Oct. 6, 2019, ET Catholic, A section

October 6

| 2019

VOL 29 NO 1

IN THIS ISSUE SPIRIT A4 HOLY Soddy-Daisy parish looks to future by building on its past

WAY OF LIFE A5 APriests maintain

ministry as they reach retirement age

MILESTONES B1 PARISH St. Henry celebrates anniversary by burning its mortgage

He dwells among us ......................... A2 Parish news ....................................... B4 Diocesan calendar ............................ B5 Columns ............................................. B8 Catholic schools ............................. B10 La Cosecha ............................Section C

40 Days for Life returns for fall diocesan vigil Parishioners gather for prayer, peaceful presence outside East Knox Planned Parenthood site

By Bill Brewer

BILL BREWER

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ro-life prayer warriors are out in force in East Tennessee, and for 40 days they will be storming heaven to intercede for the unborn and women in crisis pregnancies considering abortion.

The Diocese of Knoxville is one of more than 500 communities across the country hosting a 40 Days for Life vigil in support of life.

Another 40 Days for Life campaign is taking place in Bristol, affiliated with St. Anne Catholic Church there.

Bishop Richard F. Stika kicked off the Knoxville campaign on Sept. 25 in front of the Planned Parenthood clinic at 710 N. Cherry St. at Washington Avenue, where drugs to induce abortions are dispensed. The

Standing for life Pro-life supporters, from left, Orville Fisher, Paul Simoneau, Lisa Morris, Paul Carter, Rev. Cecil Clark, Bishop Richard F. Stika, Debbie Donahoo, Eddie Booth, Duane Donahoo, and Henry Usey begin the Diocese of Knoxville’s 40 Days for Life campaign. bishop was joined by the Rev. Cecil Clark, pastor of

True Vine Baptist Church at 2547 Washington Ave., and

eight diocesan parishioners.

Standing vigil on a side-

Seftons receive papal knighthood

walk outside of the clinic, the 40 Days volunteers waved pro-life signs, prayed the rosary, and waved at passersby, a number of whom honked and waved in support, a routine that will be repeated until Nov. 3. Bishop Stika picked up a sign, visited with the volunteers, and thanked them for defending life in such a prayerful way.

“It’s good to work together and to make statements of faith, but also statements of justice. There’s a point of justice here that we need to recognize. Justice for the child, that it be permitted to live. That is the most basic right for the vulnerable,” Bishop Stika said. “It’s good to be here.”

The bishop praised 40 Days for Life for illustrat40 Days continued on page A12

God is all in –– are we?

The cost of discipleship is one we are all called on to cover

DAN MCWILLIAMS

By Bill Brewer

Papal honor Alan Sefton, center, stands with Bishop Richard F. Stika after receiving the Order of St. Gregory the Great medal for superior dedication and exceptional zeal and service to the Church. Assisting Bishop Stika is Father Valentin Iurochkin, a Russian-born priest who is new to the diocese.

Bishop Stika nominates St. John Neumann couple for induction into the Order of St. Gregory the Great; Pope Francis approves the recommendation

By Dan McWilliams

A

lan and Sally Sefton said they felt stunned as they became the first people in the Diocese of Knoxville to be inducted into the Order of St. Gregory the Great in a presentation that took place Sept. 14 in the Seftons’ home church of St. John Neumann in Farragut.

The honor fell on the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, a special feast day for the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, of which the Seftons are members as Knight and Dame Commanders. Many Knights and Ladies of the Holy Sepulchre order in the Diocese of

Knoxville were in attendance at St. John Neumann.

At the end of Mass, Bishop Richard F. Stika presented eightpointed crosses bearing an image of Pope St. Gregory XVI to Mr. and Mrs. Sefton. The honor is awarded to those individuals recognized by the Holy See for their superior dedication and exceptional zeal and service to the Church. On June 10, Pope Francis accepted the recommendation of Bishop Stika and declared the bestowal of the title of Knight Commander and Dame Commander to Mr. and Mrs. Sefton in the Order of St. Gregory the Great.

“We were both extremely surprised to learn about this prestig-

ious papal award. It was one of the best kept secrets ever!” Mrs. Sefton said.

Her husband agreed.

“It was a great surprise. I knew nothing about it,” Mr. Sefton said. “We’re so proud. I think it’s the only one, [the bishop] said in Knoxville, but I think it’s the only one in Tennessee.”

The bishop was celebrant of the Mass. Principal concelebrants were Cardinal Justin Rigali, whose 34th anniversary of ordination as a bishop fell on that day; Father Valentin Iurochkin, a Russian-born priest who is new to the Diocese of Knoxville; Father Mark Schuster; and Father Seftons continued on page A10

Father Chris Michelson hopes his lesson to students active in the Diocese of Knoxville’s youth ministry didn’t fall on apathetic ears during his homily for the annual Diocesan Youth Mass on Sept. 15.

His question was simple.

Are you all in? Are you totally committed?

It was an important question to the students who represent the Catholic Church Bearing gifts Father Chris in their high school Michelson, pastor of St. Albert communities the Great Parish, receives the within the gifts from students during the four deaner- annual Youth Mass on Sept. ies in which 15 at St. Albert. they reside.

Citing Scripture readings from Exodus, 1 Timothy, and Luke, Father Michelson emphasized to the youth in attendance that they must place their full faith in God and maintain it, even when others are doubting God’s presence, such as those being delivered from Egypt by Moses. The pastor of St. Albert the Great Parish in Knoxville, which hosted the Youth Mass, also pointed to Timothy, who was recognized by St. Paul for living his faith, especially during difficult times.

The veteran priest inspired the students Youth continued on page A5

He dwells among us

by Bishop Richard F. Stika

Guns and roses The Church’s spiritual weapon of choice to combat the evil of our times is the rosary Mary treasured all these things and reflected on them in her heart.

— Luke 2:19

A

s intense debate continues on the question of banning weapons—be they handguns, assault rifles, or nuclear— there is one weapon that the Church never tires to promote the use of: the rosary.

No other prayer has been recommended more by the Church and her saints over the centuries than this simple bead of prayers consisting of the Apostles Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, the Hail Mary, and the Glory Be. Infused with meditations upon the mysteries of Christ through the eyes and heart of His mother and ours, the rosary is a much needed medicine for our soul and our families, and the answer to the evils of our time. Why is it so important to pray the rosary?

In the Old Testament, the chief fault of the Israelites was their tendency to “forget the Lord” (Deuteronomy 6:12) and all “the things He had done” for them (Psalm 78:11).

This also is our chief fault and the reason why, I believe, that the first thing Jesus taught us to ask of the Heavenly Father in the prayer He taught us is “Hallowed be Thy Name”—to remember the Lord Our God, to call upon His holy name and to make it reverberate ever more deeply in our heart and in all our actions. The rosary is a remembering of Christ with Mary—with

Follow Bishop Richard Stika on Twitter @bishopstika and Facebook for news and events from the diocese. her heart wherein lies the treasure of treasures!

When we pray the rosary, our memory is awakened with Mary’s help and filled anew and strengthened with the mystery of God’s redeeming love and mercy, of His friendship and longing for us. We all thirst for what only God can give, as the Psalmist beautifully expresses—“Like the deer that yearns for flowing streams, so my soul is yearning for you my God” (Psalm 42:1). When we pray the rosary, we quench not only our thirst for God, but His for us. When Jesus cried out from the cross, “I thirst” (John 19:28), it was not just because He was parched, but because He thirsts above all for the souls He came to redeem.

The rosary is truly a “life-giving spring” that we should abundantly drink from every day. An icon of Jesus and Mary beautifully captures this image under the title of “Lifegiving spring” and is most suitable to contemplate while praying the rosary.

When we pray the rosary, we reflect upon the most essential mysteries of our faith—mysteries not of past events, but “living” and present mysteries—those called Joyful that bring us to encounter He who is our true joy; those called Luminous for the divine light that penetrates

The rosary is the Church’s most powerful prayer, after of course that of the “saving action par excellence,” the holy Mass. And the reason for this is simple — Mary is the “woman” of Genesis 3:15 who crushes the head of the serpent. the darkness of sin and hurt and illuminates our hearts with the Bridegroom’s love for us; those called Sorrowful that give meaning and purpose to all our sufferings in what Christ suffered to redeem us; and those called Glorious that rejoice in the promise of everlasting life with Jesus and Mary, strengthening and steadying our steps as we journey each day closer in our pilgrim journey to our heavenly home.

For good reason then does the Church call the rosary a “compendium of the Gospel.”

This I believe is the reason for Our Lady’s urgent message spoken to the three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal, in 1917—“Pray the rosary every day.” More than ever, we need to heed her words anew.

For the world is growing increasingly forgetful of God and lost in its sterile and fruitless efforts to build a utopian kingdom of man’s design.

People are despairing and becoming increasingly suicidal in a society in-

fected with the “culture of death.”

The rosary is above all a prayer for peace — for peace in our troubled world, peace in our country, peace in marriage and families, peace in the womb, peace in our hearts. To pray the rosary, St. John Paul II reminds us, is to contemplate the mystery of Christ, who “is our peace,” who heals all division and makes us one in Him. Let us pray then for the gift of peace.

The rosary is the Church’s most powerful prayer, after of course that of the “saving action par excellence,” the holy Mass. And the reason for this is simple—Mary is the “woman” of Genesis 3:15 who crushes the head of the serpent. The great “saint of the rosary,” St. Louis de Montfort, explains how the devil, in a certain sense, fears Mary more than God himself. And this is because Satan is so full of pride, that “he suffers infinitely more by being beaten and punished by a little and humble handmaid of the Lord.” As the rose is the “crown of flowers,” so the rosary is the crown of Mary’s children by which we triumph over evil.

No one has ever contemplated Our Savior and meditated upon His words and actions more than His mother. As St. John Paul II says, “It is not just a question of learning what [Christ] taught but of ‘learning Him.’ In this regard could we have any better teacher than Mary?”

St. John Paul II stated that “the Rosary continued on page A7

Bishop Stika’s calendar of upcoming events October Prayer Intentions “That the breath of the Holy Spirit engender a new missionary ‘spring’ in the Church.”

–– Pope Francis “Through the intercession of St. John Paul II, who was guided by the Holy Spirit to found our diocese, and whose feast day we celebrate this month, let us pray as he did: for young people and families everywhere, that they find richness through Jesus in their daily lives and come to understand that no matter what struggles we face, we are always held in the loving hands of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.”

A2 n OCTOBER 6, 2019

–– Bishop Stika

n Oct. 1: Relevant Radio interview n Oct. 1: General priest meeting, Sacred Heart Cathedral Parish Hall n Oct. 1: Diocesan Pastoral Council meeting, Chancery n Oct. 2: Mass and chapter elections with the Handmaids of the Precious Blood n Oct. 7-12: Retreat with the Poor Clares of the Franciscan Monastery of St. Clare n Oct. 19: Annual retreat with permanent deacons and

their wives n Oct. 20: White Mass at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus n Oct. 21-24: Diocesan priest retreat at Lake Junaluska, N.C. n Oct. 25-27: Holy Sepulchre investiture n Nov. 3: Catholic Foundation of East Tennessee annual dinner n Nov. 5: Relevant Radio interview n Nov. 5: Presbyteral Coun-

cil meeting, Chancery n Nov. 6: St. Mary’s Legacy Foundation board meeting, Chancery n Nov. 7: Meeting with VOLS Catholic Student Group n Nov. 10: Green Mass at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus n Nov. 23: Knights of Columbus appreciation Mass and lunch n Dec. 1-7: Ad Limina Region 5 visit, Vatican ■

Upcoming Virtus training sessions are scheduled

T

he Diocese of Knoxville’s program for the protection of children, youth, and vulnerable adults is offered around the diocese.

The seminars are required for parish and school employees and regular volunteers in contact with children and vulnerable adults.

The following training sessions are scheduled throughout the diocese:

www.di o k no x .o rg

n St. John XXIII University Parish, Knoxville, 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 6 n St. Alphonsus Church, Crossville, 1 p.m. CDT, Sunday, Oct. 6 n Immaculate Conception Church, Knoxville, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 8; 1:30 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 20 n St. Mary School, Johnson City, 5:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 14; 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9

n Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul, Chattanooga, 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 16 n St. Dominic Church, Kingsport, 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19 n Notre Dame Church, Greeneville, 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 22 n St. Mary Church, Oak Ridge, 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24; 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14 n St. Dominic Church, Kingsport, 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19; 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5 ■

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OCTOBER 6, 2019 n A3

Holy Spirit is remembering the past to build on its future Bishop Stika joins Msgr. Humbrecht, Fr. Creson, Fr. Glennon to celebrate parish’s 20th anniversary

By Bill Brewer

DAN MCWILLIAMS

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Celebrating Holy Spirit Bishop Richard F. Stika celebrates Mass at Holy Spirit Church on Sept. 21 to mark the parish’s 20th anniversary. Concelebrating the Mass are Monsignor Al Humbrecht, second from right, pastor of Holy Spirit, Father Mike Creson, right, founding pastor of Holy Spirit, and Father Bertin Glennon, ST. best efforts by so many inside the Church to destroy it, it will continue to grow, and to shift, and to shrink, and to continue to grow because it is alive,” he said.

Bishop Stika applauded the Holy Spirit members for their determination to grow the parish over the past two decades.

He said he often thinks of the “old-timers” in East Tennessee who had to face so much religious discriminaWho was here at the beginning? Bishop Richard F. Stika receives a show of tion. But he pointed out hands from Holy Spirit members who founded the Soddy-Daisy church. that Holy Spirit has not been shy about sharing the Catholic faith, and it continues to do that by growing, 1990s to determine the need for another Catholic through adult education, Christian formation, celChurch in Hamilton County, a recommendation ebration of the sacraments, the proclamation of Jesus was made to build one in Soddy-Daisy, just north as the Son of God, and the love of the Blessed Mother. of Chattanooga near the Hamilton County-Rhea “The love of God is proclaimed here in so many County line. different ways, following in the long tradition that A new Catholic community was created between started so far back when the voice came down from the borders of St. Jude Parish in Chattanooga and heaven and said, ‘This is my beloved Son, in whom St. Bridget Parish in Dayton. The first Mass was I am well pleased. Listen to Him,’” he said, emphaheld Sept. 12, 1999, at First Presbyterian Church of sizing that Holy Spirit Parish is thriving because of Soddy-Daisy. the Holy Spirit.

That’s when Joyce and Ralph Rogers, residents of Holy Spirit continued on page A6 After a demographic study was done in the early BILL BREWER

oly Spirit is thriving … because of the Holy Spirit.

