Dec. 4, 2022, ET Catholic, B section

KCHS helped launch Lady Vol broadcaster’s career

Dan McWilliams

New Lady Vol basketball play-by-play announcer Brian Rice is one of the busi est people in Knoxville media, and his days as a student at Knoxville Catholic High School helped launch his broadcasting career.

Mr. Rice, 39, succeeded Mickey Dearstone behind the microphone for the Lady Vol hoops games this season. He also is the longtime ra dio voice of Lady Vol softball. He co-hosts “The Erik Ainge Show” with the former Vol quarterback weekday mornings on WNML FM and AM. And on Thursday-night TV games during high school foot ball season, he handles radio duties for those contests. As if that was not enough, Mr. Rice did the radio broadcasts for the University of Ten nessee men’s basketball games dur ing the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament in the Bahamas in late November.

A 2001 graduate of KCHS, Mr. Rice spent the first two and a half years of high school at the original KCHS campus on Magnolia Avenue in East Knoxville before the school moved to its current site on Fox Lo nas Road in West Knoxville. He was the public-address announcer for Fighting Irish basketball during his school days.

“I did PA for basketball from 1998 to 2001. Might have made a few pinch-hit appearances as a freshman in the 1997-98 season,” he said. “I knew I had an interest in broadcast ing even further back, but that was the first time someone agreed to put me in front of a microphone for something related to it.”

Earlier in his life, two legendary Vol announcers helped influence him, Mr. Rice said.

“My mom put a Sony Walkman with WIVK on it over my ears when we went to football games when I was a kid so I wouldn’t ask as many questions,” he said. “She told me that John Ward and Bill Anderson on the radio would answer all of my questions if I listened, and they

did.”

The list of everyone who has in fluenced his career is quite lengthy.

“For broadcasting it’s a pretty long list,” Mr. Rice said. “Obvi ously, John Ward, Bob Kesling, and Mickey Dearstone from UT. But I watched or listened to Skip Caray and Pete Van Wieren call Braves games on radio and TV for years. So, I tried to take the humor of Skip and the obsessive preparation of Pete. I listened to a lot of baseball online and on SiriusXM to continue to find that right balance of humor and information. Some names that stand out are Vin Scully, Jon Miller, and Bob Uecker. Then there are the legends of TV broadcasting across all sports like Marv Albert, Pat Sum merall, Joe Buck, Doc Emrick—I lis tened to those guys and still watch classic clips of them the same way a lot of young players watch clips of famous athletes. You have to make your own style, but what made leg ends so legendary?”

Many of them coined now-famous phrases.

Mr. Rice says, “Let’s go make some magic” before he goes on air.

“I’m not really sure when I started saying that. It just kind of happened in recent years,” he said. “There’s something a little more crass that I have always said to our softball coaches at UT after I wrap up the taped pregame interview, but it’s not really Catholic magazine-friend ly, ha ha.”

Mr. Rice has eight Lady Vol bas ketball games under his belt and counting so far in the young season.

“It almost feels conceited to say, but I feel pretty natural doing it. I obsess about getting the pregame and postgame shows perfect and things like that, but the actual game itself makes me feel comfortable,” he said. “I’ve prepared enough be forehand that I’m ready to add the right little details here and there, but I enjoy the art of it, the paint ing the picture for listeners who

see the game. I want to give all the appropriate information at the right time to keep the casual listener up to date, but what I really enjoy is de scribing the flow of the game.”

Taking over for Mr. Dearstone on basketball “felt right because this was the first radio job he didn’t directly hire me to do,” Mr. Rice said. “He tapped me to replace him full-time on softball in 2013 then brought me in to do the daily radio show in January 2017. He’s been at every home game so far, and I’m glad that he’s there. He hasn’t said anything to me about the broadcasts yet, which means I’m doing OK. He’s always been the perfect type of mentor/manager for me because he doesn’t pat you on the back for

doing the job you’re hired to do. But he’s always there to hold you ac countable when you don’t.”

Working with Mr. Ainge for nearly six years “has been fun from the start,” Mr. Rice said. “We get along very well, and I feel like our strengths and weaknesses balance out as well as any pair can. Doing a daily talk show is fun, but it’s defi nitely a challenge.”

Mr. Rice’s time with Lady Vol softball dates back more than a de cade, but his basketball duties will keep him from doing some earlyseason softball games as the two sports overlap.

“I started filling in on softball in the postseason in 2010 and took

Bishop celebrates annual Blue and White Masses

Special liturgies at the cathedral honor first responders and members of the medical profession

Bishop Richard F. Stika celebrated Masses for first responders and for members of the health-care profession in recent weeks at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

The Blue Mass on Oct. 2 honored police offi cers, firefighters, EMTs, and other first respond ers. Cathedral rector Father David Boettner, as sociate pastor Father Martin Gladysz, and Father Charlie Donahue, CSP, concelebrated. Deacon Patrick Murphy-Racey and Deacon Walt Otey assisted.

The first reading was proclaimed by Knoxville Police Department Chief Paul Noel, a cathedral parishioner, and the second reading by Gerard Jabaley. Gifts were brought forward by Chief Noel and KPD Capt. Brian Evans.

Father Donahue is a chaplain for the KPD. Father Gladysz and Deacon Murphy-Racey are chaplains for the Knox County Sheriff’s Office. Father Boettner is a former chaplain for the Loud on County Sheriff’s Office.

Several members of the medical profession at tended the White Mass on Oct. 16. Concelebrat ing were Father Gladysz, whose birthday fell on that day, and cathedral associate pastor Father Jhon Mario Garcia. Deacon Otey assisted.

Dr. Mallory Trevino was the first reader, and Dr. Jennifer Hamm proclaimed the second read ing. Gifts were brought forward by Dr. Angela Meyer, Dr. Michelle Brewer, and Dr. Mark Viehmann.

At the Blue Mass, Bishop Stika in his opening remarks called the liturgy a time to “honor in gratitude and pray for first responders. We also

By Dan McWilliams

pray for all those who protect our community in a variety of different ways whose lives have been taken unjustly, those who have given service and have died.”

In his homily, the bishop recalled a tragic time from earlier in his priesthood.

“When I was in St. Louis, I was a police chap

DAN MCWILLIAMS

Legendary Vol and nationally known announcers, ‘a pretty long list,’ inspired Brian Rice By

Brian Rice continued on page B2

‘What I really enjoy is describing the flow of the game’ Brian Rice is the new radio voice of Lady Vol basketball and also broadcasts Lady Vol soft ball and high school football.

‘It’s great to see the Catholic community here recognize the first responders’ Knoxville Police Department Chief Paul Noel, a parishioner of the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, pro claims the first reading at the Blue Mass on Oct. 2.

over full-time in 2013,” he said. “I plan on doing as many games as I can around the basketball schedule and once the season is over. I’ve been working with UT to try and identify a person or persons to fill in for me on the early-season games. A lot of people might give up soft ball, just to move on and move up or to give someone else the break in the business that I got. Maybe it’s a little selfish for me to keep it. But that program is family to me. It was there for me when I didn’t have a wife and son and was a stable force for me when I faced some family challenges. I can’t imagine not be ing in the booth for them whenever I can. I love the basketball job, but I know when Feb. 10 rolls around and someone else is in Clearwater with them, I’m going to have a ma jor sense of FOMO (fear of missing out).”

The 2022 high school football sea son was Mr. Rice’s second full cam paign doing radio broadcasts.

“I enjoy broadcasting football because there is so much to it,” he said. “From describing formations and personnel, to the many things that can happen during a play, it’s just an exciting sport to broadcast. It definitely wears on me in the fall because there’s a lot going on and you’re kind of at the mercy of coaches as far as the timelines of getting rosters and depth charts and stats, if you get all of that stuff. Working with college sports, you can access all of that information on line at any time. Some high schools guard it like the KFC secret recipe. So, it’s a little stressful when I’m try ing to put together two game boards

lain for a number of years. I still have my badge,” he said. “The sad dest moment: I anointed two police officers who were killed in the line of duty, and I saw the tremendous affection and love that exists be tween people in that line of work, whether it’s firefighters, ambulance, or police officers.

“Would you like to run into a burning building as on 9/11, re member that? Or walk between two houses in darkness, knowing that in that dark place there might be some body with a gun aimed right at you, but you know what you’re doing is correct? How about those EMT folks who are working in Florida right now [in the wake of Hurricane Ian]? You see a person, and you know there’s water and there might be downed power lines, but you risk your life to help that person. You see time and time and time again people who do this. I think, because they’re not always the most wellpaid, but I think it’s a vocation. The word ‘vocation’ comes from the Latin ‘to call.’”

Bishop Stika also remembered an

at midnight Wednesday with kick off at 7 on Thursday, but I’ve never missed one.”

He even got to broadcast a game involving his alma mater.

“I’ve only had the opportunity to broadcast one Catholic game,” he said. “I filled in for John Wilkerson on the state semifinal game at Cen tral in 2017 that sent the Irish to the state title game. That was definitely a cool experience.”

Mr. Rice’s resume also includes time spent working for the UT ath letic department.

“I was the features writer for UTSports.com from 2014-16,” he said. “I had contributed feature stories for the website and for game programs for several years, dating back to working in media relations as a student from 2001-05, but when they decided to turn what I was do ing on the side into a full-time job, I knew that I had to do it.”

