March 5, 2023, ET Catholic, B section

KCHS tennis player follows in mom’s footsteps

Gigi Sompayrac is bound for college in the sport her mother, Cathy, also played for the Lady Irish

The circle is now complete. May the circle be unbroken.

Knoxville Catholic High School senior Gigi Sompayrac put the finishing touches on that 360-degree journey on Feb. 1 when she signed scholarship papers to play tennis for Anderson University.

The scholarship-signing ceremony witnessed by family and friends was the culmination of years of nurturing instruction and encouragement from her mother, Cathy, who walked a nearly identical path decades ago with one heartbreaking exception: her mother, Mary Catherine Rainwater.

Gigi competes in singles and doubles for KCHS, the No. 1-ranked girls high school tennis team in the nation, and is one of the top returning players. The Fighting Irish are the two-time defending state champs heading into the 2023 season.

As the tennis season gets underway, Gigi won’t have the distraction of deciding where she’s going to college. She is focusing on a competitive schedule of matches in one of the toughest prep divisions in Tennessee that she hopes will lead to a three-peat.

Her cheering section begins with parents Howie and Cathy Sompayrac, but it doesn’t end there.

Younger brother Luke, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, and a long line of friends, teachers, and other supporters are excited to see Gigi take her tennis game to the next level.

However, the achievement has a much deeper meaning for Gigi’s mother.

God’s plan: a mother-daughter connection

Anderson University is in Anderson, S.C., near Greenville. The Trojans compete in the Division II South Atlantic Conference against 12 other teams. Anderson’s student population is about 4,000.

After considering several schools, even Division I programs, Gigi and her parents settled on Anderson because of the coach and his team. Another incentive is that a close friend from KCHS, Ceci Pumariega, already attends Anderson. In fact, Ceci’s father, Ore Pumariega, who is dean of students at KCHS, introduced Gigi to Anderson.

“He is the first one who brought it up to me. He said, ‘You have to check out Anderson University.’ I visited a few schools and talked to a few coaches. Anderson was the first school I visited, but I wanted to be sure that it was the one I wanted to go to. So, I visited a few others, but in the end, it was Anderson,” said Gigi, who plans to major in kinesiology.

Despite the lure of larger tennis programs, Gigi and her parents agreed Anderson is the best fit.

“I think where she is headed to is a great fit for her. Division II where she is, and the division she’s in, the South Atlantic Conference, is good for her. That conference includes Carson-Newman and LMU. She was looking at a mix of schools,” Mrs. Sompayrac said, noting they considered some Division I schools, but there was concern she wouldn’t get the competitive playing time she needed to develop her game.

“The coach at Anderson, Joey Eskridge, is outstanding. He’s a real developmental coach and sees a lot of potential in Gigi. He will develop her,” Mrs. Sompayrac added. “It’s a good environment.”

Mrs. Sompayrac should know. She developed an interest in tennis as a young girl in the 1980s while attending St. Joseph School, just like Gigi. And she fed that interest while playing for Knoxville Catholic High School in the late 1980s and early 1990s, just like Gigi.

But her life and path to collegiate tennis sustained a devastating blow when she was a 14-year-old KCHS freshman. Her mother was killed

in a traffic accident at the age of 39 in November 1988. Mary Catherine Rainwater’s best friend also was killed in the accident.

Mrs. Sompayrac’s older sister, Lisa, was a senior at KCHS at the time and her younger sister, Laurie, was in the fourth grade at St. Joseph School.

By Bill Brewer

However, Mrs. Sompayrac, then Cathy Rainwater, and her sisters persevered thanks to her father, George Rainwater, who worked to fill the absence of his wife and his children’s mother.

Cathy Rainwater’s success on the court attracted the attention of col-

Tennis continued on page B2

Buy Nothing group offers a way to give, receive

Basilica members combine the beauty of Catholic tradition and the richness of Catholic social teaching

The Bird family, inspired by a call from fellow Catholic friends around the country, have started a “Buy Nothing” group at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga. The idea is simple: meet the needs of those in your parish community through generosity and sharing.

Nathan Bird knew a voice was missing in his faith life, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it. Then he started listening to a podcast called “Tradistae.” The podcast combined the beauty of Catholic tradition and the richness of Catholic social teaching to inspire a greater participation in true Catholic social justice.

“It was the wild combination of radical Catholic social teaching, radical social justice, and radically traditional Catholicism,” Mr. Bird said.

Through a connection with the podcast’s founder, Sean Domencic, they then joined a group of likeminded Catholics called Catholic Social Action. Their intention was to dialogue and collaborate to bring about a greater participation in the practical aspects of Catholic social teaching.

It was the group’s co-founder,

Tim Wainwright, who is now the executive director for the American Solidarity party, who proposed starting a Buy Nothing group in parishes.

“That was the lead-in to the Buy Nothing group. He had this idea and sent it out to everybody in the Slack channel,” Mr. Bird recounted.

“Catholic Social Action was trying to build this resource in each parish to have a Buy Nothing group for the purpose not just of helping one another out materially but undermining the idea that everything needs to be a transaction, that every time I need to get rid of a piece of old clothing or old furniture that I need to be ‘maximizing’ my profit from that and not leave any money on the table,” he added.

“Instead of focusing on the amount of money you’re getting out of this transaction,” Mr. Bird continued, “how about you build your parish community, build relationships with one another, and engage with this economy of gift?”

So, what exactly is a Buy Nothing group? According to the group’s website, “Buy Nothing offers people a way to give and receive, share, lend, and express gratitude through a worldwide gift economy network

in which the true wealth is the web of connections formed between people. We believe that communities are more resilient, sustainable, equitable, and joyful when they have functional gift economies.”

Practically speaking, members can post items and services they desire to give, share, and lend on the group’s Facebook page for other members to claim and receive.

By Claire Collins

Members also can make requests and post needs they may have, to which other members may offer their free goods or services in response.

Mr. Bird’s wife, Katie, decided she wanted to make the Buy Nothing group happen at the basilica. She checked in with Father David Carter, rector of the basilica, who

Mom and daughter Gigi Sompayrac stands with her mother, Cathy, at Cedar Bluff Racquet Club.

BILL BREWER

‘Undermining the idea that everything needs to be a transaction’ Katie and Nathan Bird started a Buy Nothing group at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul.

lege programs, and she accepted an offer to be a preferred walk-on for the Tennessee Lady Vols tennis team when she graduated from KCHS in 1991. There was anticipation that she would earn a scholarship after her freshman year.

But shoulder reconstruction surgery sidelined her during that first year, and her competitive career was over.

“That forced me out of the sport. But I was very fortunate. My goal was to earn a scholarship for my sophomore year. My coach, Mike Patrick, offered me a full four-year scholarship to remain on the team as the manager. So, I got to be manager for the four years on scholarship. During my junior and senior years, I helped coach as a student assistant,” Mrs. Sompayrac recalled. “It was a great experience. Although I never had the on-court experience as a player, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

Little did she know at the time that decades later she would summon all her sports memories from the 1980s and 1990s to guide her daughter—and experience some of what has been missing.

Mrs. Sompayrac cherishes seeing how tennis has come full circle for her—St. Joseph, KCHS, and college—through her daughter. She said she has discussed with Gigi in detail her experiences playing sports at St. Joseph and KCHS and being on a college team. She also has discussed with Gigi losing her mother—Gigi’s grandmother.

“It was such a sudden loss. Not having a mother in high school was very tragic and hard to endure. For me, the beauty and blessing that God has created for me is after having lost my mother at such a young age, I’m now a mother to Gigi, and that has completed my circle. It has filled my void. Tennis is icing on the cake,” Mrs. Sompayrac said.

“What’s amazed me the most, the full circle, is the connection between St. Joseph and Catholic High School, that connection she has had. This has completed the circle for me. Looking back at the loss, my dream was to be a mother. I wanted that mother-daughter relationship, and now I have it. I love it. It’s been the best thing in my life,” she continued.

Gigi explained that she was about 10 years old in fourth grade at St. Joseph when she began playing tennis.

“For tennis, that is a late start. Most people who play tennis start when they are about 2 or 3. But I grew up playing basketball and a lot of different sports. I’m glad I did that because I think a lot of kids get burned out early,” she said. “Since I had a late start, I’m starting to like tennis even more right now. And I’m super excited to go to college and play tennis. I know a lot of girls who are burned out and don’t want to go on to play in college or think that since that’s all they have done they have to go on and play in college. I’m real excited to play my best in college.”

She has grown up playing basketball, running track, and competing some in softball and soccer.

She played basketball for St. Joseph School and then played as a

KCHS underclassman.

“That was a great experience, and I’m glad I did it. It did take a little bit of time away from tennis. I tried to do both, but that was a lot. I realized that tennis was my favorite and that I wanted to play in college. So, I thought that I needed to devote all my time to tennis,” Gigi explained.

Icing on the cake

Gigi remembered how her mother introduced her to tennis, initially by hitting tennis balls in the driveway.

“She never forced me to play. She was always like ‘It’s up to you. Whatever you want to do. Whatever makes you happy.’ But then I did show some interest in tennis,” Gigi said.

Gigi shared that at an early age living in Chattanooga she watched her Aunt Sarah play tennis and decided then that the sport was not for her.

“They had a lot of tennis tournaments there, and I would watch her play. It was boiling hot, and I just hated it. I was thinking that I would never play tennis; it’s too hot, the scoring makes no sense. It’s just never going to happen. And here I am,” Gigi said. “Now, I look up to Sarah.”

Mrs. Sompayrac said Gigi was always very athletic and showed “pure talent” for tennis from an early age. But after introducing Gigi to her sport, she could tell her daughter wasn’t too interested.

“I also loved different sports growing up, so I thought that was important for her to have that combination. And that was healthy. So, she went that path, and that was good for her,” Mrs. Sompayrac said. “She’s definitely talented. Gigi’s got it. She’s very, very talented that way.”

Mrs. Sompayrac believes the comparisons between her and her daughter are remarkable.

