Feb. 6, 2011, ET Catholic by Diocese of Knoxville

CNS PHOTO/RICK MUSACCHIO

Study looks at ‘new religious’ Sister Lucia Marie Siemering, center, prepares to sign her vows as she enters the St. Cecilia Dominicans in 2010 at the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Nashville. At left is Mother Ann Marie Karlovic, the congregation’s prioress general. page 8

THE EAST TENNESSEE

Volume 20 • Number 11 • February 6, 2011

The

newspaper

of the D iocese of K noxville www.dioknox.org

Diocese’s second Rosary for Life held on Jan. 15

‘It’s up to the parents’ A Planned Parenthood presentation at a Knox school spurs a St. John Neumann family to act. By Dan McWilliams

B Y M A R Y C . WEAVER

laynna McCormick of St. John Neumann Parish in Farragut, who was upset over a Planned Parenthood presentation in her high school classroom last fall, said she never dreamed the issue would grow as it has. The sophomore at Hardin Valley Academy in Knoxville and mom Kym McCormick were among the speakers at an information session for parents Jan. 27 at Sacred Heart Cathedral School that drew an audience of nearly 200 and considerable TV and newspaper coverage. The diocesan Office of Justice and Peace hosted the event. Alaynna said the presentation in her lifetime-wellness class at Hardin Valley in October was supposed to be about abstinence, but the subject never came up (Jan. 23 ETC). Later the student and her mother saw graphic material on the “Info for Teens” portion of the Planned Parenthood website, whose address was given to students in the presentation, and Mrs. McCormick launched a campaign to remove Planned Parenthood from the list of approved speakers for Knox County Schools. In the session at Sacred Heart, Mrs. McCormick spoke as her daughter navigated the Planned Parenthood website in a PowerPoint presentation. The younger McCormick said she could not believe how confident she was after she took the microphone at the end of the meeting. “I’m not normally one going out and trumpeting my arrival,” she said. “I’m very shy, and to be all of a sudden on the news and in front of all these people—it’s very new for me. There’s got to be a God because I go in here [to speak], and the words just come out.” Mrs. McCormick told the Sacred Heart audience of her frustration in dealing with school-system officials, Rally continued on page 7

DAN MCWILLIAMS

he turnout at the diocese’s second annual Rosary for Life event was “edifying,” said Bishop Richard F. Stika. About 400 people of all ages came out Jan. 15 to pray across the street from the abortion clinic on Concord Street in Knoxville. But the bishop said he wanted to see even more people stand up for life next year and asked everyone present to “bring another 10 people.” Before the rosary began, the bishop mentioned the upcoming celebration of Martin Luther King Day and noted that “at one time in our nation’s history people thought they could enslave other people because they were not completely human. We know how unjust and horrific that was.” And since the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision, he said, people of faith have been gathering for years to proclaim “that life is sacred from the moment of conception to natural death.” “In some ways I’m gratified to see all of you here this day, but how about all the rest? Maybe next year each and every one of us who is here might bring another 10 people to make a statement of prayer and a statement of belief that we truly believe that life is sacred,” Bishop Stika said. He prayed for all of those wounded by abortion, “especially someone who may be entering a clinic today or these next days to end a life.” “We pray for God’s mercy upon our nation and for God’s peace in our hearts,” he said. Leading the five decades of the rosary were Father William Oruko, AJ, of St. Mary Parish in Athens; Deacon Gordon Lowery of Holy Trinity in Jefferson City; Sister Mary Sarah Macht, RSM, of Knoxville; Alaynna McCormick, 16, of St. John Neumann Parish in Farragut; and Mauricio Candelas of Holy Ghost Parish in Knoxville. View a slide show from the event at dioknox.org/rosary/. n

Alaynna McCormick of St. John Neumann Parish in Farragut addresses the gathering at Sacred Heart Cathedral School at the end of the information session for parents. The 16-year-old sophomore at Hardin Valley Academy and mom Kym McCormick were among several who spoke to nearly 200 at the Jan. 27 meeting. YOUNG CRUSADER

St. John Neumann Knights’ appreciation dinner turns 20 The Farragut council honored 45 priests, deacons, and women religious who attended the annual event. BY DAN MCWILLIAMS

he 20th annual Clergy and Religious Appreciation Dinner sponsored by Knights of Columbus Council 8781 in Farragut drew quite a few first-time guests among the 45 priests, deacons, and sisters who attended. About 220 people came to the event Jan. 20 at St. John Neumann School. The evening began with a sacredmusic program at St. John Neumann Church, followed by a social hour and dinner in the school gym. Host pastor and council chaplain Father Pat Garrity led the prayer before the dinner, prepared by chef John Bathe of the Farragut Knights. The honorees represented all four deaneries in the diocese. Ten priests, deacons, and sisters came to the annual event for the first time and introduced themDinner continued on page 2

DAN MCWILLIAMS

Diocesan chancellor Deacon Sean Smith (left) receives two checks for seminarian education from Ron Tasket at the 20th annual Clergy and Religious Appreciation Dinner sponsored by Knights of Columbus Council 8781. SUPPORT FOR SEMINARIANS

letters to the

EDITOR

Reconsider ‘reverential’ Catholic hymns

I congratulate Ginger Hutton for her thoughtfully

worded column “Space for reflection” (Jan. 9 ETC), in which she discussed the loss of silence from our churches. I would like to echo that sentiment. I have been to many different churches in our diocese where there is an attempt by the choir to fill in every possible gap of silence that could otherwise be used for reflection. Happily, this is not the case in my parish. But in many churches after Communion I have tried without success to meditate on what I have just received (the precious body and blood of Jesus) because of the distraction of the choir. At some churches, if the initial song ends before everyone has received Communion, the choir will kick right into another song so there won’t be a moment of silence for anyone to meditate. As a retired military officer, I had the privilege to attend Mass at chapels all over the world. For two years I was stationed at a Navy base where the same choir sang at both Catholic Mass and Protestant services. The music for Communion consisted of a quiet, simple playing of one stanza of “Amazing Grace” by the organist several minutes after the last parishioner had returned from receiving the Eucharist. It was reverential and helped make Communion the focus of Mass for me. I do not want to discredit anyone performing in any of our diocesan choirs because I know how much time they volunteer in practicing and performing to make Mass an extraordinary celebration. I simply ask that we remember Communion is a time for us to be in communion with God after receiving him in the most intimate fashion possible. This should be a time of serious prayer and inner reflection. —Jim Connors Spring City

Vatican II emphasized Gregorian chant

I read Ginger Hutton’s column in the Jan. 9 issue,

and I read Tina LoTufo’s letter (“Column did ‘disservice’ to music ministers,” Jan. 23 ETC) regarding it. I know nothing about music, but this I do know: Vatican II’s Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy in a number of places mandated the continued use of Latin and the Gregorian chant in the Roman Rite of the Mass (see Nos. 36, 54, and 116), yet we have the exact opposite. How many remember clowns at Mass and the other silliness and disobedience in the years after Vatican Council II? God loves obedience. Ever think about that? —Joseph Schaad Rutledge

Mass music must provide ‘reverent setting’

I am certain Tina LoTufo’s commentary was intend-

ed to be charitable as she voiced her disagreement with Ginger Hutton’s Jan. 9 column. However, I believe Ms. LoTufo and certain other music ministers have mistaken the purpose and intent of music selections for the most sacred event in the Catholic Church: the holy sacrifice of the Mass. Unfortunately, a great number of Catholics have for years witnessed inferior musical selections at Mass. They have developed a “comfort zone” that accepts this music as appropriate for Mass. But music for Mass cannot be selected to suit our “temperamental differences.” This is absurd and not conducive to providing the atmosphere for the sacred event occurring on our altars. The so-called contemporary music accompanying many Masses today would be suitable in church halls and for other events, but our Lord on the altar deserves better. Numerous popes have given explicit guidance in this matter. Some may find the following statement objectionable. However, many (including clergy and theologians) in the Church believe that the casual music and behavior in far too many churches contribute to current doubt about the Real Presence in the Eucharist. Current polls indicate that 30 percent of Catholics today do not believe the consecrated sacred host to be the body and blood of Christ. Perhaps this is an urgent call for all music ministers and others who participate in the liturgy to make every effort to provide a hallowed and reverent setting for the holy sacrifice of the Mass. George Weigel’s column (“The chattering classes,” Jan. 23 ETC) further alludes to the casual and off-handed atmosphere and behavior in churches today. He listed two behaviors as particularly contributing: unnecessary conversations and chattering in the pews before and immediately after Mass and the exchange of peace, which should be brief and controlled but has often become a free-for-all destructive to the mind and spirit appropriate for the reception of Holy Communion. It is time we recovered our intuitive understanding of the sacred. n —Carol Grady Benton

living the

READINGS

Your light must shine Our ‘electricity’ can help us bring people to the Lord.

