The weightlifter, also a St. Jude School alum, is welcomed back to Chattanooga with a parade By
Dan McWilliams
Olivia Reeves, an alumna of Notre Dame High School and St. Jude School in Chattanooga, made history when she won the gold medal in the women’s 71-kilogram (157-pound) weightlifting category Aug. 9 at the Summer Olympics in Paris.
Miss Reeves’ gold was the first for the United States in weightlifting since 2000. She is the first Olympian to come from either of the Chattanooga schools.
Students, teachers, and staff of both of her former schools held watch parties as NBC broadcast Miss Reeves’ run to the gold. NBC had a live feed of the Notre Dame watch party.
Miss Reeves, 21, set an Olympic record with a lift of 117 kilograms (258 pounds) in her third attempt in the snatch, after lifting 112 and 115 kilograms in her first two tries. She then lifted 145 kilograms (320 pounds) in the clean and jerk for a combined total of 262 kilograms (578 pounds) in both events to clinch the gold medal. Miss Reeves successfully lifted 140 kilograms in the clean and jerk before lifting 145, with her only failed attempt coming at 150.
Mari Sánchez of Colombia (112145—257) won the silver medal while Angie Palacios of Ecuador (116-140—256) took the bronze.
Miss Reeves, a student at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, was welcomed back to her hometown on Sept. 3 with a parade through the UTC campus and a pep rally at Chamberland Field, at which she received the key to the city. St. Jude and NDHS students participated in both events.
“In her time at Notre Dame High School, Olivia was quiet, unassuming, and had we not recognized
her at a school assembly, no one would have ever known she was as accomplished as she already was,” said Diocese of Knoxville schools superintendent George Valadie, former Notre Dame president. “But more importantly, we have four granddaughters in our family, and if any of the four grow up to be half the human being she is, our family will be most blessed.”
Deacon Hicks Armor, a 1970 graduate of Notre Dame, is a former head of school at his alma mater.
“We’ve always thought and be-
lieved that Notre Dame is a worldclass institution, and Olivia has made that come true,” he said. “For a graduate of Notre Dame, qualifying for the Olympics is a huge piece. Competing in the Olympics is a phenomenal experience, but winning a gold medal has to be just an unbelievable honor and privilege.
“For Notre Dame to have an individual come through that school—she’s built character, she’s competed with class, and I couldn’t be prouder of her. It’s a huge honor
for Notre Dame as a school that one of their own qualified, competed, and won a gold medal, so I think it’s just an unbelievable day for Notre Dame.”
Miss Reeves won a gold medal at the 2021 Junior World Weightlifting Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and took gold at the 2021 Junior Pan American Games held in Cali and Valle, Colombia. She won a silver medal in the snatch event at the Tashkent competition. In 2022, Miss Reeves won the Olivia Reeves continued on page B2
OLPH class of 1974 gathers for 50-year reunion
Many students in the class return to reminisce at the Chattanooga church and school
The class of 1974 from Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in Chattanooga returned to the campus July 20 for its 50-year reunion.
Some 80 percent of the 58-member eighth-grade class attended the event, with many coming across the country to be present.
Father Mike Nolan, pastor of St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish in Cleveland and a member of the class of 1974, presided at a Mass at OLPH Church before the alumni took tours of the school and gathered in the parish life center for a “Ram Power Hour.”
The Mass was celebrated in memory of the eight deceased members of the class. Deacon Dennis Meinert assisted at Mass, and wife Ann Meinert played piano for the liturgy.
Following Mass, the former students posed outside the church for a re-creation of their class photo from five decades before.
Class members shared many memories of their days at OLPH, remembering events from the 1970s as well as their favorite teachers, who included members of the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the community that founded the school in 1937 and taught there until 2003.
To begin his homily, Father Nolan thanked OLPH pastor Father Arthur Torres and school principal Dr. Caroline Carlin, who led the tours
of the school—much expanded since 1974—after Mass. He also saluted reunion organizers Jean Payne and Julie Steele.
“It’s good to be home,” Father Nolan said. “I thank Father Arthur for so graciously allowing me to offer Mass this evening on the occasion of the eighth-grade graduating class of 1974, assembled to celebrate its 50-year reunion.
“A special thanks to Dr. Carlin, the head of school, Cathy Clifford, Carlene Lori Evans, and Kari Ingle, who helped us make this happen, and to Mrs. Meinert, who agreed to try to incorporate hymns from our graduation Mass into tonight’s liturgy. Our class certainly owes a debt of gratitude to Julie Steele and Jean Payne and the many characters who shepherded an idea for this celebration to a reality.”
Father Nolan, who served as pastor of OLPH from 1997 to 2009, introduced Dolores Howell, the class of 1974’s first-grade teacher. She stood and received one of several ovations the assembly made during the priest’s opening remarks.
“Mrs. Howell was our first-grade teacher. Look what you started,” Father Nolan said to laughter.
The Gospel for the Mass came from Mark 6:30-34, where Jesus asks his Apostles to rest from their labors.
“When I was a kid, I hated taking naps, and now if I’m not careful, naps take me,” Father Nolan said
By Dan McWilliams
as the assembly laughed. “Yes, I do tire more easily, but I’ve still got more to do, more that I want to do, more than I’m able to accomplish. Frankly, we all do. Yet our Good Shepherd, Jesus, is insistent about His invitation to His disciples, worn out by their mission. Jesus is directing them to ‘come away to a deserted place’ by themselves, not abandoning their mission but to be refueled to further the kingdom.”
Chapter 6 of Mark’s Gospel recounts several miracles.
“The Gospels are chock-full of miracles, and there are a lot of them just in this one chapter from the Gospel of Mark proclaimed by Dea-
con Meinert tonight: feeding the multitude, walking on water, healing the sick, wonders upon wonders,” Father Nolan said. “From tonight’s passage, just as Jesus plans for getting away and spending some alone time with His disciples, their plans are ruined by a needy crowd, and we encounter one more often-overlooked miracle: Jesus has compassion for them.
“Jesus responds to the enthusiasm of the crowd not with exasperation but with compassion. That’s a miracle, a miracle we have benefited from, participated in, and frankly given to others throughout our
on page B2
OLPH reunion continued
Gold medalist alum of NDHS and St. Jude School Olivia Reeves (center) holds her gold medal during the medal ceremony at the Summer Olympics in Paris. With her on the medal stand are silver medalist Mari Sánchez (left) of Colombia and bronze medalist Angie Palacios of Ecuador.
Together again Bobby Phifer (left) and Tommy Harper of the OLPH class of 1974 talk about school days at the 50-year reunion.
bronze medal in clean and jerk at the World Weightlifting Championships in Bogotá, Colombia. She won the bronze the same year at the Pan American Weightlifting Championships in Bariloche,
Argentina. In October 2023, Miss Reeves won the gold medal at the Pan American Games held in Santiago, Chile. She set new junior American records in the snatch, clean and jerk, and total. Her best lifts were
114 kilograms in the snatch and 144 in the clean and jerk for a total of 258 kilograms.
Also in 2023, Miss Reeves won a bronze medal at the World Weightlifting Championships held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
At the 2024 International Weightlifting Federation World Cup in Phuket, Thailand, she won the gold medal in the snatch (118 kilograms), clean and jerk (150 kilograms), and total (268 kilograms) in the women’s 71-kilogram event. ■
lives, perhaps multiple times each day of our lives, for compassion is not simply a feeling. Compassion for others is at the very heart of the Gospel. It’s a way of looking at life, and it factors into the choices we make each day.”
Father Nolan urged his listeners to keep the Sabbath.
“May we be blessed with the ability and desire to take time to think, that we may puzzle out peace, take time to read, to expand wisdom, take time to be quiet, unless we’re a little child”—as a child cried during his homily—“and take the opportunity to seek God. Take time to love and be loved—it’s God’s greatest gift. Take time to be friendly—it doesn’t cost any more to be nice. Take time to dream—it’s what the future is made of. Take time to pray, the most underestimated hour on earth.”
Father Nolan expressed gratitude for the founders of OLPH Parish and School.
“May we thank God for faithful generations past, who dreamed that the old Anderson Farm in East Ridge could be purchased and cultivate a whole different crop through what would become Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, nurturing and shepherding the faith and minds and hearts of successive crops of children,” Father Nolan said, “first by the Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who came down from Iowa in 1937 and lived upstairs in the old farmhouse while opening the school downstairs, before this church, this sanctuary, was even completed.
