April 2, 2023, ET Catholic, A section

Welcome to the Church in East Tennessee

Bishop Stika greets catechumens, candidates during Rite of Election ceremonies

By Bill Brewer

Bishop Richard F. Stika welcomed more than 200 catechumens and candidates into the Catholic Church during Rite of Election services Feb. 25-26 at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

It was a robust congregation of women and men from around the Diocese of Knoxville who expressed excitement to be entering the Catholic faith. They were joined by their sponsors, godparents, family members, parish directors of religious education, and RCIA leaders.

None were more excited than Carl and Crystal Koch from Hancock County.

The Kochs are members of St. James the Apostle Parish in Sneedville and entered the Church at Easter Vigil as candidates, converting from the Baptist faith.

The Kochs, who joined the Catholic Church along with two others at St. James, represent a remarkable growth spurt for St. James and illustrate the Catholic Church’s continued expansion in East Tennessee, especially in outlying areas like Hancock County where Catholics are a very small community compared with other Protestant faiths.

Bishop Stika presided at both ceremonies, known fully as the Rite of Election of Catechumens and Call to Continuing Conversion of Candidates. The first service on Feb. 25 was for the Chattanooga and Five Rivers deaneries, and the second service on Feb. 26 was for the Cumberland Mountain and Smoky Mountain deaneries.

“Welcome to the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, the mother church of the entire Catholic Church in East Tennessee,” Bishop Stika said in his greeting. “This is one of my favorite ceremonies throughout the liturgical year. You’ve all been working hard. You’ve all had your own journeys that brought you to this season of Lent and to Easter Vigil. So, I have great, great respect for you all in this journey of faith.”

Deacon Jim Bello, director of Christian Formation for the Diocese of Knoxville who also serves at Holy Spirit Church in Soddy-Daisy, introduced the churches of the Chattanooga, Five Rivers, Cumberland Mountain, and

“This is one of my favorite ceremonies throughout the liturgical year. You've all been working hard. You've all had your own journeys that brought you to this season of Lent and to Easter Vigil. So, I have great, great respect for you all in this journey of faith.”

Smoky Mountain deaneries and recognized their candidates, catechumens, sponsors, and parish directors of religious education or RCIA leaders.

Bishop Stika introduced the congregation of new Catholics to the cathedral and showed them the various images in the nave and dome as well as the baldachino that encompasses the sanctuary. He pointed to the images of Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and the Apostles, as well as saints such as Josephine Bakhita, Maximilian Kolbe, and Francis of Assisi.

Rite of Election continued on page A21

Young Adult Conference explores authentic faith

By Emily Booker

What does an authentic faith look like in a world that is terrified of authenticity and faith?

The Diocesan Young Adult Conference, “Bold Faith in the Modern World,” was held at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus on Feb. 18 aiming to address that question.

Author, speaker, and radio host Katie Prejean McGrady was the featured speaker. She hosts a daily radio show, “The Katie McGrady Show,” on The Catholic Channel, Sirius XM 129.

Accepting God’s love

Throughout the day on Feb. 18, Mrs. McGrady gave a series of talks on accepting God’s love and finding the courage to live a faithful life.

Young adults often struggle

with finding their place, both in the world and in the Church. Mrs. McGrady pointed out that the term “young adult” covers a wide

range of ages, vocations, career paths, and milestones.

Some are college students, some are professionals, some are sin -

gle, and some are married. But they often feel like they are put into one box and underestimated.

Further, the world tells them that their worth is determined by how successful they are in school, in work, in finding a spouse, in owning a home. It can be difficult for young adults to feel like they belong or have anything of value to offer.

“We are so underestimated, so little is assumed of us, so little is expected of us, but you have so much to give, especially in the heart of the Church, especially in a moment when revival is demanded,” Mrs. McGrady said.

The Lord doesn’t want anything from you—He just wants you, she told the participants. Their worth doesn’t come from their productivity but from being created and loved by God. They have to learn to stop asking, “What do you

Joyful greetings Bishop Richard F. Stika shakes hands with the Catholic Church's newest East Tennessee members during the Rite of Election at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Bishop Stika presided at Rite of Election ceremonies Feb. 25-26.

–– Bishop Richard F. Stika

in their faith Parishioners take part in the Diocese of Knoxville's Young Adult Conference at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus on Feb. 18.

Diocese

By Jim Wogan

Ready to be ordained

of Knoxville seminarians preparing for priestly, diaconate ordinations

Bishop Richard F. Stika has called to holy orders three transitional deacons to become priests of the Diocese of Knoxville at a Mass of Ordination to the Priesthood on June 10 at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

“This is a joyous time for me personally and for all the faithful of the Diocese of Knoxville, and it is especially fulfilling for Deacons Joseph Austin, Neil Blatchford, and Andrew Crabtree, who will be ordained priests on that special day,” Bishop Stika said.

“No one has a right to receive the sacrament of holy orders. One can only be called to this vocation by God,” Bishop Stika said, citing canon law (CC 1578). “As bishop of the Diocese of Knoxville, I have reviewed the steps these men have made in preparing themselves for the priesthood. I am confident that

Sr. Regina

they are now ready, and I look forward to presiding at their ordinations on June 10.”

All three men were ordained transitional deacons by Bishop Stika in 2022.

Following assignments at parishes last summer, they returned to St. Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology in Indiana for their final year of academic work. They will graduate in May.

Deacon Joseph Austin is originally from Kingsport. His home parish is St. Dominic.

Deacon Neil Blatchford is originally from Athens. His home parish is the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Deacon Andrew Crabtree is originally from Madisonville. His home parish is St. Joseph the Worker.

Since the Diocese of Knoxville was established in 1988, 56 men have been ordained priests. Bishop Stika has ordained 21 men to the priesthood since his arrival in Knoxville in 2009.

“We continue to grow the Catholic Church in East Tennessee,” Bishop Stika said. “We do this in many ways, but the most impor-

Ordinations continued on page A7

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

The 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”).

element of the Safe Environment Program

The Handmaids of the Precious Blood in 2022 celebrated their Diamond Jubilee: 75 years since their founding in 1947; 75 years of prayer and sacrifice for priests. Did you know you can receive weekly cartoons and short reflections and news from the Handmaids of the Precious Blood? Visit their website, nunsforpriests.org, and sign up for the FIAT newsletter.

April Prayer Intentions

“We pray for the spread of peace and non-violence, by decreasing the use of weapons by states and citizens.”

Pope Francis

“As believers, we pray for a deeper understanding of the mystery of the Lord’s resurrection and that the joy of Easter will continue to grow in us throughout the year. We also pray for those who don’t believe that they come to understand and accept the promise of eternal life through Jesus. Amen.”

Bishop Stika

DIOCESE OF KNOXVILLE

PROCEDURE FOR 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 rst, then to the McNabb Center victim's assistance coordinator, 865.321.9080.

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

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

WATCH UPDATES DioKnoxTV

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 ■

> CONTACT US AT 865.584.3307 OR bbrewer @ dioknox.org.

> FIND US AT dioknox.org.

NEWS FROM THE DIOCESE OF KNOXVILLE

PUBLISHER Bishop Richard F. Stika

COMMUNICATIONS

DIRECTOR Jim Wogan jwogan@dioknox.org

DIGITAL MEDIA

PRODUCER Emily Booker ebooker@dioknox.org

EDITOR Bill Brewer bbrewer@dioknox.org

ASSISTANT EDITOR Dan McWilliams dan@dioknox.org

MULTIMEDIA REPORTER Gabrielle Nolan gnolan@dioknox.org

CONTACT US 865.584.3307

| etcatholic.org

© 2023 Handmaids of the Precious Blood

Next step: priesthood Deacon Andrew Crabtree, left, Deacon Joseph Austin, center, and Deacon Neil Blatchford are pictured at St. Meinrad School of Theology in St. Meinrad, Ind.

JIM WOGAN

He dwells among us by Bishop Richard F. Stika

A demanding joy

One deadly sin is

“Let the hearts that seek the Lord rejoice; turn to the Lord and His strength; constantly seek His face.”

— Psalm 105:3-4

The heart’s yearning. On that Easter morning as the women approached the place where Jesus’s body had been laid, they asked themselves, “Who will roll back the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” (Mark 16:3)

In this question, we hear the universal longing of every human heart that feels entombed in a dark solitude by a stone they cannot move by themselves. For what God said of Adam— “It is not good for man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18) —is true of every human heart, and most especially that of the Most Sacred Heart of the New Adam. For Christ Our Bridegroom longs for each one of us to be in a relationship with Him as His bride in the Church, in an ever-transforming communion of love. And when our relationship with Him is not as it should be, our heart lets us know.

Entombing ourself in darkness. In our spiritual life in Christ, why do we sometimes feel as though entombed in a dark and heavy sadness by a stone we cannot move—and, ironically, unconsciously don’t want moved?

Why would we want to remain as though sealed in a tomb of sadness? St. Teresa of Kolkata recognized the likely reason whenever she noticed one of her sisters suffering this spiritual malady, saying, “When I see someone sad, I always think, she is refusing something to Jesus” (Come Be My Light, p. 33)

Though there are several names for this, few can explain what it is and why it is considered one of the most destructive of the spiritual diseases that Satan seeks to infect us with—to turn our heart away from a deeper and more joyful relationship with Christ. And it also affects all our relationships, beginning in marriage and family.

A most oppressive demon. It’s been called the “nameless woe.” The desert Fathers of the early Church called it the “noonday

most insidious and a destroyer of the joy of our life in Christ and with others

It’s been called the “nameless woe.”

The desert Fathers of the early Church called it the “noonday devil” ... and the “demon at noon” or “the scourge that lays waste at noon.” And what Satan wants to destroy is the work of love and its fruit, which is joy

devil,” a reference to Psalm 91:6, and the “demon at noon” or “the scourge that lays waste at noon.” And what Satan wants to destroy is the work of love and its fruit, which is joy.

But today we know it by a name that more than likely makes us think of a cute, treedwelling mammal whose life is lived in slow motion— “ sloth.” It also deceives us into thinking of sloth as just physical laziness, of a “couch potato.” Even its more official name, “ acedia ,” from the Greek meaning, “lack of care,” hardly hints at its deadly nature.

A wicked sadness. Whichever name we prefer, be it sloth, acedia, or the noonday devil, left unchecked it can quickly make our heart feel like a tomb. Dr. Peter Kreeft, in his book, Back to Virtue , says, “Sloth is the most depressing thing in the world. It is hell on earth. It finds our very highest joy—God Himself—joyless. If Joy Himself is joyless, where can we find joy?”

This is why sloth is Satan’s favorite vice; it creates a sadness in us for God, who is our highest spiritual good. And Satan does this by whispering in our ear the words of his own rejection of God, Non serviam —“I will not serve.” And as Dr. Kreeft observes, “When I am sorrowful about my divine good, when my soul says ‘No’ to God’s offer of supreme joy, when I return His invitation ticket to His banquet, I am spiritually dead.” And thus, the dark sadness.

The spiritual crisis of our day. In his excellent book, The Noonday Devil , Benedictine Abbot Jean-Charles Nault describes this

Bishop Stika’s schedule of Masses and public events

These are some of Bishop Stika’s upcoming public appointments:

n Sunday, April 9, 11 a.m.: Easter Sunday Mass at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

n Thursday, April 13, 6 p.m.: Confirmation Mass at St. Mary Church in Johnson City

n Saturday, April 15, 5 p.m.: Confirmation Mass at Notre Dame Church in Greeneville

n Sunday, April 16, 10 a.m.: Confirmation Mass at St. Joseph the Worker Church in Madisonville

n Sunday, April 16, 6:30 p.m.: Celebration of the feast of Divine Mercy at Church of Divine Mercy in Knoxville

n Tuesday, April 18, 7 p.m.: Executive board meeting, Boy Scouts of the Great Smoky Mountains

n Wednesday, April 19, 6:30 p.m.: Confirmation Mass at St. Bridget Church in Dayton

n Thursday, April 20, 5 p.m.: Opening Mass for the Knoxville Diocesan Council of Catholic Women Convention at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Lenoir City

n Friday, April 28, noon: Mass at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and afternoon of eucharistic reflection for priests, deacons, religious, and Chancery staff

n Saturday, April 29, 8 a.m.: Mass at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and morning eucharistic recollection for all the people of the Diocese of Knoxville ■

deadly vice as “the sin against the joy that springs from charity.” So devastating is this vice that he states it is “perhaps the root cause of the greatest crisis in the Church today.”

Jesus Himself warned us of the day when “the love of many will grow cold” (Matthew 24:12) . And this is exactly what acedia does. For as Dr. Kreeft explains, it is the sin that “stops us from seeking God,” and when we do, our heart grows cold like a tomb. This is the reason sloth merits the distinction of being one of the seven “deadly sins”—a “capital vice.”

Virtue and vice. We live in a time, as Dr. Kreeft further points out, where we are encouraged and even mandated to accept society’s creed of “me,” where “I feel” has replaced “I believe.” Things have become so confusing that few would answer “virtue” if asked what it is that helps us to become the very best we can be.

And fewer still might answer “vice” (understood as the habit of repeated sin) if asked what keeps us from becoming the very best we can be. But that which we are tempted to reject—“virtue”—is what we need most. And that which we are told we must embrace and even celebrate—“vice”— is in fact what most harms us. Virtues are what help us become who and what God created us to be, to be more like Him “who is all good and deserving of all my love.”

Sin against the Great Commandment. Kathleen Norris details in her book Acedia & me her struggles with this vice, observing, “Acedia is not merely a personal vice. Left unchecked, it can unravel the great commandment: as I cease to practice my love of God, I am also less likely to observe a proper love of my neighbor or myself” (p. 113) . For as Jesus said, “I am the Vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit because without me you can do nothing” (John 15: 5)

Counting the cost. We have likely heard the expression “Getting cold feet” regarding someone who backs away from fully com mit -

Bishop continued on page A13

All invited to DOK eucharistic reflection

Bishop Richard F. Stika is inviting all in the Diocese of Knoxville to join him on Saturday, April 29, at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus for Mass and eucharistic reflection.

The Mass will begin at 8 a.m. and will be followed by a morning of preaching, reflection, a eucharistic procession, and fellowship.

The service, being held as part of the National Eucharistic Revival, will be 8 a.m. to noon.

Father Stephen Dominic Hayes, a preacher of the National Eucharistic Revival, will join Bishop Stika in speaking about the Real Presence and vital role of the Eucharist in the lives of Catholic faithful.

Jesus Christ is inviting Catholics to return to the source and summit of their faith: His real presence in the Eucharist. ■

Communicating the truth in a post-truth world

By Michael Warsaw National Catholic Register

Sharing the Good News has become far more difficult in an era where feelings matter more than facts and secularized cultural elites see religion as a threat. But the truth will always prevail.

In 2016, at the height of the “fake news” phenomenon, the Oxford English Dictionary announced its “Word of the Year 2016”: “posttruth,” which it defined as “relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief.”

Social media are a fundamental component of this phenomenon. As anyone who spends much time on Twitter, TikTok, Facebook, or Instagram can attest, virtually all political, social, or moral discussions there quickly degenerate into name calling, ad hominem attacks, appeals to being triggered or offended, and dismissal of a person’s arguments because of various kinds of “privilege,” “violent language,” “trigger language,” or “cultural appropriation.”

A recent study suggests that about one out of every four adults in the United States has shared false news, knowingly or unknow -

ingly, with friends and others. What this tells us is that the consumers of unreliable news are not a tiny minority. Instead, unwittingly, a large percentage of the adult population actively engages in its spread.

This is the media environment that helped inspire the recent conference “Journalism in a Post-Truth World,” held March 10-11 at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C. The result of a partnership between EWTN News and Franciscan University of Steubenville, the conference brought together journalists and consumers of news to explore the craft and field of journalism in what we all recognize is a challenging and tumultuous era. This column is based on my keynote address, “Communicating the Truth in a PostTruth World.”

Authentic religious information is the Good News, and as such, it is always directly opposed to untruth. St. Francis de Sales, the Church’s patron saint of writers and journalists, used to slide doctrinal pamphlets, detailing the truths of Catholic dogmas, underneath the doors of Calvinists’ homes. St. Francis de

Sales used religious information to evangelize. However, there has always been the problem of false information, untruth. So, what makes a post-truth era such a prevalent problem in our own days?

The proliferation of information from myriad digital sources has clearly caused difficulties in vetting and attempting to verify information.

In addition, the convergence of traditional news media with online and digital media and a global 24-hour news cycle has led to a pressure to report news more quickly — and often without the reliance on traditional journalistic standards and verifications.

Another factor at play is the changing economy of the traditional news space. The wall of separation between advertising and editorial has crumbled. As legacy news outlets have shifted to reliance on digital advertising revenue, they are increasingly under pressure to attract more and more digital readers — which increases the likelihood that they may publish material not because it is accurate or newsworthy, but because it gets clicks.

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

the

Mr. Warsaw

Gifts, gratitude, and St. Anthony

By Jim Wogan

Bishop Richard F. Stika received more than gifts, gratitude, and cake on the 14th anniversary of his episcopal ordination last month. He may have received a favor in the form of a miracle.

A few minutes into a Mass celebration on March 19 at St. Joseph the Worker Church in Madisonville, Bishop Stika noticed that something felt wrong. His episcopal ring, a gift presented to him during his ordination Mass in Knoxville in 2009, was missing.

“I received the ring the day I became bishop of Knoxville. It is very dear to me,” Bishop Stika said. “It has my coat of arms and the date when I was ordained on it. I knew I was wearing it that morning, but when I did the opening prayer at Mass, I looked, and the ring was gone. It must have slipped off my hand.”

Despite the concern, Bishop Stika focused on the liturgy and continued celebrating the Mass. Still worried that he might have lost the ring during a fuel stop on the way to Madisonville or in the parking lot of the church where it might be run over, the bishop issued a plea before the final blessing at the end of Mass.

“I said to those in attendance that I have a special intention. You know how we turn to St. Anthony when we lose things? Please pray to St. Anthony for my ring. It is the ring I received 14 years ago on this day.”

Seconds later, parishioner Tina Doud, who was seated in the first row, pointed, and said, “I think it’s under your chair.”

Bishop Stika and Father Julius Abuh, pastor of St. Joseph the Worker and concelebrant of the Mass, both looked at her in disbelief.

“I think it’s under your seat,” she repeated. “Is that not it?”

Looking closer, the bishop hesitated, bent down, retrieved something, and then turned to the parishioners, smiled, and held up the ring.

“It’s a miracle,” Bishop Stika shouted. Those in attendance broke out in laughter and then applause.

“It really is a miracle,” Bishop Stika said. “I was ready to go back to the gas station and start looking through their trash cans and on the ground. Who knows

where it could have fallen off? I am so grateful.”

Even Father Abuh acknowledged the power of prayer.

“That is where we see the intercession of St. Anthony,” Father Abuh said. “The bishop had just said, ‘I believe in the intercessional power of St. Anthony,’ and as soon as he said it, the parish -

ioner said, ‘Hey, look, it is there!’ That was not a coincidence. It was providential.”

