June1 2014 by Diocese of Knoxville

This issue

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

The East Tennessee

Catholic schools......................15 Columns...................................18 Virtus training...........................21

June 1, 2014 Volume 23 Number 5 Bishop Richard F. Stika

News from The Diocese of Knoxville • Visit us at dioknox.org or etcatholic.org

New assignments 21 priests will have new roles in July

A year already? Handmaids of the Precious Blood’s new chapter

Front seat to history Local parishioners see canonization

Diocese of Knoxville is Top 10 in U.S. for Catholic converts CARA study points to effectiveness of RCIA programs, gives high rankings to dioceses in Louisville province

By Bill Brewer

Converts continued on page 9

SCOTT MAENTZ

ob Armstrong has spent a lifetime looking for God. At age 82, the retired statistician and professed agnostic took a leap of faith after studying the probability of God’s existence and joined the Catholic Church at Easter Vigil. In search of evidence of God for much of his life, Mr. Armstrong came to the conclusion that there is more evidence that God exists than doesn’t exist. So after working on his faith with Father Michael Woods of All Saints Church in Knoxville, the married father of two grown children was baptized, confirmed and received his first Holy Communion at All Saints on April 19. Mr. Armstrong is among a growing number of converts filling the pews at Diocese of Knoxville Masses. Now, the rest of the country is learning something that diocesan priests and parishioners already know – adults are joining the Church in ever increasing numbers. The diocese now ranks in the Top 10 for people converting to Catholicism.

Filled with the Holy Spirit Bishop Richard F. Stika confirms Carol Cooper at Easter Vigil as she enters the Church through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Her sponsor is Michael Palumbo. Bishop Stika is assisted by Deacon Bill Jacobs and Father David Boettner.

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

He dwells among us

by Bishop Richard F. Stika

Bishop’s schedule

‘You shall be my witness’ The prayer of every priest, ‘Lord, what do you want me to do?’ always leads to greater joy

love the Easter Season. With the exception maybe of the pollen and other allergens, there is always so much to look forward to in this season—warmer weather, the end of a school year, graduations, first communions and confirmations, and a new baseball season— go Cardinals! But I am especially excited to have just ordained four new priests for our diocese— Father Julian Cardona, Father Tony Budnick, Father Adam Kane and Father Colin Blatchford. And I am looking forward to ordaining three transitional deacons, God willing, on June 14—Ray Powell, Scott Russell and Jesús Guerrero Rodriguez. What a blessing for all of us. And with this season comes new priest assignments as well. “No true vocation starts with ‘what I want,’” Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen once stated. It begins with the question, “Lord, what do you want me to do?” It is a question every priest should pray in seeking God’s will for him each day since his priesthood is a gift from God. And as every priest at his ordination pledges obedience to his bishop, so it happens at various times that God’s will is expressed through

Diocesan policy for reporting sexual abuse

Follow Bishop Richard Stika on Twitter @bishopstika and his blog for news and events from the diocese. his bishop. Sometimes, God’s will is expressed in the form of a new parish assignment. The relationship between a priest and his bishop is a very special one that is sealed by holy obedience. This is because the priesthood of the ordained is a sharing in the “fullness” of the bishop’s priesthood as a successor to the Apostles. As the bishop’s “co-worker,” a priest exercises his priesthood as an extension of the bishop’s priesthood, and does so best by cooperating with him in his work in the Lord’s vineyard. And just as each priest is an extension of the bishop’s priesthood, so each parish is an extension of its cathedral church. Looking back upon my priestly life, I can better appreciate how much holy obedience and joy go hand-in-hand. I still remember opening the envelope at the conclusion of my priestly ordination almost 29 years ago and the genuine joy I felt when I learned what my first parish assignment would be. I was nervous, but confident that God’s will would be

done if I but trusted in the path He was leading me on. This is one of the reasons why I chose as my episcopal motto the words, Iesu Confido In Te—“Jesus I Trust in You.” But if a priest says “yes” to God’s will for him in the form of a new parish assignment, the parish, too, as Christ’s body, must also offer its “yes” to God with its support. It is not easy to lose a priest that a parish has grown close to and has confidence in. But your help and prayers for your priests, especially those newly assigned, is a way to express your own “yes” to God in thanksgiving for the gift of the sacramental priesthood. Venerable Archbishop Sheen felt that every priest in some way resembles Simon Peter, whose name reveals something of the priestly nature of the ordained. Like the name Simon, given by his earthly parents, there is the human side of every priest. But like the name Peter, given by Our Lord, priests are ambassadors of Christ, infused with heavenly powers through the sacrament of holy orders. As channels of Christ’s power, they are given the power to forgive sins, to celebrate Mass, and to anoint the sick. This is the “treasure in clay” that

The East Tennessee

These are some of Bishop Stika’s public appointments: May 31: 11 a.m., Ordination to the Sacred Priesthood of Jesus Christ for Rev. Colin Blatchford, Rev. Tony Budnick, Rev. Julian Cardona, Rev. Adam Kane at Sacred Heart Cathedral. June 1: 10:30 a.m., confirmation at Blessed Sacrament Church in Harriman. June 1: 6 p.m., confirmation at Holy Ghost Church. June 2-5: convocation at Sevierville Convention Center. June 7: 11 a.m., Mass celebrating Father Joseph Hammond’s silver jubilee at St. John Neumann Church. June 7: 5 p.m. Mass and Sending of the Neophytes ceremony at Sacred Heart Cathedral. June 8: 9 a.m., confirmation of Hispanic adults at Sacred Heart Cathedral. June 9-13: U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops spring meeting in New Orleans. June 14: 11 a.m., Ordination to the Order of Deacon for Ray Powell, Jesus Guerrero RodriSchedule continued on page 21

Bishop continued on page 8

Bishop Richard F. Stika Publisher

Dan McWilliams Assistant editor

Bill Brewer

Margaret Hunt

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

2 June 1, 2014

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

dioknox.org

Young-adult gathering will feature outdoor Mass, picnic

oung adults from around the diocese are encouraged to be “hanging with the apostles” on June 29. The Frassati Fellowship, a Diocese of Knoxville outreach for young adults, is sponsoring a celebration of the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul with an outdoor Mass and picnic at the diocese’s Christ Prince of Peace Retreat Center in Benton. Young adults age 18-39 are invited to the celebration on Sunday, June 29, beginning at noon. Bishop Richard F. Stika will celebrate an outdoor Mass at 2 p.m. on the Christ Prince of Peace grounds to mark the feast day. The outdoor Mass and picnic will include young-adult groups

from parishes throughout the diocese that join with the Frassati Fellowship in providing faithbased outlets in the diocese. Young-adult groups like the one at St. Stephen Parish in Chattanooga are active and growing in members. There are plans to grow young-adult fellowships in many parishes in the diocese. These fellowships are aimed at young adults who are in college or the work world and have not yet started a family. Time spent together can be in discussion, prayer groups or socializing. Those attending the picnic and outdoor Mass should RSVP to Dr. Elijah Martin at emartin@dioknox.org. Attendees should bring

their favorite food, beverages, and a game. Flyers for the Mass and picnic are being distributed in parishes around the diocese and include directions to Christ Prince of Peace Retreat Center. CPOP is located on 52 picturesque acres between the Hiwassee River and the Cherokee National Forest. The property includes a small church, a chapel, the retreat center, guest residences, and many places to pray and reflect outdoors. It also is home to the Handmaids of the Precious Blood, a contemplative community of nuns that has just marked its first anniversary in the diocese. ■

ille Frassati Fellowship is sponsoring a celeb The Knoxv r

SUNATDCHARIYST,PRJIUNCNE OEF P2EAC9E RtETh, 2014 @ NOON For yo

ung adults age 18-39

ation of th e Feast of Saints Peter and Paul

REaT CENTER 300 locke lane 7 Benton, Tennessee 3730 OUTdoor mass c e l e b a picnic will foll r a t e d ow mas by bishop stika at 2pm s so bring your favorite food, beverages, and game.

Hanging with THE APOSTLES DIRECTIONS

From Knoxville, take I-75 South to exit 52 toward Athens, turn left onto TN-305. After driving 4.9 miles on TN-305, turn left on Green Street, then take a left onto TN-30 or David W. Lillard Memorial Hwy. After 8.8 miles on TN-30, turn right onto TN-30 E/TN-33 S/US-411 S/Tennessee Ave. After 8.1 miles, turn left onto TN-30 East. After .6 of a mile, take the first left onto Locke Lane.

RSVP

Dr. Elijah Martin at emartin@dioknox.org

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June 1, 2014 3

New priest assignments to impact 17 diocesan parishes Monsignor Mankel, Father Brando retiring as churches in all four deaneries to receive new pastoral leadership

ew assignments for priests will have an impact on 17 Diocese of Knoxville parishes beginning July 1. Monsignor Xavier Mankel, pastor of Holy Ghost Church and a vicar general for the diocese, will retire July 1 after 53 years of service. Monsignor Mankel, 78, was ordained a priest in 1961, and has led churches in Lawrenceburg, Farragut and Knoxville. He also has served as a teacher and principal of Knoxville Catholic High School and as superintendent of Catholic schools in Knoxville. Monsignor Mankel will continue serving as a vicar general and will be the diocese’s historical archivist. Succeeding Monsignor Mankel as Holy Ghost pastor will be Father John Dowling, who has been serving as pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Fairfield Glade. Father Dowling previously has been an associate pastor and parochial administrator of Holy Ghost. Bishop Stika also announced that Father Joseph Brando, pastor of St. Mary Church in Gatlinburg, who has been serving the Church in East Tennessee for 42 years, is retiring July 1. Father Brando has served at churches in Nashville, Chattanooga, Madison, McEwen, and Knoxville, and also served as a U.S. Army chaplain. Father Brando, 70, will be succeeded in Gatlinburg by Father Antony Punnackal, CMI, who has been serving as pastor of St. Alphonsus Church in Crossville. Father David Carter has been named rector of the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga, succeeding Monsignor George Schmidt, who retired in November and is pastor emeritus of the basilica. Father Carter has been serving as parochial administrator of the basilica since November. Father Alberto Sescon has been appointed pastor of St. Francis of Assisi in Fairfield Glade. Father Sescon has been the pastor of St. Thérèse of Lisieux Church in Cleveland.

