July 12, 2009, East Tennessee Catholic by Diocese of Knoxville

CNS/L’OSSERVATORE ROMANO

The conversion of St. Paul A detail from Michelangelo’s mural depicting the conversion of St. Paul is seen in the newly restored Pauline Chapel in the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican on June 30. The chapel underwent a $4.5 million, five-year restoration funded by donors.

THE EAST TENNESSEE

Volume 18 • Number 21 • July 12, 2009

The

N E W S PA P E R

of the D I O C E S E of K N O X V I L L E www.d ioces eof kn ox ville.or g

‘I cultivated the dream and vocation’ Father Jorge Andres Cano is ordained a priest for the Diocese of Knoxville, in his native Colombia. By Dan McWilliams he people of Pereira, Colombia, welcomed native son Father Jorge Andres Cano to the priesthood last month and showered dozens of travelers from the Diocese of Knoxville with their version of Southern hospitality during the East Tennessee Catholics’ stay in South America. Father Cano, known as Jorge to his American friends and Andres to his family in Colombia, became the 36th priest ordained for the Diocese of Knoxville and the first by Bishop Richard F. Stika. The ordination took place June 13 at Our Lady of Carmel Church in Pereira. “It was an honor to ordain him, as he is my first and will forever be a part of my ministry as bishop,” said Bishop Stika. For Father Cano, 29, the ordination caps a lifelong dream that took root during childhood days spent playing with younger brother Fernando. “When I was a little kid, probably 5 years old, I used to play [at celebrating] Mass with my little brother,” he said. “I was kind of

SIX DECADES A PRIEST

A portrait of Monsignor Philip Thoni (above) was unveiled June 8 during a party to celebrate the Gatlinburg priest’s 60th anniversary.

East Tennessee honors ‘tireless priest’ with ‘gigantic heart’ B Y MA RY C. WEAVER

undreds of parishioners, family members, and friends filled St. Mary Church in Gatlinburg on June 8 to celebrate Monsignor Philip Thoni’s 60th priestly anniversary. Joining him at the altar were three concelebrating bishops; nearly 30 priests and three deacons also took part in the Mass. “All the readings chosen today for Mass talked about the priesthood of Jesus Christ and the Holy Eucharist,” said homilist Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, the former bishop of Knoxville. “Now, I was reflecting, and I was thinking, ‘If I had to come up with one sentence, how would I describe Monsignor Thoni?’ Here’s what I came up with: A tireless priest with a gigantic and generous pastoral heart who has come to know the love of Jesus Christ,” said

DAN MCWILLIAMS

MARY C. WEAVER

Maria Lucelida Ramirez and her son, new priest Father Jorge Andres Cano, embrace at the end of his ordination Mass on June 13. View more photos at dioceseofknoxville.org.

MY SON THE PRIEST

dreaming about becoming a priest. As I was growing up, I cultivated the dream and the vocation.” The new priest celebrated his first Mass on June 14 at Immaculate Conception Church in the mountain

town of Marsella, where parents Ernesto de Jesus Cano and Maria Lucelida Ramirez formerly lived. More than 1,200 people filled the church beyond capacity as the townspeople turned out in force to join

Father Cano for his milestone Mass—and for the rare opportunity to welcome a visiting American bishop to their parish. That first Mass concluded in a manner that none of Cano continued on page 6

Mourning the loss of a modern-day ‘Star of Bethlehem’ Her family, co-workers, priests of the diocese, and hundreds more grieve over the death of Nancy Feist, but they celebrate her life lived for the Lord. BY DAN MCWI LLIAMS

he Chancery staff— and the church in East Tennessee and beyond— lost a dear friend June 19

with the death of Nancy Feist, the bishop’s executive secretary. David, her husband of 20 years, as well as her five

children, parents, and three brothers are mourning a beloved wife, mom, daughter, and sister after her unexpected passing.

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MARY C. WEAVER

Nancy Feist was hired as executive secretary to then–Bishop Joseph E. Kurtz in December 2004 and also worked for Father Al Humbrecht during his recent tenure as diocesan administrator and then Bishop Richard F. Stika. The above photo was published with an ETC story about Mrs. Feist’s hiring.

‘WIFE, MOTHER, AND FRIEND TO ALL’

Mrs. Feist, 43, who was pregnant with her sixth child, collapsed while watching her son Justin play baseball in Farragut. Death was virtually instantaneous, and it was caused by a previously unknown heart defect, the family later learned. Doctors at Baptist Hospital West delivered her baby, a son, Peter David, but were unable to save his life. Father Augustine Idra, AJ, associate pastor of the Feists’ parish of All Saints in Knoxville, baptized Peter Feist only minutes before the infant died. At a packed All Saints Church for Nancy and Peter Feist’s funeral Mass on June 24, Bishop Richard F. Stika said that his secretary, a native of Bethlehem, Pa., shone with a light that reminded him of another light over another Bethlehem long ago. “Many times I had wondered what happened to the star,” the bishop said. “Did it cease to exist? Did its light become very dim? “You know, maybe that star didn’t stop in Bethlehem. Maybe that star broke Feist continued on page 3

letters to the

EDITOR

Women religious choose ‘path of service’

Ginger Hutton’s column referring to women religious (“Staying true to their charism,” April 26 ETC) was a blessing for me because it caused me to reflect on the gift many sisters have been in my life. In grade school I was first told of the love of Jesus by Sisters of Mercy; I learned about the history of our nation from an enthusiastic Sister of Charity; I dissected a pig in a college biology class with my lab partner, a Sister of Notre Dame (a woman I admire so much that I asked her to vest me at my ordination); and all through seminary I was encouraged by a sister to love God’s word in sacred Scripture. The latter—an Adrian Dominican Sister who has traveled all over the world, learning, teaching, and counseling—is a great role model for me as a priest and for many others she encounters in encouraging them to live out their baptism. I just wanted to share the great and positive impact sisters have had on me and my faith. I’m quite sure my experience reflects that of many others. It is easy to zero in on negatives and assign attributes that we may not like onto a group as a whole, but I hope we would not do that disservice to the many women who have committed their lives to Jesus Christ and his church. In a world in which the accumulation of wealth often becomes the No. 1 pursuit, we have the witness of women like those mentioned above who have affected my life deeply and who have chosen a path of service based on Gospel values. I want just to draw attention to the gift of religious women in our church. —Father Ragan Schriver Knoxville

living the

READINGS

BY FATHER JOSEPH BRANDO

Going on mission If we are rejected by others, we are in good company.

Today’s Gospel narrates an instruction Jesus gave the Twelve before sending them out on a missionary journey. The content of that instruction gives us a pretty good glimpse of Jesus’ ideas about mission trips. Jesus told them not to take food for the journey. Surely he knew they would get hungry when mealtime came around. He did not tell them not to eat. More likely he meant that the disciples should prevail upon the generosity of the townspeople where they were sent and even of their fellow travelers on the road. For that, they

had to be likable and willing to ask for help. Jesus did tell them to bring a walking stick and sandals. That indicates they were to do a lot of traveling. The apostles were not going to stay in one place very long. Their news was so important it had to be spread as quickly as possible. They shouldn’t stay anywhere too long lest others miss hearing the good news. Jesus said they should not bring money or any kind of sack. They were not to rely on their own resources. They were looking for people who would receive their news gladly. That kind of a person is usually generous. What better way to find generous people than to be so obviously in need that only generous people would care to strike up a conversation? Or, having heard the good news of

The remnant

Why don’t parishioners make room?

At a typical Sunday Mass I enter church to find a sea of people bravely laying claim to the ends of the pews—squatters. I sigh. First I scan the church to see whether there are any open pews; then I move to plan B: requesting entrance. True squatters are unlikely to move down to make room. Too logical. Instead they step out of the pew until I pass, then return to their station. The question that begs to be answered (and believe me, I’ve spent hours considering it) is simple: why? Maybe the squatters have bad knees and can’t risk injury from being bumped by passersby. Unlikely, as these folks range in age from newborn to geriatric. Also, if this were true, Knoxville would be headquarters for “Knee Replacements R Us.” It can’t be the need to make a quick getaway after Communion, as squatters can easily join the throng walking from the Communion line right out the door. Could squatters simply suffer from a lack of common sense and hospitality? Could they just not know any better? I’m a cradle Catholic, and with the exception of a couple of Christmas and Easter Masses, I have never heard a pre-Mass directive asking people to move to the center of the pew so that others might find a seat. Recently I watched the comic antics of a family of five as they crawled their way across a pair of tenacious squatters to “the promised land”—the spacious area in the middle of the pew. How can we as a people of faith ever expect to bridge the gap with our non-Catholic brethren if we’re not even willing to physically accommodate fellow Catholics at Sunday Mass? ■ —Dana Hogan Knoxville We welcome letters to the editor and carefully consider all submissions. Letters should be 350 words or less and will be edited for grammar, style, clarity, and length. Submit them by e-mail, mail, or fax: mary@dioceseofknoxville.org, P.O. Box 11127, Knoxville, TN 37939-1127, 865-5848124. Letters to the editor reflect the opinions of their authors and not those of the editorial staff or the publisher.

Opening at St. Joseph School t. Joseph School is accepting applications for a prekindergarten teacher for school year 2009-10. Applicants must have certification. Mail resumes to St. Joseph School, 1810 Howard Road, Knoxville, TN 37918, Attention: Dr. Aurelia Montgomery, Principal. ■

Christ fulfilled Jeremiah’s prophesy concerning Israel.

oday we return to one of the most poignant reference points for Jesus—that of the Good Shepherd. This time Jesus was not gathering his flock. The Lord was trying to get away and debrief his apostles, who were returning from the missionary campaign on which he had sent them. Instead, the flock searched for Jesus and found him in a deserted spot a boat ride away. Confronted with the choice of

taking advantage of this teachable moment with the Twelve or going back to basics with the crowd, Jesus was moved with pity for the crowd. That klutzy crowd always got in Jesus’ way. They blocked the four men from bringing the paralytic to Jesus. They gave Zacchaeus a hard time as he tried to see Jesus, and they did the same to the blind beggar in Jericho. There were many other such oc-

JULY 12, 2009

Readings continued on page 10

July 19, 16th Sunday of ordinary time Jeremiah 23:1-6 Ephesians 2:13-18 Mark 6:30-34

Matthew 11:28-30 Friday, July 17: Exodus 11:10– 12:14; Psalm 116:12-13, 15-18; Matthew 12:1-8 Saturday, July 18: Exodus 12:3742; Psalm 136:1, 23-24, 10-15; Matthew 12:14-21 Monday, July 20: Exodus 14:5-18; Exodus 15:1-6; Matthew 12:38-42 Tuesday, July 21: Exodus 14:21– 15:1; Exodus 15:8-10, 12, 17; Matthew 12:46-50

Wednesday, July 22: Memorial, Mary Magdalene, Exodus 16:1-5, 915; Psalm 78:18-19, 23-28; John 20:1-2, 11-18 Thursday, July 23: Exodus 19:1-2, 9-11, 16-20; Daniel 3:52-56; Matthew 13:10-17 Friday, July 24: Exodus 20:1-17; Psalm 19:8-11; Matthew 13:18-23 Saturday, July 25: Feast, James, apostle, 2 Corinthians 4:7-15; Psalm 126:1-6; Matthew 20:20-28 ■