“Give thanks for the faithful who sacrificed to build our main school building and convent during the Second World War, when resources were scarce, for those who supported the building of the current middle-school building in the 1950s, which I still refer to as the new building, who created the ball fields and the playgrounds and the parish hall and the additional education space, to the parishioners today who bolster the many ministries and outreach and opportunities for spiritual growth. Brothers and sisters, popes and bishops and pastors—they come and go, but the faithful remain faithful. Who knew what could grow through all those who kept the Sabbath to shepherd us? Praise God for each of them. Amen.”
During the Eucharistic Prayer, Father Nolan read the names of deceased class of 1974 members Tim Black, Steve Brick, Rico Deocampo, James Jabaley, Doug Reardon, Charlie Sumrell, Vinny Waters, and Tim Willett.
Jack Martin and Charlene Jabaley Martin allowed the reunion organizers to display a sketch made of James Jabaley, Mrs. Martin’s brother. The sketch was created by Cessna Decosimo.
After Mass, Father Nolan said he was “just thrilled” over the reunion.
“We grew up in this Catholic bubble of Our Lady of Perpetual Help with friends and family who literally moved here so their kids could walk to school,” he said. “It’s a different age today, but certainly the parishioners of OLPH continue to support this mission, and it’s vital, I think, to our community.”
Father Nolan again mentioned the organizers of the reunion.
“I have to thank Jean Payne and Julie Steele for coming up with this idea and then turning an idea into a reality,” he said “If you had asked me what the percentage of classmates that would come, I don’t know—we were hoping for half. We had like 80 percent pay and say they were coming, from Colorado, from Texas, from Florida, from Virginia, from Maryland.
“It’s great to be happy and to see each other and to recognize the gifts that we received from our parents, even though we might not have been appreciative at the time.”
Father Nolan said it was a “good sign” that he could still name so many of his OLPH teachers 50 years later.
“Mrs. Osteen, fifth grade. Mrs. Howell, one of our first-grade teachers who was here tonight. Sister Mary Margaret Devereux was our principal,” he said. “We had Sister (Mary) John Phillip (Bassford), Don Waters, Kathleen Wilkins, Madeline Rogers, Bob Fazio. We can name all of our teachers. They were very dedicated to us.
“We knew that our teachers had our back, and they were willing to help us do what was right.”
Following the class photo, the alumni gathered in the Bishop James D. Niedergeses Parish Life Center at OLPH for the Ram Power Hour. Bishop Niedergeses was pastor of OLPH from 1962 to 1973, his latter years covering the class of 1974’s time in school, before he was
reas-
Olivia Reeves continued from page B1
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COURTESY OF ST. JUDE SCHOOL
COURTESY OF NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL
Uplifting moment Olivia Reeves set an Olympic record with a lift of 117 kilograms (258 pounds) in the snatch. She then lifted 145 kilograms (320 pounds) in the clean and jerk for a combined total of 262 kilograms (578 pounds) to clinch the gold medal.
Golden girl Olivia Reeves shows her gold medal as she stands with Notre Dame High School cheerleaders at the parade held in her honor in Chattanooga. Below are photos of a watch party at NDHS and St. Jude School students taking part in the parade.
COURTESY OF NOTRE
Alumnus preaches Father Mike Nolan, a member of the Our Lady of Perpetual Help School class of 1974, delivers the homily during the Mass held at OLPH Church for the 50-year reunion.
signed to Sts. Peter and Paul Church in downtown Chattanooga. He was serving at the future basilica parish when he was named bishop of Nashville in 1975.
Dr. Carlin greeted the reunion attendees.
“All I want to say on behalf of the faculty and staff is welcome back. Welcome home,” she said. “Thank you for traveling, some of you cross country, to be here with us, to celebrate the Ram family.
“Going through the tours, you saw that the buildings may have changed, but it’s not really buildings that make a school. It’s the people who make a school, and it’s the people who make a community. And the fact that we have such a strong representation from the class of 1974 here today just speaks volumes about the community that you left a legacy for and that we hope to continue to carry on. Cheers to you, God bless, and go Rams.”
Ms. Payne and Ms. Steele were part of a reunion planning committee whose other members were Teresa Morrison Bruns, Pam Martin Franklin, Pat Higney, Father Nolan, Mike and Debbie Prater, Karen Morrison Ryland, Mike Smith, Mike Smotherman, Vivian Dearing Stone, and Terrie Lamsey Weiss.
“I loved it here,” Ms. Payne said of her school days. “It was like a big family, an extended family. It was a safe place. It was really what fostered our faith. You can see we’ve got lifelong friends. With this large turnout, it just goes to show that we were a close-knit family of community and faith.”
The reunion could have taken place five years earlier, she said.
“We were so excited because of all the excitement and enthusiasm the classmates had. We didn’t know for sure if people wanted to do it,” Ms. Payne said. “We initially thought we might try this on our 45th anniversary. But then the momentum came, because the 50th is big. That’s really when we got other people involved. Some people on the committee live out of town, and they would call in to meetings, and they brought memorabilia, or they’d know a friend. We really tried to get that personal touch with each classmate, at least reach out to them in some way and let them know we’d love for them to come.”
Ms. Payne was grateful for Mrs. Howell’s presence at the reunion.
“We loved her. She actually started out as our kindergarten teacher, and then midyear there was an opening in first grade, and she
shifted there, and then Mrs. (Doris) Prevou joined Mrs. (Elaine) Pangle in kindergarten,” Ms. Payne said. Mrs. Howell, Kathleen Wilkins,
and Sister Mary Patricia Ryan were other fondly remembered teachers of Ms. Payne.
“Mrs. Wilkins was another favorite. I loved her. She was our eighth-grade teacher,” Ms. Payne said. “She was strict but very fair and fun. She also had a great singing voice. She would bring her guitar, and we would have an eighthgrade choir that would sing for Masses, so we would work with her on that. Sister Patricia—I loved her.”
Having Father Nolan celebrate Mass highlighted the day for her, Ms. Payne said.
“That was amazing. I’ve known Mike all my life, since kindergarten. He has also helped keep everybody connected through his ministry,” she said. “He’s got the best singing voice and such passion. His family home was just across the street from the church and down a block, and then our family home was behind that. A lot of families lived close by. Having Father Mike was so special today because he’s one of our classmates. To have him go through a Catholic school and be the celebrant at Mass, it was beautiful.”
Also coming to the reunion was Alicia Vines Smith, who lived near Ms. Payne when they were growing up.
Mrs. Smith now lives in the “little bitty town” of Mena, Ark., she said. She has fond memories of her OLPH days, saying that all of the girls in the class “hung out” together. She credits Mr. Fazio, the art teacher, for starting a lifelong love of art in her.
“Our class was real special, because all of us girls were really close. There were about 20 to 25 of us together,” Mrs. Smith said. “Mr. Fazio did art, and I think that’s where I got started, because in the art program there, it was the first
time I ever got to do art. I do art now. That was our first time we ever got to do art, in seventh or eighth grade, and after that my life changed to a point where I could do oil painting full time.”
The seventh- and eighth-grade students in the 1970s were taught in four classrooms, boys in two rooms on one side and girls in two rooms on the other. Mrs. Smith said that made spotting men friends from the class in the 50-year reunion photo after Mass a little difficult, “except for Mike Nolan, the pastor. He’s the only one who I really recognized, because we were separated from the boys (in school). The girls were on one side, and the boys were on the other side.”
A year at Notre Dame High School, then public school and a Navy career followed her time at OLPH, Mrs. Smith said, adding that she has other memories of her school days in East Ridge.
“I remember singing in the choir. Mrs. (Mary) Gang played on the organ, and her daughter Cathy Gang and I were really close friends,” she said. “Sometimes people would request the eighth-grade girls—that was the year we sang there—to come and sing. If there was an activity or something, they would ask us to come sing because we sounded like angels. To this day, that was very rewarding for me to be able to sing, because Mrs. Gang really led us.”
Billy Brown, who now lives in Baltimore, is a member of the OLPH class of 1974 and the NDHS class of 1978. He played basketball and football at OLPH and mostly basketball in high school, he said. Mr. Brown went on to college at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga for his bachelor’s degree
OLPH
COURTESY OF PAM FRANKLIN
Then and now Students of Our Lady of Perpetual Help School assembled for their eighth-grade graduation photo in 1974 and again July 20 at their 50-year reunion.
DAN MCWILLIAMS
DAN MCWILLIAMS
Teacher and student Dolores Howell (left), first-grade teacher for the OLPH class of 1974, talks with Terrie Lamsey Weiss at the reunion.