Mr. Rice is not Catholic, but “at tending school” at KCHS “was great for my faith,” he said.

“I lean Baptist and have always attended Baptist churches,” he add ed. “But I attended First Lutheran School from kindergarten to eighth grade. Then making the move to Catholic opened me up to a similar, yet very different, religious experi ence. But I say that it helped my faith because I was able to identify the subtle (and not-so-subtle) dif ferences between what we learned on Sunday and what we learned throughout the week. I’m a big sub scriber to the idea that if you can’t articulate and defend your beliefs, then you don’t actually believe them. That applies to religion, poli

encounter with a police officer on Christmas Day after he was pulled over for speeding several years ago on a trip from Gatlinburg to Chattanooga.

“I’m always respectful because I know what their job entails. He takes my driver’s license and comes back and says, ‘Hey, Reverend, I can’t give you a ticket today.’ I said, ‘Why?’ He said, ‘Giving you a ticket today on Christmas would be like giving Joseph a ticket on his way to Bethlehem.’ He didn’t even give me a warning,” the bishop said.

The bishop reiterated his grati tude for first responders.

“Today we just give thanks to God for people who have heard His voice and know what they’re get ting in to in our community who protect us,” he said. “They said yes to often a thankless job, a dangerous job, and yet—I’ve seen it time and time again—when someone saves a life, when someone protects the community, when someone views 9/11 when they were all running into the building when others were running out, I thank God, and so

tics, whatever.

“I think that being exposed to and learning about a slightly different belief set and then defending what I believed helped me strengthen my faith. I think some of my classmates

would say the same about learning from my experiences and defending why they believe what they believe. It was quite valuable to me, and I in tend to send my kids there one day to get that same experience.” n

should all of us.

“We welcome all those involved in law enforcement. We pray for their safety. We pray in thanksgiv ing for what they do, and we pray that others might follow in their

footsteps because they help us. They protect us, and sometimes they have to remind us that there are reasons for laws and regulations. They’re not restrictions; they’re for our safe

Brian Rice continued from page B1

Brian broadcasting Brian Rice calls the Lady Vol basketball team’s home game against Indiana (above), interviews UT softball head coach Karen Week ly (top right), does a TV spot (bottom right), and broadcasts a Thursday-night high school football game (below).

VOL PHOTOS

COURTESY OF BRIAN RICE

COURTESY OF BRIAN RICE COURTESY OF BRIAN RICE

VOL PHOTOS

The bishop preaches Bishop Richard F. Stika delivers the homily at the Blue Mass.

DAN MCWILLIAMS

ty. So, God, we pray for all those in volved in the community who make our lives just a little bit better, we pray in thanksgiving for them all.”

Bishop Stika mentioned the mem bers of the clergy who serve as chaplains.

“Pray for them, that they might always be a symbol of God in the midst of sometimes very difficult situations,” he said.

In his closing remarks, the bishop thanked “all those involved in law enforcement and protecting our community, firefighters and just that broad range of people who exist, who live, and who have not hardened their hearts but they have listened to the call of the Lord.”

Chief Noel, who has been KPD chief for several months, said after ward that having a Blue Mass was “really so great.”

“Coming from New Orleans, which is a very large Catholic com munity, it’s great to see the Catholic community here recognize the first responders,” he said. “This is a very difficult job, especially challenging in today’s environment, so it’s great to see not only Sacred Heart but the whole Sacred Heart community come together to pray for the first responders because their job is so challenging.”

The chief said “it’s truly amazing” being a parishioner of the cathedral.

“Father David and the entire group here have been very, very generous and open to me, especially coming from a very large Catholic

community—my parish in New Or leans was within walking distance from my house,” he said. “Going to an area where it’s a much smaller Catholic community, I was a little concerned, but the group here has been amazing. Father David and the whole parish have been so open and welcoming. I’m just so lucky to be here.”

Bishop Stika said after Mass that “so often we take people for granted who ensure that our lives are safe and protected, whether it’s law en forcement, a firefighter, ambulance, or EMT. We try to focus on those first responders. We see it now in Florida where there’s so much dev astation and so many people go out of their way. I think it’s good to ex press gratitude but also to pray for protection for them.”

The Blue Mass fell on an appro priate feast day for the occasion, the bishop said.

“Today was good because it’s the feast of the Guardian Angels,” he said.

Bishop Stika said it was nice hav ing the KPD chief as a parishioner of the cathedral.

“He’s young. He’s got a young family. It’s always nice, whether he was not here or if he was a Protes tant or whatever, he’s a very, very nice guy, and he’s got great talents,” he said.

The bishop again recalled the two fallen St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department officers.

“We pray especially for those in

law enforcement. I anointed two officers. Their names are ingrained in my memory, Nick Sloan and Bob Stanze, so we pray for safety,” he said. “Bob, his wife was pregnant with twins. He never saw his chil dren. Nick Sloan had a 1-year-old son. Their names and the image of anointing them at their death are ingrained in me.”

At the White Mass, Bishop Stika said in his opening remarks that the liturgy honors all those involved in the health-care profession.

“We honor them, and we pray for them with an act of gratitude and thanksgiving,” he said.

In his homily, the bishop said the White Mass “is just one way that the Church, that all of us can just say thanks to God with a spirit of gratitude for people who use their talents to touch the lives of oth ers. People involved in health care and people who participate in that health care by being the patients or the people who come to them have a unique relationship, because one is in need and the other fulfills that need.”

Bishop Stika talked about the power of prayer.

“There was a study I think in Time magazine or Newsweek about prayer, about people who are prayed for and how it how made a difference in their life,” he said. “When a per son says to you, ‘Will you pray for me’ or ‘Pray for this intention?’ and you say yes, that’s a contract. Some one has requested from you to pray

before God Himself, and you say yes.

“People came to Jesus in His life, and there was a profound ques tion that was laid before His feet: ‘Lord, teach us to pray.’ And the one prayer that Jesus Himself com posed, the Our Father, which is a very inclusive prayer—it kind of el evates everything to God, our needs and desires, seeking protection.”

The bishop also spoke of the prayers he makes during a liturgy.

“Even at Mass, when I do the opening prayer or the closing prayer or the prayer before the preface, how does it end? ‘And we ask all of these prayers through Christ, our Lord,’” he said. “Because our prayers are rather imperfect because we’re imperfect, right? But there’s some transformation that occurs at Mass or when we pray in Jesus’ name or through Christ our Lord because then our imperfect prayers become the prayers of Christ Himself.

“Prayer is that powerful gift that allows us to have a normal conversa tion with God. . . . Never give up, for God does listen to what we ask. Sometimes it’s a yes, sometimes it’s a no, or sometimes it’s just ‘later on,’ when you’re ready to get that answer to the prayer that you have made.”

Afterward, Dr. Hamm, a parishio ner at the cathedral, said the White Mass “means a great deal, just to know that we’ve got prayers sup porting us in what we do every day.” n

On the cathedral steps After the Blue Mass, Bishop Stika poses with (from left) Father Charlie Donahue, CSP, Father Martin Gladysz, Father David Boettner, Chief Paul Noel, Capt. Brian Evans, Deacon Walt Otey, and Dea con Patrick Murphy-Racey.

First reading Dr. Mallory Trevino (above) proclaimed the first reading at the White Mass, celebrated on Oct. 16, and Dr. Jennifer Hamm proclaimed the second reading.

Blue Mass offertory KPD Chief Paul Noel (front) and Capt. Brian Evans pres ent the gifts to Bishop Stika.

DAN MCWILLIAMS (6)

Presenting the gifts Dr. Angela Meyer, Dr. Michelle Brewer, and Dr. Mark Viehmann bring forward the gifts at the White Mass.

Special Masses continued from page B2

Liturgy of the Eucharist Bishop Stika celebrates the White Mass alongside (from left) Father Jhon Mario Garcia, Deacon Walt Otey, and Father Martin Gladysz.

Birthday celebrants Father Martin Gladysz greets Marietta Cruz, a cathe dral parishioner, after the White Mass. Both were celebrating birthdays that day, Oct. 16.

St. Jude, Chattanooga

St. Jude will be participating in Family Promise the week of Christmas, Dec. 25 through Dec. 31. Thanks to the generosity of St. Jude and other local churches, Family Promise recently pur chased and renovated a house to pro vide stability to homeless families as they transition into permanent housing. The parish needs volunteers to provide and drop off dinner meals at the Fam ily Promise house, 2602 14th Ave., Chattanooga, 37407, during the week of Christmas. For more information, contact Teresa Le at 423-504-1132 or teresa.le423@gmail.com.

The children’s choir is rehearsing for the 5 p.m. Christmas Eve Mass on Saturdays through Dec. 17.

An alternate gift project is being held through Jan. 29 to benefit St. Jude’s twin parish of Paroisse Notre Dame de la Chandeleur in Gros-Morne, Haiti. Make a donation at stjudechattanooga. weshareonline.org.

Breakfast With Santa took place Dec. 4 in Siener Hall, featuring a meal, Christmas carols, and pictures with Santa.

Boy Scout Troop 172 sold red poinset tias in November.

The ninth annual Holiday Craft Fair was held Nov. 19, featuring more than 45 local crafters and artisans and food provided by the Knights of Columbus.

St. Jude School held a kindergarten open house Nov. 15 and a middle school visitation day Nov. 16.

A Mass for vocations was celebrated Nov. 14, followed by a rosary.

