Bilingual stories teach children about virtues

Francesca Follone-Montgomery lives a life of creative improvisation that has seen her write four books

Francesca Follone-Montgomery, OFS, likes to adapt the expression, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.”

“I say, make a lot of things: lemon cream pie, lemon cookies,” she laughed. “Whatever inspiration, be creative, make life like a jazz improvisation. I got so much more out of life being able to improvise a little bit, with the help of God.”

Mrs. Montgomery, a parishioner at All Saints in Knoxville, has lived a life of creative improvisation.

Originally from Italy, Mrs. Montgomery was born in Florence and grew up in Florence and Pisa.

She moved to the United States in 1998, wanting to be a jazz singer and write a book about the American composer and pianist George Gershwin. Instead, God had different plans.

She lived in Washington, D.C., for 10 years, where she met and married her husband, Paul, and worked at various jobs, from a center for international studies to a military medical center.

Mrs. Montgomery and her family moved to Knoxville in 2008, where for a time she worked at the Paraclete Bookstore. For over 10 years, she has taught Italian at the University of Tennessee.

And her latest endeavor? Writing children’s books.

When Mrs. Montgomery celebrated her 50th birthday last summer, she looked at her life and pondered her accomplishments.

“I always had the idea that we’re called to spread the Gospel somehow in our actions or words,” she said. “So I thought whatever I was telling my son when he was little, in those stories, maybe that was worth sharing. So that’s where the idea came about.”

Her son, Anthony, is now 18 and going off to college soon. When Anthony was a child, she would tell him stories from his pillowcase.

“I reached out to the pillowcase and pretended that it was a magic pillowcase that would give me the story,” she said.

“This past year, we were wondering about the next chapters in our lives, and he said to me, ‘Mom you need to do something with your life that brings you joy.’ And so I thought, OK, what about those stories? I remember what joyful times in my recent adult life it was to tell

Stories continued on page B3

By Gabrielle Nolan

to their faith is a missing link,” she said.

“Catholic social teaching gives us the responsibility of taking care of not only the earth but also the poor, and that is what the creationcare movement has as its basis,” Ms. Clark said. “Our earth has been damaged, mostly by what people have done to it, and industry, and so we need to begin to right that wrong. And that’s why we do what we do.”

“We really are doing all of this for the next generation, which is the one who will benefit from it or who will have a very, very difficult time with life because of it,” she continued.

Mrs. Brace noted that it is not easy to change habits, but people, in an act of faith, can try to become “conscious and aware of each action and how it impacts the earth.”

“Every decision about what we buy and the products that we use, for me it’s a daily struggle because I still buy things that are wrapped in plastic,” Mrs. Brace said “But I am at least to the point where I think about it and see that as a responsibility of being a good Catholic Christian, is to have a level of awareness about all of my actions.”

“There’s a lot of people out there who are living a whole lot better than I am, and more sustainably.

So it is, it’s kind of a daily battle to change habits that have been well engrained,” she shared.

Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Alcoa

The Care for Creation Ministry meets at Our Lady of Fatima Church at 3 p.m. on the first and third Thursdays of the month.

The group began after Father Peter Iorio, pastor at Our Lady of Fatima, preached on Laudato Si’ during the Season of Creation in 2021.

“He had a bulletin announcement inviting anyone in the parish who was interested in learning about Laudato Si’ to come to a meeting that week, and those of us who came and stayed started working from there,” said Liz McCachren.

“This teaching and ministry are most important, because they highlight the main teachings of our Lord Himself,” Father Iorio said. “We have a responsibility to love our neighbors as ourselves. In this totally connected and interdependent world in which we live, ‘neighbor’ has an all-encompassing definition. Jesus always went to the margins and cared for those people who were poor in body, mind, and spirit.”

“Jesus was constantly, in the line of the prophets of Israel, calling the people to repent/change their ways,” he continued. “The call for conversion is ongoing. Our call to conversion is biblical. We have become blind just like people of faith throughout Judeo-Christian history. Prophets called them and us to change our ways. Our way of life has become excessive. We consume much more than we need while the greatest amount of members in the human family do not have enough to even live.”

Father Iorio said that the Catholic faith is “incarnational.”

“To me that means that everything that God created has value. We have a responsibility to care for everyone and all life. The principles of Catholic social teaching give us a framework and inspiration for this ministry,” he said.