As the parish in Soddy-Daisy marked its 20th anniversary this year, Bishop Richard F. Stika joined Holy Spirit pastor Monsignor Al Humbrecht, founding pastor Father Mike Creson, and Father Bertin Glennon, ST, on Sept. 21 for a Mass to celebrate the milestone. Deacon Mick Spencer assisted.

Members new and old, current and former gathered to commemorate the occasion, reflect on the early days, and discuss what lies ahead for Holy Spirit, which began with 49 families—a number that has swelled to more than 300.

As Mass began, Bishop Stika asked how many in the congregation were founding members. A number of hands went up.

He then asked if they remembered what some of the suggested names for the parish were. One member seemed to recall the “Catholic Church of Soddy-Daisy,” prompting the bishop to deadpan in response, “Well, that is very descriptive.”

As laughs subsided, Bishop Stika credited Monsignor Humbrecht, Father Creson, and the founders for deciding on a more appropriate parish name that established a Catholic community in Hamilton County north of Chattanooga.

“It is a great joy for me to be with all of you as we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the founding of this parish, Holy Spirit,” Bishop Stika said. “Every time I pull into the driveway here I see this church standing so beautifully. Monsignor Al, when he bought this property, he was pretty smart. He still is.

In so many ways, this is a shining example of what our faith should be.”

Monsignor Humbrecht was dean of the Chattanooga Deanery when Father Creson was named pastor of Holy Spirit. Together they worked with members to build the parish. Early gatherings were held in homes until First Presbyterian Church of Soddy-Daisy offered to share church space with Holy Spirit so it could hold Masses.

Bishop Stika recalled the early days of the parish’s founding compared with the early days of the Church. In his homily, he referenced the early Catholic Church, when the gifts of the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles.

“We see on that Pentecost day the wind rushing into the room, and the apostles had tongues of fire over their heads, and they went out and spoke all of these languages. And because of what happened on that Pentecost day, you’re here today,” he said. “Because of what happened in those earliest days of the Church, when the gifts of the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles, the Church was just a few people but began to spread and began to teach.”

Bishop Stika related a story about former Soviet Union leader Joseph Stalin, who was trying to annihilate the Catholic Church in Eastern Europe.

Under his reign, Soviet authorities arrested people who worshiped publicly, and it was illegal to believe in God. People began to question how the Church could survive under such brutal rule.

“Where is the Soviet Union today? And where is the Church? It is in Soddy-Daisy. And despite

Seminarians learning that priestly vocation is a bilingual one Students spending summers between seminary terms mastering the Spanish language ahead of ordination

By Bill Brewer

A4 n OCTOBER 6, 2019

COURTESY OF SOUTHEAST PASTORAL INSTITUTE

P

ase la sal y la pimienta por favor.

Chances are Robbie Bauman, Joseph Austin, Andrew Crabtree, and Neil Blatchford recognized the request and passed the salt and pepper.

Lunch at St. Meinrad Seminary is a learning experience for students from the Diocese of Knoxville.

While they’re studying the finer points of theology, Church history, canon law, or homiletics during their mornings and afternoons, one lunch hour each week is strictly reserved for Spanish.

That’s when a lunch table at the southern Indiana seminary is reserved for Spanish speakers, and the diocese’s future priests are ready to join the conversation.

“At seminary once a week there is a table set aside for those who want to speak Spanish, and those of us at St. Meinrad from the Diocese of Knoxville plan to spend our lunch break speaking Spanish,” said Robbie Bauman, who is in his second year of studies.

After spending much of last summer studying the Spanish language and culture in Miami at the Southeast Pastoral Institute, five diocesan seminarians are on their way to becoming fluent by the time they’re ordained.

Southeast Pastoral Institute, or SEPI, is the formative branch for the Southeast Regional Office for Hispanic Ministry for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which coordinates and supports Hispanic ministry in the 30 dioceses of the Southeast.

Bishop Richard F. Stika said Diocese of Knoxville seminarians must know Spanish by their ordination or soon af-

Hablas Español? Diocese of Knoxville seminarians Robbie Bauman, Joey Austin, Michael Willey, Andrew Crabtree, and Neil Blatchford participate in a Spanish-language course at the Southeast Pastoral Institute in Miami. ter, an indication of the importance of the Hispanic faith community to the Catholic Church and the diocese.

“Some people have more of a proficiency in the ability to learn languages. So some of our seminarians are much more comfortable in having conversational Spanish while with others it’s just to read and comprehend somewhat,” Bishop Stika said.

“It’s a requirement for all of our seminarians, unless they are from a Latin American country.”

The bishop noted that in some other U.S. dioceses with large numbers of parishioners who speak a specific language, those seminarians may be required to learn a different language.

He specifically noted Miami, which has a sizeable Haitian population.

Seminarians in the Archdiocese of Miami must now know Creole.

Bishop Stika said the Diocese of Knoxville now has two Vietnamese Catholic communities and he is hoping to have seminarians who can speak Vietnamese.

“Language is important to ministry because it allows you to communicate,” he said.

Mr. Bauman had never studied Spanish prior to his “mini immersion” in Miami June 16-July 26, although he did take German in high school and French in college. He is looking forward to round two next summer.

www.di o k no x .o rg

“It was a really fantastic experience. We had solid teachers. It was every day, except for Sunday. There were no classes on Sunday,” he said, noting that the instruction involved learning vocabulary, pronunciation, grammar, and conversation. “But next summer we will do a full immersion in a Spanish-speaking country for two months.”

Mr. Bauman acknowledges having a long way to go before considering Spanish as his second language, but he looks forward to getting there. He plans to incorporate Spanish into as many of his courses as possible.

“Knowing the end goal is to take the Seminarians continued on page A10 TH E EA S T TEN N ES S EE C ATH OLI C

Priesthood: a way of life, not just a career Diocesan Home Campaign is building support for priests reaching retirement age ong before he was a priest in the Diocese of Knoxville, Monsignor Bill Gahagan thought he had made a deal with the

Lord.

It was 1959, and Monsignor Gahagan was a young man serving in the U.S. Air Force. He had just returned from duty in France and had received new orders to report to a military installation in Middle Tennessee. But driving through Knoxville, a tire sprung a leak on his 1941 Buick.

He remembers being stuck on the side of Highway 70 with a flat and in front of an ice cream shop, and the future Catholic priest said, “Lord, if you ever get me out of this, I will never come back here again.”

Sometimes, the Lord answers prayers in ways we don’t expect.

Monsignor Gahagan somehow got out of that jam, got back on the road, reported for duty, completed his military service, and was later honorably discharged at Stewart Air Force Base in Smyrna, Tenn.

After serving his country, he contemplated marriage and family life, but he also considered service to the Catholic Church. On Sept. 27, Monsignor Gahagan celebrated the 50th anniversary of his ordination as a Catholic priest— many of those years have been spent in and around Knoxville, a place he asked the Lord to deliver him from in 1959.

“My ordination date is actually Jan. 31. But every time we tried to do a celebration in the past there was snow and ice, so Bishop Stika asked if we’d move it,” Monsignor Gahagan said during a recent interview at his home in

JIM WOGAN

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By Jim Wogan

Priest’s best friend Monsignor Bill Gahagan enjoys time with his labrador r.etriever, Barnaby Jones, at his residence in Norris. Monsignor Gahagan is among a number of priests at retirement age who continue to serve the Church, but at a slower pace.

Norris. “I thought there’d be no difference, so we decided to celebrate it on my birthday, which is Sept. 27.”

Monsignor Gahagan, 82, is among 12 priests

in the diocese who have stepped out of active ministry after a lifetime of service to the Church. And while the term “retirement” is a

The bread of life Left: Father Chris Michelson, pastor of St. Albert the Great Parish, gives Communion to students during the annual diocesan Youth Mass at St. Albert on Sept.

15.

Youth continued from page A1

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

Below: Youth leaders active in the Diocesan Youth Ministry Advisory Council are recognized during the annual Youth Mass.

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to “seek the good that we all have inside” as part of their ministry.

“We all have goodness inside.

What a great message for us, and what a great message hopefully for all of you. Many of you have agreed to leadership positions in our diocese. … People saw goodness in you, and we have to find that goodness in ourselves. And may you always work on sharing that inner goodness,” Father Michelson told the students.

In continuing his homily, Father Michelson quizzed the young women and men about their dedication to their faith. Again pointing to the Israelites on one hand and Timothy on the other, he wanted the students to self-reflect.

“Are we all in? Or are we all in when it’s convenient, when it’s easy, when there’s nothing else we would rather do? Are we all in in living our faith on Sunday morning, or would we rather be at the lake? Or maybe we would rather sleep in. Or maybe we would rather do something else.

Are we all in?” he asked.

Father Michelson juxtaposed the Israelites, who followed God until the journey from Egypt became difficult, and Timothy, who followed God despite the path of Christianity being difficult.

He asked the students whether they were all in when it came time to volunteer at the homeless shelter or other ministries of service, or did they decline and instead say they had other things to do.

“God is all in for each and every one of us. He sees each one of us individually, and He’s all in. Are we? He says, ‘I’m with you, no matter what. There’s nothing you can do that’s going to separate me from being all in.’ But you. You have to decide if you are going to be all in back,” the priest said. “I congratulate all of you who are all in and being able to say, ‘you know what, I will serve. I will serve in DYMAC.’” Deacon Al Forsythe, director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the diocese, said he looks forward every year to the annual Mass where the diocese can recognize its youth leaders.

“This is when we get to celebrate those young people who are all in.

We recognize them and congratulate them for their works in parishes and deaneries throughout the diocese,” Deacon Forsythe said during Mass.

When asked how important it is for youth to be all in in their faith, Deacon Forsythe said it is critical, especially at a time when there are so many secular—and unhealthy—distractions vying for their attention.

“What I see is that our world is

Priests continued on page A16

telling us to do something completely different than what the Word of the Lord teaches us, what God teaches us. If you want to make a difference in this world, now is the time when you have to step up.

Now is when you have to make those choices. Now is when you have to say you are all in,” he said.

“Our Church is very fortunate that we do have a lot of young people, especially in this diocese, who are not only living out their faith, but they are sharing their faith with others. They’re becoming the disciples of Christ that we’re hoping for,” he added.

“Most of the young people who are involved (in youth ministry) are not in our Catholic schools, so it’s even more important for them because they are living their faith in school communities that aren’t very Catholic-engaged and are very secular.”

Students spoke of how their involvement in youth ministry and the Diocesan Youth Ministry Advisory Council (DYMAC) hones their leadership skills, which they’re incorporating in their schools.

Jada Hilton, a student at Bradley County Virtual School in Cleveland, said serving in diocesan youth ministry is important to her.

“I love serving in the youth ministry. And I hope to continue serving in youth ministry,” Jada said, noting that she applies her ministry to activities like vacation Bible school.

She wants to extend her youth ministry leadership experience to

her school activities.

Kimberly Ramos of the Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy and Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish said youth ministry allows her to serve all her community, and it also lets her use her creativity to serve people. “I try to apply it at school where I work hard on becoming more inclusive.”

And Kat Moates, a Polk County High School senior and member of St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish in Cleveland, said diocesan youth ministry has been instrumental in her growth as a Catholic.

“Being involved in diocesan youth ministry has opened my eyes and my heart to so many different things and so many different people, opportunities, situations. It has allowed me to grow in leadership.

Leadership to me is being empathetic and being there for everyone, and it has really allowed me to grow in that,” Kat said.

Following the Youth Mass, Dea-

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con Forsythe and deanery youth coordinators Beth Parsons (Smoky Mountain Deanery), Donna Jones (Chattanooga Deanery), Deacon Dan Hosford (Cumberland Mountain Deanery), and Deacon Jim Fage (Five Rivers Deanery), recognized several students with youth ministry awards. n Discipleship Youth Award: Our Lady of Fatima Parish—Caroline Hill and Jimmy Ellsworth; St. Michael the Archangel Parish—Natalia Hernandez; St. Patrick Parish—Narlin Navarro. n Light of the World Adult Award: Our Lady of Fatima Parish—Rick Hill and Ryan Goral; St. Michael the Archangel Parish—AnaBel Andrade St. Patrick Parish—Pamela Reed n St. Timothy Award recognizing an outstanding high school junior or senior: Our Lady of Fatima—William Carter. ■ OCTOBER 6, 2019 n A5

Honoring the past and looking ahead

Holy Spirit continued from page A4

A6 n OCTOBER 6, 2019

Left: Bishop Richard F. Stika receives the gifts during Mass at Holy Spirit Parish in Hamilton County.

The gift-bearers included founding member Ralph Rogers.

Below: Holy Spirit members younger and older look through archive photos and scrapbooks illustrating the history of the Soddy-Daisy parish.

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the Soddy-Daisy-Sale Creek area, came across a large field that was for sale.

Mrs. Rogers, among others, prayed to the Blessed Mother for her intervention in a sale of the land to build a Catholic Church.

Soon after, diocesan approval was given to purchase 46 acres between Dayton Pike and Highway 27. Money was raised, including funds from the Catholic Foundation of East Tennessee, and the land was bought. A rectory and 10 additional adjoining acres were purchased for the site.

Ground was broken for the $1.6 million, 12,000-square-foot church building on July 15, 2003, led by Bishop Joseph E. Kurtz, who decreed that the new parish’s name would be Holy Spirit.

Monsignor Humbrecht said he is appreciative, but not surprised, by the parish’s success over the past 20 years.

“It’s a great parish. There’s really a good spirit of community and welcoming. This is such a welcoming parish. And there is such a good spirit of volunteerism,” the pastor said.

Monsignor Humbrecht praised the priests of the Chattanooga Deanery for their support in helping Holy Spirit thrive after its modest beginning. Father Creson and Holy Spirit members praised Monsignor Humbrecht for his leadership of the parish, continuing its welcoming and volunteer spirit, and his commitment to teaching.

The parish has a robust Christian formation program that involves many in the parish.

“I’m very concerned with doing spiritual formation because everything else flows from that,” Monsignor Humbrecht observed.

Monsignor Humbrecht pointed to a new columbarium Holy Spirit will soon dedicate as a new way the parish is serving the Catholic community of northern Hamilton County.

“Ahead, we’re looking toward some form of a parish life center because we need more space. We cannot accommodate all the parish groups in our church basement anymore. That’s a good problem to have,” he said.

Father Creson was confident Holy Spirit would get off the ground and soar soon after Bishop Anthony J. O’Connell approached him in 1998 about starting a new parish. At the time, he was serving at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in South Pittsburg and Shepherd of the Valley Parish in Dunlap.

After receiving support from other churches, including First Presbyterian of Soddy-Daisy, St. Jude and Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Chattanooga, and Immaculate Conception in Knoxville, Holy Spirit took form.

“They were very generous to us,” Father Creson said of the surrounding faith community. “Our congregation started growing strong, but it took a big leap when we built the church.”