A doughnut sale to benefit the youth ministry was held after all Masses on Nov. 13.

St. Mary, Athens

The choirs of St. Mary are presenting Lessons & Carols for Christmastide at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 29.

The Knights of Columbus are holding a community coat drive that will continue until after Christmas. There is a box in the narthex for parishioners to put in clean, gently used, and new coats. The Knights can use many different sizes of coats from children to adults.

The parish held a holiday silent auction and bake sale fundraiser Dec. 1-4.

The welcome committee has become active again after a two-year hiatus because of COVID. The committee will reach out to newly registered members who came to the parish from March 2020 to the present.

The Knights held a Spaghetti/Bingo Night for adults Nov. 19.

St. Stephen, Chattanooga

The parish’s family Christmas dinner took place Dec. 3. The program includ ed Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus, Jesus and Mary, and Christmas carols sung by the choir and parish children.

The parish thanked all who attended, helped plan, organized, decorated, cooked for, served, and cleaned up at the Newcomers Brunch on Nov. 6. All newcomers received a crucifix blessed by pastor Father Manuel Pérez.

The Knights of Columbus’ Knight of the month for October was Art Von Werssowetz, and the family of the month was the Craig Bodnar family.

The Knights’ Ladies Auxiliary held its Christmas party and meeting Dec.1. The group also conducted its annual Cookie Walk on Dec. 10 and 11.

The respect life ministry thanked pa rishioners who supported its Tree of Life. After four weekends, collective gifts surpassed $2,100. The funds will be presented to Catholic Charities of East Tennessee to help with the cost of adoption.

The youth group collected money and items for its annual Backpack for the Homeless ministry. The youth col lected donations after Masses on Oct. 29-30 and Nov. 5-6 with the goal of filling 150 backpacks.

St. Stephen parishioners helped collect 1,945 pairs of socks for the Commu nity Kitchen during the “Sock It to Me” drive.

Anniversaries: Gary and Lea Calkins (60), James and Theresia Costello (57), James and Marjorie Goller (57), James and Sandy Mullin (57), Thomas and Eileen Witt (55), Terry and Kitty Rob erts (53), Joe and Truyen Rahm (50), William and Theresa Cole (15), Michael and Phyllis Horten (10)

Cumberland Mountain Deanery

Blessed Sacrament, Harriman

The CYO hiked the Panther Branch Trailhead to Emory Gap Falls at Frozen Head State Park on Nov. 26.

St. Francis of Assisi, Fairfield Glade

A rosary for prisoners is prayed every Monday after the Communion service.

The Prayer Warriors pray every Tues day after Mass for those who request special prayers for their needs. For information, call Dory Sabatini at 931-707-0356.

With the generous support of pa rishioners, many volunteers and the Social Action Ministry prepared 325 boxes of food for Thanksgiving that were delivered to the Peavine Care and Crab Orchard food pantries Nov. 15 and 16.

Father Michael Woods, assisted by Father Mark Schuster of St. Alphonsus Parish in Crossville, celebrated a heal ing Mass on Nov.16 in which everyone who attended received an individual blessing.

The parish currently has eight groups of participants who have accepted an invitation to learn to grow in their faith journeys by participating in the 33 Days to Morning Glory program. For more information, call Kathy Donley at 707-321-9563 or Cherie Trapp at 931-707-9637.

Knights of Columbus Father Gabriel Assembly 2162 is sponsoring Wreaths Across America. Last year, a group of Knights and friends from St. Francis of Assisi and St. Alphonsus helped lay more than 6,000 wreaths at the Veterans Cemetery in Knoxville in memory of fallen military members. This year, Wreaths Across America day is Dec.17. The local assembly goal is 450 wreaths. To sponsor a wreath, call Rollie Wicker at 920-245-1538.

Anniversaries: Ed and Grace Johnson (69), Philip and Rosalie Poynter (58), Robert and Carol Loghry (55), Louis and Patricia Poulin (54), Roger and Donna Dudley (53), Michael and Vic toria English (51), Dennis and Nancy Ashman (50), Roger and Barbara Dever (50), Gary and Linda Nyquist (50), Mi chael and Lynee Kapalin (25)

St. John Neumann, Farragut

The Knights of Columbus held their fifth annual Coats for Kids drive to bring quality hooded winter coats to children of needy families. Before Thanksgiving, the Knights distributed 30 coats at St. John Neumann School, 60 at Farragut schools, 15 at Jellico Elementary School, and 11 at St. Mi chael the Archangel Church in Erwin. The Knights thanked Columbia Factory Store in Sevierville for providing them deep discounts and charging no tax for the coats. A parish buffet breakfast sponsored by the Knights on Nov. 13 also benefited the coats drive.

A parish men’s retreat, themed “Wit nessing to a Post-Christian World,” was held Dec. 3 in the school cafete ria. Father Christopher Floersh, Dea cons Shawn Ballard and Greg Larson, and David Hamilton facilitated.

St. John Neumann’s American Heri

Parish notes continued on page B8

Pictured

A small white minivan pulled into the parking lot at St.

bus. The Schachle

J.

womb of Michael “Mikey” Schachle

a case of life-threatening fetal hydrops in 2015. The Schachle family joined in the celebration of Mass with parishioners at St. Henry, and at the end of the liturgy Michelle, Daniel, and Mikey were invited to the podium for remarks. Michelle spoke about the journey through her pregnancy, and Daniel spoke about his calling to the Knights and the need to help the most needy. He said he felt that’s what drew him to the Knights and later as an insur ance field agent, which led to his future promotion to general agent and manager for the Knights of Columbus for Tennessee. The Schachles joined parishioners at a luncheon welcoming newcomers and their families to St. Henry.

Chattanooga Deanery

Schachle family visits St. Henry Church

Henry Church in Rog ersville on Oct. 23, and six of the 13 Schachle children departed the vehicle along with parents Michelle and Daniel. They came to St. Henry by invitation of pastor Father Bart Okere, also the Tennessee state chaplain for the Knights of Colum

family’s story led to the declaration of Knights founder Father Michael

McGivney as Blessed, following the healing in Michelle’s

from

COURTESY OF BILL HEWITT

SHERRY FERGUSON

St. Stephen Parish supports life and family

The parishioners of St. Stephen in Chattanooga contributed $2,700 to the parish’s Respect Life Ministry (RLM) during October, which in addition to being the month dedicated to the holy rosary, is also recognized as Respect Life Month. The gift will be used to help offset some of the expenses families must cover when entering into, and beginning, the adoption process. In the top photo (from left) are St. Stephen pas tor Father Manuel Pérez; Ada Hernandez-Bell, adoption program manager at Cath olic Charities of East Tennessee; and Theresa Cole, co-chair of St. Stephen’s RLM.

above is Pat Bodnar, co-chair of the RLM, decorating the “Tree of Life” with hand-crafted and decorated collection envelopes made especially for the occasion by Liz Huntenburg (not pictured), who is also a member of the RLM.

THERESA COLE

Knoxville Catholic High School’s 12th annual Green & Gold Gala is set for Friday, Feb. 10, 2023, in the University of Tennessee Student Union ballroom. “Irish legend” Father Chris Michelson will be the honoree. The gala includes a live auction, a silent auction, dinner, drinks, music, and more. The event be gins with a cocktail hour and the silent auction at 6 p.m. Buy tickets or learn more at https://bit.ly/3V2FSO9.

An “Underground Christmas” event for fifth- through eighth-graders will be held from 6:30 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17, at St. Jude Church in Chat tanooga. Youth are invited to a night of deciphering clues to “safe houses,” where they will be given a short pre view of different eras of persecution and what Christians have had to face throughout the ages to be able to wor ship God. The event includes trying to evade the “secret police” who are attempting to capture the Christians and throw them in jail for their faith, as well as various other activities that all relate back to the true problems around the world. The night will end with Mass in a very “underground” fashion. Cost is $25, which goes to ward youth fundraising for events such as the March for Life and National Catholic Youth Conference. Download a flyer at https://dioknox.org/events/ underground-christmas-2022.

There will be a healing service at Our Lady of Fatima Church in Alcoa from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11, in the main church. Leaders will be happy to pray over you for any physical, emotional, or spiritual needs that you have. You may invite anyone you know who would like to be prayed over. Call Toni Jacobs at 561-315-5911 for more information.

A Young Adult Conference for ages 18-35 is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, in the cathedral hall of the Cathedral of the Most Sa cred Heart of Jesus in Knoxville. Katie Prejean-McGrady will be the guest speaker. Cost is $35 per person if you register online before the event or $40 at the door. Lunch and refreshments are included. Download a flyer or reg ister at https://dioknox.org/events/ young-adult-conference.

Notre Dame High School in Chat tanooga is currently accepting ap plications for the 2023-24 academic year. Apply by visiting www.myndhs. com and submit an online application. Contact Lisa Costello at 423-624-4618 or costello@myndhs.com with any questions.

All women are invited to the 2023 Knoxville Diocesan Council of Cath olic Women Convention, to be held April 20-22 at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Lenoir City. The convention will feature keynote speaker Melissa Foley and Father John Orr. Breakout sessions will allow participants to choose from a variety of interactive sessions geared to their interests. Early-bird registration begins Jan. 15. For more information, visit KDCCW. org.

