Jan. 1, 2012, ET Catholic by Diocese of Knoxville

This issue

He dwells among us.................. 2 Diocesan calendar................... 10 Deanery news.......................... 11 La Cosecha............ center pullout

The East Tennessee

Catholic schools...................... 15 Columns.................................. 16 Catholic News Service............. 21

dioknox.org January 1, 2012 Volume 21 Number 5

Bishop Richard F. Stika

News from The Diocese of Knoxville

Rosary for life Third annual event set for Jan. 14

Priestly vocations Father Alberto Sescon talks about his call

Glenmary mission Open house held in Maynardville

Merry Christmas

The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee

He dwells among us

by Bishop Richard F. Stika

Bishop Stika’s schedule

The great procession

These are some of Bishop Stika’s public appointments:

The Mass, like Bethlehem, represents both an arrival and a departure on our pilgrimage of faith.

et us go over to Bethlehem to see . . .” (Luke 2:15). Responding to the heavenly announcement, the shepherds set out in a sacred procession to find their Savior, as did the Magi in response to creation’s announcement in the form of a star (Matthew 2:1-12). Our Advent procession, like theirs, has again brought us into the Christmas season (Christmas Eve through Jan. 9), offering a beautiful respite from the year’s journey that is concluding and preparing us to continue our procession into the New Year: a procession to Bethlehem. The distance from Nazareth to Bethlehem is about 80 miles, a bit less than the distance from Knoxville to Kingsport. I don’t know about you, but I’d be hard pressed to make a journey of that distance on foot. Some could make the trip more easily than others, but one wonders how unbearable the journey would become once the cell phones and iPods ran out of power. Silence has become almost a form of suffering for many when it should be an indispensable part of our faith procession. Because of the significance of the solemnity of Christmas, the Church

Diocesan policy for reporting sexual abuse

celebrates it as an octave, over eight days—as with Easter. Each of the days from Christmas to New Year’s Day is meant to help further our celebration. But we might wonder why we celebrate the martyrdom of St. Stephen the day after Christmas. The Church has always viewed martyrdom as a day of birth. Just as the infant Jesus was pursued by the sword of Herod, so St. Stephen, as a “holy innocent,” represents the infant Church and its suffering in every age. But such persecution, rather than weaken the Church, only gives it new life. And with the feast the following day of St. John, Apostle and Evangelist, the only Apostle not to suffer martyrdom, we learn through the Gospel to die to ourselves and to draw ever closer to the side of Christ at the Eucharistic banquet and upon the Cross (cf. John 13:23; 19:27). The Feast of the Holy Innocents, celebrated Dec. 28, recalls the innocent victims of Herod’s murderous envy and those lost to the Herods of every generation. The following day the Church celebrates the life of St. Thomas Becket, bishop and martyr, who in refusing to compromise his conscience and in defending the

Church from persecution, awakened justice in the hearts of many. On Dec. 30 the Church celebrates the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, reminding us that whenever the Church is attacked, so also is the family—the domestic church. Lest we be discouraged by this persecution, the Church offers us on the last day of the year a feast to contemplate the life of St. Sylvester I, pope and confessor, often referred to as the “peace pope.” Having lived under the terrible persecution of the Roman Empire that had raged for three centuries, he was blessed to witness the Church’s triumph and to lead it into an era of peace. It reminds us that the more we suffer for the faith, the more assured is Christ’s victory over the world. It is particularly fitting that we begin each New Year by celebrating the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God. Blessed John Paul II described the Church as the manger where the Blessed Mother places Christ for us to adore. So we begin our New Year by taking her hand, that we might not become lost as we continue our journey, the goal of

The East Tennessee

Jan. 1: 9 a.m., Mass, Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Jan. 4: 6 p.m., dinner with St. Gerard’s Guild, bishop’s residence Jan. 6: 8:05 a.m., first Friday Mass with students, Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Jan. 7: 11 a.m., celebration of marriage Mass and banquet, Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Jan. 14: 10 a.m., third annual Rosary for Life, Tyson Park, Knoxville Jan. 15: 6:30 p.m., Mass with Vietnamese community, Immaculate Conception Church, Knoxville Jan. 17: 11 a.m., general priest meeting, Chancery Jan. 19: 6 p.m., Knights of Columbus clergy appreciation dinner, St. John Neumann Church, Farragut Jan. 20–Feb. 1: ad limina visit with Pope Benedict XVI, Rome Feb. 3: 8:05 a.m., first Friday Mass with students, Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Feb. 5: 9 a.m., confirmation, Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul, Chattanooga n

Bishop continued on page 4

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

Margaret Hunt Administrative assistant Toni Pacitti Intern

Anyone who has actual knowledge of or who has reasonable 805 Northshore Drive, S.W. • Knoxville, TN 37922 cause to suspect an incident of The Diocese of Knoxville sexual abuse should report such The East Tennessee Catholic (USPS 007211) is published monthly by The Diocese of Knoxville, 805 Northshore Drive Southwest, information to the appropriate Knoxville, TN 37919-7551. Periodicals-class postage paid at Knoxville, Tenn. Printed on recycled paper by the Knoxville News Sentinel. civil authorities first, then to the The East Tennessee Catholic is mailed to all registered Catholic families in East Tennessee. Subscription rate for others is $15 a year in bishop’s office, 865-584-3307, or the United States. Make checks payable to The Diocese of Knoxville. the diocesan victims’ assistance coordinator, Marla Lenihan, 865Postmaster: Send address changes to The East Tennessee Catholic, 805 Northshore Drive Southwest, Knoxville, TN 37939-1127 Reach us by phone: 865-584-3307 • fax: 865-584-8124 • e-mail: webmaster@dioknox.org • web: dioknox.org 482-1388. n

2 January 1, 2012

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Respect for life

Making ‘an incredible statement’ in support of human life Bishop Stika, clergy, and the faithful will pray near a Knoxville abortion clinic on Jan. 14. By Mary C. Weaver

his January, for the third year in a row, East Tennesseans will gather with Bishop Richard F. Stika to pray a rosary for life a stone’s throw from a busy Knoxville abortion clinic. The goal is not only to pray—for the sanctity of life, those who have been touched by abortion, and those working in the abortion industry—but also to give “public witness to our faith,” said Paul Simoneau, director of the diocesan Justice and Peace Office. “It’s such an impressive sight to see a large group of people praying right across the street from an abortion clinic, giving witness to the sanctity of life,” said Mr. Simoneau. “I can’t help but think that on the morning we have the rosary, if we have 500 people or more, it’s going to make an incredible statement.” The rosary for life is set for 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 14, across from the abortion clinic at 313 S. Concord St. in Knoxville. Parking is available at Tyson Park. Bishop Stika will lead the prayer service, and he hopes for wide participation from parishes throughout the diocese, Mr. Simoneau said. “We’re encouraging those who are far away to consider coordinating with other parishes for a bus or carpooling to make it easier for people to participate,” he said. He noted that people from Chattanooga and other parts of East Tennessee have begun planning for the rosary for life. “This is not just for Knoxville and the neighboring parishes to pray for an end to abortion,” he said. “It affects our whole diocese, our state, and our nation.” Lest anyone think that it’s impossible to put a dent in the abortion industry, Mr. Simoneau cites the success achieved in Chattanooga. “Through prayer and public witThe East Tennessee Catholic

Public witness About 400 people gathered for last year’s rosary for life. Seen above (from left) are Father William Oruko, AJ, Susan Hendershott, Monsignor Philip Thoni, John Hendershott, Father John Dowling, Bishop Richard F. Stika, and Father John O’Neill.

ness, pro-life citizens were able to shut down the city’s last abortion clinic and turn it into a national memorial for the unborn,” he said. “That’s our vision too—not just to end abortion in Knoxville but to make the clinic a place of healing and memory. One day we want to see a chapel of the Holy Innocents on that site and to use the area by the wooded riverside as a place for

healing of memories and healing for mothers and fathers who have lost motherhood and fatherhood.” The anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision is Jan. 22, and on that date thousands from all over the United States will join the March for Life in Washington, D.C. The Knoxville event on Jan. 14 “is a great way locally to commemorate that sad anniver-

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sary,” said Mr. Simoneau. “We will mark it will great sadness but also with much hope that one day it will be understood that life is sacred from the moment of conception to natural death.” Both adults and schoolchildren are encouraged to take part in the rosary for life. For details, contact Mr. Simoneau at 865-584-3307 or psimoneau@dioknox.org. n January 1, 2012 3

Our priests

Bishop continued from page 2

which is the “father’s house” (cf. Luke 2:49). Unique to this particular year, two major celebrations fall back to back, concluding the Christmas season: the Epiphany (manifestation) and the Baptism of the Lord (Jan. 8 and 9). With these, we are reminded of our procession toward God and also his toward us. Nowhere is this truer than in the Mass. The procession that marks the beginning of the Mass formally concludes the procession that began with the departure from our homes and our journey to the church. God gathers us together, and the processional cross leads us before the altar. In the procession of the Book of Gospels to the ambo, we allow the Word of God to process into our hearts. To our life, which should be a continual offertory procession, we add our prayers, sacrifices, works of mercy and love, and sufferings—our very self—to what is brought to the altar. And in our Communion procession we are nourished with a foretaste of our life’s goal: fullness of communion with Christ. The Mass represents both an arrival in our life’s procession and a departure. With the words of dismissal, in their varied formulas, we are commanded to “Go,” to continue our procession to Bethlehem, announcing “. . . the Gospel of the Lord,” and “glorifying” him by our life. In conclusion, I wish to offer special thanks to those who offer their time and talents through the Cursillo movement, which in its nearly 15 years in our diocese has helped more than a thousand people to better continue their procession in life. I encourage you to take advantage of such opportunities to strengthen your walk in the great procession to Bethlehem. n

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‘I feel very happy ministering to people’ Father Sescon loves to be with the faithful on their spiritual journey. By Margaret Hunt

ather Alberto Sescon is the parochial administrator of St. Thérèse of Lisieux Church in Cleveland. He was the youngest of 12 children born to the late Epifanio Sescon and Teofila Caneon in Cebu City, Philippines. He was raised by his paternal aunt, Crascencia Sescon, after his mother died when he was 3. He gives his aunt credit for encouraging his love for the Catholic faith and being one of the primary influences on his decision to consider the priesthood. He was ordained a priest on June 5, 1986, at Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral in Cebu City.

love me. I can feel that. I’ve been a priest for 25 years, so change has become a part of my life.

What do you enjoy most about being a priest?

I was surprised when I first came here, when I asked for a residence and was placed at St. Therese in Clinton. Then when I was given an assignment, I was given St. Thérèse of Lisieux in Cleveland. St. Therese happens to be my personal saint. I like her simplicity and her doing simple things for God--not spectacular things. She did the simple things, and that’s what made her holy. The second saint I like best is St. Francis of Assisi. He loved the poor and was so dedicated to his mission in building up the church of God.

A lot of things, but most especially I feel very happy ministering to people. I am a people-oriented person. I love to be with people, especially leading them on their spiritual journey. I enjoy being close to people. I want to smile with them, be happy with them. I love to be with them. What is the most meaningful sacrament for you?

It’s the Eucharist. It’s my strength; it’s my source of everything. I don’t know what kind of priest I would be without it. What do you find most challenging as a priest?

The most challenging thing is when you are new in the parish and you don’t know the people. You have

What brought you to Knoxville?

I was doing my clinical pastoral education at UT Hospital. I was helping with Masses every weekend. I didn’t even finish my studies because Bishop Stika asked me if I could quit because they needed me [to staff a parish]. Tennessee is a beautiful place, the priest community is good, and I felt very at home so I decided to say yes. Which saints are you particularly close to?

Father Alberto Sescon

to learn to adjust. For me personally, I always trust in God’s divine guidance and protection. I have that little fear of what will be facing me in the future, but with trust in God’s presence, it’s gone. Like when I came here to Cleveland. I was facing people I don’t know, a parish that I have not been familiar with, but God is there, and I’m on my feet now. They loved the priest who was there before me, and they didn’t want him to go because he had been here only about a year and they’d been changing priests. They had that feeling that they didn’t like somebody else coming in, but I took it easy, and I just do what I can. I love them, and they’re beginning to

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What would you say to a man considering a vocation to the priesthood?

