Longtime priest Father Hostettler dies at 100 He led parishes statewide for 73 years, including his beloved St. Catherine Labouré in Copperhill
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ather Paul Hostettler, a priest for 73 years who celebrated his 100th birthday in May and dearly loved his time at St. Catherine Labouré Parish in Copperhill in East Tennessee, passed away peacefully on Oct. 18 at The Waters of Cheatham Nursing Home in Ashland City, Tenn. A Nashville native, Father Hostettler served throughout East, Middle, and West Tennessee, overseeing church building projects at St. Thérèse of Lisieux in Cleveland and St. Mary in Athens, both in the 1960s. Ordained for service in the Diocese of Nashville at a time when it covered the entire state, he became incardinated in the Diocese of Knoxville upon its creation in 1988. Father Hostettler was a Golden Gloves high school champion as well as boxing champion of Kenrick Seminary, and he was an avid horseman and trainer. He relished hiking in his muchloved East Tennessee mountains and enjoyed many rounds of golf in his life, even earning a hole-in-one. He was a talented artist, portrait painter, and cartoonist. On May 12, Bishop J. Mark Spalding of Nashville, along with family and friends, helped Father Hostettler celebrate his 100th birthday that day. In 2021, Father Hostettler told The East Tennessee Catholic that it never occurred to him that he would still be fulfilling his priestly vows at age 98. “I don’t think I ever thought about how long I was going to be a priest. I just took it as it came,” he said. “I don’t think about what it’s like (being a priest). I just live it. I don’t know
Deacon of the Word Diocese of Knoxville chancellor Deacon Sean Smith proclaims the Gospel at Father Hostettler’s funeral Mass on Oct. 24 at the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Nashville.
Father Paul Hostettler why God chose me to be a priest, but I’m happy that He did. I’ve really been happy being a priest. I had two brothers, both of them married with children. It never occurred to me that I should give up studying to be a priest and get married like they did. I just had the call to be a priest and I lived it. “Until I was actually ordained a priest, I didn’t know whether I was going to make it or not. But when they called out the names of those who were going to be ordained, mine was in there,” he said with a gleam in his eye. Paul Altman Hostettler was born May 12, 1923, in Nashville, a son of George Frederick and Mary Griffith Hostettler. He attended Cathedral Elementary School and Father Ryan High School. He studied for the priesthood at St. Ambrose College in Davenport, Iowa, and Kenrick Seminary in St. Louis. While Father Hostettler attended college at St. Ambrose, he had to transfer after one year to Kenrick when the U.S. Navy took over the dormitories at St. Ambrose during World War II. He was ordained to the transitional diaconate by St. Louis Archbishop (and future cardinal) Joseph E. Ritter on Sept. 24, 1949, at Kenrick.
By Dan McWilliams
Bishop William L. Adrian of Nashville ordained him a priest with six others on June 3, 1950, at the Cathedral of the Incarnation. As he was kneeling before the altar, Bishop Adrian laid his hands on Father Hostettler’s head. “When he did that, I thought he was going to push me through the step I was kneeling on,” the priest recalled for the Tennessee Register in 2015. “And when he let go, I thought I was going to fly through the ceiling. I may have been in ecstasy for about a half-hour.” Father Hostettler’s first assignment was as an assistant at Sacred Heart Parish in Memphis. He became pastor of St. Joseph in Jackson in 1956 and chaplain of the Knights of Columbus in Jackson in 1958. That same year, he received a new assignment to be pastor of the Church of the Resurrection in Cleveland, which was looking to build a new worship space. Under Father Hostettler’s leadership, land was purchased on Clingan Ridge Road in 1960, and the newly built church—now named for St. Thérèse of Lisieux—was dedicated in April 1962. The Cleveland priest was the founding pastor of St. Mary Parish in Athens. In 1965, Bishop Adrian received a request about the possibility of establishing a parish in Athens. He suggested that those interested should contact Father Hostettler to help determine the number of Catholics in the area and the prospects for erecting a chapel or renting a building. In 1967, Bishop Joseph A. Durick, coadjutor bishop of Nashville, asked Father Hostettler and Monsignor Francis Pack of Chattanooga to come to Athens and explore locations for the celebration of Mass. They recommended to the bishop the use of the Quisenberry-Laycock funeral parlor, where the first-ever Mass in Athens took place on June 11, 1967, celebrated by Father Hostettler. Monsignor Pack and Father Hostettler continued to scout locations and found an abandoned restaurant on four and a half acres of tall weeds on a road that eventually became Congress Parkway. The Diocese of Nashville purchased the property, and the restaurant was converted into a church by spring 1968. The Athens parish was a mission of St. Thérèse of Lisieux and was called the Athens Catholic Mission at first. On May 12, 1968, Bishop Durick celebrated the dedFather Hostettler continued on page B2
A celebration of history at St. Mary-Athens A potluck dinner marks the 50th anniversary of the dedication of the parish’s first church
By Dan McWilliams
COURTESY OF SISSY APARICIO-RASCON
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t. Mary Parish in Athens used a significant anniversary to celebrate its history at a potluck dinner Oct. 15 in the family life center. “The recent party was to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the dedication of the old church building on Congress Parkway,” said St. Mary pastor Father John Orr. “The money from the sale of the old property enabled the purchase and build at the present site. In 2024, we will have the 20th anniversary in the current church.” Three days after the dinner, St. Mary founding pastor Father Paul Hostettler passed away. Father Hostettler served as St. Mary’s shepherd from 1967 to 1969 and again from 1987 to 1993. “We prayed for Father Paul’s eternal repose at all the Masses last weekend,” Father Orr said Oct. 24. “He served as pastor twice in Athens, first as founder and then for a return visit.” St. Mary has had 17 different pastors over the years. Joining Father Orr at the anniversary dinner were Father Jim Vick, who led St. Mary from 2007 to 2009, and Father Jim Haley, CSP, who was parish administrator in 2018. Also present was Father Andrew Crabtree, ordained a priest this past June. St. Mary
Much to celebrate Those gathering for a celebration of the history of St. Mary Parish in Athens include (from left, seated) Melanie Fortuna, Paul Kessler, Bob Coke, Father Jim Haley, CSP, and Bonnie and Joe Kross and (standing) Connie Reed, John Fortuna, Sally Kessler, Chuck O’Connor, Clara Coke, Helen Dionne, Priscille Stuckey, Lou Dionne, Linda Nadeau, and Marcia Alexander. is his home parish and the place where he celebrated his first Mass after his ordination. “It was so nice to have Father Vick and Father Haley come back to celebrate with us,” Father Orr said. “And for Father Crabtree to return to the place not only of his
first Mass but also where he was received into the Church some years earlier.” On April 27, 1965, Bishop William L. Adrian of Nashville wrote a letter in answer to a request he had received concerning the possibility of a Catholic church in Athens. His
letter stated that he didn’t have a priest available at that time, but he would try to find one in a year or two. Father Hostettler, pastor of St. Thérèse of Lisieux in Cleveland, was contacted and a survey done through a local newspaper. The St. Mary-Athens continued on page B3
ting, Father Hostettler recalled. “I didn’t think any more about it.” About three months later, he was caught in a summer storm and sought refuge under a tree. While standing there in the dark, Bishop Adrian’s comments popped into his head, and he realized what he meant. In that instant, Father Hostettler’s call to the priesthood was clear, he said. “I decided I was going to be a priest, and nothing could stop me but God, and I’ve never changed my mind,” Father Hostettler said. He made no bones about the parish closest to his heart. “My favorite place was Copperhill,” he told the Register in 2015. “It’s a very small town. When I was living there, there were only about 400 people living in the town, and I got to know a whole bunch of them. I loved that part of the state. Something about it got into my blood.” “I loved the little town of Copperhill, and the people who lived there who were Catholic,” Father Hostettler told The East Tennessee Catholic in 2021. “It was among the smallest towns in the state of Tennessee. I was there twice.” Celebrating Mass and administering the sacraments for people is the most fulfilling aspect of being a priest, Father Hostettler told the Register. “That’s when you’re another Christ. When you say, ‘This is my Body, this is my Blood’ … that’s a great privilege to do that for the people.” Father Hostettler was serving in Copperhill when he marked his 50th anniversary as a priest in 2000. “On May 12, I turned 77, exceeding my expectations by 12 years,” he told The East Tennessee Catholic then. “I didn’t think I’d live to collect Social Security.” Father Hostettler was living at Mary, Queen of Angels in 2020 when he celebrated his 70th anniversary in the priesthood. “It’s the greatest thing that’s happened to me, to become a priest,” he told the Register on that occasion. “What I have enjoyed as a priest is being able to offer the Mass and change the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ and give it to other people. It’s almost the same privilege to say to people, I forgive you your sins, and if they’re sorry, they’re forgiven. … “I’ve never done anything in my life that gave me more pleasure than fulfilling my duties as a priest. I think any Catholic should realize that they have a vocation in the Church, and they should try to fulfill the duties of that vocation to the best of their abilities. A priest has the duty of teaching the faith and administering the sacraments. They should try to love that work and do the best you can.” In the 2021 interview with The East Tennessee Catholic, Father Hostettler fondly remembered his friendship with Father Albert Henkel, the former longtime pastor of Holy Ghost Parish in Knoxville. They played golf together regularly. He also played golf on occasion with former Bishop James D. Niedergeses of Nashville and Bishop Kurtz. “Every week I played golf for I don’t know how many years. I
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ication Mass and chose the name of St. Mary for the mission. During his years in Cleveland, Father Hostettler also served for the first time in his priestly career at St. Catherine Labouré in Copperhill. Father Hostettler remained with the Cleveland Catholic community until 1969. At that time, he became pastor of St. Edward in Nashville, where he served until 1971, when he was reassigned to the cathedral in Nashville as assistant to the pastor. In 1972, he started a new assignment as pastor of St. Patrick Parish in McEwen. During his time there, he also served as chaplain of the Turney Center, a prison-rehabilitation center in Only, and oversaw the construction of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Tennessee Ridge. In 1977, Father Hostettler became pastor of St. Augustine in Signal Mountain. Four years later, he was assigned as administrator of St. Paul the Apostle in Tullahoma and then as pastor of St. Matthew in Franklin. He returned to St. Mary in Athens in 1987 as the first diocesan priest to serve the parish, which previously had been under the care of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. Father Hostettler was present for the Mass at St. Mary in Athens on May 12, 1993, celebrating the 25th anniversary of the parish. The Mass fell on his 70th birthday. Father Hostettler, who while serving in Athens also was pastor of St. Catherine Labouré in Copperhill, retired in 1993 but continued to serve the Copperhill parish in the state’s southeastern corner. In 2007, Father Hostettler retired again and moved to Nashville. “I wish to thank Father Paul for his outstanding and generous priestly service, most recently in Copperhill but also over many years throughout our diocese,” Bishop Joseph E. Kurtz, Knoxville’s second shepherd, wrote at the time. “Our presbyterate has been blessed by his love for the priesthood and his fidelity and joy in his vocation.” Father Hostettler moved back to his hometown to be closer to family. For several years, he served as chaplain at Mary, Queen of Angels assisted-living facility, celebrating Mass and later becoming a resident there. Father Hostettler told The East Tennessee Catholic in 2015 that he was most thankful for “the fact that God chose me out of all the infinite number of people He could have chosen. I can’t understand why He did, but I’m thankful that He did.” He had no plans to celebrate his 65th anniversary as a priest, which occurred a few days after he made those comments. “Every day is a celebration,” he said. “I don’t need to have a great big one. I’m going to thank God again on that day in a special way and just keep going.” He credited Bishop Adrian for inspiring him to become a priest. As he told the Tennessee Register in 2015, he attended Father Ryan High School’s annual Mothers and Sons Banquet while a student there. During his talk, Bishop Adrian said, “Someday, one of you boys might be sitting over there,” pointing to the table where the priests were sit-
