April 3, 2022, ET Catholic, A section by Diocese of Knoxville

April 3

| 2022

VOL 31 NO 8

IN THIS ISSUE CREATION A8 MISSION: A4 NEW SAINTHOOD The Church is growing as we celebrate Easter

St. Dominic launches Lenten men's event

INSTALLATION B1 DOUBLE Fr. Sam Sturm is now oﬃcial at Christ the King, Our Lady of Perpetual Help

He dwells among us ......................... A3 Parish news ....................................... B4 Diocesan calendar ............................ B5 Columns ............................................. B6 Catholic youth ......................... B7,11,12 La Cosecha ............................Section C

Diocese of Knoxville joins pope in consecrating Russia, Ukraine to Immaculate Heart of Mary Bishop Stika leads special Mass, called for by the Holy Father, at the cathedral

By Gabrielle Nolan

DAN MCWILLIAMS

ishop Richard F. Stika heeded the call of Pope Francis to consecrate and entrust Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on March 25. Bishop Stika offered the act during noon Mass at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in Knoxville. The Mass in East Tennessee occurred at the same time Pope Francis led the consecration during a special Lenten penance service at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. “Today is a day of history,” Bishop Stika said at the beginning of the Mass. “Pope Francis has invited all bishops of the world, together with all priests of the world, and every diocese, every nook and cranny where the Catholic Church is, and he has invited the Orthodox to join us as well…to pray to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, consecrating Russia and Ukraine to her heart. For Mary is, indeed, the Queen of Peace.” “Let us pray for all those people in Ukraine who have lost so much, and also the prisoners in Russia, who know so little about what is going on,” the bishop continued. “We place ourselves in God’s presence.” The Mass took place on the solemnity of the Annunciation, which the bishop described as “the great conversation” during his homily. “We have that great privilege of speaking to God from our hearts, from our lives, from who we are, wherever we are in our place of life,” he said. “We have the opportunity to speak to God.” “So, on this feast of the Annunciation, the wisdom of Pope Francis,

Praying for Ukraine and Russia Bishop Richard F. Stika, joined by Cardinal Justin Rigali, leads the congregation at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in consecrating Ukraine and Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary during a Mass on March 25. Assisting is Deacon Walt Otey. he invites us all to have that dialogue with God,” the bishop continued. “He invites us all to have a conversation with God, and [the pope] wrote the conversation… It’s a prayer of consecration, of taking who we are as humanity and admitting that we need God. “It’s not a negotiation; we need God in this country, in countries throughout the world. You know, it is a horrific thing to see Ukraine being just so attacked…But you know, in other parts of the world

it’s just as tragic. Sudan, Middle East, places that don’t get the publicity, and even on our own streets. Sometimes we just forget, we forget about other people…We cannot be indifferent to our sisters and brothers who live near us or away from us.” Bishop Stika encouraged those in attendance to not just pray that day, but “every moment of every day that we exist.” “[The pope] invites us to look into our heart to see do we stir up

trouble in our families, in our relationships, in our city? Do we buy into all that junk that’s on social media or in the media? Do we gossip? Do we judge? Do we demand? Mary said yes to that angel, so that someday the Prince of Peace would be born, a man who gave his life for our sins. Let us pray for peace.” After his homily, the bishop invited everyone to kneel and together recite the Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Consecrate continued on page A15

Archbishop Shelton J. Fabre is installed Archdiocese of Louisville’s fifth shepherd welcomed as new leader, successor to Archbishop Kurtz By Marnie McAllister The Record

MARNIE MCALLISTER/THE RECORD

early 3,000 people of the Archdiocese of Louisville, including hundreds of clergy and religious, welcomed their new shepherd, Archbishop Shelton Joseph Fabre, as he became the 10th bishop and fifth archbishop to lead the historic region of central Kentucky. He succeeds Archbishop Emeritus Joseph E. Kurtz, who has served as Archbishop of Louisville since 2007. Archbishop Fabre also will serve as leader of the Louisville Province, which includes the Diocese of Knoxville. The Mass of Installation, celebrated at the Kentucky International Convention Center in downtown Louisville, began with a reading of the apostolic mandate by the papal nuncio, Archbishop Christophe Pierre. The nuncio brought laughter to the ceremony by noting the difficulty of pronouncing Louisville

Newly installed Archbishop Shelton J. Fabre celebrates Mass during his installation on March 30. Attending the installation from the Diocese of Knoxville were Bishop Richard F. Stika, Cardinal Justin Rigali, Sacred Heart Cathedral rector Father David Boettner, and chancellor Deacon Sean Smith. correctly, along with other areas where Archbishop Fabre has served — New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux.

More seriously, he told the congregation and those watching the live stream that “A new era begins.” He offered gratitude for the ser-

vice of Archbishop Kurtz, for his time as Bishop of Knoxville, his service in the Archdiocese of Louisville, and as a national leader in the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. “Thank you for decades of dedicated service,” Archbishop Pierre told Archbishop Kurtz. To Archbishop Fabre, he said, “You have big shoes to fill.” He encouraged the new archbishop to be close to the people of God and went on to quote part of Pope Francis’ opening speech from the International Conference on the Priesthood Feb. 17. “Closeness to the People of God, a closeness that, enriched by those other forms of closeness, invites and indeed demands that we imitate the Lord’s own ‘style,’” the nuncio quoted. “That style is one of closeness, compassion, and tenderness, in which we act not as judges, but as Good Samaritans who acknowledge the wounds of our people, Archbishop continued on page A13

Catholic Charities of East Tennessee holding Race for Kids 5K & Family Walk

atholic Charities of East Tennessee is looking forward to its premier annual event, the Race for Kids 5K & Family Walk. The family friendly activity will be held on Saturday, April 23, at Victor Ashe Park in northwest Knoxville. Participation in the event by Catholic Charities supporters supports the nonprofit social service agency’s children’s and family programs across East Tennessee. These programs include the Children’s Emergency Shelter and Columbus Home Assisting Parents. “Run or walk with us to help deliver critical services to promote safety, stability, and opportunities for children and families to thrive by providing emergency food and shelter, education, access to resources, and compassionate support,” the agency said in preparing for the event. While the race and family walk is being held at Victor Ashe Park, those who can’t participate in person can still register and run or walk anywhere. For those registered for this virtual Race for Kids 5K & Family Walk,

race results can be posted by going to the results tab on the event web page at https://runsignup.com/ Race/TN/Knoxville/RaceforKids. Registration for adults is $30 before April 23 and $35 on race day. Registration for children under age 18 is $15 prior to the event and $20 on race day. Pre-race day packet pick-up is set for April 22 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at Catholic Charities’ offices in the Regas Building at 318 N. Gay St. in Knoxville. Race day packet pick-up will be

at Victor Ashe Park, 4901 Bradshaw Road off of Pleasant Ridge Road, from 8:30-9:30 a.m. The race route can be seen at: https://www.mapmyrun.com/ routes/view/4914341737. Start time is 9:30 a.m., and finish time is 12:30 p.m. Sponsors for the event include Kimberly-Clark, Food City, BlueCross, BlueShield of Tennessee Community Trust, Publix Super Markets Charities, and PB Racing. Following the example of service that Christ lived, Catholic Chari-

ties vows to be good stewards of the resources entrusted to it. As an organization within the Diocese of Knoxville, it is guided by the principles of Catholic teaching, including reverence for all life, compassion, and integrity for all people. CCETN provides services to anyone with demonstrated need, regardless of race, income, or religion. It estimates that fewer than 5 percent of all clients served are Catholic. It welcomes opportunities to work collaboratively with other community resources to serve those in need. ■

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

April Prayer Intentions “We pray for health-care workers who serve the sick and the elderly, especially in the poorest countries; may they be adequately supported by governments and local communities.” –– Pope Francis

“As we continue our Lenten journey, let us pray for the priests of our diocese who will renew their promises at our Chrism Mass during Holy Week. God, grant them strength, courage, patience, grace, and enthusiasm for their vocation. May the peace of Christ fill their hearts and minds.” –– Bishop Stika

DIOCESE PROCEDURE

FOR

KNOXVILLE

REPORTING

SEXUAL

ABUSE

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

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

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

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

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jwogan@dioknox.org THE EAST TENNESSEE CATHOLIC (USPS 007211) is published monthly by The Diocese of Knoxville, 805 S. Northshore Drive, Knoxville, TN 37919-7551. Periodicals-class postage paid at Knoxville, TN. Printed by the Knoxville News Sentinel. THE EAST TENNESSEE CATHOLIC is mailed to all registered Catholic families in East Tennessee.

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

He dwells among us

by Bishop Richard F. Stika

God’s ‘peace plan’ In a time of global crisis, our consecration to Our Lady of Fatima and St. Joseph are needed more than ever “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.” — John 14:27

epentance, prayer, and sacrifice—these are the three conditions that the Blessed Virgin Mary stresses are necessary if peace is to truly reign in our hearts, in our country, and in the world. In 1917, at the height of the madness of the First World War, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal, during six monthly apparitions culminating with the great “miracle of the sun” on Oct. 13 that over 70,000 pilgrims witnessed. In addition to urging the praying of the rosary and acts of penance and sacrifice as critical parts of God’s “peace plan” for the world, she asked for the consecration of Russia to her Immaculate Heart. But that consecration also requires ours as well. In these worsening times, I urge you, I beg you, to make your consecration “to Jesus through the hearts of Mary and St. Joseph.” A warning we must still heed. On March 25, the solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, I and my brother bishops around the world, with all the faithful, joined Pope Francis in a solemn act of consecrating Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Given the horrible war in Ukraine and the growing scale of suffering and destruction since Russia’s invasion on Feb. 24, which threatens to pull all of the world into its flames, we are again urged to heed the warning of Our Lady of Fatima, and to honor her pleas to pray, and to offer acts of penance and sacrifice for the conversion of sinners and for God’s peace to reign: “If people attend to my requests, Russia will be converted and the world will have peace. If not, Russia will spread its errors throughout the world, fomenting wars and persecutions of the Church. The good will be martyred, the Holy Father will have much to suffer, and various nations will be annihilated. In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph. The Holy Father will consecrate Russia to me; it will be converted, and a certain period of peace will be granted to the world.” A long-awaited consecration. According to Sister Lucia, the oldest of the three Fatima visionaries, who became a Carmelite nun and died in 2005, the consecration made by St. John Paul II on March 25, 1984, satisfied the request of Our Lady to consecrate Russia. Still, many have questioned its validity as it was accomplished without explicitly mentioning Russia by name, being offered for “the world” and “those individuals and nations that particularly need to be thus entrusted and consecrated.” It is said that he chose to do so because by this time, 67 years after the Fatima apparitions, the “errors” of Russia had already deeply infected the whole world with its

deadly poison. But in 1991, seven years after the consecration, the “Iron Curtain” officially fell, and the world, particularly Europe, breathed a sigh of relief.

word” (Luke 1: 38). This is how we cooperate in God’s peace plan and help to undo the “No” of Satan that sows so much destruction and death in the world.

What happened to peace? Here we are, 31 years after what was hoped to be the promised “period of peace,” but that arguably was not, with Russia still seemingly possessed by its demons. Indeed, our country and the whole world seems so immersed in sin to the point of calling “evil good, and good evil” that the words of St. Paul express the global situation—”the way of peace they know not” (Isaiah 5:20, Romans 3:17). For true peace comes from “the blood of the cross,” and is not of one’s making (Colossians 1:20). This is why we must continue to respond to the pleas of Our Lady of Fatima and consecrate ourselves, and to daily embrace a life of conversion, prayer, and sacrifice, not only for our ongoing conversion, but also for the conversion of poor sinners, and all the countries of the world.

A mother’s suffering. Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen noted that, “One of the penalties of original sin was that a woman should bring forth her children in sorrow” (Genesis 3:16), and that because of this, “the curse of Eve hangs heavily on Mary.” For in those most precious words that Jesus spoke to His mother and to St. John at the foot of the cross— “Woman, behold your son,” and to St. John, “Behold your mother” (John 19:26, 27). Mary became our mother and we her children. Archbishop Sheen called this “the second Nativity.” But as our Mother, Mary, suffers the “sword” of our sins that “pierce” her Immaculate Heart (cf. Luke 2:35), having witnessed how much they caused Jesus to suffer upon the cross, and in the misery that sin brings upon the world.

The primary consecration. Consecration means to “set apart” and “to make holy” something for sacred use or purpose—it is a total entrustment or dedication to God. Properly understood, consecration is always an action of God. Only God can consecrate. Our most important consecration, what the Church calls “the fundamental consecration of the Christian life,” is that of our baptism—our entrance into the very life of God. When we are baptized, we become a temple of the Holy Spirit, consecrated to Jesus Christ and “set apart” to “be built into a spiritual house to be a priestly people and to offer sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5). Consecration then, be it a consecration to Mary and St. Joseph, or the consecrated life as a religious, or a bishop’s consecration in his episcopal ordination, only builds upon, enlarges, and strengthens one’s baptismal consecration.

The “woman” who crushes the serpent’s head. This is why Archbishop Sheen stressed that, “Our only hope for world peace is found in the message of Fatima.” He asked, “How shall we overcome the spirit of Satan except by the power of that woman to whom almighty God has given the mandate to crush the head of the serpent?” Indeed, we are all immersed in the cosmic battle between good and evil, “between [the serpent] and the woman” (Genesis 3:15), which is waged upon earth by the Herods of every age upon Mary’s children (cf. Matthew 2:16-18). And the greatest destroyer of peace in our day, as St. Teresa of Kolkata stated, is abortion: “A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun… who was with child and wailed aloud in pains as she labored to give birth… Then the dragon stood before the woman about to give birth, to devour her child when she gave birth…” (Revelation 12:1-12).