Right now, 1.5 billion people on earth do not have electricity. That’s almost exactly 20 percent (one in five) of the world’s population. Of that number, two million people per year die prematurely of pulmonary diseases caused by using alternative means for light and cooking. In several parts of India that I visited, the best way of helping young people was to set up what are called “tuition centers”—places where students can go to study after school. The centers offer a learning atmosphere, tutors, and a generator to provide light. Since students’ homes do not have

Letters should be 350 words or less and will be edited for grammar, style, clarity, and length. Submit them by e-mail or mail: news@dioknox.org, 805 Northshore Drive Southwest, Knoxville, TN 37919. Letters to the editor reflect the opinions of their authors and not those of the editorial staff or the publisher. 2

FEBRUARY 6, 2011

electricity for lighting and the sun goes down at 6 p.m., students can’t read, write, or study at home in the evening. Without the tuition centers, their world and their future would be dark. When Jesus tells us we are the light of the world, young people in developing countries can understand what he means far better than we who think nothing of switching on a light. They believe anyone who could increase their study time into the night by providing light is a hero—a giver of hope. Such a person makes their lives so much better. With that study time, they can earn a college degree and eventually work in a fine profession that will change their family’s fortune for generations. That’s what Jesus wants us to be. Our light must shine

before others. That means we ought to aspire to make other people’s lives better. How do we accomplish that? Jesus’ answer is, “Your life must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” Imagine that! We are to focus the spotlights of our lives on God, the Father. We cringe at that. No one seems to want to be a hero. Yet God wants to make that happen for us. For example, he made Paul a light to the Corinthians. Paul tells us himself that he arrived at Corinth without wise or sublime words. He came in weakness, fear, and trembling. Yet what came out of him was the power of God. That’s the “electricity” that turned on the lights for the Corinthians. It’s the same power that can light us up to bring people to Christ. n Feb. 6, fifth Sunday in ordinary time Isaiah 58:7-10 Psalm 112:4-9 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 Matthew 5:13-16

Fulfillment

example, the Ten Commandments) were issued in order to unite the people into a cohesive whole

How different would society be if we followed Christ’s law of love?

Readings continued on page 3

n today’s Gospel, Jesus makes a distinction between abolishing the law and fulfilling it. To the ear, the old law and the fulfilled law don’t sound so far apart.

The differences seem logical and practical. But living Jesus’ rendition of the law is quite different from and much more challenging than living out the old Mosaic law.

The major difference between the Mosaic law and its fulfillment in the law of Christ is that between exterior and interior. The laws God gave through Moses (for

Feb. 13, sixth Sunday in ordinary time Sirach 15:15-20 Psalm 119:1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34 1 Corinthians 2:6-10 Matthew 5:17-37

WEEKDAY READINGS Monday, Feb. 7: Genesis 1:1-19; Psalm 104:1-2, 5-6, 10, 12, 24, 35; Mark 6:53-56 Tuesday, Feb. 8: Genesis 1:20–2:4; Psalm 8:4-9; Mark 7:1-13 Wednesday, Feb. 9: Genesis 2:4-9, 15-17; Psalm 104:1-2, 27-30; Mark 7:14-23 Thursday, Feb. 10: Memorial, Scholastica, virgin, Genesis 2:18-25; Psalm 128:1-5; Mark 7:24-30

Friday, Feb. 11: Genesis 3:1-8; Psalm 32:1-2, 5-7; Mark 7:31-37 Saturday, Feb. 12: Genesis 3:9-24; Psalm 90:2-6, 12-13; Mark 8:1-10 Monday, Feb. 14: Memorial, Cyril, monk, and Methodius, bishop, Genesis 4:1-15, 25; Psalm 50:1, 8, 16-17, 20-21; Mark 8:11-13 Tuesday, Feb. 15: Genesis 6:5-8 and 7:1-5, 10; Psalm 29:1-4, 9-10; Mark 8:14-21

Wednesday, Feb. 16: Genesis 8:613, 20-22; Psalm 166:12-15, 18-19; Mark 8:22-26 Thursday, Feb. 17: Genesis 9:1-13; Psalm 102:16-21, 29, 22-23; Mark 8:27-33 Friday, Feb. 18: Genesis 11:1-9; Psalm 33:10-15; Mark 8:34–9:1 Saturday, Feb. 19: Hebrews 11:1-7; Psalm 145:2-5, 10-11; Mark 9:2-13 n

Washington, D.C. “I could talk about the wonderful work that is done to assist those who are mentally challenged. That’s a crusade for which very little thanks is given. The Knights of Columbus in this diocese have been stalwart in their efforts to make the lives of those who are mentally challenged much more comfortable. But I’m not going to talk about any of those things because you already know about them.” Events such as the St. John Neumann dinner were more typical of the work of the Knights, because “it’s here in a setting like this that . . . you exhibit that base virtue of charity, which is so necessary if we are to love God and neighbor,” said Monsignor Mankel. “Service is a byword of the Knights of Columbus, and it’s wonderful how many projects collec-

tively the people in this room are involved in.” Event coordinator Ron Tasket presented two checks for seminarian education from Council 8781 to diocesan chancellor Deacon Sean Smith, who accepted them on behalf of Bishop Stika. “The Knights of Columbus, both as a council here at St. John Neumann as well as internationally, are great supporters of vocations,” said Mr. Tasket. “We try to provide our seminarians with monetary support throughout the year.” Mr. Tasket said he was “especially grateful to all of the priests, deacons, and religious who join us here tonight. “We’re all called to a path of holiness, and each of you has answered that call in a very special way. That makes this one of the greatest events for me each year at St. John Neumann.” n

Dinner continued from page 1

selves to the crowd. Seventeen priests, 15 deacons, and 13 sisters attended. Vicar general Monsignor Xavier Mankel filled in for Bishop Richard F. Stika, who was under the weather, as guest speaker. “Thank you for this wonderful, wonderful evening: sacred music, sacred fellowship, and very wonderful food,” said Monsignor Mankel, adding that he hoped his listeners would keep the bishop in their prayers. “Pray for all priests and bishops and our Holy Father.” Monsignor Mankel said he could take a broader view of the Knights by talking about the fraternal organization’s projects to restore the façade of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome or to build and maintain the bell tower at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in

Bishop Richard F. Stika Publisher Mary C. Weaver Editor Dan McWilliams Assistant editor

THE EAST TENNESSEE

805 Northshore Drive S.W .

Editor’s note: We thank Ginger Hutton for her contributions and dedication to the ETC and wish her well. Her Jan. 9 column was her last for the newspaper.

BY FATHER JOSEPH BRANDO

Margaret Hunt Administrative assistant Dan Pacitti Intern

Knoxville, TN 37919-7551

The East Tennessee Catholic (USPS 007211) is published twice monthly by the Catholic Diocese of Knoxville, 805 Northshore Drive S.W., Knoxville, TN 37919-7551. Periodicals-class postage paid at Knoxville, Tenn. Printed on recycled paper by the Knoxville News Sentinel Postmaster: Send address changes to The East Tennessee Catholic, P.O. Box 11127, Knoxville, TN 37939-1127 How to reach us:

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THE EAST TENNESSEE CATHOLIC

he dwells

AMONG US

BY BISHOP RICHARD F. STIKA

Operation ‘Crave Grace’ The disciplines of Lent are for the whole year and benefit body and soul.

How time flies. It’s hard to believe we’re already at the halfway point between the end of the Christmas season and the beginning of another season: Lent. Although many people anticipate and prepare for Christmas weeks in advance of Advent’s official start, that’s not usually the case with Lent—and no, preparations for Mardi Gras don’t count. Among the disciplines that especially mark the Lenten season—prayer, fasting, and almsgiving—fasting is the one I, like many, look forward to the least. With your prayers, though, I hope to embrace a spirit and discipline of fasting, not only during Lent but also this entire year so that the diocese may be the beneficiary of a substantial gift of alms. Let me explain. It’s no secret that I like food, particularly fast food. Evidently this fact was a little too obvious to someone I know during my recent visit to St. Louis. Knowing my weakness for food and my desire to serve this diocese as its shepherd, he offered me a challenge I couldn’t refuse. The challenge is simple: I must lose 50 pounds before the end of the year. If I do, the diocese will receive a substantial monetary gift from this donor, who wishes to remain anonymous. Although a sizeable amount will be donated for each pound I lose, up to 50 pounds, my goal is to lose the maximum weight. With your prayers and help, I will attain this goal. Of course, any individual, parish, or group that wishes to further add to this incentive is more than

welcome to do so. Deacon Sean Smith, chancellor for the diocese, initially suggested we call this challenge “Operation Biggest Loser.” As much as I defer to his judgment in many important matters, I think we will instead call it “Operation Crave Grace.” I like this better partly because it will serve as a daily reminder to me to crave what God offers instead of what McDonald’s does. Yet this challenge does not exist just for me but for everyone: we all have something in our life that represents an excess we need to lose. Since starting this diet, I have begun to notice just how many advertisements are aimed at selling products to help people lose weight—from the latest exercise gadgets that offer near-effortless workouts guaranteed to melt away the pounds to the newly developed herb concoctions and pills meant to help people to burn fat while they sleep and low-calorie foods aimed at allowing people to eat more and still lose weight. Of course, the appeal of these advertisements is that they promise minimum sacrifice and discipline for the benefit desired. When it comes to the discipline of soul necessary to better ourselves spiritually, we can also be tempted to look for programs that involve the least amount of sacrifice and effort. The gym we should most frequent is the confessional, where God’s personal trainer for us can recommend exercises for the soul in addition to offering God’s mercy. Much as we might not like the saying “no pain, no gain,” there is a certain truth to it if we are careful to avoid its extremes. Look as we might, we will not find a single saint of the Church who would deny

that prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are the foundation for the overall health of body and soul. We all need to go on a diet of the soul—not from the things of God but from the things of the world. The generosity of the donor mentioned earlier reminds me of how God works with us. God wants us to shed the excesses in our life so we can receive, with his grace, something far better. What fasting does for the body it also helps do for the soul. “Operation Crave Grace” is not just for me but for all of us. It is not something we should begin on March 9, with Ash Wednesday, and end on Easter: it should be a part of every day. It is never too early to start preparing for Lent, and it is always appropriate to carry the disciplines of that season beyond Easter and throughout the year. We all need God’s grace in our life. Through the exercise of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, we learn how to decrease, as John the Baptist did, so Christ might increase in our life and in our giving to one another (cf. John 3:30). n BISHOP STIKA’S SCHEDULE These are some of Bishop Stika’s appointments: Feb. 6: 9 a.m., confirmation, Sts. Peter and Paul Church, Chattanooga; 4 p.m., Vespers for World Day for Consecrated Life, Sacred Heart Cathedral Feb. 9: 4:45 p.m., Mass for installation of acolytes, including Christopher Manning, Mundelein Seminary, Mundelein, Ill. Feb. 12: 11 a.m., celebration of marriage Mass and luncheon, St. Thérèse of Lisieux Church, Cleveland Feb. 13: 9:30 a.m., confirmation, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, LaFollette Feb. 15: 11 a.m., Presbyteral Council meeting, Chancery Feb. 16: 10 a.m., Mass and lunch with students, St. Mary School, Johnson City; 5:15 p.m., Mass and dinner with students, ETSU Catholic Center, Johnson City Feb. 18: 6 p.m., confirmation, All Saints Church, Knoxville n