The Gospel he preached Nashville Bishop J. Mark Spalding places the book of the Gospels on Father Hostettler’s casket as Deacon Joe Holzmer of the Cathedral of the Incarnation looks on during the funeral Mass for the priest Oct. 24. played golf with all the priests who played golf,” Father Hostettler said. Father Hostettler was preceded in death by his parents; stepmother, Delia Eileen (Flynn) Hostettler; brothers, George F. Hostettler Jr. and Phillip Joseph Hostettler Sr.; and niece Barbara (Hostettler) Rowland. He is survived by his niece and nephews, Connie (Hostettler) Radford of Louisville, Ky.; Phillip Hostettler Jr. of Joelton, Tenn.; Paul A. Hostettler of Bethpage, Tenn.; John L. Hostettler of Murfreesboro; George F. Hostettler III of Ashland City; and Jeff Hostettler of Springfield, Tenn., along with 16 great-nieces and great-nephews and six great-great-nieces and great-great-nephews. Visitations for Father Hostettler were held Oct. 23 at Marshall-Donnelly-Combs Funeral Home in Nashville and Oct. 24 at the Cathedral of the Incarnation. His funeral Mass was celebrated by Bishop Spalding on Oct. 24 at the Cathedral of the Incarnation. Several priests of the Diocese of Nashville concelebrated, including the homilist, Father Dan Steiner, associate pastor of the Nashville cathedral. Diocese of Knoxville chancellor Deacon Sean Smith was deacon of the Word. Deacon Joe Holzmer was deacon of the altar. Father Steiner noted Father Hostettler’s lifelong devotion to the Blessed Mother, which he said he believed stemmed from the latter’s early loss of his own mother. Father Steiner even shared Father Hostettler’s own words about Mary, found in his many writings while a resident at Mary, Queen of Angels. “Our Blessed Mother. If we had known Eve before the fall, we would have loved her because she
was beautiful and good, but especially because she is our mother,” Father Hostettler wrote. “How much more should we love Mary! She is more beautiful, she is holier, too. And she is not only our mother. She is the Mother of God. O most beautiful, O most holy, O most wonderful mother!” In his homily, Father Steiner read what Father Hostettler wrote about true friends: “A true friend is one, as our Lord said, who will lay down his life for you. You are his true friend only if you are ready to lay down your life for Him. One wonders if there are many true friends. Christians know one thing: Christ died for them. He is their true friend.” “Father Paul’s priesthood has led thousands and thousands of souls to Christ, and he brought Christ to thousands and thousands of souls,” Father Steiner said. “As a priest, how many sins has he absolved in 73 years? How many Masses did he offer? How many baptisms? How many souls has he brought into the Church? How many funerals? How many times has he prepared souls for that final journey?” Father Steiner asked. “He … truly loved going on sick calls and being there with the sick. How many times did he perform the sacrament of the last rites or even marriages and first Communions? “He continues to show each of us how we should be centered on Christ at all times, knowing that, whatever the Lord is going to ask you and I to do, just as he asked Father Paul, if we trust the Lord and receive what He gives us, we will be able to do it only by His grace,” Father Steiner concluded, before Father Hostettler continued on page B3
DAN MCWILLIAMS
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Birthday meal Father Paul Hostettler appears in a 1993 photo and during younger days. At left, he inspects a baked Alaska prepared for his 70th birthday on May 12, 1993, a day when St. Mary Parish in Athens celebrated its 25th anniversary. Father Hostettler was the founding pastor of St. Mary, serving there from 1967-69, before returning to Athens again as pastor from 1987-93. B2 n NOVEMBER 5, 2023
THE EAST TENNESSEE CATHOLIC FILE PHOTO
THE EAST TENNESSEE CATHOLIC FILE PHOTOS
‘I loved the little town of Copperhill’ Father Paul Hostettler delivers the homily April 15, 2000, at St. Catherine Labouré Church in Copperhill during the celebration of the parish’s 50th anniversary.
Golfing partners Father Paul Hostettler (left) stands with his friend (and one of his golfing buddies) Bishop James D. Niedergeses of the Diocese of Nashville.
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TH E EA S T TEN N ES S EE C ATH OLI C
Mary, celebrated in August. The founding families of St. Mary Parish on May 12, 1968, were Don and Mary Guthrie, Jim and Flo Keele, Dottie Laycock, Edith Maxwell, Lydia and Louis McCarey, Anthony and Vi Mozur, Lawrence R. and Hilda Roussell, Lawrence Jr. and Joy Roussell, Jeanine Smith, Don and Iona Swafford, Allene Sykes, Ed and Anne Waring, and Vivian Willoughby. In fall 1969, Father Matthew Noonan, OMI, became the first resident priest at St. Mary. Priests of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate would lead St. Mary for 18 years. A precut cedar chapel seating more than 250 was erected in 1973 and connected to the original church building, which was then converted to a social hall. The church was dedicated Oct. 21, 1973, with Father Noonan as pastor. During this period, parishioner Lawrence Roussell cut down an oak tree and crafted a wooden cross that continues to hang over the altar at the new St. Mary Church. In 1976, an addition to the south side of the church provided four classrooms and an office. In 1983, an educational building was constructed, providing eight classrooms. Father Hostettler returned in July 1987 as the first diocesan priest to serve the parish. At that time, a rectory was built on church grounds, and three staff members were hired. The parish became part of the Diocese of Knoxville when it was founded in 1988. St. Mary celebrated its 25th anniversary on May 12, 1993. Bishop Anthony J. O’Connell, Father Hostettler, and Father Thomas Scanlon, OMI, concelebrated a Mass, and a dinner followed at Springbrook Country Club. Upon Father Hostettler’s retirement in 1993, St. Mary welcomed
Cutting the cake Founding parishioner Mary Guthrie prepares to cut a cake as her daughter and fellow founding member Gail Buckley watches at the history celebration Oct. 15 at St. Mary Church in Athens. With them are four priests with a connection to St. Mary Parish: (from left) former pastor Father Jim Vick; current pastor Father John Orr; recently ordained Father Andrew Crabtree, who calls St. Mary home and celebrated his first Mass there; and former parish administrator Father Jim Haley, CSP. Poland native Father Joseph Fiedorowicz as pastor. Under his guidance, the parish experienced dynamic growth with 230 families registered and 110 children enrolled in the CCD program. Father Fiedorowicz started a building committee in 1996 as the parish had outgrown its Congress Parkway location. On June 30, 1997, a 16.75-acre site was purchased at 1291 E. Madison Ave. in Athens for a new church and rectory. On Nov. 3, 2001, St. Mary pastor Father David Boettner blessed a sign that read “Future Home of St. Mary Catholic Church” on the Madison Avenue site. Ground was broken March 22, 2003, with Bishop Joseph E. Kurtz, St. Mary pastor Father Michael Cummins, and former pastor Father Boettner among those attending. The parish had grown to 350 families by that point. On Aug. 14, 2004, Bishop Kurtz dedicated the new St. Mary Church. Hundreds of parishioners and friends attended. Eighteen priests were present, including Father Fiedorowicz, Father Boettner, and Father Cummins, under whose leadership the building project grew. Father Cummins was the first priest to celebrate Mass in the new church and to live in the new rectory. The new church features a rose window and eight stained-glass windows representing the mysteries of the rosary. On the grounds is “Allene Sykes’ Rock,” a large rock founding parishioner Ms. Sykes had removed from the old church to the new one. It is located in front of the church and has a bench for prayer and reflection. The grounds also feature a monument to the unborn given to the parish by the Knights of Columbus, a St. Francis of Assisi statue, the Virgin Mary’s Garden in front of the rectory, and trees planted in memo-
THE EAST TENNESSEE CATHOLIC FILE PHOTO/DAILY POST-ATHENIAN
Dedication day Bishop Joseph A. Durick of Nashville speaks at the dedication of the original St. Mary Church on Congress Parkway in Athens on Oct. 21, 1973.
Guest priest Father Charles Breault, OMI (left), visitor general of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, visited pastor Father Matthew Noonan, OMI, and parishioners of St. Mary in Athens in 1977.
ry of loved ones. The Mangan/Mozur CCD Building, donated by the Mozur family, was moved from the old church grounds and brought to the new church in 2004. It remains a wellused building and is home to the Ladies for Charity pantry. The original rectory was transported to the new grounds and served as the parish office until completion of the new family life center. The parish having outgrown its narthex for socials, ground was broken for the family life center on Oct. 4, 2011. Father William Oruko, AJ, was pastor when the center was dedicated by Bishop Richard F. Stika on June 30, 2012. Knights Council 8396 at St. Mary was founded May 15, 1983, and named for charter parishioner Lawrence R. Roussell Sr. The parish is also home to a number of organizations and ministries, including the choir, CCD, RCIA, Hispanic and youth ministries, and more. Parish charity efforts include a Good Samaritan collection monthly, Thanksgiving food baskets, Christmas gifts for underprivileged children, and a Christmas party for Head Start children. The parish also supports the pro-life movement, a scholarship program, and the St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic. Priests of St. Mary since its founding are Father Hostettler, 1967-69 and 1987-93; Father Noonan, 1969-77; Father Patrick Mangan, OMI, 197783; Father John Leddy, OMI, 1983-86; Father Scanlon, 1986-87; Father Fiedorowicz, 1993-2000; Father Boettner, 2000-02; Father Cummins, 2002-07; Father Vick, 2007-09; Father Oruko, 2009-13; Father Randy Stice, 2013-17; Father Scott Russell, 2017-18; Father Haley, 2018; Father Thomas Moser, 2018; and Father Orr since 2018. ■
THE EAST TENNESSEE CATHOLIC FILE PHOTO/DAILY POST-ATHENIAN
THE EAST TENNESSEE CATHOLIC FILE PHOTO
survey results found that several families were traveling many miles on two-lane roads to attend Mass at St. Thérèse. The concern was not so much for those traveling but for the larger number of Catholics who weren’t practicing their faith at all. In February 1967, Bishop Joseph A. Durick, coadjutor bishop of Nashville, asked Father Hostettler and Monsignor Francis Pack of Chattanooga to come to Athens and explore possible locations for the celebration of Mass until further plans could be made. At the two priests’ recommendation, Bishop Durick’s decision was to use the Quisenberry-Laycock funeral parlor. After Bishop Durick, Father Hostettler, and Monsignor Pack spent February through May 1967 working out the schedule for Father Hostettler to celebrate Mass in Athens, at the St. Catherine Labouré Mission in Copperhill, and at St. Thérèse, the first Mass was celebrated in Athens by Father Hostettler on June 11, 1967, in the funeral parlor. In August 1967, Bishop Adrian purchased three and a half acres of land on Congress Parkway in Athens. An existing structure on the property that had been a ChowNow restaurant was remodeled for use as a church. Father Hostettler, meanwhile, as pastor of St. Thérèse, was traveling to Athens to celebrate Mass on Sundays and holy days for Catholics in McMinn, Meigs, Monroe, and Polk counties. In its infancy, the Athens church had not been officially named and was first called the Athens Catholic Mission. Several weeks before the new church was to be dedicated, the naming process began. On May 12, 1968, the mission became St. Mary Church to honor Mary, the Mother of God. The parish feast day is the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin
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A parish first St. Mary Parish in Athens celebrated its first-ever confirmation on May 4, 1975, as Nashville Bishop-elect James D. Niedergeses (left) and retiring Bishop Joseph A. Durick (right) presided. Parishioners confirmed were Mark Maxwell, Teddy and Don Guthrie, Robert Sykes, Mark and Carla Robinson, David Cook, Patricia and Danette McCrary, Sherry Davis, Kathy O’Donnell, Nancy Mozur, Lisa Cox, Mary Ann Fortsch, Donna Smith, Geri Smith, Elizabeth Jenkins, Sally Keele, Tony Acakouy, Charles Periut, Jennifer Poole, Eric Morris, and Lucille, Cheryl, Dwain, and David Langford.