Why a Marian consecration? The great Marian saint, Louis de Montfort, states that a correct devotion to Mary is in fact a perfect consecration to Jesus Christ because “it is the perfect renewal of the vows and promises of holy baptism.” This is because, in making our consecration, we give our self entirely to the motherly love of Mary in order to belong entirely to Jesus through her. “Of all God’s creatures,” the saint reminds us, “Mary is the most conformed to Jesus.” It follows, then, that “the more one is consecrated to Mary, the more one is consecrated to Jesus.” Our consecration unites us more intimately to Mary’s “yes” to God, her “Fiat” to His plan of redeeming His fallen children—”Be it done unto me according to your

A mother’s heart for her children. For these reasons, our consecration responds to the greatest desire of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, who as our heavenly mother, has no greater desire than to protect and save her children from sin and Satan’s murderous rage. She wants to place her protective mantle about us and to lead us and all sinners, and all nations, to the merciful love of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. So, with Pope Francis, we acknowledge our helplessness and the great need we have for our mother’s help: At this hour, a weary and distraught humanity stands with you beneath the cross, needing to entrust itself to you and, through you, to consecrate itself to Christ…. Therefore, Mother of God and our

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

Mother, to your Immaculate Heart we entrust ourselves, the Church and all humanity, especially Russia and Ukraine…. To you we consecrate the future of the whole human family…. Pray the rosary! At Fatima, Mary identified herself as “Our Lady of the Rosary.” What makes the rosary so powerful are the sacred mysteries of Christ that we reflect upon, for it is truly a “Gospel prayer.” And it is Mary who helps us to reflect upon 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 through her Immaculate Heart, and most beautifully so in the rosary. And she teaches us, as she did at Fatima, to pray for the salvation of all souls, with the prayer she asked be added after each decade of the rosary—“O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, and lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy.” No wonder Satan hates the rosary so much! Who does Satan fear most? Ponder this—the great saint of the rosary, Louis de Montfort, reminds us that the one person Satan fears most, in a certain sense more than even God Himself, is Mary. How can this be? It is because Satan is so full of pride that “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 and why it is so efficacious in bringing about peace of heart and world peace. Terror of demons. But there is another one who Satan also completely fears—St. Joseph! For he is the most perfect reflection of the fatherhood of God, and the light of his most holy heart is so pure and intense that it puts Satan to flight in utter terror. No other saint bears the title of “Terror of demons,” and by saving Jesus from the murderous rage of Herod, he alone merits to be called the “savior of the Savior,” and “zealous defender of Christ.” As God entrusted His two most precious treasures—Jesus and Mary—to the care and protection of St. Joseph, so, too, we should entrust ourselves to him as our spiritual father, guardian, and defender. As those in grave need were directed to the Old Testament patriarch Joseph during time of crisis, so let us “Go to Joseph!” (Genesis 41:55). Attack upon marriage and family. It is no coincidence, then, that as our country has increasingly rejected the Fatherhood of God, there has been a growing and alarming Fatima continued on page A8

Bishop Stika’s schedule of Masses and public events These are some of Bishop Stika’s upcoming public appointments: n Tuesday, April 12: 7 p.m. Chrism Mass at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. n Wednesday, April 20: 7 p.m. Confirmation Mass at St. Patrick Church in Morristown. n Thursday, April 21: 6:30 p.m. Confirmation Mass at St. Mary Church in Johnson City. n Saturday, April 23: 8 a.m. Mass of Consecration to the Order of Virgins for Julie Radachy at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. n Saturday, April 23: 11 a.m. Confirmation Mass at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Lenoir City. n Saturday, April 23: 5 p.m. Confirmation Mass at Immaculate Conception Church in Knoxville. Bishop Stika’s public schedule continued on page A7

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

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Easter: the new creation has come Nearly 200 faithful prepare to enter the Church in East Tennessee at Easter Vigil

By Gabrielle Nolan

GABRIELLE NOLAN (2)

he Catholic Church in East Tennessee is about to grow with the approaching feast of Easter, as nearly 50 catechumens and 130 candidates continue their preparation to receive the sacraments of initiation. For the first time in over two years, since before the pandemic began, the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus hosted the combined Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion. Catechumens and candidates, along with their godparents, sponsors, and RCIA teams, traveled from the four deaneries of the diocese to the cathedral in Knoxville the weekend of March 5-6 for their next step in preparing to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church. “This is the second step in the Rite of Christian Initiation,” explained Sister Peter Miriam Dolan, RSM, who serves as the director of faith formation for the Diocese of Knoxville. “It’s meant to be a more intense time of prayer and kind of heading toward more of an immediate preparation for receiving the sacraments.” Catechumens are individuals who have never been baptized and who deepen their understanding of the Catholic faith so they may receive the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and the Eucharist at the Easter Vigil. Candidates are individuals who have already received a valid baptism from another Christian tradition and make a profession of faith to receive the sacraments of confirmation and Eucharist at Easter. Bishop Richard F. Stika celebrated the rite both days as a Liturgy of the Word. “Welcome to the Mother Church of the Diocese, the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus,” he said at the beginning of Saturday’s liturgy. “This is one of my favorite celebrations, the Rite of Election,” the bishop continued. “So, as we begin our celebration of this very special moment in your life, my life, and the Church of Knoxville’s life, let us just place ourselves in the presence of God himself.” Following the Liturgy of the Word, Bishop Stika gave a homily where he compared the difference between cradle Catholics and those adults who choose to enter the Catholic Church.

For the record Bishop Richard F. Stika signs the Book of the Elect during a Rite of Election ceremony for the Chattanooga and Five Rivers deaneries on March 5 at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Nearly 200 catechumens and candidates are entering the Church in East Tennessee at Easter. “I admire you,” the bishop said to the catechumens and candidates. “You know why? Almost 65 years ago, on July 21, I was carried by my parents… and they presented me to Monsignor Wempe, who baptized me.” “I didn’t have anything to say about it. I was kidnapped and taken to the church,” he said, causing the congregation to erupt into laughter. “But that began my faith journey into Christianity and to the Catholic Church.” “But you! You made a decision! You’ve all made a decision: to become Catholic, to be baptized, or to be received into the Church,” the bishop said. “You’ve made adult decisions. And that’s what I admire so much about all of you.” Bishop Stika affirmed that once you are baptized, your faith journey continues for the rest of your life. “You know, sometimes Catholics get a little spoiled. They believe once they’re confirmed they know it all, but they don’t. In fact, we’re never going to know it all until we get there standing before God to be judged. And then, maybe some of our questions might be answered,” he said. “I just want to embrace you with

joy and say I’m glad you’re here today,” the bishop concluded. “I pray that your journey will help you discover more and more about your holiness and your goodness and the presence of God in your life. So, I admire you so much for saying yes to Jesus when He said to you… ‘Come and follow me.’” The Rite of Election began following the homily. Sister Peter Miriam addressed the bishop, saying, “Your Excellency, Easter is drawing near. These catechumens, whom we now present to you, are completing their period of preparation. “They have found strength in God’s grace and support in their parish community’s prayer and example. Now they ask that after the celebration of the scrutinies, they be allowed to participate in the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and Eucharist.” To which the bishop responded, “My dear catechumens, you are chosen in Christ. As your name is called, I ask you to stand, together with your godparents.” Each parish of the four deaneries presented their catechumens. As the catechumens stood before the bishop, he asked their godparents:

Greeting Catholics to be Bishop Richard F. Stika is introduced to catechumens and candidates who are entering the Catholic Church at Easter during the Rite of Election ceremony for the Smoky Mountain and Cumberland Mountain deaneries on March 6 at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

n Have they faithfully listened to God’s Word proclaimed by the Church? n Have they responded to that Word and begun to walk in God’s presence? n Have they shared the company of their Christian sisters and brothers and joined with them in prayer? The godparents responded, “they have,” to each question. The bishop then directly addressed the catechumens, asking, “Do you wish to enter fully into the life of the Church through the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and the Eucharist?” To which the catechumens responded, “We do.” Each parish leader then presented their Book of the Elect to the bishop, who signed his signature to ratify their call to election. Similarly, Sister Peter Miriam presented the candidates to the bishop, saying, “Your Excellency, we now present to you the candidates who seek to complete their Christian initiation. They have been preparing diligently to be received into full communion with the Catholic Church. “They, too, have found strength in God’s grace and support in their parish community’s prayers and example. Now they ask that after the Lenten season, they be admitted to confirmation and the Eucharist,” she said. To which the bishop responded, “My dear candidates, you desire to participate fully in the sacramental life of the Church. As your name is called, I ask you to stand together with your sponsors.” Each parish of the four deaneries presented their candidates. As the candidates stood before the bishop, he asked their sponsors: n Have these candidates faithfully listened to the apostles’ instruction proclaimed by the Church? n Have they come to a deeper appreciate of their baptism, in which they were joined to Christ and His Church? n Have they reflected sufficiently on the tradition of the Church, which is their heritage, and joined their sisters and brothers in prayer? n Have they advanced in a life of love and service to others? The sponsors responded, “they have,” to each question. The bishop then directly adRite of Election continued on page A6

Observing Holy Week n Chrism Mass: Celebrated at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, 7 p.m., Tuesday, April 12. n Holy Thursday: Mass, eucharistic adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on April 14. Check church schedule. n Good Friday: Re-enactment of Christ’s crucifixion in some parishes; Liturgy of the Word, Holy Communion, veneration of the Cross in all churches on April 15. Check church schedule. n Easter Vigil: Mass celebration begins at dusk at all churches on Saturday, April 16. n Easter Sunday: Celebration of Mass April 17 in remembrance of Jesus’ resurrection and our salvation. Check church schedule. ■

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

Following GPS during the holiest of seasons Does God’s Plan for Salvation include you? IC Lenten ecumenical service offers a map to penance By Bill Brewer

BILL BREWER (2)

n the holiest spirit of neighborly ecumenism, downtown Knoxville churches celebrated the Lenten season leading into Easter by sharing each other’s faith practices, and Immaculate Conception Church was at the forefront. Immaculate Conception, the Diocese of Knoxville’s second oldest parish (established in 1855), hosted the “Downtown Knoxville Churches Lenten Worship & Lunch Series” with a March 16 ecumenical service and shared meal. In addition to the Catholic faithful, members of churches in Knoxville’s center city attended the service. Among the area’s Christian churches are Emmanuel Church, First Presbyterian, St. John’s Episcopal Cathedral, and First Baptist. Emmanuel Church began the Lenten celebration with a service on March 9, followed in successive weeks by Immaculate Conception, First Presbyterian, St. John’s Episcopal, and then First Baptist leading into Holy Week. Father Tim Sullivan, CSP, associate pastor at Immaculate Conception, led the March 16 service and delivered the homily. Among the songs played during the Lenten ecumenical service were “Amazing Grace,” “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands,” and “Lift High the Cross,” which are staples in Protestant as well as Catholic churches. In his opening prayer, Father Sullivan thanked God for the Lenten season, which allows believers to conform their minds, hearts, and souls with God’s as they approach Holy Week. Father Sullivan also asked God to bless the churches in the downtown Knoxville area and throughout the world as well

Navigating by faith, hope, and love Father Tim Sullivan, CSP, delivers a homily during the ecumenical Downtown Knoxville Churches Lenten Worship & Lunch Series on March 16 at Immaculate Conception Church. as their ministers, lay leaders, and members, and help them to continue building God’s kingdom. The day’s Gospel reading, Mark 10:46-52, was about blind Bartimae-

us receiving his sight from Jesus. In his homily, Father Sullivan singled out the hymn “Amazing Grace” and its writer, the English poet and slave ship captain John

Breaking bread together Lunch is served in the Immaculate Conception Parish hall following an ecumenical service for downtown Knoxville churches.

Newton. During his conversion to Christianity in the mid-1700s, it was reported that Mr. Newton began to acknowledge the slaves shackled on his ship as children of God, and on one slave-trading voyage he reversed course and released the slaves on board back in their native land. He had become an Anglican priest in England when he wrote “Amazing Grace.” “He had insight into his spiritual blindness. ‘I once was lost, but now am found; was blind but now I see.’ It speaks of Jesus’ beautiful healing of the blind Bartimaeus from our reading,” Father Sullivan said. “Bartimaeus is a great role model for us during Lent. What blindness do we have? What feelings, attitudes do we hold on to that entrap us into lives of judgment, derision, hatred? In what ways are we blind to those neighbors in our midst crying out for help: the homebound, elderly grandmother who has not had a visitor in many months? Are our eyes open to her needs, to those without shelter, without food? How do we reach out with compassion to them?” he asked. He pointed out that Bartimaeus had faith to come to Jesus for healing and asked how we become dependent on Jesus Christ, our Lord. Father Sullivan offered words from a favorite poster he was given that refer to the three cardinal virtues—faith, hope, and love: Faith is how we know where we’re going; hope keeps us going; but love is how we get there. “Faith. Is our faith growing during these 40 days? Will we walk with Jesus to the cross on Good Friday? How is it that faith can guide us in troubled times when we’re lost and feeling blind? Faith, Ecumenical continued on page A7

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

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‘I’m glad you’re here’

GABRIELLE NOLAN (4)

Growing the Church Top left: RCIA leaders from the Chattanooga and Five Rivers deaneries process into the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus holding their Books of the Elect for the Rite of Election ceremony. Top right: Bishop Richard F. Stika gives the homily to catechumens, candidates, and their godparents, sponsors, and RCIA leaders during a Rite of Election ceremony at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Bottom left: Bishop Stika greets one of the Diocese of Knoxville’s newest members during a Rite of Election ceremony. Bottom right: Bishop Stika watches as an RCIA leader introduces catechumens and candidates. Sister Peter Miriam Dolan, RSM, director of the diocesan Office of Christian Formation, is calling forth the individual parishes from the pulpit as Deacon Walt Otey assists. Rite of Election continued from page A4

dressed the candidates, asking, “Do you wish to enter fully into the life of the Church through the sacraments of confirmation and the Eucharist?” To which the candidates responded, “We do.” During the liturgy, the bishop greeted a receiving line of every catechumen and candidate. After the liturgy concluded, the bishop was present to take photos, bless devotional items, and spend more time in conversation. For catechumens and friends Caroline Swenson and Sophia Herrell, it was their first time visiting the Knoxville cathedral. “I have barely seen any Catholic cathedrals in my life, and so my experience really had me in awe,” Miss Swenson said. “Bishop Stika and all of the nuns at the Rite of Election were so nice and welcoming, and the whole experience made me even more excited for Easter Vigil.” “The cathedral is like a visual representation of the beauty of the liturgy and tradition of the Catholic Church,” Miss Harrell said. “I think it is very important to have beautiful churches. The Church is often misunderstood, but everyone understands beauty, so it can be a way that the Church communicates with the world.” Both Miss Swenson and Miss Herrell are students at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City and attend Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults classes at St. Mary Parish there. “My experience with RCIA has been very good,” Miss Swenson said. “We have always had great teachers every week and many thoughtprovoking conversations. Everyone at St. Mary in Johnson City has been very welcoming and kind toward me, and I couldn’t ask for a better experience.” When asked what inspired her to join the Catholic Church, Miss Herrell responded, “praying the rosary and reading made me Catholic.” “Particularly reading about the history of the early Church and the writings of the saints, especially the Church doctors,” she continued. “I think going to Mass and being in the presence of the Eucharist for the first time was when I decided for sure that I wanted to enter into the Church.” “[Caroline and Sophia] are both in school and such hard-working young ladies,” said Kathy Garland, a first-year RCIA coordinator at St. Mary Parish. “My heart just melts at how devoted they are to RCIA. I’m so blessed to have such a great team and the growth we have experienced this year.” Mrs. Garland, who herself converted to the Catholic faith in 2016, prayed and discerned before serving on the RCIA team. “I was a little nervous but also excited because I know how I felt going through it,” she said. “I kind of like to say when someone asks me, when does our RCIA start, I always say usually with a phone call. It starts right then,” Mrs. Garland said. “You start with your relationshipA6 n APRIL 3, 2022

building and then you encounter with the seekers, and basically you think that you are interviewing them, but they really, I think, seem like they’re interviewing you to say, ‘Do I feel comfortable to be here, do I feel safe to share?’” The Rite of Election liturgy was impactful for their entire RCIA group. Mrs. Garland noted how her catechumens and candidates were lighting candles, observing the artwork, and trying to soak in the whole atmosphere. “I just felt the Holy Spirit there the whole time. I felt tears of joy to be on the other side and watching them,” she said. “They said it was just one of the best experiences they’ve ever experienced, and I said you will never forget it.” Matthew Miles is in his third year as RCIA coordinator and sixth year as a team member at St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish in Cleveland, but the RCIA process and journey to the Rite of Election remains special to him all of these years later. “The Rite of Election, for a lot of them, is their first physical encounter with something outside of that local parish,” he said. “This is the first time, for some of them it might be the only time, they see the bishop in person. This is just such a great opportunity to bring them together as a group.” The St. Thérèse team has two catechumens and six candidates, the youngest being a senior in high

