March 6, 2022, ET Catholic, A section by Diocese of Knoxville

March 6

| 2022

VOL 31 NO 7

IN THIS ISSUE

A7 NEWLYWED REUNION

Cathedral couples would do it all again

A14

120 YEARS AND COUNTING Knights Council 645 is still making history

LIKE ST. TABITHA B1 BE All Saints sewing ministry helping women around the world

He dwells among us ......................... A3 Parish news ....................................... B4 Diocesan calendar ............................ B5 Columns ............................................. B6 Catholic youth .............................. B7,10 La Cosecha ............................Section C

SEEK22 regional event brings youth to diocese Nearly 1,000 FOCUS students attend conference in downtown Knoxville

By Gabrielle Nolan

GABRIELLE NOLAN (2)

raw near to God and He will draw near to you.” College students traveled to Knoxville to do just that for SEEK22, the annual winter conference hosted Feb. 4-6 by the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS). FOCUS has adapted SEEK the past two years due to the coronavirus pandemic. While the in-person conference usually is hosted in one central location for participants to travel to, recent years have seen a hybrid event of local, smaller gatherings that feature livestreamed talks. John Zimmer, vice president of apostolic development for FOCUS, was present in Knoxville to give a live talk and commented on the atmosphere of the regional gathering. “It is amazing. This experience of the kind of smaller, regional conferences is really just a microcosm of what we do on a grand scale,” Mr. Zimmer said. “The conferences always have a role of helping people fall more in love with Jesus Christ and then recognizing that they’re called to mission.” Students, families, and parish leaders gathered at campuses, homes, or parishes all around the country, including Dallas, Miami, Orange, Calif., and Kansas City, Mo. Nationally, nearly 12,000 students gathered at campuses for the SEEK experience. Internationally, groups met in countries such as Ireland, England, Austria, and Mexico. The regional event held at the Knoxville Convention Center hosted 15 campuses from five states, including Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky, Ohio, and Illinois. The conference drew a total crowd of 1,100 that included missionaries, benefactors, and mission partners. More than 90 percent of attendees were college students. In addition to his current role, Mr. Zimmer has previously served as a campus missionary and overseen the training and formation of missionary staff. “What we exist to do, really, is

SEEK and ye shall find Above: Students attending the FOCUS SEEK22 conference in Knoxville in February chat up the Holy Fathers, who were in facsimile attendance. Below: Bishop Richard F. Stika, who celebrated Mass for students attending the SEEK22 conference, visits with students after Mass.

to evangelize college students, yes, but then to launch them so they can go back to wherever they are,

whether that’s their college campus, whether that’s their neighborhood, and when they leave college to bring it into their workplaces, anywhere they go, their parish,” he said. “Part of what has always been at the heart of the conferences is that this isn’t about FOCUS. This is about Jesus Christ and the Great Commission,” Mr. Zimmer explained. “What we’re trying to do is bring the light of Christ and the enthusiasm of young people to the world.”

The atmosphere was energetic, alive, and full of emotion. Throughout the weekend, college students mentored and counseled one another. Some ran about waving their school flags with pride. Some students left the conference room crying, while others lifted their hands in worship as praise-filled music penetrated the air. Still others were heard through the hallways saying, “I love these people. I love being Catholic.” The conference being located adjacent to the University of Tennessee meant that a large showing of students would be clad in bright orange. Thomas Gardiner, a senior at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, said it was his first time attending a SEEK conference. “I kind of started taking my faith seriously more in college,” Mr. Gardiner said. “Everyone talked about

‘What are you waiting for?’

SEEK22 continued on page A15

FOCUS missionaries are changing lives by bringing the Catholic faith to university students By Claire Collins

y sophomore year of college at the University of Tennessee, I was getting closer and closer to leaving the Catholic

Church. While my Dominican Catholic education had convinced me of Jesus’ presence in the Eucharist, not much else was attracting my attention like the non-denominational ministry I also attended every week on campus. They were dynamic, welcoming, Gospel-centered, and many of my new college friends could be found there. Then, as if placed there in perfect divine providence, a team of missionaries with the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) was sent to UT-Knoxville. I had heard from a friend about her incredible experience with FOCUS on

Column her campus, so I reached out to our FOCUS team director, Andrea, and attended a FOCUS SEEK conference that year with 6,000 other young Catholics. I couldn’t believe what I saw and heard those few days in Orlando, Fla.: young people alive for their faith, dynamic speakers with life-changing messages, college students on their knees adoring our eucharistic Lord. And my life was never the same. Back on campus, Andrea saw my hunger for the truth and invited me to pursue it more intentionally. She answered many of the theological questions I had come across during my years of searching. I then became a FOCUS student leader

on campus and began meeting regularly with Andrea. She taught me different ways to pray, how to lead a Bible study, how to evangelize and share the basics of the Gospel message with others and inspired me to want to start sharing my faith in a more direct and intentional way. I promised to live chastely, with sobriety, and personal excellence in my own life to the best of my ability. I had a lot to learn about the faith and how to lead others in it, but I was hungry and excited to follow where the Holy Spirit was leading. This lasted throughout the rest of my college experience, and I was able to lead Bible studies and mentor other students, develop a more regular prayer and sacramental life, and make some great friends in a beautiful and growing Catholic FOCUS continued on page A16

Traditional Catholics’ fears eased with papal decree; questions remain

he announcement on Feb. 21 that Pope Francis has allowed the traditional Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP) to continue celebrating the sacraments according to the liturgical books of 1962 has naturally been welcomed by the institute but at the same time provoked a number of questions. When Pope Francis promulgated Traditionis Custodes (Guardians of the Tradition) last July, he imposed sweeping restrictions — seemingly without distinction — on traditional priests and communities who celebrate the sacraments according to the liturgical books in use before the 1970 reforms of Pope St. Paul VI. Since that time, traditional institutes that exclusively celebrate the sacraments according to the old rite have been left in the dark wondering whether the restrictions, which include giving bishops and the Holy See significant authority over celebration of the old rite and a stated desire to make the reformed liturgy the “unique expression”

EDWARD PENTIN/NATIONAL CATHOLIC REGISTER, EWTN

By Edward Pentin National Catholic Register

Permission to carry on Priests of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter offer Mass at Santissima Trinità dei Pellegrini, the FSSP parish in Rome. Pope Francis has said the FSSP order can continue celebrating Mass and the sacraments according to the liturgical books of 1962. of the Roman rite, would apply to them. As well as the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP), the largest of these societies of apostolic life include the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest (ICKSP) and the Institut du Bon Pasteur (IBP). About the only certainty they had

Sr. Regina

was that the Vatican office charged with dealing with them was to be switched, from the former Ecclesia Dei commission in the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to a new department in the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. But the ambiguities and concerns

didn’t end there. As a consequence of the motu proprio, both traditional priests and institutes in the Diocese of Rome were obliged to follow an Oct. 7 pastoral instruction from the Vicariate of Rome that forbade six of the seven sacraments celebrated in the old rite. The institutes’ concerns deepened when, on Dec. 18, the prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, Archbishop Arthur Roche, tightened the controls even further through a papally approved document on applying Traditionis Custodes called a Responsa ad dubia. The document, whose legal force has been questioned by canonists, banned celebration of traditional rites for marriages, baptisms, confessions, last rites, and burials, except in “canonically erected personal parishes.” Most concerning for the institutes was that the document prohibited confirmations and ordinations according to the older form of the Roman rite, potentially causing grave consequences for their seminaries and the institutes’ ability to attract Latin Mass continued on page A7

How to sign up and qualify for Diocese of Knoxville’s safe-environment program

T Did you know you can receive weekly cartoons and short reflections and news from the Handmaids of the Precious Blood? Visit their website, nuns for priests.org, and sign up for the FIAT newsletter. You also can learn about praying for priests and adopting them.

March Prayer Intentions “We pray for Christians facing new bioethical challenges; may they continue to defend the dignity of all human life with prayer and action.” –– Pope Francis

“God, we give thanks to You. Our lives are often dominated by selfish desires and concerns. We humbly remind ourselves in prayer that it is because of You that we are here, and that all our words and works should reflect Your glory and goodness. Amen.” –– Bishop Stika

DIOCESE PROCEDURE

FOR

KNOXVILLE

REPORTING

SEXUAL

ABUSE

Anyone who has actual knowledge of or who has reasonable cause to suspect an incident of sexual abuse should report such information to the appropriate civil authorities first, then to the bishop's office 865.584.3307, or the diocesan victims' assistance coordinator, Marla Lenihan, 865.482.1388.

he Diocese of Knoxville has implemented the CMG Connect platform to administer the Safe Environment Program, which replaces the former Safe Environment Program (VIRTUS “Protecting God’s Children”). CMG Connect is a web-based platform that will assist in ensuring that all employees and volunteers who are in a position of trust with children and vulnerable adults within Diocese of Knoxville schools and parishes are trained to recognize behavior patterns of potential abusers and provide pro-active measures for preventing abuse in any context. “Safe Haven-It’s Up to You” is a three-part video that provides vignettes of real-life situations to educate the viewer about methods of grooming, desensitization, bullying, and neglect, all of which can lead to abuse. Each part of the video is immediately followed by a brief questionnaire to further develop understanding. Education is a key

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element of the Safe Environment Program. All clergy, employees, contracted school personnel, volunteers, members of groups and organizations over the age of 18 who work, volunteer, or participate in any capacity are required to complete the diocesan Safe Environment training and a criminal-background check before they can begin employment, volunteer, or participate with ministries, groups, and organizations affiliated with the Diocese of Knoxville. In addition, the mandatory renewal training must be completed every five years and a new background check submitted before the five-year expiration of prior training. The Diocese of Knoxville Safe Environment compliance training and renewal training is a condition of employment and for volunteer ministry in the Diocese of Knoxville. The CMG Connect

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platform contains all three elements of the Diocese of Knoxville’s Safe Environment Program: n Annual review of the Diocese of Knoxville’s Policy and Procedures Relating to Sexual Misconduct; n CMG Connect Safe Haven training program to be completed every five years; n Criminal background check to be completed every five years. In compliance with the Diocese of Knoxville’s Safe Environment Program, all affiliates require that volunteers and employees complete the requirements prior to working and/or volunteering in a parish, school, The Paraclete, or through Catholic Charities and/or St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic. Go to https:// dioknox.org/safeenvironment on the Diocese of Knoxville website for more information. ■

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NEWS FROM THE DIOCESE OF KNOXVILLE PUBLISHER

EDITOR

Bishop Richard F. Stika Bill Brewer COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR

bbrewer@dioknox.org ASSISTANT EDITOR

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jwogan@dioknox.org THE EAST TENNESSEE CATHOLIC (USPS 007211) is published bi-monthly by The Diocese of Knoxville, 805 S. Northshore Drive, Knoxville, TN 37919-7551. Periodicals-class postage paid at Knoxville, TN. Printed by the Knoxville News Sentinel. THE EAST TENNESSEE CATHOLIC is mailed to all registered Catholic families in East Tennessee. Subscription rate for others is $15 per year in the United States. Make checks payable to The Diocese of Knoxville. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to THE EAST TENNESSEE CATHOLIC, 805 S. Northshore Drive, Knoxville, TN 37919-7551.

A2 n MARCH 6, 2022

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

He dwells among us

by Bishop Richard F. Stika

Who am I? The question Jesus asks all of us is the key to knowing our true identity and purpose in life “Today, I must stay at your house.” — Luke 19:5

elcoming Christ. It is generally considered rude to invite oneself to another’s house. But in the case of Zacchaeus the tax collector, he received Christ into his home “with joy.” And these are the same words Christ repeats to us every day. For by virtue of our baptism, each of us is a house of God, His holy temple (cf. 1 Corinthians 3:9,16) where Christ desires to dwell. And the more that Christ is the guest of our heart, the more we learn our true identity and purpose in life. The more we grow in friendship with Christ, the greater our joy will be. A growing crisis. We live in a time of terrible crisis, one far worse than any other—a crisis of identity. So many people do not know who they are and are desperately searching to discover an identity that defines who they are as a person and that gives meaning and direction to their life. If a person does not know who they are, then neither will they know how to act, for purpose is inseparably tied to identity. At the heart of the growing turmoil in our society is a crisis of identity. A fruitless search. The reason so many people suffer from depression and anger in our modern age, according to Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen, is because people “are in a fruitless and constant search for the infinite in the finite,

for God in carnality.” Despite all the material and technological advantages of modern society, people seem more unhappy and sad than ever. And this is because we are not only a physical being, but a composite of body and soul. What our heart truly seeks. Throughout history, the painful experience of seeking one’s identity on a merely physical and horizontal dimension is the same. More than 1,600 years ago, St. Augustine described his own painful search for identity and purpose: “I was seeking for you outside of myself, and I failed to find the God of my heart.” Such are those who try to find their identity in something outside of themselves, for “Our heart is restless until it rests in you.” The universal question. If we ask Jesus the question, “Who am I, Lord, and what is my purpose in life?” Jesus will answer us by asking us a question that is the very key to our identity: “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15). It is the same question He posed to his disciples in which Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” For to the degree we seek to know who Christ truly is and desire Him to reign in our hearts is the degree we can answer the primal question, “Who am I and what must I do?”

This is why the Church, to paraphrase the Second Vatican Council, emphasizes, “It is Christ Jesus who fully reveals to us who we are and makes our supreme calling clear.” Identity and vocation. Our first name, in truth, is “Christian” for it is our core baptismal identity. So, only by living this core identity can we give true expression to all the lesser identities reflective of our state in life—as a husband or wife, father or mother, son or daughter, doctor or mechanic, teacher or student, and the many more that are expressive of our dignity and talents. But without a prayerful relationship with Christ, we are unable to perceive, much less truly live our vocation in life. And without a growing friendship with Christ, the weight of our vocation and our crosses eventually overwhelm us. The need for friendship. The crisis of identity in our society also is closely related to another: loneliness, a lack of friendship. Loneliness is a terrible thing. Reinforcing what is increasingly obvious in our society, studies reveal that more people than ever claim to have no one whom they consider a close friend, no one in their life who they feel really “knows them” as a person. Friendship is so important that the saints remind us it is one of the very reasons why Jesus remains

Follow Bishop Richard Stika on Facebook for news and events from the diocese.

with us in the Eucharist—His Real Presence should be for us the experience of real friendship. An ever-present friend. It has been the unwavering, unchanging teaching of the Church from its very beginning that Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist—Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity. Though His physical being is veiled to our eyes, He is no less present to us in the Eucharist than He was to His disciples. But with the eyes of faith, our heart recognizes Him in the Blessed Sacrament and begins to recognize Him in the poor and suffering. Did not Jesus say to St. Thomas, “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed?” (John 20:29). Eucharistic friendship. Christ’s Real Presence calls for our presence. In this great season of Lent, try to make a habit of spending time, as often as possible, before the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. Confide in Him as friends do; open your heart up to Jesus—share your loneliness, your struggles, and troubles with Him. And learn from Christ who you truly are by pondering that question of questions He asks of each of us: “Who do you say I am?” Our joy and Christ’s. May the joy of receiving Christ into your heart in every Mass allow Christ to also rejoice as He did with Zacchaeus saying, “Today salvation has come to this house…. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost” (Luke 19: 9-10). ■

Bishop Stika’s schedule of Masses and public events These are some of Bishop Stika’s upcoming public appointments: n Wednesday, March 2: noon. Celebrate Mass at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and distribute ashes for Ash Wednesday. n Saturday, March 5: 1 p.m. Rite of Election for the Chattanooga and Five Rivers deaneries at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. n Sunday, March 6: noon. Celebrate Mass and install Father Sam Sturm as pastor of Christ the King Parish in Tazewell. n Sunday, March 6: 4 p.m. Rite of Election for the Cumberland Mountain and Smoky Mountain deaneries at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. n Saturday, March 12: 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Men of Five Rivers Deanery are hosting a day of prayer, reflection, renewal, and fellowship at St. Dominic Church in Kingsport. Bishop Richard F. Stika will celebrate Mass at 1 p.m. Father Tom Charters, pastor of St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Erwin and a Glenmary Home Missioner priest, and Daniel Schachle, who is directly involved in the cause for sainthood of Blessed Father Michael J. McGivney, are guest speakers. n Sunday, March 13: 10 a.m. Celebrating Mass at St. Mary Church in Athens. Bishop Stika’s public schedule continued on page A7

Pope Francis: Those who seek worldly rewards never find or foster peace

rayer, charity, and fasting have a medicinal power to purify oneself, help others, and change history, Pope Francis wrote in a homily read by Cardinal Pietro Parolin. Prayer, charity and fasting “are weapons of the spirit and, with them, on this day of prayer and fasting for Ukraine, we implore from God that peace which men and women are incapable of building by themselves,” the pope wrote. Italian Cardinal Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, presided over the March 2 Ash Wednesday Mass instead of Pope Francis, who had been prescribed rest for severe knee pain by his doctors. The 85-year-old pope had led the weekly general audience earlier in the day. Before Mass, Cardinal Parolin, other cardinals, bishops, religious, and lay faithful walked from the Benedictine monastery of St. Anselm to the Dominican-run Basilica of Santa Sabina. At the basilica, Cardinal Parolin received ashes on the top of his head from Cardinal Jozef Tomko, titular cardinal of the basilica, and distributed ashes to a number of cardinals, Benedictines, Dominicans, and others attending the Mass.

