April 2, 2017, ET Catholic, A section by Diocese of Knoxville

April 2

| 2017

VOL 26 NO 4

IN THIS ISSUE FAITH REBOOT OR PROD A MISSION A4 AChurch A6 WHISPER A8 ON prepares to Listening for a call Parishioners offer receive new Catholics

to vocation

aid, hope to Haiti

He dwells among us ......................... A2 Deanery news .................................... B2 Diocesan calendar ............................ B3 Catholic youth ................................... B5 Columns ............................................. B7 La Cosecha ............................Section C

Diocesan school system achieves accreditation AdvancED team evaluates all 10 schools, says they meet or exceed high standards

BILL BREWER

he Diocese of Knoxville’s school system has been given two thumbs up for its accreditation efforts following a two-year evaluation process involving all 10 diocesan schools. A team of eight education evaluators with AdvancED, the organization that accredits schools around the United States and the world, presented its final recommendation for accreditation to diocesan leaders assembled at the Chancery in Knoxville on Feb. 23. Accreditation means the 10 diocesan schools are a system of excellence, meeting AdvancED’s high standards of achievement. Nine of the diocese’s 10 schools already are accredited by AdvancED, and the school system now has achieved accreditation, meaning all 10 schools as a system have met or exceeded AdvancED standards. “The results indicate

A good report card Bishop Richard F. Stika addresses Diocese of Knoxville educators and AdvancED evaluators after receiving a report from the evaluators that the diocesan school system has met AdvancED accreditation standards. that the institution, the system, is performing within and well above acceptable levels compared to the expected criteria as well as other institutions that have gone through this process,” said Leisa

Schulz, superintendent of Louisville Archdiocese schools, who was the lead evaluator in the accreditation process. “So it is with great pride and great celebration that we, as your external review

team, are very excited to recommend to the AdvancED Accreditation Commission that the Diocese of Knoxville earn the distinction of accreditation by AdvancED.” Diocese of Knoxville

By Bill Brewer schools were specifically singled out for their outstanding academics and strong Catholic identity. Bishop Richard F. Stika complimented diocesan schools superintendent Sister Mary Marta Abbott, RSM, and her staff and principals of the Diocese of Knoxville schools and their faculty for achieving the education milestone. “I want to thank you for all your efforts because it has made my day to see these results,” Bishop Stika said. “This is a wonderful achievement. You may think we’re a small system, 10 schools, but every child in the system is important to their parents, to the community, and especially to God. Today, we recognize the mind and intellectual capacity of these children to be reflections of Jesus.” The external review team members, professional educators from around the country, visSchools continued on page A7

Cornerstone of faith Bishop Stika marks key step in construction of the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus By Bill Brewer

words, “Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus,” the date he Cathedral of the Most of the upcoming dedication, and Sacred Heart of Jesus a verse from Matthew’s Gospel, reached an important — 21:13, that reads “My House Shall and symbolic — milestone March Be Called a House of Prayer.” 25 when Bishop Richard F. Stika The cornerstone is made from unveiled the cathedral cornerImperial Danby marble from Verstone during a liturgical service at mont and will be complemented the diocese’s new mother church. by the Indiana limestone and It was, in effect, the first service Roman brick being used on the inside the church, as some 400 cathedral exterior. The names of people were on hand to witness the bishop of the diocese and the the moment and see up close how pope will be added at the time of the building project is progressthe cathedral dedication. ing. Cardinal Justin Rigali, Father “This is a very significant step David Boettner, Father Joe Reed, in the cathedral building project, Father Arthur Torres, and Deacon for we are reminded by the openWalt Otey joined Bishop Stika in ing song that Jesus Christ is inthe liturgical celebration that predeed the cornerstone of our faith, ceded the unveiling. the one foundation. With this A choir occupied the unfinsignificant step, we are mindful ished choir loft, providing songs of the fact that this time next year for the liturgy. we will be in our new cathedral,” After prayers and readings Bishop Stika said. were given and Bishop Stika de In an opening prayer, the bishlivered remarks, he uncovered op said, “May the mercy of God the 3,400-pound, solid marble the Father, the grace of Christ, cube that is His Son and embedded into the cornerstone the front of the ”Jesus Christ is indeed the of our faith, in church building communion cornerstone of our faith, the near the front with the Holy one foundation. With this doors. Spirit, who significant step, we are mind Inscribed into builds us into ful of the fact that this time the cornerstone, one, be with you next year we will be in our which is white all.” new cathedral.” in color with He then gray and gold offered those –– Bishop Stika veining, is the in attendance diocesan crest, a brief history a cross, and the lesson on the

STEPHANIE RICHER

Unveiling the cornerstone Bishop Richard F. Stika is joined by Cardinal Justin Rigali and Father David Boettner in revealing the new cornerstone for the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. cathedral. “This cathedral has been a dream of the diocese since its first days. I remember in speaking to the founding bishop, Monsignor (Xavier) Mankel, and others, how they told the founding bishop that we need to build a cathedral. And he said, ‘No, we must first build a diocese,’” Bishop Stika said. “Then about 10 to 12 years ago, the conversation again came up when the diocese began to contemplate a capital campaign.

Archbishop [Joseph E.] Kurtz then said, ‘No, we must first build up the parishes,’” Bishop Stika added. “A combination of that exists because this parish of the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus has outgrown its space in the current cathedral. It also needs a parish center. And the diocese has outgrown what we’ve been using for these many years.” Bishop Stika then, after remarking on the opening of baseball Cornerstone continued on page A11

He dwells among us

by Bishop Richard F. Stika

The sharpest sword Blessed Mother recommends the rosary most to instill the peace of Christ in our hearts, homes, world

orld crises in 1917 may not be all that different from ours today—wars, genocide, revolutions, divisions. But yet the best means for obtaining the peace so desperately needed in 2017 is the same revealed to three poor shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal, 100 years ago. In 1917, the world was in its third year of what was initially called “The Great War.” On Good Friday of that year, April 6, America officially entered World War I. From its beginning until its end in 1918, the richest and most industrialized nations of the world inflicted millions of casualties upon each other with weapons of lethality and horror never before seen up until that time. Pope Benedict XV, whose pontificate coincided with the start of World War I, called it the “suicide of Europe.” Forgotten by many at this same tragic time in history is the genocide of 1.5 million Armenian Christians by the Ottoman Turks. Revolutions and militant atheism would topple governments and empires, most tragically in Russia. Persecution of the Church increased worldwide. In Mexico, the Church was officially outlawed, beginning a long and bloody persecution of Catholics that claimed the lives of over 40,000 Catholics faithful, including 90 priests, and the displacement of a quarter million people, many who attempted to find refuge in the United States. With so much upheaval, death, and persecution occurring in the world in 1917, Pope Benedict XV asked for the Blessed Mother’s intercession under the title,

Follow Bishop Richard Stika on Twitter @bishopstika and Facebook for news and events from the diocese. “Queen of Peace.” Days later, an army, different from any other military in the world, began to form, armed with a very unique weapon: the rosary. On May 13, 1917, the Blessed Mother appeared to three poor shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal, with the maternal request, “Say the rosary every day to obtain peace for the world and the end of the war.” What makes recitation of the rosary so powerful are the sacred mysteries of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, that we reflect on. And it is Mary who helps us to reflect on these mysteries just as she did — “Mary treasured all these things and reflected on them in her heart” (Luke 2:19). These mysteries are not in the “past,” but are “living” mysteries. Just as Jesus came to the world through Mary, so she continues to bring Him to each of us. This is precisely why devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary is so important to our faith. Having stood beneath the cross of Jesus, and knowing how much our sins cost Him, she leads us to conversion — to an “internal” revolution of heart — and to a peace the world cannot give. And she teaches us, as she did the children at Fatima, to pray for the salvation of all souls, “especially those in most need of His mercy.” Fatima teaches us that peace comes, not from politics, military might, or economic success, but through prayer, penance, and sacrifice. Peace comes by working for God’s kingdom and not for a

April Prayer Intentions “That young people may respond generously to their vocations and seriously consider offering themselves to God in the priesthood or consecrated life.”

–– Pope Francis

”We pray for those newly baptized, newly confirmed, and those who have joined us around the eucharistic table for the first time; may they daily grow closer to the Lord.” –– 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 first, then to the bishop’s office, 865-584-3307, or the diocesan victims’ assistance coordinator, Marla Lenihan, 865-482-1388.

kingdom of our own design and making. That is why those who think social justice is a product of politics and economics will always be disappointed. As St. John Paul II said on a visit to America in 1987, “The world doesn’t need more social reformers. It needs saints.” The Church is a school for making saints, and Mary, our Mother, knows best how to make them. Ponder this: the great saint of the rosary, St. Louis de Montfort, reminds us that the one Satan fears most, in a sense more than God himself, is Mary. How can this be? Because Satan is so full of pride, “he suffers infinitely more by being beaten and punished by a little and humble handmaid of the Lord.” Mary is the woman who crushes the serpent’s head (Genesis 3:15). This is why the rosary is so effective against defeating the scourge of the worst sins. Our year of 2017, like that year of 100 years ago, is filled with bloodshed and upheaval. Pope Francis even described our current turmoil as a third world war of sorts. Wars rage around the world and Christians and various minority communities suffer a horrible genocide at the hands of ISIS, particularly in the Middle East. Sadly, another genocide today is often overlooked that claims over 40 million lives worldwide each year — abortion — with over a million lives lost a year in the United States. If we consider the worldwide total over the past 50 years, the number is staggering.