Sr. Regina

school and the oldest being a senior in his 70s. “You get a variety of people,” Mr. Miles said. “Some of them are married to a Catholic and have been attending Mass for a long time, and they’re finally feeling like it’s time for them to join. You have others who, maybe something sparked their interest, you know, something they saw in the media, or a book they read, or a class they’ve taken at school…and they just kind of want to know more.” Mr. Miles is a convert who has first-hand experience of going through the process of RCIA and desires to help others on their faith journeys. “I just love seeing people grow closer to Christ,” he said. “Being able to walk with a variety of people year after year, for me it’s kind of a cyclical journey that I get to kind of go through the experience of questioning and learning and growing closer to Christ.” The final steps for the catechumens and candidates will be reception into the Catholic Church during the Easter Vigil on April 16, where they will receive the Holy Eucharist for the first time. Then on Sunday, May 22, at the cathedral, Bishop Stika will celebrate the Sending of the Neophytes Mass, where those who entered the Church at Easter Vigil are formally sent forth into the world to proclaim the Gospel through their words and actions. ■ © 2022 Handmaids of the Precious Blood

Did you know you can receive weekly cartoons and short reflections and news from the Handmaids of the Precious Blood? Visit their website, nuns for priests.org, and sign up for the FIAT newsletter. You also can learn about praying for priests and adopting them. www.di o k no x .o rg

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

On the road again

Bishop Stika resumes a full confirmation schedule as youth prepare to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit By Dan McWilliams

Ecumenical continued from page A5

in some ways I like to call it the GPS system for our daily living. Not the global positioning system, the miraculous way that satellites guide us to the nearest Wendy’s restaurant. But God’s Plan for Salvation. GPS,” Father Sullivan said. “Hope. Are we a hopeful people? Are we aware of the blessing that God has bestowed upon us? Does that inspire us to live lives of holiness, a service to the building of God’s kingdom?” he continued. “And, of course, love—the centerpiece of our lives. The gift of Jesus’ love to all of us,” he concluded. Father Sullivan reminded the congregation that Bartimaeus, with his new sight, began to follow Jesus. The Paulist priest then sang a verse from a song by gospel singer Amy Grant: “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and light unto my path.” “We Catholics can learn from our Protestant brothers and sisters about the sacred Scriptures. I think we all (Catholics) got C-minuses in this class as we come to you (Protestants) with a desire to learn, to delve into Scripture more fully, to see how the Word can impact our lives. We thank you for your wonderful example of knowing the Scriptures so well over these many years,” he said. “We pray together that we can involve ourselves more fully in the grace, the blessings of this Lenten season. We pray especially that our eyes will be opened, that our spiritual blindness may be healed by the Lord, that we may see with the eyes of our Creator, seeing the beauty in all creation and each and every human being made in God’s divine image,” he continued. “May our eyes and our hearts be opened this season that we may walk together to praise God through our words and deeds Bishop’s schedule continued from page A3

n Sunday, April 24: 9 a.m. Confirmation Mass at St. Joseph Church in Norris. n Wednesday, April 27: 6:30 p.m. Confirmation Mass at St. Bridget Church in Dayton. n Thursday, April 28: 5 p.m. KDCCW Mass at St. Thérèse of Lisieux Church in Cleveland. n Friday, April 29: 6 p.m. Confirmation Mass at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Chattanooga. TH E EAST T E N N E S S E E C AT HO L I C

DAN MCWILLIAMS (2)

ishop Richard F. Stika is back on the road conferring confirmations after COVID paused most of his celebrations of the sacrament last year, and no one may be any happier about it than he is. “It’s great,” he said following a confirmation March 27 at St. Joseph the Worker Church in Madisonville. “I’ll be doing them every weekend and some days during the week. It’s just nice to be with the people. I much prefer to be with the people as opposed to being [alone] in the office, unless people come to visit me.” Pastors were given the faculties to celebrate confirmations last year during the pandemic. “I did some,” Bishop Stika said, “but with COVID and the uncertainty and the limitations on the people in the church, I just delegated the pastors to do it whenever they could, but I did some last year as well.” Youth confirmation used to be reserved for teenagers, but younger kids are receiving the sacrament now. “We shifted that a few years ago to fifth and sixth [grades], just because I think the gift of the Holy Spirit in confirmation, kids nowadays, children nowadays, need that extra help,” Bishop Stika said. “It’s working out fine.” The post-COVID return to normal is “as normal as it could be” with the situation in Ukraine, the bishop said. “We really have to pray for

Sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit Above: A young member of St. Joseph the Worker Church is confirmed by Bishop Richard F. Stika. Below: Confirmandi pray during the March 27 confirmation Mass.

“I can always see it in their eyes, and I see it in their parents and sponsors and with the photographs. It’s just a reflection of who we are,” he said. St. Joseph the Worker pastor Father Julius Abuh and his parishioners welcomed the bishop to the Monroe County church. “Today for us in our parish is a day of great joy, that we can have the successor of the Apostles in the person of Bishop Richard Stika come visit our parish, and not just a visit—he has come to perform the sacrament of confirmation on eight of our candidates,” Father Abuh said. “It makes the Church present, because the Church teaches that wherever the bishop is, there is the Church. We find his presence very gratifying.” Everyone was excited over the bishop’s visit, he added. “The kids and everybody and myself as the pastor, everybody— the general populace—they are so excited to see Bishop Stika today,” Father Abuh said. “All the parishioners, the families and friends of all those who have been confirmed, are so happy to see the bishop.” Bishop Stika has a special affinity for the Madisonville parish’s patron saint. “Since St. Joseph is one of my favorite saints, and since I love to travel to see all of the people in the diocese, which I’m doing now for confirmations, it’s a joy for me to be here with all of you as we celebrate the sacrament of confirmation with my sisters and

Ukraine and Russia because that could spread so easily. That has to be utmost in our prayer life,” he said.

The eight confirmandi at St. Joseph the Worker were excited to receive the sacrament, Bishop Stika pointed out.

and help in the building of God’s kingdom here in Knoxville and throughout the world.” Among those in attendance were Steve Underwood, his wife, and their young great-niece and greatnephew. Mr. and Mrs. Underwood belong to First Baptist Church. “It was a great service. It brings people together from different walks of life. We see different things in the churches that are beautiful. We see the traits that Catholics follow, which are a little different than ours. It all works out, though. The bottom line is our Christ, and that is what we’re here for. All of us are here for that. We felt it from the heart,” Mr. Underwood said. The Underwoods attended with the Rev. Brent McDougal, senior pastor of First Baptist Church, who relishes the opportunity to share in different faith practices. “I love it when we come together to experience how people from different traditions practice their faith. We can share in celebrating the centerpiece of our common faith: the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ. There’s a beautiful spirit that emerges when we gather for worship and a meal,” the Rev. McDougal said. “Not only do we see the different spaces where people worship downtown, but we also catch a glimpse of how worship flows and how people talk about their faith. We gain unity and embrace our common mission of being a blessing in the heart of Knoxville. The Rev. McDougal believes not only in God and His son, Jesus, he also believes that shared belief represented in the Downtown Lenten Worship & Lunch Series can lead to more ecumenism. “I do believe that we have more in common than we do that divides us.

Being exposed to the various traditions of faith helps us to remember that even though we have differences, the love of Christ is like a banner over us all. That kind of united love can be a beacon for a divided world,” he said. Father Charlie Donahue, CSP, pastor of Immaculate Conception, is a firm believer in ecumenical outreach and the fruit of that labor. He cites Pope St. John Paul II and his Ut unum sint (That they all may be one), pointing out that the Catholic Church embraces with hope the commitment to ecumenism as a duty of the Christian conscience enlightened by faith and guided by love. “In a world and at a time of growing unbelief, it is important for believers to come together in common witness,” Father Donahue said. “It is so great to come together—not only as ministers as we do throughout the year—but during this season of Lent with our church members as well.” “It is good to expose each other to our prayer and worship practices. So often we see stereotypes of how other churches gather and worship. It is important, too, that we see the lived reality of our neighbors. As Paulist Fathers, Father Tim and I have a special calling toward ecumenism (relationships with non-Catholic Christians) and dialogue,” Father Donahue noted. “It is an important part of our charism,” he added. “About a decade ago I was able to study with the Centro Pro Unione in Rome. It is offered by the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement and The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. I learned there not only about the ‘irrevocable commitment’ to ecumenism but also how to engage with one another in charity, openness, and willingness to know, understand,

and share our faith.” Father Donahue is confident the shared experience of the ecumenical services will work in reverse, too. “This may seem counterintuitive, but each will come away with a deeper understanding and wonder about their own faith. Our prayerful relationship with Christ and one another in an environment of a hospitable meal-sharing leads us to a deeper appreciation of our own tradition and fellowship. Think of the Emmaus encounter, the encounter of the Apostles with the risen Jesus as he bakes them a fish breakfast. ‘When two or three are gathered in my name, there I am among you,’ as Jesus says (Matthew 18:20),” he said. He sees how exposure to other faith practices can illustrate similarities and differences in the shared belief in God. “There are real differences in how our traditions teach us about how God saves us, and there are commonly held beliefs. The Nicene Creed is an excellent starting point. It should do our hearts good to know that so many non-Catholic Christians do find unity in the reciting of the Creed, in works of service, and in common witness,” Father Donahue continued. He concludes that it is possible to build on this ecumenical outreach and the shared experiences. “But it is indeed, as the Psalms say, ‘Deep calls to deep’ (Psalm 42:8). If we know and love our faith and traditions deeply, it enables us to engage other followers of Christ. The Acts of the Apostles recounts Peter being at the house of Cornelius and witnessing the fire and boldness of the Holy Spirit. He is surprised at how God is working in communities that seek a deeper understanding of the presence of Christ.” ■

n Saturday, April 30: 11 a.m. Confirmation Mass at St. John Neumann Church in Farragut. n Sunday, May 1: 2 p.m. Confirmation Mass at All Saints Church in Knoxville. n Tuesday, May 3: 7 p.m. Confirmation Mass at Blessed Sacrament Church in Harriman. n Wednesday, May 4: 7 p.m. Confirmation Mass at Our Lady of Fatima Church in Alcoa. n Thursday, May 5: 7 p.m. Confirmation Mass at the Cathedral

of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. n Saturday, May 7: 5:30 p.m. Confirmation Mass at St. Augustine Church in Signal Mountain. n Sunday, May 8: 9 a.m. Confirmation Mass at the Church of Divine Mercy in Knoxville. n Monday, May 9-Friday, May 13: Aspirant retreat for permanent deacon candidates at St. Bernard Abbey in Cullman, Ala. n Sunday, May 15: 10 a.m. Confirmation Mass at Holy Ghost

Church in Knoxville. n Sunday, May 15: 4 p.m. Sending of the Neophytes Mass at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. n Saturday, May 21: 10 a.m. Confirmation Mass at St. Thérèse of Lisieux Church in Cleveland. n Saturday, May 21: 5 p.m. Confirmation Mass at St. Alphonsus Church in Crossville. n Sunday, May 22: 11 a.m. Confirmation Mass at St. Mary Church in Gatlinburg. ■

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APRIL 3, 2022 n A7

Mission: Possible

St. Dominic Parish hosts first men’s conference, hopes to turn it into an annual Lenten event

hen the mission is sainthood, achieving the holiest of endeavors—getting to heaven—is of utmost importance to anyone of faith. And for dozens of men in the Five Rivers Deanery who aspire to sainthood, that mission may have indeed seemed impossible on March 12 when they awoke to six inches of snow on the ground from a late-season snowstorm that blew through East Tennessee during the overnight hours. But that didn’t keep them from their appointed objective: summon the Holy Spirit at St. Dominic Parish’s first Lenten men’s conference, where attendees could receive Him and come together in prayer, reflection, renewal, and fellowship. In addition to the Holy Spirit’s presence, the men convened to hear Father Tom Charters of the Glenmary Home Missioners, who is pastor of St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Erwin, and Daniel Schachle of the Knights of Columbus, whose son’s healing in the womb is a miracle being attributed to Knights of Columbus founder Blessed Father Michael J. McGivney. “This was the first area men’s conference hosted by St. Dominic Church. The theme was ‘Mission: Sainthood.’ The purpose of the conference was to provide an opportunity for men to grow in the Catholic faith and to receive support and encouragement from one another. The day was composed of three main presentations, witness talks, eucharistic adoration, the rosary, opportunity for confession, and the Mass,” said Father Michael Cummins, pastor of St. Dominic. “The conference was well received by the participants,” Father Cummins added. “The hope is for this to become an annual opportunity.” Father Cummins celebrated Mass for the men attending the day-long conference. Also taking part in the day-long celebration was Father Bart Okere, pastor of St. Henry Parish in Rogersville and chaplain of the Fatima continued from page A3

crisis of fatherhood among men. Satan, who rejected God’s fatherhood with the words, “Non Serviam”—“I will not serve”—also seeks to destroy fatherhood among men, and to pervert their hearts so as to destroy marriage and the family. Three years before her death, Sister Lucia wrote that “The final battle between the Lord and the kingdom of Satan will be about marriage and the family.” With the attacks upon traditional marriage and family having dramatically worsened, this battle is clear for all to see. Parents are now expected to surrender their God-given rights as the primary educators of their children to the government and its programs of ideological and gender indoctrination. More than ever, families need the help of our heavenly mother and our spiritual father, St. Joseph. A strong father and mother. The words spoken by the angel of the Lord to St. Joseph in a dream were not just meant for him alone but are for each of us: “Do not be afraid to take Mary… into your home” and into your heart (Matthew 1:20). St. Joseph wants nothing more than to bring Mary into our hearts so she can be our mother and make our heart Christ’s home. When I think of the importance of St. Joseph, where so many families are broken and suffering, I am reminded of the beautiful Scripture passage that speaks of his special role: “To the fatherless be as a father, and help their mother as a husband would”—Sirach 4:10. As our spiritual father, St. Joseph wants us to be part of the Holy Family. And there is no greater way to “honor thy father and mother” A8 n APRIL 3, 2022

Mission: Sainthood Diocese of Knoxville men who attended the first Lenten men’s conference at St. Dominic Church gather for a group photo during the March 12 event. St. Dominic pastor Father Michael Cummins hopes the conference will become an annual Lenten convocation.

