December 1
| 2019
VOL 29 NO 2
IN THIS ISSUE A A4 BECOMING DEACON
25 men discerning the permanent diaconate
GROUPS AUDIENCE B1 YOUTH A4 PAPAL New ministries for boys Bishop Stika meeting with Pope Francis on ad limina visit
and girls getting their start in the diocese
He dwells among us ......................... A2 Parish news ....................................... B4 Diocesan calendar ............................ B5 Columns ............................................. B8 Catholic schools ............................. B10 La Cosecha ............................Section C
St. Faustina Association welcomes Bishop Stika Chattanooga’s Vietnamese faith community growing, with goal of becoming a parish
COURTESY OF FATHER NICK TRAN (2)
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stablished just four months ago, the St. Faustina Public Association of the Faithful, founded by Bishop Richard F. Stika for the Vietnamese Catholic community in the Chattanooga area, appears to be flourishing. Bishop Stika celebrated Mass with nearly 240 attendees and offered the sacrament of baptism to two infants and a 93-year-old woman during his first official visit to the community at its current worship space in Notre Dame High School on Nov. 3. “The bishop goes into a garden and he sees a little sprout, and he wants to nourish it, and then the sprout begins to grow. Soon it’s not a sprout but a tree. And now I see the growth of a tree here and so I have to respond,” Bishop Stika said during his homily. Bishop Stika hopes someday to establish a parish for the Vietnamese community in Chattanooga. But before that, months, and perhaps years, of work will need to be done. “Before we become a parish, I have to make sure you’re all committed to being a parish and that you continue to grow and get taller and taller so that the entire area around Chattanooga will see the new beginnings of a strong community,” said Bishop Stika, who established the St. Faustina Association in July. Father Nick Tran, a Vietnam native, arrived in the Diocese of Knoxville earlier this year from the Archdiocese of Hartford and is chaplain and moderator for the community. “We invited Bishop Stika to come to see our community on Sunday. Our people were very joyful, and they were so happy to see him,” Father Tran said. “Bishop Stika is their shepherd, and they were so thrilled and happy. People know the bishop cares about us and loves us.” Mass attendance was 238, higher
By Jim Wogan and Janice Fritz-Ryken
Welcome St. Faustina Public Association Bishop Richard F. Stika is shown with members of the new Vietnamese Catholic community in Chattanooga, St. Faustina Public Association. Bishop Stika celebrated Mass for the community at Notre Dame High School on Nov. 3.
Bathe these children in light Bishop Stika baptizes two infants during a Mass he celebrated for the St. Faustina Public Association in Chattanooga on Nov. 3 at Notre Dame High School. than the 180-200 people that Father Tran said usually attend Sunday Mass there. The growth and exuberance of
the St. Faustina Association has been evident since its start in July. An initial challenge was to find it adequate worship space.
The association started with Masses in the Notre Dame High School chapel, which isn’t large enough. Masses were then moved to the school auditorium, which can accommodate approximately 600 people. In November, Masses were temporarily moved to the school cafeteria while auditorium renovations took place. Growing the association has taken hard work and a few road miles for Father Tran, who has driven to businesses around Chattanooga where many Vietnamese residents work. He spread word of the Vietnamese Masses at Notre Dame. He also collected information hoping it might lead to home visits. “I go to their houses and nail salons and ask for people who are Catholic. We ride to their houses and where they work, and I invite them to come to Mass, so they are very happy to have a priest appear to their house,” Father Tran said. “They are still active Catholics, but they don’t have a Vietnamese Mass, and they want to go to a Vietnamese Mass.” There is no timetable for the establishment of a parish. Similar to Knoxville, which saw the 2014 establishment of Divine Mercy Parish for the Vietnamese community, growing the St. Faustina association into a Catholic mission and then a parish will take time. “I reminded all the people that as they grow closer and closer to the possibility of becoming a parish, it is great to feel like you are an American, but don’t forget your past and the culture, the suffering of the Vietnamese people, the language, and to teach it for generations to come,” Bishop Stika said. One of the necessities of a faithful Catholic faith community is the availability of the sacraments. St. Faustina continued on page A11
Vandal’s attack on crucifixes unites basilica, N.C. parish By Bill Brewer
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ne vandal’s act of desecration has created fellowship between the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga and St. Joseph’s Parish in Bryson City, N.C., that is a testament to the teachings of Jesus. And the physical attack on the Catholic Church and sacred objects at St. Joseph’s Church has solidified the friendship of basilica rector Father David Carter and St. Joseph’s pastor Father Peter Shaw, who have found they share more in common than the priesthood and a love of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. On Aug. 7, a man described by authorities as under the influence of an intoxicant used a sledgehammer to destroy the corpus of a seven-foot-tall exterior crucifix that was part of a parish grave memorial in front of St. Joseph’s. The crucifix had become a city landmark. St. Joseph’s Church is on Main Street, near the center of town, and the grave marker with
“Isn’t this the Gospel message? From the greatest tragedy in human history—the crucifixion—comes salvation. Only God can make good come from evil. But He does that through us in so many mysterious ways.” — Father David Carter the crucifix is placed in front of the church just off the roadway. Once the vandal had crushed the reinforced concrete statue suspended on a heavy wooden cross, he moved inside the church and used a cross from the altar to destroy a crucifix that was placed just behind the altar. Father Shaw said the adult male desecrated the crucifixes in the middle of the day as a women’s group was meeting in the church basement. One of the women confronted the man while another woman called police, who shortly thereafter took the man into custody. According to news accounts that cited the police report, as the man destroyed the sacred objects he was ranting that Jesus wasn’t dead Crucifix continued on page A9
COURTESY OF FATHER DAVID CARTER
Desecration of sacred objects prompts faith communities to help St. Joseph’s
God’s gift Father David Carter, left, presents a basilica crucifix to Father Peter Shaw.
He dwells among us
by Bishop Richard F. Stika
Called to be mothers of Christ Christ longs to be conceived in our heart and to be given birth in all we do, think, and say “She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus.” — Matthew 1:21
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ecently, I was shown an icon of the Nativity of Jesus that particularly struck me. Probably because of past health issues, I immediately recognized the image of a heart in the outline of the rock of the stable cave. Also, the stark contrast between the cold gray color of the cave and the image of the heart called to mind the promise of God: “I will give you a new heart and place a new spirit within you, taking from your bodies your stony hearts and giving you natural hearts” (Ezekiel 36:26). But what I like about this icon is that it reveals the transformation of the heart from a tomb to a womb. St. Bonaventure offers a beautiful thought for us to carry throughout our Advent season as we prepare for our celebration of the birth of Christ: “The soul devoted to God, by the grace of the Holy Spirit and the power of the Most High God, can spiritually conceive the blessed Word and first born Son of the Fa-
Follow Bishop Richard Stika on Twitter @bishopstika and Facebook for news and events from the diocese. ther, bring Him forth, give Him a name, seek Him and adore Him with the Magi, and finally, happily present Him to God the Father in His temple.” Similarly, St. Francis of Assisi says: “We are mothers of Christ when we carry Him in our hearts and bodies through divine love and pure and sincere conscience; we bring Him forth through works, which must be a shining example to others.” So let us reflect upon this icon with the wisdom of these saints that we might learn how to bring Christ into the world through our thoughts, words, and actions. In contemplating this icon we notice how, against the grayness of the cave (which we naturally associate with death and the tomb), the bright colors of blue and red associated with Mary stand out. Color in icons communicate spiritual truths. So red, the color of blood, suggests life, humanity. Blue, the color associated with the sky and the heav-
ens, suggests mystical life, divinity. As such, in the flowing blue mantle and robe of Mary we have a beautiful image of the living waters of the Holy Spirit of which she is infused. And the red blanket or cushion that Mary lies atop is interpreted by some as representing the womb, the organ of conception and gestation. With the Holy Spirit, our heart becomes a spiritual organ of new life, of a new beginning. No longer
stone or hardened earth, it becomes receptive like good soil to the degree that we cooperate with the Holy Spirit. And also to the degree we die to ourselves—to selfishness and sin—we become more and more receptive to the seed of the Heavenly Sower (Matthew 13:3). As a seed needs good soil and water to take root and grow, so, too, we need Mary and the Holy Spirit to help us to be a garden paradise that bears the Fruit of Life, Jesus. We see Jesus in the manger wrapped in swaddling clothes, which also resemble burial wrappings, a foreshadowing of His passion and death. Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen reminds us that whereas we are all born that we might live, Christ was born so that He might die and give us life anew. This foreshadowing is further imaged in the manger that resembles the temple and the altar of sacrifice. And upon the altar of every Mass, this mystery is renewed. In the tradition of the East, St. Joseph is often depicted in the Nativity scene as almost brooding, struggling it seems to fathom a mystery Bishop continued on page A11
Bishop Stika’s calendar of events December Prayer Intentions “That every country take the measures necessary to prioritize the future of the very young, especially those who are suffering.” –– Pope Francis
”As we enter into the month of December, we are mindful of the season of Advent, which leads us into the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ; for it is the gift of Jesus, given to us by God our Father, who fills us with love, hope, joy, and peace. This month, let us pray to be open to receiving these gifts. And please pray that in this special season, through God’s grace, we also become the face of charity to others.” –– Bishop Stika
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These are some of Bishop Stika’s upcoming public appointments for the next two months: n November 30-December 7: ad limina visit in Rome n December 9: Serra Club of Chattanooga annual Advent Mass and luncheon at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul n December 13: 10 a.m., diocesan Finance Council meeting n December 18: annual Chancery Christmas gathering n December 20: seminarian Christmas gathering in Knoxville n December 24: midnight Mass at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
n January 5-9: Region V bishops retreat n January 10: 5 p.m., Mass to install Father Joseph Kuzhupil, MSFS, as pastor of Notre Dame Parish in Greeneville n January 14: 11 a.m., general priest meeting at the Cathedral Parish Hall in Knoxville n January 21-22: U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Catholic schools conference for bishops in Baltimore n January 28: 7 p.m., diocesan Pastoral Council meeting at the Chancery n January 31: 10 a.m. CST, Catholic Public Policy Commission meeting ■
Upcoming Virtus training sessions set
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he Diocese of Knoxville’s program for the protection of children, youth, and vulnerable adults is offered in parishes and schools around the diocese. The seminars are required for parish and school employees and regular volunteers who are in contact with children and vulnerable adults.
www.di o k no x .o rg
The following training sessions are scheduled: n Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul, Chattanooga, 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3. n St. Dominic Church, Kingsport, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5. n St. Mary School, Johnson City, 5:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 9. n Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church,
Chattanooga, 6:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 16. n St. Mary Church, Oak Ridge, 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 9; 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20. n St. Mary Church, Johnson City, 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11; 1 p.m. Saturday, March 14; 1 p.m. Saturday, April 18; 1 p.m. Saturday, May 16. ■
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DECEMBER 1, 2019 n A3
Discerning the permanent diaconate Bishop Stika presides at the Rite of Admission to Candidacy for Holy Orders for the next class of deacons
DAN MCWILLIAMS (2)
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wenty-five men, making up the diocese’s incoming class of permanent deacons, took a major step in their discernment Oct. 20 as they participated in the Rite of Admission to Candidacy for Holy Orders. Bishop Richard F. Stika presided as the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus hosted its first candidacy Mass in its new building. Concelebrants included cathedral rector Father David Boettner, Father Ron Franco, CSP, and Monsignor Al Humbrecht. Deacon Fredy Vargas was deacon of the Word, and Deacon Walt Otey was deacon of the altar. More than 20 permanent deacons attended the Mass. The 25 candidates “have humbly pronounced that they have a desire and a will to accept the call of Jesus to eventually, God willing, be ordained as deacons of the Catholic Church,” Bishop Stika said in his opening remarks. “To be of service, to work at the table, to be ministers of charity, to assist the priests, and then someday they’re going to make a pledge of obedience to me, and that’s the one I enjoy most.” Candidate Joe Herman of St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Mountain City said the Rite of Candidacy “means a lot to share it with my brother candidates, now that we’ve been going to the classes and so forth for the last two and a half years. It’s just an honor to be called by God to do this.” The deacon studies require “a lot of reading, a lot of paper writing, things of that nature,” Mr. Herman said. “The weekends are very rewarding, though, just getting to spend time with the instructors and my brother candidates.” The candidates meet at Christ Prince of Peace Retreat Center in Benton once a month. The men are about 50 percent along their path to ordination. “We’re about to the halfway mark right now,” Mr. Herman said. “We’ll be ordained, God willing, in June of 2022.” Candidate Rafael Pubillones of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Lenoir City tried to assess what the candidacy day meant to him. “Oh, my goodness, it’s beyond words—very, very humbling, very, very exciting,” he said. “It becomes
By Dan McWilliams
Addressing future deacons Bishop Richard F. Stika delivers his homily at Sacred Heart Cathedral during the Mass and Rite of Admission to Candidacy for Holy Orders for 25 men who are preparing to be permanent deacons.
