Selected teens offer feedback on a video series that will impact future Alpha releases around the world
By Emily Booker
he Cathedral of the Most
TSacred Heart of Jesus was recently selected as the only U.S. location to host a special focus group for Alpha, a program that offers a course of video series to introduce key concepts of Christianity while encouraging participants to reflect on their own beliefs and form bonds with others through small-group conversation.
The focus group of teenagers provided feedback on the Alpha Youth series, and that feedback will impact the new videos coming out next year.
Rick Grinstead, director of youth and young adult ministry at the cathedral, is an Alpha coach who has
been involved with the program on an international level for several years. When the program was looking for a location for a focus group in the United States, it turned to Mr. Grinstead and the cathedral community.
“There are six focus groups in the entire world, only one in the United States, and that was us because we have had a very good relationship with Alpha for the last five years now,” Mr. Grinstead said.
He also said that the cathedral fit a lot of the demographics the focus group team was hoping to reach: a variety of young people of different ethnicities, both sexes, and in middle America.
“They didn’t want to go to the Alpha continued on page B2
The gift of art
Engaged youth Sacred Heart students take part in Alpha Youth, a series designed to get young people thinking and talking about their faith.
Diocese of Knoxville priests, artist Clorinda Bell present Bishop Beckman with a special painting
By Bill Brewer
When Bishop Mark Beckman was announced in June as the Diocese of Knoxville’s fourth shepherd, the priests of the diocese agreed that a gift from the presbyterate to its new bishop was in order.
And they had just the right present in mind.
It would be a permanent keepsake for generations to come; it would be symbolic of the diocese; it would capture something very meaningful to East Tennessee’s soon-to-be-installed ordinary.
And even better: it would be “homemade.”
That is when Father Michael Cummins, representing his fellow priests, reached out to Clorinda Galdós Bell.
Mrs. Bell is a renowned artist who specializes in classic religious paintings. As a practicing Catholic, her inspiration comes from the rich imagery found in Catholicism, and her talent and skill originate from the Cuzco school of religious art she first learned from her father in her native Cuzco, Peru.
Mrs. Bell, her husband, and their son are members of St. Mary Parish in Oak Ridge, and they also frequently attend St. John Neumann Church in Farragut.
Mrs. Bell was excited at being commissioned by the Diocese of
Knoxville’s priests to create something special for Bishop Beckman. She and Father Cummins put their heads together and arrived at just the right idea for the appropriate image.
During his ordination and installation Mass on July 26, Bishop Beckman told the congregation of his special devotion to St. Anne and St. Joachim, who were the Blessed Mother’s parents. In fact, the bishop selected July 26 for his ordination because that is the feast day of Sts. Anne and Joachim.
Now, it was up to Mrs. Bell to make the saints and their young daughter, Mary, come alive amid a scenic backdrop reminiscent of the Smoky Mountains with their lush foliage, including dogwood blooms, a flowing river, and a sweeping horizon.
The natural imagery is from the Diocese of Knoxville crest, which incorporates mountains, water, and the dogwood bloom as well as a large cross signifying the Catholic Church, three smaller crosses representing Tennessee’s three dioceses, and a railroad trestle in a nod to the Irish railroad workers who brought the Catholic faith to East Tennessee.
It took Mrs. Bell two months to transform the presbyterate’s idea into a colorful work of art, a project that couldn’t be completed in time for the ordination or any of the celebrations immediately following the installation.
But the priests realized they would be gathering for their annual fall convocation, and that would be a fitting time to unveil his gift.
So, on Oct. 22 Mrs. Bell joined the priests, who were assembled at the MeadowView Conference Resort & Convention Center in Kingsport. And to the unsuspecting bishop, the painting was presented in the presence of the diocese’s priests.
“I was very surprised. I had no idea that it was going to happen. One of the things that I love about it is it reminds me of the medieval art that has been done. When I was studying in seminary in Belgium, the scenes of the life of Christ were often painted with the cities of medieval Europe in the backdrop, the medieval dress, the medieval customs, the medieval cities and backgrounds and landscapes were where the biblical scenes were set,” Bishop Beckman said.
“With this particular painting, Clorinda did a beautiful job because the grandparents of Jesus and Mary are depicted in the Smoky Mountains. I think that is such a beautiful thing. In my mind, the whole thing about religious art is to connect where we are today with what’s happening in God’s sacred story,” he added. “An image like that brings the beautiful
gift of the Holy Family to East Tennessee, and I love that.”
The bishop noted that the Peruvian Cuzco style of Mrs. Bell is unique.
“That is certainly something that adds a different and local touch based on the artist that we have right here. I love that,” Bishop Beckman continued.
He then singled out the priests for their considerate and thoughtful gift.
“It was such beautiful thoughtfulness on the part of the priests because I was ordained on that feast day of Sts. Joachim and Anne, the grandparents of Jesus. I will have this beautiful, visual reminder of my ordination day all the time I am bishop. So, I love that,” the bishop shared.
Mrs. Bell appreciates Bishop Beckman’s sentiments about the painting and expressed gratitude herself at being given the opportunity.
“It is an honor for me, and I am very thankful that Father Cummins trusts in my art and asked me to do it,” Mrs. Bell shared. Father Cummins said several ideas were discussed before the priests settled on a painting by Mrs. Bell. Among them was a crosier. However, Diocese of Nashville Painting continued on page B3
COURTESY OF RICK GRINSTEAD
Pleasantly surprised Bishop Mark Beckman receives a religious work of art as a gift from the Diocese of Knoxville presbyterate. The gift was painted by Clorinda Galdós Bell (left).
Patrons of the arts Clorinda Galdós Bell (second from right) and Father Michael Cummins, pastor of St. Dominic Parish in Kingsport, display the painting given to Bishop Mark Beckman. With them are Tucker and Tina Davis.
extremes like one end of the country or the other. They wanted to find somewhere where it’s a bit more of a melting pot and a place that was warm and welcoming. So, that’s why they thought of us.” Mr. Grinstead said.
The teenagers who participated in the focus group were selected to represent as much diversity as possible, including some who had experienced Alpha before and some who had not. There was a mix of Catholic school, public school, and homeschool students ranging in age from 13-18.
Mr. Grinstead began the day with food and an icebreaker to welcome the teens and get them comfortable talking with one another.
Then the participants gathered on a big, inflatable, circular couch provided by Alpha to view video and interview clips and give their feedback.
“The focus group was really to ask young people if the current versions of Alpha Youth are effective, elicit good conversation, and make them want to share the Gospel message with other people their age. It did focus some on presentation, what styles were good, what they enjoyed, but it mainly revolved around conversation and either the conversation that it kind of fostered or not,” Mr. Grinstead explained.
Mr. Grinstead said he was surprised and impressed by the depth of the teens’ conversation.
“The first round of discussion was very good, great insights, but it was after the stories that they started saying things that I did not expect. They started giving answers that were very deep, talking about the biggest issues of life, not just specifically about faith but the bigger questions young people have about life.”
“The stories really focus in on people’s encounters with a relationship with the Lord. Many of the stories that we watched, the people didn’t have a relationship; they were not churchgoers. They had not heard about the Gospel at all. And so, when the young people started seeing those stories, because a lot of our young people at least have a taste or know people or are themselves Christians, so to see these stories kind of pop on screen about oh, they’ve never even heard of Jesus? What is that like? It really got the ball rolling in conversation, talking about and envisioning well, who else might be out there who’s young who doesn’t know about
Jesus, who doesn’t know what a relationship with God is like?”
Janet Perez, who also works in the cathedral youth and young adult ministry office, said the teens expressed a desire for authenticity.
“I noticed that a lot of them brought up that they want people who are real; they want people who are authentic; they want people who are genuine, and I think that’s an echo of what all youth want these days. I think they want people to be genuine. They want people to be real.”
Some of the questions, like “do you prefer subtitles?” sparked surprisingly heated and deep response.
“Honestly, I was blown away at the depth they were willing to talk and share personally. There was one question that seemed to spark the greatest conversation, and you might not expect this, but it was when I asked them what do you think about subtitles on the videos?” Mr. Grinstead said. “There was a great divide between subtitle people and non-subtitle people. But then it went deeper: why is it that you like subtitles? Why don’t you like subtitles? They spoke about being easily distracted or not, or they need subtitles to understand people. It’s the way they communicate with other people, being self-reflective and looking beyond self in that moment of conversation, going, ‘Oh, that’s the reason why I like that.’ It was beautiful to see.”
The focus group was recorded and transcribed. Ms. Perez also kept notes throughout. The transcription and notes will be sent to Alpha, which will use the feedback, along with that of the other five focus groups across the globe, to create an updated series of videos.
Participants’ names were kept anonymous for the reporting to Alpha. Mr. Grinstead said that wound up adding a bit of humor to the day.