DAN MCWILLIAMS
In memoriam The Mass at the OLPH class of 1974 reunion was celebrated in memory of deceased classmates Tim Black, Steve Brick, Rico Deocampo, James Jabaley, Doug Reardon, Charlie Sumrell, Vinny Waters, and Tim Willett. OLPH reunion continued on page B10
Chattanooga Deanery Holy Spirit, Soddy-Daisy
Monsignor Al Humbrecht’s next book study will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, at the church. The book is This Other Eden by Paul Harding. To register, call the church at 423-332-5300 or e-mail hscc_parish@holyspirittn.com
St. Bridget, Dayton
Final planning is underway for the parish picnic to be held Saturday, Sept. 21, and hosted by Pat and Barbara Bisson at Fox Lookout Farm in Decatur. The 5:30 p.m. vigil “Mass in the Barn” will be followed by a potluck dinner. The Knights of Columbus will provide hot dogs and hamburgers, and the Women’s Council will assist with set-up and serving. After the meal, there will be dancing with music provided by DJ Jose Carlos Marquez.
The Women’s Council is holding a bake sale and bazaar Oct. 12 and 13 with the theme “Fall into the Holidays.” Various baked goods and fall holiday and Christmas-themed crafts and decor will be featured. Hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.
St. Jude, Chattanooga
A parish-wide rummage sale was held Sept. 21.
A Euchre club began Sept. 9. All ages are welcome to join. Call Kathy Yonka at 423-650-2270 to sign up or learn more.
The latest monthly “Cheers for the Years” social for older parishioners took place Aug. 31.
St. Mary, Athens
The parish held a Ladies Night Out on Sept. 16 at Michael’s Casual Dining in Athens.
Middle- and high-school youth attended a back-to-school party at Ingleside Pool in Athens on Aug. 21.
St. Mary celebrated the 20th anniversary of the dedication of its current East Madison Avenue church on Aug. 14, 2004, with gatherings featuring refreshments after each Mass on the solemnity of the Assumption.
St. Stephen, Chattanooga
The annual church picnic will follow the 11 a.m. Mass on Sunday, Oct. 6, in the upper parking lot and playground area.
Anniversaries: John and Rosemary Laliberte (62), Allan and Darlene Lacy (57), Jim and Sue Berros (56), Michael and Wanda Williams (56), Ron and Myrtle Englert (55), Jim and Ann Simms (55), Richard and Nancy Koprek (50), Michael and Maura Doyle (45), Kumar and Corine Gopal (40), Deacon Dave and Wendy Waguespack (35)
Cumberland Mountain Deanery
Blessed Sacrament, Harriman
Parishioner Dr. Katie Schuman will give a presentation on artificial intelligence from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26. The event is open to sixth-graders through adults, but students are especially encouraged to attend.
The parish thanked all who recently donated toward a new HVAC system. Blessed Sacrament raised $22,025, which is 63 percent of the total cost.
Students in grades six through 12 attended a board-game night on Aug. 14 to kick off the new school year.
St. Francis of Assisi, Fairfield Glade
Members of St. Francis of Assisi thanked Father Glenn Meaux of Haiti for his visit in July as he appreciated their generosity in helping his parishioners.
While pastor Father Michael Woods was on vacation recently, visiting priests celebrated Mass at St. Francis
of Assisi. They were Father Kenneth Wandera, GHM, Father Timothy Sullivan, CSP, Father Jim Haley, CSP, and Father Jhon Mario García.
Deacon Gary Brinkworth led a discussion Aug. 13 encouraging participants to share the understanding of what God is asking of them.
Bernadette Harvey on Aug. 14 gave a study on understanding the Mass from the Book of Revelation.
Father John Matejek celebrated a special Mass for parishioners living at the Good Samaritan Society senior-living facility on Aug.15, the solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The Council of Catholic Women held its annual rummage sale in the parish hall Sept. 12-14, with the proceeds helping many charities.
A rosary for the country is prayed at 4 p.m. in the parish hall meeting room on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
There is a new ongoing service for those who enjoy cooking. This nonprofit program is directed through Upper Cumberland Human Resources Agency (UCHRA), which hopes to lift families from generational poverty by offering support to increase their education, skills, and income.
St. Francis of Assisi parishioners will prepare and serve dinner about every five to six weeks at Cumberland Fellowship Church in Crossville. For more information, call Kathy Jordan at 612-718-1370.
A fiesta is planned from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29, in the parish hall and will feature walking tacos, wine, and music (BYOB). Tickets are $5.
A possible parish trip is planned to Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos in July 2025 to a home for disadvantaged children in Mexico.
Anniversaries: Roger and Sally Vachon (67), Michael and Judith Byrd (63), Pat and Sara Tripiciano (62), Don and Patricia Tomek (61), Robert and Marsha Takac (58), John and Mary Anne Kieck (58), Kenneth and Sharon Tripoli (57), Dale and Sharon Yaeger (57), Roland and Jane Wicker (56), William and Judith Sundstrom (55), Roger and Marcie Soprych (55), Michael and Cheryl Fries (55), Michael and Wendy Le Bert (53), John and Kathryn Upp (52), Michael and Nancy Barta (50), Bradley and Christina Jurkovac (50), Raoul and Adoracion Sabatini (50), Michael and Camella Halicke (45), Jim and Toni Majczek (35), Paul and Jane Freund (30), Mark and Mary Hassett-Elam (30), Dennis and Bonnie Schultz (15), Colin and Patricia Hurley (15)
St. John Neumann, Farragut
Sandi Davidson, program leader for pregnancy services at Catholic Charities of East Tennessee, spoke at a recent meeting of the St. John Neumann conference of the St. Vincent de Paul Society.
The senior ministry is sponsoring a lunch cruise in downtown Knoxville at noon Saturday, Sept. 21. The event will last about one and a half hours. Cost will be about $45 per person including a gratuity. Space is limited to 30. Those interested in taking part should e-mail Steve Behnke at stephenbehnke2@gmail.com
The parish and school are transitioning to a new online giving platform to make it more convenient to contribute onetime and recurring gifts. Visit sjnknox. org/gifts for details. For more information, e-mail pwade@sjnknox.org
St. Joseph, Norris
The state recently recognized the parish’s 75th anniversary as Sen. Randy McNally presented a proclamation.
A spaghetti-dinner fundraiser is set for 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 22. Tickets are available through the day of the event and are $8 for an adult and $4 for children 12 and under. Dinner will include
Parish notes continued on page B8
St. Jude parishioners hike and pray the rosary in Hixson Parishioners of St. Jude in Chattanooga took part in a hike and rosary June 29 at Greenway Farms in Hixson. The hike was about 1.8 miles long and drew some 22 participants. The parish hopes to make the hike and rosary a quarterly event with different locations.
St. John Neumann CCW sponsors Trivia Night The Council of Catholic Women at St. John Neumann Parish in Farragut sponsored a Trivia Night on Aug. 17, with more than 80 participating. The winning team, “Bo Knows,” is pictured above. From left are Father Bo Beaty, Trish Gerkins, Jeff Gerkins, Robert Hinton, Bob Beldyk, Lisa Beldyk, Nick Iverson, and Amy Iverson. The event included trivia from several categories, including a “Catholic Diocese of Knoxville” category. The event was free, with donations accepted to help fund the next CCW event. Daniel Iverson was the moderator.
STEPHANIE GREINER (2)
St. Jude School and Knights of Columbus Paul Breen Council 8576 in Chattanooga are sponsoring the 26th annual St. Jude Golf Classic on Friday, Sept. 27, at Creeks Bend Golf Club in Hixson. Check-in begins at 11 a.m., with a shotgun start at 1 p.m. Cost is $125 per player. Sponsorships are available; supporters can be a “sipping sponsor” (for a signature drink at the course turn), a hole sponsor, or a longest-drive or closest-to-the-pin contest sponsor. Additional sponsorship levels are available from $750 to $2,500. To register, learn more details on sponsorships, or make a donation, visit mysjs.ejoinme.org/sjgolf24. For more information, e-mail Kathie Preston at prestonk@mysjs.com
The diocesan Office of Vocations is holding a Men’s Discernment Group for men interested in discerning if God is calling them to the priesthood. The group will be hosted by Father Mark Schuster at 9 a.m. on fourth Saturdays in the John Paul II Conference Room at the Chancery office in Knoxville, starting Sept. 28. There will be a Zoom option for those not in the Knoxville area. Register at forms.office.com/r/ CmSwudiVnf
A barn dance will be held in the gym at Knoxville Catholic High School at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, to benefit a Catholic Charities of East Tennessee program to help pregnant women in crisis, whether they choose adoption or parenting. The event is for adults only, but youth 15 and older may work for service hours (those who wish to work should e-mail Jennifer.Hay@ KnoxvilleNobility.com). Tickets include dinner (BYOB), square dancing, and a chance to win a weekend at a cabin on 18 acres in the Smokies. Attire is casual/country with soft-soled shoes requested. Cost is $100 per person or $1,000 to sponsor a table of eight. To buy tickets, make a donation, or learn more about sponsorships, visit bit.ly/ccetnbarndance
The annual Fall Festival of Nations fundraiser is set for 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, at Notre Dame Church in Greeneville. Raffle tickets are available for $2 each, which gives purchasers three chances at a $500 prize at the festival. Silent-auction items are needed for the festival; call Wanda at 423-470-6906 for more details. Vendor and display booths cost $50. Sponsorships are available at bronze, silver, gold, and platinum levels ($250, $500, $1,000, and $2,000 and up). Prizes are needed for festival games; call Susan at 423-470-2560 to contribute. Clean, like-new items for the festival yard sale may be dropped off in the Ganz Youth Center. For more information, call chairman Mark Sweet at 423-673-3018 or co-chair Lauren Constant at 828-545-6077.
