Aug. 6, 2017, ET Catholic, A section by Diocese of Knoxville

August 6

| 2017

VOL 26 NO 6

IN THIS ISSUE VICAR A4 NEW GENERAL

Bishop Stika appoints Fr. Owens

LET THE A7 DON'T BAD GUYS WIN

Rep. Fleischmann recalls June shooting

B1 OLDEST CONFIRMAND

91-year-old receives conﬁrmation

He dwells among us ......................... A2 Parish news ....................................... B2 Diocesan calendar ............................ B3 Catholic schools ............................... B9 Columns ........................................... B11 La Cosecha ............................Section C

Calendar fundraiser to aid tuition assistance Participating schools, parishes to benefit when sales begin in September; cash prizes included

ould you support Catholic education for 10 cents a day? The answer to that question is key to the success of a new fundraising program Diocese of Knoxville schools are launching in September to increase tuition-assistance funding for students in need. If the answer is yes, then does the diocese have an offer for you. Diocesan schools will introduce a calendar next month that, if sales are successful, could pump thousands of much-needed dollars into tuition assistance and at the same time benefit schools and parishes. Those participating in the fundraiser can be rewarded while whetting their appetites for a new diocese-sponsored game of chance. The program, which is based on the sale of 12-month calendars with a bit of a lottery twist, promises to be a hit with people who purchase one for $36.50 – 10 cents a day for a year. Father Chris Michelson, pastor of St. Albert the Great Parish and president of St. Joseph School, brought the fundraising concept to the Diocese of Knoxville and has been trying for more than two years to make it work. He said it is patterned after similar fundraisers in other dioceses across the country. But it’s the purpose that makes this fundraiser unique, according to Father Michelson and Sister Mary Marta Abbott, RSM, superintendent of diocesan schools. And that purpose is to increase the pool of money that schools across the diocese rely on to offer tuition assistance to families strug-

By Bill Brewer

“This is a way we can support Catholic education. We’re giving away about $4 million a year in scholarships, grants, and gifts to families needing tuition support. We want to make sure that those who wish to have a Catholic education can, that it’s feasible to do so. ... I heartily support this. I’m going to buy calendars and give them as Christmas gifts.” — Bishop Richard F. Stika gling to pay the full cost of tuition. Father Michelson said each October school administrators from around the diocese gather to discuss the Catholic Schools Regional Fund. The discussion has been centered on how to meet the needs of all the requests for tuition assistance. “Every year when we have those meetings in the fall, we go through the conversation of ‘we have to raise more money for the fund,’ because for three years now it has capped at about $1.6 million in assistance (for Knoxville region schools), which is a huge amount. But every year the amount needed is more. I think last year that amount needed was $2.3 million. That’s a $700,000 gap, and there are a lot of kids and families that we are not able to help as much as we want to,” he said. “Every year we say ‘everybody go back and brainstorm ideas’ on how we can raise more money for the fund. That’s where we came up Calendar continued on page A13

BILL BREWER

Brainstorming ideas

Mark your calendar Diocese of Knoxville schools and parishes will begin selling 2018 calendars this fall as a fundraiser for tuition-assistance funding. A committee composed of Father Chris Michelson, sitting center, Sister Mary Marta Abbott, RSM, sitting left, Joni Punch, sitting right, Diannah Miller, standing left, Dickie Sompayrac, standing center, and Andy Zengel, standing right, will oversee the new fundraising program.

Cardinal Dziwisz to attend Cathedral dedication

Longtime Vatican official and secretary to St. John Paul II to be among dignitaries at special Mass

Cardinal continued on page A11

COURTESY OF BISHOP RICHARD F. STIKA

participant and witness to some of the most dramatic moments in the history of the Catholic Church in the 20th century is coming to the Diocese of Knoxville, both as a celebrant and a speaker. Bishop Richard F. Stika has announced that Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, a longtime Vatican official and the loyal secretary and dear friend to Pope St. John Paul II from 1966 until his death in 2005, has accepted an invitation to concelebrate the Dedication Mass for the Diocese of Knoxville’s new Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus on March 3, 2018. Cardinal Dziwisz (pronounced GEE-vish) will also be a guest at the second “Conversation with the Cardinals” to be held the following night in the new cathedral. The first “Conversation with the Cardinals” took place April 18, 2015, in conjunction with the official groundbreaking for the new cathedral. Joining Bishop Stika and Cardinal Rigali for that event were Cardinal Timothy Dolan and Cardinal William Levada. “We welcome Cardinal Dziwisz

By Jim Wogan

Special guest Bishop Richard F. Stika and Cardinal Justin Rigali are shown with Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, who served St. John Paul II for four decades. Cardinal Dziwisz is leading a host of cardinals who will be attending the dedication of the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus on March 3.

He dwells among us

by Bishop Richard F. Stika

Saints don’t run away They keep their eyes on Jesus, learning to see His eyes in those of our brothers and sisters “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus. — Hebrews 12:1

hese words of St. Paul come to mind when I look up inside the dome of our new cathedral and see the progress being made with the frescoes depicting 16 saints of the Church representing various times, nationalities, and ethnicities. As a part of the vast cloud of witnesses special to our diocesan community, they stand between us here below and Jesus enthroned above them. And with the Blessed Mother and St. Joseph on either side of Christ, along with the 12 Apostles around Him, we are reminded that the saints of heaven help us in this life to draw ever closer to Jesus and to become, like them, God’s special helpers to others. Have you stood beside a saint? I have — St. John Paul II — and undoubtedly many more than I know of whom the Church has yet to officially recognize, but who are saints nonetheless. Saints are not just in heaven, but walk among us, though we often do not recognize them as such. I know that when I first met a Vietnamese cardinal in Rome over 25 years ago while waiting to meet St. John Paul II, I did not recognize him as a saint living among us. But Pope Francis recently recognized the heroic virtue of Venerable Cardinal François-Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan, who I pray will soon be

Follow Bishop Richard Stika on Twitter @bishopstika and Facebook for news and events from the diocese. declared Blessed. In 1975, then-Archbishop Van Thuan was arrested by the communist regime in Vietnam and imprisoned for 13 years, nine of them in solitary confinement. Even after his release and exile, Cardinal Van Thuan continued to suffer the effects of his harsh imprisonment until his death in 2002. What I find so inspiring about him is that though he knew he would be arrested and likely imprisoned, he did not run away — he stayed close to his flock. And during his long and torturous imprisonment, Cardinal Van Thuan didn’t wait in hope for a better day to come, but chose instead to live each moment, no matter how dark, “brimming with love.” Instead of living these harsh moments and sufferings in bitterness and anguish, he used them as opportunities to be the love and mercy of Christ crucified to others. Many of his fellow prisoners were touched and converted by his unwavering witness of love, and so, too, were his atheist prison guards. In him, they encountered Christ. Here I am reminded of the life of the first native-born martyr from the United States who the Church will call “Blessed” on Sept. 23: Father Stanley Rother, a missionary priest who was martyred in Guatemala in 1981 at age 46. Though he failed his first year of seminary studies and was counseled to consider another vocation,

Father Rother, a man of strong prayer with a love for the rosary, would not give up so easily. In a beautiful book about his life titled The Shepherd Who Didn’t Run, Archbishop Paul Coakley of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City wrote in its introduction, saying, “Saints are local. They come from ordinary families, parishes and communities, but their impact is universal. They belong to the whole Church. They remind us that holiness is our fundamental vocation. Saints represent the full flowering of the grace of our baptism.” Such was Father Rother, and such we are called to be. What impresses me most about Father Rother’s story in Guatemala is that, quite simply, he lived and preached Jesus Christ. He didn’t preach a cause, an ideology of progress or politics, but strived daily to give the people he lived among and served what their hearts most needed and desired: Christ Jesus. These were very dangerous times in Guatemala, and he knew the risks of being a pastor of souls. Even after his name appeared on a “death list,” Father Rother chose to remain among his people — he did not run away. Another priest who will be beatified on Nov. 18 in Detroit is Capuchin Father Solanus Casey, who died in 1957 at age 87. Like Father Rother, Father Casey struggled with his seminary studies and seemed quite unremarkable.

But from a deep love for Christ in the Eucharist, his priesthood blossomed. Known for his great compassion and love for the poor and the infirm of body and soul, people from near and far sought him out. Many healings — physical and spiritual — were attributed to him during his lifetime and continue to be reported even after his death. Father Casey loved to preach Christ Jesus and to help souls to turn back to God and to keep their eyes focused upon Jesus. Father Patrick Ryan, a heroic priest of our own diocese, also was not much a student of academics or theology, but great was his love for others because of his love for Christ. When the great yellow fever epidemic hit Chattanooga in 1878, Servant of God Father Ryan did not flee the city like so many others did, but remained to minister and care for the sick and dying in the worstinfected areas, succumbing to the disease himself on Sept. 28, 1878. Saints don’t run away. What does this mean? As the examples above show us, we need to keep our “eyes fixed on Jesus” no matter the times or circumstances. Saints, through their witness and intercession, help us to look to Jesus, to place our wounds within His, to suffer with Him, and to drink of His love and mercy from His pierced side. We are not alone for we have this great cloud of witnesses as our special helpers. And no one around us should ever feel alone so long as we keep our eyes on Jesus and learn to see His eyes in those of our brothers and sisters. ■

Bishop Stika’s calendar of events for August August Prayer Intentions “That artists of our time, through their

ingenuity, may help everyone discover the beauty of creation.” –– Pope Francis

”For all those who begin school, return to school, or move on to a new school, that this year might be filled with an openness to the Holy Spirit and a greater desire to know God and to experience Him even more by sharing the joy of faith.” –– Bishop Stika

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n Aug. 1-3: Knights of Columbus Supreme Convention in St. Louis n Aug. 4: 9:45 a.m., Relevant Radio interview n Aug. 8: Funeral Mass for Deacon Norm Amero, St. Mary Church in Oak Ridge n Aug. 12: 11 a.m., Celebration of Marriage Mass, St. Henry Church in Rogersville n Aug. 19: Ministries Day at All Saints Parish in