“We used superhero names. So, everybody got a nametag and got to choose their superhero name. Throughout the discussions they would refer to one another by the superhero names, which was just a beautiful touch. They would be like, ‘Oh, Wonder Woman over there mentioned this,’ and that was really fun.”
Mr. Grinstead said that he was honored to have the cathedral selected as the United States representative for the focus group, and he’s looking forward to seeing how their feedback affects the new Alpha series.
“We’re really excited to see what kind of impact our own focus group
COURTESY OF RICK GRINSTEAD
here in the United States is going to have. Because Alpha is international and used in every country, this will be interesting to see what our impact in the States is,” he said.
He said that he had such a positive experience with the focus group that he hopes to continue it for the cathedral community.
“While we were here to focus on the new Alpha Youth series, a subculture of the focus became the participants, and it encouraged Janet and I so much that we want to continue focus groups on our own for the cathedral on things that are happening here locally and see how that can prompt us into doing better, reenvisioning what we could be doing. I told [the Alpha representative] you’ve inspired us to do something on our own that I think is going to change the course of our ministries here at the cathedral in terms of at least youth and young adults and quite possibly even larger.”
The cathedral parish hosts several Alpha sessions every year for
youth, young adults, and adults, including Alpha’s marriage course for couples.
“A lot of my young adult friends here said they started to come to cathedral events and young adult events here because Alpha was the one thing that really allowed them to build, allowed the space to make friends and then from there be comfortable enough to come to our events that we host monthly,” Ms. Perez said.
“So, it’s like a great kick start. It’s a great chance for them to just talk with people, make friends, and just really get a feel for the culture of the cathedral.”
Mr. Grinstead said that parish ministry really builds on relationships and deep conversations, and Alpha opens the door for people to connect and talk.
“I really like helping people have conversations that are different, engaging, and things they want to come back to. And that’s really the focus of Alpha,” Mr. Grinstead said. ■
Discussing faith The Alpha series promotes small-group conversations about Christianity and personal faith in a trendy, youth-oriented setting.
Building community The cathedral offers several Alpha courses throughout the year for adults, couples, young adults, and youth.
Cathedral cantors get to shine as featured musicians in concert
The Nov. 22 edition of the Cathedral Concert Series featured the cantors of the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. The “Cantors of the Cathedral” performance included a number of classical and contemporary works. Founding sponsors of the concert series, Alan and Sally Sefton, were in attendance. From left above, with conductor Glenn Kahler and pianist Byong Suk Moon, are soprano Ashlee King, soprano Sarah-Clementine Mire, mezzo soprano Rebeca Reinoza, tenor John Overholt, baritone Joel Brown, baritone AC Cabrera, bass Dylan Fink, soprano Ashton Gallagher, soprano Bethany Lay, and soprano Michelle Pokelwaldt. Above right, Ms. Mire, and below, Ms. Lay, perform solos. Dr. Moon (bottom right) played both piano and organ in the concert.
DAN MCWILLIAMS (4)
Bishop J. Mark Spalding presented Bishop Beckman with a special crosier for Bishop Beckman’s ordination and installation.
“I was sitting in prayer one day, and the idea came of a painting. He had mentioned in his press conference that his ordination was going to be on the feast of Sts. Joachim and Anne, and he shared how that was a meaningful feast for him because of the influence of his grandparents. So, the idea came about that maybe we could do a painting of Sts. Joachim and Anne, then to combine it with the mountains of East Tennessee and the dogwood flowers,” Father Cummins explained.
“Clorinda Bell is a resident of our diocese. I contacted her from an article in The East Tennessee Catholic, and I remembered that she was with us. We talked, and she said yes, she would be willing to do this,” he added. “I’m more than pleased at how it turned out.”
While thrilled at being commissioned for such a distinctive project, Mrs. Bell relied heavily on her faith to inspire her as she studied how to blend Cuzco and East Tennessee cultures.
“It was an honor to do this for Bishop Mark Beckman,” Mrs. Bell said. “I required a lot of prayers to God, because it was the first time, and I didn’t know how it would turn out. I had the East Tennessee landscape in my mind, but I have never converted to art what I have seen here. It was a challenge.”
Mrs. Bell described how it was her first time blending the cultures of East Tennessee and the Cuzco style of painting. She is pleased with the end result, saying she was “very happy to do it.”
Mrs. Bell has achieved acclaim in other dioceses for her creative work.
The Diocese of Nashville has five of her paintings. Churches in the Archdiocese of Atlanta also display her works of art. And Bishop Steven Lopes of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter has received one of Mrs. Bell’s paintings, too.
Some 30 of her paintings have been exhibited at the Tennessee Arts Commission Gallery in Nashville.
She remains dedicated to bringing the beautiful imagery of the Catholic faith to the canvas, and she hopes her paintings will continue to find homes in Catholic communities.
“At this point in my life, I realize how important it is to listen to God and know what it is that He wants us to do for Him, whether using your gifts for art, or for computer technology, or for medicine, just any blessing that God gives you to glorify Him and to expose Him to those who don’t yet know Him,” Mrs. Bell said.
She considers her work a form of evangelization where she can share the love of God through the beauty of the art.
“I am committed 100 percent to keep painting in this way,” she noted, giving another example of how her work has had an evangeli-
cal impact.
In 2016, her husband, Aaron, converted to Catholicism and joined the Church after witnessing her faith in action. Mr. Bell began RCIA classes at St. Mary, which led him to enter the Church at Easter vigil.
“My work is an example of our faith and how important that Catholic faith is. Faith is our Communion. Communion is different for us than for other denominations. It is unique, and you must experience it to explain why you are Catholic. That is the answer. My husband was curious, and I suggested that he go and explore. When he goes to church with us now, he is home,” Mrs. Bell shared.
Mrs. Bell began painting when she was age 11 and has spent the past 40 years perfecting that style. Her young son, Benjamin Christian, who is a high-school freshman, has expressed interest in painting, and she hopes he will continue the family’s creative legacy.
“He is very into oil painting, and he loves God. He is learning,” she said.
Mrs. Bell feels blessed to have the opportunity to share her faith and her passion with the world as she makes her home in Knoxville.
She now is just as comfortable creating art in East Tennessee as she was in Cuzco, and her paintings reflect that.
“I’m very thankful and very honored to be here in the United States, my second home, sharing this school of Cuzco style with the particular gold and the threedimensional detail that is unique. But mostly it’s the expression of the faces in the paintings that I’m sharing now,” she said.
She shared another unique detail in the painting given to Bishop Beckman. Since the landscape in the painting is the mountains of East Tennessee, this work of art won’t be considered in the Cuzco style.
As she continues to share her faith in such an extraordinary way, Mrs. Bell may need to consider adding an East Tennessee style to the Cuzco school of art.
She certainly has a head start.
“I guess it will be an American painting,” she acknowledged while smiling. “That’s how God works. I can see how God put me here.” ■
Celebrating St. Nicholas
St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Madisonville celebrated the memorial of St. Nicholas on Dec. 6. Organized by Ann Canada and Claudia Brazeau and held in the parish hall after Mass, the St. Nicholas party featured a feast of sweets, salads, soups, fruit and cheese platters, and other treats. Children received a St. Nicholas prayer card and a bag of chocolate coins, a symbol of his perpetual giving spirit. Leading up to the day, children in CCD classes were also read a story of St. Nicholas and given prayer cards, a bag of golden chocolate coins, and books.
Art appreciation Father John Orr (right) and Father Michael Hendershott admire the painting by Clorinda Galdós Bell along with Lloyd and Jan Tate and Janice Lovecchio.
Works of art Clorinda Galdós Bell stands in her home gallery and shows some of the paintings she has displayed.
Expressing gratitude Bishop Mark Beckman addresses Diocese of Knoxville priests in a fall retreat at MeadowView Conference Resort & Convention Center in Kingsport. The priests presented Bishop Beckman with a painting by Clorinda Galdós Bell.
BILL BREWER
Photos courtesy of Jennifer Newman
BILL BREWER
COURTESY OF CLORINDA GALDÓS BELL
Chattanooga Deanery
St. Bridget, Dayton
The Women’s Council celebrated November and December birthdays at its annual Christmas luncheon on Dec. 4 in the parish community room. Members had fun with a steal-a-gift exchange.
Nearly 50 parishioners attended the Advent/Christmas Potluck on Dec. 7 following the 5:30 p.m. vigil Mass. The Women’s Council raised nearly $600 in donations for a Christmas quilt giveaway. Jerry Corvin won the quilt.
Knights of Columbus Council 11424 is planning the next Bunky Jones Memorial Golf Tournament. Teams will tee up on Thursday, April 3, at Dayton Golf & Country Club. The entry fee is $75 per person, with proceeds going to help several local charities. More information, including details on corporate and hole sponsorships, is available from committee chair Chris Hill at 865-384-0626.