St. Anthony of Padua wasn’t the only holy soul remembered at the anniversary Mass. The Catholic Church commemorates the solemnity of St. Joseph on March 19, or this year during Lent on March 20. Bishop Stika

“It really is a miracle. I was ready to go back to the gas station and start looking through their trash cans and on the ground. Who knows where it could have fallen off? I am so grateful.”

— Bishop Richard F. Stika, referring to his briefly missing episcopal ring

considers St. Joseph one of his patron saints. It was a point he touched on in his homily.

“St. Joseph is never quoted in the Scriptures, but we know he existed,” Bishop Stika said. “We know he was chosen by God to teach Jesus how to be a man, to love Mary, and to protect them.”

Bishop Stika noted that the fourth Sunday of Lent, also known as Laetare (Latin: Rejoice) Sunday, and celebrated by clergy wearing rose-colored vestments, should remind the faithful that their Lenten journey is changing.

“These next weeks will remind us of the Lord’s slow passage to Jerusalem, when he enters the city triumphant and just a few days later he leaves the city to go to his tomb,” Bishop Stika said.

“Lent is not a season we should live within a confine of six weeks, because during Lent, we are reminded of things that bring us closer to the Lord: prayer, more intense prayer; the ability to give alms, to share what we have with others; and fasting, perhaps from things that we carry with us in life to fast from things that weigh us down and cause us not to see or not to hear.

“I think the lesson from Scripture today is the ability to listen and the ability to hear. We hear all kinds of things, and we don’t really pay much attention. Do we listen to the invitation of God to come and to follow, to believe and to trust, and to seek understanding that comes from God himself?” Bishop Stika asked.

Fourteen years ago, on March 19, 2009, Bishop Stika was ordained the third bishop of the Diocese of Knoxville in a fashion befitting any episcopal ordination rite a Catholic Mass attended by an estimated 5,000 worshipers, clergy, religious, well-wishers, Catholic leaders, and civic dignitaries that took place inside a massive and reverently furnished assembly hall at the Knoxville Convention Center.

It was a liturgy so huge and significant that it was televised on four large videoscreens inside and was live streamed to a global Internet audience outside. It marked the beginning of a new era for the Diocese of Knoxville, one that has seen unprecedented growth and remarkable stability. Perhaps, someday, there will be a time to replicate what took

Anniversary continued on page A6

Atlanta airport’s eucharistic chapel offers Real Presence 24/7

By Peter Pinedo Catholic News Agency

Archbishop Gregory Hart -

mayer of Atlanta dedicat -

ed and blessed his archdiocese’s newest chapel while on his way to catch a flight recently.

Airline workers and travelers flying through the busiest airport in the world can now spend time in the real presence of Christ thanks to the efforts of the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport’s chaplains and the cooperation of the Archdiocese of Atlanta.

Located in the international terminal, the eucharistic chapel will be a permanent fixture at the airport and is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

After receiving approval from the archbishop, the tabernacle was installed in November. But because only travelers and airline workers can get past security to access the chapel, the archbishop was not able to officially bless it until Feb. 13, shortly before his flight departed.

The chapel was sorely needed and perfectly located given the sheer number of people arriving from all over the world to make connecting flights, chaplain Fa -

ther Kevin Peek said.

The Atlanta airport sees an average of nearly 300,000 passengers flying through daily, according to Business Insider

“There's about 64,000 employees at the airport at any given time,” Father Peek said. “That’s like a small town or city.”

The chapel has already touched many lives, allowing them to en -

counter Christ in the most unexpected place, Father Peek said.

Since the eucharistic chapel opened, Father Peek already has seen visitors weeping and even jumping for joy to find the presence of Christ in the airport.

The chapel allows airline workers and travelers to “bring Christ out into their lives and into the world,” Father Peek said.

One of the greatest parts of having a eucharistic chapel, Father Peek explained, is that it allows the airport’s three other Catholic chaplains, who are deacons, to offer Communion services when a priest is not available to say Mass. “I go out there and offer Mass on Saturday night and Sunday night for all the travelers in order to give them two opportunities to make their Sunday obligation. But I can’t get down there every day,” Father Peek explained.

Now the deacons hold Communion services at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday and Friday, while Masses are offered at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Blair Walker, head of the Atlanta Interfaith Airport Chaplaincy, worked closely with Father Peek to make the idea of a permanent eucharistic presence at the airport a reality.

Because it is an interfaith chapel, Mr. Walker explained, the airport chaplaincy staff had to get creative in designing the space.

“The space is designed for shared sacred use,” Mr. Walker said, “so we don’t want any one thing in there that overpowers the faith groups that are using it.”

Multiple design ideas were Chapel continued on page A6

Making a connection with God A woman of faith prays while visiting the Atlanta Interfaith Airport Chapel, where the Diocese of Atlanta has a new eucharistic chapel with a tabernacle where Catholics can pray while traveling.

COURTESY OF HARTSFIELD-JACKSON ATLANTA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Happy anniversary Above: Bishop Richard F. Stika blesses bread at the St. Joseph table at the front entrance to St. Joseph the Worker Church in Madisonville as Father Joseph Abuh, pastor of St. Joseph the Worker, assists.

Below: Young parishioners at St. Joseph the Worker Church help Bishop Stika cut the cake commemorating his 14th anniversary as a bishop.

JIM WOGAN

Cathedral marks 5th year since dedication

By Bill Brewer

It seems like just yesterday when a standing-room-only congregation gathered at 711 S. Northshore Drive in Knoxville to finally see the result from decades of prayer, thought, and planning: the new Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

In a ceremony 30 years in the making, Bishop Richard F. Stika dedicated and consecrated the sparkling new Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus on March 3, 2018. A gathering of more than 1,000 witnessed the historic Mass that capped a three-year construction project and a three-decade-long dream.

Five cardinals, 18 bishops, 106 priests, 58 deacons, and 39 men and women religious took part in the three-hour dedication Mass along with more than 800 East Tennessee Catholics and invited guests.

Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz, archbishop emeritus of Krakow, Poland, and longtime personal secretary to Pope St. John Paul II; Cardinal William Levada, prefect emeritus of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith; Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York; Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, archbishop of Galveston-Houston and then the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops; and Cardinal Justin Rigali, archbishop emeritus of Philadelphia and a Knoxville resident, all were part of the dedication, along with Archbishop Christophe Pierre, papal nuncio to the United States.

Chapel continued from page A4

pro posed but didn’t work out. Finally, one day while Father Peek was reflecting in the airport chapel, he realized an area being used for storage that was covered by frosted glass could be used to house the Eucharist.

“We realized, ‘Oh, we can remove the frosting off it,’” Mr. Walker said.

Now just behind the cleared glass is a tabernacle and a lamp to signal Christ’s presence.

Anniversary continued from page A4

place in 2009 a celebration of similar stature for the 15th, 20th, or even the 25th jubilee of that occasion. But Bishop Stika chose a more humble setting to celebrate the 14th anniversary of his elevation to bishop life a small, vibrant parish located in a rural area about 50 miles south of Knoxville, a parish that in many respects reflects the Diocese of Knoxville as much, if not more, than its bigger parishes.

“For us, it is a great honor. For me, I consider it a privilege to have a successor of the Apostles, the bishop of the Diocese of Knoxville, to be in our parish on this day,” Father Abuh said. “Not only to celebrate the anniversary of his episcopal ordination, but also to celebrate with us the feast of St. Joseph, spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary.”

Father Abuh noted preparations his parish made to celebrate the anniversary with Bishop Stika. After Mass, and the blessing of bread at a St. Joseph’s table outside, more than 100 people gathered in the church basement for a reception that included food and a special blessing for Bishop Stika that was sung by parishioners.

“Bishop Stika requested to come here to celebrate his anniversary Mass,” Father Abuh said. “He asked if it was OK for him to join us for this celebration, and I said ‘absolutely.’ It would be a great joy and a great privilege to have him celebrate Mass with us

“As you can see, everyone is so excited to have him here. The Hispanic community made two

(2)

Cathedral quiz

Left: Bishop Richard F. Stika asks Sacred Heart Cathedral School students a question during his homily on March 3, the fifth anniversary of the dedication of the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Center of sacraments

Below: Sacred Heart students receive the Eucharist and blessings from Bishop Stika and Cathedral rector Father David Boettner on March 3 in the cathedral.

who led the cathedral construction project from inception to dedication. “ Every time I come into the cathedral, I’ m just in awe of the artwork, the beauty, the serenity, the crucifix, the tabernacle, the whole thing,” Bishop Stika said. “ Five years ago was a spectacular moment. But the work in the cathedral, the ministry, the sacraments will be celebrated for many, many, many years. I think that s pretty good, Bishop Stika said.

Despite the immense amount of planning and work that went into building the cathedral, Bishop Stika said it continues to be a work in progress.

Bishop Stika marked the cathedral’ s fifth anniversary during a March 3 Mass attended by Sacred

The final design of the chapel serves the dual purpose of keeping the interfaith sense of the space while also protecting the Eucharist from any who would potentially abuse it.

For Father Peek, whose father, Joseph Peek, was an airline pilot, the project became a labor of love.

“I did it really for the airline personnel,” Father Peek said.

“My dad was a commercial airline pilot and flew out of Atlanta for many, many years. He had a

big cakes, not just one, two big cakes, because everyone has been looking forward to this day. Bishop Stika’s presence for us is like the presence of Christ visible.”

The visit to Madisonville offered Bishop Stika an opportunity to thank the religious order of Glenmary priests who were instrumental in establishing the parish in 1992, and to remember former pastor Father P.J. McGinnity, who served at St. Joseph the Worker for seven years before relocating to Ireland.

“Last year, I spent three days in Ireland with Father P.J.,” Bishop Stika told St. Joseph the Worker parishioners. “Now, he helps at parishes in a beautiful little village where he lives. I am sure he wants me to tell you how much he loves you all.”

The Madisonville visit also came during the height of confirmation season. From March until June, Bishop Stika will drive more than 4,200 miles (the equivalent of driving from Knoxville to Los Angeles to San Francisco to Chicago) and visit 34 parishes. It’s a daunting task for the bishop of a large diocese covering 36 mostly rural and mountainous counties.

“Last week I was at St. Ann Parish in Lancing (100-mile round trip),” Bishop Stika said.

“They had 20 families at Mass. As I travel around the diocese and visit different parishes, I say the same thing at the end of Mass.

It’s simple. I say, thank you. I feel at home here, despite some challenges. I just do God's work by paying attention and focusing on building a diocese that is doing so well.” ■

Heart Cathedral School students. Concelebrating the Mass was cathedral rector Father David Boettner,

great devotion to Our Lord in the Eucharist.”

In the chapel’s sacristy area, Father Peek placed a few pictures of his father, one of him with his mother in front of a statue of Our Lady of Fatima, another of him at the helm of a Boeing 727, and

“Slowly, we ’ re going to evaluate more artwork over the years.

Cathedral continued on page A20

another showing his father giving Father Peek Communion.

“I put all that there kind of as a statement to summarize how much he incorporated faith and family into his life and in his work, and to inspire other aircrew to do the same,” Father Peek said ■

BILL BREWER

St. Mary’ s Legacy Clinic celebrates 10th year

Mobile medical van reaches milestone as it provides free health care in East Tennessee

By Gabrielle Nolan

Acelebration took place in Crab Orchard on Feb. 28 as St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic celebrated a milestone in its history, 10 years in the making.

For a decade, the clinic has extended the healing ministry of Jesus Christ throughout rural East Tennessee serving the uninsured.

“From the beginning of my time with St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic, what has rung true is that the Lord cares tenderly for the patients that we serve and never fails to provide us with what we need,” said Sister Mary Lisa Renfer of the Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma, Mich.

“This 10th-year anniversary is a moment to thank the Lord for all He has given us and thank our staff, volunteers, and donors who have made the growth of this clinic possible,” she continued. “We remember with gratitude our beginning, celebrate the gift of being able to serve in this moment, and pray to continue to be faithful to what the Lord asks of us in the future.”

Sister Mary Lisa has served as the medical director for the clinic since July 2020.

“My favorite part of the clinic, hands down, is getting to know the amazing patients we are privileged to care for,” she shared. “They each have a unique story and have often come through significant challenges to get to us. We have the gift of walking with each of them through the ups and downs and provide them the support they need to keep moving forward. It is a privilege and a joy each day I get to see patients with our clinic.”

The medical clinic was founded in February 2013 with Sister Mariana Koonce, RSM, serving as the physician and executive director and heading the diocesan Office of Health Services.

“Sister Mariana, we’re so grate-

ful for her leadership and founding the clinic, and she built such a strong base for us to grow on and to meet the need,” said Martin Vargas, executive director of St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic. “She, in her messaging, talks about seeing the face of Christ in everyone that you meet. And that’s one thing that will never change in our ministry; it will always be the same.”

The clinic marked the Feb. 28 celebration with its induction into the Crossville-Cumberland County Chamber of Commerce.

“We’ve wanted to deepen our relationship with the community,” Mr. Vargas said. “This community, Crab Orchard and the Crossville and Cumberland County area, is the first site that we started serving in January 2014.”

“If you’re an employer, and you don’t offer insurance to your employees, a healthy employee is an awesome employee. Connect them with St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic to get the care that they need so they can be a productive and awesome

Nashville Diocese: school shooting ‘sad, shocking,’ prayers being urged

By OSV News

Officials of the Diocese of Nashville called news of a mass shooting and loss of life at a private Christian school in the city on March 27 heartbreaking and “deeply sad and shocking” and urged prayers for the victims and their families.

Six individuals, including three children, were fatally shot during the mid-morning hours at The Covenant School in the Green Hills neighborhood of Nashville. The private Christian school educates students in preschool through sixth grade and was founded as a ministry of Covenant Presbyterian Church.

The shooter, identified as a 28-year-old female armed with two assault-type rifles, died following interactions with officers who had responded to the scene.

“My heart breaks with news of the school shooting at The Covenant School this morning,” Bishop J. Mark Spalding of Nashville said in a statement posted to social media. “Let us pray for the victims, their families, and the Covenant Presby-

Ordinations continued from page A2

tant is through vocations to the priesthood. Next year, God willing, I will ordain three more men as priests. They are literally a gift to us from God.”

The Mass of Ordination to the Priesthood will be celebrated on June 10 at 10 a.m. at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in Knoxville.

On June 3, Bishop Stika will ordain three men to the transitional diaconate. Donald Bo Beaty, Daniel Herman, and Michael Willey will continue their studies at St.

terian community.”

Representatives from the Diocese of Knoxville responded to the post saying, “Our prayers are with the victims, their families, and the people of Nashville.”

Bishop Spalding celebrated the 5:30 p.m. Mass March 27 at the Cathedral of the Incarnation to pray for the victims of the shooting and the school.

“The news of the shooting and loss of lives at The Covenant School this morning is deeply sad and shocking,” Brian Cooper, diocesan chancellor and chief operating officer, said in a statement. “It is a painful reminder that these horrific events can happen at any time. Our own city is not immune to this violence. Across Middle Tennessee, our churches and schools continue to be vigilant as we focus on the safety and security of parishioners, students, faculty, and staff. It is a top priority.”

The Nashville school shooting is the latest of many that have plagued schools around the nation in the last several years and is even more reason why the Diocese of Shooting continued on page A15

Meinrad and are on track to be ordained priests in 2024.

Mr. Beaty's home parish is St. Christopher in Jamestown.

Mr. Herman's home parish is St. Anthony of Padua in Mountain City.

Mr. Willey's home parish is St. Thérèse of Lisieux in Cleveland.

And on Jan. 22, Bishop Stika ordained Renzo Alvarado Suarez to the transitional diaconate during an ordination Mass in Mexico City, where Deacon Alvarado is studying at Seminario Hispano de Santa Maria de Guadalupe. ■

employee,” he continued. “Being with the chamber allows us to meet those employers. It’s also a way for us to give back to the community that we serve by being part of the community.”

Melanie Graham, office manager for the Chamber of Commerce,

was present to give a membership plaque to the St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic, making it the first Catholic organization to join the Chamber of Commerce.

“Cumberland County didn’t know really what they offered, and that they were here, so we’re excited to have that knowledge of them being here so that we can support them and get more people out this way,” Ms. Graham said.

“One of the other things I love about the chamber, in addition to getting the word out, is they can help us find local volunteers,” Mr. Vargas said. “It’s critical in every community that we serve that we have local volunteers.”

‘A great community spirit’

The mobile medical clinic boasts over 90 active volunteers.

“What do you need to be a volunteer of St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic? Only a smile. And if you have that, we have a spot for you,” Mr. Vargas said.

Patty Johnson, a member of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Fairfield Glade, is a volunteer who has been with the clinic from the beginning. Her journey has come full circle, as she graduated from St. Mary’s School of Nursing in Knoxville in 1962. All these years later, she still loves nursing and enjoys volunteering for the clinic.

“It’s been a wonderful experience and especially to see us grow and for our patients to really get to know us and us really get to know them,” Ms. Johnson said.

She described the patients as “very grateful learners.”

“We have now so many patients that we’re following up on and keeping them with their medications and teaching them how to deal with their conditions,” Mrs. Johnson said. “They really appreciate it, and their health statuses

Clinic continued on page A10

Marking a milestone Above: Sister Mary Lisa Renfer, RSM, Jim Serafin, center, and Martin Vargas celebrate St. Mary's Legacy Clinic's 10th anniversary. Below: Melanie Graham, center, of the Crossville-Cumberland County Chamber of Commerce, is joined by Mr. Serafin, a clinic board member, and Mr. Vargas, clinic executive director, in welcoming the clinic into the Chamber of Commerce

‘Where are the Catholics hanging out?’

Catholic Chatt answers that question and others young adults are asking

By Claire Collins

Patrick and Margaret Hanus were just two young adults searching for a community in Chattanooga when they encountered Catholic Chatt, a ministry dedicated to serving young adults in the local churches.

Mr. Hanus, a native of New York and graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville in Steubenville, Ohio, wanted to move to a cool and upcoming city with exciting opportunities for entertainment.

“So, when I moved here in 2018, I pretty much immediately was like ‘OK, where are the Catholic people hanging out?’ And started going to stuff.”

Conference continued from page A1

want from me?” and learn to accept what the Lord wants to give.

“We only have to accept that the Lord only ever has the best for us in mind,” she said.

“What could be more countercultural than a group of young adults, a group of Catholics, who believe that life isn’t this passive thing that happens to us but that every moment, every particular experience, every decision, every big or little discernment, every interaction, every talk given, every talk heard, every moment, is a moment and opportunity for us to see that the Lord has only the best for us in His mind?”

She encouraged the young adults to slow down, let go of the burdens and expectations placed on them, and sit with Christ.

“Jesus wants room to be in your life, room to enter in. …We make space for lots of things in our lives, and the last person we seem to make space for is Jesus, because we think He wants us to do, do, do, but really He just invites us to sit down and rest with Him.”

Aileen Litwin, a member of St. Augustine Parish in Signal Mountain, said the talks really resonated with her.

“I actually took a moment to tell Katie thank you and just to say God definitely works in mysterious ways,” she said.