COURTESY OF GREG DRONE

By Bill Brewer

state Knights of Columbus. Greg Drone, one of the conference organizers who is a member of St. Mary Church in Johnson City, Fr. Charters was pleased—relieved—that the snowstorm didn’t impact the conference too significantly. “Amid the late-spring snowstorm, 70 men of all ages braved the weather for a powerful day of inspiring talks, fellowship, the holy Eucharist, great food, and the opportunity to meet men from the local deanery. The planning team of Jim MacDougal, me, Mark Walter, Jared Hammond, Paul Vachon, Humberto Collazo, and Kevin Musser have been preparing for five months for this inspiring event,” Mr. Drone said. “It is hoped that this will be the launching of an annual event to be held during Lent each year. Men of all faiths are welcome to participate. Interest in opportunities for men to come together in prayer and be supported spiritually is very strong,” Mr. Drone added. Mr. Schachle, who is the general agent for the Knights of Columbus insurance division in Tennessee, told the men of “The Miracle of Mikey.” Michael “Mikey” Schachle is the youngest of Daniel and Michelle Schachle’s 13 children. During Mrs. Schachle’s pregnancy, doctors informed the Schachles that their baby had fetal hydrops, a life-threatening condition. When the doctors informed the couple that their baby had zero

chance of survival, the couple was given two options: terminate the pregnancy or wait for him to die on his own. “I was angry at the doctor for tellMr. Schachle ing me to kill my child. It’s my job as father to protect my children, not destroy them,” Mr. Schachle recalled. “God gave me the special grace of hope in that moment. As St. Augustine said, ‘Hope has two beautiful daughters. Their names are anger and courage; anger at the way things are, and courage to see that they do not remain the way they are.’” The Schachles made a pilgrimage to Fatima and prayed to the Venerable Michael McGivney to intercede for Mikey. Upon their return from Fatima, a visit to the obstetrician revealed the fetal hydrops condition had disappeared and Mrs. Schachle would give birth to a thriving baby. “God works in our imperfection, in our frailty. All it takes for us is to be humble enough to submit to His will for our life, to abandon ourselves to His providence. To pray like it’s all up to Him, but act like it’s all up to us,” Mr. Schachle said. Mikey Schachle has thrived since his birth. He was born with Down syndrome and some conditions associated with Down, but he is proving the medical community wrong and God’s community right. Mikey’s medically unexplained healing is attributed to the prayers Mr. and Mrs. Schachle, along with

than by consecrating ourselves to the Blessed Mother and to St. Joseph—a holy family in Christ.

desperately needed.

God’s co-workers. As St. Joseph is the special “patron of workers,” our consecration links us in a far more profound way to God’s peace plan as His “co-workers” in the world (1 Corinthians 3:9). This means, above all, we must live our conversion by turning away from selfishness and sin, turning anew toward God every day. But this conversion of heart, and the penances and sacrifices we offer, are not meant just for our blessing and growth in holiness, but that we might also be the bearers of Christ’s blessings to others and help sinners return to God. Obstacles to true peace. Venerable Pope Pius XII declared in 1946, not even halfway through the bloodiest century of world history, that “the sin of the century is the loss of a sense of sin.” St. Paul reminds us that “our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens” (Ephesians 6:12). Sin and evil are very real, as are the consequences of sin, which destroys peace. For every “personal sin” is also a “social sin.” And this is because, as the Church teaches, “a supernatural solidarity reigns among men, whereby the sin of one harms the others just as the holiness of one also benefits the others.” That is why confession is not only the sacrament of personal healing, but also social healing. As the “Angel of Peace” explained to the Fatima children, our prayers, ongoing conversion, and sacrifices are

Prayer and sacrifice. The story of Fatima actually began a year earlier in the spring of 1916, when an angel appeared to the three shepherd children telling them: “You must pray a great deal. The hearts of Jesus and Mary have designs of mercy on you. Offer up prayers and sacrifices to the Most High. Make everything you do a sacrifice and offer it to God in reparation for the countless sins by which He is offended and in supplication for the conversion of sinners. In this way, you will bring peace to your country.” And he taught them a prayer of reparation that is truly pleasing to God as an extension of the holy sacrifice of the Mass that we must continue to live throughout each day: Most Holy Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—I adore You profoundly. I offer You the most precious Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ, present in all the tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges, and indifferences whereby He is offended. And through the infinite merits of His Most Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg of You the conversion of poor sinners. Prayer of sacrifice. Our Lady, in her messages at Fatima, encourages us to offer sacrifices, small and great, as often as we possibly can in our day with all its crosses and sufferings, praying as we do: “O my Jesus, it is for the love of You, for the conversion of sinners, and in reparation for sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer this sacrifice to You.” Conclusion. The message of Fatima is one of penance and conversion. And Mary’s parting words on

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many supporters, made to God through the intercession of the Blessed Mother and Father McGivney. In May 2020, Pope Francis officially declared Fr. Cummins Mikey’s cure a miracle attributed to Father McGivney, opening the path for his beatification later that year. The Schachles say their experience taught them to trust in God through even the most dire of circumstances, and that the family is a gift beyond measure. Six years later, Mikey is a bounding little boy and an active, essential part of the Schachle clan. Father Charters then addressed the men. The Glenmary priest spoke fondly of his spiritual director, a Jesuit priest at Xavier University in Cincinnati. The 94-year-old Father Al Bischoff remains active and is popular on campus. He refers to everyone he sees on campus as “Saint.” “As one student said to him, ‘Father B, you call me saint because you don’t remember my name.’ Father B told him that was true. The student responded, ‘Father B, you may not remember my name, but I still like being called saint.’ If you understand Father B’s definition of saint then you will understand why each of you, me, in fact, all people can be called saint,” Father Charters told the men. “Many years ago, Father B gave Mission continued on page A9

Oct. 13, 1917, immediately before the great miracle of the sun began, are words we must urgently take to heart: “People must amend their lives and ask pardon for their sins. They must not offend Our Lord any more for He is already too much offended.” For the peace we want in our hearts and in our world, let us consecrate ourselves to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and to the most pure heart of St. Joseph. And please honor Our Lady’s urgent request for peace by attending Mass on the first Saturdays of five consecutive months and going to confession. Book recommendations. To assist you in making your consecration to Mary and St. Joseph, and to live your life as God’s co-worker for peace in the world, I cannot more highly recommend two books to you by two priests of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception (MIC)—Father Michael Gaitley and Father Donald Calloway. The books are 33 Days to Morning Glory and Consecration to St. Joseph— The Wonders of Our Spiritual Father. They each offer a 33-day program of short daily readings and prayer that are sure to excite your faith. To learn more about the Fatima apparitions, I recommend the work of Father John de Marchi, IMC, The True Story of Fatima, which can be read online. And to assist you in praying and reflecting more attentively and beautifully upon the mysteries of the rosary, contact Paul Simoneau, psimoneau@dioknox. org, at the Diocese of Knoxville Chancery regarding his insightful booklet and instruction, Icons of the Mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary. It is sure to transform your rosary meditations in incredible ways. Our Lady of Fatima, and St. Joseph, pray for us! ■ TH E EA S T TEN N ES S EE C ATH OLI C

Mission continued from page A8

me his definition of a saint: ‘a saint is a sinner.’ After reflecting upon that definition, I made an addition. I define a saint as ‘a saint is a sinner who tries.’ A saint is a person who tries to live life as best as he or she can. And the way to mature in one’s sainthood is to incorporate three essential ingredients: listening, humility, and sacrifice,” Father Charters continued. He offered some sobering insight and reflection into the men’s lives and their upbringing as males. “I have found that men find it extremely difficult to accept the biblical truth that God’s Divine Image dwells within them,” Father Charters said. “Why do I say it is difficult for men? It is the male image which deafens us to hearing God tell us that we are made in God’s Divine Image. We do not listen to God speaking to us because of the image we embrace as men. Our listening to dominance and power hinders us from listening to God. “We seek to control, and often in turn, demean people by our desire to have power over others. Perhaps some of your fathers have dominated your lives over the years, and in turn, from their patterns you have passed the same patterns onto your sons. Or, perhaps you might be trying to dominate your sons’ lives at the present time,” he added. Father Charters recalled a conversation with a young man he thought had gifts for the priesthood. After asking the young man if he had ever TH E EAST T E N N E S S E E C AT HO L I C

considered the priesthood, the young man told him he would like to consider it but his father forbid it. The family attended Mass every Sunday. “When we cease to honor the Divine Image of God within another person, we side with the Evil One. Just as the Evil One distorted Adam and Eve’s view of themselves, so, too, does the Evil One continue to distort our vision of seeing ourselves as we are,” the Glenmary priest said. Father Charters reminded the men that humility, the ability to listen, and sacrifice are key elements in achieving sainthood. “Perhaps the fullest definition of sainthood is a ‘saint is a sinner who tries to listen, who tries to be humble, and who tries to sacrifice.’ If we men are to be saints, we need to listen; not just impose our wills, but really listen,” Father Charters advised. “God listens to us. We need to listen to God. If we men are to be saints, we need to humble ourselves. If we men are to be saints, we need to sacrifice in order to be whole. And in listening, being humble, and sacrificing, we are able to become the person God created us to be. “I end this presentation with some questions for you. Do you really believe that God dwells within you? Do you reflect the Divine Presence of God to others; perhaps to your spouse, children, siblings, and others? Do you see the Divine Presence of God in others? Do you listen to others, seeking to hear God’s presence in them? Do you humble your-

self, knowing honestly your faults and strengths and are willing to speak about both? Do you sacrifice, desiring to make others whole? Are you able to see yourself as a saint

now, who is a sinner, and who is trying to listen, and seeking ways to refine the listening skills, and trying to be humble, as well as trying to sacrifice for others?” ■

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APRIL 3, 2022 n A9

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Cross Catholic Outreach Supplies Safe Water to Poor Families in African Dioceses Every 15 seconds, a child in a developing country dies from cholera or some other waterborne disease because their water is contaminated with bacteria and parasites. When a community does not have its own water system — which is often the case in many African nations — the community’s women and children must walk for miles over rough terrain each day to find and collect water from a remote source. Even when they are successful in this daunting task, the water they collect can be risky to use because most of these groundwater sources are contaminated. (See related story on opposite page.) “It is an incredible hardship for these families, but the Church in Africa is working hard to find solutions to these challenges, and we are partnering with bishops in several dioceses to help provide that relief,” said Jim Cavnar, president of Cross Catholic Outreach, an official Catholic ministry with a history of success in supporting African missions. The current water projects undertaken by Cross Catholic Outreach will help communities in Ghana, Malawi and Zambia. “Our mission team is currently working with Bishop Richard Kuuia Baawobr in the Diocese of Wa, Ghana; Bishop Martin Anwel Mtumbuka in the Diocese of Karonga, Malawi; and Bishop George Zumaire Lungu in the Diocese of Chipata, Zambia. Each of these wonderful Catholic

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Cross Catholic Outreach is working to provide safe, clean water sources in poor, rural communities in Ghana, Malawi and Zambia. leaders has a deep love of the people in his diocese and is very concerned about the water crisis rural families are facing on a daily basis,” Cavnar said. “They’ve identified the areas of greatest need, and we are working with them to ensure those communities are provided with safe, abundant sources of water.” To address this need, Cross Catholic Outreach drills wells and installs pumps and enclosures that will protect the quality of the water. Drilling the wells to a depth determined by a local hydrology company ensures they will

continue to supply clean water even during the driest season of the year, when substandard wells are known to dry up. “It is important to do the job to a high professional standard and to provide sturdy pumps at each location because our goal is to have these water systems serve generation after generation, providing safe water for many years to come,” Cavnar explained. “We also work with the diocese to create water committees at each well location. These local leaders play a critical role in managing the use of the well and ensuring it

remains in good condition. They also set up a community fund to cover the cost of any repairs that become necessary. These additional steps also help extend the water system’s effectiveness and longevity.” While the donors who help Cross Catholic Outreach fund these water projects appreciate the care the ministry takes with its work, it is the impact of providing water to poor families that appeals to them most, Cavnar said. “Many of our donors are aware of the terrible fatalities caused by waterborne diseases, especially among children,” he said. “They value life, and they want to make sure the vulnerable are protected. Giving to support water projects achieves that goal, but it also produces other important benefits because it supports the Church’s educational goals and helps families lift themselves out of poverty by eliminating the burden of searching for and collecting water.” Readers interested in supporting Cross Catholic Outreach’s many relief programs to help the poor can contribute through the ministry brochure inserted in this issue or send tax-deductible gifts to: Cross Catholic Outreach, Dept. AC01993, PO Box 97168, Washington, DC 20090-7168. The ministry has a special need for partners willing to make gifts on a monthly basis. Use the inserted brochure to become a Mission Partner or write “Monthly Mission Partner” on mailed checks to be contacted about setting up those arrangements.

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

A10 n APRIL 3, 2022

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

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

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

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American Catholics Working to End Water Crisis Faced by Poor Families in Africa and Beyond

The search for and collection of water remains a daunting task in many African countries. During dry seasons, holes are dug in the riverbeds. As muddy water slowly seeps up to fill these pits, it is collected for drinking and cooking. When families lack access to essential resources for life, like food, water and safe shelter, their time and energy is often consumed with a desperate search for those resources. By necessity, survival becomes their first priority. It dominates their every thought, consumes their valuable time and saps their useful energy. It is a terrible and stressful way to live. “Some describe this constant daily pursuit of survival without any real progress as ‘the deadly cycle of poverty,’ because once a family is trapped in it, it steals the potential of one generation after another. Today’s children are born into the poverty of their parents, and they in turn are unable to offer any hope to their sons and daughters. The tragic cycle just keeps repeating itself,” explained Jim Cavnar, president of Cross Catholic Outreach, one of the most successful Catholic ministries working to end this kind of poverty around the globe. According to Cavnar, there are only a few ways to successfully break this cycle of poverty, and one of them involves water. “When you look for the source of poverty in developing countries — particularly in Africa — you often discover that water scarcity or unsafe water is at the root of the problem,” he said. “In the poorest communities, families usually lack access to water and spend enormous amounts of time and energy finding and collecting it. These women and children leave home before dawn and walk miles to the nearest borehole, dam or stream, whether the water there is clean or not. Some even sleep in those remote places just so they can be first in line for water in the morning. That is risky because it makes them vulnerable to wild animals and human predators.” While this risk may seem unwise, the poor consider it an unavoidable trade-off to save precious time.

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Once the queue starts forming, it can take hours for a family to collect the water they need. In the dry season, their lives become even more difficult. At certain times of the year, streams and other groundwater sources literally dry up. Then families dig holes in a dry riverbed and wait for muddy water to well up from below so they can fill their buckets. “It would be bad enough if water scarcity was the only problem the poor face. But even when water can be found, it is often unsafe for human consumption,” Cavnar said. “As you would imagine,

water from ponds and streams is used by animals and also becomes contaminated with debris and chemical runoff. Still, these families have no other options, so they drink water polluted by parasites, bacteria and waste — risking their health to quench their thirst. When they become sick, it only adds to their trials and adds to the burdens they must endure in order to survive.” Fortunately, this troubling situation has not been ignored by the Church or ministries serving the poor. In fact, partnerships between dioceses and Cross Catholic

Outreach have produced practical solutions to water scarcity problems in Africa and beyond. Very often, American Catholics are part of this important cause too. Their donations fund the wells African communities desperately need. “We can end the misery of poor families in remote areas of Africa by installing simple deep-water wells in their communities, and American Catholics can play a critical role in that outreach,” Cavnar confirmed. “Supplying water has an obvious benefit — it addresses a basic human need. But the impact of these projects goes much deeper. Donors who support our efforts to provide poor communities with clean, easily accessible water are also improving public health and helping promote the education of needy children. When we install wells in a community, children are sick less often and spend fewer hours searching for and collecting water. That has a huge impact on their education because they can attend classes regularly and have the time and energy to study.” To bring all of these blessings to the poor in Africa, Cross Catholic Outreach recently launched a new Wells of Salvation campaign aimed at helping poor families in three African dioceses. (See related story on the opposite page.) Cavnar’s prayer is that hundreds of compassionate Catholics will donate generously so dozens of wells can be installed in these African communities, ending the terrible burdens water scarcity has placed on them.

