Dec. 2, 2018, ET Catholic, B section

NEWS FROM THE DIOCESE OF KNOXVILLE

B section

St. Bridget Church celebrates 50th anniversary The parish’s church building turns a half-century old as nearly 400 join Bishop Stika at Mass

DAN MCWILLIAMS

S

t. Bridget Parish in Dayton on Oct. 14 celebrated the 50th anniversary of its church building, a structure close to the heart of late Nashville Bishop and Dayton native Joseph A. Durick.

The parish, formerly known as St. Genevieve, now bears the name of the bishop’s mother, Bridget Gallagher Durick.

Bishop Richard F. Stika presided at a bilingual Mass, attended by a full house of 385 parishioners, family, friends, and visitors. St. Bridget pastor Father Sam Sturm delivered a bilingual homily and also played piano during the liturgy. Deacon Tom Kiefer, who was ordained by Bishop Durick, came out of retirement to assist at Mass.

“Father Sam amazes me,” Bishop Stika said. “I’m getting ready to see if he also parks the cars, cleans the floors, and takes my job,” the last line followed by laughter and a round of applause. “So you’re clapping because you want him to take my job?”

The bishop then thanked the parish.

“I just want to say gracias, thank you, for being the face of Jesus, for being the hands of Jesus in acts of charity and kindness, and by your love for being the heart of Jesus,” he said. “I don’t think there’s anything else I can say, but I see it here.

For 50 years this parish has been a shining light in Dayton, and even before that with the first church of St. Genevieve. I always wondered where the name St. Bridget came

Generations together Levi Garrison, 9, and brother Benjamin, 12, are the sixth generation of the Gallagher family to attend St. Bridget Church. They are pictured with Regina Hill Corvin (left) and Mary Katherine Hill Travis, cousins of Bishop Joseph A. Durick, a Dayton native. from. Now I know it’s from a priest who was born in Dayton and then eventually became a bishop, and he named this church after his mother.

The power of a bishop.

“If I begin another parish, it’ll be St. Helen,” added the son of Frank and Helen Stika.

Father Sturm expressed his gratitude to a number of people.

“We are grateful for all of those who have selflessly given of themselves to renovate the building, installing new ceiling tiles, new LED lighting, new carpeting, and the moving of the tabernacle to the center of the sanctuary,” he said. “Also, installing that camera back there so

the people in the hall can go to Mass while we’re in Mass here, and waxing the floors.”

The pastor thanked the bishop for coming.

“Deacon Tom, thank you for coming out of retirement in order to assist the bishop at this special liturgy,” he said, before recognizing his mom and two brothers in attendance.

Two sisters, Mary Katherine Hill Travis and Regina Hill Corvin, are relatives of Bishop Durick and lifelong St. Bridget parishioners.

“Bishop Durick and my mother were first cousins,” Mrs. Travis said.

“He’s been to my house to eat.”

By Dan McWilliams Mrs. Corvin was the first child baptized in St. Bridget Church, in 1946.

“We and our children are the last of the Gallaghers to be members here,” Mrs. Corvin said. “I’m the longest member of the church, and Mary is the second-longest. I’ve been going to this church 72 years, and she’s been going 70, our whole life.”

Being a Catholic child in Dayton in the 1940s and ’50s put one in a small group.

“My sister and I, we lived here during a period of time when there were no other children who were Catholic in this county,” Mrs. Corvin said. “My sister and I were the only two [Catholic] children in the school system from the first through the 12th grade. We were in a small Baptist town, but we survived it very well. Our church has always been our life because of our Gallagher great-grandmother and then our grandmother, and of course, her sister, Bridget, who was the mother of Bishop Durick.”

The Hill family knew Bishop Durick “very well,” Mrs. Corvin said.

“He was like an uncle to us, even though he was our second cousin, because he stayed with us often, especially during the period of time of Civil Rights,” she said. “Bishop Durick was a leader in Civil Rights as bishop of Tennessee. During that period of time, he received lots of threats. During those times that he would be threatened, he would St. Bridget continued on page B7

Youth Mass participants bring ‘vibrancy and energy’ Awards are presented, and the new Diocesan Youth Ministry Advisory Council members are commissioned

By Bill Brewer

BILL BREWER

D

o not be afraid” is the message Diocese of Knoxville teen leaders received Oct. 28 when they gathered at St. Albert the Great Church for the annual diocesan Youth Mass.

However, Mass celebrant Father Chris Michelson placed additional challenges before the high school students, challenges God places before all of us: Do not be afraid to listen when you hear and see when you look.

Taking his lead from the Gospel readings that weekend, Father Michelson let the teens know that God has high expectations for them and will always be with them.

But there also was a warning.

Quoting from Jeremiah—“You are in captivity because you did not listen to me”—Father Michelson cautioned the students against making the same mistake as those followers of God who had ignored Him. The St. Albert the Great pastor told the teens the lesson to glean from Jeremiah is bring people to the Lord. The pastor praised the youth for taking leadership roles in the Church among their peers and encouraged them to lead friends and strangers in their classrooms and school hallways closer to God. The some 250 youth from around the Diocese of Knoxville present for the Mass are active in their parishes and schools, and many of them take active roles in the Diocesan Youth Ministry Advisory Council. The DYMAC representatives plan youth events in the diocese, such as summer God Camps, the Catholic Youth Camp, the Winter Middle School Retreat, the youth Mass, and the National Catholic Youth Conference.

They work with deanery coordinators of youth ministry and Deacon

New DYMAC members Father Chris Michelson commissioned the new Diocesan Youth Ministry Advisory Council members at the annual Youth Mass on Oct. 28 at St. Albert the Great Church.

Al Forsythe, the director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the Diocese of Knoxville.

“I thank you for being here and for what you already do for our diocese and will continue to do to help our Church be a very vibrant Church,” Father Michelson said.

“You bring so much vibrancy and so much energy to the Church.”

Pointing to those who were in captivity who ignored God’s message, Father Michelson implored the teens to not be among the ones who heard God’s words but did not listen to them.

Father Michelson’s guidance, based

on the Scriptures, included God’s expectation that His children lead others, including those who are most in need—the “remnants”—to Him. “Sometimes we get so caught up in ‘my journey,’ ‘what I’m going to do,’ that we forget to bring the rest of us to Him; to help them become part of us,” Father Michelson said. “So every Sunday when you go to Mass in your parish, listen. God has a message for the people back then, but for each of us, too. So we have to ask ourselves, ‘How am I going to reach and help the remnants to the Lord?’

“It’s easy if you’re the youth group to bring all who could come. You

all are already in the youth group, and you already want to be there.

You all love the Lord. What about the rest? Does anybody here in your parish have every one of your youth at youth meetings? Does every one of your youth come to Mass? Why are we not inviting them, clearing the road, bringing the remnants and say, ‘Come to the Lord’? It’s a great challenge. It’s a challenge Jeremiah gave for his 50 years of leading his people. It’s the same message over and over,” he added.

Pointing out that his Youth Mass congregants are used to hearing Youth Mass continued on page B5

St. Mary’s Legacy Foundation grants total $7.5 million since 2011

By Jim Wogan

I

t’s a striking coincidence that in the same month the former St Mary’s Hospital will close its doors after providing medical services in East Tennessee for nearly 90 years, the foundation created in the wake of its sale in 2011 has announced grants that now total $7.5 million for charity, education, and health-care missions in the Diocese of Knoxville.

The St. Mary’s Legacy Foundation announced on Dec. 1 awards totaling $680,000 to benefit 20 Catholic organizations and ministries in 2019.

“On behalf of the St. Mary’s Legacy Foundation, and based on the recommendations of its board of directors, I am pleased to announce these grant distributions,” said Bishop Richard F. Stika. “As we have every year since the foundation was established, we are once again offering much-needed financial resources that will benefit Catholic initiatives, both large and small, in this diocese. The good works of our schools, parishes, and ministries will be strengthened thanks to these funds.”

In 2019, the St. Mary’s Legacy Foundation will contribute more than $335,000 for education and school needs, including tuition support; more than $153,000 to support charitable requests, including those of Catholic Charities of East Tennessee and a variety of parish-sponsored charitable initiatives; and nearly $200,000 for health-care needs, including support for the St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic — a mobile clinic that provides free medical services to the underserved and uninsured in remote communities throughout East Tennessee.

“The awards we are able to offer this year are vital, and since the foundation was established there have now been 33 Catholic organizations and 65 different initiatives that have directly benefited from these St. Mary’s Legacy Foundation grants,” said John Deinhart, staff officer of the St. Mary’s Legacy Foundation board.

A report recently issued by the foundation highlighted distributions for 2019 in addition to the overall impact of grant distributions since 2011. It included figures showing a dramatic impact on Catholic organizations, parishes, and the communities they serve.

“While St. Mary’s Legacy Foundation grants are awarded to Catholic organizations and ministries, the real profound and positive impact is the direct benefit on thousands of people living in the Diocese of Knoxville who may or may not be Catholic,” Mr. Deinhart said.

For instance, since 2011, the St. Vincent de Paul mission at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Newport has received more than $120,000 to serve the poor and vulnerable in its region. Cocke County, where the parish is located, is one of the most impoverished counties in Tennessee.

In 2018, Good Shepherd Parish received 10-20 calls for assistance each week through its St. Vincent de Paul mission, which provided assistance for gas, groceries, baby supplies, and resources for those facing eviction or the loss of utility services. Total client expenditures exceeded $60,000. A grant from the St. Mary’s Legacy Foundation covered one-third of the St. Vincent de Paul’s support for clients. The parish covered one-third of the costs, with outside donations covering

upgrade school and classroom technology with more than $41,000 granted in 2016. Notre Dame High School and Knoxville Catholic High School also have benefited since 2011, as have many of the diocesan foundational schools.

Ladies of Charity has received more than $140,000 since 2011 to provide food 33 / 65 $7.5 million and emergency asOrganizations / Initiatives Total Dollars Awarded Funded Since Inception sistance to the underSince Inception served, unemployed, and underemployed $891,581 $1,430,768 $656,475 Over $1.1 million in East Tennessee.