Solemn Vespers, reception set to celebrate consecrated life

ishop Richard F. Stika will preside at solemn Vespers at 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 6, at Sacred Heart Cathedral to mark the celebration of World Day for Consecrated Life. Pope John Paul II instituted the day in 1997 as an opportunity to pray for men and women in consecrated life. After Vespers a reception will be held in the school. Everyone is invited to attend the prayer service and reception. The events offer a chance to meet religious from several different communities serving in the diocese. The celebration is attached to the feast of the Presentation of the Lord on Feb. 2, also known as Candlemas, as it is the day on which candles are blessed, symbolizing Christ, the light of the world. So too, those in consecrated life are called to reflect the light of Jesus Christ to all peoples. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has transferred the celebration of World Day for Consecrated Life to the following Sunday in order to highlight the gift of consecrated persons for the whole Church. n

Diocese offers ongoing Virtus child-protection training sessions

he Diocese of Knoxville’s program for the protection of children and youth—a three-hour seminar called “Protecting God’s Children”—is offered regularly throughout the diocese. The seminars are required for parish and school employees and regular volunteers in contact with children or vulnerable adults and are recommended for parents and grandparents. The following train-

ing sessions have been scheduled: n Notre Dame Church, Greeneville, 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 13 (session will be conducted in Spanish) n St. Mary Church, Johnson City, 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 18; 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 20 (sessions will be held in St. Ann Hall). Participants are asked to donate $1 for session materials. To register, visit virtus online.org. n

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he East Tennessee Catholic offers online delivery for those who would prefer to read a digital copy and to discontinue the print edition. If you would like to try online delivery, visit bit.ly/subscribe-online to sign up. If you decide online delivery isn’t for you, you can return to a print subscription at any time. If you have questions, e-mail mhunt@dioknox.org. n

Readings continued from page 2

once upon

A TIME

BY MONSIGNOR XAVIER MANKEL

‘Great growth’ From humble beginnings, the Nashville Diocese has increased mightily.

The year 1837 was a good one for the young United States of America. On July 28 that year Pope Gregory XVI established these new dioceses: Dubuque in Iowa (which became an archdiocese in 1893); Nashville in Tennessee (encompassing the entire state—42,022 square miles); and Natchez in Mississippi (whose name changed to Natchez–Jackson on March 7, 1957, and to Jackson on June 6, 1977). Nashville’s territory was trimmed by 10,682 square miles in 1970 when Pope Paul VI established the Diocese of Memphis and by another 14,272 square miles on Sept. 8, 1988, when Pope John Paul II created the Knoxville Diocese. Although each of us might think the history of the church evolved singularly from Jerusalem to Antioch to Rome to Paris to London and then to Baltimore, we do ourselves a great disservice if we fail to remember that the Church was spreading elsewhere during this time as well. This is why I mention Dubuque and Natchez along with Nashville as I share THE E A S T T E N N E S S E E C A T H OLIC

some particulars about the beginnings of the Diocese of Nashville. The Diocese of Nashville was the most destitute of the 17 sees erected in our country up to that time. In the entire state the first bishop, Richard Pius Miles, OP, found only 300 Catholics, one wee church, and not a single priest to assist him. In 1851 the Dominican sisters came to Memphis and established St. Agnes Academy. When Bishop Miles died in 1860, there were 13 priests, 14 churches, nine parish schools, an orphanage, and about 12,000 Catholics. Our second bishop, James Whelan, also a Dominican, established St. Cecilia Academy in Nashville in 1860. Our diocese suffered greatly during the Civil War (for the sake of keeping peace, in our rectory it is sometimes termed the “war of northern aggression”). Bishop Whelan resigned in 1864. Reconstruction was carried on by Bishop Patrick A. Feehan (1865-80), who built 22 churches, introduced eight religious orders, and increased the number of priests from nine to 25. In Nashville the Sisters of Mercy opened a school for girls. In Memphis in 1871 the Christian Brothers erected a school for boys, and the Good Shepherd sisters began a

school for girls (1875). Yellow fever epidemics in the 1870s decimated the diocese; Memphis alone suffered the deaths of 19 priests, 23 sisters, and three brothers. Bishop Feehan became the first archbishop of Chicago (the see’s fifth bishop) on Sept. 10, 1880, and died July 12, 1902: 37 years a bishop. Bishop Joseph Rademacher became Nashville’s fourth ordinary on June 24, 1883. Three hospitals, 13 churches, and five schools were built before he was transferred to Fort Wayne, Ind., in 1893. During the 29-year episcopacy of Bishop Thomas Sebastian Byrne (1894-1923) the first diocesan synod was convoked (1905), and great growth occurred. It was Bishop Byrne who promulgated the law that Catholic children must attend Catholic schools (a positive twist to the general law of the Church, the 1917 Code of Canon Law, which prohibited sending children to nonCatholic schools unless certain safeguards could be observed). Bishop Alphonse J. Smith (1924-35) promoted frequent reception of Holy Communion and native vocations. The episcopate of Bishop William Lawrence Adrian, which began in 1936 (when I was but a few weeks old), is more than a story unto itself, so I shall reserve at least one whole column for those grace-filled years (he ordained me to the priesthood on May 27, 1961). n

dedicated to doing God’s will. They were necessarily external. No longer were the people ruled by Egyptian law or that of any other power. When foreigners saw the Israelites obeying divine law, they could recognize that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was just as real as Egypt or Babylon or any governing entity. On the other hand, Jesus’ fulfillment of that law is totally different. No longer is the law written on tablets of stone. It is now found in the hearts of the men and women who devote their lives to the God of love. No longer is it sufficient not to kill a human. Now we must love one another. How different is that to obey? What difference would following the new law make in society? No longer is it sufficient not to commit adultery. Now we mustn’t look to anyone except our spouse for the joy of love. How different is that to obey? Wouldn’t our society be totally different if Jesus’ law were implemented? The Mosaic scholars of Jesus’ time balked at the Lord’s revision of the Mosaic law. I presume they thought it too idealistic, impossible to enforce, and impossible to obey. Law is a function of its maker. Human law is made by governments and enforced by their power. Divine law is made by God and comes with the power of grace to help us live it. What the scribes and Pharisees did not consider was the action of faith. Modern biblical scholars question whether Jesus’ new revised law was real and meant to be enforced or merely an idealistic goal outlining how we should live. But if you believe and experience the life of grace, the law of Christ is the only way to live. n Father Brando is the pastor of St. Mary Parish in Gatlinburg.

Monsignor Mankel is a vicar general of the diocese and pastor of Holy Ghost Parish in Knoxville. www.dioknox.org

FEBRUARY 6, 2011

Our Lady of Lourdes, South Pittsburg n The parish recently thanked those

who help with its fundraising fish fry every first Friday. Twenty-five meals were prepared at the Jan. 7 event.

St. Stephen, Chattanooga

n The parish is forming a committee

to plan and implement the annual St. Stephen golf tournament, scheduled for Saturday, April 16, at Brainerd Golf Course. To volunteer or sponsor a hole, contact Roland Lee at 423-8832945 or Christi Harr at 892-1261 or volunteer_coordinator@ststephen chattanooga.com.

Sts. Peter and Paul, Chattanooga

n Bishop Richard F. Stika will con-

firm youth of the parish at the 9 a.m. Mass on Sunday, Feb. 6. Cumberland Mountain Deanery

Blessed Sacrament, Harriman

n The Knights of Columbus will sell

Italian subs on Super Bowl weekend, Feb. 5 and 6. To order, call Bob or Barbara Capell at 865-354-8009.

St. Francis of Assisi, Fairfield Glade n The Council of Catholic Women will

have a shower for Catholic Charities’ Crazy Quilt Friendship Center in Newcomb as part of its meeting after the 8 a.m. Mass on Wednesday, Feb. 9. Sally Jackson will speak about Crazy Quilt at the meeting. n Anniversaries: Tom and Nancy Flagg (54), Ronald and Janice Cashner (52), Charles and Carol Fisher (52), Robert and Lenora Price (52), Douglas and Christina Nawrocki (40), Frank and Irene Petelle (25)

St. John Neumann, Farragut

n The parish has begun holding Ul-

treya meetings from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on third Tuesdays in the school library. Contact Lisa or David Campbell at 865-777-9402 or lcamp44@tds.net.