How to Help

To fund Cross Catholic Outreach’s effort to help the poor worldwide, use the postagepaid brochure inserted in this newspaper, or mail your gift to Cross Catholic Outreach, Dept. AC01993, PO Box 97168, Washington, DC 20090-7168. The brochure also includes instructions on becoming a Mission Partner and making a regular monthly donation to this cause. If you identify an aid project, 100% of the donation will be restricted to be used for that specific project. However, if more is raised for the project than needed, funds will be redirected to other urgent needs in the ministry.

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APRIL 3, 2022 n A11

Pro-Life Day on the Hill draws women from across state

Gov. Lee lauds grassroots advocates for their work and support of the unborn; update on legislative initiatives given

By The East Tennessee Catholic

BILL BREWER (2)

omen from across Tennessee joined together March 22 in Nashville in a demonstration to state lawmakers and Gov. Bill Lee of their support for prolife legislation and policies. More than 200 people, including a contingent of Diocese of Knoxville parishioners, gathered at the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum event venue in the state capital for a daylong convocation of prayer and praise for efforts to stem abortion. In addition to their hearing from Gov. Lee, the women also visited with their state representatives in the Cordell Hull Building at the state capitol to share their thoughts and concerns. The 2022 edition of Pro-Life Women’s Day on the Hill took on an especially sobering tone as the country braces for a U.S. Supreme Court ruling this year that could either reinforce the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that made abortion legal in every state or could result in overturning the historic ruling. Dot LaMarche, a member of St. John Neumann Parish in Farragut and a longtime pro-life activist in East Tennessee, was again in attendance for Women’s Day on the Hill and found the conference inspirational in light of so much activity in the pro-life movement around the country. “It’s a wonderful thing that Tennessee Right to Life provides for women across the state of Tennessee to inspire them to be better in fighting abortion. My favorite people are the unborn and the elderly, and that’s who I’ve always worked for,” said Mrs. LaMarche, who received Tennessee Right to Life’s Lifetime ProLife Advocacy Award in 2021. She pointed out that pro-life activists have worked hard for decades to turn the tide on abortion, and she is hopeful the Supreme Court will overturn Roe v. Wade in a decision that could come as early as June, sentiments shared by Gov. Lee. “This is an extremely important time in the pro-life history. That would be a wonderful victory for us. We’ve worked long and hard,” she said. “If Roe v. Wade is overturned and it comes back to the states, we already have the law in place that makes it so much better for us. We’re very fortunate to live in the state of Tennessee.” Mrs. LaMarche was referring to the possibility that the Supreme Court ruling will leave it up to each state, and not the federal government, to decide whether to make abortion illegal. Tennessee already has passed a

Help from above Gov. Bill Lee speaks to women from across Tennessee during the Pro-Life Women’s Day on the Hill in Nashville on March 22. He cited God’s guidance and thanked the women for their advocacy. trigger law that if Roe v. Wade is overturned, abortions would automatically be illegal in Tennessee. Tomi Robb from East Tennessee valued the chance to meet with state lawmakers to make her opinions and concerns known face-to-face. “The opportunity to take groups to speak to representatives is something that is really rare. Being able to take a whole group and say, ‘Hey, we just want to speak with you, we just want to thank you, we just want to encourage you, we want to let you know what we do or why we do it.’ It’s just a great opportunity to have conversation,” Ms. Robb said. “There is nothing more important than conversation and looking someone in the face and telling them what you actually think so that you’ve said what you wanted to say, they’ve heard what you wanted to say, and we know what we’re talking about. That is the most important thing,” she added. Like so many of her peers, Ms. Robb is encouraged by the support she is seeing, especially among youth. “I think the light is breaking through in all sorts of ways. You see

our young people, the newest generation, is more pro-life than the generation before them, partly because of technology and partly because of these legal cases. I think the tide is turning, and it’s incredibly important right now to keep pushing, to keep telling the truth,” she added. Mary Wilson was among the contingent of Diocese of Knoxville women who traveled to Nashville in support of life, and she was glad she did. Mrs. Wilson, a member of Holy Ghost Church, was emboldened by the number of women from West and Middle Tennessee sharing her excitement and concerns. And she’s hopeful that together with grassroots support, legislative support, and legal support, widespread abortion will soon become a thing of the past. Angel Brewer, state treasurer for Tennessee Right to Life who emceed Women’s Day on the Hill, said the women who convened for the conference are vital in sending a message to elected officials that the pro-life cause is important to the state. “Pro-Life Women’s Day on the Hill is a wonderful opportunity for

Supporting life is academic A group of students, parents, and teachers representing Nashville’s St. Cecilia Academy, an all-girls school, takes part in the Pro-Life Women’s Day on the Hill.

women from all over the state to gather and focus on the issue of life. It is a time to meet with legislators, share ideas and experiences, and receive inspiration. The women who participate always leave energized and ready to take on another year of defending the sanctity of life in all its ages, stages, and conditions,” Mrs. Brewer said. “It is important for our elected representatives and senators to know that their constituents are genuinely engaged for the cause of life. It is not just a plank in a political platform but a matter of life and death. The women who participate in Pro-Life Women’s Day on Hill send that message loudly and clearly, and we believe it is well received,” she added. The women began the day with a welcome from Angela Madden, vice president of Tennessee Right to Life, who is from Sevier County. “It is always a blessing to my soul to be with those who are motivated and filled with His truth and love. It is good to be about our Father’s business,” Mrs. Madden said as she segued into the opening prayer. Mrs. Madden enumerated the pro-life victories occurring around the country as more states like Texas, Arizona, West Virginia, Kentucky, Idaho, and Tennessee get tough on the killing of children in the womb. She also listed the challenges facing those opposing abortion, such as states like California and New York doubling down on pro-abortion laws and the federal government’s strong support of such laws. “Twenty-four states have banned telemedicine abortions. This legislation has become so important because the (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) in-person dispensing requirement for prescriptions of these poisonous drugs was permanently dropped last December,” Mrs. Madden said. “There’s also a focus on chemical abortions; abortion-pill reversal laws like the one we have in Tennessee have been enacted in 14 states. We should see more as the year progresses. As you can see, legislation, laws, nominations, and elections are critically important to our fight to protect lives from conception to natural death,” she noted. The women in attendance then received an update on federal and state legal and legislative efforts to restrict abortions. Will Brewer, a Knoxville lawyer and director of government relations for Tennessee Right to Life, explained pro-life efforts in other states and the impact, if any, they may have on Tennessee. He also updated the women on the process Women’s Day continued on page A17

Pro-life supporters point out risk, trauma with ‘self-managed’ abortion Groups sound the alarm over dangers and the need to inform mothers about abortion-pill reversal By Lauretta Brown National Catholic Register

A12 n APRIL 3, 2022

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hile the abortion pill mifepristone is being described as safe and easy to use, women and pro-life groups are pushing back strongly against those claims as more than half of U.S. abortions are now being done by pill, according to recent data from the pro-abortion Guttmacher Institute. Kelly Lester, a former abortionbusiness-worker-turned-pro-life advocate, told the Register that her abortion through medication was “the most traumatic by far” compared to her three surgical abortions. She had the abortion at home alone and described it as “more painful than any of my other procedures” because “I was medicated during those other procedures, and for this one I was not. I was fully awake and fully conscious.” Ms. Lester, who now works as the director of outreach for And Then There Were None and Pro-Love Ministries, said that the emotional trauma of the experience lingered after the three days of severe pain and heavy bleeding. “I had to deal with seeing the parts of the fetus — and not only seeing it

Let’s talk about life Kelly Lester, right, talks about her experiences in the pro-life movement in October at the annual Tennessee Right to Life banquet in Knoxville. Annette Lancaster, center, also a pro-life advocate, is shown along with Tennessee Right to Life treasurer Angel Brewer. that day, but every time I would go back to that bathroom, I would have to relive that experience,” she said. Abortion providers’ misinformation The information that Planned Parenthood provides about the pill on its website includes telling women that after taking the pill, “Most people go back to normal activities the day after a medication abortion” and com-

paring it to “having a really heavy, crampy period.” In terms of the emotional aftermath, the Planned Parenthood website says that while “people can have a range of emotions” after an abortion, “most people feel relief.” Ms. Lester said she was told similar things prior to her abortion, that she would experience “mild cramping, basically like a period,” and it would be “quick and easy and pretty much

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painless.” When she instead had “three days of nonstop, constant pain, cramping, bleeding, throwing up, and headaches,” she called the facility and experienced a “dismissive” tone. She was told that “nothing was wrong, that it would be fine” and that “after a week if it continued like that then go to the emergency room.” Ms. Lester said that what makes such situations especially traumatic is that “the abortion industry is telling you it’s not a big deal; it’s super easy,” and “if you have an experience that is contrary to that—which most people will—you think, ‘What’s wrong with me?’” She highlighted other concerning advice to women from abortion groups, including instructing women who have complications to say that they’re having a miscarriage. Due to this deception, serious complications from a medication abortion would go undetected. In a section on “selfmanaged” abortion, the abortion advocacy group Reproaction says, “The treatment of any complication of abortion is exactly the same as the treatment for complications of a miscarriage. There are no tests that can detect misoprostol, and there is no Abortion pill continued on page A17 TH E EA S T TEN N ES S EE C ATH OLI C

Deacon Hicks Armor named interim leader of NDHS Diocesan director of stewardship and strategic planning is a Notre Dame High School alumnus

ishop Richard F. Stika has appointed Deacon Hicks Armor as interim Head of School for Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga. “Deacon Hicks is the right person to lead Notre Dame at this time,” Bishop Stika said. “He is a Notre Dame alumnus, and I am pleased that he graciously accepted my invitation to guide the school and the Notre Dame community until we can select a permanent Head of School.” “Deacon Hicks will be utilizing the talents and advice of many individuals in his new position, including Dr. Sedonna Prater, superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Knoxville; Dr. Caroline Carlin, principal of Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in Chattanooga; Dickie Sompayrac, president of Knoxville Catholic High School; and other individuals in Chattanooga education circles and the Diocese of Knoxville,” Bishop Stika said. Deacon Armor is a product of

Catholic education, having graduated from St. Jude School and Notre Dame. He was instrumental in forming the Deacon Armor Notre Dame Alumni Association and other school-related alumni activities in the early to mid-1980s. He was ordained as a deacon in the Diocese of Knoxville in 2018. In addition to recently assisting Bishop Stika as an adviser to NDHS, Deacon Armor serves as chairperson for a major planning initiative for the Chattanooga Catholic schools. In 2020, Deacon Armor was appointed by Bishop Stika as director of stewardship and strategic planning for the Diocese of Knoxville. He will continue in this role

“This is an important role, and I am eager to help guide Notre Dame High School during this transition period. I know the school, the Notre Dame community, and I have a great love for the Chattanooga community....”” — Deacon Hicks Armor while he serves as interim Head of School at Notre Dame. Deacon Armor graduated from UT-Chattanooga with a degree in business administration. Prior to his career with the Diocese of Knoxville, Deacon Armor, a Chattanooga native, had a successful career in health care. He held executive positions in government claims, sales and marketing, and corporate projects for Blue CrossBlue Shield of Tennessee. He also served as the founding CEO at Galaxy Health Alliance, an alliance of 15 hospitals that focused on operational savings, clinical effectiveness, and network contracting. He also was a member of the regional executive committee and

as we pray with you, my sisters and brothers to be confirmed, my prayer for you is that you might always turn to the Lord and ask for His help and celebrate His presence with you daily, moment to moment,” he said. Bishop Stika said that at the chrismation, the anointing of the confirmandi’s foreheads with sacred chrism, the youth would be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit as he greeted them by their confirmation names. “So now you’ll have a special relationship with that saint for the rest of your lives,” he said. “God willing, someday you’ll meet them in heaven, and they’ll say, ‘Thanks—thanks for honoring me.’ The way you can honor that saint is how you choose to live your lives in goodness.” After confirmation, the bishop told the eight young people,

“You’re going to leave, and you’re going to make all kinds of decisions for the rest of your life. It’s our prayer that you’ll always include God in those decisions. And in those moments when you sin, and if you’re truly sorry and you confess that sin, God forgives because He is also a God of mercy.” In the confirmation rite, Bishop Stika asked the eight youth several questions, to which each answered, “I do.” “My sisters and brothers, I ask you, do you renounce Satan and all his works and all his empty promises? Do you believe in God, the Father, the Almighty, the Creator of heaven and earth? Do you believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary, suffered death and was buried, who rose again from the dead and is seated at the right hand of the Father? Do

you believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who today in this Church of St. Joseph the Worker, through the sacrament of confirmation, is given to you in a special way, just as it was given to the Apostles on that day of Pentecost? Do you believe in the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting?” The bishop continued. “My friends, this is our faith. This is the faith of the Church. We are proud to profess it through Christ our Lord. Amen.” He then invoked the Holy Spirit. “Dearly beloved, let us now pray to God, the Almighty Father, for these His adopted sons and daughters, already born again to eternal life in baptism, that He will graciously pour out the Holy Spirit upon them . . . and to confirm them with His many gifts and that through this anointing conform them more closely to Christ, the Son of God.” At the end of Mass, Bishop Stika complimented Mrs. Swiderek, the cantor, who also played harmonica during the liturgy. “I have to tell you—I love the harmonica,” the bishop said. The diocesan shepherd also shared, with an eye on the back of the nave, a hope he has for the future of St. Joseph the Worker Church. “I have this vision that someday I’ll come here and you’ll push out that brick, that wall, and increase the size of the church,” Bishop Stika said, quickly adding: “Don’t worry, I’m not announcing the fundraising, but I know someday it will happen because God is with us.” ■

bre picked up the nuncio’s joke and pronounced Louisville — Lou-ahvul — with a laugh, saying, “I practiced and I got it! Archbishop Kurtz … May all problems be so easily solved.” He went on to highlight a theme he also underscored the night before at vespers: unity in Jesus Christ. He asked the congregation to keep “our eyes focused on him; focused on the things that unite us instead of the things that divide us.” He was answered with applause. He added that the Archdiocese of Louisville is “rich in cultural diversity” and asked that people stand together “because we are in this together.” His message was reflected in the day’s prayer and music, which spanned cultures, languages, and time periods. Languages included

were Vietnamese, French Creole, Tagalog, Korean, German, Malayalam (a language spoken in southwestern India), Swahili, and Spanish. Following Mass, hundreds of people lined up to welcome the new archbishop. He received well-wishers for about two hours in the lobby of the convention center. Archbishop Fabre’s installation was 12 days after Archbishop Kurtz, who is 75, celebrated his 50th year of priesthood. His golden jubilee was marked with a Mass at the Cathedral of the Assumption on March 18. The Mass included a procession of nearly 25 deacons and more than 60 priests, and was followed by a luncheon. “There’s never been a day I’ve served as a priest or bishop that I’ve had anything but gratitude for my vocation,” Archbishop Kurtz said. The retiring archbishop told the congregation that he recently received a letter that was written in Latin from Pope Francis. Archbishop Kurtz said laughing that he wondered whether the letter would include a new assignment.