Knoxville n Aug. 20: 9 a.m. installation of Father Bart O’Kere as pastor of St. Henry Parish n Aug. 22: 2 p.m. Knights of Columbus presentation of seminarian support checks at the Chancery n Aug. 22: 5:30 p.m., Mass and burning of the mortgage dinner celebration at St. Mary Church in Johnson City n Aug. 24: 9:30 a.m., open-

ing school Mass at Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga n Aug. 29: 11 a.m., Presbyteral Council meeting at the Chancery n Aug. 29: 6 p.m., Mass and investiture of Rev. Msgr. William Gahagan at All Saints Church n Aug. 31: 10:35 a.m., opening school Mass for Knoxville Catholic High School at All Saints Church ■

Upcoming Virtus training sessions are scheduled

he Diocese of Knoxville’s program for the protection of children, youth, and vulnerable adults is offered throughout the diocese. These seminars are required for parish and school employees and regular volunteers in contact with children and vulnerable adults:

www.di o k no x .o rg

n Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, Chattanooga, 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 11. This session will be conducted in Spanish n St. Stephen Church, Chattanooga, 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 12 n St. Dominic Church, Kingsport, 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 17; 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14; 9

a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 6 n Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul, Chattanooga, 1 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 31 n St. John XXIII University Parish, Knoxville, 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 10 n St. Mary School, Johnson City, 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16 ■

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Fr. Owens named vicar general, moderator of the curia Pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish succeeds founding vicar general Msgr. Xavier Mankel

ishop Richard F. Stika has appointed Father Doug Owens, pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Lenoir City, as the Diocese of Knoxville’s newest vicar general and moderator of the curia. Father Owens succeeds the late Monsignor Xavier Mankel as one of two vicars general serving the diocese, joining Father David Boettner, rector of the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Father Boettner has served as moderator of the curia since March 2008. Bishop Stika praised the work Father Boettner is doing as a leader of the diocese who is pastoring one of the diocese’s largest parishes and schools, is managing construction of the new cathedral, and will continue his many administrative duties with the Chancery and diocese. The bishop said Father Owens will be a good addition to the diocesan leadership team in helping him, Father Boettner, and diocesan chancellor Deacon Sean Smith in fulfilling the ministry of the diocese.

BILL BREWER

Diocesan appointment Father Doug Owens, pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Lenoir City, center, has been appointed by Bishop Stika as a vicar general and moderator of the curia for the Diocese of Knoxville. Pictured from left are Father David Boettner, Bishop Stika, Deacon Sean Smith, and Cardinal Justin Rigali. In introducing Father Owens as vicar general on July 21 at the Chancery, Bishop Stika praised the service of Monsignor Mankel,

who had served as a vicar general since the earliest days of the diocese. Monsignor Mankel died June 21 at the age of 81 after a

By Bill Brewer

long illness. Bishop Stika said he was confident Father Owens will ably follow in the footsteps of Monsignor Mankel in helping lead the diocese in the many ways it serves God and the Catholic community of East Tennessee. Father Owens, who will continue to serve as pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle, began his appointment on Aug. 1. His current appointment as dean of the Cumberland Mountain Deanery concluded July 31. “Father Doug, you have faithfully served the Diocese of Knoxville for six years. You have been a trusted adviser to me for two years and you also have been a key member of my leadership councils. Your counsel and business experience are a blessing to the diocese, and I am grateful to you for your willingness to serve in this important leadership role. I look forward to working with you,” Bishop Stika said. Father Owens is only the third vicar general to serve in the Diocese of Knoxville. Vicar general continued on page A5

Fr. Mike Johnston appointed Diocese of Nashville administrator Former OLPH pastor, Notre Dame teacher, Knoxville Catholic High School principal to prepare diocese for new bishop By Theresa Laurence Tennessee Register

ather Mike Johnston will be looking to answer one big question while he serves as administrator of the Diocese of Nashville: “What can we do together to prepare the diocese for the next bishop?” “An administrator’s role is not to make any grand new initiatives,” Father Johnston said, but to “keep things in place, fine tune the rough edges.” Father Johnston sees the interim between bishops as “self-reflection

time” for the diocese, “time to look at, ‘Where are we strong, where are we weak? Is there anything we should do to get in a better place?’” Father Johnston, a priest of the Diocese of Nashville for nearly 47 years, was elected as administrator June 6 by the College of Consultors, a group of 12 priests serving the diocese. The election was held, as required by canon law, after the diocesan see became vacant with the death of Bishop David Choby on June 3. The vote by the College of Consultors took place during the annual priest convocation held each June in conjunction with the

priests of the Diocese of Knoxville. Father Johnston assumed the duties for the administration of the diocese immediately and will serve until a new bishop is named by Pope Francis and is installed as bishop of the Diocese of Nashville. There is no set timeline for a new bishop to be named. Before Bishop Choby’s appointment as bishop was announced in December 2005, the diocese was without a bishop for more than 13 months. Pope Francis has generally not waited that long to name new bishops; recently, some dioceses have had a new bishop named within

Diocese of Raleigh dedicates new Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral

he Diocese of Raleigh began the day with the smallest Catholic cathedral in the continental United States. But when the July 26 dedication of a new cathedral concluded, the diocese was home to one of the largest in the country. Bishop Michael F. Burbidge said of Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral, “(People) are going to walk into this cathedral to gather around this altar ... from which they will receive the bread of life and the cup of salvation. This is our home. This is our mother church ... that will allow us to gather in great numbers.” Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral, located in Raleigh, measures 44,000 square feet and has a seating capacity of 2,000. Bishop Burbidge, currently bishop of the Diocese of Arlington, Va., served as Raleigh’s bishop during most of the cathedral project and was principal celebrant at the dedication Mass. Concelebrants seated at the altar included Cardinal Roger M. Mahony, retired archbishop of Los Angeles; Cardinal Justin Rigali, archbishop emeritus of Philadelphia; Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory of Atlanta; Archbishop Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States; Bishop Luis R. Zarama, who will be installed as Raleigh’s sixth bishop Aug. 29; and Msgr. Michael Shugrue, diocesan administrator. More than 130 priests, 50 deacons, and 15 seminarians attended the Mass. It began with the entrance hymn “I Will Praise Your Name Forever,” an original, 10-verse piece composed by Michael Accurso, director of liturgical music for the diocese. Based on Psalm 145, the hymn was sung in English, French,

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Spanish, Vietnamese, Igbo, Korean, Tagalog, Latin, and Swahili. More than 20 musicians and 70 choristers were responsible for the harmonious sounds that emanated from the choir loft. The procession included a Knights of Columbus honor guard, composed of more than 30 Knights from throughout the diocese. The Mass included a ceremonial passing of a key to the cathedral. Representatives involved in the building of the cathedral presented a key to Bishop Burbidge, who, in turn, passed it to his successor, Bishop Zarama. Archbishop Pierre read an official letter from the Vatican designating Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral as the mother church for the diocese. Dedicated in 1924, Sacred Heart, a 300-seat church in downtown Raleigh, previously served in that role. “May your lives each day reveal the handiwork of God’s grace,” Archbishop Pierre said to the faithful. As part of the dedication Mass, Bishop Burbidge blessed water, which he later used to sprinkle the congregation and purify both the walls and altar of the new cathedral. “Bless this water; sanctify it,” he prayed. “As it is sprinkled upon us and throughout this church make it a sign of the saving waters of baptism. ... May all here today, and all those in days to come, who will celebrate your mysteries in this church, be united at last in the holy city of your peace.” Two readers presented the new Lectionary, or Book of Scripture, to Bishop Burbidge, who showed it to the congregants. In his homily, Bishop Burbidge spoke about the name of the new cathedral, noting that the property it sits on was once home to a Catholic orphanage. That orphanage had a

Administrator continued on page A5

“Let Us Walk Together in the Footsteps of Jesus... Celebrating His Holy Cross”

Cardinal Rigali among Church prelates in attendance By Kate Turgeon Watson Catholic News Service

six months of becoming vacant. There are currently four other Roman Catholic dioceses in the United States waiting for a new bishop to be named. Bishop Choby was elected as administrator of the diocese after Bishop Edward Kmiec was named Bishop of Buffalo, N.Y., in 2004, but it is rare for the elected administrator of the diocese to also be named its bishop. It is also somewhat rare for a bishop to come from inside the diocese; Bishop Choby and Bishop James Niedergeses were the only two native sons of the

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

Vicar general continued from page A4

Monsignor Mankel was the diocese’s first vicar general and a founding priest of the diocese. Father Owens was formally introduced to the Chancery staff July 21. During that meeting, he said he looked forward to his new role with the diocese and also looked forward to working with the Chancery staff to further the ministry of the diocese. In addition to his pastoral responsibilities at St. Thomas, he will spend at least one day a week at the Chancery. A vicar general is a principal deputy of the bishop of a diocese. He exercises the bishop’s ordinary executive authority over the diocese and is the highest official in a diocese after the bishop. As moderator of the curia, Father Owens will serve the bishop in coordinating administrative duties performed in the Chancery by its various departments that serve the diocese. “I’m happy for the opportunity,

Tending the diocese Father Michael Johnston, center, will serve as Diocese of Nashville administrator until Bishop Choby’s successor is named. expansions to the school. His goal was always “to get people to work together, to communicate with each other, make decisions and go on.” Since his retirement, Father Johnston has continued to serve as a member of the Presbyteral Council and College of Consultors as well as the Diocesan Review Board. He is also a board member and I look forward to working with the staff to continue to build the Church in East Tennessee,” Father Owens said. In speaking to the Chancery staff, Father Owens was asked if he will be accompanied to the Chancery on occasion by his close companion, Tripp, a popular three-legged dog. Father Owens assured the staff his dog will make appearances. When asked how he plans to serve in his new diocesan roles, he replied “with two ears and one mouth,” noting the importance of listening. Father Owens was ordained a priest on May 28, 2011, at Sacred Heart Cathedral by Bishop Stika. Just prior to that, he entered the transitional diaconate in 2010 at his home parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Chattanooga. During his diaconate, he served at St. Alphonsus Parish in Crossville. A native of London, Ky., Father Owens studied for the priesthood at Conception Seminary in Missouri and St. Charles Borromeo

of Camp Marymount, where he was a former camper and counselor. In retirement, Father Johnston continues to serve as a spiritual director to individuals, and helps with retreats. He also continues to preside at weddings and help prepare couples for marriage. Father Johnston is a native of Nashville and a graduate of Christ the King