While revolutions continue to rock various nations, revolutions of a different nature attack marriage, the family, and even the sacredness of the complementarity of the sexes. When I think of the growing divisions in our own country, I truly worry about our nation’s future. Indeed, the message of Fatima needs to be heard more than ever. How I wish every Catholic in our diocese would pray the rosary daily for peace in our world, in our families and marriages, and for an end to abortion and wars. If I could recommend but one book in addition to sacred Scripture, it would be Father Michael Gaitley’s 33 Days to Morning Glory. For the small investment of two pages of daily reading, I dare say your life will be transformed over the course of a month. I know of no other book so spiritually enriching on consecrating oneself to the Blessed Mother. Given this centennial celebration of the Fatima apparitions, I am excited that the international pilgrimage statue of Our Lady of Fatima that has toured the world will be coming to our diocese between April 27 and May 1. It will stop for one day at each location, beginning at St. Dominic Church in Kingsport, followed by the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Our Lady of Fatima Church in Alcoa, St. Mary Church in Oak Ridge and the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga. My prayer is that by turning to “Our Lady of the Rosary,” as Mary referred to herself at Fatima, we will become a true army of Christ’s peace and love. ■

Bishop Stika’s calendar of events for April These are some of Bishop Stika’s upcoming public appointments: n April 1: 6 p.m., UT School of Music Gala at Cherokee Country Club n April 2: 11:30 a.m., confirmation at Immaculate Conception Church in Knoxville n April 4: 12:30 p.m., lunch with Bishop-elect Joshua Russell of the Free Anglican Diocese of Tennessee in Knoxville n April 4: 6 p.m., reception honoring Monsignor Xavier Mankel and Monsignor Pat Garrity at Knoxville Catholic High School n April 5: 10 a.m., visit to Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in Chattanooga n April 7: 9:45 a.m., featured on Relevant Radio Talk Show n April 7: 10 a.m. CDT, or-

dination to the Order of the Deacon at St. Joseph Church in Madison, Tenn. n April 8: 8:05 a.m., annual Scouts Mass and Gathering at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus n April 9: 11 a.m., Palm Sunday Mass at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus n April 11: 7:30 p.m., Chrism Mass at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus n April 13: 7 p.m., Holy Thursday Mass of the Last Supper at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus n April 14: 7 p.m., Good Friday service with the Equestrian Order of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus n April 15: 8:15 p.m., Easter Vigil Mass at the Cathedral

of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus n April 16: 11 a.m., Easter Sunday Mass at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus n April 21: 10 a.m. CDT, Catholic Public Policy Commission board meeting with Tennessee bishops n April 22: 5 p.m., confirmation at Holy Trinity Church in Jefferson City n April 23: 10 a.m., confirmation at the Church of Divine Mercy in Knoxville n April 23: 6:30 p.m., confirmation at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Lenoir City n April 25: 11 a.m., Presbyteral Council meeting at the Chancery n April 27-May 1: International Pilgrim Statue of Our Lady of Fatima in the Diocese of Knoxville ■

Upcoming Virtus training sessions are scheduled The following training sessions are scheduled around the Diocese of Knoxville in upcoming months: n St. Joseph School, Knoxville, 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 5

The East Tennessee

805 S. Northshore Drive • Knoxville, TN 37919

n St. Dominic Church, Kingsport, 1 p.m. Saturday, April 22; 10 a.m. Thursday, June 15; 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 17; 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14; 9 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 6 n Basilica of Sts. Peter and

Paul, Chattanooga, 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 26 n Our Lady of Fatima Church, Alcoa, noon Wednesday, May 10 n St. Mary Church, Athens, 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 8 ■

Bishop Richard F. Stika Publisher

Bill Brewer Editor

Jim Wogan Communications director Emily Booker Communications specialist

Dan McWilliams Assistant editor

The East Tennessee Catholic (USPS 007211) is published bi-monthly by The Diocese of Knoxville, 805 S. Northshore Drive, Knoxville, TN 37919-7551. Periodicals-class postage paid at Knoxville, Tenn. Printed by the Knoxville News Sentinel. The East Tennessee Catholic is mailed to all registered Catholic families in East Tennessee. Subscription rate for others is $15 a year in the United States. Make checks payable to The Diocese of Knoxville. Postmaster: Send address changes to The East Tennessee Catholic, 805 S. Northshore Drive, Knoxville, TN 37919-7551 Reach us by phone: 865-584-3307 • fax: 865-584-8124 • e-mail: webmaster@dioknox.org • web: dioknox.org

A2 n APRIL 2, 2017

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APRIL 2, 2017 n A3

A faith reboot

As Easter nears, more than 200 believers prepare to enter the Church in East Tennessee

By Dan McWilliams

DAN MCWILLIAMS

Welcome to the faith Candidates and catechumens who will enter the Church at Easter Vigil are welcomed by Bishop Richard F. Stika during the Rite of Election on March 4 at Sacred Heart Cathedral. I go to Mass and I leave, I feel so peaceful. They are such loving and caring people [at OLOF]. Everybody is so open and so glad to see you. I just needed a reboot, and that’s what it took, and I love the Catholic faith. They really believe from the first to the end in the Bible, and they teach it that way. “It’s not throwing off on any other [faith tradition], it’s just that I was kind of in a rut with my faith, and I just wasn’t going anywhere. Since I joined the Catholic Church, I can’t wait to go to Mass. I love it; ev- Making it official Sister Mary Yvette Gillen, RSM, presents Our Lady erybody is so nice. It just really of Fatima Parish’s Book of the Elect for Bishop Stika to authorize. did something for my soul.” Mrs. Chandler is 64 and is retired banker. Mr. just opened their arms to us, and we felt like Chandler is 65 and is retired from retail sales. members right from the start. It was probably The Chandlers have three sons, two of whom the third or fourth time when we went to Mass live locally and are going to church with them, when people started recognizing our faces. and they have five grandchildren. They had us carry the gifts up. Mr. Chandler said his wife’s enthusiasm “They asked us to start being ushers. We put about the Church led him to join. that off for a little bit, but we signed up with “It sure did. The change that I saw in her and the usher ministry three or four months ago. the strength of her faith, it was just miraculous. I’m not even confirmed yet, but they tell me I fed off of that a lot,” he said. “I started going that that’s OK, ‘you’re part of us.’ I’m looking to Mass with her. I’m just going to echo what forward to my confirmation at Easter.” she said about the parish community. They Rite of Election continued on page A10

Diocese celebrates consecrated life in East Tennessee Mass held for women and men religious By Bill Brewer

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JERRY DOUGHERTY

omen and men religious serving in the Diocese of Knoxville, who were recognized Feb. 4 at a Mass celebrated by Bishop Richard F. Stika, filled the front pews of St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Lenoir City. Among those represented at the Mass were Alexian Brothers, Missionary Congregation of the Evangelizing Sisters of Mary, Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George, Glenmary Home Missioners, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma, Mich., Apostles of Jesus, Sisters of the Good Shepherd, and Dominican Sisters, as well as lay communities Secular Carmelites and Institute of the Holy Family. Those are just some of the religious communities serving the diocese. Bishop Stika, who has encouraged religious communities to live and work in the diocese, has seen the number of orders serving in the diocese grow substantially. Currently there are more than 50 men and women serving in more than 15 orders within the diocese. Bishop Stika began his homily by pointing to the religious sisters and brothers in attendance and then explaining, tongue in cheek, that they are the ones who never give at Mass during the collection. Bishop Stika’s one-liner knowingly belied the contributions those who have entered religious life make on a daily basis in the diocese. Bishop Stika’s dedication to the consecrated life and those in it never wavers, demonstrated by his closeness to the various orders serving under him … and the fact they laugh heartily at the zingers he tosses their way. The bishop frequently acknowledges those serving in religious life, often saying they reflect Jesus Christ in our community, and he did so during the Mass by thanking the religious consecrated men and women in the diocese for

In praise of consecrated life Women and men religious take part in prayers during a Mass for consecrated life at St. Thomas the Apostle Church on Feb. 4.

“You can talk about characteristics of becoming a religious sister, or a religious brother, or a deacon, but eventually it becomes something that is deep down, the very essence of who you are, in your heart and in your soul, and in your very being. It’s just like when two people fall in love. It’s the same thing. It’s something intrinsic in the depths of the person.” — Bishop Richard F. Stika their vocation and service to the diocese. “You can talk about characteristics of becoming a religious sister, or a religious brother, or a deacon, but eventually it becomes something that is deep down, the very essence of who you are, in your heart and in your soul, and in your very being. It’s just like when two people fall in love. It’s the same thing. It’s something intrinsic in the depths of the person,” Bishop Stika said. He said discerning a religious life is akin to an engagement between two people or individuals trying to find the right university for their academic pursuits. “In religious life, the same thing happens. They look at that particular community or vocation and they analyze it and they pray about www.di o k no x .o rg

it and reflect on it. The heads of their communities do the same thing. They prod and they ask questions and they watch carefully,” he noted. The bishop also recognized those whose vocations involve marriage or single life, saying their dedication in answering Jesus Christ’s call to follow God also is to be admired. “The same Jesus who called you who are married or part of the single life to your vocation, to your lifestyle, that same Jesus calls them to be of particular service to the Church as well. One of the questions I used to always get when I was doing vocation work for the Archdiocese of St. Louis was ‘how do you know if you have a vocation?’ Is it like a lightConsecrated continued on page A10 TH E EA S T TEN N ES S EE C A TH OLI C

BILL BREWER

andy Chandler, looking to join a new faith community, visited the Our Lady of Fatima Church parking lot in Alcoa numerous times in 2015 without ever going in to Mass. Then she met parishioner Mary Ann Edmundson. “I had been in that parking lot 10 times, but I just didn’t have the courage to get out and approach anybody because I didn’t really know, I had never been to a Catholic service, but the Lord was leading me that way,” Mrs. Chandler said. “I needed to get my life on track. I was raised a Baptist, but I just didn’t get anything from the services anymore where I’d been going. I would go get groceries and then I’d go up there in the [OLOF] parking lot, and I kept thinking, ‘I’m going to talk to someone when they come out.’ I guess I did this 10 times, and I was just too chicken to get out of my car. “One day I stopped and I thought, ‘I’m really going to do it this time.’ I stepped out of my car, and [Mrs. Edmundson] saw me, and she came walking to me and I went walking to her, and I explained to her that I was interested in learning about the Catholic faith and that I wanted to get a Catholic Bible. She said we could go to Knoxville together and pick one out, but she said, ‘How about signing up for RCIA?’ So I signed up with her, and she became my sponsor.” That started a path for Mrs. Chandler to enter the Catholic Church. “[Mrs. Edmundson] went with me every time,” Mrs. Chandler said. “I just knew that this was God’s calling for me to do this and to meet her. And she was like the light in my path. She walked me through everything and answered all my questions. She was just so nice and easy to talk to. Anything I questioned, she was able to talk to me and show me in the Bible. I signed up for the class, and eight months later I graduated and became a Catholic.” That was in 2016, and now Mrs. Chandler’s husband, David, is going through RCIA and is poised to enter the Church at this year’s Easter Vigil. Ron Edmundson, Mary Ann’s husband, is David Chandler’s sponsor. David Chandler was among 222 newcomers to the Catholic Church in East Tennessee who took a major step toward their membership by participating in Rite of Election ceremonies March 4 and 5 at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. “And now my husband is going through it,” Mrs. Chandler said. The Chandlers have gotten together with the Edmundsons “and discussed things about the Bible,” Mrs. Chandler said, adding that “when

Pilgrimage to

Fátima & Lourdes •

September 1 – 9, 2017

Join the Diocese of Knoxville &

Cardinal Rigali On a Centennial Jubilee Pilgrimage •

n City of Lisbo

September 1: Depart from the United States on an overnight flight to Lisbon, Portugal.