This year, Ladies of To Learn More about the St. Mary’s Legacy Foundation contact Charity received a John Deinhart (865) 584-3307 or jdeinhart@dioknox.org or visit stmarylegacy.org $2,000 grant for a program aimed at emerthe rest. This year, the program regency assistance for prescription ceived a grant of $20,000. medication for clients who cannot Other parishes have received afford the cost. more than $170,000 for their own “The St. Mary’s Legacy Founcharitable initiatives, including dation is doing exactly what it is food pantries, family support, and supposed to do, and its impact a host of smaller, but equally imhas been remarkable and it will be pactful, projects. long-lasting,” said Bishop Stika.

For example, Holy Spirit Parish “The current owners may be in Soddy-Daisy received $35,000 closing the hospital, but when in two installments from 2013Mercy Health Partners sold St. 15 to assist in the creation of a Mary’s to its current owners, I food pantry there. St. Anthony of thought it was critical that the Padua Parish in Mountain City funds we received from that sale has received more than $45,000 for in 2011 help continue our misbuilding and program support for sion as Catholics. The investment its food pantry. of that money has provided the Through its education compoannual distributions that have nent, diocesan schools have also benefited all of those who need benefited. our help the most,” he added, notSt. Dominic School in Kingsport ing the fact that the owners of the received more than $23,000 for former St. Mary’s hospital have classroom technology between announced that the area’s first 2014 and 2016. Similarly, St. Mary Catholic hospital will close permaSchool in Oak Ridge was able to nently on Dec. 28. ■ The St. Mary’s Legacy Foundation provides direct support for Charity, Health Care and Education through Catholic organizations serving those in need in East Tennessee Made possible through funding from the sale of Mercy Health Partners, the St. Mary’s Legacy Foundation of East Tennessee was formed in 2011 to continue to provide support for the ministry begun by the Sisters of Mercy with the opening of St. Mary’s Hospital in 1930.

Catholic Schools Tuition Support

Catholic Schools Capital and Technology Improvements

Direct Charitable Works

Support for Free Mobile Medical Clinic

T

he St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic celebrated its fifth anniversary Nov. 5 at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Lenoir City by holding its fourth Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon.

The clinic officially turned 5 on Sept. 11. On Sept. 11, 2013, the mobile clinic vehicle was delivered and dedicated to God and the service of His people in East Tennessee. The vehicle has been driven almost 34,000 miles, and the clinic has seen 5,000 patients. It provided more than 7,000 hours of care for the medically underserved in East Tennessee in 2017.

The day at St. Thomas began with Mass celebrated by Monsignor Pat Garrity, assisted by Deacon Marquis Syler.

Sister Mariana Koonce, RSM, is a medical doctor who directs the Legacy Clinic, which provides mobile medical care in Decatur, Crab

Orchard, Rutledge, Washburn, and Gatlinburg. Sister Mariana emceed the luncheon at St. Thomas.

At the luncheon, several clinic volunteers, including Melissa Coldiron, Star Lakavage, and Hank Stindt, shared stories from the past five years.

Philip and Jennifer Schmidt presented the Judy Award to Ruth Pavelchik. The Judy Award is named for the late Judy Schmidt, the first clinic volunteer.

Sister Mariana recognized several more volunteers, including Diana Seaver, for their service.

Sister Mariana then recognized five-year volunteers, who attended the first volunteer orientation in October 2013 at the Chancery office in Knoxville. Also recognized were those oriented in January 2014..

The Volunteer of the Year Award went to Bruce Fisher and Dr. John Harris. n

DAN MCWILLIAMS (3)

Luncheon celebrates fifth anniversary of St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic

Memorial award Ruth Pavelchik (second from left) received the Legacy Clinic’s Judy Award from Philip and Jennifer Schmidt. The award is named for the late Judy Schmidt, the first clinic volunteer. Sister Mariana Koonce, RSM, is at left.

Dual honorees Bruce Fisher (left) and Dr. John Harris were named the Legacy Clinic’s Volunteers of the Year.

Group photo The Legacy Clinic volunteers at the St. Thomas luncheon gather for a photograph.

B2 n DECEMBER 2, 2018

www.di o k no x .o rg

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

Parish notes Chattanooga Deanery

olic for the last 15 years, is retiring.

St. Stephen, Chattanooga Knights of Columbus Holy Family Council 6099 celebrated 50 years of service Nov. 3 at the Knights hall on Lee Highway. The event featured a live oldies band, live ballgames on four screens, and food and drink. All proceeds benefited the mentally challenged, pro-life, and other Catholic charities.

The new St. Stephen Welcome Ministry is chaired by Myrtle Englert with members Ron Englert, Kathy Kelly, Pris McLean, Mary Najberg, Lyn Grillo, Bob Aaron, Laurene Hirko, Sharon Vannucci, and Micheline Parkey. For more information, call Ms. Englert at 812-449-6104.

The music ministry’s Advent Retreat took place Nov. 17.

Anniversaries: Bob and Karen Adney (52), Jim and Theresia Costello (52) Sts. Peter and Paul, Chattanooga On Monday, Dec. 11, the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga will celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The celebration, led by the Hispanic community, will begin at 6:30 p.m. with the rosary and other prayers in the church. There will be a procession around the city block with an image of Our Lady at 7 p.m., followed by the vigil Mass in Spanish and a reception and play in Varallo Parish Hall. All are invited to join in the festivities in honor of the patron saint of the Americas.

St. John Neumann, Farragut Sister Patricia Soete, RSM, of St. Jude Parish in Helenwood asked St. John Neumann parishioners for their help in providing Christmas gifts for children in Appalachia. Clothing items such as shoes, coats, hoodies, and jeans as well as toys for ages newborn to 17 are needed, as well as age-appropriate toys or games for children 15-17 (all items must be new). Unwrapped gifts may be left in the narthex after Mass or dropped off at the parish office until Sunday, Dec. 9. St. Jude members will be picking up the gifts first thing Monday morning, Dec. 10.

The SJN Women’s Club Cookie Exchange is set for 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 8, in Seton Hall. To learn more or RSVP, contact cmcrookshanks@hotmail.com or kathyperry6749@gmail.com.

The Tiny Saints, the St. Vincent de Paul youth ministry, hosted a gathering at NHC Healthcare in Farragut on Nov. 14 to honor veterans at the facility.

The parish hosted a “Surviving the Holidays” grief-support workshop Nov. 11, facilitated by Sister Restituta Nyinoweitu, ESM, and Marilyn Derbyshire.

St. Therese, Clinton

The Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul began a sanctuary renovation July 23, funded by parishioner donations to the Home Campaign. The project includes the enhancements that parishioners recommended at a parish-wide town hall meeting in July 2014, including the return of the tabernacle to the center of the altar and other architectural restorations. At the conclusion of this project, the historic pipe organ will be completed with the final two ranks that were planned in its design. The main church is closed off for construction through the fall, and all Masses are being celebrated in Varallo Parish Hall during this time, following the usual schedule.

Confessions are offered in the rectory chapel 30 minutes before Mass (except the 7 a.m. weekday Masses and on Thursdays). The return to the renovated sanctuary is expected in December.

The completion of the organ will follow early in 2019, through Lent.

The parish sponsored a Domestic Violence Awareness Program on Oct. 23 during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Guest speaker was Marilyn Hafner, volunteer lay chaplain for the Family Justice Center in Knoxville.

Bishop Richard F. Stika is planning to consecrate the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul’s new altar on Sunday, Dec. 23, at a special 10 a.m. Mass for the Fourth Sunday of Advent, followed by a reception in Varallo Parish Hall. All are invited to celebrate this return to the renovated sanctuary. The usual 9 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Masses and the 5 p.m. fourth Sunday Missa Cantata will not be offered on Dec. 23.

The parish raised $3,600 through Food for the Poor to build a 320-square-foot house for a family in Jamaica.

Cumberland Mountain Deanery Blessed Sacrament, Harriman The Knights of Columbus will be selling “Keep Christ in Christmas” cards after Mass in front of the church Saturday, Dec. 1, and Sunday, Dec. 9. If the dates and times are not convenient, call Frank Knies at 865-376-4793 or any Knights member.

The Council of Catholic Women hosted this year’s Cumberland Mountain Deanery meeting and luncheon in Blessed Sacrament Hall. Pastor Father Michael Sweeney was the guest speaker.

St. Francis of Assisi, Fairfield Glade Carol Adams, who has submitted parish news to The East Tennessee CathTH E EAST T E N N E S S E E C A T HO L I C

Former pastor speaks Monsignor Al Humbrecht preaches at the 80thanniversary Mass for St. Augustine Parish on Nov. 3 in Signal Mountain.

Monsignor Humbrecht was pastor of St. Augustine from 1981 to 1987. Another former pastor, St. Augustine native son Father Peter Iorio, celebrated another anniversary Mass on Nov. 4.

The Council of Catholic Women’s rummage and bake sale Oct. 5 and 6 made a profit of $1,753.83.

Five Rivers Deanery Holy Trinity, Jefferson City The Council of Catholic Women’s annual Advent gathering is set for Monday, Dec. 10, at Owens Restaurant, 834 Highway 92 in Dandridge. The evening will start with wine from 6:15 to 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner and a game with prizes. Cost is $25. Call Kathy Marshall at 865-397-5301 to reserve seating and indicate choice of meals.

George and Mary Morin donated more than 100 books and three bookcases to the parish library, now located in the parish life center and open weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Anniversaries: Ron and Linda Henry (58), Earl and Marilyn Blankenship (50), Joseph and Sally Braschler (35), Oren and Joan Griffith (35), Raymond and Nina Smith (30), Ralph and Aurora Levin (20), Timothy and Victoria Schneider (20), John and Dorothy Solarz (15) St. Dominic, Kingsport A senior ministry Christmas luncheon has been scheduled for 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 18, in the parish life center. Make a reservation by leaving Amy a message in the parish office at 423-288-8101, extension 117, or e-mail stdomsseniors@gmail.com by Dec. 11.

St. Patrick, Morristown The International Dinner will be held after the 5 p.m. Mass on Saturday, Jan. 19. This will be a potluck dinner. Those Parish notes continued on page B4

Mountain parish Tony and Jean St. Charles look at a display of photos honoring St. Augustine Parish’s 80th anniversary. St. Augustine Parish began in 1938 when the Alexian Brothers purchased the Signal Mountain Hotel for use as a convalescent home for men and converted a portion of the hotel into a chapel.