“Basketball was my main sport, just as it was with Gigi. And basketball was probably my top sport in high school. I started tennis at a very late age as a player. I was around 12,” she said.

“You see where I get it from?”

Gigi remarked.

Mrs. Sompayrac, who is a teacher at St. Joseph, volunteered to coach the St. Joseph tennis team over a 10- to 15-year period, although she hasn’t coached for the past two seasons. She also has coached and given lessons at Holston Hills Country Club and the Tyson Family Tennis Center in Knoxville.

Gigi’s father, Howie Sompayrac, also is a member of the faculty at St. Joseph. Gigi’s uncle, Dickie Sompayrac, is the president of Knoxville Catholic High School.

Gigi played one year of tennis for St. Joseph as well as for Sacred Heart Cathedral School. In some sports, middle-school students compete for more than one school as a combined team.

“Gigi jumped out. She progressed really quickly,” Mrs. Sompayrac recalled.

While Mrs. Sompayrac has fully embraced her mom role in Gigi’s athletic life, she acknowledges having to be assertive on occasion in offering advice to Gigi.

Gigi noted that her mother can

pivot from mom to coach almost as fast as serving an ace.

They laugh at the thought of Mrs. Sompayrac occasionally coaching from the stands, vocally correcting an error—forced or unforced.

Although her mother introduced her to tennis and has instructed her early in her career, Gigi pointed out that her mother preferred to be a tennis mom and gladly let other tennis coaches instruct her.

“Now, she’ll give me advice. If I’m in a tiebreaker, I’ll go over to her. In a tiebreaker you have a few minutes. She always helps me. She plays the mom role, and that is good,” Gigi said.

Mrs. Sompayrac owns her assertive side when it comes to Gigi’s playing.

“I can hear her say, ‘Gigi, swing through,’” Gigi said laughing.

“But sometimes I’ll say, ‘C’mon Gigi, I know what I’m talking about here,’” Mrs. Sompayrac interjected, laughing also. “Tennis is the hardest sport to watch as the mom-coach. It’s very frustrating and hard, but it’s fun.”

But Mrs. Sompayrac is intent on letting Gigi’s coaches handle the instruction.

“I wanted her to be in the hands of a coach, not for me to be her primary coach. I want to help her with her tennis along the way, but I want to be mom, to be supportive. It was healthier for us and better for her development overall.”

They explained how they spend quite a bit of time together, traveling to out-of-town tournaments. That will wind down as college draws closer.

“We travel a lot to these tournaments. That’s been so much fun, so wonderful. That’s what I’ll miss,” Mrs. Sompayrac said.

Mrs. Sompayrac and Gigi explained that competitive tennis turned into a family affair as many times the entire family loaded up the car and traveled to tournaments, especially when Gigi was younger.

“Oh yeah. I’m dragging my little brother along,” Gigi said smiling. Luke, an eighth-grader at St. Joseph, will be attending KCHS next fall. Like his older sister, Luke also is athletic, according to Mrs. Sompayrac. His favorite sports are basketball and golf. He also plays tennis, and his mother has coached him some. He plays for the St. Joseph tennis team.

And Gigi’s and Luke’s grandfather, George Rainwater, has traveled to see many of the matches.

“He’s a big supporter. He’s been to a lot of matches. And it’s been really nice because he never missed a match of mine. It all ties together. My dad was there for everything for us. And now he’s right there for her,” Mrs. Sompayrac said. “And I just can’t say it enough. Look what God has done. Look how it’s all connected, how it has all unfolded. I couldn’t have dreamed or imagined this. It really is special.”

While Gigi and her parents are excited that the hard work and sacrifice has been rewarded with a college scholarship, Gigi still is trying to get used to the fact she’s playing on the No. 1 girls tennis team in U.S. high school sports. Global tennis-player rating system Universal Tennis Rating recently ranked

the Lady Irish as tops in the country going into the 2023 season. The head coach is Rusty Morris, who is assisted by Karen Lorino and Alicia Rojas Haub.

“If you would have told me a long time ago that we would be the No. 1 team in the nation, I would have thought you were kidding,” Gigi said. “I’ve just been excited for high school and getting close to my teammates and having fun.”

She is equally excited to be on the team that is the defending state champion in Division II-AA for two years running.

“It’s so much fun winning it, especially with my team. We have so much fun together. It’s a great group of girls, which makes it even better.”

The 2022 championship team included Maeve Thornton, Lillie Murphy, Eleni Liakonis, Karenna Thurman, Camilla Thurman, Vivian Schroeder, Pauline Schneiter, and Marianna Hurley in addition to Gigi. Joining the team for the 2023 season are Payton Carroll, Lauren Murphy, Logan Connatser, and Grace Ward.

Gigi is aware there is added pressure on the team this season because of the state championships and No. 1 ranking. She and her teammates are expecting other teams to give them a lot of competition.

“I’m glad to be playing in the division we’re in. We have really good opponents, and that makes the wins even better.”

Gigi’s father is most proud of what his daughter has accomplished on her way to competing on a top-ranked team and earning a college scholarship, including being an honor student and a leader of the Irish Ambassadors service organization at school.

“I love the work ethic and the discipline that Gigi has learned during her journey to be the best tennis player she can be. Tennis can be a lonely sport because you don’t compete on a team most of the time, so it takes a special commitment and discipline to become an elite player. I have always told Gigi that it’s the person you become by trying to be a champion, not the trophies, that is the best reward for competing in a sport. With that being said, with these girls attaining the rank of the No. 1 team in the nation, I think it gives them the belief and confidence that they can achieve anything in their life as long as they set their mind to it,” Mr. Sompayrac said.

“I love what a great supporter and cheerleader that Gigi is for her teammates at Catholic. Gigi has always been a selfless and giving person, and she brings out the best in others. The last three years have been an amazing and rewarding part of Gigi’s tennis career, and it makes me feel great that she and her teammates are getting rewarded for their dedication, commitment to tennis and each other, and their hard work. In the end, it’s the friendships, the lifetime memories, and bonds that Gigi has with her amazing teammates, parents, and coaches that means the most to her and us. The championships, rankings, etc., are just icing on the cake,” Mr. Sompayrac added.

In college, Gigi said she wants to

DR. KELLY KEARSE

Newspaper feature A 1991 issue of The Knoxville Journal features an article on and a photo of Cathy Sompayrac, then Cathy Rainwater, in her Knoxville Catholic High School tennis playing days.

Gigi signs Gigi Sompayrac, flanked by her parents, Cathy and Howie Sompayrac, signs with Anderson University on Feb. 1 at Knoxville Catholic High School. Standing (from left) are Joanie Sompayrac, Gigi’s aunt; Nicholas Sompayrac, Gigi’s cousin; Luke Sompayrac, Gigi’s brother; George Rainwater, Gigi’s grandfather; and KCHS president Dickie and wife Jeni Sompayrac, Gigi’s uncle and aunt. Tennis continued on page B3

immediately approved of the idea, and started by creating a Facebook group.

“I still get multiple requests a week to join the group. It’s up to 372 members now,” Mrs. Bird said.

“It’s kind of ironic that the Internet, which has caused so much isolation and in some ways started to replace physical interactions and meeting between people, has also enabled bringing back those physical connections. We couldn’t have done this without the Internet.”

The group quickly took off in the parish and became such an important part of parish life that parishioner Tina Marx suggested a permanent bin be placed at the basilica to be used for the Buy Nothing group.

“I did provide the bin and was excited about the Buy Nothing group,” Mrs. Marx said. “Being a good steward of all we have and using material goods for as long as possible is one small way to be a good steward. There is also joy in sharing these items and learning someone loves something you once cherished or regretted buying.”

The Birds are just two of the many who have personally benefited from the Buy Nothing group’s existence.

“In the first few months, Nathan asked if anybody had an extra bike and an extra bike trailer. And someone said yes to both of those,” Mrs. Bird said.

“And it literally changed my life,” Mr. Bird added. “Dan Pacitti gave me a bike that had been sitting in his garage that is the nicest bike I’ve ever ridden, and now I ride it every day to work. It literally changed how I live because I asked for a free bike on the Buy Nothing group.”

When asked about gifting the bike, it was an easy decision for Mr. Pacitti.

“Usually when I see any request posted from the Buy Nothing group, I’ll spend at least 30-40 seconds thinking if that’s anything I have off the top off my head,” said Mr. Pacitti, a parishioner of Sts. Peter and Paul and director of RCIA for the parish.

“When I saw Nathan request a bike, I knew how much he favors the non-automobile way of life. My wife had inherited a couple of really nice road bicycles from her aunt and uncle, but given our stage of life at the moment we had no plans to utilize them. They were just gathering dust in the basement.

“I’d prefer someone to use an item and appreciate it,” Mr. Pacitti continued, “even if I myself cannot. You can’t hang onto ‘things,’ though, with just a vain hope of ‘someday.’ That doesn’t trump someone else who can realize a use for it immediately, all else being equal. So after discussing it with my wife, we had no qualms about providing the bike to Nathan.”

The Birds hope that the group

not only continues to have success at Sts. Peter and Paul, but also that other parishes may be inspired to start Buy Nothing groups as well.

“I hope it continues to grow in a sustainable way,” Mrs. Bird said.

“My other big goal is just to encourage the other parishes in town and in the diocese to start their own.

I’ve talked to a lot of people in other parishes that say, ‘Oh that’s a great idea,’ and I say, ‘Yeah, you should start one in your parish!’ If it’s anywhere near as successful as this one has been, then it will have been worth it. . . . This is one very tangible way for parishioners, especially if they go to different Mass times and never encounter each other, to still help each other out.”

Mr. Bird also commented on his desire for Buy Nothing groups to bring parishioners together and open up doors for greater community.

“The bin is really convenient, and we use it a lot, but it does take away the personal encounter. It is nice to meet people and say, ‘Hi, I’m the person who’s giving this to you. You’re the person who asked for it, like, let’s talk for a minute, let’s chat and get to know one another,’” he remarked.