Fátima Children

September 2: Arrive in Lisbon, see the birthplace of St. Anthony of Padua, and then move on to celebrate Mass at St. Stephen’s Church in Santarém, site of the Holy Miracle of the Bleeding Host. Make our way to Fátima!

Port

September 3: Celebrate Mass at the Capelinha and tour the basilica and shrine. Visit Aljustrel and Valinhos and participate in the candlelight Rosary procession. September 4: After Mass, visit the Atlantic coast and the markets of Nazaré. Spend time at Batalha and see the Abbey of Alcobaça. Join in the evening procession.

edral

September 5: Head to Burgos, Spain, and see the Cathedral of Santa Maria de Burgos. Celebrate Mass at St. Stephen’s Convent.

Burgos Cath

September 6: Visit Loyola, celebrate Mass, and pass over the Pyrenees on the way to Lourdes, arriving in time for the candlelight procession. September 7: Celebrate Mass and tour St. Bernadette’s home and the basilica. Pray the Stations of the Cross and have the opportunity to bathe in the healing waters. Participate in the candlelight Rosary procession.

Lourdes

September 8: Celebrate Mass at the Basilica and have leisure time to pray and to explore Lourdes. September 9: Head to the airport for the return flight to the United States, filled with joy and love for our Blessed Mother!

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Pilgrimage Includes † Round-trip airfare from Knoxville, TN † Airport taxes & surcharges † Transportation by air-conditioned motor coach

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APRIL 2, 2017 n A5

Listening for God, whether by a whisper or a prod The duty of fostering vocations pertains to the whole Christian community; an invitation to listen to His voice

hough it may not always feel like it, God speaks to us in ways we have the capacity to understand. Maybe we don’t understand perfectly and immediately, but we have the capacity to listen to His Word, to ponder it (after the Blessed Mother’s example), and to respond to it. In the Old Testament, the inspired authors often record how God called prophets. Whether by a divine or angelic confrontation followed by some form of introduction, God lets the prophet know who He is, and that He knows the prophet and the plight of His people. The prophet is commissioned by God, but objects to the task, so God reassures him and gives him a sign. It is jarring and beautiful, and some of the saints seem to have had similar encounters. But most of us don’t have quite such an experi-

ence, at least I don’t know many who have – and I know I haven’t. And that’s OK. For most of us, the call of God is often more of a whisper than a prod. He uses our families, friends, pastors and fellow faithful to call us more often than angels. And that makes so much sense on this side of the Incarnation. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him” (John 3:16-17). By our baptism we have been made the brothers and sisters of Christ and sons and daughters of the Father. Jesus went through his earthly homeland calling as many as he could to follow him to our heavenly homeland for life on high

with Our Father. The task of calling everyone to our ultimate home is so important that Jesus has seen to it that the call keeps going out. All Father Reed of the disciples, and the apostles in a particular way, have been given the mandate to “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20). Jesus Christ, who has joined us to Himself and the Father and the Holy Spirit, does remain with us, and desires our total cooperation

By Father Joe Reed

with Him in the life and mission of the Church. In the sacraments we are given certain and special graces and even the Holy Spirit, so that we can pursue holiness with the strength of Christ, who calls and impels us. We can make known to others the good news that God loves us and frees us from sin and death so that we can enjoy a taste of the liberty now that will be fullflavored in eternal life. But the mandate doesn’t stop there. Our families, parishes, schools, our whole diocese, are all called to be seedbeds of future priests, deacons, and religious as well as married faithful and those who commit to a single way of life for the sake of foreshadowing the kingdom of God. The Fathers of the Second Vatican Council reminded and encouraged the whole Church of this: “The duty of fostering vocations Vocations continued on page A13

Link apparent between vocations, Catholic school education

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Future women and men religious? Bishop Richard F. Stika visits with students at St. Joseph School on March 22 as principal Andy Zengel observes. Studies show a correlation between young men and women who have entered the consecrated life and a Catholic school education.

CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

WASHINGTON — Although priests and women religious say a variety of reasons led them to pursue their vocation, one thing many of them have in common is that they went to a Catholic school. Attending Catholic school certainly isn’t a magic bullet that leads to a vocation, but for some it proved that a religious vocation was not only a possibility but also looked appealing because of the example of priests and women religious they saw on a regular basis. That was the experience of Dominican Sister John Mary Fleming, OP, a member of the Dominicans’ St. Cecilia Congregation in Nashville, who is the executive director of the Secretariat of Catholic Education of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Sister John Mary is convinced she wouldn’t be a sister had it not been for the example of the women religious who taught at her school, Providence High School in New Lenox, Ill., which was a Joliet diocesan school at the time and is now run by the Augustinian order. The teachers there in the 1980s came from five to seven women’s orders and men’s congregations along with diocesan priests. Their example — of living their faith and being happy — “debunked the myth that living a faith-filled life was not a happy thing,” she told Catholic News Service. Five graduates of the school entered the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia in Nashville, and other graduates chose other religious orders and the priesthood. Bishop George V. Murry of Youngstown, Ohio, chair of the USCCB Committee on Catholic Education and chair of the board of directors for the National Catholic Educational Association, similarly said the example of priests in the Diocese of Camden, N.J., who taught him were key to his vocation. The Catholic school experience also led him, as a Methodist, to join the Catholic Church as a fifth-grader. The bishop, who was ordained a Jesuit priest in 1979, said he wanted to be like his parish priest and the priests who taught at his high school. “I saw them as happy people — people we could put our trust in; day after day at the school or the parish, they were helping us and guiding us,” he said. These experiences confirm a 2014 study by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate based at Georgetown University that linked Catholic schools to vocations. The report: “Catholic Schools in the United States in the 21st Century: Importance in Church Life, Challenges and Opportunities,” points out that half or more of new priests and brothers attended Catholic primary schools as did 41 percent of new women religious and 45 percent of young lay ministers. “If fewer and fewer Catholics enroll in Catholic schools, it will be-

By Catholic News Service

KATHY RANKIN

Men, women religious say many factors involved, but attending Catholic school was major influence

Praying for vocations Seminarians for the Diocese of Albany, N.Y., pray during a Holy Hour for vocations at St. Patrick Church in Bay Shore, N.Y. The service, which invited teenagers and young adults to pray for vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life, was sponsored by the vocations office of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, N.Y. come ever more challenging for the Catholic Church to foster vocations to the priesthood and religious life,” the report said. Two members of the School Sisters of Christ the King, based in Lincoln, Neb., which is an order with a mission to teach in Catholic schools, said the religious sisters that taught them inspired their vocation, and now they hope to do the same for their students. Sister Mary Maximilian, who teaches second-graders at St. Peter’s School in Lincoln, said the teachers she had when she was in school “were normal and had a lot of joy — something my heart just longed for.” “I, too, try to share the joy that was shared for me,” she said, noting that she does that by building relationships with the students and answering all their questions about what it’s like to be a sister. Sister Regina Marie, who teaches second-grade religion at four dif-

ferent schools in Lincoln while also working as general treasurer for her community, similarly was impressed by both the “normalness and the prayerfulness” of the sisters who taught her. She said she doesn’t promote vocations with her young students, but she impresses on them that they need a foundation of prayer. “I want them to know they need to pray — that God is real and he wants to talk to them. If there is a religious vocation for them and they have a foundation of prayer, it will be that much easier to understand,” she said. Sister Regina Marie said she hopes to counter the feeling a lot of people have about religious life “that it is a sacrifice” full of things you can’t do and hopes to instead show “that it is so life-giving.” She and the other sisters also urge the boys in their classes to love and respect the priesthood. But even when Catholic schools

www.di o k no x .o rg

aren’t staffed by women religious or priests — as is often the case today, the vocation message is still getting out. Father Mark Ivany, director of priestly vocations in the Washington Archdiocese, said a Catholic school in the Washington Archdiocese — St. Mary’s Ryken High School in Leonardtown, Md. — has had a high rate of men entering the priesthood in recent years. For example, of the 11 men who entered the minor seminary in the Archdiocese of Washington last year, five were from that school. He said the school has “a handful of teachers that really love the Lord and the church, and they see their teaching as a vocation and ministry.” He also noted that the school offers something unique for its students by providing spiritual directors to any student who wants one, which is 200 this year. Eleven priests serve as spiritual directors, meeting with students once every two weeks. Catholic schools also can foster vocations for teachers as proven by Holy Cross Father Louis DelFra, director of pastoral life for the Alliance for Catholic Education at the University of Notre Dame. He wrote in a blog post last year that he found his vocation, planted by his schoolteachers, when he was filling in as a substitute teacher at a Catholic school. “Catholic schools teach us how to truly give ourselves to one another — as students and as teachers. In doing so, they plant the seeds for vocation in all of us,” he wrote. He also noted that “at a time when the call to religious life can be difficult to discern, Catholic schools continue to provide an environment where this call can be heard, nurtured, and followed.” ■ TH E EA S T TEN N ES S EE C A TH OLI C

Hundreds on hand for Catholic Charities fundraising dinners Emerald O’ccasion clad in orange as Phillip Fulmer speaks; Chattanooga community leaders recognized

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ited all 10 schools the week of Feb. 20, observing classrooms and interviewing stakeholders as part of the final phase of the diocese’s accreditation process. In addition to Ms. Schulz, those on the review team were Cary Jane Williamson, assistant superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Savannah, Ga.; Stephan Sargent, professor of reading methods at Northeastern State University in Oklahoma; Raymond Honeycutt, superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Richmond, Va.; Barbara O’Block, retired superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Gary, Ind.; Debbie Perkins, retired principal from the Archdiocese of Indianapolis; Michelle Priar, assistant superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Evansville, Ind.; and Marie Williams, principal of Reitz Memorial High School in Evansville, Ind. Ms. Schulz explained that many of the schools in the Diocese of Knoxville have had long relationships with AdvancED, which works with more than 32,000 academic institutions serving 20 million students worldwide. “When we talk about accreditation, it is really good to know that it is an international protocol that we in Catholic education choose to voluntarily be a part of, so we have that choice and option. You are really committing yourselves and your institutions and systems to ongoing improvement,” Ms. Schulz said. “The process is conceived in order to build capacity of the system and its schools, so that both the system and the schools are collaborating, working together, and all pulling in the same direction to take advantage of all the resources and energy that is there, and to work together on challenges and issues, both at the system and school level.” After the diocesan school system compiled reports for AdTH E EAST T E N N E S S E E C A T HO L I C

An Emerald O’ccasion Former Tennessee head football coach Phillip Fulmer, left, was the featured speaker at Catholic Charities of East Tennessee’s annual fundraising dinner in Knoxville hosted by Bishop Stika and Sister Mary Christine Cremin, RSM, CCETN’s executive director.