Just entrust yourself to God. Listen to his call, and most important, when you are ordained, be obedient to your bishop. Being obedient to the bishop is one way of showing your obedience to the Lord. n

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Three Mercy Sisters celebrate milestone anniversaries

hree Sisters of Mercy of the Knoxville Diocese celebrated jubilees of 50 and 60 years in their respective parishes this summer. Sister M. Yvette Gillen, RSM, celebrated her golden jubilee at St. Mary Church in Oak Ridge on May 20. Sister Yvette has worked in the Clinton area at St. Therese for more than 25 years. Recently she became pastoral associate at St. Joseph Parish in Norris. Father Bill McKenzie, pastor of Our Lady of Fatima in Alcoa, was the celebrant, and Father Bill Gahagan, pastor of both St. Joseph and St. Therese, was the homilist for the May 20 Mass. A dinner and “roast” were held afterward. Sister Patricia Ann Soete, RSM, celebrated her 60-year anniversary with a Mass at St. Jude Church -in Helenwood on Aug. 26.

Sister Pat has served the parish for more than 17 years, visiting the sick, assisting in education, helping with the celebration of liturgies, and working in the food pantry. Father

Gahagan and Father Dan Whitman, pastor of Holy Trinity Parish in Jefferson City were concelebrants. Deacon Dan Hosford assisted. The Mass was followed

Monsignor Garrity elected rep for national priest organization

Decades of service Mercy Sisters Marie Moore (left), Yvette Gillen, and Pat Soete (not pictured) celebrated major anniversaries this year, with celebrations in area churches.

by dinner in the church hall. Sister Pat said she is “grateful to the Lord for his many gifts over these past years,” especially for her vocation and the grace and courage to celebrate God’s great love and presence in her life.” Sister Marie Moore, RSM, celebrated her 60th anniversary on Sept. 11 at St. Albert the Great Church in Knoxville. Father Chris Michelson, the pastor, celebrated the Eucharist and was joined by Deacons Mike Eiffe, Patrick Murphy-Racey, and Dan Alexander. Sister Marie has participated in many activities of the parish for the past three years. During Mass, Father Michelson invited Sister Marie to renew the vows she made at her profession. After the renewal, he invited the jubilarian classmates and other Sisters of Mercy to the altar for a blessing. n

onsignor Pat Garrity was recently elected to the National Federation of Priests’ Councils as the province representative for all of the dioceses in Kentucky and Tennessee. He begins a three-year term on the Board of Consultors on July 1, 2012. Monsignor Garrity previously served two three-year terms on the federation’s national board and six years as the national secretary-treasurer. The National Federation of Priest Councils is based in Chicago. “I appreciate the vote of confidence from the priests of Kentucky and Tennessee, and I look forward to working with the NFPC again,” The East Tennessee Catholic

he said. “I found it invigorating and enriching in my previous terms.” Monsignor Garrity is the diocesan episcopal vicar and pastor of St. John Neumann Parish in Farragut. He also chairs the diocesan presbyteral council. His election occurred Nov. 29 at a provincial bishops meeting in Covington, Ky. “The board of consultors for the NFPC is a body that represents priests around the country, and it deals with the work of the NFPC,” said Monsignor Garrity. “They do a lot of publications and workshops for priests and priest councils and things like that.” n

Support the Annual Catholic Appeal The growth of our Church depends on you. When you support the Annual Catholic Appeal, 100 percent of your gift provides for essential ministries throughout East Tennessee. Each year the ACA provides n education for children in Catholic schools and faith formation for those in religious-education programs n shelter for more than 300 homeless people n meals for almost 10,000 families n counseling and support for more than 11,000 people facing unemployment, depression, addiction, divorce, crisis pregnancy, or the death of a loved one n preparation for the more than 300 adults who join the Church at the Easter Vigil n services for the elderly and people seeking to become American citizens n and much more. Bishop Richard F. Stika urges the faithful to join him “in making a sacrificial gift to the Annual Catholic Appeal. “I can’t think of a better investment than spreading the Gospel and helping people grow in holiness.” n

Check out the Vocations Office on Facebook Keep up with the Diocese of Knoxville’s Vocations Office on its Facebook page, found at www.facebook.com/DOK vocations. Click the “Like” button to see the page’s updates in your Facebook news stream. n

Monsignor Patrick Garrity

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January 1, 2012 5

In our parishes

Maynardville’s Blessed Teresa mission holds open house More than 40 visitors drop in to see the new and growing Glenmary mission in Union County. By Dan McWilliams

6 January 1, 2012

DAN MCWILLIAMS

he new Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Catholic Mission in Maynardville opened its doors to the public Nov. 20, and more than 40 visitors stopped by. The mission is one of three recently begun in the diocese by Glenmary Home Missioners in counties that previously had no Catholic parish. The others are Blessed John Paul II Catholic Mission in Rutledge and the Catholic Community of Unicoi County. The Blessed Teresa mission held a three-hour-long open house featuring food, giveaways, talks on the history of the Church and on Blessed Teresa, and an ecumenical prayer service. “I think members of the community were all very pleased,” said Blessed Teresa pastor Father Steve Pawelk. “We were very satisfied. We had more than 40 outside guests who came in to visit, which in a small town is quite good.” Among the visitors were friends invited by parishioners as well as the county mayor, two ministers, and a photographer from a local newspaper. Virtually all of the parishioners came to the event and stayed throughout, said Father Pawelk. “[The open house] was also a great opportunity for them to get to know one another better, as much as reaching out to the broader community,” he said. “It’s the first thing that involved everyone doing something together, and they spent a lot of time visiting and getting to know one another more, so that was a blessing.” Open-house visitors could also pick up pamphlets on the Catholic faith or—led by one of the youth of the community—go on a brief tour of the building.

New mission in Maynardville Glenmary Brother Craig Digmann and Father Steve Pawelk, shown at their home in Maynardville, greeted visitors at the Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Catholic Mission’s open house Nov. 20. The county mayor and two local ministers were among the more than 40 guests who visited the mission that day.

Blessed Teresa averages about 45 people at Mass each Sunday, and there may be 60 parishioners overall, said Father Pawelk. “There are always new people and people who are part-time residents, so they’re in and out. There’s someone new coming through the door each week, and that’s always a positive experience.”

About five Spanish-speaking families attend the mission’s bilingual service on Wednesday night. Wednesday is also faith-formation night at Blessed Teresa. “We have faith-formation from K to adult,” said Father Pawelk. “We have an adult Spanish group and an adult English group.” Glenmary Brothers Craig Dig-

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mann and Joe Steen assist Father Pawelk in both Maynardville and Rutledge. “I would say Brother Craig has been doing a lot of the visiting, and Brother Joe has done a lot of the work with parishioners to get the physical arrangements up and going, so they are both involved in the support and the development of the dioknox.org

Diocese offers ongoing Virtus child-protection training sessions DAN MCWILLIAMS

mission,” said Father Pawelk. The Blessed Teresa mission received its name early on in its history, after the community contacted Bishop Richard F. Stika. “The community wanted to have a name,” said Father Pawelk. “They did not want to be known as the ‘Catholic Community of Union County’ or the ‘Catholic Community of Grainger County.’ They didn’t like that. They said, ‘We want a name. We want to be known as something.’ So we wrote the bishop, and the bishop gave us in Union County ‘Blessed Teresa of Calcutta,’ which we are very happy to have, and then in Grainger County, ‘Blessed John Paul II.’” The new Maynardville community acquired a building as well as a name in short order. “We feel very blessed,” said Father Pawelk. “We started renting Oct. 1. It took a month to get it ready, and so far, without a problem, we’re making our rent, so that’s a good thing.” Blessed Teresa’s building is at 4365 Maynardville Highway, across

Sign greets visitors The new mission has a new sign on its building at 4365 Maynardville Highway in Maynardville.

from Food City. The “church” half of the space and the office half each had a former use. “It’s known in the community as the old hot dog stand, and with the sanctuary where the altar and the ambo are—that was a storage shed,” said Father Pawelk. “We converted a storage unit and a hot dog stand into a worship center, so that was pretty ingenious, and the people all worked very hard. It was a great community effort, from cleaning the floor to getting the windows in to painting and more.”

Father Pawelk said he is pleased with how things are going so far at Blessed Teresa. “We feel the Lord is with us, and we are just very grateful for the beginning.” Sunday Mass at Blessed Teresa is at 9 a.m., and the Wednesday bilingual service (followed by faith formation) is at 6:30 p.m. For the dailyMass schedule or other information on the Blessed Teresa community, mail P.O. Box 1076, Maynardville, TN 37807, call 865-992-7222, or email Blessed_Teresa@att.net. n

Sister Judy Raley celebrates her golden jubilee at Memorial

The East Tennessee Catholic

BRIAN LAZENBY

n November, Sister Judy Raley, SCN, celebrated her golden jubilee as a Sister of Charity of Nazareth. Sister Judy is provincial of the Western Province of Sisters of Charity of Nazareth and serves on the board of Memorial Health Care System in Chattanooga. Sister Judy began her ministry as a chaplain at Memorial, where she spent 12 years providing spiritual care for patients, families, and staff. She also held the position of vice president of Mission Integration. “We are honored to be able to celebrate this remarkable achievement with Sister Judy,” said James M. Hobson, Memorial president and chief executive. “She infused her joy and compassion into the fabric at Memorial, and it can still be felt

Golden jubilee Sister Judy Raley poses with James M. Hobson, president and chief executive of Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga.

today and helps provide the foundation for Memorial’s unique and compassionate culture.” Sister Eileen Wrobleski, senior vice president of Mission Integration at Memorial, said Sister Judy has a caring nature that is felt by everyone whose life she touches. “Sister Judy’s compassion has always been a source of encouragement to others,” Sister Eileen said. “From patients and families . . . to physicians, nurses, and others who were strengthened by her touch. She values everyone as an individual and genuinely cares for them.” A press release from Memorial said that “Sister Judy’s gift . . . is one of dignity and respect and one that selflessly promotes Memorial’s guiding principles.” n

The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee

The Diocese of Knoxville’s program for the protection of children and youth—a threehour 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 training sessions have been scheduled: n Holy Spirit Church, SoddyDaisy, 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10 n St. Jude Church, Chattanooga, noon Monday, Jan. 16 n St. Mary Church, Johnson City, 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17 n Sacred Heart Cathedral, 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17 (session will be held in the Shea Room) n St. Albert the Great Church, Knoxville, 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26. Participants are asked to donate $1 for session materials. To register, visit virtusonline.org. n

Catechist-orientation days scheduled Mandatory catechist-orientation days for new catechists, catechists certified before 2008, and catechetical leaders have been set. Both take place from 9 a.m. till noon. Choose one: n Thursday, Jan. 5, Knoxville Catholic High School n Saturday, Jan. 7, St. Thomas the Apostle Church, Lenoir City. Contact Father Richard Armstrong at r armstrong@dioknox. org or 865-584-3307 or e-mail jperkins@dioknox.org. Register online at bit.ly/faith-formation. n January 1, 2012 7

Why St. Joseph School? Blue Ribbon Award winner

Nationally recognized for academic excellence

Small class sizes

Less than 10:1 student–teacher ratio Pre-K—Grade 8

Faith-Driven Instruction

Church teachings are embedded Into our curriculum

Well-Rounded Program

Students have access to Athletic programs Spanish language classes Fine arts, technology Service opportunities Electives for middle school

“St. Joseph School is the best thing we ever did for our son” —Parent, via greatschools.org

8 January 1, 2012

Come see what all the fuss is about . . . Open House: Sunday, January 29, 2–4 p.m. Tuesday, January 31, 8–10 a.m. and 1–3 p.m. 1810 Howard Drive, Knoxville, TN 37918 865-689-3424 www.sjsknox.org The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee

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Immigration

National Migration Week set for Jan. 8-14 This year’s theme is ‘Welcoming Christ in the Migrant.’