Father Creson served at Holy Spirit for 10½ years, from July 1999 to 2010, when Monsignor Humbrecht succeeded him.

He noted that within three years of its beginning, the parish grew from the original 49 families to more than 200.

The members retired the parish debt in under four years.

“We worked really hard at community. I used to tell people that every

mule pulls a plow. In those early days, people were so committed and had a vision. They were happy to do whatever to help. They’ve continued to be a great parish. Monsignor Al has brought so many gifts to the parish. He’s a wonderful teacher,” Father Creson said.

“I knew they would be in wonderful hands with Monsignor Al, and I believe he really enjoys it,” he added.

Monsignor Humbrecht, Father Creson, and a number of parishioners noted how Holy Spirit members gave their talents in addition to time and treasure to building the church, including the stained glass windows, tile and stone, and the carved wooden crucifix above the altar.

“Just about everything inside the church is handmade, from the crucifix to the mountain stone exterior, and the chairs. This church is very special,” Father Creson said.

Founding member Helen Barbeauld and her family were members of St. Jude, but decided to take a “try it and see” approach to changing churches.

She recalled the early days when church members gathered in homes.

Mrs. Barbeauld noted that a main attraction to Holy Spirit was the number of teens who were her children’s age who were at Holy Spirit 20 years ago.

As director of religious education, she has seen that trend continue.

And she looks forward to the future.

“I’m hoping for a parish life center and even more growth,” she said.

Kathy Landry and her husband, Ernie, are not founding members. But they are longtime members who visited Holy Spirit and decided to stay.

The Landrys relocated to the Chattanooga area from New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

While staying with relatives in Chattanooga, Mrs. Landry was offered a job at Memorial Hospital and immediately started looking for a church to attend.

After discovering Holy Spirit, the Rogerses began house-hunting.

“That’s how important the Church is to me. We had to find a church before we could find a home. When we found Holy Spirit, that was it. I was hooked,” she said. “It’s beautiful, and it’s incredibly friendly and welcoming. Maybe it was the Holy Spirit, but it felt like home. It’s like the Spirit said move, and I moved.”

Mrs. Landry’s mother and sisters still live in New Orleans, but she and

her husband don’t plan on returning there. They are settled in Hamilton County and at Holy Spirit, where she teaches CCD and serves in the choir and on the parish council.

“I love it here in Chattanooga. It’s wonderful and so is Holy Spirit.”

Margay Gebele is another member who was sold on the parish’s warmth—not once, but twice.

“Everyone is so friendly here. At the time, it was known as the friendliest parish in the deanery. I went to another parish, but I felt called to come back,” said Mrs. Gebele, who plays piano for the choir.

She was moved at how Holy Spirit and its priests support the faith community surrounding the parish. She noted how Father Creson and Monsignor Humbrecht have reached out to other churches and community groups, an extension of the parish’s friendly reputation.

“A lot of people have liked it here, and many have retired here,” Mrs. Gebele said. “We’re each other’s family.

We pray for each other.”

Founding members brought up the gifts during Mass, including Mr. Rogers, who continues to receive thanks for locating the farmland Holy Spirit sits on and making the Chattanooga Deanery aware of the available acreage.

After the land was purchased, the Rogerses donated their time and work to help build the church.

“It’s hard to believe this place has turned out as nice as it did from that farm,” said Mr. Rogers, who met with Bishop Stika following Mass. “It’s been a pleasure from the first day. There are

www.di o k no x .o rg

so many nice people that I’ve met here.”

Mr. Rogers grew up in the SoddyDaisy-Sale Creek area and served in World War II. After the war, he relocated to Michigan to work for Chevrolet.

That is where he met Joyce, who was Catholic. Eventually, she wanted to move back to Hamilton County, where she actively sought a Catholic church for Soddy-Daisy.

“You can’t believe how much she worked toward that,” Mr. Rogers said.

Not long after Father Creson met Mr. Rogers in those first days of Holy Spirit, Mr. Rogers converted to Catholicism.

“I like this parish so much because my wife and me are part of it. Since its beginning, everything has turned out good at this church,” said Mr. Rogers, who is 92. His wife died in 2002.

Mr. Rogers joked with Bishop Stika that legend has it he tore down the For Sale sign on the property to keep others from buying it before the Diocese of Knoxville could acquire it.

Bishop Stika said Holy Spirit’s picturesque location atop a rise surrounded by 57 acres in the rolling hills of northern Hamilton County is one of the most “gorgeous” church sites in the Diocese of Knoxville. He praised the Holy Spirit community for their efforts over two decades.

“Again, I want to thank all of you, especially the ones—I’m not going to call you old-timers—who are part of the foundation of this parish that allows a church in Soddy-Daisy to shine brightly in faith, in love, respect, charity, in knowledge, wisdom, in fear of the Lord, by prayer, by sacraments, and by activity. I congratulate you for these past 20 years,” Bishop Stika said. ■

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

St. Teresa provides prayerful response to gun violence with vigil Union County faith community shares emotional testimonials as Fr. Pawelk calls for a spiritual solution

By Dan McWilliams

DAN MCWILLIAMS

S

t. Teresa of Kolkata Parish in Maynardville hosted a vigil on gun violence Aug. 13, an event prompted by the recent deadly shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio.

Glenmary Father Steve Pawelk, St. Teresa pastor, said the issue of gun violence was more than just important to him or to Glenmary.

“I think it’s just important to everyone in the United States,” he said.

“We first had the incident in California; two of them were children. Then we had El Paso, where people were targeted because they were Mexican, and that was 22 [dead], including a 15-year-old boy. Then we had the Dayton shooting. It just seems, when’s enough enough?”

How does one respond to the issue, Father Pawelk asked.

“I didn’t want to respond with politics,” he said. “You can talk about mental health. You can talk about banning automatic weapons, assault weapons. You can go through all that kind of stuff, but underneath all of it is a spiritual issue.

“Why in our nation do the mentally ill respond with violence, when that’s not the case in other nations? Why in our nation are people being targeted for who they are, whether it be the shooting in the church in the Carolinas, the black church, or the Jewish synagogues or mosques? Why are we attacking people because of who they are, and so underneath all of that is a spiritual root. And the shooters, they’re part of the body of Christ, but what kind of home life produces people who resort to this violence or have these kinds of ideas?

“So my thought was rather than

She died a hero Glenmary Father Steve Pawelk, pastor of St. Teresa of Kolkata Parish in Maynardville, holds a framed picture of Park Service Ranger Margaret Anderson, who was shot and killed in the line of duty. Mrs. Anderson’s parents, Rev. Paul Kritsch and his wife, Dorothy, left, talk about their daughter’s heroism during a prayer vigil. being depressed or rather than feeling hopeless, the power is in prayer, so I’ve invited the community to come and to pray.”

More than 20 people attended the vigil.

“Whether we have a few people or many people, that’s beside the point,” Father Pawelk said. “What’s important is that we are taking action.

There’s a hashtag: #dosomething.

Well, whatever we do starts with prayer and community, and so that’s what we’re doing. We’re starting with prayer. We’re listening to stories.”

Father Pawelk said he would have his own story to relate at the vigil.

“I’ll tell the story about McKenzie Lewton, who I brought into the Church and who I buried, because she committed suicide,” he said. “She was a parishioner at St. John Paul II [Catholic Mission in Rutledge], came in [to the Church] as a 17-year-old girl. At about age 22 or 23, she shot herself.”

The St. Teresa pastor based the vigil “basically on the Liturgy of the Hours and the sense of bringing light to darkness.”

At the beginning of the vigil, Father

Pawelk said “we gather here as people of hope, and that is what we’re really about.”

Special guests for the vigil were the Rev. Paul Kritsch and his wife, Dorothy. Rev. Kritsch is pastor of Chapel of the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in the Sharps Chapel community of Union County. The Kritsches’ daughter, Margaret Anderson, was killed at Mount Rainier National Park in Washington state.

“It was New Year’s Day in the year 2012 when our lives changed,” the Vigil continued on page A8

World is ‘ignoring’ persecution of Christians, Hungary official says

By Beth Griffin Catholic News Service

C

hristians are the most persecuted religious group worldwide, but hypocrisy, political correctness, and ignorance prevent the international community from implementing a comprehensive response to pervasive violence against them, said speakers at a U.N. event Sept. 27.

The participants in a high-level panel discussion said 80 percent of people killed because of their religious beliefs are Christian, and the number of Christians hurt or displaced is on the rise.

Teodoro Lopez Locsin Jr., Philippines secretary of foreign affairs, said 4,100 Christians were killed for their beliefs in 50 countries in 2018, and an average of 250 Christians have been killed each month of 2019. He said the deaths are “a votive offering of the West to the oil-rich East.”

“The next Holocaust will be of Christians,” Locsin said, even though many of the world’s greatest powers profess to be Christian or have a Christian heritage.

“In global politics, the fact that Christians are being persecuted is being ignored,” said Peter Szijjarto, Hungary’s minister of foreign affairs and trade. He said his government is “fighting against the perception that Christianophobia would be the last acceptable form of discrimination.”

Mr. Szijjarto said it is regrettable that while Muslim leaders speak enthusiastically about the plight of their mistreated people, Christians seem to be shy about calling attention to the violence against Christians. He attributed this to religion being seen as a local issue and not a global one.

“The international community is absolutely not sensitive” to Christian persecution, and prefers to address isRosary continued from page A2

rosary is my favorite prayer” and he never tired in promoting it. His beautiful apostolic letter “On the Most Holy Rosary” should be read by all who pray the rosary, and would be a very wonderful document to reflect upon in a group study.

I would also recommend Father Michael Gaitley’s book, 33 Days to Morning Glory, and St. Louis de TH E EAST T E N N E S S E E C AT HO L I C

sues of “religious minorities,” he said.

“There is no generic religion and we can’t talk about religious freedom in a generic way,” said Ernesto Araujo, Brazil’s minister of foreign affairs.

“Some defend religious freedom as long as there is no religion involved. ...

The world accepts Christianity as long as it is a set of social values,” he said.

Speakers said the response to violence against Christians must include political resolve and concrete actions.

Mr. Szijjarto said Hungary has been a Christian country for more than 1,000 years, and he feels a responsibility for the Christian community around the world. Since 2017, it has provided $40 million to help persecuted Christians in the Middle East. He said direct aid has been given to Catholic bishops eager to help Christians stay in their homes and encourage others to return from exile elsewhere.

“The bishops ask us not to invite people to settle in Europe because that contributes to fulfilling the goal of terrorist organizations to eliminate the Christian community,” he said.

Hungarian funds have been used to rebuild 1,000 homes on the Ninevah Plain in Iraq and reconstruct 33 Christian churches in Lebanon, he said.

Four schools are now being built in Iraq and Syria, and Hungary is covering the medical expenses of the three largest Christian hospitals in Syria.

Mr. Szijjarto said more than 50,000 Christians have either returned home or been able to stay in Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, and Ethiopia because of the Hungarian aid.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, said the return of displaced Christians to the Ninevah Plain “is a sign that evil does not have the last word. It is also a powerful witness of the importance of the Christian presence in the Middle East, where

Christianity has its deepest historical roots and has been a fundamental source of peace, stability, and pluralism for centuries.” Ambassador Ghady El

Montfort’s classic, True Devotion to Mary.

In this month dedicated to the holy rosary, may we take up this most beautiful rose of the Church, which is Mary’s, and learn from her how to contemplate the face of Christ, so that we might better be the face of Christ to others. This is the spiritual weapon that is most needed for the peace we long for. ■ w ww.di o k no x .o rg

Khoury of Lebanon said Christians now comprise 5 percent of the population of the Middle East, down from almost 20 percent in the last century. ■

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OCTOBER 6, 2019 n A7

Hands to heaven Father Pawelk leads a prayer for victims of gun violence during a vigil Aug. 13 prompted by shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio. More than 20 people attended the service at St. Teresa of Kolkata Church in Maynardville.

Rev. Kritsch said. “Our daughter, Margaret, was shot and killed in the line of duty. She was a law-enforcement ranger with the National Park Service, not an interpretative ranger who tells you about bears and the flowers. She was an officer who wore a bulletproof vest, carried a sidearm that she often had to qualify to carry. Had more weapons in her patrol vehicle, in whose use she was proficient.

“She would climb down a canyon when you were injured and stay with you through the night and carry you out the next morning. . . . Would rappel off a cliff to retrieve a camera that you dropped, because nothing could be left behind.”

Mrs. Kritsch pointed out that “so often after a tragedy, whether it is a mass shooting or an individual killing, you hear about the shooter, whether he acted individually, what was his mental status, why did he do it, did he leave a manifesto, where did he get the guns, was he a person of interest to the police? However, you rarely hear about the individual or individuals who were killed, so I would like to tell you about our daughter. . . .

“Margaret was a friend to all. She could find good in everyone. When she called home, you felt better at the end of the conversation.”

After a long career with the Park Service, “at Mount Rainier, Margaret was in charge of search and rescue and emergency services,” Mrs. Kritsch said.

“When she was killed, Margaret was 34 years old. She left behind a husband of seven years and two daughters. One was 3 and the other one was 1. Her name is engraved on the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. It’s also engraved at the Washington State Memorial Wall.”

DAN MCWILLIAMS

Vigil continued from page A7

“Margaret put herself between the people whom she had vowed to protect and the evil that was coming up the mountain trying to wipe them out. Though we had to say goodbye to Margaret here on Earth, we are certain that we will have a glorious reunion with her in heaven. She is a child of Our Lord, and we are so thankful for our savior, Jesus, and for Him providing Margaret to serve as a law-enforcement officer to protect others, even at the cost of her own life.”

— Rev. Paul Kritsch

On the day she was killed, Mrs. Anderson was in the Mount Rainier skiing destination of Paradise. She received a report that a car had blown through a checkpoint and was barreling up the mountain. She set her vehicle across the road and blocked the killer’s path, at which time the heavily armed man in the car shot and killed her.

“She is credited with saving the lives of over 120 people at Paradise, and

also with disorienting the shooter so much that his plans to proceed up the mountain and perform a mass shooting and then kill himself could not happen,” the Rev. Kritsch said.

The Lutheran pastor spoke at his daughter’s funeral.

“There I said as I say to you today: Margaret put herself between the people whom she had vowed to protect and the evil that was coming up the mountain trying to wipe them out,” he

said.

“Though we have had to say goodbye to Margaret here on Earth, we are certain that we will have a glorious reunion with her in heaven. She is a child of Our Lord, and we are so thankful for our savior, Jesus, and for Him providing Margaret to serve as a law-enforcement officer to protect others, even at the cost of her own life.”