STEPHANIE RICER

ga community leader who established and administered the Full Circle Empowerment Center, was founding coordinator of the Glenwood Block Leaders and is active in collaborative efforts to implement projects and develop leadership skills. She is a recipient of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women Inc.’s Black Pioneer Women of Excellence Award. Mr. Blaes is the founder of Interfaith Elderly Assistance, which he started after he retired from CSX Railroad in 1985. What started out as the purchase of a high-tech van and collaboration with his wife, Joan, turned into an essential community service that assists people in wheelchairs to get to doctor’s appointments and other necessary places. In addition, Mr. Blaes was involved in the beginning of hospice in the Chattanooga area, he was a founder of the Chattanooga Food Bank, and he volunteers with Meals on Wheels, Catholic Charities, and the Ladies of Charity. “You’ll hear a lot about Catholic Charities, the wonderful work that they accomplish, day in and day out — the staff, how they truly are the face of Jesus in so many ways…Remember it’s Jesus who reminds us, ‘Whatever you do for the least of my sisters and brothers, you do for me.’ And that’s why tonight is so very special,” said Bishop Stika, who greeted attendees at both dinners. Among those in attendance at the Knoxville dinner were Tennessee’s lieutenant governor, Randy McNally, a parishioner of St. Mary Church

COURTESY OF BETTY ANNE NEAL

atholic Charities of East Tennessee took center stage in Knoxville and Chattanooga as the leading regional social services agency held fundraising dinners in March that attracted hundreds of supporters, community leaders, and CCETN clients, and raised thousands of dollars in needed funds for outreach programs. Catholic Charities celebrated its 32nd annual fundraising dinner, An Emerald O’ccasion, in Knoxville on March 9. And on March 16, Catholic Charities held its 35th annual dinner in Chattanooga. Bishop Richard F. Stika, Catholic Charities Executive Director Sister Mary Christine Cremin, RSM, and the Catholic Charities Action Council hosted the events, which highlight the work of Catholic Charities’ programs across the region. Former University of Tennessee head football coach Phillip Fulmer was the featured speaker at the Knoxville dinner, which was emceed by Kristen Farley, anchor for WATE-TV, and Jim Wogan, communications director for the Diocese of Knoxville. Attendees at the Hamilton County event, held at the Chattanooga Convention Center, heard from WRCBTV news anchor David Carroll. Dr. Everlena Holmes and Eugene Blaes were recipients of the 2017 Pope Francis Service to the Poor Award. And they were entertained by the Notre Dame High School Jazz Band. Dr. Holmes is a Chattanoo-

By Emily Booker

In recognition Eugene Blaes and Dr. Everlena Holmes, shown with Libby and Rick Eberle, Matt Stovall, and Betty Anne Neal, were saluted for their community service at Catholic Charities of East Tennessee’s annual fundraising dinner in Chattanooga on March 16.

in Oak Ridge, state Sen. Becky Duncan Massey, and Knox County Juvenile Court Judge Tim Irwin, who played for Coach Fulmer at UT.

vancED over the two-year period, including a self-study that analyzed areas where the system is strong and areas where it needs to improve, the external review process began. External review team members closely examined the 10 schools. Specifically, the team looked at three key areas: n Teaching and learning impact, which is based on student performance results, instructional quality, learner and family engagement, support services, efficacy and quality of curriculum, and college and career readiness data; n Leadership capacity, which is the system’s institutional purpose and direction, mission, vision, governance, and leadership effectiveness; n Resource utilization, which is the allocation and use of resources, the equity of the distribution of those resources, the level and the sustainability of those resources, and the long-range capital and resource planning effectiveness. She said these benchmarks rated by the external review team are an effective measure of the Diocese of Knoxville school system compared with accredited systems around the country. AdvancED found “powerful practices” in the diocesan system’s teaching and learning impact and leadership capacity. It found room for improvement in resource utilization. “When you look at the overall score for the Diocese of Knoxville, at 291.16, in comparison to the AdvancED network average of 278.03, you far exceed that average. And when you look at the component parts, teaching and learning impact, at 293.45, you again exceed the AdvancED network average. Leadership capacity, at 329.17, far surpasses the network average,” Ms. Schulz said. “Resource utilization, at 228.13, is slightly below

Welcomed with a standing ovation, Mr. Fulmer shared stories and lessons from his coaching and playing career. He spoke fondly of having

his family down on the sidelines during Tennessee games and now getting to be on the sidelines of his grandchilCCETN continued on page A9

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APRIL 2, 2017 n A7

Haiti mission is a labor of love for Diocese of Knoxville parishioners the Central Plateau region and serves as the headquarters for the medical mission team when they visit. Dr. Dean Mire, medical director of the clinic and a Sacred Heart Cathedral parishioner, has been traveling to Haiti since 1999. He first helped with establishing a medical clinic in BoucanCarré, which is now operated by Partners in Health. When he began his mission work in the region, people had little to no access to health care. “The parish took a real commitment to helping Haiti. Sacred Heart stood behind everything we were doing,” Dr. Mire said. With the support of parishioners, Sacred Heart is able to support a primary school, a high school, and a vocational school in Boucan-Carré as well as the Bouly medical clinic. Just getting to the clinic in Bouly can be challenging. Bouly is a small village of subsistence farmers near the Dominican Republic border. The only way to reach the village is by foot, more than 10 miles from Boucan-Carré over steep mountains. The trail is white limestone that reflects back the intense Haitian heat. Many of the locals travel the path barefoot. The 75 pounds of medicine the medical team brought with them were carried in by donkey. “It’s difficult, but I have to say I love that part of it, the traveling in Haiti, because as you’re walking along, you see farmers working in their fields, you see children walking on the same trail

Schools continued from page A7

the AdvancED network average. However, what we found and confirmed for you through your self-study is that you have a great deal of capacity and good leadership, both at the system and individual school levels. You have exemplary results and programs and effective Catholic schools in terms of teaching and learning. We all have finite resources, and the resources you do have you are using the heck out of them because you are achieving because of your leadership and your commitment to formation and education.” She said the results should not come as a surprise to the East Tennessee Catholic community or those in Catholic education. “The results indicate the institution, the system, is performing within and well above acceptable levels compared to the expected criteria as well as other institutions that have gone through this process,” Ms. Schulz said. “You know that you need to go out there and continue the fabulous work that you’ve done in increasing your financial assistance funds over these last several years. Look at attracting more students and more resources to continue to ensure a wonderful Catholic education into the future.” Over the next two years, the school system will work on improving in the areas AdvancED recommended, including adopting and maintaining standards for feasible three- to five-year financial plans for the schools that include current and projected budgets that are the result of collaborative processes emphasizing faithful stewardship. The evaluation team observed 88 classrooms across the diocese over a two-day period in February. All 10 diocesan schools were visited by the team. Their assessment concluded that the diA8 n APRIL 2, 2017

on their way to school, you see women bring goods to market. Everyone is so friendly,” said Dr. Dirmeyer, who is a family doctor and a parishioner at Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Alcoa. It is the remoteness of Bouly that makes the clinic there so necessary. Ms. Adams pointed out that a sick person cannot make the strenuous hike down the mountains to Boucan-Carré. People have to rely on what they have, which isn’t much. Even simple medicines, like prenatal vitamins or Tylenol, are hard to come by. “They don’t have a Walgreens or something to go to to get over-the-counter meds,” she said. “They solely rely on people like Haiti continued on page A9

Care for the elderly Dr. Drew Dirmeyer treats an elderly patient in a rural village in Haiti.

COURTESY OF DR. DREW DIRMEYER

pregnant woman rides a donkey down a dirt path. An elderly woman sits in the shade while her children and grandchildren work the fields. A group of men carry their paralytic friend on a stretcher for miles to see a healer. It’s easy to imagine that these scenes belong tucked away in Bible stories. But they are happening in present-day Haiti in the remote village of Bouly, where health-care providers from the Diocese of Knoxville offer care and hope to a needy community. A recent medical mission to Bouly took place in December. Dr. Drew Dirmeyer, Dr. Kelly Rouse, Leslie Adams, Steven Dirmeyer, and Billy Stair provided care to hundreds of Haitians in the rural clinic that is supported by Sacred Heart Cathedral Parish. The Americans were accompanied by a Haitian team of nurses and translators who helped with the language and cultural divides. “We heavily rely on them,” Ms. Adams, a physician’s assistant and Sacred Heart Cathedral parishioner, said of the Haitian team. “Without them, it wouldn’t make our mission very possible at all. Our relationship with them has to be very strong.” Upon arriving in the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, the team was met by Father Michenet Duportal, the pastor of St. Michel Parish in Boucan-Carré, who escorted them to the town. BoucanCarré is the major town of

By Emily Booker

COURTESY OF DR. DREW DIRMEYER

Catholic medical community, parishes, donors making a difference in country hit hard by poverty, lack of resources

Caring for the young, too Dr. Drew Dirmeyer administers medical care in the clinic in Bouly, Haiti, which is a central point for health care in Haiti’s central plateau region. Healthcare professionals from the Diocese of Knoxville have helped start a Haiti medical clinic.

ocesan school system has a wellmanaged and supportive learning environment. Also, the system was described as having an active learning environment with high expectations, equitable learning, and progress monitoring and feedback. “In every one of those areas, your averages exceed the AdvancED network averages. That is quite an accomplishment,” Ms. Schulz said. While pointing out that the diocesan school system’s average in the digital learning environment is slightly lower than the AdvancED network average, she said diocesan classrooms reflect a great deal of technology, with lots of equipment. “Teachers are using that technology; many of your schools are just now bringing in one-to-one initiatives (one computer device for each student). What this is looking for, however, is student use of technology. I think you are right in sequence with what we know and what we experience in our own dioceses. Now in education, we are really focusing on how we get technology in the hands of students and have them be actively engaged. I know you have professional learning and other experiences scheduled to help you be able to do that. Keep in mind, these are very, very exceptional results.” The team identified an improvement priority, calling on the system to enact a communications and marketing plan for Catholic schools developed in collaboration with Catholic school leaders and community stakeholders to increase enrollment in Catholic schools. This plan should be developed by building awareness of the evangelizing mission and academic excellence of Catholic schools in East Tennessee. Ms. Schulz said Diocese of Knoxville school lead-