“I was one of those people that didn’t know if I was going to get anything out of coming, and I will say that the two words that stand out to me that Katie has repeated over and over again is ‘rest’ and ‘joy,’” she added. “I think being a young adult now, those are two very important things that we sometimes don’t make time for. This has really revitalized that desire in my heart to search for those things through Jesus, through the Church.”

Authenticity in a fake world

It can be difficult to navigate one’s own faith in a culture that doesn’t understand or even actively opposes it. But, Mrs. McGrady said, each person has been put in this specific time and place. And they must see and respond to the needs of people in the world around them.

The modern world often shuns truth, prioritizes money over people, and offers cheap distractions instead of genuine connection, she noted.

“We exist in a space and a moment in human history where we are more technologically advanced and more connected and have more opportunities than ever before,” Mrs. McGrady pointed out. “Yet we are probably more wounded and more empty and more hungry for truth than our society and our world ever has been. With all that technology has come this fake veneer. With all that connection has come a lot of empty and hollow relationships.”

How can believers bridge the gap between the world and the Church—not only navigating how

Mrs. Hanus, a Memphis native and graduate of the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga, was invited into Catholic Chatt through Mr. Hanus before they were married after meeting him at an event at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul.

“Patrick actually invited me to my first Catholic Chatt event when I was a senior in college,” Mrs. Hanus recalled. “They were studying Jeff Cavins’ The Bible in a Year before Father Mike (Schmitz) made it cool. Kind of a fun fact.”

“I was warmly welcomed in,” she continued. “And since then Catholic Chatt has steadily been a source of holy friendships for me. I’m so grateful for how many Chatt continued on page A12

to live their own lives but reaching out and showing others the truth and beauty of God’s love?

“It can sometimes feel like we don’t know what to do with that, that we’re helpless, that we have no response, that we have this great body of teaching in our Church that everybody kind of writes off as old-fashioned. They have this massive, beautiful opportunity and encounter with Christ available, and yet nobody wants to show up for it.

“How do I as a Catholic who lives this Catholic life—who is animated and guided and changed and influenced by this Catholic life—how do I live in a world that is so distinctly not?” she asked the participants.

“Do I try to make that world as Catholic as me, or do I figure out a way to authentically live that faith in this world that is quite confusing and desperate and hungry for truth and doesn’t know up from down or left from right? What do I need to do to be that authentic Catholic in a world that might not fully get it?”

Participants broke into small discussion groups between talks, getting the opportunity to dive deeper, reflect, and share with one another.

“The small-group questions have really been a bonding experience for us, getting to know each other a lot better and grow closer to each other and in our faith,” Rayanne Wise of Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Alcoa said. “It’s been a very enlightening experience, very emotional as well.”

The groups shared their own faith journeys and also discussed the struggles and fears that might hold them back from living a fully authentic, joy-filled, Catholic life and being a witness in the world. By fully embracing Christ’s love and care for us, we can better go into a hurting world and love and care for others, Mrs. McGrady explained.

“I think if we love our Catholic faith and we’re living our Catholic faith, there is a way we can step into the world and lead with our Catholic faith,” she said.

“If I realize that the Lord cares for me, that it’s not this passive relationship but the Lord actively

cares for me and wills my good, that then leads me to recognize that I am called to actively care for others. If I am cared for, then I am called to actively care for others. And in caring for others, my goal is not to fix them. My goal is not necessarily to convert them. My goal is to love them and walk with them. And in that walking with them, that loving them, share that truth that perhaps leads to conversion, that perhaps leads to a radical life in Christ,” she pointed out.

‘Room for every possible range and experience’

As Mrs. McGrady pointed out, living a life in Christ can take on many different forms. Each person responds and lives out their faith differently.

“We all don’t have to live our faith the exact same way,” she said. “We all don’t have to love our Catholic faith in the exact same way. The Church is big—universal in fact—and this giant tent we all stand under has room for every possible range and experience and career choice and discernment of faith.”

This idea was explored more with a vocations panel, hosted by Mrs. McGrady, featuring married couple Rick and Stephanie Grinstead of the cathedral parish; a religious Sister, Sister Anna Maria Schreyer, OP, who teaches at St. Mary School in Oak Ridge; and a priest, Father Martin Gladysz, associate pastor of the cathedral.

The panelists shared how they discovered their vocation and what living out their faith through that vocation looked like.

The Grinsteads shared about how in a marriage, a couple must learn to make room for both their and their whole family’s needs.

“When it comes to discerning, it’s personal and it’s family discernment. There’s a lot of both, because we are individuals, but yet we’re a married couple,” Mr. Grinstead said. “So, we’re united and trying to still have an identity as a son of God, as a daughter of God, and as a couple.”

“The situations the Lord places you in, if you trust Him, things always work out,” Mrs. Grinstead shared. “If I’ve learned one thing, from all the things we’ve gone

through together in our marriage, it’s that you place your trust in the Lord, and you pray, and you just have to have that faith that He’s going to guide you. It’s not always easy, but it will be OK.”

Sister Anna Maria shared a bit about the daily routines that help balance prayer, work, and recreation within her religious community, the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia Congregation in Nashville. In contrast, Father Gladysz said there is no “normal” day for a priest—he is always doing something different, from saying Masses and hearing confessions to visiting the sick or attending parish activities.

“I like this a lot. It makes us very flexible,” Father Gladysz said.

“Of course, I have daily things I need to do, but after that, it’s other people. If people need me, I am ready.”

Despite their different lived experiences, trust in the Lord and joy were common themes from the panelists.

“I think one of the things that has surprised me about being a Sister is the authentic joy and freedom the Lord lets me experience on a daily basis and in big ways and in small ways,” Sister Anna Maria said. “When I go to prayer, just to be with the Lord, just to listen to Him, that He makes me happy every single time. It’s amazing. Maybe I shouldn’t be surprised by that at this point, but it’s kind of lovely to be surprised by that.”

She added that freedom is not just a product of the religious life but in living her faith in the way the Lord called her to, whatever or wherever that may be.

“I think any of us can speak to this: it's amazing the grace the Lord gives us in the vocation we’ve been given to respond to whatever He’s asking of us,” she said.

The Diocese of Knoxville’s Vocations Office and Catholic Charities of East Tennessee’s Pregnancy Help Center and Adoption Services had booths to offer information during the conference.

Women of the St. Therese Guild from the cathedral parish and the Regnum Christi group from St. John Neumann Parish in Farragut helped provide breakfast and lunch.

The conference concluded with eucharistic adoration and time for confession.

Miguel Perez from St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Erwin provided music during the holy hour Brittany Garcia, director of the Office of Youth, Young Adult, and Pastoral Juvenil Ministries for the Diocese of Knoxville, said she thought the conference was a success and that she hoped to do more to unite young adults from across the diocese to encourage and uplift one another.

“Based on the success and positive feedback from this conference, there is a hope of continuing with diocesan young adult conferences in the future, most likely biennially,” Mrs. Garcia said ■

COURTESY OF MARGARET HANUS

Experiencing the joy From left, Katie Prejean McGrady, Rick Grinstead, Stephanie Grinstead, Sister Anna Maria Schreyer, OP, and Father Martin Gladysz take part in a panel discussion during the Young Adult Conference.

EMILY BOOKER

Faith and fellowship Members of Catholic Chatt pray the rosary at the Padre Pio Oktoberfest in Chattanooga on Sept. 24.

Local author shares love of early Church history

Rod Bennett brings a bit of ‘hillbilly’ to his writing projects, which are gaining acclaim

By Gabrielle Nolan

Rod Bennett admitted laughingly that he is “a little bit of a hillbilly.”

Although the Catholic author grew up in and spent many years living in Atlanta, he was born in Maryville. He currently lives with his wife on his family homeplace in Monroe County, in the foothills of the mountains.

“My people are from this area,” he said. “Our family has been on the same piece of property here for, I think, 209 years now.”

Mr. Bennett, a parishioner at St. Joseph the Worker in Madisonville, shared that he is selftaught “when it comes to history and Church history and the early fathers, and all the other things that I usually write about.”

Mr. Bennett’s own research as an evangelical Protestant convinced him to join the Catholic Church several years ago.

“I was converted to the Catholic faith by reading the history of the Church, and especially the early fathers, the writings of the earliest Christians right after the Apostles,” he said.

In 1996 while living in Atlanta, Mr. Bennett and his wife came into the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil Mass.

Mr. Bennett always thought he might be an author one day, and the questions from friends and churchgoers prompted him to begin collecting notes of things that “turned the light on” for his conversion.

“I realized that in order to make it accessible or intelligible to maybe people that weren’t as motivated to dig through the old

When it comes to news related to the Church and even religion in general, the issue of fake news is compounded by the fact that the secular media simply has little knowledge on religious subjects, especially the Catholic Church.

And even worse, they deliberately reject any notion of objective truth and, increasingly, even basic scientific fact in the name of ideology and relativism. Further, many secular journalists simply do not share the same values and goals as believers or authentically Catholic media and Catholic journalists.

At the same time, we have a general public skepticism about both facts and statistics. Empirical studies show what many of us already innately know: Humans are biased information-seekers. We prefer to receive information that confirms our existing views. This is sometimes referred to as the “echo-chamber” effect, where true conversion from one point of view to another based on reasoned argument and accurate information is nearly impossible.

All of this — from the spread of fake news and the echo-chamber effect to media consumers’ growing skepticism with facts and data, coupled with the increasing hostility among cultural elites toward religion in general — presents massive challenges to preaching the Gospel in this current age. We can see as a result the increasing secularization of our culture.

This is reflected in the decline of Mass attendance and active participation in the life of the Church. We see this in the dramatic rise of the “nones” (those who identify with no religious tradition). We see this in the growth of secular atheism and religious apathy among young people.

And these are challenges that are not unique to America; they have become a reality in many places across the globe as well.

Let me be very clear: Fake news and the echo-chamber effect are only symptoms of a deeper trend in culture that now has a stranglehold on politics, media, arts, and

translations and stuff as I was, to write it up in terms of a story to make it more accessible. When I finally got all that together, I realized I had a book that I could publish,” he said.

“I wrote up my conversion story as a kind of a story about the early Church. It’s a conversion story, but it’s mostly not about me,” he laughed. “I wrote the history of the early Church as I discovered it in the writings of the four earliest Christian writers whose writing still exist in any number from after the time of the Apostles.”

In 2002, Mr. Bennett’s first book, Four Witnesses: The Early Church in Her Own Words , was published.

“I’m pleased to say it is still in print and has been continuously

science — the denial of objective truth.

The late, famed philosopher Dietrich von Hildebrand prophetically once said, “One of the most ominous features of the present epoch is undoubtedly the dethronement of truth.”

Truth does not change, as Pope St. John Paul II taught in his important encyclical Veritatis Splendor . “The splendor of truth shines forth in all the works of the Creator,” he wrote, “and, in a special way, in man, created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26). Truth enlightens man’s intelligence and shapes his freedom, leading him to know and love the Lord.”

But all too often today, that truth is obscured, denied, or corrupted in the interests of ideology and relativism.

In media, we see the use of language to obfuscate, indoctrinate, and intimidate. Consider how the secular and even some progressive Catholic media work to advance abortion and gender ideology even as they coerce anyone who objects or resists their agenda.

It is beyond argument now that the secular media work to promote abortion, working hand in hand with elected officials and government bureaucrats to advance the entire agenda of the abortion industry.

Lies such as “abortion is health care,” or “abortions are safer than pregnancies,” and Planned Parenthood’s claim that only 3 percent of its business is abortion are repeated daily. New lies have been promoted following the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision last June that overturned the infamous abortion regime of Roe v. Wade

Similarly, Orwellian language is used in the issue of the transgender movement.

The Biden administration has implemented the most radical and far-reaching policies to advance gender ideology — under the guise of so-called “gender-affirming care” — including unwarranted ruinous hormonal and surgical interventions, even on minors.

in print for over 20 years now,” he said. “It’s been a big success, and really I’ve been blessed by what the Lord has done with it. I get lots of mail and messages from people who tell me it was very important in their own journey.”

“I’ve been very gratified to be told it was meaningful to a great many people,” he continued. “The publisher actually says now it’s a little bit of a minor classic in the field of modern Catholic apologetics, so that’s a nice thing to have been a part of.”

Mr. Bennett’s most recent book was his ninth published; These Twelve: The Gospel Through the Apostles’ Eyes was published last year.

“It’s a book about the 12 Apostles and the importance of the

The Department of Health and Human Services and secular media, however, are joined in their post-truth campaign by Big Tech, where abortion and transgender ideology lead regularly to socialmedia practices such as shadowbanning, suspension of accounts, and outright blocking of accounts.

Our response to the tides of censorship and intimidation in the post-truth era, fi rst of all, requires courage and fortitude. We will continue to face intolerance and censorship for speaking the truth, but it is a profoundly worthy cause.

Secondly, we must remember that science and reason are on the side of objective truth. As with both abortion and the transgender movement, biology, medicine, and common sense are some of our greatest tools to educate, inform, and open the eyes of an increasingly bewildered and confused culture.

Thirdly, we must build alliances, friendships, and collaborations across all walks of life and fields among those who see the same crisis of a post-truth era. Along

apostolic band, why they weren’t optional to Jesus’ mission,” he said. “In many ways, the men were the mission, I said.”

Other titles of Mr. Bennett’s include The Apostasy That Wasn’t , The Christus Experiment , and Chesterton’s America: A Distributist History of the United States

Before publishing, Mr. Bennett’s works are checked by experts, such as Catholic author Mike Aquilina, who also writes in the field of Church history and the early Church fathers.

When it comes to picking topics for a new book, he usually relies on his own ideas or that of his publishers.

“Every now and then I get requests from my publishers, who say we think you could write a book about this, and so I’m doing it sometimes at the publisher’s request,” Mr. Bennett explained. “But a lot of times it’s just an idea that’s been meaningful to me that I’ve been percolating for some time, and finally it bubbles out as a book.”

Mr. Bennett shared that some of his inspirations are “ideas that I don’t think are understood well enough in the Church these days and maybe need a little attention, need to be brought back to life in people’s mind.”

“Even though I study other aspects of Church history, that’s the thing that won me over, and it’s also in a lot of ways my devotional writings,” Mr. Bennett said. “Many people will use a modern devotional book, but I find all kinds of terrific spiritual writing and devotional writing,

Author continued on page A15

the way, we will find unlikely allies; and while we may not agree on everything, finding common ground on such key issues as biological reality, woke culture, and the lies about abortion will be invaluable starting points for action.

Finally, we must commit to working to reform and rebuild the fields of media, Big Tech, and especially journalism.

In these challenging times, amid our post-truth society, we should not allow ourselves to despair or to be discouraged. And as Catholics, we know that it is the Good News that will prevail. Just as the Church has always done in difficult times, each one of us must continue to live and to preach and to spread the truth of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth. Because, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.”

God bless you! ■

Hillbilly religiosity Author Rod Bennett holds a copy of his book "Scripture Wars" as he prepares for a book-signing event. Mr. Bennett's books on Catholic history are growing in popularity among Catholic faithful.

COURTESY OF ROD BENNETT

Michael Warsaw is the chairman of the board and chief executive officer of the EWTN Global Catholic Network and publisher of the National Catholic Register.

Abigail Santos Villalobos, Renée Tatum (debut) Aaron Short, Curtis Streetman (debut) Knoxville Symphony Youth Choir St. John Neumann Catholic School Choir

SAINT JOHN NEUMANN CATHOLIC CHURCH

Brian Salesky, Conductor

Understanding the fullness of the Eucharist

Hundreds of faithful gather for Eucharistic Revival weekend at cathedral

By Jim Wogan

Bishop Ron Hicks laid out his motivation for last month’s visit to Knoxville in simple terms.

“There are recent studies that are pretty devastating about what Catholics actually know about the Eucharist,” Bishop Hicks said. “Catholics don’t understand the fullness of the Eucharist.”

His words echoed those of Catholic bishops around the United States, which have given impetus for the National Eucharistic Revival, a three-year effort by bishops to stem what many in the Church consider one of its most troubling issues: that Catholics today don’t recognize one of the most basic, important, and infallible canons of Catholic theology: the Eucharist is, without question, the body and blood, soul, and divinity of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

“We need to have an encounter with the true living God, Jesus,” Bishop Hicks said to more than 300 people at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. “He is real. He rose from the dead. He exists.

greatly improve, so that’s a wonderful blessing for us to see that happening over the course of the last 10 years.”

Her experience as a volunteer nurse enlivens her faith.

“It helps me to know that God really cares for all His people, that He wants us to be healthy and happy,” she said. “There’s a great community spirit with us working with each other, the volunteers, and with our patients, so I feel that’s what God also wants from us.”

“I feel like I have gained more than I have given, for sure,” she continued. “It’s just been a wonderful blessing to be associated with this and to see the volunteer spirit and to see the caring connections that our doctors have for the patients; it’s just a beautiful thing.”

One of the newest volunteers to the clinic is Megan Rios, a student at Lincoln Memorial University. She celebrated her first day on the clinic’s 10th-anniversary celebration.

“I’m most excited I think about being in a place other than the hospital and seeing a different side of things and just the work that they do in rural communities,” Ms. Rios said. “So, I’m excited about the interactions with smaller towns.”

Medical volunteer positions include medical provider, office nurse, patient education, or triage/ medical history.

Some of the non-clinical volunteer opportunities include administrative assistance, clinic drivers, hospitality, registration, cleaning and restocking the clinic or warehouse, and translating.

“There’s a perception that you have to be involved with health care to serve on this team. There are so many opportunities beyond health-care professionals to make an impact,” said Jim Serafin, president of the clinic’s board of directors. “We need many; we need a diverse array of talent.”

“I always look for an opportunity to contribute,” he continued. “I’m not a medical professional, but I do bring other skills. So, that’s why I jumped at the first opportunity I had to try to make an impact…. You learn a lot about how to walk in Jesus’ path, and I can’t think of a better way to do so than through this type of mission.”

‘Growing to meet the need’

With 10 years now behind the St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic, the team is looking forward to the next decade.

Mr. Serafin, a member of All Saints Parish in Knoxville, has been involved with the clinic for two years.

“I was brought on to help them develop a strategic plan for what the next five to 10 years looks like, and through that process we’ve

He wants to know you.”

Bishop Hicks isn’t a stranger to Knoxville. He has visited before, as a priest and an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Chicago, and now as bishop of Joliet, an Illinois diocese located 45 miles southwest

of Chicago and home to more than 600,000 Catholics. Bishop Hicks and Father David Boettner, rector of the cathedral parish and a vicar general of the Diocese of Knoxville, have been friends for more than 30 years, since they were classmates at Mun-

delein Seminary near Chicago.

“It was a blessing to have Bishop Hicks as our guest so that he could speak on the importance of the Eucharist,” Father Boettner said.

“The Church is facing a real issue on this matter. People have either forgotten or strayed from this most basic understanding of our faith. What we witness and experience at Mass is us asking the Father through the Holy Spirit to transform the gifts of bread and wine into the real body and blood of Jesus Christ. This isn’t symbolic. It is real and we acknowledge this as a mystery of our faith, and one that is consequential.”