High School, and then his priestly preparation at St. Mary Seminary in Baltimore. “I came across something I had not known,” said Archbishop Kurtz. “At the age of 59, in 1983, he got a master of divinity degree from Immaculate Conception Seminary in New York. Formation was so important in his life. So thank you, Monsignor Phil, for giving us a good example of priestly education and ongoing formation.” One of the distinguishing fea-

tures of Monsignor Thoni’s vocation (“we don’t use the word career, do we?”) is the variety of assignments he’s had in Tennessee parishes and schools and as a military chaplain. After his ordination on June 4, 1949, he served as an associate pastor at Nashville’s Cathedral of the Incarnation, then St. Patrick Parish in Nashville, Immaculate Conception in Knoxville, and St. John Parish in Memphis. He taught

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Archbishop Kurtz. “That’s indeed the person we have.” Other concelebrating bishops were Bishop Richard F. Stika, Bishop David R. Choby of Nashville, and Bishop William R. Houck, bishop emeritus of Jackson, Miss., and a former seminary classmate of the honoree. Summing up a few of the highlights of Monsignor Thoni’s life, Archbishop Kurtz described his early life in Nashville, including his years at Father Ryan

805 Northshore Drive S.W.

Thoni continued on page 7

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

■

God. They have been mismanaged by civil and religious leaders. By the time Jesus comes on the scene, they are confused and divided, making up a small fraction of what they once had been. No wonder Jesus loved them. Jeremiah prophesied that the Messiah would bring them salvation and security. He would heal them, unite them, love them, and lead

W E E KDAY RE ADINGS Monday, July 13: Exodus 1:8-14, 22; Psalm 124:1-8; Matthew 10:34–11:1 Tuesday, July 14: Memorial, Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, virgin, Exodus 2:1-15; Psalm 69:3, 14, 3031, 33-34; Matthew 11:20-24 Wednesday, July 15: Memorial, Bonaventure, bishop, doctor of the church, Exodus 3:1-6, 9-12; Psalm 103:1-4, 6-7; Matthew 11:25-27 Thursday, July 16: Exodus 3:13-20; Psalm 105:1, 5, 8-9, 24-27;

THE EAST TENNESSEE

July 12, 15th Sunday of ordinary time Amos 7:12-15 Ephesians 1:3-14 Mark 6:7-13

currences, including the time Mary couldn’t get through. And, of course, there’s Good Friday! In all those instances, Jesus remained his flock’s Good Shepherd. In the first reading Jeremiah presents his development of the Old Testament theme of the remnant. God has a flock—Israel. But this flock has been depleted by many tragedies. They have been defeated in wars, scattered to the four winds, and exiled to Babylon. They have been exposed to temptations that have led them away from their relationship to

Take note of ETC deadlines e welcome submissions about parish and community events. Send notices by e-mail (mary@dioceseofknoxville.org), fax (865584-8124), or mail (P.O. Box 11127, Knoxville, TN 37939). To make sure we receive information about upcoming events in time for publication, please submit it by the following deadlines: ■ Monday, July 13, for the July 26 issue ■ Monday, July 27, for the Aug. 9 issue ■ Monday, Aug. 10, for the Aug. 23 issue ■ Monday, Aug. 24, for the Sept. 6 issue ■ Monday, Sept. 7, for the Sept. 20 issue ■ Monday, Sept. 28, for the Oct. 11 issue ■ Monday, Oct. 12, for the Oct. 25 issue ■ Monday, Oct. 26, for the Nov. 8 issue. When submitting photos or information about past events, please keep in mind that we have a backlog of submissions. ■

God’s love, the charitable people of the town would beg the apostles to come to their house for dinner. Finally, Jesus gave them instructions about what to do if the town failed to welcome or listen to them. They were to leave, shaking the dust off their feet (or sandals). That is not saying anything bad about those towns. More likely it was for the apostles’ sake. It would be normal for them to feel rejected and judge themselves failures. Instead, they were not to let an unfortunate experience dim their enthusiasm for proclaiming the good news to the next town. Great people, like Amos in the first reading, do get thrown out of places. If you have ever been rejected, rejoice! You’re in good company. Like Amos, Paul, and Jesus, you should keep on living the good news. ■

Margaret Hunt Administrative assistant Toni Pacitti Intern

Knoxville, TN 37919-7551

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

Phone: 865-584-3307 • fax: 865-584-8124 • e-mail: webmaster@dioceseofknoxville.org • web: dioceseofknoxville.org The East Tennessee Catholic is mailed to all registered Catholic families in East Tennessee. Subscription rate for others is $15 a year in the United States. Make checks payable to the Diocese of Knoxville. www.dioceseofk noxville.org

THE E A S T TE NNE S S E E CATHOLI C

he dwells

AMONG US

BY BISHOP RICHARD F. STIKA

Thank you, Nancy The bishop’s executive secretary ‘was a star who led others to Jesus.’

My column is short this week because I find it difficult to find the words to describe the death of Nancy Feist. As you know, Nancy, my executive secretary died suddenly on June 19 at the young age of 43. Nancy was the wife of Dave Feist, who serves on the faculty of St. Mary School in Oak Ridge, and the mother of five wonderful children: Hope, Justin, Ryan, Craig, and Erin. She was also in her sixth month of pregnancy and preparing to welcome into the world her son Peter David. Peter died an hour after Nancy did. The death of one so young reminds us of how fragile life is and how life itself invites us to treasure each day as a gift of the Lord. It also reminds us to treasure those around us as gifts from God. It is easy to take these gifts for granted because of a variety of factors. There is a constant demand on the moments of our lives to accomplish our tasks, and yet many of these accomplish-

ments and demands on our time are not all that important. So often when I preach at a funeral Mass, I remind those present that the death of another challenges us to step back and evaluate how we are living our lives. Do we make a positive difference in the world? By our words and actions, are we promoting sinful behavior and preaching doom and gloom—or do we try to be the face of Jesus to others? Since the deaths of Nancy and Peter, I have begun to reflect more deeply on the great need to show appreciation for the many who behind the scenes preach so powerfully the message of Jesus. So often as a public person of faith, I am shown more recognition. But every act that I do as a bishop is accomplished because of people like Nancy who give so much to the church. Nancy was originally from Bethlehem, Pa. In many ways she was like the Magi who followed the star that led to Jesus. In my book, she too was a star who traveled from Bethlehem to Knoxville to lead others to Jesus. And Peter, who lived outside the womb for just a short

time, teaches us that the child in the womb is a person, created by God, and should be treasured as such. Seeing him in her arms at the wake was a powerful reminder of the beauty of a child, whether in the womb or walking on this earth. This reminds us that it is not about choice but about life! Thank you, Nancy, for your devotion to your family, your church, and especially your God. May you be in peace with Peter in the arms of the Father. Finally, I wish to express, in the name of the Feist family and in the name of my coworkers at the Chancery, our gratitude for all the kind notes, prayers, and words of sympathy. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace. ■ BISHOP STIKA’ S SCHE DUL E The following are some of Bishop Stika’s appointments: July 12: 1 p.m., dedication of St. John Neumann Church, Farragut July 21-22: installation of Archbishop George J. Lucas, Omaha, Neb. July 24: profession of final vows for Dominican sisters, Nashville July 25: 4 p.m. CDT, dedication of St. Christopher Church, Jamestown ■ If you’d like to see whether Bishop Stika is available to attend an event, e-mail phumphreys@dioceseof knoxville.org with specific information regarding the event, date, time, and location.

into all kinds of fragments and would spend its entire existence until the end of time guiding people to Christ. So maybe, I propose to all of us, a star of Bethlehem came to the city of Knoxville.” Mrs. Feist’s oldest child, 16-year-old Hope, moved many to tears—and all to a standing ovation—at the funeral Mass with an 11-minute eulogy for her mother that included words of comfort addressed to her father, each of her siblings, her grandparents, and all of Mrs. Feist’s extended family. Concelebrating the funeral Mass were Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Ky., for whom Mrs. Feist first worked when she arrived at the Chancery and a longtime family friend; Bishop James Vann Johnston of Springfield–Cape Girardeau, Mo., who worked in the office next door to Mrs. Feist’s during his years as chancellor of the diocese; and Bishop David R. Choby of Nashville. More than 40 other priests from around the diocese, 12 deacons, many women religious and Chancery staffers, and hundreds of fellow parishioners and friends of the family filled the church as well. Bishop Stika told Nancy Feist’s husband, David, and the couple’s children— who include sons Craig and Ryan and youngest child Erin—that they were not the only family members at All Saints that day.

COURTESY OF DAVID FEIST

Feist continued from page 1

Nancy and David Feist are seen with their children (clockwise from front left), Erin, Ryan, Hope, Justin, and Craig.

HAPPIER DAYS

“There’s family she knew through her journey in various places until that star came to the city of Knoxville: in grade school, in high school, in her work experiences, traveling in Europe, traveling with her father in Australia, and other places where Nancy found herself.” That extended family included “in particular my brother priests and deacons, who had great love and affection for Nancy because she loved them,” said Bishop Stika. A lifelong Catholic, Mrs. Feist was born Aug. 2, 1965, in Bethlehem to Joseph and Nancy O’Keefe. She graduated from Liberty High School in Bethlehem and Hood College in Frederick, Md., where she earned a bachelor of arts degree. She studied

THE E A S T TE NNE S S E E CATHOLIC

abroad in Austria as an undergraduate. She served as manager of publications for the German American Chamber of Commerce in New York City. Throughout the 1990s she worked as corporate communications and publications manager and later customertraining manager for engineering company F.L. Smidth Inc. in Bethlehem. For many years she was also a freelance writer and editor. David and Nancy Feist moved with their family from Bethlehem to Knoxville in 2000. In December 2004 Mrs. Feist became the executive secretary to Bishop Kurtz, who had been her pastor at Notre Dame in Bethlehem. “For whatever reason, in God’s providence, Nancy and David and their fami-

ly came to Knoxville to follow a good bishop but also to begin a new chapter in their life,” said Bishop Stika. Mrs. Feist “had many gifts,” including “a precious smile” and the abilities to “listen and give advice” or drop a kind word to someone in an e-mail, said the bishop, adding that “she was a woman of faith.” “At her office in the Chancery, she had three shrines. One was a shrine of the Sacred Heart—she died on the feast of the Sacred Heart. Another was a shrine of the Blessed Mother that was on the other side of her computer, tucked away behind the screen. The third shrine was a photograph of the family that was taken on a skiing trip.” Mrs. Feist informed the bishop soon after his March 19 ordination that she was expecting. It would be her eighth pregnancy; she had had two previous miscarriages. “I was all excited. I was going to work with Nancy, everything was going to be peaceful and calm, and we were going to look to the days in the future with a certain sense of normalcy. Then she said to me, ‘By the way, I’m pregnant,’” said the bishop. “In that very first conversation, she talked about how this was going to be a difficult pregnancy, about how she lost a baby in the last couple of years, but she said something more important. “She said it was in

Marian Christiana begins job as diocesan coordinator of marriage preparation and enrichment n July 1 Marian Christiana began a new role as diocesan coordinator of marriage preparation and marriage enrichment. Since fall 2005 Mrs. Christiana had served the diocese as parttime Chattanooga Deanery coordinator for the diocesan Office of Family Life and Adult Christian Living. Before that she had been the deanery’s field coordinator for the then–Office of Justice– Peace–Integrity of Creation. In her new position Mrs. Christiana will work with priests and deacons to build a comprehensive marriage-preparation program for East Tennessee Catholics. For several years the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has been working on a national pastoral initiative on marriage, led by Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, as well as developing the “For Your Marriage” program (www.for yourmarriage.org). Mrs. Christiana will spearhead such initiatives in the Diocese of Knoxville. “One of the needs that has been consistently identified in the diocese . . . is marriage preparation and marriage enrichment,” wrote Father David Boettner, moderator of the curia, in a June 18 memo announcing Mrs. Christiana’s new title. “The idea is to begin working with pastors, associate pastors, and deacons to gain consensus on basic norms and guidelines and develop the programs to support them,” Father Boettner noted. “Marian’s work on marriage preparation will then lead to development of initiatives for marriage enrichment.” ■