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Schools continued on page A13 www.di o k no x .o rg

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

St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic to start serving Sevier County residents By Jim Wogan

he St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic, a 10-wheeled mobile medical ministry operated by the Diocese of Knoxville, will begin serving residents living in fire-ravaged areas near Gatlinburg starting in late April. “We are trying to meet the needs of the population that’s been there all along, but invisible. Now (because of the fires) they are sort of more exposed,” said the clinic’s medical director, Sister Mariana Koonce, RSM, MD. The initial challenge for her mostly volunteer staff, and for Father Antony Punnackal, CMI, pastor of St. Mary Parish in Gatlinburg, will be coordinating a schedule for uninsured patients seeking medical Haiti continued from page A8

missionaries to come out there and bring appropriate supplies and meds to them.” “In the community of Bouly, there is no infrastructure at all. There is no plumbing. There is no running water. There is no electricity, certainly. People are farmers, and they are just barely getting by, often going hungry. They just have almost nothing. They have hard lives. Their lives are often desperate, but they have joy. They love their children, they have fun. There’s a sweetness about them,” Dr. Dirmeyer said. The clinic is a source of community investment for the people of Bouly. The villagers built the clinic themselves, with financial support from Sacred Heart. The concrete had to be carried in on mules. Stones were collected from a nearby river. One thousand pieces of rebar were carried in on foot. The clinic has thick concrete walls to withstand the tropical storms. There are four rooms, two back rooms where the missionaries live when they visit, a room for seeing patients, and a room that serves as a pharmacy. The people of Bouly have their own committee for the clinic, too. Recently, the committee secured wooden posts for a fence around the clinic property. However, they still are awaiting funds to purchase the barbed wire. “Their committee is very interested in maintaining and protecting the clinic and getting the most use from it that they can,” Dr. Dirmeyer said. When the medical team arrived at the clinic, there already were patients waiting for them. News that doctors were coming had spread, and people had walked for miles to see them. Over the next few days the clinic saw more than 400 patients. Many of the patients suffered from ailments related to malnutrition. Acid reflux, parasites, high blood pressure, and respiratory problems were common. Many of the women were pregnant, but they still walked for miles CCETN continued from page A7

dren’s little league games. Mr. Fulmer proudly acknowledged some of his former players who were present: Richie Gandy, David Ligon and Judge Irwin. “All of them are just wonderful people,” he said. “Tim’s done so much for our community. You know, that’s not what people really always see about coaching. I didn’t get into coaching necessarily because I thought I was going to be the head football coach at Tennessee at all. I mean, I got into coaching because of people, little league coaches and teachers at my school, that impacted me.” While the chance to make an impact and change another person’s life is what motivated him as a coach, he has seen the same desire and drive in the people who work at and support Catholic Charities. “We are not defined by people. We are not defined by things. We are defined by deeds that we do in our life,” Mr. Fulmer said. Among those recognized at the Emerald O’ccasion was Dr. Ernest R. Cadotte, who received the Creating Hope Award for his efforts leading UT business students in organizing the annual Barefoot Benefit 5K, which TH E EAST T E N N E S S E E C A T HO L I C

care. “In short, even before (these fires) there was a great need (for medical care) in this area,” Father Punnackal said. “I am very happy (the clinic) will be coming to our community.” So far, more than 30 parishioners from St. Mary Parish have placed their names on a list to be seen by the clinic staff. On a typical day, the clinic can accommodate 10-12 patients. Father Punnackal is working with Sister Mariana to create a workable schedule. The St. Mary’s clinic began service in 2014 and currently serves patients in five rural communities in the Diocese of Knoxville — Athens, Crab Orchard, Decatur, Rutledge, and Washburn. The clinic visits Crab Orchard twice a month. All other communities are visited to see a doctor and receive vitamins. “You see a lot of terribly sick people and a lot of desperate people,” Dr. Dirmeyer said. “You see parents who have already lost some of their children.” Although they lack electricity, clean water, or a testing laboratory, the medical team worked to diagnose and care for each patient the best they could. Simple antibiotics or pain relievers can make a striking difference for people with so few resources. Even when the medical team could not fully treat a problem, they made sure to give each patient advice and attention. “I feel like one of the things we’re doing by going there is we’re showing our compassion,” Dr. Dirmeyer said. “We’re going and seeing them and being with them. We feel like it’s important to carefully look over every patient. Even if there’s nothing we can really do to be of help, we want to look at them carefully, examine them carefully, listen to what they have to say, treat them with dignity and respect, because even though they’re uneducated and poor, they’re human beings, and they’re deserving of that respect.” Through the power of American support and local efforts, the clinic no longer has to shut its doors when the doctors leave. The clinic has hired a Haitian nurse who can provide care and medicine to dozens every week. The building has been wired for electricity so that in the future, it might be able to run on solar panels. “In the past 15 years, that community has changed dramatically…and a lot of it has to do with Sacred Heart and community support that they’ve given. So it’s really a success story for that area of Haiti,” Dr. Mire said. “It’s remarkable what the church has done up there,” he said. “And with limited funds it’s really been able to help a lot of people. It’s been a good experience for me and a lot of the people that have been involved. You know, you gain more by going than you give, I think.” raises money for Catholic Charities’ Samaritan Place facility that serves seniors with emergency, transitional, and long-term supportive housing. Dr. Cadotte said that one of the most rewarding parts of organizing the Barefoot Benefit is having students visit the residents so they can get to know one another. “Now when I go in there, I feel a great connection with everybody and the entire staff. As a result, it makes it such a pleasure, such a joy, to work with Catholic Charities and their agencies,” he said. Will Locklear and his grandson, Austin, spoke to the attendees about their experience in receiving help from the Columbus Home Assisting Parents (CHAP) program. Mr. Locklear has been raising his grandson since Austin was 4 years old. CHAP helped him find parenting resources and medical care for Austin. “We’ve been a part of this program for a year,” Mr. Locklear said. “I struggled with finding the help. I knew the help was there. I just didn’t know where to find it. “I want to thank each and every one of you,” he said, offering heartfelt gratitude for the care he received from Catholic Charities and its supporters. ■

once a month. Most of the clients Sister Mariana sees in those communities aren’t Catholic. While the initial steps of the Gatlinburg program, and prioritizing patient schedules, are still being developed, it is Sister Mariana’s hope that the clinic can serve many uninsured patients in Sevier and Cocke Counties — Catholic and non-Catholic alike. “I would expect it to be about as busy (as our other clinic stops). Our history has been we’re never as busy as we think we’re going to be, but then we grow into it,” Sister Mariana said. The clinic logs more than 5,700 miles each year. Sister Mariana says it has had more than 1,200 patient visits since 2014. Eighteen to 20 percent of the patients she sees live in

poverty. Until now, the St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic has visited communities designated “medically underserved” by the federal government. Gatlinburg doesn’t fall into that designation, but in the aftermath of the deadly and destructive wildfires, Bishop Richard F. Stika and Father David Boettner, a vicar general for the diocese, asked Sister Mariana to investigate whether the St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic could help. Following a visit to assist in wildfire relief and to see patients in Pigeon Forge in early December, Sister Mariana recommended the clinic schedule regular monthly visits in Gatlinburg — expanding its reach to six communities in the diocese. “The timing is right to add another site,” she said. ■

Medical team selfie From left, Dr. Dean Mire, Dr. Drew Dirmeyer, and Leslie Adams take a moment to pose for a selfie portrait while on a medical mission to Haiti. The three health-care workers have made multiple trips to care for residents in Haiti. Several churches in the Diocese of Knoxville have connections to Haiti, supporting health and education. “I would encourage anyone who attends a parish where there is a Haiti project to give to their Haiti project, because all over Haiti people are hungry, people are in need. I’m so proud of our church for the emphasis we’re placing on educational ministries. The long-term solution to helping people in Haiti is education. The medical work we’re doing is important, but it’s short-term work,” Dr. Dirmeyer said. Part of mission work is bettering the lives of those you serve. The missionaries to Bouly hope that the clinic will continue to be a source of healing

and pride for the village for years to come. “We hope that eventually this will be a Haitian clinic, and we’ll just be visitors there. We want to turn it over to them,” Dr. Dirmeyer said. Until then, the missionaries will continue to make the trek and answer the call to serve the poor and the sick. “I just finished my fifth trip, and so far it’s just been amazing. I think what keeps me going is that, you know, I don’t think anybody else will go. And you just don’t want to leave those people without,” Ms. Adams said. “It’s not just helping them; it’s helping us. It’s helped us realize what we’re supposed to do,” she added. ■

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APRIL 2, 2017 n A9

Celebrating the elect RCIA candidates, catechumens, and their sponsors take part in the Rite of Election on March 5 at Sacred Heart Cathedral.

we do together what we can’t do by ourselves.” During his eight years as bishop of the Diocese of Knoxville, Bishop Stika said he has reminded people “again and again that their ambition should be to be the face of Jesus, to be the face of kindness and charity; to be hands of Jesus, to reach out to others; to be the feet of Jesus, not to run the other way when he invites us to help build His kingdom; but especially to be the heart of Jesus, to be the heart of love.” The bishop asked, “How do we reach out to another person? “In Genesis, it says we are all created in the image and likeness of God. Pope Francis asks, ‘Do you want to be a saint? Pray for the person who hates you’; a conversion of heart. Many times we can’t control what comes at us; most of the time all we can do is control our response. “And you know, Pope Francis tells the bishops that we are supposed to smell like the sheep. What does that mean? It means that I am one of you. The pope is just like us, he is human; a sinner who is trying to be a saint. “That is my challenge for all of you. I hope you never take this for granted. I hope your prayer life increases, your understanding of your relationship with God and others increases, and that you really strive to be the image of Jesus in the world in which we live.” Bishop Stika said that “I welcome you with everything I have to this community called the Catholic Church. “We are privileged daily to witness the miracle of hearing the priest say, ‘this is my body, this is my blood, given for you.’ We have the sacrament of reconciliation that reminds us that we are sinners. Now you might say, ‘why do I have to go to a priest?’ Because when we sin, we sin against our self. When we sin, we sin against God. And when we sin, we also sin against the community. We tear at the fabric of who we are as the Church. And because of what Jesus said to Peter, ‘priests, hear confessions.’