Registration for the World Youth Day diocesan pilgrimage is open. WYD is in summer 2023 in Portugal. Young adults ages 18 to 35 are invited to join the Office of Young Adult Ministry for the journey. They will be pilgrimaging with Dube Travel from July 28 to Aug. 8. The package includes round-trip airfare, two nights in Fatima, eight nights in Lisbon, the WYD registration packages, daily breakfast, and more. Visit dioknox.org/wyd2023 for more details on registration, itinerary, pric ing, payment plans, and fundraising opportunities. For more information, contact Brittany Garcia at bgarcia@ dioknox.org.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help (OLPH) Homeschool Support Group is a Catholic homeschool support group in Knoxville and surrounding areas that is recognized by the diocese as a Pri vate Association of the Faithful. The group supports one another as fami lies who choose to educate their chil dren at home in order to live, teach, and preserve their Catholic Chris tianity. The group celebrates Mass together and has a monthly holy hour;

has regular park gatherings, field trips, and feast day celebrations; offers faith-based small groups for children, teens, and adults, as well as many other activities. For more information, contact Lenore Pacitti at lmgouge@ gmail.com or 865-684-6358, or Sarah Bryant at jsbry412@gmail.com or 865-742-3534.

Knoxville Search for Christian Matu rity Retreat No. 168 is set for Jan. 2729, at Christ Prince of Peace Retreat Center in Benton. Search is a week end retreat experience sponsored by the Office of Youth, Young Adult, and Pastoral Juvenil Ministry in col laboration with Knoxville Catholic High School. The weekends are for any high school juniors and seniors. The program is both rooted in the Catho lic faith and open to young people of any denomination or creed. Search provides an opportunity to think, talk, question, and wonder about life and faith in an accepting and challenging environment. It is an opportunity to experience God and God’s family in a personal and real way. The weekend is youth and peer oriented. It is run by youth, to youth, and for youth and all under the guidance of a team of adult mentors. Cost for the weekend is $95, which is all inclusive. The retreat starts on Friday evening and runs through Sunday late afternoon. A permission/ medical form and other forms as well as a retreat flyer are available at https://dioknox.org/events/search-168.

For more information, contact Donna Jones at djones@dioknox.org or 423-622-7232.

Chattanooga Search for Christian Maturity Retreat No. 167 is coming Feb. 24-26, 2023, to Christ Prince of Peace Retreat Center in Benton. Search helps Catholic high school juniors and seniors take a fresh look at their own faith journey, reflecting on their place within their families, schools, parishes, and community as a disciple of Christ. This is accomplished through activities and experiences that lead participants to a renewed understanding of Christ at work in their lives. Search is facilitated by teens for teens with the guidance of adult Search coordinators. The main focus of the retreat is threefold: motivating the youth to seek a personal relation ship with Christ, getting young people involved with their respective parishes, and promoting leadership. Registration coming soon at https://dioknox.org/ events/search-167.

Those struggling with the pain of an abortion are invited to take part in the Chattanooga Spirit & Life support group. For more information, call or text Sandi Davidson at 865-776-4510 or e-mail her at sandi@ccetn.org.

Join with others in the spirit of prayer and reflection, drawing closer to Our Lord, His Church, and each other, on a pilgrimage to EWTN and the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament from Feb. 8-10. Pilgrims will depart by bus Wednesday morning, Feb. 8, and travel to EWTN studios (http://ewtn.com/ pilgrimage/about-us.asp), where they will celebrate Mass with the friars and be given a one-hour guided tour of EWTN studios. They will be part of the live audience for the taping of “EWTN Live” with Father Mitch Pacwa before boarding a bus to St. Bernard Abbey Retreat Center (http://stbernardabbey. com/). On Thursday, Feb. 9, the pil grims will visit the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville, Ala. (http://olamshrine.org/), which will in clude a guided tour of the shrine and the new John Paul II Center. The visi tors will celebrate Mass and pray the rosary with the Nuns of the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration. There will be plenty of time for adoration and quiet reflection before returning home Friday, Feb. 10, following a tour of the Ave Maria Grotto (http://www.avemaria grotto.com/). The price is $350 per person (based on double occupancy; single supplement is available for $425) and includes two nights at St. Bernard Abbey Retreat Center, all bus-related costs, two breakfasts, one lunch, one dinner, and the Ave Maria Grotto tour. To register or learn more, contact Lisa Morris at lisam@select-intl.com or 865-567-1245.

Knights present check for Bishops’ Burse fund

Knights of Columbus State Deputy Fred Laufenberg presented a check to Bishop Richard F. Stika at St. Alphonsus Church in Crossville on Oct. 9. Mr. Laufenberg explained that each year the Tennessee State Council of the Knights of Columbus holds a collection called the Bishops’ Burse. Each member of each state council do nates $3 to the collection. The State Council takes the sum total collected and divides it by three, with an equal amount going to each of Tennessee’s three bishops. The bishops of Knoxville, Nashville, and Memphis can use the money as they please. The bishops typically use the money to offset the costs of seminarian education. “This year, we presented each bishop a check for $8,000,” Mr. Laufenberg said. Mr. Laufenberg said the Knights of Columbus are grateful to the bishops for their sup port and leadership.

Knights deliver more than 1,000 pounds of food to CCETN

Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus Assembly 1083 conducted a four-parish food drive the weekend of Nov. 5 to ben efit Catholic Charities of East Ten nessee in the Diocese of Knoxville.

With the generous help of Knights from councils 5207 (the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus), 15706 (All Saints Church), 645 (Immaculate Concep tion Church), and 14341 (St. John XXIII Catholic Center), the Knights were able to collect more than 1,000 pounds of food.

Assembly 1083 would like to thank the pastors of these four par ishes for their significant support. Additionally, the assembly can not express enough thanks for the most generous contributions made by the parishioners.

Kenneth Hollow, faithful naviga tor of the assembly, said, “Without the generosity of the Catholic com munity, we would not have been able to make such a substantial im pact in our effort to ensure people in need have a meal this holiday season.”

Lisa Ingle, special projects man ager at CCETN, said, “Words cannot express the gratitude and thankfulness of what occurred over the weekend of Nov. 5. We were amazed when we began to open the boxes and saw the amount of food. We can’t thank you enough for what you did in just one weekend.”

“May the Lord richly bless the Knights and the parishes that for got themselves and thought of oth ers,” Ms. Ingle added. n

DAN MCWILLIAMS

St. Henry Knights hold exemplification ceremony Knights of Columbus Council 8860 of St. Henry Parish in Rogersville held an exemplification ceremony for Timothy Salvalaggio (left) and Joseph Greenleaf on Nov. 9. Father Bart Okere, Knights of Columbus state chaplain and St. Henry pas tor, presided over the event. The ceremony is used to bring Catholic men into the Knights order or to raise a Knight from the second to third degree in the council.

St. John Neumann Parish celebrates ‘Advent by Candlelight’ St. John Neumann Parish in Farragut held an “Advent by Candlelight” celebration Nov. 20. A total of 120 women gathered for fellowship, prayer, song, and reflections.

COURTESY OF ST. JOHN NEUMANN PARISH COURTESY OF BILL HEWITT

A wife’s visions of how Christmas should unfold

“ … while visions of sugarplums danced in their heads.”

Now that I think about it, I have no clue what a sug arplum is and have never eaten one that I know of, at least not on purpose.

But for what is now 200 years (first published in 1823), people all over the world have talked about them, imagined them, and some ap parently dreamed of them.

In the warmth of home, surround ed by loved ones, the recitation of Clement Moore’s Christmas classic, with its images of “stockings hung with care” and “new-fallen snow” . . . well, it’s all been known to melt many a heart and fill even the Scroo giest among us with at least a little twinge of anticipation.

Far and away, though, the best part is getting to watch our children as they listen and imagine—each with visions of their own making. Though sugarplums no longer make any kid’s wish list, that sort of youthful excitement and pure joy are hard to match.

But it’s not just the kids who can dream. To this day, my wife, Nancy, still has visions of what and how she wants each Christmas holiday to unfold. Some years have rolled out just that way—others, not so much.

Early on, things were much sim pler. Our parents lived in the same city, and it was our moms who cleaned and cooked and hosted our Christmas dinners. “Maybe you could bring some ice,” was their way of allowing us to just show up, little ones in tow.

Still, Nanc did all the gift shop ping for our pretty decent-sized family. She fretted over each indi vidual purchase, hopeful she had found the ideal present for just the right person. She does the same today.

“I bought this blouse for your sis ter. What do you think?”

“I think she’ll love it.”

“Yeah, I thought so, too. I’m tak ing it back tomorrow.”

Visions. Refined with a few ex change trips.

And no one loves wrapping pres ents more than she does. Each is handled with true loving care, creas

Gabriel’s visit aside, sitting in that stable that night, gazing into her newborn’s face, He was just a baby, and she was just a mom. Thinking mom thoughts, dreaming mom dreams. Imagin ing the incredible life awaiting Him.

ing the perfect paper just so, finish ing each with the perfectly curled ribbon for the perfect person. It’s more artwork than wrapping.

One Christmas Eve, before head ing over to her folks’ house for the annual soiree with her side of the family, we decided to attend Mass downtown.

“Be careful with those ribbons when you put them in the car.”

When we came out of church, however, we discovered our car had been burglarized, and every gift we had packed for them was gone. Rib bons and all.