Clergy recruitment Bishop Stika shares a personal moment with the young son of permanent diaconate candidate Chad Shields of Christ the King Parish in Tazewell during the Rite of Admission to Candidacy for Holy Orders. even more humbling when you think of things that may be in front of you: serving the Lord, serving the Church, serving the people of God.” He says he sometimes thinks of his eventual ordination. “Sometimes I do, and sometimes I don’t because it seems to be pretty far off, but it really isn’t, with all the
preparation we still need to do,” he said. The deacons pore through a great amount of reading material in their studies. “I think we average easily about a couple hundred pages to read and write two or three papers a month,” Mr. Pubillones said. “You may think
a month is plenty to do that, but before you know it the month is almost over.” In his homily, the bishop said that those in the diaconate, like those in the priesthood, are not to be placed “up on a pedestal.” “Today, our brothers make a statement that even though they’ve been going to school and are involved in their parishes, they’re making a public statement, a public pronouncement that they feel the call of God to be deacons,” Bishop Stika said. “They’ve still got a loooooong time to study,” he added, to laughter. The candidacy stage is not like being a candidate for a political office or for a job, in which there is something to win, the bishop said. “The rite of candidacy in the Church is totally different. You’re not competing against anybody. In fact, you’re accepting from God, from the Church, an invitation,” he said. “To be a deacon means that you will be a person within the parish who will provide in many ways an official capability to teach the faith. You can bless, preside at Deacons continued on page A10
Bishop Stika represents diocese on papal ad limina visit Pope Francis receives bishops of Southeast provinces for decennial meeting in Vatican
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L’OSSERVATORE ROMANO
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he last time Bishop Richard F. Stika visited the Vatican, he carried a 20-pound slab of polished Tennessee marble with him. Even the bishop admits it was a bit cumbersome. The stone, which was blessed by Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square, became an integral part of the new Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. As its dedication stone, it is now on display in the cathedral’s narthex. That visit, and the blessing by the Holy Father, took place in October 2015. For the first time since that trip, Bishop Stika returned to the Vatican on Dec. 1 for “ad limina apostolorum,” a pilgrimage that requires bishops from all over the world to pray at the tombs of the apostles, St. Peter and St. Paul. Bishop Stika’s visit culminates in a meeting with Pope Francis the week of Dec. 1. Bishops from 17 dioceses in Tennessee, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Kentucky have joined Bishop Stika for this particular “ad limina,” part of a series of visits by bishops from all of the dioceses in the United States that take place from November through February. “Ad limina visits are mandated by Church law, and they’re very productive on many different levels,” Bishop Stika said prior to his trip to Rome. “All of the bishops on our ad limina will meet with many of the various Vatican congregations, including education, worship, and clergy, and we will
Return visit Pope Francis blesses the dedication stone for the new Sacred Heart Cathedral, which was presented by Bishop Richard F. Stika and Cardinal Justin Rigali in 2015. Bishop Stika is meeting with the pope this month. Bishop Stika will meet with the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. He will use that meeting to offer an update on Father Patrick Ryan, Servant of God, whose promotion for sainthood was initiated by Bishop Stika in 2016. present a report on what our specific diocese has been doing to help build the Catholic Church.” This is Bishop Stika’s second ad limina. He met with Pope Benedict XVI on one of his first official visits to the Vatican as bishop in 2012. Much of the information Bishop Stika will share this time is contained in a report compiled by Deacon Sean Smith, chancellor of the Diocese of Knoxville. It’s a hefty, 350-page report called the quinquennial. “Fortunately, unlike the dedica-
tion stone, I don’t need to carry the quinquennial report to Rome,” Bishop Stika said before leaving. “It was sent by Deacon Sean’s office to the Apostolic Nuncio here in the United States, who then sends it to the Vatican.” While the Diocese of Knoxville has shown growth in the number of registered Catholics and parishes since the last quinquennial report, the most recent report says that “… we are not satisfied to rest on our laurels, but we continue to build upon the solid foundation of our
www.di o k no x .o rg
By Jim Wogan committed clergy, religious, and laity of the Diocese of Knoxville so that we might better witness to the Gospel of Christ and become the saints we are called to be.” In addition to meetings with many of the Vatican congregations, Bishop Stika will meet with the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. He will use that meeting to offer an update on Father Patrick Ryan, Servant of God, whose promotion for sainthood was initiated by Bishop Stika in 2016. Another very important ad limina highlight is a meeting with Pope Francis to be attended by all of the bishops on this particular visit. While there won’t be much one-on-one time with the Holy Father, Bishop Stika said he expects the session to last more than two hours—giving plenty of time “for a good exchange of ideas, and time for the bishops to ask and answer specific questions.” The trip to Rome also will provide Bishop Stika with an opportunity to see Diocese of Knoxville seminarian Matthew Donahue, who is studying at the Pontifical North American College, located a short distance from the Vatican. Mr. Donahue will be ordained a transitional deacon for the Diocese of Knoxville in Rome next year. “I am really looking forward to seeing Matthew again,” Bishop Stika said. “His ordination to the diaconate will be special and, God willing, I will ordain him as a priest in the Diocese of Knoxville at the cathedral here in 2021.” ■ TH E EA S T TEN N ES S EE C ATH OLI C
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DECEMBER 1, 2019 n A5
Sacred Heart Parish’s Haiti ministry marks 20th year of service Haitian Cardinal Chibly Langlois visits cathedral campus, appeals to supporters to continue their mission
Welcome to the diocese
In welcoming Cardinal Langlois to the Diocese of Knoxville, Bishop Stika remarked how the Haiti Outreach ministry at the cathedral has for the past 20 years served the people of Boucan-Carré, a town outside of the capital city of Port-au-Prince that parishioners early in the ministry identified as the area they wanted to assist. The bishop noted how the ministry has helped in the construction of school and clinic facilities for Boucan-Carré as well as aid for the people of the area. “He’s a historic figure. He’s the very first cardinal from Haiti. So it’s a historic visit. Haiti is the poorest country in the world,” said Bishop Stika, who concelebrated with Cardinal Rigali the Sacred Heart School Mass. Bishop Stika was impressed at how engaging Cardinal Langlois was with the students. He described the cardinal as very serene and very much aware of the Church around the world, especially in his native country, and Haiti’s need for any assistance other countries can give. Bishop Stika said Cardinal Langlois is very appreciative of the support Haiti has received from sources such as the Sacred Heart Haiti Outreach ministry. “For many there, it is the difference in life and death. Haiti has been so damaged by earthquakes, hurricanes; the government is unstable. As a side issue, he (Cardinal Langlois) was unable to go back right away because it was dangerous for him to get
Venerable Fulton Sheen to be beatified Dec. 21 By Catholic News Agency/Catholic News Service
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he Diocese of Peoria announced Nov. 18 that Venerable Fulton Sheen will be beatified on Dec. 21 at Peoria’s Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception. Archbishop Sheen was ordained a priest of the Peoria diocese in that cathedral Sept. 20, 1919. “It seems entirely fitting that the beatification will take place at the end of this 100-year anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood,” the Peoria diocese stated. Archbishop Sheen was born in Illinois in 1895, and was 24 when he was ordained a priest. He was appointed auxiliary bishop of New York in 1951, and he remained there until his appointment as bishop of Rochester in 1966. He retired in 1969 and moved back to New York City until his death in 1979. Archbishop Sheen was a beloved television catechist during the 1950s and ‘60s in the United States. Archbishop Sheen Archbishop Sheen, who was a brilliant academic and author who taught at the college level for 24 years, gained fame and influence with radio and early television series such as the Catholic Hour and Life Is Worth Living that reached millions. He won an Emmy Award for Most Outstanding Television Personality in 1953. He brought many into the Catholic faith, including celebrities such as Claire Booth Luce and Henry Ford II. As national director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith from 1950 to 1966, his fame helped raise large amounts of money for support of foreign missions. The Congregation for the Causes of Saints promulgated a decree July 6 recognizing a miracle attributed to Archbishop Sheen’s intercession,
STEVE COY (2)
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hen you can’t get to Haiti, Haiti will get to you. And so it was at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Oct. 17-18 when Cardinal Chibly Langlois, bishop of Les Cayes in Haiti, visited, celebrating Mass for Sacred Heart Cathedral School students and delivering the keynote address at an Oct. 18 banquet marking the 20th anniversary of Sacred Heart’s Haiti Outreach ministry. Cardinal Langlois wanted to personally thank the Sacred Heart community for its two-decade support of Haiti. He encouraged the community to continue supporting the small Caribbean nation beset by political and economic strife. The cardinal, who has studied in Rome and has traveled around the world representing Haiti and its needs, is president of the Haitian bishops conference. Cardinal Langlois was named bishop of Les Cayes in 2011, and in 2014 Pope Francis elevated him to the College of Cardinals. Scores of diocesan volunteers have donated their time, talents, and money to assist the Boucan-Carré people over the past 20 years, routinely visiting the rural, poverty-stricken area. However, political and social unrest has prevented any Sacred Heart mission trips to Haiti for two years. Cardinal Langlois celebrated Mass for the students of Sacred Heart Cathedral School and met with Bishop Richard F. Stika, fellow Cardinal Justin Rigali, and cathedral rector Father David Boettner before addressing the Haiti Outreach banquet, attended by about 350 supporters of the Haiti mission.
By Bill Brewer
Let me tell you about Jesus and Haiti Cardinal Chibly Langlois celebrates Mass at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus on Oct. 17 for the students of Sacred Heart Cathedral School. to his home diocese. He postponed his return for a few days. The government is really unstable,” Bishop Stika said. Bishop Stika explained that Cardinal Langlois flew to Tennessee from Rome and visited with two Haitian priests in the Diocese of Nashville. They then drove over to Knoxville, marking Cardinal Langlois’ first visit to the Diocese of Knoxville. The bishop also pointed out that other parishes, like Immaculate Conception, have Haiti ministries Celebrating Haiti Cardinal Chibly Langlois, back row center, celebrated and that Sacred Heart part- Mass for Sacred Heart Cathedral School students on Oct. 17 at the catheners with St. Kateri Tekakdral. Concelebrating the Mass were: back row from left, Father Edwige Carre, witha Parish in Tabb, Va., pastor of St. Lawrence Parish in Joelton, Tenn.; Father Michelet Lamarre, and St. Anselm Parish in St. pastor of St. Michel Parish in Boucan-Carré, Haiti; Bishop Richard F. Stika; Louis in assisting the people Father David Boettner; and Father Michenet Duportal, former pastor of St. of Boucan-Carré. Michel Parish; front row from left, Father Valentin Iurochkin, Father Arthur And for years the Haiti Torres, Father Martin Gladysz of Sacred Heart Cathedral Parish, and Sacred Outreach leaders at SaHeart Cathedral Deacon Joel Livingston, who assisted. cred Heart led Knoxville Catholic High School students on mission trips to for continued prayers for Haiti so that economic and Boucan-Carré. political conditions there will improve. And he praised the ongoing relationship between Grateful for support the parishioners of Sacred Heart and the people of In addressing those attending the banquet, which Haiti. was the key point to his visit, Cardinal Langlois told “Celebrating the 20th anniversary of this partnerCardinal Rigali he was grateful for the time Cardinal ship, relationship between Sacred Heart and Haiti Rigali has spent in Haiti. Cardinal Langlois asked Haiti continued on page A14
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TH E EA S T TEN N ES S EE C ATH OLI C
NCEA: evangelization, Catholic education are directly related Evangelization is present in schools because God and the Gospel are revealed in curriculum
STEPHANIE RICHER
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he mission and foundation of Catholic education are directly related to evangelization, said the head of the National Catholic Educational Association. Catholic schools are obligated to evangelize simply because that is the core and mission of the Catholic Church, according to Thomas Burnford, president and CEO of the NCEA. “The apostles told the good news of Jesus Christ, and Catholic schools are an essential and integral ministry of the Catholic Church,” he told Catholic News Service. Nationwide, 1.8 million students are enrolled in 6,300 Catholic schools, he noted. Additionally, 80 percent of students are Catholic, and the remaining 20 percent are non-Catholic. Despite the percentage difference, the mission of Catholic education is the same for Catholic and non-Catholic students, Mr. Burnford explained. “The teaching of the faith, the way we witness the Catholic faith fully to Catholic students is the same for all students. All students are invited and welcomed to participate fully in the whole culture of the school, the formation of the school, and the life of the school,” Mr. Burnford said. Evangelization is present within schools because students are presented with a Catholic worldview that reveals the reality of God and the Gospel through the curriculum, he added. “In that way, we are evangelizing students by giving them a real understanding of the world and society. Everyone in a Catholic school is being moved along in the process of evangelization and outreach,” Mr. Burnford said. Acknowledging the inherent relationship between Catholic education and evangelization in the presence of faith, community, and identity, Pope Francis in a June 2018 address said: “Schools and universities need to be consistent and show continuity between their foundational mission and the Church’s mission of evangelization.” He delivered the address to members of the Gravissimum Educationis Foundation, which he
By Sydney Clark/Catholic News Service
Education = evangelization Students at Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga, one of two high schools in the Diocese of Knoxville, study in the school’s library.