Bishop Hick’s presentation was part of the ongoing Eucharistic Revival program at the cathedral parish, which coincides with the national Eucharistic Revival effort. His visit included offering homilies at English and Spanish Masses the weekend of March 4-5, celebrating Masses, and two presentations for the Eucharistic Revival—one in Spanish on March 6 and another in English on March 7.

Bishop Hicks said his goal was

Eucharist continued on page A15

it’s five to eight acres, flat. I know that’s a big ask in East Tennessee on the periphery of West Knoxville. We don’t need to be in the city, but easy access to the highway would be helpful .”

“Space is a big concern for us,” he added, noting that the clinic does not have the physical space needed to hire more employees. “The process is to get more space to fit the needs of the strategic plan and facilitate our growth so we can serve the people of East Tennessee.”

“We only treat the uninsured, and unfortunately that’s a lot of people in East Tennessee. They all have a different face, you can see the face of Christ in them,” he continued.

Mr. Vargas said they have a “wide diaspora of patients,” from small-business owners to the homeless.

New patients are contacting St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic every day.

“It’s an unfortunate situation with the economy,” Mr. Vargas said. “We’re getting a call a day, so a new patient every day because of the economic situation.”

“They find us through a wide variety of partnerships that we have,” he continued. “And then it’s good, old-fashioned word of mouth…. Just give us a call, and we can help you out and get you on board. Again, our only requirement is that you’re uninsured.”

One patient, Terry, has been coming to the clinic in Crab Orchard for five years.

“They’ve helped me more than anybody has, really. I love coming here because everybody is nice,” he said. “I love coming here because I believe they tell me the truth…. They remember me every time I come.”

laid out a roadmap for growth to improve the number of community members who don’t have access to health care, to give them an option for holistic care,” Mr. Serafin said.

“On the board of directors, we try to keep an eye on what three years from now looks like in terms of our strategy and improving our outreach to the community and the number of people that we can serve,” he said. “The organization’s amazing, especially behind the scenes in terms of the volunteers on the board itself and the reach we have within the Knoxville area and now as we’re seeing in these other communities.”

“I would like to thank all of our board members for their tireless service to help us,” Mr. Vargas added. “In our October board meeting we found some notes from a 2015 strategy session that the board had held, a retreat, and it was great to see that we had ticked through all the things that they had in that retreat and delivered on them. You can see it reflected in

our strategic plan, you can see it as it trickles down to our day-to-day operations.”

Mr. Vargas noted that Tennessee is second in the nation for rural hospital closures.

“When you think about growth, we’re not growing to grow. We’re growing to meet the need,” Mr. Vargas said. “The need is tremendous out there.”

One goal that the team is pursuing is to find property to meet their needs of growth. St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic has been using office space at Divine Mercy Church in Knoxville, but that lease will not be renewed this year.

The clinic will either find a shortterm solution of commercial real estate for rent or lease, or a long-term solution of purchasing land that can be built upon.

“I’m praying for someone who has land to donate who could step up and help us there, has a building they could give us access to,” Mr. Vargas said. “If you ask me what answer to prayer looks like,

Sister Mary Lisa believes that every person, whether a patient or volunteer, is Jesus she meets and serves.

“Our Lord taught us ‘whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me’ (Matthew 25:40),” she said. “Working with the clinic makes this Scripture passage come alive for me. What we strive to do with each patient is to remind them that they have an innate dignity, are loved and cherished, and worthy of the best health care that supports their dignity. That is what it means to be a Catholic clinic.”

“Our patients have an incredible resilience and deep faith that have brought them through many obstacles in life, and hearing their stories and getting to work with them to improve their health boosts my faith and helps me to turn to the Lord in gratitude,” Sister Mary Lisa added.

To learn more about St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic, visit smlcares.com ■

Embracing the Real Presence Bishop Ron Hicks of the Diocese of Joliet, Ill., speaks to East Tennessee faithful at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Bishop Hicks emphasized the importance of understanding the Eucharist and how vital it is to those in the Catholic faith.

JIM WOGAN

GABRIELLE NOLAN

East Tennessee's healing ministry Top: St. Mary's Legacy Clinic board member Jim Serafin, Father Michael Woods, clinic executive director Martin Vargas, and clinic supporter Jack Smith celebrate the clinic's anniversary in Crab Orchard. Above left: Clinic volunteer Patty Johnson assists a patient on board the medical clinic. Above right: Clinic volunteer Terry Paradis assists a patient at the Crab Orchard location, where the clinic visits twice a month.

Clinic continued from page A7

‘A

match made in heaven’

Echo graduate students making a local impact in diocesan schools and parishes

By Gabrielle Nolan

Since 2017, the Echo Graduate Service Program has brought nine graduate students to the Diocese of Knoxville to enrich the parish and school communities here.

The program, which is under the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame, allows graduate students to study for a master’s degree in theology for two summers on Notre Dame’s campus, and then work full-time during the academic year in either a Catholic school or parish.

According to its website, “Echo students benefit from a robust formation program that integrates their work, study, and life of faith in order to serve the Church and to explore a career in ministry, all while growing as a disciple and a leader in catechesis and evangelization.”

Students accepted into the program receive benefits, such as a stipend, an educational allowance, housing and utilities at no cost, and a full meal plan and rent-free housing during summers at Notre Dame. Most notably, the graduate degree is tuition-free.

Echo apprentices currently serve in dioceses across the country, such as Portland, Ore., Salt Lake City, Newark, N.J., Indianapolis, St. Au-

gustine, Fla., and Knoxville.

“These students are a huge blessing and gift to the Church because they are formed well in the teachings of the Church, they want to serve, and are eager to share their knowledge with others in the Church,” said Beth Parsons, the Echo formation assistant for the diocese.

“The diocese benefits from their placements here as they are a witness and the face of Christ to the young people they serve. Their

example will impact our diocese for years to come,” she continued.

Currently, two apprentices are working within the diocese at Catholic schools. Gregory Duchak is assigned to Sacred Heart Cathedral School in Knoxville, and Thomas Dompkowski is assigned to St. John Neumann School in Farragut.

Service to the Church

Mr. Duchak received his undergraduate degree from the University of Dayton in Ohio, where he met

graduate assistants studying for a master’s of theology and also working in campus ministry.

“And I just loved that they got to study my favorite subject tuitionfree in exchange for service to the Church, and I was like, that is amazing; I’ve got to do that,” he said. He felt the call to attend the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., but was disheartened to learn they did not have a similar program.

The priest in charge of the theology department encouraged Mr. Duchak to look into the Echo program at Notre Dame, as it met all his wants but worked with younger students.

“It has just been an absolute match made in heaven for me when it comes to offering something that I wanted to do right after (college), which is get a master’s of theology to study, and to deepen my appreciation for richness in the wisdom of the Church that’s on display,” Mr. Duchak said. “It allowed me two more years of further study. It allowed me two years of practical experience of serving Christ’s Church, which is not glamorous at all but it is deeply gratifying.”

During his junior year of college at the Catholic University of America,

Echo continued on page A16

THANK YOU

for

your commitment to the Bishop’s Appeal for Ministries!

Together with your brothers and sisters in Christ, you’re bringing the light of Jesus to others by providing essential ministries, programs, and services throughout East Tennessee. You’re also advancing the Kingdom of God through your love and support, strengthening the ministries and work of His church, and continuing the good work that He began in each of us. THANK YOU!

From Chattanooga to Erwin, from Fairfield Glade to Johnson City, and Rutledge to South Pittsburg, we are able to reach every corner of East Tennessee and meet the needs of local families and individuals.

Last year alone, more than 7,000 households came together with a gift to the Bishop’s Appeal for Ministries and helped to expand our outreach efforts through Christian formation and religious education, the St. Mary’s Mobile Medical Clinic, seminarian education, youth and young adult ministry, Catholic Charities and more.

Echo partners Tom Dompkowski, left, and Greg Duchak are shown on the campus of the University of Notre Dame. Mr. Dompkowski and Mr. Duchak are part of Notre Dame's Echo Graduate Service Program.

Fighting for life

Challenges to Tennessee's strong anti-abortion laws draw the ire of Catholic women voters

The East Tennessee Catholic

The 2023 edition of Pro-Life Women’s Day on the Hill proved to be an exercise in civic action and grassroots legislative influence as Catholic women from across the state convened in Nashville on March 21 to voice their support for Tennessee’s strong pro-life laws.

The women found themselves in the crosshairs of legislative maneuvers to challenge the state’s Human Life Protection Act, which makes all abortion illegal in Tennessee. That challenge also marks the first test to the state’s nationally recognized pro-life legislation since the U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision last June in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case, reversing the longstanding Roe v. Wade ruling legalizing abortion in the United States.

Some 200 anti-abortion voices walked the halls of the state Legislative Plaza, where the offices of Tennessee senators and representatives are located and where legislative committee hearings are held, and met with lawmakers.

And for those attending Women’s Day on the Hill, which is sponsored by Tennessee Right to Life, no hearing was more important than the Senate Judiciary Committee, which approved on March 21 amended legislation that updates Tennessee’s

Chatt continued from page A8

Christ-centered people I’ve gotten to know. I just wish there were more hours in the day. God has certainly blessed us with an abundance of genuine community, and that’s where my love for this ministry comes from. It’s hard to articulate how much I love the people in this group. They live out the body of Christ well.”

Catholic Chatt was started at St. Stephen Parish in 2015 by Robert Spangler with the goal of reaching out to young adults in all parishes throughout Chattanooga, primarily through formation and social events.

The Hanuses were asked to take over in October 2021 after the young couple who was in charge at the time moved away.

“The first thing that we wanted to do was to just get an idea of talking to everybody who had been involved in any way just to understand what people's needs were. I think it’s really easy to start a group without considering what people are suffering with or enjoying,” Mr. Hanus said. “That was kind of the first step, having simple conversations with people and asking them, ‘What would you like more of?’”

From this initial investigation, the group has developed into a rhythm focused on three values: formation, fellowship, and faith in action. This is the criteria the Hanuses use to determine what events and opportunities would best suit the group.

In regard to formation, Catholic Chatt has had ongoing opportunities for Monday-night gatherings for guys and girls. Initially begun for fellowship nights, they eventually transformed into programs and studies because the groups were hungry for opportunities to learn and grow with one another.

The longtime host of the women’s nights, Cassie Groner, has provided a meal and fellowship in her home for many years.

“Serving others through a warm meal and comfy couch has always been an easy thing for me,” Ms. Groner said. “So being inspired by the example of those around me, it’s been a blessing to be able to continue to provide this ministry. We have formed deep friendships, had soul-searching conversations, explored difficult topics, and pushed each other to become better sisters in Christ. I am blessed to be surrounded by people who want this kind of environment, too.”

Human Life Protection Act and keeps one of the nation’s strongest pro-life laws intact.

A voice for the little ones

“At Pro-life Women’s Day on the Hill, concerned citizens from across the state came together in the halls of the legislature to be a voice for the little ones. It was a great day filled with inspiration and opportunity,” said Stacy Dunn, president of Tennessee Right to Life and director of the Knox County chapter of TRL.

“Pro-lifers met with legislators and asked them to support the addition of Amendment No. 5705 to

SB745 as was done in the House. In the afternoon, during the committee meeting, the amendment was added to the bill without discussion and was ultimately passed with only one dissenting vote. Thanks be to God,” added Mrs. Dunn, who attends Holy Ghost Church in Knoxville.

Amendment No. 5705 clarifies that treatments of ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage are in no way considered criminal abortions under the existing Human Life Protection Act, and it changes the affirmative defense to an exception for those times when the mother’s

life is in danger.

“These changes will not broaden the scope of Tennessee law or allow for more abortions in our state,” Mrs. Dunn said.

Tennessee Right to Life had opposed efforts to amend the Human Life Protection Act earlier in the legislative session with a version that had backing by Tennessee’s medical community.

Mrs. Dunn said that in early March TRL issued a plea for prolife supporters to contact members of the House Health Committee to oppose House Bill 883, which she believed “would have gutted the Human Life Protection Act, which protects the right to life of all unborn children and made it unenforceable. This bill had already passed the House Health Subcommittee in an 8-1 vote.”

“At that point, things looked bleak. Pro-life legislators were being told this was a pro-life bill. Hospital lobbyists, along with the powerful Tennessee Medical Association, abortion activists, and pro-abortion legislators, were all behind this measure. It would take a miracle to turn things around,” Mrs. Dunn added.

She explained that after the subcommittee vote, work went into drafting an amendment that would keep Tennessee’s law strong while adding certain clarifications.

Life continued on page A18

to talk about it. It’s a fun wave to ride. When young adults are considering or ready to become Catholic, we've been blessed to be able to walk with them in that final journey up the mount.”

In addition to the Monday-night events, Catholic Chatt offers a range of social events.

“Typically, we have a big event once a month where everybody can get together,” Mr. Hanus said. “If there is a particular feast day or Catholic holiday, that takes precedence.”

To Ms. Groner, Catholic Chatt has been a constant source of community and fellowship.

“Catholic Chatt has meant an incredible amount to me and my spiritual growth,” Ms. Groner said. “For me, I moved here from an area with no Catholic community at all, so being welcomed into a young adult group of Catholics from all backgrounds that were on fire for the faith and still downto-earth, normal humans was life changing.”

“These people accepted me as part of the family, challenged me to grow and learn more about my Catholic faith than I ever have, and held me accountable daily,”

Ms. Groner continued. “It was an almost overwhelming change of environment. It is a unique group because we have always been made up of a wide range of ages, backgrounds, current faith developments, life stages, home parishes, etc., and yet we all can find things in common and grow together in the faith.”

Leading the men’s nights are Jonah Coronis, Tyler Ross, and Aaron Kirkpatrick. Mr. Kirkpatrick initially encountered Catholic Chatt before his conversion to Catholicism, but he says that the group is what helped pave the way for him to enter the Church.

“Catholic Chatt has helped (my wife and I) grow closer to Christ Himself, and thus closer to His Church,” Mr. Kirkpatrick said. “Looking back on my life, I was such a lukewarm Christian in the past whose life rarely, if ever, reflected Christian values. It was coming into the One True Faith that guided me on my journey to receiving the sacraments, marrying my wife, and having our first child. My life is completely different now

and I couldn’t be happier.”

Mr. Kirkpatrick’s wife, Anna, also shared the deep impact Catholic Chatt has had on her.

“While we were dating, my now husband was introduced to the organization through a friend from grad school,” Mrs. Kirkpatrick said. “And that essentially started both of our journeys toward the Catholic faith.”

“For me, Catholic Chatt helped me deepen my faith as a Christian in learning and understanding the Church’s theology through fellow peers, which changed my entire life in the best way possible. I then had the privilege to be confirmed at the basilica last February, with close friends from the organization as witnesses.”

The Hanuses commented that the majority of the young adults in the group are actually converts, converting to the Catholic faith in the last five years.

“It’s insane,” Mr. Hanus remarked. “So, you end up with this vigor and this energy from people because their faith is new, and they want to explore it and they want

Some of the events that have recently taken place included a 12 Days of Christmas-themed Christmas party, a Padre Pio Oktoberfest, and a Fat Tuesday potluck event.

The Catholic Chatt group also gathers at local breweries and bars for meetups, and the Hanuses host monthly bonfires for fellowship and community building.

Mr. Hanus is trying to inspire new friendships and relationships within Catholic Chatt through Lenten-based small groups.

“This Lent we’re trying to promulgate the idea of quads,” Mr. Hanus said, “which is a group of four people of the same sex. They basically meet once a week throughout Lent to dive deeper into their faith and hold each other accountable, pray for each other, and just leverage the fellowship that the Christian faith should have but often doesn’t.”

The group also offers workdays and service days as opportunities to serve the community. Some of the work they’ve done includes helping others move or doing household projects and clean-up projects at the basilica.

This is an effort that Mr. Hanus hopes to continue to develop and improve, especially as needs in the community are made known. He hopes that when people in the community do have needs, they will voice those to the parish or the group so that those who are excited and willing to serve are able.

For Mr. Hanus, serving the Catholic Chatt community has been a blessing.

“The greatest fruits are really seeing people grow deeper in their faith, especially seeing people come home to the Catholic faith,” he said.

Anyone interested in being a part of the community can visit its website, www.catholicchatt.com, or visit the Catholic Chatt Facebook page. ■

Chatting about Jesus Above: Women taking part in Catholic Chatt gather for a faith-based women's retreat on April 24, 2022. Below: Patrick, Margaret, and Gregory Hanus are pictured.

Keeping the faith Lt. Gov. Randy McNally is flanked by fellow Catholics and pro-life supporters, from left, Penny Manczko, Kay Sheldon, Nancy Murphy, Lorene Steffes, and Marion Croker, in Sen. McNally's Nashville office.

A New Hope

By Janice Fritz-Ryken

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and Beth Henderson, CEO of New Hope Pregnancy Care Center of Cleveland, agrees.

Ms. Henderson recently talked about the power of the ultrasound image with a gathering of dignitaries on hand to help Knights of Columbus Council 4572 present her with a check for $24,300.

The check went toward the purchase of a new, state-of-the-art ultrasound machine in New Hope’s Bradley County facility.

Ms. Henderson told stories of expectant mothers who had serious intentions of terminating their pregnancies but who changed their minds after seeing an ultrasound of their unborn baby in the womb.

She shared those stories with representatives from the state office of Knights of Columbus, the Diocese of Knoxville and Bishop Richard F. Stika, and Tennessee Right to Life, who were in attendance during the check presentation ceremony Feb. 28 at St. Thérèse of Lisieux Church in Cleveland.

“The image of a baby in the womb is a powerful one, and you have no idea how many babies can be saved by your generous gift,” said Ms. Henderson, who explained that 250,000 free ultrasounds are offered annually at pregnancy centers like New Hope across the nation.

“Ultrasound technology is making a difference across the nation,” said Ms. Henderson, who pointed out that since the addition of ultrasound technology in the timeframe of 2016-2020, more than 828,131 unborn lives have been saved at New Hope and other such pregnancy centers across the nation after moth-

Bishop continued from page A3

ting their self in a relationship. As Calvin College professor of philosophy Rebecca Konyndyk DeYoung points out in her excellent article on this vice, “Resistance to the Demands of Love,” “From the perspective of individual ‘freedom,’ to be in [a] relationship,” we know it “will change me and cost me; it will require me to restructure my priorities… [and] alter the pattern of my thoughts and desires….” She refers to these as the “accommodations of identity.”

Are we perhaps afraid of truly committing ourself to Christ and being transformed by His love?

Here we have gotten to the heart of acedia, and why the devil works so hard to keep us from committing ourselves more to Christ.

Is what Christ says to us what we are afraid of? “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 16:25)

Spiritual sterility. Acedia’s poster child is the “rich young man” who Christ called to follow Him. To do so, we must travel “light,” without any attachments, be whatever they may, that would weigh us down in our journey with Him and to have “treasure in heaven.” But the rich young man “went away sad, for he had many possessions” (Matthew 19:22 ).

Like the servant in the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30) who buries his talent in the ground, the sterility acedia causes becomes our darkness. Unlike the servants who provide a return on what had been given them and were subsequently welcomed into “their Master’s joy,” the servant who did not make fruitful his gift is accused of being a “lazy” and “useless servant,” and is harshly condemned and thrown into the “darkness.”