The kids cried and freaked and cried some more. We made an ef fort to calm their fears and tears by trying to help them see that even though stealing was wrong, perhaps the gifts were going to a family who had none.

And then—like the drummer boy—we showed up to Christmas dinner with nothing. Neither drum nor drumstick.

At evening’s end, our family headed home with an embarrass ment of riches, made more embar rassing by the fact we had arrived empty-handed.

I don’t know if it helped or not when I said for all to hear, “Nanc, I think they fell for it.”

Visions.

Years later, we lived out of town, the kids were grown, and we no lon ger made it home as often as we had when they were small.

In fact, our oldest was newly married, and for the first time we experienced every parent’s firstworld Christmas nightmare—taking turns—and having your child spend the holidays with their in-laws.

Happy for our son-in-law to be with his family and happy for our daughter’s happiness to be with him, still, their absence crushed Nancy’s vision of what Christmas was supposed to be.

Responding to

The infancy narratives in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke are some of the most endear ing and beloved biblical stories.

Among those stories is included that of the Magi coming from the east to find the one who is king of the Jews.

Father Raymond Brown, the late, great scholar of the Scriptures, offers some keen commentary on the story, first by pointing out some fascinat ing parallels between the story of the Magi and Herod, and the story of Balaam and Balak in the Book of Numbers. As the Hebrews, led by Moses, were traveling through the desert on the west bank of the Jordan River toward the promised land, they encamped in the land of Moab. Balak was the king of Moab, and he was concerned.

He was aware of Israel’s recent defeat of the Amorites, so he feared their military prowess. As well, he was anxious that, there being so many of them, the Hebrews would devour all the resources of his king dom. So Balak sent for Balaam, a magus from the east and practitio ner of magic. Balaam came with his two servants (so, there were three of them), and Balak asked that he curse the Hebrews. Instead of curs ing them, however, Balaam fore

The Christmas story is not simply a child’s fantasy, the magical tale of a couple seeking shelter, a woman giving birth to a baby, with only a donkey’s manger available for a crib. . . . It all sounds wonderful and, of course, it is. But it is also terrifying.

told a bright future for Israel: “How pleasant are your tents, Jacob; your encampments, Israel! … their king will rise higher than Agag and their dominion will be ex alted. … I see him, though not now; I observe him, though not near: A star shall advance from Jacob, and a scepter shall rise from Israel, … Israel will act boldly, and Jacob will rule his foes” (Numbers 27:5-7, 17-19a). Here, then, we have the story of a king who plans the destruction of God’s people employing a magus from the east as his conspirator in that plan. Yet the magus blesses God’s people instead of cursing them.

In the story of Herod and the Magi, there is a similar motif. Magi from the east (the Scriptures don’t say how many; the tradition of three Magi or kings is based on the three gifts they present to Jesus) are enchanted by a star to find the new

So, she adamantly declared we absolutely were not going to spend that Christmas in our house with one of her girls not there. So, she packed us up and said we’re going back to Chattanooga to visit family. “I’m not sitting here and being sad!”

When I say she packed us up, that needs some clarification. Though she didn’t want to spend Christmas in our house, she was not leaving without taking most all the decora tions that helped it feel that way.

When I said, “Honey, there’s no room for this six-foot tree and these ornaments,” she cried.

Literally.

So, I re-packed, found it a spot, and we pulled up to the Marriott looking not unlike the Beverly Hillbillies.

If memory serves me, I’m pretty sure it was somewhere along that drive the first time she told our other two girls, “Y’all just have to marry orphans. I don’t like sharing.”

To which Sarah replied, “Mom, there aren’t many dating websites for Catholic orphans.”

Our hotel room vomited all things Christmas, including—and I kid you not—a tree-shaped nut dish she had packed, though none of us ever ate nuts.

Among the many wrapped gifts we had packed for family were also those for our daughters marked “From Santa,” a tradition we kept until the grandkids came along.

Picture four adults, two double beds, four suitcases, a tree, a nut dish, and bedtime.

Though the lights were out, it was Christmas Eve and visions of sugar plums—or whatever—were keeping us all awake.

N (whispering): “George, do you think they’re asleep?”

G: “No, I don’t. We just turned the lights out.”

N: “Shhh! They’ll hear you.”

Two daughters laughing in the other bed.

N: “You need to set out their Santa gifts. But be quiet.”

Two daughters laughing louder in the other bed.

G: “You’ve lost your ever-loving mind.”

N: “They didn’t hear you, did

they?”

G: “No, not over their laughter.”

And on Christmas morning, for her benefit alone, they dutifully and laughingly faked surprise that Santa had found them in this hotel.

N: “We left Santa a note at our house so he’d know where to find y’all.”

Visions.

Through the years and to this day, when someone’s plans have gone terribly south and disappointment has set in, our family has reminded each other, “Your mistake was hav ing a vision.”

Two thousand years ago another mom had visions of her own, pon dering what life would be like for her family and her Son.

Gabriel’s visit aside, sitting in that stable that night, gazing into her newborn’s face, He was just a baby, and she was just a mom. Think ing mom thoughts, dreaming mom dreams. Imagining the incredible life awaiting Him.

She already knew her boy was a miracle. How could she not also help but recall the angel’s words?

“He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High and the Lord God will give Him the throne of David his father, and He will rule over the House of Jacob forever and of His kingdom there will be no end.”

He’s the one we’ve been waiting for.

But things happen. And visions go awry. Sometimes horribly so.

And she could never have imag ined that.

However, she also could not fore see the billions of people the world over who would follow and cel ebrate her boy. Forever.

As you and your family celebrate that same mother’s son, Nancy and I and our family hope your Christ mas holiday dreams are everything you envision they might be.

Dear God—Peace on earth, good will to all. It sounded like the perfect vi sion. Maybe we’ll get closer this next year. Thank you for letting us try again. Amen. ■

chosen among us

born king of the Jews. They arrive in Herod’s land and are called to his side. Fearing the overthrow of his reign by a new king, Herod hatches a plot to destroy the child. He hopes to use the Magi to find the child and kill Him. The Magi, however, thwart Herod’s plan, leaving his country without reporting to the evil king the whereabouts of Jesus.

In both stories there is a king and a magus or Magi from the east. The king desires the destruction of God’s chosen. He attempts to employ the Magi in his plot but is frustrated by their taking the side of God’s chosen. In both stories there is the realization that God’s chosen is among us. How will they respond to that realization? Will it inspire fear or joy? Will they desire to curse or bless God’s chosen?

That same choice lies before us. The Christmas story is not simply a child’s fantasy, the magical tale of a couple seeking shelter, a woman giving birth to a baby, with only a donkey’s manger available for a crib. Animals and shepherds, kings and angels rejoice at the birth of the child. It all sounds wonderful and, of course, it is. But it is also terrifying. For in the birth of that child, in our response to the arrival

of God’s chosen, we have a choice to make. That choice will deter mine not only if Dec. 25 is for us a happy celebration of faith and fam ily or simply another day on the calendar. It is a choice between life and death.

This is not a child’s Christmas dream. It is a deadly serious propo sition with eternal significance. How will we respond to the pres ence of God’s chosen among us? Will we, like Balak and Herod, respond with fear that we stand to lose everything? Or will we, like Balaam and the Magi, recognize God’s chosen and break out in blessing, rejoicing that the future looks bright?

Jesus brings life. To those who follow Him, He promises new life, eternal life. The child who looks so weak, so helpless, so small in the arms of His loving Mother is, in fact, the one who represents the difference between light and dark ness, good and evil, life and death. Choose life!

Be Christ for all. Bring Christ to all. See Christ in all. ■

Deacon Bob Hunt is a husband, father, grandfather, and parishioner at All Saints Church in Knoxville.

George Valadie is a parishioner at St. Stephen Church in Chattanooga.

They recall the visions of another mom from 2,000 years ago and how her son’s life would be

Thoughts and Prayers for the Faithful by Deacon Bob Hunt

Losing Mom to Alzheimer’s, one Catholic ritual at a time

Ihave a confession to make . . . lately I have found myself distracted during the Mass. I used to be distracted by the typical things that go on during a church service such as cry ing babies, someone sneezing, or the rustling of papers. But now I am distracted by the disease of Alzheimer’s. I am not the one afflicted with the disease, but as the caregiver, I cannot help but wait in anticipation that my sweet mom will recall the next ritual during the Mass. I watch myself getting lost in the hope that she will re member the church cues that are rooted in her brain from childhood, yet escape her memory in the here and now.

I have been witnessing my mom’s battle with Alzheimer’s for five years now. I pick my mom up for early Mass on Sunday as it’s part of her routine. This can never really change in her world, because if I decided to sleep in on a Sunday and attend the later Mass, she would become terribly confused. At this stage of the disease, both routine and faith bring her much comfort, and I feel like it’s my job as her care giver to surround her with both. Routine is our friend.

As Catholics, we all do the Catholic traditions from a part of our brain that is rooted in routine. We genuflect, we cross ourselves, we bless with holy water, we bow at the cross, we make a small sign of the cross over forehead, mouth, and heart, we sit, we stand, we kneel. All of these Catholic rituals we do have become second nature to us in our faith journey. Having my mom with me has transitioned me from not paying attention during church to paying too much attention: not to my own spiritual growth but to hers. I find myself so busy watching and praying that the next cue is not missed and forgotten. At times, when my eyes should be closed in prayer, I find myself opening to get a peek and see if her disease has further robbed her of our religion. Not her faith, but the religion.