“Schools and universities need to be consistent and show continuity between their foundational mission and the Church’s mission of evangelization” — Pope Francis established in October 2015 at the invitation of the Congregation for Catholic Education to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council’s Declaration on Christian Education. In that same address, Pope Francis proposed a challenge to members of the foundation, which aims to renew the Church’s dedication to Catholic education, saying: “To fulfill your mission, therefore, you must lay its foundations in a way consis-
tent with our Christian identity, establish means appropriate for the quality of study and research, and pursue goals in harmony with service to the common good.” Elisabeth Sullivan, executive director of the Institute for Catholic Liberal Education, identified roles within Catholic schools that help bring Catholic and non-Catholic students together. “I think Catholic schools have a unique opportunity to provide hope in a world that is increasingly beset by hopelessness. A world without God is a world without hope,” Ms. Sullivan said. Ms. Sullivan believes that Catholic education is uniquely distinct from other education systems due to its long tradition of conveying the inherent and inseparable relationship between faith Schools continued on page A9
Pope delivers migration, peace messages on Eastern pilgrimage By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service
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alling migration “one of the principal moral issues” facing humanity today, Pope Francis thanked the government and people of Thailand for the way they’ve welcomed migrants and refugees, but he urged greater efforts to protect migrants and poor Thais from human trafficking. Migration movements around the globe “are one of the defining signs of our time,” the pope said Nov. 21 during a meeting with government officials, civic leaders, and members of the diplomatic corps in Bangkok’s Government House. “The crisis of migration cannot be ignored,” the pope said. “Thailand itself, known for the welcome it has given to migrants and refugees, has experienced this crisis as a result of the tragic flight of refugees from nearby countries.” According to the 2019 report of the United Nations working group on migration in Thailand, of the 64 million people living in Thailand, 4.9 million are non-Thais, an increase of 1.2 million people in five years. The largest groups come from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam. Pope Francis urged the international community to “act with responsibility and foresight” to help people live dignified lives in their own homelands and to “promote safe, orderly, and regulated migration” for those who see emigrating as the only option for themselves and their families. “May every nation devise effective means for protecting the dignity and
rights of migrants and refugees, who face dangers, uncertainty, and exploitation in their quest for freedom and a decent life for their families,” he said. “It is not just about migrants; it is also about the face we want to give to our societies,” Pope Francis insisted. Human trafficking, especially of women and children for prostitution and for domestic service, is a major problem in Thailand, according to the United Nations Action for Cooperation Against Trafficking in Persons. “Thailand is recognized as a key destination for human trafficking in the Mekong region, in addition to being a source and transit country for forced labor and sex trafficking,” the U.N. said. The problem involves poor Thais as well as migrants. Addressing Thai leaders, including Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha, Pope Francis drew special attention to women and children “who are wounded, violated, and exposed to every form of exploitation, enslavement, violence and abuse.” Pope Francis also looked briefly at the political situation in Thailand, congratulating the country for holding a general election in March for the first time since the military coup in 2014 that installed Gen. Chan-ocha as prime minister. After no party or coalition of parties was able to form a government, the parliament voted for the general to continue in office. But, mostly, the pope focused on Thailand as a country of ethnic, cultural, and religious diversity, although about 90 percent of the population is Buddhist. “Our age is marked by a globaliza-
tion that is all too often viewed in narrowly economic terms, tending to erase the distinguishing features that shape the beauty and soul of our peoples,” he said. “Yet the experience of a unity that respects and makes room for diversity serves as an inspiration and incentive for all those concerned about the
kind of world we wish to leave to our children.” Accompanied by his second cousin, Salesian Sister Ana Rosa Sivori, a missionary in Thailand who acted as his translator, Pope Francis went from Government House to the Wat
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The Diocese of Knoxville invites you on a pilgrimage to the
EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS and highlights of central europe
with His Eminence
Cardinal Justin Rigali September 17-27, 2020
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DECEMBER 1, 2019 n A7
‘Fatima’ coming to U.S. theaters in April after national distribution deal reached
One Heart, One World Pilgrimages with Lisa invites you on a pilgrimage to
CATHOLIC
COURTESY OF PICTUREHOUSE
CUBA with Fr. Michael Nolan February 10-18, 2020
Miracle of the Sun Young actors Stephanie Gil as Lucia dos Santos, Alejandra Howard as Jacinta de Jesus Marto, and Jorge Lamelas as Francisco de Jesus Marto will appear in the feature film “Fatima,” which will be in U.S. theaters in April. By Catholic Press Association
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icturehouse has acquired all North American distribution rights to Fatima, a feature film starring Stephanie Gil (Terminator: Dark Fate), Lúcia Moniz (Love, Actually), Joaquim de Almeida (Queen of the South), and Goran Visnjic (Beginners) with Sonia Braga (Aquarius) and Harvey Keitel (The Piano). The announcement was made Oct. 29 by Bob Berney and Jeanne R. Berney, co-heads of Picturehouse, and James T. Volk, chairman and founder of Origin Entertainment, which produced the film along with Elysia Productions and Rose Pictures. A powerful and uplifting drama about the power of faith, Fatima tells the story of a 10-year-old shepherd and her two young cousins in Fátima, Portugal, who report seeing visions of the Virgin Mary. Their revelations inspire believers but anger officials of both the Church and the secular government, who try to force them to recant their story. As word of their prophecy spreads, tens of thousands of religious pilgrims
flock to the site in hopes of witnessing a miracle. What they experience will change their lives forever. Fatima will open in theaters nationwide on April 24, 2020. Directed by Marco Pontecorvo and written by Mr. Pontecorvo and Valerio D’Annunzio and Barbara Nicolosi, Fatima is produced by James T. Volk, Dick Lyles, Stefano Buono, Maribel Lopera Sierra, Rose Ganguzza, Marco Pontecorvo, and Natasha Howes. The film features the original song Gratia Plena (Full of Grace) performed by Andrea Bocelli and composed by renowned Italian composer Paolo Buonvino. Fatima is the second feature directed by Mr. Pontecorvo following the award-winning drama Pa-ra-da. “Marco Pontecorvo has created a beautiful and inspirational film telling the emotional story of three young children whose visions captured a nation at a time when World War I was ravaging Europe,” said Mr. and Mrs. Berney in a joint statement. “We are extremely excited to bring this film to North American theatergoers.” ■
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Lisa Morris at 865-567-1245 lisam@select-intl.com www.selectinternationaltours.com
One Heart, One World Pilgrimages with Lisa invites you on a pilgrimage to
MEDJUGORJE, Dubrovnik and Cavtat
One Heart, One World Pilgrimages with Lisa invites you on a pilgrimage to
Our Lady of Guadalupe and Shrines of Mexico with Fr. Steve Pawelk 10 Days November 2-11, 2020
with Fr. Alex Waraksa June 15-24, 2020 Pilgrimages to Medjugorje are now approved by Pope Francis
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A8 n DECEMBER 1, 2019
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TH E EA S T TEN N ES S EE C ATH OLI C
Paraclete book, gift store under new management Knoxville native Sara Lauer to lead East Tennessee’s only Catholic Church retail outlet
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he Diocese of Knoxville and the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus have announced that the Paraclete Catholic Books and Gifts store is now under new management. Sara Lauer, a Knoxville native with nearly two decades of business management and operations experience, began her new role as manager of The Paraclete on Nov. 11. “We are excited to make this hire,” said Deacon Walt Otey, who was appointed by Bishop Richard F. Stika to lead the hiring process. “This store has a wonderful history of serving customers of the Catholic community, and even non-Catholics interested in books and gifts for their Catholic friends. We are looking forward to continuing this great tradition.” In the coming months, Ms. Lauer said she will prioritize updating inventory in the bookstore and mod-
The Paraclete Catholic Books and Gifts n Location: 711 S. Northshore Dr., Knoxville, 865-588-0388 n Website: paracletecatholic.org
n Ministry: Proceeds above expenses benefit Diocese of Knoxville seminarian education ernizing methods that will include enhanced online ordering. The Paraclete was established in 1987 by longtime Sacred Heart Cathedral parishioners Karl and Becky
STEVE COY
n Organization: Nonprofit retailer of Catholic books, cards, crucifixes, rosaries, statues, art, as well as items for churches such as candles, clergy attire, liturgical aids
New at the Paraclete Sara Lauer is the new manager of the Paraclete Catholic Books and Gifts store on the Sacred Heart Cathedral campus. Fillauer. The Fillauer family has operated Fillauer Companies, a leader in the production of orthotic and pros-
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Left: St. Joseph’s Parish and its large outdoor crucifix are seen in this photo before the corpus was destroyed on Aug. 7 by a vandal. Below left: St. Joseph’s Parish pastor Father Peter Shaw shows the new interior crucifix to replace one nearly identical to it that was desecrated on Aug. 7. Below right: St. Joseph’s Parish’s exterior crucifix is seen after a vandal desecrated it with a sledgehammer. Bottom left: A damaged interior crucifix lays on the ground inside St. Joseph’s Church. Bottom right: Another damaged crucifix is seen at St. Joseph’s.
his Diocese of Charlotte parish in the Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina. “It’s exactly the same. It was always fun to note that the crucifix I would see when I visited his parish was one we had in my home parish,” Father Shaw said. “What we know about our faith is that even
in the worst circumstances, something good can come from it if we listen to Christ.” In addition to their faith, Father Shaw and Father Carter share a love for the outdoors that they ascribe to the scenic region where their parishes are located. Both are kayakers and they Gospel singers Students at Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in Chattanooga lift their voices to the Lord during a school Mass celebrated by Father Jim Vick, pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish.
JESSICA SHIFLETT
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and reason. Consequently, Catholic schools “restore what the industrialized model of education has stripped from the classroom — an understanding of the meaning and purpose of things,” she said. Catholic education asks the deeper questions, regarding the nature of something and its purpose, according to Ms. Sullivan. “Secular education can’t offer that, can’t decide on a meaning or a purpose, so it has to stay away, and therefore, it’s incomplete,” she explained. Mary Pat Donoghue, executive director of the Secretariat of Catholic Education at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington, expressed a similar viewpoint regarding
thetic products. The store originally was located
The light of Christ overshadows the darkness
COURTESY OF THE CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD (4)
and wasn’t on the cross anymore and that the church was “poisoning the community.” Despite the disturbing nature of the attack, Father Shaw explained that something special arose from the incident. Other faith communities in Bryson City joined to raise money for a new exterior crucifix, with one Protestant churchgoer telling Father Shaw how much she depended on regularly seeing the crucifix and how it comforted her and reminded her that Jesus died for us. “There’s really been an outpouring of support, and people in town have remarked how important the crucifix is to them. That’s why we have these sacramentals, to give us reminders of God’s love for us and the sacrifice Jesus made,” Father Shaw said. “It was a beautiful, humbling coming together of the community,” he added. But the goodwill was not exclusive to the outdoor icon. Father Carter and Father Shaw have known each other for about five years, visiting each other’s parishes in that time. On one of Father Shaw’s visits to the basilica he mentioned how identical a crucifix in a basilica chapel was to one in St. Joseph’s sanctuary. When Father Carter learned of the St. Joseph’s Church vandalism and desecration, he shared his concern with Father Shaw, and the two talked of the identical crucifixes. They then discussed a crucifix offering. “Our crucifix was one we used on Good Friday and was in the chapel. It was important to our community,” Father Carter said. “But you don’t just give from your surplus. We gave from ourselves something important to our community to a parish in need. It was a moment of solidarity.” On Oct. 21, as Father Carter drove from Chattanooga to Lake Junaluska, N.C., for a Diocese of Knoxville priests retreat, he made a stop in Bryson City to visit with Father Shaw and deliver the crucifix. Father Shaw welcomed it into
From staff reports
evangelization efforts within Catholic schools. Ms. Donoghue said because formation in a Catholic school is integral, students are not solely taught religious doctrine in a religion course.
“What we seek to do is bring forward the Church’s intellectual tradition and form their minds in all of the content and areas that they study. This is an excellent tool of evange-
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report kayaking together on occasion. And Father Carter is a canon lawyer, while Father Shaw is completing studies to become a canon lawyer. According to news reports, the man police arrested faces two charges: damage to personal property and breaking and entering to terrorize. There were no injuries in the incident, and authorities say the man arrested has no connection to St. Joseph’s. Father Shaw is hopeful authorities and the court will provide any help the man arrested needs. “We have no animosity toward the man. Now he will be impelled to get help,” Father Shaw said. “This is an opportunity for him to get help and help for his family,” he added. Father Carter sees the same good coming from the incident that Father Shaw sees, and the basilica rector feels blessed that his parish can help bring out the positive from something so dark. “Isn’t this the Gospel message? From the greatest tragedy in human history—the crucifixion— comes salvation,” Father Carter said. “Only God can make good come from evil. But He does that through us in so many mysterious ways.” ■ lization because it exposes kids not just to Catholic practices, regarding prayer and liturgy, but also to a Catholic understanding of reality,” Ms. Donoghue said. Ms. Donoghue is hopeful that Catholic schools will continue to fulfill their mission of bringing children and young adults into a relationship with Christ. As populations shift, she said, many Catholic schools will be located in new areas, creating a changing landscape. However, Ms. Donoghue said that Catholic education in America has been around for centuries and “will renew itself by turning toward the Church’s own tradition, and that can be the way forward in the future.” ■ DECEMBER 1, 2019 n A9
Celebrating life in all its ages, stages, and conditions Tennessee Right to Life recognizes women who have overcome obstacles to live their very best lives
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ife, in all its ages, stages, and conditions was praised on Oct. 15 when some 350 pro-life supporters gathered for the Celebrate Life Banquet sponsored by the Knox County chapter of Tennessee Right to Life. The annual dinner, held at the Knoxville Convention Center, celebrates the pro-life movement in East Tennessee and is a fundraiser to help Tennessee Right to Life continue its advocacy for the protection of life. TRL works with state government to promote pro-life legislation and also provides education on sanctity of life issues at the grassroots level. The 2019 Celebrate Life Banquet recognized families with special needs members who have overcome obstacles to live their very best lives. Attendees
Ashley DeRamus
also heard from a candidate for the U.S. Senate from Tennessee who described
how God intervened in his and his wife’s efforts to have children. “It’s an honor to be in this work. And I count it as a privilege to work with each one of you as we try to build a culture of life and restore protections to unborn children and their mothers. We are all in this together, and the babies need each and every one of us,” said Stacy Dunn, executive director of the Knox County chapter of Tennessee Right to Life. Mrs. Dunn thanked the pro-life supporters for diligently backing the right to life to the point where abortion numbers across the state are declining. But she urged them to keep up the fight in the face of stepped-up promotion of abortion by some politicians and pro-choice groups like Planned Parent-
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hood, including late-term procedures and even the killing of babies after their birth, or infanticide. “The best news to report is that Tennessee’s number of abortions is down again. Fewer unborn children are dying in Tennessee as our abortions are at the lowest they have been since 1974, praise God. Much of this is due to the hard work that our pro-life legislators do in Nashville. In the state legislature, great things are happening,” Mrs. Dunn said. “Our pro-life legislators this year passed one of the strongest pro-life bills in the country, the Human Life Protection Act. This trigger bill, as it’s referred to, will take effect, or be triggered, when Roe vs. Wade is overturned in whole or in part. When that happens, and we hope and Life continued on page A16
“I just want to say thank you for allowing, God willing, the Church to share in that special love that you have for your spouse. Like I said, the primary vocation for these guys is to be a husband, and if appropriate, a father. The vocation to the diaconate should never get in that way, because that’s your primary witness in faith. . . Ordination is a moment in time, but the sacrament of marriage is ongoing.” — Bishop Richard F. Stika DAN MCWILLIAMS
funerals, and baptize. You can be Christ to other people. “You will follow in the long tradition of the early Church when we had St. Stephen, the first deacon, first martyr of the Church, whose feast day we celebrate right after Christmas. To be ministers of charity, to proclaim the Gospel, but that’s all a ways off. Right now you are candidates, and you must continue your studies, because the people of God need, and in some ways demand, someone who knows about the faith. It’s not enough that you smile at them and that you reassure them, but more than that it’s that you teach them.” Bishop Stika said that anytime Jesus entered a city, town, or village, he would always preach, heal, and feed. “So in order to preach the Word of God, you have to be competent and know the Word of God, and in order to teach Jesus you must know Jesus through your prayer and commitment to prayer,” the bishop said. Bishop Stika spoke of two additional stages the candidates will reach: those of reader and acolyte. “As you go through this process, eventually you will receive the office of reader. It’s another formal pronouncement that the Word of God will be important to you and that you will live it and believe in it and trust in it,” he said. “And then the other component is acolyte: a server, a person who assists at the Lord’s celebration of the Eucharist. None of these say to you, ‘Climb on a pedestal, because now you are wearing an alb and a cincture and everybody will see you.’ The only person on a pedestal is Jesus, and His pedestal was the cross.” The bishop said the deacons are going to be people of faith. “Allow the Spirit to deepen that faith. Accept the challenge to trust in Jesus and never be afraid—still, your family comes first and your spouse comes first, because that’s your primary vocation. They’re your support. . . . Be like the pope: be the servant to the servants of God.” Bishop Stika said the upcoming candidacy ceremony in the Mass would be “very simple, and yet the ceremony is profound, because it’s part of your ongoing conversation with God, for if you have felt the call of God to be of service to God’s people, that’s pretty profound. Stay close to Jesus; He will guide you. Love your families, and embrace the challenges of what it means to be a minister of the Church. And also, be joyful. Don’t be old, crotchety men.” At that point, Deacon Tim Elliott, director of the diaconate and deacon formation for the diocese, stepped to the microphone. “My dear bishop, the following 25 men have completed the prescribed two-and-a-half-year period of inquiry and aspirancy, and they have met the necessary requirements of their formation to date,” he said. “They have been diligent in their studies, but more importantly through their prayer and spiritual growth, they have been humbly discerning their vocation, growing ever stronger in their faith and their commitment to the Church. “With God’s help and the continued prayers of the Church of East Tennessee, they have petitioned to be
By Bill Brewer
Diaconate family Bishop Richard F. Stika is shown with the 25 members of the new Diocese of Knoxville permanent diaconate class and their wives in front of the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus on Oct. 20.
Permanent Diaconate Class David Anderson, Holy Cross Parish, Pigeon Forge Shawn Ballard, St. John Neumann Parish, Farragut James Bello, Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish, Chattanooga Peter Chiaro, St. Therese Parish, Clinton Humberto Collazo, St. Dominic Parish, Kingsport Kenneth Conklin, All Saints Parish, Knoxville Roberto Cortes, St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Lenoir City Eric Dadey, Good Shepherd Parish, Newport Gianfranco DelaSantina, Holy Cross Parish, Pigeon Forge Robert Denne, All Saints Parish, Knoxville Leon Dodd Jr., Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Alcoa David Duhamel, St. Mary Parish, Oak Ridge Wade Eckler, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Chattanooga Michael Gray, St. Elizabeth Parish, Elizabethton Jim Haselsteiner, St. Mary Parish, Johnson City Joseph Herman, St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Mountain City Robert Hunt, All Saints Parish, Knoxville Vic Landa, Blessed Sacrament Parish, Harriman Gregory Larson, St. John Neumann Parish, Farragut Patrick Nakagawa, All Saints Parish, Knoxville Augustin Ortega, All Saints Parish, Knoxville Rafael Pubillones, St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Lenoir City Chad Shields, Christ the King Parish, Tazewell Salvador Soriano, All Saints Parish, Knoxville David Venesky, Immaculate Conception Parish, Knoxville
installed as candidates for the sacrament of holy orders, for the order of the permanent diaconate.” Deacon Elliott then called the aspirants by name, and each responded “present.”