St. Jude, Chattanooga
A Christmas Cookie & Treat Exchange is set for 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 21. Participants are asked to bring cookies or treats and wear a favorite Christmas sweater. A visitor from the North Pole is expected to attend.
The Knights of Columbus hosted a Breakfast with Santa on Dec. 15, featuring the meal and a chance for pictures with Santa.
The parish took part in a Good Samaritan collection of food and drinks in December to benefit Bethel Bible Village, a children’s home in Hixson.
St. Jude held a birthday potluck luncheon for associate pastor Father Alex Waraksa following a Mass on Dec. 5. Father Waraksa’s birthday is Dec. 3.
Boy Scout Troop 172 sold red poinsettias that parishioners will place on the altar on Christmas Eve as a memorial to loved ones.
The St. Vincent de Paul Society conference at St. Jude thanked parishioners for their generosity in October, when the conference assisted 238 needy residents with $9,285 in rent and utilities and 57 food boxes with a value of $5,986.
St. Stephen, Chattanooga
The St. Stephen Schola, under the direction of Debi Crabtree with accompanist Bill West, will sing during the vigil Mass of Christmas Eve on Tuesday, Dec. 24. The prelude begins at 9:30 p.m. with the Mass at 10.
A Kids Christmas Party was held Dec. 15 in the small hall, featuring ice cream, a magic show, an indoor snowball fight, crafts, coloring books, and a visit from Mr. and Mrs. Claus.
Anniversaries: Gary and Lea Calkins (62), James and Marjorie Goller (59), Thomas and Eileen Witt (57), Terry and Kitty Roberts (55), Kirk and Karen Steely (52), Glenn and Judy Perry (51), Everton and Carla Vaccari (30), Gene and Hazel Lansigan (20)
Sts. Peter and Paul, Chattanooga
A St. Nicholas Dinner was held Dec. 15 in Varallo Parish Hall. The evening included a visit from St. Nicholas, crafts, games, and a photo booth.
Cumberland Mountain Deanery
Blessed Sacrament, Harriman
Pastor Father Michael Sweeney thanked Christine Roschli for her eight years in charge of designing a midweek parish e-mail that provided timely information. The e-mail also included “Father Michael’s Penny Catechism” as a feature. Mrs. Roschli is handing over the reins of the e-mail effort to Susan Landa.
Parishioners collected holiday meal sides such as stuffing, canned vegetables, and gravy and cake mixes during December to benefit the Hands of
Mercy food bank in Kingston.
St. Francis of Assisi, Fairfield Glade
Thanksgiving Eve services at the Glade were held at Christ Lutheran Church this year. Proceeds from a goodwill offering went to hospice and the Creative Compassion social-services organization in the community.
The Social Action Ministry reported the results of its recent food giveaway, where members successfully delivered turkey meals to help 300 families in the area. The parish thanked the many who donated food, the volunteers who worked packing them into boxes, and the safety team and Knights of Columbus who delivered them. Social Action members also collected winterclothing items for the St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic Share the Warmth Drive during November.
The parish again supported its annual Christmas Giving Tree program that provides clothing and toys for needy children in Cumberland County and the Ethel Wagner’s Christmas Tree project. Mrs. Wagner was a parishioner who began the project years ago when she noticed how many children came to school in need of warmer clothes. Mrs. Wagner decorated a Christmas tree with knitted and crocheted hats, scarfs, mittens, socks, shoes, and clothing. She also helped a boys baseball team with uniforms. Ethel’s Tree is always colorfully decorated and remembered with love.
The parish shipped 375 Boxes of Joy to Haitian children. The Council of Catholic Women from St. Alphonsus Parish in Crossville also brought 80 boxes to send along with St. Francis of Assisi’s.
The CCW Christmas luncheon was held Dec.11 in the parish hall.
Parishioners are taking a traveling Blessed Mother statue into their homes. For more information, call Reene Petro at 614-352-4997 or Christina Seaman at 707-267-5078.
Those experiencing the loss of a spouse are asked to call Mary Hall King at 931-210-0107 or Brett Petro at 931200-9739 for help from the Stephen Ministry.
The parish took part in the Wreaths Across America program for fallen veterans this month. Each wreath is $17, and proceeds support diocesan seminarians. Those interested should call Rollie Wicker at 920-246-1538.
A pizza and bingo party took place Nov. 16 in the parish hall.
Parishioners viewed the movie “Jesus Thirsts: The Miracle of the Eucharist” on Nov. 21.
Anniversaries: Edwin and Grace Johnson (71), Phil and Rose Poynter (60), Robert and Carol Loghry (57), Louis and Patricia Poulin (56), Roger and Donna Dudley (55), Don and Deidre Walker (55), Michael and Victoria English (53), Dennis and Nancy Ashman (52), Roger and Barbara Dever (52), Gary and Linda Nyquist (52), Don and Cynthia Lent (51), Mark and Debra Tune (15), Walter and Jacquelin Peterson (10), Tony and Pat Zimmermann (5)
St. John Neumann, Farragut
Father Joe Reed, pastor of St. John Neumann, celebrated another debtreduction milestone at the 10:30 a.m. Mass on Nov. 10, made possible by the generous support of parish families and friends. The parish recently paid off the remainder of the rectory debt, which Father Reed commemorated with a note-burning ceremony. The parish debt has decreased from about $8 million to less than $4.2 million in just over three years. The two remaining notes being paid down are for the convent and the church.
The Council of Catholic Women’s Advent by Candlelight event, held Nov. 25 in the school gym, was attended by 150 women. The council thanked Father Joe Reed, Father Bo Beaty, Father Michael Maples, and Father Adam
Parish notes continued on page B8
St. Joseph the Worker parishioners attend Christmas potluck party Parishioners of St. Joseph the Worker in Madisonville gathered on Dec. 8 to celebrate the season with a yearly tradition: the Parish Potluck Christmas Party. Hosted by the St. Joseph the Worker Women’s Group, the festivity brought in more than 120 attendees, and it appears the attendance is growing yearly. Pastor Father Julius Abuh noted to the large gathering in the present-day parish hall the urgent need for a new family life center and said he hopes building will soon be underway. The Christmas potluck provided food, desserts, beverages, and raffle giveaways. Santa Claus made an appearance for the children attending the event and handed out Mass books and candy canes. Members of the parish music group played Christmas tunes on their guitars.
Our Lady of Lourdes Parish supports local food bank
To assist local families in the South Pittsburg area experiencing food insecurity, the Pope Francis Charitable Trust Fund has donated $5,000 toward the purchase of food. This donation was matched with an additional $5,000 by parishioners of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in South Pittsburg. Pictured above is Our Lady of Lourdes pastor Father Mark Scholz presenting the $10,000 check to Sherry Barnett, president of Marion County Community Ministries, which has a food bank program. The presentation was made during the week of Nov. 18.
St. Jude Knights deliver presents to Orange Grove Center Raleigh Cooper (left) and Steve Chardos of Knights of Columbus Council 8576 at St. Jude Parish in Chattanooga recently took Christmas presents to the Orange Grove Center in Chattanooga. They are pictured with Maddie Schmidt, Orange Grove communications coordinator. Orange Grove serves individuals with developmental disabilities, and, for some, these are the only presents they will receive.