St. Augustine Parish celebrates 80 years

S

t. Augustine Parish in Signal Mountain commemorated its 80th anniversary with a celebration Mass and dinner Nov. 3.

The celebrant at Mass and keynote speaker was Monsignor Al Humbrecht, pastor of St. Augustine from 1981 to 1987. On Nov. 4, there was a second Mass celebrated by Father Peter Iorio, a parishioner who grew up at St. Augustine and was pastor from 2004 to 2006.

Monsignor Humbrecht now is pastor of Holy Spirit in SoddyDaisy, and Father Iorio is pastor of St. Mary in Johnson City.

St. Augustine Parish began in 1938 when the Alexian Brothers purchased the Signal Mountain Hotel for use as a convalescent home for men and converted a portion of the hotel into a chapel, which was given the status of a

parish by the bishop of the Nashville Diocese.

In 1960, a beautiful piece of mountain property was deeded to become the site of a church building for the parish on Anderson Pike. In 1970, the current church was completed and dedicated.

Over its 80 years, St. Augustine Parish has grown to include a number of spiritual gatherings, community outreach programs, and parish ministries. The religious education program for children and adults is thriving, and the parish recently opened a preschool to serve families with young children.

During the anniversary weekend, St. Augustine honored the past with various displays from parish ministries, celebrated present accomplishments, and welcomed the promise of the parish’s future. n

COURTESY OF BLANCA PRIMM

Newcomers: Thomas and Rachel Condone; Ruben Betancort and Blanco Giraldo; Dennis Fogelgren and Giselle Cruz; Michael Barrio; Ann-Jillian Barrio; Shawn and Sheila Amato, Melena, and granddaughter Sarah; Gregory and Peggy English; Jacob and Hope Henderson and Jocelyn; Daniel Janvrin; Thomas and Renee Pelicano

Anniversaries: Steve and Mary Lou Knowles (71), Edwin and Grace Johnson (65), Jack and Marilyn Alderton (64), Ron and Terry Gleusner (62), Eugene and Marilyn Schmitt (62), Ron and Mary Vivian White (60), Vincent and Phyllis Fodera (59), Robert and Janice Cahill (57), Mike and Susan Spitler (56), Ken and Helene Roy (56), Tom and Mary Dega (55), John and Elizabeth Mosior (55), Frank and Nancy Drabek (54), Eugene and Janet Standaert (54), Philip and Rosalie Poynter (54), Wayne and Alice Duckstein (51), Robert and Carol Palazzo (51), Robert and Carol Loghry (51), Louis and Patricia Poulin (50)

COURTESY OF HEATHER WILSON (2)

St. Mary, Athens

Hispanic Ministry Office visits migrant workers Pope Francis calls us to be missionary disciples and to go to the peripheries to bring the Word of God to all our brothers. The Diocese of Knoxville’s Office of Hispanic Ministry visited three fields of migrant workers in Unicoi County recently. Blanca Primm, director of the Diocese of Knoxville’s Office of Hispanic Ministry, was joined by Sisters Lina Ramos, MAG, and Angelica Lopez, MAG, Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus “Ad Gentes,” and by Kathy O’Brien and Glenmary Father Tom Charters of St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Erwin.

Father Charters celebrates Mass weekly on Tuesdays at 8 a.m. in one of the camps, and Father Alex Waraksa, who serves the Hispanic communities at several diocesan parishes, also celebrates Masses in another camp. The Office of Hispanic Ministry donated winter clothes for the men and also offered them a packet of physical and spiritual nourishment to continue their journey. The Office of Hispanic Ministry thanks all those who contributed clothes for our brothers, who were very grateful and happy for their generosity.

Glade couple marks 60th anniversary

S

t. Francis of Assisi Parish in Fairfield Glade congratulates Ron and Mary Vivian White on their 60th wedding anniversary.

The Whites were married at Mary Help of Christians Church in Fairborn, Ohio, on Dec. 13, 1958, with Father Charles Maher officiating. Their children are Mary Cath-

www.di o k no x .o rg

erine White of Batavia, Ohio; Ellen White-Khazrai of Augusta, Ga.; Daniel White of Tiffin, Ohio; Laura White of Las Vegas; and Timothy White of Edgewood, Ky.; and they have seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

They retired from the C.S. Bell Co. in Tiffin and moved to the Glade in 2006. n DECEMBER 2, 2018 n B3

Calendar

The annual March for Life in Knoxville will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 27, rain or shine, beginning at the Knoxville Convention Center lecture hall (Cumberland Avenue entrance).

Hundreds of people will pray for an end to abortion and march past one of Knoxville’s abortion facilities. Parking will be available in the Poplar Street lot and the Locust Street garage. For more information, contact the Knox County chapter of Tennessee Right to Life at 865-689-1339 or trlknox@ trlknox.com.

The newly formed Monsignor Xavier Mankel Schola seeks singers of all voice parts and of any faith. The schola was created to sing the great works of the Church’s musical tradition, particularly the polyphonic music of the Renaissance and Gregorian and English chant. The schola sings for the 7:30 a.m. Mass at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the first and third Sunday of each month and will also occasionally put on concerts and support other events and liturgical functions. The group rehearses every Tuesday from 7 to 9 p.m. To learn more, visit https://dokmusic.org/ audition/ or contact Mary Weaver, the schola’s director: 865-437-8620 or mary@b16schola.org.

Underground Christmas, an opportunity for sixth- through eighth-graders to learn about the persecution of Christians, will be hosted by the youth ministry of St. Jude Parish in Chattanooga from 6:30 to 10:15 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 14, in the family life center. Mass will begin at 9 p.m. Cost is $12 and includes a T-shirt. Register

by Dec. 3 (late registrations accepted but may not include a T-shirt). Contact Irene Scoggins at 423-596-0053 or irenescoggins@gmail.com. Registration forms available through Ms. Scoggins or dioknox.org/events/youth.

The Family & Parish Life Ministry at St. John Neumann Parish in Farragut is partnering with the diocesan Office of Marriage Preparation & Enrichment to offer divorce support. Divorce & Beyond is a support group for Catholic men and women who have experienced or are experiencing divorce.

Those with a need for healing and help to move beyond separation are invited to participate in this nine-week Catholic-based program beginning Sunday, Jan. 13. Meetings will be held in the St. John Neumann School library from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Cost for supplies is $15. For more information, contact facilitator Mary Coffey at 865-9663237 or mccoffey86@gmail.com. To register, contact Marilyn Derbyshire, Family & Parish Life Ministry coordinator, at 865-966-4540 or mderbyshire@ sjnknox.org.

The diocesan Office of Marriage Preparation & Enrichment, in partnership with the Family Life Office at St. Mary Parish in Johnson City, will offer a free oneday divorce healing seminar from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 9, at St. Mary. This seminar presented by Deacon Walt Otey is an overview of the Journey of Hope program based on the book “Divorced. Catholic. Now What?”

Attendees will view a DVD presentation of “The Voices of Hope” and particiB4 n DECEMBER 2, 2018

A three-day parish mission, themed “Loving, Learning & Living Your Faith,” with national radio host Gus Lloyd will be held Dec. 2-4 at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Lenoir City. Each session will take place at 6:30 p.m. Topics are Dec. 2: “Falling in Love With Our Catholic Faith”; Dec. 3: Why We Believe What We Believe”; and Dec. 4: “Taking our faith outside the doors of the church, into our families, workplace, and the world.” E-mail Stu McFadden at sjmcfadden1999@ gmail.com with registration questions or other concerns.

A three-day retreat for women, themed “The Feminine Genius,” will be held Dec. 7-9 at Christ Prince of Peace Retreat Center in Benton. The event will focus on Pope St. John Paul II’s document “The Dignity and Vocation of Women.” Father David Mary Engo, FFM, will lead. Cost is $100. To learn more or register, contact Father Engo at frdavidmaryengo@gmail.com.

CHI Memorial Foundation announced that the 14th annual Pink! Gala will be held Saturday, Jan. 26, at the Chattanooga Convention Center. Dr. Lee and Sharron Jackson and Dan and Amber Norton will co-chair the foundation’s signature black-tie event. Over the past 13 years, Pink! has raised more than $4 million to further the mission of the MaryEllen Locher Breast Center at CHI Memorial Hospital.

The theme for this year’s gala is “The Greatest Show.” Proceeds from Pink! are used to ensure the breast center has the latest equipment and technology available, and provides the highest quality care available to women in need. Proceeds from the 2018 event helped build the fourth MaryEllen Locher Breast Center site, located at Atrium Medical Center on Gunbarrel Road, which is scheduled to open later this year. Sponsorship opportunities for Pink! are available and range from $4,000 to $25,000. Individual Pink! tickets go on sale Dec. 1. The $500 individual tickets include cocktails, a four-course dinner, entertainment

by Party of the Moon, valet parking, table-side bar service on the evening of the event, as well as an invitation to the sponsor pre-party on the Thursday before the event. Visit www.memorial. org/pink! or call 423-495-PINK (7465) for more information.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in Chattanooga will be hosting a Family Honor Inc. program, Real Love & Real Life, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 9. A chastity program for parents and teens in seventh and eighth grades, the event includes a discussion of life’s most important issues, with a special emphasis on chastity and God’s gift of sexuality.

Deadline to register is Sunday, Feb. 3.

Register online at www.familyhonor. org. Registration fee is $25, which can be paid upon checking in at the first session. This program is sponsored and provided by the Sugar & Spice group of OLPH. The next Picture of Love engaged couples retreat is scheduled for 7-10 p.m. Friday, Jan. 18, and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 19, in the parish life center at St. Stephen Church in Chattanooga. The retreat is to supplement couples’ marriage formation process with their parish priest or deacon. The cost is $135 per couple, which includes a certificate good for $60 off a marriage license. To receive a $60 discount couples must attend the entire program and attend the program within one year of purchasing the license. Mass will be celebrated during the event. For more information, contact Marian Christiana of the diocesan Office of Marriage Preparation and Enrichment at 423-892-2310 or mchristiana@dioknox.org, or visit dioknox.org/ marriage-preparation-and-enrichment/ and click on the “programs designed for engaged couples” page.

Calendar continued on page B5

COURTESY OF JEFF ROUECHÉ

Catholic Teens United is a new program in the Diocese of Knoxville for teens in eighth grade to college.