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quoting Father Hostettler one more time. “‘Faith is what we believe, how we believe, and why we believe. There is a crisis in the faith today,’” Father Hostettler wrote in 1973. “‘Many no longer believe the old truths taught by the Church (the what and the why), and the reason has to be either because they never had the gift of faith (the how), or because they lost it. “‘In either case, the crisis in faith will not be ended until those who have the name Catholic believe all that the Catholic Church teaches, TH E EAST T E N N E S S E E C AT HO L I C
professes, and believes herself.’ “We love you, Father Paul, and entrust you into Our Blessed Mother’s tender loving hands,” Father Steiner said, “so that she may intercede for your salvation now, and as she did at the hour of his death.” Father Hostettler was buried after the funeral Mass in the Priests Circle at Calvary Cemetery in Nashville. To view the full funeral Mass, visit the Diocese of Nashville Facebook page. Donations in Father Hostettler’s name may be made to assisted-living facility Mary, Queen of Angels,
34 White Bridge Pike, Nashville, TN 37205, or to the St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic, 805 S. Northshore Drive, Knoxville, TN 37919. Father Hostettler’s priesthood was filled with a variety of experiences illustrative of his age that bespoke wisdom and humility, he told The East Tennessee Catholic in 2019. He said he had virtually no regrets about the path God laid before him. “The only regret I have is not being as good a priest as I should have been. I look back and think I should have done this, or I should have done that. But I didn’t, so
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I wasn’t as good as I could have been,” he said. At the time of that interview, he said he was resigned to living in the Diocese of Nashville again and was even comforted by being “home,” although Copperhill and St. Catherine Labouré Parish still called his name. “I’ll never live in the Diocese of Knoxville again, but I will belong to it until I die,” Father Hostettler said with an undying sense of loyalty and appreciation. ■ Portions of this article were obtained from the Tennessee Register. NOVEMBER 5, 2023 n B3
Parish notes St. Bridget, Dayton
need should call Peggy Burnette at 865376-1776 or the parish office at 423745-4277 by Friday, Nov. 10, to register.
The St. Bridget Women’s Council is planning its annual Christmas Bazaar to be held this year on Saturday, Nov. 18, and Sunday, Nov. 19. Ticket sales are underway for the quilt giveaway with the winner chosen Dec. 9. The proceeds from the bazaar and quilt giveaway are the SBWC’s main fundraiser for the year.
St. Mary Parish is looking into constructing a columbarium on its campus. Those interested should contact columbarium committee members: pastor Father John Orr, Barb Bever, Lou Dionne, Ed Fiegle, Paul Kessler, or Ellen Underdown.
The Knights of Columbus will once again sponsor a coat drive this fall and winter. Gently used outerwear will be collected in the back of the church beginning in November.
The Knights of Columbus are sponsoring a spaghetti dinner and bingo after the 5 p.m. Mass on Saturday, Nov. 11, in the family life center. After the meal, games of bingo will be played until about 10 p.m., with prizes awarded for each game.
The angel tree will be set up throughout the month of November for parishioners to select a tag and shop for listed Christmas gifts. All tags on the tree benefit children in the St. Bridget parish family. Monetary donations will also be accepted.
The youth ministry sponsored adoration following the All Souls Mass on Nov. 1 and is sponsoring a Thanksgiving meal following the 6 p.m. Mass on Wednesday, Nov. 15.
The parish Advent party hosted by the Knights and Women’s Council is set for Saturday, Dec. 9, following the 5:30 p.m. vigil Mass.
An Advent party will follow the 10 a.m. Mass on Sunday, Dec. 3. To be on the planning committee or learn more about the event, call Sue Granger at 423-506-7836.
St. Jude, Chattanooga
St. Stephen, Chattanooga
A kindergarten open house is scheduled for 4:30 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 14, at St. Jude School. Parents and children are invited to tour the school’s kindergarten suite, located on the lower floor of the Hofstetter Family Life Center, and parents can pick up an application and schedule a more extended visit. Beverages and light refreshments will be available. RSVP by calling 423-877-6022.
The Knights of Columbus sponsored a Harvest Fall Dance at the Knights’ hall Nov. 4.
A middle school visitation day for parents and students is set for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 15, at the school. RSVP to 423-877-6022 or prestonk@mysjs.com. The St. Jude School cheerleaders are looking for a person or business to sponsor them for the 2023-24 basketball season. This includes helping with the purchase of gifts for eighth-grade night and with run-through signs and other spirit items. Those interested should e-mail Stacy at stacydillefeld@ yahoo.com.
The Respect Life Ministry accepted donations of $1 per chance to win a handmade “wire wrap” rosary. The ministry hosted coffee and doughnuts and held a silent auction of handcrafted wood items following the 8:30 and 11 a.m. Masses on Nov. 5, and a drawing was held then to give away the rosary.
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new ministry for widows and widowers has emerged at Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Alcoa. In recent months, the ministry has grown from a handful of members to 22 and has a diverse group of men and women that provides a wealth of experience. The initial meeting was an endeavor to learn more about one another and everyone’s journey through widowhood, and from that was forged a support group of caring, compassionate friends that has since shared tears of endearment and of joy, finding solace in the comfort of one another’s company. Ministry leaders quickly realized that the group was more than widows and widowers and as such adopted a patroness, St. Paula of Rome, the patron saint of widows and widowers who was a wealthy Roman citizen (347-404 AD) who became widowed at the age of 32 and was mother to five children. Her legacy is that of translating Greek biblical texts for St. Jerome’s Latin version of the Bible. The ministry has had guest speakers from the community who brought enlightenment to the group and even inspired some to become volunteers. While members are not trained in grief support, they have benefited from guest speakers who offered bereavement/loss counseling by pointing out that grief and loss do not have an expiration date. Mourning, as
with all aspects of life, is unique and individual. The group has discovered acceptance, coping, and forging a new life while keeping the memories of loved ones close to their hearts. Sharing these thoughts and feelings bring acknowledgment and reaffirmation that God blessed the members of the ministry with their loved ones and is blessing them to share themselves in new and meaningful ways. They enjoy the beauty of creation by sharing walks, hikes, meals, musical performances, and reading circles, and by touring local sights. Many are volunteers at nonprofits such as the local food pantry, homeless shelters, and community-support agencies that provide financial assistance to avoid homelessness. Group members have taken their sorrow and replaced it with rewarding endeavors that have enhanced their own growth and healing. The St. Paula’s Widows and Widowers Ministry meets at 12:45 p.m. on third Tuesdays in the Knights of Columbus Room at Our Lady of Fatima Church, and members enjoy friendship, share birthday celebrations, offer prayers and support for those in need, and enjoy one another’s stories and adventures. Sharing and caring is the group’s mission, and anyone is invited to join. Contact Kathleen at 865-548-5410 or gedi0529@gmail.com for more details. n
The parish held a “Breakfast on F.I.R.E.” (faith, inspiration, renewal, engagement) event after Masses on Oct. 15 in the parish hall. The Knights recently named Jim Polizzi as Knight of the month and Ron and Myrtle Englert as family of the month. Anniversaries: Robert and Karen Adney (57), Joe and Truyen Rahm (51), Brett and Cheri Johnson (30)
JIM WOGAN (2)
Chattanooga Deanery
Widows and widowers ministry starts at Our Lady of Fatima
Cumberland Mountain Deanery The annual St. Jude Holiday Craft Fair, sponsored by the Council of Catholic Women, will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18, in the family life center gymnasium. There are 45 spots available for members (or relatives) of St. Jude parishioners and the greater Chattanooga-area Catholic community. Rental fee is $45 with a table or $30 if you provide your own table. Additional tables of up to three per space may be brought. A hobby show, with no fee to set up, will take place on the walking track upstairs. Items at the hobby show are not for sale. Register for the Craft Fair on forms that can be found in the outer vestibule.
Blessed Sacrament, Harriman An angel tree, for those who need help with Christmas presents for children (to age 18), will be available. Contact the parish office at 865-882-9838 or blessedsacramentoffice@gmail.com. If no one answers the call, leave a message with contact information. “Angels” on the tree are anonymous, and personal information is not given out. The ladies’ guild hosted a baby shower for a mother from Life Choices Medical Center in Harriman on Oct. 24 in Blessed Sacrament Hall.
A 60th-birthday luncheon for associate pastor Father Alex Waraksa is set for Thursday, Dec. 7.
Deacon Bob Hunt was the instructor for a one-day symposium Nov. 4 on the Book of Revelation.
Father Zacharie Saint Jean of St. Jude’s sister parish of Our Lady of the Light in Gros-Morne, Haiti, recently thanked parishioners for their continued support. St. Jude parishioners’ donations helped the Haiti parish with religious education, including the purchase of catechism books to help children prepare for first Holy Communion.