The annual Walk for Life benefiting Life Outreach Center in Jefferson City will take place Saturday, Sept. 28, at Wayne Hansard Park in Morristown. Check-in will begin at 8:30 a.m., with the walk at 9. The walk is two miles and will be held rain or shine. A T-shirt will be given to those collecting $175 or more in pledges. Register online, find a pledge form, or learn more at life outreachcenter.net/partner-events
A Picture of Love retreat for engaged couples is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 28, at St. Stephen Church in Chattanooga. This marriagepreparation program is a supplement to a couple’s marriage formation with their parish priest or deacon. Picture of Love explores the joys and challenges of living out the sacrament of matrimony with special focus on the importance of inviting Jesus to be the center of marriage and family life. The program will help each couple gain insights into their relationship as well as give them practical ideas and tools to help smooth their journey and become the “Picture of Love” to one another. Meeting time is 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. A continental breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included. Cost is $175 per couple. For a registration form, visit dioknox.org/events/picture-oflove-sept-2024. Also at the website are three exercises: a personality test, a “love language profile for couples,” and a fillable budget worksheet.
Couples are asked to complete the exercises in advance and bring them to the retreat—see the website for more details. Contact Carolyn Krings at 865584-3307 or ckrings@dioknox.org for more information.
The Amadeus Concert Ensemble choir and orchestra will present Dvorak in Concert, with selections from Te Deum and Stabat Mater, at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29, at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in Knoxville as part of its Cathedral Concert Series. Guest artists will be soprano Maria Natale, alto Diana Salesky, tenor John Overholt, and bass Stephen Morscheck. Howard Skinner is the conductor and Edward Pulgar the concertmaster. Admission is free, but seating is limited. Donations will support the Amadeus ensemble and the Cathedral Concert Series. Tickets are available online via the Eventbrite link at shcathedral.org/ cathedral-concert-series
Knoxville Catholic High School will hold its 13th annual community tailgate from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4, at Blaine Stadium before the Fighting Irish football homecoming game against Montgomery Bell Academy. The event will feature tailgate food, games, and more. To purchase tickets or make a donation, visit knoxvillecatholic.com/tailgate/. Advance tickets are $15 and include food and a game ticket.
All parishioners and their pets are welcome to attend a bilingual St. Francis feast day Mass and blessing of pets on Friday, Oct. 4, in the pavilion at Our Lady of Fatima Church in Alcoa. The first Friday Mass will celebrate the message of St. Francis and the conclusion of the Season of Creation on the liturgical calendar. The blessing of pets will begin at 6:30 p.m. and the Mass at 7.
A women’s Cursillo weekend is set for Oct. 17-20 at Christ Prince of Peace Retreat Center in Benton. Through Cursillo, participants can gain a better understanding of themselves, experience the presence and love of Jesus, and see how personal and spiritual growth can be enhanced through a caring Christian community. For more information, e-mail Teri Gabor at tgabor21@outlook.com or Irene Scoggins at irenescoggins@gmail. com. An application and pamphlet may be found at knoxvillecursillo. org. A men’s weekend will be held June 5-8, 2025. E-mail Gary Gabor at garygabor@hotmail.com for details.
A “Friends of the Poor” Walk to benefit the work of the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Chattanooga will take place from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, on the campus of Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga. Participants will receive a T-shirt. Snacks and drinks will be provided. To learn about collecting pledges from supporters, register, or donate, visit events. idonate.com/fopwalk-chattanooga
Knoxville Catholic High School is holding its 38th annual Shamrock Open Golf Tournament on Monday, Oct. 21, at Tennessee National Golf Club, 8301 Tennessee National Drive in Loudon. The tourney will honor “Irish legend” Dan Fleming and family. Tee time is 9 a.m. Cost is $250 per player or $1,000 per team. The day will include 18 holes of golf, lunch, beverages, souvenirs, and goodie bags. Register or make a donation at kchs. ticketspice.com/2024-shamrockopen. Multiple levels of sponsorship opportunities are available; visit kchs. ticketspice.com/shamrock-opensponsors. Since 1986, the Shamrock Open has raised $1,165,000 to benefit the students of KCHS.
Holy Fire, a daylong conference for middle school students in which they are invited and challenged to embrace their baptismal call and the powerful, relevant Gospel of Jesus, will be hosted by the Diocese of Nashville from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9. The event will take place at the diocese’s Catholic Pastoral Center, 2800 McGavock Pike, entrance No. 4, and will also include Mass at 4 p.m.
Calendar continued on page B8
Sunny weather greets foursomes at 16th
TLadies of Charity Tournament
he original day in May for the 16th annual Ladies of Charity of Knoxville Golf Tournament was wet and rainy, but the makeup date of Aug. 8 was a beautiful day for the 23 foursomes at Egwani Farms Golf Course in Rockford.
Executive director Susan Unbehaun said the event set records for the number of players and sponsors and for funds raised to support the Ladies of Charity emergency-assistance programs.
Again this year, the Vinyard Flooring team of Brad Hall, Herb Harrell, Robert Wright, and Jim Wright Jr. posted the best score of the day. First place in the second flight went to the Connor Concepts team of Mike Connor, Bo Connor, Rick Tasman, and Tom Kelly. They won gift cards to their favorite res-
taurant: Connors Steak & Seafood. The “Bavarian Barbarians” team of Dave Roulier, Marty Velas, Don Naab, and Gary McMillen were repeat winners of the “Most Unusually Dressed” honors. Their effort not only featured German-themed outfits, but they also went the extra mile to decorate their carts with banners and beer mugs. Tellico Team No. 1, composed of Linda Ballinger, Pam Skinner, Sally Sutton, and Ruth Mullen, was decked out in red, white, and blue golf attire and was awarded the best-dressed prize. Mrs. Unbehaun thanked all the sponsors who provided generous support and the more than 15 volunteers who helped make the event run smoothly. Next year’s tourney is set for May 8, 2025, again at Egwani Farms. ■
council
COURTESY OF JOE
SUTTER (2)
St. Bridget Knights install new officers Knights of Columbus Council 11424 at St. Bridget Parish in Dayton installed new officers Aug. 17. Shown in the group are (from left, front) Ray Spraker (standing in for deputy Grand Knight Chip Faucette), trustee Daniel Smith, warden Marc Bender, treasurer Bill Runge, and Larry Dagata (standing in for chancellor Chris Hill); (middle) trustee Tom DeBartolo and advocate and lecturer Jim Connors; and (back) district deputy Pat Bisson, trustee Steve Thorn, recorder Frank Hanish, Grand Knight Jeff Templin, and financial secretary Jerry Corvin. Mr. Templin was installed as Grand Knight by emcee Mr. Bisson and given his
medal by his wife, Kim Templin.
JANET SPRAKER
Top flight The Vinyard Flooring team again won the Ladies of Charity Golf Tournament. From left are Brad Hall, Herb Harrell, Robert Wright, and Jim Wright Jr.
Best dressed Tellico Team No. 1 was honored for its attire at the Ladies of Charity Golf Tournament. From left are Linda Ballinger, Pam Skinner, Sally Sutton, and Ruth Mullen.
Praying for Perspective by George Valadie
A new school role he didn’t see coming
Serving as diocesan superintendent puts him back with those called by the Master Teacher
Ididn’t see that coming! A few short weeks ago, I was spending a good bit of my days on the back porch.
Sleeping late. Hitting thousands of golf balls at the driving range—to little avail. With my biggest worry seeming to be how many carbs I was eating each day—to even less avail.
I was also Ubering the grandkids some and buying their love with stops at Sonic and Starbucks. Brady eats like the growing teenager he is and loves nothing more than fries and a big ol’ chocolate milkshake. Emma prefers something I don’t understand and can hardly order.
Each day was different from the next, though since all are under the direction of our dog, Gipper, who when he “says” he wants to go walking … he means he wants to go walking.