The group will meet monthly at area churches to expose teens to the truth of Catholicism, empower them to make an impact on the world through prayer in eucharistic adoration, and help them grow in holiness through the sacrament of confession. The next CTU gathering will be from 2 to 4 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 9, at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Speaker Andy McNutt will talk to teens about “How Do You Know? Why Be Catholic When You Could Be Anything Else?”

pate in discussion to lead them through the struggles of divorce. Lunch will be provided. Books will be available for sale. Purchase not required to attend the seminar. Child-care is available for a fee. Contact Marian Christiana to learn more or to register: 423-892-2310 or mchristiana@dioknox.org.

Roueché Chorale and Symphony Orchestra to perform Dec. 13-14 The 19th annual Chattanooga Candlelight Service of Lessons and Carols, featuring The Roueché Chorale and Symphony Orchestra, will be hosted by Ridgedale Baptist Church, 1831 Hickory Valley Road in Chattanooga, at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Dec. 13 and 14. The program is free. Special guest soloist will be Stella Zambalis, former singer of the Metropolitan Opera. Prelude music will be provided by Atlanta harpist Maggie Lovell. Jeff Roueché, a member of St. Stephen Parish in Chattanooga, is the founder and artistic director of The Roueché Chorale. He has been an instrumentalist and cantor at St. Stephen and at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga. Many members from Chattanooga-area parishes Our Lady of Perpetual Help, St. Jude, St. Gerard, and Sts. Peter and Paul will be participating in the service. The congregation will play an active part in the singing of many traditional carols and will hear sacred favorites such as “Joy to the World” and “Silent Night.” For more information, contact the chorale office at 423-855-2981 or www.therouechechorale.org. You may also friend the chorale on Facebook.

COURTESY OF THE DIOCESE OF NASHVILLE

A free screening of the documentary film “Sexual Revolution: 50 Years Since Humanae Vitae” will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 11, at St. John Neumann Church in Farragut.

The film has been endorsed by the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization. To reserve a seat, contact Rich Cataldi at cdrcataldi@tds.net or 865-315-5958.

Father O’Neill installed as pastor of three parishes Bishop J. Mark Spalding of Nashville recently installed Father John O’Neill, who formerly served for many years in the Diocese of Knoxville, as pastor of Christ the Redeemer Parish in Centerville, Holy Trinity in Hohenwald, and St. Cecilia in Waynesboro.

Parish notes continued from page B3 attending are asked to bring a dish of their ethnic background.

Maglione (chair), Lisa Miller, Caprice Richardson, Colette Souder (co-chair), Tim Thurston, and Greg Ward.

The Council of Catholic Women’s 17th annual Holiday Bazaar, featuring more than 45 vendors, was held Nov. 10 in the parish center.

OLOF hosted a spiritual retreat Oct. 13, themed “The Prodigal Pastor” and led by Juan Hernandez, parish director of Hispanic ministry.

Smoky Mountain Deanery

St. John XXIII, Knoxville

Immaculate Conception, Knoxville

The parish Thanksgiving dinner, featuring the annual bingo game, was held Nov. 16.

Knights of Columbus Council 645 will have its annual Christmas dinner, movie, and toy drive at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 4, in the parish hall. Dinner will be followed by the movie A Charlie Brown Christmas. Each attendee is asked to bring a toy, which will be given to East Tennessee Children’s Hospital. Those planning to attend should contact Ken Houbre at 865-363-9191 or khoubre@ knology.net or Phil Flanagan at 865679-2465 or utkncr@utk.edu. There is no charge for the dinner.

The parish Christmas Carol Festival will take place at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 5, featuring music, hot drinks, and cookies. The lighting of the parish Christmas tree will occur as part of the festival.

Our Lady of Fatima, Alcoa The 2018 Council of Catholic Women Christmas celebration will happen at noon Monday, Dec. 10. The council will have lunch at RJ’s Courtyard Restaurant in Alcoa.

A new Stewardship Committee has been formed at OLOF. Members are Bruce Damrow, Suzette Donovan, Jennifer Deschanes, Larry Dominessy, Monica Gawet, Baron Johnson, Angela Kowalski, Peter Lloyd, Dolores

www.di o k no x .o rg

St. John XXIII hosted a Festival of Ministries, highlighting the ministries and organizations in the parish, on Oct. 13-14.

St. Joseph the Worker, Madisonville The St. Joseph the Worker International Christmas Party will take place at 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9. Attendees are asked to bring a dish that is traditional to their family. After dinner, children from the CCD program will lead the assembly in Christmas carols, and Santa will join the gathering as well.

The Knights of Columbus will host an evening of Christmas music as they present their sixth annual Christmas Concert at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15.

The group Rare Notes will be performing. Tickets are $8, and all revenue will be allocated to charitable programs.

The parish Veterans Day Memorial Program was held Nov. 12, beginning with Mass followed by a blessing at the veterans memorial in front of the church. Guest speaker was Gen. Doug Wood, retired.

The Knights hosted a Chili Fest on Oct. 28. n TH E EA S T TEN N ES S EE C A TH OLI C

Youth Mass continued from page B1

World Award are Darlene Riddle and James Riddle of St. Michael the Archangel; Natalea Riley of Immaculate Conception; Brendon Foley and Joel Finnell of St. Thérèse of Lisieux; and Amy Steverson and Dave Rath of Our Lady of Fatima.

Father Michelson and Deacon Forsythe presided at the DYMAC commissioning ceremony following Mass.

Diocesan students who have demonstrated service and leadership to their faith communities and have agreed to take on a role as a communication liaison to the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry are: • Isabella Reynoso, Natalia Hernandez, Noah Ellis, Darlin Navarro, and Havana Mitrik of the Five Rivers Deanery; • Anna Barbosa, Lizette Juarez, Jason Oliver, Matias Ron, Kimberly Ramos, Morgan Hicks, James Miles, Timothy Held, and Kat Moates of the Chattanooga Deanery; • Meghan Campbell, Bethany Quilty, Lauren Schenk, Jose Contreras, Marigrace Tidwell, Hannah Wilder, and Terrence Osorio of the Cumberland Mountain Deanery; • Regina Wol, Elizabeth Ellsworth, William Carter, Czarina Palcone, and Jacob King of the Smoky Mountain Deanery.

“Thank you for being here to celebrate the accomplishments of all our young people in our parishes throughout our diocese. For the past eight years that I’ve been serving as the diocesan director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, it’s always my pleasure to come to an event like this and give a shout-out to our young people throughout the diocese who are doing some amazing work in our different parishes. So we gather together to celebrate that and join in praise and thanksgiving for all that they do and give them a little recognition as well,” Deacon Forsythe said. n

BILL BREWER (6)

and seeing instruction, the longtime Diocese of Knoxville priest’s lesson for the teens was to listen, not simply hear, and to see beyond what is presented before them.

“Seeing has nothing to do with sight. Seeing is recognizing God’s plan. What do we do when we pray?

What do we ask for?” Father Michelson asked. “The readings always challenge us. They challenge us to listen. They challenge us to see. Because God is constantly revealing His plan before us. You don’t have to be old with gray hair; you don’t have to be ordained a priest or deacon; you don’t even have to be a parent. The Lord knows in each of us where we are at every moment of our lives. The Lord speaks to each one of you.

“He comes to you. And so you should ask, ‘Do I listen? Do I see what God’s plan is?’”

Deacon Forsythe and Beth Parsons, a deanery coordinator for the Youth and Young Adult Ministry, recognized a number of student leaders for their achievements.

The 2018 St. Timothy Award, which is the highest recognition the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry and the Diocese of Knoxville confers on high school youth that is given to a student who generously serves their peers and youth ministry with dedication and demonstrates a selfless commitment of service to youth ministry, was presented to Joseph Motto of St. Albert the Great Parish in Knoxville.

2018 recipients of the Discipleship Award are Bernice Luquin of St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Erwin; Jacob King of Immaculate Conception in Knoxville; Katie McConnell and Anna Barbosa of St. Thérèse of Lisieux in Cleveland; and Regina Wol and Elizabeth Ellsworth of Our Lady of Fatima in Alcoa.

2018 recipients of the Light of the

Calendar continued from page B4 The next Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekend is set for March 1-3. Apply online at GATN-wwme.org or call 678-242-WWME. A 14-day Lenten Pilgrimage to the Holy Land, under the spiritual direction of Monsignor Al Humbrecht, will take place March 10-23. Pilgrims will visit Gethsemane, Mount Scopus, the Mount of Olives, Bethlehem, Ein Karem, and the Old City of Jerusalem before departing for Jericho, Masada, the Dead Sea, and Kumran. Also on the schedule are visits to the Yad Vashem museum, Emmaus, Meggido, Galilee, Nazareth, Cana, the Mount of Beatitudes, Capernaum, Tabgha, Mount Tabor, Nain, the Jordan River, Mount Carmel, Caesarea, Jaffa, and Tel Aviv. Group coordinator is Sister Albertine Paulus, RSM. Full package is $4,299 (cash or check) or $4,558 (credit card), with the land-only package $3,199 (cash or check) or $3,458 (credit card). For more details, contact Sister Albertine at 865-207-4742 or 545-8270 or smaevang@yahoo.com.

A Pilgrimage to Greece, “In the Footsteps of St. Paul,” is set for April 30-May 11. Join Father Michael Maples on a journey to the sites where St. Paul spread the Gospel, including Philippi, Thessaloniki, Kalambaka, Delphi, and Athens, before departing for a four-day cruise visiting the islands of Mykonos, Patmos, Santorini, Rhodes, and Crete, including a visit to Mary’s house in Ephesus. Pilgrims will visit ancient Corinth and see where Paul wrote his letters to the Corinthians. Land and air, all-inclusive price is $4,495. To receive a brochure with the day-to-day itinerary or to learn more, contact Lisa Morris, Select International Tours, at 865-567-1245 or lisam@selectintl.com.

Bishop Richard F. Stika will be leading a pilgrimage to Poland, May 25-June 4, along with Cardinal Justin Rigali and Deacon Sean Smith. Participants TH E EAST T E N N E S S E E C A T HO L I C

will visit Czestochowa, Krakow, Wadowice (the birthplace of Pope St. John Paul II), the Divine Mercy Sanctuary, and Auschwitz before journeying on to Zakopane, Budapest, and Vienna. All-inclusive price is $4,395. For more information, contact Lisa Morris at 865-567-1245 or lisam@select-intl.com A Low Mass in the ancient form of the Roman Rite is normally offered every Monday morning at 7 a.m. at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga.