Questions to ask yourself. If you find yourself in a dark sad-

ers saw their babies via an ultrasound image.

“That’s more saved pregnancies in the last five years than in the 22 prior years we’ve been open,” Ms. Henderson pointed out. “A large part of that is the power of ultrasound because it is the power of truth, which is what we provide to our clients. More of those women who are at-risk will come through our doors because we have that technology and they’re looking for that confirmation. Because we’re going to confirm the viability of the pregnancy and look for the baby’s heartbeat and confirm the gestational age, and all these factors are important to women facing unplanned pregnancies and making decisions about the outcome of their pregnancies.”

Ms. Henderson said that 85 percent of pregnant women who choose abortion are unwed mothers,

ness in following Christ, prayerfully ask yourself these questions:

n “ What am I refusing Jesus? ”

n Why am I afraid of more fully committing myself to Him? ”

n “ What am I stubbornly holding on to? ”

n What intimidates me about the cross of discipleship? ”

n “ Where is my treasure—in the heaven of Christ’s Sacred Heart where my heart finds joy, or in a tomb I make of my heart where my sadness keeps vigil? ” Develop a rule of daily prayer and persist in keeping it. Seek spiritual direction and have frequent recourse to confession.

Our Lady’s sword. In addition to making a daily examination of conscience, you should also ask Our Blessed Mother to reveal to you what is in your heart—to know what your “predominant fault” is, what the root of your sadness is, and your wounds and the healing you must seek.

For it is Our Lady whose heart was pierced by a sword “so that the thoughts of many hearts may be laid bare” (Luke 2:35) who can best help us. And it is she who will crush the head of the serpent, particularly the noonday demon that wants to rob us of our joy in Christ (cf. Genesis 3:15)

Come out of the tomb! Jesus tells us that “The hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice and will come out” (John 5:28,29) . Acedia is an insidious demon that makes us feel as though dead while we are alive. But just as Christ commanded Lazarus to come forth from his tomb, so Jesus calls to us, “Come out!”

And what Lazarus experienced through the intercession of his sisters with Jesus, we will experience with the help of Our Lady, St. Joseph, and the saints whose intercession we should invoke— “The dead man came out, tied hand and foot with burial bands, and his face was wrapped in a cloth. So, Jesus said to them, ‘Untie him and

and in Bradley County, 41.5 percent of babies are born to unwed mothers. “So, the situation is real. The need is true. We have a community of young people who need our support, and your gift has helped us to be a great part of that. So many women feel abortion is their only option because they feel alone or without support, either medically or financially. This is who we serve. They are the most vulnerable.”

Ms. Henderson said that since the overturn of the U.S. Supreme Court abortion ruling Roe. V. Wade last June, she witnessed a 58 percent increase in more at-risk women in 2022 as opposed to 2021, and she believes this was a direct result of that historic decision repealing Roe

“Young women are still getting pregnant, and they need a place to go for help, and they’re coming to us. They know New Hope will offer them quality services for free in

let

him go’”

(John 11:43, 44)

A great love story. When I think of the rolled-back stone of Easter morning, I am reminded of a beautiful love story involving another stone.

When the Old Testament patriarch Jacob had journeyed long and far to find the woman God had chosen to be his wife, he stopped by a well where shepherds gathered to water their flocks

A great stone covered the well and it took all the shepherds together to roll it away so the waters would flow. But on seeing Rachel approaching with her father’s sheep, and recognizing her as the one God had chosen to be his bride, his heart was

a non-judgmental atmosphere with medical professionals who will tell them the truth, and who will show them the truth through that ultrasound. They learn that it is life they are carrying in the womb, a unique human being in its earliest stages. And so often, that is enough. The decision is hers to make, but we empower her to make an informed decision and so often, that decision is for life,” Ms. Henderson said.

The overturning of Roe v. Wade changed judicial precedents but it did little to dissuade those who advocate for abortion. However, ultrasound technology has proven to change the heart and mind of even the staunchest pro-choice woman faced with an unplanned pregnancy, according to Ms. Henderson, who shared the story of how deeply one woman was recently affected by the image of her unborn child.

“Just this past January, right after our new machine was installed, a woman came in for a pregnancy test that confirmed she was indeed pregnant, along with an ultrasound. She was not happy. We gave her all the information regarding resources we can provide, but after giving her all her options, she left, telling us she was still determined to terminate. But a few days later, this same woman called and asked if she could come back for another ultrasound. We said of course,” said Ms. Henderson, her voice cracking with emotion. “This visit, she did not need time to think about it. She chose life.”

Brendan Foley, Grand Knight of Council 4572, talked about the fundraising the Knights of Columbus did to raise the money for the ultrasound machine, but he acknowledged that giving a check is the New Hope continued on page A19

filled with such love for her that “he went up, rolled the stone away” and watered her father’s flock. “Then Jacob kissed Rachel and burst into tears” (Genesis 29:1-14)

You have simply to ask Christ to roll back the stone that has sealed you in sadness, and He will kiss you and cry the tears of joy for you.

Note . Certainly, the symptoms of acedia and clinical depression can be similar and “can occasion one another.”

To help distinguish them, I recommend an excellent reflection titled, Depression and Acedia , by the Baylor University Institute for Faith and Learning. ■

A group effort Bishop Richard F. Stika and Father Mike Nolan are joined at St. Thérèse of Lisieux Church by Knights of Columbus and representatives of New Hope Pregnancy Care Center in Cleveland. Beth Henderson of New Hope holds a check for $24,300 for ultrasound equipment

Over 30 dioceses may need bishops by 2025

Pope Francis faces chance to radically reshape U.S. Catholic hierarchy

By Brian Fraga National Catholic Reporter

If Pope Francis continues to serve as bishop of Rome for another two years, he may have a notable opportunity to refashion the U.S. Catholic hierarchy. Dozens of bishops, several in historically significant archdioceses, will be required by canon law to submit resignation letters upon turning 75.

At least 13 archdioceses and 21 dioceses could have new episcopal appointments by February 2025. In addition, two dioceses—Fairbanks, Alaska, and Houma-Thibodaux, La.—are operating without bishops.

If he names new bishops to all those local churches, Francis will have appointed 64 percent of the U.S. episcopate since becoming pope in March 2013. Forty-six percent of current U.S. bishops are Francis appointees, said Catherine Hoegeman, a Missouri State University sociology professor who tracks U.S. episcopal appointments.

“Over the next two years, it looks like Francis is going from [having appointed] a little less than half of active bishops to a little less than two-thirds. I think that’s a notable shift,” Ms. Hoegeman said. Since 1969, she said, popes have made an average of 15 episcopal appointments every year in the United States.

Ms. Hoegeman also said the likely openings in the next two years represent an unusually high potential turnover among archbishops.

“Out of 34 total retirements in the next couple of years, a third of them are going to be in the archdioceses. That seems to be a little skewed with a higher percentage of archdiocesan retirements,” Ms. Hoegeman noted.

By February 2025, archbishops in New York, Hartford, Conn., Chicago, Cincinnati, Detroit, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Omaha, Neb., Houston, Mobile, Ala., and New Orleans will have turned 75. And Cardinal Wilton Gregory of Washing-

ton, D.C., turned 75 in December. Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston turns 79 in June, which is four years beyond the traditional retirement age.

Meanwhile, seven sitting bishops have already turned 75 and another 14 will reach the retirement age over the next two years in dioceses across the country—from Honolulu and Kalamazoo, Mich., to Palm Beach, Fla., and Portland, Maine

Although Catholic bishops must send resignation letters to the Holy Father upon reaching age 75, Pope Francis can decide to let a bishop remain in position up to age 80.

Whether all the potential new bishop appointments translate into a U.S. Catholic hierarchy that more closely reflects Pope Francis’ priorities is unknown.

Church historians and other scholars said the talent pool of potential bishops was primarily formed in the pontificates of St. John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI, both of whom inspired conservative-leaning men to enter seminaries with visions of fighting the culture of death and the “dictatorship of relativism.”

“To have great bishops, you need great seminaries. You need vibrant engagement with the intellectual life of the Church, and I just don't see that happening,” said Natalia Imperatori-Lee, chair of religious studies at Manhattan College in the Bronx, N.Y.

Ms. Imperatori-Lee said she believes the pope will have a difficult time finding enough Francis-type bishops” in the United States to change the Church’s path from an institution engaged in the culture wars to one that more faithfully models Francis culture of encounter.

“I am hopeful the men who Francis appoints will be in the style that he has done, men who are pastors first and bureaucrats second, who are not careerist climbers,” she said. “But I don’t know that the pool of potential bishops and cardinals is of the caliber where we would really get revolutionary change in the U.S. hierarchy.” No ‘perfect’ bishop candidates

April 20, 21 & 22

In an interview with National Catholic Reporter, retired Cardinal Justin Rigali, who as a former member of the Vatican’s Congregation for Bishops helped advise the pope on which priests to select as bishops, described the process by which those candidates are identified and chosen.

In the United States, Cardinal Rigali said that every few years bishops in different regions of the country meet to discuss potential bishop candidates, and send their names to the Vatican’s nunciature, or embassy, in the United States.

From there, the ambassador, known as an apostolic nuncio, seeks information from priests, deacons, and laypeople who know the candidates.

Cardinal Rigali said when he served at the Congregation for Bishops—now the Dicastery for Bishops—the office would present the pope with a list of three names for a diocese, sometimes with the congregation’s recommendation for a particular candidate.

The cardinal, a former archbishop of St. Louis and Philadelphia, said no candidates are perfect in every category,” but that they reflect the sitting pope’s priorities for a bishop.

“There’s definitely a common thread; the life of the Church in a particular time, and what is deemed appropriate and necessary in the choice of a pastor,” Cardinal Rigali said. “Like anything else, there are going to be some differences of opinion, but we go by what the Church teaches and what the Second Vatican Council says about bishops.”

Aided by Archbishop Christophe Pierre, the apostolic nuncio since 2016, and his own appointments to the Dicastery for Bishops, Pope Francis’ selection of bishops to date in the United States by and large reflect his vision that Church leaders should be pastoral and eschew divisive culture wars about issues of sexual morality.

Pope Francis appointees such as Archbishops Paul Etienne of Seattle and John Wester of Santa Fe, N.M., as well as Bishops Mark Seitz of El Hierarchy continued on page A23

Nashville and the Catholic Schools Office remain vigilant to the safety protocols and practices put in place at the 16 diocesan schools and three independent Catholic schools, diocesan officials said.

Mr. Cooper said in the diocesan statement that “within the last five years, the diocese has conducted multiple comprehensive security reviews of each school and adjacent parish grounds. We have taken significant steps to continually enhance the security of our facilities in cooperation with parish leaders.”

Rebecca Hammel, superintendent of schools for the diocese, added in the statement that the diocese has

Author continued from page A9

“in place mandatory training for our faculty, staff, and administration” that “was established several years ago.”

“This training accompanies annual site and safety protocol reviews and regular safety drills conducted with staff and students in our schools,” she said. “We will look for opportunities to strengthen our safety protocols as we learn from the ongoing police investigation of this sad incident.”

The Covenant School shooting prompted a lockdown at all of the diocese’s Catholic schools in Davidson County, Ms. Hammel said, noting, “All of our schools work with local authorities on a regular basis,

prayers, hymns, all the rest of it in the writings of the early Church, which remains my favorite source for inspiration.”

With his knowledge of early Church history, Mr. Bennett gives back to his community by speaking at some of the RCIA classes at his parish, as well as other parishes.

“I haven’t actually been an RCIA leader, but I do get called upon because of the Church history thing to come in pretty often and talk to groups like that about the history of the Church and the constitution, so to speak, of the Church, how the Church was founded and the rest of it,” he said.

“Since I specialize so much in early Church history, that’s something that is featured in almost every course of RCIA, so that’s kept me regular, especially this time of the year, doing RCIA talks,” he continued.

In addition to his love for Church history, American history also is a favorite of Mr. Bennett’s.

“I actually want to write a book about Abraham Lincoln,” he said. “I think it may get written eventually, but it’s, I think, timely right now…. Like many East Tennesseans, I have a fondness for Abraham Lincoln, just as he had a fondness for East Tennessee.”

Besides his own book writing, Mr. Bennett has done freelance work through the years.

Eucharist continued from page A10

to “take a deeper dive from three perspectives of the Eucharist. We are going to look through the lens of catechesis, evangelization, and [putting] faith into action and how we might look differently at this treasure we call the Eucharist.”

The concerns raised by Bishop Hicks and Father Boettner aren’t unfounded. The Pew Research Center cites statistics that show just 31 percent of Catholics believe in the true presence of Christ in the Eucharist. During his presentation, Bishop Hicks conveyed a personal experience that illustrated those numbers and convinced him to speak out more.

At a dinner last year, discussion of the Eucharist came up, and Bishop Hicks said that two friends believed the Eucharist was indeed the true presence of Christ.

“Everyone else, even though educated in Catholic circles, said that it is a symbol. I don’t know if that was my best moment, or not,” Bishop Hicks said. “But I went into teaching mode. I couldn’t help myself. When I heard so many of them saying, ‘No, we see it as a symbol;’ it really did break my heart. I said, how are we going to keep them in the Church? How are they ever going to be on the road to salvation if they just think this is a symbol?”

In his 90-minute presentation, the bishop of Joliet focused on three points to help illustrate the Church’s connection to the Eucharist. “There are so many different perspectives, and if you want to invite me back, I will be happy to (focus on) three more, and three more, but tonight I will look at three of them.”

The first, he said, is catechesis.

“In our faith there is a lot to know, and a lot to learn. We are called to be lifelong learners, to learn something about the Eucharist. It is for all ages,” he said. “Part of the reason you are here is to grow a little bit in your knowledge of the Eucharist.

“How many of you have heard the Eucharist referred to as the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass? I am taking this directly from the Catechism. In other words, this (the Mass) is not a re-enactment. We are not playing make-believe. We are not putting on

and the police departments are very good to our schools in that they will typically call our schools to let them know that something of this magnitude is happening, and then they respond with lockdowns and taking whatever precautions are necessary on campus. That certainly unfolded today.”

“This tragic event gives us all pause to re-evaluate our own protocols and to ensure that our children’s safety remains the top priority for us at all times,” she added. “It’s the core of our decision-making and the basis of what we do every given day.”

Father Ed Steiner, pastor of St. Philip the Apostle Church in Franklin, south of Nashville, posted a

message to the parish Facebook page as he announced an evening rosary would be prayed for the victims at the church the night of the shooting with a dedicated Mass intention for the victims planned for the 9 a.m. Mass March 28.

In his post, Father Steiner said a local police captain conducted active shooter training “for our staff, our ushers, our ministry leaders, and anyone who was interested in the training. We took the training seriously, but there was an element of the training being only for a hypothetical situation. ... Now, with another school shooting just a few miles away ... such an event is no longer hypothetical.” ■

When his books attract media attention, he will do interviews for various radio outlets.

He was featured on the show the “Journey Home” on the Coming Home Network, which shares conversion stories of people who came into the Catholic Church.

Mr. Bennett also has frequented the “EWTN

Live” program with Jesuit Father Mitch Pacwa.

His writings have been featured in Our Sunday Visitor and Catholic Exchange , and he also has been a guest on Catholic Answers Radio.

Mr. Bennett’s books can be found at Ignatius Press, Catholic Answers, or Amazon. ■

it is to put that eucharistic zeal into practice with service. The Eucharist is there to strengthen and nourish us.”

This aspect of service is evident in the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday, he said.

“Since that time, we have been celebrating the Eucharist. I want to remind you of what happened at the Last Supper, that Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. You cannot take the institution of the holy Eucharist without keeping the connection to the washing of feet. The Eucharist doesn’t end with just receiving the true body and blood of Christ. It compels us to wash each other’s feet, to put our faith into action. It started that very day, and since then we have been doing this.”

He pointed to St. Teresa of Kolkata as an obvious, yet sometimes misunderstood, example of putting faith into action.

a play here. This is real, real-time. This is the priest, acting in the person of Christ, in persona Christi, who brings about the eucharistic sacrifice and offers it to the Father in the name of all people.”

Bishop Hicks then asked attendees to rate themselves one to 10 on their eucharistic knowledge.

“If you know absolutely nothing about the Eucharist, give yourself a one.

If you feel solid and can debate others, give yourself a seven. If you think you know everything about the Eucharist…

you’re a liar,” he said with a laugh.

While catechesis is the first step in a better understanding of the Eucharist, Bishop Hicks laid out the second perspective— evangelization.

“Catechesis

says I know something about Jesus. Evangelization says I know Jesus. I love Jesus. This is the beginning of being a missionary disciple,” he said. “That is when we move from being Christians or Catholics who are consumers, to being Catholics who are missionary disciples.”

That, said Bishop Hicks, leads to the third and final step (of his presentation)—putting faith into action.

“If you are catechized (know something) and evangelized (love Jesus), you will be unstoppable on how you want to put your faith into action,” Bishop Hicks noted.

“The theology is that the Eucharist is not only to be worshiped and adored, not only to be known about and loved with our hearts, but

“She was a realist. So many of us romanticize Mother Teresa. It’s sometimes hard to help others. But Mother Teresa said that she couldn’t do what she did without first being nourished by the Eucharist. She said it was impossible. It was too hard.”

The presentation included more self-evaluation questions for attendees and suggestions on how to improve in each of the areas, including prayer, participation in parish life; and using online Eucharistic Revival resources provided by the parish, the Diocese of Knoxville, and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops; and attending Mass.

“At minimum, going to church on Sunday is not an option. It is the most necessary thing we do, gathering as a eucharistic people with Christ at the center of our lives.

“The Eucharist is being sent out for the life of the world. It’s not just to make us feel good. The reason we have this is for the life of the world. I am the living bread that came down from heaven, says the Lord. Whoever eats this bread will live forever, and the bread that I give is my flesh for the life of the world. It is to bring happiness and life eternal for all those who participate in it,” the Illinois bishop said.

“At the end of the day, it is for the salvation of souls.” ■

JIM WOGAN

Public engagement Bishop Ron Hicks of the Diocese of Joliet in Illinois speaks to Catholics in the Diocese of Knoxville following his talk on the real presence of the Eucharist. Bishop Hicks was at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus March 4-7 as part of the National Eucharistic Revival.

An education in Church history Author Rod Bennett leads discussion on Church history during an RCIA class at St. Joseph the Worker Church in Madisonville in January.

COURTESY OF FATHER JULIUS ABUH

A Catholic faith that is out of this world

Pope Francis blessing satellite that will launch his words of hope and peace into space

By Hannah Brockhaus Catholic News Agency

With Pope Francis’s blessing, a satellite will launch his words into space on June 10.

The Spes Satelles, Latin for “Satellites of Hope,” will launched on a rocket taking off from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

According to the Vatican, the miniaturized satellite will hold a copy of a book documenting the Pope’s urbi et orbi blessing of March 27, 2020, when, in the midst

Mr. Dompkowski began thinking about what he would like to do after college.

He learned of the ACE program at Notre Dame, which provides a free master’s degree in education. When he asked if there was a theology equivalent, he was surprised to learn of the Echo program.