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

CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE PHOTO/VATICAN MEDIA

By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service

Papal prayers for Ukraine Ukrainian Father Marek Viktor Gongalo, a Franciscan friar, serves as the Polish translator during Pope Francis’ general audience at the Vatican on March 2. The pope addressed Polish pilgrims and praised their country’s welcoming of refugees fleeing Ukraine. The rite of receiving ashes helps people reflect on “the transience of our human condition,” the pope wrote in his homily. It is like a medicine that has a bitter taste and yet is effective for curing the illness of appearances, a spiritual illness that enslaves us and makes us dependent on the admiration of others.” “Those who seek worldly rewards never find peace or contribute to peace. They lose sight of the Father and their brothers and sisters,” he wrote. “Let us make a diagnosis of the appearances

that we seek, and let us try to unmask them. It will do us good.” Lent is also a journey of healing, he wrote, that requires living each day with “a renewed spirit, a different ‘style’” that is aided by prayer, charity, and fasting, he wrote. “Purified by the Lenten ashes, purified of the hypocrisy of appearances,” prayer, charity, and fasting “become even more powerful and restore us to a living relationship with God, our brothers and sisters, and ourselves,” he wrote.

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“Lenten charity, purified by these ashes, brings us back to what is essential, to the deep joy to be found in giving,” without pride and ostentation, but hidden and “far from the spotlights,” wrote the pope. And, he wrote, fasting is not a diet for the body, but a way to keep the spirit healthy, freeing people from being self-centered. Fasting should also not be restricted to food alone, he wrote. “Especially during Lent, we should fast from anything that can create in us any kind of addiction,” so that fasting will have an actual impact on one’s life. “Prayer, charity, and fasting are not medicines meant only for ourselves, but for everyone. Because they can change history,” because those who experience their effects “almost unconsciously pass them on to others,” and because these are “the principal ways for God to intervene in our lives and in the world,” he wrote. In his written homily, the pope asked people to stop being in a rush and to find the time to stand in silence before God. “Let us rediscover the fruitfulness and simplicity of a heartfelt dialogue with the Lord. For God is not interested in appearances. Instead, he loves to be found in secret, ‘the secrecy of love,’ far from all ostentation and clamor.” ■ MARCH 6, 2022 n A3

Archbishop Kurtz retires; pope names Bishop Fabre as successor New archbishop to lead Louisville Province will be installed on March 30 in Kentucky

By Catholic News Service and The Record

CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

ope Francis has accepted the resignation of Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Ky., and appointed as his successor Bishop Shelton J. Fabre of Houma-Thibodaux in southeastern Louisiana. Archbishop Fabre, 58, is one of 12 of the U.S. Catholic Church’s African American prelates and he will be the first African American archbishop of Louisville. The newly named archbishop has headed the Louisiana diocese since 2013. He previously served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of New Orleans from 2006 to 2013. He is chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism. Archbishop Kurtz turned 75 on Aug. 18, and as required by canon law, he turned in his resignation to the pope when he reached 75. He has headed the Louisville Archdiocese since August 2007. The changes were announced Feb. 8 in Washington, D.C., by Archbishop Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio. Bishop Richard F. Stika and Cardinal Justin Rigali welcomed Archbishop Fabre to the Louisville Province. “With great joy, and on behalf of the faithful of the Diocese of Knoxville and Cardinal Justin Rigali, I extend my personal welcome and prayers for Bishop Shelton Fabre on his appointment by Pope Francis to become the next Archbishop of Louisville. I look forward to attending his installation Mass,” Bishop Stika said. “I also want to extend my gratitude to Archbishop Joseph Kurtz, who now embarks on his richly deserved retirement. His leadership in our province and his past leadership as the second Bishop of Knoxville have been immensely important to our Church and to me personally. May God bless both these men on their new endeavors.” Archbishop Fabre will be installed as the fifth archbishop of Louisville during a Mass March 30 at the Kentucky International Convention Center in downtown Louisville. His episcopal motto is “Comfort My People,” which he chose when he was ordained a bishop in 2007 as an auxiliary of New Orleans. He helped with rebuilding efforts that followed the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Eight years later, he was appointed the bishop of HoumaThibodaux. In August 2021, his diocese and other parts of southern Louisiana suffered devastation wrought by Hurricane Ida. Regarding his motto, he said in a Feb. 8 statement that the words “are dear to my heart because they capture what I have always desired to do as a bishop, as a pastor of souls. I sincerely believe our Lord is communicating these words to his people right now.” Shelton Joseph Fabre was born Oct. 25, 1963, in New Roads, La., the fifth of six children. He graduated in 1981 as valedictorian of Catholic High School of Pointe Coupée, La. He entered St. Joseph Seminary College in St. Benedict, La., graduating with a bachelor’s degree in history in 1985. He continued his studies in Belgium at the American College in Louvain, a seminary that was affiliated with the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium. He earned a bachelor of religious studies degree in 1987 and a master of religious studies degree in 1989 from the Catholic university. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Baton Rouge, La., on Aug. 5, 1989, and went on to serve

Change at the top Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, left, whose resignation has been accepted by Pope Francis, will be succeeded by Bishop Shelton J. Fabre of Houma-Thibodaux in Louisiana. as a pastor and associate pastor. He also served as a chaplain at Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola, defender of the bond for the diocese’s marriage tribunal, and dean of the diocese’s Northwest Deanery. He also served on the diocesan priests’ council, college of consultors, school board, and clergy personnel board. He was chairman of pastoral planning and director of the Office of Black Catholics. As chairman of the bishops’ Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism, Archbishop Fabre led the writing of “Open Wide Our Hearts—The Enduring Call to Love,” approved by the body of bishops in 2018. In March 2021, Archbishop Fabre discussed the pastoral letter with about 150 people in the Archdiocese of Louisville when he led an Archdiocesan Leadership Institute on the subject. During the event, conducted online due to the pandemic, he centered his talk on “witnessing to the dignity of the human person as an antidote to the grave sin of racism.” He offered his listeners—including archdiocesan and parish leaders—six ways to respond to racism. He told them, “The work is hard and the work is slow, but the work must be done. It’s our call as a Church and our task as disciples of Jesus Christ.” The following month, he and Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, in a joint statement, urged Catholics to “join in the hard work of peacefully rebuilding what hatred and frustration has torn down.” “This is the true call of a disciple and the real work of restorative justice,” Bishop Fabre and Archbishop Coakley said. “Let us not lose the opportunity to pray that the Holy Spirit falls like a flood on our land again, as at Pentecost, providing us with spiritual, emotional, and physical healing, as well as new ways to teach, preach, and model the Gospel message in how we treat each other.” The two chairmen’s statement followed the jury’s April 20, 2021, verdict finding former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin guilty in the death of George Floyd. Archbishop Fabre is a former chairman of the USCCB’s Subcommittee on African-American Affairs and currently serves on the board of Catholic Relief Services, the U.S. bishops’ overseas relief and development agency. As the archbishop of Louisville, he will shepherd about 156,000 Catholics in 24 counties of central

Kentucky, from the Ohio River to the Tennessee border. The archdiocese, which dates to 1808, has 110 parishes that cover 8,124 miles. About 20,000 students are served by 48 schools from kindergarten to high school. And as the Archbishop of Louisville, he will lead the Louisville province, of which the dioceses of Knoxville, Nashville, and Memphis in Tennessee, and Covington, Lexington, and Owensboro in Kentucky are a part. Archbishop Kurtz served as the second bishop of Knoxville from 1999-2007 before being elevated to archbishop. He was succeeded in East Tennessee by Bishop Stika. Born on Aug. 18, 1946, in Mahanoy City, Pa., Archbishop Kurtz was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Allentown on March 18, 1972. He served there for 27 years before becoming the Bishop of Knoxville. Pope Benedict XVI appointed Archbishop Kurtz as the fourth archbishop and ninth bishop of the Archdiocese of Louisville on June 12, 2007. He was installed as archbishop of Louisville on Aug. 15, 2007. Archbishop Kurtz was elected vice president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops from 2010 to 2013 by his peers and then served as president of the governing organization of the Catholic Church in the United States from 2013 to 2016. He has reflected on his time as archbishop since submitting his resignation. “I hope that I’ve been empowered and inspired leaders to take on the mind and heart of Jesus Christ in serving others,” he said in August. As far as the future of the Catholic Church goes, he hopes to see celebration of the good, addressing the challenges it faces straight on, and a continued effort to serve people accurately in the modern world. “We do it by listening,” he said. “We do it by our interaction with others, and, of course, we do it by being true to the truths of our faith. We don’t change our teachings every day, but we do look at the way in which they’re being heard and lived and how we can foster a fuller life of Christ in our Church,” he said. Archbishop Kurtz was diagnosed with prostate and bladder cancer in 2019 and underwent several rounds of treatment at Duke Cancer Center in North Carolina. He has been in remission since January 2020. Though he has said he’s feeling healthy and gets CAT scans every six months, Archbishop Kurtz believed his recent medical history would cause Pope Francis to select a new archbishop sooner rather than later.

“I don’t know whether it will be weeks or will it be months, but I’m going to get up every day and do my best to serve well and kind of hold my excitement until we hear who the new archbishop will be,” Archbishop Kurtz said in August. The Archdiocese of Louisville was founded as the Diocese of Bardstown in 1808, transferred to Louisville in 1841, and elevated to archdiocese in 1937. It is the oldest Roman Catholic archdiocese west of the Appalachians. The archdiocese covers 24 counties and is home to more than 200,000 Catholics. The transition into retirement is bittersweet, Archbishop Kurtz said in a Feb. 10 letter to priests, two days after Archbishop Fabre was named his successor. “While I rejoice with all my heart in Archbishop Shelton’s presence and leadership among us and pledged my support for him and my desire to do all in my ability to serve with him, I also embrace the Lord’s call for me to open a new chapter in the book of my life,” Archbishop Kurtz wrote in the letter, which he later shared in a leadership briefing. Archbishop Kurtz has been named apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Louisville until the installation of Archbishop Fabre on March 30. At that time he will retire, though he will retain the title archbishop. “As Archbishop Kelly did almost 15 years ago when I became the archbishop, I will take time away from the archdiocese for a few months in order to give Archbishop Shelton full opportunity to become the archbishop and to set his own pace,” he explained in the letter. During that time, Archbishop Kurtz said he plans to go to his home in Wilmington, N.C., and return to Louisville in the short term for a few major events. His home is close to the Duke Cancer Institute, where he is monitored for cancer. He said at a press conference in August that a year and a half after treatment and surgery he remained cancer-free. After living in North Carolina for a few months, he said in the letter, he intends to stay at St. Patrick Church’s rectory in the Louisvillearea community of Eastwood along with three other priests already in residence there, including the pastor Father Jeffrey Shooner. He said he hopes to help Archbishop Fabre, as needed, and spend time in Wilmington, as well. He concluded his letter by noting that the Archdiocese of Louisville will send a financial gift to help the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, currently led by Archbishop Fabre, with recovery from Hurricane Ida. The storm dealt a devastating blow to the area in southern Louisiana in August. Archbishop Kurtz asked the priests to consider if their parishes could contribute something “as circumstances allow,” but did not ask them to hold a collection, since there have been numerous second collections lately, including for tornado recovery in Kentucky. He also asked for the prayers of his brother priests. “Please continue to pray for me that I might continue to serve Jesus Christ as his holy priest and be assured that each day, I will be praying for you,” the retiring archbishop wrote. ■ Marnie McAllister of The Record newspaper in the Archdiocese of Louisville contributed to this report.

Installation Mass for the next archbishop of Louisville n Who: Bishop Shelton J. Fabre of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux in Louisiana as the fifth archbishop and 10th bishop of the Archdiocese of Louisville. n When: 2 p.m. on Wednesday, March 30. n Where: Kentucky International Convention Center, 221 S. 4th St., Louisville, Ky. n What: A public reception will follow in the Kentucky International Convention Center.

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

Scholars. Leaders. Saints.

(and Future microbiologists)

The Diocese of Knoxville Catholic Schools Educating The Whole Child TH E EAST T E N N E S S E E C AT HO L I C

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MARCH 6, 2022 n A5

‘What is your cross?’

GABRIELLE NOLAN DR. KELLY KEARSE

Observing Ash Wednesday Above left and bottom: Bishop Richard F. Stika and Deacon Walt Otey place ashes on parishioners young and older at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus on March 2. Above right: Father Christopher Floersh places ashes on a Knoxville Catholic High School student during Mass at All Saints Church on March 2. Below left: Deacon Joe Stackhouse presents ashes for a Knoxville Catholic High School student at All Saints. Below right: A University of Tennessee student who is a eucharistic minister places ashes on a UT coed at St. John XXIII University Parish during Mass on Ash Wednesday.

BILL BREWER

GABRIELLE NOLAN

DR. KELLY KEARSE

Bishop Stika, priests enter Lenten season by celebrating Ash Wednesday

Help Save Lives from March 2 – April 10, 2022

From staff reports

iocese of Knoxville faithful entered the holiest of Christian seasons on March 2 by receiving the sign of the cross during Ash Wednesday Masses. Diocesan priests welcomed full churches as adults and students enthusiastically took part in the liturgy to begin Lent. Ashes were plentiful as were the number of Catholics receiving them on their foreheads. Bishop Richard F. Stika was greeted by an large congregation as he celebrated Ash Wednesday Mass at noon at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. In his homily, Bishop Stika emphasized that all are sinners weighed down by the sins we carry. Jesus bore the weight of the cross for our sins. “Why are you here today? It’s not a Sunday or a Saturday, it’s not a holy day of obligation, we’re not giving away free fish at the fish fry. Why are you here today? You know, I think there’s something about Ash Wednesday that uncovers something from our very person that maybe we don’t even like to talk about during the rest of the year… that we’re sinners,” the bishop said. “Just think, what is your cross? What do you bear with you today that you would actually give to God?” the bishop asked. He emphasized forgiveness that Jesus offers to all through the sacrament of reconciliation. “We’re all sinners, we all carry those things in our life that we’re not happy with or we wish we could profoundly change. And so the Church, in her wisdom, has given us this great retreat, this great moment in which we just say to ourLent continued on page A18

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With God, all things are possible!