While the Holy Father’s letter did not include a new assignment, it did laud Archbishop Kurtz for his ministry of nearly 15 years as an archbishop as well as his service to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. “It’s a great honor for him (Pope Francis) to remember and respect the work not only you and I are doing, but also the work that the conference is doing,” Archbishop Kurtz said. The letter, Archbishop Kurtz said, was a good reminder to be as generous as we can be but also that “we’re given permission to be humble servants who are not perfect.” He said that when he began seminary he was challenged to choose a particular fault of his and work to turn a vice into a virtue. In his fourth year of theology, he admitted he was still working on the fault he picked: impatience. Archbishop Kurtz closed his anniversary Mass by calling on the congregation to pray for a vibrant and good Church that is vibrant in Jesus Christ that we may speak where necessary with bold courage, ... and humility to know God's in charge. ■

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their silent sufferings, the self-denial and sacrifices made by so many fathers and mothers to support their families. Who acknowledge, too, the effects of violence, corruption, and indifference that, in their wake, seek to stifle all hope. “A style of closeness that allows us to pour balm upon wounds and to proclaim a year of favor from the Lord. It is imperative to remember that the people of God are hoping to find shepherds in the style of Jesus.” Archbishop Pierre concluded by invoking the intercession of St. Joseph and the Blessed Mother. Following his speech, the nuncio presented the mandate to Archbishop Fabre, who showed it to the priests, bishops, and cardinals on the platform that served as the sanctuary and then stepped into the congregation to share it with the assembly. His formal installation concluded as Archbishop Kurtz and the nuncio guided him to the bishop’s chair— the cathedra—where he received his crozier, a staff of polished wood. During his homily, Archbishop FaTH E EAST T E N N E S S E E C AT HO L I C

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brothers,” he said in his opening remarks. The bishop celebrated the confirmation Mass before a standingroom-only gathering with Father Abuh concelebrating and Deacon Patrick Murphy-Racey assisting. Keith Feltz is the catechist for the St. Joseph the Worker confirmandi, and Jan Dye is the director of religious education. John McClure and Art Slouka proclaimed the readings, and cantor Jodi Swiderek, guitarist Ben Swiderek, and pianist Lynn Kyker provided the music. Mr. Feltz presented the candidates for confirmation to the bishop. “I present to you these young people of St. Joseph the Worker Parish, who have completed a period of preparation for confirmation,” he said. “They have deepened their knowledge of Jesus Christ . . . and they have been supported by the prayers and example of our parish community.” The bishop began his homily by offering the confirmandi “my prayerful congratulations.” He also told them that “God in his infinite wisdom knows that we need help. That is why we celebrate the confirmation that we’ll celebrate with all of you. The Holy Spirit, that unpredictable force that God, through Jesus, promised when Jesus ascended to His Father, that unpredictable force gives us that assistance.” Bishop Stika did ask the assembly to notify him of one potential occurrence as referenced in Scripture. “If anybody sees tongues of fire, let me know.” The bishop had a prayer for the confirmandi. “During this Lenten season,

directed the property and casualty operations of First Tennessee Bank’s commercial insurance division in Chattanooga. “This is an important role, and I am eager to help guide Notre Dame High School during this transition period,” Deacon Armor said. “I know the school, the Notre Dame community, and I have a great love for the Chattanooga community. This is an exciting time for Catholic schools in Chattanooga. We have a long, successful history educating and forming students in a Christian environment, and we are making plans to build on that tradition. I am humbled to accept Bishop Stika’s invitation to lead this process at this time.” ■

‘My friends, this is our faith’ Bishop Richard F. Stika celebrates Mass at St. Joseph the Worker Church in Madisonville. Bishop Stika is joined by St. Joseph the Worker pastor Father Julius Abuh, right, and Deacon Patrick Murphy-Racey.

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Study: ‘Christians in name only’ skew polls of U.S. believers Barna finds pollsters’ failure to distinguish practicing Christians from nominal adherents adds to confusion on teaching

study from a leading research firm suggests that “Christians in name only” may be skewing political polling data on the nation’s 176 million self-identified Christians. Pollster George Barna, founder of the Barna Group, said the study’s results indicate that secular pollsters will better describe U.S. Christians’ political views if they better differentiate the sort of believers they survey. “Our survey results clearly demonstrate how careful you have to be when interpreting data associated with a particular segment of people who are labeled as Christians,” said Mr. Barna, who also directs the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University, in a statement accompanying the study’s findings. “Political polling, in particular, may mislead people regarding the views and preferences of genuine Christ-followers simply based on how those surveys measure the Christian population.” According to the study, while 69 percent of U.S. adults self-identify as “Christian” and embrace many basic Christian tenets, many of them hold views that conflict with traditional teachings, and only 9 percent possess a “biblical worldview.” Skewed data, inaccurate conclusions While pollsters tend to ask people if they embrace a particular religious label, Mr. Barna said they do not often distinguish Christians’ specific beliefs about God and about how their faith frames their viewpoints on various cultural issues and behaviors. Because of this failure to distinguish practicing believers from

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By Sean Salai National Catholic Register

Identifying the faithful People at the Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City, Iowa, kneel in prayer on March 25 during the Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary for Ukraine and Russia. those who simply claim the label, the Barna study, first released in September 2021, finds that secular pollsters often receive skewed data that leads to inaccurate conclusions about Christian cultural beliefs. Father Jeff Kirby, a theologian and pastor in the Diocese of Charleston, S.C., said Mr. Barna’s study highlights how polls can misleadingly use nominal Christians to represent the views of Christianity. “The purpose of polling is to get a sense of where things are,” Father Kirby said. “It’s unhelpful to give data that’s supposedly held by Christians when those polled aren’t really trying to live the Christian way of life. For the sake of a true assessment, more questions have to be asked of those polled.” Mark Brumley, a Catholic lay apologist who serves as chief executive officer of Ignatius Press, said Mr. Barna’s study also affirms the reality that polling skewed by

nominal Christians feeds confusion and dissent among believers about the key teachings of their traditions. “It seems to confirm the existence of widespread, increasing confusion about, if not outright rejection of, certain key tenets of Christianity traditionally shared by Protestantism, Catholicism, and Orthodoxy, as well as certain doctrinal expressions associated with more conservative forms of Protestantism,” Mr. Brumley said. ‘Christian’ losing its meaning? Mr. Brumley added that “many people seem eager to retain a nominal identity with Christianity,” while rejecting many core aspects of the Christian tradition. “By traditional theological standards, such people are Christians in name only,” he said. Other Christian leaders told the Register that Mr. Barna’s findings reflect the messy reality of ordinary believers, allowing big polling firms to create a false impres-

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sion about the number of genuine adherents who reject the basic tenets of their faith. “Studies about Christians are plagued with misunderstandings and difficulties,” said Mark Tooley, president of the Institute on Religion and Democracy, a Protestant watchdog group. “Most Christians don’t have completely consistent beliefs or robust orthodox theology.” Mr. Tooley, a United Methodist layman, agreed with the Barna study’s conclusion that simplistic polls of Christians often give the wrong impression of how genuine believers vote. However, others cautioned against having an overly reductionistic account of “genuine adherents.” “There is more than one ‘Christian worldview,’” said Bishop John Kudrik, retired head of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Parma, Ohio, alluding to the complexity of his own Church, which is in communion with Rome while following Eastern Orthodox theology and ritual. Others, however, are concerned less with an overly narrow understanding of Christianity than they are with a version that’s so broad it loses any meaning. “Too often, it seems, people who are simply religious, or regular churchgoers, or perhaps people who want a certain reputation or image, embrace the label ‘Christian’ regardless of their spiritual life and intentions,” Mr. Barna added in his statement. “‘Christian’ has become somewhat of a generic term, rather than a name that reflects a deep commitment to passionately pursuing and being like Jesus Christ.” Better polling Mr. Barna’s study identified the Polling continued on page A16

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U.S. Ukrainian Catholic bishop visits refugees on war-torn border By Catholic Extension and staff reports

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Knoxville’s Ukrainian Catholic community Bishop Bohdan Danylo, center, is shown with Father Richard Armstrong, center right, and members of the St. Thomas the Apostle Byzantine Catholic Church in October 2018. March 25 – April 1, Bishop Danylo distributed to various organizations funds that have been donated by Catholic Extension and other benefactors to help Ukrainian refugees. He met with clergy and volunteers who distribute food and medicine, including those in the border city of Przemysl, Poland, Bishop Danylo’s childhood home, which has become one of the

main ports of entry for displaced Ukrainians fleeing their country. “The Church in Ukraine is connected to the people,” Bishop Danylo said. “They will need our help, unfortunately, I think for a long time.” Catholic Extension has launched an emergency fund to support efforts to help the people of Ukraine, which includes Ukrainian nuns and priests working to shelter,

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ishop Bohdan Danylo, who leads the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of St. Josaphat based in Parma, Ohio, is the first U.S. bishop to travel to the Ukrainian border following the Russian invasion. Throughout his visit, Bishop Danylo met with other charitable organizations as well as ministered and provided relief to displaced Ukrainian refugees and children. The trip was sponsored by Chicago-based Catholic Extension, which has supported the Ukrainian Catholic Church in America since 1979 by building churches and funding leaders and ministries. Ukrainian-American Catholics have maintained strong ties with the Catholic Church in Ukraine, whose institutions and leaders are on the frontlines addressing the humanitarian needs of their warravaged kinsmen. During his visit to the region

feed, and evacuate vulnerable families and children. Interested donors can visit catholicextension. org/ukraine. “Whatever gifts or donations are given will be able to go directly to those who are the most in need,” said Bishop Danylo, who added, “I believe that prayer is stronger than even bullets that are flying over.” Ukrainian Catholic bishops in the United States released a statement on the St. Josaphat Eparchy website in response to the war and suffering that is occurring in Ukraine. “The events of the last days have shaken us to the core. The sight of Russian missiles exploding over peaceful Ukrainian communities, long lines of terrified residents fleeing their homes or huddled in metro stations for safety, and enemy tanks rolling through quiet residential neighborhoods evokes horrible memories of war-torn Ukraine of the last century,” the statement said. The bishops encouraged the

Calling upon the Blessed Mother Top left: The Ukrainian flag flies at half staff marking Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24. The flag was waving outside of the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Top right: Bishop Richard F. Stika and Father Richard Armstrong were the celebrants at the Mass and consecration of Ukraine and Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on March 25. Bottom left: People attending the daily Mass and consecration kneel in prayer as the consecration is prayed by Bishop Stika. Bottom right: Deacon Walt Otey and Father Armstrong recess from the sanctuary and nave in the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus at the end of the Mass and consecration of Ukraine and Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Consecrate continued from page A1

The consecration prayer stated: “Mother of God and our Mother, to your Immaculate Heart we solemnly entrust and consecrate ourselves, the Church, and all humanity, especially Russia and Ukraine. Accept this act that we carry out with confidence and love. Grant that war may end and peace spread throughout the world. The ‘Fiat’ that arose from your heart opened the doors of history to the Prince of Peace. We trust that, through your heart, peace will dawn once more. To you we consecrate the future of the whole human family, the needs and expectations of every people, the anxieties and hopes of the world.” At the end of Mass, Bishop Stika discussed the “unique connection in Poland with Father Martin (Gladysz), our associate pastor,” who grew up in the Diocese of Krakow. The St. John Paul II Shrine in KraTH E EAST T E N N E S S E E C AT HO L I C

kow is receiving refugees so they may rest, shower, and eat before being placed with a host family or continuing their travels to reach relatives elsewhere. “I’ve asked all the parishes this weekend to take up a second collection, which is going to go straight to the shrine of St. John Paul, so they might be able to take care of the needs of tens of thousands of people who have no sense of what tomorrow’s going to hold for them,” Bishop Stika said. As of March 29, the cathedral’s parishioners have donated more than $89,000 to the shrine to aid Ukrainian refugees. Concelebrating alongside Bishop Stika was Father Richard Armstrong, who serves as both a Latin Rite and Byzantine Rite priest in the diocese. Father Armstrong is the pastor at St. Joseph Parish in Norris and the parish administrator at St. Therese

Parish in Clinton. He also is the pastor at St. Thomas the Apostle Eastern Byzantine Catholic Church in Knoxville. “Growing up, my father was Ukrainian Greek Catholic, and my mother was Latin Rite Catholic, so I grew up really with both traditions and feel fluid in both,” Father Armstrong said, noting that his grandmother was from Ukraine. “We have some ethnic Ukrainians that come to St. Thomas occasionally,” Father Armstrong said. “My parish is mostly a melting pot for all Byzantines, though—Melkite, Ruthenian, Ukrainian.” Since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, Father Armstrong’s Byzantine parish has been praying Moleben prayers, which are supplication prayers rooted in Slavic tradition and often prayed in Eastern Christian churches. “We’ve been praying the “Moleben During Time of War,” and we

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get weekly updates from our own patriarch (Bishop Bohdan Danylo) about the situation in Ukraine, and just continue to pray for peace,” he said. Father Armstrong said he was thankful and grateful for a “beautiful consecration.” “The consecration entails, of course, offering to Russia and Ukraine the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and she is really known as the protector of Christians, protector of God’s people,” he continued. “So, we turn to her, especially in times of need, and the Byzantine churches, we go under her mantle for protection.” The complete text of the consecration is available in both English and Spanish on the Diocese of Knoxville website, dioknox.org. The livestreamed March 25 Mass and Consecration at the Cathedral can be viewed on the cathedral’s YouTube channel. ■ APRIL 3, 2022 n A15

Pope consecrates Ukraine, Russia to Immaculate Heart of Mary By Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service