DAN MCWILLIAMS

Mr. Chandler said his Rite of Election experience was “impressive” and “inspiring.” “Bishop [Richard F.] Stika is a wonderful speaker,” he said. “Personality-wise, he’s very relaxing. I was afraid he’d be stiff and formal, but he’s just not that way. He’s a pretty funny guy. He tells pretty good jokes.” Mr. Chandler said he is glad to join the Church at this time. “It’s been very meaningful to us,” he said. “I had been away from the church. I was raised a Methodist. I had not been attending church for many, many years. I was one of those who didn’t have time; it just wasn’t important to me. Now I am seeing what I really missed, and I’m trying to make up for it. We really look forward to it now.” The Chandlers and the Edmundsons are very good friends now. “Candy and Mary Ann developed that relationship, and then Ron and I, our relationship grew from that,” Mr. Chandler said. “They’re wonderful people. The parish at Our Lady of Fatima is just full of wonderful people. It’s a great place.” Bishop Stika presided at both Rites of Election, Saturday, March 4, for the Chattanooga and Five Rivers deaneries and Sunday, March 5, for the Cumberland Mountain and Smoky Mountain deaneries. Deacon Butch Feldhaus assisted Saturday and Deacon Gordy Lowery on Sunday. “It is with great joy that I welcome all of you here to the cathedral as we celebrate this Rite of Election,” the bishop said Sunday. The diocese will receive 166 candidates and 56 catechumens at Easter Vigil services at parishes in the four deaneries Saturday, April 15. The March 4-5 event’s full name is the Rite of Election of Catechumens and the Call to Continuing Conversion of Candidates. Catechumens have never been baptized and will receive the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and Eucharist at the Easter Vigil. Candidates have been baptized and will be confirmed and receive the Eucharist at the Easter Vigil. Bishop Stika said that the newcomers shouldn’t be looking to join a perfect Church. “As members of the Church, we can mess up,” he said. “That’s why at the beginning of Mass we ask for the Lord’s mercy. Pope Francis talks about how the Church is really like a hospital for sinners. It is where we seek out the Lord and we seek out His forgiveness. We gather together around His table, the altar, to celebrate the great miracle of when we hear ‘this is my body, this is my blood, given for you’ as sinners, so that we might know God in a deeper way, in a more special way. . . . “That is why it’s important to pray for one another. That’s what we do at Mass. When we have the intercessions, we pray for the world and individuals. You know,

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The comfort of faith Bishop Richard F. Stika greets a young believer during the Rite of Election at Sacred Heart Cathedral on March 4. “In “When I go to Mass and I leave, I feel so peaceful. They are such loving and caring people. Everybody is so open and so glad to see you. I just needed a reboot, and that’s what it took, and I love the Catholic faith. ... Since I joined the Catholic Church, I can’t wait to go to Mass. I love it. Everybody is so nice. It just really did something for my soul.” — Candy Chandler, Our Lady of Fatima Parish

these next weeks, as you celebrate the scrutinies leading up to that great night — the holiest night of the Church, the Easter Vigil — which reminds us that Jesus triumphed over death. It’s a reminder to us that we can triumph over sin. After the readings and homily, the Rite of Election each day began with Sister Anna Marie McGuan, RSM, presenting the catechumens to Bishop Stika, saying that “they ask that . . . they be allowed to participate in the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and the Eucharist.” Sister Anna Marie is the director of the diocesan Office of Christian Formation. RCIA leaders from deanery parishes then introduced their catechumens, and the bishop asked godparents whether the catechumens had listened and responded to the Word “proclaimed by the Church” and “shared the company of their Christian sisters and brothers and joined with them in prayer.” The catechumens then pledged “to enter fully into the life of the Church” through the three sacra-

ments of initiation. Each RCIA leader brought forward his or her parish’s Book of the Elect for Bishop Stika to sign, after which the bishop greeted the catechumens and godparents. Sister Anna Marie then presented to the bishop “the candidates who seek to complete their Christian initiation.” RCIA leaders introduced their candidates, after which the bishop said “the Christian life and the demands that flow from the sacraments cannot be taken lightly. Therefore, before granting these candidates their request, it is important that the Church hear the testimony of their sponsors about their readiness.” Sponsors affirmed that the candidates “have come to a deeper appreciation about their baptism,” “reflected sufficiently on the tradition of the Church,” and “advanced in a life of love and service.” The candidates also echoed the catechumens’ desire “to enter fully into the life of the Church.” The bishop signed the Book of the Elect for the candidates and greeted them along with their sponsors. ■

ning bolt? Maybe, but usually not, ” he said. “A vocation to be called forth. There is one thing that all of us share in common. All of us are called to a vocation of following Jesus, who invites us to a greater awareness of God being present in our lives.” Whether we are called to a life in religious service or to a married or single life, if we believe in God and follow closely the teachings of Jesus Christ, then we all share in the joy of a life consecrated, the bishop said. “Remember, it’s because of Jesus. Jesus is the reason for our existence. He allows us to know the Father and be touched by the Holy Spirit,” Bishop Stika said. “Just as the religious consecrated men and women felt that call from Jesus to do something with their lives, we give thanks to almighty God for the lives we have. All of us, if we are quiet enough and if we listen, God will invite us moment to moment of every day to be a part of His plan.” A10 n APRIL 2, 2017

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The faces and hands of Jesus Bishop Richard F. Stika is surrounded by women and men religious serving in the Diocese of Knoxville following a Mass for consecrated life at St. Thomas the Apostle Church. Bishop Stika noted that as parishioners take part in Easter by celebrating the risen Christ, and as we welcome those who are coming into the Church at Easter Vigil, it is important that all of us reflect God’s presence in our lives every day.

“We as Christians, we as Catholics, we as those people who follow Jesus, are called to be like those in the Gospel, to be a light, not necessarily to say loudly ‘Look at me, I’m a believer.’ Some people do that. But what is a stronger way to

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say that? Living a life of faithfulness; living your life as a reflection of Jesus; living your life as the hands, the feet, the face and the smile of Jesus; living our lives as followers of Jesus, living examples of faith,” Bishop Stika said. ■ TH E EA S T TEN N ES S EE C A TH OLI C

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STEPHANIE RICHER

season and the promise of another St. Louis Cardinals World Series win following the “miracle” of the Cubs World Series victory last year, mentioned a popular phrase from the hit baseball movie Field of Dreams. “If you build it, they will come,” Bishop Stika said amid the hundreds of people attending the cornerstone unveiling. “All you have to do is look out on a Sunday at the cathedral and see the crowds, the young folks, the not-so-young folks, and everybody in between, and all the activities that exist at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart. So here we are at this moment today to unveil the cornerstone and continue to watch this temple of our Lord grow from the ground on the bedrock that surrounds us.” The bishop pointed to various parts of the new church building and offered a visual tour as people looked around at the partially finished narthex, nave, choir loft, dome, altar, and chapels. He then The first service Diocese of Knoxville faithful and local media gather for a liturgical celebration for the unveiling expressed gratitude to the Diocese of the cornerstone for the new Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus on March 25. of Knoxville faith community for making the cathedral a reality in construction, that is what the at a time of great growth in the cornerstone did. It really was the diocese. stone from which the builders “The cornerstone reminds us drew their measurements, literthat Jesus is the center of our ally. So that stone is where they life, and that would come back His temple, and pull their ”The cornerstone has always His house, is a measurements house of prayer. from that corner been that symbol for Christ, … This is not all the time,” who is the reference point about me. It’s the priest said. for our lives. He is what not even about “The cornerstone keeps us oriented correctly this building. It’s has always been and focuses us in our lives about you, God’s that symbol for to understand who we are in people, and your Christ, who is reference to Christ.” generosity and the reference your kindness in –– Father David Boettner point for our building a parlives. He is what ish, a building, a keeps us oriented Blessing the stone Bishop Richard F. Stika censes the cornerstone for the new cathedral during a liturgical celebration in the unfinished cathediocese centered correctly and dral that marks a key step in construction of the diocesan mother church. on Jesus Christ. focuses us in our For we do together what we can’t lives to understand who we are in do by ourselves. We are a commu- reference to Christ.” nity of faith, brought together by Father Boettner said this cornerCathedral Jesus, inspired by the Holy Spirit, stone also is symbolic of the progpose Young and loved by the Father. That’s ress of the cathedral. parishioners what this is about. So I pray that “It is really taking shape. You pose for a we might always give this trust can see the coffers (recessed pancell phone to Jesus, that we may continue to els) coming together in the ceiling, photo in be the face and the hands and the how the structure of the walls is front of voice of Jesus, but especially the really going to give us those pillars the Saheart of Jesus, because next year and those piers that support the cred Heart at this time, we’ll be dedicating dome of the church, which ties us Cathedral this Cathedral of the Most Sacred back to the Church of Rome, which cornerstone Heart of Jesus,” he concluded. is the universal Church of Peter,” that was Bishop Stika, Cardinal Rigali, he noted. unveiled on and Father Boettner, the rector of Bishop Stika and Father Boettner March 25. the cathedral who is managing the have a sense that excitement and construction project for the dioanticipation are growing for the cese, processed to the front of the opening of the new cathedral. new church, where Bishop Stika Father Boettner pointed to all the led the unveiling and censing of parishioners who attended the the cornerstone as local news mecornerstone unveiling from other dia recorded the event. diocesan churches. Afterward, Father Boettner led “There are a lot of people here tours of the facility, explaining representing that breadth of the the cathedral features and their Diocese of Knoxville, which is exsignificance. citing. And that is the whole point. Father Boettner, a vicar general This is the mother church. Every “This is a significant step. After growing,” he said. and the moderator of the curia, body is a parishioner of the cathethe cornerstone, the next time we In the meantime, Father Boettner has been anticipating the day dral in the Diocese of Knoxville,” get together for a major celebrasaid that while much has been when the cornerstone would be he said. “This is exciting. The ention here will be the dedication done to build the cathedral, there in place, signaling that the project thusiasm is really growing. People in less than a year. And even the is much left to do before it is has entered the final stages. He are excited to be a part of somenaysayers, as they see it come out ready for dedication. Now that the said much has been accomplished thing that is a sign of the growth of the ground, they’re saying, ‘Oh basic structure of the cathedral is since ground was broken on the of the faith in East Tennessee.” yes, I now can see why,’” he said. in place, work is shifting to the inproject on April 19, 2015, includ Bishop Stika greeted many of As he oversees completion of the terior aspects, including finishing ing the highly successful Home the parishioners attending the cathedral over the next 11 months, and artistic details, the baldacchicapital campaign to raise funds for cornerstone unveiling, seeing Bishop Stika said there is a lot of no (ornate canopy over the altar), the project. firsthand the excitement that is momentum in the diocese, includstatuary, and religious articles. He is as attune to the symbolism building and envisioning the first ing with the Catholic schools, “There still are a lot of parts. It is of the moment as anyone. Mass that will be celebrated in the growth of parishes, adult formagoing to be a very active year.” “The unveiling of the corchurch. He said even those who tion, seminarian formation, and The dedication Mass is schednerstone is a sign. Christ is the haven’t always been supportive of retreat center upgrades. “We’re uled for March 3, 2018. ■ cornerstone of our faith. He is the project are looking forward to the reference point. Historically its completion.