Diocese seeks director for Youth and Young Adult Ministry Office he Diocese of Knoxville seeks a director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry. This professional full-time diocesan-level position includes benefits and health care. The director will have access to a part-time administrative assistant and will direct and work with deanery coordinators in the visioning, implementation, and support of youth and young-adult ministry in the diocese. The director will report to the moderator of the curia. Applications will be accepted through July 31. Candidates should send their resume and a letter of interest to dboettner@dioceseofknoxville.org or Father David Boettner, Search Committee for Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, Diocese of Knoxville, P.O. Box 11127, Knoxville, TN 37939-1127. ■

Child-protection training sessions he Diocese of Knoxville’s program for the protection of children and youth is based on training developed by Virtus and is offered regularly throughout the diocese. A three-hour seminar for adults, “Protecting God’s Children,” is required for parish and school employees and regular volunteers in contact with children or vulnerable adults and is recommended for parents and grandparents. The following training sessions have been scheduled:

■ Chancery, Knoxville, 6 p.m. Monday, July 13 (session will be conducted in Spanish) ■ St. Thomas the Apostle Church, Lenoir City, 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 14 ■ Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, Chattanooga, 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 4 (session will be held in the parish life center) ■ All Saints Church, Knoxville, 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15 ■ St. Dominic School, Kingsport, 9 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 20. To register, visit virtusonline.org. ■

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

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www.dioceseofk noxville.org

JULY 12, 2009

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City of Norris honors St. Joseph parishioners

OLPH, Chattanooga ■ Mia Bertani of Our Lady of Perpetual Help School recently placed second in the third-grade level of the 15th annual Reading Rainbow Young Writer and Illustrators Contest. Emma Booker placed third in the kindergarten level. ■ A celebration to honor pastor Father Mike Nolan and associate pastor Father Alex Waraksa, before they leave OLPH for new assignments, will be held after the 5:30 p.m. Mass on Saturday, July 25. ■ The school development office needs contact information for anyone who attended OLPH School for an alumni gathering at the end of the summer. Contact Kathy at 423-6221481 or ksumrell@catholicweb.com. ■ The Food for the Poor campaign sponsored by Knights of Columbus Council 6099 raised $16,850 this past year, enough to build homes for 13 or 14 families in Central America. The council thanked OLPH and St. Stephen parishioners and OLPH students for their support of the campaign.

St. Catherine Labouré, Copperhill ■ The going-away party for pastor

Father Tom Moser will be held after Mass on Sunday, July 26.

St. Jude, Chattanooga ■ A new mystagogy series on the

Gospel of Mark began July 1 in Harwood Room A at the family-life center. Contact Bill Laudeman at byewaybill@ gmail.com or 423-877-8025. ■ The parish will host the Interfaith Homeless Network this summer, housing homeless families for the week of Sunday, July 19, through Monday, July 27. Call Steve Joyce at 8439220 for details. ■ Junior and senior high school students are invited to audition for a summer musical, Once Upon an Island. Meet at 10 a.m. Friday, July 10, in Siener Hall. ■ The youth will sponsor a car wash during the 10:30 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. Masses on Sunday, July 19, at the church to raise money for the National Catholic Youth Conference. ■ A potluck dinner in honor of former parishioner Patty Varley will be held after 5:30 p.m. Mass on Saturday, July 11, in Siener Hall. Ms. Varley is in formation with the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne in New York. Call Stephanie Gabor at 847-6791.

St. Mary, Athens ■ Anniversary: Rafael (Ray) and Victoria Santagata (35)

(35), Rudolph and Pauline Buchholz (25), Robert and Judy Olds (10)

St. John Neumann, Farragut ■ The next Saturday-night social will

be a back-to-school cookout with hot dogs and hamburgers Sept. 12. Contact Teresa Laggis at laggis@charter. net or call 865-675-4110.

St. Joseph, Norris ■ The Council of Catholic Women will

study Full of Grace: Women and the Abundant Life using DVD lectures by author Johnnette Benkovic. Call Lucy Brown at 865-463-0118 or Sally Jackson at 494-7340 before Saturday, Aug. 1. ■ For the 41st straight year the CCW participated in Norris Fourth of July activities, holding a bake sale to benefit various works of charity.

St. Thomas the Apostle, Lenoir City ■ Slade Trammell, accompanist at

the Saturday evening Masses, will perform his graduate piano recital at the University of Tennessee Music Hall at 6 p.m. Friday, July 10. All are invited. ■ A parish quilting bee is being formed and will meet once a month. Call Judy Teeples at 865-458-0011 or Theresa Beyer at 458-1519. ■ Newcomers: Deacon Tom and Enza Bomkamp, Nora Gillette, Mark and Sue Kawa, Richard and Noreen Prenzler Smoky Mountain Deanery

Immaculate Conception, Knoxville ■ An ice cream social and movie will

be presented at 6 p.m. Sunday, July 26. ■ Whitney Tarpy, daughter of Bill and Beverly Tarpy and granddaughter of Betty Tarpy, was recently awarded a $1,000 scholarship from the Public Relations Association of Mississippi. Miss Tarpy is a senior majoring in journalism at the University of Mississippi. ■ Christopher Cantrell, son of IC’s Troy and Jackie Cantrell, recently graduated from the New England Culinary Institute.

St. Albert the Great, Knoxville ■ Moms & Tots will meet at 10 a.m.

Friday, July 10, at the East Tennessee Discovery Center and have a “mom’s night out” with dinner and a movie at 7 p.m. Saturday, July 11. E-mail Cathy Bloyd at csbloyd@tds.net for details.

Holy Trinity, Jefferson City

■ Bob Coyne will host a 90-minute

■ The parish will offer breakfast and

meeting at 9:30 a.m. on first and third Mondays as a support group for caregivers. To register or learn more, contact him at 865-671-9199 or bobcoyne@charter.net. ■ The social-action committee will sponsor a back-to-school collection Aug. 1 through 9 to benefit several Catholic Charities organizations. Call Shannon Osucha at 693-1377.

dinner to the volunteers of the Jefferson City Appalachian Outreach during the week of July 20. The volunteers will be conducting their annual home-improvement project for the needy of the area. About 125 volunteers from various churches will participate in the endeavor. ■ Holy Trinity altar servers will attend the 5 p.m. Mass on Saturday, Aug. 1, then have a picnic and take in a baseball game and fireworks at Smokies Park in Sevierville. ■ Anniversaries: Jim and Peggy Ray (50), Deacon Gordy and Fran Lowery (40)

■ The parish book club will hold its monthly meeting at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 15, in the parish-hall conference room to discuss The Last Sin Eater (Tyndale House, 1999) by Francine Rivers. ■ Anniversaries: Douglas and Christina Nawrocki (62), Art and Margaret Scott (59), Bob and Genie Gruber (57), Vern and Jean Bolish (57), Don and Bernie Gundy (56), Richard and Patricia Rathweg (56), Larry and Pat Peterson (55), William and Janette Larou (54), Curtis and Marcella Clayton (54), Dan and Mina Napierala (54), John and Geraldine Hurak (53), Larry and Reva Lanzerotti (53), Ken and Marianna Layfield (53), Robert and Carmen Shaw (52), Robin and Carol Campbell (51), Dean and Betty Clement (45), Joe and Susannna Bour (45), John and Ester Capobianco (40), Jim and Kathy Kraus

■

JULY 12, 2009

Smiths of Fairfield Glade mark 50th anniversary erry and Judi Smith of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Fairfield Glade celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary April 11. The Smiths were married at St. Raymond Church in Detroit with Father Elmer Mahoney officiating. They have three children, Steve Smith of Cypress, Texas; Sue Kuntze of Clarkston, Mich.; and Jodi Cardin of Lititz, Pa.; and eight grandchildren. Mr. Smith retired from the General Motors Truck Engineering Group in Pontiac, Mich. Mrs. Smith was a homemaker. They moved to the Glade in November 1997. They celebrated their anniversary with family and friends at a party given by their children. ■

Judi and Jerry Smith

■ A farewell reception for pastor Fa-

All Saints, Knoxville

St. Francis of Assisi, Fairfield Glade

valor for his service in Vietnam. Mrs. Curtin has also been active in Scouting, serving as committee chair for Cub Scout Pack 73. She has been a longtime leader in the Norris Good Neighbors, an outreach of the town’s churches, through whom she has helped provide toys to needy children and food baskets for families at Christmas. ■

St. Joseph the Worker, Madisonville

Five Rivers Deanery

Sts. Peter and Paul, Chattanooga

preparing many young people for confirmation. Both have served on the pastoral council and many other committees. Mr. Curtin is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, surviving the Khe Sanh and Hue City battles in Vietnam, and the Scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 73 in Norris. Mr. Curtin received the Bronze Star medal with the combat distinguishing device for

and dental floss are being collected for Trinity Dental Clinic in Maryville. Call Francy Cash at 423-448-6136.

Cumberland Mountain Deanery

Tony Dickerson will be held after the 11 a.m. Mass on Sunday, July 19.

Dennis and Judy Curtin

■ New toothbrushes, toothpaste,

■ The women’s guild served coffee and doughnuts in the rectory June 28.

■ A farewell reception for Father

St. Francis of Assisi, Townsend

ther Peter Iorio will be held after each Mass on Sunday, July 26. Call Sue at 423-442-7273 or Ben Swiderek, parish council president, at 420-6609 for more information. ■ The parish women’s group will sponsor a yard sale Saturday, Aug. 1, to support the youth group. Volunteers are needed.

St. Stephen, Chattanooga

he Norris Lions Club honored Dennis and Judy Curtin, longtime members of St. Joseph Parish, for their community service at the city’s 41st annual Norris Day festivities July 4. The Curtins have been parishioners of St. Joseph since moving to the area in 1974. Their children, Chris, Will, and Michael, were baptized at St. Joseph. Mrs. Curtin serves as a reader, usher, and extraordinary minister of Holy Communion at St Joseph, and her husband serves as an usher. Mr. Curtin has also chaired the parish building committee. Mrs. Curtin has worked with the youth of the parish for many years,

COURTESY OF SALLY JACKSON

Chattanooga Deanery

COURTESY OF ROSEANN STRAZINSKY

BY TONI PACITTI

COURTESY OF FRANCINE BRITTO

NOTES

Bishop Stika confirms 25 at St. Mary in Oak Ridge Bishop Richard F. Stika conferred the sacrament of confirmation upon 25 high school juniors May 2 at St. Mary Church in Oak Ridge. Students confirmed were Justin Britto, Tyler Cooksey, Nick Cooper, Erika Dye, Jaris Dykas, Sydnay Fischer, Katherine Grabenstein, Elizabeth Hurst, Jacob Jackson, Alexis Keever, Rebecca Kocak, Jennifer Lee, Zachary Meyers, Allison Miles, James Miller, Van Ai Nguyen, Eric Peek, Stephanie Renner, Alyssa Sabatino, Matthew Singh, Jamie Smith, Sonja Solomon, Max Souza, Timothy Vinyard, and Edwin Soriano Mendoza. Pictured with the bishop in the back row are St. Mary associate pastor Father William Oruko, AJ (left), and pastor Father William McKenzie. Teachers for the group were Dave Duhamel, Francine Britto, and Margaret Merrill.