St. Francis of Assisi, Fairfield Glade
A “blingo” night Nov. 7 in Siener Hall benefited families and children who receive support through the Chattanooga Pregnancy Help Center. Knights of Columbus Council 8576 conducted an exemplification ceremony for new members Oct. 23, followed by a parish social. Recent council families of the month were Alfonso and Maria Beatriz Fuentes, Naino and Nolie Leo, and Al and Gail Salatka. St. Mary, Athens The parish is accepting names (newborns to high school seniors) for its angel tree program, an outreach to parish families facing financial difficulty because of illness or job loss. Those in B4 n NOVEMBER 5, 2023
The parish’s “Welcome Home” outdoor Mass on Oct. 1 at The Square on Peavine Road in the Glade was well-attended by 300 people. There was perfect weather for the liturgy, and fans and ice water were available for those who needed them. The 10 a.m. Mass was celebrated by pastor Father Michael Woods, with Father John Matejek concelebrating. The parish choir was led by director of music Eric Wheeler. The service was well-organized and took many people to make it a success, including the Fairfield Glade Police Department and EMTs, the St. Francis of Assisi security team, the Knights of Columbus, the Council of Catholic Women, greeters, ushers, sacristans, readers, and eucharistic ministers. The Prayer Blanket Ministry made the banners that directed everyone where to line up for Communion. After the Mass, the CCW provided everyone with cookies and cold drinks. On the afternoon of Oct. 1, Fairfield Glade United Methodist Church was Parish notes continued on page B8
Pastors offer sacrament of confirmation Glenmary Father Kenneth Wandera, parochial administrator of St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Erwin, offered the sacrament of confirmation to six children during a Mass there on Sept. 24. Deacon James Haselsteiner assisted. “It is a great day, not just for the six children, but for the whole community here,” Father Wandera said. “These children have been confirmed, and that seal is not just something in our mind—it is truly on their faces, and you can see that. The hope is that they go forth and live that out. That is our desire and hope for them.” In order to better provide for the spiritual well-being of the faithful of the diocese, and since it is not possible for him to celebrate the sacrament himself in all parishes, Archbishop Shelton J. Fabre has issued a decree granting all pastors of the diocese faculties to confirm within the boundaries of their proper jurisdiction, and to subdelegate this power for individual cases to their associate pastors until a new bishop is installed.
Degas of Fairfield Glade marking their 60th wedding anniversary
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t. Francis of Assisi Parish in Fairfield Glade congratulates Thomas and Mary Dega, who will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary on Nov. 30. The Degas were married at Holy Family Church in Cudahy, Wis., with Father Joseph Baran officiating.
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Their children are Jon Dega of Loxahatchee, Fla., and Mark Dega of Elkridge, Md., and they have four grandchildren. Mr. Dega retired from the Internal Revenue Service, and the couple moved to the Glade in August 2002. The Degas will celebrate their 60th anniversary with a dinner. n TH E EA S T TEN N ES S EE C ATH OLI C
Calendar
The St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic is holding its second annual Share the Warmth Drive through Thursday, Nov. 30. Items accepted include new or gently used items for men, women, and children of all ages and sizes, such as coats, sweaters, pajamas, gloves and mittens, scarves and hats, snow gear, new socks, and blankets. Make sure all items have been freshly washed. Donation sites are Rebecca Pipkins’ desk at the SMLC office and the reception desk at the Chancery office in Knoxville. For more details, contact Ms. Pipkins at 865-212-5570 or rpipkins@ smlcares.com or visit www.smlcares. com. The third annual Christmas Market, sponsored by Holy Ghost Parish in Knoxville, will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, in the gym at St. Joseph School. For more details on becoming a vendor, e-mail Sarah Bryant at jsbry412@gmail.com. The Glenmary Home Missioners are hosting a daylong retreat for men ages 16-25 who are seeking to understand God’s will in their lives. The retreat will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, at St. John Paul II Catholic Mission in Rutledge. Speakers from Glenmary will cover various topics ranging from following Jesus as Christian disciples to recognizing signs of religious calling to engaging in missions in rural America. For more information, call or text 513-319-9572 or e-mail vocations@glenmary.org. Search for Christian Maturity retreat 170 will be held from 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1, to 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3, at St. John Neumann Church in Farragut. Search is a weekend retreat experience sponsored by the Office of Youth, Young Adult, and Pastoral Juvenil Ministry in collaboration with Knoxville Catholic High School. The weekends are for any high school juniors and seniors. The program is both rooted in the Catholic faith and open to young people of any denomination or creed. Search provides an opportunity to think, talk, question, and wonder about life and faith in an accepting and challenging environment. It is an opportunity to experience God and God’s family in a personal and real way. The weekend is youth- and peer-oriented; it is run by youth, to youth, and for youth, and all under the guidance of a team of adult mentors. Cost for the weekend is $95, which is all-inclusive. For permission/medical forms, a code of conduct and release, and a team application, or to sponsor a retreatant, visit dioknox. org/events/search-170. Search 171 will take place Jan. 26-28, 2024, at St. Thérèse of Lisieux Church in Cleveland. Search 172 is set for Feb. 23-25, at St. TH E EAST T E N N E S S E E C AT HO L I C
A Vocations Day for young women ages 14 to 29 is set for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3, at All Saints Church in Knoxville. Participants are invited to meet representatives from several religious communities and learn more about religious life. The day will begin with Mass at 9 a.m. Breakfast will follow Mass. Beginning at 10:15, information booths and representatives will be in the parish hall to answer questions about religious life and specific communities. Adoration will be available throughout the day. Lunch is provided. For more information, call 865-584-3307 or e-mail Christine.h.blair@gmail.com.
COURTESY OF JANET SPRAKER
The 13th annual Knoxville Catholic High School Green & Gold Gala will be held Friday, Jan. 26, in the University of Tennessee Student Union ballroom. “Irish Legends” John and Sondra Faris will be honored at the event.
St. Bridget holds picnic with Mass in parishioners’ barn St. Bridget Parish in Dayton held its annual picnic Oct. 14 at the home of parishioners Pat and Barbara Bisson in Decatur. The event was kicked off with pastor Father Jim Vick celebrating the 5:30 p.m. vigil Mass in the Bissons’ barn (above). A potluck supper followed with Knights of Columbus Council 11424 grilling hamburgers and hot dogs and the St. Bridget Women’s Council handling the serving line. DJ Jose Luis Lopez provided entertainment to the enjoyment of all 70plus parishioners in attendance.
A Picture of Love retreat for engaged couples is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, Feb. 23-24, at St. Stephen Church in Chattanooga. This marriagepreparation program is a supplement to a couple’s marriage formation with their parish priest or deacon. Picture of Love explores the joys and challenges of living out the sacrament of matrimony with special focus on the importance of inviting Jesus to be the center of marriage and family life. The program will help each couple gain insights into their relationship as well as give them practical ideas and tools to help smooth their journey and become the “Picture of Love” to one another. Meeting times are 6:45 to 10 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday. Cost is $175 per couple. Payment is due two weeks before the weekend. For a registration form, visit dioknox. org/events/picture-of-love-feb-2024. Also at the website are three exercises: a personality test, a “love language profile for couples,” and a fillable budget worksheet. Couples are asked to complete the exercises in advance and bring them to the retreat—see the website for more details.
COURTESY OF CONNIE BRACE (2)
The Glenmary Home Missioners’ Department of Justice, Peace, and the Integrity of Creation will present the program “The Eucharist and Missionary Discipleship” from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, at St. Michael the Archangel Church in Erwin. “The Eucharist and Missionary Discipleship” will be an Advent retreat led by Washington, D.C.-based Yohan Garcia from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Mr. Garcia is the Catholic social teaching education manager for the USCCB. Presentations for this local gathering will be livestreamed, so people from across the Diocese of Knoxville (and in any diocese) can attend online. The day will include talks in English and in Spanish, Mass, eucharistic adoration, music, lunch, and fellowship. The retreat is part of Glenmary’s ongoing program related to the National Eucharistic Revival. The event is free; RSVP for lunch at glenmary. org/revival. Check the same site for livestreaming options.
John Neumann.
Creation Care Team at All Saints takes part in walk, blessing of animals Members of the Creation Care Team at All Saints Parish in Knoxville continued their celebration of the annual ecumenical Season of Creation in recent weeks. Members of the team and others visited Seven Islands State Birding Park in Kodak for a ranger-guided walk on Sept. 30 (top photo). The team also took part in a blessing of animals Oct. 1 at All Saints, led by pastor Father Doug Owens (left). The Season of Creation concluded on Oct. 4, the feast day of St. Francis, the patron saint of ecology.
Catholic in Recovery is a 12-step recovery ministry that holds meetings each Monday at 7 p.m. at St. Mary Church in Johnson City. CIR provides hope and healing from addictions, compulsions, and unhealthy attachments. Family members impacted by a loved one’s addiction are also encouraged to attend. Meetings combine the spiritual principles of 12-step recovery and the sacraments of the Catholic Church. Join others in recovery as the meetings overlap Scripture from Sunday’s Mass readings, liturgical themes, and recovery topics with honest discussion and prayer. Confidentiality is protected. For more information, visit www.catholicinrecovery.com or contact Jena at cir.tricities.tn@gmail. com, Beth at 714-651-2008, or Ed at 865-599-4823. The Healing Ministry at Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Alcoa offers healing prayers every third weekend of the month for anyone who has a physical, emotional, or spiritual need. Individual healing prayer will be offered in Spanish in the church immediately following the 7 p.m. Saturday Mass in Spanish, and prayer will be offered in English in the chapel immediately following the 11 a.m. Sunday Mass. Call Toni Jacobs at 561-315-5911 if you have any questions. A 14-day pilgrimage to Catholic England, led by Father Joe Reed and Father Michael Maples, is set for April 17-30. Sites to be visited include Ampleforth Abbey, Rievaulx Abbey, Durham Cathedral, Whitby Abbey, English Martyrs Church, the Shrine of St. Margaret, York Minster, York Oratory, Coventry Cathedral, Oxford, Stonehenge, Salisbury Cathedral, Winchester Cathedral, London, the Stonor Park country house, London Oratory, Tyburn Tree, Tyburn Convent, Westminster Abbey, Westminster Hall within the Houses of Parliament, Canterbury Cathedral, the Friars-Aylesford Priory, Shrine of the Assumption and St. Simon Stock, Norwich Cathedral, Julian Chapel, and Walsingham Shrine. Calendar continued on page B8
COURTESY OF ELIZABETH MCCACHREN
Knights of Columbus Council 5207 in West Knoxville is holding its 16th annual Wine & Cheese Social from 7 to 11 p.m. Friday, Nov. 17, in the Cathedral Hall at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. The night of wine and food will also feature live and silent auctions to support the Sacred Heart Knights’ charitable works. Tickets are $50 per person and $100 per couple (ages 21 and older only). Tickets may be purchased at www. koc5207.org (online sales will have applicable processing fees).
Care for Creation team at Our Lady of Fatima attends outdoor Mass The Care for Creation Team at Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Alcoa took part in an outdoor Season of Creation Mass on Oct. 4, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. Above, members of the choir lead the gathering in hymns. Pastor Father Peter Iorio celebrated the Mass, and he blessed pets before and after the liturgy.
Advent penance services scheduled
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ere are the Advent penance services received as of press time. Note that many parishes are having, instead of penance services, extended or additional times for confession during Advent:
16—St. Faustina Public Association of the Faithful, Chattanooga; Monday, Dec. 18—St. Stephen Church, Chattanooga, 6 p.m.; St. Augustine Church , Signal Mountain, 7 p.m.