Beyond their merely offering up items that people are no longer using, the Birds hope that people will have the courage and humility to make their needs known through the group.

“I also hope people don’t feel awkward or bad for asking for things,” Mr. Bird said. “I think most of the traffic is generated by people saying, ‘Hi, I have this thing that I don’t need. Does anybody want it?’ Which is great. It’s a great way to keep things out of the dump; it’s a great way to keep things moving.”

“But I really hope people feel empowered to ask for things. And jog people’s memories and exercise that muscle both on the person who’s asking, the humility of asking, ‘Hey I need this thing, and I can’t spend a lot of money on it, can anybody help me out?’ and on the giver’s side flexing that muscle of, ‘Well, I have that thing, and maybe I was going to sell it on Facebook Marketplace, but now I have somebody who goes to my parish who I know who is asking for it for free.’”

The idea of bringing Buy Nothing to parishes is founded on the exercise of three fundamental keystones: solidarity, subsidiarity, and charity.

In terms of solidarity, the group seeks to bring together parish communities. “It means working together for a common purpose,” said Mrs. Bird.

The goal of subsidiarity is to allow citizens to accomplish what is in their power before submitting authority to a larger governing body. In regards to this keystone, Mrs. Bird explained, “This is an interac-

tion in politics at the smallest level.”

But most obviously, the Buy Nothing group fosters an ability to be charitable and generous with one’s material goods. “I have this item, and maybe I wasn’t even thinking about selling it,” Mrs. Bird explained. “But do I use it enough to merit me holding onto it, or is it something that I can give away for the betterment of someone else who can use it better?”

“That’s one rule that I think I would enforce if it ever came to it,”

added Mr. Bird. “You cannot buy or sell anything. Don’t start talking about prices, or we’ll take down the post.”

The Birds want to help anyone interested in starting a Buy Nothing group in their parish community. They can be reached through Facebook. In the meantime, you can find Mr. Bird riding his bike through St. Elmo in Chattanooga and continuing to live out the underlying principles of this small gift economy that is Buy Nothing. n

focus on developing her identity as a player more and continue increasing her strength and confidence.

When asked what her strengths are, she was curious what her mother would say.

Her mother then lobbed the question back to her.

“I am always going after every single ball. I always run down everything. I would call myself a grinder,” Gigi said. “I use my athleticism and now my strokes to win points.”

“Gigi is tough. She is definitely a grinder, a real scrappy player. She has a great two-hand backhand. Gigi is a far better player than I ever was. She is definitely stronger and more developed. She can sweep me off the court,” Mrs. Sompayrac observed. “Her strokes are so strong.

She can hit deep and with a lot of power. I can’t hang with her. She has a beautiful, strong game.”

Mrs. Sompayrac could see Gigi developing into a much stronger player during her freshman year, and she believes the ceiling is high for the KCHS senior.

“I think Gigi’s best tennis is ahead of her,” Mrs. Sompayrac said.

“I definitely have not peaked yet, or even close, because I’ve been working on so many things. I’m really excited to play my best tennis and work incredibly hard in college, so I’m really excited for that. I’ve had an amazing experience in high school. I’ve had so much fun, and we’ve had success, but I’m also excited to continue at Anderson. They’re going to help me grow a lot,” Gigi said.

And so go the circles in life. n

A gift from a fellow parishioner Nathan Bird prepares to ride his bike to work.

KATIE BIRD

subsidiarity, and charity Buy Nothing bins are used for the exchange of goods between

givers and receivers.

Tennis continued from page B2

Signee speaks Gigi Sompayrac talks to the audience at signing day on Feb. 1 at Knoxville Catholic High School.

DR. KELLY KEARSE

Chattanooga Deanery

Our Lady of Lourdes, South Pittsburg

Pastor Father Mark Scholz teaches the Catechism of the Catholic Church on Monday evenings in the parish house.

Deacon Mike Butz has begun a study of the Ignatian Rules of Discernment. Twenty five parish members are studying the rules with bi-weekly Zoom meetings.

The parish in cooperation with the Virgin of the Poor Knights of Columbus Council recently donated $2,200 to the New Life Pregnancy Center in Dunlap. Knights of Columbus Charities added $300 through its ASAP program.

A collection for the Sequatchie food bank occurs on the last Sunday of each month.

The Knights hosted a parish social at the China Buffet in Kimball. Twentyone people attended, and two men joined the council.

The parish and Knights will conduct a fish fry every Friday in Lent except Good Friday.

St. Bridget, Dayton

The St. Bridget Women’s Council sponsored a potluck dinner and Super Bowl watch party Feb. 12.

The Knights of Columbus will hold a St. Patrick’s Day potluck at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, March 18, in the parish community room.

Pastor Father Jim Vick recently began a new weekly Bible study class on the Book of Exodus, titled “A study of the development of the Bible and the story of salvation.”

St. Jude, Chattanooga

Knights of Columbus Council 8576 held a parish social Feb. 27. Preceding the social, the council conducted an exemplification ceremony for the men joining the Knights.

The Reta Rogers Easter Basket Project, a service project for St. Jude School founded by Joni Hotchkiss in 2006, has a goal of providing 300 Easter baskets with chocolate bunnies to children in need. Parishioners in late February and early March collected baskets and items to fill them, such as jump ropes, small stuffed animals, bubbles, candy, crayons, bracelets, pencils, and more. The Council of Catholic Women helped put the baskets together as a service project.

The fourth annual Jockeys and Juleps event to benefit St. Jude School is scheduled for Saturday, May 6, at The Chattanoogan hotel. The event will begin with a VIP cocktail party at 5:30 p.m. and general admission at 6:30, and it will conclude at 11 p.m. Dancing will be to the music of Nashville’s Bueller Band. General-admission tickets are $75 and VIP tickets $125. Sponsorships begin at $500. A special hotel rate is available until April 10. To purchase tickets, donate items for a silent auction, or learn more, visit mysjs.ejoinme.org/SJSshine. Also for more information, e-mail Kathleen Preston, St. Jude School director of development and admissions, at prestonk@mysjs.com or Victoria Fougere and Skye Sprinz, event co-chairs, at victoriagfougere@gmail.com. Funds raised will enhance school security and facilities.

The parish thanked Carroll Shipley and her team of volunteers for their service to St. Jude and to the Altar Society Hospitality Ministry, which is responsible for helping clean the church. Ms. Shipley and her team retired from the ministry Feb. 4 after more than 30 years of service to the parish. The team is composed of Elise Phillips, Sharon Moss, Dick and Judy Smith, Helena Mendzef, Rosalie Kozloski, Annie Lunn, John and Becky Ziegler, Ruth MacDougall, and Marie Eggebrecht. To join the ministry, call or text Mona Bombassi at 423-488-9684.

St. Jude thanked Vicki and Frank Schambron for providing snacks for

the Hospital Hospitality Ministry in January.

Family Forward recently thanked St. Jude parishioners and the Good Samaritan Ministry for their donations of more than 100 boxes of diapers, more than 250 packs of wipes, children’s books, safety kits, outlet covers, thermometers, baby gates, baby clothes, and more to benefit families in need.

St. Mary, Athens

The parish Mardi Gras Dinner and Dance took place Feb.18 in the family life center.

Don Schults was named the Knights of Columbus’ Knight of the month for December. Mr. Schults spearheaded the Knights council’s annual coat drive for this winter, which saw 88 coats donated by parishioners. He also arranged for the distribution of coats to people in need in Monroe, Bradley, and Hamilton counties.

St. Stephen, Chattanooga

The 15th annual St. Stephen Golf Tournament will be held Saturday, April 15, at Brainerd Golf Course.

Anniversaries: Ken and Mary Ann Decker (60), Eugene and Peggy Delett (57), Frank and Anna Anthony (55)

Cumberland Mountain Deanery

All Saints, Knoxville

Deacon Tim Elliott spoke on Lumen Gentium: Mary and the Church at the Fulton Sheen Society meeting Feb. 25 in the parish hall.

Blessed Sacrament, Harriman

Parishioners are going on a pilgrimage to the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville, Ala., on Saturday, April 22.

St. Francis of Assisi, Fairfield Glade

Students and staff of seven elementary schools in Cumberland County thanked parishioners for their continued support and appreciated the generosity received at Christmas from the Ethel’s Gift Tree collection. The gift tree is named for Ethel Wagner, a late parishioner.

The Social Action Committee prays the rosary every Monday for the prisoners at Bledsoe County Correctional Complex. The prayer warriors also are pen pals with the prisoners.

A Bible study on the Gospel of Matthew began Feb. 20, led by Kathy Fitch.

This year, parishioners prepared for Lent with a “pre-Lent retreat” that began Jan. 31 with 8 a.m. Mass and breakfast, followed by a prayer service.

Father John Matejek led participants in praying a meditative rosary and explained the meaning of Lent. Parishioners also readied for Lent with adoration, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, and confession.

A “Bach’s Lunch” recital featuring the Orfeo String Quartet with music and Scripture took place in the church Feb. 9. Pastor Father Michael Woods also gave a presentation at the event.

Parishioner Mary Maeder gave a presentation after the 8 a.m. Mass on Feb. 10 on “Encountering Jesus in the Eucharist Through Mary.” Deacon Jim Bello also offered a presentation on the Eucharistic Revival with discussions. The morning ended with adoration, confession, and the singing of the Litany of the Saints with Benediction.

On Feb. 11 after the 8 a.m. Mass and breakfast, Jon Leonetti, a nationally known Catholic speaker, presented “Who Is God and Why Does That Matter?” and “God’s Dream for Your Life.”

The program ended with the Liturgy of the Hours led by Father Woods and group prayer.

A Mardi Gras potluck was held Feb. 21 in the parish hall, and a St. Patrick’s

Parish notes continued on page B8

St. Bridget Women’s Council donates to Care Center

The Women’s Council of St. Bridget Parish in Dayton recently toured and delivered donations to The Care Center in Dayton. The group has held an annual baby shower to collect items and monetary donations to support this local center for several years. Pictured are (standing, from left) Janet Spraker, Lynne Connors, Daniel Smith, Deb Smith, and Louise Ganss, and (kneeling) Carla Bender, shown with Tiffany Soyster, CEO of The Care Center.