St. Mary, Oak Ridge

n The Council of Catholic Women

will hold its annual day of reflection beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 22, in Columbus Hall. This year’s theme is “Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World.” Sister Mary Timothea Elliott, RSM, director of the diocesan Office of Christian Formation, will speak. Bring a lunch; dessert is provided. The event will conclude following Mass at 2 p.m. To register, call Mary Layton at 865-483-8527. n The parish offered a free Bible workshop presented by Ana Southoff on Jan. 22 as part of its catechist certification for religious-education teachers.

St. Thomas the Apostle, Lenoir City n The youth are sponsoring a Fam-

ily Dinner Potluck with music and dancing from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 6, in the banquet hall of the family life center. Door-prize drawings will be conducted. All parishioners are invited and should bring a dish. n The jovenes group and the youth group both sold tamale dinners after Masses on Jan. 22 to benefit a 16-year-old parishioner who has been diagnosed with kidney failure. Five Rivers Deanery

Holy Trinity, Jefferson City

n The parish will hold a Family Fun

Night after the 5 p.m. Mass on Saturday, Feb. 12. There will be a catered dinner and a live band. All parishioners are invited, and tickets will be sold in the narthex. Costs are $15 for adults and $10 for children ages 10 through 17 (free for children under 10). n The Knights of Columbus held a Sunday brunch after Mass on Jan. 23. n Anniversary: Jerry and Margie Swope (40)

Notre Dame, Greeneville

n David Place received his Eagle

Scout award at a Court of Honor on Jan. 31 at the church. n The Notre Dame Relay for Life team is looking for a new captain. Email Tom Dubois for information about the position, volunteer opportunities, and the American Cancer Society mission at pandtdubois@comcast.net. n The parish is organizing several fundraising efforts to help those going to the National Catholic Youth Conference this fall. Items for a spring yard sale are being collected at the n

FEBRUARY 6, 2011

Ganz Youth Center, and orders are being taken for Snail’s Pace products. Call Susan at 423-639-9382 to assist with the fundraisers. n High school students served refreshments at the Annie Hogan Byrd Theater at Tusculum College after a performance of Cinderella on Jan. 21 to raise funds for NCYC.

St. Dominic, Kingsport

n Parishioners took part in the city’s

Life Chain on Jan. 23 by holding a sign or forming a pro-life “cross” at the intersection of Eastman Road and Center Street. n A Knights of Columbus freethrow competition will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 6, in the parish life center. Boys and girls ages 10 to 14 are invited to participate. The event is free. Prizes will be available for different age groups, and winners will advance to the district contest. Call Dennis Corrigan at 423963-3895 for more details. n Volunteers are needed as St. Dominic hosts the annual Knoxville Diocesan Council of Catholic Women convention May 5 through 7. Call Gayle Bates at 578-6868 or Janel Lange at 246-1570.

St. Patrick, Morristown

ttorney J. Scott Griswold of Blessed John XXIII Parish in Knoxville received the 2010 Harris Gilbert Award from the Tennessee Bar Association for outstanding commitment to pro bono service and was recognized at a celebration in Nashville on Jan. 22. The award recognizes an attorney who engages in a significant amount of pro bono work in the community. Mr. Griswold is an attorney at Paine, Tarwater, and Bickers, LLP in Knoxville. Mr. Griswold, who was previously recognized by Legal Aid of East Tennessee for his service, devoted nearly 260 hours to pro bono service this past year. In one case he was appointed by the Tennessee Supreme Court to

Scott Griswold

represent an indigent client in an appeal; because of his efforts, the client prevailed in a 5-0 opinion from the court. In addition, Mr. Griswold assisted a couple fighting a wrongful foreclosure and eviction from their home right before Christmas. He was able to negotiate a new loan for the clients that allowed them to stay in their home. Upon graduating

from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 2007, Mr. Griswold clerked for former Chief Justice William M. Barker of the Tennessee Supreme Court, and in this position he observed a serious need for legal services to be provided to those who could not afford them. “Chief Justice Barker constantly encouraged me to do pro bono work once I started practicing law,” said Mr. Griswold, “and his passion for equal justice for all motivated me to engage in this type of work.” John Elder, a partner with the firm who nominated Mr. Griswold for the TBA award said, “We are excited that Scott has received recognition from the Tennessee Bar Association for his pro bono efforts.” n

n The youth of the parish took a trip to

MagiQuest in Pigeon Forge on Jan. 30. n Parishioners are invited to become a prayer partner for a first Holy Communion candidate. Those interested should e-mail Allison McKenna at stpatsccw@gmail.com. Smoky Mountain Deanery

Blessed John XXIII, Knoxville

n The parish thanked all those who

donated to the Elf Project over the Christmas season. Donations benefited more than 100 needy families. n The parish also saluted Greg Duthey for his work with parking at John XXIII during Tennessee football games. The annual project raised more than $9,500 for the parish last fall.

St. Bridget youth, college team up for MLK Day service

ryan College in Dayton has sent its faculty, staff, and students into the communities of Rhea County on Martin Luther King Day for service work for the last seven years. This year, for the second time, the college sent a delegation to St. Bridget Church in Dayton to assist in

clean-up and repairs around the grounds. Parish coordinator of youth ministries Patrick Mugridge, also an environmentalservices assistant at Bryan, used the opportunity to put young people of St. Bridget to work with the college volunteers. Despite facing inclement weather, the group

cleared leaves and debris from the grounds, swept snow off the parking lot, and painted and remodeled the church office. The helpers created an office for the youth minister and furnished it. Around nine high school youth from St. Bridget assisted with the project. n

Immaculate Conception, Knoxville

n Bishop Richard F. Stika celebrated

Mass with the Vietnamese community of the parish Jan. 16. The visit was the bishop’s second with the community. For more information on the Mass in Vietnamese at IC, call Deacon Hieu Vinh at 865-640-5308. n Father David Farnum, CSP, preached the Annual Paulist Appeal at weekend Masses on Jan. 29. While Father Farnum was in town, IC pastor Father Ron Franco, CSP, preached the appeal at the Paulists’ mother church of St. Paul the Apostle in New York City.

COURTESY OF JANE HUBBARD

Chattanooga Deanery

Bar association honors attorney from John XXIII

BY DAN PACITTI

Our Lady of Fatima, Alcoa

n The parish is holding a potluck and

bingo night for parishioners 55 and older. The dinner will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 11, in the Fatima Center Social Hall. Bingo cards are $5 each, and bringing a dish is encouraged. To request a ride or more information, call Fran Gallagher at 865-681-4753. n The Knights of Columbus and the Council of Catholic Women are sponsoring the annual CYO Basket Auction and Spaghetti Dinner after the 5 p.m. Mass on Saturday, Feb. 5. Costs are $10 for adults ($15 at the door) and $5 for children ages 3 to 11. Proceeds from the auction will benefit the CYO, and the dinner proceeds will benefit the CCW and Knights charities.

Cleveland parish honors organist’s 25th anniversary St. Thérèse of Lisieux in Cleveland recently honored David Elrod (front row, third from left) with a luncheon upon his 25th anniversary as the parish organist. Mr. Elrod plays for three Masses each weekend and for weddings, funerals, special liturgies, and rehearsals. He also works full time as the purchasing manager at Flowers Bakery in Cleveland. With him are (from left, front) Deacon Doug Owens, Marilyn Brewer, and then–associate pastor Father Michael Maples and (back) director of music Jane Hubbard, pastor Father Peter Iorio, and Terry Honaker. Mrs. Brewer and Mrs. Honaker are members of the traditional choir at St. Thérèse.

Sacred Heart, Knoxville

n Bishop Richard F. Stika hosted the

Council of Catholic Women’s Winter Coffee on Feb. 1. n The annual “Souper Bowl Sunday” collection will take place at weekend Masses on Feb. 5 and 6 to benefit the West Knoxville FISH Pantry. Parishioners are asked to bring two cans each of chicken noodle, tomato, and beef/ vegetable soup, preferably condensed soup in 11-ounce cans. n Sacred Heart is looking for new co-chairs for its annual Children’s Consignment Sale. Those interested should contact current co-chairs Tricia Sellers at sassyfamily@knology.net or Kirstin Kropilak at kmaek@aol.com.

St. Albert the Great, Knoxville

n The Corporal Works of Mercy Com-

mittee will collect soup in cans and microwaveable bowls at weekend Masses on Feb. 5 and 6 for its annual “Souper Bowl” drive. n

COURTESY OF TOM GLENN

NOTES

COURTESY OF KATIE SHIRES

parish

Holy Family Knights raise funds for youth’s trip Knights of Columbus Council 12961 held a spaghetti-dinner fundraiser Jan. 22 at Holy Family Church in Seymour to benefit parishioner Justin Glenn (center), a freshman at Sevier County High School. He is pictured with Grand Knight Mike Mugan and Holy Family pastor Father Ragan Schriver. Justin, an eight-year parishioner who is an altar server and a member of the youth group, is traveling to Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji in June 2011 as part of the People to People ambassador program. The fundraiser was attended by approximately 100 people and was topped off with a silent auction of various tickets and gifts. The event kicked off with a small discussion led by Mr. Mugan and an introduction of Justin, with Father Schriver giving a blessing before the dinner.