COURTESY OF JENNIFER NEWMAN (3)
COURTESY OF BARRY MCDEVITT
Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers, an author and EWTN host known as “The Dynamic Deacon,” will speak in January at St. John Neumann Church in Farragut in an appearance sponsored by the Mustang Dads Club. Deacon Burke-Sivers will give a talk for families themed “Go and Make Disciples: The Call to Evangelization,” at 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 3. He will give a talk to men themed “Putting on the Armor of God: Preparing for Spiritual Combat,” at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 4. Tickets are $15 for each talk (kids 10 and under free). A reception will follow the men’s talk. To purchase tickets, RSVP, or learn more, visit mustangdads.org. For more information on Deacon BurkeSivers, visit deaconharold.com
The diocesan Office of Vocations is holding a Men’s Discernment Group for men interested in discerning if God is calling them to the priesthood. The group will be hosted by Father Mark Schuster at 9 a.m. on fourth Saturdays in the St. John Paul II Conference Room at the Chancery office in Knoxville, with the next meeting Jan. 25. There will be a Zoom option for those not in the Knoxville area. Register at forms.office.com/r/CmSwudiVnf
The Fulton Sheen Society invites families to an evening of reflection and fellowship from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25, at All Saints Church in Knoxville. The meeting will be in the parish hall, with the talk running 45 minutes to an hour, followed by food and fellowship. Free child care will be provided in the nursery during the talk and pizza after the talk. A side item or drink is requested for families to bring to help round out the meal. The Fulton Sheen Society is a ministry focused on strengthening marriages and families. The society is named after Venerable Fulton Sheen, who encouraged families to grow in faith using modern technology. To learn more about the Fulton Sheen Society, contact Christine Blair at christine.h.blair@gmail.com
The sixth annual Green and Gold Gala benefiting Notre Dame High School will be held Saturday, Jan. 11, at The Chattanoogan Hotel. The event features a plated dinner, an open bar, live music, and dancing. Proceeds will go toward reliable and safe transportation to school events. General admission cost is $125, and VIP admission is $175. A VIP ticket includes a cocktail reception that starts at 5:30 p.m. with drinks & hors d’oeuvres. The gala will run from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. To register, learn about sponsorship opportunities, or donate items for a silent, online, or live auction, visit tinyurl.com/5hdpcn9e
A Divorce and Beyond support group for Catholic men and women who have experienced or are experiencing divorce will begin meeting from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 12, at St. John Neumann Church in Farragut. The cost of supplies is $15. For more information, contact Mary Coffey at 865-966-3237 or mccoffey86@gmail.com. To register, contact Ellie Sanchez, SJN director of parish ministries, at 865-777-4311 or esanchez@sjnknox.org
The 14th annual Green & Gold Gala benefiting Knoxville Catholic High School is set for 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24, in the University of Tennessee Student Union Ballroom. The event will honor “Irish legend” Bob Petrone of the class of 1967. Alumni, past and current parents, corporate partners, and other community friends are welcome to attend. Proceeds will support Knoxville Catholic’s campus technology and security. The gala offers an evening of cocktails, silent and live auctions, dining, music, and dancing. Tickets are $150 per person and include hors d’oeuvres, a gourmet meal, and complimentary champagne. To purchase tickets, donate an auction item, or become a sponsor, contact Megan Locke Erpenbach (’03), Knoxville Catholic director of alumni and special events, at 865-560-0509 or megan.erpenbach@ knoxvillecatholic.com
All Catholic women living in the Cumberland Mountain Deanery are invited to a “Faith and Fun with Friends” event to be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 26, at St. Mary Church in Oak Ridge. Doors open at
1:30 p.m. The event is free for all women. More information will be available soon. E-mail Karen Marabella-Miller at ksmm6348@gmail.com or text Sally Jackson at 865-599-0137.
A women’s retreat, themed “Encountering the Sacred Heart: The Merciful and Healing Love of Jesus,” is set for the weekend of Jan. 31-Feb. 2 at the Bethany Retreat House of the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia Congregation, 2002 Garner Creek Road in Dickson, Tenn. Father Danny Herman, an associate pastor at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in Knoxville, will lead the retreat. Cost is $275 and includes home-cooked meals and accommodations. To register, contact Denice Eckler at dmeckler136@gmail. com or 423-322-5218.
Bishop Mark Beckman will celebrate the annual Mass honoring Scouting organizations in East Tennessee at 8:05 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 1, at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. All Scouts who have earned a religious-emblem award during the last year are invited and will receive a special certificate from the bishop during the liturgy. A breakfast with Bishop Beckman will follow in the Cathedral Hall. Breakfast tickets are $10 each and must be prepaid. To purchase tickets, visit knoxccs.org/event/2025annual-bishops-breakfast/
A Diocesan Marriage Celebration and Mass will take place at 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 23, at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Bishop Mark Beckman and the Office of Marriage Enrichment invite participants to celebrate the sacrament of matrimony and their own marriage. Married couples will have the opportunity to renew their vows at a special Mass, followed by a reception. There will also be an opportunity for couples to have their picture taken with Bishop Beckman. Registration will be available soon at dioknox.org/events/diocesanmarriage-celebration-and-mass
A SEARCH for Christian Maturity Retreat will be held on the weekend of Feb. 21-23 at St. Thérèse of Lisieux Church in Cleveland. 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. The weekends are for any high school juniors and seniors. The program is both rooted in the Catholic faith and open to young people of any denomination or creed. Cost is $100, and scholarships are available if needed. Register at dioknox.org/events/search-feb-2025
Forms can also be obtained through parish youth ministers or at the office of Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga. Registration deadline is Friday, Feb. 7. For more information, contact Chattanooga SEARCH coordinators Irene Scoggins at 423-596-0053 or irene.scoggins@gmail.com or Amanda Henderson at 423-458-2401 or stygcleveland@gmail.com
A SEARCH for Christian Maturity retreat will be held for high school juniors and seniors on the weekend of Feb. 21-23 at St. John Neumann School in Farragut. See the announcement above for details about SEARCH. Cost is $100, and scholarships are available if needed. Registration deadline is Friday, Feb. 7. Register, download a flyer, or learn more at dioknox. org/events/knox-search-feb-2025
For more information, e-mail Donna Jones at djones@dioknox.org
Those experiencing emotional or spiritual difficulties from a past abortion are invited to attend a Catholic Charities Rachel’s Vineyard healing and recovery retreat on the weekend of March 28-30 at Christ Prince of Peace Retreat Center in Benton. Complete confidentiality is honored at all times. The deadline for registration is Friday, March 21. For more information, contact Sandi Davidson at 865776-4510 or sandi@ccetn.org
The Knoxville Diocesan Council of Catholic Women will hold its annual
Calendar continued on page B8
In keeping with the season of Advent,
in Alcoa has a new lighted Advent wreath on the front lawn of the church.
St. Bridget Knights and wives pack nearly 700 boxes for food pantry Knights of Columbus Council 11424 members (and spouses) from St. Bridget Parish in Dayton have supported the Rhea of Hope Food Pantry for several years. They not only provide monetary assistance but also help with weekly and monthly food distribution. Nearly 700 boxes were packed and distributed the Tuesday before Thanksgiving this year. The evening crew for that day are pictured. From left are Joe Roux, Bill Runge, Ray Spraker, Dave Laudick, Dan Smith, Deb Smith, Nate Schwenk, Janet Spraker, and Steve Thorn.
St. Dominic hosts Creation Retreat
St. Dominic Parish in Kingsport hosted a Creation Retreat on Oct. 19. Members of the Care for Creation Group at Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Alcoa and the Creation Care Team at All Saints in Knoxville joined with members of St. Mary Parish in Johnson City and St. Dominic for the retreat led by Father Michael Cummins, pastor of St. Dominic. Father Cummins gave reflections grounded in Scripture, Church teaching on creation, including Laudato Si’, and his personal experience of leading retreats to Yellowstone National Park. Father Bede Aboh, parochial vicar at St. Dominic, added brief comments on the views of creation by those in Africa. Following a morning of reflection, prayer, and sharing, the group made the short drive to Bays Mountain Park to visit the resident wolves and learn more about their place in creation. Father Cummins (left) and Father Aboh are in the top photo. In the bottom photo, Father Cummins stands with Denise Clark and Ann Hill of All Saints.
Outdoor Advent wreath at Our Lady of Fatima
Our Lady of Fatima Parish
COURTESY OF FATHER PETER IORIO
COURTESY OF JANET SPRAKER
COURTESY OF CONNIE BRACE (2)
Praying for Perspective by George
Valadie
He lied to his nurse in hiding 1.3 pounds
No harm came to anyone by not telling the truth, unless he counts himself—and his conscience
Ilied. I’m not proud of it. I’m a little embarrassed and a little ashamed. Why on earth would I do that?
It’s not like I planned to. I actually surprised myself.
And then Father’s homily piled on a little more guilt. “It’s not complicated. You can choose good, or you can choose bad. And you already know what awaits at the end of both those choices.”
He was right. I can choose, and I do know. But I lied.
Thankfully, no harm came to anyone in the telling of my lie. Nor did I gain anything I didn’t deserve. And I would have lost nothing had I owned up to the truth. There were no victims. Unless you count my conscience and the greater world of “truth.”
I was there for what I knew would be no more than a five-minute appointment. I’m on some meds that do battle with my acid reflux, and right now my meds are winning.
But when I don’t take my daily pill, my esophagus closes down, food gets caught where it shouldn’t, and more than once I’ve found myself in an operating room with a doctor stretching my esophagus.
This was my annual “check-in” (not “check-up”) allowing my doc to write another prescription to get me through the 365 days ahead. We’ve done this seven or eight times now.
“How have you been doing?”
“Fine.”
“Having any issues?”
“Nope.”
“Do you want to change anything?”
“Nope.”
C“Do you still use the same pharmacy?”
“Yep.”
“OK, here you go!”
Five minutes would be stretching it.
But the deed had already happened when the nurse and I were strolling back to the exam room. That’s when she casually asked, “Do you want to climb on the scale, or do you know what you weigh?”
I absolutely knew. I had weighed not 30 minutes before when I climbed out of the shower.
My desire in life is to weigh 190 pounds. I’ve been working—30 years or so—to get back down there. And I had been creeping closer.
Until recently. Things haven’t been going the way I’d like, and the facts stared me straight in the face.
196.3 pounds. Up a few. With the holidays looming.
And the scale? Well, it never lies.
“Do you want to climb on the scale, or do you know what you weigh?”