It had been three years since I had stepped away from my role as a Catholic school administrator. But 11 since my wife and I had moved back to our current home. And it was only when we retired that we discovered the peace and joy of our back deck.
Before, I bet we hadn’t been out there eight times in eight years. But it quickly became where we ate our meals, read our books, and watched Andy Griffith and the Braves.
Relaxing as our life had become, when friends and family would ask how it’s going, I often shared how much I missed it.
And I did. Not the stupid stuff, of course. But the kids and the teachers and the energy in the building. It’s an energy that’s hard to describe—difficult to imagine for many—but so much fun if
Tyou’re the sort who gets tickled by teenagers.
Still, a few months after stepping away, I ran into one of our school’s moms at a basketball game, who offered, “You look great, so relaxed.”
“Thanks.”
“No, I mean it. I really mean it. You look really, really good.”
Causing me to wonder just how bad my job had made me appear and then to realize that retirement must offer some unexpected benefits as well—like fewer bags under your eyes.
But then I got the phone call.
It came this past April and informed me the superintendent of our diocesan Catholic schools had announced a need to relinquish her position in order to assist a family member with health issues.
“Any chance you’d be willing to think about stepping in on an interim basis?”
Unexpected is an understatement.
Fast forward a few months, and we’ve kicked off another new school year.
In a recent message to our families, I spoke of how any time schools crank up—no matter how many times one has been where they are— there’s always something new. And “new” never fails to bring its share of anxiety.
Sometimes we think, “What an ingenious idea!” But not always. On occasion it’s more like, “What took them so long!” And yes, every so often, we think, “You’ve got to be kidding me!”
I’ve thought all that, and I’ve caused all that.
So here we are again. With lots of new.
New bishop. New teachers. New friends. New rooms. New roles.
New ideas. New ways of doing things. And a new superintendent. We—you and I, all of us—we want and need this puzzle to come together. Nothing less than our children are at stake—their faith, their souls, their minds, and their future, and the one they will leave for their children.
And we—all of us—also have a role in helping this puzzle come together.
But none of us—no bishop, no mom or dad, no principal, and certainly no superintendent—can ever make the impact our teachers do.
According to the Educational Research Newsletter, “Although curricula, reduced class size, funding, family, and community involvement all contribute to school improvement and student achievement, the most influential factor is the teacher.
“Research in Tennessee revealed that students who were placed with highly effective teachers for three years in a row significantly outperformed comparable students on a mathematics assessment (96th versus 44th percentile).
“Data reveals that a student who has an outstanding teacher for just one year will remain ahead of her peers for at least the next few years.
“It is clear that the common denominator in school improvement and student achievement is the teacher.”
The grandkids would say, “Well, duh!” It’s not like we didn’t know that already, but it’s worth reading again. Twice.
Sadly, however, multiple studies also foretell the ongoing exodus of teachers from the profession, with estimates of some 20 percent nationwide planning to step away in the
Thoughts and Prayers for the Faithful by Deacon
Bob Hunt
next five years.
But thankfully, in the world of Catholic schools, data indicates that almost 90 percent of our teachers stay. There are all sorts of reasons— obvious and otherwise—but my firsthand experience reveals the heart of the matter and the heart of the teachers.
They believe they have been called by the Master Teacher to do the work He left unfinished. And they understand “why” He called: it’s the kids who sit in their desks each and every day.
For many, their call to teach was unexpected, too.
They were doing something else, working toward something else, dreaming of something else.
But occupations aren’t the same as vocations.
Still, His call didn’t say it would be easy. Nor did He say riches or respect or sainthood awaited the journey’s end.
Can we help? No, we weren’t all called to be teachers. We were called to other passions and other tasks. But we can all respond to the call to support those who were.
After all, it’s our kids and grandkids who sit in those desks.
Thank you for whatever you have done and whatever you can do. I haven’t been in this job long, but I’m pretty sure I’ve learned this: all are needed, all are called.
Dear God—May we school folks answer every part of your call … to keep learning our craft and keep loving our students. Your students. Amen. ■
George Valadie is a parishioner at St. Stephen Church in Chattanooga and author of the newly released book “We Lost Our Fifth Fork … and other moments when we need some perspective.”
A few ways we can ‘be Christ for all’
Being there for each other and being available helps us live out His call
he universal call to holiness is one that is to be heard and acted on by every person who claims Christ as his or her Savior. What does it mean to be holy? Most simply, I think, it means learning every day how to love a little better. This is how we love others—by being Christ for them, bringing Christ to them, and seeing Christ in them. There is no human condition on earth that cannot benefit from the presence of Christ among men and women, and we are to be that presence whatever the circumstances. It starts in the home, of course, where we are to be Christ for those with whom we live, either family members or members of a religious community. This may be the most difficult place to be Christ for others, for in the home we are so often tempted to take each other for granted. We rather assume that our family loves us and desires what’s best for us. But how do we live that love? Saying the words, “I love you” can go a long way.
Years ago, I shared in a small group of young adults (when I was one!) how grateful I was that my mother and I had said, “I love you” to each other every day. My mother passed away when I was 17, and at this point it had already been some years since I lost her. I was able to look back on the memory of our shared expressions of love with gratitude. A young woman in the group started to cry. She admitted that she had never told her mother that she loved her. Such a simple thing, yet it had never happened. I suspect she called her mother that day and told her that she loved her.
I hope so.
Being there for each other is another way we can “be Christ for all.”
During my illnesses last year, my wife, Margaret, was always there. She didn’t merely drop me off at the ER door. She dropped me off, parked the car, then came in to be with me. She didn’t have to. There was nothing she could do to improve my situation, and for the most part I was able to speak for myself to the medical staff. Nevertheless, she stayed. She sat with me. She offered what comfort she could when I was writhing in pain or helped me to calm down when the pain was too much. You might think, being my wife, that’s what’s expected of her. I certainly wasn’t thinking about what was expected of her at the time. All I cared about is that she was there. Being there is often the most concrete and meaningful way of expressing love to another. Jesus promised, “… behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). He is with us. Wherever we are, He is there. To “be Christ for all” often means being there for them, regardless of what’s expected, or whether there’s anything you can do or not. Being available is another way to “be Christ for all.” At one ER visit, Margaret was out of town. I needed a ride home. I called Mark Williamson, director of religious education at Holy Ghost Parish. Could he pick me up? Without hesitation, he drove to the hospital, picked me up, and brought me home. He was Christ to me by being available to me. When I lived in Memphis years ago, there was a Missionaries of Charity house
in north Memphis that served the community in a variety of ministries. Interested in volunteering, I called one morning. A Sister answered, and I gave my name and told her I was interested in volunteering. “Good,” she said. “Can you come now?” “Excuse me?” I replied. “Can you come now?” she repeated. “Uh … well,” I hesitated, but then succumbed, “… I guess so.” “Good,” she quickly said. “Come now!” So, I got in my car and went. Frankly, I didn’t expect to be called on my offer to volunteer so quickly. I thought she might tell me of the various ministries they provide, we could consult a schedule, see what and when would be a good fit for me. “Come now!” took me by sur-
prise but also challenged me to be good on my word. Jesus needs us when He needs us, and sometimes that means, “Come now!” Being available, even at a moment’s notice, is a way of loving others, a way to “be Christ for all.”
“Be Christ for all” means loving others as Christ loves them. He was Himself, and as Himself He served and saved. We are called to do the same. Be Christ for all. Bring Christ to all. See Christ in all. ■
Deacon Bob Hunt is a husband, father, grandfather, and parishioner at All Saints Church in Knoxville. He is author of the book “Thy Word: An Introduction to the Bible for People in the Pews.”
Andy Zengel recognized for 10th anniversary as St. Joseph principal Father Chris Michelson blessed Andy Zengel at a Mass on Sept. 5 in honor of the latter’s 10th anniversary as principal of St. Joseph School in Knoxville. Mr. Zengel became principal on Sept. 4, 2014.
KATHY RANKIN
Encountering God in the Liturgy by Father Randy Stice
Challenges affecting participation in Mass
In a media-driven age, writes Pope Benedict XVI, signs and symbols are no longer understood
Recent popes have identified three cultural challenges that can affect our participation in the Mass.
Pope Francis has written that many today no longer believe that God is present and active in the world. Pope Benedict XVI has observed that, in our technological age, signs and symbols are no longer understood. He has also noted that our attachment to mass media and to our devices makes it difficult for us to practice recollection and cultivate a fruitful silence. Have these challenges affected our participation in Mass? Do we believe that God acts powerfully and personally in the Mass, and if so, how? Do we understand the signs and symbols of the liturgy? Do we welcome silence, or do we find it uncomfortable? In this column, I want to reflect on these three challenges.