ational Migration Week will be observed in dioceses around the country from Jan. 8 through 14. This year’s theme, “Welcoming Christ in the Migrant,” and the artistic renderings in the week’s materials depict the disciples welcoming a stranger on the road to Emmaus. “Just as on the road to Emmaus, Christ’s disciples met him in the guise of a stranger, this year’s theme helps remind us that Christ makes himself present to each of us in the lonesome traveler, the newcomer, and the migrant,” said Archbishop José Gomez of Los Angeles. ”We are called to open our hearts and provide hospitality to those in need, especially for migrants who find themselves far away from home and in vulnerable situations.” Archbishop Gomez is the chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Migration. Dioceses around the country will mark National Migration Week with different activities. At the national level USCCB and the Catholic Legal Immigration Network Inc. (CLINIC) are sponsoring a multistate conference with the theme “Immigration: A 50 State issue,” which will take place in Salt Lake City, Utah, from Jan. 11-13. The observance of National Migration Week was begun more than a quarter-century ago by the U.S. bishops to provide Catholics an opportunity to take stock of the wide diversity of peoples in the Church and the ministries serving them. As the face of the local church continues to change, educational materials produced for National Migration Week have become increasingly important. They can be used throughout the year by The East Tennessee Catholic

individuals, families, schools, and parishes to learn about the complex issues surrounding migration. Resources for National Migration Week can be found on the USCCB website (bit.ly/rEknhM). Posters, prayer cards, and booklets can be ordered through the USCCB publishing service at bit.ly/vehKmf or by calling 800-235-8722. In addition, the U.S. bishops continue to encourage advocacy efforts by the Catholic community on comprehensive immigration reform. Visit the Justice for Immigrants Campaign website for more information: www.justicefor immigrants.org. Earlier this year Pope Benedict XVI also unveiled the theme for the 98th World Day of Migrants and Refugees, to be celebrated Jan. 15: “Migration and the New Evangelization.” In his message the pope says that the present time calls upon the Church to intensify its missionary activity both in the regions where the Gospel is proclaimed for the first time and in countries with a Christian tradition. “Proclaiming Jesus Christ the one Savior of the world ‘constitutes the essential mission of the Church’ . . . Today we feel the urgent need to give a fresh impetus and new approaches to the work of evangelization in a world in which the breaking down of frontiers and the new processes of globalization are bringing individuals and peoples even closer,” said Pope Benedict. Internal or international migration—in search of better living conditions or flight from the threat of persecution, war, and violence—has led to an unprecedented mingling of individuals and peoples, with new problems, not only from the human standpoint but also from

Sudanese saint This prayer card for National Migration Week references the life of a former African slave who became a Roman Catholic Canossian nun in Italy, living and working there for 45 years. In 2000 she was declared a saint.

ethical, religious, and spiritual ones, the pope said. “Christian communities are to pay special attention to migrant workers and their families by accompanying them with prayer, solidarity, and Christian charity, as well as by fostering new political, economic and social planning that promotes respect for the dignity of every human person,” he wrote. World Day of Migrants and Refugees was instituted by Pope Pius X in 1914. Pope Benedict’s message for World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2012 can be found online at bit.ly/tN72Q3. n

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Bishops launch new marriage website Catholics seeking reliable information on what the Church teaches about marriage can check out www.marriageunique forareason.org, a website featuring an extensive FAQ on the meaning of marriage, a compilation of Catholic teachings on marriage, a blog, and videos. The site, launched by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage, also invites visitors to subscribe to the blog. Portions of the site will be translated into Spanish. “The launch of the site demonstrates the continued efforts of the bishops to educate the faithful on the unique meaning of marriage as the union of one man and one woman and on marriage’s foundational place for the flourishing of any society,” said Bishop Salvatore Cordileone of Oakland, Calif., chairman of the subcommittee. “The website establishes an online presence for the subcommittee’s work and serves as a reliable place where Catholics and others can find authentic teaching about marriage. I encourage all those who work to educate others about the meaning of marriage to take advantage of the site—especially priests, deacons, catechists, and teachers.” The new website is the latest phase in the USCCB’s ongoing catechetical and educational work on marriage. The initiative began in June 2010 with the release of the video “Made for Each Other” (bit.ly/uSEgiI) and continued in June 2011 with the release of “Made for Life” (bit.ly/ rvAyjp). Three more videos—one of them in Spanish—are due out this year. n

January 1, 2012 9

Diocesan calendar by Toni Pacitti A holy hour for Knoxville seminarians under the patronage of St. Charles Borromeo, patron saint of seminarians, will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3, at St. John Neumann Church in Farragut. Eucharistic adoration, Vespers and benediction will be held, and Father Doug Owens will offer blessing of throats. A reception with light refreshments will be available afterward. All are welcome. Bishop Richard F. Stika will again celebrate three bilingual Masses throughout the diocese to honor the sacrament of marriage. Couples will have the opportunity to renew their vows during Mass and continue to celebrate with family and friends at a luncheon afterward. Included with the luncheon, provided by the diocesan Office of Marriage Preparation and Enrichment, are mementos of the celebration: a certificate and a photo with the bishop for couples who register in advance. The first Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 7, at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Register by Friday, Jan. 3, by contacting Rubianna Gonzalez at 865-588-0249 or rgonzalez@shcknox.org. The second Mass is set for 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, at St. Jude Church in Chattanooga. Register by Friday, Feb. 3, by calling 423-870-2386 or e-mailing Kyra Ross at kyraross@yahoo.com. The third Mass will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 3, at St. Mary Church in Johnson City. Register by Friday, Feb. 24, by contacting Katherine Angulo at 423-2826367, extension 20, or pastoral ministriesjc@yahoo.com. The Diocesan Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry and Chattanoogans for Life are sponsoring a March for Life pilgrimage to Washington D.C. from Sunday, Jan. 22, to Tuesday, Jan. 24, for high school and college students. For more information, contact Donna Jones at 423-718-4387 or djones6029@gmail.com or visit tinyurl.com/March4Life2012.

10 January 1, 2012

The annual March for Life in Knoxville will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 22, starting at Calvary Baptist Church on Kingston Pike and going by the abortion facility at 313 S. Concord St. For more information, contact the Knox County chapter of Tennessee Right to Life at 865-689-1339 or trlknox@knology.net. Lisa Morris of Knoxville, a Missionary of the Gospel of Life, will speak on the topic “God’s Precious Gift of Life” at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 11 (note corrected date), at Holy Trinity Church in Jefferson City. Her program will highlight the March for Life in Washington, D.C., and offer insights into current developments in the pro-life movement. Hors d’oeuvres will be served by the spiritual-life and social-action committees. The Notre Dame Club of Knoxville/East Tennessee is hosting a free concert by the Notre Dame University Choir at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 9, at Sacred Heart Cathedral. The program will include ancient and traditional Christmas carols, music from the Renaissance and 19th and 20th centuries, and “Lobet den Herrn” by J. S. Bach. The 15th annual Catholic Day on the Hill will be held Tuesday, April 24, and the fourth annual Catholic Student Day on the Hill will take place Tuesday, March 20. For more information, contact Paul Simoneau at 865-584-3307 or psimoneau@dioknox.org. The Knoxville Diocesan Council of Catholic Women is sponsoring an organ concert at 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 12, at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga. There is no charge to attend, but a collection will be taken up during the concert. All proceeds will be used to assist seminarians of the Diocese of Knoxville. For details, e-mail Linda Lambert at rhllcl@yahoo.com. The Knoxville Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting’s 13th annual Bishop’s Gathering and Adult Recognition dinner is set for 11 a.m to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, March 24, in the

parish hall at All Saints Church in Knoxville. Costs are $15 per person or $30 for family, with clergy admitted free. A barbecue meal will be served. Scouts will be participating in the “Bishop’s Dessert Cook-Off,” the “People’s Choice Dessert Award,” and a “Living Display Showdown.” For contest information, Scouts and Scouting units can visit kdccs.org. RSVPs may be sent to George LeCrone Sr., 10700 Leeward Lane, Knoxville, TN 37934, with checks made out to “KDCCS.” The Memorial Health Care System Foundation will hold its seventh annual Pink! Gala to benefit The MaryEllen Locher Breast Center on Saturday, Jan. 21, at the Chattanooga Convention Center. The doors will open at 6:30 p.m. for cocktails, a four-course dinner, and music by the Party Nation dance band. There will be an online auction and live and silent auctions. Regular tickets are $200 ($1,600 for a table of eight) and include cocktails, dinner, and entertainment. Patron tickets are $250 ($2,800 for a table of eight) and include all of the above plus a “pre-party” invite, valet parking, premium seating, and table-side bar service. Sponsorship opportunities are available from $3,500 to $50,000. Visit www.memorial.org/pink to learn more or to purchase tickets online, or call 423-495-PINK. “A Jubilee Pilgrimage to France” is planned for April 16 through 27, 2012, under the spiritual direction of Father Albert Sescon and Father Peter Iorio, with Mercy Sister Albertine Paulus as group coordinator. The itinerary includes visits to Rouen, Lisieux, the Normandy beaches, Caen, Paris, Chartres, and Lourdes. The group will depart from Atlanta. Cost is $3,539 (cash-discount price) or $3,758, plus airport taxes, fuel surcharges, and tips. To request a color brochure and registration form, contact Sister Albertine at 865-545-8270, 2074742, or smaevang@yahoo.com. The next charismatic Mass in the diocese will be celebrated at 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 22 (weather permitting), at

The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee

Holy Spirit Church in Soddy-Daisy. Father Dan Whitman of Holy Trinity Parish in Jefferson City will be the celebrant. Singers and instrumentalists who would like to participate should arrive at 4:30. Prayers for healing will follow the Mass. Call Dee Leigh at 423-842-2305 for more information. The next Marriage Encounter weekend in the diocese is scheduled for Feb. 10 through 12 in Gatlinburg. For more information, contact John or Anne Wharton at 423-581-1815 or acw193@ bellsouth.net, or visit www.loveinthe smokies.org or wwme.org. The next Engaged Encounter weekend in the diocese will be held Feb. 3 through 5 at the DoubleTree Hotel in Oak Ridge. To register, call Jason or Carmen Jeansonne at 865-377-3077. For more information on Engaged Encounter, contact Jerry or Mary Daugherty at 865-4584117 or ceeknoxville@gmail.com or visit www.rc.net/knoxville/cee/. Mass in the extraordinary form (“traditional Latin”) is celebrated at 1:30 p.m. each Sunday at Holy Ghost Church in Knoxville, at 3 p.m. on first and third Sundays at St. Thérèse of Lisieux Church in Cleveland, and at 3 p.m. on second and fourth Sundays at St. Joseph the Worker Church in Madisonville. Visit www.knoxlatinmass.net for updated information. 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. All services are in English. Call Father Richard Armstrong at 865-584-3307 or visit www.saintthomasknoxville.org for more information. Holy Resurrection Ruthenian Byzantine Catholic Mission has Divine Liturgy celebrations at 9:30 a.m. Sundays at the old Holy Ghost Church, 1031 N. Central St. in Knoxville. For times of holy-day services or for more information, visit www.knoxbyz.org or call Father Thomas O’Connell at 865-256-4880. n dioknox.org

Chattanooga Deanery calendar St. Jude School, Our Lady of Perpetual Help School, and Notre Dame High School will host “ChattiGras,” a Mardi Gras “Chattanooga style,” on Saturday, Feb. 18, at the Chattanooga Trade

Parish notes: Chattanooga Deanery

and Convention Center. The event will benefit all three schools and the tuitionassistance fund. Tickets cost $50. Contact Kathie Etherton at 423-877-6022 or ketherton@stjudechattanooga.org. n

Holy Spirit, Soddy-Daisy Candidates for the RCIA year 2011-12 and their sponsors were introduced to parishioners by Monsignor Al Humbrecht in the Rite of Welcome on Nov. 20.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Chattanooga Knights of Columbus Council 6099 hosted an evening of entertainment and caroling with a lighting ceremony Dec. 6. The home and school committee hopes to remodel the men’s and women’s restrooms and the boys and girls locker rooms in the gym. Volunteers with experience in plumbing or tile work are asked to lend hands-on help or to consult. Contact David Flowers at 423-309-7496 or david@davidflowers.org.