Chattanooga Deanery
Thursday, Nov. 30—St. Mary Church, Johnson City, 6 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 2—St. Michael the Archangel Church, Erwin, 1 p.m.; Tuesday, Dec. 5—St. Dominic Church, Kingsport, 7 p.m.; Thursday, Dec. 14—Holy Trinity Church, Jefferson City, 7 p.m.; Tuesday, Dec. 19—Notre Dame Church, Greeneville, 7 p.m.; Wednesday, Dec. 20—St. Henry Church, Rogersville, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 5—Notre Dame High School, Chattanooga; St. Jude Church, Chattanooga, 7 p.m.; Wednesday, Dec. 6—NDHS; Holy Spirit Church, Soddy-Daisy, 7 p.m.; Thursday, Dec. 7—St. Bridget Church, Dayton, 6:30 p.m.; St. Catherine Labouré Church, Copperhill, all day; Monday, Dec. 11— St. Mary Church, Athens, 7 p.m.; Wednesday, Dec. 13—Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, Chattanooga, 6:30 p.m.; Thursday, Dec. 14—St. Thérèse of Lisieux Church, Cleveland, 7 p.m.; Saturday, Dec.
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Five Rivers Deanery
Smoky Mountain Deanery Thursday, Dec. 14—St. Joseph the Worker Church, Madisonville, 7 p.m. n NOVEMBER 5, 2023 n B5
Praying for Perspective
by George Valadie
God is like Google Maps, only better Both use different voices to convey helpful suggestions, such as ‘make a U-turn right now’
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t’s been a crazy few weeks on the road to be sure. After months of anticipation, our oldest daughter and I got to travel to and through southwest Ireland and along its Atlantic coast, a trip that also included an unexpected 12 hours in Paris— more commonly referred to as a “travel delay.” We did receive $50 each for our 12-hour layover, though it didn’t quite cover the train and cab fares we spent taking in the City of Light. We returned to the states in time for my wife, Nancy, and I to make a quick drive to Birmingham, where I had the opportunity to speak to 400plus Catholic school teachers. We followed that with an unplanned and as it turned out unwanted trip to Nashville to consult with her orthopedic surgeon. The last time we had seen him, he was wishing us well after inserting an assortment of plates, pins, and screws in her right foot. It was our hope—and his—that we’d never see the man again, at least not professionally. But here we were. Turned out to be neither disastrous nor tragic, but a staph infection had made its way from the surface of her foot down to the metal plate now residing inside. And that’s apparently not cool! At all! “Yeah, that’s not good,” he offered with a look that said more than that. Not exactly what you want to hear from your doctor. “So what’s next?” we asked. “I’ve got to get that plate out. And next week’s too long to wait. Let’s get y’all checked in tomorrow.” “What does that mean for her foot exactly?” Turns out she won’t miss it at all—the plate I mean, not the foot. The device is apparently no longer necessary, it did its job, the bones have fused. But getting it out does involve the requisite four weeks of crutches and wheelchairs, ramps and rollers— anything but putting that foot on the ground. For an extra dose of good measure and double-down protection, they
inserted a pic line so she could walk around with an IV antibiotic infusion 24 hours a day. If she doesn’t hang herself on all the tubing, she’ll be good. But here’s the thing: in all three of these recent journeys, we found ourselves in need of and making use of Google Maps at various points along the way. It’s an invention that’s become so ubiquitous we don’t even think about it anymore. And it’s hard to imagine life before it or without it. I can’t tell you the last time I read, much less owned, a real map, but I can tell you this upgrade is a technological lifesaver. There’s no question we’d still be stranded somewhere in the Irish countryside if we’d traveled without it. Some of their roads to which we were directed, like the ones with sheep meandering down the middle, surely have yet to make it on any printed map anywhere. But an unexpected thought occurred to me when we were on I-24 approaching Nashville. I’m sure many readers have traveled that exact same stretch of interstate highway. We all know as you get closer to larger cities, the freeways get wider, more lanes, more exits, more loops and signs and cloverleafs. And as I was attempting to navigate into the correct exit lane, it was at that moment that the thought actually hit me. Our Google voice said, “Stay in the second lane from the right.” Let me interrupt our journey to say I was recently riding with a friend who was utilizing the same technology. Only his spoke to him with a British accent. You can apparently pick most any flavor … I had no idea! I’m thinking about switching to Australian. But back to our own trip, the voice said, “Stay in the second lane from the right …” But what suddenly registered was what she didn’t say. She didn’t say, “Use the second lane from the right …” No, she said, “Stay in the second lane from the right.” And right then
Thoughts and Prayers for the Faithful
it dawned on me … Google knew exactly where I was at that precise moment. That’s how it works of course; it’s supposed to follow you, keep an eye on how it’s going, notice things around you (traffic, radar, and such), recalibrate, and suggest a new plan whenever you seem to have gotten off the path that makes the most sense … all to get you exactly where you’re going. And then I realized what I’d been missing: the Almighty does the exact same thing. He knows exactly where we are every moment of the day. He understands where we’re headed, though he might not always agree, and has complete grasp of our surrounding circumstances and people. Those that help and those that hinder. And just like Google, he uses all sorts of voices to convey his helpful suggestions. “You’re doing just great, right on target, you’ll be here before you know it.” But more frequently, it’s a voice that suggests we may be wandering off course a little bit—or a lot— when we hear “return to route.” Or worst of all, “I don’t know how you got this lost, but you need to make a U-turn right now.” What does He sound like? Maybe it’s the pastor delivering Sunday’s homily. Or the Scripture we read just before bed. Could be the multiple mail requests we receive, asking us to pause and consider if we might share some of what we have. Or it’s seeing the homeless on the corner with a face that’s asking us to consider the same. Some messages arrive silently. Perhaps it’s the family member or colleague in need of forgiveness. There’s no one actually asking or suggesting we give such; instead it’s a hint we hear in our head with a voice remarkably resembling the conscience He gave each of us. Every now and again, we hear a warning such as, “This road has tolls.” Basically, there are worse trails we could wander, but purgatory—and payment—await if you
stay on this particular path. “This road may have closures” brings to mind quite a few of my mom’s life lessons. She was right more than I care to admit. I wish I could tell her that. “This road may have delays.” Delays of our own making no doubt. We should put down the phone and go play catch with our boy or put up the iPad and dine at that tea party with our princess. My wife desires an old-fashioned conversation about … well, she’d have one about anything if I’d just turn off the game. And what grandma doesn’t long for a visitor of any kind if we can find—or make—the time? We only need look at their faces or listen to their pleas to hear the message He sends. “Make a darn U-turn—and do it now!” I’d bet my Social Security allowance God has yelled those exact words. At me for sure, maybe you, too. There are addictive disasters caused by alcohol, drugs, and pornography, the sort that shut down our senses and obscure His voice. Sadly, others are the lost who dwell mired inside themselves—the unfaithful, the ungrateful, the irresponsible. But equally in need of a turnabout in direction. What does God sound like? He sounds like the doctor who says we must do this now. He sounds like people we love and some we don’t. He can sound like the wind of Mother Nature. The whimperings of a pet. Words on a page. The touch of a spouse. The smell of a Christmas tree. For the God who is all things, He can do all things, He can use all things. We just have to listen. God is just like Google Maps, only better! Dear God—There is need to get around down here. And there is the real journey to get up there. Help us hear what matters. Amen. ■ George Valadie is a parishioner at St. Stephen Church in Chattanooga and author of the newly released “We Lost Our Fifth Fork … and other moments when we need some perspective.”
by Deacon Bob Hunt
Regarding the Synod, remember this Progressives and conservatives should keep in mind Jesus’ promise to be with His Church until the end
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am writing this in the middle of October, so by the time you read this mid-November, the Synod on Synodality taking place in Rome this month of October will be over. We await the Synod on Synodality chapter to be convened in Rome next year at this time. There has been a lot of ink spilt on the matter of the Synod. So-called “progressive” Catholics are hoping the Synod will lead to new momentum in their decades-long effort to “reform” the Church, to make it more “modern,” and to change Church teaching to accommodate contemporary values, such as same-sex marriage, equality for women (which can only mean women priests, or at least deacons), and a more democratic Church, where bishops are less shepherds of their flock and more followers. Advocates of this agenda conveniently ignore the disaster that adopting such teachings has been for many other Christian traditions, especially of the liberal Protestant persuasion. This is not to mention the disastrous results of the sexual revolution on secular society: millions killed by abortion, rampant divorce, half of children being born and raised into single-parent households, etc. On the other side of the equation are the so-called “conservative”
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Catholics who hope to hold down the fort against the tide of progressivism and of the vague and confusing leadership they see as the defining character of Francis’ papacy. Regardless of what kind of Catholic you consider yourself, one thing was certain during the papacies of St. John Paul II and Benedict XVI, and that is that you knew what the Church taught. Whether you submitted to that teaching or not, you knew where the Church stood and, consequently, where you stood in your relationship with the Church. The complaint many have of Pope Francis, justified or not, is that his teaching and guidance have been so vague and confusing that it’s difficult to ascertain exactly where the Church stands. Some Catholics, even some cardinals and bishops, eager to push the envelope, have exploited this vagueness by putting forth interpretations of Church teaching that are contrary to what the Church has taught for centuries. The secular media, not to be outdone, have contributed to the confusion by picking and choosing what to report and what not to report, and providing a stage for talking heads that offer the most progressive take on whatever Francis writes or says. As well, and in the spirit of the old claim that “it’s easier to get forgive-
ness than to get permission,” some Catholic priests and, again, even some cardinals and bishops, have ignored Church teaching and taken it upon themselves to bless same-sex unions. Perhaps figuring that a done deal can’t be undone, their hope is that the rest of the Church will shrug its shoulders and accept the new tradition. That hasn’t happened, and it’s not likely to. Amidst all the brouhaha over the Synod, it seems to me that one thing has been forgotten, and that is the promise of Jesus to be with His Church until the end, and to send the Holy Spirit as Paraclete and guide. What do I expect of the Synod? Honestly, not much. Perhaps some bishops will adopt an attitude of listening to the faithful and of inviting them to participate in the daily decisions of their diocese. That would not be a bad thing. I do not expect Church teaching to change. I do not expect the great majority of cardinals, bishops, and faithful Catholics to simply set aside the centuries-old faith and morals of the Catholic tradition to accommodate those few who are eager to shape the Church into what they regard as a tool of human progress rather than to guard and keep her as the Bride of Christ. I do expect continued confusion. I do expect that some will exploit what they hoped