Several activities have been implemented by the group: educational messages in the bulletin, chapterby-chapter presentations on Laudato Si’ for parishioners, a faith and science presentation on creation, educating people on recycling and composting, and planting a native tree on the parish grounds during the Season of Creation.

Additionally, the group has completed its own TVA audit for the parish campus and has already received the recommendations for energy-saving changes.

“We are in the process of having to replace our HVAC,” said Bill Christensen. “We’ve gone through the whole process of getting quotes from different people and finding the most green way to do that. We’ve decided on changing over to dual-fuel units, which are heat pumps, but also if it gets really cold a gas component will kick in. It uses less gas that way than if it was just a straight gas furnace-type thing.”

The group also showed a presentation of “The Letter,” which Ms. McCachren recommends watching in order to better understand Laudato Si’.

“[‘The Letter’] is a beautiful, sad, but inspiring film,” she said.

Mary Tankersley became a Laudato Si’ animator after a six-week program with the Laudato Si’ Movement organization.

“I participated in live webinar presentations, committed to do readings, watched instructional videos, wrote reflections, shared thoughts and ideas, and performed a capstone project of my own design,” she said. “We, the Laudato Si’ Animators, have all pledged to bring the Laudato Si’ message to life in our own communities through actions, writings, and prayer.”

Ms. McCachren says that the ministry approaches everything “with a foundation of prayer.”

“We are inspired by our pope and his reverence for God’s creation, meaning not just our earth but the people that God has created and the poor, who suffer more from climate change than anyone else. So we approach every meeting with prayer and everything we do in prayer,” Ms. McCachren said.

For Ms. McCachren, her Catholic faith is “essential” to her ministry work.

“I don’t think I could have the hope that we continue to have that it’s not too late and that we can make up for our society’s and all of the developed nations’ neglect of the environment,” she said. “I know there are people who say it’s too late; my faith says no, it’s not. It gives me hope, and I think it keeps us from getting political as well. We’re doing this because the pope has asked us to, and because we know what God wants, and that’s our rock.”

“I think the pope has really given us good direction in this, and I be- lieve that it is so important,” Vicki Christensen said.

“I realized how… what we do and how it affects the poor, that they are the first ones to feel the effects of how we purchase things, how we purchase commodities, the changes that our countries are contributing to, and I think that a very important and a faith-filled objective is to try to do what we can,” she continued. “Even though it’s just one person, it does make a difference.”

Ms. Tankersley echoes that call with the words of Pope Francis in Laudato Si’: “All it takes is one good person to restore hope!”

“Over decades of being a parishioner at Our Lady of Fatima and serving in different capacities, I find this Care for Creation Ministry to be the most meaningful and crucial,” Ms. Tankersley said.

“It has truly taught me a different way to think and live, and to have more gratitude for the blessings of God’s creation, His mastery, and what we were provided as stewards. I now see all other church activities through the lens of creation care. I do think each individual parish should offer a Creation Care ministry for parishioners to learn these crucial truths and to see what can be accomplished together. The Laudato Si’ Action Platform for Parishes is a great start!” or covenant.org you stories when you were little, to be with you. So he said, ‘Well, write them,’” she laughed.

For more information, visit laudatosimovement.

Her series of children’s books focus on four different virtues:

• The Song is about joy and “tells how a little bird becomes aware that in her heart is all the strength needed to fight fear and find gratitude.”

• The Plan is about hope and “reveals a very important and surprising plan.”

• The Journey is about faith and “describes the journey of a little creature searching for something, or rather someone, and how he gradually discovers that what he was looking for was already in his heart.”

• The Friend is about love and “tells the story of a little bud who discovers the importance of sharing God’s love.”

The books, which are bilingual in English and Italian, also serve as coloring books for children.

“The English part of the book has the illustrations in color, and the part in Italian has the illustration in black and white so the children can enjoy coloring if they choose to,” Mrs. Montgomery said.

“I was a pretty good writer in

Italian,” she said. “Now, of course, English is not my native language, so I need a lot of editing. I figured if I start with children’s stories, the language should be fairly simple, and maybe I could handle it.”

“Starting with children’s stories, yes, there is a simple language, but also why not? We are all children of God, right, we are not adults of God, which means we’re all in a growth spurt hopefully,” she continued. “We’re in a growing journey, on a growing journey, and I think that with faith, hope, love, and joy we can grow because we should be open to God’s plans for us.”

Mrs. Montgomery said her books are an opportunity to do two things.