4 June 1, 2014

By Bill Brewer

Msgr. Mankel

Fr. Brando

Fr. Sescon

Fr. Carter

Fr. Nolan

Fr. Resen

Fr. Cano-Ramirez

Fr. Diaz

Fr. Pérez

Fr. Moser

Fr. Thomas

Fr. Harvey

Fr. Whitman

Fr. Dowling

Fr. Punnackal

Fr. Donahue

Fr. Blatchford

Fr. Budnick

Fr. Cardona

Fr. Kane

Father Joseph Thomas, CMI, has been named parochial vicar of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. Father Thomas has been serving as parochial adminFr. Cummins istrator of Holy Family Church in Seymour. Father Gilbert Diaz, currently pastor of St. Stephen Church in Chattanooga, has been named pastor of Holy Family. Father Manuel Pérez will become pastor of St. Stephen Church and will provide Hispanic ministry support to St. Thérèse of Lisieux Church. Father Pérez has been serving as associate pastor at St. Mary Church in Johnson City. Father Jim Harvey, currently pastor of Notre Dame Church in Greeneville, will be pastor at St. Alphonsus Church in Crossville. Father Dan Whitman has been named pastor of Notre Dame. He has been serving as pastor of Holy Trinity Church in Jefferson City. Succeeding Father Whitman as pastor of Holy Trinity will be Father Patrick Resen, who now is pastor of St. Catherine Labouré Church in

Copperhill. Father Tom Moser, currently the associate pastor of St. Thérèse of Lisieux Church, will become pastor of St. Catherine Labouré on July 1. Father Andres Cano-Ramirez, who has served as an associate pastor at St. Mary Church in Gatlinburg and Holy Cross Church in Pigeon Forge, has been named pastor of Holy Cross. Father Mike Nolan, who serves as pastor of St. Dominic Church in King-

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

sport, has been named pastor of St. Thérèse of Lisieux Church. Father Michael Cummins, who currently serves as chaplain at Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga and the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, will become pastor of St. Dominic. Father Cummins will continue to serve as diocesan director of the Office of Vocations. And Father Charlie Donahue, CSP, Priests continued on page 21 dioknox.org

Diocesan CFO named to succeed retiring Deacon David Lucheon By Bill Brewer

iocese of Knoxville controller Shannon Hepp has been named chief financial officer, succeeding Deacon David Lucheon, who is retiring effective July 1. Mrs. Hepp was appointed by Bishop Richard F. Stika following an extensive search for Deacon Lucheon’s successor. Deacon Lucheon, who has served as diocesan CFO since July 1, 2003, announced last year that he planned to retire July 1. In addition to serving as CFO, he is in the permanent diaconate and serves at All Saints Church in Knoxville. Mrs. Hepp is a certified public accountant who joined the diocese four years ago as the controller. Previously, she worked for more than 12 years with progressive responsibility at Ruby Tuesday Inc., where she was a vice president in the finance office. Prior to that she worked in ac-

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Shannon Hepp

counting and finance at Ryder System in Miami and as an auditor with Ross Lane & Co. CPAs in Atlanta. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s of accountancy degrees at Kennesaw University in Kennesaw, Ga., and returned to practice accounting in her hometown of Maryville, where she now resides with her husband, Andy, and two sons, Noah and Evan. Mrs. Hepp is a parishioner at Our Lady of Fatima Church in Alcoa. ■

Catholic Charities Fun Walk attracts 1,000, raises more than $40,000 By Dan McWilliams ome 1,000 participants took part in the 16th annual Kids Helping Kids Fun Walk benefiting Catholic Charities of East Tennessee’s Columbus Home. More than $40,000 was raised for Columbus Home at this year’s 1-mile Fun Walk, held May 4 at Knoxville Catholic High School. Children and adults participated in the walk, and deacons, priests, and women religious were among the 1,000 people participating. Harrison Smith, a KCHS graduate and current safety for the Minnesota Vikings, served as honorary chair of the walk. Frank Murphy of radio station Star 102.1 FM emceed the walk. In October, Mr. Murphy took part in a Host With the Most fundraiser to benefit

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Catholic Charities. At the Kids Helping Kids walk, Mr. Murphy presented a check for $1,615.50 from the Host With the Most event to Sister Mary Christine Cremin, RSM, executive director of CCET. Besides the walk, the event also featured inflatable games, face painting, and many other activities. Harrison Smith said he was flattered to be a part of Catholic Charities’ Columbus Home Kids Helping Kids Fun Walk on May 4 at his alma mater, Knoxville Catholic High School. The Minnesota Vikings safety and former University of Notre Dame football standout was the honorary chair of the 16th annual event. “It’s awesome and it’s flattering to be able to make an impact and be part Fun Walk continued on page 20

Italy/Switzerland: Jun 26-Jul 8, Jul 5-17, Aug 28Sep 9, Sep 6-18, Sep 11-23, Sep 18-30... Italy Regular: Jun 28-Jul 6, Jul 5-13, Aug 30-Sep 7, Sep 6-14, Sep 13-21, Sep 20-28, Sep 27-Oct 5… Holy Land: Jun 23-Jul 3, Aug 25-Sep 4, Sep 1-11, Sep 10-20, Sep 15-25, Sep 22-Oct 2, Sep 29-Oct 9 Holy Land/Italy: Jun 30-Jul 13, Aug 25-Sep 7, Sep 1 -14, Sep 8-21, Sep 15-28, Sep 22-Oct 5... Ireland/Scotland: Jun 28-Jul 10, Jul 19-31, Sep 618, Sep 13-25, Sep 20-Oct 2… Poland: Jul 5-16, Aug 30-Sep 10, Sep 6-17, Sep 1324, Sep 20-Oct 1, Sep 21-Oct 2, Sep 27-Oct 8... France: Sep 6-18, Sep 13-25, Sep 20-Oct 2… Italy South: Aug 30-Sep 11, Sep 6-18, Sep 13-25, Sep 20-Oct 2, Sep 27-Oct 9… Austria/Germany/Switzerland: Jul 12-24, Jul 19-31, Jul 26-Aug 7, Aug 30-Sep 11, Sep 6-18, Sep 13-25… Tuscany/Assisi/Cinque Terre: Aug 25-Sep 5, Sep 6 -17, Sep 13-24, Sep 20-Oct 1, Sep 22-Oct 3… Lourdes/Fatima: Sep 4-12, Sep 11-19, Sep 18-26... Spain: Aug 30-Sep 11, Sep 6-18, Sep 13-25, Sep 20 -Oct 2, Sep 21-Oct 3, Sep 27-Oct 9… Greece/Turkey: Sep 13-25, Sep 20-Oct 2, Sep 27Oct 9, Sep 28--Oct 10…

Visit our web site for more dates and destinations!! email: anthony@proximotravel.com www.proximotravel.com 855-842-8001 Call us 24/7

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Carmela Manago Executive Director 508-340-9370 June 1, 2014 5

Tennessee Knights of Columbus endorse Yes on 1 campaign Knoxville Knight Mike Wills is convention featured speaker, Jerry Dougherty is Knight of the Year

ennesseans are facing a crucial vote on the abortion issue in November, when an amendment to the state Constitution allowing the state legislature to pass “common sense” regulations will be on the ballot, delegates to the Tennessee Knights of Columbus were told during their annual state convention held May 2-4 in Franklin. “This will be the No. 1 vote you will ever cast on the sanctity of life in the State of Tennessee,” said Myra Simons, director of special projects for Tennessee Right to Life and board president of Yes on 1, an organization working to pass the amendment. The effort to amend the constitution was prompted by a 2000 ruling by the Tennessee Supreme Court overturning three laws passed in the 1970s. The laws required informed consent, a 48hour waiting period, and that second

Mike Wills

and third trimester abortions be performed in a hospital. The state court ruled that the Tennessee Constitution provided broader protections for abortion rights than the U.S. Constitution. The amendment, which will be the first one listed on November’s ballot, reads: “Nothing in this Constitution

By Andy Telli, The Tennessee Register

secures or protects a right to abortion or requires the funding of an abortion. The people retain the right through their elected state representatives and state senators to enact, amend, or repeal statutes regarding abortion, including, but not limited to, circumstances of pregnancy resulting from rape or incest or when necessary to save the life of the mother.” Pro-life supporters are asking voters to vote yes on this key amendment. “There are so many people who don’t yet know about this amendment,” Simons said. “We need to educate people about the importance of this issue.” She asked the Tennessee Knights to help Yes on 1 in its education efforts. “One of the important things the Knights do is to educate others on the importance of the sanctity of life,” Simons said. “Help us to hand victory to

the unborn.” John Park, a parishioner at St. Edward Church in Nashville, and the state deputy of the Tennessee Knights of Columbus, which is the highest elected office in the state council, said he signed a letter of endorsement for the campaign. Mike Wills of Knoxville, the immediate past state deputy and a current Supreme Director for the international order, was the featured speaker at the convention. Since being elected to the Supreme Board of Directors last August, Wills said, he has gained a clearer appreciation of how the Knights’ insurance program complements its charitable giving and fraternal programs. Surplus revenue from the insurance program is used to support charitable activities around the world, Wills said, Knights, continued on page 23

Restore the voice

of common sense.

In 2000, the Tennessee Supreme Court struck down three state laws providing for the health and safety of women and girls considering abortion: informed consent, 48 hour waiting period and a requirement that later term abortions be performed in hospitals. On November 4th, Tennesseans will have the opportunity to: • Provide safeguards for women considering abortion, unborn children, and Tennessee taxpayers. • Require inspection, licensure, and regulation of abortion facilities. • Stop Tennessee from being a destination for out-of-state abortions.

• Restore life to Tennessee.

6 June 1, 2014

For more info about Amendment 1 visit

www.YesOn1.org

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By Stephanie Richer year isn’t a long period of time. But for the Handmaids of the Precious Blood, it has brought about an entirely new chapter of life. On May 6, Bishop Richard F. Stika, accompanied by fellow priests Father Jerry Daniels, Father P.J. McGinnity, and Father Hoan Dinh, celebrated a Mass of thanksgiving to mark the first-year anniversary of the arrival of the Handmaids in East Tennessee. “They left behind the cougars and bears, and came here to face the snakes and chiggers,” Bishop Stika jokingly said in his homily. “And all because I sent them flowers!” Mother Marietta, the community’s prioress, would say the blessings have been for her and her sisters. “The support of everyone here has been wonderful,” she said after the Mass. “Even though we are a cloistered order, we feel very much that we are a part of the diocese.” That connection, noted Mother Marietta, is kept up by checking the diocesan website. “In the past, our prayers sometimes were for intentions that could be vague. Now, we are able to see the bishop’s specific intentions as well as what is happening in the various parishes and schools all around the diocese and direct our prayers to them,” she said, recalling Bishop Stika’s remarks about the flowers. “All the dioceses who responded to our call for a new home were lovely – but Knoxville really welcomed us the most,” she said, adding that since arriving in the Diocese of Knoxville there has been a significant increase in the number of prayer requests coming to the Handmaids as more people visit their website, nunsforpriests.org. Over the past year, the Handmaids have gained two additional members who now reside full-time at their papal enclosure, Cor Jesu,

The East Tennessee Catholic

located on the grounds of the diocesan retreat center, Christ Prince of Peace, in Benton. Since January, Mother Marietta and Sister Sarah Michael have joined the four “pioneers” who arrived in May 2013. There currently are five sisters still at the Handmaids’ monastery in Jimenez Springs, N.M., and four at the order’s priory in Lake Villa, Ill. Plans to relocate those sisters to East Tennessee remain contingent on the need for additional living space at Cor Jesu. “We have room for one more here,” Mother Marietta said. “We have a candidate who wishes to join us, and she will come here, but we have to expand before the others can join us.” The Handmaids of the Precious Blood and diocesan officials have discussed plans to build a monastery on the grounds of Christ Prince of Peace Retreat Center. To help make that a reality, the Handmaids intend to start a fundraising campaign this year and sell their existing New Mexico monastery. The Handmaids’ presence in the diocese is historical because they are the first cloistered contemplative Catholic order to be located in East Tennessee. Development of a monastery also would be a historic first. The monastery would differ from convents in that nuns residing in a monastery live and work in isolation while sisters living in a convent live and work in public. The Handmaids have received a great blessing with the arrival of Father Jerry Daniels, who is now in residence at Christ Prince of Peace and is the full-time chaplain for the Handmaids. A native of Mississippi, Father Daniels was a priest in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux in Louisiana before coming to the Diocese of Knoxville. The past year also has seen some unique moments in the lives of the

STEPHANIE RICHER

Handmaids of the Precious Blood mark diocesan anniversary

Praying in adoration Nuns with the Handmaids of the Precious Blood are in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the Church of the Crucifixion at Christ Prince of Peace Retreat Center in Benton, where they are relocating their monastery.