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the Synod would become in their effort to shape the Church into what they feel it must become. Ultimately, they will fail. Just as the Gnostics failed, and the Arians failed, and the Nestorians failed, and all those others who attempted to push their own agendas rather than to submit to the Holy Spirit and the revelation God has given through the apostles. Our faith is the faith of the apostles, and I cannot imagine St. Peter or St. Paul blessing same-sex unions. Have faith in the Holy Spirit. Have faith in Jesus’ promises. This is not to say that we ought to be silent or inactive when others try to force teachings on the faithful that are contrary to our Catholic tradition. St. Thomas More prayed, “Give us, good Lord, the grace to work for the things we pray for.” Of course, we should pray for the Holy Father, for the cardinals, bishops, and delegates at the Synod. The work we can do is to be faithful ourselves. Never compromise our souls by compromising our fidelity to what Christ has taught us through His Church. Be Christ for all. Bring Christ to all. See Christ in all. ■ Deacon Bob Hunt is a husband, father, grandfather, and parishioner at All Saints Church in Knoxville. TH E EA S T TEN N ES S EE C ATH OLI C
Encountering God in the Liturgy
by Father Randy Stice
The ‘today’ of Christ’s saving work The Holy Spirit makes the special graces of each mystery of our salvation present
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n Dec. 3, the first Sunday of Advent, we begin a new liturgical year in which the Church “unfolds the whole mystery of Christ, from the incarnation and birth until the Ascension, the day of Pentecost, and the expectation of blessed hope and of the coming of the Lord.” 1 The liturgical year, however, does not unfold in a strictly chronological order, for if it did, Easter would be celebrated at the end of the year rather than in the middle. Rather, the sacred Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday) is the high point of the entire liturgical year, “and around it radiate all the mysteries of Christ and the history of salvation which becomes sacramentally present.” 2 Gradually, on either side of the Triduum, the year is transfigured by the liturgy. The liturgical year begins with Advent when we remember Christ’s first coming and anticipate His Second Coming at the end of time, leading to Christmas, the birth of Christ, and His first manifestations. This is followed by the beginning of Ordinary Time (four to eight weeks) until the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday. During Lent, we prepare for Easter, recalling our baptism and doing penance. Easter is the “feast of feasts,” the “solemnity of solemnities,” because the resurrection “permeates with its powerful energy our old time, until all is subject to Him.” 3 The 50 days of Easter Time through Pentecost are joyfully celebrated as one feast day—in the words of St. Athanasius, one “great Sunday.” After Pente-
cost, we resume Ordinary Time for the remainder of the liturgical year (about six months), concluding with the solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. The liturgical year, wrote Pope Pius XII, is not “a cold and lifeless representation of the events of the past, or a simple and bare record of a former age” but “Christ Himself who is ever living in His Church.” 4 When the Church celebrates the mysteries of Christ in the Mass, taught the Second Vatican Council, she “opens to the faithful the riches of her Lord’s powers and merits, so that these are in some way made present for all time, and the faithful are enabled to lay hold upon them and become filled with saving grace.” 5 When we celebrate the mysteries of Christ’s saving work, says the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “there is a word that marks her prayer: ‘Today!’—a word echoing the prayer her Lord taught her and the call of the Holy Spirit.” 6 Pope Pius XII explained the “today” of the liturgy in Mediator Dei (Mediator Between God and Man, 1947), the first encyclical devoted exclusively to the liturgy. In the course of the liturgical year, we encounter Christ, “as the Word of the eternal Father, as born of the Virgin Mother of God, as He who teaches us truth, heals the sick, consoles the afflicted, who endures suffering, and who dies; finally, as He who rose triumphantly from the dead and who, reigning in the glory of heaven, sends us the Holy Paraclete and who abides in His Church forever; ‘Jesus Christ, yesterday and today, and the same forever.’” In the
succession of seasons and feasts, Christ is present in the Mass “not only as a model to be imitated but as a master to whom we should listen readily, a Shepherd whom we should follow, Author of our salvation, the Source of our holiness, and the Head of the Mystical Body whose members we are, living by His very life.” 7 In addition, “each mystery brings its own special grace for our salvation.” 8 According to the Catechism, it is the Holy Spirit who makes the special grace of each mystery present, for “in each celebration there is an outpouring of the Holy Spirit that makes the unique mystery present.” 9 The saints experienced these special graces. A penitent wrote of St. John of the Cross (died 1591), “I noticed that his countenance reflected the feast being celebrated. I became convinced that his heart was set on God in harmony with the feasts and seasons.” 10 St. Thérèse of Lisieux (died 1897) was introduced from childhood to the graces of each feast, as she lovingly recounted to her sister Pauline (Mother Agnes of Jesus): “How I loved the feasts! You knew how to explain all the mysteries hidden under each, and you did it so well that they were truly heavenly days for me.” 11 “Almost every feast of the Church,” wrote St. Faustina, “gives me a deeper knowledge of God and a special grace.” 12 St. Faustina also anticipated each season and feast. “I prepare myself for each feast,” she wrote, “and unite myself closely to the spirit of the Church.” 13 She is a good exam-
ple to imitate. One way we can prepare is to read carefully the Gospel for the coming Sunday. What is Jesus doing in this Mass? What is the special grace? This spiritual practice can dispose us to participate more deeply in the “today” of each mystery of our salvation and be “filled with saving grace.” 14 Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, 102. 2 Benedict XVI, Verbum Domini, 52. 3 CCC, 1169. 4 Pius XII, Mediator Dei (MD), 163. 5 Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, 102. 6 CCC, 1165. 7 MD, 163. 8 MD, 165. 9 CCC, 1104. 10 God Speaks in the Night: The Life, Times, and Teaching of St. John of the Cross (Washington, D.C.: ICS Publications, 2000), p. 207. 11 Thérèse of Lisieux, Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, third edition. Translated by John Clarke, OCD (Washington, D.C.: ICS Publications, 1996, p. 41. Italics original. 12 Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska: Divine Mercy in My Soul, (Stockbridge, Mass.: Marian Press, 2012, no. 481, p. 209), September/ October 1935. 13 Diary, 481. 14 Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy 102. ■ 1
Father Randy Stice is director of the diocesan Office of Worship and Liturgy. He can be reached at frrandy@dioknox. org.
COURTESY OF BILL HEWITT (2)
St. Henry Knights receive stained-glass window donation Knights of Columbus Council 8860 at St. Henry Parish in Rogersville recently received the gift of a stained-glass window depicting the Annunciation that is estimated to be 150 years old. Bill Hewitt of the St. Henry council learned Jan. 22 from Rodney Farrell, Hawkins County historian emeritus, that his friend Julia had an antique stained-glass window to donate. Council advocate Michael Rogan, member Adam McDaniel, warden Stephen Derosia, and Mr. Hewitt traveled to Julia’s parents’ cabin on top of the mountain off Magnolia Road in Rogersville on Feb. 5 and picked up the large window, which was transported and stored. In April, Mr. Rogan commissioned Jon Walenter, an artisan from Church Hill, to build an oak frame and shadow box for the stained glass. At far left, Mr. Rogan (left) stands by the finished window with Mr. Derosia. On Sept. 25, the window was donated by Council 8860 and installed at St. Henry Church. Following Mass on Oct. 1, pastor Father Bart Okere blessed the image in a ceremony and prayer, saying “that whenever we look at them with our bodily eyes, we call to mind their holy lives.”
Daily readings Wednesday, Nov. 15: Wisdom 6:111; Psalm 82:3-4, 6-7; Luke 17:11-19 Thursday, Nov. 16: Wisdom 7:22– 8:1; Psalm 119:89-91, 130, 135, 175; Luke 17:20-25 Friday, Nov. 17: Memorial of St. Elizabeth of Hungary, religious, Wisdom 13:1-9; Psalm 19:2-5; Luke 17:26-37 Saturday, Nov. 18: Wisdom 18:14-16 and 19:6-9; Psalm 105:2-3, 36-37, 4243; Luke 18:1-8 Sunday, Nov. 19: Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31; Psalm 128:1-5; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6; Matthew 25:14-30 Monday, Nov. 20: 1 Maccabees 1:10-15, 41-43, 54-57, 62-63; Psalm 119:53, 61, 134, 150, 155, 158; Luke 18:35-43 Tuesday, Nov. 21: Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 2 Maccabees 6:18-31; Psalm 3:2-7; Luke 19:1-10 Wednesday, Nov. 22: Memorial TH E EAST T E N N E S S E E C AT HO L I C
of St. Cecilia, virgin and martyr, 2 Maccabees 7:1, 20-31; Psalm 17:1, 5-6, 8, 15; Luke 19:11-28 Thursday, Nov. 23: Thanksgiving Day, Sirach 50:22-24; Psalm 145:2-11; 1 Corinthians 1:3-9; Luke 17:11-19; readings for the Thursday of the 34th week in Ordinary Time, 1 Maccabees 2:15-29; Psalm 50:1-2, 5-6, 1415; Luke 19:41-44 Friday, Nov. 24: Memorial of St. Andrew Dung-Lac, priest, and companions, martyrs, 1 Maccabees 4:36-37, 52-59; 1 Chronicles 29:10-12; Luke 19:45-48 Saturday, Nov. 25: 1 Maccabees 6:1-13; Psalm 9:2-4, 6, 16, 19; Luke 20:27-40 Sunday, Nov. 26: The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, Ezekiel 34:11-12, 1517; Psalm 23:1-3, 5-6; 1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 28; Matthew 25:31-46 Monday, Nov. 27: Daniel 1:1-6, 8-20; Daniel 3:52-56; Luke 21:1-4 Tuesday, Nov. 28: Daniel 2:31-45;
Daniel 3:57-61; Luke 21:5-11 Wednesday, Nov. 29: Daniel 5:1-6, 13-14, 16-17, 23-28; Daniel 3:62-67; Luke 21:12-19 Thursday, Nov. 30: Feast of St. Andrew, Apostle, Romans 10:9-18; Psalm 19:8-11; Matthew 4:18-22 Friday, Dec. 1: Daniel 7:2-14; Daniel 3:75-81; Luke 21:29-33 Saturday, Dec. 2: Daniel 7:15-27; Daniel 3:82-87; Luke 21:34-36 Sunday, Dec. 3: First Sunday of Advent, Isaiah 63:16-17, 19 and 64:2-7; Psalm 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19; 1 Corinthians 1:3-9; Matthew 13:33-37 Monday, Dec. 4: Isaiah 2:1-5; Psalm 122:1-9; Matthew 8:5-11 Tuesday, Dec. 5: Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17; Luke 10:21-24 Wednesday, Dec. 6: Isaiah 25:6-10; Psalm 23:1-6; Matthew 15:29-37 Thursday, Dec. 7: Memorial of St. Ambrose, bishop and doctor of the Church, Isaiah 26:1-6; Psalm 118:1, 8-9, 19-21, 25-27; Matthew 7:21,
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24-27 Friday, Dec. 8: Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Genesis 3:9-15, 20; Psalm 98:1-4; Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12; Luke 1:26-38 Saturday, Dec. 9: Isaiah 30:19-21, 23-26; Psalm 147:1-6; Matthew 9:35– 10:1 and 10:5-8 Sunday, Dec. 10: Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11; Psalm 85:9-14; 2 Peter 3:8-14; Mark 1:1-8 Monday, Dec. 11: Isaiah 35:1-10; Psalm 85:9-14; Luke 5:17-26 Tuesday, Dec. 12: Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Zechariah 2:14-17; Judith 13:18-19; Luke 1:26-38 Wednesday, Dec. 13: Memorial of St. Lucy, virgin and martyr, Isaiah 40:25-31; Psalm 103:1-4, 8, 10; Matthew 11:28-30 Thursday, Dec. 14: Memorial of St. John of the Cross, priest and doctor of the Church, Isaiah 41:13-20; Psalm 145:1, 9-13; Matthew 11:1115 n NOVEMBER 5, 2023 n B7
Calendar continued from page B5 Double-occupancy price is $4,795 and single-occupancy $6,295. To register, visit stcharlespilgrimages.com/ reed-maples. A Seine River pilgrimage is set for June 9-17, with an optional pre-tour to Lourdes, home of St. Bernadette, from June 5-10. Pilgrims will visit Paris, Giverny, Lisieux, Rouen, the beaches of Normandy, and more. In Paris, they will see the Eiffel Tower, des ChampsÉlysées, and other city highlights during a panoramic tour. Travelers will visit the Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal on Rue Du Bac, where they will celebrate Mass and have time to visit the gift shop, followed by a shortdistance walk to visit St. Vincent de Paul Church. In Rouen, the travelers will retrace the footsteps of St. Joan of Arc. Rouen offers a restored medieval quarter and a Gothic cathedral of Notre Dame, often painted by Claude Monet. After disembarking in the port of Honfleur, the travelers will drive through Normandy to Omaha Beach, where they will see the American Memorial and Cemetery. In Lisieux, home of St.