“I weighed this morning,” I offered. “195.”
I lied.
Why? I do not know. I hid 1.3 pounds from my nurse. She still doesn’t know.
Given this special time of year, I broke out grinning on the drive home. It occurred to me that if it had been 60 years ago and my mom had heard me tell such a fib, she likely would have warned, “Santa can see everything you’re doing!”
And no, the irony is not lost on me that we parents tell our kids lies to stop them from doing the same.
But it also occurs to me that this is
also the season when a good many of us tell a lot more lies—perhaps white ones if there are such things— but lies all the same. And I’m proud of us.
“This casserole is amazing. I’ve never had beets and broccoli together. I’ve just got to have this recipe. Be sure and send it to me when you get home.”
“Look at what that crazy elf did last night! Do y’all think I’d mess up my own kitchen? Especially after I spent all day yesterday cleaning it up?”
“Well, Santa can make it all across the world in one night because his sleigh is supersonic fast.”
“I absolutely love this shirt. Do I want the receipt? No way. It’s my favorite color, too.”
“You got me a gift? Well, thank you! I have to confess I ordered one for you, too, but it just didn’t make it in time.”
“Don’t cry, honey. I know we don’t have a fireplace. But Santa is magic and can go wherever he wants.”
“I won’t ask you to do anything else.”
On the other hand, it’s not uncommon for us to pretend (lie if you will) life and outlook are better, nicer, more joyous than they might actually feel. Way better. Odd perhaps, given what that first Nativity was like.
It was joyous for sure but also simple and messy and innocent. The shepherds who came didn’t claim to be anything they weren’t, and they didn’t scurry to bring anything they didn’t have. It’s OK if ours feels the same.
But I read an article by a religious
Thoughts and Prayers for the Faithful by Deacon
Bob Hunt
commentator asking the question, “Instead of embellishments and white lies, wouldn’t it be better if we embraced the simplicity and humility of the first Christmas? By focusing on the truth, we open the door to deeper connections with loved ones and a more authentic celebration of Christ’s birth.”
Maybe, but I’m not totally convinced.
Relationships are hard enough. Divisive enough. Painful enough. And I can’t think of a single connection that would be made deeper if the “truth” would make someone sad.
Yes, we absolutely can and should help our kids focus more on Bethlehem than the North Pole. But there is room enough in a kid’s world for both the magical and the miraculous.
And what can possibly be gained with an honest appraisal of another’s food or gifts? People have feelings. Words matter. And honestly, I’m not sure we embellish enough.
“Grandma, I just love it! I absolutely love it!”
Thankfully, no harm would come to anyone in the telling of this lie. Nor would anyone gain anything they didn’t deserve. There would be no victims. Unless you count conscience and the greater world of “truth.”
We can live with that, can’t we?
Dear God—You know our heart; not everyone needs to. Amen. ■
George Valadie is a parishioner at St. Stephen Church in Chattanooga and author of the newly released book “We Lost Our Fifth Fork … and other moments when we need some perspective.”
The solution to ‘What’s the problem?’
It is the birth of Christ on the first Christmas Day and His second coming
hrist has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. Advent is a season of preparation for the celebration of Christmas, the Nativity of the Lord. It is also a season of preparation for the second coming of our Lord. It is the faith of the Church that Christ will return in glory. When He does, He will come to gather all those faithful to Him.
The Gospel according to Matthew (24:15-31) tells us that an abomination will stand “in the holy place.” This is a reference to an image of a false god sitting in the Temple in Jerusalem. Not to be taken literally, it refers to the loss of faith of so many of God’s people, or the assimilation of the true faith with that of false religions to confuse many. Matthew warns that, when such a thing happens, then those in Judea are to flee to the mountains, those on their rooftops (a common place for relaxation in ancient Palestinian homes) were not to run inside to gather their things, and those working in the fields were not to take the time to gather their cloaks. In other words, make haste! The time is at hand! When Jesus returns, do not waste your time gathering your possessions, which at this point will mean nothing. Instead, run to Him!
The Gospel according to Luke (21:7-36) informs us that there will be false messiahs and false prophets. Do not follow them. There will be wars, insurrections, earthquakes, plagues, famines. Do not be terrified. There will also be a great tribulation. Indeed, the Church expects that there will be a great persecution before the second coming and the falling away of many who once believed: Before Christ’s second coming, the Church must pass through a final trial that will shake the faith of many be-
lievers (Luke 18:8, Matthew 24:12).
The persecution that accompanies her pilgrimage on earth will unveil the “mystery of iniquity” in the form of a religious deception offering men an apparent solution to their problems at the price of apostasy from the truth. The supreme religious deception is that of the Antichrist, a pseudo-messianism by which man glorifies himself in place of God and of His Messiah come in the flesh (2 Thessalonians 2:4-12; 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3; 1 John 2:18-22) (Catechism of the Catholic Church, No. 675).
“A religious deception offering men an apparent solution to their problems at the price of apostasy from the truth.” This, of course, is a temptation of every age, but the Catechism indicates it will be an especially difficult trial before the second coming. People will be attracted to this “religious deception” in hope that their problems will be solved. Who doesn’t desire that?
Who wouldn’t be attracted to that? It is the temptation to deny the truth of Christ, even to deny reality, in the hope that our problems will be solved. But it is a false promise, a false hope. “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Jesus is the only truth, the only way to salvation. Do not deny Jesus for anything or anyone.
“The supreme religious deception is that of the Antichrist, a pseudomessianism by which man glorifies himself in place of God and His Messiah come in the flesh.” This, again, is the deception of every age. Not necessarily a particular person, the Antichrist is anything or anyone that takes God off the throne of a person’s heart and replaces God with him or her self, or of human powers of any type. It is the false
premise that we can answer for ourselves, solve our own problems, master any conundrums with the wit of our own brain power and the muscle of our own physical strength. Again, it is a false promise, a false hope.
I once wore a button to my high school class that read, “Jesus is the answer.” A teacher asked me, “What’s the problem?” “What’s the problem?” You don’t know? The problem is broken humanity caught up in sin. The problem is our hopes dashed by the false promises of deceitful men. The problem is multitudes trapped in poverty, in despair, in mindsets not based on reality, in oppression by others who keep them down for their own profit, and in themselves looking for freedom in the chains of addiction, drugs, sex, money, or the ideologies of a world seemingly set on destroying itself. “What’s the problem?” Do you really have to ask?
What’s the solution? Jesus! The coming of Jesus on that first Christmas Day and the second coming of Jesus on the last day. Luke writes, “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves.” This is simply to paint the picture that the second coming will be obvious to all who witness it and a dread to the nations who opposed our Lord through history. “People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.” Those who have placed their hope in things other than in “God and of His Messiah come in the flesh” will falter in the face of God’s judgment on the world. Their powers will be nothing in the face of Christ coming in the clouds.
Luke continues: “And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” This is the moment of truth, the moment of judgment. Christ came the first time in humility and poverty. When Christ returns, He will come in glory and power. Then Luke extols us: “But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.” See to it that when the Lord returns you do not hide or cower. No! Those of us who are faithful to Him, who have taken up our crosses and followed Him, who have united our sufferings with His, who have placed our faith in the resurrection—we are to stand erect and raise our heads. This is the day of our redemption! When will that day come? We do not know. Jesus says not even the angels and the Son, but only the Father knows (Matthew 24:36). Now, St. Athanasius tells us that Jesus as fully human does not know the day, but Jesus as fully divine knows everything. In any case, the point is that we do not know when the day will come, so we must always be prepared. Luke again: “Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Be ever faithful, ever true to the Son of Man, and He will be faithful and true to you when He comes again. “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20).
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. He is author of the book “Thy Word: An Introduction to the Bible for People in the Pews.”