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faithful to do three things: “Firstly, to continue to pray as you have been, that Almighty God would end the conflict, ease the suffering of innocent people, and convert the hearts of the aggressors. “Secondly, to continue to counter disinformation being disseminated by the enemy and to speak the truth about Ukraine. Ukraine is once again the center of attention of the American public. It is our obligation to inform Americans with objective facts. “Thirdly, to continue to aid our Polling continued from page A14

following questions as useful in obtaining more accurate political and cultural information about U.S. Christians: What does each group within the ‘Christian’ classification believe, and how does it affect their lifestyle behaviors? How do the beliefs of each group within the ‘Christian’ classification affect their political affiliations and choices? What are the theological weak spots of each group, and why does this matter? A16 n APRIL 3, 2022

had announced special services to coincide with the timing of the consecration in Rome, even in the early hours of the morning. At the Dulce Nombre de Maria Cathedral-Basilica in Hagatña, Guam, Archbishop Michael Byrnes led the faithful in praying the rosary before reciting the Act of Consecration at 2 a.m. local time. Archbishop Georg Gänswein, private secretary of retired Pope Benedict XVI, told reporters that the former pope would join in the consecration from his residence. In a video before the liturgy, Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk of Kyiv-Halych, major archbishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, said he would join in the consecration “because today we need very much the victory of good.” The consecration, Archbishop Shevchuk said, “means that it is never possible to make a deal, to cooperate with this evil that emerges from Russia today.” “And that is why we must pray for its conversion, for the eradication of that evil, ‘so that it,’ as the Mother of God of Fatima said, ‘might not destroy other states, might not cause yet another world war.’ We, as Christians, have a duty to pray for our enemies,” he said. In Rome, the bells of St. Peter’s Basilica rang out after Pope Francis concluded the Act of Consecration. In his homily during the Lenten penance service, the pope acknowledged that the war in Ukraine, which “has overtaken so many people and caused suffering to all, has made each of us fearful and anxious.” While calls to “not be afraid” may soothe one’s helplessness in the face of war, violence, and uncertainty, the pope said that “human reassurance is not enough.” “We need the closeness of God and the certainty of His forgiveness, and once renewed by it, Christians can also turn to Mary and present their needs and the needs of the world,” he said. Pope Francis said the Act of

Consecration was “no magic formula but a spiritual act” of trust by “children who, amid the tribulation of this cruel and senseless war that threatens our world, turn to their mother, reposing all their fears and pain in her heart and abandoning themselves to her.” “It means placing in that pure and undefiled heart, where God is mirrored, the inestimable goods of fraternity and peace, all that we have and are, so that she, the mother whom the Lord has given us, may protect us and watch over us,” the pope said. In his prayer, Pope Francis specifically asked Mary to be with those suffering directly because of the war. “May your maternal touch soothe those who suffer and flee from the rain of bombs,” he prayed to Mary. “May your motherly embrace comfort those forced to leave their homes and their native land. May your sorrowful heart move us to compassion and inspire us to open our doors and to care for our brothers and sisters who are injured and cast aside.” Bishops in the United States took part in Pope Francis’ invitation to join him in the moment of prayer to consecrate Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. “Friends, we are all deeply disturbed by the war in Ukraine, and the unconscionable attacks on innocent men, women, and children in their homes and neighborhoods,” said Los Angeles Archbishop José H. Gomez, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, in a video message. “In this time when our world is weighed down under the shadow of war, I invite you to enter into this solemn moment of prayer with the Holy Father,” he said. “Together with him, let us ask our Blessed Mother to turn her eyes of mercy toward all her children. Let us ask her to intercede with her son, to deliver her children from evil and grant us peace.” Father John Broussard, of the Fathers of Mercy and rector of

suffering brothers and sisters, financially and materially. As Christians, we are called to respond generously to the humanitarian crisis that is unfolding before our eyes.” Donations and prayers continue to come from East Tennessee to assist those in need. “As a parish, we have given monetary donations to the eparchy to assist Ukrainian refugees in Europe,” said Father Richard Armstrong, pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle Byzantine Catholic Church in Knoxville. A small mission parish that boasts about 30 regular members,

St. Thomas has been under the Ukrainian Eparchy since 2009. Bishop Danylo visits the parish about once every three years. All parishes in the Diocese of Knoxville have held a special second collection for aid to Ukrainian refugees in Poland per Bishop Richard F. Stika’s instructions. “Please pray for the citizens of Ukraine who are living in difficult and dangerous times right now,” Bishop Stika said. “I offer my prayers that peace and freedom, which is rightfully theirs, return to them soon.” “As I watch the events unfold in

Eastern Europe, I am reminded of my own family heritage, and my thoughts are with Americans who trace their ancestry to that part of the world—some of whom may still have friends and relatives living there,” the bishop continued. “I pray for wisdom and compassion for our world leaders and that the aggressors in Ukraine recognize and repent of their oppressive acts. We ask God to protect the people of Ukraine. Amen.” For those who wish to donate online to the special collection, visit https://dioknox.org/collection-forukrainian-refugees. ■

What do the groups believe about media coverage of the issues now? If pollsters address these questions more precisely, Mr. Barna suggests a more accurate picture of the political landscape of U.S. Christians will emerge. Not all polling of Christians fails to take these factors into account. For instance, election-year polling conducted by RealClear Opinion Research on behalf of EWTN News made a point of making distinctions

— and the results were telling. “We found that the degree to which Catholics lived out their faith — frequency of Mass attendance and the sacrament of penance, daily prayer (especially the rosary) and belief in the Real Presence — had a very direct impact on how they view the world and politics, especially when it comes to voting,” said Matthew Bunson, executive editor of EWTN News. “Our polling was deliberately crafted to avoid the broad

and inaccurate results that have traditionally been so problematic.” But until all pollsters take these considerations into account, Catholic author and law professor at the University of Mississippi Ron Rychlak agreed that it’s important to read polls about Christianity with a critical eye. “Christianity is a big tent,” Mr. Rychlak said. “When pollsters get no more granular than that, they don’t tell us much.” ■

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s Russia’s violent monthlong invasion continued to devastate Ukraine, Pope Francis laid the fates of both countries at the feet of Mary in the hopes that peace would finally reign. “Mother of God and our mother, to your Immaculate Heart we solemnly entrust and consecrate ourselves, the Church and all humanity, especially Russia and Ukraine,” the pope said March 25, pronouncing the Act of Consecration after leading a Lenten penance service in St. Peter’s Basilica. Praying before a statue of Mary that was loaned by the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima at San Vittoriano on the outskirts of Rome, the pope pleaded with Mary to “accept this act that we carry out with confidence and love. Grant that war may end, and peace spread throughout the world.” Sitting in front of the statue, which was placed before the steps of the main altar on a red platform and adorned with white roses, the pope proclaimed the Act of Consecration. During the prayer, the pope paused at several moments to gaze at the statue of Mary before continuing to recite the prayer. “To you we consecrate the future of the whole human family, the needs and expectations of every people, the anxieties and hopes of the world,” he prayed. After the consecration, the pope, accompanied by a young boy and girl, placed a bouquet of white roses at the feet of the statue. He then remained for a few moments, with eyes closed and head bowed in silent prayer, before stepping away. According to the Vatican, an estimated 3,500 people filled St. Peter’s Basilica, while 2,000 people watched on video screens from St. Peter’s Square. Police asked pilgrims who entered St. Peter’s Basilica carrying or wearing Ukrainian flags to put them away, since the event was a prayer service. Among those present at the liturgy were Andrii Yurash, Ukraine’s ambassador to the Holy See. The consecration, he tweeted March 25, is “another attempt (by the pope) to defend Ukraine from the devil’s war,” referring to Russia’s attacks on the country. Joe Donnelly, who soon will present his credentials to the pope as the U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, also attended the service. The Vatican announced March 18 that Pope Francis also asked bishops around the world to join him in consecrating Ukraine and Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, the papal almoner, led a similar act of consecration at the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal. Bishops from around the world

the National Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help in Wisconsin, explained what consecration means in a March 18 statement. “To consecrate something is the act of setting it apart for our Lord and, furthermore, to consecrate it to our Blessed Mother is to deliberately put that intention into her hands,” he said. Some bishops celebrated a Mass with their parish or school community with the intention of praying for peace with a particular focus on the people of Ukraine and Russia. The Archdiocese of Los Angeles suggested that parishes ring their bells “29 times to mark the 29 days since the invasion of Ukraine began on Feb. 24, 2022.” The March 25 prayer of consecration took place on the feast of the Annunciation of the Lord, when tradition says, the Angel Gabriel visited Mary to tell her she would be the mother of Christ. And she’s the one Pope Francis has offered as an example to deal with the tribulation of war, with uncertainty and darkness, said Cardinal Wilton D. Gregory of Washington, D.C., during a homily at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, where he led the faithful in the prayer of consecration. “We come together today in one of the darker moments in human history. We can literally see the war being conducted via our smartphones,” he said, watching the path of rockets resulting in the death of defenseless children and the elderly and worrying about the threat of nuclear war. But in the midst of that, “it is better to welcome a glimmer of light from Christ, our light, than to turn to darkness,” he told a crowd that included about 40 members of various diplomatic missions to the United States. Cardinal Gregory praised Pope Francis for his efforts, including for breaking with protocol and directly walking into the Russian Embassy to the Holy See to express his concern a day after the attacks against Ukraine began Feb. 24. Like other prelates around the world, Cardinal Gregory recited the Act of Consecration for close to nine minutes and then remained kneeled for several minutes before a statue of Mary as a choir sang. Hundreds of the faithful filled Philadelphia’s Cathedral Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul for the act of consecration, led by Philadelphia Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez and Archbishop Borys Gudziak, metropolitan archbishop for Ukrainian Catholics in the United States. Pointing to the global outpouring of support for Ukraine, Archbishop Gudziak said he believed “never in human history have people of goodwill around the globe been so united.” ■

Praying for peace Pope Francis greets the crowd as he leads the Angelus from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on March 27. The pope appealed for an end to the war in Ukraine, calling it “a barbarous and sacrilegious act.”

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reason to tell a medical provider that a woman has managed her own abortion with pills.” James Studnicki, vice president and director of data analytics for the prolife Charlotte Lozier Institute, found, in an analysis of Medicaid claims data, “an increasing trend of women being treated in the emergency room for a miscarriage within 30 days of a confirmed chemical abortion—a sequence of events that is impossible, and was therefore either mistakenly or purposefully miscoded. By 2015, fully 60.9 percent of abortion-related emergency room visits following a chemical abortion were miscoded as treatment for a miscarriage.” Abortion groups like Planned Parenthood and NARAL describe medication abortion as “safe and effective” and even “safer than Tylenol.” They have long advocated for the removal of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s past requirement, in place since 2000, that the pill needed to be dispensed through an in-person visit. Responding to this pressure, the FDA made two changes to its safety requirements on the abortion pill in December, first “removing the requirement that mifepristone be dispensed only in certain health-care settings, specifically clinics, medical offices, TH E EAST T E N N E S S E E C AT HO L I C

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the Supreme Court uses in deciding cases, including the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization that could overturn or drastically alter Roe v. Wade. The Supreme Court decision could come as early as late spring or early summer. “We are blessed in this state to have a pro-life supermajority in the state legislature,” Mr. Brewer said. “You see places like New York and California that just continue to get more and more radical. Gov. Gavin Newsom is going to use state funds to transport women to California to abort their children if Roe is overturned. So, what a blessing it is to live in this state.” Tennessee Right to Life has for years promoted legislation to restrict abortion, and 2022 is no different. The nonprofit organization, whose leaders include Diocese of Knoxville parishioners like state TRL president Stacy Dunn, is backing legislation affecting the growing trend of telemedicine in prescribing abortion pills. And TRL and the state of Tennessee are defending laws passed by the legislature that are being challenged by pro-abortion groups like Planned Parenthood. After a lawsuit challenged the state’s 2015 law requiring a 48-hour waiting period from when a woman goes into an abortion facility for her initial consultation until when she can come back for her abortion, the law was upheld, and even pro-abortion groups acknowledge it is now the law of Tennessee. “We know that this law is saving children’s lives. … But we are used to 50 years of defeats in the courts, and it has gotten us down. The legislature is our homefield advantage. And that tide is turning. This law was challenged by the opposition. Six years later, this law has reached its final outcome. In 2021, the 6th U.S. Court of Appeals upheld this law, and the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear it. Finally, this case is over, and the 48-hour waiting period is on the books. We now have the longest waiting period in the country that has been upheld by the courts,” Mr. Brewer said. Another impactful piece of legislation that TRL backed was the 2019 “trigger” law that says if Roe v. Wade is ever overturned, abortion would automatically be outlawed in Tennessee. Mr. Brewer also noted Tennessee’s “heartbeat” law signed in 2020 by Gov. Lee that bans abortions after a fetal heartbeat has been detected, typically at six weeks of gestation. The law was immediately challenged by pro-abortion groups and is making its way through the courts. Mr. Brewer credited the governor for being a strong pro-life supporter of adoption and crisis pregnancy centers for years and for bringing those alternatives to abortion to the forefront since being elected governor in 2018. Those alternatives also are endorsed by the pro-life women at-

A full house Gov. Bill Lee tells pro-life supporters attending Women’s Day on the Hill that their work needs to continue regardless of pending court rulings on abortion and pledged his continued support for pro-life legislation. tending the Nashville conference. Two priority bills that TRL is advocating in 2022 are an amendment to existing legislation that requires a physician to be present when prescribing medicine to induce an abortion. Currently, there is no penalty for violations of that law. The amendment would require women seeking abortions to not only be in the presence of a physician when being prescribed abortion pills but being in the presence of a physician when abortion pills are dispensed, too. The penalty for violating this law would be a felony with a fine of up to $50,000 and exposes physicians to civil liability and fines and sanctions by the physicians licensing board. The second piece of legislation prohibits any individual or organization actively advocating for or performing abortions from teaching sex education in schools, which strengthens an existing law. TRL was endorsing legislation moving through the General Assembly that would prohibit local government bodies from providing money to abortion facilities. Mr. Brewer explained that this bill was prompted by the Shelby County Commission, which gave an abortion facility $25,000 to install a playground to entertain the children of women seeking an abortion in promoting “a family friendly environment.” That bill is no longer being considered this year. Gov. Lee credited his wife, Maria, with being a longtime, staunch defender of life and introduced her at the conference. He described their shared advocacy for the unborn as “an incredible blessing.” Mrs. Lee also attended the conference. “The bottom line is every single one of us is created by God in His image, and we’re created at the moment that we are created. That’s the fundamental thing that we have to remember. And if you believe that, then protecting human beings is incredibly important. I see that as an obligation that we have, and I’m very proud to join you in this work,” Gov. Lee said. The governor thanked the women

for their long journey in defending life. “It’s always worth engaging in. It’s always worth relentlessly pursuing. Regardless of what happens this month, or this next summer, or next year, or the year after that, the unborn will need to have someone to speak for them because they are voiceless. You all have been doing that, and I’ve been very, very grateful for that,” Gov. Lee said. He noted that the state has been working to prepare itself for “a very hopeful moment in this country that many of you have been engaged in for many, many decades.” He explained that Tennessee is strengthening its foster-care system, adoption processes, and support for new mothers in addition to strengthening pro-life laws such as the heartbeat law. “Let me be clear, your work, your advocacy, your passion, your continued relentless pursuit of protecting the lives of the unborn is going to be manifest. Your prayer, you asking God to deliver, will manifest. I trust Him, and I trust that,” he said. Gov. Lee’s comments were loudly applauded by all those in attendance, including a group representing St. Cecilia Academy, an all-girls Catholic school in Nashville. Members of the group included St. Cecilia students, parents, and teachers, including one who is a Dominican Sister of the St. Cecilia Congregation. St. Cecilia Academy parent Elizabeth Phillips believes the Pro-Life Women’s Day on the Hill is an important event, even more so this year. “Now, it’s more important than ever. We’re certainly thankful for the safeguards that our state legislature has put in place already. But with the Dobbs decision coming forth this summer, we have to be ready to jump into action to protect the unborn with extra legislation if need be and keep the common-sense safeguards we already have,” said Ms. Phillips, who is a parishioner at the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Nashville.