Notre Dame, Greeneville ■ Five students delivered Meals on

Wheels and spent several hours cleaning walls, windows, and floors at a parishioner’s home as part of a summer service project. ■ The annual parish family night will begin with a tailgate party Friday, July 24. Parishioners will attend a Greeneville Astros baseball game and fireworks show. Preregistration is required; see the list in the parish hall. ■ Payment and permission slips are being accepted for the middle and high school student trip to the Doe River Gorge near Elizabethton on SatParish notes continued on page 5

COURTESY OF CAROL BIRD

parish

Children at St. Augustine receive first Holy Communion Twenty-six children from St. Augustine Parish in Signal Mountain celebrated their first Holy Communion on May 3 with Father Miguel Vélez (above, back). From left are (front) Sam Sawyer, Sam Kraus, Alex Weidlich, Jay Griggs, Kurt Wittler, Merritt Newton, Taegan Bunch, Lucy Combs, Clare Manley, Alexis Poe, Cecelia Abello, Jamee Mitchum, Malone Howley, Jimmy Johnson, and Dominic Guagenti and (back) Chapman Varnell, Jeremy Brien, Caitlyn Causin, Jack Johnson, Teddy Lepcio, Ainsley Micus, Alfie Lamphier, Spencer Roberts, Teresa Holmes, Mark Jones, and Nicholas Jessen.

www.dioceseofk noxville.org

THE E A S T TE NNE S S E E CATHOLI C

BY TONI PACITTI

Diocesan Day 2009 is set for Saturday, Aug. 22, at All Saints Church in Knoxville. The keynote speaker will be Cardinal Justin Rigali, archbishop of Philadelphia. The theme of the day is “You have but one teacher,” from Matthew 23:8. The focus of the archbishop’s talk and his homily for the Diocesan Day Mass will be the teaching office of the bishop. Bishop Richard F. Stika will speak to the faithful during the afternoon sessions, discussing his dialogue with priests and parishioners during his first few months as shepherd of the Knoxville Diocese. The day will begin with Bishop Stika’s opening remarks and welcome at 9 a.m. The cardinal’s keynote begins at 9:15. Mass will be celebrated at 10:45, followed by lunch. Early registration is cost $20, including lunch, and continues through July 19. After July 19 the cost will increase to $25. The student cost is $10. To register by mail, use the form printed in the June 21 ETC or download a form at bit.ly/ddform. To register and pay online, visit the diocesan website at bit.ly/dioday. Proceeds for the event will benefit Catholic Charities of East Tennessee and Catholic Relief Services. For more details, contact Paul Simoneau at 865-584-3307 or psimoneau@dioceseofknoxville.org.

Sweetwater. Weekend cost is $239, including meals, rooms, and materials, and couples completing the entire weekend will receive a $60 discount on their marriage license. To register, call Mike or Charla Haley at 865-220-0120. For more information on Engaged Encounter, e-mail Charlie or Blanca Primm at ceeknoxville@gmail.com or visit www.rc.net/knoxville/cee.

The Ladies of Charity of Chattanooga and Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga are cosponsoring informal interdenominational prayer services at 5:30 p.m. on second Tuesdays beginning July 14 in the chapel at Memorial. Parking and chapel access are available at the patient entrance on Glenwood Avenue at the stoplight in front of the hospital. CARTA’s Route 10G bus stop is at the same intersection. Personal pickup may also be available; call Jan Clark at 423-698-2846.

A Seekers of Silence Contemplative Saturday Morning will be held July 11 at John XXIII Catholic Center in Knoxville. Jim Chamberlain will give a talk titled “Spirituality and Care of the Earth.” 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. RSVP to 865-523-7931.

The Chattanooga Deanery Divorced and Separated fellowship group will meet for Mass and brunch on fifth Sundays. The next gathering is set for Sunday, Aug. 30. The group will meet at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church for the noon Mass, then go for brunch. For more information, call Anne Wells at 706-581-0410. Father Patrick Resen of Holy Ghost Parish in Knoxville will discuss On Conscience (Ignatius Press, 2007) by Pope Benedict XVI and Pope John Paul II’s encyclical Veritatis Splendor from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, July 18, at the Chancery office in Knoxville. All are invited. For details, contact Peggy Humphreys at 865-584-3307 or phumphreys@dioceseofknoxville.org. Sacred Heart Cathedral’s annual children’s consignment sale is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, July 31, and 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 1, with most items half-price Saturday. Sales will benefit Sacred Heart Cathedral School and Knoxville Catholic High School. For details, e-mail Trish Sellers at sellers.tricia@yahoo.com. The Irish Tennis Camp will continue the weeks of July 13 through 16 and Aug. 3 through 6 at Cedar Bluff Racquet Club in Knoxville. Taught by coaches Rusty Morris and David Price of Knoxville Catholic High School, the camp will focus on stroke fundamentals and developing match-play skills in a fun environment for all levels. Ten percent of proceeds will benefit Catholic Charities of East Tennessee. Call the tennis club at 865-690-5700 for details. The National Council of Catholic Women convention will be held Sept. 23 through 27 in Jacksonville, Fla. This year’s theme is “NCCW—Moving Forward With Faith and Joy.” Convention speakers will explore the topics of parish unity in the midst of diversity, immigration reform, human trafficking, image building, and more. All Catholic women and religious interested in spiritual enrichment, leadership development, and service to the church and society are invited to register and attend the convention. Bishop Victor Galeone of St. Augustine, Fla., will preside at the opening liturgy Sept. 24. Registration forms and details are available at www.nccw.org. The next Engaged Encounter weekend in the diocese will be held July 17 through 19 at the Magnuson Hotel in THE E A S T TE NNE S S E E CATHOLI C

The Archdiocese of Atlanta will host the 2009 Southeastern Liturgical Musical Symposium on Saturday, Aug. 22. The keynote speaker will be Atlanta Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory, a member of the U.S. Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Divine Worship. Breakout sessions with nationally renowned facilitators will include David Haas on the topic “Music Ministry and the Liturgical Year,” Dr. Kevin Johnson on “African-American Sacred Music: A Universal Approach,” Lee Gwodz on “Sing! From Child to Adult,” and Jeffrey Tucker on “Sing Like a Catholic.” Advance registration is $55 and includes lunch, with group discounts available. For more information, including reservation forms, visit archatl.com/slms or contact the Office of Divine Worship of the Archdiocese of Atlanta at 404-751-2398 or e-mail odw@archatl.com.

COURTESY OF RON PAYNE

CALENDAR

CCET executive director Father Ragan Schriver poses at the Chattanooga dinner with (from left) Leo and Barbara Brown, Joe and dinner honoree Rachel Decosimo, and Nick and Karen Decosimo.

RAISING MONEY FOR THE NEEDY

Catholic Charities raises $50,000 at annual dinners he recent 2009 Catholic Charities of East Tennessee annual dinners continued a tradition of generosity. The dinners for CCET’s Chattanooga and Knoxville regions combined to raise $50,000. The Chattanooga dinner honored local philanthropist Rachel Decosimo for her many contributions to the community. Tributes from family and friends, including a video produced

by WRCB-TV, highlighted Ms. Decosimo’s long-standing commitment to the arts and to social services. For the third year in a row the event was hosted by Jed Mescon of WRCB. The Convention Center was the new venue for Knoxville’s dinner. The fundraiser was a success mainly because of the evening’s sole auction item: dinner for 12 with new Bishop Richard F. Stika.

The auction was so popular that restaurateur Mike Connor agreed to donate a second dinner for 12 at one of his eateries. CCET thanked Greg and Jennifer Dunn and Jim and Melinda Ethier for their generous bidding. CCET also thanked its committee members, sponsors, and supporters for making the dinners a success and furthering its mission of helping the most vulnerable of East Tennessee. ■

Sant’Egidio is a Catholic lay ecclesial movement that focuses on prayer, communicating the Gospel, friendship with the poor, and the work of peace. The Johnson City community meets for prayer at 6:30 p.m. on first and third Mondays at the Catholic Center at East Tennessee State University. The Knoxville community of Sant’ Egidio meets at 5:30 p.m. on second and fourth Mondays at the Chancery office in Knoxville. Call Father Michael Cummins at 423-926-7061. Holy Resurrection Byzantine Catholic Mission, in a schedule change effective July 5, now holds Divine Liturgy celebrations at 5:30 p.m. Sundays at Holy Family Church in Seymour. All are welcome to attend, and explanations of the ceremony will be given. Call 865609-1081 to learn more. The St. Thomas the Apostle Ukrainian Catholic Mission celebrates the Divine Liturgy at 10 a.m. Sundays in the chapel at the Chancery in Knoxville and Vespers at 6 p.m. Saturdays at the Chancery. For details, call Father Richard Armstrong at 865-584-3307. Mass in the extraordinary form (“traditional Latin”) is celebrated at 1:30 p.m. each Sunday at St. Therese Church in Clinton and at 3 p.m. on first and third Sundays at St. Thérèse of Lisieux Church in Cleveland. There will be no Latin Mass at St. Therese in Clinton on Sunday, July 12, because of the dedication that same afternoon of the new St. John Neumann Church in Farragut. The weekly Masses at St. Therese will move to Holy Ghost Church in Knoxville in August, with the first one set for 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 2. Visit www.knoxlatinmass.net for details. Upcoming events for Catholic Singles of Greater Knoxville (40 and over) include the following: ■ Tuesday, July 14: Coffee and conversation at Panera Bread on North Peters, 6:30 p.m. Call Randy S. at 865-556-3781. ■ Saturday, July 18: Ice cream at Baskin Robbins, Cedar Bluff and Middlebrook Pike, 7:15 p.m. RSVP by July 17 to Gail B. at 966-8205 or gbraunsroth@charter.net. ■ Friday, July 24: July birthday celebration at Aubrey’s, Cedar Bluff and Middlebrook Pike, 6:30 p.m. Hosted by Mary W. RSVP by July 23 by calling 927-6519 or 256-6519. ■ Saturday, July 25: Karns Community Fair at Karns High School. Visit Gail B. at the American Business Women’s Association booth, where the singles will serve food and soft drinks to raise money for their scholarship fund. ■

COURTESY OF RON PAYNE

on the

Walking to benefit Columbus Home Catholic Charities of East Tennessee’s Kids Helping Kids Walk had its most successful year yet. Around 800 walkers turned out May 3 at All Saints Church for the 11th annual event, and nearly $50,000 was raised for the benefit of the abused, neglected, and abandoned children served through the agency’s Columbus Home programs. Above, honorary chairman Dane Bradshaw leads off the walk with CCET executive director Father Ragan Schriver. Mr. Bradshaw is a former University of Tennessee basketball player. Relentless rain forced the other Kids Helping Kids events—including inflatable games and a free-throw contest with Mr. Bradshaw—into the neighboring Knoxville Catholic High School gym.

Holy Ghost Parish sponsoring Totus Tuus program oly Ghost Parish in Knoxville is sponsoring a Totus Tuus summer youth catechetical program during the week of July 12 The program will be held at Sacred Heart Cathedral School because of the remodeling of the Holy Ghost basement parish hall. Totus Tuus (“totally yours”) is a national program that originated in Wichita, Kan., 21 years ago. Missionaries for the Holy Ghost program, who are seminarians

and college students, are coming from Totus Tuus of Nashville. Holy Ghost is offering a program for first- through sixthgraders that will run from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. July 13 through 17 and another for grades seven through 12 that will be held from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. July 12 through 16. The program for younger students will include catechetical instruction, songs, games, daily Mass, an opportunity for the

sacrament of penance, lunch, recess, and more. The focus will be on the Eucharist, Mary, vocations, and fun. Older students will have a night of adoration and opportunities for penance, catechesis, vocational discernment, and fellowship during their program. Cost for the Totus Tuus program is $20, and walk-up registration will be available at Sacred Heart. For more information, call Holy Ghost at 865-522-2205. ■

Parish notes continued from page 4

urday, Aug. 1. Cost is $24 and includes a lunch ticket good at the facility restaurant. Call Susan at 423-6399382 for details.