Encountering God in the Liturgy by Father Randy Stice
The Eucharist has a ‘cosmic character’
The body and blood of Christ
‘introduce within creation . . . a sort of “nuclear fission”’
The Second Vatican Council taught that since Christ died for all and that all have the same ultimate vocation of eternal life in the Trinity, “the Holy Spirit in a manner known only to God” brings Christ’s saving work to every person and every situation.1 This finds liturgical expression in Eucharist Prayer III in a petition following the consecration: “May this sacrifice of our reconciliation, we pray, O Lord, advance the peace and salvation of all the world.” Recent popes have elaborated on the vast scope and power of the Mass. St. John Paul II says that the Eucharist has a “universal and, so to speak, cosmic character. Yes, cosmic!” He continues, “It unites heaven and earth. It embraces and permeates all creation.” Christ came “to restore all creation, in one supreme act of praise, to the One who made it from nothing. He, the Eternal High Priest… gives back to the Creator and Father all creation redeemed.”2
Pope Benedict XVI offers a striking metaphor to explain the power of the consecration: “The substantial conversion of bread and wine into His body and blood introduces within creation the principle of a radical change, a sort of ‘nuclear fission,’ to use an image familiar to us today, which penetrates to the heart of all being, a change meant to set off a process which transforms reality, a process leading ultimately to the transfiguration of the entire world, to the point where God will be all in all.”3
Pope Francis writes that “In the Eucharist, fullness is already achieved; it is the living center of
the universe, the overflowing core of love and of inexhaustible life. Joined to the incarnate Son, present in the Eucharist, the whole cosmos gives thanks to God. Indeed, the Eucharist is itself an act of cosmic love.”4
St. John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI also address in some detail how the Eucharist touches the issues confronting the world. St. John Paul II, writing in 2003, enumerated the problems that “darken the horizon of our time. We need but think of the urgent need to work for peace, to base relationships between peoples on solid premises of justice and solidarity, and to defend human life from conception to its natural end. And what should we say of the thousand inconsistencies of a ‘globalized’ world where the weakest, the most powerless, and the poorest appear to have so little hope!” Recalling Christ’s promise to His disciples before His ascension to be with them always, the saint wrote, “For this reason, too, the Lord wished to remain with us in the Eucharist, making His presence in meal and sacrifice the promise of a humanity renewed by His love.”5
A year later, in Stay With Us Lord, he spoke “of the many forms of poverty present in our world…the tragedy of hunger which plagues hundreds of millions of human beings, the diseases which afflict developing countries, the loneliness of the elderly, the hardships faced by the unemployed, the struggles of immigrants. These are evils which are present—albeit to a different degree—even in areas of immense wealth.”6 In addition, he said that “the specter of terrorism and the
Father Donahue blesses officers and canine partners
Father Charlie Donahue, CSP, pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Knoxville, led a blessing of Knoxville Police Department officers and their canine partners Oct. 17 as they lined Vine Avenue in front of the downtown church. KPD K-9 supervisor Sgt. Todd Foster (second from right, top right photo) was among the officers attending. Father Donahue serves as a KPD volunteer chaplain and led the blessing, which followed the feast of St. Francis of Assisi earlier in the month, for the second year in a row.
tragedy of war, demands that Christians learn to experience the Eucharist as a great school of peace, forming men and women who, at various levels of responsibility in social, cultural, and political life, can become promotors of dialogue and communion.”7
Pope Benedict XVI, in The Sacrament of Charity (2007), discusses the Eucharist as “a mystery to be offered to the world.” We must, he writes, “become ever more conscious that the sacrifice of Christ is for all, and that the Eucharist thus compels all who believe in Him to become ‘bread that is broken’ for others, and to work for the building of a more just and fraternal world.”8 He urged “all the faithful to be true promoters of peace and justice ‘in our world scarred by violence and war, and today in particular, by terrorism, economic corruption, and sexual exploitation,’” recognizing that the conditions for true peace are “the restoration of justice, reconciliation, and forgiveness.”9
The pope also explains how the liturgy itself informs and compels us. In “the presentation of the gifts, the priest raises to God a prayer of blessing and petition over the bread and wine, ‘fruit of the earth,’ ‘fruit of the vine,’ and ‘work of human hands.’ With these words, the rite not only includes in our offering to God all human efforts and activity but also leads us to see the world as God’s creation, which brings forth everything we need for our sustenance. The world is not something indifferent, raw material to be utilized simply as we see fit.”10
Similarly, Benedict says that the petition in the Our Father for “our
daily bread” “obliges us to do everything possible, in cooperation with international, state, and private institutions, to end or at least reduce the scandal of hunger and malnutrition afflicting so many millions of people in our world, especially in developing countries.” This falls, says Benedict, “in a particular way” on the lay faithful who, “formed at the school of the Eucharist,” are called to be leaven in the world.11
St. John Paul II, Benedict, and Francis have given us compelling descriptions of the power of the Eucharist, a power that embraces and permeates all creation, a power that introduces a sacramental nuclear fission that penetrates and transforms reality, a power that floods the universe with love and inexhaustible life. Every celebration of the Mass does indeed advance the peace and salvation of the entire world.
1 Gaudium et Spes, no. 22.
2 Ecclesia de Eucharistia (EE), no. 8.
3 The Sacrament of Charity, no. 11.
4 On Care for Our Common Home (2015), no. 236.
5 EE, no. 20.
6 Stay With Us Lord, no. 28.
7 Stay With Us Lord, no. 27, italics added.
8 The Sacrament of Charity, no. 88.
9 The Sacrament of Charity, no. 89.
10 The Sacrament of Charity, no. 92.
11 The Sacrament of Charity, no. 91, and Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity, no. 2. ■
Father Randy Stice is director of the diocesan Office of Worship and Liturgy. He can be reached at frrandy@dioknox. org.
1:57-66
Tuesday, Dec. 24: 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8-12, 14, 16; Psalm 89:2-5, 27, 29; Luke 1:67-79; 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
Wednesday, Dec. 25: The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas), Mass during 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; Hebrews 1:1-6; John 1:1-18
Thursday, Dec. 26: Feast of St. Stephen, first martyr, Acts 6:8-10 and 7:54-59; Psalm 31:3-4, 6, 8, 16-17; Matthew 10:17-22
Friday, Dec. 27: Feast of St. John, Apostle and evangelist, 1 John 1:1-4; Psalm 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12; John 20:1-8
Saturday, Dec. 28: Feast of the Holy Innocents, martyrs, 1 John 1:5–2:2;
Psalm 124:2-5, 7-8; Matthew 2:13-18
Sunday, Dec. 29: Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14; Psalm 128:1-5; Colossians 3:12-21; Luke 2:41-52
Monday, Dec. 30: 1 John 2:12-17; Psalm 96:7-10; Luke 2:36-40
Tuesday, Dec. 31: 1 John 2:18-21; Psalm 96:1-2, 11-13; John 1:1-18
Wednesday, Jan. 1: Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, Numbers 6:22-27; Psalm 67:2-3, 5-6, 8; Galatians 4:4-7; Luke 2:16-21
Thursday, Jan. 2: Memorial of Sts. Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, bishops and doctors of the Church, 1 John 2:22-28; Psalm 98:14; John 1:19-28
Friday, Jan. 3: 1 John 2:29–3:6; Psalm 98:1, 3-6; John 1:29-34
Saturday, Jan. 4: Memorial of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, religious, 1 John 3:7-10; Psalm 98:1, 7-9; John 1:35-42
convention Thursday through Saturday, April 24-26, at St. Mary Church in Johnson City. The theme is “Jubilee Pilgrimage of Hope: Where Meaning Meets Purpose.” More details are to come; visit dioknox.org/events/ kdccw-convention-2025
A men’s Cursillo weekend will be held June 5-8 at Christ Prince of Peace Retreat Center in Benton. Through Cursillo, participants can gain a better understanding of themselves, experience the presence and love of Jesus, and see how personal and spiritual growth can be enhanced through a caring Christian community. An application and pamphlet may be found at knoxvillecursillo.org. E-mail Gary Gabor at garygabor@hotmail.com for details on the weekend.
Catholic in Recovery is a 12-step recovery ministry that holds meetings each Monday at 7 p.m. at St. Mary Church in Johnson City. CIR provides hope and healing from addictions, compulsions, and unhealthy attachments. Family members impacted by a loved one’s addiction are also encouraged to attend. Meetings combine the spiritual principles of 12-step recovery and the sacraments of the Catholic Church. Join others in recovery as the meetings overlap Scripture from Sunday Mass readings, liturgical themes, and recovery topics with honest discussion and prayer. Confidentiality is protected. For more information, visit www.catholicinrecovery.com or
Royal for sharing Gospel reflections, and Laura Chapman, Gratia Below, and the Evangelizing Sisters of Mary for providing music.
The CCW is holding a “Fill the Cradle” baby collection for Catholic Charities of East Tennessee’s Pregnancy Help Center. Needed items are diapers sizes 4, 5, and 6, pullups sizes 3T-4T and 4T-5T, diaper bags (backpack style), sleep sacks, boys and girls winter outfits, diaper-rash cream/ointment, baby shampoo, lotion, and baby wash. Drop off items in the narthex on Dec. 28-29, the feast of the Holy Family.
A 10-session study on salvation will begin meeting at 7 p.m. Mondays starting Jan. 6 and 10 a.m. Tuesdays starting Jan. 7. Contact Chris Allen at c557paul@gmail.com or 865-386-8300 or Sister Elizabeth Wanyoike, ESM, at 865-777-4313 for more information.
St. Joseph, Norris
The parish’s second annual Breakfast with Santa was held Dec. 14. The morning featured Christmas crafts, breakfast goodies, and a visit from Santa.
The Men’s Group Christmas party took place Dec. 12 at La Sierra Mexican Restaurant in Andersonville.