“It meets the things that I’m looking for,” he said. “Obviously it’s financed, so that’s a load off of my plate. The faculty is great. There really isn’t a comparable program like this. So, it was just very unique, and I wanted that master’s-level education while also getting on-the-job experience, and so that’s what the program did and is doing. In junior year, I was thinking, oh, I’ll be a teacher, I think I’d probably be good at that, and so I applied for the teaching track.”

When applying for the Echo program, the university does take each student’s preference into account when finding school or parish placements that are available.

Students are sent in groups that range from two to five people, so the two years are spent in community with one another.

“Echo is a program that forms future leaders for service to the Church and does so in a way that is cognizant of the whole human person, and so we obviously get a high level of education, but we’re also placed in a community,” Mr. Dompkowski said. “I really like that part of the program because you’re getting formation in that, too. You’re with another person, you’re living with them, you’re sharing your experiences with them, growing in faith together, and all the while contributing something to the Church now.”

Once a week, the roommates have a community night, where they share prayer, dinner, and an enjoyable activity.

Monday through Friday, the Echo apprentices are busy teaching their students. A typical week usually consists of early mornings, lesson planning, grading, meetings, and their own online classes with Echo.

“Even though we study on campus both summers, to complete our degree on time, we have to take two classes online during the school year when we’re teaching,” Mr. Duchak said.

An online class may last one hour but requires three to five hours of reading and classwork during the week.

“Echo definitely keeps you busy, but what’s cool is that all the busy activities are really good activities and then you never feel alone or trapped in your work or your studies because you’re doing it in a community,” Mr. Duchak said. “You do have your direct community members who understand what you’re going through, who you can lean on, who you can talk to about the class content you’re doing or to talk about how are things at your job; you can bring those up.”

Ten months out of the year, apprentices are in their placement at a school or parish, and then they return to Notre Dame’s campus for summer studies. But every January, the university flies all of the students back to campus for a winter retreat and workshop.

The experience is a favorite part of the program for Mr. Duchak.

“It’s all 60 of the students, we get

of the COVID-19 pandemic, he blessed the world from St. Peter’s Square with the words, “Lord, may you bless the world, give health to our bodies, and comfort our hearts.”

to see some professors, we get to be with our directors for the program, and it’s just a wonderful little break from the everyday work that we do, just to take a step back and say, where has God been working? And also how have I been provided for by God?” he said.

“Then also, just socially, it is so reviving to be with your best friends that you’ve been hanging out with all summer halfway through the year; it kind of gets you through that spring push to get you back to summer. It kind of reminds you that you’re part of that greater program, you’re not just the community that you live with or the school that you serve at,” he explained.

Teachers for Christ

Both Mr. Duchak and Mr. Dompkowski teach sixth-grade religion (Old Testament) and seventh-grade religion (New Testament). Mr. Duchak also teaches eighth-grade ecclesiology/Church history, while Mr. Dompkowski is also a seventh-grade homeroom teacher.

“Teaching in a Catholic school has been very, very rewarding. But that reward comes through a lot of hard work,” Mr. Dompkowski said. “I’ve never taught before; I’ve never taken specific education classes before, so this is the first exposure I’ve had to the realm of teaching. The first year is a lot of difficulty learning how to do it, and I think this year has been, OK, I know what to do now.”

“I really got to see the value of community at the school and just the help that everyone gives to someone who is still learning how to do this but wants to get better for the people that he’s serving,” he continued.

“That’s a great mark of this place, is the service orientation of all of the faculty, which then goes down into the students because they can see that witness in their teachers.”

Mr. Duchak has had a similar experience at his school placement.

“I have had the most supportive workers, the most kind, gentle administration,” he shared. “I’ve had people who dropped everything to help me out when I am struggling. If I’m lacking in an area they’ll give me advice on where to go to get that fixed or to work through something.”

“People are just so collaborative here, which is great. People are so positive and encouraging. And then also the parish staff, as well, they’re not in a silo. They totally are very fluid with the school, which I really love,” he added.

The Echo program also provides a mentor at the placement site for each apprentice.

“My mentor (Naomi Berlin) is awesome,” Mr. Dompkowski said. “She’s been here for I think about nine years, and so she is helping me with getting more acclimated as a teacher and having someone to bounce ideas off of; and just someone to chat with who’s an adult is really nice because most of your day is spent conversing with the youngsters.”

“Every week we meet with the mentor and just check in, catch up, bring any sort of issues that we want to talk about,” he said.

Mr. Duchak likewise described his mentor, Maggie Hook, as “fantastic.”

“Everything that I need, she’s always there to help out, whether personal or professional, whether it be inside the classroom or outside of the

“You ask us not to be afraid,” the Holy Father prayed. “Yet our faith is weak and we are fearful. But you, Lord, will not leave us at the mercy of the storm.”

The book, Why Are You Afraid?

classroom. So, I’ve just been so grateful for her,” he said.

Another mentor for the program is the diocesan leader, who is Father David Boettner, rector of the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in Knoxville.

“We also get to meet with him throughout the year, and we have a dinner with him, which is really great, and that’s just great because it’s another resource again just showing us how much Echo wants us to succeed,” Mr. Duchak said.

Yet another mentor is Mrs. Parsons, the Echo formation assistant, who helps with the apprentices’ apartment logistics.

“So, anything apartment related, Beth is that person who can help out,” Mr. Duchak explained. “We actually see her about once a month, so she’ll come and join us for our weekly community night.”

Lastly, the Echo program requires that each apprentice has a spiritual director at their parish or school.

“I just can’t emphasize how much help and resources Echo give us,” Mr. Duchak said.

‘A very transformative program’

Mr. Duchak said the Echo program has “completely made me grow up.”

“I came into this program very immature, still very much a college

Interstellar message

Students at Polytechnic University of Turin have built Spes Satelles, a small CubeSat satellite that is to be launched into space on June 10. The satellite will carry a "nano" version of Pope Francis' book, "Why Are You Afraid? Have You No Faith?" that can be beamed around the world.

Have You No Faith? The World Facing the Pandemic, has been converted into a nanobook, a 2-millimeter by 2-millimeter by 0.2-millimeter silicon plate, for transport into

Satellite continued on page A22

student, and I would say that Echo challenges you and asks you to become something you are not yet,” he shared. “I just love that. It’s a very transformative program, and looking back on who I’ve become, it’s just amazing.”

“The skills I’ve learned and gained from my coworkers but also from God have been everything from being administrative to being professional to being responsible to be on top of my tasks, on top of being proactive with things I need to get done,” he continued. “I would say it’s transformed me, made me so much more mature, professional, more successful, and also believe in myself more.”

The program has also allowed the Echo apprentices to deepen their faith.

“I think one thing that has definitely helped me grow in faith is continuing to learn what prayer is and keep going back to that,” Mr. Dompkowski said. “There’s that deepening of intimacy with God, which has been something that has happened since my time in the program.”

Mr. Dompkowski also noted that faith is not just a private practice.

“I’ve also really grown to appreciate the community of believers,” he said. “I’ve also really grown to

Echo continued on page A17

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Echo continued from page A11

CNS PHOTO/VATICAN MEDIA

appreciate it’s a journey we make together. Other people are also striving for holiness, and they’re also living as the Church, and so it’s not just you and God, it’s you together with others worshiping God. I think the past two years is that idea of the necessity of loving others and seeing God in them and letting them speak themselves to you.”

“Every aspect of my faith has grown and enhanced,” Mr. Duchak said. “I would say that I see Christ so much more in my daily life since I’ve started Echo. I see Christ working through my students daily, my coworkers…. It’s definitely made my capacity to recognize Christ grow a lot more, and then also I think that my faith has grown a lot more in all that transformation and all that growing.”

Mr. Duchak explained how the Echo program allowed him to better understand the call of vocation.

“Echo is for lay single people or people who are dating/discerning marriage,” he said. “I feel like I can start to see what a vocation actually is…. In Echo, I’m working alongside parents of 30 years. I went on a retreat with someone who had been married for almost 40 years. I get to be with people in their vocations and understand what is a father? What is a husband? I’ve also gotten to work really closely with the priests, and I get to see what does it mean to be a shepherd? A pastor? A father-figure? So, that has been really helpful. It allows me to see myself in my vocation after Echo.”

The two Echo apprentices will graduate from the program on July 1.

“It just has flown by,” Mr. Duchak said. “It’s making me sad, but all good things have to come to an end.”

His roommate has similar sentiments.

“It’s bittersweet,” Mr. Dompkowski acknowledged. “I think it’s actually like the more you spend your time in the school, the more time you invest, it gets harder to leave because you think, oh, I still want to do more. I have more that I could do here or for the students or for the community.”

A ‘return to this community’

There are a variety of career paths for Echo apprentices after they graduate the program. Some remain in their placement location, receiving a full-time offer at a school or parish. Others work in ministry in a different diocese or closer to their home.

Kelly Deehan graduated from the Echo program in 2021, participating in the parish apprentice track. Her placement within the Diocese of Knoxville was at All Saints Parish.

As an apprentice, Ms. Deehan was able to experience the “whole breadth of parish life” with her mentor, Carrie Manabat, who is the director of religious education and faith formation at All Saints.

“I worked a lot in my two years as an apprentice with our traditional faith formation classes for kids first through fifth grade, and then I spent a lot of time with our youth ministry program for middle school and high school, and also did work with catechists on doing catechist formation programs and other adult formation opportunities, such as small groups, Bible studies, putting on some retreats, different liturgical things as well,” she explained.

After graduating from Echo, Ms. Deehan moved to Chicago and worked as a campus minister for a parish elementary school for over a year.

“I moved back here in September 2022 to become a full-time staff member as the associate director of faith formation here at All Saints,” she said.

“It has been wonderful to return to this community and both have a great background and relationship already existing here. I really enjoy working in the parish,” she continued. “I really love getting to work with just such a variety of ages and entire families as working on a parish staff versus in a school or in other environments, and really like having this faith community to work with, get to know, and nurture here.”

Ms. Deehan believes it is worth the time and consideration of young people to look into the Echo program.

“I think that you can see in Echo a real genuine concern and love for the Church that Notre Dame is able to put so much investment into us and into this program to really serve the Church and raise up leaders for the Church,” she shared. “I would say that, talk to people who know

the program, and the process of applying for it is also a wonderful opportunity for discernment, to have these conversations and see if this is where God is calling you to be or just greater clarity on if that is meant to be somewhere else.”

When Ms. Deehan was looking for master’s programs, she chose Echo because it was not solely an academic program.

“The program of Echo, I think, is a really wonderful design in both the academic, the spiritual, and the practical formation of it. It’s definitely

pretty unique,” she said. “I think, as part of that, is also just this community, both the community I found here in Knoxville with where I work in the diocese but also just the way that Echo is designed. It’s pretty small and the staff members who work for Echo are very wonderful and sort of hands-on in taking care of us and guiding us through this experience of our education and also entering into the world of working for the Church and working full-time in ministry.”

“I felt very supported and guided and well cared for in this experience to really figure out what it would mean to work for the Church and grow as a minister in the Church and be supported in my specific interests and gifts and finding them,” Ms. Deehan said.

Ms. Deehan thinks that Echo is “such an awesome opportunity for the diocese.”

“Just to have the opportunity to have these students come into the diocese, even though it’s often for just a short time, but I think in many ways can add a lot of creativity and hope. People love seeing young people in the Church,” she said.

Three new Echo apprentices will come to Knoxville in the fall to begin their parish or school tracks. To learn more about the Echo Graduate Service Program, visit mcgrath. nd.edu/service-learning ■

Teachers for Christ Top left: Tom Dompkowski leads a middle school religion class at St. John Neumann School in Farragut as part of the Echo Graduate Service Program. Top right: Greg Duchak leads a middle school religion class at Sacred Heart Cathedral School. Above left: Mr. Duchak works oneon-one with Sacred Heart students. Above right: Mr. Dompkowski leads his class at St. John Neumann School in a religion exercise. Mr. Dompkowski and Mr. Duchak are teaching school in the Diocese of Knoxville as part of the Echo Program for the 2022-23 academic year.

Echo continued from page A16

Life after Echo Kelly Deehan, an Echo Graduate Service Program graduate, is now associate director of religious education at All Saints Parish.

GABRIELLE NOLAN (4)

JIM WOGAN

The result was Amendment No. 5705, which the full House passed on March 20 and the Senate is now considering.

“The Senate companion bill, SB745, was scheduled to be in the Senate Judiciary Committee the same day of Women’s Day on the Hill. Isn’t God’s timing perfect?” Mrs. Dunn observed.

Will Brewer, legal counsel and legislative liaison for Tennessee Right to Life, briefed those attending Women’s Day on the Hill about the rapidly changing legislative moves to either change the Human Life Protection Act or keep it intact.

Grassroots supporters in action

As lawmakers were strategizing about the legislation inside the Legislative Plaza across the street from the Women’s Day on the Hill venue, the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum, Mr. Brewer let Women’s Day on the Hill attendees know that the uncertain political status surrounding pro-life amendment language was changing even as they spoke.

While the amendment to the Human Life Protection Act has dominated interest in the 2023 legislature, TRL also has been supporting legislation to prohibit any government funding to aid women in traveling outside of Tennessee to get an abortion. Also, efforts to place rape and incest exceptions in the Human Life Protection Act failed.

Tennessee’s pro-life laws closely follow Catholic Church teaching on the sanctity of life from conception to natural death. The Diocese of Knoxville, led by Bishop Richard F. Stika, has supported the TRL-backed amendment to the Human Life Protection Act.

“Every year, the calls and e-mails from our grassroots supporters make a huge difference, but this year especially these legislators have been overwhelmed by calls and e-mails from our pro-life supporters, and it has truly made a difference,” Mr. Brewer told the women meeting in Nashville. “Thanks to all of you for staying active and engaged.”

Mr. Brewer explained that the TRLsupported amendment to the Human Life Protection Act provides for an objective standard for physicians instead of a subjective standard.

He clarified that in an objective standard, in the event of an abortion to save the mother’s life the standard for determining if the abortion was lawful would be based on what any reasonable doctor would do in that moment, and any expert witness in a judicial review of that case would support the physician’s decision. Conversely, the subjective standard means a physician can make her or his own determination on when abortion is necessary, which would be difficult to prosecute.

He further said the initial amendment to the Human Life Protection Act, which was supported by physicians, a number of influential House Republicans and pro-abortion Democrats, and passed a House subcommittee by an 8-1 vote while opposed by TRL, underwent a transformation because of the overwhelming response by pro-life grassroots supporters.

“Kudos to you all and your e-mails and calls. They only changed this legislation because they heard from their constituents back home,” Mr. Brewer said.

He said lawmakers received some 1,500 e-mails and calls from pro-life supporters in the days after the initial amendment was made public in February.

Mr. Brewer underscored that Tennessee Right to Life has always been willing to clarify the Human Life Protection Act and work with lawmakers on agreed language, but only language that would support the Human Life Protection Act, not hurt it.

“We’ve heard your concerns; we’ve clarified this bill. It does not weaken it. It does not allow any more abortions to occur than are already necessary to save the life of the mother and are being allowed in the current law. We’ve heard your concerns, and we’ve done something about it,” he said.

Mr. Brewer noted that Gov. Bill

Lee, who with Lt. Gov. Randy McNally has given unwavering support for the Human Life Protection Act, has announced an unprecedented $100 million grant for crisis pregnancy centers across the state.

“My hope for this year and going forward is we can now focus on adoption, foster care, and crisis pregnancy centers, and all the things that can show love for mothers and their babies. Instead, we’ve gotten mired up in medical and legal technicalities. Thank you to Gov. Lee, who has the bandwidth and opportunity to provide that love and those resources to women and babies,” Mr. Brewer said.

Rep. William Lamberth, who represents Sumner County, addressed Women’s Day on the Hill and held up more than 100 pages of petitions signed by pro-life supporters that lawmakers had received in recent days asking them to not weaken the Human Life Protection Act.

“Every single name on every single page means a lot. And I want you to know that we listen to you all; we get our marching orders from you all. Thank you for the work that you all have done. These signatures matter. This fight matters. Just because Dobbs was decided does not mean our fight is over. It means this is our fight. This is your all’s fight. This is Tennesseans’ fight to keep our bills so that they protect life,” Rep. Lamberth said.

Rep. Debra Moody, who represents Tipton and Haywood counties, joined Sen. Paul Rose, who represents Lauderdale, Shelby, and Tipton counties, in reading a proclamation recognizing and honoring Tennessee’s crisis pregnancy centers and all those who work to support the centers.

Letting their voices be heard

Among those attending Women’s Day on the Hill and visiting their state legislators was a group from St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Lenoir City, St. Joseph the Worker Church in Madisonville, and St. Mary Church in Athens.

The Catholic women weren’t shy about entering lawmakers’ offices and letting their representatives and senators know where they stand.

Penny Manczko, Kay Sheldon, and Nancy Murphy of St. Thomas the Apostle, Lorene Steffes of St. Mary, and Marion Croker of St. Joseph the Worker visited with Lt. Gov. McNally, Rep. Lowell Russell of Monroe County, and Sen. Art Swann, who represents Blount, Monroe, Polk, and

part of Bradley counties.

Mrs. Sheldon is a Women’s Day on the Hill veteran.

“This was my fifth time to attend Pro-Life Women’s Day on the Hill.

This was the best one yet. There was an impressive attendance of enthusiastic pro-life women. My group had an opportunity to visit three state legislators from our districts. I had corresponded with two of the legislators previously, and they have a 100 percent pro-life voting record. The third legislator assured us that he is pro-life and will vote for the legislation advocated by Tennessee Right to Life. The Lieutenant Governor’s office even called me at home that evening to let me know of a positive committee vote and his continuing support,” Mrs. Sheldon said.

“I feel that the legislators appreciated all the women’s support, and we conveyed to them that a majority of the residents in our area are prolife,” she pointed out.

Mrs. Manczko, on the other hand, is new to the Nashville event.

“This was my first time attending the event. I enjoyed being around like-minded women of faith with a love of babies. I also liked that we went over to visit our Tennessee elected officials and were able to express either our support or opposition of what is occurring ‘on the Hill’ with regard to our pro-life thoughts,” Mrs. Manczko said.

“I’ve been tracking legislation this year with regard to abortion and submitting correspondence to various legislators since January on either my opposition or support. On the day of the event, most of the work in this 113th session in Nashville was done. So, by the time we went to meet with our representatives on March 21, it was to just say thank you. I’m very disappointed in the various bills submitted this session that would have weakened the best pro-life law in the United States. This is the message I conveyed to many of the legislators these past few months,” she added.

Like Mrs. Manczko, Mrs. Murphy was new to Women’s Day on the Hill. But it was an experience she relished.

“I think it’s extremely important for pro-life women to gather at a formal event like Women’s Day on the Hill for several reasons. First, an in-person visit by a small group of women to their representatives and senators is, in my opinion, just as impactful as a large number of e-mails and phone calls. Secondly, it’s reassuring to see so many, and a variety

of women, at an organized event who are like-minded. We have our small groups of active pro-life men and women in our churches, but it seems we are small in number,” Mrs. Murphy said. “Lastly, I think the event was very well organized and executed. It also is very reassuring to know that TRL is willing and able to take on a fight against an adversary that is both organized and very well-funded.”