School and Father Ryan High School. He spent part of his seminary years studying in Rome, where he was ordained to the priesthood on Dec. 18, 1970, at the St. Peter’s Basilica. He taught at Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga and served as associate pastor at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, alongside Father James Niedergeses, who would later become bishop of Nashville. He was then named principal at Knoxville Catholic High School. Father Johnston returned to Middle Tennessee and became pastor of St. Stephen Catholic Community in Old Hickory, where he oversaw the building of the parish’s first permanent church. At St. Stephen, he also served as vocations director for the diocese. As the people of the diocese prepare for a new bishop, with a sense of expectation and waiting, “we need to remember what this is for,” Father Johnston said. “It’s about the Lord and bringing people closer to Him. Prayer has to be front and center.” ■

BILL BREWER

Diocese of Nashville in its 180-year history to be named its bishop. “I certainly see this as a short-term endeavor,” Father Johnston, 71, said of his role in leading the diocese. “I’ll serve as best I can. A diocesan administrator is tasked with maintaining the operation of a vacant diocesan see. He can fulfill most of the duties of a bishop but cannot undertake new initiatives. He cannot ordain clergy, and, for the first year that he serves as diocesan administrator, he can only appoint priests as parish administrators. If the diocesan administrator remains in office after a year, he may then appoint pastors. According to canon law, “the status quo of the diocese must be maintained until the new diocesan bishop takes canonical possession of it.” Father Johnston retired in 2015 after serving as pastor of St. Henry Parish for nearly 25 years. During his time there he oversaw the building of a new church and major renovations and

COURTESY OF RICK MUSACCHIO/TENNESSEE REGISTER

Administrator continued from page A4

Meet the staff Father Doug Owens, standing, pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Lenoir City, addresses the Chancery staff after he was introduced July 21 by Bishop Richard F. Stika as the diocese’s newest vicar general and moderator of the curia. Seminary in Wynnewood, Pa. A convert, he entered the Church at the Easter Vigil in 2004 after going through RCIA and then entered Conception Seminary in the fall of 2005. He was the 39th priest or-

dained in the Diocese of Knoxville. He served as an associate priest at St. John Neumann Parish in Farragut from 2011 until he was named pastor of St. Thomas in June 2013. ■

COURTESY OF THE DIOCESE OF RALEIGH

PILGRIMAGE TO

Raleigh’s mother church The Cathedral of the Holy Name of Jesus was dedicated July 26. Cardinal Justin Rigali was among the prelates attending. Raleigh continued from page A4

chapel named Holy Name of Jesus. “We knew that had to be the name,” Bishop Burbidge said. He spoke about God’s holy name, urging the people of the diocese to always hold it in reverence. “I firmly believe that reverence for God’s holy name — never to be taken in vain — is a witness we all need to offer society now more than ever,” he said. “Dear Diocese of Raleigh, please renew that commitment today.” Bishop Burbidge shared an experience he had on Dec. 9, 2015, when he represented the diocese and presented the cathedral’s cornerstone to Pope Francis for a blessing. In a lighthearted moment, he shared a challenge from that day. “The hardest part was trying to explain to the Swiss guard what I had in my hands,” he said laughing. “That cornerstone, now situated in our building, is a reminder of the truth we heard today (in Scripture),” he continued. “Our faith is built on a foundation ... with Jesus Christ as the capstone.” Bishop Burbidge also spoke about the future of the diocese and Bishop Zarama, its next shepherd. “In God’s divine plan, he has been entrusted with the pastoral care of this diocese,” Bishop Burbidge said. The rite of dedication began with the litany of the saints, followed by TH E EAST T E N N E S S E E C A T HO L I C

relics brought forward for the altars by former cathedral rectors. Bishop Burbidge enclosed the relics into the main altar, while Bishop Bernard E. “Ned” Shlesinger III, newly ordained auxiliary bishop of Atlanta and former Raleigh priest, did the same in the cathedral’s chapel. In all, 21 relics were deposited. As the prayer of dedication was given, attendees gave a resounding Amen to the bishop’s words. Clad with a simple white waist apron over his chasuble, Bishop Burbidge rolled up his sleeves and anointed the main altar and church building with sacred chrism; Bishop Shlesinger anointed the chapel altar. Bishop Burbidge anointed the walls in the form of a cross at 12 points throughout the cathedral. Censing and lighting of the altar and the church followed. About a dozen members of the parish and Catholic Center staff dressed the altar with linens and the sanctuary with floral arrangements that included greenery and white hydrangea. Five gift bearers, including a man who once lived at the orphanage that was formerly on the property, presented the gifts. Many Massgoers were moved to tears at moments, especially as a single beam of sunlight shined exclusively on the crucifix during Communion. ■ w ww.di o k no x .o rg

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Rep. Fleischmann: ‘Don’t let the bad guys win’ Congressman who was in the crosshairs of ballpark shooter vows to protect sanctity of life, upend culture of death

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

PHOTO COURTESY OF WRCB-TV

Congressional support Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., and Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Tenn., surrounded by police crime scene tape, support each other following the shooting in Alexandria, Va. The lawmakers were among members of Congress who were playing baseball when a lone gunman opened fire on them on June 14.

Firsthand account Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Tenn., still wearing his congressional Republicans baseball jersey and orange Tennessee baseball cap, speaks with the media at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on June 14 following the shooting.

CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

ferent position and began aiming directly at them. They realized they were fully exposed. Police officers then rushed toward the shooter, averting what some said would have been a massacre. Those shot by Mr. Hodgkinson in the melee are recovering. Rep. Scalise suffered a life-threatening gunshot wound that fractured bones, damaged internal organs, caused severe bleeding, and required several surgeries. He was released from MedStar Washington Hospital Center July 25. Mr. Mika was shot multiple times in the chest and arm. Officer Griner was shot in the ankle, and Mr. Barth was shot in the calf. Rep. Fleischmann estimated 50 to 60 people were at the practice, including House members, senators, their staffs, lobbyists, and others. Presidential candidate Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., was among those practicing. They had gathered at the ballpark to practice for the next day’s Congressional Baseball Game for Charity at Nationals Park. The game is an annual bipartisan event first held in 1909. Rep. Scalise was playing second base, and Rep. Fleischmann played right field. Two months after the shooting, Rep. Fleischmann has shifted his thoughts from initial stunned surprise and bewilderment to reflection and resolve. Still wearing his University of Tennessee ball cap and congressional baseball team jersey immediately following the shooting, the congressman said practice participants were like “sitting ducks” on the field and in the dugout. He told one media outlet, “It is so sad when you can’t be safe at a baseball field in America. Something is wrong. This is clearly a deranged individual.” “The overwhelming thought I have is one of thankfulness. I thank God it wasn’t worse. He kept firing, loading, and reloading,” Rep. Fleischmann said in late July, just after the police officers and first responders were recognized by President Donald Trump with Public

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ongressmen Chuck Fleisch mann and Steve Scalise thought there was no safer place in the country than a neighborhood ballfield where friends, colleagues, and even political foes could get together in fellowship for a fun game of baseball. Sadly, a gunman’s anger with the federal government and bullets from his high-powered rifle shattered that ideal. But Rep. Fleischmann is determined to not let the bad guys win. He’s hopeful Neyland Stadium can restore some of what was lost June 14 at Eugene Simpson Stadium Park in Alexandria, Va., a suburb of Washington, D.C. On that day two months ago, a lone gunman opened fire on Republican lawmakers practicing for an annual Republicans-vs.Democrats charity baseball game, seriously injuring several people, including Rep. Scalise, a Louisiana State University graduate whose district is in Louisiana. To mark the recovery of Rep. Scalise and put the shooting behind them, Rep. Fleischmann, a University of Tennessee law school grad, wants to invite Rep. Scalise to Neyland when the Vols host LSU on Nov. 18. The way Rep. Fleischmann figures it, no matter the outcome, the good guys will prevail. The three-term Republican congressman from Ooltewah who is a volunteer player on the congressional Republican baseball team isn’t speaking in generalities about bad guys and winning … and his resolve goes beyond the baseball diamond. The lawyer who represents Tennessee’s third congressional district was on the practice field at Eugene Simpson Stadium Park when shots from a gun rang out. Rep. Fleischmann, a parishioner at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga, saw a lone gunman aiming directly at him and others on the field, so he dove for cover in a dugout on the field. His Republican colleague and fellow Catholic in Congress, Rep. Scalise, was shot in the hip by the gunman. Also shot were Crystal Griner, a Capitol Police officer assigned to protect Rep. Scalise, who serves as majority whip in the House of Representatives, Zack Barth, a congressional aide, and Matt Mika, a Tyson Foods lobbyist. A 10-minute shootout erupted between the shooter, identified as James Hodgkinson, 66, of Belleville, Ill., and officers from the Capitol and Alexandria Police. Officers shot Mr. Hodgkinson, who was armed with an SKS rifle and a 9mm handgun and had fired more than 60 rounds. He died from his wounds later that day. Rep. Scalise and Mr. Mika were taken to nearby hospitals, where they underwent emergency surgeries. Rep. Fleischmann said he was injured in the incident diving for cover from the shooting, but his injuries weren’t serious. He was in the dugout with several others, including children who had come to the field to observe, and watched in horror as the shooter took a dif-

By Bill Brewer

Rep. Steve Scalise Safety Officer Medals of Valor on July 27 for their heroics. The Tennessee congressman attended the White House ceremony to show gratitude for the officers’ bravery. Recalling how he was in the shooter’s crosshairs at least twice, he is thankful and appreciative of the officers’ life-saving actions. “I was very honored to attend the ceremony and watch the officers and first responders receive their medals for bravery from President Trump. Being at the