With these words as our prayer,

Knoxville will again join hundreds of other cities for our 14th 40 Days for Life campaign, which will be held during Lent from March 2 to April 10, 2022. Our campaigns offer a witness of love and hope that are prayerful, peaceful and law-abiding. Since 2007… … the 40 Days for Life has become worldwide movement of 64 nations … over 1,000,000 volunteers and 20,000 churches have participated … 20,689 babies have been saved during 40 Days for Life vigils … 229 abortion workers have quit after experiencing conversions … 114 abortion facilities have closed their doors 40 Days for Life features three components:

1. PRAYER AND FASTING 2. PEACEFUL VIGIL Stand for life in a peaceful public witness outside of KNOXVILLE CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH ABORTION CENTER 1547 Clinch Ave Knoxville, TN 37916 Mar 2 to Apr 10 3. COMMUNITY OUTREACH

CONTACT Paul Simoneau – Diocese of Knoxville psimoneau@dioknox.org Lisa Morris – lccte@bellsouth.net t www.di o k no x .o rg

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

Wedding celebration welcomes back Sacred Heart newlyweds Dozens of couples married at new cathedral since 2018 reunite to mark National Marriage Week USA By Gabrielle Nolan

Latin Mass continued from page A2

vocations. Adding to their anxiety was an interview Archbishop Roche gave the Catholic Register days after publishing the Responsa, in which he said that although his congregation had not made any statement about the institutes, they were bound to use the new rite of ordination approved by Paul VI. ‘Happy and relieved’ But with his Feb. 11 decree, Pope Francis has significantly allayed some of those fears, at least for the FSSP. He told the priestly fraternity that Traditionis Custodes does not apply to them, and that “each and every” member of that institute has “the faculty to celebrate the sacrifice of the Mass, and to carry out the sacraments and other sacred rites, as well as to fulfill the Divine Office, according to the typical editions of the liturgical books, namely the Missal, the Ritual, the Pontifical, and the Roman Breviary, in force in the year 1962.” Pope Francis added that they may use this faculty “in their own churches or oratories; otherwise it may only be used with the consent of the Ordinary of the place, except for the celebration of private Masses,” and that “as far as possible, the provisions of the motu proprio Traditionis Custodes [are to] be taken into account as well.” “We are all happy and relieved,” the superior general of the FSSP, Father Andrzej Komorowski, told the Catholic Register on Feb. 22. “I don’t know how it’s going to work out in practice yet. In my opinion many bishops are very surprised.” “We will see how they [bishops] Bishop’s schedule continued from page A3

n Saturday, March 19: 5 p.m. Bishop Stika will confer the sacrament of confirmation at St. Elizabeth Church in Elizabethton. n Sunday, March 20: 11 a.m. Bishop Stika will celebrate Mass and confer the sacrament of confirmation at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Mountain City. n Wednesday, March 23: Catholic Day on the Hill at the state legislature in Nashville. TH E EAST T E N N E S S E E C AT HO L I C

GABRIELLE NOLAN (2)

early 50 married couples gathered at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in Knoxville for an evening to celebrate their unique marriages. The event, which took place the evening of Feb. 18, was open to all couples who have married at the cathedral, as well as to those couples who are parishioners but married elsewhere. The celebration was intentionally planned for the Friday after Valentine’s Day, which marked the completion of National Marriage Week USA, an annual opportunity for the “Catholic Church to focus on and celebrate the vocation to marriage and family life,” according to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops website. “We are consistently looking for ways to continue to touch people’s lives after they receive a sacrament,” said Scott Barron, director of the cathedral’s campus events. “Once they walk out those doors, we don’t want to lose that touchpoint with them.” Father David Boettner, rector of the cathedral, welcomed the couples with a blessing. “A wedding oftentimes is viewed as something that just happens at a moment in time,” Father Boettner said. “But our theology of marriage is that the choice to be married is something that’s made every day, and so really, we are encouraging you to celebrate your wedding every day of your marriage. And so we begin that way this evening.”

Celebrating marriage Above: Caitlin and Taylor Crosby were among nearly 50 couples who participated in a marriage celebration at Sacred Heart Cathedral on Feb. 18. Below: Deacon Walt Otey of Sacred Heart Parish leads participants in a version of The Newlywed Game during the newlywed reunion in the Sacred Heart parish hall.

The bilingual event was presented in English and Spanish, “so everyone feels welcomed,” Mr. Barron said. After a buffet-style dinner, four couples volunteered to participate in the timeless party activity The Newlywed Game. Deacon Walt Otey, director of evangelization and faith formation at the cathedral, led the divided groups of husbands and wives to provide their own answers to questions such as: n What is one thing you want your husband to throw away? n What was your wife wearing on your first date? n What does your spouse do that drives you crazy? When the husbands and wives were brought back together to see how their answers compared, hilarity ensued as spouses shared different responses. The event also included a marriage enrichment video, as well as a questionnaire for couples to thoughtfully (and sometimes humorously) write out responses to questions related to their marriage, such as: n Is marriage easier or harder than you thought? n What is the best marriage advice you’ve received? n What do you like most about married life? Throughout the course of the evening a projected slideshow ran in the background, showcasing the photos of couples on their wedding days. “I’ve gotten e-mails and pictures from couples all over the country that have been married here and

The evening kicked off inside the cathedral hall with fun table icebreakers, allowing the couples

to meet one another and share stories of their respective wedding days.

read and understand this document,” he added. “I don’t expect a revolution.” He also said that apart from the reference to Traditionis Custodes, the Pope’s new decree “is basically the same that we had from the Ecclesia Dei commission in 1988.” But other questions remain, including: n Why, seven months on since the promulgation of Traditionis Custodes, did it take so long for the Holy Father to give the FSSP this clarification? n Could this decree apply to the other institutes? n And will the FSSP, despite this decree, be prevented from establishing new personal parishes (those created to better serve a particular community with their own rite, language, nationality etc.), as stipulated by Traditionis Custodes, thereby thwarting their ability to grow? Regarding the erection of new personal parishes, Father Komorowski said bishops “are still responsible for new apostolates” and so he did not think “the provisions of this decree change anything. “It is just a confirmation for us (in discussions with the bishops) that we have the right to remain who we are (celebrating only the traditional Latin Mass),” he said. “The pastoral aspects are all in bishops’ hands.” Joseph Shaw, chairman of the Latin Mass Society in the United Kingdom, told the Register that the ban on new personal parishes continues but Article 3.2 of the motu proprio “encouraged bishops to find locations and regular celebrants so shrines and chaplaincies can be established” and so alternatives can be found. Further questions are why news

of this decree was delayed in being officially announced by the Holy See and whether the FSSP in Rome will still be bound by the Vicariate of Rome’s pastoral instruction. Time will tell if the Diocese of Rome lifts its restrictions on the FSSP to celebrate all the traditional sacraments. As for whether the Pope’s decree might apply to the other traditional institutes, the FSSP implied that it does, saying in its statement that the Pope had “made it clear that institutes such as the Fraternity of St. Peter are not affected” by Traditionis Custodes. The Pope’s decree, however, only mentions the FSSP. Still, concerns remain, the main one being what might be in store for the institutes, especially those other than the FSSP, when the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life publishes an expected instruction pertaining to them. The Register asked the Congregation’s prefect, Cardinal João Braz de Aviz, if he would share any details about this document, but he said on Feb. 9 that he had “no statement to make on the subject.” Sources have told the Register the document is expected sometime during Lent. Courage to bishops News of this decree will nevertheless have given the institutes some solace. Mr. Shaw told the Register that he believed Francis’ decree published on Monday “will give courage to the bishops, in whose dioceses the institutes are present, to offer [traditional] confirmations there.” Also encouraging will have been how well a recent meeting went

with Pope Francis that paved the way for this decree. Two FSSP priests, Father Benoît Paul-Joseph and Father Vincent Ribeton, met the Pope at his Santa Marta residence on Feb. 4 to present many of the above concerns — a meeting that sources say was brokered by Cardinal Philippe Barbarin, the former archbishop of Lyon. The two French priests asked the Pope to put his clarification in writing, which he did with the decree he signed on the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. In a Feb. 21 interview with the French publication Quotidien Présent, Father Paul-Joseph said the Pope told them the institutes were deliberately left out of the motu proprio because they were to be “placed under a new jurisdiction,” namely the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. The Pope also told them that “since our institute has the specificity to use the ancient liturgical books, this document [Traditionis Custodes] was not intended for us.” Father Paul-Joseph recounted that “throughout the meeting,” which lasted “almost an hour,” Francis “was very kind, expressing real concern.” “The pope was truly touched by the history of our Fraternity,” Father Paul-Joseph said, a reference to how, in 1988, priests left the Society of St. Pius X to establish the FSSP because of their desire to remain faithful to the pope and because of their trust in the Church. He said that the Holy Father “found it an act of faith that deserves to be honored and encouraged.” ■

n Friday, March 25: 6:30 p.m. Bishop Stika will confer the sacrament of confirmation at St. Dominic Church in Kingsport. n Saturday, March 26: 2 p.m. Bishop Stika will host members of the Diocesan Youth Ministry Advisory Council (DYMAC) at his residence. n Sunday, March 27: 10 a.m. Bishop Stika will confer the sacrament of confirmation at St. Joseph the Worker Church in Madisonville.

n Tuesday, April 12: 7 p.m. The Chrism Mass will be celebrated at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. n Saturday, April 16: dusk. Bishop Stika will celebrate Easter Vigil Mass at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. n Sunday, May 15: 4 p.m. Bishop Stika will lead the Sending of the Neophytes ceremony at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

n Sunday, May 29: 3 p.m. Ordination of seminarians to the transitional diaconate at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. n Sunday, June 5: 4 p.m. Bishop Stika will confer the sacrament of confirmation on adults from around the Diocese of Knoxville at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. n Saturday, June 11: Bishop Stika will ordain men to the permanent diaconate. ■

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Marriage continued on page A13

MARCH 6, 2022 n A7

Commanding attention All eyes, ears were on former member of Swiss Guard during Gatlinburg Study Days for diocesan priests By Jim Wogan

JIM WOGAN

COURTESY OF DR. MARIO ENZLER

r. Mario Enzler’s voice exploded across the hotel meeting room in Gatlinburg in undulating waves, like minisonic booms. He may have been addressing ordained priests from the Diocese of Knoxville, men who are used to being in charge, but for the next three days the room belonged to Dr. Enzler, and he never needed a microphone. Dr. Enzler is a former member of the Vatican’s elite Swiss Guard, a military guy with Italian and Swiss heritage who gave up the gala uniform years ago for a career in international banking. He is the current dean of the Cameron School of Business at St. Thomas (Catholic) University in Houston, and he led a presentation on parish management practices for more than 60 priests and Bishop Richard F. Stika Feb. 7-9. Dr. Enzler created the Management as Ministry workshop, a spinoff of the master’s degree program he developed for St. Thomas, to educate priests on the complexities of managing the operations of a parish by giving them knowledge and skills he feels priests are not getting while in seminary. Improving the business acumen of clergy is something Dr. Enzler feels is vital for the future of the Church. “The main cause of leaving the priesthood within the first 10 years is a lack of knowledge in three fields: human resources, leadership, and administration. This is what I focus on,” he said. Dr. Enzler energized this year’s Gatlinburg Study Days for diocesan priests by offering five different 90-minute sessions on general business practices, accounting and oversight, crisis management, personal finances, and human resources. He was joined by colleagues William Kirst and Robert Powers, both professors at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. “I have been working alongside bishops for the past 20 years and

Study buddies Bishop Richard F. Stika is shown with Dr. Mario Enzler, left, and Professor William Kirst during the Gatlinburg Study Days for Diocese of Knoxville priests. Dr. Enzler and Professor Kirst gave presentations on parish management practices.

“W “When they become a priest, especially in the United States, they get parachuted into a place where they become the de facto CEO of a small enterprise. I said we have got to do something for these people.” Dr. Mario Enzler (I’ve learned) throughout their seminary formation that these men do not receive an introduction to any kind of business or management or administrative skills,” Dr. Enzler said. “Then when they become a priest, especially in the United States, they get parachuted into a place where they become the de facto CEO of a small enterprise. I said we have got to do something for these people.” Dr. Enzler possesses a level of credibility built on experience, his faith and knowledge of the Church, and his witness to the Vatican’s innerworkings at the highest level. He was a member of the Swiss Guard during the papacy of Pope St. John Paul II, with whom he had frequent contact. “I was really attracted by his oratorical skills, by his posture, and his gestures. He was truly an actor, and I was always intrigued because

he knows how to communicate, sometimes even with no words,” Dr. Enzler said about Pope St. John Paul II. “Just looking at somebody, just a gesture, and it became clear to me that whatever he had, I wanted.” In addition to protecting the Holy Father and meeting Catholic and civic dignitaries, he worked with and got to know Mother Teresa, now St. Teresa of Kolkata, during his time at the Vatican. “Spending time with the Missionaries of Charity and spending time with Mother Teresa, that is what turned me around because I thought that this woman is 4 feet tall and look at what she is doing.” Dr. Enzler said. Following his military service, Dr. Enzler chose a career in finance and worked for 19 years in the global banking industry and wealth management. He later taught at the Catholic University of America and

At the ready Mario Enzler stands at attention for Pope John Paul II decades ago when Mr. Enzler was then a member of the elite Swiss Guard that serves at the Vatican. Dr. Enzler now teaches business. became dean of the Cameron School of Business at St. Thomas in 2020. “We don’t do this for a living; we are all professors, and we all have our responsibilities, but we do this as a fulfillment of our baptismal commitments,” Dr. Enzler said. Interest in his workshop programs is growing. He now has a multi-day program for bishops and has one for religious communities. “I had 50 nuns coming for four days in the U.S., mainly they were the treasurer or the mother generals, but they were there,” he said. Each year priests from the diocese gather in Gatlinburg during one of the tourist town’s slowest and coldest months, February. The focal point of the Study Days is just that—study. Sometimes the focus is on spiritual matters, other times it is practical. Mass is celebrated daily at nearby St. Mary Church in Gatlinburg along with morning and evening prayer. “This was absolutely one of our best study days,” Bishop Stika said. “Dr. Enzler and his colleagues provided very useful and much-needed information for our priests, especially our pastors.” ■