Handmaids continued on page 9 The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee

June 1, 2014 7

Pilgrims witness history as Popes John XXIII, John Paul II canonized Bishop Stika, Cardinal Rigali celebrate Masses in Rome with Diocese of Knoxville group

By Bill Brewer

Bishop continued from page 2

Venerable Archbishop Sheen spoke of in his autobiography—the treasure of the priesthood housed in the fragile clay pot of each priest’s humanity. Pray for your priests every day. I am reminded of a story of how a third-grade girl once asked a bishop if

8 June 1, 2014

CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

mong the hundreds of thousands of Catholic faithful in St. Peter’s Square on Divine Mercy Sunday to witness history as Popes John XXIII and John Paul II were canonized were a group of parishioners from the Diocese of Knoxville joined by Bishop Richard F. Stika and Cardinal Justin Rigali. The 14 diocesan members, including Father Charlie Donahue, CSP, pastor of St. John XXIII Parish on the University of Tennessee campus, and Deacon Sean Smith, chancellor of the diocese, were on a canonization pilgrimage to Rome and the Vatican directed by tour operator Select International. The group left for Rome April 21 and returned to the diocese April 29. Bishop Stika and Cardinal Rigali, who processed into the canonization Mass ahead of Pope Francis, celebrated Masses for the diocesan pilgrims in the days leading up to Divine Mercy Sunday. April 27 also was called the day of four popes, a reference to the rare historic event where two popes were being elevated into sainthood during a canonization Mass celebrated by Pope Francis and concelebrated by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. Lisa Morris, a parishioner at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus who was on the pilgrimage, was inspired by the sights and sounds surrounding the canonizations – from the

The universal Church Hundreds of thousands of Catholic faithful pack St. Peter’s Square on April 27 to witness history as Pope Francis celebrated a canonization Mass for Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II.

beauty, majesty and holiness of St. Peter ’s Basilica and St. Peter ’s Square to the saintly outpost of Assisi. “In so many ways it was a blessing and a real miracle. Pope John Paul II has had such a profound influence on me over the past 10 years because of his ‘Theology of the Body’ and impact on the pro-life movement,” Mrs. Morris said, adding that the more she learned about St. John XXIII the more respect she gained for him. The Knoxville pilgrims, who

joined pilgrims from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia on the weeklong trip, left their Rome hotel at 1 a.m. on Divine Mercy Sunday for St. Peter ’s Square. The historic square holds about 500,000 people and the Knoxville-Philadelphia group was able to get inside the square, where Pope Francis celebrated the canonization Mass. Hundreds of thousands of people spilled over into the streets of Rome to be part of the historic event and watched the Mass on big-screen televisions spread out around Rome.

Despite being at the canonization Mass for several hours, Mrs. Morris said the time passed quickly. “I’ve never been in a crowd that big, and when Mass started you could hear a pin drop. It was so reverent,” she said. “It gave me a renewed awe and wonder of the beauty of the Church. It was a beautiful thing to be a part of and a beautiful thing to witness.” Mrs. Morris was moved by the hundreds of priests who were dispatched to communion sta-

she could examine his episcopal ring. After a close look, she smiled and looking up at him exclaimed, “This ring means you are married to the Church.” Your priests are married to you. As they strive to love you as Christ loves the Church, please strive to be their special helpers and to love and pray for them.

I thank Our Lord for our priests, those newly ordained and those who have long served, who have accepted with joy God’s will for them in their new assignments—a joy in holy obedience. And I thank all our priests, especially those who have come from the ends of the world to serve God in this

diocese. How proud I am of all of them. Thank you for answering God’s call to be His “witnesses” (Acts 1:8) wherever He has needed you. Let us continue to pray for our priests and for the blessing of vocations, for where would we be without the priesthood? ■

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Canonization continued on page 17

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A report issued by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) at Georgetown University at Easter said the Diocese of Knoxville is tied at 10th place with the dioceses of Memphis and Lexington, Ky., in the number of Catholics per convert from 2010 to 2012. The Diocese of Nashville ranked eighth in the study, and nearly half of the top dioceses for converts are from the Louisville province, which includes the dioceses of Knoxville (10), Nashville (8), Memphis (10), Lexington (10), Covington, Ky., Owensboro, Ky. (2), and the Archdiocese of Louisville. The CARA study, which highlights the importance of Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) programs, has attracted attention from media outlets, including The Tennessean newspaper in Nashville and Knoxville television station WBIR. In an interview, Bishop Richard F. Stika said he wasn’t surprised by the study’s findings, especially given the number of retirees, families and Hispanic Catholics relocating to the diocese. “We’re a growing Church, both in people who are choosing to become Catholic as well as people moving in from out of town,” Bishop Stika said. “We have various populations of cultures, and Hispanic and Latino (communities) are very large. So they bring a beauty into the Church, as well as all the other ethnic groups. We just started a Vietnamese parish in Knoxville – the Church of Divine Mercy – and they average over 200 Vietnamese on a Sunday.” Churches across the diocese held Rites of Election of Catechumens and Call to Continuing Conversion of Candidates before Easter to officially recognize adults and youth entering the Church during Easter Vigil. Nearly 250 people in the Diocese of Knoxville entered the Church at Easter Vigil Mass, and the CARA study cited the diocese for averaging about 350 converts per year. Mr. Armstrong was among the 250 and fits the Diocese of Knoxville demographic well. He continues to study the Catholic faith with Deacon Tim Elliott of All Saints, who is the diocesan director of the Diaconate and Deacon Formation. He and his wife, Joan Armstrong, are originally from New York and relocated to Talbott in the Five Rivers Handmaids continued from page 7

sisters in East Tennessee. Snows this past winter gave them a chance to use pieces of cardboard for sledding down the hills of the retreat center. “We had snow regularly in the mountains of New Mexico, so we The East Tennessee Catholic

BILL BREWER

Converts continued from page 1

A study in faith Bob Armstrong, an adjunct professor of statistics at South College and a retired statistician from the National Center for Health Statistics, joined the Church at Easter Vigil.

Deanery. Their daughter, Ginger Henderson, is active at All Saints. While he was an agnostic when he and Joan married in 1960, she was Catholic and they took marriage instruction from a priest and he agreed to raise their children Catholic. In New York, he sought guidance from the Paulist Fathers about God’s existence, and they offered some words of wisdom. “I read it and came to the conclusion that there is evidence, but no proof, of God’s existence. It said, ‘For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who do not believe, no proof is possible.’”

were used to it and happy to see it here in Tennessee,” said Mother Marietta. The sisters regularly post pictures of monastic life on their website to allow benefactors and others to share in the joy of their life as a contemplative order. And sometimes there is

The couple’s faith journey led to East Tennessee, which has seen a dramatic increase in Catholicism, both among traditional Catholics and converts. Sister Mary Timothea Elliott, RSM, who directs the diocesan Office of Christian Formation, welcomed the CARA report and added that those becoming Catholic at Easter are only a fraction of the people joining the Church annually. “This universal movement to the New Evangelization has a lot to do with it. The availability in most parishes of faith formation programs makes parishioners aware of their responsibilities to share this good news,” Sister Mary Timothea said. She pointed out that converts to the Catholic faith are vital to the Church’s continued growth. “A large number of those in RCIA programs are converts and are so enthusiastic about their faith and are delighted to share it,” Sister Mary Timothea said. One such convert, Michelle Mitrik, comes from a Protestant background and joined the Catholic Church last year as a member of St. Patrick Church in Morristown. Mrs. Mitrik was attending a confirmation ceremony at St. Patrick on April 23, where her husband, who was baptized Catholic but was a practicing Protestant for years, returned to the Church. “A friend invited me to the Catholic Church. I thought you had to be born Catholic; that’s not true. From the first Mass, it was just the right fit for the spiritual life I was looking for,” Mrs. Mitrik told WBIR. “Our whole family has kind of taken to this spiritual journey, and he (husband) is now being confirmed and having his first Communion tonight. It’s a really special day.” The U.S. Catholic Church was expected to welcome at Easter more than 100,000 new adult Catholics into the faith through RCIA programs, according to the CARA study, which found that a major factor in converting to Catholicism was marriage. More Catholics are marrying spouses who are outside the faith and more spouses subsequently are joining the Church. The CARA study also found that 35 percent of converts reside in the South compared to 20 percent living in the Northeast, a traditional Catholic stronghold. ■

cause for thanksgiving beyond anniversaries. About a week ago, the sisters faced a formidable challenge when one of them discovered a copperhead snake on the grounds near their residence. “Sister Anunziata called for a

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

shovel,” said Sister Marie Josèphe. “She pinned the snake’s head down with it while Sister Rose Philomena retrieved a large kitchen knife and went for the head. “ After a brief struggle, the copperhead was dispatched, reduced to being merely “copper.” ■ June 1, 2014 9

Diocesan calendar by Margaret Hunt Bishop Richard F. Stika will ordain Jesus Guerrero Rodriguez, Ray Powell, and Scott Russell to the transitional diaconate at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 14, at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart. All are invited to attend. The annual Mass and Sending of the Neophytes is scheduled for 5 p.m. Sunday, June 7, at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart. New Catholics, their families and sponsors, and RCIA teams are invited to attend. For more information, contact Chris Kite at 865584-3307 or ckite@dioknox.org. The Ladies of Charity of Knoxville are sponsoring a “Get on Board” benefit dinner at the Southern Depot located at 318 W. Depot Ave. in Knoxville from 5:30-9 p.m. Saturday, June 22. Special guest Timothy Irwin, Knox County Juvenile Court judge, will speak at the event. A light supper starts at 7 p.m. The $75 cost includes dinner, beer and wine, train tours, and entertainment. Reserve a seat by Monday, June 16. Contact Mary Agnes Huber at 865693-4680 for more information. Holy Trinity Parish in Jefferson City will be hosting the Diocesan Summer RCIA Conference, “The Domestic Church: Opportunities and Challenges,” from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, June 21. The keynote speakers are Jim and Joy Pinto, who began a worldwide ministry on EWTN on “Marriage and God’s Plan,” which airs throughout the day. The Pintos’ weekly EWTN radio show, “At Home With Jim and Joy,” reaches 258 million people worldwide. Father David Carter, vice chancellor for canonical affairs for the Diocese of Knoxville and rector of the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga, is also a keynote speaker who will be addressing “RCIA Canonical Concerns.” All RCIA coordinators and RCIA team members are invited to attend as well as anyone who has an interest in the RCIA program. The cost of the conference is $25. For more