The bishop asked the men, “Do you resolve to complete your preparation so that in due time through holy orders you will be prepared to assume ministry within the Church?” and “Do you resolve to
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prepare yourselves in mind and spirit to give faithful service to Christ the Lord and His body, the Church?” After their response in the affirmative, the bishop said, “The Church accepts your resolve with joy. May God who has begun the good work in you bring it to fulfillment.” In his closing remarks, Bishop Stika said he would like to change the candidacy rite in one respect. “What I would do is put an extra prayer in for the wives of the deacons. I would. Why? Because you have to be a part of the equation to allow them to study to be deacons, right?” he said. “Now, some of you might have husbands who are retired and you just want to get them out of the house. ‘Get out of here. Go study. Go be a deacon or cut the grass or something.’ But I know you give a lot. You give up a lot of time with your husbands to the Church. That’s not always easy, is it? Especially if you have family, kids, and all that. “So in a very, very, very, and a couple more verys in there, I just want to say thank you for allowing, God willing, the Church to share in that special love that you have for your spouse. Like I said, the primary vocation for these guys is to be a husband, and if appropriate, a father. The vocation to the diaconate should never get in that way, because that’s your primary witness in faith. . . . Ordination is a moment in time, but the sacrament of marriage is ongoing. When you were married, you made promises in front of the minister of the church or the state, and that’s a moment in time that’s lived out. The sacrament of marriage is an ongoing, everyday process of sharing love.” Deacon Elliott said that for the 25 men, “the Rite of Candidacy is a very important step. They have already been studying and discerning their vocation to the diaconate for two and a half years. They still have three years to go in the program. However, when they are installed as a candidate for the sacrament of holy orders they are formally recognized for the first time by the bishop and the Church. They are recognized to be formally pursuing a vocation. “The bishop informs them that he will be praying for them and supporting them spiritually in the years of formation that lie ahead. The bishop also asks the Church if they are willing to spiritually support and pray for these candidates.” The part of the rite in which each man responds “present” is “very simple,” Deacon Elliott said. “This is a very beautiful way of indicating that they are present in the moment, present to the bishop, present to the Church, and are willing to be a present to the Church.” ■ TH E EA S T TEN N ES S EE C ATH OLI C
Archbishop Jose H. Gomez elected new USCCB president Los Angeles ordinary is conference’s first Hispanic leader; Bishop Johnston elected committee chairman
By Catholic News Service
t will come as no surprise to anyone who has followed Archbishop Jose H. Gomez that immigration reform is at the top of his priority list as the newly elected president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. “That’s something I’ve been working on for almost 25 to 30 years,” Archbishop Gomez of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles said during the U.S. bishops’ fall general assembly Nov. 11-13. On Nov. 12, the body of bishops elected him to lead them for a three-year term, and he is the first Latino to hold the USCCB presidency. Archbishop Gomez has served as the conference’s vice president since 2016. As president, he succeeds Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston. His term began at the end of assembly. For the 67-year-old shepherd of the largest archdiocese in the United States, Catholic teaching drives his advocacy for migrant rights, based on biblical principles of welcoming the stranger and upholding the dignity of
bishop in San Antonio, and archbishop in Los Angeles. “It’s really part of my life,” he said. “I have relatives and friends ... on both sides of the border. So, I think it’s important for us to understand that we are all children of God. If we work together, we can find a solution for this reality and come up with a really clear, simple, and good immigration system that can address the needs of the people on both sides.” Violence and poverty at home have been a driving factor for Central Americans seeking refuge in the United States, but Archbishop Gomez points out that migration is more than an American issue — it’s a global concern. According to statistics reported by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, by the end of 2018, “70.8 million individuals have been forcibly displaced worldwide as a result of persecution, conflict, violence, or human rights violations.” The Bush and Obama
CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE PHOTO/BOB ROLLER
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Accepting the mantle of leadership Archbishop Jose H. Gomez of Los Angeles, president-elect of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, responds to a question during a news conference at the fall general assembly of the USCCB in Baltimore on Nov. 12. Also pictured are Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin of Newark, N.J., and Archbishop Leonard P. Blair of Hartford, Conn. immigrants and refugees as children of God. In fact, the U.S. bishops have listed immigration reform and migration rights as a top priority for many years. The bishops have sparred
with the Trump administration over its policies for asylum-seekers at the border. Pope Francis also has made migrant rights a top priority during his papacy. This topic also is very per-
sonal for Archbishop Gomez, who was born in Monterrey, Mexico, and eventually migrated to the United States, where he has served as an auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of Denver, arch-
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St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic marks anniversary, honors volunteers By Dan McWilliams
DAN MCWILLIAMS
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he St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic marked its sixth anniversary Nov. 4 at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Lenoir City with its fifth Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon. The day began with Mass celebrated by Monsignor Pat Garrity, assisted by Deacon Gil Campos, who is one of the mobile clinic’s drivers. “Today we are blessed to give thanks for six years of the mobile clinic reaching out to the exact same type of people that Jesus is speaking of in the Gospel, and trying to live and do what Jesus told us to do in the Gospel,” Monsignor Garrity said in his homily, “to invite the disenfranchised, to invite the marginalized, to invite the poor to experience that love and mercy of Jesus through the care of the mobile clinic. We give thanks to God for all of the blessings that he has given for these past six years.” The clinic celebrated its sixth an-
In honor of Judy Lin Helsel received the Judy Award at the St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon. Presenting the honor was Phillip Schmidt, son of the late Judy Schmidt, for whom the award is named. With Mr. Schmidt and Ms. Helsel is Sister Mariana Koonce, RSM. niversary Sept. 11. The mobile clinic vehicle was delivered to the Diocese of Knoxville on Sept. 11, 2013. It provides medical care in Athens, Decatur, Crab Orchard, Rutledge,
Washburn, and Gatlinburg. Sister Mariana Koonce, RSM, is a medical doctor and the founding executive director of the Legacy Clinic. She emceed the luncheon at
St. Thomas. The first honor presented at the luncheon, the Judy Award, is named for founding volunteer Judy Schmidt and was given to Lin Helsel by Phillip Schmidt, the late Mrs. Schmidt’s son. “I came in October of 2012,” Sister Mariana said. “Judy called me up sometime in November-December. She had heard about my arrival and said she had been praying about what God was asking her to do and felt called to support this ministry. She became, as I like to say, my right hand, my left hand, my right foot, my left foot—whatever I needed done, Judy was there. . . . “Really for the first six to eight months, Judy was the one I had to call on as my helper. God took her from us in 2017, and as a result of all the donations that came in from her passing. . . . so many people loved Judy that we decided to institute this award in her memory. . . . She was a doer, but she was also a be-er, and Clinic continued on page A13
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Father Tran said the sacrament of reconciliation is well attended, and at least five baptisms have taken place since July. Three of them occurred on Nov. 3, when Bishop Stika baptized two infants and Dao Thi Hoang, who speaks limited English and was born in Vietnam in 1926. At 93, she is the oldest person Bishop Stika has baptized.
“I see this thriving community. I see a lot of young people here and also many not as young,” Bishop Stika said in his homily. “Today I have the privilege to baptize two very young people, and someone not quite as young. In fact, she’s a grandmother. I’m happy to do these sacraments for these members of the flock. This is a joy for me.” ■
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beyond all understanding—the mystery of God become man. And in the outline of his clothing we see the image of cupped hands, which call to mind the words of Isaiah, “Fear not, I am with you; be not dismayed; I am your God. I will strengthen you, and help you, and uphold you with my right hand of justice” (41:10). St. Athanasius says it best: “The TH E EAST T E N N E S S E E C AT HO L I C
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“I reminded all the people that as they grow closer and closer to the possibility of becoming a parish, it is great to feel like you are an American, but don’t forget your past and the culture, the suffering of the Vietnamese people, the language, and to teach it for generations to come.” — Bishop Richard F. Stika
Sharing the faith Bishop Stika visits with Father Nick Tran after Mass on Nov. 3 at Notre Dame High School.
Son of God became man so that we might become God.” In the Eastern tradition, the desire for holiness is the desire to be “divinized.” Nativity scenes traditionally include stable animals, particularly the ox and the ass. The reason for their representation is found in Isaiah: “An ox knows its owner, and an ass, its master’s manger; but Israel does not know, my people has not
understood” (1:3). We should all strive daily to know Christ better and better. So the question of Jesus, “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15), is one that we must answer with the heart of a lover who wants to know the Beloved more deeply every day. With each Advent, we are invited to ponder anew the mystery of God become man, of Christ, who took on
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our flesh to be the Prince of Peace in us and through us. And if there is no peace in our world and in our country, it is not because Christ has not come, but because so few can give the name “Jesus” to what is conceived in their hearts and expressed in their words and actions. To be the face, the hands, and the heart of Jesus, we must first be mothers of Christ. ■ DECEMBER 1, 2019 n A11
Advent penance services scheduled around the diocese
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ere are the Advent penance services around the diocese, received as of press time:
Cumberland Mountain Deanery 7 p.m. EST, unless noted. Dec. 3—St. Teresa of Kolkata, Maynardville; Dec. USCCB continued from page A11
administrations both attempted and failed to get immigration reform passed through Congress to make it easier for immigrants to legally migrate to the United States. The U.S. bishops were in dialogue with previous administrations to develop what they believe is a humane resolution to the immigration debate. Archbishop Gomez said he will continue to talk with President Donald Trump, whose administration has been criticized by Catholic advocates for its policy of separating families at the border, its restrictions on immigrants seeking asylum, and a proposal to further decrease the number of refugees accepted into the United States. The Catholic Church does defend a nation’s right to secure its borders, but most of the world’s migrants are leaving their homeland to escape war, violence, and extreme poverty, he said. “There is a lot of suffering. Most of them come to our country because they want to provide for their families.” Regarding the Nov. 12 oral arguments on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program in the U.S. Supreme Court, Archbishop Gomez said there are “no doubt” constitutional and legal questions “raised by DACA and how it was enacted.” “But we need to be clear: The fate of these young adults should never have been in the courts in the first place,” the archbishop wrote in a Nov. 6 column in the Angelus, the online news outlet of the Los Angeles Archdiocese. “And it would not be if our leaders in Washington would simply set aside their political interests and come together to fix our nation’s broken immigration system.” The “failures” of the nation’s leaders in Washington to make “comprehensive reforms to immigration policy “cut across party lines,” Archbishop Gomez said. DACA was established by President Barack Obama’s 2012 executive order, and Trump ordered an end to the program in 2017. Several legal challenges to this order have resulted in a consolidation of three DACA cases now before the high court. “Our nation made a promise to these ‘Dreamers,’” Archbishop Gomez wrote. “We have a moral obligation. It is time for the president and Congress to honor that promise and live up to this obligation.” Though he’s passionate about immigration reform, the archbishop said he will not be a single-issue president of the USCCB. Continuing renewal and reform in the Church with regard to the clergy sexual abuse crisis will be an ongoing priority, as will combating clericalism in the Church, support and promotion of marriage and the family, and evangelization. And he will continue to pray for the laity to become missionary disciples. “It has been a challenging time for the Church in these past three years,” Archbishop Gomez said, and as vice president of the USCCB, he had a leadership role in dealing with the crisis. “I hope I continue to be a source of support for my brother bishops and especially to continue this time of renewal.” In subsequent voting, Archbishop A12 n DECEMBER 1, 2019
Five Rivers Deanery 7 p.m., unless noted. Dec. 2—Good Shepherd, Newport; Dec. 3—St. Michael the Archangel, Erwin, 6 p.m.; Dec. 5—St. Dominic, Kingsport; Dec. 10—St. Mary, Johnson City; Dec. 16— St. Patrick, Morristown; Dec. 17—St. Elizabeth, Elizabethton; Dec. 18— Notre Dame, Greeneville; Dec. 19—St. Henry, Rogersville
4—Knoxville Catholic High School, 11 a.m.; Dec. 5—St. Therese, Clinton,
and St. Joseph, Norris, at St. Therese; Dec. 10—St. Alphonsus, Crossville, 6
Smoky Mountain Deanery 7 p.m. Dec. 5—Our Lady of Fatima, Alcoa; Dec. 10—St. Joseph the Worker, Madisonville; Dec. 16—Holy Ghost and Immaculate Conception, at Holy Ghost; Dec. 17—Holy Family, Seymour ■
Allen H. Vigneron of Detroit, conference secretary, was elected vice president. He was elected on the third ballot by 151-90 in a runoff with Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services. Under USCCB bylaws, after the election for president, the vice president is elected from the remaining nine candidates. The two top officers began their terms at the conclusion of the fall assembly in Baltimore on Nov. 13. In voting for a new secretary, the assembly elected Archbishop Broglio, 112-87, over Bishop Daniel E. Thomas of Toledo, Ohio. Archbishop Broglio will serve through the end of the term in 2021. The bishops also voted for the chairman of one committee, chairmen-elect of five other conference committees, and three representatives on the board of Catholic Relief Services, which is the U.S. bishops’ overseas relief and development agency. In the first committee vote, there was a tie vote between Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski of Miami and Bishop George V. Murry of Youngstown, Ohio, for chairman of the Committee for Religious Liberty. Each candidate received 121 votes, but Bishop Murry, at 70, became chairman under USCCB bylaws because he is the older of the two candidates. Archbishop Wenski is 69. The committee had been chaired by Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Ky., but he stepped down earlier this year to undergo treatment for bladder and prostate cancer. Bishop Murry will serve the remaining year of Archbishop Kurtz’s term. Vote tallies for committee chairmen-elect were: n Committee on Canonical Affairs and Church Governance: Archbishop Jerome E. Listecki of Milwaukee elected over Bishop Mark L. Bartchak of Altoona-Johnstown, Pa., 144-97. n Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs: Bishop Daniel P. Talley of Memphis elected over Bishop Steven J. Lopes of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter, 123-114. n Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis: Auxiliary Bishop Andrew H. Cozzens of St. Paul and Minneapolis elected over Bishop Thomas A. Daly of Spokane, Wash., 151-88. n Committee on International Justice and Peace: Bishop David J. Malloy of Rockford, Ill., elected over Bishop Jaime Soto of Sacramento, Calif., 140-101. n Committee on Protection of Children and Young People: Bishop James V. Johnston of Kansas City-St. Joseph, Mo., elected over Bishop W. Shawn McKnight of Jefferson City, Mo., 167-77. Bishop Johnston is a Knoxville native, who is a former priest and chancellor of the Diocese of Knoxville. Each chairman-elect will begin his three-year term as chairman at the end of the 2020 fall general assembly. In addition, several chairmen-elect chosen last year became committee chairmen at the end of this year’s assembly in Baltimore and will serve three-year terms: n Committee on Catholic Education: Bishop Michael C. Barber of Oakland, Calif.
n Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life, and Vocations: Bishop James F. Checchio of Metuchen, N.J. n Committee on Divine Worship: Archbishop Leonard P. Blair of Hartford, Conn. n Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development: Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City. n Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life, and Youth: Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone of San Francisco. n Committee on Migration: Auxiliary Bishop Mario E. Dorsonville of Washington. A final vote was taken for three seats on the Catholic Relief Services board. Elected were Bishop Frank J. Caggiano of Bridgeport, Conn.; Bishop Mark J. Seitz of El Paso, Texas; and Bishop Anthony B. Taylor of Little Rock, Ark. The bishops also voted on nine action items. They voted to approve the sixth edition of the Program of Priestly Formation for use in U.S. dioceses, with 226 votes in favor, four against, and three abstentions. The vote required affirmation by two-thirds of the conference membership and is subject to recognitio by the Vatican Congregation for Clergy. The Latin Church members of the USCCB voted to approve two translations by the International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL). The first vote on a translation of the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults as the base text for a future edition of this rite in U.S. dioceses was approved with 217 votes in favor, three against, and three abstentions. The vote required affirmation by twothirds of the Latin Church members and is subject to confirmatio and recognitio by the Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. The second vote on a translation of the Hymns of the Liturgy of the Hours
for use in U.S. dioceses was approved with 205 votes in favor, five against, and two abstentions. The vote required affirmation by two-thirds of the Latin Church members and is subject to confirmatio by the Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. In other items, the bishops approved: n A short letter and five short video scripts to supplement Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, the bishops’ teaching document for the faithful on the political responsibility of Catholics. The short letter was approved 207-24 with five abstentions; the vote on the video scripts was 2275 in favor with four abstentions. n In a vote of 220-7 with two abstentions, the body of bishops voted to approve the conference’s Subcommittee on Hispanic Affairs to lead the process of developing a new comprehensive vision for Hispanic/ Latino ministry in response to the V Encuentro process. n The bishops voted with 211 in favor, 11 against, and one abstention of approval of the 2020 proposed budget, presented by the Committee on Budget and Finance. n The results of the vote by diocesan and eparchial bishops for a 3 percent increase in the diocesan assessment for 2021 was 111 to 55, which fell short of the necessary majority. Ballots will be mailed to bishops not present in order to have a conclusive vote. n The full body of bishops also approved the Revised Strategic Priorities for the 2021-24 USCCB Strategic Plan by a vote of 214-4 with two abstentions. n By a voice vote of the majority of members present and voting, the bishops also approved supporting the request of Cardinal Philippe Barbarin of Lyon asking the Holy Father to name St. Irenaeus a doctor of the Church. ■
BILL BREWER
Chattanooga Deanery 7 p.m. EST, unless noted. Dec. 2—St. Bridget, Dayton, 6:30 p.m.; Dec. 4—Holy Spirit, Soddy-Daisy; Dec. 5—Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Chattanooga, 6 p.m.; Dec. 8—St. Augustine, Signal Mountain, 5 p.m.; Dec. 10—St. Jude, Chattanooga; Shepherd of the Valley, Dunlap, 6:30 p.m. CST; Dec. 11—Notre Dame High School, Chattanooga, 9:15 a.m.; Dec. 16—St. Mary, Athens; Dec. 17—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Cleveland; Our Lady of Lourdes, South Pittsburg, 6 p.m. CST; Dec. 19—St. Stephen, Chattanooga, 6 p.m.
p.m. CST; Dec. 17—St. Francis of Assisi, Fairfield Glade, 6 p.m. CST; Dec. 18—Blessed Sacrament, Harriman; Dec. 19—St. John Neumann, Farragut, 6 p.m.
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TH E EA S T TEN N ES S EE C ATH OLI C
Catholic Foundation of ET honors newest Society of St. Peter member Dr. Dan Kennedy receives blessed icon for service
foundation, which helps finance seminarian education and the purchase of land to construct churches in the Diocese of Knoxville. The Catholic Foundation of East Tennessee raised and distributed more than $106,000 in the 2018-19 fiscal year. Of that, $56,933 was designated to help support the education of 13 seminarians. The remainder, $50,000, was used to help fund property purchases. On behalf of the foundation, Dr. Kennedy presented a check to Bishop Stika for the contribution to seminarian education. “Many of us here tonight know the challenge of paying for our
By Jim Wogan
D
DAN MCWILLIAMS (2)
r. Dan Kennedy, a longtime educator and a 25-year member of the Catholic Foundation of East Tennessee, was recognized as the newest member of the Society of St. Peter during the foundation’s 2019 annual dinner on Nov. 3 in Farragut. Dr. Kennedy was presented with a blessed icon of St. Peter by Bishop Richard F. Stika, who offered his gratitude and thanks to Dr. Kennedy for his years of support to the
children’s college education. I have two children in college right now. It’s a lot of money. Now imagine, the Diocese of Knoxville has 13 kids in college (seminary) right now, all at the same time,” said John Deinhart, director of Stewardship and Strategic Planning for the Diocese of Knoxville. “It costs the diocese around $48,000 a year to educate each of them. At over $600,000 annually, seminarian education is the single largest line item in our diocesan budget every year,” Mr. Deinhart added. The Catholic Foundation of East Tennessee has raised and distrib-
Team picture More than 30 people who make the St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic work gather at the SMLC volunteer luncheon on Nov. 4 at St. Thomas the Apostle Church.
uted more than $3.4 million dollars for seminarian education and land purchases for church construction. More than $2.6 million has gone toward the purchase of more than 250 acres for the building of new churches. More than $770,000 has been directed toward seminarian education. Father Mark Schuster, a 2019 graduate of St. Meinrad Seminary in Indiana, was a featured speaker at the dinner. Father Schuster was ordained to the priesthood at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in June. He now serves at St. John Neumann Parish in
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Volunteers of the Year Patti Pemberton, RN (left), and Diana Seaver, RN (second from right), stand with Brandy Fuesting and Sister Mariana Koonce, RSM.
ST. MARY’S LEGACY CLINIC AT A GLANCE FOUNDED: By Diocese of Knoxville in 2013. First patients were served on mobile clinic in January 2014. Clinic continued from page A11
MISSION: Provide free medical care to the uninsured and underinsured in rural areas of East Tennessee.
she was a very spiritual person who brought that spirituality and her faith to every patient encounter. She was a real nurse’s nurse, not one hiding behind a computer but out there treating the patients and making them feel loved. “Our foundress, Mother Catherine McAuley said, ‘There are things which the poor prize more highly than gold, though they cost the donor nothing: among these are the kind word, the gentle, compassionate look, and the patient hearing of their sorrows.’ To me that just embodies what Judy brought to the clinic and what we want to honor in our volunteers going forward.” Eight nominees were named for the Judy Award. “It’s a really great group of nominees. It’s difficult to choose from when you have that many nominees and so many deserving people who do such great work on behalf of our patients,” Sister Mariana said before the award was presented to Ms.
LEADERSHIP: Sister Mariana Koonce, RSM, serves as the medical director. Brandy Fuesting serves as executive director.
Helsel. “We chose one person who’s been with the clinic almost since the beginning whose commitment to patients and to her teammates is above and beyond sometimes the call of duty.” Sister Mariana also announced several honorable-mention awards. The first went to Carolyn Hall, who served as temporary program manager when the clinic was between executive directors earlier this year. Sister Mariana stepped down as executive director in July and was succeeded by Brandy Fuesting. Sister Mariana is now medical director of the clinic. “It’s not an exaggeration to say that [Ms. Hall] saved the clinic,” Sister Mariana said. Additional honorable-mention awards went to the legacy clinic warehouse cleaning crew from St. Joseph Parish in Norris; to “The Preppers,” Ms. Hall, Patti Pemberton, Gloria Risko, and Beth Williamson, who keep the clinic looking clean and professional; to the clinic drivers,
SCOPE: St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic serves nearly 300 patients annually and records more than 700 patient visits from six mobile clinic sites.
Bruce Fisher, Deacon Campos, and Carla Neale; and to the clinic’s four translators. The Mercy Sister also honored fiveyear clinic volunteers, including Mr. Fisher, Ms. Neale, Bob Nevil, Lynn Venafro, and Ms. Williamson. The final honor of the night was the Volunteer of the Year Award. “The need to acknowledge our volunteers was definitely one of our founding goals,” Sister Mariana said. “Obviously, a volunteer-of-the-year award . . . every year it’s a difficult one to decide on. . . . It’s hard because there are so many of you who do so many different things and contribute in big ways and small ways. Some are behind the scenes, doing apparently little jobs, but you do them with such regularity and you’re so dependable and you come every day or come every week or come every month and do work for us.” The clinic was without a nurse manager at the same time it was without an executive director, and the two volunteers of the year, Ms.
Pemberton, a registered nurse, and Diana Seaver, also a registered nurse, stepped in to fill the gap. At the end of the luncheon, Sharon Fogarty presented a rosary to Sister Mariana. “To me, I think the one thing we should all try to strive to do is to be more Christ-like and to love our sisters and brothers,” Ms. Fogarty said, “and I think Sister does that, and she is the best example of that that I’ve seen in my life, and I hope you get to continue this for many, many years.” Afterward, Sister Mariana said the luncheon is almost like an occasion of thanksgiving. “It is, and that’s why we always time it usually in November, because it’s the Thanksgiving season,” she said. “We want to honor and thank our volunteers. We thanked God first in the Mass for all of His blessings as He’s provided for the clinic over the years, and then we want to specifically thank our volunteers because without our volunteers we could not do our mission.” ■
20th ANNUAL CHATTANOOGA CANDLELIGHT SERVICE OF
Lessons & Carols presented by
The Roueché Chorale and Orchestra
The Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul 214 East 8th Street
•
Chattanooga, TN 37402 s
Thursday & Friday
•
December 12 & 13
•
7:00 p.m.
FREE ADMISSION TH E EAST T E N N E S S E E C AT HO L I C
www.di o k no x .o rg
DECEMBER 1, 2019 n A13
DAN MCWILLIAMS
Haiti continued from page A6
is a good opportunity to reinforce this relationship with Haiti. At this time I have an opportunity to talk about this relationship. We see and we feel the goodness of this testimony in our Church,” Cardinal Langlois said. “I know here you have many kinds of people: parishioners of Sacred Heart, other parishioners, other people who come from other states, people from other denominations, or non-denominations. All of you, you are inspired by the Holy Spirit to share what you have, that quality in your life, and that which you receive from God. You want to share. “In Haiti, we are blessed to have these people since the beginning of the Church, people who go to Haiti to announce the news of God. These missionaries in Haiti, they try to build the Church in Haiti. Seeing the situation of our people in Haiti, they connect their people with our people. They talk to their people, to their families, to their friends to support the mission in Haiti,” the cardinal added. “But now in Haiti, almost all the clergy, all the religious, the laypeople, brothers and sisters, we are a nation in charge of the Church. In the past, when missionaries went to Haiti, they tried to build the Church, build churches, build schools, build clinics, and people expect many things from that and they try to help them. We have testimony from people who were helped by the church, or the school of the church.”
Cardinal to Cardinal Cardinal Justin Rigali, left, hosts Cardinal Chibly Langlois at the Chancery, where they discussed Haiti and the Church. “We need to connect now our Church and people with other people in order to share our quality and value of life. I know having a relationship and partnership between parishes is a benefit for both communities, a benefit for Haiti and a benefit for you. And you have experienced that in your Haiti mission. We heard about people from the United States who go to Haiti, and when they come back to the United States their lives are changed. Their hearts are opened more to welcome people. They listen better to the mission of the Haitian people, and they further appreciate what they have in their families and in their homes. In Haiti, too, we appreciate when we receive people, not only in sending money, not only in sending goods, we appreciate it when you come and see our country, and stay with us, and try to understand the reality.” — Cardinal Chibly Langlois
Cardinal Langlois said it is just as important now to continue connecting Haitian people with people from other parts of the world so that the rest of the world can hear of the ways the Catholic Church is reaching out to the Haitian people. He said to build solidarity in Haiti among its people, relationships with people outside Haiti need to be expanded and strengthened. “We need to connect now our Church and people with other people in order to share our quality and value of life. I know having a relationship and partnership between parishes is a benefit for both communities, a benefit for Haiti and a benefit for you. And you have experienced that in your Haiti mission,” he said. “We heard about people from United States who go to Haiti, and when they come back to the United States, their lives are changed. Their hearts are opened more to welcome people. They listen better to the mission of the Haitian people, and they further appreciate what they have in their families and in their homes. In Haiti, too, we appreciate when we receive people, not only in sending money, not only in sending goods, we appreciate it when you come and see our country, and stay with us, and try to understand the reality. “Because when you understand the reality, you can encourage other people to connect to our people. In the Church we know that solidarity always helps. Because with solidarity … hope can grow every day, every year with our people,” he added. Haiti, with a population of about 11.2 million, is one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere. Approximately 80 percent of its residents live in poverty, according to the CIA World Factbook. The country, which borders the Dominican Republic, also is one of the most densely populated and least developed countries in the Western Hemisphere. According to the United Nations Development Program, 24.7 percent of Haitians live in extreme poverty, living on less than $1.25 a day. Even more, approximately 59 percent of Haitians, live on less than $2 a day. “I accepted your invitation to be with you to encourage the committee in charge of this mission. We not only have the committee of Sacred Heart, we have other committees, other missions that have helped our brothers and sisters in Haiti. I want to encourage you to continue. If we didn’t have this kind of partnership, I don’t know where we would find facilities for our schools, to continue to educate our catechists, to continue building clinics, to continue taking care of people. Because within the holy Church, even if you don’t go to Haiti, you are missionaries in Haiti. “When you make the connection, when you help pay teachers in the schools, or when you help with spiritual activities, you are showing through A14 n DECEMBER 1, 2019
COURTESY OF BILLY STAIR
Maintaining the outreach
Haiti missionaries Students from Knoxville Catholic High School join Sacred Heart Cathedral priest Father Arthur Torres and Sacred Heart parishioner Billy Stair on a mission trip to rural areas of Haiti. those activities the charity of the pope, the love of our God. It is the testimony of our faith, the testimony of our charity, of our love. And many people don’t know exactly the sense of this testimony. Because other people can help in education, can help in building some houses. But when you do it because of your faith, because you want to give testimony, because you want to connect people together, because God wants us to be one people—people of God. When you do that for giving this testimony, that means there is this value inside of what you are doing that connects us to our God in heaven,” Cardinal Langlois told the Haiti Outreach ministry supporters. He thanked those at Sacred Heart and throughout the Diocese of Knoxville who support the Haiti mission for what they have done and for continuing their mission. He also thanked Father Boettner, Bishop Stika, and Cardinal Rigali for their leadership. Cardinal Langlois explained that in Haiti, the cardinal and the bishops have no salary from the Vatican or local sources. Haitian people have no jobs and so few resources that they can’t financially support the Church unlike in the United States. “In Haiti, our people don’t have enough jobs to share with us like you are doing here. Many brothers and priests, when they retire, they are like homeless, many of them. In Haiti, we must build the institution, build the parish, build the community in order to involve all the community in what they have to do to grow every day, every month, every year,” he said, emphasizing that in Haiti there are no homes for retired priests and religious. They return to their families with no retirement or pension income. “You are a blessing of God. All of you, and each of you, are a blessing of God. Thank God for you.”