Business 101: More priests learning the ABCs of spreadsheets By The Georgia Bulletin and ChicagoCatholic

etween morning prayers and quiet time before the Eucharist, priests attended a business leaders boot camp, getting a crash course on budgeting, hiring and fundraising at the Toolbox for Pastoral Management program, held at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit. Nearly 30 priests from the Archdiocese of Atlanta and other dioceses spent a week at the Conyers monastery without a theology book in sight. They focused instead on mastering business tools and practices. “They don’t teach us this in seminary. That is crazy. I don’t remember any of this in seminary, and I was in seminary for eight years,” said Father Jaime Rivera. The Toolbox for Pastoral Management has been an initiative of the National Leadership Roundtable on Church Management and Seton Hall University in New Jersey. A lay nonprofit that knits together expertise from the business world with the needs of the Church, Leadership Roundtable has partnered with more than 70 percent of U.S. dioceses to improve management practices. Parish priests are trained in seminary on giving homilies, philosophy, and canon law, but not necessarily on crafting a parish budget or dealing with insurance and financial controls. “Seminaries do a remarkable job of providing the necessary formation for priesthood. But any priest will tell you that there are so many things that seminary does not, cannot prepare one for,” said Monsignor James Schillinger. Now priests are given more responsibility sooner to lead instead

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of having many years of on-the-job training. In the past, men could expect to serve as associate priests for longer periods of time, learning from pastors about financial planning and working with staff. “Now it is probably closer to four or five years,” said Monsignor Schillinger, “and there have been instances when that number has been even smaller.” And the move to pastor for most is a big one, although sharing the same ministry. “The position calls for a whole new set of skills,” said Monsignor Schillinger, who recalled his own shortcomings leading a parish despite being ordained for 18 years. His first pastorate was at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Atlanta for a dozen years. “It was a wonderful experience, tremendously gratifying. But it also can be exhausting and filled with all sorts of troubling issues,” he said, adding he was surprised to learn how much time was spent on issues that had little to do with preaching from the pulpit. Father Rivera said he felt fortunate in his priesthood to have been mentored by pastors who encouraged him to broaden his understanding of parish needs by reading and attending conferences. Those practices filled in gaps in training that seminary never provided, he said. The benefits last long after conferences end. Father Rivera said presenters share willingly their e-mails and phone numbers, which in turn widen his network of experienced professionals to lean on when he faces unique situations. The retreat in Conyers mirrored executive leadership programs at many of the nation’s top business schools, like Emory University and

the University of Georgia. The effort is to promote replacing trial-anderror management with business standards. Monsignor Schillinger said the program almost sold out, an indication church leaders recognize the need for this training. Bishops and recent popes are calling upon priests to ensure training doesn’t end at ordination, he said. The week of programs covered 11 key areas. The men took courses on building advisory councils, human resources and financial controls, and on other operational issues. In an afternoon focused on complex pastoring situations, the men learned ways to navigate pitfalls. Most priests are trained to take on leadership in a church that doesn’t exist in reality—a church that has one priest, one parish and one culture. Half of the Catholic community in the United States is Hispanic, and the faith is lived among a diversity of ethnicities and languages, said Mark Mogilka, a national speaker and author with more than 40 years of experience in church management. A successful pastor accepts with humility that he doesn’t have all the answers. “You will have to learn to be a leader,” Mr. Mogilka said. The Church preaches unity, but the complexity of a multicultural parish means different things. A pastor would be wise not to force an artificial unity but acknowledge the differences in how faith is lived and celebrated, he said. Different groups can gather as one at “bridging opportunities,” Mr. Mogilka pointed out. “It’s OK to have a diverse mosaic, a community of communities.” A priest is not an executive and a parish is not a business, but that

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doesn’t mean that pastors can ignore good management practices. Mundelein Seminary is trying to help its students learn some of what they’ll need — from budgeting to keep the lights on to managing the combination of staff and volunteers that make ministry happen — with a five-week class module called the School of the Good Shepherd. It’s a need that’s so obvious that most laypeople who hear about it tell Father John Kartje, rector/president of Mundelein Seminary/University of St. Mary of the Lake, that it makes all the sense in the world. “Well, that’s the polite ones,” Father Kartje said. “The others can’t believe it took us this long.” Creation of the class coincided with the seminary’s move from a quarter to a semester calendar, leaving space around what was once the “pastoral quarter” for second-year theology students, in which they work and learn in a parish for 10 weeks. “We didn’t want to make that the whole spring semester, because they would be away from their spiritual directors all the way from Christmas through summer and then to the next fall,” Father Kartje said. “That’s a long time for them to be away from the seminary.” Instead, seminarians return in January for a one-week retreat about leadership, and then learn about spreadsheets and budgets and how to find people who can share their expertise with the parish. “You don’t automatically know how to do all that stuff,” Father Kartje said. “You’re spending time in seminary doing heavy theology and some pastoral stuff.” That’s not to say that the School of the Good Shepherd is five weeks of condensed business school. Business continued on page A14 TH E EA S T TEN N ES S EE C ATH OLI C

Pope prays ‘with a broken heart’ for peace in Ukraine Holy Father takes unusual step of personally visiting Russian Embassy in Rome to express his concern about the war

CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE PHOTO/VATICAN MEDIA CNS PHOTO/COURTESY OF UKRAINIAN GREEK CATHOLIC CHURCH

ope Francis said his heart was “broken” by the war in Ukraine, and he pleaded again, “Silence the weapons!” “Many times, we prayed that this path would not be taken,” he told people gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the midday recitation of the Angelus prayer on Feb. 27. But rather than giving up, he said, “we beg God more intensely.” With many of the people in the square holding Ukrainian flags, Pope Francis greeted them the way they traditionally greet each other, “Slava Isusu Chrystu,” meaning, “Glory to Jesus Christ.” Pope Francis has continued to personally express his concern about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and to appeal for peace. The previous evening, he phoned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The Vatican press office confirmed the call Feb. 26 but provided no details. President Zelenskyy tweeted that he had thanked Pope Francis “for praying for peace in Ukraine and a cease-fire. The Ukrainian people feel the spiritual support of His Holiness.” The Ukrainian Embassy to the Holy See tweeted, “The Holy Father expressed his deepest sorrow for the tragic events happening in our country.” The call to President Zelenskyy came a day after Pope Francis made the diplomatically unusual gesture of going to the Russian Embassy to the Holy See to express his concern about the war. Usually, a head of state would have an ambassador come to him. Pope Francis also had phoned Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk of Kyiv-Halych, the head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, who remained in Kyiv with his people, taking refuge with others in the basement of Resurrection Cathedral and sending out daily videos of encouragement. As Feb. 27 dawned with people under a curfew and many still sheltering in basements and subway stations, Archbishop Shevchuk promised that priests would be joining them underground to celebrate the Sunday Divine Liturgy. “The Church is with its people,” he said. “The church of Christ brings the eucharistic Savior to those who are experiencing critical moments in their life, who need the strength and hope of the resurrection.” And he called on anyone who could to go to confession and receive the Eucharist, remembering those unable to go to services and, especially, the Ukrainian soldiers defending the nation.

CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE PHOTO/VATICAN MEDIA

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service

Praying for Ukraine Top photo: The national flags of Ukraine and Poland are held by nuns in St. Peter’s Square as Pope Francis leads the Angelus from the window of his studio overlooking the square at the Vatican on Feb. 27. Middle photo: People wear the national colors of Ukraine as they gather in St. Peter’s Square to hear Pope Francis lead the Angelus on Feb. 27. Bottom photo: People take shelter in the basement of the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Resurrection in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Feb. 25, after Russia launched a massive military operation against Ukraine. As some Ukrainians fled their homes, others remained trapped because of clogged roads and martial law. Russian troops are continuing to fight their way toward the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. But also, he said, make a “sacrifice for those who are wounded, for those who are discouraged, for the refugees who are on the roads” flee-

ing the war. Speaking after the Angelus prayer, Pope Francis also remembered the Ukrainians in the bunkers and those

fleeing the war, especially “the elderly, those seeking refuge in these hours, mothers fleeing with their children. They are our brothers and sisters for whom humanitarian corridors must be opened as a matter of urgency and who must be welcomed.” “In these days, we’ve been shaken by something tragic: war,” the Holy Father told the people in the square. One who wages war, he said, is not and cannot be thinking about people, but is putting “partisan interests and power before everything.” One who wages war “relies on the diabolical and perverse logic of weapons, which is the furthest thing from God’s will, and distances himself from the ordinary people who want peace,” the pope said. In every conflict “the ordinary people are the real victims” and they “pay for the folly of war with their own skin.” “With a heart broken by what is happening in Ukraine—and let’s not forget the wars in other parts of the world, such as Yemen, Syria, Ethiopia—I repeat: Silence the weapons!” Pope Francis said. “God is with the peacemakers,” he said, “not with those who use violence.” As Russian troops approached Ukraine’s capital, Pope Francis phoned the head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, offering his encouragement and promising, “I will do everything I can” to help. Pope Francis’ call to Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk late in the afternoon on Feb. 25 was made as Russian troops and military equipment were bearing down on the capital. Archbishop Shevchuk’s office said that, during the phone call, Pope Francis asked him about the situation in Kyiv and throughout Ukraine on the second full day of the Russian attack. According to multiple news reports, Russian troops were advancing on the capital, Kyiv, where the archbishop has remained. Pope Francis asked about the bishops and priests in the areas of heaviest fighting, the Ukrainian Catholic press office said. And he thanked the Church for its closeness to the people. “In particular, the pope praised the decision to remain with the people and to be at the service of the neediest,” including by opening the basement of Resurrection Cathedral in Kyiv as a bomb shelter, which already was being used by dozens of people, including families with children. The press office had reported Feb. 24 that Archbishop Shevchuk himself had been forced to take shelter there. The archbishop had been scheduled to be in Florence, Italy, at a meeting of European and Mediterranean bishops, but canceled the trip when tensions with Russia worsened. Ukraine continued on page A13

Despite invasion, nuns say they’ll remain in Ukraine By Gina Christian Catholic News Service

omen religious in Ukraine are facing Russia’s fullscale invasion of that nation with determined faith and a commitment to service. Two sisters of the Order of St. Basil the Great spoke with CatholicPhilly. com directly from Ukraine Feb. 23 and 24 via telephone and the messaging app Viber. “We understand that this is our new mission, to welcome the refugee,” said Basilian Sister Lucia Murashko, whose convent, the monastery of Sts. Peter and Paul in Zaporizhzhia, is located about 125 miles from Donetsk in eastern Ukraine. Earlier Feb. 24, when Russian airstrikes began to impact Ukrainian cities, Sister Murashko and her three fellow women religious welcomed two families, with more expected as residents flee the attacks. The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees has estimated more than 100,000 people have already left their

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homes in Ukraine since Russian forces openly entered that nation Feb. 24. The Ukrainian military reports losing at least 40 troops so far, with an unspecified number of civilian casualties. Yet amid a fast-moving and fluid situation, Sister Murashko said through “a special grace of God” she “feels very calm.” “We feel peace here,” she said. “We do not want to move from here; we want to help people and stay with them as long and as much as we can.” Area residents are grateful for that support, she said, especially one neighbor who is eight months pregnant and advised by her doctor not to travel. Besides, said Sister Murashko, “in the west (of Ukraine), people are not safer than they are here.” In particular, eastern Ukraine has become all too accustomed to conflict as part of what Archbishop Borys Gudziak and fellow Ukrainian Catholic bishops in the United States recently called “an eight-year Nuns continued on page A17

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American Catholics Can Have a Major Impact in Haiti by Rebuilding Lost Homes Within a few horrifying minutes, the lives of hundreds of Haitian families were literally turned upside down. On Aug. 14, a massive earthquake struck Haiti’s Tiburon Peninsula, causing 2,248 deaths, injuring more than 12,760 people, and damaging hundreds of homes, parishes, schools and medical buildings. It was a day Jim Cavnar remembers very well. As the president of Cross Catholic Outreach, he understood exactly how the disaster would impact Haiti’s poorest families.

“There’s not a more lifetransforming gift a donor could give.” Jim Cavnar, Cross Catholic Outreach

“The earthquake came without warning, killed indiscriminately, and left scores of shattered lives — and homes — in its wake,” he recalled. “While it was centered in a part of Haiti that is less populated than the country’s capital city, we were on high alert that day because the Tiburon Peninsula contains a lot of makeshift homes, and we knew they would never hold up to an earthquake of that severity.” (See related story on opposite page.) Even before roads had been cleared and damaged bridges could be repaired, Cross Catholic Outreach had found routes to provide earthquake survivors with food and other relief supplies. The ministry continued this emergency relief work for weeks following the disaster, but it also began working with its in-country Catholic partners to determine what kinds of long-term support would be needed. It was then that Cross Catholic Outreach’s staff learned something encouraging. The homes it had been building for poor families prior to the earthquake were among the few structures that had remained intact during the tremors; few had sustained any serious damage, while many other cement houses in the area had been reduced to rubble. “That proved the importance of our commitment to build simple but high-quality homes for the poor in Haiti,” Cavnar said. “It also inspired us to expand our plans so we could provide new homes to the families that had lost everything in the earthquake. The

ABOVE: Cross Catholic Outreach has already started replacing destroyed shelters with sturdy, multiroom, cement-block homes. With donor support, it plans to build many more houses, restoring hope to families devastated by the earthquake in 2021. BELOW: To Haiti’s poorest families, these new homes represent an answer to prayer.

success of our design must have been a comfort to them too. They could be confident knowing they were receiving a house that would provide better protection from any major storm or earthquake to come.” In recent months, Cross Catholic Outreach has worked with its Haitian ministry partners — typically leaders of local parishes and Catholic ministries — to formalize its housing project and mobilize construction teams. As with all of its programs, Cross Catholic Outreach will approach this housing project in a way that

blesses families both materially and spiritually, according to Cavnar. “We believe in integral human development. That is a formal term used by the Catholic Church, but its meaning is actually very simple,” he said. “It means we believe spiritual and emotional support must accompany the material aid we provide. We stress that because we know true, lasting change is only possible when we address the needs of both the body and the soul.” Cavnar added that Cross Catholic Outreach feels a sense

of urgency and is eager to get its next large-scale housing project underway. “We’ll be launching a campaign soon to get funding for this effort from Catholic donors in the U.S.,” he said, “and we are confident a lot of individuals, families and even Catholic businesses will want to participate. No one wants these Haitian families to be homeless or living in tents because of this disaster. Our housing project will build quality homes at a very reasonable cost using local labor, which also helps support poor families in Haiti through job training and employment. There’s not a more impactful or lifetransforming gift a donor could give.” Readers interested in supporting Cross Catholic Outreach’s housing program and other ministries to the poor can contribute through the brochure inserted in this issue or by sending a tax-deductible gift to: Cross Catholic Outreach, Dept. AC01878, PO Box 97168, Washington, DC 20090-7168. The ministry has a special need for partners willing to make gifts on a monthly basis. Use the inserted brochure to become a Mission Partner, or write “Monthly Mission Partner” on mailed checks to be contacted about setting up those arrangements.