Father Charlie Chili Cook-Off winners announced at St. Jude

The Knights of Columbus of St. Jude Parish in Chattanooga hosted a successful Father Charlie Chili Cook-Off on Jan. 23. From left are Fos Goodwin of the Knights, who organized the event; Malu Bautista, who won first place with her “Grateful Red” chili; Maryjo Densmore, who finished second with “White Chicken Chili”; Vicki Jette, who placed third with “Paul’s Favorite Chili”; and St. Jude pastor Father Charlie Burton. Donna Gabor and the Council of Catholic Women provided toppings and cornbread for the event.

Our Lady of Fatima ministry hosts viewing of ‘The Letter’

The Care for Creation ministry at Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Alcoa hosted a viewing of the documentary “The Letter” on Jan. 22. This documentary was created to promote Pope Francis’ encyclical “Laudato Si’—On Care for Our Common Home,” which calls for Catholics to earnestly care for the earth and its people. Before the viewing, participants enjoyed a sustainably prepared lunch and afterward engaged in discussion of the many challenges Laudato Si’ calls the faithful to address.

St. Henry Knights hold fraternal benefits event Knights of Columbus Council 8860 at St. Henry Parish in Rogersville held a fraternal benefits event Jan. 29 for parishioners. Ron Henry (above), Knights field agent for the council, provided remarks, and there was a barbecue brunch for attendees.

The annual Chrism Mass will be celebrated at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 4, at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. At the Chrism Mass, diocesan priests renew their priestly vows, and Bishop Richard F. Stika blesses the sacred chrism, the oil of catechumens, and the oil of the sick that will be used in parishes of the diocese for the next year.

The new Catholics who enter the Church this Easter will be formally sent forth by Bishop Richard F. Stika at the annual Sending of the Neophytes ceremony at 4 p.m. Sunday, May 7, at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Bishop Richard F. Stika will confer the sacrament of confirmation on adults from around the diocese at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus at 4 p.m. Sunday, May 28. Any adult (18 and over) who has had the sacraments of baptism, first Holy Communion, and reconciliation but has not been confirmed can receive the sacrament on this date. Interested candidates should call their parish office for more information. Learn more on the diocesan Christian Formation page at https://dioknox. org/adult-confirmation

All women are invited to the Knoxville Diocesan Council of Catholic Women Convention, to be held Thursday through Saturday, April 20-22, at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Lenoir City. The convention theme is “Be the One,” and it will feature keynote speakers Melissa Foley and Father John Orr. Bishop Richard F. Stika will celebrate a memorial Mass on Thursday, followed by a banquet and Mrs. Foley’s first talk. She will also speak Friday morning. Father Orr will speak on the Eucharist on Saturday. Breakout sessions will allow participants to choose from a variety of interactive sessions geared to their interests. Breakout sessions and presenters are “Adoption: A Loving Option,” Ada Hernandez-Bell; “Caring for Women and Their Maternal Health in a Post-Roe v. Wade World,” Sandi Davidson; “For the Girls (Sewing Project),” Jeanette Fanfarillo; “Funny Poems About Life,” Tom Catalano; “Holy Holidays—Summer/Fall” and “Holy Holidays—Winter/ Spring,” Anne Wharton; “Lemons and Love,” Kathleen Kelly; “Life After Roe: What Does It Mean and What Now?,” Stacy Dunn; “Patriotic Rosary,” Karen Vacaliuc; “The Heart—Crunchy on the Outside With a Fruit Filled Center,” Deacon Jim Bello; “We Are Always Better When We Are Together,” Kathy DeAngelis; and “Women Doctors of the Church,” Sara Carey. Early-bird registration is $125. For a convention schedule, registration, silent-auction guidelines, hotel information, a description of each breakout session, and other details, visit KDCCW.org

The Race for Kids 5K & Family Walk is Catholic Charities of East Tennessee’s (CCETN) annual premier event. This year’s race is set for 9:30 a.m. Saturday, April 29, at Victor Ashe Park in Knoxville. Participation supports all 11 of CCETN’s children’s and family programs across East Tennessee, including the Children’s Emergency Shelter, Columbus Home Assisting Parents, pregnancy and adoption services, counseling services, and the Office of Immigrant Services. Run or walk in the event to help deliver critical services to promote safety, stability, and opportunities for children and families to thrive by providing emergency food and shelter, education, access to resources, and compassionate support. Those who can’t make it to the race in person may still register and run or walk anywhere they like. Costs are $30 for adults ($35 on race day) and $15 for children under 18 ($20 on race day). Visit the CCETN Race for Kids site to register or learn more, at runsignup.com/Race/TN/Knoxville/

RaceforKids

The Ladies of Charity of Knoxville are offering the Elizabeth Ann Seton Scholarship to high school seniors who are graduating in May and seeking funds for college. To be eligible, a senior must be graduating by May, have a GPA of 3.0 or higher, be active in volunteer work in the community, and be no more than 19 years old by

May. One annual scholarship of $1,000 will be awarded and is to be used for tuition only. Apply online by March 15 at ladiesofcharityknox.org

All women of the diocese are invited to a free Lenten Evening of Reflection, featuring speaker and author Laura Phelps, set for 6 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, March 30, at St. John Neumann Church in Farragut. The evening will begin with a soup supper at 6 p.m., worship music at 6:30, the talk at 7, and adoration at 7:45. Ms. Phelps is a well-known speaker/writer/content creator for the National Catholic Women’s Ministry—Walking with Purpose. Her talk is titled “Finding the Sweetness in Suffering” and is based on her book “Sweet Cross: A Marian Guide to Suffering.” She will reveal not only why suffering is a necessary part of Christian life but also how we can learn to carry our cross without fear of complaint—and even to find that it is sweet. That secret is Mary. For details and registration, visit https://forms. gle/eC54TeNDQJEZvehB7 or e-mail regnumchristi.knoxville@gmail.com.

Tennessee Right to Life invites all high school students to participate in its annual art contest and/or oratory contest, both to be held Tuesday, April 18. For the art contest, students are asked to create an original work of art illustrating one of these life issues: abortion, euthanasia, infanticide, or stem cell research. Entrants may use any medium. No graphic depictions or computer-generated entries are allowed. Deadline for registration is April 14. Artwork must be delivered by April 17. In the oratory contest, students are asked to write and deliver a five- to seven-minute speech on one of the same four topics as the art contest. The speeches will be judged live by a panel of informed judges. Deadline for registration and submission of the rough draft of the speech is April 14. To register, visit www.prolifeknox.org or call 865-689-1339. Cash prizes will be awarded in both contests. The oratory contest winner will advance to a statewide competition in Nashville on May 6.

A women’s Lenten retreat, themed “Standing on His Promises,” is set for Saturday, March 25, at St. Thérèse of Lisieux Church in Cleveland. Leading the retreat will be musician and speaker Maria Spears of the women’s ministry His Own. To learn more, email Brenda_ratcliff@hotmail.com or call 423-715-2579.

Young adults ages 18 to 35 are invited to Theology on Tap at Bearden Beer Market at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 11. Father Michael Hendershott, associate pastor of Holy Ghost Parish in Knoxville, will be speaking. Food will be available for purchase. No underage drinking is permitted. Contact Cason Asher at casonasher@icloud.com with any questions. For a flyer on the event, visit https://dioknox.org/events/theologyon-tap-with-father-hendershott

The Healing Ministry at Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Alcoa offers healing prayers every third weekend of the month for anyone who has a physical, emotional, or spiritual need. Individual healing prayer will be offered in Spanish in the church immediately following the 7 p.m. Saturday Mass in Spanish, and prayer will be offered in English in the chapel immediately following the 11 a.m. Sunday Mass. Call Toni Jacobs at (561) 315-5911 if you have any questions.

The Diocese of Knoxville is taking a group of teens to Steubenville St. Louis Mid-America, hosted by the Archdiocese of St. Louis in Springfield, Mo., from July 7-9. The Steubenville youth conferences exist to bring high schoolers into a life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ. The 2023 theme is “Refuge.” “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest”—Matthew 11:28. For information on costs or registration, visit https://dioknox.org/events/ steubenville-stlouis

Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga is currently accepting applications for the 2023-24 academic year. Apply by visiting www.myndhs.

Calendar continued on page B8

All Saints ministry screens ‘The Letter’

The Creation Care Team at All Saints Parish in Knoxville screened “The Letter” on Feb. 23 in the parish hall for “Women of Faith,” one of the parish’s larger women’s groups. The film, a collaboration between YouTube and The Laudato Si’ Movement, tells the story of five individuals from around the world invited to the Vatican by Pope Francis to recount their personal experience of climate change from the Brazilian Amazon to Hawaii. The diverse group travels to Rome to meet with the Holy Father and to share their stories and concerns with one another. The Women of Faith gather women of all ages each Thursday morning during the school year to learn about and share their faith.

St. Henry Knights donate $1,500 to Chip Hale House in Rogersville

Grand Knight Bob McDaniel of Knights of Columbus Council 8860 at St. Henry Parish in Rogersville presents a check from the KIND Charities of Tennessee for $1,500 to Chip Hale House executive director Lana Young on Feb. 20. The funds were raised by the council through a roadblock event held in December 2022 for the Chip Hale House in Rogersville, which supports the intellectually and developmentally disabled in Hawkins County. Also pictured is Father Bart Okere, St. Henry pastor and Tennessee state chaplain for the Knights.

End of Life Planning seminar held at All Saints

All Saints Parish in Knoxville hosted an End of Life Planning seminar Feb. 11. Speakers were Janie McCullah, a licensed funeral director at Click Funeral Home, on “Frequently asked questions about funeral planning”; Father Doug Owens, All Saints pastor, on “Why this is the best gift for your loved ones”; and Paul Simoneau, vice chancellor and director of the Office of Justice and Peace for the Diocese of Knoxville, on “The mystery of suffering and end-of-life decisions.”