SCOTT MAENTZ

St. Augustine, Signal Mountain

St. Mary in Athens provides Thanksgiving baskets Under the direction of Jim Barrett, social-action chair for the parish council, St. Mary Parish in Athens provided 16 Thanksgiving baskets to families in need, helping 39 adults and 20 children. Mr. Barrett thanked his fellow parishioners for their donations and gave “special thanks to Betty and Scott Gabbard, who donated all the turkeys, as they’ve done for several years now.” St. Mary delivered 28 Christmas baskets in 2010, and Mr. Barrett was to lead that effort again in 2011.

Five volunteers are needed from 9 a.m. to noon Wednesdays on Feb. 8, April 11, June 13, and Aug. 8 to help sort donations at the Clothes House, the main source for Signal Mountain Social Services funding. Call Sheila at 423-886-3460. The parish supplied bags of flour and sugar for the Signal Mountain Social Services Christmas basket program.

St. Bridget, Dayton Alice Lenning made her profession to become a member of the Secular Franciscan Order during a ceremony at St. Bridget Church on Oct. 30. A Sunday brunch in her honor was held in the church hall after the ceremony.

St. Catherine Labouré, Copperhill The parish helped 40 area children with its Christmas Angel tree.

St. Jude, Chattanooga The parish contributed $3,218.40 for the diocesan deacon formation program in a special collection Nov. 5 and 6.

ELIZABETH CONWAY

The Knights of Columbus are selling “Adventures” dining and entertainment coupon books to support the their charitable work. Books cost $35 each and are available in the parish office. Call Raleigh Cooper at 423-580-6829 for details.

Two blessings at Holy Spirit Church Monsignor Al Humbrecht opens the Saturday-night Mass and 2011 Advent season with a blessing of the new Roman Missal and the Advent wreath Nov. 26 at Holy Spirit Church in Soddy-Daisy. Monsignor Humbrecht is assisted by Deacon Mick Spencer and altar servers (from left) Hilary Doncaster and Mary Weaver. Waiting to light the first Advent candle is the Graves family: Carol and Dennis with daughter Samantha. The East Tennessee Catholic

The Boots & Buckles Line Dance Club meets in Siener Hall on Thursdays. The class fee is $3. Visit www.bootsandbucklesdance.com or call Lucille at 877-3274 or Jeanette at 580-4879 for more information. The Books and Lemonade club will meet at 10 a.m. Monday Jan. 9, in the parish library to study Hunting Season (Berkley, 2003) by Nevada Barr.

Sts. Peter and Paul, Chattanooga A parish Christmas dinner was served Dec. 4 in the new Varallo Parish Hall. n

The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee

January 1, 2012 11

Cumberland Mountain Deanery calendar

Parish notes: Cumberland Mountain Deanery

St. John Neumann Parish in Farragut is hosting 40 hours’ devotion beginning with Mass at noon Wednesday, Jan. 4. The devotion will close with benediction

All Saints, Knoxville A celebration of the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe was held Dec. 12. The event featured a procession in the parking lot, a Mass in Spanish, and a Latin American dinner.

and a procession at 7 p.m. on the parish patron’s feast day, Thursday, Jan. 5. Father Doug Owens will lead the devotion. For details, call 865-966-4540. n

Father David Carter led parishioners in praying and singing the Liturgy of the Hours each weekday morning during Advent.

The annual father–daughter dance will take place Saturday, Jan. 14. Call Tim Greer at 603-0997 for more information.

Blessed Sacrament, Harriman A first Friday healing Mass was celebrated Dec. 2.

St. Francis of Assisi, Fairfield Glade The monthly meeting of the Council of Catholic Women will be held Wednesday, Jan. 11, following the 8 a.m. Mass. The speaker will be Sheri Nichols of the Plateau Pregnancy Center. The parish book club will meet at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 18, in the conference room to discuss Same Kind of Different as Me (Thomas Nelson, 2008) by Ron Hall, Denver Moore, and Lynn Vincent. Anniversaries: Mike and Ethy Wilhelmi (65), John and Lois Chilenko (60), Michael and Mary Fitzsimmons (59), Ed and Angela Crowley (57), Tom and Carol Hayden (56), Joseph and Shirley King (50)

St. John Neumann, Farragut The December Above & Beyond Award was presented to Jane Galloway. Mrs. Galloway received a plaque and dinner for two at Five Guys. The 10th anniversary of perpetual Eucharistic adoration in the parish will be celebrated on the feast day of St. John Neumann on Jan. 5 and again Jan. 7. Parishioners sang carols in a nearby neighborhood Dec. 10. A chili and hot dog supper was served afterward.

St. Joseph, Norris The Council of Catholic Women collected funds for Water for Life, in partnership with the National CCW and Catholic Relief Services, during November. In December the group planned to hold an Advent prayer service followed by a cookie swap.

St. Mary, Oak Ridge The Council of Catholic Women held a Christ Child Shower on Dec. 1 in Columbus Hall. Stacy Dunn of the Knox County chapter of Tennessee Right to Life was the guest speaker. Baby gifts were donated to Catholic Charities. n

12 January 1, 2012

COURTESY OF LINDA NEUHOFF

Martin Vargas and Rose Mayfield are the new co-chairs of the communications committee. Volunteers are needed to help with marketing, tweeting, blogging, programming, and other skills. E-mail Mr. Vargas at martinpvargas@hotmail.com or call Ms. Mayfield at 865-531-5970.

Two years in a row Members of the James R. Hedges Council of the Knights of Columbus pose with their Double Star award. From left are (kneeling) Jed Cooper, John Harr, Mike McKenna, Allen Vessels, Raul Diaz, Wade Ilvento, Paul Chapman, Tony Neuhoff, Jim Blasick, Matt McClain, and Jack Davidson and (behind them) John Mitchum, Buddy Haile, Ron Casey, Tom Tidwell, Ed Jemison, Jim Shaughnessy, Jeff Kirksey, Al Colonna, Marv Gabalski, Doug Baker, Mike Riccio, Zilo Combs, Tim Rash, Hugh Abells, Larry Chapman, Tony Young, Jim Bach, Cole Keane, Tate Tidwell, and Drew Neslund.

Signal Mountain Knights earn Double Star honor

nights of Columbus James R. Hedges Council 14521 in Signal Mountain recently earned the Double Star Council award for the 2010-11 fraternal year, the second straight year it has won the honor. The organization’s headquarters in New Haven, Conn., made the announcement. The award recognizes overall excellence in the areas of membership recruitment (reaching 200 percent of quota, thereby making it a “double star”) and retention, promotion of the fraternal insurance program, and sponsorship of service-oriented activities. The award was presented to the membership by district deputy Marvin Gabalski at a ceremony Sept. 13 at St. Augustine Church in Signal Mountain. “Receiving the Double Star Council Award is quite an honor for us.

The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee

We’re extremely proud of this accomplishment and the service commitment of our council members,” said Tony Neuhoff, past Grand Knight of Council 14521 and leader of the council during 2010-11. Service projects by the Council last year raised money and donations for the ALS Foundation, Catholic Charities, Chattanoogans for Life, Coats for Kids, and the Interfaith Homeless Network as well as more than $40,000 for the American Haitian Foundation. Throughout the world 1,078 Star Councils were recognized in 201011. Of those, only 348 achieved Double Star status worldwide, with three of those won by Tennessee councils, including St. Philip Council 7764 in Franklin and Pope St. Pius V Council 14041 in Bartlett. n dioknox.org

Parish notes: Five Rivers Deanery Holy Trinity, Jefferson City High school youth were invited to a lock-in at Trinity Hall on Dec. 9 and 10. The Council of Catholic Women are beginning a monthly book club. Call Marlene Holt at 865-712-0959. Anniversaries: William and Josephine Hyslop (54), Raymond and Helen La Shier (52), Stan and Dagmar Szalkiewicz (40), Roger and Kristine Mynatt (20)

COURTESY OF MAGGIE MAY

Notre Dame, Greeneville

Cantor speaks to Notre Dame CCW Members of the Council of Catholic Women of Notre Dame Parish in Greeneville gathered Oct. 16 for their monthly meeting. The guest speaker was Wanda Ricker, a well-known figure in the parish as a cantor, a choirmistress, and the wife of Dr. Fred Ricker, director of the choir. Mrs. Ricker is pictured at right with CCW vice president Sandy Alter (left) and president Aimee Place. Mrs. Ricker’s presentation familiarized CCW members with the new Mass settings and the new translations and helped them understand the reasons for the changes. She was presented with a gift from Mrs. Alter for speaking to the CCW.

The Council of Catholic Women Christmas party was held Dec. 15. The Hispanic community invited parishioners to a celebration honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe on Dec. 12. Family night will be held from 7 p.m. to midnight Friday, Jan. 6, at the YMCA. Volunteer adults are needed to help. Bring a snack or drink. There is no charge for youth; cost for adults who swim is $3. Sign up in the narthex. Anniversaries: Don and Joanie Braden (45), Angelo and Pam Botta (35), Francis and Joanne Dwyer (30), John and Margaret Jones (25), Russell and Kristin Girton (5)

St. Dominic, Kingsport The Martha and Mary group sponsored its seventh annual cookie exchange Dec. 11.

St. Henry, Rogersville The women of St. Henry held their monthly meeting at the Peking Restaurant, followed by a presentation by a representative of the Boys and Girls Club of Rogersville. Barbara Hunt was the winner of the Cow Patty Bingo held Nov. 12. Anniversaries: Dob and Joyce O’Brien (54)

RONNIE HOUSLEY/THE STANDARD BANNER

St. Mary, Johnson City

‘Vigil for Life’ at Holy Trinity Holy Trinity Parish in Jefferson City held a Candlelight Vigil for Life on Oct. 12 on the grounds of the church. After services in the sanctuary, everyone gathered for prayer outside. The candlelight prayer vigil was part of the annual “40 Days For Life” campaign. Pictured are Holy Trinity Catholic youth who participated in the event. From left are (front row) Matt Cum, Taylor Mundelein, Andrew Barone, Nick Henry, Emma Mulligan, and Amy Lutz and (back) Katie Gaul, Heather Sexton, De Witkowski, Ashely Sexton, Jenna Mynatt, Thomas Witkowski, Sarah Henry, Michael Taylor, Ryan Mundelein, Zach Robinson, and Mitchell Perry. The East Tennessee Catholic

Kailey Posterick, a spring graduate of the University of St. Thomas in Houston has been appointed youth minister at St. Mary. The recipient of a Guinan tuition scholarship, Miss Posterick graduated cum laude in May with a degree in psychology and minors in theology and English. She began her duties at St. Mary in November.

St. Patrick, Morristown The youth sponsored a parents’ night out Dec. 9. The event included crafts, movies, games, and snacks. Unwanted Christmas decorations may be dropped off at the church office through Sunday, Jan. 15, as donations for the Council of Catholic Women’s “Recycle Christmas” booth at its 2012 holiday bazaar. The Knights of Columbus recently held their annual breakfast at Shugs restaurant for 38 students of the Morristown East High School special-education department. The tradition was started more than 30 years ago by Chuck Metz. n

The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee

January 1, 2012 13

Smoky Mountain Deanery calendar

Parish notes: Smoky Mountain Deanery

A parish mission with the theme “A Giving Heart” will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Townsend. Paul Simoneau, director of the diocesan Office of Justice and Peace, will be the presenter. Registration is required by Monday, Feb. 20. Sign up in the church or call Father Shelton at 865-448-6070.

Immaculate Conception, Knoxville The women’s group hosted a Christmas party Dec. 19 in the parish hall. Extraordinary ministers are needed to take Holy Communion to the homebound. Contact Deacon Joe Stackhouse at jrstackhse@aol.com or 865-539-0451.

Our Lady of Fatima, Alcoa The Knights of Columbus, Council of Catholic Women, and CYO will host their annual Spaghetti Dinner and Auction at 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27. 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.