A Missa Cantata (sung Mass) in the ancient form of the Roman Rite is normally celebrated at 5 p.m. on fourth Sundays at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul. Because of the dedication of the basilica’s new altar at 10 a.m. Dec. 23, there will be no Missa Cantata that day. On Jan. 27 at 5 p.m., a Missa Cantata will be celebrated for the Third Sunday after Epiphany.

The Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga offers morning prayer after the 7 a.m. Mass on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday currently in Varallo Parish Hall because of the sanctuary renovation.

The Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul offers adoration every first Friday following the noon Mass, concluding with Benediction at 5:30 p.m. Adoration continues from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m., with songs and prayers through the night led by the Hispanic community. All are invited. Until the completion of the renovation, first Friday adoration is being held in the rectory chapel during the day and in Varallo Parish Hall at night.

Mass in the extraordinary form (“traditional Latin”) is celebrated at noon each Sunday at Holy Ghost Church in Knoxville; at 3 p.m. on first, third, and fifth Sundays at St. Thérèse of Lisieux Church in Cleveland; every Sunday at 8 a.m. at St. Mary Church in Athens; and 5 p.m. each fourth Sunday at www.di o k no x .o rg

the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga.

For more information, visit www.KnoxLatinMass.net.

The Chattanooga Bach Choir, collaborating with Voci Virili Men’s Consort and Voice of Reason Women’s Ensemble, presents Sergei Rachmaninoff’s “All-Night Vigil” for unaccompanied mixed choir, Op. 37, in original Russian, at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 26, at the newly renovated Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga. David Long, the Bach Choir’s artistic director, comments, “We are thrilled to perform Rachmaninoff’s monumental All-Night Vigil, considered a crowning achievement of Russian Orthodox choral music, at the acoustically sumptuous Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul.” Admission is $25; students are free. Visit www.chattanoogabachchoir.org to learn more or to purchase tickets.

The traditional Latin Mass of Christmas will be offered at Holy Ghost Church in Knoxville at noon on Christmas Day, Tuesday, Dec. 25. At 11:30 a.m. preceding the Mass, the Knoxville Latin Mass Schola will present a program of traditional Christmas music.

The Mass itself will be accompanied by the variable proper parts sung in Gregorian chant and the fixed ordinary parts (Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus, etc.) in a special polyphonic setting, together with offertory and Communion motets in chant and sacred polyphony.

All area Catholics and their friends are invited to share this festive celebration of the Nativity of Our Lord. Further details about the Mass and musical program will be posted at www.knoxlatinmass.net.

The St. Thomas the Apostle Eastern (Byzantine) Catholic Mission located at 2304 Ault Road, Knoxville, TN 37914 meets for Divine Liturgy every first, second, and fourth Sunday at 3 p.m. All services are in English. Call Father Richard Armstrong at 865584-3307 or visit www.saintthomasknoxville.org/ for details. n DECEMBER 2, 2018 n B5

DAN MCWILLIAMS (2) COURTESY OF SISTER IMELDA QUECHOL, MAG

Cardinal Rigali celebrates Veterans Mass Cardinal Justin Rigali celebrated the annual Veterans Mass on Nov. 4 at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus to honor those who served and are serving in the Armed Forces. With Cardinal Rigali, from left, are Maj. Phillip Smith, U.S. Army (Ret.); Tech Sgt. Robert Cote, U.S. Air Force (Ret.); Sgt. Richard O’Brien, U.S. Army (Ret.); and Knights of Columbus members Rich Cataldi, Tom Greer, Jim Redmond, Steve Kaye, Don Schreyer, J.J. Wilder, Scott Elmore, and Steve Kirk.

BILL BREWER BILL BREWER

Bishop Stika celebrates Red Mass for members of the legal profession Bishop Richard F. Stika celebrated the Red Mass on Oct. 7 at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Among the legal professionals attending the annual Mass were, from left, Knoxville lawyer Gerard Jabaley, Knox County Chancellor John Weaver, Knox County Circuit Court Judge Deborah Stevens, Tennessee Court of Appeals Judge Charles D. Susano Jr., Judge Lisa Lowe of the Tennessee Court of Workers’ Compensation Claims, Knox County Circuit Court Judge Kristi Davis, Knoxville lawyer Will Brewer, and Knoxville lawyer Ed Trent.

Walk-a-Thon a hit at St. Mary-Johnson City St. Mary School in Johnson City held a successful Walk-a-Thon earlier this fall, raising an event-record $22,175.20. The Walk-a-Thon took place over two weeks, Sept.

24 to Oct. 5. The students gathered donations and earned incentives, which culminated Oct. 5 with a fun warm-up, a lap around the campus trail, fitness and fun stations around the soccer field, a surprise visit from the Kona Ice truck (sponsored by an anonymous donor), and the announcement of the top-earning classes and individuals. This was the most successful fall fundraiser the school has had in close to a decade. About all of the school’s 165 students were involved in one way or another.

COURTESY OF MARLENE YURICK

Basilica children dress as saints On Nov. 1, children of the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga dressed as saints for the bilingual All Saints Day Mass. At the conclusion of Mass, Father David Carter, rector, led them in a procession, singing the Litany of Saints. The procession returned to the church for the annual All Saints Party, the parish’s biggest social event uniting its Spanish- and English-speaking communities.

White Mass held for those in the health-care profession The annual White Mass, invoking the blessing of the Holy Spirit upon those serving in the health-care profession, took place Oct. 20 at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Bishop Richard F. Stika was the celebrant.

COURTESY OF HEATHER CHAMPNEY

BILL BREWER

Blue Mass honors first responders Bishop Richard F. Stika celebrated the annual Blue Mass for first responders Sept.

30 at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. The Mass was celebrated to honor and to pray for first responders and their safety.

Holy Trinity parishioners take part in prayer chain for life On Oct. 20, Father Patrick Resen and parishioners of Holy Trinity prayed and witnessed to life in front of the church on Highway 92 in Jefferson City, in conjunction with the 40 Days for Life international campaign to end abortion.

B6 n DECEMBER 2, 2018

www.di o k no x .o rg

COURTESY OF MICHELLE FECTEAU-HOLMES

PAUL SIMONEAU

Rosary held at Calvary Cemetery The annual rosary at Calvary Cemetery in Knoxville for All Souls’ Day took place Nov. 4. About 60 participants attended as Father Ron Franco, CSP, pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in downtown Knoxville, led a walking rosary reciting the Glorious Mysteries. The bagpiper is Katie Helms of Sacred Heart Parish in Knoxville.

Father Woods blesses animals On Oct. 4, the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, about 50 animals and their caregivers gathered at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Fairfield Glade to have their animals blessed. Father Michael Woods, the pastor of St. Francis of Assisi, welcomed everyone and thanked everyone for their love and care of God’s creatures. He read a passage from Genesis wherein God created the animals and gave to man the responsibility for their care.

Father Woods circulated among the animals, blessing each one with holy water. There were dogs and cats and even a small collection of bees.

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

often come here and stay and let things cool down. He spent lots of time here with us, with our mother, in her house, then his sisters would come with him and they’d all stay with us. The Gallaghers, the church was their life. The church was our mother’s life, and all of our cousins who still live in Birmingham, (Ala.), where the bishop was raised.”

The history of the Church in Dayton dates to the late 19th century.

In 1888, George Jamme, superintendent of the Dayton Coal and Iron Co., obtained a plot of land from the company and was responsible for building St. Genevieve Church and School in Dayton.

St. Genevieve Academy Boarding and Day School was opened in February 1891 by Mother Cleophas of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth in Nazareth, Ky. About 40 children were enrolled when the school opened, including Mr. Jamme’s son and daughter. The Sisters of Mercy succeeded the Sisters of Charity in operating the school in September 1895.

When the coal and iron company faced hard times, parishioners of St. Genevieve moved elsewhere for work. The school closed in 1896 and the church in 1903.

Mass was celebrated for some time in Katherine Gallagher’s home by priests who would come to town on Saturday, stay at the home, and celebrate Mass on Sunday.

“Our great-grandparents, Katherine and James Gallagher—it was their house,” Mrs. Corvin said.

Stephen Durick, father of the bishop, purchased a two-story house on East Second Avenue in 1941 and donated it in memory of his wife, Bridget, who had died in 1939, to the Catholic families of Dayton for use as a chapel.

“When it first became St. Bridget they opened it in 1941 on what we called Washington Street back then,” Mrs. Travis said.

The chapel served the community well until 1966, when an industrialrejuvenation project caused the Catholic population of Dayton to grow rapidly.

In 1966, Father Francis Pack became pastor of St. Bridget Chapel and was given the task of supervising the building of a new church.

The chapel was becoming crowded at Mass, even more so with summertime visitors. In September 1967, the parish learned that Bishop Durick approved a credit of $20,000 from the Diocesan Development Fund as a gift for the new church in Dayton and sent a check for $4,500 for the purchase of a plot of ground on Walnut Grove Road.

Ground was broken May 19, 1968, following Sunday Mass in the cha-

pel with Father Pack. Katharine Hill tossed the first spadeful of dirt. On Dec. 22, 1968, Bishop Durick, who died in 1994 celebrated the first Mass in the new church. Father Pack and Father Joseph Breen concelebrated.

For the formal dedication of the church the following May 11, Bishop Durick was joined in the celebration of the Mass by Father Pack, Father Breen, Father L.A. Maxwell, and Father John McMurray. Clergy of other denominations attended, as did the bishop’s brother and four sisters.

“My daughter, Katherine Whitaker, was the first person of the original family to marry in this church,” Mrs. Corvin said.

From seven families in 1961 to 80 in the early 1990s, St. Bridget has grown to about 350 families today.

Parish photographer Virginia Bishop has been a parishioner of St. Bridget for 23 years.

What does St. Bridget mean to her?

“My social center,” she said.

“Anything that you need, you can get through the social center here.

They’re very wonderful people.”

The church has grown considerably in her years there, Mrs. Bishop said.