At the St. Teresa vigil, candles were lighted for each victim of the El Paso and Dayton shootings. Sue Stone lighted the candles for the El Paso victims, and Nhi Jablonski did so for the Dayton victims. Barbara Quattro read aloud the names of the El Paso victims, and Clifford Jablonski read the names of the Dayton victims.

Father Pawelk also prayed for a California Highway Patrol officer who was killed in the line of duty the day before the vigil. ■

Pope Francis: Christians have ‘moral duty’ to help migrants, refugees

By Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service

C

hristians have a moral obligation to show God’s care for all those who are marginalized, especially migrants and refugees, Pope Francis said.

“This loving care for the less privileged is presented as a characteristic trait of the God of Israel and is likewise required, as a moral duty, of all those who would belong to his people,” the pope said in his homily Sept. 29 during an outdoor Mass for the 105th World Day of Migrants and Refugees.

Some 40,000 men, women, and children packed St. Peter’s Square as the sounds of upbeat hymns filled the air. According to the Vatican, the members of the choir singing at the Mass hailed from Romania, Congo, Mexico, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, India, Peru, and Italy.

The choir wasn’t the only aspect of the liturgy that celebrated migrants and refugees. According to the Vatican Section for Migrants and Refugees, the incense used at the Mass came from the Bokolmanyo refugee camp in southern Ethiopia, where refugees are restarting the 600-yearold tradition of collecting high-quality incense.

After the Mass, Pope Francis unveiled a large bronze statue, “Angels Unawares,” in St. Peter’s Square.

Designed and sculpted by Canadian artist Timothy Schmalz, the sculpture depicts a group of migrants and refugees on a boat. Within the group, a pair of angel wings can be seen, which suggests “that within the migrant and refugee is the sacred,” the artist’s website said.

Cardinal-designate Michael Czerny, a fellow Canadian and co-head of the Migrants and Refugees Section, had a very personal connection to the sculpture. His parents, who immigrated to Canada from Czechoslovakia, are depicted among the people on the boat.

“It’s really amazing,” the cardinal told Catholic News Service, adding that when his brother and sister-inlaw arrived in Rome to see him become a cardinal Oct. 5, they planned to pose for many photos in front of the artwork.

Before praying the Angelus prayer at the end of Mass, the pope said A8 n OCTOBER 6, 2019

This loving care for the less privileged is presented as a characteristic trait of the God of Israel and is likewise required, as a moral duty, of all those who would belong to His people. ... The Lord calls us to practice charity toward them. He calls us to restore their humanity, as well as our own, and to leave no one behind.

— Pope Francis

part of “building a more just world” where all people have access to the “goods of the earth,” and where “fundamental rights and dignity are guaranteed to all.”

“Loving our neighbor means feel-

he wanted the statue in St. Peter’s Square “to remind everyone of the evangelical challenge to welcome.”

The 20-foot tall sculpture is inspired by Hebrews 13:2, which in the King James translation says, “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” The sculpture will be displayed in St. Peter’s Square for an undetermined time while a smaller replica will be permanently displayed in the Rome Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls.

In his homily, the pope began by reflecting on the world day’s theme — “It’s not just about migrants” — and emphasized that God calls on Christians to care for all “victims of the throwaway culture.”

“The Lord calls us to practice charity toward them. He calls us to restore their humanity, as well as our own, and to leave no one behind,” he said.

However, he continued, caring for migrants and refugees is also an invitation to reflect on the injustices that occur in the world where those “who pay the price are always the little ones, the poor, the most vulnerable.”

“Wars only affect some regions of the world, yet weapons of war are produced and sold in other regions, which are then unwilling to take in the refugees generated by these conflicts,” he said.

Recalling the Sunday Gospel reading in which Jesus tells the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, the pope said that men and women today also can be tempted to turn a blind eye “to our brothers and sisters in difficulty.”

As Christians, he said, “we cannot be indifferent to the tragedy of old and new forms of poverty, to the bleak isolation, contempt, and discrimination experienced by those who do not belong to ‘our’ group.”

Pope Francis said the commandment to love God and neighbor is www.di o k no x .o rg

ing compassion for the sufferings of our brothers and sisters, drawing close to them, touching their sores and sharing their stories, and thus manifesting concretely God’s tender love for them,” the pope said. ■

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CUBA with Fr. Michael Nolan February 10-18, 2020

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

A Knights of Columbus homecoming Immaculate Conception Parish welcomes back Michael McCusker, new state deputy for the Knights

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

BILL BREWER (3)

T

here was a homecoming on July 26 for Michael McCusker.

As the new state deputy of the Tennessee Knights of Columbus took his place at the lectern inside Immaculate Conception Church, he surveyed the historic nave and recalled members who have died who were IC pillars or made an impression on his Christian formation, including his parents. He remembered where they sat each Sunday and how they interacted with his family, which joined IC in 1979.

It was a jog down memory lane that he shared with his Knights of Columbus family in attendance for the installation of new district deputies for East Tennessee, one of Mr. McCusker’s first acts as state deputy.

Immaculate Conception was a central part of Mr. McCusker’s Catholic upbringing, the backdrop for learning life’s lessons and how catechism influenced those lessons. That formation would lead him into the Knights of Columbus and accompany him as a husband, father, and assistant district attorney with the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office.

And just as Father Jim Haley, CSP, pastored Immaculate Conception during Mr. McCusker’s formative years growing up, the Paulist father and Knights Council 645 chaplain celebrated the Silver Rose and District Deputy Installation Mass, during which he welcomed Mr. McCusker back to IC as the new leader of the Tennessee Knights of Columbus.

Father John Orr, pastor of St. Mary Parish in Athens and former state chaplain for the Knights of Columbus, and Father Bart Okere, pastor of St. Henry Parish in Rogersville and St. James the Apostle Parish in Sneedville and current associate state chaplain, concelebrated the Mass. Deacon Doug Bitzer assisted.

“In a special way, we welcome home Michael McCusker. Michael grew up here at Immaculate Conception, and he first became a Knight in Council 645 here at IC. Welcome home, Mike,” Father Haley said.

“Seventeen years after the [build-

Welcome home Michael McCusker, newly installed state deputy of the Knights of Columbus, speaks during Mass on July 26 at Immaculate Conception Church, where he attended as a youth and young adult.

Family ties Left: The McCusker family hand the gifts to Father Jim Haley during a Mass to recognize Knights of Columbus leaders.

Below: East Tennessee Knights of Columbus leaders are recognized as they begin a new year of service to the Church and East Tennessee communities. ing] of Immaculate Conception [Church], and 20 years after Father Michael McGivney began the first council of the Knights of Columbus in New Haven, Conn., a group of 56 Catholic laymen, members of Immaculate Conception Parish, wishing to further express and give witness to their Catholic belief and practice, banded together to form a local council of the Knights of Columbus,” Father Haley continued.

“It was on Feb. 9, 1902, under the leadership of Grand Knight Edward O’Hearn, that 56 men were granted the charter for Council 645 of the Knights of Columbus. I am happy to

w ww.di o k no x .o rg

By Bill Brewer

say after 117 years, Council 645 continues to this day, now under the leadership of Grand Knight Troy Cantrell.”

Father Haley wondered aloud what the thoughts, hopes, and dreams of those 56 men were as they started the 645th Knights council following the first one at the Church of St. Mary in New Haven in 1882 begun by Father McGivney.

“They wanted to give expression to their Catholic life through the fourfold pillars of the Knights: charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism. These four basics can, I believe, be boiled down to three words: faith in action.

As Christians, we are followers of Christ, which means we are to have Christ as the center of our personal lives. Yet it does not rest there, but this faith must manifest itself in a life of service toward others.

“It is the basic Catholic belief that it is not just ‘me’ and God, but true Catholicity is expressed in ‘us’ and God. Thus the need for community, and we come together in order to support and strengthen one another.

A brother Knight is always united with brother Knights in a fraternal community. Yet the Knights of Columbus is not just, or merely, a fraternal organization.

“We are not just another social group, or community group, or support group. We are not a social club.

We are a group of Catholic men who bind together in unity and fraternity to express our own personal belief in Jesus Christ, and proclaim that belief by the way we share not only among ourselves but also by opening ourselves to the broader community.

The Knights exist so that together we might first of all strengthen our own faith, and then bring that faith to fruition in service of others,” Father Haley said.

Citing St. Paul in 2 Corinthians, Father Haley quoted “I believe, therefore I spoke” and then told the Knights attending the Mass that personal belief is hollow unless it is expressed in service. “James, in his letter, states, ‘faith without works is Homecoming continued on page A11

OCTOBER 6, 2019 n A9

summer Spanish language program from the Diocese of Knoxville.

He brings a deeper understanding of the language because he spent a semester in Madrid, Spain, while in college and he has spent time there since.

He still found the SEPI program invaluable.

“For the most part, I can understand spoken Mr. Austin Spanish as long as I know the context. And I can read fairly well. Speaking is a bit more challenging, so the best thing about this summer was getting opportunities to practice,” Mr. Willey said, adding that he found the instruction in Hispanic culture equally valuable.

He also understands how important Spanish as a priest’s second language is to his ministry.

Mr. Crabtree can attest to the adage “use it or lose it.”

The seminarian learned some Spanish in high school and college, but because he didn’t use the language regularly, he forgot much of it.

“Luckily a small amount of the grammatical basics stuck around. I would say that at this point I’m far from fluent, but I have a great structure to continue study and I have grown to really enjoy the language,” Mr. Crabtree said.

He credited the classes at SEPI with giving him “a foundational grasp” of the language.

“And the atmosphere helped, especially in my listening and comprehension skills. More than just the language however, SEPI has opened my mind more to the understanding of Hispanic/Latino culture. I gained a great love for the culture and the people, which has helped me embrace the ideas of Encuentro,” said Mr.

Seminarians continued from page A4

Gospel to those in our Hispanic community, the end of all those efforts and the humbling nature and patience required is worth it,” he said.

He believes being able to speak Spanish well is necessary now for priests ministering to the growing U.S. Hispanic community.

Mr. Bauman “To be a spiritual father with them and enter their culture, to rejoice with them, and mourn with them more fully is a blessing and provides us tremendous benefits as priests,” Mr. Bauman said.

Mr. Austin is one of the seminarians who now lunches at the St. Meinrad Spanish table. He welcomes new members and recommends the SEPI Spanish language program to any seminarian. Before traveling to Miami last summer, he had not taken any Spanish lessons since high school.

“Needless to say, my Spanish had fallen out of memory to a great extent.

However, after having gone through the summer program, I was beyond what I had learned through taking Spanish at any other point in my life,” Mr. Austin said. “This program does a good job of helping you to retain what you learn, while making the learning progress a smooth one.”

He noted that beyond just learning the language, the SEPI program also introduced seminarians to the Hispanic culture and taught them about the growing presence of the Hispanic population in the Church.

“Given how much I learned over such a short period of time, I feel that it was a great experience,” he said.

Michael Willey is in seminary at Kenrick School of Theology in St. Louis and also attended the SEPI

Crabtree, who is determined to not repeat the “use it or lose it” lesson from his early Spanish instruction.

“I plan on continuing my study of Spanish and try to do so every day in little conversations with my brother seminarians and from an app on my phone that keeps me studying. I don’t want to Mr. Willey make the same mistake I did after my college courses,” he said.

“In the Diocese of Knoxville there seems to be a continual increase in the number of Spanish-speaking parishioners. I know that in the parish being able to communicate with the people in their native language is crucial. In fact, one thing SEPI taught me is how much the language communicates culture. Being able to understand more than just the words of the people is uncompromisingly important, to understand the way of thinking will help me minister more effectively and much more lovingly,” he continued.

Mr. Crabtree would “highly recommend” the SEPI program for future seminarians, especially as a primer for the Spanish language, but more importantly to encounter the Hispanic culture and people in a way that is not completely foreign.

Bilingual priests are nothing new to the Catholic Church. In fact, canon law states that the program of priestly formation is to provide that students not only are carefully taught their native language, but that they also understand Latin “and have a suitable understanding of those foreign languages which seem necessary or useful for their formation or for the exercise of pastoral ministry.”

And dioceses across the country

A10 n OCTOBER 6, 2019

DAN MCWILLIAMS (2)

Seftons continued from page A1

Christopher Floersh. St. John Neumann pastor Father Joe Reed served as master of ceremonies. Deacons Al Forsythe and Sean Smith assisted.

“We do love the Church, absolutely,” Mrs. Sefton said, a comment also echoed by Mr. Sefton: “We’re very committed to the Church.”

The Seftons grew up in England and began life in a different faith tradition.

“We were both brought up in the Church of England’s primary school, a little school in England,” Mr. Sefton said. “Sally’s three years younger than me, so we went there at different times. It was a great introduction to our Lord, but then we really found what the Catholic faith meant to us.”

The couple joined the Catholic Church after coming to East Tennessee.

“We have been coming to St. John Neumann for about 15 years, even before we were Catholic,” Mr. Sefton said. “When Father [John] Dowling was there, he stayed in our garage apartment for two and a half years while we built this church, because we’d sold the rectory. We got to know Father Dowling very well, so you could probably—I won’t say blame him—for us being Catholic, but he certainly had an effect on us,” he added with a laugh. “He is a great one. I speak to him at least twice a week, even now. He’s a great part of our life.”

The Seftons said they were surprised to be the first in the diocese to receive the Order of St. Gregory the Great honor.

“It’s all a bit of a shock, really, so I don’t really know [how to react],” Mrs. Sefton said. “Haven’t had time to take it in. Obviously this is a huge honor, and we both feel very humbled to have been chosen to be Knight Commander and Dame Commander of the Order of St. Gregory the Great. . . . Neither of us had ever considered that we would have been selected to receive this incredibly amazing papal award.”

Mr. Sefton said he “was absolutely amazed” to be the first in the diocese to be awarded the honor.

“I thought initially, why me? Why us? But obviously the bishop chose us for what we’ve done and what we try to do,” he said.

He said he never thought about re-

‘We do love the Church’ Bishop Stika places the Order of St. Gregory the Great medal on Sally Sefton during Mass at St. John Neumann Church on Sept.

14. Mrs. Sefton and her husband, Alan, received the award from the Vatican.

Knight and Dame Commanders Alan and Sally Sefton are members of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, the oldest order of Knighthood under the Holy See’s protection. ceiving such an honor simply by being a member of the Church.

“I mean, I think a lot of people could do more than us, but obviously the bishop acknowledged what we do do, and we’re very proud of that,” Mr. Sefton said.

Bishop Stika spoke of the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross in his homily.

“It’s kind of a weird thing, huh? We celebrate a weapon of capital punishment,” he said. “Jesus was convicted, and the most torturous way for a person to die, they say, is crucifixion.