10 June 1, 2014

information, visit www.dioknox.org or contact Chris Kite at 865-584-3307 or ckite@dioknox.org. There will be a family Pentecost retreat and healing Mass at 8 p.m. on Friday, June 6, at Holy Ghost Church in Knoxville. Father Emilio Acevedo will preside. For more information, call the Hispanic Ministry Office at 865-637-4769. There will be a day of praise and preaching with a healing Mass from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 8, at Vine Middle School, 1807 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. in Knoxville. A donation of $10 per adult is welcomed. For more information, call Angelina at 865230-4679, Jose Ramirez at 208-2758, or Jose Luis at 386-9610. For additional information, call the diocesan Office of Hispanic Ministry at 637-4769. The 2014 Kentucky Catholic Homeschool Conference sponsored by the St. Thomas Aquinas Homeschool Group is scheduled for June 6-7 at Immaculate Conception Church in LaGrange, Ky. Conference hours are noon to 8 p.m. Friday, June 6, and 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 7. Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz will be the keynote speaker. A variety of vendors will be present with homeschool materials available for purchase. Conference tickets are $20 per person or $30 per couple. Clergy and religious are admitted free. A teen track will also be offered for $5 on Saturday, June 7. For full conference details, visit www.kycatholichomeschoolconference.com or call Carrie McGraw at 502-417-8755. An Engaged Encounter weekend is scheduled for July 25-27 at the Holiday Inn Express in Lenoir City. For more information, contact Jason or Carmen Jeansonne at 865-377-3077 or ceeknoxville@yahoo.com. The fifth annual Catholic Charities Common Good Golf Tournament is set for 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, June 9, at Cherokee Country Club in

Knoxville. Registration includes green fees, a club-catered brunch, an hors d’oeuvres reception, and a hosted bar. For more information, contact Sherrie Shuler at 865-524-9896, extension 1005, or sherrie@ccetn.org. The summer God Camps for students in grades five through eight will take place at Harrison Bay State Park near Harrison, Tenn., during June. Participants will engage in age-appropriate communitybuilding activities, games, crafts, prayer services, and group discussions. The “Discover” camp for incoming fifth- and sixth-grade students is scheduled for June 19-21. The cost is $100. “Reach,” for incoming seventh- and eighth-grade students, will take place June 16-19. The cost is $125. To download registration forms, medical releases, and packing lists, visit the diocesan youth ministry webpage, bit.ly/1gBV3YP, or contact Donna Jones at 423-718-4387 or djones6029@gmail.com. The high school Catholic Youth Camp for all incoming high school students is scheduled for June 25-29 at the Ocoee Retreat Center in Ocoee, Tenn. The camp will feature team-building exercises, group discussions, prayer services, and many recreational activities, including the water park and the ropes course. The cost is $269 per person. To download registration forms and other camprelated material, visit bit.ly/1gBV3YP or contact Donna Jones at 423-718-4387 or djones6029@gmail.com. The 31st annual Mid-South Regional Catholic Charismatic Conference, with the theme “Hope Does Not Disappoint,” is scheduled for Friday, July 18, and Saturday, July 19, at St. Ignatius of Antioch Church in Antioch, Tenn. Sister Nancy Kellar, SC, and Father Will Coombs, BBD, will be the featured speakers. For more information, contact Teresa Seibert at 615-789-4598 or tseibert@bellsouth.net. Individuals interested in the next Medical Mission to Ghana should contact Dr. Elaine Bunick at sugardoctn@

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

gmail.com. The 2014 Medical Mission is set for Aug. 1-8 (departure from the United States on Aug. 1 and return on Aug. 9). Include “Medical Mission 2014” in the subject line of your e-mail. The annual Diocesan Youth Recognition Mass and Celebration is scheduled for 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, at Immaculate Conception Church in Knoxville. Awards for youth and adult leadership will be conferred, and the 2014-15 Diocesan Youth Ministry Advisory Council will be installed at the Mass. Following the Mass, there will be a cruise on the Volunteer Princess. The cost is $30. Space is limited to 149 on the cruise. Contact Al Forsythe at 865-862-5754 or aforsythe@dioknox.org, or Karen Byrne at 865-8625739 or kbyrne@dioknox.org for more information. Mass in the extraordinary form (“traditional Latin”) is celebrated at 1:30 p.m. each Sunday at Holy Ghost Church in Knoxville; at 3 p.m. on first and third Sundays at St. Thérèse of Lisieux Church in Cleveland; at 3 p.m. on second and fourth Sundays at St. Joseph the Worker Church in Madisonville; at 11 a.m. on most Sundays at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Townsend; and at 3 p.m. on the first and third Sundays at St. Mary Church in Johnson City. Visit www.knoxlatinmass.net for updated information. The St. Thomas the Apostle Eastern (Byzantine) Catholic Mission has moved to 2304 Ault Road, Knoxville, Tenn. 37914. Divine Liturgy times remain the same. All services are in English. Call Father Richard Armstrong at 865-584-3307 or visit www.saintthomas-knoxville.org for details. Holy Resurrection Ruthenian Byzantine Catholic Mission has Divine Liturgy celebrations at 9:30 a.m. Sundays at the old Holy Ghost Church, 1031 N. Central St. in Knoxville. For times of holy-day services or for more information, visit www.knoxbyz.org or call Father Thomas O’Connell at 865-256-4880. ■ dioknox.org

Chattanooga Deanery calendar The Sant’Egidio Community meets every Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the University of Tennessee Catholic Student Center in Chattanooga. For more information, contact Father Michael Cummins at 423-624-4618. For further information on the community in general, visit www. santegidio.org.

Parish notes: Chattanooga Deanery

will be separated based on age and skill level. A T-shirt and snack will be provided. Registration forms are available in the school office. Cost is $75. Call the school at 423-622-1481 for more information.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Chattanooga Volunteers are needed to host clients of Family Promise, an organization that works with the homeless, the week of July 6-13. Greeters, helpers to lead activities, and meals are needed. To volunteer, call Lisa Kosky at 423-877-5982 or Ann Wells at 706-581-0410.

The Chattanooga-area Catholic Charities Golf Tournament will be held Friday, June 6, at Brown Acres Golf Course. There will be a shotgun start at 1 p.m., and the cost will be $400 per fourman team. Contact Christine Willingham for more information at 423-267-1297 or Christine@ccetn.org. ■

The Our Lady of Perpetual Help School football clinic is set for 9 a.m. to noon June 9-13 for all boys ages 8-14. The camp will focus on both fundamental and advanced football techniques, conditioning, and nutrition. Campers

St. Jude, Chattanooga The parish vacation Bible school, Totus Tuus, is scheduled the week of June 2327 at the church. This “totally Catholic and totally fun” catechetical program is open to rising first-graders through high school students. Registration forms are available in the church vestibule as well as the parish office. For more information, call Kyra at 423-870-2386. St. Jude Church will sponsor a “Saint Safari” vacation Bible school for rising preschoolers and kindergartners the week of June 23-27. The half-day program will feature activities including games, crafts, and stories about the saints. Registration forms are available in the church vestibule or the parish office. The registration deadline is Friday, June 13. For more information, call Sandy Pricer at 423-619-1163.

St. Stephen, Chattanooga Twenty-one children received their first Holy Communion at the 11 a.m. Mass on May 4. Anniversary: Ray and Rosemarie Bertani (55)

ELIZABETH CONWAY

Newcomers: Stephen Reker, Richard Lesinski, Bryan and Mari Eaton ■

The East Tennessee Catholic

COURTESY OF HEATHER WILSON

Living Stations at St. Stephen Confirmation candidates Madison Bodnar, Alex Buechler, Carla Castillo (right, as Mary), Jordan Crumpler, Maria De Guzman, Miranda Flanders, Jared Henry, Dylan Jahn, Mitchell Jurka, Taylor Mayfield, Cole Ryan, Spencer Slaughter, Miguel Vadil, and Daniel Willie took part in living Stations of the Cross on April 9 and 11 at St. Stephen Church in Chattanooga.

COURTESY OF PAULA REILAND

Youth confirmed at Holy Spirit Bishop Richard F. Stika recently confirmed youth at Holy Spirit Church in Soddy-Daisy. From left are (seated) Rose Huinker, Monse Alvarez, Megan Adkins, Corey Markus, and Sophia Gachine and (standing) CYO director Thommy Barbeauld, Claudia Chavez, Abigail Bittel, Bishop Stika, Holy Spirit pastor Monsignor Al Humbrecht, Tyler Adkins, Hunter Gruter, Irene Gruter, and Chuck Gruter. Not pictured is Jared Seibel.

Twenty-two receive first Communion at St. Augustine Twenty-two children celebrated their first Holy Communion on May 4 at St. Augustine Church in Signal Mountain. Father Joseph Kuzhupil presided over the ceremony. The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee

June 1, 2014 11

Cumberland Mountain Deanery calendar

Parish notes: Cumberland Mountain Deanery

The Frassati Group for young adults ages 18-35 meets at the main entrance of All Saints Church at 7 p.m. Thursdays. For more information or a schedule of activities, contact Elijah Martin at 828-606-2961.

All Saints, Knoxville The All Saints vacation Bible school, “Weird Animals: Where Jesus’ Love is One of a Kind,” will be held in the parish hall from 9 a.m. to noon June 23-27. Registration is being held after weekend Masses. Registration is also available online at www. allsaintsknoxville.org. For more information, call Kristen Long at 865-938-1587. The middle and high school youth groups at All Saints Church are planning a “Make a Mess” service weekend Aug. 1-3. The group will participate in a variety of service projects in the community. The weekend is open to people of all ages. For more information, call Annie Nassis at 865-531-0770, extension 109.

St. Mary School will be offering a variety of weeklong morning and afternoon camps beginning the week of May 27 through June 27. To learn more or to register, visit stmaryschooloakridge.

wordpress.com/summer-camp-2014/. St. Mary Parish and School in Oak Ridge are hosting a volleyball camp for girls in grades five through eight from 8 a.m. to noon July 9-11 in the parish family life center. The cost is $50. To register or obtain more information, contact Rob Halcrow at coachrobhalcrow@outlook.com or 865-804-2577, or Laura McKenna at laura.sosinternational@gmail.com. ■

Blessed Sacrament, Harriman Kayla Atchley, Joshua Gouge, Kate Laffoon, and Abigail Peterson received their first Holy Communion at the 10:30 a.m. Mass on May 4. Anniversary: Jim and Barbara Lawson (50)

Anniversaries: Nick and Mary Roth (68), Jack and Betty Campbell (65), Bob and Genie Gruber (62), Vern and Jean Bolish (62), Don and Bernie Gundy (61), John and Jean Sohnly (60), Richard and Caroline Cieszenski (59), Don and Mina Napierala (59), John and Gerry Eisenlord (59), Eugene and Marilyn Schmitt (58), Don and Shirley Savercool (58), Bob and Joanne Ames (58), Dan and Rosemary Verbrugge (57), Ed and Carolyn Mayo (57), Irvin and Carol Stenger (56), John and Ellie Gratton (56), Tom and Peg Loughran (56), Robin and Carol Campbell (56), John and Yvonne Marciniak (55), Frank and Ann Zingheim (55), Walt and Dianne Burling (55), Medard and Laura Kaluszka (54), Norm and Judith Charest (54), John and Anna Mayer (54), Joe and Amy Dickens (54), C. Thomas and Mary Anna Teall (54), Tom and Dorothy Powers (54), Ron and Virginia Reynolds (54), Don and Mary Lou Wiskow (54), Mitchell and Joan Kaminski (53), John and Barbara Coye (53), Patrick and Anna Chowning (53), Fred and Kitty Sasse (53), Anthony and Bernice Mattioli (53), Ed and Marjorie Lewis (53), Ramon and Barbara Clark (52), Joe and Marti Maxwell (52), James and Mary Ann Lintz (52), Tom and Anne Marano (51), Joseph and Nancy Grunduski (51), Jack and Patti Glavan (51), Shelton and Patti Johnson (51), John and Dorothy Ferguson (51), John and Norma Hall (51), Mike and Doris Kotecki (51), John and Cathy Manning (50), R. Terry and Nancy Allen (50), Joe and Susanna Bour (50), B. Dean and Betty Clement (50), John and Betty Morici (50)

COURTESY OF LOURDES GARZA

St. Francis of Assisi, Fairfield Glade

Spring Luncheon at St. John Neumann On the occasion of the annual Spring Luncheon and Fashion Show hosted by the St. John Neumann Church Women’s Club on April 26, pastor Monsignor Pat Garrity posed with this group of women, mostly parishioners, who also try to meet monthly to celebrate each other’s birthday. They are Zoraida Ballew, Irma Acevedo, Mari Carmen Gómez, Martina Graciela Cárdenas, Elena Morales Ayuso, Gema Santana and Leticia Pickering.