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Four-year Encuentro now underway across U.S. By Catholic News Service WASHINGTON — In Spanish, the word “encuentro” means encounter and in the modern Church in the United States, it refers to a series of meetings that will take place over the next four years aimed at getting to know Latinos and producing more involvement in the Church of its second largest and fastest-growing community. “The intent is for Latinos to have an encounter with the entire Church and for the Church to have an encounter with Latinos, understanding who they are, how they think, how they live their faith, so we can work together and move together and build a church together,” said Mar Munoz-Visoso, executive director of the Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. A recent report by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University, commissioned by the U.S. bishops, shows more than half of millennial-generation Catholics born in 1982 or later are Hispanic or Latino. Those numbers alone call for the Church to have a plan of how it will bring Latinos in the United States into the church’s leadership roles, its vocations and their role in society, Ms. Munoz-Visoso said. “You cannot plan the future of the Church without

having an important conversation about this population,” she told Catholic News Service. “This effort is very important.” While the numbers of Latinos in the Church are growing, “there is a gap between the numbers of Latinos in the pews, and the numbers of Latinos in leadership, and the numbers of vocations, or (Latino students) in Catholic schools,” Ms. Munoz-Visoso said. The first part of encuentro, as the process is called, started in early 2017, and it’s the fifth such process of its kind. Encuentros in the U.S. Church took place in 1972, 1977, 1985 and 2000, but the Fifth National Encuentro, also known as “V Encuentro,” is expected to be the biggest one of its kind in terms of attendance. Participants first meet in small Christian communities at the local level to discern, dialogue, reflect about faith and the baptismal call, Ms. Munoz-Visoso said. Later in the year, parishes will hold parish encuentros of their own, which will later lead to diocesan, regional and finally a nationwide encuentro, set for Sept. 20-23, 2018, in Grapevine, Texas, in the Diocese of Fort Worth. The final part is a “postnational encuentro” that will include publishing a national working document about ways to implement what was learned during the process. Encuentro organizers hope

the process will yield an increase in vocations of Latinos to the priesthood, religious life, and permanent diaconate; an increase in the percentage of Latino students enrolling at Catholic schools; and create a group of Latino leaders for the Church, as well as increase Latinos’ sense of belonging and stewardship in the U.S. Church. At the fall 2016 meeting of U.S. bishops in Baltimore, Boston Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley expressed concern that the younger generations of Latinos “is a demographic that is slipping away from the Church and I think we have a window of opportunity and the window of opportunity is closing.” Many Latinos are “joining the ranks of ‘nones,’” said Cardinal O’Malley, referring to the growing number of Americans who are choosing to be unaffiliated with any organized religion. “We have very few, relatively, Hispanics in our Catholic schools. They’re underrepresented in our religious-education programs, and I’m hoping that the outreach that is going to be done

as part of the preparation for this ‘encuentro’ will make a difference,” he said. Ms. Munoz-Visoso said Latinos are being courted by all kinds of groups, not just other church denominations. “And we are at this juncture in history where we have this dilemma, where the majority of the Catholic Church in the country is becoming Latino, but at the same time, more Latinos than ever are leaving the Church,” she said. “So, we have to address this situation because we have to really engage them, re-enamor them, their faith and make sure they’re committed to their faith.” For those wanting to become involved, they can contact their local parish to see if the parish is involved in the process. More than 5,000 parishes have signed up to participate, Ms. Munoz-Visoso said. Parish-level encuentros take place this May and June. Diocesan encuentros will take place in the fall in more than 150 dioceses with a total of 200,000 participants. The regional encuentros are slated for March-June 2018, with 10,000 delegates expected to attend. The regions conform to the U.S. bishops’ 14 episcopal regions. Then comes the Fifth National Encuentro in Texas, which will have as its theme “Missionary Disciples: Witnesses of God’s Love.” This is then followed by the post-encuentro working document. ■

Pope clears way for canonization of Fatima visionaries By Catholic News Agency/EWTN VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis has approved the second and final miracle needed to canonize Blessed Francisco and Jacinta Marto, two of the shepherd children who witnessed the Fatima Marian apparitions. The pope approved the miracle in a March 23 audience with Cardinal Angelo Amato, Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, during which he advanced six other causes, approving one other miracle, two causes for martyrdom, and three of heroic virtue. In addition, the pope also approved a positive vote from members of the canonization causes for six martyrs who are already Blessed, but do not yet have a second miracle attributed to them. However, the most significant of the causes approved is that of Francisco and Jacinta. With the approval of the second miracle, the two may now be canonized saints. It is likely Pope Francis will preside over their

Francisco and Jacinta Marto

canonization himself while in Fatima May 12-13 for the centenary of the apparitions. Francisco, 11, and Jacinta, 10, were the youngest non-martyrs to be beatified in the history of the Church. The brother and sister, who tended to their families’ sheep with their cousin Lucia Santo in the fields of Fatima, Portugal, witnessed the apparitions of Mary, now commonly known as Our Lady of Fatima. During the first apparition, which took place May 13, 1917, Our Lady asked the three children to say the

Rosary and to make sacrifices, offering them for the conversion of sinners. The children did, praying often, giving their lunch to beggars and going without food themselves. They offered up their daily crosses and even refrained from drinking water on hot days. In October 1918, Francisco and Jacinta became seriously ill with the Spanish flu. Our Lady appeared to them and said she would to take them to heaven soon. Bedridden, Francisco requested his first Communion. The following day, Francisco died, April 14, 1919. Jacinta suffered a long illness as well. She was eventually transferred to a Lisbon hospital and operated on for an abscess in her chest, but her health did not improve. She died Feb. 20, 1920. Pope John Paul II beatified Francisco and Jacinta May 13, 2000, on the 83rd anniversary of the first apparition of Our Lady at Fatima, teaching us that even young children can become saints. ■

SNAP controversy continues amid another leader’s resignation By Catholic News Agency/EWTN CHICAGO — Another leader of a controversial group representing survivors of clergy sexual abuse has resigned, denying that the resignation is related to a lawsuit that claimed the group was engaged in kickbacks and other unethical behavior. Barbara Blaine of the Survivors’ Network of those Abused by Priests resigned effective Feb. 3, the Chicago Tribune reported. Ms. Blaine said a lawsuit filed recently against the Chicago-based organization had no bearing on her resignation and compared it to previous lawsuits she said had no merit. She said the discussions of her departure had been ongoing and it had been a great honor to serve the organization. “Change, however, is inevitable,” she said. In mid-January former employee Gretchen Rachel Hammond, who worked as a development director at SNAP, claimed to have been wrongly fired for raising objections to what she said was a kickback scheme. The former employee’s lawsuit alleged that the organization refers them to A12 n APRIL 2, 2017

lawyers who themselves donate to the organization. It also charged that SNAP does not provide significant counseling help to abuse victims. The suit further charged that SNAP is motivated by its leaders’ “personal and ideological animus against the Catholic Church.” Ms. Blaine flatly denied the lawsuit’s claims, saying: “The allegations are not true. This will be proven in court. SNAP leaders are now, and always have been, devoted to following the SNAP mission: to help victims heal and to prevent further sexual abuse.” The lawsuit named as defendants SNAP, Ms. Blaine, past executive director David Clohessy, and outreach director Barbara Dorris. Mr. Clohessy resigned as executive director Dec. 31, though the change was not widely known until after the latest lawsuit was filed. The former executive director, who had worked at the organization since 1991, also denied his resignation had anything to do with the lawsuit. Ms. Dorris has now become managing director of SNAP. In her resignation statement, Ms. www.di o k no x .o rg

Blaine said she founded the organization 29 years ago because a priest who had abused her remained in ministry and because she felt “immense pain” from the alleged abuse inflicted on her as an eighth-grader by a priest who taught at her school. “I knew there were other survivors out there and wondered if they felt the same debilitating hurt and if so, how they coped with it. I thought they might hold the wisdom I lacked. I looked for other survivors and asked if they would be willing to talk,” she said in a statement. SNAP has run into other legal problems. In August 2016, a federal judge ruled that the group made false statements “negligently and with reckless disregard for the truth” against a St. Louis priest to try to convict him on abuse charges. The organization also sought to have the International Criminal Court investigate Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI for crimes against humanity related to alleged failures to stop sex abuse. Many critics considered the effort to be frivolous and the court rejected the request in 2013. ■

Cardinal Keeler

Funeral Mass celebrated for Cardinal William Keeler By Catholic News Service WASHINGTON — Cardinal William H. Keeler, Baltimore’s 14th archbishop, who was an international leader in CatholicJewish relations and the driving force behind the restoration of America’s first cathedral, died March 23 at his residence at St. Martin’s Home for the Aged in Catonsville, Md. He was 86. The cardinal lay in repose March 27 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption in Baltimore. His funeral was celebrated March 28 at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen, also in Baltimore. Pope Francis, in a papal telegram March 24, sent condolences to Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori and the archdiocese, expressing gratitude for “Cardinal Keeler’s years of devoted episcopal ministry” and his “longstanding commitment to ecumenical and interreligious understanding. He called the cardinal a “wise and gentle pastor.” “One of the great blessings in my life was coming to know Cardinal Keeler,” Archbishop Lori said in a statement March 23. “Cardinal Keeler will be greatly missed. I am grateful to the Little Sisters for their devoted care for the cardinal.” Cardinal Keeler was the bishop of Harrisburg, Pa., when he was appointed the 14th archbishop of Baltimore in 1989. Pope John Paul II made him a cardinal in 1994. He retired in 2007. As president of the U.S. bishops’ conference from 1992 to 1995, he participated in a wide range of national and international issues. As part of his work with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Cardinal Keeler developed a reputation for effectively building interfaith bonds. He is particularly noted for his work in furthering Catholic-Jewish dialogue. He was appointed moderator of Catholic-Jewish Relations for the USCCB. “As a priest, bishop of Harrisburg and archbishop of Baltimore, the cardinal worked to bring the hope of Christ to people’s lives,” said Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, who is president of the USCCB. “He also built bridges of solidarity to people of other faiths as a leader in ecumenism and interreligious affairs. “Cardinal Keeler was a dear friend. The most fitting tribute we can offer is to carry forward his episcopal motto in our daily lives: ‘Do the work of an evangelist,’” Cardinal DiNardo said. ■