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White House with them was like a reunion,” he said. “I’m very thankful that I was only slightly injured and recovered in a couple of days. Congressman Scalise and Mr. Mika are on the mend, as are the others who were injured.” Many thoughts cross the congressman’s mind about the incident as facts emerge to give investigators and victims a clearer picture of what happened. The shooter apparently was known to police in his home county and also was known as someone who owned and used firearms. In addition, he apparently had grievances against the federal government, which is why he was in Washington. Sadly, this isn’t the congressman’s first close encounter with domestic terrorism. On July 16, 2015, Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez opened fire on two military installations in Chattanooga, killing four Marines and a Navy sailor and injuring a Marine recruiter and a police officer. The FBI determined the motive for the shooting was terrorism inspired by foreign terrorist organizations. That terrorist shooting hit home for Rep. Fleischmann and was Fleischmann continued on page A14

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arie Cirillo, a former Glenmary sister who has spent the last 50 years in the Clear Fork Valley of Campbell and Claiborne counties trying to help East Tennesseans create opportunities after suffering job loss from mining and related problems, is on a new mission. She is working with a group in New York for teenagers to spend the summer in the vicinity of her home in Clairfield, Tenn., to do oral histories of residents. A “house party” on April 22 at the home of Jack and Marlene O’Hanlon in Knoxville, where copies of a book dedicated to Ms. Cirillo were sold, netted about $1,000 to launch the project. “We have this first $1,000 to put a little Tennessee creativity into the project,” she said. The book is Hungry Moon: Portraits of Appalachian Women by Charlotte Barr of Hixson, with photographs by Warren Brunner of Berea, Ky. It was published by The Intermundia Press. The author interviewed mountain women in three adjacent communities in 198586 along the Tennessee-Kentucky border. During that time, the author spent six months in Roses Creek in Clear Fork Valley, with Ms. Cirillo as her constant guide. Ms. Cirillo, known as Sister Marie of Fatima of the Glenmary Home Missioners order before moving to East Tennessee in 1967, discusses in

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the book’s foreword her decision to leave a convent life to be with the mountain people who stayed home rather than follow most mining families who migrated to cities. The results have been mixed, yet she feels something as simple as parents planting a tree can help the next generation, she wrote. Ms. Cirillo was a long-time director of the Clearfork Community Institute at Eagan. She continues her work, using her Social Security check and a pension from the Diocese of Knoxville, which continued to support her work after she left the order. Ms. Barr, a former member of the Dominican teaching community, has master’s degrees in English and theology and has taught or been poet in residence at schools in Chattanooga, Nashville and several other Southern states. She did the research for the book while on sabbatical from Aquinas College in Nashville. She was a member of the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia of Nashville and had the name of Sister Mary Anthony, OP, from 1960-90. Anyone interested in purchasing the book should contact Ms. Barr at charlottebarr42@yahoo.com. Sale proceeds will go to Ms. Cirillo, according to Ms. Barr, who also can arrange for a copy of a CD with music and lyrics by her brother, David Farrington Barr, which is a tribute to the women featured in the book.

COURTESY OF GEORGIANA VINES

Book highlighting plight of Appalachian women will aid mission

An autographed copy Marie Cirillo, right, signs copies of “Hungry Moon” at her Roses Creek home in the Clairfield community of East Tennessee.

Georgiana Vines, retired News Sentinel associate editor, helped co-host the book sale and “house party” at the O’Hanlons’ residence. Music was provided by guitarist Brian Sward.

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Among the guests were people who have been active with Cirillo in FOCIS, or the Federation of Communities in Service, an ecumenical movement of the Catholic, Episcopal, Presbyterian and Methodist churches. These guests included Christine Scheutzow Griffin, Sue Stephens, and Maureen O’Connell. Also attending was Pat Pennebaker, retired teacher and assistant principal of Sacred Heart Cathedral School in Knoxville, who said about the evening, “It was truly heartening to see so many caring and involved people. The book will serve to reinforce the need for that area and those people not to be forgotten.” ■

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

Scenes from the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

Cathedral photos by Jim Wogan Construction continues at a brisk pace on the new Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. As work enters the final seven months of the 32-month project, crews are making substantial progress on the interior while heading into the final phases of the cathedralâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exterior. When framing and installation of walls and ceiling panels are finished, woodworkers and carpenters will finish giving the interior its architectural detail look. Bishop Richard F. Stika has set a date for the cathedral dedication, which will be March 3, 2018.

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Fr. Punnackal celebrates 25th anniversary in priesthood By Bill Brewer

BILL BREWER

ix months after devastating wildfires wreaked havoc on his parish and parishioners, the mood at St. Mary in Gatlinburg was considerably more celebratory May 24 as the parishioners joined together to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Father Antony Punnackal’s ordination to the priesthood. Father Punnackal, CMI, who has served as St. Mary pastor since 2014, was the principal celebrant at a Mass to mark the anniversary. Concelebrants were Father David Boettner, Father Joseph Thomas, CMI, and more than a dozen other priests. Bishop Richard F. Stika and Cardinal Justin Rigali were in choir at the Mass. Bishop Stika delivered the homily and Cardinal Rigali also offered remarks. Father David Carter, rector of the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga, served as master of ceremonies. Deacon Sean Smith, Diocese of Knoxville chancellor, served as deacon of the Word, and Deacon Al Forsythe, diocesan director of youth ministry, served as deacon of the Eucharist. To begin the Mass, Father Punnackal said, “The almighty Father chose me and anointed me to be his minister. For the past 25 years I’ve been blessed to serve God and to serve God’s people. On this day, when we are gathered here on this altar, to offer in thanksgiving for this 25-year jubilee of celebrating Mass, I ask the Lord to give us strength.” Strength from God indeed has been needed by the parish, which found itself at the center of wind-fueled wildfires that swept through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and into Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and surround-

Happy Anniversary! Father Antony Punnackal, CMI, center, is flanked by Bishop Richard F. Stika and Cardinal Justin Rigali, and is surrounded by Diocese of Knoxville priests who joined to celebrate the 25th anniversary Mass for Father Punnackal at St. Mary Church in Gatlinburg on May 24. ing areas on Nov. 28. The church was spared, although flames spread to within 300 yards of the building that sits near the center of downtown. Some adjacent buildings burned to the ground. However, some parishioners weren’t as fortunate; they lost their homes and all their belongings. But as rebuilding continues and lives are put back together again, St. Mary parishioners took

time to celebrate Mass with the priest who led them through the disaster. Bishop Stika, during his homily, noted Father Punnackal’s resolve in the face of disaster. “Following the fires last November, we were concerned about Father Antony. We didn’t know where he disappeared to. We knew they were closing the area, and we heard the fires got close, to within 300 yards of the church. We Anniversary continued on page A14

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Cardinal from page A1

Breaking bread Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz sits across from Pope Francis during a lunch for World Youth Day in 2016 in Kraków, Poland, where the cardinal served as archbishop. Pope Francis is seen greeting Dorota Abdelmoula, spokesperson for the 2016 World Youth Day, during lunch with young people attending World Youth Day in Kraków. him. The cardinal was very gracious. I would see him a number of times in Rome whenever we would attend private papal Masses. I visited with him when he was the Archbishop of Kraków along with Deacon Sean Smith, our diocesan chancellor. We stopped at his residence in Kraków, and he remembered me.” Those warm and frequent encounters led Bishop Stika to believe Cardinal Dziwisz would be open to participating in the Diocese of Knoxville cathedral Dedication Mass in March. “He is very warm and engaging, and when you are one-on-one with him he will, when you are speaking with him, he will hold your hand. He always makes direct eye contact. His English is good. He is very warm and engaging.” Bishop Stika extended an invitation to Cardinal Dziwisz a number of months ago and he provisionally accepted. During further conversations with the cardinal at the national Knights of Columbus convention in St. Louis earlier this month, the cardinal officially accepted. During the Knights of Columbus convention, Cardinal Dziwisz concelebrated the Aug. 3 memorial Mass and he blessed the congregation with a relic consisting of a vial of St. John Paul II’s blood. The elaborate reliquary that holds the relic is normally housed at the St. John Paul II National Shrine in Washington, D.C., founded by the

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to the Diocese of Knoxville with open arms and great love,” Bishop Stika said. “We are honored that he will participate in the Dedication Mass for our new cathedral, and we are excited that His Eminence will witness, in a very personal way, the vibrant faith and commitment to Jesus that our diocese lives each and every day.” The visit by the Polish prelate to the Diocese of Knoxville can’t be overstated. “Cardinal Dziwisz is an international figure in the life of the Catholic Church,” Bishop Stika added. “He is a man of history. He was there when John Paul was shot in 1981. In fact, he fell into the lap of Cardinal Dziwisz, and Cardinal Dziwisz anointed the pope after the assassination attempt. When John Paul died (in 2005), Cardinal Dziwisz was at his side, and at the end when they closed the casket on John Paul, the Church has a tradition, a white veil is placed over the face of a pope before the casket lid is closed, and it was Cardinal Dziwisz who placed that veil on the pope’s face at his funeral Mass.” Cardinal Dziwisz is a close friend of Cardinal Justin Rigali, who served three different popes while working in Rome for more than 30 years, including a long service to St. John Paul II. Cardinal Rigali now resides in the Diocese of Knoxville. “It is always good to see my friend and colleague in Christ, but it will be especially fulfilling to host Cardinal Dziwisz the weekend we dedicate our new cathedral,” Cardinal Rigali said. “I have known Cardinal Dziwisz since he arrived at the Vatican from Poland many years ago. We traveled and worked together, serving the Church for many years. I look forward to sharing the sacred occasion of the Dedication Mass with him and in the activities that follow.” Cardinal Dziwisz was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Kraków in 1963 by Bishop Karol Józef Wojtyla, who became Pope St. John Paul II. Cardinal Dziwisz was appointed the secretary to Pope St. John Paul II, serving in that position for nearly 40 years. He was ordained a bishop in 1998 and was elevated to cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in 2006. Bishop Stika first met Cardinal Dziwisz in Rome. Without prompting or a need to check, Bishop Stika remembers the exact date. “June 14, 1988, was the first time I met Pope St. John Paul II, and as always, Cardinal Dziwisz was with