My mom was raised in the Church, and there fore that is the part of her memory that functions the best. She can remember childhood better than her current life. I have watched her do many things during Mass that I was not raised doing, even by her. When the bells chime during Com munion, she places her fist over her heart and taps her heart three times. Her eyes are closed, yet mine are not. I am busy praying that I see her fist over her heart, and I am distracted away from my own prayers as I watch her memory fade. There have been times in Mass when my head was bowed in prayer and the tears sting my eyes because I am aware that I am witnessing my

mom slowly fading away. Anytime a caregiver sees her loved one slip further away in this brutal disease, it is like a death over and over again. It is indeed the long goodbye.

There will come a day when my mother does not know who I am. I have heard others tell me that she may not know my name, but she will somehow know my importance in her life and register me as “special” in her diseased brain.

I feel like I am bracing myself for that day, but there is really no way to prepare. Instead, I find myself using the Catholic Church as the ba rometer of whether or not my mom is still with me, and some days this overwhelms me with sadness.

If faith is in our hearts, then my mom missing the church cues is only lost on me, but not on her. She is blissfully unaware of her burdens, and she simply takes the Mass for what it is: a moment in time to wind down, pray, and believe. I think I can learn from her. I find myself cheering when I peek over and her responses are “correct,” and I find myself suddenly sad when she “missed the cue.” I assume this is how God feels about me, too, cheering when I get it right and yet so sad dened when I misstep.

We will continue to spend our Sunday morn ings in worship together. I will continue to be grateful for the time that I have been given with Mom and will fully believe that Alzheimer’s cannot rob us of our faith. We will continue mak ing memories with failing memories. Onward we go . . . one day at a time, one Mass at a time, one Catholic ritual at a time—while she still can. Peace be with you. n

Daily readings

Thursday, Dec. 1 : Isaiah 26:1-6; Psalm 118:1, 8-9, 19-21, 25-27; Mat thew 7:21, 24-27

Friday, Dec. 2 : Isaiah 29:17-24; Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14; Matthew 9:27-31

Saturday, Dec. 3 : Memorial of St. Francis Xavier, priest, Isaiah 30:1921, 23-26; Psalm 147:1-6; Matthew 9:35–10:1 and 10:5-8

Sunday, Dec. 4 : Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17; Ro mans 15:4-9; Matthew 3:1-12

Monday, Dec. 5 : Isaiah 35:1-10; Psalm 85:9-14; Luke 5:17-26

Tuesday, Dec. 6 : Isaiah 40:1-11; Psalm 96:1-3, 10-13; Matthew 18:12-14

Wednesday, Dec. 7 : Memorial of St. Ambrose, bishop and doctor of the Church, Isaiah 40:25-31; Psalm 103:1-4, 8, 10; Matthew 11:28-30

Thursday, Dec. 8 : Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Genesis 3:915, 20; Psalm 98:1-4; Ephesians 1:3-

6, 11-12; Luke 1:26-38

Friday, Dec. 9 : Isaiah 48:17-19; Psalm 1:1-4, 6; Matthew 11:16-19 Saturday, Dec. 10 : Sirach 48:1-4, 9-11; Psalm 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19; Matthew 17:9-13

Sunday, Dec. 11 : Isaiah 35:1-6, 10; Psalm 146:6-10; James 5:7-10; Mat thew 11:2-11

Monday, Dec. 12 : Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Zechariah 2:14-17; Judith 13:18-19; Luke 1:26-38

Tuesday, Dec. 13 : Memorial of St. Lucy, virgin and martyr, Zepha niah 3:1-2, 9-13; Psalm 34:2-3, 6-7, 17-19, 23; Matthew 21:28-32

Wednesday, Dec. 14 : Memorial of St. John of the Cross, priest and doctor of the Church, Isaiah 45:68, 18, 21-25; Psalm 85:9-14; Luke 7:18-23

Thursday, Dec. 15 : Isaiah 54:110; Psalm 30:2, 4-6, 11-13; Luke 7:24-30

Friday, Dec. 16 : Isaiah 56:1-3, 6-8; Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 7-8; John 5:33-36

Saturday, Dec. 17 : Genesis 49:2, 8-10; Psalm 72:1-4, 7-8, 17; Matthew 1:1-17

Sunday, Dec. 18 : Isaiah 7:10-14; Psalm 24:1-6; Romans 1:1-7; Mat thew 1:18-24

Monday, Dec. 19 : Judges 13:2-7, 24-25; Psalm 71:3-6, 16-17; Luke 1:5-25

Tuesday, Dec. 20 : Isaiah 7:10-14; Psalm 24:1-6; Luke 1:26-38

Wednesday, Dec. 21 : Song of Songs 2:8-14; Psalm 33:2-3, 11-12, 20-21; Luke 1:39-45

Thursday, Dec. 22 : 1 Samuel 1:2428; 1 Samuel 2:1, 4-8; Luke 1:46-56 Friday, Dec. 23 : Malachi 3:1-4, 23-24; Psalm 25:4-5, 8-10, 14; Luke 1:57-66

Saturday, Dec. 24: Mass in the morning, 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8-12, 14, 16; Psalm 89:2-5, 27, 29; Luke 1:6779; vigil Mass for Christmas, Isaiah 62:1-5; Psalm 89:4-5, 16-17, 27, 29; Acts 13:16-17, 22-25; Matthew 1:1-25 Sunday, Dec. 25 : The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas), Mass dur

ing the night, Isaiah 9:1-6; Psalm 96:1-3, 11-13; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-14; Mass at dawn, Isaiah 62:1112; Psalm 97:1, 6, 11-12; Titus 3:4-7; Luke 2:15-20; Mass during the day, Isaiah 52:7-10; Psalm 98:1-6; He brews 1:1-6; John 1:1-18

Monday, Dec. 26 : Feast of St. Ste phen, first martyr, Acts 6:8-10 and 7:54-59; Psalm 31:3-4, 6, 8, 16-17; Matthew 10:17-22

Tuesday, Dec. 27 : Feast of St. John, Apostle and evangelist, 1 John 1:14; Psalm 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12; John 20:1-8

Wednesday, Dec. 28 : Feast of the Holy Innocents, martyrs, 1 John 1:5–2:2; Psalm 124:2-5, 7-8; Mat thew 2:13-18

Thursday, Dec. 29 : 1 John 2:3-11; Psalm 96:1-3, 5-6; Luke 2:22-35

Friday, Dec. 30 : Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14; Psalm 128:1-5; Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23

Saturday, Dec. 31 : 1 John 2:18-21; Psalm 96:1-2, 11-13; John 1:1-18 n

Jeannie Hixon is a parishioner at St. Stephen Church in Chattanooga.

Sisters Laura Benton and Jeannie Hixon and mom Janet “Mimi” Tuller celebrate the wedding of Jeannie’s son Ross Hixon.

Seeing a loved one battle the disease ‘is like a death over and over again . . . the long goodbye’ By Jeannie Hixon

Mom Janet “Mimi” Tuller and Jeannie and Daniel Hixon enjoy breakfast following Mass.

Jeannie and sister Laura wear bracelets they made to remind themselves of their journey through Alzheimer’s with their mom.

Jeannie Hixon and mom Janet “Mimi” Tuller at the wedding of Jeannie’s son Ross Hixon at St. Stephen Church in Chattanooga.

COURTESY OF JEANNIE HIXON (4)

Seven KCHS athletes commit at National Signing Day

Ceremony is the first to occur in Knoxville Catholic’s new St. Gregory the Great Auditorium

Knoxville Catholic High School held its first National Signing Day in its new St. Gregory the Great Auditorium on Nov. 9 as seven student athletes committed to play col lege sports at seven different universities.

Signing were Harrison Thompson with West Virginia University in golf; Gracie Pardue with the University of Toledo in swimming; Sydney Clements with Tennessee Tech University in soc cer; Jazmin Williams with Bluefield University in basketball; Daniel Parris with the University of Tennessee in baseball; Maeve Thornton, a twotime state singles champion, with Furman Uni versity in tennis; and Carson Gompert with the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in tennis.

KCHS athletics director Jason Surlas opened the signing ceremony with a prayer.

“We thank you for the gift of Knoxville Catho lic High School and for each of these student athletes and their families represented here to day,” he said. “With your help, Lord, they have

“Shrines and Sites, a Pilgrimage to Switzerland,” is set for April 17-27. Join Father Michael Maples to experi ence the sacred sites and beauty of Switzerland. The group will have three nights in Lucerne, with stops at Muri Abbey to celebrate Mass and in So lothurn to visit St. Ursus Cathedral. There will be an excursion by coach to Engelberg Abbey and then by cable car to the top of Mount Titlis, consid ered one of Switzerland’s top destina tions. Pilgrims will discover Europe’s highest train station on a full-day train tour to Jungfraujoch. On arrival, they will view the UNESCO-listed land scape and explore summit attractions, such as the Ice Palace and Sphinx Ob servatory, with views over Aletsch Gla cier, Europe’s longest glacier. They will take the scenic Gotthard Panorama Express boat on Lake Lucerne before boarding a train to Lugano, where they will have a two-night stay. A day of sightseeing that includes Santa Maria

Parish notes continued from page B4 tage Girls Troop TN0413 hosted its annual Cookie Mix and Wreaths Across America fundraiser to honor veterans after all Masses on Nov. 19-20.