and hospitals,” and “adding a requirement that pharmacies that dispense the drug be certified.”

taking the pills beyond the legal gestational limit.” Additionally, “emergency calls for chemical abortion increased 54 percent when extrapolated across England and Wales, and ambulance responses rose by 19 percent” between 2019 and 2020. According to the United Kingdom’s Department of Health and Social Care regarding the decision to end the program, “domestic abuse was raised as an issue in the public consultation,” and “the well-being and safety of women requiring access to abortion services has been, and will continue to be, our first and foremost priority.” Ms. Longbons also noted that a BBC poll of more than 1,000 women in that country revealed that 15 percent said that in their lives they had felt pressured to have an abortion, and 3 percent had been given an abortifacient like a pill or a tablet without their knowledge or consent. “Chemical abortion just completely paves the way for and enables this huge problem of coercion and forced abortions,” she said. She said that in addition to the possibility of coercion, chemical abortion carries significant risk of complications, citing a Charlotte Lozier Institute analysis of Medicaid claims data that showed a 500 percent increase in chemical abortion-related emergency

ER visits and the risk of coercion Since the in-person requirement has been lifted, concerns have mounted over risks associated with the abortion pill, as well as problems with tracking data on complications arising from it. Tessa Longbons, senior research associate at the Charlotte Lozier Institute, told the Register that “of the states that have so far released data for 2020, chemical abortions are now over half, and, in some states, it’s as high as twothirds or even higher.” She saw the increased number as likely associated with the COVID pandemic and “the abortion industry using the pandemic to push for weakened regulations on chemical abortion.” Ms. Longbons pointed out that the United Kingdom took “very similar steps” to the Biden administration during the pandemic, with its “pills by post” program, which temporarily permitted abortion pills through the mail. One study found “29 serious incidents resulting from chemical abortion between April and November 2020. Seventeen of these very serious complications were caused by pillsby-post, including 11 cases in which the woman went to the hospital after

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Ms. Phillips is encouraged by the number of women who gathered in Nashville and is convinced they are making an impact, especially when they are meeting one-on-one with their legislators. Sarah Dalske, a St. Cecilia Academy parent and a parishioner at St. Mary of the Seven Sorrows Church in Nashville, found Women’s Day on the Hill “very hopeful.” “It makes me proud to be in Tennessee. I originally come from California, and that’s a state kind of losing hope. I’m so grateful to be in a state where there are active members of our government who recognize the right to life is probably the most important right. Today was full of hope for me. It’s so good to see all of the ages, women and men, coming together from all over the state and working for life,” Ms. Dalske said. She noted how good it was to hear that there are actions in the pro-life cause that anyone can take. “Whether it’s in politics, or social media, or in your life, there’s a role for everybody to do something to bring awareness to this issue,” Ms. Dalske said, pointing out that support for the right to life is seen in all age groups. “I see a difference in the younger generation. I was born in 1979, so I see it, and I think more and more you can see it. These children have grown up missing their peers, missing their siblings, missing their cousins. That is something very visible to them,” she added, pointing out that her daughter, who is a junior at St. Cecilia Academy and who has participated in the National March for Life in Washington, D.C., and also took part in the March for Life in Nashville, joined her for the daylong pro-life event. Louisa Bateman, who teaches high school juniors and seniors at St. Cecilia Academy and organized the group’s participation in Women’s Day on the Hill, said she is grateful to be teaching in a school where she can have pro-life discussions with her students. “The motivation for me to bring some of my students to Women’s Day on the Hill first and foremost is to see it in action in the real world. You can talk and talk and talk and talk, but seeing these women, and these men, and our elected officials who are really fighting for the rights of the unborn—just seeing it—is huge. Seeing it in action and the different ways they can be part of the movement, whether it’s through prayer, advocacy, legal and political ways, and seeing how they can use the gifts God has given them and use their understanding of humanity and life and how to put that into action is having an impact,” Ms. Bateman said. The St. Cecilia students, their parents, and their teachers are now motivated to reach out to their legislators and share their support for life at all ages and stages. ■ room visits between 2002 and 2015 and a “53 percent greater risk of ER visit for an abortion-related reason” in the case of chemical abortion compared to surgical abortion. A way to bypass state laws In a recent Bloomberg article, University of Pittsburgh School of Law assistant professor Greer Donley suggested that a case in which a U.S. district judge ruled that Massachusetts could not ban the FDA-approved opioid Zohydro could “provide the framework for a legal argument against state bans on mail-order abortion pills,” which “could also mean the pill remains available in places that ban abortion altogether.” “Chemical abortion is in many ways a response to the success of the prolife movement,” Ms. Longbons said. “The abortion industry is looking to it as their alternative if states have more latitude to restrict abortion and pass pro-life laws.” If Roe v. Wade is overturned in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case before the Supreme Court, efforts by the abortion lobby to make the abortion pill widely available will likely increase. Randall O’Bannon, education and research director at National Right to Abortion pill continued on page A18 APRIL 3, 2022 n A17

Marla Lenihan, longtime diocesan victims’ assistance coordinator, dies Marla Lenihan, who died on March 6, wrote her obituary below.

am fortunate to have had time to share some of my own thoughts in this obituary as opposed to others writing their thoughts about my life. I was born April 5, 1951, in Kankakee, Ill., the second of three children. I lived in Illinois until high school and spent most of my adolescent years in the South, particularly in Tennessee. I met my husband, Dr. Bill Lenihan, while in graduate school at the University of Tennessee. Our adventures began as he was off to dental school and I was launching my career as a mental health therapist. We married in Oak Ridge on March 30, 1974. Bill finished dental school and joined the Air Force, which enabled him to pursue an advanced degree in prosthodontics. As we moved around with our two children, Brennan and Meighan, I always managed to find positions in teaching psychology at the college level or working for social service agencies as a therapist. I truly enjoyed both, but always wanted to establish my own private practice. When we settled in Oak Ridge after getting out of the Air Force, I was working as a supervisor and therapist at Catholic Charities (an agency in which I worked in several locations while being stationed in various states while Bill was in the Air Force). I eventually transitioned from agency work to establishing my private practice in Oak Ridge in 1995. I maintained close ties with Catholic Charities in doing various presentations and volunteer work in the Diocese of Knoxville. I was appointed the victim’s assistance coordinator for the diocese over 20 years ago, and have held that volunteer position ever since. It has been my privilege to have worked so closely with the Church all these years and to have had the opportunity to get to know many of the priests and deacons personally. Bill and I maintain affiliations with St. Mary (Parish) in Oak Ridge, St. Albert (Parish) in Knoxville, and St. John Neumann School in Farragut. In addition to teaching, private practice, and my work with the Church, I have also participated in volunteer activities as well as several board positions. I served on the University of Tennessee Advisory Board for Counselor Education as well as supervising students working toward licensure. I was on the Contact Care board and was an elected member of the board of directors of the Tennessee

Member’s First Federal Credit Union. I held director positions (local and regional) for all the social service agencies with whom I was affiliated. Mrs. Lenihan My teaching positions included appointments in Florida, Texas, Delaware, and Tennessee. I also maintained active memberships in the American Mental Health Counseling Association, the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapists, the American Counseling Association, and the Tennessee Licensed Professional Counseling Association. I was a member of Altrusa International for 29 years and a graduate of Leadership Oak Ridge. Something very important to me was my relationship with my clients. I truly loved my work, and was honored to be allowed into the lives of so many incredible and courageous people. I’ve told people for years that I hope I would be remembered as someone who truly tried to make a difference—personally and professionally. Please share any stories on how our lives may have intersected over the years. If I have connected with you in any particular way that you care to share, please e-mail any thoughts, stories or observations to mvlenihan@gmail.com. I’m sure the immediate family I am leaving behind would love to hear from you and find your words comforting, and I would appreciate it. I leave behind my husband, Dr. Bill Lenihan, my son Brennan Lenihan, daughter-in-law Michelle Jones, daughter Meighan Lenihan Vargas, and my two very special granddaughters, Eile Lenihan and Valentina Vargas. I am truly blessed to have had 70 wonderful and healthy years. I have lived a good life, and a wonderful 70 years filled with health, love, purpose, and joy. I have always told people over the years that when I die I’m hoping I’m remembered for “She tried to make a difference when she was here” (I just didn’t think it would be this soon!!). In lieu of flowers, any donations to St. Mary in Oak Ridge, St. Albert the Great in Knoxville, St. John Neumann School in Farragut, or the American Cancer Society would be appreciated. Receiving of friends was at St. Mary Church in Oak Ridge on March 11, followed by a funeral Mass. ■

East Tennessee Catholic News Funeral Mass celebrated for Margaret Ann Maples A funeral Mass was held on March 12 for Margaret Ann Maples, age 79, at St. John Neumann Church in Farragut. Mrs. Maples’ son, Father Michael Maples, associate pastor of St. John Neumann, served as celebrant of the Mass. Mrs. Maples, who lived in Knoxville, died March 3 at Fort Sanders Medical Center of Loudon. She lived in Maryville most of her life and was a graduate of Everett High School and Knoxville Business College. She worked for many years as an administrative assistant at University of Tennessee Medical Center. Mrs. Maples’ pastimes included choral singing, tenMrs. Maples nis, arts and crafts, and caring for her dogs. She was a loving and devoted wife, mother, daughter, and sister. Her generous heart and kind smile will be missed. She was the daughter of the late Austin and Agnes Killian and was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph H. Maples. She is survived by her sons, Father Michael Maples and Eric “Ric” Maples, both of Knoxville; a brother, Lee Killian, and spouse, Joyce, of Maryville; an aunt, Martha Trentham, of Knoxville; and a nephew, Aaron Killian, of Maryville. Donations in Mrs. Maples memory may be made to the Blount County SPCA at 1005 E. Broadway Ave., Maryville, TN 37804, or to the Catholic Charities of East Tennessee Program Services at 318 N. Gay St., Suite 100, Knoxville, TN 37917.

Memorial Mass celebrated for Podensiana M. Massawe Podensiana Makiria Massawe, 75, went to be with the Lord on March 12 at the home of her daughter in Tanzania following many years of illness. Mrs. Massawe’s son, Father Emmanuel Massawe, who is associate pastor of St. Dominic Parish in Kingsport, celebrated a memorial Mass for Mrs. Massawe on March 22 at St. Dominic. Mrs. Massawe was born in Moshi, Dakau village in Tanzania on Jan. 7, 1947. She lived in Kibosho Umbwe most of her life until she developed health complications caused by a stroke and a hip ailment. Mrs. Massawe She moved to Dar-es-Salaam to live with one of her daughters under medical attention. In 2019, she moved to another daughter’s home in Singida, Tanzania, until she died of a heart attack on March 12. She was preceded in death by her husband, Stephen Massawe, who died in 2020. Mrs. Massawe is survived by her six children: Elizabeth, Gudila, Father Emmanuel, Marystella, Leonard, and Alfred; and grandchildren Aloyce, Marietta, Germana, Nelson, Vanessa, Jaydan and Stephen Jr. Five of her children and her grandchildren live in Tanzania. A funeral Mass and the burial were in Tanzania. She was laid to rest on March 19 at her home village in Kibosho-Umbwe, Moshi. ■ Abortion pill continued from page A17

Life, told the Register that the rise in the use of the abortion pill “has been coming for a long time, and it’s not an accident. It’s very much a strategic, organized campaign that the abortion industry has been conducting since they first came to the FDA to get the approval for this.” Mr. O’Bannon said that “they’re looking for this as a way to work around any sort of abortion limits, to simply bypass whatever the law or the rules are and to ship them directly to women’s homes.” He noted the risks inherent in dispensing the abortion pill without having an ultrasound to date the pregnancy, as many women can miscalculate how far along they are. “The FDA originally said it was supposed to be seven weeks,” he said of when the abortion pill was meant to be used; “then they changed it up to 10 weeks,” in 2016. The FDA warns that “a woman should not take Mifeprex if it has been more than 70 days since the first day of her last menstrual period.” He pointed out that Planned Parenthood advertises “medication abortion for up to 77 days (11 weeks) after the first day of your last period” on its website, despite the current FDA requirements. Mr. O’Bannon discussed how abortion groups are disregarding the laws in Texas, despite the recent ban on abortions past six weeks’ gestation, when the heartbeat is detectable, and the ban on abortion pills being sent through the mail. A University of Texas at Austin study found that the abortion group Aid Access “received 1,831 requests from Texas for self-managed abortion in September 2021.” In 2019, the FDA wrote a warning letter to Aid Access over its “interstate commerce of misbranded and unapproved new drugs.” The letter stated that “the substitution of unapproved drugs for FDA-approved prescription drugs poses significant health risks to U.S. consumers. In this case, use of the unapproved drug would not be subject to the same protections as use of the FDA-approved product.” Response from the states As the abortion lobby ramps up its campaign to broaden distribution of the abortion pill, states with pro-life governments are enacting protective

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measures, including Tennessee. “The abortion industry would like to use chemical abortion to get around some of these state laws, and it’s something that’s cheaper and easier for them to do; but when states do step up, it makes it more difficult for them,” Ms. Longbons said, noting that in the case of Texas, its ban on abortion by mail may have possibly slowed down access to medication abortion. “It’s estimated that it takes several weeks to order the abortion pill from Aid Access and have it shipped internationally into Texas, whereas, with some of these domestic groups, it could take only a few days,” she said. “It’s certainly concerning that it’s happening at all, but also an example of how there’s going to continue to be this interplay between state pro-life laws and the abortion industry both reacting to this new environment.” Ingrid Duran, director of state legislation at National Right to Life, told the Register about other state efforts to respond legislatively to concerns about the abortion pill. One way states have responded to increasingly available chemical abortions, she said, is with “laws requiring that a physician is present when they are administering the abortion pill.” She said that 24 states have “enacted laws requiring the abortionist to be in the same room; and, of those 24 states, 19 of those laws are in effect.” Reversal legislation And they are also helping getting the lifesaving word out. Ms. Duran noted that 14 states have enacted laws that require abortion facilities to tell mothers about the possibility of reversing the intended effects of a chemical abortion. Iowa, Ohio, and South Carolina recently introduced abortion-pill reversal legislation. She said it’s important that women who have taken the first part of the chemical abortion regimen mifepristone, but not the second part misoprostol, have information about the possibility that they can reverse the abortion at that point. “We can actually get this important lifesaving information to expectant moms” on abortion-pill reversal, she explained. “It’s an informed-consent law that requires abortion facilities to inform pregnant mothers about the possibility of reversing the intended effects of a chemical abortion.” ■ TH E EA S T TEN N ES S EE C ATH OLI C