www.dioknox.org

THE EAST TENNESSEE CATHOLIC

St. Mary Parish in Johnson City is holding a Valentine’s Dinner & Dance on Saturday, Feb. 12. A prime-rib dinner will begin at 6 p.m., with the evening concluding at 10:30. Cost is $25. The event is for adults only. Purchase tickets after Mass or call 423-299-8541 to reserve them. A “come and see” retreat hosted by the Associates of the Sisters of Mercy in America will be held from 1 to 4:45 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26, at St. Albert the Great Church in Knoxville. Contact Priscilla Hales at 531-4537 or pwhales@comcast.net, or Sister Marie Moore at 545-8814 or mmoore@ mercy.com for details or to RSVP. St. John Neumann Parish in Farragut will host a “Mission on the Life of John Neumann” at 7 p.m. daily Monday, Feb. 21, through Thursday, Feb. 24, in honor of the saint’s 200th anniversary. Redemptorist Father Vic Karls will be the presenter. For more information, call the parish office at 865-966-4540. Knoxville Catholic High School will be hosting a Casino Night from 6:30 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 5, in the gym. Activities include dancing with live music by the Atomic Horns, dinner, casino games, and a silent auction. All proceeds will go to Project Graduation on May 21, the night of the KCHS commencement ceremony. Tickets cost $20 and may be bought from KCHS seniors, parents of seniors, and the school office. They may also be purchased at the door or by calling one of the numbers below. Ages 21 or older only. For more information, contact Polly Proctor at 865-567-9272 or tnpollyp@aol.com, Mindy Coulter at 548-8728 or mindy coulter@msn.com, or Francie Ridley at 556-8489 or ridleyvols@aol.com. The diocesan Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry is sponsoring a Spring Music Fest set for 6:15 p.m. Saturday, March 12, at St. Mary Church in Johnson City. The featured artist is Dante Schmitz. The evening will include a live concert, food, and adoration. Tickets are $5, with proceeds supporting national and international mission work. Families are welcome to attend. For more information, visit tinyurl.com/musicfest-dante or e-mail jarodtrunzo@yahoo.com. Mr. Schmitz’s website is at danteschmitz.com. High school students are invited to attend the diocesan Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry’s annual Sleepless! event, which will take place from 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 19, to 6 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 20, at the Pigeon Forge Community Center. Mass will be celebrated Saturday evening, and there will be a holy hour with exposition and benediction as well as an opportunity to receive the sacrament of reconciliation. Participants may take part in swimming, bowling, racquetball, basketball, volleyball, floor hockey, ultimate Frisbee, ping-pong, and a D.J. dance at the center. Cost is $25 and includes pizza. For more information, contact Deacon Dan Hosford at djh2@ comcast.net or 865-603-9682. Youth should register for the event with their parish youth-ministry coordinator. St. Dominic School in Kingsport will have a dinner–dance Saturday, Feb. 19, as part of its 65th-anniversary celebration this school year. St. Dominic pastor Father Mike Nolan will celebrate Mass at 5:30 p.m., with dinner, a short program, and dancing to follow in the parish life center. Giuseppe’s restaurant will cater the dinner, and The Has Beens band will perform. The event is for adults only. Adults inside and outside the parish are welcome to attend the dinner–dance. Cost is $25 per couple. Tickets are being sold after all Masses and may be purchased at the church office. Call 423-288-8101 or e-mail hrivnak@chartertn.net for more details. The 21st annual Sacred Heart Cathedral School Dinner, Dance & Auction is set for Saturday, March 5, at the Crowne Plaza in Knoxville. This year’s theme is “21! Blackjack Black & White Bash: The Auction Comes of Age.” A cocktail reception and silent auction will take place from 6:30 to 8 p.m., with dinner, a ceremony, and a live auction from 8:15 to 10 and dancing from 10 to midnight. Black-and-white cocktail THE E A S T T E N N E S S E E C A T H OLIC

OLPH player makes Punt, Pass & Kick national finals

BY DAN PACITTI

attire is encouraged. RSVP deadline is Wednesday, Feb. 9. For more information, contact Donna Brunson at 865414-1830 or molegirl@aol.com. A “Caregiving for the Caregiver” seminar will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 5, in the familylife center at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Lenoir City. Speaker Robert Coyne, who took care of his wife for five and a half years until her death, will discuss such topics as personal care, insurance and Social Security information, and finding time for respite. For more information, call Lil at 865458-1949 or Barbara at 458-8922. The next diocesan Colombia youth mission trip is tentatively scheduled for June 7 through 23. Father Antonio Giraldo will lead the mission. The second of two mandatory meetings for those interested is set for 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 13 (note new date), at St. Thérèse of Lisieux Church in Cleveland. Those attending must be age 16 or older, have a written letter of reference from a youth minister and/or pastor, and write a personal essay stating their reasons for wishing to participate. Virtus-trained adults are welcome to travel with the group. Maximum group size is 22. Cost is $1,500. A $500 deposit will be due at the Feb. 13 meeting. For more information, call the St. Thérèse office at 423-476-8123. The Sevier County chapter of Tennessee Right to Life will hold its next general meeting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 3, in the Pigeon Forge Library meeting room. Knoxville News Sentinel columnist Greg Johnson will speak. For more information, call Karen Mercer at 865-908-2417. Father Christopher Riehl, associate pastor of Sacred Heart Cathedral, will present “Sacraments: Mysteries of Faith” in seven weekly sessions, beginning with baptism at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 3, in the Shea Room at Sacred Heart. Those attending should bring a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church or the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults. For details, call the parish office at 865-588-0249. Sister Mary Timothea Elliott, RSM, diocesan director of Christian Formation, will lead an evening of reflection titled “Psalms, the Prayers That Jesus Prayed” at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 8 (rescheduled from Jan. 11), at Sacred Heart Cathedral. For more information, call 865-584-4528. For the second year in a row, Bishop Richard F. Stika will host bilingual celebrations to honor married couples and their commitment to the sacrament of marriage. Each event will include Mass, an opportunity to renew wedding vows, and a luncheon for couples and their family and friends. The second of the three celebrations will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 5, at St. Patrick Church in Morristown, and the third is set for 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 12, at St. Thérèse of Lisieux Church in Cleveland. A commemorative certificate will be available at the luncheons for couples who register. To attend a celebration, RSVP to Karen Byrne of the diocesan Office of Marriage Preparation and Enrichment at 865-584-3307, extension 5739, or kbyrne@dioknox.org. Couples should provide their names, number of years married, and number of guests coming to the luncheon.

BY DAN MCWILLIAMS

eventh-grader Tyler Enos of Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in Chattanooga outlasted thousands of others in his age group nationwide to reach the NFL’s Punt, Pass & Kick national finals held at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Jan. 15. More than three million boys and girls ages 6 to 15 took part in the annual competition in local, sectional, and regional contests, with regionals held Oct. 17 through Dec. 19 on game days at each of the 32 NFL stadiums. Only the top four in each age group advanced from the regionals to the finals, which took place before the Falcons’ playoff game against Green Bay. Tyler, 13, a veteran of four PPK contests, placed fourth by the slimmest of margins in the regionals to earn his first trip to the finals, where he also finished fourth. “I was really excited because I’ve been trying to do this since I was 8, and it was crazy—I beat one kid by an inch,” said Tyler, who competes in the 12-13 boys age group. The linebacker and right guard for OLPH advanced through the local and sectional events to reach the team championships held at the Tennessee Titans practice field in Nashville on Oct. 24. His combined punt, pass, and kick distance of 342 feet, 1 inch, was the best in the country for his age group at that early point in the contest and also beat the 14-15-year-old boys group that competed in Nashville. The Titans contestants also attended Tennessee’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles at LP Field and were recognized during the third quarter. But Tyler had to sweat it out every weekend until Dec. 19 as more than two dozen additional regional competitions took place around the NFL. By Dec. 5 he had dropped to fourth place. “I was nervous because you keep thinking someone’s going

COURTESY OF KATHY SUMRELL

CALENDAR

Tyler Enos stands alongside his OLPH head coach, Bucky Dearing. Tyler’s mom, Sherri Bradford, credits Mr. Dearing with instilling a love of football in Tyler. FOURTH IN THE NATION

to beat you,” said Tyler. “Every weekend my dad would tell me if someone had gotten in front of me or not.” On Dec. 12, the next-to-last weekend of the competition, a youth at the New Orleans Saints regional posted a score of 342 feet even to just miss tying Tyler, and a boy at the San Diego Chargers regional finished with 341-flat. No one came within 37 feet of Tyler’s score in three events on the final weekend, assuring him of a trip to Atlanta. “It was amazing,” Tyler said of his experience at the finals. “It was really fun. The NFL fed you like every two hours, and then we got to go to the Georgia Dome.” Each PPK participant punts, passes, and kicks from a tee. After each attempt is measured, deductions for inaccuracy are made. “If you kick it 75 yards but kick it 5 yards to the left, it only counts as 70 yards,” said Tyler. Mom Sherri Bradford said her son “has really enjoyed the Punt, Pass & Kick contest.” “This is the farthest he’s ever been. He has won the sectional and the local every time and has won the competition to represent the Titans three out of four times.” Tyler’s father, Terry Enos, was all-city in football, basketball, and baseball at Notre Dame High School. Grandfather Joe Enos played football in high school. “We’re so proud of Tyler,” said Joe Enos. “It’s unbelievable when you stop and think about how there were three

million participating from all over the country. Tyler’s really dedicated. He takes after his dad.” Dad and granddad have assisted Tyler in his PPK endeavors. “My dad helped me get ready for the competition and practices with me a lot, and my grandfather gives me a lot of advice and tells me everything to get me ready.” Tyler received a number of prizes for making the finals, including NFL warm-ups, T-shirts, and sweatshirts. The young athletes attended a tailgate party before the game and were recognized at halftime. When he arrived in Atlanta, Tyler also found a number of gifts from the Titans awaiting him, including autographed footballs from head coach Jeff Fisher and star running back Chris Johnson. Tyler enjoys tackling, making more than 100 for the Rams last fall. “It’s my favorite thing in football,” he said. He also plays on the OLPH basketball and soccer teams. This spring he plans to go out for the tennis team at OLPH. He has played alongside older brother Joe, an eighthgrader at OLPH, in football and soccer. Tyler, whose entire family attends OLPH Church, will follow his dad’s footsteps to Notre Dame and dreams of playing for Auburn in college. His dad’s threesport success at NDHS influenced his own desire to attend the school, said Tyler. “That’s the main reason I’m going to Notre Dame.” n