“One is to give back, to thank all the people in my life who have brought Christ to me and brought me closer to God, and the second reason would be to hopefully share God with others,” she noted.

“I felt a little bit of a call trying to do these, and I think there might be more books to come; I’m discerning which one is the next,” she said. “Hopefully this is the beginning of something, but even if it were to lead me to these four children’s stories, hopefully they can help others understand, especially when you’re little and trying to figure out about things, knowing that God loves you and you are on a journey, He has a plan for you, He’s your friend, and if you’re grateful your heart may feel like singing. Why not tell the kids that and help them focus on God? This world we live in certainly needs all the help we can give.”

Her faith has been inspired by family and friends.

“My parents were very devout Catholics and my grandparents, too,” Mrs. Montgomery said. “And my godparents were amazing people of great faith.”

Mrs. Montgomery is a third order Franciscan, and her books always contain a thank you to her Franciscan brothers.

“Being from Italy and not having family here but just my husband, Paul, my father- and mother-in-law, I just thought, wow, I feel at home every time I go to this Franciscan meeting,” she said, noting that becoming a Franciscan was a “spiritually enriching journey.”

“I got more and more drawn into it, and I realized, the Franciscans, that what we’re called to do is bring the Gospel to life and life to the Gospel, is kind of our motto. So with this book the idea is to start from a Gospel verse and bring it to life for the kids to understand it. And that’s another characteristic of these books,” she said.

As for those lemons and plans for the future?

“I’m just trying to figure out every day what the Lord is calling me to do next,” said Mrs. Montgomery. Her books are published by Xlibris US and can be purchased on Amazon or Barnes and Noble. n

Notre Dame CCW members dress as favorite saints

Members of the Council of Catholic Women at Notre Dame Parish in Greeneville enjoyed sharing information on their favorite saints during their March meeting. From left are Louanne Lucius, Charlotte Smith, Judy Collins, Janet Murphy, and Linda Johnson, potraying St. Lawrence, John the Baptist, St. Teresa of Kolkata, St. Isidore, and St. Anthony.

St. Stephen Parish in Chattanooga held its annual Easter egg hunt following the 11 a.m. Easter Mass. Children were split into two groups to go out and pick up hundreds of Easter eggs prepared by the youth of the parish. Much fun was had by all of the children racing to find eggs and receiving chocolate treats and balloons from the Easter Bunny, who also posed for pictures with everyone who wanted a photo. The parish thanked Myrtle Englert and Dot Durr and the rest of their team for planning the event.

St. Henry Parish celebrates St. Patrick’s Day St. Henry Parish in Rogersville celebrated St. Patrick’s Day with a dinner in the parish hall hosted by the Knights of Columbus. On the menu was corned beef, cabbage, potatoes, carrots, and a wide variety of desserts including Bailey’s Irish Cream Mousse Cake. St. Henry pastor Father Bart Okere is in the spirit as a leprechaun. He is pictured with Katie Wiegand (left), who sings in the choir, and Suzanne Molinalli, volunteer coordinator.

St. Henry Knights honor family of the quarter

The Knights of Columbus of St. Henry Parish in Rogersville recognized Gregory and Karen Smith as their family of the quarter for April, May, and June for their support both of the parish as volunteers and the Knights and their commitment to Catholicism. Gregory is Council 8860’s secretary and director of the Faith in Action for Community, and he is also a church usher. Through his work as director, the Knights held a successful Coats for Kids distribution and children’s Christmas party, where he appeared as Santa Claus. Most recently, Gregory was half of a culinary duo that braved the wind and rain cooking for the St. Patrick’s Day dinner. Karen has volunteered at fundraisers and assisted with the children’s Christmas party and works in the community as a substitute teacher. The Smiths raised their three children in the Church and are now proud grandparents of John, Alexi, Conner, and Taylor. Grand Knight Robert McDaniel is pictured with St. Henry pastor Father Bart Okere.

Chattanooga Deanery

St. Bridget, Dayton

Three individuals were received into the Church, and one was confirmed at the Easter Vigil. Sixteen youth were confirmed April 19 by Bishop Richard F. Stika, and six received their first Holy Communion on May 3. Receptions for both the confirmation and first Communion classes were hosted by the St. Bridget’s Women’s Council.

The second annual Harry “Bunky” Jones Golf Tournament, sponsored by Knights of Columbus Council 11424, was held April 20 at Dayton Golf & Country Club with more than 50 golfers participating. Proceeds will benefit several local charities.