How it helps
The banquet also served as a fundraiser for the Haiti mission, and Father Boettner put into context what the money raised annually goes to. “When our people first started going
to Haiti, Boucan-Carré had no electricity. There was no bridge over the river, and there was very little going on in town. Sometimes we can get discouraged. Is anything getting better? Is anything changing? In the time we’ve been in partnership, in relationship with our brothers and sisters in Haiti, we’ve been able to open an elementary school, a high school, we’ve built a clinic in Bouli, we’ve been able to re-establish the roof over the parish church,” Father Boettner said. He pointed out that each $150 raised for the Haiti Outreach mission provides a hot meal for a child each day for a year and sends him or her to school for a year. “But more importantly, what we’ve done is build beautiful relationships with our brothers and sisters in Haiti. And when you think about the generations of children that have gone to Haiti, that have been impacted by that experience, and that have been formed by those relationships that they continue to maintain in their lives. It has truly made an amazing lifetime impact,” Father Boettner said. “There’s a great phrase that says if you want to go fast, go alone. Because, obviously, when you’re going by yourself, there’s nobody slowing you down. But if you want to go far, go with another. We want to go far. And we not only want to go far, but we want to continue to go together. So we really need to partner together. Because when we partner together, we recognize those words that Jesus told us: ‘where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in their midst.’ We believe that there is not only strength in numbers, but the relationships we are building, the partners we have here in East Tennessee, in Virginia, and St. Louis, and also the brothers and sisters we have in Haiti, we are better because of our relationship with each other. We become more fully who God is calling us to be,” he added.
How it all began
Sacred Heart parishioner Billy Stair, who helps lead the Haiti Outreach ministry, told the banquet audience that
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there have been key moments in the two decades since the Haiti ministry began, such as when parishioners Bob Capps, his wife, Lisa Capps, and Suzy Rowland went to Haiti for the first time in January 1999, traveling to Boucan-Carré in a remote part of Haiti with no electricity, arriving at night with nowhere to stay. He also credited Deacon Ben Johnston and John Stone for first developing partnerships that allowed the Haiti ministry to succeed and noted the talents of the volunteers who have taken part in the ministry during the past 20 years. “The mission that we celebrate is due in no small part to those first three volunteers. A primary school and a secondary school with more than 1,100 students and a remote mountain clinic that sees 400 patients a month can trace their origins directly to [Bob Capps, Lisa Capps, Suzy Rowland],” Mr. Stair said. “The things that have happened in Haiti over the last 20 years did not happen by accident. John Stone and Ben Johnston had the good judgement back then to understand that any chance of success depended upon establishing a lasting partnership. It began with a genuine partnership with St. Michel that today is the envy of other programs. John and Ben also recognized that it was important to have partnerships here in America.” “Although a smaller parish than Sacred Heart, year in and year out St. Kateri (Tekakwitha) Parish near Newport News, Va., has given us more than $50,000 to support our mission. St. Anselm Parish near St. Louis did not provide operating funds. But they built a new primary school, they built a new rectory, they built a new roof for St. Michel,” Mr. Stair continued. “It’s impossible for those who went on those first missions to realize the potential for those partnerships. Instead of one church trying to go it alone, three churches are pulling together in the same direction for the same mission.” Mr. Stair spoke of volunteers who built a desperately needed medical clinic in Bouli near Boucan-Carré and also built a school for St. Michel Parish as well as the roof for the St. Michel Parish church. In addition, he mentioned the teams of medical professionals who have volunteered to treat the Haiti residents, saving lives in many instances. Specifically, he singled out Dr. Dean Mire and Cindy Mire, Jordan Pyda, Dr. Paul Froula, Leslie Adams, Dr. Drew Dirmeyer, Dr. Brian Daley, Dr. Jeff Keenan, Kathleen Edmunds, and Kathy Poese. The successes have been hard earned, according to Mr. Stair. “I don’t want to leave the impression that our mission is without serious challenges. The political unrest has made it impossible to go back to Haiti for almost two years. The little school that we opened in 2006 with 350 students today has more than 1,100. We’ve yet to solve the problem of how to get medicines into the country at an affordable cost. And to continue our mission, we urgently need another parish to partner with us,” he said. “But as daunting as these issues might appear to be, they are nothing like those faced by the first folks who went 20 years ago. Haiti has suffered hurricanes, earthquakes, and political violence, but our partnership has survived. We will come back. I promise you, we will keep coming back. The window is closing for some of us, but I would like to believe that 20 years from now our mission will have endured and that others will be here to continue telling the story,” he continued. Father Michenet DuPortal, who has served as pastor of St. Michel for eight years and came to the banquet to thank the Haiti ministry volunteers for their support, said he is leaving the parish with joy in his heart “because God has given a lot of good people to Boucan-Carré.” He is being succeeded by Father Michelet Lamarre, who also attended the banquet. “I came from the committee of Boucan-Carré to thank you, thank you very much. Thank you from the kids. Thank you for all the Christians. And thank you all for providing help to the sick. You guys are the sign of God to the world. Through you guys, God sees, hears, and listens to the misery of the world. Don’t be afraid to go to Haiti because God is sending you. We all have hope in you,” Father DuPortal told the Sacred Heart community. ■ TH E EA S T TEN N ES S EE C ATH OLI C
East Tennessee Catholic Briefs
JIM WOGAN
Diocese in compliance with child protection requirements
The Society of St. Peter Bishop Richard F. Stika presents Dr. Dan Kennedy with a blessed icon of St. Peter at the annual Catholic Foundation of East Tennessee dinner on Nov. 3. Dr. Kennedy is the newest member of the Order of St. Peter and was recognized for his years of support to the foundation. Bishop Stika noted that the dinner was his 11th since becoming bishop of the Diocese of Knoxville. Among the nearly 130 attendees, more than 470 years of membership were represented. “I want to thank you all for being here with us again tonight,” Bishop Stika said. “I am grateful for seeing what is happening in this diocese, and also at the parishes. I also invite those who aren’t a part of this wonderful and very vital foundation to consider joining. Your membership would be so meaningful to continuing to build the Catholic Church in East Tennessee.” ■
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Farragut. “Seminary is a protected time where men can go away and be formed by Christ and be formed by the instruments that He has entrusted to the Church, through prayer and study,” Father Schuster told the dinner attendees. “Great growth goes on ... we change.” The Diocese of Knoxville is expected to ordain two new priests in 2020: transitional deacons Alex Hernandez and Zach Griffith. The Diocese of Knoxville has ordained 53 priests since its establishment in 1988. Paraclete continued from page A9
on Broadway near the Fourth and Gill neighborhood in Knoxville. It moved to its current location on the cathedral campus at 711 S. Northshore Drive in 1990. The Diocese of Knoxville’s founding bishop wanted the store located close to Sacred Heart Cathedral, so it was relocated. Mr. and Mrs. Fillauer gifted The Paraclete to the diocese in April 2012, and it has become a ministry for the diocese. Any income above expenses benefits diocesan seminarian education. Ms. Lauer said the store’s business hours will remain Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the possibility of expanded hours during Advent and Christmas. The Paraclete can be reached by calling 865-588-0388 or online at paracletecatholic.org . The Paraclete celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2017, a retail milestone, especially considering it is the only dedicated Catholic book and gift store in East Tennessee. The Paraclete supplies several parish gift shops, among them St. Mary in Johnson City, Our Lady of Fatima in Alcoa, and the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga. The name of the store originated with Father Francis Chaisson. “Para-
clete” means the Holy Spirit but can also signify “called to the side of,” “counselor,” “comforter,” and “consoler.” Bishop Richard F. Stika offered his thanks and gratitude to Vonnie Spicer and her daughter, Tricia Sellers, for their dedication and longtime service in their respective roles as general manager and sales manager for The Paraclete since its establishment in 1987. Both women informed the diocese of their desire to step down from their positions after 32 years, effective Oct. 14. “The service Vonnie and Tricia provided dates back to before the Diocese of Knoxville being founded,” Bishop Stika said. “Both of them have been dedicated leaders. The retail business has changed dramatically in recent years, and the Paraclete hasn’t been immune to those challenges. The diocese has been working to improve ways that The Paraclete can better serve its customers and our parishes, and we wanted Vonnie and Tricia to be a part of that process.” Bishop Stika appointed Deacon Walt Otey as interim general manager of The Paraclete. Deacon Otey has served in that capacity during the transition to new management with Ms. Lauer. ■
Boundaries established for four diocesan parishes
The Diocese of Knoxville has formally confirmed the boundaries for St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Erwin in Unicoi County, St. Christopher Parish in Jamestown in Fentress County, St. Albert the Great Parish in Knoxville, and St. Teresa of Kolkata Parish in Maynardville in Union County. After consulting with the diocesan Presbyteral Council and in accordance with canon law, Bishop Richard F. Stika decreed that St. Michael the Archangel’s parish boundary be all of Unicoi County. Bishop Stika decreed that St. Christopher ’s parish boundary be all of Fentress and Pickett counties. The bishop decreed that St. Teresa of Kolkata’s parish boundary be all of Union County. And the bishop further decreed that St. Albert the Great’s parish boundary lines be: n Highway 25W (Clinton Highway) to the southwest-west; n the Knox County-Anderson County line to the northwest-north; n the Knox County-Union County line to the north-northeast; n the Knox County-Grainger County line to the northeast-east; n Black Oak Ridge from Highway 25W to the Grainger County line to the south.
Funeral Mass celebrated for Lorraine McWilliams, longtime Holy Ghost member, lay leader A funeral Mass was celebrated Nov. 21 at Holy Ghost Church for Mary Lorraine McWilliams, a 40-year member of Holy Ghost who was a volunteer leader for a number of church programs. Bishop Richard F. Stika was the Mass celebrant, with Father Bill McNeeley, Father Doug Owens, and Father Peter Iorio concelebrating. Deacon Gordy Lowery assisted. Mrs. McWilliams died Nov. 16 with her sons by her side. She was 88. Mrs. McWilliams was born on Good Friday, April 3, 1931, in Middlesboro, Ky., where she grew up and graduated from Middlesboro High School as class valedictorian. She was active at Holy Ghost Parish, where she served on the parish council, led the RCIA program, founded the Sts. Martha and Mary Guild, taught Bible study, and led the parish bereavement committee that provided meals to families following funerals. Mrs. McWilliams She was a lifelong crocheter and enjoyed crocheting baby blankets and other items for the needy as well as her grandchildren and her church family. Mrs. McWilliams was also active in the community, having served as PTA president at Fountain City Elementary School and was founder of school clinics in North Knoxville. Her interests included contributing Word Search puzzles to Dell Puzzle Magazines. Mrs. McWilliams was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Jack McWilliams; a daughter, Brenda McWilliams Mason; and her parents, Anthony Lewis and Mary Rose Comparoni Bisceglia. Her survivors include her three sons, David R. McWilliams and wife Susanne of Winston, Salem, N.C.; Daniel J. McWilliams of Knoxville, who is associate editor of The East Tennessee Catholic newspaper and magazine for the Diocese of Knoxville; Timothy A. McWilliams and wife Desiree of Knoxville; seven grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Cheryl Welsh of Mans field, Ohio. Following the funeral Mass, Mrs. McWilliams was interred at St. Boniface Catholic Church cemetery in Jellico, Ky.
Funeral Mass celebrated for Marilyn Q. Jacobson, longtime educator, school board member
Boy, I wish our Church wasn’t growing so fast... How will we afford it?
Good thing we have the Catholic Foundation!
The
Catholic Foundation of East Tennessee invests in two essential needs for the Diocese of Knoxville
Seminarian Education and Land for New Churches Helping to provide for a growing Church for 30 years!
Learn more @ GiveCFET.org or call John Deinhart @ (865) 584-3307
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The Diocese of Knoxville is in compliance with data collection requirements for the 2018/2019 audit period set forth by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. According to a Sept. 13 letter to Bishop Richard F. Stika from the USCCB child protection auditors, StoneBridge Business Partners of Rochester, N.Y., the audit has been completed and a compliance report has been reviewed by StoneBridge and will be forwarded to the Secretariat of Youth and Child Protection for use in the 2019 Audit Report. The conclusions reached as to the compliance of the Diocese of Knoxville are based on inquiry, observation, and the review of specifically requested documentation furnished to StoneBridge Business Partners during the course of the audit.