St. Therese, Clinton
Eric Lindsey, son of parishioners Sam and Mary Lindsey, is a novice at Conception Abbey, a Benedictine monastery in Conception, Mo. Five Rivers Deanery Holy Trinity, Jefferson City
The latest monthly collection of food Dec. 7-8 benefited the Dandridge Food Pantry.
contact Jena at cir.tricities.tn@gmail. com, Beth at 714-651-2008, or Ed at 865-599-4823.
The Healing Ministry at Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Alcoa offers healing prayers every third weekend of the month for anyone who has a physical, emotional, or spiritual need. Individual healing prayer will be offered in Spanish in the church immediately following the 7 p.m. Saturday Mass in Spanish, and prayer will be offered in English in the chapel immediately following the 11 a.m. Sunday Mass. Call Toni Jacobs at 561-315-5911 if you have any questions.
Join Father Mike Nolan from May 12-23 on a pilgrimage to Malta, Sicily, and the Amalfi Coast with an optional extension to Rome from May 23-26 to celebrate the Jubilee next year. Pilgrims will be visiting the places where St. Paul preached and spent time, including Mdina, Rabat, Valletta, and Taormina, to name a few, and will explore the Amalfi Coast. They will visit Our Lady of Mellieha Sanctuary, which is dedicated to Our Lady and is a very important part of the Catholic history of the island of Malta, and continue with a visit to the “Mosta Rotunda,” a domed church in Mosta. Travelers will walk through the streets of Mdina, Malta’s first capital, and visit the cathedral dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul. As they tour Valletta, the capital of Malta, they will become acquainted with the history of the island, perhaps best known as the seat of the Knights of St.
The children’s St. Nicholas party followed the 10:30 a.m. Mass on Dec. 8 and allowed kids to visit with St. Nicholas, hear his story, and have their picture taken with him.
The Council of Catholic Women’s Advent party was held Dec. 16 at Shoney’s in Dandridge.
Parishioners dropped off Christmas cards for homebound members of Holy Trinity during December.
The parish collected “Coats for the Cold,” along with blankets, hats, mittens, and scarfs, through Nov. 24 to benefit Appalachian Outreach.
Notre Dame, Greeneville
The Council of Catholic Women held its annual Christmas party Dec. 15.
A Giving Tree in the narthex, sponsored by the St. Agnes Guild, was decorated with angels that parishioners could select to buy gifts for children served by a local food bank.
Anniversary: John and Liz Hocutt (50) St. Patrick, Morristown
The 9:30 a.m. choir presented Lessons and Carols for the Advent Season on Dec. 15 at the church.
A Breakfast with St. Nicholas was held Dec. 7 in the parish center. Children took part in games and activities and posed for pictures with St. Nicholas.
The Council of Catholic Women’s Christmas Resale Shop was open with bargain prices during the event.
The CCW thanked all who participated in their Boxes of Joy Christmas project. The council shipped 144 boxes as part of the Cross Catholic Outreach effort that will benefit children in developing
Bishop celebrates annual White Mass and Green Mass
Bishop Mark Beckman celebrated the annual White Mass (left) to ask for God’s blessing upon those serving in the health-care profession on Oct. 20 at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. He is pictured with Deacon Walt Otey of Sacred Heart. The bishop also celebrated the annual Green Mass (above) to honor veterans and those serving in the armed forces on Nov. 10 at the cathedral.
John, more commonly known as the Knights of Malta. The pilgrims will also see the story of St. Paul’s shipwreck as told in paintings found in the church of the same name. Our Lady of the Rock is one of Taormina’s most popular destinations, with a panorama of the surrounding city and Mount Etna. Next, they will continue to Messina for a panoramic tour and a visit to the cathedral. The Cathedral of Messina’s bell tower contains the world’s biggest and most complex mechanical and astronomical clock. For those going on the Rome extension, they will visit St. Peter’s Basilica and walk through the holy door for the Jubilee and visit St. Mary Major, St. John Lateran, Holy Cross, and the Catacombs. For more information, contact Lisa Morris at 865-567-1245 or lisam@select-intl.com
Join Glenmary Father Steve Pawelk from June 16-27 on a pilgrimage to Lourdes and Fatima, including Mount St. Michel, the island considered one of the world’s wonders. The island, one of the top pilgrimage destinations of Christendom through the ages, floats like a mirage with the abbey that dominates the landscape. Pilgrims will visit the beaches of Normandy and the home of St. Thérèse and the basilica in Lisieux. They will visit the Miraculous Medal Chapel and St. Vincent de Paul Chapel in Paris and take a high-speed train to Lourdes, the home of St. Bernadette, celebrating Mass at the grotto where Our Lady appeared to her, and join in a candlelight procession. The travelers will go on to Avila, the walled city dedi-
countries.
The CCW sponsored a game night Nov. 19 in the Haggard Room.
Knights of Columbus Council 6730 is the beneficiary of a fundraiser through Ultimate Shine Car Wash pay locations in Morristown, as well as elsewhere in Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Ohio through Friday, Jan. 31. To take part at a pay location, choose a wash and any additional services, hit the orange “enter fundraiser code” button, enter code 3163 before paying, then insert cash or a credit/debit card, and 30 percent of the sale will go to Council 6730.
Anniversaries: Thurman and Janice Catron (67), Francis and Kathleen Dubey (66), Fred and Claire Lockhart (54), James and Ann Mach (53), Greg and Mary Oparyk (30), Jorge MartinezPatino and Maria Velasco-Lopez (20), Alberto Librado-Chavez and Anith Acosta-Vega (5), Brian and Susan Metzger (5)
Smoky Mountain Deanery
Immaculate Conception, Knoxville
IC parishioners during December took part in an Advent Bible study on The Jewish Roots of Christmas by Brant Pitre via Zoom and sessions in the parish hall.
The IC Women’s Group donated $220.29 and the IC Bees $70 to the parish from their profits from the ICWG’s Nov. 9-10 craft fair. The Women’s Group also donated $465 of craft-fair proceeds to each of the following parishes for Hurricane Helene relief: Notre Dame in Greeneville, Good Shepherd in Newport, and Immaculate Conception in Hendersonville, N.C. The IC Bees also donated $130.27 to the relief effort.
cated to St. Teresa, the great mystic and the first woman named doctor of the Church. They will visit the crypt of La Santa Convent, built on the site of the house where she was born, and La Encarnacion Convent, where St. Teresa became a nun and which is home to the most comprehensive museum dedicated to her life. The pilgrims will arrive in Fatima, one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in the world, which is well-known for the story of the apparition of Our Lady to three shepherd children in 1917, and attend Mass at the basilica. They will stop at the parish church where the visionaries were baptized and other places associated with their young lives. The group will participate in a candlelight and Blessed Sacrament procession. The travelers will go on to Santarem to venerate the Miracle of the Eucharist and continue to Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, one of the most beautiful and historic European cities. They will see Belem Tower, the longest bridge in Europe, and the 300-foot-high statue of Christ the King and the Church of St. Anthony. For more information, contact Lisa Morris at 865-567-1245 or lisam@select-intl.com
Mass in the extraordinary form (“traditional Latin”) is celebrated at noon each Sunday at Holy Ghost Church in Knoxville, at 2 p.m. each Sunday and at 6 p.m. most Mondays at St. Mary Church in Johnson City, and at 11:30 a.m. every Sunday at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga. For more information on the extraordinary-form Masses, visit www.KnoxLatinMass.net n
Knights of Columbus Council 645 hosted its annual Christmas dinner Dec. 17 and held a toy drive at the same time to benefit children and families at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital. Last year, the council delivered about $5,500 in gifts and donations to the hospital thanks to parishioners of IC and faculty, staff, and students at St. Joseph School.
St. John XXIII, Knoxville
The annual children’s Christmas Pageant will take place at 4:45 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 24, before the 5 p.m. Christmas Eve Mass. Parents whose children would like to participate in the pageant should contact director of religious education Emma Standley at emma@john23rd.org
Jennifer Stambaugh recently joined the St. John XXIII staff as an administrative assistant.
Ornaments on the St. John XXIII Advent Tree this month allowed parishioners to buy gifts for adults with developmental disabilities as well as for a few residents of Serene Manor Medical Center in Knoxville.
St. John XXIII thanked parishioners for donating $5,915.12, exceeding last year’s total, in a recent baby-bottle drive to benefit Catholic Charities of East Tennessee’s Pregnancy Help Center.
St. Joseph the Worker, Madisonville
The parish Christmas party took place Dec. 8 in the parish hall. The event featured food, music, and Santa (see photos on page B4).
St. Joseph the Worker thanked all who donated food for Thanksgiving baskets this year as well as Ed Harless, Patrick and Tina Bolton, and Mary Coronilla for preparing the baskets. n
Calendar continued from page B5
Parish notes continued from page B4
GABRIELLE NOLAN (2)
Students leave shoes on Chancery doors for St. Nicholas Sacred Heart Cathedral School students placed cutout shoes with candy canes on Chancery office doors in an activity on Dec. 6, the memorial of St. Nicholas. Tradition holds that shoes are left out for St. Nicholas to fill with small gifts on that day. Students participating were Collin Myers, McCarley Myers, Jakob Casimiro, Emma Trent, and Emme Thumma. Joining the students were Sacred Heart principal Mary Sue Kosky and assistant principals Valerie Hanks and Mark Amrein.