Diocesan CCW Convention

set

April 20-22 at St. Thomas

All women are invited to the Knoxville Diocesan Council of Catholic Women Convention, to be held Thursday through Saturday, April 20-22, at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Lenoir City.

The convention theme is “Be the One,” and it will feature keynote speakers Melissa Foley and Father John Orr. Bishop Richard F. Stika will celebrate a memorial Mass on Thursday, followed by a banquet and Ms. Foley’s first talk. She will also speak Friday morning. Father Orr will speak on the Eucharist on Saturday.

Breakout sessions will allow participants to choose from a variety of interactive sessions geared to their interests. Breakout sessions and presenters are “Adoption: A Loving Option, Ada HernandezBell; “Caring for Women and Their

Maternal Health in a Post-Roe v. Wade World,” Sandi Davidson; “For the Girls (Sewing Project),” Jeanette Fanfarillo; “Funny Poems About Life,” Tom Catalano; “Holy Holidays—Summer/Fall” and “Holy Holidays—Winter/ Spring,” Anne Wharton; “Lemons and Love,” Kathleen Kelly; “Life After Roe: What Does It Mean and What Now?,” Stacy Dunn; “Patriotic Rosary,” Karen Vacaliuc; “The Heart—Crunchy on the Outside With a Fruit Filled Center,” Deacon Jim Bello; “We Are Always Better When We Are Together,” Kathy DeAngelis; and “Women Doctors of the Church,” Sara Carey.

Early-bird registration is $125. For a convention schedule, registration, silent-auction guidelines, hotel information, a description of each breakout session, and other details, visit KDCCW.org n

Ladies of Charity of Knoxville awarding college scholarship

The Ladies of Charity of Knoxville are offering the Elizabeth Ann Seton Scholarship to high school seniors who are graduating in May and seeking funds for college.

To be eligible, a senior must be graduating by May, have a GPA of

3.0 or higher, be active in volunteer work in the community, and be no more than 19 years old by May. One annual scholarship of $1,000 will be awarded and is to be used for tuition only. Apply online by March 15 at ladiesofcharityknox. org n

Coaches shouldn’t forget who they’re helping

The first time I was asked to coach young kids, I was a young kid myself.

I was 9 years old, and half the neighborhood, including the four of us, routinely played in the backyard of family friends. They had six of their own, so we could always get up a good game of something.

Sometimes we kicked a ball; sometimes we kicked a can.

When their oldest son turned 6, his dad volunteered to coach Tball at the local athletic complex. I’d never played T-ball, in fact my 9-year-old resume included but one entry—“has played one year of kidpitch baseball.”

I wasn’t any good but had learned the basics of the game. Still, his dad asked me to be an “assistant.” A proud moment for me, but as I reflect back, I’m pretty sure it meant, “Can you help carry the bats, balls, and this tee?”

Though I have no memory of any, my guess is there were six other dads out there, too, but it felt like just me and Coach teaching the grand old game to the all-stars of the future.

It was a dozen years before I was to coach again as a first-year teacher at my high school alma mater. The job offer came with the assignment of coaching ninth-grade boys during their football, basketball, and baseball seasons (adding two more sports to the list of those at which I hadn’t excelled but knew the rules.)

Winter was over, and baseball was next on the calendar when a female student stopped me in the hall one day and said with a bit of a question in her voice, “I hear you’re going to coach our volleyball team?”

News I had yet to hear.

Several days later, a different girl asked the same question followed by another then another. My coaching colleagues dismissed the idea but suggested laying low just in case.

But being a naïve rookie, I walked into the principal’s office and asked, “You had said you wanted me to coach baseball, but I’ve had a bunch of girls tell me I was gonna be their volleyball coach. I thought I’d just

check?”

“Well, what would you think about that?”

“I have to be honest with you, I’ve never coached girls, and I think this is the far more important point: I’ve never even seen a volleyball match. Not a real one. Not ever.”

What followed was not the last time he ever said to me, “Well, I’d appreciate it if you would. You’ll be great.”

“Thank you?” is what came out though I had a bit of a question in my voice as well.

Doing what I thought varsity coaches were supposed to do, I scheduled an after-school meeting for anyone interested. Sixty teenage girls showed up. Six-zero. 60.

In an effort to pare down to the 12 uniforms I’d been handed, I scheduled two Saturday-morning tryouts with me trying to decide who had the skills I didn’t even know they needed.

I’m pretty sure there are 48 women out there in the world somewhere to whom I still owe an apology.

Fast forward almost 50 more years, and yesterday we had the first practice of my granddaughter’s fourth-/fifth-grade school volleyball team.

Eighteen of the cutest little girls you’ll ever see.

They all came streaming into the gym just five minutes before practice and promptly went straight to the bathroom. All of them.

When they were finally assembled, I kicked off the season with, “My name is Mr. Valadie, and I’m Emma and Brady’s grandfather. But at our house, they call me Grumpy. So how about we go with ‘Coach Grumpy?’” There was a resounding round of cheers, and off we went.

Throughout the fall that turned into winter and with spring sports approaching, my daughter had repeatedly coaxed me, “Dad, they don’t have a coach. You should volunteer.”

While waiting for anyone else to raise their hand, I pondered asking a new principal an old question, and

was flooded with all sorts of memories of all sorts of coaching experiences throughout my 46-year career in schools.

There was the varsity girls basketball game in which my best player had performed uncharacteristically poorly. Afterward, I asked her, “Are you OK? You didn’t seem yourself out there tonight? Everything all right?”

“Yeah, I’m OK. Somebody else got the shorts I always wear, and nothing felt right.”

Well of course not.

A mom of another basketball player was irritated and set up a conference with me and the principal during which she leveled the accusation: “He’s prejudiced against short people!”

For the record, I was not, nor did we have any tall girls on our team to be prejudiced for.

There have been good teams and bad. Fun locker rooms and sad ones. Good players and ones I failed to coach well enough.

I could recall the many days I took it way too seriously and hollered way too much. More apologies I owe.

But there was also the young freshman football player who’d been standing on the sideline next to me during our first game of the season. He had never played the sport before, so he hadn’t yet made it to my first line of subs.

But the game was well in hand, and time was winding down when I turned to him and offhandedly asked, “OK, Preston. You ready to get in there, buddy?”

With what can only be described as pure terror in his eyes, he replied, “No, I don’t think so. Maybe next game?”

It took a mix of coaxing and reassuring, but he got himself out there. His smile at game’s end was better than any victory.

Sadly though, there are far too many coaches who forget what and who it’s supposed to be about. The most recent embarrassment—and there are far more than there should be—came in Virginia when a head

basketball coach and his younglooking assistant conspired to have the assistant wear a student jersey and actually play in a junior varsity game.

My off-the-cuff reaction was, “A JV game?!?!” But then it dawned on me that two adults—not one rogue nut—but two rogue nuts had hatched, thought about, and ultimately decided to follow through with such nonsense. No game ever invented is that important.

But the kids we are teaching are.

The game of volleyball has evolved in the years since my unexpected introduction way back when but not so much that you can play 18 at once. Six is all you can get in at one time. But we’re not cutting anybody—not this time. We’re just gonna learn what we can, have fun doing it, and enjoy the craziness.

After yesterday’s first practice, I reached out to a friend and successful high school coach, “The whole time I was wondering what you’d have thought if you had seen that chaos.”

He texted back, “I taught elementary school once . . . it was chaos just lining up for lunch.”

“Can I get a drink of water?”

“Can I go to the bathroom?”

Eighteen girls bouncing 18 balls for 75 minutes. Well . . . minus the group time in the bathroom.

And there was the one young fifth-grader who probably should have been the coach, “Sir, if you’ll call the office tomorrow and ask them to dismiss the volleyball team right after announcements, we’ll all get here sooner.”

Ah! Thanks for the tip.

I’m even more excited now. I mean, what coach doesn’t need a good assistant?

Dear God—You created the little boogers, so we don’t have to tell you how much children need a positive outlet. Or how desperately they need great mentors. Please help the good ones come forward; please help me be one. Amen. ■

George Valadie is a parishioner at St. Stephen Church in Chattanooga.

Last month, in honor of Pope Benedict XVI, I offered a summary of the first part of his encyclical Deus Caritas Est, “God Is Love,” and promised a summary of Part II of this letter this month.

Benedict opens with a quote from St. Augustine: “If you see charity, you see the Trinity.” The Holy Spirit is the power that makes the hearts of believers one with the heart of Christ and so inspires them to love others as Christ loved them. “The Spirit,” Benedict writes, “is also the energy which transforms the heart of the ecclesial community, so that it becomes a witness before the world to the love of the Father, who wishes to make humanity a single family in his Son. The entire activity of the Church is an expression of love that seeks the integral good of man.” This activity includes the Church’s proclamation of the Word, her administration of the sacraments, and the charitable ministries in which she engages “to attend constantly to man’s sufferings and his needs, including material needs.”

Love of neighbor is the responsibility of every individual believer. It is also the responsibility of the Church as a community. If love is to be an “ordered service to the community,” it must be organized. This was first realized by the Church in her earliest days, when believers held all in common and were bound together

by the teachings of the Apostles, by Communion, by the breaking of the bread, and by prayer (Acts 2:42-45). When the duties of the Apostles became overwhelming, they called seven men to take on the responsibilities of charitable service to others (Acts 6:1-6). Benedict writes, “With the formation of this group of seven, diakonia’—the ministry of charity exercised in a communitarian, orderly way—became part of the fundamental structure of the Church.”

The ministry of charity (diakonia) is a constitutive part of the Church’s nature and reason for being, along with proclaiming the Word of God (kerygma-martyria) and celebrating the sacraments (leitourgia). While the Church’s love is especially for those who are members of the household of faith (Galatians 6:10), it is not reserved for them but extends to all in a universal love toward every man and woman, as the parable of the Good Samaritan teaches us (Luke 10:25-37).