The first challenge is an increasing doubt that God is personally active in our world. In The Light of Faith, Pope Francis wrote, “Our culture has lost its sense of God’s tangible presence and activity in our world. We think that God is to be found in the beyond, on another level of reality, far removed from our everyday relationships.”1 This, wrote the pope, is not the perennial faith of the Church. “Christians, on the contrary, profess their faith in God’s tangible and powerful love which really does act in history and determines its final destiny: a love that can be encountered, a love fully revealed in Christ’s passion, death, and resurrection.”2 This belief includes God’s activity in the Mass. The Catechism of the Catholic Church quotes St. Leo the Great’s assertion that “what was visible in our Savior has passed into His mysteries.”3 In other words, all that Jesus did during His earthly ministry He continues to do now in the sacraments, preeminently in the Mass. “Here and now,” wrote St. Leo, “we experience his power at work among us.”4
St. Teresa of Avila experienced
Jesus’ power in many ways during Mass—healing, consolation, encouragement, enlightenment—especially after receiving Communion. She told her nuns, “If when He went about in the world the mere touch of His robes cured the sick, why doubt, if we have faith, that miracles will be worked while He is within us and that He will give what we ask of Him.” When Jesus comes to us in Communion, “His Majesty is not accustomed to paying poorly for His lodging if the hospitality is good,” if we turn our attention to Him in prayer and adoration. “This is a good time for Jesus to teach us and for us to listen to Him.”5
A second challenge is a decline in our ability to understand the meaning of the signs and gestures of the liturgy. “A highly technological age like our own,” wrote Pope Benedict XVI, “risks losing the ability to appreciate signs and symbols.”6 The signs of the Mass are important because when they are “integrated into the world of faith and taken up by the power of the Holy Spirit,” they “become bearers of the saving and sanctifying action of Christ.”7
But if we don’t “understand the meaning of the liturgy’s words and actions,” wrote St. John Paul II, we cannot “pass from its signs to the mystery which they contain, and to enter into that mystery in every aspect of [our] lives.”8
Incense is a good example of a liturgical sign that is rich in meaning. It recalls the pillar of cloud (Exodus 13:21) by which God led Israel in the wilderness, the cloud itself symbolizing “God’s glory and presence in the midst of the Israelites,” thus suggesting “both the otherness of the transcendent God” and contributing “powerfully to a sense of mystery.”9 It “is an expression of reverence and of prayer, as is signified in sacred Scripture (cf. Psalm 141:2, Revelation 8:3).”10 During the Mass, the gifts on the altar as well as the cross and altar are incensed “so as to signify the Church’s offer-
Daily readings
Sunday, Sept. 15: Isaiah 50:5-9; Psalm 116:1-6, 8-9; James 2:14-18; Mark 8:27-35
Monday, Sept. 16: Memorial of Sts. Cornelius, pope, and Cyprian, bishop, martyrs, 1 Corinthians 11:17-26, 33; Psalm 40:7-10, 17; Luke 7:1-10
Friday, Sept. 20: Memorial of Sts. Andrew Kim Tae-gon, priest, and Paul Chong Ha-sang, and companions, martyrs, 1 Corinthians 15:1220; Psalm 17:1, 6-8, 15; Luke 8:1-3 Saturday, Sept. 21: Feast of St.
ing and prayer rising like incense in the sight of God.”11 Incense is a sign of the dignity of God’s people: “the priest, because of his sacred ministry, and the people, by reason of their baptismal dignity, may be incensed by the deacon or by another minister.”12 It is also an expression of reverence, “a sign of respect and honor” before Christ,13 when, for example, it is used during the proclamation of the Gospel and when the host and chalice are elevated after the consecration.
A third concern, also noted by Pope Benedict XVI, is the loss of an appreciation for silence. He wrote, “Ours is not an age which fosters recollection; at times one has the impression that people are afraid of detaching themselves, even for a moment, from the mass media. For this reason, it is necessary nowadays that the people of God be educated in the value of silence.”14 Silence is prescribed at several points of the Mass for different reasons. In the Penitential Act, it is a time for those present to recollect themselves. Then, following the priest’s invitation to pray, the assembly again “observes a brief silence so that they may become aware of being in God’s presence and may call to mind their intentions.”15 During the Liturgy of the Word, silence creates a space so that “under the action of the Holy Spirit, the Word of God may be grasped by the heart and a response through prayer may be prepared.”16 It is especially recommended after Communion so that all may “praise God in their hearts and pray to him.”17 Pope Benedict, writing as Cardinal Ratzinger, stressed the importance of this moment in the Mass. “This, in all truth, is the moment for an interior conversation with the Lord who has given Himself to us, for that essential ‘communicating,’ that entry into the process of communication, without which the external reception of the sacrament becomes mere ritual and therefore unfruitful.”18
Matthew, Apostle and evangelist, Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13; Psalm 19:2-5; Matthew 9:9-13
Sunday, Sept. 22: Wisdom 2:12, 1720; Psalm 53:3-6, 8; James 3:16–4:3; Mark 9:30-37
Monday, Sept. 23: Memorial of St. Pius of Pietrelcina, priest, Proverbs 3:27-34; Psalm 15:2-5; Luke 8:16-18
Popes Francis and Benedict XVI have identified crucial issues that can affect our participation in the Mass. In a world that increasingly doubts the personal presence and action of God, Pope Francis and Sts. Leo the Great and Teresa of Avila teach us that Jesus still does today all that He did in the Gospels. Pope Benedict XVI and St. John Paul II emphasize that He does so “sacramentally,” through signs, symbols, words, and gestures that communicate to us His saving and sanctifying action and that bear more fruit in our lives when we understand them. Benedict also reminds us that silence is an essential part of the Mass, a time for a personal and intimate encounter with Jesus when we can speak with Him and He with us, and when He can touch us in miraculous ways. May their teaching help us to enter more deeply into our liturgical encounter with the Lord.
1 The Light of Faith, no. 17.
2 The Light of Faith, no. 17.
3 Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 1115.
4 The Liturgy of the Hours, Volume II, p. 660.
5 All quotes are from The Way of Perfection, Chapter 34.
6 The Sacrament of Charity, no. 64.
7 CCC, no. 1189.
8 Mane Nobiscum Domine, no. 17.
9 Introduction to the Order of Mass (IOM), no. 58.
10 General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM), no. 276.
11 GIRM, no. 75.
12 GIRM, no. 75.
13 IOM, no. 58.
14 Verbum Domini, no. 66.
15 GIRM, no. 54.
16 GIRM, no. 56.
17 GIRM, no. 45.
18 Ratzinger, The Spirit of the Liturgy, p. 210. ■
Father Randy Stice is director of the diocesan Office of Worship and Liturgy. He can be reached at frrandy@dioknox. org.
Knights Council 6099 distributes $9,534 at annual Pro-Life/Charity Barbecue Dinner and Dance Knights of Columbus Council 6099 of St. Stephen Parish in Chattanooga held its annual Pro-Life/Charity Barbecue Dinner and Dance on Aug. 17 at the Knights of Columbus Hall. The Knights’ live band, Midlife Crisis, provided music as everyone was well-fed and entertained. From Knights’ collections and events held throughout the year, monies were donated to pro-life and charitable organizations in the area. A total of $9,534 was donated to six charities. Representatives from all six charities were in attendance. The council thanked Knights Bill Balsis and Tim Bodnar, who directed the events. Additionally, the council extended its thanks to the many Knights who volunteered at the events and to the donors in the parish and community who donated. Pictured are (far left) Mr. Bodnar and Kelly Stutz, development coordinator for Choices Pregnancy Resource Center in Chattanooga, which received a check for $1,500, and Mr. Balsis and representatives Lindy Blazek and Emmanuel Costellow of the Special Olympics, which received $1,700. The Ladies of Charity received $1,500, the Orange Grove Center $1,434, Signal Centers $1,700, and the Dream League $1,700.