St. John Neumann, Farragut

Zimmermans celebrate 50th wedding anniversary

Participants in the annual group mission trip to Marsella, Colombia, are collecting rosaries, religious medals, and holy cards to distribute during their visit June 17July 1. Donations can be placed in a basket in the narthex. For more information about the trip, call the parish office at 865-966-4540.

The Totus Tuus vacation Bible school will take place the week of June 15-20 for grades pre-K through high school. The group will learn about the Ten Commandments and the Luminous Mysteries of the rosary through age-appropriate games, skits, and presentations by the Diocese of Knoxville missionary team. Grades preK through sixth grade will meet from 9 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, June 16-20. A half-day option is available for children in pre-K and kindergarten.

12 June 1, 2014

Cumberland Mountain continued on page 14

ony and June Zimmermann of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Fairfield Glade celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary April 4. They were married at St. Rose of Lima Church in Murfreesboro with Father (now Monsignor) Philip Thoni officiating. Their children are Anita Burleson of Lansing, Kan.; Martha Chambers of Sierra Vista, Ariz.; Dawn Zimmer-

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

mann of Phoenix; and Dr. Michael Zimmermann of Alpharetta, Ga.; and they have four grandchildren. Mr. Zimmermann retired from the Defense Department at the Pentagon in 2012 after completing his third tour of duty to Afghanistan. Mrs. Zimmermann is still employed with her interior designs. The couple moved to Cumberland County in 2011. ■ dioknox.org

Parish notes: Five Rivers Deanery Holy Trinity, Jefferson City The parish collected $2,407 from the Friday Lenten meals, which will be used to purchase groceries to feed the work teams who will participate in the Appalachian Outreach drive during July.

COURTESY OF ALLEN KELLER

The parish vacation Bible school, “Gangway to Galilee,” will take place from 6-8:30 p.m. June 23-27 in Trinity Hall. Registration will begin in June. For more information, call the parish office at 865-471-0347.

Helping the mentally challenged Fred Derochers collects money on the street for Knights of Columbus Council 6730.

Knights in Morristown support local groups

he citizens of Hamblen County again responded to the needs of people with mental challenges for the 33rd year. During the Knights of Columbus’ annual Tootsie Roll street collections last fall after Thanksgiving and before Christmas, local citizens and businesses gave more than $9,300. This money came in from roadblocks and collection points at Food City and Walmart. Knights of Columbus Council 6730 at St. Patrick Church in Morristown recently gave $4,300 to seven groups

from the Five Rivers area: the Sutherland Metz Home for mentally challenged males, Morristown East High School special-education classes, Lincoln Elementary special education, Manley Elementary preschool, the Special Olympics, the Riding High therapeutic horse program, and the Central Services Cerebral Palsy Fund. An amount of $4,350 will go to other mental-health agencies in Tennessee. Since 1981 Council 6730 has given away more than $356,300 to local agencies that help people with mental difficulties. ■

CCW at Notre Dame learns about ‘Bags of Love’

he Council of Catholic Women of Notre Dame Parish in Greeneville held its Feb. 16 meeting in the parish hall. The council hosted Susan Schnell, director of the Northeast Tennessee chapter of “Bags of Love.” Ms. Schnell explained that the purpose of the organization is to provide support to children who face crisis in their lives. Often it includes neglect because of drug abuse or other forms of abuse and ultimately ends in removing the children from this The East Tennessee Catholic

situation, leaving them with nothing of their own. They lose not only their home and parents but also any personal belongings. Members of the organization put together “bags of love” containing a soft throw blanket or handmade quilt, a stuffed animal, two ageappropriate toys, and personal-care items that meet their immediate needs. Ages of children helped can range from an infant to a teenager. CCW members donated items for the bags. ■

Anniversaries: Lawrence and Veronica Merryman (55), Martin and Patti Slattery (25) First Holy Communion: Natalie Arnold, Angelina Hager, Nick LaMonte, Mary Deary Lehman, Blayne Wawrin

Notre Dame, Greeneville The parish vacation Bible school, “Rome: Paul and the Underground Church,” will take place on Wednesday nights, June 4, 11, 18, and 25. Activities planned include skits, a Roman marketplace with live animals (sheep, goats, chickens), games, crafts, and more. Call Susan Collins to learn more or to volunteer at 423-639-9381.

St. Dominic, Kingsport Second-graders from the parish raised $392.70 from a bake sale to benefit the St. Vincent de Paul Society. The parish vacation Bible school, Totus Tuus, is scheduled for June 1-6. Grades one through six will meet from 9 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. Monday, June 2, through Friday, June 6. Grades seven through 12 will meet from 7-9 p.m. Sunday, June 1, through Thursday, June 5. Call Paul Vachon for more information at 423-288-8101. “True Beauty Revealed,” a program for teen girls, will be held from 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays, June 11 through July 16, at the parish. To learn more or to RSVP, contact Sandy McAdams at 423-863-2828 or sandy.mcadams@live.com.

St. Patrick, Morristown Deacon Jack and Sandy Raymond were welcomed as part of the ministry team at St. Patrick Church. Bishop Richard F. Stika recently assigned Deacon Raymond to the parish. The 13th annual Shamrock Shenanigans raised $15,659.52 for the parish. The parish vacation Bible school will be held from 9 a.m. to noon June 9-13 at the parish. Preschoolers through fifth-grade students are welcome to attend. For more information, call the parish office at 423-586-9174. ■

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

June 1, 2014 13

Smoky Mountain Deanery calendar

Parish notes: Smoky Mountain Deanery

The annual Anthony Mary Blood Drive is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 3, in the Shea Room of the Sacred Heart Parish office building. Do-

Immaculate Conception, Knoxville The Immaculate Conception women’s group made or collected 85 blankets for the “Wrap It Up” project. The blankets were donated for distribution to local Meals on Wheels clients for Easter.

nors must be 18 years of age or older and weigh at least 110 pounds. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, call Cristin Bond at 865-806-6869. ■

The Christ Child Baby Shower sponsored by the women’s group is scheduled for the weekend of June 7-8 after all Masses. Parishioners may make donations of new or lightly used baby items that will be donated to the Ladies of Charity. Light refreshments will be served. Call the parish office for more information at 865-522-1508.

Our Lady of Fatima, Alcoa “The Vatican Express”, the parish vacation Bible school, is scheduled for 6-8:30 p.m. June 23-27. Details are still being arranged. Contact the parish office for more information at 865-982-3672. The Fellowship of Young Adults for those ages 18 to 30 is open to new members. Call Luis for more information at 865-982-3672.

The Totus Tuus vacation Bible school is set for July 27 through Aug. 1 for rising first-graders through high school seniors. The program is intended to enrich and encourage participants’ love of the Catholic faith through skits, games, presentations, and more. Grades one through six will meet from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday, July 28, through Friday, Aug. 1, and grades seven through 12 will meet from 7-9 p.m. Sunday, July 27, through Thursday, July 31. Registration forms are available in the parish office. The cost is $15 per child. For more information, call the parish office at 865-588-0249.

COURTESY OF SUZY SMITH

Sacred Heart, Knoxville

St. Vincent de Paul weekend held in Townsend The St. Francis of Assisi-Townsend Conference of the Society of St. Vincent DePaul held an SVDP Weekend recently to introduce parishioners to the society and how they help those in need in the Townsend community. From left are Jason Smith, Sharon McKune, Rebecca Clearman, Kathy Hmielewski, Dorothay Murphy-Henry, and Joe Henry.

St. Albert the Great, Knoxville The parish thanked Richard Piety and his crew for installing a new playground on the parish grounds. The playground was funded by memorials donated in honor of Father Chris Michelson’s mother, Margaret Michelson. The parish adult social, M*A*S*H (Making Albert Shine in Halls) is scheduled for 6-10 p.m. Saturday, June 21. There is no admission charge, but donations are welcome. Call the parish office for more details at 865-689-7011. ■

Crowning the Blessed Virgin The May crowning of Our Lady was performed by Sarah Ward on May 4 at Our Lady of Fatima Church in Alcoa.

Cumberland Mountain continued from page 12 Grades seven through 12 will meet from 7-9 p.m. Sunday, June 15, through Thursday, June 19. Registration is under way. For more information, contact Lydia Donahue at lydonahue@hotmail.com.

The annual parish picnic is scheduled after the 11 a.m. Mass on Sunday, June 8. All are invited. Call the parish office for more information at 865-457-4073. ■

14 June 1, 2014

ROY EHMAN

St. Therese, Clinton

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

dioknox.org

Catholic schools

KCHS’s Camille Baker wins state pentathlon

DAN MCWILLIAMS

noxville Catholic High School senior Camille Baker captured the Class A-AA girls state pentathlon championship May 19 in Murfreesboro. Camille scored 3,105 points to outdistance Paige Fairrow-Davis of Martin Luther King, who scored 2,971. The KCHS athlete started the pentathlon by winning the 100-meter hurdles in a time of 15.23 seconds. She followed that with a fourthplace finish in the long jump with a distance of 15 feet, 8 1/4 inches. Camille placed eighth in the shot put with a throw of 24-7. She tied for first in the high jump, clearing the bar at 5-1.75. She clinched the state title by winning the 800 run in a time of 2:27.31. Knoxville Catholic’s Jessica Nix finished 12th in the pentathlon with a score of 2,316. ■

State champion Camille Baker is pictured at her recent signing with the Missouri University of Science and Technology. Also seen are her parents, James and Lori Baker, and hurdles coach Brandon Harris, distance coach Sean O’Neil, jumps coach David Ball, and KCHS athletics director Jason Surlas.

St. Mary-Oak Ridge teacher wins state honor

The East Tennessee Catholic

DAN MCWILLIAMS

arsha Sega, middle school science and math teacher at St. Mary School in Oak Ridge, has been chosen as the Air Force Association’s Teacher of the Year for the state of Tennessee. Mrs. Sega’s work in preparing her students to use and excel in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) first won her the local Air Force Association chapter’s Teacher of the Year Award. She was then chosen as the state winner and now will advance to the national competition. “I’m thrilled, obviously,” Mrs. Sega said. “It’s nice to be recognized.

Teacher of the year Marsha Sega receives her honor from Rafael Pubillones on April 17 in the St. Mary School library.