Building a just social order is a political goal of the state, assisted by the Church with her insights on the nature of justice and the duty of the political class and all citizens on how to build such a society and what such a society would look like. Indeed, lay Catholics have the responsibility to form their political activities according to their faith, which includes a responsibility for loving service, and

so contribute to the building of a just social order. Regardless of how just a social order is managed, however, there will always be suffering, there will always be loneliness, so there will always be a need for loving service. Man does not live by bread alone (Matthew 4:4).

“We do not need a state which regulates and controls everything,” Benedict insists, “but a state which, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, generously acknowledges and supports initiatives arising from the different social forces and combines spontaneity with closeness to those in need.” Benedict lauds the efforts of state and Church, and other religious traditions, as well, to work together in many initiatives toward the same goal: “a true humanism, which acknowledges that man is made in the image of God and wants to help him to live in a way consonant with that dignity.”

Benedict delineates the essential elements of Christian and ecclesial charity:

First, following the example of the Good Samaritan, “Christian charity is first of all the simple response to immediate needs and specific situations: feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, caring for and healing the sick, visiting those in prison, etc.”

Benedict reminds that those in need

require more than just their materials needs met. “They need humanity. They need heartfelt concern.”

Second, “Christian charitable activity must be independent of parties and ideologies. It is not a means of changing the world ideologically, and it is not at the service of worldly stratagems, but it is a way of making present here and now the love which man always needs.”

Finally, “Charity . . . cannot be used as a means of engaging in what is nowadays considered proselytism. Love is free; it is not practiced as a way of achieving other ends.” This does not mean that God and Christ are left out, for often the absence of God is the deepest need of others. But Christians “realize that a pure and generous love is the best witness to the God in whom we believe and by whom we are driven to love.”

“More than anything,” Benedict writes, those who carry out the Church’s charitable activity “must be people moved by Christ’s love, people whose hearts Christ has conquered with His love, awakening within them a love of neighbor.”

Benedict XVI, requiescat in pace Be Christ for all. Bring Christ to all. See Christ in all. ■

No game ever invented is as important as the kids we are teaching how to play

Deacon Bob Hunt is a husband, father, grandfather, and parishioner at All Saints Church in Knoxville.

Encountering God in the Liturgy by Father Randy Stice

External forms of participation in the Mass

From posture and gesture to the saying of ‘Amen,’ we can engage more fully in the liturgy

Our participation in the Mass is most fruitful when we do so “fully aware of what [we] are doing, actively engaged in the rite, and enriched by its effects” [Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy (SC), 11]. However, it can be the case that we know what to say and do, but we don’t know why—the meaning and spiritual reality of the words and actions. In my last column I looked at interior forms of participation during the Mass. In this column I want to look at the meaning of some of our external forms of participation, “acclamations, responses, psalmody, antiphons, and songs, as well as by actions, gestures, and bodily attitudes” (SC, 30).

Posture and gesture are an important part of the liturgy and have many meanings: placing ourselves in the presence of the Trinity by making the sign of the cross, “standing to pray, sitting to listen, kneeling in adoration, bowing to show reverence, striking the breast in sorrow for past personal sins, moving forward to present and receive, and exchanging the sign of peace” (Introduction to the Order of Mass, No. 28). Each gesture and posture not only expresses “the intentions and spiritual attitude of the participants,” each also “fosters them” [General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM), 42]. Just as our mind “instructs” our body, so also our body helps form in us, often without our realizing it, attitudes es-

sential to our relationship with God: listening, adoration, reverence, contrition, giving, and receiving.

An acclamation sung or said at every Mass is the Holy, Holy, Holy (Sanctus). It is based on Isaiah’s vision in Isaiah 6 when he saw the Lord in majesty and seraphim above crying to one another, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts!” (Isaiah 6:1-3). When we sing the Sanctus, says the Church, we are “joining with the heavenly powers” (GIRM, 79b). This reveals a vital dimension of the Mass. “In the earthly liturgy,” said the Second Vatican Council, “we take part in a foretaste of that heavenly liturgy celebrated in the holy city of Jerusalem toward which we journey as pilgrims, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God, a minister of the holies and of the true tabernacle; we sing a hymn to the Lord’s glory with the whole company of heaven” (SC, 8).

This aspect of the liturgy is well-attested in our tradition. Origen (died 254) said, “I do not doubt that angels are even present in our assembly… [there is] a double church present, one of men, the other of angels.” St. John Chrysostom (died 407) said that when we sing the Sanctus we are invited to “abide there beside the very throne of glory, hovering with the seraphim, and singing the most holy song of the God of glory and majesty.” St. Gregory the Great (died 604) asked, “Can any of the faithful doubt

that at the hour of the eucharistic sacrifice of Jesus Christ the choirs of angels are present, the heights joined to the depths, earth linked to heaven, the visible united with the invisible?” This is so intrinsic to the Mass, said Pope Benedict XVI, that our “earthly liturgy is liturgy because and only because it joins what is already in process, the greater reality” (A New Song for the Lord, 166). And St. John Paul II said it is “an aspect of the Eucharist which merits greater attention.” Why? Because “the Eucharist is truly a glimpse of heaven appearing on earth. It is a glorious ray of the heavenly Jerusalem which pierces the clouds of our history and lights up our journey” (Ecclesia de Eucharistia, No. 19).

“Amen” is the most familiar and frequent acclamation, a Hebrew word that is the people’s response to many of the prayers of the Mass. In Revelation, Amen is a name given to Jesus—“The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness” (3:14). When we consider this in conjunction with Jesus’ assurance to his disciples in John 15:16 that His Father would grant whatever they asked in His name, we understand that when the people say “Amen” to a prayer “they are saying ‘yes’ to its contents, but they are also pronouncing the name of Him through whom they pray God will grant their request”

(At the Supper of the Lamb, Paul Turner, 23).

The “Amen” said at Communion in response to the minister’s, “the body of Christ,” merits special attention. St. Ambrose (died 397) explains: “Not without reason do you say ‘Amen,’ for you acknowledge in your heart that you are receiving the body of Christ. When you present yourself, the priest says to you, ‘The body of Christ,’ and you reply ‘Amen,’ that is, ‘It is so.’ Let the heart persevere in what the tongue confesses.” St. Augustine (died 430) adds another dimension: “If you are the body and members of Christ, then . . . it is the sacrament of what you are that you receive. It is to what you yourselves are that you answer ‘Amen,’ and this answer is your affidavit. Be a member of Christ’s body, so that your ‘Amen’ may be authentic.” Our “Amen” affirms our belief in Christ’s real presence and renews our commitment to be faithful members of Christ’s body, the Church.

As we become more aware of the formative power of our gestures and postures, of how we are participating with the choirs of heaven when we sing the Sanctus, and of the rich meanings of the simple “Amen,” we can engage more fully in the Mass and be enriched by its graces. ■

Father Randy Stice is director of the diocesan Office of Worship and Liturgy. He can be reached at frrandy@dioknox. org.

A look inside new rectory at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in LaFollette; appliances donated from old rectory

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in LaFollette, after a long effort, has relocated the pastor’s residence to a new home not far from the church (see the photo of the new rectory in the February issue of The East Tennessee Catholic). But the work was not finished. The parish needed to demolish the old rectory. Before just throwing everything away in demolition, the parish contacted Georgia Sergent at Bridges to Recovery in LaFollette, who runs a nine-month Christian-based resident drug rehabilitation program for young women. Bridges has the ability to take nine women at a time, and the parish was informed that a young lady had just graduated from the program, found gainful employment, and moved into a new apartment but did not have appliances. With pastor Father Sam Sturm’s blessing, OLPH gifted the appliances from the old rectory to the young lady to give her some help in making it back as a productive member of society. She was overjoyed that someone helped her and thanked the entire parish community for its generosity.

Daily readings

Wednesday, March 1: Jonah 3:110; Psalm 51:3-4, 12-13, 18-19; Luke 11:29-32

Thursday, March 2: Esther C:12, 14-16, 23-25; Psalm 138:1-3, 7-8; Matthew 7:7-12

Friday, March 3: Ezekiel 18:21-28; Psalm 130:1-8; Matthew 5:20-26

Saturday, March 4: Deuteronomy 26:16-19; Psalm 119:1-2, 4-5, 7-8; Matthew 5:43-48

Sunday, March 5: Genesis 12:1-4; Psalm 33:4-5, 18-20, 22; 2 Timothy 1:8-10; Matthew 17:1-9

Monday, March 6: Daniel 9:4-10; Psalm 79:8-9, 11, 13; Luke 6:36-38

Tuesday, March 7: Isaiah 1:10, 1620; Psalm 50:8-9, 16-17, 21 23; Matthew 23:1-12

Wednesday, March 8: Jeremiah

18:18-20; Psalm 31:5-6, 14-16; Matthew 20:17-28

Thursday, March 9: Jeremiah 17:510; Psalm 1:1-4, 6; Luke 16:19-31

Friday, March 10: Genesis 37:3-4, 12-13, 17-28; Psalm 105:16-21; Matthew 21:33-43, 45-46

Saturday, March 11: Micah 7:1415, 18-20; Psalm 103:1-4, 9-12; Luke

15:1-3, 11-32

Sunday, March 12: Exodus 17:3-7; Psalm 95:1-2, 6-9; Romans 5:1-2, 5-8; John 4:5-42

Monday, March 13: 2 Kings 5:115; Psalms 42:2-3 and 43:3-4; Luke

4:24-30

Tuesday, March 14: Daniel 3:25, 34-

43; Psalm 25:4-9; Matthew 18:21-35

Wednesday, March 15: Deuteronomy 4:1, 5-9; Psalm 147:12-13, 15-16, 19-20; Matthew 5:17-19