The Women’s Council will hold a bake sale on Mother’s Day weekend May 13 and 14. Goodies will be on sale following the 5:30 p.m. Mass on Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Sunday.

The Women’s Council will award the Service Award & Scholarship to the winning high school senior following the 10 a.m. Mass on Sunday, May 28.

St. Jude, Chattanooga

The parish will celebrate the 33rd anniversary of the priestly ordination of associate pastor Father Alex Waraksa with a potluck luncheon at noon Thursday, May 25.

A Mass in memory of deceased Knights of Columbus was held April 24 at the church, followed by a parish social.

Knights Philip Paul Breen Council 8576 thanked parishioners, visitors, guests, pastoral and school staff, and fellow Knights who made this year’s Lenten fish fries a big success. More than 200 attended one dinner, which was a council record.

The Knights saluted recent families of the month John and Annamay Feurer, Naino and Nolie Leo, and Gary and Teri Gabor. The council, as part of the national Knights’ Aid and Support After Pregnancy program, recently made a $500 donation to the Catholic Charities of East Tennessee Pregnancy Help Center.

St. Mary, Athens

The parish congratulated the recipients of the St. Mary Scholarship for 202324: Abbey Borden, Yu Lee, Noah Dahle, Michael Folgelgren, Madlen Conley, Emma Blackledge, Chloe Miller, Diana White, Katie-Grace Reynolds, Victor Medrano, Bryce McKenzie, Violet Roe, Kylie Hicks, Christin Casey, Cayden Hennessee, Reagan Lock, Braeln Mora, Allie Sewell, and Justin Baker.

St. Mary thanked Gail Buckley, Holly and Bill Gates, Ann Julian, Marie McCartney, Christine Martens, Teresa Riggin, and Thelma Pikciunas for their help in giving the rectory a spring cleaning.

Those who can help with vacation Bible school, set for Monday through Thursday, June 19-22, are asked to call Debbie Forsythe at 865-297-6350 or Sue Granger at 423-506-7836 or sign up on the clipboard at the VBS table in the narthex.

Newcomers: Roselyn Martin, Guadalupe Parra, Marie Medina, Leni Parra, Jayla Corona

St. Stephen, Chattanooga

All women of the parish are invited to attend the Ladies Recognition Tea, which will begin with Mass at 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 13, in the large parish hall. The tea, which honors women for their character, courage, and commitment, will follow in the small parish hall. An RSVP is required for both the Mass and the tea; call Sherry in the parish office at 423892-1261, extension 4, by June 5. Recommended attire is “party casual,” and a hat and gloves are appropriate.

The Knights of Columbus’ Ladies Auxiliary thanked everyone who supported the Pat Wright Layette Baby Shower on April 13 that helped the bassinet program at the Ladies of Charity thrift

Anniversaries: Clarence and Pat Bodnar (59), Gino and Jeannie Bennett (57), William and Mary Apps (54), Art and Dena Vonwerssowetz (45)

Cumberland Mountain Deanery

Blessed Sacrament, Harriman

The Knights of Columbus will host their Mother’s Day brunch after the 10:30 a.m. Mass on May 14.

A parish ministry fair took place after the vigil Mass on April 29 and the 10:30 a.m. Mass on April 30. Representatives of each ministry that needed volunteers took part in the fair.

St. Ann, Lancing

Deacon Vic Landa baptized Bruno Romero Hutson, son of Charles and Connie Hutson, on April 16.

St. Francis of Assisi, Fairfield Glade

The parish’s prayers go out to former Deacon Keith Farber as St. Francis of Assisi remembers his inspiring, powerful talks about Jesus and His love. Deacon Keith and his wife, Fritzie, have moved to West Virginia.

At the last Council of Catholic Women meeting April 12, speaker Arlene Webb spoke about sharing the faith with children and grandchildren.

The Knights of Columbus held a fraternal-benefits presentation April 23 on “Preparation for End of Life and After.”

The parish group called Muffins for Mary met April 28 and welcomed speaker Paul Simoneau, diocesan director of Justice and Peace. His talk was on the “Icons of the Most Holy Rosary.” This meeting was part one and will continue with part two at 9 a.m. Wednesday, May 31, in the parish hall.