I couldn’t have done it without the kids. It is a true joy and delight to teach and to teach the kids that I have. To have former students come back

and say thank you, that’s neat.” Mrs. Sega received part of her award April 17 at St. Mary School from Rafael Pubillones, secretary and

vice president of aerospace education of the Knoxville Area chapter of the Air Force Association and the school’s contact on behalf of Stephen Dillenburg, chapter president. She was also honored at the AFA State Convention in Nashville on May 3. Five of Mrs. Sega’s current students won special awards at the Southern Appalachian Science and Engineering Fair (SASEF) on April 3. The first- and second-place winners from the high school division were also former students of St. Mary. For 11 out of the last 13 years, St. Mary’s middle school students have won grand champion at the SASEF. ■

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

KCHS’s Dr. Kearse receives chemistry teaching honor Knoxville Catholic High School’s Dr. Kelly Kearse has been named the 2014 ETS-ACS Outstanding High School Chemistry Teacher of the Year. The East Tennessee Section of the American Chemical Society (ETS-ACS) recognizes outstanding teachers of chemistry in this geographical area. This honor recognizes Dr. Kearse’s teaching skills and that he instills in students an interest in the opportunities of the chemical sciences. Dr. Kearse accepted his award at the Awards Night Banquet on April 29 at Calhoun’s. This is Dr. Kearse’s 14th year working at KCHS. ■

Pack 22 members receive awards On April 12, George LeCrone Sr., chairman of the Knoxville Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting, presented awards to 10 members of Pack 22 at their Blue and Gold ceremonies. Receiving their Light of Christ awards were Austin Ayo, Matthew Brun, Luke Gensheimer, Mac Howley, Johnny Johnson, Carson Kyker, Jake La Nasa, and Hudson Schmitt. Kevin Farmer received his Parvuli Dei award. Ben Stouall (Light of Christ) was not present for the ceremonies. ■

KCHS Latin students inducted into NLHS Six Knoxville Catholic High School students were inducted into the National Latin Honor Society on April 9. The honorees were Rebecca Dietz, Corey Patton, Ben Nadolsky, Caroline McMahon, Annie Batcheller, and Emily Golden. ■ June 1, 2014 15

16 June 1, 2014

Knoxville Catholic has two more signing days

noxville Catholic High School held its third signing day of the year April 16 in the school library. Athletes committing to colleges were Ryan Henry, basketball, Maryville College; Jerome Reh mann, football, Benedictine College; Dwight Jessie, football, Denison University; and Jessica Nix, track and field, Denison University. Ryan was joined at his signing by parents Mary Kay and Erik Henry and KCHS boys basketball head coach Mike Hutchens. Jerome signed with his mother, Christy Carroll, and KCHS football head coach Steve Matthews witnessing. Dwight signed with mother Connie Love and Mr. Matthews on hand. Jessica was joined at her signing by parents Andrea McDowell and Jon Nix and by Jason Surlas, KCHS

DAN MCWILLIAMS

Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe of Uganda, named as one of Time magazine’s “100 Most Influential People” and the 2007 CNN Hero of the Year, visited Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga on May 1. Local author Nancy Henderson wrote the book Sewing Hope, which tells the story of how Sister Rosemary restored hope and dignity to girls who had been violently abducted as children by Joseph Kony and the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). Through St. Monica’s Vocational School, Sister Rosemary has provided an education, training in design and tailoring, and emotional nurturing to these young women and their children who had escaped from the LRA after several years of abuse. Sister Rosemary, who is with the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, attended Mass with Notre Dame students and staff. Afterward she interacted with the student body through discussion and question-and-answer. The students presented Sister Rosemary with a collection of more than 1 million pop tabs, collected over several weeks, that will be used by the girls at St. Monica’s School to create hand-crafted purses. The students also presented her with an original work of art. Several classes read the book and created projects that were on display for her visit to the school. Sister Rosemary ate lunch with the students and signed copies of Sewing Hope. ■

Catholic schools

Four sign on April 16 Signing for Knoxville Catholic are (from left) Jerome Rehmann, Ryan Henry, Jessica Nix, and Dwight Jessie.

athletics director, who also emceed the signing ceremony. Knoxville Catholic held a fourth signing day May 6 for volleyball

player Rachel Kozemko, who signed with Maryville College, and basketball player Hannah McCormack, who signed with Sewanee. ■

Speaker Jason Evert appears at Notre Dame

opular Catholic author and chastity speaker Jason Evert led programs for Notre High School parents and students April 10-11. Mr. Evert headlined an assembly for parents at the Chattanooga high school on April 10 and then on April 11 spoke to Notre Dame students and also Knoxville Catholic High School students who traveled to hear his dynamic talk on chastity from a Catholic perspective. Mr. Evert founded Totus Tuus Press and Chastity Project, an organization that promotes chastity primarily to high school and college students. He and his wife, Crystalina Evert, have spoken to more than 1 million people on five continents about the virtue of chastity. After working for Catholic Answers in San Diego for more than a decade, the couple moved to Denver and began a new ministry focused solely on

COURTESY OF GAYLE SCHOENBORN

Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe visits Notre Dame High

Talking about chastity Jason Evert, seen with Notre Dame president George Valadie, spoke at the high school April 10 and 11.

promoting purity: Chastity Project. Chastity Project believes that young people play a pivotal role in the new evangelization, and there-

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

fore invites them to launch chastity projects within their schools and churches to promote the good news of purity to their peers. ■ dioknox.org

Canonization continued from page 8

tions around St. Peter ’s Square during Mass. “It was so beautiful to see people hungering for the bread of life. It was Jesus feeding the thousands. It was just incredible,” she said. Deacon Smith said the canonization Mass was evidence that the Church truly is global. “We always refer to the Catholic Church as the universal Church. We learn that. But it wasn’t until I was at the canonization that the description came alive to me. I was surrounded by Catholic faithful from more than 100 countries,” Deacon Smith said. “When you look out through Vatican Square and the road leading to the Vatican and you see more than 800,000 people with flags, it was profound. The universality was just amazing,” he added. Another profound impact on Deacon Smith was the historical significance of the dual canonizations. “I believe it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience to see two popes, Pope Francis and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, celebrating Mass,” he said. For Lourdes Garza, director of the Office of Hispanic Ministry for the Diocese of Knoxville, her first official Church pilgrimage was “a dream come true.” “I prayed for it for so long. It was everything I expected it to be,” Ms. Garza said. She agreed with Deacon Smith that the canonization Mass reflected a true global Church. “Being together as the Church on the occasion of the canonization of the popes was a verification of our universal church: diversity and unity, all for the Glory of God. The energy and enthusiasm of the youth that surrounded

The East Tennessee Catholic

Divine presence Diocese of Knoxville representatives at the canonization celebration included Bishop Richard F. Stika, Cardinal Justin Rigali, Father Charlie Donahue, CSP, Deacon Sean Smith, Lourdes Garza, Lisa Morris, Peggy Hart, Mary Ann Aken, Ken Aken, Kathy Roberts, Susan Rowland, Stephanie Seymour, Ann DePrince, and Theresa Hughes. They were met in Rome by Sister Sean Marie Striby, a Religious Sister of Mercy of Alma, Mich., who formerly served in the Diocese of Knoxville and now serves in Rome.

me, while waiting for the Wednesday general audience to begin, reminded me that our Church is in good hands in the future gen-

erations,” Ms. Garza said. She added that a side trip to Assisi was everything she was told it would be: peaceful, holy, histori-

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

cal, and beautiful. “I studied basic Italian for months because I want to understand Pope Francis well. However, my knowledge of Spanish makes it easier every day. In whatever language, I cannot ever forget the chills that went through my body when Pope Francis rode by just five rows away from us. What a thrill to see our Shepherd in person,” she said. Bishop Stika and Father Donahue posted text, photos, and video on Facebook of the group’s activities, including close-up images of the canonization Mass. Deacon Smith also shared photos of the Mass. The canonizations of Sts. John XXIII and John Paul II were enthusiastically received by members of St. John XXIII University Parish and the Saint John Paul II Catholic Mission in Rutledge. Father Rich Andre, CSP, associate pastor of St. John XXIII Parish in Knoxville, used the opportunity during weekend Masses April 26-27 to recognize original members of the church, which was one of the first in the country to be named for the newly named saint in 1968. The churches in Rutledge and on the UT-Knoxville campus are expected to undergo name modifications in the near future under the direction of Bishop Stika. Father Steve Pawelk, GHM, pastor of Saint John Paul II Catholic Mission, and Father Aaron Wessman, GHM, associate pastor of the mission, have been anticipating the canonization, as have members of the saintly namesake church. Father Pawelk and Father Wessman also are anxiously awaiting the canonization of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, for whom the Catholic mission in Maynardville is named. ■

June 1, 2014 17

Living the readings

Weekday readings

A perfect hand

Sunday, June 1: Acts 1:1214; Psalm 27:1, 4, 7-8; 1 Peter 4:13-16; John 17:1-11 Monday, June 2: Acts 19:1-8; Psalm 68:2-7; John 16:29-33 Tuesday, June 3: Acts 20:17-27; Psalm 68:10-11, 20-21, John 17:1-11 Wednesday, June 4: Acts 20:28-38; Psalm 68:29-30, 33-36; John 17:11-19 Thursday, June 5: Acts 22:30 and 23:6-11; Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-11; John 17:20-26 Friday, June 6: Acts 25:1321; Psalm 103:1-2, 11-12, 19-20; John 21:15-19 Saturday, June 7: Acts 28:16-20, 30-31; Psalm 11:4-5, 7; John 21:20-25; vigil for Pentecost, Genesis 11:1-9; Psalm 104:1-2, 24, 35, 27-30; Romans 8:22-27; John 7:37-39 Sunday, June 8: Pentecost, Acts 2:1-11; Psalm 104:1, 24, 29-31, 34; 1 Corinthians 12:3-7, 12-13; John 20:19-23 Monday, June 9: 1 Kings 17:1-6; Psalm 121:1-8; Matthew 5:1-12 Tuesday, June 10: 1 Kings 17:7-16; Psalm 4:2-5, 7-8; Matthew 5:13-16 Wednesday, June 11: Acts 11:21-26 and 13:1-3; Psalm 98:1-6; Matthew 5:17-19 Thursday, June 12: 1 Kings 18:41-46; Psalm 65:10-13; Matthew 5:20-26 Friday, June 13: 1 Kings 19:9, 11-16; Psalm 27:7-9, 13-14; Matthew 5:27-32 Saturday, June 14: 1 Kings 19:19-21; Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-10; Matthew 5:33-37 Sunday, June 15: Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, Exodus 34:4-6, 8-9; Daniel 3:52-55; 2 Corinthians 13:11-13; John 3:16-18 Monday, June 16: 1 Kings Readings continued on page 19

18 June 1, 2014

by Father Joseph Brando

An abundance of June solemnities is a blessing from God

s we look each month at the Sunday readings, we’ll find either four or five Sundays. They may all be plain as in Ordinary Time. Or, they may be Sundays in Lent or, more recently, of Easter. A feast day may intervene by falling on a Sunday occasionally, such as the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. But this June we have five Sundays, all of which are solemnities. A solemnity is the highest order of feast day in the Catholic calendar. They supersede Sundays. There are only 17 of them in the entire year; and every Sunday in June is one. The thought comes to me that it is like receiving five cards in poker: an ace, a king, a queen, a jack, and a 10, all of which are spades. You can’t be beat. A friend of mine went to Las Vegas a long time back. He wasn’t much of a gambler, but he had an urge to find out what it would be like to play at a table with professional players. He told me in one of the deals he was dealt a royal flush. He said that was the most exciting feeling he ever had. The difficulty was he couldn’t reveal that feeling lest the pros looking intently at all of the other players would surmise that he had a good hand and wouldn’t bet against him. He tried his best and did make a killing at that hand. He broke even that day, enjoyed the experience, and has never gone back. This June we can experience the thrill of coming to Mass every Sunday and being treated to one great mystery of the Church after another. Let’s explore them one by one. The first solemnity is the feast of the Ascension. We celebrate not only Jesus rising into the clouds until out of sight. Remember, he rose from our world into heaven at the right hand of the Father. So, this great feast celebrates heaven as well as the beginning of the Church on