A Seekers of Silence Contemplative Saturday Morning will be held Feb. 12 at Blessed John XXIII Catholic Center in Knoxville. Father Jim Brucz, CSP, will give a talk titled “A Handful of Hebrew.” Coffee and tea will be served at 8:30 a.m.; the workshop will run from 9 a.m. to noon. Bring a bag lunch. To RSVP or learn more, call 865-523-7931. Registration is under way for Diocese of Knoxville young people who plan to attend World Youth Day in Madrid in August 2011. Total cost is $3,321 per person, which includes accommodations (double occupancy), American buffet breakfasts, WYD fees, and airline taxes and fuel charges. A second option offers simple accommodations on school-gym floors but includes everyCalendar continued on page 8

COURTESY OF SARA CAREY

on the

St. Alphonsus Scouts receive Ad Altare Dei medals Nine Boy Scouts at St. Alphonsus Parish in Crossville recently completed the Ad Altare Dei program and received their medals at Mass on Dec. 5. From left are (front) John Weismuller, Christian Staton, Casey Clark, Zac Cole, and Austin Cole; (middle) Leigh Smith, Jimmy Weismuller, Jordan Stevenson, and Jonathan Farinella; and (back) George LeCrone, chairman of the Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting; Monica Hackett, Ad Altare Dei instructor; Father Jim Harvey, pastor; and Ron Alt, Knights of Columbus representative.

www.dioknox.org

FEBRUARY 6, 2011

Deaths

building the

ROBERT JABALEY

Robert Khalil Jabaley, 60, of Epworth, Ga., died Monday, Dec. 20, 2010, at Floyd Medical Center in Rome, Ga., after a lengthy illness. Mr. Jabaley was born in Polk County on Sept. 17, 1950, to Ellis and Angeline Yarid Jabaley. He was a member of a large LebaneseAmerican community of relatives who owned several businesses in the Copper Basin area, including John Jabaley and Sons, where Mr. Jabaley worked for many years. Mr. Jabaley was a lifelong parishioner of St. Catherine Labouré in Copperhill. He attended West Fannin High School in Blue Ridge, Ga., and graduated from Tennessee Military Institute in 1968. He attended the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis. He was preceded in

marriage

death by his parents; an infant brother, Christopher; and his grandparents, who emigrated from Lebanon, John Jabaley Sr., Nabeha Jabaley, Slyman Khalil Yarid, and Mary Yarid. Survivors include a sister and brother-inlaw, Mary and Morgan Arp, and a sister, Carolyn Ippisch. The funeral Mass was celebrated Thursday, Dec. 23, at St. Catherine Labouré Church with Father Patrick Resen officiating. Interment followed in Crestlawn Cemetery in Copperhill. Memorials may be made to St. Catherine Labouré Church, P.O. Box 1165, Copperhill, TN 37317 or to the Highland Rivers Mental Health Center, 1710 Whitehouse Drive, Suite 204, Dalton, GA, 30720. Friends may send condolences at www.cochranfuneral homes.com. n

ENRICHMENT

A gift to appreciate all year B Y M A R I A N C HRISTIANA

t. Valentine’s Day is upon us, and couples all over the country are scrambling to find a special gift or gesture to express their deep love for their spouse. Isn’t that a tremendous pressure to put on one gift or gesture? Wouldn’t it be easier if we intentionally showed our love for each other in the everyday moments of our family life? In Bishop Richard F. Stika’s Jan. 23 ETC column (“Wonder in the ordinary”) he wrote that many of the couples in attendance at the marriage celebration Masses held around the diocese share the trait of finding the extraordinary in the ordinary occasions of married life. This ability to recognize the holiness of family life reflects Christ’s grace within marriage and reminds us we are all called to love our spouse as Christ loves his church. This Valentine’s Day, give your spouse the gift of your time and attention by recognizing the small acts of love he or she expresses every day. Write a list of the ways your spouse reflects Christ’s love for you through his or her daily routine. Share that list and express your thanks for his or her sacrificial love. Commit to making this small moment of gratitude a daily habit. Such a Valentine gift will be appreciated all year long. If you would like to explore further the topic of sacrificial love, consider attending one of three marriage-enrichment presentations sponsored by the Office of Marriage Preparation and Enrichment. The sessions are scheduled for three different locations this month. A light dinner for two will be served, followed by a presentation titled “Sacrificial Love Expressed in Everyday Moments.” Counselors from Catholic Charities of East Tennessee Inc. will be the guest speakers, and they will interweave the wisdom of Catholic tradition, data from the social sciences, and simple suggestions that can improve a couple’s communication skills. Dates and locations for these free “husband friendly” evenings are listed below, and each session begins at 6:30 p.m. and ends at 9. To register for a presentation or obtain more information, contact me at mchristiana@dioknox.org or 423-892-2310. n Tuesday, Feb. 8, parish life center, St. Stephen Church, Chattanooga n Wednesday, Feb. 23, Shea Room, Sacred Heart Cathedral n Thursday, Feb. 24, parish life center, St. Dominic Church, Kingsport n Mrs. Christiana is coordinator of the diocesan Marriage Preparation and Enrichment Office.

Diocese of Knoxville procedure for reporting sexual abuse Anyone who has actual knowledge of or who has reasonable cause to suspect an incident of sexual abuse should report such information to the appropriate civil authorities first, then to the bishop’s office, 865-584-3307, or the diocesan victims’ assistance coordinator, Marla Lenihan, 865-482-1388.

FEBRUARY 6, 2011

KINGDOM

BY JIM LINK

The greatest force for good Our investments in the Church greatly enhance the quality of life on Earth.

In his book How the Catholic Church Built Western Civilization (Regnery Publishing, 2005), Thomas Woods, a New York Times best-selling author and historian, credits Catholicism with theorizing the possibility of flight, developing the concept of capitalism, and establishing the university system and modern hospital. He enumerates the Church’s leading contributions to music, art, architecture, and astronomy. Woods claims that 15thcentury Catholic theologians in Spain—not Adam Smith three centuries later—founded modern economics and that the exaltation of human reason and the Church’s commitment to rigorous and rational debate gave rise to the scientific revolution. He asserts that the idea of international law, often attributed to Enlightenment thinkers, came from 16th-century Catholic theologians, that all of Western law derived from canon law, the first modern legal system in Europe, and that Catholic clergy pioneered rational trial procedures and sophisticated legal concepts. Woods states that the idea of universal human rights, codified in a 1948 declaration of the United Nations, is rooted in Catholic canon law, not the writings of John Locke and Thomas Jefferson, and that following the fall of the Roman Empire it was the Church that rebuilt the West, preserving what was best from classical antiquity. Readers may know that thousands of contemporary historians credit Pope John Paul II with the fall of the Soviet Union, but did you know that the fathers of geology, modern atomic theory, genetics, and seismology were Catholic priests, or that 35 craters on the moon are named for Jesuit mathematicians and scientists? Indeed, Woods quotes historians who declare St. Benedict the Father of Europe and the Benedictines the fathers of the new

MISSAL

civilization itself. The author concludes that the Catholic Church is the greatest force for good the world has ever known. Not bad for an organization founded by a carpenter from an obscure village! Why, you might ask, would I begin a regular column on stewardship by citing the Church’s historical contributions? Wouldn’t it be better to celebrate modern-day stewards here in East Tennessee—those who advance the Church’s mission with exemplary gifts of time, talent, and treasure? Perhaps, and I will certainly do so in future columns. My point is this: an investment in the Church is the best investment anyone can make in enhancing the quality of life on Earth. Beyond providing spiritual and moral guidance to millions, the Church is the largest and most effective nongovernmental provider of social services. Consider what it does in the United States alone: n More than 85 million people are admitted to our nation’s 573 Catholic hospitals annually. Another 15 million visit emergency rooms at Catholic hospitals, and more than 86 million people are treated as outpatients or are served by 1,509 nursing homes. n Annually the Catholic Charities network serves more than 20 million people, regardless of religious, social, or economic background. More than two million families are fed by Catholic food pantries; another 2.7 million eat in Catholic soup kitchens or enjoy home-delivered meals. Nearly 300,000 people sleep in Church-sponsored homeless shelters, and 27,000 benefit from longerterm transitional housing. n Over the past 30 years the Church’s Migration and Refugee Service has resettled 912,160,740 refugees. Services provided to immigrants and refugees include health care, employment, language and citizenship training, legal counsel, rental assistance, and home-purchase subsidies. n More than 50,264 children are cared for in 235 Catholic homes and orphanages. n More than 2.5 million students are educated in 6,511

BY FATHER RANDY STICE

Eucharistic Prayer II The version in the new Missal is more faithful to the Scriptures.