Critical care Pope John Paul II is assisted by aides after being shot in St. Peter’s Square May 13, 1981. Bullets fired by Turkish gunman Mehmet Ali Agca struck the pope’s hand and lower abdomen as he rode in an open jeep greeting pilgrims on the feast of Our Lady of Fatima. His personal secretary, then-Monsignor Stanislaw Dziwisz, is pictured over the pope’s left shoulder. Cardinal Dziwisz will be one of the cardinals attending the dedication Mass for the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Knights of Columbus in 2011. Bishop Stika said Cardinal Dziwisz will be one of at least five cardinals who will concelebrate the new cathedral Dedication Mass on March 3. Following the Mass, Bishop Stika said he will invite Cardinal Dziwisz to bless and dedicate the new Pope St. John Paul II Shrine inside the new cathedral. Pope St. John Paul II established the Diocese of Knoxville on Sept. 8, 1988. “That’s why we have to make sure the statue looks like his

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friend,” Bishop Stika said. “Cardinal Dziwisz was a good friend of Pope St. John Paul II, but he was also his closest collaborator, closer than anyone in history. Just to have him here, especially because Pope St. John Paul II created the Diocese of Knoxville, is a very special and physical symbol of that connection,” Bishop Stika added. Bishop Stika hopes the long list of Cardinal Dziwisz’s life experiences will grow even more when he arrives in Knoxville. Cardinal continued on page A12 AUGUST 6, 2017 n A11

Knights of Columbus modernizing with a uniform makeover By Tony Gutierrez Catholic News Service

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“I am hoping that the cardinal will spend a few days in the diocese and, if possible, celebrate Mass with the Polish community in Tennessee.” While Cardinal Dziwisz is expected to participate fully in the liturgical components of the Dedication Mass, he also will be a very special guest when Bishop Stika

CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE/KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS

he Knights of Columbus, long associated with swords, capes and chapeaus, will be going through a significant uniform change. The traditional regalia worn by fourth-degree Knights will be replaced, announced Supreme Knight Carl Anderson Aug. 1 during the international fraternal organization’s 135th annual Supreme Convention in St. Louis, which was livestreamed on EWTN. Throughout the years, the regalia of the Knights’ fourth degree, known as the patriotic degree, has gone through changes, Anderson said, noting that when this degree was first established, the uniform included white ties, top hats and tails. In place of a tuxedo with a black bow tie, members will be wearing a blue blazer, an official Knights of Columbus tie and a beret, all with the fourth-degree emblem on them, along with a white shirt and dark gray slacks. There was no mention if the swords would remain part of the uniform. “The board of directors has decided that the time is right for a modernization of the fourth-degree uniform,” Mr. Anderson said. “On a limited basis, assemblies may choose to continue using the traditional cape and chapeau for color corps at public events and honor guards in liturgical processions. However, the preferred dress for the fourth degree, including color corps and honor guards, is the new uniform of jacket and beret.” Robert Earl, a member of the Father Novatus Assembly 23, which serves Our Lady of Perpetual Help and St. Daniel the Prophet parishes in Scottsdale, Ariz., welcomes the new changes. “I feel it is significant that the order changes to respond to changing times. The new uniform evokes an image of elite military corpsmen in my mind, and I believe this is the intent behind the change,” Mr. Earl told The Catholic Sun, newspaper of the Diocese of Phoenix.

A new look Members of the Knights of Columbus are seen in their new uniforms Aug. 1 during the international fraternal organization’s 135th annual Supreme Convention in St. Louis. The new uniform is replacing the traditional regalia worn by fourth-degree Knights, Supreme Knight Carl Anderson announced Aug. 1 during the convention. “Our former regalia was reminiscent of Navy officers and consistent with the nautical theme in the patriotic degree, but it perhaps did not have currency in the minds of the general public,” he added, noting that in addition to the tuxedo, the other items collectively could cost approximately $500. “I think the new uniform creates a positive and striking image of ‘soldiers for Christ,’ which is, after all, what we are meant to be.” Many members are not as thrilled about the pending changes, which generated some controversy among the membership. Joseph Meyer from Msgr. Bernard G. Collins Assembly 2899, which serves St. Bridget and Christ the King parishes in Mesa, Ariz., said the new uniforms lose a sense of the pageantry associated with the Knights’ fourth-degree level. “I have been a fourth-degree Knight since 1978 and we have always had this regalia,” said Mr. Mey-

hosts a “Conversation with the Cardinals” inside the new cathedral on March 4, the night after the Dedication Mass. The conversation will likely hit on some unexpected topics. “Pope St. John Paul II loved to snow ski. There are stories floating around that the pope snuck out of the Vatican around 100 times to go skiing, and Cardinal Dziwisz

Pope Francis’ visit to Colombia considered by many a path to peace By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service

ope Francis had promised to visit Colombia once a peace accord was in place, but his visit Sept. 6-10 is less about congratulations than about consolidation. “He comes to take the first step with us,” said the bishops of Colombia in a document designed to prepare people for the pope’s visit. In the Gospel of St. John, the apostle Peter is the first to enter the empty tomb after Jesus’ resurrection, the bishops wrote. In a similar way, St. Peter’s successor, the pope, will visit Colombia, which they described as “a terrible tomb” that “has been crushed with armed conflict, drug trafficking, insecurity and inequality.” Looking at Pope Francis’ previous visits to places trying to overcome civil strife, violence and division — the Holy Land, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Central African Republic — it is clear Pope Francis recognizes that making and keeping peace require courage and sacrifice. The people of Colombia are right to celebrate the 2016 peace accord that came after the suffering of 52 years of civil war. Pope Francis obviously will praise that accomplishment, but he also will urge them to “take the first step” toward reconciliation, the theme of the visit. After a conflict in which at least 220,000 people died and more than 6 million people were uprooted from their homes, it won’t be easy. A small rebel group that was not part of the 2016 accord still exists, and the country faces a host of complicated processes for reintegrating former combatants into society and compensating victims of the conflict. “Peace is a work of justice,” Pope Francis said during a Mass in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, in 2015. It is “not a justice proclaimed, imagined, planned, but rather a justice put into

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practice, lived out.” The first step has to be to let go of festering anger and resentment, the pope has said. But he knows that is not easy. Celebrating Mass in South Korea in 2014, Pope Francis told Catholics: “Jesus asks us to believe that forgiveness is the door which leads to reconciliation. In telling us to forgive our brothers unreservedly, he is asking us to do something utterly radical, but he also gives us the grace to do it.” “What appears, from a human perspective, to be impossible, impractical and even at times repugnant, he makes possible and fruitful through the infinite power of his cross,” the pope told the South Koreans at the “Mass for Peace and Reconciliation.” In striving for peace or trying to shore up the foundations of peace, every person has a part to play, the pope has insisted each time he has visited a community recovering from the horror of war. And, looking at the need for forgiveness, the pope emphasizes it is not only about a willingness to forgive one’s enemies. It’s about taking responsibility for any way that one contributed to the tensions, even remotely, and asking forgiveness. At a Marian shrine in Sri Lanka in 2015, Pope Francis prayed with families that had suffered during the country’s 25-year civil war. He offered words of consolation and of hope for the future, urging prayers “for the grace to make reparation for our sins and for all the evil which this land has known.” “It is not easy to do this,” the pope told them. “Yet only when we come to understand, in the light of the cross, the evil we are capable of, and have even been a part of, can we experience true remorse and true repentance. Only then can we receive the grace to approach one another in true contrition, offering and seeking true forgiveness.” ■

er, who was a color corps commander in Toledo, Ohio, for 13 years before moving to Arizona. “We all looked great in the fourth-degree outfits. These (new) outfits look bad.” Mr. Meyer also expressed concern for members who own the current uniform and have to spend money on the new one. Paul Lee, a member of the Iowa delegation, said the reaction on the ground was “mixed.” “The largest concern is people don’t feel that they have answers for the question of why the need for the change. They want something beyond a more modern look,” Mr. Lee said. Mr. Lee said many members he’s interacted with are excited about the changes because it brings the uniform “more in line with other military service organizations because it connects us as patriotic organizations.” ■

would go with him,” Bishop Stika said. Bishop Stika may dig for more clues on those surreptitious ski trips, but the subjects are bound to be serious, too. “Cardinal Dziwisz can speak in terms of the Church and its connection with a great saint and a great pope of the 20th century. Historians will say it was John Paul along

with Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher that brought down communism in Poland. Cardinal Dziwisz was a part of all that. He lived with the pope, he worked with the pope, and he was with the pope all of the time. “These are moments in history that Pope St. John Paul II was involved in, and Cardinal Dziwisz was there,” Bishop Stika said. ■

SPIRITUAL DIRECTION TRAINING PROGRAM

2017-2019

eeling called to companion others on their journey with God? Sign up for the 2017-2019 Spiritual Direction Training Program, sponsored by Mount Saint Joseph Conference and Retreat Center and the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph. Beginning Oct. 16, you will meet for a weekly training session eight times over a two-year period, entering into study, reflection and prayer around a topic fundamental to the understanding and practice of spiritual direction. You will receive intense training, practice and supervision by a coordinating team of religious sisters and educators. The program, which leads to certification as a spiritual director, takes place on a quiet, rural campus in Maple Mount, Kentucky. Close to 50 individuals from across the U.S. have completed the program since it began in 2004.

Meet some of our Tennessee graduates! lMonica Armstrong

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hTheresa

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Gail Ratti Curran Sister Yvette Gillen (Clinton) RSM (Knoxville) 2015 Spiritual Direction graduates and team leaders (Monica is both)

Limited scholarships are available. Please register by Aug. 31, 2017.

To register or for more information, contact Sister Mary Matthias Ward

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A brochure can be found at ursulinesmsj.org

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

Catholic Charities of ET appoints chief operating officer By Jim Wogan

isa Healy, a former top executive with Sysco Corp., has been named chief operating officer for Catholic Charities of East Tennessee. Sister Mary Christine Cremin, RSM, executive director of Catholic Charities of East Tennessee, made the announcement on July 10.