St. Dominic, Kingsport

life center. ■ Baptisms: Cayden James Rose, Benjamin Shane Hoffman, Quinn Robert Vetter, Gracie Rose Maxwell, Evelyn Garcia

■ The Relay for Life team sponsored

St. Patrick, Morristown

a bake sale after all weekend Masses on June 27 and 28 to raise money for cancer research. ■ A farewell celebration for Father Charlie Burton will take place at 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 28, in the parish

■ Donations for the youth yard sale are being accepted between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. Call Kathy DeAngelis at 423-585-0191 to arrange a drop-off time outside business hours. ■

www.dioceseofk noxville.org

JULY 12, 2009

■

tional and Cultural Institute, which annually awards The Humanitas Prize. “With Father Bud Kieser’s passing in 2000, I was honored to follow in his footsteps, taking Paulist Productions into new directions in the fields of broadband production and documentaries,” said Father Desiderio. “My successor, Father Eric Andrews, brings to Paulist Productions creativity, a keen wit, expertise in new media, and a firm commitment to the Paulist Fathers’ mandate to use all forms of media to entertain and enlighten.” Father Andrews first learned of his potential new assignment earlier this year. “I was out in Los Angeles to preach the Paulist Appeal in January, and I had the opportunity to visit Paulist Productions,” he said. “The president wanted to move on, and at that point a number of friends and former colleagues whom I worked with when I was with the Muppets were saying to me, ‘You should be doing that ministry.’ So it was like the Holy Spirit said, ‘Why don’t you investigate it?’” He learned that he was named president in late March and announced the news to parishioners during Lent. “Father Eric Andrews is unique, with his broad understanding and skill in the entertainment and media industry, coupled with values and ethics,” said Dr. William Baker, president emeritus of WNET-TV in New York. “Paulist Productions has a great history, and Father Andrews will only enhance it with his many gifts. I and my colleagues at PBS look forward to working with him in the future.” Before joining the Paulist Fathers in 1989, Father Andrews worked for Jim Henson Productions on a variety of projects, including The Jim Henson Hour on NBC, for which he served as production manager. “During college I had an internship with the Muppets, and then by the grace of God there was an opening to work in the production department there. At that point it was right after Fraggle Rock [1983-1987] was ending, and we were in kind of an interim period, but we were doing lots of specials, and I worked on a number of productions. “I always joke to people that I worked behind the scenes, and while I had a hand in many productions for the Muppets, I never really had my hand in a puppet.” The Paulist priest produced Sunday to Sunday at Paulist Media Works in Washington, D.C., before he came to John XXIII. “I did some work on some programs designed to help parishes with RCIA and opening up the lectionary, but I really felt at that point called to the pastoral ministry, so I was grateful—it wasn’t time yet to do the media stuff,” he said. Father Andrews is co-creator and co-host of the BustedHalo.com web series The Princess, the Priest, and the War for the Perfect Wedding. Busted Halo is the Paulists’ online magazine for young adults. Father Andrews said he will miss the energy of John XXIII Parish when he leaves. “I’ll miss college students dropping in all the time and having all that excitement and youthful energy around. I’ll miss all the excitement around football games, and I’ll miss seeing the kids and mentoring students from freshman year all the way to their senior year. I’ll miss watching them grow up.” John XXIII has some 600 students on hand during fall and spring semesters and an equal number of nonstudent parishioners yearround. “The great thing about Blessed John XXIII is that students and nonstudents work together on so many things and come together to celebrate,” said Father Andrews. “It’s really an interdependent community. The students can always stay up late and set up or take down or clean up, and the parishioners can really mentor them in what it means to be a lay leader in the church. “It’s a great opportunity for us to train the future leadership of our church in parishes and, God willing, in the priesthood and religious life.” John XXIII is selling FROM DOLLYWOOD TO HOLLYWOOD T-shirts, depicting Father Eric’s jetting to California, to defray the cost of his farewell party. For details, call the parish office at 865-523-7931 or visit john23rd.org/ category/news. Father Andrews said that “I’ve learned if you stay in East Tennessee for over eight or nine years, you become family.” He told Bishop Richard F. Stika, after the latter first arrived in the diocese earlier this year, that he hopes to return to his East Tennessee family someday, perhaps as pastor of Knoxville’s other Paulist parish. “I said, ‘I really hope when I get older that I’ll have the opportunity to pastor at Immaculate Conception, retire in East Tennessee, and help out around the diocese. Whatever you do, though, bury me up in New York with all the rest of my Italian relatives because I’ll hear about it in heaven for all eternity if you don’t.’ “But I really see East Tennessee as my second home and a great place to come back to always, with lots of great people.” ■ 6

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JULY 12, 2009

Cano continued from page 1

DAN MCWILLIAMS (3)

Andrews continued from page 7

Bishop Stika says the prayer of ordination for Father Cano as Deacon Sean Smith prays behind them. Concelebrants at the Mass included Medellin native Father Diego Berrio; Father Alberto Rojas of Chicago, representing Mundelein Seminary; Father Jorge Toro of the Pereira Diocese; and host pastor Father Ruben Dario. SACRED MOMENT

the witnesses will soon forget. Before the celebrants could even consider forming a closing procession, the crowd swarmed the altar as the locals gathered around Father Cano, Bishop Stika, and Deacon Smith to receive a blessing or pose for a photo. “I felt I was being loved by everyone there, so it was a special treat for me to receive a sign of appreciation from the people,” said Father Cano, who began his first assignment as associate pastor of St. Mary in Oak Ridge on July 1. More than 40 East Tennessee Catholics joined Bishop Stika in Pereira. The group included Father Peter Iorio, diocesan vocation director and chief translator for the trip, and diocesan chancellor Deacon Sean Smith and Deacon Ben Johnston of Sacred Heart Cathedral, who assisted the bishop at the ordination Mass. With them were Marty and Joy Gensheimer of Sacred Heart Parish, who took Fathers Miguel Vélez and Cano under their wing when the two were seminarians living at St. Augustine in Signal Mountain, the Gensheimers’ former parish.

Others attending the ordination and Father Cano’s first Mass were youth and their adult leaders from St. Thérèse of Lisieux in Cleveland and St. Jude in Chattanooga, members of a mission group who have annually taught vacation Bible school for needy children in Colombia. The diocese’s three native Colombian priests made the East Tennesseans more than welcome on their 2,200-mile journey. The future Father Cano welcomed the travelers as they rode their bus from the Pereira airport to the hotel on June 11, then hosted a reception for them at the

hotel. Father Vélez, associate pastor of St. Jude in Chattanooga, presented the travelers with Colombiathemed gift bags at the reception. Father Vélez himself was ordained a priest last year at Our Lady of Carmel. Father Cano served as tour guide for his foreign visitors and led prayers for safety at the start of their bus rides. Father Antonio Giraldo, associate pastor of St. Thérèse of Lisieux in Cleveland, and Father Vélez organized a trip to the Termales de Santa Rosa de Cabal on June 12. The park features a 550-foot waterfall as a backdrop

to several hot springs of varying temperatures, and visitors could also receive a massage or a mud facial during their stay there. Father Giraldo recruited Fathers Vélez and Cano to East Tennessee as seminarians. Father Cano and his family, with cousin Alexandra Jimenez taking the lead in putting the trip together, took the East Tennesseans to the National Coffee Park in Montenegro on June 14. All of the travel spots were teeming with late-spring greenery. “The locale, especially the hot springs, Cano continued on page 8

Father Cano makes the best of the situation after a power failure occurred during his first Mass. More than 1,200 people filled Immaculate Conception Church in Marsella for the June 14 liturgy.

Bishop Stika, with Father Cano to his left, distributes Communion during the new priest’s first Mass. At the end of Mass, the huge crowd surrounded the bishop and Father Cano on the altar to receive blessings from or pose for photographs with them. www.d ioceseofknoxville.or g

THE E A S T TE NNE S S E E CATHOL I C

etc

PEOPLE

BY DAN MCWILLIAMS

Feist continued from page 3

Pastor leaves ‘my family’ at John XXIII Father Eric Andrews becomes Paulist Productions’ president and executive producer. ohn XXIII Catholic Center in Knoxville was a crowded place June 25 as more than 500 parishioners bid farewell to longtime pastor Father Eric Andrews, CSP. The emotional send-off party saw the Paulist Father sing one of his favorite songs, the B-52s hit “Love Shack,” and brought a visit from Kermit the Frog, recognizing Father Andrews’s background with Jim Henson Productions and the Muppets. Father Andrews recently announced that he will become the president and executive producer for Paulist Productions, the Paulist Fathers’ film and television company, and will move to its headquarters in Pacific Palisades, Calif. His assignment at John XXIII ended June 30, and he will take a break before his new role begins Sept. 1. The native of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., said that he will miss being a priest at the University of Tennessee parish, which he had served since 2000. “I feel so connected with the parishioners I’ve served:

DEACON PATRICK MURPHY-RACEY

Father Eric Andrews, CSP

the students, the faculty, the staff of the University of Tennessee, and others who have been parishioners,” he said. “It’s really been my family.” Father Charlie Donahue, CSP, will succeed Father Andrews as pastor, arriving the weekend of July 25 and 26. “Rev. Andrews has had an impact not only on students in his congregation at John XXIII but has reached out to

the whole university,” said acting UT president Jan Simek. “It has been wonderful having him at the University of Tennessee, and I wish him well in his new ministry. I attended St. Paul the Apostle School and was an altar boy in the church for Father Bud Kieser, founder of Paulist Productions. I know Rev. Andrews will enjoy his time there.” An associate for his first two years at John XXIII, Father Andrews, with his seven-year tenure, was the longest-serving pastor in the nearly 40year history of the parish. He is only the third person to hold the top job with Paulist Productions, which turns 50 next year. Father Kieser founded the company in 1960 and remained its head until his death in 2000, when he was succeeded by Father Frank Desiderio, CSP. Father Desiderio in May announced his resignation, which will be effective Sept. 1, but he will continue in his role as chairman of the board of the Human Family EducaAndrews continued on page 6

and coached at Knoxville Catholic High School and later Memphis Catholic High School. In the 1960s then– Father Thoni began asking his ordinary, Bishop Joseph A. Durick, whether he could go into the U.S. Army as a chaplain. Although accounts vary in terms of exactly how many times he made the request, the bishop’s eventual answer was yes, and in 1967 the 43-year-old priest began his military career. From 1967 to 1989 Monsignor Thoni served two tours in Vietnam and was also stationed in Japan, Korea, and Germany. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1989, having won the Bronze Star and the Army Commendation Medal “for exceptionally meritorious service.” The 85-year-old priest may have come out of retirement more often than any of his confreres in the Diocese of Knoxville. In 1991 the Army called him back to active duty in Operation Desert Storm. After serving as pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Morristown from 1989 to 1992, the Nashville-born priest announced that he was retiring from active ministry. A June 1992 story in The East Tennessee Catholic noted that he was buying a retirement home and “planned to play a lot of golf and tennis.” Despite “retirement,” Monsignor Thoni later completed a hitch as an Army chaplain in Germany and then filled in as administrator of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Springfield and St. Michael Mission in Cedar Hill, both of the Nashville Diocese.