A Seekers of Silence Contemplative Saturday Morning will be held Jan. 14 at Blessed John XXIII Catholic Center in Knoxville. Father Ragan Schriver will give a talk titled “Spirituality of the Poor.” 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 to learn more, call 865-523-7931. n

Family Promise of Blount County needs volunteers to provide meals or act as host and hostess four times a year. Call Peter O’Neill at 865-983-0821 (office) or 724-3276 (cell). Our Lady of Fatima is a support church for Family Promise.

The new Sacred Heart Eagle Café will provide fully cooked carryout meals on Wednesdays. Orders must be placed by e-mail to kfilicky@shcknox.org by 3 p.m. Friday for pickup the following Wednesday. Pickup is available between 2 and 6 p.m. Cash and checks only. Menus are posted at shcsknox.tumblr.com.

St. Albert the Great, Knoxville Individuals, families, and groups are needed to sponsor the final stained-glass window for the church. Sponsors should call the parish office at 865-689-7011 and speak to Mary Jane.

COURTESY OF SHIRLEY COPELAND

Sacred Heart, Knoxville

St. Patrick holds Guadalupe celebration There was no shortage of flowers for Our Lady in the narthex of St. Patrick Church in Morristown on Dec. 12 as the parish celebrated the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

The men’s club is sponsoring a trip to the Knoxville Ice Bears hockey game against the Louisiana Ice Gators at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 14, at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum. Discounted tickets are available for $10. Contact Tim Brew at 686-7926 or champ1464@bellsouth.net. Baptisms: Bethany and Eric II, daughter and son of Ann and Eric Quillen; Tesa Jane, daughter of Stephanie and Tyson Patrick

A Lenten education series, “The New Evangelization: An Invitation to Faith,” will take place from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on the Wednesdays of Lent in the Education and Reflection Center. Father Brent Shelton will be the presenter. The companion text is The Evangelization Equation: The Who, What, and How (Emmaus Road Publishing, 2011), by Father James A. Wehner, available at the Paraclete bookstore. The third weekend of each month will be “Parish Education Weekend” at St. Francis, beginning the third weekend of March. Father Shelton or a guest speaker will provide instruction on and lead discussion of various topics important to Catholics after the 4 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. Sunday Masses. The first topic will be “The 3,000 Year Story of the Holy Mass.” Beginning Wednesday, Feb. 29, the Little River Readers Book Club will begin meeting from 9 to 10 a.m. Wednesdays in the Education and Reflection Center to discuss a spiritual book of the month. n

14 January 1, 2012

COURTESY OF RUTH CAMPBELL

St. Francis of Assisi, Townsend

Bishop, ET Catholics attend Mid-South conference Bishop Richard F. Stika joins catechists and directors of religious education from around the diocese at the annual Mid-South Catholic Leadership Conference, held Nov. 5 through 9 in Lake Barkley, Ky. The bishop gave a talk at the conference and celebrated Mass afterward.

The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee

dioknox.org

Catholic schools

KCHS golfers, volleyballers make all-KIL teams

KCHS named first ‘heart-safe’ school in ET Through Project ADAM, students learn and become certified in CPR and AED procedures.

Knoxville Catholic High School golf-team member Alexa Pavon made the All-Knoxville Interscholastic League team and the Knoxville News Sentinel’s Prep Xtra second team. KCHS golfers Preston Tucker and Travis Rodgers made All-KIL. Gracie Ernstberger and Rachel Kozemko of Knoxville Catholic made the All-KIL team for volleyball. n

COURTESY OF MEGAN LOCKE

Knoxville Catholic swim team defeats Oak Ridge 170-150

NDHS students generous in Christmas Drive Each year students at Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga are asked to donate $10 to the Annual Christmas Drive. This year the students were especially generous, and at a recent all-school Mass the school presented a check for $1,380 to Ladies of Charity and $1,570 to the Notre Dame Chapel Renovation Fund. NDHS students also “adopted” 86 children at the Cedar Hills Head Start Program and provided them with clothing and toys for Christmas. Pictured accepting checks are Jeff Raabe for the Ladies of Charity and Notre Dame spiritual director Father Augustine Idra, AJ, for the chapel fund. With them are (from left, front) Molly Latham, Lana Turner, Savannah Jenkins, Gabby Mullin, and Michaela Leaf and (back) Dylan Zoll, Clayton Runge, and Tanner Webb. The East Tennessee Catholic

The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee

The Knoxville Catholic High School swimming and diving team recently defeated Oak Ridge 170-150. Katie McCarty and Ellen Bradford recorded two wins apiece for KCHS. Also winning were Ali Gilbertson, Marisa Connolly, Caroline Gettelfinger, Jake Dovgan, and Alex Kellet. n

KCHS wrestlers split four matches

Life-saving skills KCHS health-class students including Anna Kosky (left) and Olga Powers, pictured with instructor Susan Johnson, were certified in CPR and AED procedures.

COURTESY OF GAYLE SCHOENBORN

noxville Catholic High School welcomed three health professionals to campus Nov. 28 through 30 to help promote Project ADAM Tennessee, created to help prevent sudden cardiac death in children and adolescents. The project, led by East Tennessee Children’s Hospital and Knoxville Pediatric Cardiology, has named KCHS the first heart-safe school in East Tennessee. During the three-day program all health-class students were trained and certified in CPR and AED (automated external defibrillator) procedures. Project ADAM Tennessee and KCHS hope to certify every healthclass student each year so that by 2015 the entire student body will be CPR- and AED-certified. The goal of Project ADAM Tennessee is to serve children and adolescents through education and implementation of life-saving programs. Knoxville Catholic has two AEDs on campus, in addition to one AED brought to most sporting events by the athletic trainer. n

The KCHS wrestling team defeated Greeneville 54-30 on Nov. 30 and fell to Sullivan South 47-36. Against Greeneville, Ray Reinke, Patrick Putnam, Taylor Adkins, and Garrett Depp pinned their opponents. Nathan Teter, Landon Snapp, John Cortese, and Louis Soto won with pins against Sullivan South. On Dec. 6 the Irish split with Austin-East and Central, defeating A-E 59-18 and losing to the Bobcats 48-36. Henley Baugh and Nick Brewton won with pins against A-E. Taylor, Nick, and John had pins against Central. n January 1, 2012 15

Living the readings

Weekday Readings Sunday, Jan. 1: Solemnity, Mary, the Holy Mother of God, Numbers 6:2227; Psalm 67:2-3, 5-6, 8; Galatians 4:4-7; Luke 2:16-21 Monday, Jan. 2: Memorial, Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, bishops, doctors of the Church, 1 John 2:22-28; Psalm 98:1-4; John 1:19-28 Tuesday, Jan. 3: 1 John 2:29–3:6; Psalm 98:1, 3-6; John 1:29-34 Wednesday, Jan. 4: Memorial, Elizabeth Ann Seton, religious, 1 John 3:710; Psalm 98:1, 7-9; John 1:35-42 Thursday, Jan. 5: Memorial, John Neumann, bishop, 1 John 3:11-21; Psalm 100:1-5; John 1:43-51 Friday, Jan. 6: 1 John 5:5-13; Psalm 147:12-15, 19-20; Mark 1:7-11 Saturday, Jan. 7: 1 John 5:14-21; Psalm 149:1-6, 9; John 2:1-11 Sunday, Jan. 8: Solemnity, the Epiphany of the Lord, Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72:2, 7-8, 10-13; Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6; Matthew 2:1-12 Monday, Jan. 9: Feast, the Baptism of the Lord, Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7; Psalm 29:1-4, 9-10; Mark 1:7-11 Tuesday, Jan. 10: 1 Samuel 1:9-20; 1 Samuel 2:1, 4-8; Mark 1:21-28 Wednesday, Jan. 11: 1 Samuel 3:110, 19-20; Psalm 40:2, 5, 7-10; Mark 1:29-39 Thursday, Jan. 12: 1 Samuel 4:1-11; Psalm 44:10-11, 14-15, 25-26; Mark 1:40-45 Friday, Jan. 13: 1 Samuel 8:4-7, 1022; Psalm 89:16-19; Mark 2:1-12 Saturday, Jan. 14: 1 Samuel 9:1-4, 17-19 and 10:1; Psalm 21:2-7; Mark 2:13-17 Sunday, Jan. 15: 1 Samuel 3:3-10, 19; Psalm 40:2, 4, 7-10; 1 Corinthians 6:13-15, 17-20; John 1:35-42 Monday, Jan. 16: 1 Samuel 15:1623; Psalm 50:8-9, 16-17, 21, 23; Mark 2:18-22 Tuesday, Jan. 17: Memorial, Anthony, abbot, 1 Samuel 16:1-13; Psalm 89:20-22, 27-28; Mark 2:23-28 Wednesday, Jan. 18: 1 Samuel 17:32-33, 37, 40-51; Psalm 144:1-2, 9-10; Mark 3:1-6

Readings continued on page 17

16 January 1, 2012

by Father Joseph Brando

The light begins to shine ‘The month of January is a study in light.’

t’s not by coincidence that the first day of the New Year is always the octave of Christmas. In earlier days the great feasts of the Christian year were celebrated over eight days. On the last day of the feast, the octave, the festivities concluded with a grand finale that redoubled the celebration. Setting the date for Christmas on Dec. 25 ensured that every year would begin with the Church rejoicing at the birth of our Savior. Through the years we have added the concept of world peace to the holiday. As Christ is the light of the world, he also brings peace to a world in need of both gifts. Now, as we contemplate the birth of the Messiah and the light and peace he brings, the Church naturally draws our attention to Mary as the holy Mother of God. In short, the month of January is a study in light. It begins with the brilliance of the birth of Jesus and continues with the start of Jesus’ public ministry as the divine light of Jesus’ life grows and captures people’s attention. Paul teaches how to live Christian life

All through the five Sundays of January, the Church uses the words of the Apostle Paul to explain how the early events of Jesus’ public ministry are meaningful in our daily life. We’ll examine this stream of ideas first. They present a beautiful introduction to the spiritual life as Paul teaches new Christians what they need to know to begin living the Christian life seriously and joyfully. Paul starts off telling the Galatians why Jesus was born of Mary. The Second Person of the Trinity entered the world of humanity to rescue us. As a human being, he can share our life. If we allow him to enter our life, we become alive in Christ and

adopted children of God. By means of baptism, we cease being slaves of this earth and become heirs destined to receive heaven as our heritage. Therefore we must cry out enthusiastically, “Abba, Father!” The next step involves our discovering the fullness of the mystery of God. Paul introduces the Ephesians, on the feast of the Epiphany, to the Third Person of the Holy Trinity. Even more revelatory is the means through which we come to learn of the Spirit, namely God’s grace working within the Church. On this feast of the shining forth of the presence of God, we can meditate on the grace that excites our souls to become conscious of Christ’s greatest gift to us: the Holy Spirit. On the third Sunday of the month we leave the Christmas season and begin ordinary time. Yet the next few Sundays continue to show forth the light of Christ’s birth. Paul continues his instruction to new Christians. Actually, he presents an introductory course to Christians who mistakenly thought they were quite advanced. It fits well with the prior two lessons. Here Paul teaches the Corinthians that, as members of Christ’s body, we belong not to ourselves but to Christ. Since we are in Christ and share his Spirit, our bodies can rightly be considered temples of the Holy Spirit. If that’s true, our bodies are no longer ours but God’s. In one small paragraph, Paul teaches the essence of Christian personal morality. The purpose of our body is to glorify God because we belong to God. Paul’s lesson on how to live the Christian life continues on the following Sunday. Having given us a theology and morality of the human body, Paul continues by telling us how to relate to the world.