“The angels also gave the disciples, and us, a clue as to how the last day will begin. Jesus will return in the same way he departed on the day of the Ascension.” earth as it is today. The readings this Sunday begin with the Acts of the Apostles. The 12 receive explicit instructions to wait in Jerusalem until they receive the Holy Spirit. Then, the Lord disappeared behind a cloud as the disciples remained craning their necks hoping to get one more glimpse of the Lord. Two angels spoke to them asking them why they were looking at the sky. The implication was that they had a lot of work to do. The angels also gave the disciples, and us, a clue as to how the last day will begin. Jesus will return in the same way he departed on the day of the Ascension. In the second reading, Paul writes to the Ephesians explaining how Christians should properly respond to the Ascension. We should employ the eyes of our heart to know the hope that belongs to his call. Hope is the key to our possessing the power of Christ’s glory. Then, Paul shifts to the other side of the Ascension. In heaven, Christ is at the Father’s right hand and far above all the principalities, authorities, and powers in this age and in the age to come. To understand what Paul is saying, think of all the rules written and unwritten that determine our future. There are laws of business, finance, social relationships, physics and many more. All of these invisible forces complicate our lives. It seems all these entities reinforce Murphy’s Law that everything goes wrong always at the worst possible time. People have to be cautious lest all our plans end in disaster. With Christ in heaven ruling over all these negative functions, we have certainty that we will form his

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

body on earth. We become a hopeful people. With that knowledge, we can understand the Gospel. It is Matthew’s rendition of the scene at the Ascension. He gives us Jesus’ words as he ascended. Some call these words the “Great Commission.” We need to do three things and develop a mindset. The three actions are to make disciples, baptize them, and then instruct them. Our attitude should be to live knowing the Lord is with us. That’s the reason for our hope. The second Sunday in June is Pentecost. Among the annual solemnities it is second only to Easter. The feast has a vigil with its own special readings. Nevertheless, we will focus on the readings for the day. That Mass begins with the second chapter of Acts describing what happened when the Holy Spirit came upon those in the Upper Room. They heard the noise of a wind that filled the house. Then they were filled with the Holy Spirit as tongues of fire descended on them. After that, Luke tells us the disciples spoke and each of the listeners heard them in his or her native language. The rules of communication were unable to stop the disciples’ crude but effective attempts to transmit their message. Paul, this time writing to the Corinthians, points out the Spirit’s role in the Church from then on. The Holy Spirit fills each and every Christian with a unique charism. All these individual gifts, however, are given for the sake of the one Body of Christ. In the Gospel for Pentecost, the Church hearkens back to Easter night and the witness John gives us of the conferral of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles. John writes that Jesus came and gave the disciples the gifts of peace and the Holy Spirit then. The Spirit, in turn, confers on the Church the ability to forgive sins. Forgiveness is an effective way of maintaining mastery over the principalities, powers and authorities of the world and accomplishing the desires Christ expressed at his ascension. The third solemnity of the month

Solemnities continued on page 19 dioknox.org

Solemnities continued from page 18

is Trinity Sunday. Here we look into the mystery of God. When Moses first encountered God atop Mount Sinai as we see in Exodus, He revealed himself as “a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity.” In response Moses bowed down to the ground saying, “If I find favor with you, do come along in our company… pardon our wickedness and sins and receive us as your own.” With these words, Moses proves he understood the basic message that God is love. For it is only love that can forgive and desire to be one with the beloved. Paul encouraged the Corinthians, in the second reading, to act according to the belief that God is love. They must mend their ways so that they are ready for divine forgiveness. They must live in peace with each other and be agreeable so that “the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.” Here, a knowledge of God working within the Christian community reveals the most beautiful and tremendous revelation of them all. God is three and one. His love simultaneously surrounds us, fills us from within and enables us to enter the life of God. Celebrating that fact on Trinity Sunday fills the Christian community with the grace of unity and peace as well as faith, hope, and charity. The third chapter of John supplies the gospel for Trinity Sunday and, in it, the most famous verse in Christianity, “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but have eternal life.” Belief in God brings us to eternal life. That God is love means we can expect eternal life. That calls for the special treatment that deserves the designation of a solemnity. The fourth solemnity of this June is Corpus Christi, or the feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. It proclaims our most significant action as Christians. We make Christ visible in the world and we receive Christ’s Eucharistic presence into our hearts and souls.

19 June 1, 2014

This feast was established in the 1360s. The pope commissioned Thomas Aquinas to develop its liturgy. Thomas wrote the sequence and selected the Scriptures making this day a work of art as much an act of faith. Thomas reminds us through the medium of the eighth chapter of Deuteronomy that we should never forget what God did when the Israelites were in the desert. He gave them water to drink and manna to eat. He guided them by means of a column of cloud by day and fire by night. God has always loved us. Thomas, then, takes our Old Testament knowledge of God and shows how God’s love carries through in the New. He quotes 1 Corinthians 10:16-17. “The cup of blessing that we bless is it not a participation in the blood of Christ?” “The bread that we break is it not a participation in the body of Christ?” Here we see how our covenant in Christ is an organic continuation of the covenant God made with Moses. He still feeds us and gives us drink. Only now, our food and drink are spiritual. They feed us in such a way that we grow in Christ and grow in unity with our brothers and sisters in Christ. What a call for rejoicing! The Gospel clinches the argument for joy. Where else than the Gospel of John can you find the case made so strongly than in the sixth chapter? “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” June squeezes in a fifth Sunday on the 29th. This happens to be the actual feast day of Peter and Paul. As a solemnity, therefore, it usurps the day for itself. These are important people. The actions of Peter and Paul are the history of the first 30 years of Christianity. As well, their writings and preaching manifest how the Spirit of God was working in the Church, teaching her and guiding her through a monumental time. The passage from Acts, that is our first reading, depicts a particularly dangerous time. James, the apostle, has been martyred. Peter was put in jail. Although the passage ends with Peter

realizing that he was rescued from prison by an angel, there is much more to the event. He returns to the Christian community that had been praying for him. The prayers were audacious and powerful. Christians were made strong through the hope they cherished. Despite the problems that hounded them, the Christians kept the faith and grew in the consciousness of new insights into God’s relationship with them. Scripture chosen for the second reading parallels the first. As Peter was in danger in the first reading, Paul claims in one of his letters to Timothy that he was being poured out like a libation. But, through it all “the Lord stood by me and gave me strength. The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat and bring me safe to his heavenly kingdom.” These were strong men made even stronger by the grace of God. We give them their praise on this solemnity; but, more importantly, we ask God to raise us up as he did Peter and Paul. Finally, the month comes to an end with the passage from Matthew’s Gospel where Jesus gives Peter his name and gifts him with the keys of the kingdom of heaven. All that, in response to Simon’s answer to Jesus that he is the Christ, the Son of the living God. The Lord is rich in kindness to us. Let us acknowledge his love for us in the solemnities of June. Getting back to the poker table, there is something more esthetically pleasing about a straight flush than any other combination of cards. All five cards are powerful in themselves. Yet, by their common suit they also complement each other so that together the whole is much greater than the sum of the parts. If the 10 of spades, for example, was any of 32 other cards like the six of clubs, the whole hand would change from unbeatable to inferior to a pair of threes. The same is true of the solemnities of June. These events, people and beliefs form a mosaic that draws our lives into the mystery of God’s infinite love. ■

Readings continued from page 18 21:1-16; Psalm 5:2-7; Matthew 5:38-42 Tuesday, June 17: 1 Kings 21:17-29; Psalm 51:3-6, 11, 16; Matthew 5:43-48 Wednesday, June 18: 2 Kings 2:1, 6-14; Psalm 31:20-21, 24; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 Thursday, June 19: Sirach 48:1-14; Psalm 97:1-7; Matthew 6:7-15 Friday, June 20: 2 Kings 11:1-4, 9-18, 20; Psalm 132:11-14, 17-18; Matthew 6:19-23 Saturday, June 21: 2 Chronicles 24:17-25; Psalm 89:45, 29-34; Matthew 6:24-34 Sunday, June 22: Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 14-16; Psalm 147:12-15, 19-20; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17; John 6:51-58 Monday, June 23: 2 Kings 17:5-8, 13-15, 18; Psalm 60:3-5, 12-13, Matthew 7:1-5 Tuesday, June 24: Isaiah 49:1-6; Psalm 139:1-3, 1315; Acts 13:22-26; Luke 1:57-66, 80 Wednesday, June 25: 2 Kings 22:8-13 and 23:1-3; Psalm 119:33-37, 40; Matthew 7:15-20 Thursday, June 26: 2 Kings 24:8-17; Psalm 79:1-5, 8-9; Matthew 7:21-29 Friday, June 27: Solemnity, the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Deuteronomy 7:611; Psalm 103:1-4, 6-8, 10; 1 John 4:7-16; Matthew 11:25-30 Saturday, June 28: Lamentations 2:2, 10-14, 18-19; Psalm 74:1-7, 20-21; Luke 2:41-51 Sunday, June 29: Acts 12:111; Psalm 34:2-9; 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18; Matthew 16:13-19 Monday, June 30: Amos 2:6-10, 13-16; Psalm 50:1623; Matthew 8:18-22 ■

Father Joseph Brando is pastor of St. Mary Parish in Gatlinburg.

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

dioknox.org

Once upon a time

by Monsignor Xavier Mankel

Sacrifice is at the heart of Catholic education Diocesan schools and their faculty always strive for excellence – in good times and bad

ublic schools in the South had it very hard during the Depression years and still produced some of the intellectual lights of the 20th century. Underfunded, they made do with what they had, held more or less at bay by an electorate that held on to its purse strings for real life. Catholic schools were in the same boat with some notable exceptions: Catholic schools had sisters for teachers who often taught without a salary, or if they did receive a salary, it amounted at most to a few hundred dollars for the entire year. Those of us who are 75 and older remember the annual pantry showers for the sisters. The collection of staples was lifted during Sunday Mass or taken to the convent so that our sisters would have enough food to eat during the school months. Imagine what a treat it must have been for a convent to have received a beautifully cooked roast with all the trimmings from a hotel or restaurant that sensed the sisters’ plight and need for food. That cook or manager would have been so grateful for the education the sisters brought his way that he reciprocated in a most useful way. Another great resource that Catholic schools had was the magisterium – the teaching Church. Although our families had little or no money and were poor, they were very rich in Fun Walk continued from page 5

of such a great event to help kids at the Columbus Home,” Mr. Smith said. Mr. Smith has resumed preparations for the upcoming NFL season. He was injured for half of the 2013 season, his second in the NFL. “I missed eight games from a turf The East Tennessee Catholic

Catholic schools were in the same boat with some notable exceptions: Catholic schools had sisters for teachers who often taught without a salary, or if they did receive a salary, it amounted at most to a few hundred dollars for the entire year.

blue or other colored stars. (In those days a box of hundreds of the adhesive-backed stars might have cost a dime!) A healthy competition existed among students to see who got the most gold stars by some arbitrary deadline. The stars were color coded as to value: gold was the best, then silver, then red, green blue, etc., on down the line. The sisters saw that every child received at least some stars, no matter how little that student contributed to class excellence. This was a 1939, 1940 way of preaching the “theology of the body” that is so much a part of our Catholic tradition today – the excellence of the human being, its dignity and worth. On another note, Mary Ellen Campbell Helton died on May 18. Mary Ellen and I became good friends in the first grade at the old St. Mary’s School in Knoxville through our respectful rivalry over our star cards. As we sat in a halfcircle in small chairs at the foot of a very small Sister JoAnn Marie, little did we dream that more than 70 years later we would still be close and dear friends. Mary Ellen, your star card is filled with all gold ones now. The rest of us are still trying. ■

sharing a religious tradition of eternal truths that were priceless. The inclusion of a course in Catholic religion was an asset that made Catholic schools unique in the land. Oh, to be sure, public schools taught the holy Bible as literature or as Bible history but they did not go beyond that. Two devices the sisters used for awards, costing no money but countless hours of skilled labor, were the holy card and the star card. I still have some. The holy cards had a picture of the Lord, His Blessed Mother, St. Joseph, one of the saints, or a written prayer on them. Some were black ink on inexpensive paper stock. Others were in color and some even had gold edges. In the days when a dollar seemed huge, a holy card was a priceless treasure. The star card was developed as a reward for good conduct, academic progress, or attendance. Typically the card itself was about the size of a postal card. The name of the student was inscribed at the top or bottom and to the card were affixed in neat rows gold, silver, or red, green,

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

toe injury,” he said. Mr. Smith still managed to record 58 tackles, 47 of them unassisted, and two interceptions in a half-season’s work. In two games against Detroit, he made 19 combined tackles – 10 in the road meeting with the Lions and nine in the game at Minneapolis.