“We all have our crosses to bear, right?” the bishop said, upon which microphone feedback occurred, and he ad-libbed: “Like that. I know Lord,

[the homily] is going to be short.”

Some people “like to show off their crosses,” Bishop Stika said. “‘I am having such a horrible day, and not only do I want to be miserable, I want you to be miserable with me.’ Sometimes it’s a good thing to share the pains of life or the disappointments, but I think most of us bear our crosses silently,” he said.

The bishop spoke of the Church’s operation of hospitals and schools, of St. John Neumann’s St. Vincent de Paul Society, and of the Knights of Columbus and the Ladies of Charity.

“These are ways that the Church reaches out, but it’s the Church as the people of God. It’s not the institu-

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are facing increasing demands for Spanish-speaking priests.

“I think knowing Spanish will help me to be a better priest. It’s no secret that there is a need for priests in our diocese who are able to minister to Spanish-speaking Catholics, and the better my command of Spanish, the Mr. Crabtree better I’ll be able to do that. The U.S. Church is becoming more Hispanic every year, and so it seems to me to almost be a pastoral obligation to possess the cultural competencies and language skills that are necessary to serve an increasingly Hispanic Church,” Mr. Willey said.

While the Hispanic population is growing within the Diocese of Knoxville as well as in many other U.S. dioceses, Mr. Austin believes statistics belie the reason for learning Spanish.

“Regardless of how large the population of Hispanics is, they are present here in the dioceses in the U.S. That is enough to make learning a functional level of Spanish a worthwhile venture. Most younger Hispanics learn English fairly quickly, but this is not the case with their parents. It is particularly important to be able to communicate effectively with these older individuals who do not have a solid grasp of the English language,” he said.

Mr. Austin points out that understanding Spanish is critical for priests as they catechize a significant part of their congregations ranging in all ages.

“Catechesis starts in the home, and so the Church would be doing the right thing in making sure all its members can understand the message being given, both for the sake of the adults as well as the youth,” he said. ■ tion,” he said. “It’s the people of God who have picked up the cross and acknowledged Jesus as the Son of God, the Savior. The one who would challenge us to turn the other cheek, not to walk by our neighbor who is suffering and in pain, not to proclaim ourselves as the center of the universe, but to know there’s a greater purpose and what it means to be a human.”

The Equestrian Order is the oldest order of Knighthood under the protection of the Holy See, dating back to the end of the 11th century. The order was originally given the honor of guarding the Tomb of Christ.

“Their life [today] is dedicated to taking care of an area of the world where Christianity I think is less than 1 percent now, to take care of the shrines, where Jesus was baptized, where he died, where he healed and visited. It’s a wonderful group,” Bishop Stika said. “So I want to thank the Ladies and Knights of the Holy Sepulchre. I belong to that group. So does the cardinal. This is one of their twice-yearly celebrations. The other feast is Our Lady of Palestine. It’s a wonderful organization, to make sure that there’s a Christian Catholic presence in the Middle East.”

The bishop then introduced the presentation of the St. Gregory crosses to the Seftons.

“Tonight there are two people who are in the church, members of your parish, who have been knighted by the Holy See, by the Vatican, by the pope himself: Alan and Sally Sefton,” Bishop Stika said. “Alan is now a Knight Commander of St. Gregory, the highest award the Church can give unless you’re a king or head of state.

His wife, Sally, is a Dame Commander.

They’ve been designated by the Holy Father to receive this. They’ve been a great blessing to the work of the diocese, so I nominated them, and the pope accepted.”

The bishop concluded by speaking of the future Cardinal Rigali’s ordination as a bishop by Pope John Paul II on Sept. 14, 1985.

“A man named Monsignor Justin Rigali stood before St. John Paul, and he had the very distinct honor of being the only one to be ordained a bishop [that day]. . . . I just want to wish him a very happy 34th anniversary,” Bishop Stika said, after which a round of applause followed. ■ TH E EA S T TEN N ES S EE C ATH OLI C

Church mourns the death of Cardinal Levada Former head of Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith also served as archbishop of San Francisco, Portland

By Catholic News Service

.S. Cardinal William J. Levada, former head of the Vatican’s doctrinal congregation and retired archbishop of San Francisco and Portland, Ore., died Sept. 26 in Rome.

He was 83.

When Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was elected Pope Benedict XVI in 2005, he named thenArchbishop Levada to replace him as head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican agency charged with protecting and promoting the church’s teachings on faith and morals. It was the first time a U.S. prelate had headed the congregation, and Cardinal Levada served in that position until 2012.

Before his Vatican appointment, he had served as archbishop of San Francisco since 1995; archbishop of Portland, Oregon, 1986-95; and an auxiliary bishop of Los Angeles, 1983-86.

For decades, he was a frequent collaborator with the Vatican and with the future Pope Benedict. He was a doctrinal congregation staff member from 1976 to 1982 and was a bishop-member of the congregation beginning in 2000. In the 1980s, he worked with then-Cardinal Ratzinger as one of a small group of bishops appointed to write the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Cardinal Levada was a key figure in the church’s efforts to eliminate priestly sexual abuse. He headed the Vatican agency that oversaw the handling of priestly sexual abuse cases; in 2002, he was a member of the U.S.-Vatican commission that made final revisions to the sex abuse norms in the United States, which laid out a strict policy on priestly sex abuse and provided for removal from ministry or laicization of priests.

In an interview with the Irish Catholic in 2013, Cardinal Levada said: “If you are working for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, it helps to have a pretty thick skin so that you aren’t overly sensitive if you are criticized.”

However, he also said that the congregation should not be above criticism.

In a 2006 decision approved by Pope Benedict, Cardinal Levada ruled that 86-year-old Father Marcial Maciel Degollado, founder of the Legionaries of Christ, should not exercise his priestly ministry publicly. Father Degollado was accused of sexually abusing minors, but the Vatican said it would not begin a canonical process against him because of his advanced age and

Cardinal continued on page A13

STEPHANIE RICHER

U

Cardinals in conversation Above: Cardinal William Levada, second from right, speaks during “A Conversation with the Cardinals” in March 2018. With him are, from left, Bishop Richard F. Stika, Cardinal Justin Rigali, Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, and Archbishop Christophe Pierre. Below: Cardinal Levada and Deacon Sean Smith process into Mass at Sacred Heart Cathedral in April 2015.

“Upon the death of William Cardinal Levada, please join me in a prayer of gratitude for a shepherd’s life. His ministry was one of expanding service to those around him. Cardinal Levada’s intellect and pastoral sense called him from parish priest to archbishop to prefect for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

He was a friend and brother. Eternal rest grant unto him.” — Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo President, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

poor health.

In 2009, Cardinal Levada ordered a doctrinal assessment of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, a Maryland-based umbrella

group that claims about 1,500 leaders of U.S. women’s communities as members. Three years later, he appointed then-Archbishop J. Peter Sartain of Seattle to provide “review, guidance, and approval, where necessary, of the work” of the LCWR. The appointment came the same day the congregation released an eight-page “doctrinal assessment” of the LCWR, citing “serious doctri-

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

BILL BREWER

Homecoming continued from page A9

dead.’”

“We are both individually and as a council invited to hear the call of Christ in our lives and respond to that call by our service. … Like Samuel, God is persistent in calling our name.

We respond to this call by our faith and by putting that faith in action.

It is our individual faith that must be the basis of all that we do. It is our own deep personal faith in Jesus Christ that carries us and motivates us throughout our lives,” Father Haley said. “… We are not in it for ourselves.

Who we are as individuals and as councils is not an end in itself. We are called to mirror God’s presence within us by our outreach to others,” he continued, reminding the Knights that James and John wanted to be the center of attention, but Jesus responded by saying to be a follower means sacrifice and a life of service. “To be the greatest we must excel in humble service. ‘I have come not to be served, but to serve.’”

Mr. McCusker echoed Father Haley’s point that the Knights of Columbus must continue to emphasize its ministry of service to the Church and those most vulnerable.

He noted that in recent years the Knights in many areas of the country let a reputation as a social organization eclipse its mission. That trend is reversing, he said assuredly.

“One of the things Tracy Staller (immediate past state deputy) did was to ask us to re-examine our why.

Why are we Knights of Columbus?

Why are we drawn to give up our time to serve in councils, to serve as district deputies, to serve as state officers? The why always has to be Jesus Christ,” Mr. McCusker said.

He quoted Knights of Columbus Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson, who asked, “if not the Knights of Columbus, who?”

“Who is better organized, better structured to defend our Church, especially at a time like now when we are under attack? Who is going to be there to defend our priests? Who is going to be there to help guide our children into adulthood in their Catholicism because one of the biggest

Motivational speaker Knights of Columbus State Deputy Michael McCusker addresses brother Knights at a regional meeting July 27 at Sacred Heart Cathedral. statistics you’ll see is that between ages 18 and 24 we are losing so many of our children from the Church,” Mr. McCusker said.

“The Knights of Columbus are an excellent example of faith in action, of supporting our churches, of supporting the widows of deceased brothers, of supporting the people who are on the fringes of our society, of supporting people with disabilities, our Tootsie Roll drives, our M.R. Foundation, supporting our schools and ensuring that Catholic education stays strong, by building our domestic Church, and taking an active role in helping our priests who fulfill their vocations.

There are so many aspects of the Knights of Columbus,” he added.

The Knights intend to be a continuing spiritual force for good within the Catholic Church, according to Mr. McCusker.

“For Tracy, when he helped us reidentify that we are called first to be priests, prophets, and kings in the catechism of the Church and to embrace Jesus Christ and seek His guidance for our vocations as Knights, we’ve started to see success beyond compare in the last year and a half. We want to build on that,” he said.

Now that Mr. Staller has asked the Knights of Columbus why, Mr. McCusker wants his mission as state deputy to ask a new question.

“Now that we’ve answered why, we

need to ask what’s our how. How do we continue to serve the Church?” he asked.

Mr. McCusker believes it will be up to all Knights across the state to help answer that question. “We have to go back to our theme: to serve and to love. To follow the example of Christ.”

He said it is as important for the Knights of Columbus leadership to follow that theme as it is for the membership.

“It is easy when you get into positions of leadership to focus on who is in what role and who wants to be a state officer, who wants to be a district deputy, or who is the state deputy now and who is coming up to be state deputy. Those things don’t matter. It’s like the sons of Zebedee. Who will be at the left and who will be at the right? None of that matters. Each of us as Knights of Columbus needs to be willing to get down on our knees, to take the water, and to wash the feet of our brothers and sisters. We are called to serve and give everything that we have.

“If you look at these men and you look at our council, for whatever reason when we ask God what is it you want us to do, with this group He says, ‘I need you to be Knights of Columbus.’ And that is our vocation. Our vocation is not about position, it’s not about membership. It’s about this is what God has called us to do, to love

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and to serve. And to give everything we have to His Church. This is how we’re trying to do it.”

Mr. McCusker said the Knights of Columbus must recruit younger Catholic men, noting that the average age in many councils is over 60. But he noted that the organization is making strides in attracting more youthful members.

He pointed out that the key to growing membership is also the key to growing the Church, first making sure younger generations remain in the Church. He said that begins with families, and his is no different.

He and his wife, Theresa, also an assistant district attorney in the Hamilton County DA’s office, are raising their three children to be strong in their Catholic faith, and they pray their children will follow that path throughout adulthood.

Mr. McCusker, recalling his childhood, said it was his mother, Catherine, who made sure he and his siblings attended Mass regularly and that his father rarely went to church.

However, that changed when the family moved south to Seymour from Philadelphia. And when Catherine McCusker died in 1982 at the age of 40 from breast cancer, his father, Jack, made sure the children regularly accompanied him to Mass. He said his father also joined the Immaculate Conception choir and became a district deputy in the Knights of Columbus.

The McCusker children are Madeleine, 17, Joseph, 15, and Meredith, 12.

“Because we lost our mother so young, God gave us the gift of our father into our late 40s. He became the foundation of our Catholicism. I think all young people need to look at their parents and see them engaged in the Catholic faith. By seeing that, we build our foundation. At some point, though, you have to let them leave.

My wife says the foundation is there, and they have the toolbox with them,” Mr. McCusker said.

He wants the Knights to help ensure all Catholic families have a solid foundation and their children are equipped with a good toolbox by helping priests fulfill their vocations. ■ OCTOBER 6, 2019 n A11

BILL BREWER (2)

Teaching moments Bishop Richard F. Stika, left, celebrates Mass for teachers of Diocese of Knoxville schools, who took part in in-service training at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish Hall on Sept. 27. Teachers and parents heard from Thomas Kersting, right, on how to reconnect to our digitally distracted kids. Mr. Kersting explained how electronic devices and children’s fascination with them may be hurting our children.

A12 n OCTOBER 6, 2019

COURTESY OF PAUL SIMONEAU

40 Days continued from page A1

ing the prayerful response everyone can give to one of the most crucial life-and-death issues facing every community.

“This is not only important for the diocese, it’s important for all churches in the Knoxville community. If you look at the founder of Planned Parenthood (Margaret Sanger), what she stated in the beginning was to eliminate people of color, eliminate the poor. Talk about being racist from the very beginning. There’s a Margaret Sanger award Planned Parenthood gives every year,” Bishop Stika said. “They place their clinics in poor neighborhoods and near colleges.

Their message basically carries on from their founder.”

More than 400 people from 15 Diocese of Knoxville parishes, four Knights of Columbus councils, and six Protestant churches are volunteering to stand vigil during the 40 days, which began Sept. 25 and concludes Nov. 3, according to Paul Simoneau, who is organizing the effort with Lisa Morris.

Mr. Simoneau said this is the eighth year the diocese has sponsored a 40 Days for Life vigil, and he believes the prayer campaign and other diocesan pro-life efforts are making a difference.

“We have eight years of experience. All of our parishes are familiar with it, and we have a great group of parishioners who take part. They’re very enthusiastic, very committed, and desiring to provide a loving and prayerful witness in front of Planned Parenthood,” Mr. Simoneau said.

After a two-year absence, 40 Days for Life has returned to the diocese.

The community-based campaign takes a determined, peaceful approach to showing local communities the consequences of abortion.

“It puts into action a desire to cooperate with God in the carrying out of His plan for the end of abortion. It draws attention to the evil of abortion through the use of a threepoint program: prayer and fasting, constant vigil, and community outreach,” the organization states.

Mr. Simoneau, who is the Diocese of Knoxville’s vice chancellor and director of the Office of Justice and Peace, said a decision was made to return Knoxville’s 40 Days for Life to a fall campaign that aligns with Respect Life Month in October after it had served as a Lenten ministry for several years.