Cross Catholic Outreach Endorsed by More Than 100 Bishops, Archbishops Cross Catholic Outreach’s range of relief work to help the poor overseas continues to be recognized by a growing number of Catholic leaders in the U.S. and abroad. “We’ve received more than 100 endorsements from bishops and archbishops,” explained Jim Cavnar, president of Cross Catholic Outreach (CCO). “They’re moved by the fact that we’ve launched outreaches in almost 40 countries and have undertaken a variety of projects — everything from feeding the hungry and housing the homeless to supplying safe

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water and supporting educational opportunities for the poorest of the poor. The bishops have also been impressed by CCO’s direct and meaningful response to emergency situations, most recently by providing food, medicines and other resources to partners in Haiti, El Salvador and areas of Belize impacted by natural disasters.” Archbishop Thomas Rodi of Mobile, Alabama, supports this mission, writing, “It is a privilege for me to support Cross Catholic Outreach. This organization funds ministries to our neighbors in need in Africa, Asia, Central and South

America, and the Pacific. Through the generosity of so many, the love of God is made visible to many who are coping with the most difficult of daily living conditions.” In addition to praising CCO’s accomplishments, many of the bishops and archbishops are encouraged that Pontifical canonical status was conferred on the charity in September 2015, granting it approval as an official Catholic organization. This allows CCO to participate in the mission of the Church and to give a concrete witness to Gospel

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charity, in collaboration with the Holy Father. “Your work with the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development is a strong endorsement of your partnership with the work of the Universal Church,” Archbishop Cordileone of San Francisco said. “By providing hope to the faithful overseas by feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, delivering medical relief to the sick and shelter to the homeless, and through self-help projects, you are embodying the Papal Encyclical Deus Caritas Est.”

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Cross Catholic Outreach Remains Committed to Helping Haiti’s Poor Recover From Historic Disaster

The 2021 Haiti earthquake struck without warning, taking more than 2,000 lives and destroying hundreds of structures, including many of the area’s homes. The poor suffered most, and many families have no way to rebuild without our help.

Is August 14 an anniversary you remember? It would be if you, your family or friends had close ties to Haiti — particularly to the country’s southwest provinces. On that day in 2021, Haiti experienced a devastating magnitude 7.2 earthquake and thousands of families were literally shaken to their core. Lives were lost. Homes became piles of rubble. Roads and bridges were destroyed, and families were driven into the streets in fear. The temblor was even larger than the notorious 2010 earthquake that shocked the world with its widespread destruction in Haiti’s capital city. While the destruction caused by the 2021 earthquake was staggering, most Americans were unaware of the disaster because they saw or heard very little about it on the news. “We work in Haiti, so we understood the scale of the August 14 disaster, but very few American Catholics were aware of what had happened,” confirmed Jim Cavnar, president of Cross Catholic Outreach. “That’s probably because the earthquake occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, and because a blitz of other international news stories hit during the same week. The disconnect is understandable, but you can imagine how discouraging it was to the earthquake survivors. Thousands had lost family members, homes and possessions, and they wondered if their pleas for help were even being heard.” Fortunately, Cross Catholic Outreach was aware of the disaster’s impact and remained

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vigilant, doing whatever it could to provide relief. In the months following the earthquake, it arranged shipments of food, medicines, tarps for temporary shelter, and other important supplies to the areas where the needs of the poor were greatest. “As you might expect, we faced a lot of challenges, particularly in arranging transportation. Roads had been blocked by debris, and bridges were down. It took perseverance and teamwork, but we were able to get our relief supplies through,” Cavnar said. “Cross Catholic Outreach also received cash contributions from our donors, so we were able to wire funds directly to in-country partners within the disaster area, enabling them to obtain food and other resources locally. In the weeks immediately after the earthquake, that combination of material aid and grants had a lifesaving impact, and we’re deeply grateful to the many U.S. donors who helped fund our relief effort.” Eventually, the focus of Catholic leaders working in the hardest-hit areas of Haiti shifted from providing emergency aid to finding solutions to longterm challenges. For example, families had found ways to create makeshift shelters or were huddling under tarps, but they clearly needed more substantial shelter, especially if they had children. “That’s why constructing housing is our priority now,” Cavnar said. “Once food, water and medical needs are addressed after a disaster, it is essential that

we get families out of tents and other primitive shelters and into safe, sturdy homes. The house can have a simple design, but it should be well constructed, secure and meet sanitary needs. Supplying this housing is critical because it restores hope and gives families a foundation for rebuilding their lives. The homes we build are perfectly suited to the areas we serve, and they are designed to address these poor families’ need for shelter and security.” (See related story on opposite page.) According to Cavnar, Cross Catholic Outreach is currently finalizing a major housing reconstruction project in Haiti with the goal of restoring hope to more of the families the earthquake displaced. When the campaign is launched, Cavnar is confident hundreds of American Catholics will want to join the cause and build homes for these displaced families. “I have been involved in ministries to the poor for 30 years and worked on many relief projects like this before. In my experience, Catholics are deeply compassionate people and are always eager to help needy families, particularly in the wake

of a disaster,” he said. “They understand how important having a safe home is to their own family, and they sympathize with parents who feel hopeless desperation when their children are suffering and there is nothing they can do to improve their situation. For some, providing a home to a poor family is also a way to show gratitude to God for the blessings he has bestowed on them. Others see it as a tangible way to respond to Christ’s call to love others as you love yourself.” Sponsoring a home for a needy family is also popular because it produces a tangible impact with long-term benefits, Cavnar said. “When people give, they want to know their contribution is achieving something specific and will improve someone’s life in a profound way,” he said. “That is another reason both our disaster relief efforts and our homebuilding initiatives are so popular. When you donate to those causes, you know your gift is going to produce a significant benefit to the families being helped. In the case of relief efforts, it can literally save a life. With the gift of a home, you restore lost hope and bless a family for many years to come.”

How to Help To fund Cross Catholic Outreach’s effort to help the poor worldwide, use the postage-paid brochure inserted in this newspaper, or mail your gift to Cross Catholic Outreach, Dept. AC01878, PO Box 97168, Washington, DC 20090-7168. The brochure also includes instructions on becoming a Mission Partner and making a regular monthly donation to this cause. If you identify an aid project, 100% of the donation will be restricted to be used for that specific project. However, if more is raised for the project than needed, funds will be redirected to other urgent needs in the ministry.

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Dr. Paul Farmer, global health pioneer, dies in Rwanda ‘World’s most extraordinary medical humanitarian’ worked with Sacred Heart on medical ministry for Haiti By Karen Weintraub USA Today

PHOTO BY JOHN RA/PARTNERS IN HEALTH

r. Paul Farmer, a giant in the field of global health, a professor at Harvard Medical School, and co-founder of the nonprofit Partners in Health, died Feb. 21 in Butaro, Rwanda, in a hospital he helped build. A Partners In Health spokesperson said Dr. Farmer died “from an acute cardiac event while he was sleeping.” Dr. Farmer, 62, spent his professional life fighting for quality medical care for people regardless of their income, race, or geography. That quest brought him to some of the poorest places in the world, including Rwanda, as it rebuilt from genocide in 1994, Peru as it battled an epidemic of drug-resistant tuberculosis, and Russian prisons overrun with HIV. He began his medical career in rural Haiti [working with Sacred Heart Cathedral’s Haiti outreach program] and helped build infrastructure in that country through Partners in Health, which led a medical response to the devastating earthquake there in 2010. Dr. Farmer was “the most extraordinary medical humanitarian the world has seen in our times,” said Dr. Arthur Kleinman, a Harvard professor who trained Dr. Farmer in the field of medical anthropology, the specialty they shared. Dr. Farmer, who held a medical degree and a doctorate in medical anthropology from Harvard, did not lead an army or a country but had that level of global importance and leadership ability, Dr. Kleinman said. “That’s what Paul was.” “He had a lightness of being,” Dr. Kleinman said, that would animate people from students to patients to taxi drivers. “It was as if something came from Paul that was transmitted to the other person.” He used that connection with others to convince drug companies to lower the price of HIV drugs, funders to support his work, patients to follow his advice, and legions of students to enter the field of public health. “The number and diversity of people who Paul Farmer inspired to pursue justice through health is simply incalculable,” Jonathan Cohen, a professor at the Institute on Inequalities in Global Health at the University of Southern California, wrote on Twitter. “This is a titanic loss for global health that will reverberate for generations to come.” Anatole Manzi, a Rwandan nurse who worked with Dr. Farmer since 2005 and is deputy chief medical officer for Partners in Health, said his mentor taught him to be a profes-

Doctor of the poor Dr. Paul Farmer was a founder of Partners In Health, a nonprofit organization which now collaborates with governments across 12 countries to bring quality health care to those most in need. Dr. Farmer died unexpectedly on Feb. 21 at the age of 62. sional caregiver. “He’s the one who taught me food is cure. He’s the one who told me I should make sure patients have food before I even talk about tablets,” Mr. Manzi said. Not until Dr. Farmer put it into words did Mr. Manzi realize that poverty was making people sick. Dr. Farmer taught Mr. Manzi to dream big, then make that dream a reality. At first, Mr. Manzi struggled to get his head around Dr. Farmer’s vision of rebuilding the Butaro region’s sole hospital, which had been left an abandoned shell more than a decade earlier. At the time, tuberculosis and HIV patients lined up for hours at the region’s only clinic, where Mr. Manzi was a nurse. “His words were—I don’t want to say ‘magic’—but the magic happened,” Mr. Manzi said. “In some ways, I thought he was just crazy saying an abandoned hospital would reopen.” But Dr. Farmer, working with Mr. Manzi and one other colleague, made it happen. In 2008, the rebuilding started, and the hospital sits in a striking building, alongside a university. “Every time we would just try to dream small, he would always amplify, turning any small dream into a gigantic action,” Mr. Manzi said. Dr. Farmer was the subject of a 2003 book by Tracy Kidder called Mountains Beyond Mountains, which described his hardscrabble upbringing with five siblings and their teacher father who housed the family in a school bus in Florida. Much of Mr. Kidder’s book features Dr. Farmer’s work in Haiti, where he transformed medical care in the rural area around the village of

Cange. “He saved many lives in Haiti,” said Michèle Duvivier Pierre-Louis, a former Haitian prime minister who knew Dr. Farmer from his earliest days as a doctor. He was known as “le docteur des pauvres,” the doctor of the poor. “He never stopped fighting against poverty and also the stigmatization of poverty on Haiti,” Mr. Pierre-Louis said. “Lots of people who have been trained by him in Haiti and other countries will continue his work.” Dr. Farmer and his life and work were the subject of a 2017 documentary, Bending the Arc. He wrote a dozen books on different aspects of global health. His most recent, Fevers, Feuds, and Diamonds: Ebola and the Ravages of History, focused on the Ebola epidemic of 201415, the patients he met while fighting it, and the mistakes he said were made by his own organization and others who tried to help. Lawrence Gostin, a professor of global health law at Georgetown University, described Dr. Farmer as “the world’s most powerful advocate for health and justice.” “He believed everyone has the right to the same cutting-edge treatments as are available in the United States and other rich countries,” said Mr. Gostin, who knew Dr. Farmer since the early days of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Many of the people Dr. Farmer taught and mentored at Harvard Medical School became leaders in global public health. Later in his career, Dr. Farmer became more interested in public policy and worked to transform the system of international aid from its focus on charity and dependence to empowerment and building local capacity,

said Mr. Cohen, the USC professor. “The legacy they leave behind is more doctors, more nurses, stronger institutions, a greater sense of pride in a health system that has been very much neglected if not rattled by the international aid system through the years,” Mr. Cohen said. “You can measure the impact in terms of lives saved, but also a more sustainable health system.” His impact stretched beyond patient care. Michael Murphy was an architecture student at Harvard when he heard Dr. Farmer speak and decided to volunteer with Partners in Health. A few years later, Mr. Murphy formed a firm, the Model of Architecture Serving Society (MASS) Design Group, to build that hospital in Butaro. It was based on Dr. Farmer’s philosophy that the poor deserved more than the most basic facilities, that “dignity is something we can’t afford not to have and push for,” Mr. Murphy said. The firm, which built other Partners in Health buildings, was awarded the 2022 American Institute of Architects Architecture Firm of the Year and is considered a model for the field. Although Dr. Farmer wrote like a scholar, he talked like a regular guy, keeping up with the Boston Red Sox, the reading recommendations of friends, and remembering details about the children of his acquaintances. He was hilarious and accepted people for who they were, former colleague Jennifer Goldsmith said. “He didn’t judge other people,” Ms. Goldsmith said. “He was just unfailingly kind and unfailingly funny.” During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Farmer and Partners in Health performed contact tracing for a handful of states and spoke out against inequities in vaccination and care. A nonstop traveler before the pandemic, he spent most of the past two years working out of his home in Miami, Ms. Goldsmith said, tending to his beloved garden. Dr. Farmer’s friends often accused him of being “pathologically optimistic,” seeing promise in seemingly hopeless situations. In an interview with USA TODAY in 2020, he had a different take: “The thing about idealism is if you can always link it to pragmatism, you’re going to be OK.” Dr. Farmer is survived by his wife, Didi Bertrand Farmer, and their three children, Catherine, Elizabeth, and Sebastian; his mother, Ginny; his sisters, Katy, Jennifer, and Peggy; and his brothers, Jim and Jeffrey. ■

Partners in health Dr. Dean Mire, Sacred Heart Parish teamed with Dr. Farmer to build Haiti health-care ministry

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THE EAST TENNESSEE CATHOLIC ARCHIVE

r. Dean Mire, a Knoxville family practice physician who has helped lead the Sacred Heart Cathedral Parish’s medical ministry in Haiti, remembers his first encounter with Dr. Paul Farmer. Dr. Mire and his volunteer team of Sacred Heart missionaries had established a small medical clinic in the Boucan-Carré region of rural Haiti more than a year before Dr. Farmer inquired about it. “We were in a small building we had renovated into a small clinic. There was a larger, dilapidated building nearby, and Paul wanted to build a large clinic in Boucan-Carré with Partners In Health,” Dr. Mire recalled. “He wanted to work with us, and we merged. We closed our clinic down after they opened the larger clinic.” It was that spirit of partnership and a determination to serve as many people in need as possible that Dr. Mire remembers fondly—and he will miss. Dr. Farmer, a renowned global health pioneer who took that early model of providing medical care to those in most need in Haiti and spread it around the world, died unexpectedly Feb. 21 in a Rwandan hospital he helped build. Partners In Health, the global health-care organization Dr. Farmer helped establish, said he died of “an acute cardiac event while he was sleeping.” As Sacred Heart medical missionaries and Partners In Health staff oversaw the clinic and the care it provided rural Haitians, the clinic grew and expanded its services, providing obstetric deliveries and treatment for cholera and other infectious diseases, as well as treatments to improve the nourish-

A lasting legacy A volunteer associated with Sacred Heart Parish’s Haiti outreach program administers medical care to an infant in Haiti, where medical care and supplies can be scarce. ment of children and adults. The Sacred Heart-Partners In Health partnership was so successful that they partnered on a second clinic in Bouly, Haiti. As Sacred Heart’s Haiti Outreach Ministry continued to focus on that impovwww.di o k no x .o rg

By Bill Brewer

erished, crisis-riddled nation, Dr. Farmer exported their clinic-development program to other countries via Partners In Health. Dr. Farmer and Dr. Mire continued their friendship, with Dr. Farmer even lending his time to assist the Sacred Heart Haiti ministry. “Paul has been to our diocese three or four times,” Dr. Mire said, noting that Dr. Farmer was a featured guest speaker at diocesan events Sacred Heart hosted for its Haiti ministry. Dr. Mire finds it hard to believe his friend has died as he was bringing health care to so many in need around the world. “I was in touch with him on a monthly basis through e-mail. It broke everyone’s heart when he passed away. He was so vibrant and so good for the world. He changed the way third-world health care is provided, especially with infectious diseases,” Dr. Mire said. Dr. Mire has admiration for Dr. Farmer's work in treating the Ebola virus, tuberculosis, malaria, and HIV. "He has changed the world in the treatment of tuberculosis in third-world countries," Dr. Mire noted, recalling how his close friend went into Russian prisons that were beset with infectious disease cases to offer treatment. Dr. Mire pointed out that a Knoxville Catholic High School graduate, Jordan Pyda, developed such an interest in Sacred Heart's Haiti outreach program that he spent years in Haiti treating residents in the medical clinic after graduation. Jordan developed a close friendship with Dr. Haiti continued on page A18 TH E EA S T TEN N ES S EE C ATH OLI C