Thursday, March 16: Jeremiah 7:23-

28; Psalm 95:1-2, 6-9; Luke 11:14-23

Friday, March 17 : Hosea 14:210; Psalm 81:6-11, 14, 17; Mark 12:28-34

Saturday, March 18: Hosea 6:1-6; Psalm 51:3-4, 18-21; Luke 18:9-14

Sunday, March 19: 1 Samuel 16:1,

6-7, 10-13; Luke 23:1-6; Ephesians

5:8-14; John 9:1-41

Monday, March 20: Solemnity of St. Joseph, spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 2 Samuel 7:4-5, 12-14, 16; Psalm 89:2-5, 27, 29; Romans 4:13, 16-18, 22; Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24

Tuesday, March 21: Ezekiel 47:1-9, 12; Psalm 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9; John 5:1-16

Wednesday, March 22: Isaiah 49:815; Psalm 145:8-9, 13-14, 17-18; John 5:17-30

Thursday, March 23: Exodus 32:714; Psalm 106:19-23; John 5:31-47

Friday, March 24: Wisdom 2:1, 1222; Psalm 34:17-21, 23; John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30

Saturday, March 25: Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, Isaiah 7:10-14 and 8:10; Psalm 40:7-11; Hebrews 10:4-10; Luke 1:26-38

Sunday, March 26: Ezekiel 37:12-14; Psalm 130:1-8; Romans 8:8-11; John 11:1-45

Monday, March 27: Daniel 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62; Psalm 23:1-6; John 8:1-11

Tuesday, March 28: Numbers 21:49; Psalm 102:2-3, 16-21; John 8:21-30

Wednesday, March 29: Daniel 3:1420, 91-92, 95; Daniel 3:52-56; John 8:31-42

Thursday, March 30: Genesis 17:3-9; Psalm 105:4-9; John 8:51-59

Friday, March 31: Jeremiah 20:10-13; Psalm 18:2-7; John 10:31-42 n

com and submit an online application. Contact Lisa Costello at 423-624-4618 or costello@myndhs.com with any questions.

St. Joseph School in Knoxville is enrolling grades pre-K (age 4) through eighth grade. Contact Andy Zengel at azengel@sjsknox.org or 865-689-3424 or visit www.sjsknox.org

Knoxville Search for Christian Maturity Retreat No. 169 is set for Friday, March 31, to Sunday, April 2, at St. John Neumann Church in Farragut. Search is a weekend retreat experience sponsored by the diocesan Office of Youth, Young Adult, and Pastoral Juvenil Ministry in collaboration with Knoxville Catholic High School. The weekends are for any high school juniors and seniors. The program is both rooted in the Catholic faith and open to young people of any denomination or creed. Search provides an opportunity to think, talk, question, and wonder about life and faith in an accepting and challenging environment. It is an opportunity to experience God and God’s family in a personal and real way. The weekend is youth- and peeroriented. It is run by youth, to youth, and for youth, all under the guidance of a team of adult mentors. Cost for the weekend is $95, which is all-inclusive. The retreat starts on Friday evening and runs through Sunday late afternoon. For more information, visit https://dioknox. org/events/search-169

“Shrines and Sites, a Pilgrimage to Switzerland,” is set for April 17-27. Join Father Michael Maples to experience the sacred sites and beauty of Switzerland. The group will have three nights in Lucerne, with stops at Muri Abbey to celebrate Mass and in Solothurn to visit St. Ursus Cathedral. There will be an excursion by coach to Engelberg Abbey and then by cable car to the top of Mount Titlis, considered one of Switzerland’s top destinations. Pilgrims will discover Europe’s highest train station on a full-day train tour to Jungfraujoch. On arrival, they will view the UNESCO-listed landscape and explore summit attractions, such

Parish notes continued from page B4 Day dinner is set for March 17.

Anniversaries: Sal and Lois D’Addona (66), Tony and Gay Moreno (54), Ray and Susan Butkus (53)

St. John Neumann, Farragut

A seniors bingo event is set for 2 p.m. Sunday, March 12, in the school cafeteria. Bring a snack or dessert as well as a new or like-new item valued no more than $10 to be given as a prize. Gift bags will be available for the items. Those with questions should contact Sister Elizabeth Wanyoike, ESM, at SrElizabeth@sjnknox.org or Carol Dawson at Qmscarol@hotmail.com. Sign up at bit.ly/sjnseniorbingo

The SJN Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul offered coffee and snacks Feb. 18 in Seton Hall as members explained to guests how the society serves those in need.

Knights of Columbus Council 8781 recently held a district-level basketball free-throw contest. Four of the local winners, Mary Pagel, Stephanie Kaczmarek, Ashleigh Kaczmarek, and Megan Frana, advanced to the regional competition. Megan led all competitors, boys and girls, in making the most free throws by hitting 16 of 25.

as the Ice Palace and Sphinx Observatory, with views over Aletsch Glacier, Europe’s longest glacier. They will take the scenic Gotthard Panorama Express boat on Lake Lucerne before boarding a train to Lugano, where they will have a two-night stay. A day of sightseeing that includes Santa Maria Degli Angeli Church and a cable-car ride to Monte San Salvatore will follow. The exploration continues with a visit to the Cathedral of Lugano, St. Mary’s, the Rocco Church, San Lorenzo Cathedral, and the Museo D’ Arte. The group will visit the Marian Shrine of Switzerland to see the statue of the Black Madonna, Our Lady of Einsiedeln, and go on to Zurich. Pilgrims will visit St. Gallen Abbey and Library, the oldest in Europe, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A boat ride down the Limmat River under the bridges and a visit to the Fraumunster Church to see the Chagall stainedglass windows will follow. For more information, contact Lisa Morris at 865567-1245 or lisam@select-intl.com.

Join Dr. Marcellino D’Ambrosio, teacher and historian, on an 11-day Rhine River pilgrimage cruise through Germany, Switzerland, France, and Holland from May 23 to June 2. The pilgrimage themes are “finding God in the beauty of His creation,” “how the Catholic Church built western civilization,” and “how the greatest fortresses of Europe have been its saints,” many of whom spent much of their lives along the Rhine, including Sts. Ambrose, Athanasius, Jerome, Constantine, Helen, Edith Stein, Hildegard of Bingen, Boniface, Albert the Great, and others. Pilgrims will admire the many picturesque castles that dot the shoreline of the Rhine and visit some of the most impressive of European abbeys. They will experience mountains, saints, castles, cathedrals, quaint towns, and delectable food, all aboard a ship that will be entirely reserved for this pilgrimage. For more information, contact Lisa Morris at 865567-1245 or lisam@select-intl.com.

A pilgrimage to Poland with Father Martin Gladysz is scheduled for July 1726. The group will spend a day in War-

Vacation Bible school is scheduled for June 12-16 and will be themed “Wilderness Adventure Through the Sacraments.” Adult volunteers are needed; contact Becca at blg2790@gmail.com or 865-363-9945.

Five Rivers Deanery

Notre Dame, Greeneville

The Council of Catholic Women hosted its annual bake sale after all Masses on Feb. 11 and 12.

The Knights of Columbus held a Cincinnati Chili Dinner and Auction on Feb. 18. Up for auction were like-new or gently used yard-sale items.

Confirmation students went on a retreat March 3-4. Bishop Richard F. Stika will confirm them April 15.

Anniversary: Norman and Nancy Clark (40)

St. Patrick, Morristown

The Social Action Committee’s February focus was on Friends of Hospice Serenity House. Members collected items including toiletries, cleaning and office supplies, paper products, and gift cards during the month.

Pilgrims visit EWTN studios

Some 30 East Tennessee Catholics took part in a three-day pilgrimage Feb. 8-10 to EWTN studios and the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament founded by Mother Angelica in Hanceville, Ala. The pilgrimage group had the opportunity to be in the audience on Father Mitch Pacwa’s “EWTN Live” show. Pilgrims also toured the EWTN studios, celebrated Mass with the friars, toured the new John Paul II Center, and celebrated Mass and prayed the rosary with the Nuns of the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration.

saw visiting the sites before continuing on to Czestochowa, where pilgrims will visit the Jasna Gora Monastery, the Treasury, and the famous icon of the Black Madonna, to which many miracles have been attributed. They will visit Wadowice, the hometown of Pope St. John Paul II, and visit his childhood home, and visit the church where he was baptized. They will visit the Shrine of Divine Mercy and visit St. Faustina’s convent chapel and her tomb, and have a tour led by one of the Sisters. Another visit will be to Europe’s oldest salt mine, which UNESCO has listed as a World Heritage Site. The mines are a unique place where many generations of Polish miners have created a world of underground chambers and decorated chapels carved out of salt, including the famous Chapel of St. Kinga. The group will visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Ludzmierz, the Niepokalanow Sanctuary, and the Franciscan Monastery, linked with St. Maximilian Kolbe, and have a chance to visit Auschwitz, where St. Maximilian Kolbe died a martyr. Other sites visited will be Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, a popular pilgrimage place for Pope St. John Paul II, and Zakopane, in the highlands of Poland, and the group will enjoy a peaceful river trip through the beautiful towering cliffs. Father Gladysz is from Krakow and is excited to be leading this pilgrimage to his homeland of Poland. For more information, contact Lisa Morris at 865-567-1245 or lisam@select-intl.com.

Father Bill and Sherri McNeeley are leading a Holy Land pilgrimage Sept. 13-22 with an optional post-tour to Rome from Sept. 22-26. Places visited will include Tel Aviv, Caesarea, Stella Maris, Nazareth, Tiberias, Cana, the Sea of Galilee, the Jordan River, Mount Tabor, Jericho, Jerusalem, Temple Model, Ein Karem, Bethlehem, Bethany, the Dead Sea, the Mount of Olives, Gethsemane, Mount Zion (Upper Room), the Western Wall, the Via Dolorosa, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. For more information, including pricing and a daily itinerary, visit www. pilgrimages.com/frmcneeley or contact Danielle at danielle@206tours.com

The Council of Catholic Women’s last Ladies Night Out was a bunco night Feb. 21 in the Haggard conference room.