Mr. Simoneau explained that the local 40 Days outreach took a hiatus following the 2017 Lenten campaign when diocesan efforts shifted to the dedication of the new Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in March 2018. He noted that inclement winter weather in the Lenten campaign that affected scheduling of individuals and groups to stand outside in prayerful vigil also was a factor in shifting to a fall campaign.

And there was another factor.

“Everybody has been reinvigorated by Abby Johnson’s story in the movie Unplanned,” Mr. Simoneau said.

Unplanned, based on the book Unplanned: The Dramatic True Story of a Former Planned Parenthood Leader’s Eye-Opening Journey across the Life Line by Ms. Johnson, was a detailed look inside Planned Parenthood by a former insider whose conversion to a pro-life advocate was brought on by 40 Days for Life.

In April, Ms. Johnson brought her dramatic story to St. Mary Church in

Choosing life Rev. Cecil Clark of True Vine Baptist Church is joined by Shirley Moore and Millie Crowley during the 40 Days for Life prayer vigil.

Athens, where she was greeted by a sold-out crowd of supporters from many faiths.

Another difference is that Mr. Simoneau and Mrs. Morris decided to scale back the logistics of set-up and tear-down of large pro-life signs used in the past and instead emphasize a more prayerful approach.

“Our emphasis is on prayerful gathering, praying for women who are in crisis pregnancies to have a change of heart and for clinic workers also,” Mr. Simoneau said. “It’s important for any woman in a crisis pregnancy to see that there are people who care about her and her baby and are not there to condemn, but to offer an alternative that is life-affirming.”

The corner of Cherry Street and Washington Avenue has become a focal point for many faith communities who are defending life. Women and men from all faiths make prayerful vigils on the sidewalks in front of the Planned Parenthood facility year-round.

Rev. Cecil Clark is a regular.

His church is across Cherry Street from the Planned Parenthood clinic, and he and his congregation give witness daily to the need for a prolife presence in their community.

“To me, this vigil is very important. It’s good to see the diocese back with 40 Days. It gives you great support. Those numbers do mean something, and so do the signs,” Rev. Clark said.

He said many women who go to Planned Parenthood are under immense pressure from husbands and boyfriends to abort their babies.

“We don’t know the reason why these women are coming, but we can show them a different way to treat them better, we can love them better, we can witness to them and let them know that is not a glob of tissue. It is a human being. It is the same way Jesus came to us. That can really be inspiring. Jesus came the same way.

We don’t come here to condemn, but to help them have a commitment to life,” Rev. Clark said.

Rev. Clark has spent many days through the years standing vigil, praying for an end to abortion and the closing of the abortion clinic, which is one of two in Knoxville. The other is adjacent to the University of Tennessee campus. A third abortion clinic on Concord Street closed in 2012.

Doing nothing is not an option for him and should not be an option for any pro-life supporter, the pastor said.

“I think silence in the face of evil is

evil itself. If you have just one person who will stand for life, it will make a difference,” he said.

Mrs. Morris agrees, and she sees the differences already being made.

“There are many stories of people who changed their minds. One such story comes to mind of a couple who brought their baby to the sidewalk during a 40 Days for Life when we were on Concord Street. Two years earlier, the couple had gone in for an appointment to have an abortion.

They said they saw the people praying, changed their minds, and came with their baby to show us and to thank us for being there that year,” Mrs. Morris said.

“It was such a blessing and truly the grace of God through the power of prayer. People go in for an abortion out of fear and thinking it is their only answer. We are not there to judge but to love them and help them to see there is another way, a way that leads to freedom and joy, and that is to choose life. For those who have made that tragic and heartbreaking choice of abortion, 40 Days for Life is there to help them see God’s mercy and love for them and that there is hope and healing after abortion,” she added.

Mrs. Morris said the diocese is bringing back the 40 Days for Life campaign because everyone realizes it makes a difference “one heart, one life at a time.”

“Seeds are planted by the presence and the prayers of the people who come out in all sorts of weather and challenges, and even though they may not know it, the people going into Planned Parenthood, the workers there, and those who pass by, are changed by the witness and prayers of the people,” said Mrs. Morris, who is president of the Sacred Heart Apostolate, a global movement for promoting the Enthronement of the Sacred Heart of Jesus as a way to renew communities.

Mrs. Morris believes 40 Days of Life volunteers are uplifted by participating, having the peace and assurance that they are doing what God is asking of them, to be present and to do His will to save lives, change hearts, and to show the world the beauty, value, and dignity of every human life. She also believes the campaign is prompting a spiritual reawakening for a world that has lost its way in thinking abortion is an answer.

“It is a peaceful, prayerful, powerful witness of compassion for all involved in the heartbreak of abortion,” she said.

Among the volunteers are Henry

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Usey and Orville Fisher of All Saints Parish and Knights of Columbus Council 15706, who agree that 40 Days for Life is a good way to support life.

“I’ve been a member of the Knights of Columbus for 37 years. The position of the Knights of Columbus and any Catholic is to stand against abortion. We call it a sin against God and man, and we need to take a stand to stop it,” Mr. Usey said.

Mr. Fisher, who is the Knights of Columbus respect life coordinator for the diocese, said he is grateful the diocese is behind regular prayer vigils for the unborn and an end to abortion.

Eddie Booth has been fighting abortion since 1973, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that abortion is a protected right for women by the Constitution. Since that time, it is estimated that more than 60 million babies have been aborted.

Mrs. Booth, a parishioner at Christ the King Parish in Tazewell, participated in the 40 Days for Life on the first day.

“I believe the visible presence here of us praying in love can make a difference. I’ve watched the movie Unplanned, and that shows the difference we can make. And just look at the number of abortion clinics that have closed and the babies that have been saved,” Mrs. Booth said. “They thought we would give up, but we haven’t.”

Paul Carter of Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Alcoa recalls when 40 Days for Life vigils were held outside the abortion clinic on Concord Street in Knoxville. He believes that clinic and its 2012 closure illustrate the need to respect life from conception to natural death, the power of prayer, and the impact people who pray for an end to abortion can have.

The effects of 40 Days for Life through the years, and especially since Unplanned emphasized the power of vigil prayer and love, can’t help but prod a person to “get out there and pray,” said Debbie Donahoo, who prayed with her husband, Duane, outside the Planned Parenthood clinic.

“As I hold a sign and pray in front of the Planned Parenthood business, I reflect on those women and men who are troubled by a pregnancy and about to make a life-changing decision for themselves and especially for the human life growing inside the mother. God is so good. If only they would reflect on that for themselves and their child. So, I pray, wonder, hope, and simply witness for life,” said Mrs. Donahoo, who feels sure the prayer vigils make a difference.

She points out that in locations where 40 Days for Life vigils have been held, over 1 million volunteers have stood in prayerful vigil, nearly 200 abortion workers have quit, including directors, and more than 100 abortion centers have closed.

“Yes, these prayer vigils make a difference. Jesus wants this steadfast praying for life, and especially to change hearts. People see us and you never know when you’ve planted a seed, caused them to pause, to pray, to learn more about Our Lord, to feel hope, and to trust a little more.

“Yes, strength in numbers is effective, but just having a nonstop presence for 40 straight days cannot be ignored, nor can it be ineffective. People are watching and registering in their minds the effort of a convicted, prayer-filled vigil,” said Mrs. Donahoo, an All Saints parishioner. ■ TH E EA S T TEN N ES S EE C ATH OLI C

Friends and Eminences

By Jim Wogan

T

he death of Cardinal William J. Levada means the loss of a friend to the Diocese of Knoxville, where Cardinal Levada had visited because of his long friendship with Cardinal Justin Rigali.

Cardinal Levada, prefect emeritus of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, died Sept.

26 in Rome. He was 83.

Cardinal Levada served as archbishop of Portland, Ore., and archbishop of San Francisco prior to his appointment as the Prefect of the Congregation of the Doctrine of Faith by Pope Benedict XVI in 2005. He was selected by the pope to be his successor in that role, one of the most senior positions at the Vatican. Cardinal Levada served in that role until 2012.

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nal problems which affect many in consecrated life,” and announced a reform of the organization to ensure its fidelity to Catholic teaching in areas including abortion, euthanasia, women’s ordination, and homosexuality.

The LCWR national board criticized the Vatican’s action as “based on unsubstantiated accusations and the result of a flawed process that lacked transparency,” saying it had “caused scandal and pain throughout the Church community and created greater polarization.” The process ended in 2015 with no new disciplinary measures or controls.

In the Irish Catholic interview, Cardinal Levada rejected media portrayals that pitted Pope Francis against retired Pope Benedict.

The cardinal rejected a “certain tendency that I find in some of the media presentations: ‘Well, now we have a pope who does this, and he’s contradicting what the previous pope did or he’s turning things into a different story’ and so forth. I think that’s way overdone.”

Cardinal Levada warned that “this, ultimately, makes the pope less a sign of unity and (instead) a sign of division, which he is not.”

He said he was impressed by Pope Francis’ “reminders to the Church and the world about the poor, people who are easily forgotten or put aside out of our mind and vision.”

On the decision of Pope Benedict to resign, Cardinal Levada said he believes that was “a giant step in regard to the future of the Church and the future of the papacy, so that this particular question can be resolved by any future pope because of what he (Benedict) has done.”

“I think that’s a relief, certainly for someone who is in the Sistine Chapel and sees his name being put forward as a future pope, to have that in the back of his mind,” he said.

As archbishop of San Francisco, Cardinal Levada dealt with the issue of same-sex marriage. In 2004, he helped lead a prayer rally for the defense and promotion of marriage after the city decided to issue samesex marriage licenses.

In 1997, he opposed a city ordinance requiring all agencies contracting with the city to provide

Sr. Regina

a visible role in the development of the new Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, where he participated in the Mass and groundbreaking for the cathedral in April 2015 and then participated in the cathedral dedication Mass in March 2018.

While in Knoxville, Cardinal Levada took part in two diocesan-sponsored events, a “Conversation with the Cardinals,” held at the Tennessee Theatre when ground was broken on the new cathedral, and a second “Conversation with the Cardinals” in the new cathedral on the weekend it was dedicated.

Cardinal Rigali and Cardinal Levada had more in common than their roles in the College of Cardinals and the Roman Curia.

In an extraordinary occurrence, three young seminarians from Los Angeles near the same age would go on to serve the Church spousal benefits to domestic partners of their employees. Noncompliance could have jeopardized the church’s social service contracts with the city.

At the archbishop’s urging, the city changed the ordinance so that employees of church agencies could designate any legally domiciled member of their household for spousal benefits.

Pope Francis expressed his sadness at the cardinal’s death.

Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo, archbishop of Galveston-Houston and president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, praised Cardinal Levada for his service to the Catholic faith.

“Upon the death of William Cardinal Levada, please join me in a prayer of gratitude for a shepherd’s life. His ministry was one of expanding service to those around him.

Cardinal Levada’s intellect and pastoral sense called him from parish priest to archbishop to prefect for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. He was a friend and brother.

Eternal rest grant unto him,” Cardinal DiNardo said in a statement released by the bishops’ conference.

William Joseph Levada was born June 15, 1936, in Long Beach, Calif.

His great-grandparents had immigrated to California from Portugal and Ireland in the 1860s.

After seminary studies in California, he was sent to Rome’s Pontifical North American College, earning a doctorate in theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University.

He was ordained a priest in St. Peter’s Basilica Dec. 20, 1961.

He returned to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and worked as an associate pastor, teacher, and campus ministry chaplain. In 1976, he returned to Rome as a staff official of the doctrinal congregation. During his six years of service there, he continued teaching theology parttime at Gregorian University.

He returned to California in 1982 and was named secretary of the California Catholic Conference, a public policy agency of the state’s bishops. He was named an auxiliary bishop of Los Angeles in 1983 and was ordained a bishop March 25 of that year.

Pope Benedict elevated him to cardinal in 2006. ■

STEPHANIE RICHER

Cardinals Rigali, Levada followed similar Church paths

Standing together Cardinal Justin Rigali, first row, second from left, hosted Cardinal William Levada, first row, left, during the Sacred Heart Cathedral dedication. and popes as cardinals: Cardinal Rigali, Cardinal Levada, and Cardinal Roger Mahony, archbishop emeritus of Los Angeles.

Cardinal Rigali remembered his friend as news of Cardinal Levada’s death traveled throughout the world Church. The two knew each other for 65 years and were in the seminary of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles together.

As friends since that time, Cardinal Rigali said they were associated in many different things.

“It was a great joy to know Cardinal Levada,” Cardinal Rigali said. “We were able to maintain our friendship over the years, and I was at his installation as the archbishop of Portland. I was at his installation as the archbishop of San Francisco. We maintained our friendship and he was a great joy to me over the 65 years that we knew each other.

I was at his ordination when he became a priest at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. I was at the first Mass he celebrated at the Church of St. Andrew at the Quirinal, and I actually assisted him at that Mass. Fifty years later I was with him again at St. Peter’s Basilica as he celebrated the anniversary of his first Mass. It was 50 years to the day.”

Cardinal Rigali said a look back on Cardinal Levada’s vocation reflects the legacy he will leave based on the work he has done.

“I think you get a good indication of how greatly he was esteemed. Cardinal Ratzinger, who was the prefect for the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith and then was elected pope, after his election, the first major appointment that he made was a successor to himself as the prefect for the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, and he chose Cardinal Levada, who was an archbishop at the time. The new pope knew Cardinal Levada because earlier he had worked for him while he was under Car-

dinal Ratzinger,” recalled Cardinal Rigali, who is archbishop emeritus of Philadelphia and also served as archbishop of St. Louis.

He resides in Knoxville.

Cardinal Rigali is grateful to his friend for taking part in Masses and events of historical significance to the Diocese of Knoxville. He remembers how Bishop Richard F. Stika was determined to have Cardinal Levada be a part that history.

“Bishop Stika had really wanted Cardinal Levada to participate in our two ‘Conversations with the Cardinals’ and to also have him here for two significant moments in the history of our diocese. It was nice that he could be here because we were friends from our early years at college seminary in Los Angeles.

There were actually three of us that were one year apart in the seminary who eventually became cardinals. Cardinal Mahony and Cardinal Levada were both one year behind me. I have known Cardinal Levada for 65 years and Cardinal Mahoney for 69 years,” said Cardinal Rigali, who also is grateful to Cardinal Levada for his priesthood.

“Cardinal Levada was a dedicated servant of the Holy See, but also he was enriched by the great experience that he had as a diocesan bishop. He was an auxiliary bishop of Los Angeles, he was the archbishop of Portland, he was the archbishop of San Francisco. All of this was a vast experience, and the people who knew Archbishop Levada would recognize him, from a human point of view, as very outgoing. He always had time for you. He excelled at what he did.