“I am delighted to have Lisa join us,” Sister Mary Christine said. “Lisa brings extensive experience in sales, marketing, operations, and executive leadership. She will work closely with me to manage the daily activities of our agency as we continue to grow and expand our services throughout East Tennessee.” As chief operating officer, Ms. Healy will oversee operations, including program admin-

istration, facilities, human resources, and development. She will serve as the designated agent of the Catholic Charities board of trustees with responsibility for regulatory and governance compliance of grants. Prior to joining Catholic Charities of East Tennessee, Ms. Healy worked with Sysco Corp., a global leader in the sales, marketing, and distri-

with the second collection for tuition assistance (Aug. 19-20 this year). I said, ‘we’re thinking small.’ It’s sad when you think $50,000 or $100,000 is small, but we had to have a bigger vision,” he added. Father Michelson first introduced the idea two years ago at a meeting of diocesan priests, but he noted there was not a lot of excitement. “After last year’s meeting, I said we have to do something. So I began doing some more research and I made a proposal to Sister Mary Marta and the bishop, and it just snowballed from there. The reaction was, ‘yes, we need to do this.’” Father Michelson credited the idea to a family he knows who moved into the Diocese of Knoxville from Nebraska. As a gift, they gave him a calendar from a school in the Diocese of Lincoln with a similar theme. He said he won about $50 from the calendar — and a diocesan-wide fundraiser was born.

An idea becomes reality

Turning the idea into reality proved complicated. The Tennessee Constitution, state laws, the office of the Tennessee Secretary of State, and the IRS were just a few of the hurdles. But a change in a state law provided the diocese an opportunity to get the school calendars off the ground. Nonprofit organizations now are able to have one game of chance per year after a state law was passed and the state constitution was changed to allow games of chance, which gave rise to the Tennessee Lottery. Nonprofits apply through the office of the Secretary of State, which is what the diocese did. All valid requests are put into a bill that the legislature votes on to authorize them. With only one state exemption allowing a game of chance available to the Diocese of Knoxville, the diocese opted to apply for an exemption for the school calendars program. That exemption was granted in March. Father Michelson and Sister Mary Marta assembled a team to launch the calendars and administer the program. Serving on the schools calendar committee are Dickie Sompayrac, Andy Zengel, Marcy Meldahl, Diannah Miller, Joni Punch, and Father Michelson. Calendar sales will be processed through St. Albert the Great Parish. The 10 diocesan schools — Notre Dame High School, St. Jude, and Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Chattanooga, St. Mary in Oak Ridge, St. John Neumann in Farragut, St. Dominic in Kingsport, St. Mary in Johnson City, and Sacred Heart, St. Joseph, and Knoxville Catholic High School in Knoxville — will begin selling the 2018 calendars on Sept. 5. Since the fundraiser is for tuition assistance, the schools will offer the calendars first, in September and October. All diocesan parishes will then be able to join in and sell the calendars in November and December. Calendar sales will end Dec. 23.

How it works

In accordance with state law, Father Michelson said no one under the age of 18, including diocesan students, can sell the calendars. All sales transactions must be done by adults; however, students can promote the calendars. Proceeds from the sale of the calendars will be divided among the schools, parishes, and the Regional Catholic Schools Tuition Support Fund in the four deaneries of the diocese. Each school will keep $15 from every calendar it sells, and each parish will keep $15 from every calendar it sells. Schools and parishes will be encouraged to use the money to foster Catholic education. The TH E EAST T E N N E S S E E C A T HO L I C

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Laying the groundwork Father Chris Michelson, pastor of St. Albert the Great Parish and president of St. Joseph School, leads a meeting of Diocese of Knoxville school administrators in July at the Chancery to discuss the Catholic Schools Calendar Fund, a fundraiser for tuition-assistance funding that will be launched in September. remaining proceeds will fund the Regional Catholic Schools Tuition Support Fund. Money raised from the sale of calendars in the Chattanooga Deanery will stay in that deanery, according to Father Michelson, who noted that the same applies to calendars sold in the Cumberland Mountain, Five Rivers, and Smoky Mountain deaneries. And money raised through the sale of business sponsorships of the calendars will fund the $50,000 in prize money to be given away at a January drawing. A sales goal of 25,000 calendars has been set for this first year, which Father Michelson believes is a reasonable benchmark given the number of schools and parishes and the fact there are between 22,000 and 23,000 households in the diocese. Then there are potential calendar sales to people and organizations that aren’t part of the diocese. The St. Albert the Great priest envisions sales to families, friends, and businesses that may want to give them as Christmas gifts. “We set as a goal to sell 25,000 calendars. If we do that, parishes and schools get $15 of every calendar sold, or $375,000. And $20 will go to the (tuition assistance) fund, give or take what our expenses are; so 25,000 times $20 is a half-million dollars. If you double that amount, you’re at a million dollars,” he said. The diocesan priest sees the potential for significant growth of the fund if school and parish communities will get behind the sales. He cited the Diocese of Lincoln, which has been selling calendars for several years and has seen its proceeds from sales multiply. He is confident that as word of the calendars and the cash drawings spreads, interest will rise – and so will sales in the years to come. After sales for the 2018 calendars end on Dec. 23, the one-time drawing for cash prizes will be held at the Chancery on Jan. 3. Each calendar has a registration form for the calendar holder to fill out. These slips will be placed in a large drum at the Chancery, and 365 of them will be randomly selected, representing cash prizes for each day of the year. People who participate can win $500 if the date their slip is picked with is one of several specially designated days like Ash Wednesday or All Saints Day. They can win $300 if the date their slip is picked with falls on special days like St. Patrick’s Day, Independence Day, or Grandparents Day. Slips accompanying Sundays are worth $250, and all other days are worth $100. There is only one winner per calendar, and names cannot be returned to the drum for a repeat drawing. But individuals who purchase or are given more than one calendar will have more than one chance to win. “It’s like giving someone 365 lottery tickets. It’s 365 chances to win $100 to $500. And people like (games

of chance). Studies have shown we all like that chance to win,” Father Michelson said. The entire process must adhere to strict state laws, regulations, and accounting practices. The Diocese of Knoxville’s external auditor, Brown, Jake & McDaniel, PC, will serve as auditor for the Catholic Schools Calendar Fund. The auditors also must be present at the official cash prize drawing to make sure the annual drawing adheres to regulations. As the date for the launch of the calendar fundraising program nears, Father Michelson, Sister Mary Marta, and Bishop Stika are optimistic. But they know a lot is at stake.

What is at stake

Father Michelson said parishes, especially those with schools, are struggling to meet the demands for resources for tuition-assistance requests. “I think the parishes feel tapped out. We’ve given what we can. We’ve come up with the $1.6 million (in the Knoxville region alone) between the different funding methods. It’s a lot of money every year. And that doesn’t count the standard parish subsidies and other ways parishes reach out and help us,” he said. “I don’t think it’s an accident that as the need goes up every year and the amount stays the same, our enrollment is falling. I don’t know for sure that it is a correlation, but it’s a well-educated guess that the reason for falling enrollment in Catholic schools is our inability to keep up with the need to help families that are on that margin.” Mr. Sompayrac, president of Knoxville Catholic High School, believes the program can be a gamechanger for diocesan education. “I really think this calendar raffle/sale is a fundraising home run, and I think Father Chris Michelson deserves a lot of credit for coming up with this idea. We all know that folks in East Tennessee love a good raffle with lots of opportunities to win up to $500, but to know that 100 percent of the proceeds will be going to support Catholic schools and Catholic families in our area is really icing on the cake,” Mr. Sompayrac said. “For KCHS, these fundraising dollars will be critical in our efforts to keep the very best teachers here while also keeping tuition increases to a minimum.” Mr. Zengel, principal of St. Joseph School in Knoxville, believes the calendar fundraiser is a good idea whose time has arrived. “Our enrollment at St. Joseph has been growing over the last five years, but so has the need for tuition support. Last year, over half of our families were awarded need-based scholarships to attend St. Joseph School. Through the tuition-support fund, generous corporate sponsors and special fundraisers like the Sister Jolita Supper, we are able to match resources with need. This is the very heart of the mission of Catholic

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education — to bring the truth and beauty of our faith to families who desire it but might not be able to afford it,” Mr. Zengel said. “The calendar raffle will extend our ability to serve more families in this situation. We are very excited. The calendar raffle is one of those programs that immediately strikes you as a good idea.” Bishop Stika is hopeful the Catholic schools calendars will help solve the growing dilemma for the diocese: how to extend tuition assistance to more students amid limited funding. “The primary purpose here should not be to see if individuals can make some money, but a way that we can support Catholic education. We’re giving away about $4 million a year in scholarships, grants, and gifts to families needing tuition support. We want to make sure that those who wish to have a Catholic education can, that it’s feasible to do so,” Bishop Stika said. The bishop noted that there are some people who continue to give to Catholic schools long after they and their children have been in school because they have benefited from a Catholic education. He said they weren’t financially rewarded for doing so because they were doing it as a gift for vocations. He hopes many people will share that same spirit by purchasing calendars. “I heartily support this. I’m going to buy some calendars and give them as Christmas gifts instead of giving something from Amazon, or gift cards, or gifts nobody is ever going to use. This supports Catholic education, and if somebody wins something, that is good as well,” he said. The bishop noted the Diocese of Lincoln has raised millions of dollars with its calendar fundraiser, and if the Diocese of Knoxville can do partly as well, then more families will be helped through need-based scholarships. He said studies show that when a good Catholic education is provided, individuals and families become strengthened in their faith, which typically grows into a long-term relationship with God and the Church. For families who may not know about the diocese’s Catholic education ministry, Sister Mary Marta wants the calendars to serve as an introduction to all 10 schools and hopefully be incentive for families to send their children to one, even if the cost of tuition seems out of reach. That is why the Regional Catholic Schools Tuition Support Fund is so critical, as is its growth. Sister Mary Marta said the need for supplemental tuition support over the past five years has grown more than 30 percent. And $3.8 million was given in tuition support to families this past year — a record amount. “Families have to make sacrifices to send their children to Catholic schools. This is a way for families to afford for their children to have a Catholic education. The hope is that this first year will be a success, and we’ll be able to do it year after year and the funding will increase each year,” said Sister Mary Marta, who credited Father Michelson for making the fundraising idea a reality. “We’ve been looking for new sources of money for tuition assistance. Our hope for creating the calendar fundraiser is to bring more money into the needs-based scholarship fund,” she said. “We only have so much money to give. But the need is greater than the amount we have. Support from parishioners and the community helps to make a Catholic school education a reality for children most in need. With their help, additional children will experience the spiritual and academic advantages of a Catholic school education.” ■ AUGUST 6, 2017 n A13

Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals hears Yes on 1 challenge Lawyers for state of Tennessee, plaintiffs debate before federal panel legality of 2014 constitutional amendment vote By Will Brewer

fter three years in legal limbo, advocates of Tennessee’s pro-life Amendment 1 finally got their day in court on Aug. 2. Amendment 1 amends the state’s constitution to say that there is no fundamental right to abortion in Tennessee. In a statewide vote in 2014, the measure passed by a margin of 53 percent to 47 percent. The race was won by a strong grassroots effort by pro-life advocates that included attracting

evangelical voters through heavy outreach to church congregations across the state. However, soon after its passage, opponents of the law sued the state of Tennessee in federal district court alleging that their voting rights were violated due to a unique provision that Tennessee uses to pass constitutional amendments. In Tennessee, a constitutional amendment must get a majority of the vote while also getting more than half of the total number of voters in the gubernatorial election that year. The state always has interpreted this law by

tallying votes according to the total number of gubernatorial votes. Sixth Circuit judges heard arguments that some voters chose not to vote in the gubernatorial race and voted for Amendment 1 thus lowering the threshold to pass the amendment. Amendment 1 opponents claim their votes were diluted by this strategy and that the state should have only taken into consideration the voters that voted in both the gubernatorial race and the amendment race. Last year, a federal district court judge in

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something he hoped he would never encounter again. He never thought he would be a target in another terrorist attack. “What safer place is there than a baseball field? That’s the shame of it. As a country, we need to focus on the sacredness of human life and to condemn and deter those who would take human life,” he said. “Life is sacred from inception. That is close to me. Our culture sadly has grown much more violent. We have seen incident after incident where there is a total disregard for life. We must have a renewed focus against violence and for the sacredness of all life.” Despite the culture of death both shooters were bent on advancing, hope, fellowship, and a spirit of life emerged from the June 14 and July 2015 attacks, according to Rep. Fleischmann. Within hours of the shooting, congressional leaders from both parties decided to proceed with the charity baseball game on June 15 at

Caught up in the moment Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Tenn., becomes emotional as he answers questions at the Capitol about the June 14 shooting of Rep. Steve Scalise and several others. the stadium where the Washington Nationals play. It’s a decision that Rep. Fleischmann fully supported. “It was a tremendous decision to make, to go ahead and play the game. Unfortunately the Demo-

crats won the trophy this year. But what they did was take the trophy and place it in Congressman Scalise’s office for when he returns. The Democrats could not have been more supportive,” he

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Brother priests and deacons Father Antony Punnackal celebrates his 25th anniversary Mass with parishioners, close friends, and colleagues.

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eventually found Father Antony, who so wanted to get back and assess what was going on in his community. Within a few days, he contacted every family in the parish directory to see if everyone was OK, to see what he could do, to see what their needs were. Isn’t that a true pastor? … In everything he does, I see his pastoral zeal, his true missionary spirit,” the bishop said. Father Punnackal on Nov. 28 was forced to close St. Mary and, like the entire population of Gatlinburg, had to evacuate outside of town. The city was closed for days. But within days of the fire, Father Punnackal worked with Bishop Stika and Father Boettner, rector of the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and a vicar general for the diocese, in establishing a fund to assist St. Mary parishioners affected by the fires. Bishop Stika called Father Punnackal a missionary priest in the truest sense of the word. The priest of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate order is a native of India who emigrated to the United States to serve his priestly vocation. Prior to joining the Diocese of Knoxville at Bishop Stika’s request, Father Punnackal served as a pastor for several years in the Diocese of Amarillo in Texas. “We commemorate Father Antony’s celebration of his silver jubilee this year. But we also celebrate priesthood, and we celebrate mission. The word Mass means to be missioned, to be sent forth. Truly, in the life of a priest, or a deacon, or anyone who would incorporate into their hearts the message of Jesus himself, we are all called to be missionaries wherever we find ourselves; to preach about Jesus, and to share Jesus, and to share our faith that gives us life, especially a life that is centered on God, centered on faith,” Bishop Stika said. “Think of all the different characters in the Old Testament and the New Testament, people that you would at least expect them to be: true disciples, or followers, or prophets. People like Peter and the other apostles. They never knew they would be sent forth to places other than where they were comfortable being. It shows that so often in life we might have a plan for ourselves, but as the adage goes, if you want to make God laugh, tell him what your plans are for the rest

Anniversary homily Bishop Stika delivers the homily to a full house at St. Mary Church in Gatlinburg on May 24. of your life,” the bishop added. Bishop Stika asked how many in the congregation were natives of Gatlinburg. A few raised their hands, and the bishop reminded them that they were in the minority. In addition to being home for many people who have relocated from other parts of the country, St. Mary’s sees its attendance swell with visitors during the peak tourism times of the year. “I’m sure Father Antony never thought 25 years ago that he would be in Gatlinburg, Tenn. To tell you the truth, neither did I,” the bishop said, drawing laughs, before noting that Cardinal Rigali was established in his Vatican role serving St. John Paul II in Rome, but the pope asked him to go to St. Louis to serve as archbishop and then to Philadelphia as archbishop. The cardinal, now retired, resides in the Diocese of Knoxville. “And so many of my brother

priests are from other parts of the country and other parts of the world. Again, that just shows when our hearts are open to God, the spirit of the Lord is indeed upon us. And the Holy Spirit can put us in places and situations that we least expect to be. We’re here because we are people of faith. The spirit of the Lord is indeed upon us,” Bishop Stika said. In his remarks, Cardinal Rigali pointed out the love and support Father Punnackal received during his anniversary Mass. A dinner in his honor was put on by parishioners and held at the Gatlinburg Convention Center, which is next door to the church. “Our ceremony here is filled with so many aspects of wonderful joy. One of those is the fact of the presence of so many parishioners with Father Antony and with Bishop Stika, and that so many priests are able to join in this celebration. …

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said. “It’s really a wonderful national event, and the fact we went through with it, this is very meaningful to me.” He noted that within a few hours, the worst of society was overshadowed by what is right with the country: people with opposing views working together for a common goal, and all within the confines of the national pastime. He said prayers have been appreciated and will continue to be needed, both for the individuals involved in the incident and for the country. He also said Bishop Richard F. Stika reached out to him shortly after the shooting to offer prayers and support. “I want to thank the people of East Tennessee for their thoughts and prayers. We still need prayers. We’re going through a healing process,” he said. “Again, I’m very thankful. I pray we’ll all be able to go out next year and play again at Nationals Park – and not let the bad guys win.” ■ This is such a beautiful thing, and it is all within the context of the sacred priesthood,” said Cardinal Rigali, who cited sacred Scripture, which quotes Jesus speaking to the apostles, saying, “It was not you who chose me, but it was I who chose you.” “It’s the mystery of the vocation to the priesthood. But Jesus is very clear, Father Antony, that you are here today because it was Jesus who chose you,” Cardinal Rigali said. Bishop Stika described Father Punnackal as the perfect example of someone whose life is rooted in the Lord. He is a missionary priest who traveled to the United States from India to serve God and preach the teachings of Jesus. His ministry took him to Texas and Tennessee, where he has served as pastor at St. Alphonsus Parish in Crossville and now as pastor of St. Mary. Bishop Stika recalled that Father Punnackal, who has a slight build, interviewed to join the Diocese of Knoxville, and when the bishop asked the young priest what his interests were, he replied “basketball” and “volleyball.” The bishop, taken aback at the time, still thinks of the unexpected answer in wonderment given Father Punnackal’s average size. “Antony opened his heart to have a true missionary experience, to listen to the Lord, and to follow,” Bishop Stika said, adding that the Holy Spirit was at work when Father Punnackal accepted his invitation to join the Church in East Tennessee and begin serving its people, first at St. Alphonsus Parish in Crossville, where he loved the people and “served with distinction,” and now in Gatlinburg. “I don’t think he considers himself just a priest from India who is serving in Gatlinburg. I know he believes he’s the priest of St. Mary Parish in Gatlinburg serving the people of God,” the bishop said. “Father Antony, congratulations on your 25th anniversary. May you have many more years. And may you, the good people who love, and respect, and care for him, continue to do so, because a priest working with people and people working with a priest build what we call a community of faith.” “He loves it here,” Bishop Stika told the Gatlinburg congregation, adding with a grin, “I hope you all save enough money to put in a basketball court.” ■ TH E EA S T TEN N ES S EE C A TH OLI C

The second collection at vigil Masses on Aug. 19 and Sunday Masses on Aug. 20 will be for Catholic school need-based scholarships. Diocese of Knoxville schools provide spiritual and intellectual growth for approximately 3,100 students in the two high schools and eight foundational schools. With numerous awards, unbeatable graduation rates, and a passion to develop the youth of today into the leaders of tomorrow – the diocese’s Catholic schools not only equip children for the journey of life but, more importantly, help to guide them along their journey to heaven, according to Sister Mary Marta Abbott, RSM, superintendent of schools for the diocese. Yet, some families continue to struggle in difficult economic times. The need for supplemental tuition support over the past five years has grown more than 30 percent. And $3.8 million was given in tuition support to families this past year – a record amount, Sister Mary Marta said. “Support from parishioners helps to make a Catholic school education a reality for children most in need. With their help, additional children will experience the spiritual and academic advantages of a Catholic school education. Please consider making a donation today. We welcome you to www.dioknox.org/schools/ to learn more about our schools, including school highlights and links to individual school websites. You may also give online,” she said.

