.

Keegan, an 11-yearold fifth-grader at Sacred Heart Cathedral School, brought home two more national championships.

He defended his 2016 national championship at the Cross Country Coaches Na-

tional Youth Championships held Nov. 18 in West Chester, Ohio.

He ran the 3K course in 10 minutes, 41.86 seconds, to win by more than a 2 1/2-second margin in a field of 282 runners.

Two weeks later Keegan ran in the AAU Cross Country National Championships in Charlotte, N.C., and won the gold medal there as well. n

American Heritage Girls awards presented at St. John Neumann On Dec. 3 at the 10:30 a.m. Mass at St John Neumann Church in Farragut, pastor Monsignor Pat Garrity presented three members of American Heritage Girls Troop 413 with the Marian Medal (Mary, the First Disciple). Recipients, from left, are Taylor Breeden, Mary Donahue, and Margaret Walter. They are standing with Monsignor Garrity, troop leader Lydia Donahue, and George LeCrone Sr., chairman of the Knoxville Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting.

OLPH student wins state essay contest

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nnabelle Kelly of Our Lady of Perpetual Help

B10 n FEBRUARY 4, 2018

School in Chattanooga won the Tennessee State Essay Contest for third-

through fifth-graders.

The topic for the essay was citizenship. n www.di o k no x .o rg

DR. KELLY KEARSE

COURTESY OF SEAN O’NEIL

COURTESY OF DEACON SEAN SMITH

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noxville runners Jake Renfree and Keegan Smith continue to pile up honors.

Jake, a Knoxville Catholic High School junior, placed fifth in the Foot Locker Cross Country Championship on Dec. 9 at Morley Field in Balboa Park in San Diego.

Jake’s time was 15 minutes, 38.7 seconds, in a field of 40 of the nation’s best distance runners.

His showing was the best a Knoxville high school boy has ever had at the Footlocker nationals and ties for the highest finish by a KCHS athlete with Megan Ferowich from 2009. Jake, who helped lead the Fighting Irish to a runner-up finish in the 2017 cross country state meet, is also the third KCHS athlete since 2009 to place

COURTESY OF GEORGE LECRONE SR.

Runners Renfree, Smith shine at nationals

Two points for Knoxville Catholic Knoxville Catholic High School’s Brock Jancek puts up a layup against two Maryville defenders in the Fighting Irish’s 57-55 loss to the Rebels on Jan. 29. KCHS rebounded to defeat Heritage 5947 on Jan. 30 and rival Christian Academy of Knoxville 72-50 on Feb. 3 to improve to 18-5 overall. Irish player Jack Sompayrac scored his 1,000th career point against CAK.

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