The Eucharistic Prayer is “the center and summit” of the entire Mass. In this prayer “the Last Supper is recounted; the mystery of Christ’s passion, saving death, resurrection, and ascension is recalled; the memorial sacrifice of his Body and Blood is offered to the Father; and the Holy Spirit is invoked to sanctify the gifts and transform those who partake of them into the body of Christ.” “The meaning of the Prayer is that the entire congregation of the faithful should join itself with Christ in confessing the great deeds of God and in the offering of Sacrifice” (General Instruction of the Roman Missal, No. 78). www.dioknox.org

Eucharistic Prayer II is an adaptation of the eucharistic prayer found in the Apostolic Tradition of Hippolytus of Rome, which dates from the early part of the third century. According to the GIRM, “on account of its particular features, is “more appropriately used on weekdays or in special circumstances” (No. 365). One of the notable characteristics of Eucharistic Prayer II in the new Roman Missal is its faithfulness to the scriptural references. There are several examples of this. In the anamnesis (the memorial) the priest will now say, “we offer you, Lord, the Bread of life and the Chalice of salvation.” “Bread of life” is a reference to Jesus’ assertion, “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35, 48). “The Chalice of salvation” is a quotation from Psalm 116:13: “I will raise the cup of salvation and call on the name of

Catholic elementary schools and 1,354 high schools. n Our nation’s 231 Catholic colleges enroll 763,757 students. Within these institutions of higher learning are four medical schools, 26 law schools, 17 engineering colleges, 81 schools of nursing, 177 schools of education, 19 women’s colleges, three research universities, 13 doctoral universities, and two aviation programs. In just one example, we know the Church delivers impressive results: 98 percent of Catholic secondary school students graduate, and 97 percent go on to college. If these Catholic school students had chosen more expensive, less effective public schools, the added bill for taxpayers would have been more than $20 billion a year. The Church’s educational ministry plays a critical role in helping people break the cycle of poverty. More than 30 percent of students in Catholic schools are minorities, many of them non-Catholic; nearly 25 percent of students in Catholic colleges are the first in their families to pursue post-secondary education. Annually, more than 123 million Americans receive food, shelter, counseling, education, and health care from Catholic agencies. They’re treated with respect and empowered to live in hope. During the past 25 years I’ve had the privilege of serving some of America’s most respected charitable organizations as a staff fundraiser or fundraising consultant. These included an Ivy League college, a federal service academy, the country’s most respected research university, and the world’s largest youth agency. As worthy as these organizations are, if you were to combine the contributions they’ve made to our nation and world, they wouldn’t come close to matching the positive impact of the Catholic Church. Although Thomas Woods’s objective was not to make a compelling case that people should support the Church with their time, talent, and treasure, that’s precisely what he did. Like him, I conclude that the Catholic Church is the greatest force for good the world has ever known. To say it deserves our support would be an understatement. n Mr. Link directs the Stewardship and Planned Giving Office. the LORD.” Another important scriptural allusion is found in the invocation of the Holy Spirit upon the bread and wine (the epiclesis): “Make holy, therefore, these gifts, we pray, by sending down your Spirit upon them like the dewfall.” The reference to dewfall recalls the miraculous gift of manna in the wilderness, described in Exodus 16:13-14: “In the morning a dew lay all about the camp, and when the dew evaporated, there on the surface of the desert were fine flakes like hoarfrost on the ground.” When they ask Moses what it is, he replies, “This is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat.” This miracle is cited in John’s Gospel by the crowd that asks Jesus for a sign: “Our ancestors ate manna in the desert, as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” Jesus answers that this miracle was a sign pointing to him, explaining that “it was not Moses who gave the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from Missal continued on page 7

THE EAST TENNESSEE CATHOLIC

Mercy Sister Madaleva Partenope dies at 79

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DAN MCWILLIAMS

The crowd at the Sacred Heart gym heard from Alaynna and Kym McCormick as well as another school parent, two doctors, a Baptist minister, and pro-life advocate Lisa Morris of Sacred Heart. CONCERNED CITIZENS

especially over the fact that no consent form was provided to parents regarding the Planned Parenthood visit. Such forms are normally provided for anything with the remotest possibility of inappropriate content, even the showing of “G-rated movies,” she said. Paul Simoneau, director of the Office of Justice and Peace, emceed the meeting. Also speaking were Sacred Heart parishioner Lisa Morris, a pro-life advocate and Office of Justice and Peace volunteer; school parent William Cutshall; family practitioner Dr. Michael Carlson; pediatrician Dr. David Perry; and the Rev. Sam Polson of West Park Baptist in Knoxville. Those in the audience included Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett; Knox County Schools superintendent Dr. Jim McIntyre; county school-board member Cindy Buttry; and state Rep. Bill Dunn, a parishioner of Holy Ghost in Knoxville, and his wife, Stacy, executive director of the Knox County chapter of Tennessee Right to Life. Bishop Richard F. Stika has written Dr. McIntyre, expressing his concerns over the Planned Parenthood curriculum. The organization’s website defines a number of sexual practices as “outercourse”: virtually any act short of intercourse, has information that takes a no-right-or-wrong approach to moral issues, and has links to other sites with extremely graphic content. Mr. Simoneau said his appearance at the meeting was not so much in his role with the diocese but as “a parent of six children in three different Knox County schools because my primary vocation in life is that of a husband and father.” The meeting’s goals included helping the audience “understand what Planned Parenthood really is,” said Mr. Simoneau. “They’re not just wellness educators; they’re the largest providers of abortion services in the United States,” he said. “The other purpose of our gathering tonight is to ask that Planned Parenthood’s hallway pass to the classrooms of our youth be revoked. . . . “Why would any parent want an organization that promotes abortion, sexual promiscuity, and the usurping of parental rights to speak to his or her child about sex?” Many of those attending the meeting signed a petition to “remove Planned Parenthood from our schools.” Mrs. McCormick thanked state Sen. Jamie Woodson, state Rep. Brian Haynes, Mayor Burchett, and school-board member Thomas Deakins, whose district includes Hardin Valley Academy, for supporting her on the issue. “I would like to thank the principals who returned my calls regarding whether they had allowed Planned Parenthood into their schools. Every single principal I spoke to besides my own said no.” Mrs. McCormick spoke to Hardin Valley principal Sallee Reynolds as well as her daughter’s wellness teacher and Laura Boring, the county schools’ K-8 supervisor of P.E. and health. The teacher never returned her calls, while her conversation with Ms. Boring did not go well, said Mrs. McCormick. “I was asked to speak with Mr. Marion Quinn, the supervisor THE E A S T T E N N E S S E E C A T H OLIC

for 9-12,” she said. “[Ms. Boring] asked me what I needed to know and assured me that she could help me. When I started asking her about Planned Parenthood, she said, ‘Oh, you’re that parent.’ When I attempted to ask my questions, she kept talking over me and started shouting me down to the point that I had to hang up the phone.” Ms. Boring’s supervisor, executive director of instruction Becky Ashe, said—after being told of the website’s contents and the links to more graphic sites—that “she herself was the one who had dropped the ball and not done her research on this particular group,” said Mrs. McCormick. Jeff Teague, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Middle and East Tennessee, recently told the Knoxville News Sentinel that “we certainly are not promoting those sorts of websites” that Mrs. McCormick and her daughter found. “We’ll let you judge for yourselves,” said Mrs. McCormick. Mrs. Morris said she wanted to dispel the belief that Planned Parenthood was a “benign organization.” “Planned Parenthood, as you’ve heard over and over, is the nation’s largest abortion provider, using 363 million of our tax dollars— one-third of their annual budget— to do it. The founder of Planned Parenthood, Margaret Sanger, was an advocate of eugenics and of uninhibited sex promoting liberation for women.” Sanger’s view on adultery (“A woman’s physical satisfaction was more important than any marriage vow,” from Birth Control in America) is “exactly what Planned Parenthood promotes within its sex-education program,” said Mrs. Morris. “‘Anything is OK at any age, at any time.’” Mrs. Morris spoke of “the graphic and pornographic nature” of a site teens can link to via the Planned Parenthood site. Mr. Cutshall said that Dr. McIntyre and Hardin Valley Academy had known about the Planned Parenthood curriculum for months but had “done nothing” to stop its use in classrooms. “What I’ve said publicly and to the bishop is that my intent is to review the materials that are a part of the presentation for all of our presenters in the family-life curriculum,” said Dr. McIntyre, adding that he will “do that in conjunction with the Knox County Health Department, with the state of Tennessee Department of Education, and some health-education professors from the local colleges and really step back and take a look at the material and the presentations.” Alaynna said she thought the meeting “went really well.” “We hit all the points we needed to hit, and now it’s up to the parents to make of it what they will,” she said. With the meeting at Sacred Heart behind them, parents of students in Knox County Schools should next “contact their schoolboard members and ask that Planned Parenthood not be allowed into our schools in any capacity,” said Mr. Simoneau. “They should also attend the schoolboard meeting on March 2 at 5 p.m. to make their voices heard.” To sign the petition, visit noknoxvilleabortion.org. n

ister Mary Madaleva Partenope, RSM, died peacefully Monday, Jan. 24, at Mercy Medical Center St. Mary’s in Knoxville, following a short illness. A resident of Mercy Convent in Nashville, she was 79 years old and a Sister of Mercy for 59 years. Sister Madaleva was born in St. Louis and grew up in Memphis, where she was educated in Catholic schools. She entered the Sisters of Mercy on Sept. 8, 1951, and made profession of final vows Aug. 16, 1957. She received her bachelor of arts degree from Our Lady of Cincinnati College and her master of arts degree from Xavier University in Cincinnati. For 30 years Sister Madaleva served as a teacher and principal in Catholic schools in Tennessee and Ohio. She taught at Sacred Heart Cathedral School and St. Joseph School in Knoxville and at St. Mary School in Johnson City, and she was

teacher and principal at St. Dominic School in Kingsport. Her ministries also included the Sisters of Mercy Generalate in Bethesda, Md., Edgecliff College in Cincinnati, and Sacred Heart Home in Louisville, Ky. Her last 20 years were spent at Mercy Convent in Nashville, where she managed the housekeeping staff and visited the elderly in their homes. Sister Madaleva was preceded in death by her parents, Michael and Mary McGlynn Partenope, and her brother, Vincent. She is survived by many cousins, the Sisters of Mercy, and many friends. A memorial Mass was celebrated Tuesday, Jan. 25, in the chapel at St. Mary’s in Knoxville, with Father Tom O’Connell and Monsignor Xavier Mankel officiating. The funeral Mass was held Thursday, Jan. 27, at Mercy Convent in Nashville with Bishop David R. Choby officiating. Burial followed in Calvary Cemetery, Nashville. n