Parish notes continued from page B4 the host as a combined choir of 89 singers from the Glade’s Council of Churches sang nine hymns. Joy Rachor, director of music for Christ Lutheran Church, conceived the idea and worked hard to make it happen. She also played the organ. Sandra Robbins and Mr. Wheeler of St. Francis of Assisi were pianists, and Bill Kerr, director of the Cumberland County Community Band, assisted in directing. Fathers Woods and Matejek together performed a blessing of animals Oct. 4. A special Mass to honor the parish’s patron saint was held at 4 p.m. with Father Woods and Father Matejek concelebrating. It was well-attended, and everyone enjoyed singing the “Prayer of St. Francis” (“Make Me a Channel of Your Peace”). After Mass, a dinner/ dance was held at the Glade Center. On Oct. 11, CCW members gathered after the 8 a.m. Mass for a light breakfast and social time before their meeting started. Their speaker was parishioner Patty Johnson, past president of the National Council of Catholic Women. She spoke of the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organisations meeting in Assisi, Italy. At the meeting, it was reported that the CCW took in almost $14,000 from its successful rummage sale. The Stephen Ministry offered a program on Oct. 27 titled “How to Survive the Holidays Being Alone.” A video was shown with a discussion afterward. For more information, call Mary Hall-King at 931-210-0107. Bill and Peggy White presented a eucharistic-miracle exhibition in the parish hall Oct. 21 after 5 p.m. vigil Mass services and Oct. 22 after the 8 and 10 a.m. Masses. Anniversaries: Gene and Marilyn Schmitt (67), Vincent and Phyllis Fodera (64), Mike and Susan Spitler (61), Tom and Mary Dega (60), Eugene and Janet Standaert (59), Wayne and Alice Duckstein (56), Joe and Veronica Martin (56), Robert and Gale Brunke (55), Dave and Maryann Golden (54), Jack and Twyla O’Kane (54), Fred and Donna Laufenberg (53), John and Ruth Hughes (52), John and Josephine Incampo (45), Harold and Linda Reaves (45), Fredrick and Kathryn Knapp (40), Marion and Ellen Suddith (40), Peter and Luanne Brennan (35), Chuck and Joann Kesser (35), Tom and Michell Platt (10) St. John Neumann, Farragut The Council of Catholic Women is sponsoring an Adult Social Chili Supper & Pie Contest at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 10, in the school gym. Chili, hot dogs and fixings, water, and lemonade will be provided (BYOB). The pie contest is limited to the first 15 entries.
Thérèse, the Little Flower, the group will visit all the places associated with the life of the saint and her parents. Mass will be celebrated at the Basilica of St. Thérèse, followed by a visit to the crypt. The group will also visit the little town of Vernon and take an excursion to the Claude Monet estate in Giverny. The optional pre-tour to Lourdes includes Mass at the basilica, a walking tour of the sanctuary, including the grotto and the basilica, and a video presentation that explains Lourdes’ story in detail. Travelers will have time for private prayer and reflection and join the candlelight procession in the evening. They will celebrate Mass at the grotto, where Our Lady appeared to Bernadette, drink water from the miraculous spring that has healed many, and visit the healing baths. Contact Lisa Morris at 865-5671245 or lisam@select-intl.com. A Danube River pilgrimage cruise is planned Oct. 20-30, 2024, with an optional four-day post tour to Krakow, Poland, from Oct. 30-Nov. 3. Join Dr. Marcellino D’Ambrosio, better known as Dr. Italy, historian, theologian, and
sponsored a fall food drive in late October and early November benefiting the Ladies of Charity food bank. The society, at a recent potluck social, honored Ann Ballard with its Blessed Sister Rosalie Rendu Award for serving the poor with humility and zeal.
Five Rivers Deanery
speaker, for a Danube River pilgrimage themed “The Beauty of God’s Creation,” including Munich, Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest, and much more. Visit www.crossroadsinitiative.com/ dr-italy/ for more details. The ship is the Amadeus Riva. The sightseeing tour of Krakow includes visiting sites in the Medieval Old Town and on Wawel Hill, where pilgrims will see the cathedral with the St. Stanislaus Shrine, which contains the relics of Poland’s patron saint. They will see the pope’s room and the famous Pope’s Window honoring St. John Paul II. The group will travel a short distance to visit the Divine Mercy Shrine, where St. Faustina, the Apostle of Divine Mercy, lived and died. Members will celebrate Mass at the Divine Mercy Shrine and visit the new center, “Have No Fear,” dedicated to St. John Paul II, to venerate his relics. They will visit Czestochowa and the Jasna Gora Monastery to see the miraculous icon of the Black Madonna. The group will have time to explore the monastery and celebrate Mass. Time for prayer and reflection is scheduled. In Wieliczka, the group will visit Eu-
rope’s oldest salt mine, which UNESCO has listed as a World Heritage Site. The mines are a unique place where many generations of Polish miners have created a world of underground chambers and decorated chapels carved out of salt, including the famous Chapel of St. Kinga. The travelers will celebrate Mass at St. John Paul II Chapel before continuing to Wadowice, the hometown of Pope St. John Paul II, and visit his childhood home, which is now a museum. They will visit the Church of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary, where he was baptized. For more information, contact Lisa Morris at 865-567-1245 or lisam@select-intl.com.
The parish also held a Public Square Rosary, sponsored by America Needs Fatima, on Oct. 13 on the front lawn.
paulbasilica.com/fr-patrick-ryan.
The Council of Catholic Women held a bunco night following its meeting Oct. 17 in the George Haggard Room. In recognition of October as Respect Life Month, the CCW collected items for the Life Outreach Center in Jefferson City.
Holy Trinity, Jefferson City The Knights of Columbus’ Pat Duda Memorial Chili Cook-Off is set for 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 11. The event features a car show, hot dogs, chili judging, and more. Participants may enter (for free) their favorite chili recipes for a chance to win prizes. Visit the Knights’ table in the narthex before or after Mass to sign up. Cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children. Those planning to participate who are veterans should call the church office at 865-471-0347 and give their name to the office staff. The Knights held an Italian Night dinner after the 5 p.m. Mass on Oct. 21. Martin Witberg received the Knights’ family-of-the-quarter honor for the third quarter. Anniversaries: Earl and Marilyn Blankenship (55), Jack and Kathleen McIntosh (45), Oren and Joan Griffith (40), Robert and Dixie Heinenger (25), Jan and Dorato Solarz (20) Notre Dame, Greeneville The Knights of Columbus are hosting one of their semiannual pancake breakfasts from 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 11. Tickets are available after Mass for $10 (adults) or $5 (children 6-11). Children 5 and under eat free. Small frozen turkeys and turkey breasts are needed for a Thanksgiving with Friends project. Call Jean HagenBurger at 423-525-4081 for more information. Pastor Father Joseph Kuzhupil, MSFS, will host a town-hall meeting for the parish Tuesday, Nov. 14. Refreshments will be served at 6 p.m., followed by a one-hour meeting at 6:30. The parish’s annual Madrigal Dinner fundraiser, and evening of food and musical entertainment set in a medieval theme, is planned for Thursday, Nov. 30, through Saturday, Dec. 2. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and dinner starts at 7 each evening. Those attending are invited to dress in period costume and enjoy a meal served by the youth staff. Help is needed for kitchen staff and setup and cleanup. Tickets are $40 per person (ages 12 and up) and must be purchased in advance. For more informaiton, call the parish office at 423-639-9381..
The CCW also donated 800 copies of the book Holy Moments, which families could pick up in the narthex, by Catholic author Matthew Kelly. Anniversaries: Jack and Linda Maloney (40), Jose and Leah Tan (35), Gary and Marlene Fryman (30), Robert and Patricia Diem (10)
Smoky Mountain Deanery Holy Ghost, Knoxville Deacon David Venesky is reorganizing the parish’s homebound ministry, which includes bringing the Eucharist to the homebound. To assist in the ministry, e-mail Deacon Venesky at dvenesky@ gmail.com. Holy Ghost held a Public Square Rosary, sponsored by America Needs Fatima, on Oct. 14 at the corner of Baxter Avenue and Central Street by the church. Those interested in starting a Holy Ghost bowling league are asked to e-mail Laurie Birge at Muffy3461@hotmail.com. Include your name, age, and skill level (you do not need to be a skilled bowler to join). The league will start in November if there is enough interest. The Chesterton Society Book Club is doing a reading of G.K. Chesterton’s Orthodoxy through December in Henkel Hall. Immaculate Conception, Knoxville The women’s group’s annual Craft Fair will be held in the parish hall Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 18-19. The group is asking for donations for its three tables for themed baskets, homemade crafts, and a bake sale. Vendor table space is available for small or home-based businesses; contact Beth Meyer at 865456-8857 or meyer.beth73@gmail. com. Fees are again $20 and must be paid in advance. IC is reassembling its altar guild, whose members assist in the sacristy before and after Sunday and daily Masses and help with floral arrangements for the altar, seasonal and feast-day decorating, cleaning and straightening up, candle care, and more. Those who currently volunteer in the ministry or would like to join it should call Connie Healy at 865-4063311 or Nancy Brennan Strange in the parish office at 865-522-1508 for details.
St. Patrick, Morristown The Knights of Columbus sold tickets after Mass for a Belk charity sale Nov. 3-5. Proceeds benefited the Shangri-la Therapeutic Academy of Riding (STAR) in Lenoir City and The Arc of Knox County, which serve the intellectually challenged. The parish St. Vincent de Paul Society B8 n NOVEMBER 5, 2023
An international rosary holy hour was held after the 9:30 a.m. Mass on Oct. 29. Each decade of the rosary was recited in a different language such as English, Spanish, Vietnamese, or Indonesian. There was also time for adoration and confession.