Five Rivers Deanery

Holy Trinity, Jefferson City

The parish held its St. Nicholas party Dec. 4, featuring a visit with St. Nicho las, hot dogs, games, goodie bags for kids, and door prizes for adults.

The Knights of Columbus Pat Duda Me morial Chili Cook-Off was held Nov. 19.

An RCIA catechumen and two candi dates took part in the Rite of Accep tance and Welcoming on Nov. 13.

Anniversary: Ralph and Marlene Holt (50)

Baptism: McKenzie and Kacey Barone

Newcomers: Richard and Nancy Campolo

Notre Dame, Greeneville

A parish Advent retreat on the Blessed Virgin Mary took place Dec. 3. Father Michael Hendershott, associate pas tor of Holy Ghost Parish in Knoxville, gave two 45-minute talks on Our Lady. A rosary and Mass were offered along with a holy hour. Confession was avail able during adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

Notre Dame parishioners collected 83 Boxes of Joy for Cross Catholic Out reach to send to children who may not receive a gift this Christmas.

Anniversary: Clayton and Missy Myer (51)

St. Patrick, Morristown

Breakfast With Santa, sponsored by the Council of Catholic Women, was held Dec. 3 in the parish center.

The social action committee collected items for Friends of Hospice Seren ity House (end-of-life care home) in November.

accomplished many things on the fields, courts, and pools. Today we celebrate them as they com mit to the next chapter of their education and ath letic careers. I pray that each of them will always remember how important it is that they always place themselves in your loving hands, no matter where their futures take them, to always call on you for strength and perseverance when they ex perience difficult times in their lives, and to give you all the glory and honor when they reach their highest successes.”

Athletics at Knoxville Catholic “are way more than winning games,” Mr. Surlas said. “Of course, we want to win. Everybody wants to win, but it’s what we learn when we don’t win that can be important as well. We also want them to learn the wonderful things that come with play ing sports: a commitment, accountability, time management with grades and athletics, good sportsmanship, and simply how to be a good teammate. All those things are so important,

Degli Angeli Church and a cable-car ride to Monte San Salvatore will follow. The exploration continues with a visit to the Cathedral of Lugano, St. Mary’s, the Rocco Church, San Lorenzo Ca thedral, and the Museo D’ Arte. The group will visit the Marian Shrine of Switzerland to see the statue of the Black Madonna, Our Lady of Einsie deln, and go on to Zurich. Pilgrims will visit St. Gallen Abbey and Library, the oldest in Europe, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A boat ride down the Limmat River under the bridges and a visit to the Fraumunster Church to see the Chagall stained-glass windows will follow. For more information, contact Lisa Morris at 865-567-1245 or lisam@ select-intl.com.

A pilgrimage to Greece, including a four-day Aegean cruise, is set for Sept. 18-29. Join Glenmary Father Steve Pawelk “In the Footsteps of St. Paul” as pilgrims visit the places where St.

CCW members collected filled boxes for the Cross Catholic Outreach Box of Joy project Nov. 12-13.

The CCW held a Ladies Night Out jew elry resale fundraiser Nov. 15.

The parish had a nice turnout for its international rosary Oct. 30. Thankyous went to participants who recited a decade of the rosary in their own language: Kerilyn Jones, English; Su cie Elieisar, Micronesian; Kevin Duties, Filipino; Duyen Beach, Vietnamese; and Chelsea Gallardo, Spanish.

More than $2,700 was collected for the parish at the recent Oktoberfest.

Anniversaries: Eugene and Carol Bed narzyk (64), Mike and Dorothy Nosal (58), Daniel and Ginger Lucas (25), Onelio and Leivi Ortiz-Perez (10), Murad Mubarak and Kimberly Renner (10)

Smoky Mountain Deanery

Holy Ghost, Knoxville

The parish is inviting members to a New Year’s retreat, “Rebuilding Your Tem ple,” led by Franciscan friar Father Peter Tremblay at the Catholic Conference Center in Hickory, N.C., Dec. 30-Jan. 1. The retreat includes a New Year’s Eve banquet and traditional festivities. Register at www.catholicconference. org/new-years. For more information, email info@catholicconference.org or call 828-327-7441.

Holy Ghost held an Advent mission Dec. 5-7 featuring a nightly talk fol lowed by confessions. The theme of the mission was from Isaiah 40; “Prepare the way of the Lord. Make straight his paths.”

A baby-bottle collection to benefit Catholic Charities’ Pregnancy Help Center was conducted in November.

Immaculate Conception, Knoxville

The Knights of Columbus Christmas Dinner and Toy Drive start with the din ner at 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 12, in the parish hall. There is no charge for the dinner; however, each person attend ing is asked to bring an unwrapped

By Dan McWilliams

just to name a few. But we also want to prepare them for when they graduate high school and they leave us, and they all do. We want to make sure they’re prepared both academically and athletically.”

Twenty-six KCHS student athletes signed last year on five signing days. Over the last 10 years, more than 200 student athletes have signed to play college sports.

Mr. Surlas spoke of the small chances of high school athletes playing in college in each of the sports represented by the athletes who signed Nov. 9.

“These statistics clearly indicate that these seven seated up here, representing six differ ent sports, are joining a very small but very elite group of college athletes,” he said. “Who knows what the future may hold for them? We may see a PGA Tour player, or an Olympic swimmer, or a World Cup soccer athlete, or a WNBA basketball Signing continued on page B10

Paul preached the Gospel—Thessa loniki, Philippi, Corinth, and Athens— and visit the Meteora Monasteries. The Aegean cruise stops on the islands of Mykonos, Santorini, Crete, Rhodes, and Patmos and will also visit the ancient city of Ephesus, featuring some of the most magnificent excavations in the world, and visit Mary’s house. Contact Lisa Morris at 865-567-1245 or lisam@ select-intl.com.

Join Father Michael Cummins on a pil grimage to the Holy Land from Oct. 16-26, with an optional extension to Jordan from Oct. 26-29. Pilgrims will walk in the footsteps of Jesus, visiting the holy and sacred sites of His life, death, and resurrection. They will jour ney to Bethlehem, Bethany, Masada, Caesarea, Mount Carmel, and the Sea of Galilee area, including the Mount of Beatitudes, Nazareth, Capernaum, Magdala, and Tabgha. They will journey on to Mount Tabor, Jericho, the Mount

gift suitable for a child. The toys will be given to East Tennessee Children’s Hospital and to the Ladies of Charity so that children in need can have a new toy for Christmas.

The women’s group thanked the par ish community for supporting its recent craft fair and expressed gratitude to the volunteers who baked goodies and worked the booths. Also thanked were Dan and Margo Phillips, the Narro fam ily, Juliet McVay, Kay Williams, Maggie Costigan, Jeanie Matthews, Therese Hurley and friends, and the IC Bees for donating baskets that were given away during the fair.

The women’s group invites parishioners to a reception for Pat Ryan, its outgoing president, from 5 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 15, in the parish hall. Attend ees are asked to bring heavy hors d’oeuvres. A Christmas carol festival will follow the reception.

The parish held its annual Christmas wreath fundraiser to benefit its sister parish and school in Fond-des-Blancs, Haiti.

Sacred Heart, Knoxville

The Parish Council of Catholic Women (PCCW) invite all women of the par ish to its annual bilingual Advent by Candlelight event at 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18. Vespers and antiphons will be prayed in English and Spanish in the candlelit cathedral. A social celebration with wine and cheese will follow in the cathedral hall.

The PCCW’s annual fall bake sale was held after all Masses on Nov. 19 and 20 in the hall.

Marriage: Ramiro Montoya and Diana Correa

St. Francis of Assisi, Townsend

The parish held its annual Christmas party Dec. 11 in Shea Hall.

St. Vincent de Paul Society members and a few others, including Todd Lowe, manager of the Townsend IGA, gave more than 100 Thanksgiving food baskets to neighbors in need. These

of Temptation, the Jordan River, and the Dead Sea, then travel to Jerusalem, visiting the Mount of Olives, the church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Wail ing Wall. They will have the blessing of walking the way of the cross, the Via Dolorosa. There will be the opportunity to extend the pilgrimage for three days, visiting Jordan, including Petra. For more information, contact Lisa Morris at 865-567-1245 or lisam@select-intl. com.

Mass in the extraordinary form (“tra ditional Latin”) is celebrated at noon each Sunday at Holy Ghost Church in Knoxville; every Sunday at 8 a.m. at St. Mary Church in Athens; at 2 p.m. each Sunday at St. Mary Church in John son City; at 6 p.m. most Thursdays at St. Mary Church in Oak Ridge; and at 11:30 a.m. every Sunday at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga. For more information, visit www.Knox LatinMass.net. n

included Blount County foster families, Townsend Elementary School families, and the Blount County Senior Advoca cy through the Blount County Sheriff’s Office.

St. John XXIII, Knoxville

A “Winter Woolies Clothing Drive” took place Nov. 19-20 as the parish collect ed new and gently worn coats, scarves, sweaters, gloves, and hats for adults and children for the Ladies of Charity.

The parish Thanksgiving dinner was held Nov. 18.

The Knights of Columbus held a suc cessful food collection in November to support those in need at Catholic Charities of East Tennessee.