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heaven and gives life to the world” (John 6:31-33). This illustrates an important liturgical principle. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “A sacramental celebration is woven from signs and symbols” (No. 1145, emphasis added). Ultimately, these signs and symbols find their fulfillment in Jesus, who “gives new meaning to the deeds and signs of the Old Covenant, above all to the Exodus and the Passover, for he himself is the meaning of all these signs” (No. 1151, emphasis added). The signs and symbols that make up the Mass point to, are fulfilled by, and make present Christ himself. So when the priest asks God to send his Spirit “like the dewfall” upon the gifts of bread and wine, think of the miracle in the desert and its fulfillment in Christ, the true bread from heaven who gives

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life to the world at each Mass. According to the Second Vatican Council, the biblical nature of the liturgy is one of the sources of its power: “Sacred Scripture is of the greatest importance in the celebration of the liturgy. . . . It is from the Scriptures that the prayers, collects, and hymns draw their inspiration and their force and that actions and signs derive their meaning” (Sacrosanctum Concilium, No. 24, emphasis added). Knowing these scriptural references enables us to enter more fully into the Mass for, as Pope John Paul II taught, “Through these signs the mystery in some way opens up before the eyes of the believer” (Mane Nobiscum Domine, No. 14). n Father Stice is the director of the Worship and Liturgy Office. He may be reached at frrandy@dioknox.org.

FEBRUARY 6, 2011

from the

WIRE

Who are the new religious?

One of the informational ads in the 10-week Project Rachel campaign in the District of Columbia and the surrounding Maryland and Virginia counties is pictured. The campaign marks the first time that Project Rachel ads were running in Spanish at Washington bus shelters and the first time that one of the ads was aimed at men affected by abortion. ‘ALL IS NOT LOST’

Campaign invites those affected by abortion back to God’s mercy WASHINGTON (CNS)—At bus shelters throughout the Washington area the Catholic Church is sending a message to women and men whose lives have been affected by abortion: “Come back to God, who is love and mercy.” The 10-week campaign at 79 shelters in the District of Columbia and the surrounding Maryland and Virginia counties opened in late January, as tens of thousands of people gathered in Washington to mark the 38th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion. The campaign marks the first time that Project Rachel ads were running in Spanish at Washington bus shelters and the first time that one of the ads was aimed at men affected by abortion, said Deirdre McQuade, assistant director for policy and communications at the U.S. bishops’ Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities, which is funding the $200,000 campaign. Each ad depicts a person with a thought such as “God will never forgive me,” “I feel so worthless,” or “I failed as a father,” followed by a response such as “God’s greatest desire is to forgive,” “You are precious to God,” or “Do not despair. All is not lost,” followed by the tagline, “Come back to God, who is love and mercy.” The campaign is “inviting people to the heart of the Church, which is God’s love and mercy,” McQuade said. The ads direct people to a website, hopeafter abortion.org, where they can find resources about the psychological, emotional, and spiritual aftermath of abortion, information on what to say to a friend who has had an abortion, and a message board where those affected by abortion can share their stories. In addition, the site features an interactive map to help people locate a Project Rachel program in their area. “Project Rachel operates as a network of healing composed of specially trained caregivers, which may include priests, deacons, sisters, lay staff and volunteers, mental-health professionals, spiritual directors, mentors, chaplains, and others, such as medical personnel,” the website says. The project was founded in 1984 by Victoria Thorn in Milwaukee, and Project Rachel programs can now be found in about 150 U.S. dioceses and in some dioceses in other countries. n

WASHINGTON (CNS)—Women entering religious orders today are highly educated and active in parish ministries, according to a new national survey. The results of “The Profession Class of 2010: Survey of Women Religious Professing Perpetual Vows” were released in advance of World Day for Consecrated Life Feb. 2. The survey was conducted by the Georgetown University-based Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate and commissioned by the U.S. bishops’ Secretariat of Clergy, Consecrated Life, and Vocations. The survey was sent to sisters represented by the two conferences of religious women in the United States—the Leadership Conference of Women Religious and the Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious— and to contemplative communities. Respondents represented 52 religious orders. Of the 79 sisters contacted for the survey, 68 responded, according to a news release from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The 2010 class of women religious was more diverse by race and ethnicity than the U.S. population of women religious in general. Six in 10 identified themselves as white, one in five as Asian, and one in 10 as Hispanic. Six percent were AfricanAmerican or African. CARA said in a 2009 study that 94 percent of all U.S. women religious were white, 2 percent identified as Asian, and 3 percent were Hispanic. Less than 1 percent identified themselves as AfricanAmerican or African. Among other findings were the following: n The average age for these new women religious is 43. Women religious making perpetual vows in 2010

CNS PHOTO/RICK MUSACCHIO, TENNESSEE REGISTER

CNS PHOTO/COURTESY OF U.S. BISHOPS’ SECRETARIAT OF PRO-LIFE ACTIVITIES

A new survey finds they are well educated and active in the Church.

Sisters embrace after making their final profession of vows to enter the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia congregation in 2010 at the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Nashville. CONSECRATED LIFE

ranged in age from 25 to 62. n Eighty-seven percent of the sisters were born Catholic, and eight in 10 came from families where both parents are Catholic. n Although 71 percent of the new women religious were born in the United States, the minority came from 10 different countries. The most common non-U.S. countries of birth were Mexico (7 percent), Philippines (4 percent), and Nigeria (3 percent). n Half of responding women religious attended a Catholic elementary school. n More than 25 percent earned a graduate degree before entering their religious institute. Nearly six in 10 entered religious life with at least a bachelor’s degree. n Most women religious were active in parish life before entering their religious institute. Four in 10 participated in a youth group, and three in 10 participated in a young adult group. Eighty-five percent had ministry experience before entering their religious institute, most commonly in liturgical ministry, faith formation, or social service. n Half said they first considered a religious vocation before reaching age 18; the average age when a vocation was first

considered was 20. n Seventy-five percent of the sisters and nuns regularly participated in retreats before they entered their religious institute. Two-thirds regularly prayed the rosary or participated in eucharistic adoration. Six in 10 regularly participated in a faith-sharing or Biblestudy group or regular spiritual direction. n Nine in 10 women religious said they were encouraged to consider religious life by someone in their life. Of those who reported that they were encouraged to consider a vocation, more than half said they were encouraged by a religious sister. A third of the sisters said they were introduced to their institute by the recommendation of a priest or adviser. n Even though these women were encouraged by other religious to pursue their vocation, two-thirds of respondents said they were discouraged from considering a vocation—most often by parents or family members. n Most women religious of the class of 2010 participated in some type of vocation program or experience before entering their religious institute. Most commonly this was a “come and see” experience or a vocation retreat. “We are proud of

the vocation, sacred commitment, and service that women religious have made in the church,” said St. Louis Archbishop Robert J. Carlson, chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life, and Vocations. “Making the profession to poverty, chastity, and obedience is countercultural,” he said, adding that it requires “courage and fidelity to remain faithful to a religious vocation.” He promised the support and prayers of U.S. bishops for incoming and future women religious in the United States. Sister Mary Joanna Ruhland, a Sister of Mercy of Alma, Mich., who is associate director of the Secretariat of Clergy, Consecrated Life, and Vocations, said the study “demonstrates that family life and education are significant in forming children in the spiritual life.” She gave credit to the women religious and priests who served as role models for these new vocations and called the active faith of these new vocations “a tremendous witness to the power of Christ and prayer in the church.” n Copyright 2011 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

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thing else above, at a cost of $2,299. A deposit of $250 is needed to hold a reservation. The third payment of $500 is due by Tuesday, Feb. 15, with final payment due no later than May 15, 2011. For more information, contact Al Forsythe, diocesan director of Youth and Youth Adult Ministry, at 865-584-3307 or aforsythe@ dioknox.org, or Lucille of Regina Tours at 800-CATHOLIC, extension 208. Learn more at bit.ly/9iuuKS.

The St. Thomas the Apostle Ukrainian Catholic Mission celebrates Divine Liturgy at 10 a.m. Sundays in the chapel at the Chancery office in Knoxville. Call Father Richard Armstrong at 865-584-3307 for more information. n 8

FEBRUARY 6, 2011

MARY C. WEAVER

Holy Resurrection Ruthenian Byzantine Catholic Mission has Divine Liturgy celebrations at 3:30 p.m. Sundays at Holy Ghost Church, 1041 N. Central St. in Knoxville. Call Father Thomas O’Connell at 865-256-4880.

Bishop Stika leads the Rosary for Life prayer service About 400 people joined in a Rosary for Life held on Jan. 15 at Tyson Park, across the street from the abortion clinic on Concord Street in Knoxville. Holding the bishop’s microphone is Paul Simoneau, director of the Justice and Peace Office. From left are Deacon Gordon Lowery, Father John Arthur Orr, Mauricio Candelas, and Rob Morris. See the story on page 1, and view an online slide show of photos from the event at dioknox.org/rosary/. www.dioknox.org

THE EAST TENNESSEE CATHOLIC