The Knights of Columbus sponsored a spaghetti dinner and movie night Nov. 8 in the parish hall, featuring a showing of “Father Ryan: A Higher Call.” The movie is about Servant of God Father Patrick Ryan (1845-1878), whose sainthood cause is underway. Visit dioknox.org/ father-patrick-ryan or stspeterand
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Mass in the extraordinary form (“traditional Latin”) is celebrated at noon each Sunday at Holy Ghost Church in Knoxville; every Sunday at 8 a.m. at St. Mary Church in Athens; at 2 p.m. each Sunday and at 6 p.m. most Mondays at St. Mary Church in Johnson City; and at 11:30 a.m. every Sunday at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga. For more information, visit www.Knox LatinMass.net. n
The parish held its annual Christmas wreath fundraiser in late October and early November to benefit its sister parish and school in Fond des Blancs, Haiti. IC parishioner and chemistry professor Dr. Al Hazari held his 33rd annual “Chemistry Magic Show” on Oct. 19 in Buehler Hall at the University of Tennessee. Sacred Heart, Knoxville Hickory Construction began site preparation Oct. 16 to add the second half to the pipe organ in the choir loft. The work will run until before Thanksgiving and then pause to allow the parish to get through the holidays. After Christmas Masses, workers from Casavant will return to build a platform in the choir loft, and on Jan. 15 organ installation will begin and should be completed by sometime in mid-March. Thanks to a local benefactor, the entire process is paid for, and the cathedral will not have to bear any financial responsibility for the second half of the pipe organ. Sacred Heart Cathedral School sponsored its annual fall festival, and the Knights of Columbus held the annual Trunk or Treat event, both on Oct. 27. The events featured face painting, a petting zoo, games, music, food trucks, and more. The Knights of Columbus collected nonperishable food items after Masses on Nov. 4-5 to be delivered to Catholic Charities of East Tennessee to benefit those in need this holiday season. St. John XXIII, Knoxville The parish celebrated the memorial of its patron saint Oct. 11. The date commemorates the opening of the Second Vatican Council on Oct. 11, 1962. St. John XXIII and Immaculate Conception parishes took part in a baby-bottle drive in October to benefit Catholic Charities’ Pregnancy Help Center. St. Joseph the Worker, Madisonville The Strategic Planning Team is conducting meetings at 1:30 p.m. (bilingual) and 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 12, in the religiouseducation building and at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 13, in the church hall. The Knights of Columbus hosted their second annual parish picnic Oct. 29 at Hidden Lake Campground in Tellico Plains. The parish’s Trunk or Treat event was held Oct. 29. Pastor Father Julius Abuh conducted a blessing of pets Oct. 7. The Knights announced that their annual yard sale Sept. 14-16 was a tremendous success, with more than 1,500 people—a record—attending. Proceeds benefit the charities the Knights support in Monroe and surrounding counties. n TH E EA S T TEN N ES S EE C ATH OLI C
Catholic schools
Sacred Heart gym, athletic field have new look
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acred Heart Cathedral School students are enjoying the benefits of a newly refurbished gymnasium/performing-arts center and a new turf surface on its athletic field behind the school. The replacement of the gym floor is only part of the work done to that facility. “Sacred Heart Cathedral School began renovations to the gym and performing arts center in the summer of 2023,” said Mary Mac Wilson, the parish’s chief operating officer. “We began with the turf field project, which provides a wonderful addition to our athletics, recess time, and gym classes. For the gym, we have renovated the rest rooms, locker rooms, and concession stand and added a new floor and scoreboards. We have a state-of-the-art audiovisual setup for drama and choral performances. Our mission is to educate the whole child spiritually, mentally, and physically. This project helps us to further highlight the whole child in the arts and on the fields and courts.” The source of funds for the project came from the Sacred Heart Cathedral School Annual Fund, the Sacred Heart Cathedral Dinner, Dance, and Auction event, gym floor cross sales, and major donors, Mrs. Wilson said. School principal Mary Sue Kosky is enthused about the project. “When I began at Sacred Heart Cathedral School in the spring of 2022, I immediately understood this truth about Sacred Heart: it is an amazing place for students to grow and learn and come to know that God loves them completely and calls them to live in relationship with Him and in the community of the Body of Christ,” she said. “We accomplish this at SHCS through worship and prayer, our
learning and studies, our service to those inside and outside of school, and through developing and sharing our gifts and talents with one another. The gym and performingarts project is an exciting way to support our mission of developing students to their fullest potential and nurturing the whole child. “Together with supporting stakeholders, we set out to create and update these spaces where the children can develop their God-given gifts and talents. They can run, stretch their abilities as they compete, work together for common goals both artistic and athletic, and they can have fun. It has been such a joy to see how the turf field is bringing our community together in support of student athletics and community events such as our fall festival. We expect the completed, renovated gym will do the same— provide a wonderful space for gathering in unity and community for events both inside and outside the school day. What’s so amazing is that this project will enhance the educational experience of every single child on campus! What an incredible impact! We are so grateful to our donors and want to share the great news of the positive impact this project will have on all of our SHCS students and our parish and school communities.” Elisa Crawford is Sacred Heart Cathedral School’s director of development. “We want everyone who walks through the gymnasium doors to feel welcomed, which is why I am most excited about the upgrades to the entrance,” she said. “It feels more open and inviting; just as Jesus opens His arms and invites us into His home, we want everyone to know they are invited in our home here at Sacred Heart Cathedral
New floor The surface has been replaced in the Sacred Heart Cathedral School gym.
STEVE COY (4)
A new floor and scoreboard highlight the gym improvements, and Coulter Field has a new turf surface By Dan McWilliams
‘The turf field is bringing our community together’ Sacred Heart Cathedral School eighth-graders (top photo, from left) Anna Doiron, Anna Maria Medlyn, Laurel Moss, and Milly King enjoy an outing on Coulter Family Playfield, which sports a new turf surface. Bottom photo: a look at the field and the cathedral from on high. School. I can’t wait for our gym to be filled with the Light of Christ when our children and families come together for sporting events, musicals, and all the wonderful activities we have to look forward to.” The turf field has been named
the Coulter Family Playfield after its major donors: Tom and Mindy Coulter and their children, with their spouses. Tom and Mindy’s children attended Sacred Heart, and three of their grandchildren are currently enrolled there. n
Keeping score Sacred Heart’s gym sports two new scoreboards to keep track of the Eagles’ basketball and volleyball point totals.
Notre Dame volleyball captures district, region titles
TH E EAST T E N N E S S E E C AT HO L I C
COURTESY OF LAURA GOODHARD (2)
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he Notre Dame High School volleyball team finished the 2023 season with a 32-7 record, capturing both the district and region tournament crowns before falling in the sectional round, just one step short of the state tournament. In the Division II, District 2-A Tournament finals held Oct. 2 in the Varallo Athletic Center on the Notre Dame campus, the Lady Irish swept Boyd Buchanan 28-26, 25-20, 25-16 to win the district title. The first two sets were back and forth before the Lady Irish pulled away in the third set. Boyd Buchanan School was the runner-up, while Silverdale Baptist Academy finished third. Leading the way for Notre Dame was senior Maggie Fillauer. She finished the night with 18 digs, two aces, and one assist. Samantha Brown added 11 kills, five digs, four blocks, and one ace. Rounding out the top performers for the Irish was Scarlett Hughes, who had six kills, 23 digs, and two blocks. The Lady Irish had five players named to the 2023 All-District Team. The player of the year was Maggie, and teammates Caimen Cothron, Callie McCormick, Maggie Clotfelter, and Samantha were named to the All-District Team. Notre Dame head coach Dan Clotfelter was named the district coach of the year. Notre Dame continued postseason play with a Division II East Region Tournament match at home against Berean Christian of Knoxville on Oct. 5. The Lady Irish swept that match 25-20, 25-15, 25-15. The Lady Irish needed four sets to knock out Concord Christian on Oct. 7 in the re-
gion semifinals, 26-28, 25-23, 2519, 25-20. That same evening, they clinched the region title with a five-set win over Lakeway Christian, 25-23, 25-16, 1525, 15-25, 15-6. On Oct. 14, Middle Tennessee Christian (41-3) ended the Lady Irish’s season in the sectionals with a 25-6, 25-11, 21-25, 21-25, 15-11 victory. n
District honorees From left (bottom photo) are district coach of the year Dan Clotfelter and All-District Lady Irish players Maggie Clotfelter, Callie McCormick, Maggie Fillauer, Samantha Brown, and Caimen Cothron.
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NOVEMBER 5, 2023 n B9
COURTESY OF KATHLEEN ETHERTON PRESTON (3)
Catholic schools
Chesterton Academy announces new athletics director, golf coach The Chesterton Academy of St. Margaret Clitherow in Knoxville recently announced that it had named Andrew Carstarphen (left) as its new athletics director and Derek Cantrell as its new golf coach.
COURTESY OF KNOXVILLE CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
St. Jude School and Knights hold 25th annual Golf Classic The 25th annual St. Jude Golf Classic took place Sept. 29 at Creeks Bend Golf Club in Hixson. The event was sponsored by St. Jude School in Chattanooga and Knights of Columbus Council 8576. The estimated proceeds from the Classic are more than $16,000 and will benefit the school’s Classroom Adoption Program and the many ministries of the Knights. At top left, St. Jude School alums, and father and son, Bill (class of 1977) and Alex Eberle (‘11) enjoyed their time on the greens. At bottom left, (from left) Meghan Lamsey (‘08) assistant director of development at St. Jude School, joined volunteers Elizabeth Jabaley (‘08) and Cindy Lamsey and golfers Ryan Mink, Nick McGirl, and Shane Etherton, all members of the St. Jude class of 2010, at the end-of-tournament meal. Members of Knights Council 8576 (above) cooked and served a hamburger and hot dog meal to the golfers.
COURTESY OF NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL
Father Carter celebrates Mass at Notre Dame High School Father David Carter, rector of the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga, celebrated Mass for students at Notre Dame High School on Oct. 19 and shared the history of Gregorian chant. B10 n NOVEMBER 5, 2023
ANDREA GENTILE
Notre Dame students again build beds for Sleep in Heavenly Peace Students at Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga took part in their fourth bed build Oct. 20 for the Sleep in Heavenly Peace charity. Having built 50 beds each in previous years, the students completed their 200th bed with this fall’s effort. Helping deliver beds on the weekend of Oct. 29 were (above, from left) Matthew Backer, Aaron Bouchard, Xavier Reed, and Jeremey Casey.
St. John Neumann second-graders visit Museum of Appalachia Second-graders from St. John Neumann School in Farragut visited the Museum of Appalachia in Norris on Oct. 26 to learn what life was like in the area many years ago. Students in Claudette Buccola and Kathleen Dorman’s classes on the trip included (far left, from left) Aviana Dill, Fernanda Rubio-Correa, Matthew Johnson, Andrik Morrison, Aiden Donovan, Lorenzo Letizia, Taylor Holland, Joey Maginn, Matteo Lopez-Toledo, Elise Shivinsky, and Quinton Knight.
COURTESY OF PAM RHOADES
COURTESY OF LAURA GOODHARD
KCHS donates $10,000 from canned-food drive to Ladies of Charity Knoxville Catholic High School raised $10,000 from a canned-food drive in September to donate to the Ladies of Charity of Knoxville, together with 3,500 cans of food and more than 900 diapers. Accepting the check are (from left) Ladies of Charity of Knoxville board member Melissa Cupp and executive director Susan Unbehaun. Presenting the donation are Knoxville Catholic vice president of institutional advancement Joni Punch and school president Dickie Sompayrac.
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KCHS’s Rusty Morris named state tennis coach of the year Knoxville Catholic High School tennis head coach Rusty Morris was recently named the 2022-23 girls state coach of the year by the TSSAA. His Lady Irish are the three-time defending state champions. Mr. Morris is pictured with Maeve Thornton, who won her third straight state singles title this year. TH E EA S T TEN N ES S EE C ATH OLI C