The Social Action Ministry is busy with plans for an Art Fair and Silent Auction at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 20, in the parish hall in honor of guest Father Glenn Meaux of the Kobonal Mission in Haiti. For information, call Mary Lampugnano at 504-371-2479.

Anniversaries: John and Jean Sohnly (70), Norm and Judith Charest (63), John and Anna Moyer (63), John and Barbara Coye (62), Raymond and Barbara Clark (61), Jim and Anita Renick (59), Terry and Nancy Allen (59), Norm and Carol Adams (58), Bob and Kathy McCone (58), David and Sally Kowalski (56), Charles and Dolores Gruet (55), David and Corinne Bain (54), Arthur and Deborah Stockwell (54), Dennis and Rosemarie Robak (53), Phil and Lyn Rogers (52), Victor and Deborah LaPorte (50), Steve and Chris Nagy (50), Tom and Pat Racklyeft (45), Stephen and Ruth Ann McColley (35), Mike and Mary Spitler (30), James and Tara Olson (30), Jeremy and Kathy Donley (20), Roger and Judith Kenyon (15), Sten and Laura Lindwall (15), Brian and GeriAnne Mason (10)

St. John Neumann, Farragut

The Knights of Columbus held a parish buffet breakfast May 7 to raise funds for an ultrasound machine for Catholic Charities of East Tennessee’s Pregnancy Help Center. At the time of the breakfast, the Knights had raised about two-thirds of their $19,000 target. The total of $19,000 is half the cost of an ultrasound; by reaching that target, the local council can petition the national order for a match. For more information, contact Richard Tabler at 865-7426121 or Richard.tabler@icloud.com.

The SJN Conference of the St. Vincent de Paul Society collected food in late April to benefit the Ladies of Charity emergency-assistance program.

Five Rivers Deanery

Holy Trinity, Jefferson City

As the CCD year came to an end, the parish thanked the teachers and student volunteers who helped children grow in their faith. They included Mia

Parish notes continued on page B8 in Lancing Bishop

Bishop confirms 17 at Notre Dame Church

Seventeen students received the sacrament of confirmation at the 5 p.m. Mass on April 15 at Notre Dame Church in Greeneville, with Bishop Richard F. Stika presiding. Concelebrating the Mass was Notre Dame pastor Father Joseph Kuzhupil, MSFS, and Deacon Wil Johnson assisted. From left are (seated) Alexa Gonzalez Rodriguez, Lucy Martin, Pilar Galarza, Morelia Munoz, Zaleiny Vazquez, Eliza Girton, Cynthia Ozbun, Natalia Ozbun, and Emily Vazquez, and (standing) catechist Brenda Litchfield, Sarai Galarza, Samuel Abelson, Andrew Abelson, Caleb Dilks, Father Kuzhupil, Bishop Stika, Deacon Johnson, Dash Lawson, Caleb Martin, Maxwell Abelson, Meghan Durante, and catechist Tyonia Burns.

St. Francis-Fairfield Glade congratulates three couples celebrating 70, 50 years

St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Fairfield Glade congratulates three couples who are celebrating major wedding anniversaries this spring.

John Edward and Jean Margaret (Spenthoff) Sohnly are celebrating their 70th anniversary May 29. They were married at St. Charles church in Toledo, Ohio, with Father John Horrigan officiating.

Their children are Richard D. of Perrysburg, Ohio; Michael J. of Renton, Wash.; and Suzanne D. Sohnly, deceased; and they have five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Mr. Sohnly retired from Unison Industries in Jacksonville, Fla., and Mrs. Sohnly from the Toledo Hospital. They moved to the Glade in 2005.

They will celebrate their anniversary prayerfully and with a little “spirits.” Their 70-year “love story” began with a black eye—from a snowball he threw at her to get her attention. He left the next day for the Air Force at 20 while she went to school with a big “shiner” at 16. Letters of apology followed as did years of corresponding. They were married with the help of both families, and she still wears the birthstone garnet ring he once gave her.

Mike and Becky Countess celebrated their 50th wedding anniver- sary April 14. They were married at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Haubstadt, Ind., with Father Michael Allen officiating.

Their daughters are Julie Countess of Nashville and Wendi Davis of Martinsville, Ind., and they have four grandchildren.

Mr. Countess retired from the state of Tennessee and Southern Group of State Foresters and Mrs. Countess retired from the Sumner County, Tenn., Board of Education. They moved to the Glade in August 2022. The Countesses will celebrate their anniversary in Scotland.