Mrs. Steffes echoed Mrs. Sheldon’s sentiments.

“What a fantastic event. I have been to other Women’s Day on the Hill events in the past. I think this one was the best yet. Perhaps that is because there was pro-life legislative action on the Hill that day. Because of this, we had very timely and meaningful discussions with the legislators we met. The result of the legislative action that day was pro-life! Perhaps our presence made a positive difference toward keeping Tennessee the ‘gold standard’ for protecting life,” Mrs. Steffes said.

A physician speaks out

Dr. Omar Hamada, a Nashville physician who specializes in obstetrics and gynecology, was the featured speaker at Women’s Day on the Hill.

Dr. Hamada said if enough hearts and minds are changed, all politicians will support the sanctity of human life.

“My friend Charlie Daniels once said a politician wants a vote. And that’s true. And the reason we have so much confusion is we have confusion in the hearts and minds of people. We need the Holy Spirit amongst ourselves,” Dr. Hamada said.

“What an incredible year it’s been. What happened last year we never believed would happen, and we never thought would be possible, because of a case in Mississippi that Roe v. Wade would be overturned, that 50 years of massacring children would end,” Dr. Hamada continued.

He expressed thanks for U.S. Supreme Court justices who defended life in the Dobbs decision.

Dr. Hamada said there are many who will say that late-term abortions rarely, if ever, occur. “And if they do, they’re only from maternal indications and fetal indications to save the mother’s life. We know for a fact that that’s a lie.”

Earlier in his medical career, Dr. Hamada said he was asked to perform an abortion on a 16-year-old girl who was 26 weeks pregnant under the guise that the girl suffered from asthma. He determined the girl did not have asthma, and he refused to perform the abortion.

Another physician did perform the abortion on the young girl and in addition to taking the life of the child, the girl’s kidney and colon were punctured, and she left the hospital with a colostomy and only one kidney.

“It’s an evil practice,” the doctor said, whether late or early in a pregnancy. “I believe that during conception, an individual human is created. It has a soul and a spirit, and is created in the image of God, whether it’s five days old in utero or whether it’s 40 weeks and about to come out. It doesn’t matter,” said Dr. Hamada, who also spoke about his service in the U.S. military, serving in Afghanistan.

“We are in a world at war. We don’t realize it until we do realize it. There is much evil in this world. And many times we ask God, ‘Where are you, God?’ We are constantly shouted down in society today as they try to shut us up because of our stances, because of what we believe in, because of our fight for life,” Dr. Hamada said.

“And it’s not just about life. It’s all this other craziness that we’re hit with, whether it’s gender confusion or all the other. The Lord has blessed us with people who are standing in the gap, with people, many of them here in this room, who are brave, who are courageous. But it’s not just up to them. It’s up to each one of us to stand up and say, ‘I don’t fear anything anymore because the Lord has my back. The Lord is with me,’” he added.

“Here is the real thing … where

Getting their point across From left, Penny Manczko, Kay Sheldon, Marion Croker, Nancy Murphy, and Lorene Steffes, all members of Diocese of Knoxville parishes, meet with state Rep. Lowell Russell in Nashville. The women and Rep. Russell shared their support for pro-life legislation.

Grassroots action State Sen. Art Swann greets from left, Lorene Steffes, Marion Croker, Penny Manczko, Kay Sheldon, and Nancy Murphy in his Nashville office on March 21. The women spoke to Sen. Swann, who represents their district, about their support for the Human Life Protection Act. Life continued on page A19

The one word that saved an unborn child and changed the life of a college student

By Janice Fritz-Ryken

You never know how deeply one word, one simple thing you say to someone, can impact their life.

In this case, one word a simple “congratulations” transformed the fear of a scared, single mother-to-be into joy and quite literally saved the life of her unborn baby.

Briana Odom was a nursing student at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville when she found out she was pregnant in November 2014. It stopped her in her tracks.

“In my head, I had a plan. I was going to graduate in 2016, get the ball rolling with my career, find a good man to marry, have a beautiful wedding, and then go on to live this pictureperfect Pinterest life,” said Briana, who shares what it felt like to discover she was pregnant.

“I was scared. My whole picture-perfect plan of a life just kind of fell apart,” said Briana, who found herself wondering if she would be able to graduate at all, let alone when she’d planned to do so. Then there were the issues of her parents. How would they feel? And what about her boyfriend? Was he ready to be a dad? She quickly found out he was not.

“I wanted him to be in our lives because I wanted to at least know that the one person who knows I’m pregnant is going to support me and be excited, but I quickly found out that he wasn’t. He gave me $2,000 and said I needed to find a way to get it taken care of,” she shared.

In the weeks that followed, Briana said she went into seclusion, going to class only, avoiding people and just trying to figure out what she was going to do.

“I knew I needed to take care of myself, but I was scared and confused. I didn’t know where to go or if I could even try to do this on my own,” she recalled.

On Jan. 26, 2015, Briana turned 21, and her family came to Knoxville to celebrate. “My parents still didn’t know I was pregnant, and I knew I had to get serious,” she said.

That night, she decided her birthday present to herself was to get the answers she needed to make a decision. She went on Google, did a search, and decided to go to New Hope Pregnancy Care Center.

The next day, with her best friend, Katie, in tow, Briana went to New Hope, where a blood

New Hope continued from page A13

easy part. He praised the work of New Hope medical professionals.

“We have three main fundraisers every year, a golf tournament and two Boston butt barbecues, and these fund our charitable work. But selling pork butts is the easy part. The real work is in what the hardworking and dedicated people at New Hope do every day. We just give them the check for the necessary equipment, and that’s only a tool,” Mr. Foley said.

“It is their words and actions when working with women who come to them in crisis that make all the difference. These workers are the frontlines who have the gifted ability to show these women that they’re carrying a baby, not just a blob of tissue or a clump of cells. What they said and do greatly affects what these moms will ultimately decide. And I know about this, personally,” he added.

Mr. Foley then shared how New Hope Pregnancy Care Center impacted his own family, as he proudly introduced a little girl in attendance as his granddaughter, and he explained how her mom (Mr. Foley’s daughter) was greatly helped by the caring professionals at

Life continued from page A18

It's a girl ... and a boy Briana Odom is shown with daughter Addie, son Duke, and husband Kody at St. Thérèse of Lisieux Church in Cleveland. Also shown is the Odoms' pastor, Father Mike Nolan, of St. Thérèse of Lisieux.

And that picture-perfect Pinterest life Briana once dreamed of? She’s living it after all. After the heartache of anticipating life as a single mom, Briana found love again. Now married to Kody, the Odoms welcomed their second child, a healthy baby boy named Duke, last August

test confirmed her pregnancy. Next up was a counseling session followed by an ultrasound to confirm the baby’s viability and to determine the gestational age.

“I got to see Addie, and it was so amazing, and then Holly said ‘Congratulations.’ And it was like it all came together…that was the first time that anybody had said that to me since I first discovered I was pregnant,” Briana recalled through her tears.

“It made me so happy. I felt this shift, like a change in my heart, and I realized that this wasn’t the end of my life; it was actually the beginning of a new one, a beautiful one,” she said. “My heart just felt so full, and I felt happy for the first time since November. I smiled and I

New Hope when she went there in a crisis pregnancy as a college nursing student seven years ago.

“My family was the happy recipient of the kind of care and good work offered to women in crisis pregnancies at New Hope. That’s my granddaughter, Addie,” Mr. Foley said, pointing proudly toward Addie and smiling. “Her mom, my daughter, was once a scared, single young woman who didn’t know where to turn. Addie is here today in large part because of the care my daughter received through New Hope.”

Also speaking at the ceremony was Bishop Stika, who shared his conviction as to what he thinks may be behind the increased violence in our nation.

“There are mass shootings in schools, shopping malls, so much violence everywhere. There’s always the issue about guns, but there’s something behind that gun, and I’m convinced since 1973, when it became acceptable on a national level for abortion and with so much discussion and arguments among our government officials, it has seeped into the mentality of people that life is not all that special.”

Bishop Stika said worse than that

is our faith? Is it in our money? Is it in our family? Is it in our friends? No. It is in Christ. I challenge you today to try to put all of that (fear of loss) behind you. Don’t be afraid. Be strong and of good courage, and stand up for what you know is right, and let the Lord have your back,” he said. “The devil is alive and well. And we were born into a world at war. This is all spiritual warfare. This isn’t anything that the Democrats are doing. It’s not what the liberals are doing or what the pro-choice are doing. This is a demonic attack on God’s creation. And it’s been going on way before we got here as humans, way before the creation of the world.

“We rely on Christ. Our lives ultimately matter only for the sake of His kingdom. Whether we are legislators, whether we

laughed again for the first time in two months. I celebrated my baby, and I felt like myself again. I just had a completely new outlook on life from after that.”

Briana signed up for parenting classes and started going every week for classes, meals, and fellowship. The support group at New Hope became an extended family, and they helped her gain the courage to tell her parents her news about the baby.

“I realized there would be no ideal time to tell my parents I was about to become a single mom, so I just jumped the gun and told them. I’d already gone this far on my own, and it was time,” she remembered, adding that her mom cried but not because she was having the baby.

“I know they were hurt for me that I had gone this far by myself, but not ashamed because there was a baby. Now I knew I had their support,” she added.

Their only concern now was the fact that Briana was an hour and a half away from them in Knoxville, going to school and nursing clinicals while pregnant, but she said just knowing that New Hope was there and that she had people there who loved her and supported her was reassuring for both her parents and for her.

“Suddenly I didn’t feel like I was so alone, they really supported me the entire time,” she said.

After going just one extra semester in school, Briana was able to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in nursing and take her licensure exam. Today she is a registered nurse.

And that picture-perfect Pinterest life Briana once dreamed of? She’s living it after all. After the heartache of anticipating life as a single mom, Mrs. Odom found love again. Now married to Kody, the Odoms welcomed their second child, a healthy baby boy named Duke, last August.

“I can’t imagine my life without Addie and Duke; they’re my whole life. I am so glad I chose life back then, when I was so scared and alone,” Briana said.

“I’m especially glad that I found New Hope. I believe New Hope gives you a new outlook on life. They celebrated with me, they made me feel the joy of being a mom and helped me to get excited about this new unexpected life that was happening. They gave me hope,” she concluded. ■

is the acceptance of partial-birth and post-birth abortions, which are now being permitted in some states.

“I think all the violence in our community is because of abortion. And if you look at statistics, most abortions are birth control. It’s not incest, it’s not rape; it’s being used as birth control. And that’s bad because then it’s the unborn child that suffers because of the actions of adults,” Bishop Stika said. “Why is the ultrasound so important? Because we see that it’s not a clump of cells or an embryo, those are just medical terms. And it’s not a giraffe; it’s a human person.”

Bishop Stika then used an analogy from the movie “Hacksaw Ridge,” where Army medic and war hero Desmond T. Doss repeated a mantra over and over while rescuing soldiers in the battle of Okinawa during World War II.

“He would say ‘Just one more’ over and over and over, even when his hands were bloody and when he was being shot at and he was completely exhausted, his mantra was ‘Just one more.’ And that’s what we’re about. If we can save just one more life, then that $24,000 we’ve spent on a machine is worth it. But we will save many more lives

are moms and dads, whether we are bankers or attorneys, whether we are doctors or servers or telephone operators, it doesn’t matter. People wonder all the time, ‘Why am I here.’ You are here to serve His kingdom. You are here to fight for His kingdom.”

“We are honored to join Christ in the spiritual battle of the ages. That’s what we are involved in. We don’t have the time or the luxury to be silent. We don’t have the time or luxury to say, ‘Let somebody else do it.’ We don’t have the time or luxury of saying ‘Maybe it will pass.’ … I encourage you to get all of our heads and hearts right. We’re here for one purpose, and that is to advance the kingdom of Jesus Christ in whatever we do. Be strong and of good courage. Be brave,” Dr. Hamada concluded. ■

through the influence and prayers of people who are dedicated to life.”

He pointed out that the upcoming addition of a new ultrasound machine in the newly renovated offices of Catholic Charities of East Tennessee will further help the cause of life the region.

“You see little by little, we have just one more here, just one more there, and soon we are influencing our children, and it will continue to further our cause, all by saving just one more.”

Bishop Stika also urged parishioners to pray for a change of heart in President Joe Biden, a fellow Catholic who is insistent on keeping abortion rights legal across the United States.

“His mantra is also ‘just one more,’ but unfortunately his is in favor of ‘just one more abortion,’ and frankly he’s on the wrong side of history.”

Bishop Stika commended his brother Knights of Columbus for their diligence working hard for the cause of right to life.

“What you’re doing matters. Kudos to all of you who are working so hard and doing your part for such a life-giving experience. We are never wrong when fighting for those who have no voice.” ■

BILL BREWER

Remembering when

Top left: Bishop Richard F. Stika operates a backhoe to officially break ground on the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus on April 19, 2015. Top right: Cathedral rector Father David Boettner, center, is joined by then cathedral associate pastors Father Joe Reed, left, and Father Arthur Torres in the demolition of the old Sacred Heart rectory. Above left: Cardinal Justin Rigali and Bishop Stika present the cathedral dedication stone to Pope Francis, who blessed it at the Vatican on Oct. 14, 2015. Above right: Bishop Stika speaks to the first congregation in the new cathedral during the dedication Mass on March 3, 2018. Right: The completed Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus stands as an important religious landmark in East Tennessee, serving as the mother church for the Diocese of Knoxville and as the diocese's largest parish, and it includes a K-8 school

Cathedrals are never finished,” he said. “It's everything I wanted it to be. And I think it ’ s everything the diocese wanted it to be, something noble. It ’ s not ostentatious, but it ’ s not simple either. I think it has that perfect balance.”

Bishop Stika credited the cathedral team for helping turn a dream often prayed for into reality

“We were very smart when we built the cathedral. Father David and his team, with the acoustics, with the music, with the organ the cathedral parish does just a fantastic job in terms of worship. That ’ s what a cathedral is supposed to do. It ’ s supposed to be the example for the rest of the parishes on how liturgy should be done appropriately. This is an excellent place for that,” Bishop Stika noted.

As the anniversary approached, Father Boettner said he was almost in disbelief that five years has already gone by.

“As I was in Mass (on the fifth anniversary), I noticed the sunlight coming through the windows and dancing off the back of the sanctuary wall. It reminded me of what a joyful celebration we had that day and what a great celebration of the unity of the Diocese of Knoxville.”

Father Boettner said the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus has exceeded his expectations.

“We knew we were building something that we wanted to be permanent, transcendent, beautiful, something that really gave honor and glory to God,” he said. “I ’ ll never forget the first time once we really started putting the walls up inside the cathedral. We had looked at it through virtual reality glasses. We had these 3D programs where we tried to imagine what it would

look like, but when you actually stand in the middle of the cathedral and feel that divine presence, it ’ s just overwhelming. It ’ s awe-inspiring.”

Father Boettner also recalled the site preparation that went into the project in preparation for construction.

The Sacred Heart campus was transformed, even as Masses continued to be celebrated in the original church building and Sacred Heart Cathedral School continued to hold classes.

“Our newer north parking lot used to be a mountain. We moved a mountain in order to build this cathedral,” Father Boettner recalled. “I always remember when Jesus talked to us, he said If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain be transplanted, and it will move. ’ The faith of this commuity, the faith of the diocese is what made this happen. That’s why one of my favorite pieces of artwork in the cathedral is the benefactors’ niche because it is the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fish. When we bring what we have to the Lord, and give it to Him and allow Him to bless it, He exceeds our wildest expectations. ”

Relics in the new cathedral altar are those of popes Clement, Pius X, John XXIII, and John Paul II, Bishop Stika said, who noted there are relics of martyrs like Andrew the Apostle, Blessed Stanley Rother of Oklahoma City, and Maria Goretti, and other men and women who taught and lived the faith that we profess and share.

Also present is a relic of the true cross of Christ, donated by Cardinal Rigali.

Cardinal Dziwisz blessed a statue of Pope St. John Paul II, co-patron of the Diocese of Knoxville, at the

cathedral’s south entrance. The Polish cardinal also donated two relics of the saint to the diocese: a stole frequently worn by John Paul II and a first-class relic containing drops of the saint’s blood. Cardinal Dziwisz wore the stole while blessing the statue.

Bishop Stika announced plans for the new cathedral in September 2014. The bishop operated a Caterpillar backhoe to break ground on the cathedral on April 19, 2015.

Pope Francis blessed the dedication stone for the new Cathedral of

the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus on Oct. 14, 2015, during a papal audience at the Vatican attended by Bishop Stika and Cardinal Rigali.

The new cathedral replaced Sacred Heart Cathedral, built in 1955 and opened in 1956. Sacred Heart served as a parish church from Jan. 1, 1956, until Pope St. John Paul II established the Diocese of Knoxville in 1988 and then elevated Sacred Heart to a cathedral.

The old cathedral building was converted into Sacred Heart’ s fellowship hall. ■

Cathedral continued from page A6

THE EAST TENNESSEE CATHOLIC ARCHIVE PHOTOS

In reflecting on readings from Genesis, Bishop Stika said Scripture about Adam and Eve illustrates the side of human nature where we tend to do the opposite of what we’re told to.

“Part of the complexity of the human person is that also we make mistakes. Often, we might be like Adam and Eve and think we are more important than God Himself.”

Bishop Stika pointed out there is a successor to Adam, and that is Jesus, “who brought rebirth to the world.” “And the successor to Eve is the new Eve, the Blessed Mother,” whose body gave birth to Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Bishop Stika then asked the catechumens and candidates if they want to join the perfect Church.

“Well, if you become a Catholic, you’re going to make it imperfect. Why is that? There is no such thing as something that is an institution of humans that is perfect. But we see the concept St. Paul talks about, that the Church is actually the body of Christ, is of Christ, and is with Christ, and is in Christ,” he said.

Bishop Stika then explained that during the Mass or with the celebration of any sacrament, the faithful take all their imperfect prayers and turn them into the perfect prayer.

“It’s a little phrase we use at the end of the collection of those prayers. We ask all these prayers, through Christ Our Lord. If you do that in your own prayer life, whatever you might pray for, if you conclude with, ‘And Lord, I ask all these prayers through Christ the Lord,’ then all these imperfect prayers become perfect because then they become the prayer of Jesus Himself. And we are assured in the Scriptures that God will not ignore His Son’s requests. Now, that does not mean you’re going to have all of your prayers answered. Otherwise, I would be a billionaire winning lotteries week in and week out. That hasn’t happened yet,” the bishop said.

In his homily, Bishop Stika highlighted the commonalities between Catholicism and Protestant faiths as well as basic differences. He underscored the fact that the Christian faith begins with Jesus. In addition, he said, the Catholic faith also begins with the Eucharist.

“The Catholic Church was founded by Jesus. That’s what we believe. Now, you might be a Protestant at this moment … we all celebrate in different ways, but we pray to the one God. In some ways so do the Muslims and so do the Jews because we’re all children of Abraham. But for whatever reason, you have decided to join our faith, our family, our community of faith,” Bishop Stika told the gathering of catechumens and candidates.