“Yes, indeed, it has. It has grown a great deal. I must say I’ve been impressed; it hasn’t changed its ways. It’s amazing how much they can fundraise. The people are so generous. I’m impressed with them.

They’re still very generous. They’re still very open.”

She’ll never forget her first Mass at St. Bridget.

“I came to Mass out of the blue,” Mrs. Bishop said. “I’d moved in the day before, and I came to Mass, and I just walked in, and one of the ladies got up out of the pew, and she came over to me and she said, ‘Welcome to St. Bridget’s.’ That was within the first five minutes of my first visit. Can you get better than that?”

That’s a far cry from her church experience on Long Island, N.Y. “My experience with the church was much different there because it was grandiose—much, much larger— and much more difficult for you to become involved in particular intimacy, so I think that’s why it impresses me here,” she said.

Victoria Welch of St. Bridget went to the church when it was in the house in downtown Dayton.

“The house itself was very, very small,” she said. “They were lined up along the sidewalk in the summertime with all the tourists. It was just so different, coming from Illinois. But it was great, and it was great to get the nice, new big church built. This is fantastic, the 50th an-

Priest at the piano Father Sturm helped provide musical accompaniment at the anniversary Mass.

Bishop Durick’s mother Bridget Gallagher Durick, for whom St. Bridget Parish is named, is pictured at right in the above photo.

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

DAN MCWILLIAMS (7)

St. Bridget continued from page B1

Two languages Father Sam Sturm preaches a bilingual homily during the anniversary Mass at St. Bridget.

Responsorial psalm Members of the choir at St. Bridget sing at Mass.

Deacon Tom Kiefer is at left. niversary here.”

The parish has “definitely” grown in her time as a parishioner, she said.

“It has definitely, through the industries that brought a lot of northerners down, Catholics, and it’s just been great.”

Mrs. Corvin spoke of her religious-education experiences as a youth in Dayton.

“We had to travel to Blessed Sac-

rament in Harriman for our Catholic catechism education, where the nuns taught us every summer,” she said. “We would commute daily for probably two or three weeks a year or maybe longer. That was a long haul for children. We were just in grammar school. Our parents hired a driver to drive us there back and forth every day so that we could be educated in the catechism and receive our sacraments.” n

A word from the bishop Bishop Richard F. Stika draws a laugh from Deacon Kiefer and the assembly at St. Bridget. “For 50 years this parish has been a shining light in Dayton,” the bishop said during his remarks at Mass.

Proclaiming the Gospel Deacon Kiefer was ordained in 1974 by Dayton native Bishop Joseph A. Durick. He came out of retirement to assist Bishop Stika in the anniversary Mass at St. Bridget.

Mountain music The Mount LeConte Jug Band provided entertainment at St. Bridget after the anniversary Mass.

www.di o k no x .o rg

DECEMBER 2, 2018 n B7

Praying for Perspective

by George Valadie

Believing in Christmas The Christ Child inspires children of all ages to keep the faith; good ol’ St. Nick is another story

W

hen did it happen to you?

I remember as if it were yesterday.

I know the place and the time, who was there and who was not.

The “it” to which I refer is … when did you learn the cold, hard realities of life about Santa Claus, his reindeer, and all the little toymaking North Pole elves?

I wasn’t there when you heard, but I can probably narrow it down.

Odds are good the news came from the mean old neighbor kid. Possibly it was playground chatter that did in your dreams. Or you may have found things for which you should have never been looking—and thus discovered the truth that was wrapped inside.

Or maybe you just asked?

It was a far different era then, but I made it until I was 12 years old.

Honestly, I would have liked to have gone longer.

We had arrived home, late one Christmas Eve, having come from our annual family celebration with my cousins’ family. My three younger sisters and I were upstairs hurrying to prepare for bed with our parents doing the bulk of the hurrying.

Kay, a year younger than I, and the Grinch of this story, happened to be in my room with Mom and Dad when she just popped the question.

I sure didn’t know she was going to ask. We hadn’t whispered about it. We hadn’t wondered about it—I mean not out loud anyway. We hadn’t made a plan to catch them

Sarah never had to ask. Turns out she was rooting around our bedroom one day and the truth jumped out at her. She never told; she never let on.

She said she pretended not to know because she knew she’d been guilty of looking, finding—and knowing. alone. She just went and blurted it out, catching me as much by surprise as I’m sure it did my mom and dad.

But like the proverbial moment that freezes in time—I recall wishing she hadn’t. I must have somehow known or certainly at least sensed what the answer was to be because I also recall wishing I could have popped out of the room before the answer popped out of their mouths.

I don’t blame them; they said what they knew it was time to say.

No matter how it happened to any of us—didn’t it always feel as if the air had been let out of something big? I remember hating the truth, at least that one. And I remember a Christmas that didn’t seem nearly as much fun.

Years later, Nancy and I had three girls of our own. Two a bit older, with Sarah the youngest having trailed along some six years behind.

I don’t recall how old they were when they came seeking the facts of holiday life, but sadly, I know neither of them made it until they were 12.

It seems they had been asking every year. And every year we lied, giving our annual reply that cared nothing about the truth. We wanted

Marriage Enrichment

them to hold on as long as they possibly could. Maybe more than even they wanted to.

We had the perfect and logical reply.

“Honey, does Santa bring you a lot of nice things?”

“Yes, Dad.” “And a big stocking full of stuff?”

“Yes, Dad.” “And does he bring nice things to all three of you?”

“Yes, Dad.” “Now, you know us honey, do you think Mom and Dad could ever afford to buy all those things?”

“You’re right. Never mind.”

Eventually, it was just time. I’ll admit I’d been dreading the Santa Claus conversation more than the one I would someday need to have about sex and babies and momma’s tummy.

The first one killed them; the second one just killed me.

In the true spirit of Christmas, we bribed them. “Now listen, as long as Sarah keeps believing, it only makes sense that Santa Claus will visit all three of our children. So it’s to your advantage to keep the dream alive for her. Get it?”

“Got it.” And did they ever!

Sarah never had to ask. Turns out she was rooting around our bedroom one day and the truth jumped out at her. She never told; she never let on. She said she pretended not to know because she knew she’d been guilty of looking, finding—and knowing.

She also remembers being 10 years old. “I made it longer than

most,” she recalls.

Perhaps the hardest thing for parents—all of us—is not the keeping of a meaningless secret. Rather, the challenge of parenthood is to help them make some meaningful sense of how the elves and the shepherds, Kris Kringle, and the Baby Jesus can somehow all coexist, each in their proper proportion.

We hope they can appreciate the difference between the myth of the fantasy and the reality of the Savior. We need them to know how the magical differs from the miraculous. And we want them to celebrate both as they should be.

In fact, who doesn’t need a reminder of what’s what?

One is for fun and one is forever.

But there’s so much more to that stocking full of truth than the one simple answer to the one simple question.

It’s why we help them as long as we can … as long as we did. Gone in a single swoosh were all the other fairy tales that helped make childhood so childlike.

The wide eyes and joyful grins— we really miss that part of our kids’ lives.

We miss that part of ours, too.

Dear God—We know who’s real, who’s important, who matters. We do.

We jumble it up a lot, and we surely must make you wonder. So thank you for coming anyway. Amen. ■ George Valadie is president of Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga.

by Marian Christiana

Find your own George Bailey in your life

The lives of the writer’s family would have been much different if not for the faith of an older sister

A

dvent is a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the coming of Jesus. It is one thing to be prepared to welcome Jesus but quite another to allow Him to transform our lives once He arrives.

This Advent I am contemplating how the birth of Jesus has affected my life and how I can allow Him to continue to guide my life. To do this I am looking at role models in my life who imitate the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ in the way they live their lives. I am using their example to help me improve my efforts to share love in a sacrificial way.

One of the role models I am thinking about is my sister Demaris Quiroz. My sister turned 70 last month. Seventy is a big deal for anyone, but it is especially true for our Demaris. You see, Demaris is a 25-year breast cancer survivor, a three-year survivor of a Saddle Pulmonary Embolism, and our families’ very own George Bailey. If you are not familiar with the character George Bailey from the Christmas movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” let me share a short synopsis of the movie.

George Bailey spends his entire life giving of himself to the people of Bedford Falls. He sacrificed his desire for travel and adventure in order to work for his late father’s modest Building and Loan Co. It is the only business in town that a rich skinflint, Mr. Potter, doesn’t own.

On Christmas Eve, George’s forget-

We owe Demaris a great deal of gratitude for the sacrificial love she has shown not only to her family but also to everyone who is lucky enough to call her a friend. . . . Now that I am older, I understand that Demaris is led by her deep faith in Jesus. ful Uncle Billy loses the Building and Loan’s $8,000 while on his way to deposit it in the bank.

Mr. Potter finds the misplaced money and, in an effort to make a play for the last business he doesn’t own, hides the money from Billy.

Later that night a bank examiner discovers the shortage. George realizes that he is ultimately responsible for the shortage and will go to jail along with losing the company. Mr. Potter will finally own the whole town.

Thinking that his wife, young children, and others whom he loves will be better off with him dead, he contemplates suicide. George is despondent and is unaware that all of his loved ones have been praying for him. God hears their prayers and sends a gentle angel named Clarence to earth to help George.

Clarence shows George what life would be like if he had never been born and helps George see that the love of family and friends far outweighs the lost $8,000.

Now I am not saying that my sister Demaris is contemplating taking her life! I am saying, however, that she gave up a large part of her life in

order to make sure that her younger brother and sisters were settled before she moved on with her own life plan. As I have mentioned before in previous articles, our mother died when we were young. Demaris was 14 years old.

Our two older siblings went to work to help support the family, and Demaris was left in charge of the three younger siblings. She took her responsibility very seriously. She wanted to make sure that her three younger siblings could stand on their own and take care of themselves before she moved out on her own, married, and started her own family.

I won’t list details of all of the generous things that Demaris has done for all five of her siblings, as well as for her husband and children, cousins, and friends. Suffice it say that she has been and continues to be very generous with her time, talent, and treasure. She is our go-to problem solver, adviser, and social chairwoman.

We owe Demaris a great deal of gratitude for the sacrificial love she has shown not only to her family but also to everyone who is lucky enough to call her a friend. My work in marriage preparation and enrichment has also benefited from watching how Demaris and her husband, Tony, have lived a strong Catholic marriage for more than 37 years.