Diocese of Knoxville middle-schoolers attend Holy Fire event in Nashville
About 60 youth and adults from the Diocese of Knoxville rode a bus together to Nashville on Nov. 9 for Holy Fire, a daylong conference for middle school students at the Diocese of Nashville’s Catholic Pastoral Center. Smaller groups from East Tennessee came on their own and met with the larger contingent. The event challenged the students to embrace their baptismal call and the powerful, relevant Gospel of Jesus. Organizers cited studies that have shown if people don’t make an expressed commitment to Christ by age 14, it becomes increasingly less likely that they will with each passing year. Holy Fire included Mass, time for confession, talks, and praise and worship. Featured speakers were Maggie Craig, Joe Melendrez, Thomas Muglia, and Oscar Rivera. Pauline O’Keeffe, director of faith formation and youth ministry at St. Alphonsus Parish in Crossville, was called up on stage by emcees Ms. Craig and Mr. Rivera because of her great spirit and Holy Fire hat.
Catholic Schools office announces top finishers in its fourth annual Christmas card contest
The diocesan Catholic Schools office received a number of submissions for its fourth annual Christmas card contest this year. The office thanked school art departments for facilitating the contest and inspiring their students. Kasey Mosley (far left) of Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in Chattanooga won the contest, and Corinne Moorman (near left) of Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga placed second. Josephine Shanahan of St. Mary School in Oak Ridge finished third. Kasey and Corinne are pictured with George Valadie, interim superintendent of Catholic Schools.
PHOTOS BY CAROLYN KRINGS AND PAULINE O’KEEFFE
St. Jude teacher honored Andrew Barnett, a second-grade teacher at St. Jude School in Chattanooga, was recently awarded the “Golden Apple Award” for outstanding teaching by WDEF News 12 and Food City. Nominated by school parents, Mr. Barnett was recognized for his years of teaching success, joy in the classroom, dedication to church and school, and his energy, enthusiasm, and care for all students.
COURTESY OF KATHIE PRESTON
Knoxville Catholic athletes sign with colleges
State champions Keegan Smith in cross country and track and Lillie Murphy in tennis are among 10 who commit
By Dan McWilliams
Ten students from Knoxville Catholic High School officially committed their athletic futures to colleges and universities at a National Signing Day event on Nov. 13 in the St. Gregory the Great Auditorium.
Two student-athletes who have earned individual state championships and who have been part of team state-title winners were among the signees. Keegan Smith signed in cross country and in indoor and outdoor track and field with the University of Colorado, and tennis player Lillie Murphy signed with Furman University.
Also signing were Amaya Redd in basketball with Tennessee Tech, Karenna Thurman in tennis with Centre College, Alex Mendillo in volleyball with Belmont University, Kameron Mayfield in lacrosse with the University of the Cumberlands, Natalie Stobb in soccer with Belmont Abbey College, Cooper Williamson in baseball with Charleston Southern University, Nick Turner in baseball with Johnson University, and Tinsley Walker in basketball with Maryville College.
Family members, friends, and coaches joined the students, who also took the microphone and spoke to the audience before posing for a group photo and then signing the official papers as their parents looked on. Athletics director Jason Surlas welcomed the gathering to the signing.
Keegan recently became the first two-time cross country individual state champion for Knoxville Catholic, winning the crown as a senior after capturing top honors in his freshman season. He also helped the Fighting Irish to a team state title, the third in school history. Earlier in the fall, Keegan won his fourth straight Knoxville Interscholastic League championship.
Keegan is a two-time Gatorade player of the year and has won eight cross country and indoor and outdoor track state championships. He has been named all-American four times and all-state 11 times, and he holds four national records for high school freshmen in the 3,000-meter outdoor, 2-mile outdoor, 1,500 indoor, and 1-mile indoor. He finished sixth in the Nike Cross Nationals on Dec. 7 in Portland, Ore., which earned him first-team All-American honors. Keegan ran again Dec. 14 in the Foot Locker Cross Country National Championships on Dec. 14 in San Diego.
Seeing National Signing Day arrive was “just a blessing,” Keegan said.
“I mean, honestly, I thank God so much for giving me all these gifts and talents,” he said. “I
go out there every single day running to glorify Him. I go with the motto of ‘audience of one.’ As long as I go out there and glorify Him, days like this become all the more special.”
Keegan’s parents, Deacon Sean and Melissa Smith of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Lenoir City, joined him for the signing as did many of Keegan’s coaches and teammates as well as priests and other “close family friends who have been working with my parents or whom we’ve met over the years—people who are really there for me in my running. They go to meets. They support me on and off the track.”
Keegan also had “honorary grandparents” present for the signing.
“I like to say that family is not determined by genes. It’s determined by the building and maintaining of love, and every single one of these people love me incredibly, and I love them back,” he said.
Choosing Colorado was love at first sight, and the seed for his selection was planted several years ago, Keegan said.
“I saw it in seventh grade, and I’ve loved it ever since then,” he said. “Running out there is beautiful—I feel free, and I’m in God’s creation
in the beautiful mountains. It’s been No. 1 in my heart since the beginning.”
Knoxville Catholic prepared him for his collegiate career in more ways than one, Keegan said.
“Catholic High teaches student-athletes to not only be good athletes but also good students,” he said. “In everything that we do, we excel to glorify God. Especially here, the atmosphere and environment that teachers and coaches surround you with is one of praise but also one of immense support, so I’m super thankful for them.”
Keegan also offered his gratitude to Fighting Irish cross country and track-and-field head coach Sean O’Neil, KCHS assistant coach Mike Spooner, former Irish assistant coach Erin Chady, KCHS sprint coach Shane Begnaud, Knoxville Youth Athletics coach Brent Smith, his private coach and 2000 Sydney Olympian, Tony Cosey, longtime AAU track-and-field president Charles Oliver, and New Balance sprint recruiting director “Auntie” Madge Anderson—“so many coaches and people who have influenced my career and life inside and outside of running,” he said.
Lillie won her first singles state championship last spring as a junior and was part of the Lady Irish’s fourth consecutive team state title and sixth overall. She also combined with Eleni Liakonis to win consecutive doubles state titles in 2022-23.
Signing day was “a long time coming,” Lillie said.
“I’ve been committed since January, so I’ve been ready,” she said. “I’m really excited. It’s been a lot of hard work, a lot of sacrifice. It’s great to see the result pay off.”
The choice of Furman came down to “the mix of the academic aspect as well as the coaching staff and teammates—it’s just a great environment on the team and the entire school overall,” Lillie added.
Knoxville Catholic readied her well for the next stage of her athletic career, as did Lady Irish tennis head coach Rusty Morris and her personal coach, Dave Thornton, Lillie said.
“I think Catholic prepares you great: how to go into the world, how to hold yourself, how to carry yourself. And then academically, I think they’ve done a great job teaching,” she said.
“The Catholic tennis team, the coaches, Rusty and then my coach, Dave—they’ve both prepared me well in the tennis aspect, so overall they’ve done a great job. I feel ready. Dave has been my coach for about 10 or 11 years at Knoxville Racquet Club.”
Parents Paul and Whitney Murphy and Lillie’s sister and teammate, Lauren, of Sacred Heart Parish in Knoxville joined her for the signing.
Karenna has also been a part of the Lady Irish’s tennis team state champions, and Cooper and Nick were on the 2023 KCHS baseball state-title team. Amaya won consecutive state titles in 202324 with the Lady Irish basketball team, which captured the crowns each year on Tennessee Tech’s home court, where she will be playing in college. ■
Next-level athletes Ten Knoxville Catholic High School student athletes signed with colleges and universities on Nov. 13 in the St. Gregory the Great Auditorium. From left are Keegan Smith, Lillie Murphy, Karenna Thurman, Alex Mendillo, Kameron Mayfield, Natalie Stobb, Cooper Williamson, Nick Turner, Tinsley Walker, and Amaya Redd.
Speaking role Each Irish athlete who signed, including Cooper Williamson (above), addressed the audience in the KCHS auditorium.
Cheering her on Amaya Redd had plenty of company on hand, including (seated) brother Amare Redd and mother Tiffany Williams, as she signed with Tennessee Tech in basketball.
Netting a scholarship Alex Mendillo signs with Belmont University in volleyball as her parents, Kate and TJ Mendillo, look on.
Buffalos land KCHS state champ Keegan Smith signed in cross country and in indoor and outdoor track and field with the University of Colorado alongside parents Deacon Sean and Melissa Smith.