“What separates us maybe from Protestant traditions is what takes place on that altar—the Eucharist. Since the first days after the Last Supper, do you remember what Jesus said? He said it in Aramaic. He didn’t say it in English. But what He said was, and I’m paraphrasing, ‘My brothers, take and eat, for this is My body.’ Then He took the cup, called a chalice, ‘This is My blood, given for you.’ He didn’t say this is a symbol. … And from generation to generation to generation, even though the prayers evolved, the intent is still

the same.

“That’s what separates us from other denominations. We don’t believe that the bread and wine are just symbols. We believe it’s the body and blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Himself. And when we cease this celebration, when there is Eucharist that still remains, we don’t put it in a drawer. We honor it in what we call a tabernacle. There’s always a red candle burning by it, so that when a person enters a church, they know that church is not just a big building with a lot of artwork, but like in Jewish tradition from the Old Testament, it is the Holy of Holies, Jesus,” Bishop Stika said.

Bishop Stika asked the congregation if they have heard others say Catholics worship Mary.

“No, we don’t. We honor Mary. We pray through her intercession because she played a significant and dramatic role in salvation history. Why? Because the angel Gabriel said to Mary, “Oh, highly favored daughter, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. So, we don’t pray to her as an end result; we pray with Mary to honor God.”

“And we honor Joseph, too. Because Joseph, out of all humanity, was chosen by God to teach Jesus how to be a man and to protect and love Jesus and Mary,” the bishop said.

In speaking about the saints and the imperfections in Christianity, Bishop Stika shared with the catechumens and candidates his favorite description of a saint.

“One of my favorite definitions of a saint is a person who actually recognizes that they are a sinner, because we recognize our humanity,” he said.

“In these last weeks as you have prepared to be baptized, as you have prepared to be received into the Church and confirmed, as you have prepared to receive the body of Christ for the first time, these days are very exciting for the Church, for me, for my brother

priests and deacons, for all Catholics in the Diocese of Knoxville across the 36 counties that we cover. Why?” Bishop Stika asked. “Because it’s like we’re inviting you to come to the table to share something very special with us.”

Bishop Stika said the major difference between Protestants and Catholics is the altar because Catholics believe in the exact words of Jesus at the Last Supper.

“What we believe since possibly the first celebration of the Eucharist, in a different form, was when Jesus gathered together with His Apostles, on the night before He was betrayed, and He broke the bread, and He gave it to His disciples and said, ‘Take and eat, for this is My body.’ Now how can that be? There’s Jesus, who was there, saying ‘This is My body.’ That’s the miracle of the Eucharist. Then He took the cup that was filled with wine, and He said the same: ‘This is My blood given for you.’ That’s what the major difference is,” the bishop continued.

Bishop Stika let the congregation know how grateful he and the diocese are for their commitment to their faith, Jesus, and His Church.

“I have to tell you folks, I really respect you deeply. For whatever your reason, whatever your journey might be, you’ve come together to make a choice, to make a decision, to join us at the table, at the altar and receive the Eucharist. For some, it might have been a difficult decision … but you made it.

“It’s just as in the readings, the gift is the gift of freedom itself. The gift of choice. Just as St. John Paul said, freedom isn’t necessarily the ability to do anything that you want, but to do what is right. And with that comes responsibility. It’s the same with choice. To choose to follow Jesus, to follow God, to follow those tenets—the Beatitudes and Commandments.

“I just want to share with you how grateful I am that you’re here today, even though I’m missing the second spring training game of the St. Louis Cardinals,” he

said jokingly. “It is a joy for me to welcome you. Know that you are loved by the Church, but especially by God.”

Deacon Jim Bello, director of Christian Formation for the diocese, expected at least 300 catechumens and candidates to join the Catholic Church in East Tennessee at Easter.

“That’s a healthy number and about where I expected it to be. That number is reflective of a lot of hard work by our parishes,” Deacon Bello said.

Deacon Bello has been active visiting parishes and helping them spread the Good News to their members since becoming a permanent deacon and director of Christian Formation last July.

He likes what he’s seeing and experiencing. He’s getting many requests for faith-based material and to speak to parish groups.

“I think there has been a real excitement about getting back into religious-education programs in person since COVID,” he said, noting that he believes the pandemic prompted people to realize that time is of the essence in joining the Catholic Church, or at least exploring joining.

“There is something that is rolling across East Tennessee. As a newbie, I’m seeing something that is powerful and a surrender to the Catholic faith that is swelling in the last year. As I go around the diocese, I see parishes like St. Thérèse of Lisieux in Cleveland on fire for the Holy Spirit,” Deacon Bello said.

“It’s as if the Holy Spirit has breathed on the diocese and inspired people to be fired up for their faith,” he added.

St. James the Apostle was among the parishes in the Five Rivers Deanery introducing its catechumens and candidates to Bishop Stika, who signed the Books of the Elect from each parish in the four deaneries that officially list who is joining the Church from East Tennessee.

The Kochs, who retired to Sneedville from Charleston, S.C., about five years ago, said their daughter converted to Catholicism nearly a decade ago, and their three grandchildren are being raised and educated based on Catholic teaching.

“We went to church with them a couple of times and felt led to join the Catholic Church. We wanted to be more a part of their lives in the things they’re doing through Christ. We love our little parish,” said Mr. Koch, who noted that his father, who has since passed away, was a Baptist preacher.

“The rest of my family has been really supportive of our conversion,” he shared.

Mrs. Koch added that the transition has not been as life-changing as some would believe.

“In our parish, it was the close fit and the people who are there for us as we fellowship together. It is the perfect fit,” Mr. Koch noted.

In remarking about St. James’ small size, Mrs. Koch said about 10 to 12 people attend Sunday Mass each week at the church, which is among the smallest in Tennessee.

— Deacon

Bello

“Instead of sending a missionary to Africa, our parish has a missionary who has come from Africa,” said St. James member Joe Greenleaf, referring to parish pastor Father Bart Okere, who is from Nigeria. Father Okere also is

“As I go around the diocese, I see parishes ... on fire for the Holy Spirit. It's as if the Holy Spirit has breathed on the diocese and inspired people to be fired up for their faith.”

Jim

Growing at St. James Carl and Crystal Koch, right, are joined by Joe and Karlene Greenleaf at the Rite of Election.

The Catholic family Bishop Richard F. Stika is joined by Augustino Gore and Mr. Gore's niece, Wamda Bashir, at the Rite of Election.

space.

Pope Francis blessed the satellite and the nanobook after his weekly public audience in St. Peter’s Square on March 29.

The Vatican said March 27 the CubeSat, the name for miniature satellites, will travel aboard a Falcon 9 rocket, SpaceX’s partially reusable two-stage launch platform.

It will be hosted on the ION SCV-011ION platform, a satellite carrier developed and built by the Italian company D-Orbit.

Italian Space Agency will operate the satellite, which was built by the Polytechnic University of Turin in Italy.

“The satellite is equipped with a radio transmitter as well as onboard instruments to be maneuvered from the ground,” a press release stated.

While in orbit, the satellite will broadcast decipherable statements from Pope Francis on the theme of hope and peace in English, Italian, and Spanish.

The president of the Italian Space Agency, Giorgio Saccoccia, said the Holy See asked the agency to identify a way for Pope Francis’ words of hope and peace “to cross the Earth’s borders

Rite of Election continued from page A21

the pastor of St. Henry Parish in Rogersville.

Mr. Greenleaf’s wife, Karlene, credited Mr. Koch with the idea for a parish dinner in March for people—Catholic or non-Catholic—in the community to visit St. James the Apostle.

The church building, located at 3652 Main St. in Sneedville, formerly was a liquor store. And a major project was completed in recent months to install a bathroom in the church.

Mr. Greenleaf, who serves as the director of religious education at St. James, explained that the church has no pews but uses folding chairs, and heat is supplied by space heaters and cool air from a window air conditioner.

“When we first started going, there were regularly three, four, five people. And now there are eight, nine, 10 who attend regularly. That’s how it starts. It’s pretty interesting,” said Mrs.

and reach from space the greatest possible number of women and men on our troubled planet.”

“For those of us who are used to seeing space as the privileged place from which to observe the world and communicate with it without borders, it was easy to imagine a quick, humble, and effective solution to offer wings to the Holy Father’s message,” he added.

In operating the satellite, which was built by Polytechnic University students, the Italian Space Agency will be working with Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County, Calif., to launch the satellite. The satellite is to be launched on a rocket taking off from Vandenberg on June 10.

The secretary of the Dicastery for Communication, Father Lucio Adrian Ruiz, said “space has a fascination for everyone, especially for young people. Space has that mystery of the universal, the deep, the magnificent, and it makes us all dream.”

By launching Pope Francis’ words of the March 27, 2020, blessing into space, the Vatican hopes to signify that the pope’s prayer, blessing, and universal call to hope continue to be relevant for men and women of goodwill today, he said. ■

Greenleaf, who is a registered nurse.

The Greenleafs reside in Thorn Hill in neighboring Grainger County.

Mr. Greenleaf pointed out that St. James has six people who are entering the Catholic Church within the next few months.

“This means God is there,” Mrs. Koch said.

“The most important thing is being there for the community and being able to witness to them. There’s a need there,” Mr. Koch added. “We’ve had an influx of people from out of state move into the area. And surprisingly enough, a lot of them are Catholic who either don’t know about our church or aren’t practicing.”

Mr. Greenleaf, who is a lawyer, is exploring becoming a permanent deacon for the Diocese of Knoxville and could serve at St. James the Apostle and St. Henry.

The Greenleafs retired to Thorn Hill in 2017 from Michigan.

Wamda Bashir also joined the Catholic Church in East Tennessee at Easter. Ms. Bashir, originally from South Sudan, came to the United States in 2000 and became a U.S. citizen in 2008. She is a member of St. Stephen Church in Chattanooga.

Her sponsor is her uncle, Augustino Gore. Mr. Gore is originally from South Sudan and has been in the United States for 22 years. He became a U.S. citizen in 2005.

She was moved to join the Catholic faith by Jesus, through His baptism and crucifixion, and from the witness of her uncle.

“I feel like that is the real way for us to get to heaven, to believe in Him. That’s why I came from the Islamic religion to the Christian religion. And now I’m going to get three sacraments: baptism, the Eucharist, and confirmation. It is very exciting,” she said.

Ms. Bashir said she enjoys attending St. Stephen, where the

people are warm and pastor Father Manuel Pérez and associate pastor Father Christopher Manning have been very welcoming.

Mr. Gore explained that Mrs. Bashir’s mother is Christian, and her father is a devout Muslim. He noted that the family is divided between Christians and Muslims. He said Mrs. Bashir’s four children, ages 22, 20, 19, and 13, have already received their Catholic sacraments. Her 22-year-old son is in the Marines.

“I’ve encouraged her and told her, ‘This is the right choice for you.’ We will stand behind her and support her and her whole family. This is an obligation for all of us being Christians. This is her time of need, her spiritual need. God bless her and the rest of her family,” said Mr. Gore, who also is a member of St. Stephen Church and has assisted with RCIA instruction. “Now she will be able to lead her kids to the next level of our faith.” ■

The Assurance of Peace, Quiet Reflection, & Prayer The Columbarium

CNS PHOTO/VATICAN MEDIA

Book launch Spes Satelles is a small CubeSat satellite built by students at the Polytechnic University of Turin and scheduled to be launched into space June 10. The satellite will carry a "nano" version of a Pope Francis book.

Pope Francis calls for ‘ethical and responsible’ AI development

By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service

Pope Francis asked tech leaders to measure the value of their innovations not in processing power or profit potential, but in their capacity to promote human dignity.

In a meeting at the Vatican March 27 with scientists, engineers, businesspeople, and lawyers working across the tech industry, the pope reflected on the social and cultural impact of artificial intelligence.

The benefits of artificial intelligence and automated learning for humanity will be realized only if developers act in an “ethical and responsible way” that respects the intrinsic dignity of each person, the pope said.

But he expressed concern that such respect is missing when, for instance, artificially intelligent software is used in producing legal sentences by analyzing an individual's criminal record and generalized data.

“An individual’s past behavior should not be used to deny him or her the opportunity to change, grow, and contribute to society,” the Holy Father said. “We cannot allow algorithms to limit or condition respect for human dignity, nor can we allow them to exclude com-

Hierarchy continued from page A14

Paso, Texas, Shawn McKnight of Jefferson City, Mo., and John Stowe of Lexington, Ky., are among prelates who have been lauded for their pastoral touch and work on issues such as immigration, war, poverty, and outreach to LGBTQ people and other marginalized communities.

“These are the kind of people we should be bringing up to major archdioceses, said Father Steve Avella, a Church historian at Marquette University who has studied the history of how Catholic bishops have been selected in the United States.

“The [archdioceses] need men of stature, of maturity, of solid theological grounding, and I really hope Francis is paying attention, Father Avella said.

A mixed record of ‘Francis's bishops’

However, several bishops who were appointed to their dioceses over the last decade have acted in ways that some might not have expected from so-called a Francis bishop

One of Pope Francis’ 2013 appointments, Bishop Michael Olson in Fort Worth, Texas, in 2022 forced the resignation of the local Catholic Charities president for organizing a women ’ s empowerment summit that Bishop Olson saw as being too aligned with the principles of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion espoused by postmodern theorists,” although a diocesan spokesperson maintains the forced resignation was for obstinate defiance and refusing to recognize the bishop’ s responsibility to “teach the faith and to maintain the Catholic integrity of the agency s mission.

Bishop Earl Fernandes of Columbus, Ohio—appointed by Pope Francis in April 2022—sparked protests when he evicted the Paulist Fathers from campus ministry at Ohio State University within weeks of his installation.

Two bishops whom Pope Francis appointed to Minnesota dioceses in recent years—Robert Barron in Winona-Rochester and Andrew Cozzens in Crookston—have aligned themselves with cultural conservatives who oppose the current pope’ s priorities.

“The thing that unites all [Pope Francis episcopal] choices is that he seems to prefer pastoral guys to others. But ideologically, they’ve been all over the place,” said Jesuit Father Mark Massa, the director of the Boisi Center for Religion and American Public Life at Boston College.

Father Massa said he does not see much willingness from Pope Francis, unlike his two immediate

passion, mercy, forgiveness, and, above all, an openness to hope for personal change.”

Technology experts fear that the data used to build algorithms in artificially intelligent legal software may amplify pre-existing biases in justice systems, further oppressing already marginalized groups.

“That data can be contaminated by prejudices and social preconceptions,” said the pope. “The fundamental value of a person cannot be measured by a set of data.”

He noted how digital technolo-

gies have increased global inequality both economically and in terms of political and social influence. Such inequality, he said, is rooted in a “false sense of meritocracy.”

“There is a risk of conceiving the economic advantage of a few as earned or merited, while the poverty of many is seen, in a certain way, as their fault,” he said.

Pope Francis invited the industry leaders to consider how their innovations may create a more equal and inclusive society.

”Are our national and inter-

national institutions able to hold technology companies accountable for the social and cultural impact of their products? Is there are a risk that increased inequality can compromise our sense of human and social solidarity?” he asked.

The pope recalled the ethical principles in AI development agreed to by religious, government, and tech-industry leaders at the Vatican: transparency, inclusion, responsibility, impartiality, reliability, security, and privacy.

In January, executives from Microsoft and IBM as well as representatives from the Muslim and Jewish communities met at the Vatican to sign a document calling for a human-centered approach to AI development in which the principles were agreed upon.

The document advocated for establishing “an outlook in which AI is developed with a focus not on technology, but rather for the good of humanity and of the environment.”

At the March meeting, the pope thanked the tech leaders for discussing responsible technology uses that are “open to religious values,” and said that dialogue between religious believers and non-believers on science and ethics “is a path to peacebuilding and integral human development. ” ■

ments, the record is mixed,” Mr. Faggioli said, “Because there was the expectation or promise that they were going to be Francis-like bishops. Instead they are vaguely good pastors but not something you would necessarily see as an episcopate that s shaped by Francis’ pontificate.”

Father Avella, the Church historian, said he has scratched his head at some of Francis appointments.

“Some of these men who are in positions of authority are either not very competent, not very in tune with the culture, or have just become de facto the Republican Party at prayer,” said Father Avella, who added that issues like LGBTQ rights and the Church’ s message on abortion require intelligent and sophisticated responses that he suggested most prelates are not capable of delivering.

predecessors, to really reshape the American episcopate.”

“Under John Paul II and Benedict, there seemed to be a unified field theory about who should be a bishop, and they were all basically bishops in their image,” Father Massa said. “But I have been stymied to try to figure out what Francis’ agenda is. I think it’ s simply to appoint pastoral bishops, and he’ s less concerned about where they are ideologically. Because otherwise, it seems that his appointments are completely random.”

Massimo Faggioli, a theologian

and Church historian at Villanova University, said Pope Francis has had “a mixed record for sure” on episcopal appointments because he has had to work with what's available.”

“His choices for cardinals and for promotion [to archbishops] have been successful. They ve been very intentional and very strategic,” said Mr. Faggioli, who referenced Francis creating cardinals like Blase Cupich in Chicago, Joseph Tobin in Newark, N.J., and Robert McElroy in San Diego.

“But on many other appoint-

These issues are crying out for responsible, intelligent, and pastoral leadership on the part of bishops, and they are going to require a little more oomph than even [Cardinals] Cupich, Tobin, or even at this point McElroy have been able to give,” Father Avella said.

According to Ms. Imperatori-Lee of Manhattan College, selecting more Hispanic bishops to reflect the growing Latino Catholic community in the United States could promote cultural sensitivity at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops as well as change the tenor of the Church’ s engagement in culture war issues.

It would be symbolically important, and it could potentially be ecclesiologically important as well,” she said.

Ms. Hoegeman, the Missouri State University professor, said there is “definitely a pool of liberal-leaning bishops” who Pope Francis could appoint to one of the archdioceses, but she added that archbishops tend to be older when promoted.

“ It will be interesting to see where someone like Cardinal McElroy goes as these major sees open up, ” said Ms. Hoegeman, who added that it is more likely that in 2025 the American hierarchy will reflect Pope Francis more in the sense that it will have fewer culture warriors

You might not be getting a bunch of Cupichs or McElroys” who are made bishops, Ms. Hoegeman said, adding that it is also unlikely hardline conservatives will rise in the mold of Bishop Joseph Strickland of Tyler, Texas, or retired Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia.

Since

The middle ground guys will be appointed,” she said. ■

Church leadership Miami Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski, second from left, Cardinal Justin Rigali, retired archbishop of Philadelphia and St. Louis, and Archbishop Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States, concelebrate Mass on June 13, 2018, at St. Pius X Catholic Church during the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' annual spring assembly in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Priests of the people Cardinal Justin Rigali, retired archbishop of Philadelphia and St. Louis, greets parishioners at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus after a Mass marking the 60th anniversary of his priestly ordination on April 25, 2021. At left is Bishop Richard F. Stika.

his retirement in 2011, Cardinal Rigali has been in residence with Bishop Stika.

BILL BREWER

Meeting of the minds Pope Francis meets leaders from the tech industry at the Vatican on March 27. The pope is calling for an "ethical and responsible" development of artificial intelligence.

CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE PHOTO/VATICAN MEDIA