Priest working for EWTN risks life to stay in Ukraine Fr. Zelinskyi says he and Ukrainian Catholics are placing their trust in God

By Katie Yoder/Catholic News Agency

EWTN FACEBOOK POST

s Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was taking place, one local priest said he and Ukrainian Catholics are placing their trust in God. “As Catholics, we pray to God and hope that our life is in [His] hands,” Father Oleksandr Zelinskyi, the director general of EWTN Ukraine, told Catholic News Agency on Feb. 24, the first day that Russian troops and military equipment crossed the Ukrainian border into the Eastern European country. He called the situation very difficult. “There is panic and fear among people,” Father Zelinskyi said. “Many are trying to leave Kyiv, where we work as an EWTN team.” Before dawn on Feb. 24, Russia began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine by launching missiles into the country. Nearly 3 million people live in the capital city of Kyiv, where videos

Faith in the face of danger Father Oleksandr Zelinskyi, shown in this Facebook post, is the director of EWTN Ukraine. captured blaring air raid sirens and long lines of traffic as citizens attempted to flee. Others took more immediate shelter in underground

train stations. Father Zelinskyi thought of his flock when asked if he would stay or leave.

moved on to Colorado and Chicago and other places in the country…to say hey, here’s how we’re doing, here’s our picture,” Mr. Barron noted. Mr. Barron pointed out that the interruptions from the coronavirus pandemic have given the parish a new opportunity for “a great restart.” “There’s a lot of ways to start new traditions as we’re kind of coming back together,” he said. Mr. Barron also noted that many of the couples married at the cathedral in the past two years “did not have the traditional experience,” as mask mandates and COVID capacity restrictions were in place for gatherings. The event was “a great opportunity to come back and just be recognized, even without all those guests, just to say, ‘hey thank you for getting married at the cathedral or getting married anywhere,’” he said. Mr. Barron personally works with every bride and groom who come to the cathedral and enjoyed the opportunity “to see people again and touch base.” “You hear these great stories, and you meet these people for 48 hours, you know, the night before and the day of (their wedding), and they move on and sometimes you hear from them, sometimes you don’t,” he said. “For us as a parish staff as well, it’s going to be a great reminder why we do what we do.” Brian and Janine Gerber, who married at the cathedral on Aug. 31, 2019, attended the evening celebration to reflect on their wedding day. “Everything was great, everyone was impressed,” Mr. Gerber said. “I had family coming in from Kansas, so seeing the cathedral and everything was amazing for everyone. It was a great time.” “This was our wedding venue,” Mrs. Gerber said. “We had the reception right here, so we wanted to come back…. Since we got married, we have kids and we’re pregnant again, so it’s a good break to socialize with other Catholic people also here in the area.” There is a hope to turn this

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Marriage continued from page A7

Wedded bliss Above: Scott Barron and Father David Boettner share answers from a wedding questionnaire from the couples. Below: Father Boettner keeps a new member of a young couple’s family entertained. wedding celebration into an annual event at the Cathedral. “Our goal is, hopefully invite back the previous grooms and brides so they can actually be mentors or be people that those younger couples can reach out to,” Mr. Barron said. “It’s just a great way to continue the ministry and keep people anchored here.”

A bilingual event Rosalba Arévalo, Melvin Paz, Alfredo Martinez, and Carina Ruperto enjoy an evening of food, community, and marriage enrichment at Sacred Heart Parish. The event was conducted in both English and Spanish.

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“The Holy Father assured His Beatitude Sviatoslav of his closeness, support, and prayers,” the press office said. At the end of the call, the pope gave his blessing to the Ukrainian people. On a day when the world saw the heart-rending images of Russia launching a brutal invasion of Ukraine, people gathered at the Ukrainian Catholic National Shrine of the Holy Family in Washington on Feb. 24. They stood in solidarity, and kneeled in prayer, for that embattled country and its people. Father Peter Galadza, a Ukrainian Catholic priest, led the prayer service and noted the great hope that the people of Ukraine felt when the country gained independence in 1991 after experiencing the “scars of intergenerational trauma” of numerous occupations and regime changes over the past century. Having freedom for more than 30 years, he TH E EAST T E N N E S S E E C AT HO L I C

Mr. Barron hopes that this event also will be a reminder to the couples of the various ways they can be involved in the parish. “How can we get you in our different ministries? We’re just going to use this as a great reminder that we have lots of ways to be involved in our church outside of sacramental life or Mass,” he said. Since its dedication on March 3,

said, “makes this present moment so much more painful.” “We just did not imagine everything we read about in the history books, everything our parents told us about their experiences, every tear they had shed. ... We thought that was over, a thing of the past. Yet today it’s being revisited upon us again,” the priest said. Then Father Galadza began to cry slightly, and he continued, “So, what do we do? We do what our parents have done for centuries. We come to Mary.” That evening prayer service, held as a cold, misty rain fell outside, was called a “Molében to the Mother of God,” an intercessory prayer service that Eastern churches hold, and on this night, they sought the help of Mary, who among her titles is venerated by Catholics as the Queen of Peace. An icon of the Holy Family, with Mary, Joseph, www.di o k no x .o rg

“I plan to stay,” he said. “We broadcast Masses and prayers from our chapel, and we know that people need it now. So as long as it will be possible, I will stay here with some of our co-workers.” EWTN Ukraine, a part of the larger EWTN network, began broadcasting in 2011, on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The day is a fitting one, since EWTN Ukraine is staffed by priests from the Congregation of the Missionaries of the Immaculate Conception. A large group of friends and volunteers also support them in their efforts with their prayers, donations, and talents. Now, they ask for prayers in a special way. Father Zelinskyi said, “We ask for prayer and support from all of you. We need it during this dramatic situation.” ■ 2018, the cathedral has hosted 130 weddings. Mr. Barron recounted that there was a bit of a race to be among the first couples married at the newly built cathedral. “There’s also a few that were scheduled to be the second or third and then somebody took the date before them, so there’s some goodnatured joking that some people were bumped from the top three,” he said. The first bride to be married in the new cathedral has since brought her children back to be baptized. “So, we’re starting to see that second generation come through, those brides bringing their children back to be baptized, that next generation starting to be anchored in our cathedral,” Mr. Barron said. The cathedral has 40 couples scheduled to be married this year, which is about the capacity of what the staff can handle. “We’re fully booked from the weekend after Lent until the week before Christmas,” Mr. Barron said. He shared that the Sacred Heart staff wants to be a part of the couples’ lives after they leave the cathedral and that couples can come to them at any time with their needs. “We care about you, and it’s not just about sacramental life,” he continued. “We want to minister to you in every chapter of your life, and this (event) is just another way we can give to you and you can give to others.” Father Boettner concluded the event with a solemn blessing: “May God the eternal Father keep you of one heart in love for one another, that the peace of Christ may dwell in you and abide always in your home. Amen. May you be blessed in your children, have solace in your friends, and enjoy true peace with everyone. Amen. May you be witnesses in the world to God’s charity so that the afflicted and needy who have known your kindness may one day receive you thankfully into the eternal dwelling of God. Amen. And may Almighty God bless all of you who are gathered here. Amen.” ■

and the child Jesus, was placed in front of the sanctuary, flanked by flickering candles. Earlier, the priest thanked those who joined the prayer service. The crowd of about 60 people included Ukrainian Catholics who attend Divine Liturgies at that shrine, families with young children, students from the neighboring Catholic University of America, senior citizens, and people of other faiths. “I can’t tell you what a consolation it is to have people from the broader community (here). You don’t know what it means. Knowing somebody cares makes all the difference in the world,” the priest said. Father Galadza, a Canadian priest who is teaching liturgy at Catholic University, urged people to do what they can to support Ukraine and its citizens, such as mobilizing prayer vigils, joining protests, and providing humanitarian aid. ■ MARCH 6, 2022 n A13

Knights of Columbus Council 645 marks 120 years of service Members past and present are recognized for continuing the faith-based traditions of one of Tennessee’s oldest councils By Bill Brewer

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“A shepherd leads in a way that is spiritually fulfilling, not just for his people but for himself,” Father Kartje said. After five weeks of classes, they get sent off to see how it works in the real world. Brother Matthew Schuster, who was a seminarian studying to become a priest of the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius, said that learning some of the administrative skills a pastor needs before his internship

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nights of Columbus Council 645 at Immaculate Conception Church marked a milestone last month when it celebrated its 120th anniversary, tracing its origin to February 1902. To put the date in perspective, that was the year the first U.S. college football bowl game was held, the Rose Bowl. It also was the year the first full-time U.S. movie theater opened in Los Angeles, the year J.C. Penney opened his first store, the Curies isolated radioactive radium, the first public demonstration of a radio was held, President Theodore Roosevelt was the first U.S. president to ride in a car, and it was 12 years before World War I. But those events were likely of little concern to the early Catholic men who sought to bring the Knights of Columbus to Knoxville, where Catholicism was still young and unwelcome by some in the heart of the Protestant Bible Belt. Troy Cantrell, Grand Knight of Council 645, explained that in February 1902 Knoxville established Tennessee’s fourth Knights of Columbus organization, which was Council 645 that operated from Knoxville’s only Catholic church at that time, Immaculate Conception. Council 645 was the 645th coun-

A piece of history Knights of Columbus Council 645 Grand Knight Troy Cantrell reviews an Aug. 9, 1960, story in The Knoxville Journal about a Catholic priest taking issue with false public statements about John F. Kennedy. cil to receive a charter from the national Knights of Columbus organization. While most known through its association with Immaculate Conception, Mr. Cantrell emphasized that Council 645’s charter specifically says it is the city of Knoxville’s Knights of Columbus council. According to a news report in the Knoxville Sentinel newspaper on Jan. 27, 1902, founders of Council 645 were John P. Murphy, J.C. McLaughlin, M.L. Coen, Richard McNichols, W.K. Graw, and Lau-

rens O’Connor. The six men became charter members of Knights Council 610 in Chattanooga when that council was organized in October 1901 and brought the Knights of Columbus to Knoxville. On Feb. 9, 1902, 75 men were welcomed into Council 645 during an installation ceremony at an Immaculate Conception Mass, the Sentinel reported on Feb. 8, 1902. And 120 years later, Council 645 was recognized on Feb. 12 at an Immaculate Conception Mass, with an anniversary dinner that

at a parish prepared him for dealing with the practical duties that fall on a pastor. “It’s not that administration is the No. 1 purpose of a pastor,” he said. “Ultimately, the pastor is a father. But if the administration is not good, the effects are disastrous.” After observing the work of the pastor and other priests, Brother Schuster said he thought it was especially important for priests—most of whom will be pastors within a few years—to learn about how to deal

with human resources. That includes hiring and firing, but also making the best use of the people on staff and volunteers. “It’s really about realizing one man cannot do everything by himself,” he said. “You need people working with you. The priest needs to be a leader, and that’s a real skill.” It’s not a coincidence that seminarians’ pastoral internships happen in the spring, giving the parishes an extra set of hands and giving the seminarians a front-row seat for what is

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followed. Father Jim Haley, CSP, chaplain of Council 645, celebrated the Mass and spoke at the dinner. Joining him in addressing the anniversary dinner guests were longtime Council 645 member and historian Bert Benedict; Michael McCusker, who recently served as State Deputy of the Tennessee Knights of Columbus; and Fred Laufenberg, current State Deputy of the Tennessee Knights of Columbus who is a member of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Fairfield Glade. Mr. McCusker, who resides in West Tennessee, attended Immaculate Conception as a youth, and his father served as Grand Knight of Council 645. During the anniversary celebration, Council 645 recognized longtime member Larry Gibney, who has been instrumental in leading the council for years. “What would possess six people from Knoxville in 1902 to become Knights? What would possess them to go all the way to Chattanooga and want to become Knights and bring that back to Knoxville? Before the Nashville council was started in 1901, they (Knights of Columbus) had not gone south of Kentucky. And they didn’t intend to go south of Kentucky. Then, guys from Nashville Council 645 continued on page A17

usually the busiest time of the year: Lent, Holy Week, the Triduum, and Easter, not to mention the first Communions and confirmations that also are concentrated toward the end of the school year. Father Kartje says he wanted to add more components about the practical side of parish leadership throughout the curriculum. “We’re certainly not attempting to do everything in five weeks,” he said. “It kind of is knowing what you don’t know.” ■

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how great SEEK was for them, and actually I work with one of the missionaries. He would always talk about how he found Christ through SEEK, and that’s what initiated him to start looking more and led him to FOCUS and to start and kind of lead us in our men’s group.” For University of Tennessee sophomore Helen McCall, she returned to SEEK for a second time because of the fun she had last year at a local gathering with students from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. “I think just seeing so many different people my same age from across mainly the South come together to learn more about our faith and learn more about each other has been really great,” she said. As a member of FOCUS Greek, Ms. McCall has enjoyed the opportunity to meet other young women from different sororities through a Bible study with her missionary team director. “That was one of the first ways that I made friends at Tennessee, was through that Bible study,” she said. “I already knew some girls in my own sorority, but then getting to meet different girls across different chapters and relate to them about faith has been really nice.” Also present for the weekend was Paulist Father Richard Whitney, associate pastor at St. John XXIII University Parish on the UT-Knoxville campus, who said his main role on campus is to provide “spiritual accompaniment as people are trying to find out what it means to be a Catholic in [their] adult life.” TH E EAST T E N N E S S E E C AT HO L I C

“How do I live my faith as an adult Catholic? I can help them do that because I had to do the same thing,” Father Whitney said. “I would say the biggest question is, what am I supposed to be feeling? Why am I doing this when nothing is happening? And the realization that something will happen…. Having an active faith life allows us to cope and manage just so much better.” FOCUS missionaries are active on the University of Tennessee campuses in Knoxville and Chattanooga. “FOCUS [missionaries] are four extra people on the ministerial staff who can go out and show that there is joy in living our Catholic lives as adults,” Father Whitney shared. “And there’s only so far the priests on staff can go.… But the FOCUS missionaries are more peers, and they have a very happy engagement and are just another way to reach out and share the reflected love that God gives all of us.” The emcee for the weekend was former FOCUS missionary Devin Dunn, who shared his experience with the college students on how being a missionary changed not only the people he worked with but also himself. “I wanted to be a Catholic rockstar who’s going to, like, kick onto a campus and be like, y’all need Jesus, and make disciples. And what I found really quickly after being hired as a FOCUS missionary is that I was the one who needed to know Him deeper,” Mr. Dunn said. “I had the opportunity in that mission to meet Jesus Christ in a

deeper way, to realize His love for me, to realize my identity as a beloved son of God, and out of that identity to serve as His missionary,” he said. “So, I think for many of us, the idea of becoming a FOCUS missionary might seem lofty, might seem far away, might seem like something for someone else, but I really want to encourage you to consider if God might be calling you to be a FOCUS missionary.” Throughout the weekend, livestreamed speakers addressed several questions such as: n Who am I? n Who is Jesus? n What is it Jesus taught? n Why did Jesus die? n How is God calling me? Keynote speakers included current Catholic powerhouses such as Father Mike Schmitz; Sister Miriam James Heidland, SOLT; Dr. Edward Sri; Father Josh Johnson; Sister Bethany Madonna, SV; and FOCUS founder Curtis Martin. “When FOCUS works on a college campus, it isn’t so much that we can do great campus ministry, we hope that that happens,” Mr. Martin shared with his local crowd in Denver and to the thousands of people watching via livestream. “What we realize is that you’re going to get more amazing with time,” he explained. “The hope and prayer is…if we can trust Christ in our lives and allow Him in, He starts to work in us in our 20s, then in our 30s, then in our 40s, we’ll become more amazing with time.” “It just so happens that this weekend, 24 years ago exactly, the first FOCUS event of all time occurred,”