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Amazingly, he explains it in three sentences. Simply, the world as we know it is passing away. Therefore we should not live for it. Don’t let transient material things motivate your attitudes in life. Time is ending, so live for eternity. On the last Sunday of the month Paul addresses the subject of anxiety. He warns us to be free of all anxieties. What a great way to live! But how can we reach that desired state? His examples indicate that anxiety comes from trying to care about the things of this world at the same time as the things of God. Only those who are undivided in their intentions and live only for God can be anxiety-free. Paul illustrates that point with an example from marriage. Married couples find it difficult to avoid anxiety when they simultaneously try to please each other and make it in the world. The couple would do better if they worked totally on their relationship so they could come closer to God by coming closer to each other. That’s how couples can be a light to the world illuminating the presence of God among us. The Old Testament readings conclude with a promise

Let’s return to New Year’s Day to look for another motif being woven into the fabric of January’s Scripture readings. The Old Testament thread begins with a blessing. This is Aaron’s blessing. It is the first blessing of the first priest after the Mosaic covenant was established, so it is of major importance. Indeed, it’s often repeated to this day. It shows that God is gracious, kind, and peaceful and that he desires a relationship with us. God wants to be close to us and will care for us if we allow him to share our lives. Epiphany adds the second step. We do not need to depend on Aaron to tell us that God is gracious. Isaiah announced that we have only to look ourselves. God’s glory shines upon us. The rest of the world may dioknox.org

Readings continued from page 16

be in darkness, but that only supplies the contrast so people can better see the glory of God gleaming on us. We will glow with light. All of this is nonverbal but nonetheless a crystal-clear sign that God is good and is with us. The following week’s Old Testament reading from the first Book of Samuel introduces us to a verbal connection with God. Samuel was the last judge of Israel and the one responsible for founding the monarchy (albeit reluctantly) in Israel. He anointed both Saul and David to the kingship. As a boy he was an apprentice to the priest, Eli. He had not yet experienced the thrill of having God speak to him. In the passage quoted in the first reading, we get a glimpse of the awkward way he discovered he had this gift. We in turn can discover that God does speak to us. Like the young Samuel, we should develop our capacity to listen for God and respond in prayer. We can progress beyond light and strong feelings because God communicates to us in ways we can rationally comprehend. Like Samuel, we need to work on our skills of communicating with God. The next Sunday we have a small pericope from the Book of Jonah. He had already defied God by refusing to go to Nineveh. He sailed away in the opposite direction, thinking he would thwart God’s plan and force God to destroy Israel’s enemy, the warlike Assyrians. Instead, after experiencing a violent storm, being thrown overboard, and staying three days in the belly of a fish, Jonah got a second chance from God. He did what he was told, and the people of Nineveh repented. One of the lessons of the story has to do with how we listen to God. Our conversation with God is meant to uplift and change us for the better. It is not to change God. Happily, the change in us is always for the better, for us and for our world. The Old Testament readings for January conclude with a promise. The East Tennessee Catholic

The perfection of communication with God is found in Jesus Christ. In the passage from Deuteronomy, God promises Moses that there will be another one like him who has a special relationship with God. He will speak the words of God. We now know this Promised One is Jesus Christ. In him is the fullness of revelation. He is also the medium in which we not only speak to God but also come to share divine life. This month the Old Testament takes us as far as it can: up to the coming of Christ. The Gospels show the primary design

That’s the point at which the Gospels for January begin. Now, going around the Sundays of January for the third time, we look at the primary design. Here we are at the Octave of Christmas. The long-awaited Messiah has been born, and now the Church turns the Christmas spotlight onto the shepherds to whom the angels spoke. These hardy folk became visionaries. That reminds us that all the key figures in the Christmas narrative saw and responded to extraordinary visions. Zechariah saw an angel in the Temple and was silenced for nine months for his lack of faith. Then there was his wife, Elizabeth, who miraculously became the mother of John, the Baptist. She had the divine inspiration to know that the young woman at her door was the mother of the Lord. Then there was, of course, Mary. Don’t forget that Joseph also had visions in his dreams. God is breaking into our world. He is making himself a player in human affairs, although in an unobtrusive manner. For this purpose, he uses only humble people. Do we want to be an instrument of God along with the shepherds and the others just mentioned? If so, be humble! Another group of visionaries were the Magi. We meet them, appropriately enough, on Epiphany. They are Matthew’s way of showing us that

God’s existence can be discerned by pagans. The Magi were searching the stars and found a message there that guided them to Jerusalem and to the child Jesus. Matthew says they had the privilege of presenting Jesus the first material gifts he ever received. They too excelled in humility. Returning to ordinary time on Jan. 15, the Church harkens, spiritually, to the very beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. There we find John the Baptist. He too was a visionary—and one of the most peculiar sort. He attested to Christ’s presence by leaping in his mother’s womb. He was still attesting to the Lord at the Jordan. With the characteristic humility of a visionary he directs his disciples to Jesus and then steps back. The first two, whom we get to know as John and Andrew, begin their conversation with Jesus by asking him where he is staying. That turns out to be a great model for our prayer. Jesus replied, “Come and see,” and they followed him. They followed him for the rest of their lives and brought their brothers and presumably many others to Jesus. Now we see there is a next step in our spiritual journey beyond listening to God. We are to follow Christ and bring others to him. The following week John the Baptist is again an important character, if only by being arrested. That action sets up Jesus’ reaction to push his public ministry into high gear. Jesus begins by calling people to change their way of thinking—that is, to repent. This kind of repentance is to see things differently, as visionaries do. We need to see the presence of God here in our own space and time. God is calling us as he did the Twelve in today’s Gospel. We need to be Church, making Christ present and effective in our world. If we need to change our way of thinking to see God working in the world, the last Gospel passage of

Thursday, Jan. 19: 1 Samuel 18:6-9 and 19:1-7; Psalm 56:2-3, 9-14; Mark 3:7-12 Friday, Jan. 20: 1 Samuel 24:3-21; Psalm 57:2-4, 6, 11; Mark 3:13-19 Saturday, Jan. 21: Memorial, Agnes, virgin, martyr, 2 Samuel 1:1-4, 11-12, 19, 23-27; Psalm 80:2-3, 5-7; Mark 3:20-21 Sunday, Jan. 22: Jonah 3:1-5, 10; Psalm 25:4-9; 1 Corinthians 7:29-31; Mark 1:14-20 Monday, Jan. 23: 2 Samuel 5:1-7, 10; Psalm 89:20-22, 25-26; Mark 3:22-30 Tuesday, Jan. 24: Memorial, Francis de Sales, bishop, doctor of the Church, 2 Samuel 6:12-15, 17-19; Psalm 24:7-10; Mark 3:31-35 Wednesday, Jan. 25: Feast, the Conversion of Paul, apostle, Acts 22:3-16; Psalm 117:1-2; Mark 16:15-18 Thursday, Jan. 26: Memorial, Timothy and Titus, bishops, 2 Timothy 1:1-8; Psalm 96:1-3, 7-8, 10; Mark 4:21-25 Friday, Jan. 27: 2 Samuel 11:1-4, 5-10, 13-17; Psalm 51:3-7, 10-11; Mark 4:26-34 Saturday, Jan. 28: Memorial, Thomas Aquinas, priest, doctor of the Church, 2 Samuel 12:1-7, 10-17; Psalm 51:12-17; Mark 4:35-41 Sunday, Jan. 29: Deuteronomy 18:15-20; Psalm 95:1-2, 6-9; 1 Corinthians 7:32-35; Mark 1:21-28 Monday, Jan. 30: 2 Samuel 15:1314, 30 and 16:5-13; Psalm 3:2-7; Mark 5:1-20 Tuesday, Jan. 31: Memorial, John Bosco, priest, 2 Samuel 18:9-10, 14, 24-25, and 18:30–19:3; Psalm 86:1-6; Mark 5:21-43 Wednesday, Feb. 1: 2 Samuel 24:2, 9-17; Psalm 32:1-2, 5-7; Mark 6:1-6 Thursday, Feb. 2: Feast, the Presentation of the Lord, Malachi 3:1-4; Psalm 24:7-10; Hebrews 2:14-18; Luke 2:22-40 Friday, Feb. 3: Sirach 47:2-11; Psalm 18:31, 47, 50-51; Mark 6:14-29 Saturday, Feb. 4: 1 Kings 3:4-13; Psalm 119:9-14; Mark 6:30-34 n

Brando continued on page 20

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January 1, 2012 17

Marriage enrichment: resolve to be grateful

Life and dignity

God’s close air support

By Marian Christiana Happy New Year! It is time again for us to make promises we don’t intend to keep—commonly called New Year’s resolutions. This year, why not try something very simple and maybe improve your marriage while you’re at it: make a resolution to be grateful. A report on the study of gratitude in long-term marriages was published in the November 2010 issue of Personality and Individual Differences, a professional journal. The study found that if one spouse shows gratitude, the other reported more marital satisfaction. This result is good for everyone concerned. Here are some simple suggestions to increase your sense of gratitude: n Start each day with gratitude in your heart. Thank God for your spouse, your family, and the new day. n Show you appreciate your spouse with small acts of kindness. n Write short love notes to your spouse and hide them around your house where only he or she will find them. n Remember your P’s and Q’s. Say “thank you” and mean it. Your spouse will appreciate it. n Keep a gratitude journal. Every day write down something you’re grateful for. Over time you will have a long record of blessings you and your spouse share. This is a lovely keepsake of your marriage and a great gift idea. If you’re looking for an early Valentine’s Day gift, consider attending a marriage celebration Mass with Bishop Stika, renew your marriage vows, and enjoy a luncheon with other couples from around the diocese. The schedule is as follows:

Marriage continued on page 19

18 January 1, 2012

by Paul Simoneau

The Lord blesses us with angelic companions for our pilgrim journey.

ou have nothing to fear!” (Luke 2:10). Since fear entered man’s existence with the advent of sin in the Garden of Eden through a fallen angel (cf. Genesis 3:10), it seems fitting that with the advent of our redemption the angel of the Lord would announce an end to that fear. It may have been this very angel who would later strengthen Christ in his agony in the garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:43). But we too have an angel to strengthen us, “to light and guard, to rule and guide” (the Angel of God prayer). Unfortunately, we can be too quick to dismiss the critical importance of angels in our lives, perhaps placing them in the same category of Santa Claus, as a belief to be outgrown as we grow up. The existence of angels, according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, is “a truth of faith” (No. 328). In examining their role in our life, it may be helpful to reflect on God’s threefold creation. There lies above us the spiritual realm of the angels, which is beyond our earthly grasp. Beneath our feet lies the purely material realm, of which we have been given stewardship (cf. Genesis 1:28). But man is unique in God’s creation: we’re a composite of both spirit and matter. Through “the envy of the devil” (Wisdom 2:24) sin and death entered into our world, which continues to suffer under “the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19). For that reason God gives each of us from our very “beginning until death . . . , an angel as protector and shepherd” to accompany us on our earthly pilgrimage (CCC, No. 336; Hebrews 1:14). “The whole life of the Church

benefits from the mysterious and powerful help of angels” (CCC, No. 334). Thus we should always implore their help in our life, our family, and our work. St. Paul reminds us that “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). The Second Vatican Council describes “the whole of man’s history [as] the story of dour combat with the powers of evil. . . . Finding himself in the midst of the battlefield, man has to struggle to do what is right, and it is at great cost to himself, aided by God’s grace, that he succeeds in achieving his own inner integrity” (Gaudium et Spes, No. 37). Who among us cannot identify at least some part of their life experience with these words? Pope Paul VI, concerned by the growing scourges of poverty and famine, wars, and the threat of nuclear weapons, which have become even more acute in our day, asked What are the Church’s greatest needs at the present time? Don’t be surprised at our answer, and don’t write it off as simplistic or even superstitious: one of the Church’s greatest needs is to be defended against the evil we call the Devil. . . . This matter of the Devil and of the influence he can exert on individuals as well as on communities, entire societies, or events is a very important chapter of Catholic doctrine which should be studied again, although it is given little attention today (general audience, Nov. 15, 1972).