Anniversaries: Tom and Mary Henrichs (59), Andrew and Carol Findish (58), Tom and Maureen Clemmons (53), Walter and Noralba Rickman (25)

Smoky Mountain Deanery

Holy Family, Seymour

The parish hosted a day of reflection with Father David Mary Engo, OFM, on Feb. 25. The day began with Mass and ended with confession, Benediction, and the vigil Mass.

Holy Ghost, Knoxville

The Knights of Columbus will be hosting the parish fish fries on Fridays during Lent in honor of the late Bob and Betty Montgomery. Proceeds will benefit the His Hands & Feet homeless ministry.

Holy Ghost’s annual fundraiser, the Blue & Gold Gala, is set for 5 p.m. Saturday, April 29, in the St. Joseph School gym. The event features the Bravura Academy Quartet, silent and live auctions, dinner, drinks, and dessert.

or 800-206-8687.

A pilgrimage to Greece, including a four-day Aegean cruise, is set for Sept. 18-29. Join Glenmary Father Steve Pawelk “In the Footsteps of St. Paul” as pilgrims visit the places where St. Paul preached the Gospel—Thessaloniki, Philippi, Corinth, and Athens— and visit the Meteora Monasteries. The Aegean cruise stops on the islands of Mykonos, Santorini, Crete, Rhodes, and Patmos and will also visit the ancient city of Ephesus, featuring some of the most magnificent excavations in the world, and visit Mary’s house. For more information, contact Lisa Morris at 865567-1245 or lisam@select-intl.com.

Join Father Michael Cummins on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land from Oct. 16-26, with an optional extension to Jordan from Oct. 26-29. Pilgrims will walk in the footsteps of Jesus, visiting the holy and sacred sites of His life, death, and resurrection. They will journey to Bethlehem, Bethany, Masada, Caesarea, Mount Carmel, and the Sea of Galilee area, including the Mount of Beatitudes, Nazareth, Capernaum, Magdala, and Tabgha. They will journey on to Mount Tabor, Jericho, the Mount of Temptation, the Jordan River, and the Dead Sea, then travel to Jerusalem, visiting the Mount of Olives, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Wailing Wall. They will have the blessing of walking the way of the cross, the Via Dolorosa. There will be the opportunity to extend the pilgrimage for three days, visiting Jordan, including Petra. For more information, contact Lisa Morris at 865-567-1245 or lisam@select-intl.com.

Mass in the extraordinary form (“traditional Latin”) is celebrated at noon each Sunday at Holy Ghost Church in Knoxville; every Sunday at 8 a.m. at St. Mary Church in Athens; at 2 p.m. each Sunday at St. Mary Church in Johnson City; at 6 p.m. most Thursdays at St. Mary Church in Oak Ridge; and at 11:30 a.m. every Sunday at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga. For more information, visit www.Knox LatinMass.net n

Immaculate Conception, Knoxville

The parish continues to collect items for Bags of Blessings that are given to the homeless. At last report, 1,495 bags had been donated. IC has a great need for donated gloves, hats, fleece blankets, and hand warmers. Since starting to collect blankets, the parish has given 123 to the homeless.

St. John XXIII, Knoxville

The parish Mardi Gras party took place Feb. 17. Performing onstage were Jeanine Fuller & the True Funk Souldiers, a band whose members include St. John XXIII’s own Marcel Holman, a professional musician, composer, and saxophonist who may be found playing with the parish’s weekend music groups. The Paulist Fathers held an open house Feb. 19 at their new residence on East Scott Avenue.

St. Joseph the Worker, Madisonville

Stations of the Cross are scheduled on Fridays throughout Lent. On Good Friday, pastor Father Julius Abuh will lead a bilingual Stations outdoors.

Anniversary: Al and Grace Jacobson (71) n

Calendar continued from page B5

Diocese celebrates Catholic Schools Week

The Diocese of Knoxville’s 10 schools celebrated Catholic Schools Week from Jan. 29 to Feb. 4. The national theme for the week this year was “Catholic Schools: Faith. Excellence. Service.” Schools typically observe the annual celebration with Masses, open houses, and other activities for students, families, parishioners, and community members. Bishop Richard F. Stika visited schools around the diocese during the week.

The 12th annual Knoxville Catholic High School Green & Gold Gala on Feb. 10 set records for attendance and giving. The event in the University of Tennessee Student Union ballroom drew more than 450 attendees and raised more than $225,000 for the school. Father Chris Michelson was honored as an “Irish Legend” at the gala. Father Michelson led the effort in the 1990s to move KCHS from its original campus on Magnolia Avenue in East Knoxville to its current location on Fox Lonas Road in West Knoxville, a move completed in 2000.

DR. KELLY KEARSE

Father Michelson honored at KCHS Green & Gold Gala

KCHS students go on pro-life pilgrimage to Missouri and Kansas Students from Knoxville Catholic High School participated in a pro-life pilgrimage to Missouri and Kansas over the President’s Day weekend. The students served residents at St. Agnes Nursing Home in St. Louis and worked at St. Mary’s Home for Mothers with KCHS grad and current Bishop James Vann Johnston Jr. in his Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph. Additionally, the students packed more than 400 “Blessing Bags” for Catholic Charities and visited with the Little Sisters of the Lamb in Kansas City, Kan. They assisted the Sisters with visiting their neighbors in the community. The students attended Mass and adoration at Benedictine College in Kansas before returning home. The generous support of St. John Neumann parishioners largely funded the pilgrimage. In the top photo with Bishop Johnston are his nephew and niece, KCHS junior Daniel Iverson and freshman Anna Iverson. Sophomore Frank Ligaj is shown in the second photo. In the bottom photo is Sister Madeline Rose Kraemer, OP.

Gatorade honors KCHS runner Keegan Smith

In its 38th year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, Gatorade on Jan. 30 announced that Keegan Smith of Knoxville Catholic High School is the 2022-23 Gatorade Tennessee Boys Cross Country Player of the Year, the second straight year the Fighting Irish runner has won the award.

Keegan is the second Gatorade Tennessee Boys Cross Country Player of the Year to be chosen from Knoxville Catholic High School, following Jake Renfree in 2018-19.

The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field, distinguishes Keegan as Tennessee’s best high school boys cross country player. Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Boys Cross Country Player of the Year award, Keegan joins an elite alumni association of state award-winners.

Keegan, a 5-foot-8, 117-pound sophomore, was the fastest Tennessean in the Saturday Light Fever Invitational Gold Varsity race this past season, clocking a personalbest time of 14:53.6 over 5K to take second. He was also the state’s top performer at the Champs Sports Southeast Regionals, where he crossed the line 13th in 15:20.8. He finished fourth at the Class AA state meet, pacing the Fighting Irish to a fourth-place team finish.

Keegan has volunteered locally on behalf of the Knoxville Bridge Ministry, serving meals monthly to hundreds of homeless. He has donated his time with the Columbus Home Children’s Shelter, Samaritan Place, and the Ladies of Charity of Knoxville.

“A 19-time national champion at the age-group level, Keegan Smith has continued his excellence on the prep scene,” said PrepCalTrack editor Rich Gonzalez. “Winning his second Gatorade Player of the Year award as a sophomore speaks volumes about his work ethic. His showing at Saturday Light Fever was a season highlight, but he then delivered an impressive top-15 fin-

ish at the Champs Sports Southeast Regionals.”

Keegan has maintained a 4.43 GPA in the classroom. He will begin his junior year of high school this fall.

The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track and field, and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport. The selection process is administered by the Gatorade Player of the Year Selection Committee, which leverages experts including coaches, scouts, media, and others as sources to help evaluate and determine the state winners in each sport.

Two-time winner Keegan joins recent Gatorade Tennessee Boys Cross Country Players of the Year Aiden Britt (2020-21, Lebanon High School), Silas Winders (2019-20, Henry County High School), and Mr. Renfree (2018-19, Knoxville Catholic High School), among the state’s list of former award-winners.

To learn more about the Gatorade Player of the Year program, check out past winners, or to nominate student-athletes, visit playeroftheyear.gatorade.com or follow on social media on Facebook at facebook.com/GatoradePOY, Instagram at instagram.com/Gatorade, and Twitter at twitter.com/ Gatorade. n

Knoxville Catholic’s Deondrea Lindsey named state’s top soph in basketball

Knoxville Catholic High School sophomore basketball standout Deondrea Lindsey was recently named the top player in the state for the 2025 signing class by 247Sports.

The 6-foot-7, 205-pound Deondrea is receiving collegiate offers from Division I programs Georgetown, Georgia Tech, Ole Miss, and SMU.

The Fighting Irish finished the season 20-8 after a 73-70 loss to Lipscomb Academy on Feb. 22 in the first round of the state tournament. n

Twelve sign with colleges and universities Feb. 1 at KCHS Knoxville Catholic High School hosted its third National Signing Day event of the 2022-23 school year Feb. 1 in the St. Gregory the Great Auditorium. Twelve student-athletes signed letters of intent. From left are Ella Jabaley, who signed with Averett University in volleyball; Gigi Sompayrac, Anderson University, tennis; Will Ramsey, Young Harris College, lacrosse; Henry Bertucci, Carson-Newman University, football; Richie DeLaCruz, Virginia Peninsula Community College, baseball; Evon Kolesar, King University, baseball; Ryan Theobald, King University, baseball; Miller Spence, Milligan University, baseball; Jacob Camfield, Asbury University, baseball; Joey LaMattina, Lincoln Memorial University, baseball; Emma Ackermann, University of Mount Union, swimming; and Evan Deichert, University of the Cumberlands, cross country and track.

Second-grader wins Catholic Schools Week essay contest

The diocesan Office of Catholic Schools congratulated Sacred Heart Cathedral School second-grader Adele Clark for winning the Catholic Schools Week essay contest for her grade. Adele’s teacher is Claudette Buccola.

Keegan Smith

Deondrea Lindsey

DR. KELLY KEARSE COURTESY OF THE OFFICE OF CATHOLIC SCHOOLS