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he continued. “It’s such a delight to be reminded 24 years ago we had about 20 students, we issued the invitation to Christ-like leadership, and each of them, each to the last person, accepted the invitation.” Saturday morning, Feb. 5, began with Mass led by part-time FOCUS chaplain Father Kevin Dyer, SJ. For the last decade, Father Dyer has been involved with FOCUS in a variety of ways, such as summer training of missionaries. “I love this, I love the people that get brought together in something like that,” Father Dyer said. “It really is a reflection of the Gospel today, where Jesus brought everybody together, and the priests and religious who are here, to see the missionaries, our mission partners, and then all the students who are coming in seeking out the Lord is really a huge consolation to my heart.” In addition to watching livestreamed talks, local speakers also traveled to Knoxville so that students could experience in-person impact sessions. Students chose to attend talks that were most relevant to them, whether that was on the topic of vocations, how to pray, care for the poor, transgenderism, pornography, the feminine genius, or how to trust God. Present for his Knoxville impact session was Catholic speaker and musician Paul J. Kim, widely known for his YouTube videos with Ascension, the faith formation platform. Mr. Kim shared his conversion SEEK22 continued on page A16 MARCH 6, 2022 n A15

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community. One of the Scripture passages driving the mission of FOCUS is John 17:3: “Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.” When graduation came, there was really no question in my mind. I wanted to live this verse out with my life and become a FOCUS missionary. Jesus had used Andrea and the FOCUS teams at the University of Tennessee to forever change my life, and I wanted to be a part of helping Jesus do that in the lives of others. I interviewed and was accepted, and, after a summer training program in Ave Maria, Fla., with our fellow missionaries, I was sent to start the FOCUS program at the University of Memphis. I would go on to serve the University of South Alabama and Vanderbilt University, lead a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, and go on mission trips to St. Lucia and Kolkata, India. Each new adventure brought me closer to Jesus in beautiful ways as I watched my students’ hearts, and my own, be transformed. The FOCUS model of evangelization is unique and particular to the college campus, and because of this, college campuses can begin to be transformed simply by the presence of a four-member team. “With such affection for you, we were determined to share with you not only the Gospel of God, but our very selves as well, so dearly beloved had you become to us” (1 Thessalonians 2:8). These men and women, whose full-time job is to be present to students on campus, fill their time with Bible studies, mentorship, lives of sacraments and prayer, and intentionally “wasted” moments living simple life with their students. It’s in these small and great opportunities in true friendships and relationships that Jesus shows up and the Holy Spirit is given the space to work in whatever way He sees fit. We also were able to take our students with us on spur-of-the-moment trips, travel with them to retreats, take them on pilgrimages, and go on foreign and domestic mission trips with them. The highlight of every year was FOCUS’ big conference in January, where thousands of students gather for five days of prayer, worship, and spiritual and intellectual formation. Watching lives change in only a couple days, sometimes overnight, was one of the greatest honors I had during my time as a missionary. In addition to time spent with our students, we also would do outreach on campus, trying to reach new students any way we could. We would host parties and events and invite anyone who wanted to come to join. Many beautiful conversations were had around bonfires, hanging out in our living rooms, or handing out free food at the Catholic center. We would go out on campus and ask random students if they’d allow us to share the Gospel with them, always ending with an invitation to come check out a Bible study or the Catholic center with us. We set up tables on campus and offered to answer people’s questions about the Church or find some other way to engage people in conversation, often including a free treat. SEEK22 continued from page A15

story, which occurred while he was in college, reflecting on the importance of having a relationship with the Blessed Mother. “Despite my lack of faith, despite my poor decisions to do anything and everything except to follow Him, but the Holy Spirit was still active in my life,” he said. “I was trying to fill the emptiness in my life, to silence my conscience, but God kept inviting me.” Mr. Kim explained how he turned to the rosary when he began to feel a desire to pray. “As I knelt next to my bed and I prayed the rosary, weird things started happening. I felt more peace, joy, and purpose in that 20 minutes of prayer than I did in my whole month’s worth of screwing around. And it intrigued me, and I came back to it the next day…” he said. “I was praying the rosary in college, and out of nowhere I start smelling roses. And it wasn’t because I was geographically located next to a rose bush…” Mr. Kim continued. “And it freaked me out because I was like, what is happening? … But as I pondered why she might be visiting me out of all people in the world, what was made clear was she was saying something very important. She was saying, ‘Paul, this A16 n MARCH 6, 2022

There were the random students we met on campus who later became Catholic, the sorority girl forever changed by a FOCUS mission trip, the students who grew up going to Catholic school but hadn’t yet made the faith their own, the fraternity guy who encountered Jesus in adoration and completely changed his life. These and so many other stories flood my mind when I recall the various experiences I had on campus. Beyond the college campus, I’ve met so many people whose involvement with FOCUS, no matter the size, changed the entire trajectory of their lives. They might have picked different career paths, made more intentional decisions with getting involved in a parish, dated and married differently, and made daily decisions more virtuously all because of the presence of a FOCUS missionary during their time in college. As missionaries, we were also able to partner with generous donors who would monthly provide for our material and spiritual needs through donations and prayers so that we could do the job God was inviting us to do. These “mission partners” were just as much a part of our daily lives as our students; they just couldn’t be on campus with us physically. They entrusted their finances to God through

Claire Collins is shown with her husband, Andrew, and sons Joe, 2, and Frank, 2 months.

is real. Everything you’re reflecting on right now is real. My Son is real. What He accomplished for you on the cross is real. He has a plan for your life. Respond to His call.’” After keynotes and impact sessions, campus attendees broke out in small groups to discuss the topics with their peers. Other activities available throughout the weekend included special sessions for students involved in Greek life or athletics; playful but competitive rounds of Catholicthemed Family Feud; a prayer wall for faithful to write their intentions; praise and worship music; an online trivia board; pop song sing-alongs; and a bracelet-making table to commemorate the weekend. Mission Way included numerous booths representing Catholic artisans, nonprofits, vocational paths, and FOCUS-related opportunities for the students to explore, learn, and purchase goods. University of Illinois sophomore Cori Martin and 60 other students traveled for nearly 10 hours through winter weather to attend the regional SEEK22 event in Knoxville. “It’s my first in-person experience,” she said. “I did SEEK last year, but it was just at a missionary’s house, so I’m super excited that I’m somewhere else this year.” “I loved all the talks so much

donating to us, prayed for us and our campus, and many times had their own hearts transformed by our work as they supported us. Our jobs as missionaries and the lives changed by Jesus’ presence on campus wouldn’t have been possible without their generous support. Today, FOCUS is present on 205 college campuses and parishes serving students and parishioners in five different countries, not including those served by the Digital Campus platform. As they continue to impact thousands and thousands of people around the world, I can reflect on how my life has been forever changed. Because of FOCUS, I strive to give Jesus primacy in my life. Some of my best friends were people I met as a missionary, whether students on my campus or people with whom I had the honor of serving. My team director my second year on staff is now my husband and we have two beautiful (and wild) sons. We’ve established a community with many people who are now taking their faith seriously because of the impact of a FOCUS missionary or student leader, either during their time in college, in their place of work after college, or in their parish community. We now support FOCUS financially and pray for them every day. Former teammates and students have gone on to pursue religious vocations and the priesthood in many different orders and dioceses. To put it simply, the world is being changed because of Curtis Martin and his dream of starting FOCUS. FOCUS just finished its SEEK22 conference, which had over 27,500 attendees both in person and virtually. As more people’s lives are affected by the impact of FOCUS, I am so hopeful looking toward the future of the Church. From vocations to the priesthood and religious life, to the boldness of those lay men and women in the pews, Jesus is using this ministry in big ways. The Scripture passage that most inspires the mission of FOCUS is the Great Commission: Jesus’s last words to his apostles before He ascended to the Father after the resurrection. “Then Jesus approached and said to them, ‘All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age’” (Matthew 28:18-20). I’d challenge you to take this verse to heart and to learn more about the mission of FOCUS. Whether supporting FOCUS missionaries financially or trying to imitate what they are doing in your families, workplaces, and parishes, you can have this transformation, too. Begin attending the sacraments with more frequency: a daily Mass when you can, the sacrament of confession, attending eucharistic adoration at your parish. Find someone to walk the journey with you such as a friend or family member with whom you can be on mission. And PRAY. If you don’t know how, the FOCUS website has many awesome resources to get you started. Jesus is waiting for you, and all He needs is your yes! So, what are you waiting for? ■

last year and all the relationships I made from bonding with other people,” Ms. Martin said. “This year, I’m a small group leader at Illinois, so I was encouraging other girls to come now, too, because I enjoyed it so much last year.” The high point of the weekend was adoration on Saturday night, where the students encountered the Lord as Father Dyer walked through and around the crowd holding the monstrance high in his hands. During the time of adoration, the sacrament of reconciliation also was available throughout the convention center. With 30 priests available to hear confessions, it is estimated that 900 individuals received absolution that evening. Before the final talks on Sunday morning, Bishop Richard F. Stika of the Diocese of Knoxville celebrated Mass alongside FOCUS chaplains and other visiting priests and seminarians. “It is a pleasure to welcome you, to be with you, to celebrate with you, and to live our faith. Now I must admit, I’m a little partial to the Tennessee people over here,” Bishop Stika said, drawing a loud response from the UT students. “We gather together to celebrate the fact that Jesus invites us to this, His sacrifice,” he continued. “Jesus

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invites us to be here, one with him, as we honor God the Father, as we are filled with the Holy Spirit. And as you leave here today, you take that message with you, touched by the Holy Spirit.” During his homily, Bishop Stika commented on the lack of faith in our culture at large and how the culture is often divided. “And yet, it is Jesus who speaks to us. It is Jesus who would nourish us, and it is Jesus who invites us. And isn’t that what FOCUS is all about?” he continued. “As you leave Knoxville today filled with zeal and zest, and boy this was a great experience, … I kind of always liked those old wristbands, you know, What Would Jesus Do? That’s a guide for me as I make decisions and hopefully all of you, at the beginning of every day as you pray…ask the Lord to bless and guide you for that day because it’s going to be filled with unexpected moments.” Near the end of the conference, FOCUS announced the dates and location of next year’s SEEK conference: Jan. 2-6 in St. Louis. Not only will 2023 mark the 25th anniversary of FOCUS’ first-ever conference, but once again, students, missionaries, and supporters will be back in one location to draw near to God and to each other. ■ TH E EA S T TEN N ES S EE C ATH OLI C

COURTESY OF COUNCIL 645

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went up to Louisville, went through the initiation, and brought it back,” Mr. Cantrell said, explaining how the Knights began in Tennessee. Mr. Cantrell has been looking forward to marking such an important milestone for Council 645 and its ministry. “I just think it’s awesome. The thing that hits me is the people who started it and all the brothers that have kept it going, bringing the Knights of Columbus to the Catholic community in Knoxville. I’m so thankful for all the Knights that have gone before us to establish the council and keep it going, promoting our faith in the Catholic community,” Mr. Cantrell said. “These people went through an extremely big effort to establish this council.” He noted the challenges of establishing the network of Knights of Columbus in 1902 from Louisville to Nashville, then to Chattanooga and Knoxville given that primary intercity and interstate transportation was by railroad, and the telephone was still new, developing technology. “This council actually has spawned other councils in the area. And what is amazing is Council 5207 at Sacred Heart Cathedral recently celebrated its 60th anniversary,” Mr. Cantrell noted in comparison to Council 645. In addition to 5207, other councils that have followed 645 are in Oak Ridge, Maryville-Alcoa, and other East Tennessee Catholic communities. He pointed out that some six State Deputies of the Tennessee Knights of Columbus have come from Council 645. History has been the theme of the anniversary, with Mr. Cantrell and others pointing to Council 645’s role in the Church and larger community. For example, in the 1960 presidential election, when John F. Kennedy was running against Richard M. Nixon, a false narrative was circulated in communities around the country that Catholics, including Mr. Kennedy, couldn’t be trusted in U.S. government because they swore an allegiance to the pope. Also, William G. “Parson” Brownlow, an East Tennessee Methodist minister, newspaper publisher, book author, and the 17th governor of Tennessee, was known for his vocal attacks on foes, including Baptists, Presbyterians, and Catholics in the mid-1800s. “One of our Grand Knights (in 1960) confronted the local ministers and made them print retractions,” Mr. Cantrell said, explaining that a Knoxville Journal news article dated Aug. 9, 1960, reported that Father Francis R. Shea, pastor of Immaculate Conception wrote a letter to the newspaper taking issue with remarks from a Baptist minister to correct the false narrative about John F. Kennedy. Time and faith have healed old wounds, and the Knights of Columbus are revered for their community service. Ministries that Council 645 now is involved with are Catholic Charities of East Tennessee’s Columbus Home and Hope Kitchen, and the Ladies of Charity. The council has 82 members, of which 19 have reached “members for life” status. There are five “honorary” members who are priests. Mr. Cantrell remarked that the Immaculate Conception council’s triple digit is a status symbol of sorts. “It is something. 645 is a pretty low number, and to be the fourth one in the state of Tennessee is significant.” The three older councils in Tennessee are Nashville’s Council 544, Council 610 in Chattanooga, and Council 616 in Memphis. Council 645 is in a growth period right now, according to Mr. Cantrell, noting that more peo-