Christians by the Roman Empire, St. Chromatius (the bishop of Aquileia, Italy, who died about 406) would speak of both physical and spiritual threats, reminding us that man “in his weakness could not be safe amid so many forceful attacks of that enemy if he were not strengthened by the help of the angels.” It is for good reason that the Church encourages us to pray, “St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle . . .” and to call on the help of our guardian angels: God’s close air support. All the angels know Mary as their Queen, but until they are called by God to become guardian angels and brothers to us during our earthly pilgrimage they cannot appreciate her as Mother. Having received his instruction as a guardian angel from her, our angel then helps us answer God’s calling each day with Mary’s own fiat to the divine will: “Be it done unto me according to your will” (Luke 1:38). For this reason the Church continues to recommend the venerable practice of praying the Angelus three times daily. Like the Israelites during their Exodus journey, we continue to need the help of the holy angels: “See, I am sending an angel before you, to guard you on the way and bring you to the place I have prepared. Be attentive to him and heed his voice. Do not rebel against him. . . . If you heed his voice and carry out all I tell you, I will be an enemy to your enemies and a foe to your foes (Exodus 23:20-22). To learn more about angels, visit www.opusangelorum.org. n

Living at a time not far removed from the terrible persecutions of

Mr. Simoneau directs the diocesan Office of Justice and Peace.

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Once upon a time

by Monsignor Xavier Mankel

Making adjustments

Adapting to changes in the Mass is nothing new.

s the people of God, the Catholic Church in East Tennessee, continue to implement in our celebration of the Mass the improved translation introduced on the first Sunday of Advent this year, we think back to the adjustment the Apostles faced as they went about the Empire using Greek for the Eucharistic Prayer (the first Mass, the Last Supper, had been celebrated in Aramaic or Hebrew). More tongue twisting ensued over the centuries as the language of Rome—Latin—was introduced little by little into the Mass of the West (including North, Central, and South America, as those areas were evangelized by Europeans, including Scandinavian, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, and English missionaries). Some little vernacular came to these parts through Eastern Rite missionaries who abandoned Greek much sooner than we in the West abandoned Latin. I am confident that those trying to implement the Constitutions and Decrees of the Council of Trent (1545-1563) were confused, even threatened, by having to pray in the language and style of the church of the city of Rome. But little by little they adapted and adopted so that by the 17th through the early 20th centuries, ritual and liturgical changes were adapted rather universally and soon after such modifications were initiated. I am not sure of the exact date that the Douay-Rheims English translation of those parts of Sunday Mass were proclaimed from the pulpit to people who seemed to understand Latin less and less, but I do know that such translations were appreciated more and more by people who experienced the proclamations in the Confraternity, Jerusalem Bible, Revised Standard VerThe East Tennessee Catholic

sion, New American, and Revised New American Bible versions over the last half century. Presently, of course, we have the privilege of uniformity in that the Revised New American Bible is the only version we use for Catholic Masses. In 1970 the English translation (of the remainder of our Mass formulae) was introduced, and the second edition was introduced in 1975. By the time the third edition was introduced in November at the beginning of Advent, we were pretty well set in our liturgical ways. No wonder that it will take some time for the improved new translation to sink into psyches and become a basic foundation for our language of public worship. People tell me that the responses “and with your spirit” and “it is right and just” are the two primary challenges to our memory and force of habit from 1970. I could list several pages of improved translations that are challenging to this priest, who is exposed to using them every day. In time we shall all become so familiar with our various roles that another historical moment’s challenges will have become blessedly old hat. At the moment few of us appreciate just how significant these days in the two-millennia history of our Catholic Church really are. It shall not be very long, however, before we are telling generations to come that “once upon a time the third edition of the Roman Missal in English came our way, and it was a wonderful, wonderful gift.” May 2012 be a year of great happiness and spiritual growth for you and yours. n Monsignor Mankel is a vicar general of the diocese and the pastor of Holy Ghost Parish in Knoxville.

Our seminarians: Christopher Floersh By Dan McWilliams Christopher Floersh is a junior at Cardinal Glennon College Seminary in St. Louis. He is a son of Frank and Rita Floersh of Farragut. His home parish is St. John Neumann in Farragut. What is your favorite course in seminary and why?

I enjoy church history, especially the study of the Church fathers. Fathers like St. Augustine teach us a lot about moral theology that is very applicable for us today. What do you most look forward to in your future life as a priest?

Offering holy Mass, as well as other sacraments, will be the most exciting part of being a priest. Who has inspired you?

First of all my family, which has been very supportive of me, especially my mother and father, and Monsignor Patrick Garrity, our pastor at St. John Neumann, because he is constantly active and does great things for the parish. Any seminarian could learn a lot from his example of service, humility, and pastoral care. St. Augustine is another inspiration for me. His prudence and understanding of moral virtues are something to strive for. How young were you when you first considered the priesthood?

My mother can recall my pretending to offer Masses—like many

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Saturday, Jan. 7, at Sacred Heart Cathedral n Saturday, Feb. 11, at St. Jude Church in Chattanooga n Saturday, March 3, at St. Mary Church in Johnson City. All Masses start at 11 a.m. with a free luncheon immediately foln

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Christopher Floersh

Catholic boys—for my friends and sisters at around first grade. What things about you have changed the most as a seminarian?

The biggest change I have experienced is a fuller understanding of God. I have a great desire to know all that I can about our Creator and his will. I love to read Scripture and desire to understand it the way the Church fathers did. In short, my relationship with God has strengthened significantly. Along with their prayers for you, is there another way East Tennessee Catholics can support you?

Absolutely, by being supportive of the possibility of your sons entering the seminary or your daughters entering the convent. The best prayers seminarians receive are from their own mothers. n

lowing. To make reservations, call Karen Byrne at 865-584-3307, extension 5739, or e-mail kbyrne@ dioknox.org. n Mrs. Christiana is coordinator of the diocesan Marriage Preparation and Enrichment Office. January 1, 2012 19

The Roman Missal

Brando continued from page 17

the month gives us fair warning that there is opposition. Jesus confronts unclean spirits. That’s the bad news: such spirits exist. The good news is that Jesus defeats them. With his help we can do the same. Now we can see the big picture. Jesus’ birth is the culmination of thousands of years of Old Testament history. Jesus’ mission has started at a rapid pace and is enlisting us to take part. We begin by experiencing God’s presence. Through Christ and the Church, we communicate with God. We follow our Lord and bring others with us. Then we put ourselves into Christ’s hands. At the end he will hand us over as the ultimate gift to his Father in heaven. n Father Brando is the pastor of St. Mary Parish in Gatlinburg.

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20 January 1, 2012

by Father Randy Stice

Silence in the liturgy

‘An often-neglected aspect of the Mass’ plays a central part in it.

or the past two years this column has considered in detail the third edition of the Roman Missal, looking at principles of translation, discussing changes in syntax and vocabulary, and explaining the importance of these changes from a sacramental and theological perspective. Now that the new Missal has been implemented, it seems fitting to conclude this series by considering an often neglected aspect of the Mass: silence. In its March 2010 newsletter the Committee on Divine Worship of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops devoted an article to the “central part” silence plays in the liturgy, “for it is in silence that all who are gathered to celebrate the liturgy—priest and people—are able to reflect on the mysteries being celebrated with an awareness of the abiding presence of Christ.” In this the Committee is echoing the teaching of the Second Vatican Council in Musicam Sacram (“Instruction on Music in the Liturgy,” 1967) “At the proper times, all should observe a reverent silence. Through it the faithful are . . . associated more intimately in the mystery that is being celebrated, thanks to that interior disposition which derives from the word of God that they have heard, from the songs and prayers that have been uttered, and from spiritual union with the priest in the parts that he says or sings himself” (No. 17). The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) suggests silence at a number of points during the Mass, noting that the nature of the silence “depends on the moment when it occurs in the different parts of the celebration” (No. 45). For example, it observes that before Mass begins, “it is a praiseworthy practice for silence to be

observed in the church, in the sacristy, in the vesting room, and in adjacent areas, so that all may dispose themselves to carry out the sacred celebration in a devout and fitting manner” (No. 45). Other appropriate times for silence are before the penitential act and the opening prayer (collect), “for in the penitential act and again after the invitation to pray, individuals recollect themselves.” Silence before the collect is important so that all “may become aware of being in God’s presence and may call to mind their intentions” (GIRM, No. 54). The opening prayer then gathers up or “collects” the individual intentions and offers them to God. Silence is also encouraged during the Liturgy of the Word—“for example, before the Liturgy of the Word itself begins, after the first and second reading, and lastly at the conclusion of the homily” (GIRM, No. 56)— enabling “the people to make this divine word their own” (Nos. 45, 55). These periods of silence facilitate a personal encounter with the Blessed Trinity, for “by means of these, under the action of the Holy Spirit, the Word of God may be grasped by the heart and a response through prayer may be prepared” (No. 56). The USCCB also notes that during the general intercessions, silence is an alternative to an invocation said in common such as “Lord, hear our prayer” (GIRM, No. 71). During the eucharistic prayer the people “should

associate themselves with the priest in faith and in silence” (No. 147). One of the favored moments for silence is the time following Communion. Pope Benedict XVI especially commended this in Sacramentum Caritatis: “the precious time of thanksgiving after Communion should not be neglected: besides the singing of an appropriate hymn, it can also be most helpful to remain recollected in silence” (No. 50). In his book The Spirit of the Liturgy (Ignatius Press, 2000) then–Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger pope described this as “the moment for interior conversation with the Lord who has given himself to us, for that essential ‘communicating’ . . . without which the external reception of the sacrament becomes mere ritual and therefore unfruitful” (p. 210). Silence is “an integral part of the liturgical event” (The Spirit of the Liturgy, p. 209). It is essential for full, conscious, and active participation in the Mass and creates a space in which a personal encounter with the Lord can occur. Silence at appropriate moments and with proper direction helps “the faithful come to be more authentically present before the Lord who is truly present in the liturgy” (March 2010 newsletter, USCCB Committee on Divine Worship). Next month I will begin a series of articles on the sacraments. n Father Stice directs the diocesan Office of Worship and Liturgy. He may be reached at frrandy@dioknox.org.

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From the wire

New Missal: a tool for evangelization One consequence of the changes is renewed appreciation of the Mass. By Nancy Frazier O’Brien WASHINGTON (CNS)—Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl doesn’t have a problem with the fact that there will be some missteps and some wrong words spoken during the first weeks of using the new English translation of the Roman Missal at Mass. “We are going to have to live with the fact that not every celebration is going to be perfect,” the archbishop of Washington said during a Dec. 6 teleconference. “But that can be inviting to some people who are afraid they are going to do the wrong thing. They might say, ‘That’s the same struggle I’m having.’” Cardinal Wuerl, who co-wrote The Mass: The Glory, the Mystery, the Tradition (Image Books, 2011) with Mike Aquilina, joined in a panel discussion about the impact of the new translation, which went into use in the United States on the first Sunday of Advent, Nov. 27. As 2011 drew to a close, American Catholics were greeting the new Missal translation with a mostly positive response and finding some unexpected spiritual benefits in the need to pay closer attention to the words spoken at Mass—at least for a while. Father Dan Barron, an Oblate of the Virgin Mary who is director of spiritual formation at John Paul the Great Catholic University in San Diego and editor of Magnifikid!, a weekly worship aid for children, said he has been “amazed to see that 18-, 19-year-old students are talking about the liturgy.” “What brilliant youth minister could have been able to get young people talking about the Missal?” he asked. “I give thanks to God for this great moment that I can be a part of.” Father Barron said children, who are “the least resistant to change,” The East Tennessee Catholic

will pick up the new wording quickly. But introduction of the new translation throughout the Englishspeaking world can serve as an “occasion to teach them the traditions that are so much larger than them and their parish” and that they are