Sunday, Sept. 29: Numbers 11:2529; Psalm 19:8, 10, 12-14; James 5:16; Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48
Monday, Sept. 30: Memorial of St. Jerome, priest and doctor of the Church, Job 1:6-22; Psalm 17:1-3, 6-7; Luke 9:46-50
Tuesday, Oct. 1: Memorial of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, virgin and doctor of the Church, Job 3:13, 11-17, 20-23; Psalm 88:2-8; Luke 9:51-56
Wednesday, Oct. 2: Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels, Job 9:1-12, 14-16; Psalm 88:10-15; Matthew 18:15, 10
Thursday, Oct. 3: Job 19:21-27; Psalm 27:7-9, 13-14; Luke 10:1-12
Friday, Oct. 4: Memorial of St. Francis of Assisi, Job 38:1, 12-21 and 40:35; Psalm 139:1-3, 7-10, 13-14; Luke 10:13-16
Monday, Oct. 14: Galatians 4:22-24, 26-27, and 4:31–5:1; Psalm 113:1-7; Luke 11:29-32 ■
COURTESY OF JOHN VANNUCCI (2)
Through talks by dynamic speakers, witness by peers, inspirational praise and worship, and rich experiences of the sacraments, Holy Fire helps young people feel welcomed and invited into a life-changing commitment to Christ. This year’s event will feature Maggie Craig, Joe Melendrez, Thomas Muglia, and Oscar Rivera. For details on transportation from Knoxville and Chattanooga, registration, cost, and more, visit dioknox.org/holy-fireregistration. For more information on the schedule, T-shirt availability, and meals, visit brushfire.com/eqsaints/ holyfire-nashville-2024/575973
The fourth annual Christmas Market will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16, in the gym at St. John Neumann School in Farragut. Registration is open for new vendors. Contact Sarah Bryant at jsbry412@gmail.com to learn more or register, as space is limited and will fill up fast.
SEARCH for Christian Maturity Retreat 174 will be held on the weekend of Nov. 22-24 at St. Thérèse of Lisieux Church in Cleveland. SEARCH provides an opportunity to think, talk, question, and wonder about life and faith in an accepting and challenging environment. It is an opportunity to experience God and God’s family in a personal and real way. The weekend is youth- and peeroriented. The weekends are for any high school juniors and seniors. The program is both rooted in the Catholic faith and open to young people of any denomination or creed. Cost is $100, and scholarships are available if needed. Register at dioknox.org/ events/search-nov-2024. Forms can also be obtained through parish youth ministers or at the office of Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga. Registration deadline is Friday, Nov. 8. For more information, contact Chattanooga SEARCH coordinators Irene Scoggins
a tossed salad, spaghetti with sauce, and bread.
Council of Catholic Women members—president Karen Meiring, Sally Jackson, and Kathy Morin—attended the National Council of Catholic Women convention held Aug. 13-17 in Oklahoma City. The major theme was “An Encounter with Christ.” The St. Joseph CCW will hold its annual yard sale Sept 20-21.
Anderson County sponsored a Resource Fair on Aug. 18 at First Baptist Church in Clinton. St. Joseph Parish was represented at the event.
Five Rivers Deanery
Holy Trinity, Jefferson City
The next bi-annual rummage sale is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, Oct. 11-12.
Knights of Columbus Council 12838 from Holy Trinity will hold a drawing at its Italian Night dinner Saturday, Oct. 19. First prize is a three-night stay at a mountain retreat cabin, with second and third prizes to be awarded. Tickets are $50 and will be available until the day of the event; purchase them in the narthex or from any Knight. Proceeds will benefit council-supported charitable organizations.
The Council of Catholic Women has a summer project of making lawn ornaments and bird feeders. The first gathering for the project was so wellattended that a second was held Aug. 19.
Anniversaries: Andrew and Kerry Kojs (35), Pete and Viki Van Ormer (35) Notre Dame, Greeneville
Those interested in singing or playing an instrument at the annual Madrigal Dinner on Dec. 13-14 may sign up in the narthex or call Wanda at 423-4706906. Practices are being held on Sunday afternoons.
Anniversaries: Larry and Donna Coughlin (61), Jerry and Linda Davis (53), Donna and Richard Hughes (45), John and Dianne Curry (35), Don and Susie Myers (35)
at 423-596-0053 or irene.scoggins@ gmail.com or Amanda Henderson at 423-458-2401 or stygcleveland@ gmail.com. The diocesan Youth Ministry Office is hoping to inspire former SEARCHers to create a SEARCH team in their community. To get started, contact Carolyn Krings at 865-584-3307 or ckrings@dioknox.org
Catholic in Recovery is a 12-step recovery ministry that holds meetings each Monday at 7 p.m. at St. Mary Church in Johnson City. CIR provides hope and healing from addictions, compulsions, and unhealthy attachments. Family members impacted by a loved one’s addiction are also encouraged to attend. Meetings combine the spiritual principles of 12-step recovery and the sacraments of the Catholic Church. Join others in recovery as the meetings overlap Scripture from Sunday Mass readings, liturgical themes, and recovery topics with honest discussion and prayer. Confidentiality is protected. For more information, visit www.catholicinrecovery.com or contact Jena at cir.tricities.tn@gmail. com, Beth at 714-651-2008, or Ed at 865-599-4823.
The Healing Ministry at Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Alcoa offers healing prayers every third weekend of the month for anyone who has a physical, emotional, or spiritual need. Individual healing prayer will be offered in Spanish in the church immediately following the 7 p.m. Saturday Mass in Spanish, and prayer will be offered in English in the chapel immediately following the 11 a.m. Sunday Mass. Call Toni Jacobs at 561-315-5911 if you have any questions.
Join Father Mike Nolan from May 1223, 2025, on a pilgrimage to Malta, Sicily, and the Amalfi Coast with an optional extension to Rome from May 23-26 to celebrate the Jubilee next
St. Patrick, Morristown
Anniversaries: David and Peggy Keller (66), Terry and Sharon Maddix (61), Thomas and Joyce Mecca (57), Rodolfo and Elia Lopez (40), Rodrigo and Angel Garcia-Morales (15), Luis and Julia Maldonado (15), Alfredo Vazquez Hernandez and Yesica Chavez Reich (5)
Smoky Mountain Deanery
Immaculate Conception, Knoxville
Parishioner Victoria Ostermayr will take part in the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) Walk-a-Thon on Saturday, Sept. 21, at Victor Ashe Park in Knoxville. To sponsor her, join her in the walk, or make a donation to NAMI, visit www.namiwalks.org/index. cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive. participant&participantID=556192
A parish potluck picnic will begin at 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 22, at the Party Barn at Strong Stock Farm, 8220 Rutledge Pike in Knoxville. Hot dogs, hamburgers, and pork barbecue will be provided. Those with last names beginning with A to O are asked to bring a side dish, and those beginning with P to Z are asked to bring a dessert. RSVP to the parish office at 865-522-1508 or icknoxoffice@gmail.com
IC is compiling a list of all parishioners who have served in any branch of the military. Contact the parish office at the number (extension 1000) and email shown above with your name and branch served in.
Our Lady of Fatima, Alcoa
The parish thanked Father Henry Wakawa, who came to Our Lady of Fatima in March and is returning to Malawi. His last weekend with OLOF was Sept. 7-8. Parishioners wrote cards and notes of gratitude to him as a token of their collective thanks for his ministry to them.
St. Joseph the Worker, Madisonville Parishioners are invited to bring a chair or blanket for outdoor showings of season four of The Chosen set for 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 4, Oct. 18, Nov. 1, and Nov. 15 in the field by the pavilion. Suggested donation is $10, but all may attend.
year. Pilgrims will be visiting the places where St. Paul preached and spent time, including Mdina, Rabat, Valletta, and Taormina, to name a few, and will explore the Amalfi Coast. They will visit Our Lady of Mellieha Sanctuary, which is dedicated to Our Lady and is a very important part of the Catholic history of the island of Malta, and continue with a visit to the “Mosta Rotunda,” a domed church in Mosta. Travelers will walk through the streets of Mdina, Malta’s first capital, and visit the Cathedral dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul. As they tour Valletta, the capital of Malta, they will become acquainted with the history of the island, perhaps best known as the seat of the Knights of St. John, more commonly known as the Knights of Malta. The pilgrims will also see the story of St. Paul’s shipwreck as told in paintings found in the church of the same name. Our Lady of the Rock is one of Taormina’s most popular destinations, with a panorama of the surrounding city and Mount Etna. Next, they will continue to Messina for a panoramic tour and a visit to the cathedral. The Cathedral of Messina’s bell tower contains the world’s biggest and most complex mechanical and astronomical clock. For those going on the Rome extension, they will visit St. Peter’s Basilica and walk through the holy door for the Jubilee and visit St. Mary Major, St John Lateran, Holy Cross, and the Catacombs. For more information, contact Lisa Morris at 865-567-1245 or lisam@select-intl.com
Join Glenmary Father Steve Pawelk from June 16-27, 2025, on a pilgrimage to Lourdes and Fatima, including Mount St. Michel, the island considered one of the world’s wonders. The island, one of the top pilgrimage destinations of Christendom through the ages, floats like a mirage with the abbey that dominates the landscape. Pilgrims will visit the beaches of Normandy and the home of St. Thérèse and the basilica in
Lisieux. They will visit the Miraculous Medal Chapel and St. Vincent de Paul Chapel in Paris and take a high-speed train to Lourdes, the home of St. Bernadette, celebrating Mass at the grotto where Our Lady appeared to her, and join in a candlelight procession. The travelers will go on to Avila, the walled city dedicated to St. Teresa, the great mystic and the first woman named doctor of the Church. They will visit the crypt of La Santa Convent, built on the site of the house where she was born, and La Encarnacion Convent, where St. Teresa became a nun and which is home to the most comprehensive museum dedicated to her life. The pilgrims will arrive in Fatima, one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in the world, which is well-known for the story of the apparition of Our Lady to three shepherd children in 1917, and attend Mass at the basilica. They will stop at the parish church where the visionaries were baptized and other places associated with their young lives. The group will participate in a candlelight and Blessed Sacrament procession. The travelers will go on to Santarem to venerate the Miracle of the Eucharist and continue to Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, one of the most beautiful and historic European cities. They will see Belem Tower, the longest bridge in Europe, and the 300-foot-high statue of Christ the King and the Church of St. Anthony. For more information, contact Lisa Morris at 865-567-1245 or lisam@ select-intl.com
Mass in the extraordinary form (“traditional Latin”) is celebrated at noon each Sunday at Holy Ghost Church in Knoxville, at 2 p.m. each Sunday and at 6 p.m. most Mondays at St. Mary Church in Johnson City, and at 11:30 a.m. every Sunday at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga. For more information on the extraordinary-form Masses, visit www.Knox LatinMass.net n
supplied each student
with
in reducing the cost of classroom supplies and waste by eliminating disposable water cups in the classrooms.