This all brings me back to George Bailey. My comparison of Demaris to George Bailey is because our lives

would have turned out much, much differently if she, at age 14, hadn’t stepped into the void created by our mother’s death. She stayed focused on us until we were grown and stable. She has been our anchor.

When I was young, I would wonder what caused Demaris to make the unselfish decisions that she made during her life. Now that I am older, I understand that Demaris is led by her deep faith in Jesus. She understood from a young age that she needed to stay grounded in her Catholic faith and allow her love of Jesus to be her guide in how she lived her life. Unlike George Bailey’s faith before he met Clarence, Demaris’ faith is not passive. She continues to be very engaged in developing and living out her Catholic faith for the benefit of all of us who know her.

This Advent season, let me challenge you to contemplate your own George Bailey. Find someone in your life who helps you to see and feel the love of Christ and allow that love to transform you. Let us all allow the love of Jesus to transform our lives and give us the strength to share that love with one another.

You may never know in this life how your love has affected someone else’s life, but rest assured, love never fails.

Merry Christmas! ■ Marian Christiana is coordinator of the diocesan Marriage Preparation and Enrichment Office.

Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul offers low Mass, Missa Cantata, morning prayer, adoration ■A

Low Mass in the ancient form of the Roman Rite is normally offered every Monday morning at 7 a.m. at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga.

■ A Missa Cantata (sung Mass) in the ancient form of the Roman Rite is normally celebrated at 5 p.m. on fourth Sundays at the Basilica of B8 n DECEMBER 2, 2018

Sts. Peter and Paul. Because of the dedication of the basilica’s new altar at 10 a.m. Dec. 23, there will be no Missa Cantata that day. On Jan. 27 at 5 p.m., a Missa Cantata will be celebrated for the Third Sunday after Epiphany.

■ The Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga offers morn-

ing prayer after the 7 a.m. Mass on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday currently in Varallo Parish Hall because of the sanctuary renovation.

■ The Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul offers adoration every first Friday following the noon Mass, concluding with Benediction at 5:30 p.m.

www.di o k no x .o rg

Adoration continues from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m., with songs and prayers through the night led by the Hispanic community. All are invited.

Until the completion of the renovation, first Friday adoration is being held in the rectory chapel during the day and in Varallo Parish Hall at night. ■ TH E EA S T TEN N ES S EE C A TH OLI C

For Our Salvation

by Bob Hunt

We are here to fulfill our human nature Christ restores human nature to the dignity it held before the Fall He who is the “image of the invisible God” is himself the perfect man who has restored in the children of Adam that likeness to God which had been disfigured ever since the first sin. Human nature, by the very fact that it was assumed, not absorbed, in him, has been raised in us also to a dignity beyond compare. For, by his incarnation, he, the Son of God, has in a certain way united himself with each individual. He worked with human hands, he thought with a human mind. He acted with a human will, and with a human heart he loved. Born of the Virgin Mary, he has truly been made one of us, like us in all things except sin.

T

he above is from Gaudium et Spes, the Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, promulgated by the bishops at the Second Vatican Council. It offers a profound reflection for Advent and Christmas, for it is during these liturgical seasons that we prepare for and celebrate when “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14).

“For us men and for our salvation,” the Second Person of the Holy Trinity “came down from heaven, and by the power of the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Vir-

Guest Column

Christ also came ‘for our salvation.’

A common notion, especially among secularists, is the idea that human nature is not broken at all, that even our sinful actions are good because they are human. But this is a false notion of what it is to be human . . . gin Mary, and became man.” This is our Creed. It is the faith of the Church.

But, we have heard the story so often that we risk making too little of it, turning the extraordinary into the banal. We risk, too, neglecting one or the other of that two-part proclamation of faith: that Christ came “for us men and for our salvation.” We risk forgetting, first, how remarkable it is to be human and, second, how much we humans need Christ’s redemptive grace.

We humans are broken by sin, but we are not broken by nature. In the classic movie, “The African Queen,” Charlie Allnut, the rough and gruff sailor played by Humphrey Bogart, is taking Rose Sayer, the prim and proper missionary played by Katherine Hepburn, down the Ulanga River in Africa on their mission to sink a German gunboat.

One night, Charlie gets drunk, and Rose is making him pay for it the next morning with her scorn. Charlie defends himself, “What are you being so mean for, Miss? A man takes a drop too much once in a while, it’s only human nature.” “Nature, Mr. Allnut,” Rose replies, “is what we are put in this world to rise above.”

They are both wrong. It is not human nature to sin. It is broken human nature. We are not here to rise above our human nature, but to fulfill our human nature. Christ came “for us men.” In assuming our humanity, Christ restores human nature to the dignity it held before the Fall. How marvelous to share a nature with the Creator of all things!

This is a meaning of Christmas to celebrate.

Christ also came “for our salvation.” A common notion, especially among secularists, is the idea that human nature is not broken at all, that even our sinful actions are good because they are human.

But, this is a false notion of what it is to be human, where being human means satiating every desire, whether base or noble. To be truly human is to glorify God with lives that reflect His will and the destiny He designed for us.

“The glory of God,” St. Irenaeus said, “is man, fully human, fully alive!” Christ was fully human in that His humanity perfectly revealed the divine. We are fully human and fully alive when we allow God’s grace to so permeate our lives that, when others see us, they see God’s glory reflected.

This is only possible with the grace won for us by Christ’s perfect obedience to the will of the Father, even unto death. Christ does not save us by turning us into something other than what we are.

Rather, Christ saves us by restoring us to all we were created to be in the first place.

C.S. Lewis wondered at the dignity of what it means to be human.

He wrote, “There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. … Next to the Blessed Sacrament itself, your neighbor is the holiest object presented to your sense.” We would do well to reflect on this mystery this Christmas.

Christ became human so that we humans might be raised to glory.

Glory to God in the highest! ■ Bob Hunt is a husband, father, and parishioner at All Saints Catholic Church in Knoxville.

by Josie Boder

Arguing for the existence of God The perfection of nature indicates how much more perfect He himself must be

Weekday readings Saturday, Dec. 1: Revelation 22:1-7; Psalm 95:1-7; Luke 21:34-36 Sunday, Dec. 2: First Sunday of Advent, Jeremiah 33:14-16; Psalm 25:45, 8-10, 14; 1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2; Luke 21:25-28, 34-36 Monday, Dec. 3: Memorial of St. Francis Xavier, priest, Isaiah 2:1-5; Psalm 122:1-9; Matthew 8:5-11 Tuesday, Dec. 4: Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17; Luke 10:21-24 Wednesday, Dec. 5: Isaiah 25:6-10; Psalm 23:1-6; Matthew 15:29-37 Thursday, Dec. 6: Isaiah 26:1-6; Psalm 118:1, 8-9, 19-21, 25-27; Matthew 7:21, 24-27 Friday, Dec. 7: Memorial of St. Ambrose, bishop and doctor of the Church, Isaiah 29:17-24; Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14; Matthew 9:27-31 Saturday, 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, 1112; Luke 1:26-38 Sunday, Dec. 9: Baruch 5:1-9; Psalm 126:1-6; Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11; Luke 3:1-6 Monday, Dec. 10: Isaiah 35:1-10; Psalm 85:9-14; Luke 5:17-26 Tuesday, Dec. 11: Isaiah 40:1-11; Psalm 96:1-3, 10-13; Matthew 18:12-14 Wednesday, Dec. 12: Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Zechariah 2:1417; Judith 13:18-19; Luke 1:26-38 Thursday, Dec. 13: Memorial of TH E EAST T E N N E S S E E C A T HO L I C

I must admit much of my fascination with life and my desire to understand it originates from the beauty that I see around me. In my study of the science of life, I seek not only to learn what I need to have a successful career, but also to discover more aspects of God . . .

Trees are green in the sun and plum in the moon; they shift more often with the wind in strife, more gently when it plays. Their leaves speak, and sing, and dance in the rays of a gentle, glowing sun to whose grace they give praise to its compassion, its mercy, and its life-giving days.

Sometimes leaves weep as they drip on away, their life bleeding crimson and gold; sometimes they quiver as skeleton molds, as some rook within them shelters from the cold.

St. Lucy, virgin and martyr, Isaiah 41:13-20; Psalm 145:1, 9-13; Matthew 11:11-15 Friday, Dec. 14: Memorial of St. John of the Cross, priest and doctor of the Church, Isaiah 48:17-19; Psalm 1:1-4, 6; Matthew 11:16-19 Saturday, Dec. 15: Sirach 48:1-4, 9-11; Psalm 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19; Matthew 17:9-13 Sunday, Dec. 16: Zephaniah 3:14-18; Isaiah 12:2-6; Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 3:10-18 Monday, Dec. 17: Genesis 49:2, 8-10; Psalm 72:1-4, 7-8, 17; Matthew 1:1-17 Tuesday, Dec. 18: Jeremiah 23:5-8; Psalm 72:1-2, 12-13, 18-19; Matthew 1:18-25 Wednesday, Dec. 19: Judges 13:27, 24-25; Psalm 71:3-6, 16-17; Luke 1:5-25 Thursday, Dec. 20: Isaiah 7:10-14; Psalm 24:1-6; Luke 1:26-38 Friday, Dec. 21: Song of Songs 2:814; Psalm 33:2-3, 11-12, 20-21; Luke 1:39-45 Saturday, Dec. 22: 1 Samuel 1:24-28; 1 Samuel 2:1, 4-8; Luke 1:46-56 Sunday, Dec. 23: Micah 5:1-4; Psalm 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19; Hebrews 10:510; Luke 1:39-45 Monday, Dec. 24: Mass in the morning, 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8-12, 14, 16; Psalm 89:2-5, 27, 29; Luke 1:67-79; vigil for Christmas, Isaiah 62:1-5; Psalm 89:4-5, 16-17, 27, 29; Acts 13:16-17, 22-25; Matthew 1:1-25 Tuesday, Dec. 25: The Nativity of the Lord—Christmas, Mass during the

All being said, leaves living, leaves dying, they hide such a secret away; for inside their veins so new and so tiny lies the knowledge of God’s holy face. So if any idiots were to look at a leaf in its new, sudden grace, they might see that which is utterly divine. In seeing such a spark, they may yet mark that in multitudes one tiny leaf might become that which is greater than any great tree, great branch, great heart can behold.