Victor and Deborah LaPorte celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary May 5. They were married at St. James Church in Arlington Heights, Ill.

Their children are Katherine (Kate) Wagener and Victor Joseph (VJ) LaPorte, both of Arlington Heights, and Daniel LaPorte of Gilberts, Ill. They also have 11 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Mr. LaPorte retired from the National Elevator Industry and Mrs. La Porte from the Buffalo Grove and Greenbrook Montessori schools. They moved to the Glade in 2020, where they will celebrate their anniversary. They love retirement and especially the Glade. n

Bishop Richard F. Stika will ordain seminarians Bo Beaty, Daniel Herman, and Michael Willey to the transitional diaconate at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 3, at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. The three will continue their studies at St. Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology in Indiana and are on track to be ordained priests in 2024.

Bishop Richard F. Stika will ordain Deacons Joseph Austin, Neil Blatchford, and Andrew Crabtree to the priesthood at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 10, at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. “This is a joyous time for me personally and for all the faithful of the Diocese of Knoxville, and it is especially fulfilling for Deacons Joseph Austin, Neil Blatchford, and Andrew Crabtree, who will be ordained priests on that special day,” Bishop Stika said. All three men were ordained transitional deacons by Bishop Stika in 2022.

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

Singers, choir directors, organists, clergy, and others interested in sacred music are invited to the eighth Southeastern Summer Sacred Music Workshop, to be held midday Friday, July 28, through Saturday, July 29, at Mary Our Queen Church in Peachtree Corners, Ga. The workshop is an ideal opportunity for participants to learn Gregorian chant or improve their chant skills and to prepare and sing polyphonic music for Mass Saturday afternoon. Presentations will include the history and purpose of Gregorian chant, what the Church teaches about sacred music, improving parish music programs on a limited budget, free online sources of liturgical music, and more. Cost of the workshop, including all materials, is $100 per person. Cost rises to $110 on May 31. Online registration is available now. Southeastern Sacred Music is a chapter of the Church Music Association of America. For more information, visit southeasternsacred music.com/ or e-mail olmchoirs@ gmail.com

A Be Loved Retreat sponsored by Regnum Christi of Knoxville is set for the weekend of June 9-11 at Christ Prince of Peace Retreat Center, 250 Locke Lane in Benton. Guided by the Be Loved team, participants will have a deep, personal experience of God, grow in self-knowledge, and gain new tools to continue flourishing. Cost is $299 per person. Register at forms. gle/WDCpFGBp1jdm1HmV6. Those with questions should e-mail regnum christi.knoxville@gmail.com

Knoxville Catholic High School is offering a variety of summer camps in sports and other areas in May, June, and July. Camps include baseball and boys basketball camps, a Lady Irish Future Stars girls basketball camp, a Lady Irish volleyball camp, boys and girls soccer camps, and a Lady Irish lacrosse camp, as well as camps in softball, cheerleading, robotics, math, dance, and band. Two theater camps will meet and work toward a performance at the end of each camp. The Irish Arts Junior Theatre Co. (rising first through sixth grades) will present Disney’s Jungle Book Kids, and the Irish Arts Theatre Co. (rising seventh through 12th grades) will present Legally Blonde Jr. To learn more, visit knoxvillecatholic.com/camp-irish/ or e-mail camps@knoxvillecatholic.com

Knoxville Catholic High School alumni now playing in the National Football League will co-host the Catholic Legacy Football Camp from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, July 8, on Hollin Field at Blaine Stadium on the KCHS campus. The camp is open to rising kindergartners through eighth-graders.

Harrison Smith of the Minnesota Vikings (a member of the KCHS class of 2007), Amari Rodgers (’17) of the Houston Texans, and Cade Mays (’18) of the Carolina Panthers, along with other NFL players and Fighting Irish coaching staff, will teach fundamentals essential to playing football at a higher level. Campers will take part in speed and agility drills and learn all aspects of being successful on the field. Boys and girls are welcome. Campers should wear cleats if possible and bring money for concessions and merchandise for an autograph session. Cost is $75. Check-in is at 8:30 a.m. Sign up at kchs.ticketspice.com/ football-camp

Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga will be hosting sports and STEM summer camps from May 30 to June 15. Camps are offered in dance and cheerleading, basketball and wrestling (each co-ed), volleyball, and golf (co-ed). Age groups for the sports and STEM events vary by camp but range from rising kindergartners to rising eighth-graders. Aftercare from noon to 4 p.m. and lunch will be offered for morning-session campers May 30-June 2 and June 5-9. Visit www.myndhs.com/athletics/summer-camps for details on the camps and aftercare. For more information, contact camp coordinator Jill Webb at webbj@myndhs.com or 423-6244618, extension 1011.