Knights of Council 645 Front row, left to right, John Swindeman, Troy Cantrell, Henry Usey, Jack Parker, Father Jim Haley. Back row, left to right, Wes Sheedy, David Yelmini, David Accardi, Dave Caldwell, Phil Flanagan, Corey Yates. ple are moving into the Knoxville area, leading to new Knights who have joined the council. “Although we’re small, it’s a tight-knit group that gets along together, and we’re in the process of growing right now. COVID has put a damper on what we’ve been able to do,” he said. But the council members are looking forward to again serving breakfast after Masses and resuming fish fries during Lent. Father Haley, in his remarks during the anniversary celebration, pointed out that Council 645 was approved and established only 20 years after Blessed Father Michael McGivney began the first council of the Knights of Columbus in New Haven, Conn. Father Haley also explained that in February 1902, the initial six founders plus 50 other men, under the leadership of Grand Knight Edward O’Hearn, were granted the Council 645 charter. “What must have been the thoughts, hopes, and dreams of those 56 men so long ago? We can only surmise, but I can imagine that their focus and thought embodied the aims and aspirations of the Knights,” Father Haley said. “They wanted to give expression to their Catholic life through the four-fold pillars of the Knights: charity, unity, fraternity, patriotism. These four basics can, I believe, be boiled down to three words: faith in action.” Father Haley emphasized that the Knights of Columbus is not a social club. “We are, rather, a group of Catholic men who are bound together in unity and fraternity to express our own personal belief in Jesus Christ, and to proclaim that belief by the way we share, not only among ourselves, but by opening ourselves to the broader community,” he said. “The Knights exist so that together we might first strengthen our own faith, and then bring that faith to fruition in service of others.” He also underscored the fact that when Council 645 was established, the Catholic community in Knoxville was in a minority “and in many ways under attack and misunderstood. Perhaps not unlike our own times.” “These founding members of 645 believed that by banding together in a fraternal organization based on Catholic principles, their own faith would be strengthened and they would be able to give witness to that faith by an outreach of service to others. Today, we carry on this tradition,” the Paulist priest said. “The hopes and dreams of the members of this early council live on, not only in the present members of our own council, but also in the councils that are active in Knoxville, but dare I say in councils throughout Tennessee, and, indeed, the country and world.” Mr. McCusker pointed out that not only is 645

the fourth oldest council in Tennessee, but it is possibly the fourth oldest in the South because Ferdinand E. Kuhn of Nashville brought the Knights of Columbus to the southern United States in the early 1900s. The Knights of Columbus order was hesitant to expand into the South because many of its initial members, including the first Supreme Knight, James T. Mullen, fought for the Union in the Civil War. “It follows that if Mr. Kuhn started the southern Knights of Columbus, it took its root first in Tennessee before spreading,” Mr. McCusker said, explaining that councils are numbered by the order in which they were established. He noted that one of the last councils started in Tennessee was during his term as State Deputy and is Council 17733. Mr. McCusker joined Council 645 just before his 20th birthday, and he has strong memories of its role in his formation as a Catholic and a Knight in the Church. “Council 645 represents longevity despite setbacks. The council was suspended in the 1930s due to inactivity and then roared back following World War II. By the 1980s, the council was struggling again, but held together by a handful of dedicated Knights. Other councils, especially those struggling now, should draw strength from 645’s example of longevity and its ability to overcome challenges,” Mr. McCusker said. “I was there during some lean years, but as a young man, membership in 645 taught me to persevere and gave me the training I would need one day to rise in the ranks of the Tennessee State Council,” he added. “To me, it is the memory of past State Deputy Jim Bentley, who conducted my First Degree (initiation). Membership put me into contact with Dr. E.V. Davidson, who helped me immensely by rendering a medical opinion over a childhood allergy that threatened to prevent me from being commissioned as an officer in the United States Army. It was also where I first got to know great men and dedicated Knights like Paul Vadeboncouer, Bert Benedict, and Wes Sheedy. Sadly, too many names are now only memories, including the most significant, past District Deputy and past Grand Knight Jack McCusker, my dad.” Tennessee State Deputy Fred Laufenberg echoes the sentiment that 120 years is a significant achievement. “It’s Catholic men supporting each other and helping each other to grow in their faith. I think the most important thing to remember is being Catholic in Tennessee is to be different,” Mr. Laufenberg said. “To have started a Catholic church in Knoxville and to be founded by some of the pillars of the community speaks to the influence Catholics have had in the area. When I visit this council and this parish I always find that our brother Knights are deeply ingrained in the parish,” he added. Mr. Laufenberg appreciates the support the Council 645 Knights receive from the diocese and the Paulist priests who serve Immaculate Conception. “They support the council and the council is the right hand of our parish priests. Council 645 leads faith-based programs for all men of the parish. They are the greeters, ushers, eucharistic ministers, visitors to the homebound, and the list goes on. They are the parish council, finance committee, planning committee, and the handymen,” he said. “My wife Donna and I enjoy visiting IC and its parishioners, which are always welcoming. And we very much enjoyed being able to join them for their 120th-year celebration.” ■

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Kremlin-led war,” which began with Russia’s 2014 annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula. The same year, Russian-backed separatists proclaimed “people’s republics” in the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, together known as the Donbas. That move came just 23 years after Ukraine gained independence following the collapse of the Soviet Union, of which it had been a part. Memories of oppression under Soviet communism were close at hand for Basilian Sister Anna Andrusiv, whose monastery is in Lviv, in western Ukraine. Although born in 1988, she “felt in her heart” a unity with long-deceased sisters who hid in the same convent basement during the German occupation of Ukraine in World War II. Her own grandmother had vivid memories of hardship, deprivation, and a constant fear of “saying what you were thinking,” which could result in being sent “to Siberia,” she said. Sister Andrusiv said she and some two dozen fellow religious — some of whom are up to 90 years old — have their emergency bags packed “in case we are bombed,” with at least three days’ supplies of “food, water, warm

Faith above fleeing Nuns from the Order of St. Basil the Great are pictured on Feb. 22 during a pilgrimage in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, just hours ahead of Russia’s invasion into Ukraine. clothes, and medicine” as well as important documents. At the same time, she and her companions said they were unafraid. “We want you to know we are just waiting. If it’s going to happen, it will be hard, but we can take it,” she said. “We just want you to know that it’s not from us, this war. It’s like somebody came to our home and wanted

to take it, and we will fight back, all of us. All of us will.” A recent pilgrimage of men and women religious, which concluded in eastern Ukraine just hours ahead of the invasion, has provided renewed spiritual energy for the days ahead, said Sister Murashko. “We were walking on the main street (of the town) and the people

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were crossing themselves … and making bows to the crucifix,” she said. “They came to us and gave us strength to serve and … to continue our mission here, so we cannot want to go anywhere else.” Various Catholic agencies are collecting donations to aid with the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, as people flee to escape Russian bombing and shelling. Here are some places to donate. This list is not exhaustive. The international Caritas confederation is collecting funds to help Caritas Ukraine. In the United States, that is through Catholic Relief Services. Internationally, you can donate through Caritas Internationalis. The Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia also has a link to donate. It is https://ukrarcheparchy. us/donate Two pontifical agencies also are taking donations for Ukraine: Catholic Near East Welfare Association, https://cnewa.org/campaigns/ ukraine/ and Aid to the Church in Need, which is https://www.churchinneed.org/ . Internationally, Aid to the Church can be reached at this link, https://acninternational.org/acngrants-aid-package-as-war-spreadsin-ukraine/ ■ MARCH 6, 2022 n A17

Diocese of Knoxville deaneries holding Lenten penance services

ere are the remaining Lenten penance services around the Diocese of Knoxville that were received as of press time: Chattanooga Deanery n Thursday, March 24: St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Cleveland, 7 p.m. n Tuesday, April 5: St. Jude, Chattanooga, 7 p.m. Cumberland Mountain Deanery n Wednesday, March 30: Church of Divine Mercy, Knoxville, 7 p.m. n Tuesday, April 5: St. Francis of Assisi, Fairfield Glade, and St. Alphonsus, Crossville, 5 p.m. CDT combined service. Five Rivers Deanery n Tuesday, March 15: St. John Paul II Catholic Mission, Rut-

ledge, 7 p.m. n Wednesday, March 16: St. Mary, Johnson City, 6 p.m. n Wednesday, March 23: Holy Trinity, Jefferson City, 7 p.m. n Tuesday, March 29: Notre Dame, Greeneville, 7 p.m. n Thursday, March 31: St. Henry, Rogersville, 7 p.m. n Tuesday, April 5: St. Dominic, Kingsport, 7 p.m. Smoky Mountain Deanery n Wednesday, March 16: Holy Family, Seymour 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. n Thursday, March 24: St. Joseph the Worker, Madisonville, 7 p.m. n Thursday, April 7: St. John XXIII, Knoxville, 7 p.m. ■

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try from being on the ground in the Caribbean country in recent months, Dr. Mire said the ministry continues to get funding to the clinics, schools, parishes, and other points of critical need. And until the medical ministry can return to Haiti, Dr. Mire will fondly recall his friendship with Dr. Farmer and the pioneering medical work they did. The clinic work advanced to the point where volunteer physicians in the Diocese of Knoxville, like Dr. Jeff Keenan, Dr. James Baker, and Dr. Paul Froula, were performing orthopedic, eye, and other surgeries. “We’ve made an impact down there. We’re still financing a great deal of things with the help of our Haiti ministry partners in Virginia and St. Louis,” Dr. Mire pointed out. “We’re trying to make it a better place. We, with our team, and Dr. Farmer and Partners In Health, were doing that,” he said. ■

Farmer and followed in his and Dr. Mire’s footsteps, getting his medical degree from the University of Tennessee in Memphis and then receiving a medical fellowship at Harvard University. Dr. Mire described Dr. Pyda’s fellowship as training in global transplant surgery. “Jordan worked very closely with Dr. Farmer in Haiti,” he said, adding that Dr. Pyda’s medical vocation formation is greatly influenced by his work with Dr. Farmer in Haiti. While they had kept in contact via e-mail, Dr. Mire said he last saw Dr. Farmer several years ago following a devastating earthquake in Haiti. Now, he is left with memories of their work shared in Haiti, such as when the Boucan-Carré clinic was built and the leader of Haiti was on hand to dedicate it in 2004. While intense political and civil unrest in Haiti has prevented the Sacred Heart Haiti outreach minisLent continued from page A6

selves that we are sinners, that we make decisions that are not always perfect, that we don’t always treat people with love and kindness and charity, and we judge others,” Bishop Stika said. The bishop urged parishioners to pray for peace during this Lenten season as Pope Francis has requested, especially for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. “Perhaps when we put the sign of the cross on your forehead today, that’s your cross that you bear. Is it a cross that you deserve, yes or no? Is it a cross that bears weight on your shoulders? Or is it a cross, just like Jesus bore that cross that will take you to the resurrection, to Easter, to a beautiful and joy-filled life centered on God? What’s going to be our choice?” Bishop Stika asked. “Don’t lightly

take this season of Lent. More than chocolate or those easy things. And don’t think of it as giving up, rather think of it as giving to God. That hope for conversion and purification and to be able to recognize God present in our world. Give it as a gift to God.” At St. John XXIII University Parish on the University of TennesseeKnoxville campus, students filled the church on Ash Wednesday, participating in Mass and standing in line to receive their ashes before heading off to class. A similar scene unfolded at Knoxville Catholic High School, where students took part in Ash Wednesday Mass. Lent will continue until Holy Thursday on April 14, at which time preparation begins for Easter on April 17. The chrism Mass celebrated by Bishop Stika at the cathedral is set for Tuesday, April 12, at 7 p.m. ■

East Tennessee Catholic News Diocese of Knoxville, Bishop Stika named in lawsuit On Feb. 22, the Diocese of Knoxville and Bishop Richard F. Stika were named as defendants in a negligence and defamation lawsuit filed in Knox County Circuit Court. The diocese did not receive official notification of the lawsuit until Feb. 23, approximately 12 hours after it was reported by an online media outlet. “It’s disturbing that this matter appears to have been deliberately leaked to the media first, without us being made aware of it,” Bishop Stika said. “I have some serious concerns about that.” “I am taking this matter seriously and my plan is to vigorously challenge the allegations if this lawsuit moves forward,” he added. “Some people say the legal system works slowly, but I have a different view, and with good reason. The system works deliberately, and I welcome a thorough examination of the allegations no matter how long it takes.” Diocesan attorneys are reviewing the complaint. The identity of the complainant was not revealed.

Bishop removes all COVID restrictions at diocesan churches Bishop Richard F. Stika has removed all previously decreed COVID-19 restrictions and directives regarding the liturgy and celebration of the sacraments at Diocese of Knoxville churches. Additionally, Bishop Stika has removed all previously decreed COVID-19 restrictions and directives regarding parish and group events where food and beverages are served. Bishop Sitka issued the updated decree on March 3 and said it is effective immediately. In the decree, the bishop said the diocese has been monitoring the procedures, recommendations, and guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Tennessee state and local health departments to make sure that all diocesan parishes have responded appropriately to the spread of the coronavirus since its outbreak in the United States in the first part of 2020. “I have taken into account the rapid decline in infection rates, hospitalizations and deaths, our emergence from the winter flu season, and the now widespread availability of vaccinations, in particular those in vulnerable demographic categories,” Bishop Stika said, adding that for the time being, holy Communion is to be given under the form of bread alone.

Gus Lloyd to host Lenten retreat at Sacred Heart The Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus will host a free, two-day Lenten retreat, featuring radio host Gus Lloyd. The retreat will begin on the evening of March 22. On March 23, Mr. Lloyd will discuss his book, Magnetic Christianity: Using Your God-Given Gifts to Build the Kingdom. Each night begins at 7 p.m. in the cathedral hall. Mr. Lloyd is scheduled to host his Morning Air Sirius XM radio show from the Chancery during his visit.

Funeral Mass held for Bill Shero Jr. A funeral Mass was celebrated March 3 at Holy Ghost Church for Bill Shero Jr., 76, who died Feb. 24. A man of strong faith, Mr. Shero exemplified the spirit of Jesus in his interactions with everyone he met. He was born and raised in Murrysville, Pa. He was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army following his graduation from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. Mr. Shero was an Airborne Ranger in the 82nd Airborne Division and a member of the 10th Special Forces (Green Berets). Mr. Shero Following their Army service, Mr. and Mrs. Shero bought a restaurant in Knoxville. Mr. Shero later earned a master’s degree in mathematics from the University of Tennessee. He became a real estate broker and appraiser. Mr. Shero was a lead usher at Holy Ghost Church and was active in the Knights of Columbus, where he was a Fourth Degree Knight. He also was active as a coach and referee with AYSO soccer, where he began coaching his daughters’ teams in 1982 and later coached his grandsons through their senior years in high school. Mr. Shero is survived by his wife of 52 years, Barbara; daughters, Christine (Phil) Neuhoff and Cynthia (David) Clemons; grandchildren, Anthony (Samantha) Duncan, Stephen (Heather) Duncan, Christopher Clemons, Annabelle Clemons, Daniel Clemons, Jackson Neuhoff, and Sarah Neuhoff; great-grandchildren, Rhea, Rowan, and Cora; sister Mary Fry; and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Mary and William Shero Sr.; brothers, Jim and David Shero, and sister, Eileen Piper. Mr. Shero was interred at East Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery. Donations in Mr. Shero’s memory may be made to Catholic Charities of East Tennessee: https://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/member/ catholic-charities-of-east-tennessee/

Sacred Heart Cathedral seeks accounting professional The Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, founded in 1956, is home to the Cathedral Church and Sacred Heart Cathedral School and serves approximately 2,300 registered families. The cathedral is seeking a full-time person to work in accounting. The primary purpose of this position is to support the major responsibilities for the overall financial management of the cathedral parish. In addition, the role includes management of the stewardship of fiscal resources in support of the mission and goals of the cathedral and overseeing all financial and related functions of the parish, including payroll, budgeting, accounting, real estate and facilities, and contracted benefits. The cathedral is an $8 million nonprofit organization that promotes the spiritual growth of all members of the parish community through its mission to worship, teach, and serve. Qualifications are a bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or business administration; master’s degree in accounting, finance, or a master’s in business administration (MBA) preferred. Certified Public Accountant or Certified Management Accountant preferred; minimum 10 years of progressively responsible experience for a major company or nonprofit or division of a large corporation or nonprofit organization; experience in financial management, reporting, and analysis preferable; demonstrated interpersonal and communication skills; proficient with information technology; demonstrated organizational and planning skills; strong ability to think and act independently; must be able to pass a background check successfully. To apply, e-mail or mail a cover letter of application, resumé, and three current letters of recommendation to: Mary Mac Wilson Director of Parish Operations Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus 417 Erin Drive, Suite 120 Knoxville, TN 37919 mwilson@dioknox.org ■

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