A funeral Mass was celebrated Nov. 15 for Marilyn Q. Jacobson, a founding member and lay leader of St. John XXIII University Parish and Catholic Center, who died Nov. 4. Father Eric Andrews, CSP, president of the Paulist Fathers, was the Mass celebrant, with Father Bob O’Donnell, CSP, concelebrating. Mrs. Jacobson was a career educator, having taught English and history at the high school level. She also was a teacher of English at the University of Tennessee and Knoxville College. She served as a school board member on the Knoxville Board of Education for several years. She was a devoted wife for 46 years to Dr. Harry C. Jacobson and was a committed mother to Cmdr. Kara Dallman, U.S. Navy (Ret.); Dr. Mrs. Jacobson Stephen Jacobson; Paula Jacobson; and Dr. Aubrie Nagy; a devoted mother-in-law to Capt. Peter Dallman, U.S. Navy (Ret); Juli Jacobson; and Zoltan Nagy; and was a proud grandmother to Hannah and Andrew Dallman; Ryan, Carina, and Neil Jacobson; and Elizabeth Nagy. She will be best remembered for the countless hours she volunteered at various organizations in the community, including the Ladies of Charity, League of Women Voters, parent-teacher associations, and the Knoxville Board of Education. She was also active at St. John XXIII, where she was a founding member and served as a reader, eucharistic minister, CCD teacher, confirmation leader, confirmation sponsor, pre-Cana facilitator, and mother to anyone who needed one. The family requests that donations can be made in Mrs. Jacobson’s honor to the Paulist Fathers through St. John XXIII University Parish, 1710 Melrose Place, Knoxville, TN 37916 or www.paulist.org/give. ■
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CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE (2)
Sheen continued from page A6
which allowed for his beatification. The miracle involves the unexplained recovery of James Fulton Engstrom, a boy who was apparently stillborn in September 2010 to Bonnie and Travis Engstrom of the Peoria-area town of Goodfield. He showed no signs of life as medical professionals tried to revive him. The child’s mother and father prayed to Archbishop Sheen to heal their son. The miracle concerning James Engstrom also involved the stillborn child’s parents encouraging others to pray for Archbishop Sheen’s intercession after the baby was taken to the hospital for emergency treatment. Just as doctors were preparing to declare that he was dead, James Engstrom’s tiny heart started to beat at a normal rate for a healthy newborn. He had been without a pulse for 61 minutes. Despite dire prognoses for his future, including that he would probably be blind and never walk, talk or be able to feed himself, the child has thrived and is now a healthy 8-year-old. In an interview with The Catholic Post, Peoria’s diocesan newspaper, Bonnie Engstrom said God had allowed the miracle to happen for His honor and glory. “I really don’t think it was given to us, for us,” she said. “I think it was given to the Church, for the Church.” The Peoria diocese opened the cause for Archbishop Sheen’s can-
Soon-to-be-Blessed Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, the famed media evangelist, mission promoter, and author, will be beatified Dec. 21 at St. Mary Cathedral in Peoria, Ill. He is pictured in an undated photo speaking during a television broadcast. onization in 2002 after the Archdiocese of New York said it would not explore the case. In 2012, Pope Benedict XVI recognized the heroic virtues of the archbishop. The beatification follows legal battles in civil courts over the location of Sheen’s body. Efforts by the New York Archdiocese and trustees of St. Patrick’s Cathedral to block the transfer ended when the New York Court of Appeals rejected their final appeal June 7. The archdiocese has since cooperated with the Diocese of Peoria in ensuring the transfer followed both civil law and Church law. His corpse was transferred to the
Peoria cathedral June 27 after a protracted series of suits. Archbishop Sheen’s will had declared his wish to be buried in the Archdiocese of New York Calvary Cemetery. Soon after Archbishop Sheen died, Cardinal Terence Cooke of New York asked Joan Sheen Cunningham, the archbishop’s niece and closest living relative, if his remains could be placed in the crypt of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City, and she consented. In September 2014, Bishop Daniel Jenky of the Diocese of Peoria suspended Archbishop Sheen’s cause on the grounds that the Holy See expected the pioneering television
Life continued from page A10
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”Has our society gone so far as being accepting of some of the most outrageous things but can’t accept a child that thinks a little slower or looks a little different? Our accepting society has given so many rights to so many people, yet it has taken the rights from one of the most innocent – the children, the babies, the generation yet to come.” — Mary Birge
COURTESY OF CONNIE AND ASHLEY DERAMUS
pray that that will be soon, then Tennessee’s pre-1973 laws will be restored, and abortion will be prohibited except to save the life of the mother.” “With a pro-life president who is appointing more and more judges at every level, we are hopeful that Roe’s days are numbered, please God. And it won’t be a day too soon. We know we have to be getting close to that day when the pro-choice crowd is getting more and more desperate, and more and more absurd. It is sad and almost unbelievable that every Democratic presidential candidate supports extreme positions like what happened in New York in January last year. The American people don’t support that. But you know what? With every extreme move they make, the average American sees how absurd killing unborn children is,” she added. Banquet attendees heard from Dr. Manny Sethi, an orthopedic trauma surgeon at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and a candidate to succeed Lamar Alexander in the U.S. Senate. Dr. Sethi thanked Bill and Stacy Dunn for their tireless pro-life efforts. Rep. Bill Dunn, R-Knoxville, who has been among the staunchest pro-life supporters in the state legislature for 25 years, recently announced he will not seek re-election. He told the banquet attendees the right to life is critical to him and pledged to protect life if elected to the Senate. He described how in his medical practice he encounters many patients who are near death but hold on to life and recover, which has helped form his pro-life stance and belief in God. He also praises God for the two young children he and his wife now have after years of complications in getting pregnant. “So, we went to this Krispy Kreme, where we try to solve all of our problems. My wife looked at me and said, ‘if the Lord wills us to have children, then that is what will happen.’ Now, after many, many procedures and after many years, we have two beautiful children, a 6-year-old and a 3-year-old. God has truly blessed us,” Dr. Sethi said. Before the keynote speakers took the dais, Mary Birge delivered her award-winning speech that she gave at the Tennessee Right to Life pro-life oratory contest in Nashville earlier this year. Miss Birge, an 18-year-old member of Holy Ghost Parish in Knoxville, described how she has persevered with dwarfism despite a physician urging her mother while pregnant to get an abortion after prenatal tests detected her condition. “Here’s what baffles not only me, but my family, too. This is the first time this doctor had seen me, heard my heartbeat, or even spoken to my parents. Yet, she strongly suggested that they make the biggest and worst decision any parent could make,” Miss Birge said. “Has our society gone so far as being accepting of some of the most outrageous things but can’t accept a child that thinks a little slower or looks a little different? Our accepting society has given so many rights to so many people, yet it has taken the rights from one of the most innocent — the children, the babies, the generation yet to come,” she continued. “Our society speaks about wanting our laws to be equal, but what is just about letting a mother decide whether her child lives or dies? What is OK with wanting to provide equal rights for all but excluding the one group that deserves equality more than anyone else? Nothing is equal, nothing is OK, nothing at all. Every person deserves a right to life.” The keynote speakers were Connie DeRamus and
clergyman’s remains to be in the Peoria diocese. Ms. Cunningham has since said that Archbishop Sheen would have wanted to have been interred in Peoria if he knew that he would be considered for sainthood. In 2016, she filed a legal complaint seeking to have her uncle’s remains moved to the Peoria cathedral. With “overwhelming joy,” Bishop Jenky of Peoria announced July 6 that Pope Francis had approved a miracle attributed to the intercession of Archbishop Sheen. “Now that the miracle has been confirmed by Pope Francis, the Diocese of Peoria can formally begin planning for the beatification of Archbishop Sheen, which will take place in Peoria,” according to a news release issued by the Diocese of Peoria in July. Archbishop Sheen died in 1979 at age 84. He was a native of El Paso, Ill. He went on to teach at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and lead the Society of the Propagation of Faith. The transfer of Archbishop Sheen’s remains from St. Patrick’s Cathedral to St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria was completed on June 27, when Bishop Jenky received the remains. The casket was placed in a new tomb at a side altar in the cathedral dedicated to Mary under the title of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Ms. Cunningham was present at both the disinterment of her uncle’s remains in New York and their arrival in Peoria. ■
Mother-daughter partnership Connie DeRamus and her daughter, Ashley DeRamus, are partners in Ashley by Design, a clothing line for people with Down Syndrome. The DeRamuses were keynote speakers at the 2019 Celebrate Life banquet sponsored by the Knox County chapter of Tennessee Right to Life, where they spoke of the importance in recognizing the sanctity of life of babies born with special needs, such as Down syndrome. her daughter, Ashley DeRamus, who has Down syndrome. Similar to Miss Birge’s mother, Ms. DeRamus was given three options when she delivered Ashley and it was determined the baby had Down syndrome. “The first option was to go ahead and put her in an institution so we wouldn’t have to worry about her. We could put her up for adoption, which I thought, ‘What makes somebody else a better parent than me?’ Our other option was to take her home and do the best we could with her,” Ms. DeRamus said. Experts told Ms. DeRamus that Ashley probably would never walk, talk, or have self-help skills. But Ms.
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DeRamus began providing physical therapy for Ashley when she was 3 weeks old, which led to more specialized care for the child. “As Ashley grew, she went to elementary school. When she was 8 years old, she started swimming and swam in the state (Alabama) Special Olympics. She swam for 19 years and has 45 medals for swimming,” Ms. DeRamus said, further explaining that one of the challenges for people with Down syndrome is finding clothes that fit right because their body types differ. To help solve that problem, Ms. DeRamus conceived a plan to produce clothes for Down syndrome individuals, and Ashley has been her partner. Now, Ashley by Design clothes are sold at conventions for families with Down syndrome members. Ashley by Design hires young people with Down syndrome to work at the company’s booths, and they are paid the prevailing wage. Ashley DeRamus manages the workforce. Ms. DeRamus said her daughter has won many awards, including National Down Syndrome Society Advocate of the Year, National Down Syndrome Congress Advocate of the Year, and International Down Syndrome Advocate of the Year, which she accepted in India. “As has been mentioned, 67 percent of babies with Down syndrome are aborted as soon as the mom hears the diagnosis. In Europe, the number is 85 percent, and in Iceland, the number is almost 100 percent, which they are very proud of that statistic,” Ms. DeRamus said. “Ashley speaks all over the country to schools, churches, universities, and events. We hope one day these kids who are listening to us, especially the high school and college kids, if they happen to have a Down syndrome baby one day, they will see from their time spent with Ashley that it is not a bad thing. It is different, but it is not bad. We just pray that we make a difference. These babies are worth living; they are given by God; they are created for a purpose. And everyone has a purpose. Ashley, her purpose is phenomenal. It really is.” Ashley DeRamus said among her accomplishments, in addition to Ashley by Design, are reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and singing the National Anthem at events in all 50 states and accomplishing work toward Coast Guard certification as a mate on a tall ship. “It’s been very difficult to be a Down syndrome kid. I would get my feelings hurt some. But I’ve had good times,” she said. “Since I was a little baby, I never dreamed I would have the best mom I have. She is. We do everything together. My mother says, ‘Don’t let anyone tell you what you can’t do. You show them you can do.’” Monica Irvine of Tennessee Right to Life, who emceed the banquet, thanked “these beautiful women who have used their voices to make a difference.” “It is clear that because of you, Ashley and Connie, you are saving lives. You are giving people with special needs hope that life is good, that life is worth living. Thank you for going out and living your life and being out in public so that people can see the preciousness of life,” Ms. Irvine said. ■
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Pope launches the eRosary wearable smart device
of 10 consecutive black agate and hematite rosary beads, and of a smart cross, which stores all the technological data connected to the app. When activated, the user has the possibility to choose either to pray the standard rosary, a contemplative rosary, and different kinds of thematic rosaries that will be updated every year. Once the prayer begins, the smart rosary shows the user’s progress throughout the different myster-
ies and keeps track of each rosary completed. This smart rosary belongs to the family of “Click to Pray,” the official prayer app of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network (where Pope Francis has his own personal profile) that connects thousands of people around the globe to pray every day. The Click to Pray eRosary is also intended to accompany him in his daily and monthly intentions in
order to build a world with the taste of the Gospel. The project of the Click to Pray eRosary is an initiative of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, a pontifical work with the mission of mobilizing Catholics through prayer and action, in the face of the challenges confronting humanity and the mission of the Church. These challenges are addressed in the form of prayer intentions each month, entrusted by the pope to the entire Church. The network has produced all the special contents of this smart rosary. GadgeTek Inc. (GTI), a tech company dedicated to innovative lifestyle gadgets with operations spanning five continents around the globe, was responsible for the technological design of the wearable device. The Click to Pray eRosary is both a free app for Apple and Android and an actual high-tech rosary bracelet that connects to a smartphone using Bluetooth. Making the sign of the cross with the rosary automatically opens the app on the phone, while clicking one of the prayer beads allows the person praying to advance through the prayer texts, music, and images on the screen. ■
also in our world, so prone to creating and spreading conflict and exclusion,” the pope told the patriarch. “When we have the opportunity to appreciate and esteem one another in spite of our differences, we offer a word of hope to the world, which can encourage and support those who increasingly suffer the harmful effects of conflict.” Religions worthy of the name, the pope said, must be “beacons of hope” and promoters of brotherhood. Pope Francis then continued his pilgrimage, landing in Japan for a visit. Saying it is “perverse” to think the threat of nuclear weapons makes the world safer, Pope Francis urged a renewed commitment to disarma-
ment and to the international treaties designed to limit or eliminate nuclear weapons. Pope Francis began his first full day in Japan Nov. 24 with a somber visit in the pouring rain to Nagasaki’s Atomic Bomb Hypocenter Park, a memorial to the tens of thousands who died when the United States dropped a bomb on the city in 1945. In the evening, he visited the Peace Memorial in Hiroshima, honoring the tens of thousands killed by an atomic bomb there, too. “The use of atomic energy for purposes of war is today, more than ever, a crime not only against the dignity of human beings but against any possible future for our common
home,” Pope Francis told several hundred people gathered with him in Hiroshima. “The use of atomic energy for purposes of war is immoral, just as the possessing of nuclear weapons is immoral, as I already said two years ago,” he said. “We will be judged on this. ... Future generations will rise to condemn our failure if we spoke of peace but did not act to bring it about among the peoples of the earth,” the pope said. “How can we speak of peace even as we build terrifying new weapons of war? How can we speak about peace even as we justify illegitimate actions by speeches filled with discrimination and hate?” ■
I
n the middle of the Extraordinary Missionary Month of October, the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network launched the “Click to Pray eRosary.” October is also the month of the rosary. The Click to Pray eRosary is an interactive, smart, and app-driven wearable device that serves as a tool for learning how to pray the rosary for peace in the world. It can be worn as a bracelet and is activated by making the sign of the cross. It is synchronized with a free app of the same name, which allows access to an audio guide, exclusive images, and personalized content about praying the rosary. Organizers say it is within the reach of everyone. Aimed at the peripheral frontiers of the digital world where the young people dwell, the Click to Pray eRosary serves as a technology-based teaching tool to help young people pray the rosary for peace and to contemplate the Gospel. The project brings together the best of the Church’s spiritual tradition and the latest advances of the technological world. Physically, the device consists Pope continued from page A7
Ratchabophit temple, where he met the supreme patriarch of Thailand’s Buddhist community, Somdej Phra Maha Muneewong. The pope, Sister Ana Rosa, the cardinals traveling with the pope, and his entire entourage took off their shoes to enter the temple built in 1869. In a room filled with scent from the large bouquets of fresh roses and with a large gold statue of Buddha in the background, Pope Francis sat close to the elderly patriarch as they spoke of the need for mutual respect and cooperation in promoting tolerance and peace. “The culture of encounter is possible, not only within our communities but
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CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE PHOTO/PAUL HARING
By Catholic News Service/Vatican News
Smart liturgy The new Click to Pray eRosary bracelet sits on its charger. The high-tech rosary, which connects to a smartphone application, was unveiled at a Vatican news conference on Oct. 15.
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Diocese of Knoxville Catholic Schools Annual Report 2019
The Most Reverend Richard F. Stika Dear Friends,
Notre Dame High School, Chattanooga
I often think when parents enter a Catholic school for the first time with the hope of enrolling their child, deep within their hearts they hold the secret desire to see Jesus. To the 3,000 students and their families in our Catholic schools, they know our schools are not just academic learning environments. They know their families are the true benefactors of a special gift. The schools are the places where students can encounter individual attention and a true sense of belonging in environments permeated by the love of Christ. Our Catholic schools are built upon the pillars of faith, knowledge, community, and leadership. As I reflect on the impact of Catholic schools, I am deeply grateful for my own Catholic school education and how it has shaped and defined my life. I am thankful for the Catholic school educators who give their lives in noble service to teach their students about Jesus and the world. And I am thankful for the dedicated support of the faithful throughout our diocese who contribute to the schools through time, talent, and treasure. Our Catholic schools are invaluable gifts to our mission and ministry in East Tennessee. As you peruse the pages of this report, I hope you are drawn in to witness the difference our Catholic schools are making.
St. Mary’s Catholic School, Johnson City
St. Joseph Regional Catholic School, Knoxville St. Mary’s Catholic School, Oak Ridge
Through Christian doctrine formation and education, we are placing our hope in our youth. The future of our Church and the world will be in the hands of the youth. It is incumbent upon each of us to equip them with the values, skills, and knowledge for an ever-changing global society. Catholic schools can afford the best opportunity to educate and form the whole child.