MARY C. WEAVER

Thoni continued from page 2

‘THAT FRIENDLY PRIEST’ From left, Bishop Richard F. Stika and Monsignor Philip Thoni pray during the consecration at the latter’s 60th-anniversary Mass on June 8 at St. Mary Church in Gatlinburg. Monsignor Thoni was ordained a priest on June 4, 1949.

In 1996 then–Bishop Anthony J. O’Connell appointed him pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Fairfield Glade and of the Fentress County Catholic Community (now St. Christopher Parish) in Jamestown. Four years later Monsignor Thoni was named pastoral administrator of St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish in Cleveland, and in 2001 he became pastor of St. Mary Parish in Gatlinburg. “Of all the litanies of activities and people whose lives he has touched, he has consistently been a priest of Jesus Christ,” said Archbishop Kurtz. Knoxville’s former ordinary also commented on Monsignor Thoni’s outgoing way with people. “He would go for breakfast down the street, and no sooner would the waitress come over than he would say, ‘What church do you go to?’ “He has been an evangelizer and a true teacher of the word of God.” Now that he’s in Louisville, said Archbishop Kurtz, he fre-

THE E A S T TE NNE S S E E CATHOLI C

quently has people come up to him and say, ‘By the way, that friendly priest in Gatlinburg said to say hello.’” About 530 came to the Gatlinburg Convention Center for a post-Mass dinner and celebration characterized by many tributes. After giving the invocation, Bishop Stika praised Monsignor Thoni for his service to the faithful, whether in parishes or in the military. “Just think of all the baptisms, all the confessions, all the times he was with a person whom he commended to almighty God, and the hours and hours and hours of homilies that he preached.” “Not at one time,” he said, to chuckles from the audience, “but stretched out.” The best way to honor the monsignor, he said, would be to ask more men to answer God’s call. “If you really want to honor him, every day, pray for vocations to the priesthood so that we have men—young men and sometimes not so young—who will follow in his foot-

steps, with a willingness and a desire to serve God’s people. “Pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life, especially for the Diocese of Knoxville but also the Diocese of Nashville, and I guess we also should pray for the Archdiocese of Louisville and the Diocese of Jackson,” Bishop Stika said. When priests and the faithful encounter those who seem to have the qualities of a Monsignor Thoni, he said, they should speak up: “Say to that individual, ‘How about becoming a priest?’ or ‘Did you ever think about being a woman religious?’ “We pray for vocations that God will send people like the good man that [Monsignor Thoni] has been and will continue to be as a priest of Jesus Christ.” The mayor of Gatlinburg, Jerry Hays, read a lengthy proclamation in Monsignor Thoni’s honor, listing his parish and military assignments and naming June 8, 2009, a day of celebration. Thoni continued on page 9

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the hands of God.” Peter Feist’s short life could still offer an important lesson, the bishop said. “For those who believe that life is a choice, that a woman or a doctor has a right to terminate a pregnancy for whatever reason, all they had to do last night [at the wake] was to look at that casket and see Peter embraced in the arms of his mother. Tell me that is not something precious, that a child is not a gift from God.” Hope Feist, a rising junior at Knoxville Catholic High School, twice recalled her mother’s “trademark” phrase to her: “I love you higher than the sky and deeper than the ocean.” “Even though we’re told God’s love is even greater than a mother’s, our mother’s love, I believe, was just about as boundless and plentiful as any love comes,” she said. Love was the theme of Hope’s eulogy as she talked to each family member in turn, beginning with David Feist and concluding with 5year-old Erin. “Daddy, I know you already know this, but Mommy loved you more than anyone else on this earth. She would have done anything for you.” Justin Feist “always loved and cherished Mommy,” said his big sister. Ryan Feist surely “remembers snuggling with” his mom “early in the morning and [her] knocking on your ceiling in the middle of the night because her bedroom was right above yours,” said Hope. Youngest son Craig Feist is a familiar figure to Chancery staffers who have encountered him as he ran up and down the building’s hallways. “Craig, honey, you hang in there,” said Hope. “I know how much you loved Mommy and how much she loved you.” Erin Feist was “Mama’s baby for so long,” said Hope. “Er-bear, honey. . . . She remembers all the time you spent together and all the times you held her hand and helped her with stuff she had to do. I’m scared you won’t remember her very much by the time you get older, but we will help you.” Joseph and Nancy O’Keefe, Mrs. Feist’s parents, also received kind words from Hope, and she said she would be “standing here for years” if she tried to say how much the clergy and other friends gathered at All Saints meant to her mother. Peter Feist “was such a little blessing that got to be a part of our lives for a short while,” Hope said. “The last time Mama went to the doctor, he was 1 pound and 7 ounces of pure, perfect baby,” she said. Mrs. Feist “could have gone far” in her professional career, Hope said. “She decided to go far in a totally different way. She had all of us children and stayed home with us, until a great friend asked her if she’d be willing to work for him. . . . . I don’t think she ever imagined how big an impact she had by being a wife, mother, and friend to us all.” Mrs. Feist was “one of my best friends,” said her oldest child. “I’ll always cherish the past two years when she’s driven me to school almost every morning. And the times when she’d drop everything to talk to me, when we’d get hot chocolate at Panera and then just sit in a parking lot somewhere and talk.” Mrs. Feist’s favorite Bible verse, Hope said, was Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” The family received friends at Rose Mortuary’s Mann Heritage Chapel near the Chancery on June 23. Archbishop Kurtz led a rosary afterward and was moved to tears several times in a reflection he gave after the second decade as he recalled his old friend. Mrs. Feist is also survived by her brothers, Joseph, Michael, and Sean, and her father- and mother-in-law, Albert and Gloria Feist. Archbishop Kurtz led the final commendation at the funeral Mass. Mrs. Feist and Peter were buried in Edgewood Cemetery in West Knoxville, with Bishop Johnston officiating. ■ The family of Nancy Feist asks that memorials be made to “The Nancy Feist Fund” for the benefit of the children. Donations may be sent to the Diocese of Knoxville, P.O. Box 11127, Knoxville, TN 37939. Include “Nancy Feist Fund” in the memo line of checks. Donations may also be made to the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia Convent, Nancy Feist Scholarship Fund, Mount de Sales Academy, 700 Academy Road, Catonsville, MD 21228. A “care calendar” has been created to help coordinate the efforts of those who would like to help the Feist family. To volunteer, visit www.carecalendar.org and sign on with calendar ID 18204 and security code 9708. Visitors may also share memories of Mrs. Feist and assure the family of their prayers by visiting nancyfeist.org and posting a comment. JULY 12, 2009

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was like the Garden of Eden,” said Bishop Stika. Father Iorio presented the candidate to Bishop Stika for ordination. Father Cano was vested by his friend Father Ezequiel Meneses of Pereira. Bishop Stika celebrated much of the ordination Mass in Spanish, although the rite of ordination itself was in English. As the ordination ended, the new priest offered a traditional blessing to his parents and received one from them in return. Father Cano also was pleasantly surprised when another person asked for a blessing right after his parents did. “The most touching moment of this celebration was when I saw Bishop Stika kneeling down and asking me for a blessing,” said Father Cano. “I was moved. I was thinking, Who am I to do this? I didn’t expect that.” The Gensheimers rejoiced at Father Cano’s ordination, after recalling the young seminarian’s arrival in Signal Mountain several years ago, when he could not speak English. “It’s the culmination of a lot of work for Jorge,” said Mrs. Gensheimer. “We’re so proud of him, and it’s a great blessing to have him finally ordained and serving as a priest in East Tennessee.” Mr. Gensheimer said it was easy for his wife to take to Father Cano. “That comes natural for Joy,” he said. “She does not know a stranger.” Father Cano’s first Mass fell on the solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. A Corpus Christi procession began at the church and proceeded around the plaza before entering the church again at the start of Mass. A power failure early in his first Mass forced Father Cano to use a megaphone, produced from the sacristy on short notice, until the electricity returned. “The natural ease Father Jorge had as a new celebrant, the big bullhorn,” and “the swarming—in a good way—of the altar after Mass” made the liturgy memorable for him too, said Father Iorio. Father Cano’s parents received a seat of honor at his first Mass, in the altar area on the opposite side of the ambo. Near the end of Mass area children sang two songs in English for Bishop Stika. The main reception immediately after the ordination was held at a coffee workers’ building in Pereira. The Cano family later welcomed Bishop Stika and company to their home in the city. Father Meneses hosted a smaller reception for Father Cano’s guests later that evening at his church, St. Mary of the Mystical Rose. The guests danced while a trio played local and national songs for nearly an hour. Father Vélez beamed at the first reception as he celebrated his countryman’s ordination. “This is a great moment, not only for the Diocese of Knoxville but also for us as Colombians to have a new priest ordained from this country, from this area,” he said. “I’m so happy, so glad, because you can feel how happy his family is and my family is.” Fernando Cano said at that reception he “feels very proud” over Father Cano’s ordination and may follow him into sacred orders himself eventually. “One day, I feel in my heart, I would like to be a permanent deacon,” said Fernando, the youngest of four siblings, Alberto and Jaime being the oldest. Another reception followed Father Cano’s first Mass, at the Casa Campesina in Marsella. After that reception, the bishop, Deacon Smith, the youth group, and others visited an extremely poor section of Marsella. Father Cano thanked his parents “for their support and prayers, for the many years of dedication to raise me as a man,” and he thanked Bishop Stika and all of his family and friends who attended the ordination. He praised Father Giraldo too, “the key element in bringing Miguel and me to the Diocese of Knoxville.” Ernesto Cano expressed his gratitude to all of the American visitors who came to see his son’s special day. When Father Cano first told him that he wanted to become a priest, the news evoked “a lot of joy,” said Mr. Cano, who worked on coffee plantations from age 9 to 65. “For me there is so much joy, and [the ordination] is going to bring a great memory,” he said. Mrs. Cano said she “thanks my God so much that he took my son” to America for seminary. “I pray to God to protect him and not let him have bad thoughts, to be a very good priest and a model of life,” she said. As she saw her son being ordained a priest, she said many thoughts went through her head. “I thought, I already gave him to God. He belongs to him. He is his. I have already let him go.” ■ A story on the mission group and the bishop’s visit to the poor of Marsella will appear in an upcoming issue. 8

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JULY 12, 2009

the catholic

DIFFERENCE

BY GEORGE WEIGEL

After Notre Dame Things look bullish for the president, bearish for Catholic identity.

Where do things stand, two months after the University of Notre Dame defied the bishop of Fort Wayne– South Bend, Ind., and some 80 of his fellow bishops by awarding an honorary doctorate of laws to the university’s 2009 commencement speaker, the president of the United States? From the administration’s point of view, President Obama’s Notre Dame speech was an unmitigated success. The president was eloquent, highminded, and decent-spirited. He also did something no previous president had ever done—he injected himself into the ongoing debate among U.S. Catholics over Catholic identity, by suggesting that the “real” Catholics were those who, like Notre Dame, welcomed him for “dialogue.” This story line—that the Notre Dame controversy was about openness and dialogue, on the one hand, versus narrow-mindedness and fanaticism, on the other—was successfully sold to the national media by the administration, aided and abetted by the president’s Catholic intellectual acolytes. That, in the process of fostering “dialogue,” the administration was playing wedge politics, dividing a significant number of the Catholic bishops of the United States from their people, went largely unremarked. But that is, was, and remains the issue here: to vary

called to

James Carville on the 1992 election, “It’s the ecclesiology, stupid.” That the vast majority of Catholics in the United States never understood that this entire affair was about the nature, structure, and discipline of the church, not about politics, demonstrates just how attenuated Catholic identity in America has become and just how poorly catechized many Catholics are. This bodes poorly for the future. In the Obama affair Notre Dame claimed not only an internal liberty to order its academic life according to its own best lights but also a liberty against the local bishop. In effect, Notre Dame declared itself independent of the Catholic Church, as the Catholic Church is embodied in South Bend by the bishop of Fort Wayne–South Bend. The administration and trustees of Notre Dame would doubtless protest that they are proudly Catholic. But the question remains: What is the embodiment, the instantiation, the living reality of the Catholic Church to which they profess loyalty? Where is it? Who speaks for it? What difference does it make what he says? As for the bishops, they must now face the ecclesiological facts of life caused by four decades of ineffective catechesis, compounded by the afterburn of the long Lent of 2002 and its revelations of episcopal irresponsibility. One of the primary purposes of Vatican II was to lift up the local bishop as a genuine shepherd and father of the local church, not simply a branch manager assigned by the Roman corpo-

BY SUZANNE ERPENBACH

Moving on A change of location can mean new ‘opportunities to serve and receive.’