Catholic Charities of East Tennessee is offering a Rachel’s Vineyard healing retreat, for those experiencing emotional or spiritual difficulties from a past abortion, from May 26-28 at Christ Prince of Peace Retreat Center in Benton. You can learn more about Rachel’s Vineyard on the CCETN website at ccetn.org/project-rachel

For more information, contact Sandi Davidson at sandi@ccetn.org or call or text 865-776-4510. Complete confidentiality is honored at all times.

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

The Diocese of Knoxville is taking a group of teens to Steubenville St. Louis Mid-America, hosted by the Archdiocese of St. Louis in Springfield, Mo., from July 7-9. The Steubenville youth conferences exist to bring highschoolers into a life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ. The 2023 theme is “Refuge.” “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest”—Matthew 11:28. For information on costs or registration, visit dioknox.org/events/steubenvillestlouis. The diocese will be heading to Steubenville St. Louis Mid-America on July 7 from Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Chattanooga (meeting time is 7:15 a.m.). Price (all-inclusive) is $395 per person. Chaperone price (allinclusive) is $295 per person. Priests attend for free. More info can be found at steubenvilleconferences.com/ events/stl1/

A young adult and seminarian summer social is planned for noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, July 15, at Immaculate Conception Church in Knoxville. Young adults (ages 18-35) are invited to join Diocese of Knoxville seminarians for food and fellowship. Download a flyer at dioknox.org/events/young-adultand-seminarian-summer-social. To RSVP or learn more, contact vocations office manager Beth Parsons at bparsons@dioknox.org

Young adults ages 18 to 35 who cannot travel to Portugal for World Youth Day are invited to take part in a Stateside World Youth Day set for the weekend of Aug. 4-6 in Washington, D.C. Travelers will stay at the Washington Retreat House. They will leave early on the morning of Friday, Aug. 4, and return late Sunday night, Aug. 6.

Calendar continued on page B8

Bishop celebrates confirmation at St. Joseph the Worker Church

On Divine Mercy Sunday, April 16, Bishop Richard F. Stika confirmed 11 youth at St. Joseph the Worker Church in Madisonville. Pastor Father Julius Abuh (pictured at left above) concelebrated. In his homily, the bishop gave examples of three saints: St. Maximilian Kolbe, Pope St. John Paul II, and St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, each of whom faced difficult decisions, criticism, and, in one case, death in their service to God and the Church. “A Christian goes beyond what makes them comfortable,” the bishop said, “but Jesus said, ‘I will be with you always, until the end of time.’ He also promised to send us the Holy Spirit.” After the post-Communion prayer, Father Abuh thanked Bishop Stika and welcomed him once again “to the best Catholic Church in Monroe County” with a great applause from his parishioners. He continued: “It is the best because it is the only Catholic church in the midst of the 56 others listed in the county’s phone book.” The celebration continued with a giant cake and covered dishes in the parish hall. Bishop Stika spent time with the newly confirmed candidates and their families. Bibles were presented by the Knights of Columbus, and the candidates posed for pictures with their new Bibles and Bishop Stika. Those confirmed were Valentina Aguilera Mora, Savannah Brown, Denio Jimenez Cisneros, Jose G. Jimenez, Yahir Luna, Bruno Serrano Corona, Aurora Singer, Forrest Singer, Mateo Rodriguez, Belinda Rocio Mora, and Ruby Villagomez Robles.

Students from Franklin, Tenn., visit St. James the Apostle Parishioners of St. James the Apostle in Sneedville welcomed 52 eighth-grade students from St. Matthew School in Franklin, Tenn., on April 23 along with members of their faculty and the principal. The students were in Sneedville on their annual pilgrimage, where they volunteer in a carnival for the county. St. Matthew principal Tim Forbes said the carnival was very well-received with much participation and hard work by all the students. While students attended Mass at St. James, they served as readers and altar servers for pastor Father Bart Okere. The Knights of Columbus of Council 8860 at St. Henry Parish in Rogersville provided a bag meal with a sandwich, snack, and drink for students and faculty as they continued their journey on to Charlotte, N.C.