He was able to bring his pastoral know-how to the service of the Roman Curia,” Cardinal Rigali said about his brother priest and friend.

Cardinal Rigali hopes to attend a funeral Mass for Cardinal Levada on Oct. 24 in San Francisco. ■

Boy, I wish our Church wasn’t growing so fast...

How will we afford it?

Good thing we have the Catholic Foundation!

© 2019 Handmaids of the Precious Blood

The

Catholic Foundation of East Tennessee invests in two essential needs for the Diocese of Knoxville

Seminarian Education and Land for New Churches Helping to provide for a growing Church for 30 years!

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OCTOBER 6, 2019 n A13

When culture and faith embrace Fathers of Mercy sprinkle spiritual salt on KCHS Spirit Week

By Pam Rhoades

T

he traveling missionary Fathers of Mercy visited Knoxville Catholic High School during Spirit Week 2019 and delivered a spiritual message students may never forget.

The priests were invited as part of a new initiative where the KCHS guidance department partnered with the religion department to redesign the College Fair event and bring the “discernment process” right alongside the “finding a college process.”

So Father Ricardo Pineda shared his “tools” with students that included looking for God’s signs, prayer, and finding peace and clarity in choosing God’s path.

The highlight of their visit was on Tuesday, Sept. 24, with a breakdancing, beatboxing, allschool assembly. Father Jewel Aytona kicked off the assembly with beatboxing and rhyming, combining inspirational lyrics with beat.

Father Pineda fired up the crowd by playing the Fighting Irish fight song on the trumpet.

Prior to the breakdancing finale, Father Aytona shared the message of the dignity of the human body, encouraging students A14 n OCTOBER 6, 2019

to persevere in the challenge of leading a Christian life. He told the students there is hope in confession and hope in the rosary; “Our Lady is a powerful intercessor.” He reminded the students to use these gifts that have been given to them to lead them to fulfillment.

“The Fathers of Mercy just made my entire four years at Knoxville Catholic,” said KCHS student Annika Von Buskirk.

Added fellow student Cathy Phan, “I realized that priests are people, too, and I could really identify with them.”

The highly visual Gospel presentation also left an impression on student Mary Elizabeth Cox. “I thought the priests were relatable, and there was no doubt that each of them cared about us, our souls, our relationship with God, and wanted to allow us to grow in our faith,” she said.

Father Aytona believes breakdancing and beatboxing are effective ways to communicate.

“It’s a way to connect and meet people where they’re at. Never to lower the standard of the Gospel message, but find a way to connect and elevate people to what the standard is.” ■ www.di o k no x .o rg

Photography by Dr. Kelly Kearse

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

In Brief Fr. Mike Nolan appointed dean of Chattanooga Deanery Bishop Richard F. Stika has appointed Father Mike Nolan, pastor of St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish in Cleveland, the dean of the Chattanooga Deanery.

The appointment was effective Oct. 1. Father Nolan succeeds Father Charles Burton, pastor of St. Jude Parish in Chattanooga, who has served as dean since 2013.

Father Ron Franco, pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Knoxville, was reappointed by Bishop Stika to another three-year term as dean of the Smoky Mountain Deanery.

Also serving as Diocese of Knoxville deans are Father Michael Cummins, pastor of St. Dominic Parish in Fr. Nolan Kingsport, of the Five Rivers Deanery, and Father Brent Shelton, pastor of St. Mary Parish in Oak Ridge, of the Cumberland Mountain Deanery.

Funeral Mass celebrated for Tutter McCabe, charter member of Sacred Heart parish A funeral Mass for Elizabeth Nickerson “Tutter” McCabe, a charter member of Sacred Heart Parish, was celebrated Aug. 2 at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Cathedral rector Father David Boettner celebrated the funeral Mass for Mrs. McCabe, who died July 30 with her family by her side. Bishop Richard F. Stika and Cardinal Justin Rigali were in choir.

Tutter, as she was known her entire life, was born to the late Anna Mary Nickerson and Marcus Franklin Nickerson on Dec. 28, 1923.

Mrs. McCabe Mrs. McCabe’s family said she lived an exceptional life, centered on her large family. She and her husband, the late Robert A. McCabe Sr., were blessed with 10 children. She is survived by these 10 children, their spouses, 36 grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren.

Mrs. McCabe and her family became charter members of what was then Sacred Heart Parish, where all 10 children attended first through eighth grades. Her husband died unexpectedly at a young age, leaving Tutter to raise the 10 children, who at the time ranged in age from 19 to 6. Her faith never wavered, and she continued to attend Mass at Sacred Heart Cathedral until her death.

Mrs. McCabe is survived by her sons and daughters, Robert Jr. (Jennie), Nancy Van Vleet (Don), Michael (Stephanie), Susan Lorentz (Tim), Patrick (Joy), Ann Bodie (Jerry), Daniel, Laura Harty (Mike), Mary Wolf (Chip), and John (Mandy). Serving as pallbearers during the funeral were Bo Connor, Bruce Fisher, Tom Greer, Kirk Icuss, Preston Matthews, Michael O’Hearn, Paul Pipkin, and Richard Smith.

Priests of the Diocese of Knoxville concelebrated the funeral Mass, with the burial in Highland Memorial Cemetery. The family requested that donations be made to the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, 417 Erin Drive, Suite 120, Knoxville, TN 37919.

Mercy Sister Mary Lillian Heitzeberg dies Sister Mary Lillian Heitzeberg, 97, who was a member of the Sisters of Mercy for 79 years and taught in Catholic schools throughout the Diocese of Nashville and Tennessee, died on July 9 at Mercy Convent in Nashville.

Sister Lillian was born June 6, 1922, in Nashville, the daughter of Edward J. Heitzeberg and Lillian Stark. She entered the Sisters of Mercy in Cincinnati on Sept. 8, 1940.

Sister Lillian received degrees from The Anthenaeum and Xavier University, both in Cincinnati.

She taught primary grades in parochial schools throughout Tennessee, including Blessed Sacrament School in Memphis, St. Mary School in Knox- Sr. Mary Lillian ville, Sacred Heart School in Lawrenceburg, St. Dominic School in Kingsport, and St. Bernard Academy, St. Edward School, and Holy Rosary Academy in Nashville.

She taught at the St. Bernard Montessori School for preschool children from 1974 to 1981 and served as its director.

Sister Lillian also was a pastoral associate at St. Henry Church in Nashville, and she taught English as a second language to immigrants at the Cohn Adult Learning Center in Nashville.

Her joyful heart and welcoming spirit carried out the legacy of Catherine McAuley, foundress of the Sisters of Mercy, Sister Lillian’s family and friends said. Her smiling face and generous hospitality were gifts to all.

Sister Lillian was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Katie Hutchison, and her brother Ed Heitzeberg. She is survived by her many nephews, nieces, great-nephews, and great-nieces.

A funeral Mass was celebrated by Father Mark Hunt, the Mercy Sisters’ chaplain, at the Mercy Convent on July 15, followed by burial in Calvary Cemetery.

Pope declares special Sunday each year dedicated to the Word of God

By Catholic News Service

T

o help the Church grow in love and faithful witness to God, Pope Francis has declared the third Sunday in Ordinary Time to be dedicated to the Word of God. Salvation, faith, unity, and mercy all depend on knowing Christ and sacred Scripture, he said in a new document.

Devoting a special day “to the celebration, study, and dissemination of the Word of God” will help the Church “experience anew how the risen Lord opens up for us the treasury of His Word and enables us to proclaim its unfathomable riches before the world,” the pope said.

The declaration to have a “Sunday of the Word of God” was made in a new document, given motu proprio, on the pope’s own initiative. Its title, Aperuit Illis, is based on a verse from the Gospel of St. Luke, “Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.”

“The relationship between the risen Lord, the community of believers and sacred Scripture is essential to our identity as Christians,” the pope said in the apostolic letter, released by the Vatican Sept. 30, the feast of St. Jerome, patron saint of biblical scholars.

“The Bible cannot be just the heritage of some, much less a collection of books for the benefit of a privileged few. It belongs above all to those called to hear its message and to recognize themselves in its words,” the pope wrote.

“The Bible is the book of the Lord’s people, who, in listening to it, move from dispersion and division toward unity” as well as come to understand God’s love and become inspired to share it with others, he added.

Without the Lord who opens people’s minds to His Word, it is impossible to understand the Scriptures in depth, yet “without the Scriptures, the events of the mission of Jesus and of his Church in this world would remain incomprehensible,” he wrote.

Archbishop Rino Fisichella, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelization, told Vatican News Sept. 30 that added emphasis on the importance of the Word of God is needed because “the overwhelming majority” of Catholics are not familiar with sacred Scripture. For many, the only time they hear the Word of God is when they attend Mass, he added.

“The Bible is the most widely distributed book, but it also perhaps is the one most covered in dust because it is not held in our hands,” the archbishop said.

With this apostolic letter, the pope “invites us to hold the Word of God in our hands every day as much

as possible so that it becomes our prayer” and a greater part of one’s lived experience, he said.

Pope Francis said in the letter, “A day devoted to the Bible should not be seen as a yearly event but rather a yearlong event, for we urgently need to grow in our knowledge and love of the ScripPope Francis tures and of the risen Lord, who continues to speak His Word and to break bread in the community of believers.”

“We need to develop a closer relationship with sacred Scripture; otherwise, our hearts will remain cold and our eyes shut, struck as we are by so many forms of blindness,” he wrote.

Sacred Scripture and the sacraments are inseparable, he wrote.

Jesus speaks to everyone with His Word in sacred Scripture, and if people “hear His voice and open the doors of our minds and hearts, then he will enter our lives and remain ever with us,” he said.

Pope Francis urged priests to be extra attentive to creating a homily throughout the year that “speaks from the heart” and really helps people understand Scripture “through simple and suitable” language.

The homily “is a pastoral opportunity that should not be wasted. For many of our faithful, in fact, this is the only opportunity they have to grasp the beauty of God’s Word and to see it applied to their daily lives,” he wrote.

Pope Francis also encouraged people to read the Second Vatican Council’s dogmatic constitution, Dei Verbum, and Pope Benedict XVI’s apostolic exhortation, Verbum Domini, whose teaching remains “fundamental for our communities.”

The third Sunday in Ordinary Time falls during that part of the year when the Church is encouraged to strengthen its bonds with the Jewish people and to pray for Christian unity. That means the celebration of the Sunday of the Word of God “has ecumenical value, since the Scriptures point out, for those who listen, the path to authentic and firm unity.”

“We welcome Pope Francis’ Apostolic letter motu proprio, Aperuit Illis, reflecting on the Word of God. The Holy Father reminds us that the Word of God is ‘performative’ and that Christians should linger over and study the Word of God as revealed in Sacred Scripture,” said Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo, archbishop of Galveston-Houston and president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. ■

Knights of Columbus sponsoring trip to March for Life The Knights of Columbus are sponsoring a trip to the 2020 National March for Life in Washington, D.C., Jan. 22-25.

The trip is open to all in the Diocese of Knoxville who believe in life. The cost is $300 and will include round-trip travel on a touring bus, the rally and march, hotel (double occupancy) for two nights, two full breakfasts, a box lunch for the march, and a banquet and celebration on Friday night, Jan. 24. Half of the trip cost, $150, is due before Oct. 25, with the remaining $150 due on Nov. 20.

For more information, contact Tim Brown, life director for the Tennessee Knights of Columbus, at bjjonline@hotmail.com or 574-242-8008.

University of Notre Dame Club, UTC sponsoring lecture on U.S. natural resources and the disputes they prompt The University of Notre Dame Club of Chattanooga and the Department of Psychology at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga are presenting a lecture by Dr. Bruce Huber, professor of law at the University of Notre Dame Law School.

In his lecture, entitled “This Land is Your Land, This Land is My Land,” Dr. Huber will explore disputes over U.S. natural resources, provide an overview of America’s natural resource policies, and delve into the beauty and bounty of our public land heritage. He will discuss how nearly one in every three acres within America’s borders is owned by the federal government. These resources are of enormous value and are the subject of fierce disputes, according to Dr. Huber. The talk is 1-2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 21, in the UT-Chattanooga University Center Auditorium and is open to the public. For further information about the lecture or the local University of Notre Dame Club, contact Dr. Brian O’Leary at UTC at 423-425-4283. ■

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

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OCTOBER 6, 2019 n A15

years in the priesthood, most recently as pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Alcoa.

“I was tired; I was ready for it,” he acknowledged.

For Monsignor Gahagan, being ready for retirement has been less certain, leading to some good-natured ribbing from Bishop Richard F. Stika, who attended Monsignor Gahagan’s anniversary Mass.

“He likes to retire,” Bishop Stika said. “He likes to retire and then Brother priests Father Joe Brando, center, enjoys time with fellow priests, from left, Fathers Andres come back. And Cano, Peter Iorio, and William McKenzie, and Monsignor Bill Gahagan, during a “retirement” ceremony. then retire again, and then un-retire.

It’s been about nine times since I’ve been here,” Bishop Stika joked.

This time, it appears to be final.

In 2004, the monsignor had major heart surgery. He was encouraged by then-Bishop Joseph E. Kurtz to retire. Initially, Monsignor Gahagan agreed to slow down. But after a few months he found himself back in active ministry. He developed more health issues in 2018 and decided to make retirement official, at least as “official” as he could.

“Canonically I am retired, but so far in my head and heart, I am not retired,” Monsignor Gahagan said.

“I have always enjoyed the priesthood and the blessings of service I have given to the Lord. Of course, like in every profession, we are confronted with the reality of life Piano man Monsignor Gahagan offers a glimpse of his piano-playing skills. and the challenges that come with The diocesan priest has been taking piano lessons as his ministry slows down. it.”

Father Joseph Brando is another diocesan priest who has confronted a priest since 1972, and even in re“I don’t think (my vocation) is realhis share of health challenges in re- tirement he remains a popular figly stopping, but it is changing. The cent years. Father Brando has been ure in the Diocese of Knoxville. On focus is changing and the direction Sept. 22, parishioners at Our Lady is, but hopefully it is not changing of Fatima Church in Alcoa gathered in intensity,” he said. for a farewell celebration before Some retired priests of the Diohe moves to the Chattanooga area, cese of Knoxville remain active in where he has served as a pastor at other ways. Father Mike Creson is three different parishes. the chaplain at Memorial Hospi“We’re sort of married to the tal in Chattanooga and continues Church, and there is a responsibilto celebrate Mass at St. Thérèse ity there,” Father Brando said. “I of Lisieux in Cleveland. Father am very much aware that my minO’Connell celebrates Mass most istry is to the people of God, and days at Our Lady of the Mountains I hope this will be a new way to Chapel at the Chancery; Monsignor express that relationship.