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

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Second collection for diocese tuition assistance scheduled

Leadership team Sister Mary Christine Cremin, RSM, executive director of Catholic Charities of East Tennessee, is shown with CCETN’s new chief operating officer, Lisa Healy. Officer from page A13

bution of food products to the hospitality industry, for three decades. She began her career in sales and marketing and spent the last 12 years in executive leadership positions as executive vice president and president. Ms. Healy earned a bachelor’s degree from Virginia Tech. She is currently a student at South College working toward her MBA. She is a volunteer with HABIT and the University of Tennessee Medical Center’s HOSPICE, and is a member of Sacred Heart Cathedral Parish in Knoxville. “As the executive director of Catholic Charities of East Tennes-

see, I am privileged to witness the positive impact we have on the lives of our clients,” Sister Mary Christine said. “I am confident in working closely with Lisa. We will expand and deepen our social impact as we move into the future and work together to fulfill the mission of Catholic Charities in our region.” Empowered by the grace of Jesus Christ, Catholic Charities of East Tennessee fosters human dignity of the vulnerable in the region through shelter, counseling, education, advocacy, and reverence for life. Catholic Charities of East Tennessee operated 12 programs serving more than 4,200 clients in 2016-17. ■

Seventh annual Ministries Day scheduled at All Saints The Diocese of Knoxville’s Office of Christian Formation is sponsoring a Ministries Day on Saturday, Aug. 19, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at All Saints Church in Knoxville. This event is open to all who share the Catholic faith, including parents, student youth leaders, coordinators of youth ministry, RCIA teams, adult educators, liturgy and ministry teams, DREs, and catechists and assistants. More than 20 individual workshops will be offered, including a Spanish track. Father Richard Armstrong, assistant director for the Office of Christian Formation, said there will be something for everyone. The cost is $20, which includes lunch. Participants are encouraged to register before Aug. 9. After Aug. 9, the cost remains $20 but lunch is not guaranteed. Sessions are first come, first served. Class sizes are limited, so register early to get your first choice. Workshop descriptions and registration forms are available on the diocesan website, www.dioknox.org. This will be the seventh Ministries Day, which will have a theme of “Missionary Disciples for the New Evangelization.” Other workshops include catechist orientation, apologetics, Christian formation of teens, evangelization, outreach, sacred icons, and end-of-life decisions. “Ministries Day is important because it gives those who work with the Church an occasion to deepen their own faith. Those involved in parish ministries are the ones serving the faithful throughout the diocese. Ministries Day is our opportunity to serve those who serve. Each time we help form one pastoral minister, he or she in turn goes out and forms countless others in the parish. Thus, what we do at Ministries Day has a ripple effect throughout the diocese,” Father Armstrong said.

Funeral Mass celebrated for Sr. Beverly Reck, SSND

St. Louis – Sister Beverly Reck, SSND, died Monday, July 24, at Veronica House in Bridgeton, Mo. She was 79, and a former teacher, principal, and librarian. The funeral Mass was celebrated July 29 in the School Sisters of Notre Dame Theresa Center chapel in south St. Louis County. Burial was in the Sancta Maria in Ripa cemetery. Sister Beverly was born in Hillsboro, Ill. She entered the congregation of the School Sisters of Notre Dame in 1956. She professed first vows in 1958 and final vows in 1964, and was missioned to Veronica House in Sr. Beverly 2014. She earned a bachelor’s degree in history in 1960 from the former Notre Dame College in St. Louis and a master’s in elementary administration in 1970 from St. Louis University. Sister Beverly began her teaching career at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Herrin, Ill. This service was followed by positions at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Houston, St. Hedwig in St. Louis, and Holy Family in Freeburg, Mo. She was a principal at Holy Family in Freeburg, Mo.; St. William in St. Louis; St. Hilary in Pico Rivera, Calif.; St. Mary Magdalen in Brentwood, Mo.; and St. Mary School in Johnson City, Tenn. She also served as an administrator at Notre Dame Hall in St. Louis and as a librarian at Blessed Sacrament in Belleville, Ill. ■

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The Holy Land’s eco crisis

Religious leaders unite to fight environmental issues affecting Jordan River Valley, other biblical areas

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heat wave in Israel and the Palestinian territories in July and near-record electricity usage — where it was available — are indications that, despite the continuous political tensions here, Christians, Muslims, and Jews are facing a common enemy that needs to be confronted in a united manner. “The level of the Lake of Tiberias and of the Dead Sea is lower than 10 years ago, and the landscape is changing because of a continuous construction of houses,” Franciscan Father Francesco Patton, custos of the Holy Land, told Catholic News Service. Father Patton and two other religious leaders spoke at a recent news conference organized by The Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development, a Jerusalem-based environmental organization. They spoke about the urgency of putting aside political and religious difference to face these challenges and the role religious leaders can take in increasing awareness of the issue. Rabbi David Rosen, international director of interreligious affairs for the American Jewish Committee, told journalists the Jordan River Valley, another area of biblical importance, is facing an environmental crisis. In a covenant signed by religious leaders four years ago, they noted that over the past 50 years, the lower Jordan River has had 96 percent of its flow

Recycling the rubble A Palestinian man is silhouetted on rubble of Palestinian houses destroyed during the Israeli War against Gaza. The man works for a company that turns the rubble into building materials. Recycling is becoming a major focus in the Middle East. diverted, and what little water remains is polluted with saline and liquid waste or sewage. Father Patton told CNS that other pressing issues in the Holy Land include the increasing water shortage, improper waste disposal, and growing air pollution in various regions. While Israel has begun a garbage recycling program, the Palestinian Authority has yet to institute such an effort. Awareness of proper garbage disposal is also an issue among certain sectors of both populations, with many people still tossing garbage on the side of the road or outside their buildings, with little regard to garbage bins at their disposal. In certain places of East Jerusalem, garbage pickup by the mu-

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Nashville ruled in favor of the amendment’s opponents and ordered a recount of only votes cast in both races. That recount has been temporarily halted pending further legal proceedings. The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments from both sides on Aug. 2 in Cincinnati. The panel of three judges noted that this was certainly “an interesting case” and, among other issues, focused on why this was a federal matter and not a state matter as well as whether proponents of Amendment 1 had a strategic advantage by not voting in the gubernatorial race. The state’s attorney, Sarah Campbell, argued that “Tennessee did exactly what it had done in prior elections, exactly what it told voters it was going to do, and exactly what the [Tennessee] constitution says.” Leaders of Tennessee Right to Life, the statewide pro-life advocacy group whose mission is education and legislative affairs, attended the hearing and were optimistic of

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nicipality is either lacking or erratic, and Palestinian residents often burn their own garbage for lack of a better solution. And recent internal political differences have caused electrical shortages in the Gaza Strip. This has affected the ability of the sewage system to function properly, which has caused raw sewage to flow into the Mediterranean Sea, which borders Egypt and Israel. The northern Israel industrial port city of Haifa, though often lauded for its political tolerance, is also often cited — even by its own residents — for the lack of the environmental controls over the chemical factories located on its seashore. In a position paper earlier this year, the Israeli Ministry of Health noted Haifa has a 15 percent

the outcome of the case given the judges’ questions and the nature of their questions to Ms. Campbell. “It was reassuring to hear the state’s attorney articulate some of the same arguments that Yes on 1 and Tennessee Right to Life leaders have maintained since the election results were challenged and defend the rights of Tennessee voters,” said Brian Harris, president of Tennessee Right to Life. Since the lawsuit concerns the way votes were tabulated rather than the issue of abortion itself, the state of Tennessee Attorney General’s office defended the lawsuit. “It was exciting to be at the proceedings to see how Tennessee voters were being represented,” said Stacy Dunn, director of the Knox County chapter of Tennessee Right to Life. After the hearing, the judges will take several months to make their decision and issue a written opinion. If they side with the district court, they could potentially void the results of the Amendment 1 election thus nullifying any pro-life

higher rate of cancer than the rest of Israel and leads the country in asthma and breathing problems. Father Patton, Rabbi Rosen and Kadi Iyad Zahalka, head judge of the Muslim Shariah courts in Israel, said religious leaders needed to unite in their efforts to educate and create a greater awareness about these environmental issues. “We should offer values that can inspire the everyday life of people, and also recall the principles of our religious traditions that can inspire wise economic and political policies and decisions,” Father Patton said. He noted that the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land, which is in charge of holy places, is working on a pilot project to include

laws passed since 2014. Such laws include a mandatory 48-hour waiting period between a physician consultation and when a woman can receive an abortion, which was passed in 2015. The Tennessee General Assembly this year passed a post-viability abortion ban, which prohibits abortions after 20 weeks when the baby is viable. “We will continue to pray for the judges as they come to a decision and as they write their opinions. The miracle that happened on Nov. 4, 2014, isn’t over yet,” Mrs. Dunn said. The federal suit was filed Nov. 7, 2014, by Tracey George, a Planned Parenthood board chair, and several others, and names Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam, Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett, state election Commissioner Mark Goins, and the state Election Commission as defendants. “Great legal minds, even those from the opposition, have stood with the voters of Tennessee on the validity of the ratification of Amendment 1. Sarah Campbell,

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By Catholic News Service environmental education in its local schools curriculum. The impact of climate change can be easily ignored if a person lives in an acclimatized environment with the air conditioning on in the summer and heating on in the winter, said Father Patton, the son of a farmer in northern Italy. He said he has seen how the harvest seasons have changed over the past 10 years. “This means something has changed ... climate change is something which touches our lives,” he said. Referring to the papal encyclical Laudato Si, on Care for Our Common Home, Father Patton noted the value of an interfaith strategy toward environmental issues in the Holy Land in the form of an “integral ecology.” He said the issue is not only one of “environmental ecology” but also of “cultural ecology,” which “connects the ecological issue to many fields in a reciprocal relationship.” “In this place, it is particularly important to have a linked vision, to work on a connection ... between different cultures (and religions) of Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. This is an integral vision of ecology in the encyclical of Pope Francis,” Father Patton said. “He speaks of the importance of dialogue between religions of different faiths in this field. We can work as people of goodwill.” ■

special assistant to the Attorney General of Tennessee, who by all accounts, did a stellar job representing the people of Tennessee, stated it plainly. Tennessee counted these constitutional amendment votes the way it always has, the way it told anyone who asked about it that it would, and the way that the Constitutional Convention of 1953 spelled out that it would,” said Mrs. Dunn, a Holy Ghost Church parishioner. “Now we wait. We wait for a decision. We wait for answers. We wait for vindication from the courts. We wait for the will of God to be done. We don’t mind the wait. Our prayer and fasting ... have always been for the glory of God, and we have always prayed that His will be done on the issue of abortion, because we know that God is the author of life. It is His most precious gift, and we never work alone to preserve and protect the sanctity of life. He always stands with us,” she added. ■ Will Brewer is director of government relations for Tennessee Right to Life.

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