teachers, and staff. In the top photo are
and Claire
Anniversaries: David and Karen Smee (56), Kenneth and Donna Hay (53), Gregory and Deloras Russo (51), Arthur and Melanie Slouka (45), Tim and Lara Ward (30), James and Donna Williams (15), Vincente and Jazmin Guzman (10), Christian and Clementina Mora (5) n
St. Vincent de Paul members in Townsend help school students, staff The St. Vincent de Paul (SVDP) Society’s conference at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Townsend recently welcomed Townsend Elementary students back to school. SVDP
with a lightweight aluminum 12-ounce water bottle. The blue bottles were detailed
the school’s name and mascot logo. The project helped
SVDP supplied 150 water bottles for all the students,
(from left, front) Kathy Janke, Ron
Andersen, Debbie and Bob Eberhardt, and (back) Paul Czienewski, Michelle Mularski, and Jim Moretti.
The whole gang Notre Dame pastor Father Joseph Kuzhupil, MSFS (above, middle), and director of religious education Susan Collins (in front-center) sit with the youth and adults taking part in vacation Bible school at the church. Below left, Maggie Rowe plays the guitar and teaches campers the song “Here I Am, Lord,” with Eliza Girton leading the sign language. Below center, members of the St. Roch crew show the lanterns they made in arts and crafts. Below right are Sophia Herrell and the St. Roch crew. Each crew received a
Notre Dame Parish holds annual vacation Bible school
Vacation Bible school was held on all Wednesday nights in June and the first Wednesday night in July at Notre Dame Church in Greeneville.
The theme of the annual event was “Camping in God’s Creation.” Through the VBS activities, the children learned to appreciate the wonder of God’s creation and their place in it.
The campers attended Mass at 6 p.m. followed by reveille in the church narthex. They gathered into cabin crews, which were named after saints that they selected: St. Gertrude, St. Roch, St. Isidore, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Martin de Porres, and St. Anthony the Abbot. They prayed together, then entered “Camp Catholic” and enjoyed dinner in the “mess hall.” After the meal, they went to their assigned tables for arts and crafts to create backpacks, lanterns, telescopes, fisher’s nets, and a keepsake photo frame.
Following arts and crafts, the campers gathered around the campfire for discussion and Bible storytelling. The evening concluded with a participation song by the campfire accompanied by guitar.
The last day included a family potluck dinner followed by water fun, with a water-balloon toss, a couple of wading pools with beach balls, water squirters, and a water sprinkler that also served for a limbo contest. ■
keepsake photo of the group.
Father Boettner blesses Bucketeers Band Wagon at cathedral
Father David Boettner (upper left and lower left), rector of the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, blessed the new Bucketeers Band Wagon on June 18.
Katie Helms (in red cap), a parishioner of the cathedral, leads the Band Wagon and also plays bagpipes at diocesan events. The Band Wagon is designed to bring a love of music to parishioners.
Raising the flag St. Jude Schools students (from left), Zachery Dao, Olivia Schmidtke, Max McCarty, and Nicholas France raise the Freedom Flag on Sept. 11. Olivia and Max are Scouts chosen for the event, and Zach and Nick are eighthgraders who regularly raise the flag at St. Jude.
St. Jude School receives honor to host the Freedom Flag on Sept. 11
St. Jude School in Chattanooga was chosen as only the second school in Tennessee and the first elementary school to host the Freedom Flag on Patriot’s Day, Sept. 11.
The Freedom Flag Foundation chose St. Jude for the honor after an application made by third-grade teacher Katlyn Darling. The foundation exists to establish the Freedom Flag as a national symbol of remembrance for Sept. 11, 2001, and to support educational efforts to teach future generations about the tragic events and many lives lost on that date.
In addition to oral and visual presentations, the day offered a chance to interact with an artifact from Tower 1 of the World Trade
Center. The presentation of colors—the flags of the United States, the state of Tennessee, and the Freedom Flag—added a patriotic touch. Educators have praised the 10 symbolic elements of the Freedom Flag as an effective teaching tool, helping the current generation of students understand the complex sequence of events of 9/11, a day they were not yet born to witness.
State Sen. Bo Watson of Hixson and Deputy County Mayor Cory Gearrin took part in the day’s activities. Also participating were representatives of the Chattanooga Police Department, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga ROTC, and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office. ■
St. Mary-Oak Ridge opens reading room in memory of teacher Anne Garrett
St. Mary School in Oak Ridge recently announced the opening of the Treehouse Reading Room in the school library, redesigned and renamed in memory of a beloved former teacher, Anne Garrett. Mrs. Garrett was a revered teacher at St. Mary who passed away in 2019. She zealously taught from 19872014 and served as assistant principal in her last 15 years at the school. Mrs. Garrett was passionate about literature and English and loved her students. Upon her retirement, she
continued to serve the school by volunteering in the library and substituting as much as possible.
“Anne loved to have discussions with the kids about books,” said Marsha Sega, longtime friend and colleague. “She chose summer readings specifically for discussions at the beginning of the year.”
Annual Immaculate Conception
Irish Fest sets fundraising record
Bishop Mark Beckman attended the 15th annual Irish Fest on Aug. 10 at Immaculate Conception Church in Knoxville. The event featured live Irish music, Irish food and beer, face painting for children, and more. This year’s Fest set a record with more than $35,000 raised. The event committee has given the parish $15,000 to be used for current projects and $15,000 for future capital repairs. IC pastor Father Charlie Donahue, associate Father Tim Sullivan, and priest in residence Father Jim Haley, all Paulist Fathers, joined the bishop and the many parishioners and visitors attending the Fest.
The original Treehouse Reading Room was discontinued in spring 2020 because of COVID and began undergoing renovations when the school reopened in fall 2020. With the mural almost completed and the plaque hung, the reopening was a surprise to students who visited the library on their first day back at school.
“She would be honored that you did this for her,” Mrs. Sega said. “She truly enjoyed teaching, and she had fun; we had fun!” ■
OLPH reunion continued from page B3
before earning a master’s in philanthropy and development at St. Mary’s University, a Catholic institution in Minnesota.
OLPH School “was within walking distance from where we lived, so it wasn’t too far away, maybe three miles. I lived in the East Ridge area of Chattanooga,” Mr. Brown said, adding that Mr. Waters, his history teacher at OLPH, was one of his favorite instructors. “I cut through many yards to get to the school without getting caught. I was jumping fences all over the place.
“My family’s history—I have two aunts who are nuns. We’re all Cath-
olic. My mother’s sole decree was, I want to get you and your older brother into the Catholic system and get as many degrees as you can as well as the Church-related information you’re going to learn from it.”
Mr. Brown has put his philanthropy degree to good use.
“I raise money for nonprofit organizations, especially those overseas, international nonprofits, helping them to feed those who are truly hungry, those who don’t have a place to live, helping them build homes and shelter and all the things that go with it, which fits in nicely with what I learned growing up in the Catholic faith,” he said. n
COURTESY OF ST. JUDE SCHOOL
DAN MCWILLIAMS
School tour Jean Payne (left), who helped organize the class of 1974 reunion, talks with (from left) Terrie Lamsey Weiss, OLPH principal Dr. Caroline Carlin, and Cindy Lamsey during a tour Dr. Carlin led of OLPH School.