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A good evaluation Sacred Heart Cathedral School teacher Kelly Rexrode instructs her fourth-grade class as AdvancED accreditation evaluator Barbara O’Block (far left) observes as part of the accreditation process for the Diocese of Knoxville school system. BILL BREWER

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ers had identified elements of this in their self-study. Bishop Stika said he can empathize with everyone who took part in the accreditation process. He noted that he served on an evaluation team that assessed Archdiocese of St. Louis schools when he was a priest there, and he recalls the hard work that went into the process. “I just want to thank all of you for your efforts. Seeing the results of this two-year process means so much to me and all of us in the Diocese of Knoxville. Time and time and time again our diocese is being recognized in a variety of ways. We are a young and small diocese, but we are working together, and you can see that so much has been accomplished,” Bishop Stika said. “Again, this (accreditation) is a wonderful achievement. ... We have a small schools office, with Sister Mary Marta, Sedonna (Prater), and Marie (Garvey), but a huge impact. And we must recognize all those who are involved in education in our diocese, the students, parents, the principals and presidents, and the schools’ faculties. I am just thrilled,” the bishop added. Sister Mary Marta was gratified by the accreditation results, praising the schools and their staffs for making the grade. “I’m very pleased. I was very proud to hear our school leaders speak for our schools and represent our school system in such a professional way. This speaks to the quality of our education and our Catholic identity. We were cited for our great academics and our Catholic identity,” Sister Mary Marta said. She noted that plans already are underway to build on the accreditation results. “They said we’ve done a great job, pointing out that we really are doing more with less. One of the goals we have to work on is a three- to five-year budget for our schools, strategic plans, and more marketing,” she said. “We’re already looking at getting our annual report out to everyone in the diocese. And we’re starting to plan for teams within our own diocese to visit each other’s schools to point out strengths and weaknesses.” Mrs. Prater, director of curriculum and instruction for Diocese of Knoxville schools, said the accreditation review did not provide Vocations continued from page A6

pertains to the whole Christian community, which should exercise it above all by a fully Christian life. The principal contributors to this are the families, which, animated by the spirit of faith and love and by the sense of duty, become a kind of initial seminary, and the parishes in whose rich life the young people take part. Teachers and all those who are in any way in charge of the training of boys and young men, especially Catholic associations, should carefully guide the young people entrusted to them so that these will recognize and freely accept a divine vocation. “All priests especially are to manifest an apostolic zeal in fostering vocations and are to attract the interest of youths to the priesthood by their own life lived in a humble and industrious manner and in a happy spirit as well as by mutual priestly charity and fraternal sharing of labor,” according to the Decree on Priestly Training. My mother was the first person to tell me I should at least consider the priesthood. That invitation was repeated throughout my early years by countless priests, deacons, youth ministers, teachers, confreres, and friends. The persistence of these invitations — though I often objected — gradually became a reassuring testimony. It is not just the prospective seminarian or seminarian himself who discerns whether or not he is called to the priesthood. It also is the Church who discerns. God has worked through numerous families, parishes, and ministers — both clergy and lay ministers — in the Diocese of Knoxville to call forward men to consider a priestly vocation. Will everyone who goes to TH E EAST T E N N E S S E E C A T HO L I C

any surprises. “We did such a thorough self-analysis that the exit report really just validated and affirmed our own findings,” Mrs. Prater said. “You want to do such a thorough self-analysis that you want to find areas for growth and to know what you’re doing well so you can keep doing them well.” Mrs. Prater pointed out that by meeting and exceeding AdvancED’s “very stringent” standards, diocesan schools exhibit excellence in all facets of education, something that is critical to students (from high schoolers preparing for college to elementary students’ academic formation) as well as to teachers, parents, and the Diocese of Knoxville community. “We want our community to know our schools are places with high academic standards and places where our children will excel academically and spiritually,” she said. “This is a measure of our own performance. We can learn from this experience. If our schools don’t have this outside influence, then there is no mirror to look into in order to make any needed changes.” Mrs. Prater said that just going through the accreditation process improves the schools. “It makes you look at our operations with a very analytical view to see what is working and what isn’t working as well, so we can have continuous improvement and get better,” she said, noting that the school system received highest marks for its Catholic identity, with the second-highest marks given for leadership. “They commended us for our high test scores, which happens because of our Catholic identity and leadership. We are living our mission in all of our schools, and we have a culture of teacher leaders and student leaders in addition to diocesan school leaders,” Mrs. Prater said. Mrs. Prater also noted the areas for improvement cited by the accreditation review team: resources allocation and marketing. “We are exhausting our resources, using them thoroughly, which is good stewardship. Resources are a challenge for every Catholic school system, and I am proud of what we do with what we have. We feel like we have huge support from our parishes and our community,” she said. “We just need to get more students in our schools.” ■ seminary be ordained? Probably not. Should more men be considering priesthood as a vocation? I venture to say yes. It takes a bit of courage and gentleness to suggest that a man [whatever his age] has a priestly vocation. Perhaps the person has thought of it before… or not. Maybe we know only one manifestation of the person, that is, his Church persona. It is easy to let the perfect become the enemy of the good and thus be paralyzed when we could be calling forward gifts and encouraging others to be opened to some of the greatest, but often unthought of, vocations: holy orders and the religious life. So how does the Church — the faithful — raise up and advance boys and men who might become priests? It does so first by having children. Raise them in the faith and know the faith yourself. Meet the poor, visit the sick, feed the poor, adore the Lord in the Eucharist, attend Mass every Sunday, and confess regularly. Offer your kids a solid Catholic education [I can arrange for tours of some awesome schools]. And when the time is right, invite them to listen to the voice of God! If you know an older man who is considering a call to the diaconate or priesthood, encourage him to do the same. Above all, don’t be afraid to help plant seeds, but don’t be hurt if it turns out not to be the right fruit for a seminarian. The life of a seminarian is about a long, consistent discernment of both the seminarian and the Church. While some seminarians are ready for the next step forward, or step out of formation, some have to be encouraged to persevere long enough to overcome the growing pains and persist in the discipline that will equip them for ministry. ■ www.di o k no x .o rg

Mass of dedication for new Sacred Heart Cathedral set for March 2018 Bishop Richard F. Stika has announced that a Mass of dedication for the new Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus will be celebrated on Saturday, March 3, 2018. An exact time will be announced at a later date. Bishop Stika said the Mass and Rite of Dedication of a church and its altar is one of the most solemn liturgical celebrations in the Catholic Church. The rite is sacred and dates back to the early years of the Church. He noted that the Mass and the rite will elevate “this beautiful structure into holiness.” “The Mass and Rite of Dedication of the cathedral will be a truly historic event in the history of our young diocese. It is a beautiful and elaborate ceremony in which the walls will be anointed, the baptistery, ambo and tabernacle will be blessed as well as so many other items that play an important role in the liturgical space of a building,” he said. Special emphasis will be given to the altar of sacrifice, which will be anointed with the Holy Chrism, and the blessing of the cathedra (chair of the bishop) will be a focal point of the Mass.

Funeral Mass celebrated at St. Mary Church for Paul Kenneth Premo

Paul Kenneth Premo, 80, of St. Mary Parish in Johnson City, passed away Feb. 23 at Johnson City Medical Center. He was a native of Fitchburg, Mass., and was the son of the late Elmer L. and M. Eleanore Premo. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his daughter, Karen Premo Knighton. Mr. Premo proudly Mr. Premo served his country as a member of the Marine Corps Reserve, was an active member of the Knights of Columbus for more than 60 years, and served on the Knoxville Diocesan and St. Mary finance councils. Mr. Premo is survived by his wife, June Mullins Premo; his daughter, Sharon P. Stratton; stepchildren Jennifer Hollon and her husband Mike, and William Kilgore; grandchildren Megan Knighton, Cody Knighton, Steven Stratton, Tasia Stratton Jones, Amanda Stratton, Alex Stratton, Emily Hollon Hager, Billy Kilgore and Ali Kilgore; six great-grandchildren; brothers E. Robert Premo, Gregory L. Premo, and Jerome C. Premo; and several nieces and nephews. Following a receiving of friends Feb. 27 at Tetrick Funeral and Cremation Services in Johnson City, a funeral Mass was held at St. Mary on Feb. 28 with Father Peter Iorio celebrating. The Rite of Committal followed the funeral Mass at Washington County Memory Gardens, with family and friends serving as pallbearers. Donations in Mr. Premo’s memory may be made to the St. Mary Church Building Fund, 2211 E. Lakeview Dr., Johnson City, TN 37601.

Diocesan Office of Hispanic Ministry seeks administrative assistant The Diocese of Knoxville is seeking an administrative assistant to support the director of Hispanic Ministry in the Chancery offices. The Office of Hispanic Ministry promotes the integral growth of all members of the Hispanic community, creating leadership through organization, formation, and participation; to live our faith, evangelizing in all our surroundings, embracing our brothers and sisters, recognizing our cultural diversity, improving our quality of life in solidarity to continue, in this way, the mission of Jesus to create the Kingdom of God on earth. The Office of Hispanic Ministry is located in Knoxville. Employees enjoy a business casual work environment, opportunities for development, and an opportunity to make a difference. A comprehensive benefit package is offered. Interested applicants please see full job description on dioknox.org and send your resume and cover letter to jmills@dioknox.org.

Sister Janita Curoe, BVM, former diocesan teacher, dies DUBUQUE, Iowa — Sister Janita Curoe, BVM, 87, died Feb. 10 at Marian Hall in Dubuque. Her burial was in Mount Carmel in Dubuque. In the Diocese of Knoxville, Sister Janita taught at Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in Chattanooga. She also served as a teacher and principal in Davenport, Iowa, Chicago, and Clarksdale and Jackson, Miss. Sister Janita In addition, she also served as county literacy coordinator and volunteer tutor in Canton, Miss. Sister Janita was born in Bernard, Iowa, on March 28, 1929. She entered the BVM congregation on Sept. 8, 1946, and professed first vows on March 19, 1949, and final vows on Aug. 15, 1954. ■

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