As you may have guessed, the principle that I have laid out in so many wonderfully meaningless philosophical words is that of a proof of a god as they are necessarily most perfect beings from grades of perfection. All romantic poeticism aside, the ability of creation to show an aspect of God’s divinity is truly astounding. Nature itself be-

ing so complex and so ordered in its relative chaos, the smallest parts of us working so perfectly and so randomly together to create something so ordered and so beautiful as life— if this is true perfection of God’s product, then how much more perfect must He himself be?

I must admit much of my fascination with life and my desire to understand it originates from the beauty that I see around me. In my study of the science of life, I seek not only to learn what I need to have a successful career, but also to discover more aspects of God, so many of which are present in the material world. ■ Josie Boder is a 2018 graduate of Knoxville Catholic High School who is now a student at Fordham University majoring in biological sciences.

COURTESY OF MARLENE YURICK

O

ne can argue for the existence of God, of goodness, of forgiveness for days on end with arbitrary purpose and forgotten necessity. Too often, life enslaves our minds and tethers us too close to the earth; too often, we forget the endless unanswered question that drums at the back of our minds as some pertinacious woodpecker, endlessly poking its beak through the tree’s most dense protection.

“Does life have meaning?” the woodpecker asks. Few know the answer. Cluelessness seems a trope in human nature; we rarely see what is not in front of us, and even that which is directly before our eyes too often goes unnoticed out of fear or ignorance. Unfortunately for those cowards and those ignorers, if they would simply open their eyes, the ever-drumming question would desist.

Parishioners hold shower for spiritually adopted babies Members of Holy Trinity Parish in Jefferson City present baby shower gifts Sept. 29 to Cathy Gleason, executive director of the Life Outreach Center, a crisis pregnancy center in Jefferson City. The parish participates in the Spiritual Adoption of the Unborn, a program in which parishioners pray each day for nine months the prayer composed by Venerable Fulton J. Sheen for a baby, unknown to them, who is in danger of abortion. At the end of nine months, the parish celebrates with a baby shower at which gifts and monetary donations are collected and presented to Life Outreach Center. Holy Trinity Deacon David Oatney and pastor Father Patrick Resen are among those pictured. night, Isaiah 9:1-6; Psalm 96:1-3, 1113; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-14; Mass at dawn, Isaiah 62:11-12; Psalm 97:1, 6, 11-12; Titus 3:4-7; Luke 2:15-20; Mass during the day, Isaiah 52:7-10; Psalm 98:1-6; Hebrews 1:1-6; John 1:1-18 Wednesday, Dec. 26: Feast of St. Stephen, first martyr, Acts 6:8-10 and 7:54-59; Psalm 31:3-4, 6, 8, 16-17; Matthew 10:17-22 Thursday, Dec. 27: Feast of St. John, Apostle and evangelist, 1 John 1:1-4; Psalm 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12; John 20:1-8 Friday, Dec. 28: Feast of the Holy

www.di o k no x .o rg

Innocents, martyr, 1 John 1:5-2:2; Psalm 124:2-5, 7-8; Matthew 2:13-18 Saturday, Dec. 29: 1 John 2:3-11; Psalm 96:1-3, 5-6; Luke 2:22-35 Sunday, Dec. 30: Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14; Psalm 128:1-5; Colossians 3:12-21; Luke 2:41-52 Monday, Dec. 31: 1 John 2:18-21; Psalm 96:1-2, 11-13; John 1:1-18 Tuesday, Jan. 1: Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, Numbers 6:22-27; Psalm 67:2-3, 5-6, 8; Galatians 4:4-7; Luke 2:16-21 n DECEMBER 2, 2018 n B9

DAN MCWILLIAMS

Catholic schools

DR. KELLY KEARSE

From the Irish to the Irish Jake Renfree signs with the University of Notre Dame on Nov. 14 at Knoxville Catholic High School. With him are parents Dr. Tim and Erica Renfree.

KCHS’s Renfree wins state cross country

K

KCHS football team falls in state semifinals Knoxville Catholic High School receiver Tommy Winton makes a move against Oak Ridge defensive back Kai’reese Pendergrass in a state football quarterfinal playoff game Nov. 16 at Oak Ridge. The Fighting Irish trailed 33-19 in the game but came back to win 42-40. Visiting Knoxville Central, however, ended KCHS’s season 24-19 in the semifinals on Nov. 23. The Irish, the defending Class 5A champions, started the season 2-3 but won seven straight, including earlier playoff wins of 34-28 over Knoxville West and 28-25 over Region 4-5A top seed Fulton. They finished the season 9-4.

those guys. It was a little windy.

Since most of the guys in front of me were 6 foot and above, it kind of played in to my favor, so I was sitting on them for a little bit, and then with about a half-mile to go I just really opened it up and tried to get as big of a gap as I could.”

Jake won state titles in track in the two-mile run and as a member of the 4-by-800-meter team, both as a sophomore, and captured the milerun crown as a junior.

He signed with the University of Notre Dame on Nov. 14.

“I’ve been looking forward to this for a long, long time,” he said.

“I love Notre Dame. I’m really excited to run with an ND on my chest for the rest of my life.”

Jake Renfree is the son of Dr. Tim and Erica Renfree, both of whom attended Notre Dame. n

COURTESY OF LAURA GOODHARD

By Dan McWilliams noxville Catholic High School runner Jake Renfree is filling out his trophy case.

The senior standout captured his first career cross country championship Nov. 3 at Percy Warner Park in Nashville. Mr. Renfree ran the 3-mile course in 15 minutes, 25.58 seconds, outdistancing senior David Ahlmeyer (15:40.85) of Beech by more than 15 seconds in a field of 202 runners.

“That was my first,” Jake said of his latest title. “I got second my sophomore year and fourth last year.”

The run at Percy Warner “was good,” he said.

“I went in, and I knew the guys in front of me were going to be really pushing. I think I was seeded sixth going in. I kind of waited on

Notre Dame football team finishes season 9-2 Notre Dame High School’s Jordan Ford outruns three Boyd Buchanan players in the Fighting Irish’s 57-12 win over the Buccaneers on Sept. 14. NDHS finished the regular season 8-1, capturing the East Region title of Division II, Class AA. The Irish scored 44, 55, and 62 points in three of their other regular-season wins. Notre Dame opened the playoffs with a 55-17 home win over Christian Academy of Knoxville before falling 34-33 at home to Franklin Road Academy to finish the season 9-2.

COURTESY OF STEVE COY

Four at KCHS sign with colleges Knoxville Catholic High School hosted a signing day event for four seniors in the school library Nov. 14. From left are Olivia Cunningham, who signed with East Tennessee State University in volleyball; Jake Renfree, who signed with the University of Notre Dame in cross country and track; Kathryn (Keileen) Cullen, who signed with Berry College in tennis; and Alena Aucker, who signed with the University of Oregon in acrobatics and tumbling.

‘Turkey Toss’ at Sacred Heart benefits Ladies of Charity Sacred Heart Cathedral School held a “Turkey Toss” for the Ladies of Charity this fall. Ladies of Charity volunteers greeted students as they arrived at school Nov. 5 and collected 112 frozen turkeys donated by Sacred Heart families. The turkeys will be given to local families in need over the holidays.

B10 n DECEMBER 2, 2018

COURTESY OF STEVE COY

Sacred Heart has 109 qualify for Duke TIP Sacred Heart Cathedral School recently celebrated its 109 scholars who qualified for the Duke University Talent Identification Program for 2018. Duke TIP identifies academically talented students in fourth, fifth, sixth, or seventh grade based on their standardized test scores. Those scores must rank at or above the 95th percentile nationally on a qualifying test. This year, about 40 percent of Sacred Heart students in grades 4-7 qualified for Duke TIP. Younger students who qualify for Duke TIP may take the PSAT, and seventh-graders may take the SAT or ACT as ways to learn more about their academic potential. All who qualify receive resources to help them continue to grow academically.

S

t. Mary SchoolOak Ridge Spanish teacher Danielle Y.C. McClean, along with three other Caribbean authors who are recipients of CODE’s Burt Award for Caribbean Young Adult Literature, met with students, teachers, librarians, and young people in Trinidad and Tobago for the Read with Me Caribbean Author Tour in November 2017.

The Read With Me campaign, which is an initiative of the writing and literary arts development organization Bocas Lit Fest, and Canada-based international development organization CODE, is designed to promote the love and habit of reading and was launched during the tour. Ms. McClean had the opportunity to visit schools, libraries, and homes for at-risk youth across Trinidad and share her own love of reading, discuss its importance, and encourage its practice for pleasure.

Ms. McClean holds advanced degrees in French, Spanish, and law and is passionate about language, mythology, and learning about different cultures. When asked to share details about her inspiration as an author, she commented, “I have always enjoyed reading and was that child who was genuinely happy

www.di o k no x .o rg

COURTESY OF SARAH TRENT

DAN MCWILLIAMS

St. Mary teacher writes award-winning book

Danielle Y.C. McClean to receive books for Christmas and on birthdays. Reading opened new worlds, sparked my creativity, and enhanced my written expression. I was comfortable with words—they were my friends—and began to keep a diary at the age of 8, faithfully writing about daily happenings and my feelings. I started to compose poems, short stories, and plays as a pastime, sharing them with my immediate family.

“Despite my love of writing, I did not set out to become an author. I pursued the study of languages and then law, and it was only when it became clear that the United States would be my home that I began to write a book that could link my future children to my dearly held native culture of Trinidad and Tobago.

“I am often asked how long it took to write The Protectors’ Pledge. The process— from conception to publication—took

nine years. It was a project that I believed in, was passionate about, and always came back to, no matter how long the manuscript was put aside.

It has grown far beyond what I initially envisioned, and I marvel at the blessings that I have received as a result—most recently in the form of the CODE Read with Me author tour in Trinidad, during which I and three other Burt Award-winning authors visited schools, libraries, and homes for girls and boys to promote the love and habit of reading.

“Connecting reluctant readers with a story, seeing the spark in their eyes, and bringing the words on a page to life have been priceless gifts.”

Ms. McClean also appeared as a guest author at the 2017 Miami Book Fair, where she presented her middle grade novel Secrets of Oscuros: The Protectors’ Pledge at the Rescue Missions and Other Worlds event. n

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