Gahagan celebrates Masses at St. “Retirement isn’t stopping me Joseph in Norris and elsewhere from doing anything. Retirement when needed. Father McKenzie has a meaning that whatever we’re handles some of the Masses at doing is ending, and there are a lot St. Albert the Great in Knoxville. of things I haven’t done yet that Monsignor Patrick Garrity, who reare just beginning.” cently retired from active ministry, Father Brando, 75, plans to live at remains busy assisting Bishop Stika the Alexian Village retirement com- on parish matters when needed. munity in Signal Mountain, and “The biggest misconception is A good fit Monsignor Gahagan dons Bishop Stika’s ecclesial biretta as they he considers the possibility of celthat (we) don’t do anything,” said process into Mass marking the 50th anniversary of Monsignor Gahagan’s ordiebrating Masses there on a regular Father McKenzie. “For most of the nation Sept. 27. Deacon Dan Hosford and Wojciech Sobczuk assist.

Priests continued on page A17 basis.

BILL BREWER

JIM WOGAN

commonly accepted description for most people who have left the workforce, it is not a designation that comes easy to the Catholic Church.

“I think the mistake, if there is one, is using the word ‘retired.’

Many dioceses do not use that term. They just say they are ‘senior priests,’ which I think is much more descriptive and accurate than ‘retired,’’’ said Father Thomas O’Connell, 81, who will mark 56 years as a priest in December.

Father O’Connell has served as a music and English teacher at Knoxville Catholic High School, was a pastor at Holy Family Parish in Seymour for 12 years, and also taught at the former Knoxville College. He most recently was the chaplain of the former St. Mary’s Medical Center. When the medical center was closed by its owners in December 2018, Father O’Connell stepped out of active ministry, but he won’t say he’s retired.

“I suppose it’s because we don’t look at it as a career, or we shouldn’t, but rather as a way of life, and so in a sense retirement doesn’t really exist. It means as we advance in age our ministry is going to change depending on situations, health, and things of that nature. But it is a way of life, not a career,” he said.

Father O’Connell said even in retirement a priest’s connection to the sacraments, and especially the Eucharist, is “of paramount importance.”

Priests retire from active ministry for different reasons.

“It was just time for me. I wanted to spend time with my family. They are all getting older, and I am the only one out of the six boys that do not live in Nashville, so I wanted the opportunity to spend time with them,” said Father William McKenzie, 66, who retired in July after 36

Mexico archdiocese split into 3 new dioceses

By Catholic News Service

T

hree new dioceses have been carved out of the Archdiocese of Mexico, a move Cardinal Carlos Aguiar Retes of Mexico City said will bring pastors “closer to all the inhabitants.”

The decision, announced Sept. 27, creates the dioceses of Azcapotzalco in northwest Mexico City; Iztapalapa, the Mexican capital’s largest borough; and Xochimilco, in the far south of the city. All were carved out of what had been one of the world’s largest archdioceses.

What remains of the old Archdiocese of Mexico will contain the metropolitan cathedral and Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The population it serves will shrink from roughly to 8.8 million people to 5.28 million, according to archdiocesan publication Desde la Fe. The three new dioceses will be suffragan dioceses in the Mexico City ecclesiastical province. The Sept. 27 decision also created the Archdiocese of Toluca — to the west of Mexico City — out of the previous Diocese of Toluca, with the Dioceses of Atlacomulco, Tenancingo, and Cuernavaca as its suffragan dioceses.

Last November, the Archdiocese of A16 n OCTOBER 6, 2019

Mexico submitted plans to the Vatican to divide the archdiocese, saying in a statement that it was “a restructuring to provide better pastoral attention to the faithful.”

Talk of dividing the archdiocese dates back decades. But Cardinal Aguiar Retes, who oversaw a partition of his previous archdiocese in suburban Mexico City, advanced the issue after arriving in the national capital in February 2018.

Some Church observers saw the partition as long overdue.

“Compared to the U.S., worldwide, Mexican dioceses are the largest,” said Rodolfo Soriano-Nunez, a sociologist who studies the Mexican Catholic Church. “Only Germany and the Philippines come close to Mexico, and even in the German case there are huge differences, because they have more auxiliary bishops than here.”

Mr. Soriano-Nunez pointed to a 2005 study showing Mexico having one bishop per 727,629 Catholics. That compared to the United States with one bishop per 236,707 Catholics. A later survey he conducted found only 13 percent of Mexican Catholics were certain of the diocese they lived in, while only an equal number was certain who their bishop was. ■ w ww.di o k no x .o rg

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

EMILY BOOKER

Priests continued from page A5

Above: The Knoxville Police Department Honor Guard presents the colors at the beginning of the Blue Mass Sept. 29 at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Among the officers present were Knox County Sheriff Tom Spangler and Knoxville Fire Department Chief Stan Sharp. The Diocese of Knoxville celebrates the Blue Mass each year to recognize the men and women in East Tennessee who work in law enforcement, fire protection, and emergency medical services.

Above right: Knox County Sheriff’s Deputy Christian Gomez, his wife, Perla, and their children, Oliver and Emilia, bring the gifts during the Blue Mass.

Right: Father David Boettner, rector of the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, center, celebrates the Blue Mass, with Father Arthur Torres, right, and Father Martin Gladysz, left, concelebrating. The priests were assisted by Deacon Patrick MurphyRacey, second from left, who also serves as a police chaplain.

BILL BREWER (3)

Honoring those who protect us

Giving thanks Parishioners at Our Lady of Fatima in Alcoa gather on Sept. 22 for a celebration to thank Father Joe Brando for his ministry and to wish him well as he relocates to Alexian Village retirement community in Signal Mountain, where he plans to continue serving.

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EMILY BOOKER

Priests continued from page A16

guys who are retired, we stay very busy helping out. For the most part, I think every retired priest wants to. But there comes a point in your life where you just need to back up a little bit and focus on things that are still important to you, like family, and be able to involve yourself in other things that you can’t do when you are assigned to a parish.”

For Monsignor Gahagan, that means focusing on a new hobby. He swims three times a week and has been taking piano lessons for three years. He plays cribbage and often goes to lunch with friends in his home community of Norris. He gets together with some of the other retired priests, and he spends time at home with his new adopted friend, a 10-yearold golden labrador retriever named Barnaby Jones.

“He’s deaf. He’s got arthritis, and he is missing teeth, and we match beautifully,” Monsignor Gahagan joked. “He doesn’t get too excited about things, and I don’t either. It was a moment of grace when I found him at the shelter. God sent him to me, I will tell you.”

Caring for retired priests, and making certain they have the means necessary for a secure and dignified life, is an obligation the Diocese of Knoxville takes seriously. In 2015, the Home Campaign, which funded parish projects, charity, Catholic education, and the construction of the new cathedral, also made supporting priest retirement a priority. The Home Campaign added more than $1.7 million to the diocesan priest retirement account. Additionally, the diocese matches a percentage of priest contributions to their personal 403(b) retirement accounts. While priests pay their own healthcare premiums, the diocese covers out-of-pocket expenses not covered by insurance. Some of the retired priests provide for their own housing. For those who can’t, the diocese steps in to help.

“What I have found with priests is that they are generous, and throughout the course of their lives they often help families or friends who may have unique or special needs. They often do this without concern for their own future. We owe it to them,” Bishop Stika added.

While priests often continue in active ministry well beyond the age of 65 – Monsignor Bob Hofstetter, 91, still serves as the pastor at Good Shepherd Church in Newport – health and other factors often shape their final decision.

And whether retirement is welcome or necessary, priests universally agree that their role in the Church hasn’t changed.

“That is the center of my life, the Eucharist. It (still) brings me to the point of awe,” Monsignor Gahagan said. “The people and the sacraments themselves, I find the bloodlines of what we are all about now – and in the world to come. It’s humbling beyond expression.” ■

United States Postal Service Statement of ownership, management, and circulation Required by 39 U.S.C. 3685 1. Publication title: The East Tennessee Catholic 2. Publication number: 0007-211 3. Filing date: Sept. 30, 2019 4. Issue frequency: Bi-monthly 5. Number of issues published annually: 6 6. Annual subscription price: $15 7. Complete mailing address of known office of publication: 805 S. Northshore Drive, Knoxville, Knox County, TN 37919-7551 8. Complete mailing address of headquarters or general business office of publisher: Same 9. Full names and complete addresses of publisher, editor, and managing editor: publisher, Bishop Richard F. Stika, Diocese of Knoxville, 805 S. Northshore Drive, Knoxville, TN 37919-7551; editor, Bill Brewer, 805 S. Northshore Drive, Knoxville, TN 37919-7551; managing editor, Dan McWilliams, 805 S. Northshore Drive, Knoxville, TN 37919-7551 10. Owner: Roman Catholic Diocese of Knoxville, 805 S. Northshore Drive, Knoxville, TN 37919-7551 11. Known bondholders, mortgagees, and other security holders owning or holding 1 percent or more of total amount of bonds, mortgages, or other securities: None 12. Tax status (for completion by nonprofit organizations authorized to mail at nonprofit rates): Has not changed during preceding 12 months 13. Publication name: The East Tennessee Catholic 14. Issue date for circulation data below: Aug. 4, 2019 15. Extent and nature of circulation

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issue during preceding 12 months

issue published nearest to filing date

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20,492

20,200

B. (1) Mailed outside-county paid 19,600

19,265

(2) Mailed in-county paid subscriptions stated on PS Form 3541

subscriptions stated on PS Form 3541

0

0

(3) Paid distribution outside the mails

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0

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19,600

19,265

(1) Outside-county nonrequested copies on Form 3541

450

449

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0

0

(3) Nonrequested copies mailed at other classes

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0

(4) Nonrequested copies distributed outside the mail

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0

E. Total nonrequested distribution

450

449

F. Total distribution

20,050

19,714

G. Copies not distributed

442

486

H. Total

20,492

20,200

I. Percent paid

97.8

97.8

C. Total paid distribution D. Free or nominal rate distribution

16. Electronic copy circulation 17. Statement of ownership will be printed in the Oct. 6, 2019, issue of this publication.

18. Signature and title of editor, publisher, business manager, or owner: Bill Brewer, editor. Date: Sept. 30, 2019 I certify that all information furnished on this form is true and complete. I understand that anyone who furnishes false or misleading information on this form or who omits material or information requested on the form may be subject to criminal sanctions (including fines and imprisonment) and/or civil sanctions (including civil penalties).

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OCTOBER 6, 2019 n A17

CONGRATULATIONS to the 365 winenners! of the 2019 Scholars

Leaders Saints Calendar Raffle

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER WINNERS

Sept .1 / Steve Robinson Knoxville Catholic High School

Oct. 1 / Robert J. Weiskopff St. Mary School-Oak Ridge

Sept. 2 / Stephanie Myers Knoxville Catholic High School

Sept. 3 / Patrick Donohoe St. Francis of Assisi Church-Fairfield Glade Sept. 4 / Wendy Summitt Notre Dame High School

Oct. 2 / Dean & Phyllis Ishmael St. Patrick Church Oct. 3 / Shari McKinney St. Jude School

Oct. 4 / Mary Frances Robey St. Elizabeth Church Oct. 5 / Andrew Lewis Notre Dame High School

Sept. 5 / Kyle Walker St. Joseph School

Oct. 6 / Ronald J. Varcak

Sept. 6 / Michael Malone St. Alphonsus Church

St. Francis of Assisi Church-Fairfield Glade

Oct. 7 / Karin Hoover St. Joseph School

Sept. 7 / Denise Plunkett St. Dominic School

Oct. 8 / Ellie Hill St. Jude School

Sept. 8 / Evan Schukman St. John Neumann School

Oct. 9 / David Stover St. Joseph School

Sept. 9 / Catherine Pala Notre Dame High School

Oct. 10 / Lori Voges Our Lady of Perpetual Help School

Sept. 10 / Imelda Margulies Knoxville Catholic High School

Oct. 11 / Andrea Gentile St. John Neumann School

Sept. 11 / Everett McDuffie St. Dominic School

Oct. 12 / Lynn Tarpy Sacred Heart Cathedral School

Sept. 12 / Donna Morse Our Lady of Fatima Church

Oct. 13 / Sue Downey Knoxville Catholic High School

Sept. 13 / Demetrio Macariola St. Mary School-Johnson City

Oct. 14 / Robert Dusky Knoxville Catholic High School

Sept. 14 / Kathy Naber St. Jude School

Oct. 15 / Lynda McConnell St. John Neumann School

Sept. 15 / Tom & Kris Ferriter St. John Neumann School

Oct. 16 / Janet Krasinski Good Shepherd Church

Sept. 16 / Aline Vaiciunas St. Joseph School

Oct. 17 / Christine Sutherland St. Joseph School

Sept. 17 / Kirstin Kropilak Sacred Heart Cathedral School

Oct. 18 / Ken Hoffman Our Lady of Fatima Church

Sept. 18 / William Derbyshire St. John Neumann School

Oct. 19 / Alfred Burzese St. Stephen Church

Sept. 19 / John J. Surlas Knoxville Catholic High School

Sept. 20 / Andy Williams Our Lady of Perpetual Help School Sept. 21 / Chad Brown St. Jude School

Oct. 20 / Mary-Elizabeth Welch Notre Dame High School Oct. 21 / Amber Vachon St. Dominic School

Oct. 22 / Fran White Our Lady of Perpetual Help School

Sept. 22 / Father Pete Iorio St. Mary School-Johnson City

Oct. 23 / Marie Malcolm St. Mary School-Oak Ridge

Sept. 23 / Daniel Starnes St. Joseph School

Oct. 24 / Lisa Rochelle St. John Neumann School Oct. 25 / Shawn Raines St. John Neumann School

Sept. 24 / Denise Plunkett St. Dominic School

Sept. 25 / Margaret Boder Sacred Heart Cathedral School

Oct. 26 / Missi Whaley Knoxville Catholic High School

Sept. 27 / Miles Bernstorf St. Joseph School

Purchased from Diocese of Knoxville website

Oct. 27 / Kenneth Delius Knoxville Catholic High School

Sept. 26 / JoEllen Iacovino St. Jude School

Oct. 28 / Chris Vandergriff

Oct. 29 / Amy Snyder St. Mary School-Oak Ridge

Sept. 28 / Karen Nussman St. Dominic School

Sept. 29 / Father Christopher Manning Knoxville Catholic High School Sept. 30 / Ashley Haun Knoxville Catholic High School

A18 n OCTOBER 6, 2019

EADERS

Oct. 30 / Mary Slye Our Lady of Perpetual Help School Oct. 31 / Mark Ruckert St. Mary School-Oak Ridge

Thank you for your support

This year, calendar sales raised more than $100,000 for tuition assistance for our 10 schools.

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