‘It’s a wonderful opportunity to bring people deeper into the mystery of the Mass.’ “united with parishes around the world, from the rising of the sun to its setting.” Edward Sri, provost and professor of theology and Scripture at the Augustine Institute in Denver and author of A Biblical Walk Through the Mass (Ascension Press, 2011) compared the process of implementing the new Missal to the preparations some of his students make for the annual trip to Rome that he leads. They might have read about and seen pictures of the Vatican before taking the trip, he said, “but there is nothing like walking into St. Peter’s Basilica for the first time” and experiencing it in person. “That’s the experience that many lay Catholics will be having in the next weeks and months” related to the new Missal translation, Sri said. “They have heard about it, but now they are saying it, hearing it. It’s a wonderful opportunity to bring people deeper into the mystery of the Mass.” Liturgical musician Matt Maher said the introduction of the new translation marks a moment when “the innovation of the culture meets the slow, deliberate movement of the church.” Although the media and the blogosphere might want to report immediate results, Maher

said he was more excited about “the re-evangelization of the faithful” that might occur generations down the road. “We live in a very, very tumultuous time of change” in today’s society, he added. “But the church always has the wisdom to reaffirm what is true and beautiful and important.” As a musician who works with Christians of other denominations, Maher said he also found an “unintended consequence” of the new Missal translation has been “a rise in interest in re-embracing liturgical spirituality.” “As we are re-educating and reevangelizing, there is a tremendous opportunity to be building bridges,” he said. During a question-and-answer period, Cardinal Wuerl acknowledged that in the first days of using the new translation, he would sometimes find himself “drifting back” to the words of the former translation “if I didn’t keep concentrating.” “Isn’t that the way for all of us?” he asked. “I have to be aware that I can’t take my eyes off the page. It made me much more conscious of the words and much more aware that I say those words in a way that was inviting the congregation into the mystery” of the Mass. Father Barron said he found himself celebrating the Mass “in a way that I have not done since I was a deacon.” Although he said the first weeks of the new translation might be “messy,” he said Catholics should be experiencing that fact that “God has come to be with us in our mess. That’s part of the life of the Mass.” n Copyright 2011 Catholic News Service/ U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

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From the Paraclete: new year, new habits By Bethany Marinac The new year is a good time to start habits that promote a healthy spiritual life. We have many books that can assist your prayer life. In Conversation With God (Scepter Publications, 1993, $129.65) is a seven-book set with brief meditations for each day of the liturgical calendar. Individual volumes are also available ($17.95-$18.95). Through the Year With Padre Pio (Servant Books, 2003, $19.99) is a great resource for those short on time. This book offers short excerpts from the Bible and Padre Pio’s writings, with a meditation on applying the information to your day. Through the Year With Oscar Romero (St. Anthony Messenger Press, 2005, $12.95) offers homilies from the popular archbishop on topics such as persecution, idolatry, conformity, sin, and social sanction. These 365 homilies will inspire you to think about the poorest and most unfortunate of our society in a different way. Love Is the Explanation of Everything: 365 Meditations With the Pope (Rizzoli, 2011, $29.95) includes beautiful works of art as well as uplifting excerpts from Blessed John Paul II’s homilies, speeches, and writings. How to Read the Bible Every Day (Servant Publications, 1988, $3.99) presents a one-, two-, or three year plan for reading the entire Bible. Each plan is a great way to connect with the Word in a meaningful way. n Visit the Paraclete at 417 Erin Drive in Knoxville; call 865-5880388; or visit the store’s Facebook page at bit.ly/theparaclete. January 1, 2012 21

From the wire

Archbishop Kelly, retired Louisville archbishop, dies at 80 LOUISVILLE, Ky. (CNS)—Archbishop Thomas C. Kelly, who led the Archdiocese of Louisville from 1982 until his retirement in 2007, died peacefully in his sleep on the morning of Dec. 14 at his home on the campus of Holy Trinity Church. He was 80. Following public visitation at the Cathedral of the Assumption in Louisville Dec. 18, 19, and 20 and an evening vigil Dec. 19, his funeral Mass was held at 2 p.m. Dec. 20. In a statement released shortly after Archbishop Kelly’s death was announced, his successor, Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz, praised his brother bishop for his service to the archdiocese. “With the death of Archbishop Thomas Cajetan Kelly, the local church of Louisville has lost a friend, a humble servant, and a dedicated man of God,” Archbishop Kurtz said. “Archbishop Kelly served for more than a quarter century as the archbishop of Louisville and remained active as archbishop emeritus for almost five years. “In his 80 years of life, he has been thoroughly a priest of Jesus Christ, as a faithful Dominican, as a diplomat and administrator at the nunciature and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, as metropolitan of the province of Louisville, as a true archbishop, and in these last days as a faithful parish priest.” Archbishop Kelly, possessed of twinkling Irish eyes and a comforting presence, led the archdiocese through periods of both triumph and tragedy. He was proud of the spiritual growth of the archdiocese, especially the Renew process that began in the 1980s shortly after he came to Louisville. He also took pride in the development of a strategic planning process—also launched

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CNS PHOTO/RICK MUSACCHIO, TENNESSEE REGISTER

‘The church of Louisville has lost a friend, a humble servant, and a dedicated man of God.’ By Glenn Rutherford

‘Thoroughly a priest of Jesus Christ’ Archbishop Thomas C. Kelly of Louisville, Ky., left, laughs as he responds to a question during a 2007 press conference to announce his resignation and that Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz, right, the second bishop of Knoxville, would be his successor. Archbishop Kelly died Dec. 14 at his home in Louisville. He was 80. He led the archdiocese from 1982 until his retirement.

in the 1980s—something he called “a very significant beginning in my time.” The saddest moment of his 25year leadership of the archdiocese came, he said, with the eruption of the sexual abuse crisis in 2002. “It was,” he noted, “a terrible time . . . when victims came forward for healing and made us realize the terrible, terrible damage that had been done to them. “We continue to seek and ask for their forgiveness,” he said in 2007, “to pray that such terrible things may not happen . . . again and to take every step conceivable to prevent that from happening.” Brian Reynolds, chancellor and chief administrative officer for the archdiocese, called Archbishop Kelly a “humble servant leader.”

“Working with him, that’s what you experienced,” he said, “his humility and commitment to serve those in need.” The archbishop, Reynolds said, loved three things: “He loved his cathedral and took pride in seeing it renovated and back as a beacon of life in this city,” he said. “He loved planning and not just focusing on the present. And he loved the priesthood.” In fact, the night before he died, Reynolds noted, Archbishop Kelly concelebrated Mass at Holy Trinity Church, and preached. “It’s remarkable, but he was preaching just half a day before his life ended,” the chancellor said. Archbishop Kelly “was committed to the poor, to Catholic education and to addressing injustice, whether

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through outreach to refugees or outreach to prisons,” Reynolds noted. “Those are things he loved and that’s what he did.” The retired archbishop was born in 1931 in Rochester, N.Y., and entered the Dominican order in 1951 after studying for two years at Providence College. He was ordained a priest in 1958 and received a licentiate in theology degree from the Dominican House of Studies in Washington in 1959. He also received a doctorate in canon law from the University of St. Thomas in Rome in 1962 and studied at the University of Vienna in Austria and at Cambridge University in England. Joseph Duerr, retired editor of The Record, Louisville archdiocesan newspaper, recalled his 25-year history with Archbishop Kelly—he covered both his 1982 installation as Archbishop of Louisville and the archbishop’s retirement in 2007— and said what he most remembers about the archbishop is his scholarly nature. “I think that his pastorate was marked by renewal and growth,” Duerr recalled in a telephone interview Dec. 14. “One of the things that struck me about him personally is that he was very intelligent, a scholar. He was fully aware of having been general secretary of the bishops’ conference before he came here. He was in touch with the many issues in the church nationally, and he brought that awareness with him when he came here.” But if asked to describe the late archbishop in one word, Duerr said, that word would be “scholar.” “That had a lot to do with his education in the Dominican community, and he brought that scholarly view of the church with him to Louis-

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From the wire

Kelly continued from page 22

Percentage who are married reaches new low Only 51 percent of adults were married in 2010, a Pew report finds. By Nancy Frazier O’Brien

WASHINGTON (CNS)—With cohabitation, single-person households and single parenthood on the rise, the percentage of Americans who are currently married has reached an all-time low. A new report from the Pew Research Center analyzing Census Bureau data found that only 51 percent of Americans 18 and over were married in 2010, compared with 72 percent in 1960. Among Hispanics and African-Americans, the decline is even more steep. “If current trends continue, the share of adults who are currently married will drop to below half within a few years,” said the report by Pew senior writer D’Vera Cohn, senior demographer Jeffrey S. Passel, and research associate Wendy Wang. Fifty-five percent of white Americans were married in 2010, down from 74 percent 50 years earlier. But among Hispanics and blacks, married people are already in the minority. Forty-eight percent of Hispanics and 31 percent of AfricanAmericans were married in 2010, compared with 72 percent and 61 percent, respectively, in 1960. The authors said it was “beyond the scope of this analysis to explain why marriage has declined,” but they noted that its popularity has fallen less sharply among college graduates. They said a recent drop in the number of new marriages could have to do with the economic recession, but the linkage “is not entirely clear.” The Pew report found that the median age at first marriage has been steadily rising for both men and women over the past five decades, from 22.8 for men and 20.3 3for women in 1960. The median age The East Tennessee Catholic

in 2010 was 26.5 for women and 28.7 for men in 2010. Reinforcing the trend of a rising median age for marriage was the percentage of Americans ages 20 to 24 who had ever been married. In 1960, 60 percent of that age group had married, while in 2010 only 14 percent had. Among those between the ages of 35 and 39, 93 percent reported having ever been married in 1960, compared to 77 percent in 2010. Pew also asked in a 2010 survey of 2,691 American adults whether marriage is becoming obsolete. Only 39 percent of the respondents said it was, with college-educated Americans being the least likely to say marriage was becoming obsolete at 27 percent. Nearly half (45 percent) of those with a high school education or less agreed that marriage was becoming obsolete. The responses also differed according to age group and racial and ethnic groups. Although only 32 percent of Americans 65 and older said marriage was becoming obsolete, 44 percent of those 18 to 29 said so. Thirty-six percent of white respondents, 44 percent of black respondents and 42 percent of Hispanics said they thought marriage was becoming obsolete. But even if unmarried Americans believe marriage is becoming obsolete, many still want to get married themselves, according to the survey results. “Asked whether they want to get married, 47 percent of unmarried adults who agree that marriage is becoming obsolete say that they would like to wed,” the Pew report said. In all, 61 percent of nevermarried Americans said they want to get married.

The only unmarried group that indicated they did not want to marry were those who had been married previously. Just over a quarter (26 percent) of adults who had ever been married but were currently unmarried said they wanted to get married. No margin of error was given for the survey portion of the report. But a separate report issued earlier in 2011 by the Institute for American Values found that about 40 percent of U.S. couples who are divorcing said one or both members of the couple were interested in the possibility of reconciling. William J. Doherty, professor of family social science at the University of Minnesota, and Leah Ward Sears, former chief justice of the Georgia Supreme Court, were the principal authors of the new report, titled “Second Chances.” They also found that a modest reduction in divorce would benefit more than 400,000 U.S. children each year and could produce significant savings for U.S. taxpayers by reducing the costs of social welfare programs needed because of the effects of divorce on poverty. The authors proposed model legislation for state legislatures that would n extend the waiting period for divorce to at least a year n require pre-filing education, with modules on reconciliation and on a nonadversarial approach to divorce, for parents of minor children considering divorce n create university-based centers of excellence to improve the education available to couples at risk of divorce. n

ville,” the retired editor said. “At the same time, he was very pastoral, too. He was never aloof from people, he very much identified with individuals and was open to them.” At the time of his installation as archbishop of Louisville, Archbishop Kelly told about 5,000 people who were gathered that February day in 1982 that “I am to be the servant of your faith.” In his homily at the installation Mass, he told his church that he was thinking “of the unborn and the incessant destruction of human life.” “Too many members of the human family . . . are subject to conditions that are offensive to their life, to their dignity and to the aspirations that are rightfully theirs,” he said in his homily. Respect for life “embraces many issues,” he said in a 1999 article in The Record. “Poverty, malnutrition, hunger, war, sexual exploitation, the arms trade, abortion, racism, unchecked individualism and materialism, capital punishment, and euthanasia all contribute to a ‘throw-away’ society and to tremendous suffering.” Archbishop Kelly also stressed lay ministry and he “reinvigorated the Catholic Conference of Kentucky in his years as archbishop,” Duerr noted. “Education was another thing he stressed, as was life-long formation. Then you had the restoration of the cathedral during his time . . . but the notion of renewal and growth touched all aspects of his pastorate.” n Copyright 2011 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

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