C2017-2018 C2017 2018 ANNUAL RE REPORT
Preparing Scholars, Leaders, a “May the God of hope fill you with joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13
Grace
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Spotlight on Our Learning Communities
The racial profile of the 2,124 students in the foundational schools indicate 89% are Caucasian, 5% Asian, 3% African American, and 3% two or more races. Nineteen percent of the elementary student population report being of Latino heritage.
St. Jude Catholic School students with teacher Marian Joyce
St. Dominic Catholic School preschool students
Catholic schools within the diocese welcomed 3,142 students in preschool through grade 12 for this academic year. Our schools are more than learning communities. They are places where students can truly thrive and families can be assured of individual attention for their children. Many schools claim they have a sense of community, but families and teachers throughout the Catholic schools in the Diocese of Knoxville report the relational difference in our schools. Whether teacher to student, parent to teacher, or teacher to teacher, interactions cultivate a loving, family-centered environment. Our schools embrace the unique attributes of each child. Approximately 24% of the students have exceptional learning needs, and another 14% have diverse linguistic backgrounds with a native language other than English. All students are fully included in the educational program and receive individualized academic instruction for accelerated learning or support as needed.
Notre Dame High School students Our Catholic schools serve students from various religious affiliations, but the highest percentage of students in elementary and secondary school are Roman Catholic (81%).
Knoxville Catholic High School students and President Dickie Sompayrac
Mass at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Oak Ridge
The 338 professional educators who serve on the Catholic schools’ faculties strive to inspire students to excellence in everything they do. Their actions are visible signs of the schools’ mission to prepare . . .
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Father Joe Reed and Sister Maureen Ouma, St. John Neumann Catholic School, Farragut. Our schools have 7 women religious and 10 clergy serving.
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IMPACT on
ACADEMICS: Awakening the Greatness Within Each Student
Notre Dame High School and Knoxville Catholic High School Students Achieve
$ 32.6
million in college scholarships
2019 ACT COLLEGE EXAM SCORES (DIOCESAN) Total Tested
English
Diocese
Diocese
260
State 85436
25
State
Mathematics
Reading
Diocese
Diocese
19
23
State
19
25
Science State
Composite
Diocese
19
State
23
Diocese
19
State
24
19
The 2019 graduates from the two high schools reflect another year of outstanding performance on the college entrance exams. ACT scores for the diocese are reflected above. In addition, the two high schools had 3 National Merit Scholars, 3 Semi-Finalists, and 2 Commended Scholars on the SAT college entrance exam.
CATHOLIC STUDENTS’ REPORT CARD
78
80
4
77
68
67
73
71
5
77
74
74
72
74
6
78
62
68
69
68
7
88
71
73
73
80
8
88
75
76
77
80
CORE
74
COMPOSITE
80
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SCIENCE
82
SOCIAL STUDIES
3
MATH
READ/ ELA
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2019 IOWA ASSESSMENTS GRADE
Students in grades three through eight take nationally standardized Iowa Assessments every spring. The series of assessments compare student performance in English/Language Arts (ELA), Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies to students in over 200,000 schools across the nation. The scores reported are based on national percentile ranks (NPRs) with a range of 1-99 and an average mean of 50. As evidenced below, students in our elementary schools performed higher than students across the nation.
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O
ur vibrant Catholic schools are rooted in the same mission that honors and embraces the teachings and rituals of a proud tradition in Catholic school education. Yet, each school offers its own unique charisma and distinctive expressions in the faith life of the school community. The breadth and depth of experiences are reflected in our distinctive devotions, acts of service, and prayerful works.
Focus on Faith Formation
Sacrament preparation is an integral part of the religious formation in the schools. This past year, the schools celebrated sacraments of Christian initiation with 469 students.
Students in our Catholic schools have the opportunity to attend Mass weekly and participate in religious instruction daily. Each liturgical season invites students to encounter Jesus through prayer and devotions that enable the students to develop a lifelong relationship with Our Lord. This spiritual formation provides the moral foundation to give students strength, confidence, and support to become their best selves.
37,444 hours of Community Service Service to our communities is an integral component to helping our students learn about others in our local and world communities. It is an opportunity for students to look within themselves to discover their own talents and skills and how these gifts can be shared within our homes and communities. Listed below are a few of the organizations that benefited from our students’ charitable works this past year. Angel Trees/Nursing Homes Arbor Terrace Nursing Home Catholic Charities Catholic Ladies of Charity Catholic Heart Work Camp Chattanooga area Food Bank Columbus Home Crisis Pregnancy Center East Tennessee Children’s Hospital Family Promise FISH Pantry Habitat for Humanity Haiti sister parishes and schools Mission trip to Belize Mobile Meals Project Linus Blankets Providence Medical Clinic Ronald McDonald Houses St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Second Harvest Food Bank STAR Volunteer therapy programs St. Vincent de Paul Societies T.C. Thompson Children’s Hospital
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DECEMBER 1, 2019 n A21
Student Life “And then I would like to speak especially
Nurturing Growth—Realizing Dreams Developing the whole student in mind, body, and spirit requires engagement beyond the classroom. Whether a student is an athlete, an artist, or an engineering genius, the Catholic schools of the Diocese of Knoxville have something to offer each child. Pope Francis provides the guidance to Catholic educators when he encourages each one to “create the material and spiritual conditions for young people’s full development.”
to you young people; be committed to your daily duties, your study, your work, to relationships of friendship, to helping towards others; your future also depends on how you live these precious years of your life” Pope Francis, Feast of St. Joseph Speech, 2013
Notable Achievements State Championships: KCHS Dance Team KCHS Gymnastics Team Accomplishments KCHS girls volleyball team is state runner-up NDHS girls cross-country team is region finalist NDHS students qualify for state golf tournament NDHS football team advances to state quarterfinals NDHS boys tennis team advances to state final four NDHS boys bowling team is region champion Individual Accomplishments KCHS student Jake Renfree, Gatorade Runner of the Year St. Mary’s, Oak Ridge, 2 students qualified for nationals in cross country OLPH student George Gribben, Creative Thinking Award OLPH student Millie Meagher, Artistic Talent & Excellence Award St. Joseph student Sarah McLean qualified as one of the top 1% of history students in Tennessee 22 students placed in regional science fairs
Experiential Learning Schools provide many unique learning opportunities both on and off campus. These curricular and cocurricular activities include environmental exploration trips, historical trips to our nation’s capital, and various other opportunities for students to learn about the world around them in engaging experiences. For example, St. Mary’s Catholic School in Johnson City began its own agri-business by growing and marketing flowers at the local farmer’s market.
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Growing Leaders Within Teachers in our schools model a commitment to life-long learning. While 67% of our teachers hold advanced degrees, our educators continue to strive to improve their knowledge and instructional practices by embracing opportunities for increased professional learning. Students are the direct benefactors of the increased skills and innovative ideas employed as a result of continuous training.
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
In every great school, there are also teachers whose vision extends beyond their own classrooms—even beyond their own teams and departments. Such teachers recognize that students’ positive school experiences depend not only on interaction with individual teachers, but also on the complex systems in place throughout their school and the diocesan system of schools. They experience a sense of professional urgency—what some have called the “leadership itch.” Sometimes on their own initiative and sometimes within a more formal structure, these professionals find a variety of ways to exercise leadership.
As this school year began, our schools embraced the theme of hope. Pope Francis encourages us to put on faith, hope, and love for a fulfilling life. Our faith provides our focus, our hope encourages us to do God’s work, and our love gives us joy on our journey. As we now enter into this season of Advent, while we prayerfully hope for Our Lord, I would like to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude for the support given to our Catholic Schools! I also pray that during this preparation time before Christmas and throughout the coming days, you and your family will be surrounded by love, joy, happiness, and the hope of a blessed new year!
Recognizing the innate talents and skills of these teacher leaders within our schools and the need to more appropriately prepare for leadership succession, the Catholic Schools’ Office developed a Leadership Academy to strengthen leadership aptitude to apply to Catholic schools. Faculty members were invited to either nominate someone or apply themselves through a formal process. The selection committee was inspired by the number of applications and interest in the Leadership Academy. Current Catholic school principals and presidents worked with the superintendent to develop a coherent curriculum that focuses on the four domains of the National Standards and Benchmarks of Effective Catholic Schools: (1)Mission & Catholic Identity, (2)Governance & Leadership, (3) Academic Excellence, and (4)Operational Vitality. From these applicants, 14 teachers were selected to be the first Cohort group in the Academy.
Peace in Christ,
Dr. Sedonna J. Prater
Dr. Sedonna Prater, Superintendent of Catholic Schools and students from St. Joseph Catholic School
Catholic Schools
Give the Gift of Catholic School Education by Purchasing a Raffle Ticket Top prize = $10,000 Go to: www.dokraffle.com We Hope to Hear From You! In an effort to serve more fully and realize the educational ministry of the Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Knoxville, Dr. Sedonna Prater, superintendent of Catholic Schools, is seeking input from parishioners on their perspectives related to our Catholic schools. Please take a few moments to complete the survey designed for schools in the region nearest to your parish by using one of the links below. Thank you for providing your insights.
Leadership succession in any organization is an inevitable occurrence. Planning for that succession is essential to maintaining quality and excellent standards. It is the hope that the Leadership Academy will provide a foundation in Catholic school leadership that can be used in the participants' current role, as well as be the impetus for the possibility of continued education in Catholic school administration and leadership at a college or university. Congratulations to the Diocese of Knoxville Catholic Schools’ Leadership Academy Cohort 1: Naomi Berlin, St. J ohn Neumann Catholic School Martha Brach, Sacr ed Hear t Cathedr al School Amanda Carr, St. Dominic Catholic School Kendall Doogan, St. Mar y’s Catholic School, Oak Ridge Becky Frye, St. Mar y’s Catholic School, Johnson City Suzanne Gaudin, St. J ude Catholic School Laura Goodhard, Notr e Dame High School Valerie Hanks, Sacr ed Hear t Cathedr al School Kathleen Karnes, Sacr ed Hear t Cathedr al School Jared Kimutis, Knoxville Catholic High School Mollie Krueger, St. J oseph Catholic School Kathleen Preston, St. J ude Catholic School Katrina Ron, Our Lady of Per petual Help School Wendy Waxmonsky, St. J oseph Catholic School
$5,226,673 in tuition support $141,347.09 given in August Second Collection for Catholic Schools Visit our website for information about our Catholic schools in East Tennessee. https://dioknox.org/diocese-of-knoxville-catholic-schools/ Follow us on
@dioknoxcatholicschools @dioknoxschools Mrs. Jamie Goodhard, St. Jude Catholic School principal and the Santiesteban family, Fernando, Chanel, and Maximo.
Chattanooga https:// www.surveymonkey.com/r/ ChattDOKAis Kingsport/Johnson City https:// www.surveymonkey.com/r/ DOKCSAIS-KingsportJC Knoxville/Oak Ridge region https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ DOKCSAIS-Knox-OR
TH E EAST T E N N E S S E E C AT HO L I C
Applications are now being accepted for the 2020 school year. Contact one of our Catholic schools for a visit or shadow for a day for your student.
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CONGRATULATIONS to the 365 winenners! of the 2019 Scholars
Leaders Saints Calendar Raffle
Dec. 1 / Steve Walker St. Joseph School
Nov. 3 / Catherine Wike Knoxville Catholic High School
Dec. 3 / Suzzanne Cantrell Our Lady of Perpetual Help School
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER WINNERS
Nov .1 / Jeanne Nix Sacred Heart Cathedral School
Nov. 2 / Monsignor Dale Wellman Our Lady of Fatima Church
Dec. 2 / Melania Bochis St. Dominic School
Nov. 4 / Hannah Seaver Knoxville Catholic High School
Dec. 4 / Angela Huffine St. Mary School-Johnson City Dec. 5 / Jimmy Fleming St. Joseph School
Nov. 5 / Neil Schmitt St. Joseph School
Nov. 6 / Adam and Christina Walker Knoxville Catholic High School Nov. 7 / Patricia Nethery Our Lady of Perpetual Help School Nov. 8 / St. Mary School St. Mary School-Oak Ridge
Nov. 9 / Mike and Carol Conner St. Joseph School Nov. 10 / Roberta Somerville St. Dominic School
Dec. 6 / Richard and Linda Spangler St. Jude School Dec. 7 / Don Dally Knoxville Catholic High School Dec. 8 / Helena Ordonez Notre Dame High School
Dec. 9 / Torchbearer Fund St. Dominic School
Dec. 10 / James and Kathie Trocolla St. Mary School-Oak Ridge Dec. 11 / Cynthia Alfont St. Mary School-Oak Ridge
Nov. 11 / Dottie Shockley St. Dominic School
Dec. 12 / Ellie Hill St. Jude School
Nov. 12 / Carol Runger St. Dominic School
Dec. 13 / Stacy Dillefeld St. Jude School
Nov. 13 / Roger League St. Mary School-Oak Ridge
Dec. 14 / Stacy Anderson Knoxville Catholic High School
Nov. 14 / Michele Sackerman Knoxville Catholic High School
Dec. 15 / Philip Geiger St. Dominic Church
Nov. 15 / Elizabeth Campbell St. Joseph School
Dec. 16 / Cindy Biasella St. Joseph School
Nov. 16 / Jim MacDougall St. Dominic Church
Dec. 17 / Patricia Shannon Sacred Heart Cathedral School
Nov. 17 / Roger Szabo St. Joseph School
Nov. 18 / Phuonglynh Ta Our Lady of Perpetual Help School
Nov. 19 / James Tucker Purchased from Diocese of Knoxville website Nov. 20 / Robin Crook Knoxville Catholic High School
Nov. 21 / Jane Seitz and Earl Pierce St. Joseph School Nov. 22 / Dolores Fredericks St. Mary School-Johnson City
Dec. 18 / David Gostomski St. Dominic School Dec. 19 / Jay Young St. John Neumann School
Dec. 20 / Arleen Morey St. Albert the Great Church
Dec. 21 / Beverly Ray Knoxville Catholic High School Dec. 22 / Joseph Reed St. John Neumann School Dec. 23 / Jerry Basch Notre Dame High School
Dec. 24 / Liz Melloy Sacred Heart Cathedral School
Nov. 23 / Cuno Kayser All Saints Church
Dec. 25 / Germaine Tackett Knoxville Catholic High School
Nov. 24 / Mary S. Lovely Knoxville Catholic High School
Dec. 26 / Patricia Farner Good Shepherd Church
Nov. 25 / Laura Pala Notre Dame High School
Dec. 27 / Roby Phillips St. Joseph School
Nov. 26 / Anna Vassello St. Mary School-Oak Ridge
Nov. 27 / Tracy Pesut Purchased from Diocese of Knoxville website Nov. 28 / Nancy Burem St. Dominic School
Dec. 28 / Kandace Hollenbach Sacred Heart Cathedral School Dec. 29 / Dave Hamburger St. Joseph School Dec. 30 / Shari McKinney St. Jude School
Nov. 29 / Linda Bolgeo Notre Dame High School
Dec. 31 / Robert and Deborah Reiff St. Dominic School
Nov. 30 / Randy Gruse St. Mary School-Oak Ridge
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EADERS
Thank you for your support
This year, calendar sales raised more than $100,000 for tuition assistance for our 10 schools.
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