I will remember this summer for multiple moves. Many of our priests are moving to new locations within our diocese. Closer to home, six family moves are progressing—cross-country,

regionally, job to job, university to university—all as new beginnings. No matter whether a move is across town or from shore to shore, moving takes time for planning, sorting, packing, and relocating. It’s surprising how much we acquire. Some things people hold for reference or use later. Others have sentimental value. More have a use that di-

rate GHQ. Very few Catholics in the United States understand this, however. They may revere the pope; they may love their pastor; but they have little sense of ecclesial connection to the local bishop or understanding of his responsibilities. So when crunch time comes and bishops try to defend the Catholic identity of Catholic institutions (medical, charitable, or educational), the default response of too many U.S. Catholics is that “this is just politics.” The same default kicks in when a bishop reminds politicians that they are in spiritual jeopardy if they receive holy Communion while being in a defective state of communion with the Church on grave moral issues. This default badly limits the bishops’ maneuvering room. Were a bishop to summon the courage to deploy his canonical authority and declare that the University of X can no longer be considered a Catholic institution, he would almost certainly be misunderstood by a large majority of his people as acting politically, not ecclesiastically—as a partisan, not as a shepherd defending the integrity of the flock. That doesn’t mean such things shouldn’t be done. But doing them requires careful catechetical preparation and an effective communications strategy for explaining what was done and why. In sum, and to revert to my opening question: how do things look, two months after the Notre Dame affair? Bullish for the administration and its wedge agenda. Bearish indeed for those concerned about religious freedom, Catholic identity, and the recovery of episcopal leadership in the United States. ■ George Weigel is a Distinguished Senior Fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C. minishes over time or that is replaced. Some possessions have little monetary value but are treasures for other reasons. Still others have been kept for potential use again— if need arises or opportunities develop. Some have “must move” value. No matter what prompts a move, many decisions are involved. The occasion is a good opportunity to review possessions, relive memories, and tell stories. Often a move prompts us to analyze the value of our possessions. Likewise, it’s intriguing to observe which belongings have meaning and value to others. We know the saying about one Erpenbach continued on page 9

Encyclical: Keeping pro-life sensibility can help during tough times BY CHA Z MUTH

WASHINGTON (CNS)—Keeping a pro-life sensibility during hard economic times can actually help a society through those trying years, Pope Benedict XVI said in his third encyclical, Caritas in Veritate (“Charity in Truth”). In a social encyclical on development and the world’s financial crisis, the pope said it is important to keep in mind the teaching of Humanae Vitae, Pope Paul VI’s 1968 encyclical on human life, and said being pro-life is being pro-development. If society sees a new baby as a problem, how will its citizens view the poor? the pope asked in the encyclical, released July 7. “When a society moves toward the denial or suppression of life, it ends up no longer finding the necessary motivation and energy to strive for man’s true good,” Pope Benedict said.

“The acceptance of life strengthens moral fiber and makes people capable of mutual help.” In promoting a culture of life, the pope suggested people look not only at the issue of abortion, but also at the planet as a living being. If people destroy their environment, they will also destroy their own life source, he said. The pope also addressed life as part of the cultural struggle between the supremacy of technology and human moral responsibility in the field of

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bioethics. “It is no coincidence that closing the door to transcendence brings one up short against a difficulty: How could being emerge from nothing, how could intelligence be born from chance?” he asked. “Faced with these dramatic questions, reason and faith can come to each other’s assistance. Only together will they save man.” ■ Copyright 2009 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops THE E A S T TE NNE S S E E CATHOLI C

the u.s.

CHURCH

from the

PARACLETE

BY DOROTHY CURTIS

Liturgy, immigration, marriage on bishops’ agenda Finding God in everyday life SAN ANTONIO (CNS)— Liturgical matters, immigration reform, and same-sex “marriage” were among the topics discussed by the U.S. bishops in public sessions at their June 17 to 19 spring meeting in San Antonio. But the bishops also devoted time—in executive session—to the recent controversy over the University of Notre Dame’s decision to award an honorary degree to U.S. President Barack Obama. They emerged from the meeting with a two-sentence affirmation of Bishop John M. D’Arcy of Fort Wayne–South Bend, Ind., for his “pastoral concern” for the university. Only two liturgical texts received definitive approval from the bishops in San Antonio: a Spanish-language Lectionary and a Mass of thanksgiving for the gift of human life. The Mass for life, first proposed nearly 20 years ago by Cardinal John J. O’Connor of New York, passed by a 183-2 vote, with three abstentions. The Spanish-language Lectionary was approved on a 181-2 vote, also with three abstentions. Both now go to the Vatican for confirmation. But five sections of the Roman Missal being prepared for use in English-speaking countries failed to get the necessary two-thirds votes of the Latin-rite U.S. bishops during the meeting. With 244 Latin-rite bishops in the United States eligible to vote on the questions, 163 votes were needed to make up two-thirds. With 189 eligible bishops attending the meeting, only 134 voted to accept the first section, Masses and prayers for various needs and intentions. On four subsequent translations, the votes also failed to reach two-thirds, meaning the 55 bishops not present will be polled by mail on all five parts. That process is expected to take several weeks. The items that failed to pass contain the Order of the Mass II; prefaces for various occasions; votive Masses and Masses for the dead; solemn blessings for the end of Mass; prayers over the people; and eucharistic prayers for particular occasions, such as for evangelization or ordinations. On immigration reform, Cardinal Francis E. George of Chicago wrote on behalf of the full U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to urge President Barack Obama and Congress to enact comprehensive reform before the end of 2009. “It has been clear for years that the United States immigration system requires repair and that reform legislation should not be delayed,” said the USCCB president in a prepared statement. “I would ask President Barack Obama and congressional leaders of both parties to work together to fashion and enact comprehen-

CNS PHOTO/BAHRAM MARK SOBHANI

Among other actions, the hierarchy funds completion of a study on sex abuse.

Cardinal Francis E. George of Chicago, left, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, talks with Bishop Richard F. Stika of Knoxville before the start of the meeting of the U.S. bishops in San Antonio June 17. The meeting was Bishop Stika’s first as Knoxville’s ordinary.

BROTHER BISHOPS

sive immigration reform legislation before the end of the year.” He also urged “respect and observance of all just laws” and said the bishops “do not approve or encourage the illegal entry of anyone into our country.” Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz, of Louisville, Ky., chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee on Defense of Marriage, reported to his fellow bishops about the challenges in meeting their priority focus on marriage, especially the quick rate at which states and courts have been taking up legislation that legalizes or prohibits same-sex marriage. Six states now recognize marriage between same-sex couples, Archbishop Kurtz said, and others are considering the same type of laws or a range of others “allowing everything but marriage” that would give new legal rights to civil unions. He said the ad hoc committee is focusing on the following key points to support marriage: ■ marriage is inherently related to gender differences and the complementarity of men and women ■ marriage is for the good of children, who are themselves “a great good of marriage” ■ marriage is a unique bond reserved to men and women by nature ■ same-sex marriage has negative effects on religious rights. The bishops also heard brief reports from their conference vice president, Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas of Tucson, Ariz., about their other four priorities: faith formation and sacramental practice; the life and dignity of the human person; cultural diversity in the church; and promoting vocations to the priesthood and religious life. In other actions, the bishops in a 135-2 vote approved a recommendation from their Committee on Budget and Finance to keep the 2010 assessment on dioceses to fund

the work of the USCCB at the 2009 level of just over $10 million. The vote was open only to bishops who head dioceses. But Archbishop Kurtz, chairman of the committee, warned that he would probably be asking for an increase for 2011 when that assessment comes up at the bishops’ November meeting in Baltimore. The assessments are calculated for each diocese based on a formula that includes offertory income, registered households, and contributions to three national collections. The bishops also approved funding of $450,000 for the New York-based John Jay College of Criminal Justice to complete a study of the causes and context of clergy sex abuse of minors. Commissioned by the bishops in the 2002 “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People,” the study is expected to be completed by December 2010. During their executive session the U.S. bishops expressed “appreciation and support” for Bishop D’Arcy, especially for “his pastoral concern” for the University of Notre Dame. In a two-sentence statement made public June 22 in Washington, the bishops also affirmed Bishop D’Arcy’s “solicitude for [Notre Dame’s] Catholic identity and his loving care for all those the Lord has given him to sanctify, to teach, and to shepherd.” The statement made no direct reference to the controversy over the Indiana university’s decision to have Obama as commencement speaker May 17 and to give him an honorary degree or to a recent call by the board of directors of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities for the bishops to revisit their 2004 statement “Catholics in Political Life.” ■

the assembly for the part they played in the celebration. He also reminisced about couples whose weddings he witnessed years ago—and for whose grandchildren he now performs the same role. “You know, as priests we need your prayers,” he said. “We need your prayers that we may always be faithful in serving you. We’re ordained for you.” Monsignor commented that

he has often had his initials, PFT, monogrammed on his shirts. When people asked what the letters meant, he’d respond, “Pray for Thoni.” Echoing Bishop Stika’s remarks on vocations, he said, “I tell the young men, ‘Become a priest. You don’t know what you’re missing. It’s a great life.’ “I’ve been married 60 years to the Lord, and that’s what it’s all about.” ■

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Bishop Stika presented two gifts to the honoree—an apostolic blessing from Pope Benedict XVI and a framed tribute with two photos, one of the monsignor as a brand-new priest and one contemporary shot. Upon seeing the latter gift, Monsignor Thoni quipped, “that fellow is pretty goodlooking.” Giving the final speech of the evening, he thanked many in THE E A S T TE NNE S S E E CATHOLIC

www.d ioceseofknoxville.or g

here are over a thousand new books on our shelves. They are one of the fruits of our time at the Religious Book Trade Exposition during May. We have many new titles as well as copies of some of our perennial bestsellers. Many are of an inspirational nature and deal with finding God in the midst of our everyday life. Moments of Grace: Inspiring Stories From Well-Known Catholics (Servant Books, 2008, $14.99) features reallife stories from such familiar names as Marcus Grodi, Father Frank Pavone, and Joseph Pearce. Their tales are a reminder of how powerful the gentle mercy of God can be and how it can be found in our everyday life. Have you ever felt God was trying to get your attention in the moments of your daily living, in the things you see and hear? In Everyday Encounters With God: What Our Experiences Teach Us About the Divine (The Word Among Us Press, 2008, $12.95) Father Benedict Groeschel, CFR, and Bert Ghezzi team up to show 30 ways you can meet God. This would be an excellent book for a study group, as its contents and study questions would lead to lively, insightful conversation. Tenemos un pequeño libro que nuestro personal conoce

por convertir a los no creyentes. Tiene una lectura para cada día y cada lectura le recuerda al lector, como dice el título, que Cada Día es un Don (CBP, 2005, $6.95). You may not have heard of Sister Bridget Haase, OSU, but the readers of Generous Faith (Paraclete Press, 2009, $16.99) will soon see she is a woman who not only talks about having a generous faith but also lives it. In this book she shows us how to take the time to ponder, reflect, and attend to the ways the Lord is working in our life. The popular “Chicken Soup” series has finally made it to us in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Living Catholic Faith (Chicken Soup for the Soul, 2008, $14.95). In it people of all sorts share stories of their Catholic faith—in the process renewing and affirming the reader’s faith. What about the other 995 titles? You’ll have to come by, visit us, and take a look around. We have books you’ve never seen and some you haven’t seen for quite a while. ■ The Paraclete is a fullservice Catholic book and supply store. Visit 417 Erin Drive in Knoxville, near Sacred Heart Cathedral, or call 865-588-0388 or 800-333-2097. Download the Paraclete’s newsletter online at snipr.com/paraclete.