St. Joseph the Worker, Madisonville

The religious-education students will present the Nativity at the Christmas Eve Mass at 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 24. To help provide simple costumes such as for an angel, a shepherd, an inn keeper, and the Wise Men, call Brandi Ann Pagano-Mills at 321-446-1438.

The parish held its Christmas party Dec. 11.

The Knights of Columbus hosted their fifth annual Christmas concert at the church Dec. 9.

The welcome committee hosted a “New Member Meet and Greet” on Nov. 20 for English and bilingual parishioners.

St. Joseph the Worker provided Thanksgiving food baskets to parish ioners experiencing difficulties. The Knights collected food to provide a turkey dinner.

The women’s group sponsored a Holi day Cookie Exchange on Nov. 9 in the parish hall.

The youth group thanked parishioners who donated candy, treats, and money to its successful first Trunk or Treat event.

Anniversary: John and Carole Sumner (40) n

St. Francis-Fairfield Glade Parish helps feed the hungry

Peavine Care Center and Crab Orchard Care Center food pantries received a donation of hundreds of turkeys and boxes of traditional Thanksgiving din ner food to feed hungry families in Cumberland County in time for the holiday in November.

The boxes contained a traditional Thanksgiving meal that fed a fam ily of six. Turkey, dressing, gravy, potatoes, vegetables, cranberry sauce, dinner bread, and pumpkin pie were included in each basket. They were provided through the generosity of parishioners from St. Francis of Assisi in Fairfield Glade, who donated the food and assem bled and delivered them to local pantries.

“There are a lot of hungry people in Cumberland County, especially this year with increased food infla tion” said Bob Diller, director of

Peavine Care Center. “We wanted to make sure that we were able to provide our clients with turkeys for the holidays. Thanks to so many people, not only St. Francis parish ioners, but also our own volun teers, we were able to accomplish this goal.”

Peavine Care Center is a local food pantry operated by volunteers and open to residents in Cumber land County. Its mission is to reach out to those in need by providing food, spiritual support, and a kind word. It is located at 44 N. Peavine Plaza in Crossville and can be reached at 931-484-4570 or peavine care@gmail.com. No qualifying family is turned away, and new cli ents are always welcome.

Crab Orchard Care Center is lo cated at 87 Commerce St. in Crab Orchard and can be reached at 931707-5616. n

Loading up Chris Bivens of St. Francis of Assisi Parish loads up his car with boxes of Thanksgiving food to deliver to local food pantries. St. Francis of Assisi members donated hundreds of turkeys and boxes of Thanksgiving food to benefit Peavine Care Center in Crossville and Crab Orchard Care Center.

COURTESY OF ALLISON HATTON (3)

St. Stephen Parish holds Trunk or Treat event St. Stephen Parish in Chattanooga held its fourth Trunk or Treat for the Christian formation program Oct. 26. Knights of Columbus Council 6099 had bobbing for apples, and many parents decorated their cars for a great, safe evening for the kids. The St. Stephen youth group provided a maze and served hot chocolate for the younger grades.

St. Mary-Oak Ridge restarts parish breakfasts St. Mary Parish in Oak Ridge recently restarted its monthly parish breakfasts that disappeared during COVID. Every month, a different class from St. Mary School is in charge of providing food for parishioners after the 8 a.m. Mass. The event is advertised ahead of time, and parents sign up to bring dishes, decorate, and clean up. The students serve food to the parishioners and provide additional service by getting them refills, sitting with them and conversing, and helping get seconds.

COURTESY OF KAREN UNDERWOOD (2)

Providing a meal for the holiday St. Francis of Assisi parishioners fill hun dreds of boxes with food for a Thanksgiving dinner.

Boxes of food Christina Seaman of St. Francis of Assisi Parish pulls potato packets to include in Thanksgiving food boxes.

COURTESY OF MARY LAMPUGNANO (3)

St. Joseph School golf tournament held St. Joseph School in Knoxville conducted its 20th annual Memorial Golf Tournament on Oct. 21 at Three Ridges Golf Course. The event was held in memory of Art Clancy Jr. Champion ship flight winners were (from left) Eli Cox, James “Doogan” Boyd, Ricky Moore, and Chris Cox.

player, or a Major League Baseball player, or we may watch Maeve in Wimbledon, or we may watch Carson in the Australian Open. I will tell you one thing that I know, and I know because I’ve watched it, and I know because of my coaches who obviously are bragging on it constantly: they’re great teammates. They’re great people, and they’re very hard workers.”

Each athlete at the signing cer emony had a chance to introduce himself or herself and thank those who had supported him or her. Mr. Surlas thanked their parents and grandparents for their financial sup port and their efforts in driving ath letes to games amid myriad other tasks.

“Parents, there is absolutely no way possible that they could be up here without you,” Mr. Surlas said. “I also want to mention our coaches and our teachers and our counsel

ors. This may be something that a lot of you know, but this is my 17th year, and I know—I’ve seen it all throughout my time here of how much their teachers, coaches, and counselors care about them. They work in unison, three parts, and they make sure these kids get the opportunities they get.

“Coaches, they have a massive re sponsibility to get these kids ready in their respective sports but also to allow them the time to get their stuff done in the classroom. We don’t have four-hour practices because they understand the importance of allowing these student athletes to manage their time. I will say this: every year some of our best athletes are some of our best academic stu dents, and that certainly is the case this year as well.”

Mr. Surlas expressed his gratitude toward the signees.

“I want to say this: I want to say

St. Joseph School celebrates Veterans Day St. Joseph School welcomed veterans from the com munity on Veterans Day, Nov. 11. After an all-school Mass, during which Father Chris Michelson imparted a special blessing on veterans, the Knoxville Catholic High School band treated attend ees to a patriotic concert. Eighth-graders recited “In Flanders Fields,” a World War I poem, and fifth-grad ers put on a play honoring veterans guest starring Hil da Widener. Special thanks went to Ashley Mitchell, Magen Wallace, Kim Neigh bor, Joe Aboumoussa, and Jay Romines of KCHS for their work in preparing for the event.

second, third, and fourth, respectively.

to

of Sacred Heart for

of Sacred Heart, Claudia Schaad of St. Joseph, Gracie Eunice of St. Joseph, and Rylinne Tonne of SJN for all-tournament.

all-tournament,

Frana, Ensley Perry, and Kate Pettinger, who are all SJN

High School students, for helping the tourna ment committee. Cliff Frana was committee chair, assisted by wife Mindy and Hector Fernandez. Pictured is the Sacred Heart team receiving its trophy with Mr. Frana, Grand Knight Walt Hanson, and the girls’ coaches on each side.

thank you. As the athletic director here, you guys have represented us, this school, a place that I love with all of my heart, you have rep resented this school amazingly,” he said. “I can honestly say this: I’ve never not been super-proud when I’m watching these seven perform. You see how skilled they are at their craft, but you also see the leadership and the commitment.

“Enjoy this day. It’s a special day, and tomorrow start over and set the bar higher. It takes this much more to be great, so set that bar higher. Be more committed, prepare harder, sacrifice more. For four years, maybe five or whatever . . . rededi cate yourselves to your sport every day. The most important thing I will ever say to you is make sure you take God with you because there are going to be times when you really need Him. Ask Him for help, ask Him for strength, ask Him for cour age, ask Him for wisdom.”

“It was a big deal for me, picking my hometown,” he said. “I wanted to stay here and really didn’t want to leave my family that much. Vi tello was the best fit for me, so that’s why I picked them.”

The shortstop/pitcher attracted the eye of Coach Vitello.

“He saw me down in Georgia in travel ball and saw me playing both ways and he offered me both ways: pitching and hitting,” Daniel said.

He added that he does not worry about how the Vols will use him.

“However he wants to use me is how I’ll play, pitching or hitting or position, however I fit in is how I’ll play,” he said.

Signing with a top-level Division I school “means a lot to me,” Daniel said. “It shows that my work was paying off.”n

JIM WOGAN

KATHY RANKIN (2)

COURTESY OF HOWIE SOMPAYRAC

Daniel Parris signed with his hometown university as he commit ted to the Vols and head coach Tony Vitello in baseball.

Signing class Knoxville Catholic High School’s fall signees are (from left) Harrison Thompson, Gracie Pardue, Sydney Clements, Jazmin Williams, Daniel Parris, Maeve Thornton, and Carson Gompert.

DR. KELLY KEARSE (2)

Proud Mountaineer Harrison Thompson of KCHS displays the West Vir ginia University flag after signing in golf with the Mountaineers.

Signing continued from page B8

Bishop Stika visits Notre Dame High School

Bishop Richard F. Stika paid a visit to Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga on Nov. 10 to celebrate Mass with the students. He later visited with seniors during an informal brunch.

Sacred Heart wins Knights basketball tourney Knights of Columbus Ted H. Denning Council 8781 held its inaugural basketball tournament, “Run for the Rosary,” on Oct. 28 and 29 at St. John Neumann School in Farragut. Sacred Heart Cathedral School, St. John Neumann, St. Joseph School in Knoxville, and St. Mary School in Oak Ridge participated. The event provided a competitive atmosphere that served to give the teams a chance to preview areas of strengths and weaknesses in advance of the 2022-23 season. Sacred Heart was the tournament champion. St. Joseph, SJN, and St. Mary placed

Trophies were awarded

Juliette Biden

MVP and

and Macy Duncan

Organizers thank Maggie

alumni and current Knoxville Catholic

COURTESY OF WALT HANSON