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man’s trash being another’s treasure. Sometimes things with the least cash value become the most treasured because of the memories they elicit, and other things are treasured for the needs they serve. Moving has stewardship considerations as well. Acquired treasures are more of God’s gifts. It’s good occasionally to purposefully review our possessions. Keeping in mind the opportunity to benefit others, we can sort, pack, and distribute with a caring perspective. Moves motivate stewardship reflections in other ways. Expressing gratitude and appreciation to people as they leave and keeping them in our prayers are special gifts of friendship. Welcoming those who have relocated helps ease their adjustment to new places. Hospitality and welcoming are two very important parish ministries, as people seek a church home and to further develop their relationship with God. A welcoming committee demonstrates the hospitable and caring nature of a parish. Everyone is needed to help to greet people, answer questions, and build relationships with newcomers. Such simple gestures can foster friendship and bring many other benefits. Life is a journey for everyone. Change is constant. By fostering positive relationships and experiences is a gift we can give others. Moves enable new experiences, relationships, learning opportunities, and opportunities to serve and receive. God’s constant presence is reassuring throughout life’s changes. Life prepares us for our ultimate and final move into eternity. Using the precious gift of time to reflect on our role and responsibilities, we can consider the meaning of the following words by Stephen Grellet: I expect to pass through this life but once. If, therefore there can be any kindness I can show or any good thing I can do for any fellow being, let me do it now. . . . Let me not defer it or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.

May God bless you. ■ Mrs. Erpenbach directs the diocesan Stewardship and Development Office. JULY 12, 2009

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from the

WIRE

Pope: Morality must be part of economic recovery

Archbishop Celestino Migliore, apostolic nuncio to the United Nations, is seen in a 2008 photo taken at the Holy See’s U.N. mission in New York.

VATICAN SPOKESMAN

Archbishop urges U.N. not to forget the poor as one billion go hungry UNITED NATIONS (CNS)—The international community must not forget the world’s poor as it strives to solve the global economic crisis, warned Archbishop Celestino Migliore, the Vatican’s nuncio and permanent observer to the United Nations. Archbishop Migliore addressed the U.N. Conference on the World Financial and Economic Crisis and Its Impact on World Development June 26 at the New York headquarters of the United Nations. The summit convened June 24 with the aim of identifying emergency and long-term responses to the economic crisis and discussing a transformation of international financial structures. Archbishop Migliore urged the conference to take into account the needs of the poor in all nations. “We must not forget that it is poor people . . . who suffer most and are least able to defend themselves against the impact of this crisis,” the archbishop said. He cited World Bank statistics estimating an additional 55 million to 90 million people will become trapped in extreme poverty in 2009 as the number of those suffering from chronic hunger is expected to surpass one billion. Consequently, the Vatican believes there is “a compelling moral obligation to address these worsening social and economic disparities which undermine the basic dignity of so many of the world’s inhabitants,” he stated. The archbishop encouraged the conference to adopt realistic short-term measures to provide stability to the world’s poorest populations. “Short-term actions must focus on means that are capable of bringing tangible relief within a reasonable time period to individuals most in need,” he said. Archbishop Migliore said members of the United Nations also must adopt long-term measures that support sustainability in impoverished regions. Specifically, the archbishop said the Vatican supports the directing of financial assistance to developing countries as well as measures that strengthen food security, protect social expenditures, and direct a greater proportion of public expenditure toward improving the lives of people. To prevent a reoccurrence of the global economic crisis in the future, Archbishop Migliore said the Vatican endorses “practical and enforceable regulation to ensure global transparency and oversight at all levels of the financial system.” He went on to suggest that the prevalent economic ideology places individual interests at the center of economic decision-making. “This worldview has created a society in which short-term economic and personal gains are made at the expense of others,” he said. In his closing remarks the archbishop reiterated the Vatican’s plea that poor countries be given priority during economic crises and that ethical approaches be adopted in economics and politics to allow the inclusion of all members of civil society in economic decision-making. ■ Copyright 2009 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

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them rightly. That’s what the crowd was looking for. That’s what they saw in Jesus. Jesus did not disappoint them. Even when he had other pressing business, Jesus dropped everything, healed them, and preached the Gospel to them. He even fed them. Yes, he twice multiplied loaves and fishes to fill their material hunger. Whenever they gathered, he filled their hungry and thirsty souls with his words of eternal life. In our own day, he gives us his body and blood as food. It makes one want to join that crowd, doesn’t it? ■ Father Brando is the pastor of St. Jude Parish in Chattanooga. 10

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JULY 12, 2009

VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Ethical values are needed to overcome the current global economic crisis as well as to eradicate hunger and promote the true development of all the world’s peoples, Pope Benedict XVI said in his new encyclical. The document, Caritas in Veritate (“Charity in Truth”) was dated June 29 and released at the Vatican July 7. The truth that God is the creator of human life, that every life is sacred, that the earth was given to humanity to use and protect, and that God has a plan for each person must be respected in development programs and in economic recovery efforts if they are to have real and lasting benefits, the pope said. Charity, or love, is not an option for Christians, he said, and “practicing charity in truth helps people understand that adhering to the values of Christianity is not merely useful but essential for building a good society and for true integral development,” he wrote. In addressing the global economic crisis and the enduring poverty of the world’s poorest countries, he said, “the primary capital to be safeguarded and valued is man, the human person in his or her integrity.” The global dimension of the financial crisis is an expression of the moral failure of greedy financiers and investors, of the lack of oversight by national governments and of a lack of understanding that the global economy required internationally recognized global control, Pope Benedict said. “In the face of the unrelenting growth of global interdependence, there is a strongly felt need, even in the midst of a global recession, for a reform of the United Nations organization and likewise of economic institutions and international finance so that the concept of the family of nations can acquire real teeth,” the pope wrote. “To manage the global economy; to revive economies hit by the crisis; to avoid any deterioration of the present crisis and the greater imbalances that would result; to bring about integral and timely disarmament, food security, and peace; to guarantee the protection of the environment and to regulate migration: for all this, there is urgent need of a true world political authority,” he said. Pope Benedict insisted that the idea of the world’s richest nations scaling back development aid while focusing on their own economic recovery overlooked the long-term economic benefits of solidarity and not simply the human and Christian moral obligation to help the poor. “In the search for solutions to the current economic crisis, development aid for poor

CNS PHOTO/AKHTAR SOOMRO, REUTERS

CNS PHOTO/BOB ROLLER

Benedict’s new encyclical calls for development aid to help raise up the poor. By Cindy Wooden

Internally displaced boys wait for food at a camp in the Swabi district of Pakistan in June. In his latest encyclical, Caritas in Veritate (“Charity in Truth”), Pope Benedict XVI said food and water are the “universal rights of all human beings without distinction or discrimination” and are part of the basic human right to life.

‘UNIVERSAL RIGHTS’

countries must be considered a valid means of creating wealth for all,” the pope said. The economic growth of poorer countries and their citizens’ demands for consumer goods actually benefit producers in the world’s wealthier nations, he said. The pope said that “more economically developed nations should do all they can to allocate larger portions of their gross domestic product to development aid,” respecting the obligations they made to the U.N. Millennium Development Goals aimed at significantly reducing poverty by 2015. Pope Benedict said food and water are the “universal rights of all human beings without distinction or discrimination” and are part of the basic right to life (see the related story on page 8.) He also said that being prolife means being pro-development, especially given the connection between poverty and infant mortality, and that the only way to promote the true development of people is to promote a culture in which every human life is welcomed and valued. “The acceptance of life strengthens moral fiber and makes people capable of mutual help,” he said. Development programs and offers of aid that encourage coercive population-control methods and the promotion of abortion do not have the good of people at heart and limit the recipients’ motivation to become actors in their own development and progress, the pope said. In addition, he said, an antilife mentality in the world’s richest countries is related to the lack of concern for the poor. “How can we be surprised by the indifference shown toward situations of human degradation when such indifference extends even to our attitude toward what is and is not human?” the pope asked. “While the poor of the world continue knocking on the doors of the rich, the world of affluence runs the

risk of no longer hearing those knocks on account of a conscience that can no longer distinguish what is human,” he said. Pope Benedict also emphasized church teaching that making money and being wealthy are not sinful but that the way money is made and used can be. The encyclical condemned corruption, the exploitation of workers, the destruction of the environment, the continuing practice of wealthy nations imposing such high tariffs on imports that they shut poor countries out of the international marketplace, and especially, an “excessive zeal” for enforcing patents, especially on medications that could save the lives of thousands of poor people if they were available at a reasonable cost. Pope Benedict called for “a profoundly new way of understanding business,” which recognizes that investors are not a company’s only stakeholders, no matter how the business is structured and financed. Employees, those who produce the raw materials, and people who live in the communities where the company is based and where its products originate and are sold all have a stake in the business, the pope said. He also said that investing always has a moral as well as an economic significance. “What should be avoided is a speculative use of financial resources that yields to the temptation of seeking only short-term profit without regard for the long-term sustainability of the enterprise, its benefit to the real economy, and attention to the advancement—in suitable and appropriate ways—of further economic initiatives in countries in need of development,” he said. ■ Caritas in Veritate may be read in its entirety online at bit.ly/629caritas. Copyright 2009 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

Deacon Patrick Murphy-Racey ‘rides for the Feist family’ n July 3 Deacon Patrick Murphy-Racey began a motorcycle trip to Labrador, “to take time to pray, spend time with Christ alone on the road, to go someplace totally new for me, and get away from it all on a self-guided retreat.” ETC readers may remember that he took a similar trip in summer 2007, riding to Alaska and raising funds for Haiti. On the eve of his trip Deacon Murphy-Racey wrote, “I've been thinking a lot lately about the

Feist family. [See story on page 1.] Nancy was a great friend to Knoxville Catholic High School and advocated for our school always. She was a fixture on first Fridays at the Holy Trinity Chapel. She would leave her super-busy job at the Chancery and come to pray in front of the Blessed Sacrament. So while the school was getting on with a normal day at the end of a busy week, Nancy and a few others would quietly pray for all of us. In the words of Hope Feist, ‘she

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was a prayer warrior.’ “I will be riding, praying, and reflecting for the next 12 days or so. Please come along with me vicariously and pray for the Feist family. If you have any prayer intentions, I would be happy to pray for you. E-mail or Facebook me and let me know what’s heavy on your heart. I’ve set up a blog just for the ride: feistkids.blogspot.com.” ■ Deacon Murphy-Racey’s e-mail address is pat@pmrphoto.com. THE E A S T TE NNE S S E E CATHOL I C