Now recovered from the injury, he’s raring to go for the 2014 season. “I am. I’m ready to go, so I’m just excited to start the season,” he said. Drafted in 2012, Mr. Smith is already headed into year three in the NFL. “Third year coming up, so time flies by,” he said. ■

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

Services held for Brother Simeon Pytel Funeral services for Alexian Brother Simeon Alphonse Henry Pytel, CFA, were held May 1 on Signal Mountain. Brother Simeon died April 27. He was 92. He was born Aug. 17, 1921, and raised in Hamtramck, Mich., a solidly Polish enclave where the Catholic Church was the center of the community and the Polish national traditions and spirit were very present. As a young adult he worked at Chrysler Corp. and in 1959 entered the Alexian Brothers. He pronounced his Perpetual Vows within the Congregation of Alexian Brothers in 1966 and most recently served in the office of the Generalate located on Signal Mountain. He is survived by his sister, Ann Pytel, of Sterling Heights, Mich., and a niece, Carol Hilton, of Las Vegas. A funeral Mass was celebrated May 1 in the St. Augustine Chapel of Alexian Village on Signal Mountain, with the burial following at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Chattanooga. ■

Want to try online delivery? The East Tennessee Catholic offers online delivery for those who wish to receive a digital copy and discontinue the print edition. Sign up for online delivery at bit.ly/subscribe-online. If you decide online delivery isn’t for you, you can return to a print subscription at any time. If you have questions, e-mail mhunt@ dioknox.org. ■

June 1, 2014 20

Marriage enrichment Schedule continued from page 2

Following Joseph’s example

guez and Scott Russell at Sacred Heart Cathedral. June 15: 9:30 a.m. confirmation at the Church of Divine Mercy. June 16: 10:30 a.m., Mass and dedication of new chapel at Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga. June 18: 10 a.m., Catholic Public Policy Commission meeting in Nashville. June 21: 4 p.m. Lake Norris Boat Mass with Father Joe Campbell. June 27: Mass with the Pink Sisters to close the novena to the Sacred Heart in St. Louis. June 29: 2 p.m., Mass for young adults at Christ Prince of Peace Retreat Center in Benton. Gathering begins at noon; all young adults are welcome. ■

Upcoming Virtus training sessions The Diocese of Knoxville’s program for the protection of children, youth and vulnerable adults is offered throughout the diocese. The seminars are required for parish and school employees and regular volunteers in contact with children and vulnerable adults. The following training sessions are scheduled: ■ St. Thomas the Apostle, Lenoir City, 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 3. ■ St. Joseph, Norris, 7 p.m. Friday, June 6. ■ St. Patrick, Morristown, 6 p.m. Thursday, June 12 (session will be conducted in Spanish). ■ St. Mary, Athens, 9 a.m. Saturday, June 21.

Virtus continued on page 22

21 June 1, 2014

by Marian Christiana

The world needs more fathers who say yes to God’s plan for their lives

n early May I had the opportunity to attend an extended family gathering with my siblings, several cousins and their families. I was visiting with my brother, John, when he pointed to our cousin, John, and he said, “Look, there’s St. Joseph.” I looked at our cousin and instantly knew what my brother meant. My cousin, John, and his wife, Meg, had three children. Their oldest child, Johnny, was born when they were age 22. Johnny was born a healthy baby but due to a medical mistake he lived his life severely disabled with cerebral palsy. Predicted to not live through his teenage years, Johnny lived to be 37 years old due to the loving care of his family, especially his mother, Meg. Meg raised their other two children while being Johnny’s constant care giver. Meg has received many accolades for her devotion, and rightly so. Her care for Johnny was heroic by any standard, but her husband, John, was there, too, quietly supporting his family emotionally, financially, and spiritually. At age 22, John said yes to God’s plan for his life without any fanfare. He trusted in God and said yes just like St. Joseph did when he was asked to make a leap of faith. I agreed with my brother’s observation and then looked around at the

gathering. I saw many other men there who over the years had emulated St. Joseph in their roles as fathers. They are birth fathers, adopted fathers and men who step into the gap for children who do not have a father present in their own home. All of them are fathers who continue to say yes to God’s plan for their lives. How lucky my family is to have these wonderful examples of fatherhood in our midst. Unfortunately, we rarely see these examples of fatherhood portrayed in the media. Television sitcoms treat fathers like they are buffoons. Yet the absence of a strong father figure, or male mentor in a child’s life is drastically affecting our culture. Here are some statistics to reinforce what I mean: ■ 63 percent of youth suicides are from fatherless homes (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services/Census) ■ 90 percent of all homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes – 32 times the average. ■ 85 percent of all children who show behavior disorders come from fatherless homes – 20 times the average. (Centers for Disease Control) ■ 71 percent of all high school dropouts come from fatherless homes – nine times the average (National Principals Association Report). ■ 85 percent of all youths in prison come from fatherless homes – 20 times

the average (Fulton County, Georgia; Texas Department of Correction). ■ Daughters of single parents without a father involved are 53 percent more likely to marry as teenagers, 711 percent more likely to have children as teenagers, 164 percent more likely to have a pre-marital birth and 92 percent more likely to get divorced themselves. In no way am I disparaging the incredible and difficult work that single mothers do every day to raise their children, but we should be doing all that we can to support men and their role as father or grandfather, mentor or coach. We can begin by sincerely thanking the fathers and father figures in our lives. Our gratitude might be exactly what they need to hear at this point of their journey. Promise to pray to St. Joseph for them daily. Our gratitude and prayers are great first steps in showing our support for fatherhood and a wonderful way to help them celebrate Father’s Day this year. Happy Father’s Day to all of the fathers and father figures throughout our diocese. Thank you for your love and support of your children and all those who you mentor. They need your presence and so do we. ■

Priests continued from page 4

hood on May 31 at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus have been assigned by Bishop Stika to diocesan pastoral positions. Father Colin Blatchford will serve as an associate pastor at All Saints Church in Knoxville. Father Tony Budnick will continue to offer sacramental ministry at St. Albert the Great Church until joining Notre Dame High School as chaplain and on the faculty in August. He also will be

part-time associate pastor at Sts. Peter and Paul Basilica in Chattanooga. Father Julian Cardona will serve as associate pastor at St. Mary Church in Johnson City. And Father Adam Kane will be an associate pastor at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Bishop Stika thanked each of the priests for their service to the Church and the parishes in which they serve and for their willingness to share their gifts with new parishes. ■

pastor of St. John XXIII University Parish and Catholic Center on the University of Tennessee campus, has accepted a new assignment from the Paulist Fathers and will leave the diocese in July. Father Donahue will become Director of Formation for the Paulist Fathers and will be based in Washington, D.C. The Paulists have not yet named a replacement to succeed Father Donahue. Four men ordained into the priest-

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Mrs. Christiana is coordinator of the diocesan Marriage Preparation and Enrichment Office.

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Understanding the sacraments

by Father Randy Stice

The sacrament of holy orders This celebration is a rich and profound liturgy that expresses the mystery and power of the ordained ministry

he Diocese of Knoxville is celebrating two ordinations within a month. On May 31, Bishop Stika ordained four men to the priesthood, and on June 14 he will ordain three seminarians to the diaconate at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In this column I want to discuss the celebration of the sacrament of holy orders. The rite of ordination consists of three parts that express “the multiple aspects of sacramental grace” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1574). The first part consists of the preparatory rites: the presentation of the one(s) to be ordained, the homily, the promise of the elect, and the Litany of Supplication. These rites “attest that the choice of the candidate is made in keeping with the practice of the Church and prepare for the solemn act of consecration” (CCC, 1574). This is followed by the essential rite of ordination: the laying on of hands and the prayer of ordination (also referred to as the consecratory prayer). The rite concludes with explanatory rites that “symbolically express and complete the mystery accomplished” (CCC, 1574). The Litany of the Saints, which is one of the preparatory rites, has been part of the rite of ordination from the seventh century onward to invoke on behalf of those being ordained the aid of the saints. Beginning in the eighth century, the candidates prostrated themselves during the litany. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI described his experience of the Litany of the Saints during his episcopal ordination: “The fact that the praying Church was calling upon the saints, that the prayer of the Church really was enveloping and embracing me, was a

wonderful consolation. In my incapacity, which had to be expressed in the bodily posture of prostration, this prayer, this presence of all the saints, of the living and the dead, was a wonderful strength—it was the only thing that could, as it were, lift me up. Only the presence of the saints with me made possible the path that lay before me” (The Spirit of the Liturgy, 188). The preparatory rites are followed by the essential rite—the imposition of hands by the bishop and the prayer of ordination. “The imposition of hands,” wrote St. John Paul II, “is the continuation of the gesture used by the early Church to signify that the Holy Spirit is being given for a specific mission (cf. Acts 6:6, 8:17, 13:3), Paul imposed hands on the disciple Timothy (cf. 2 Timothy 1:6; 1 Timothy 4:14), and the gesture has remained in the Church (cf. 1 Timothy 5:22) as the efficacious sign of the Holy Spirit’s active presence in the sacrament of holy orders” (Gift and Mystery, 44). The central petition of the prayer of ordination for priests asks God to grant to the ordinandi “the dignity of the Priesthood; renew deep within them the Spirit of holiness; may they henceforth possess this office, which comes from you, O God, and is next in rank to the office of Bishop; and by the example of their manner of life, may they instill right conduct.” The Spirit is given to priests to enable them to participate in the specifically priestly ministry of Christ, to progress in holiness, and to inspire holiness in others through their manner of life. The essential words for the ordination of deacons are, “Send forth upon them, Lord, we pray, the Holy Spirit, that they may be strengthened by the gift of your

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sevenfold grace for the faithful carrying out of the work of the ministry.” Deacons are strengthened by the gifts of the Spirit for ministry and service. The rite of ordination concludes with explanatory rites that “explain” the ministry of priests and deacons. I would like to give just one example for each. In the ordination of priests, the bishop presents to the new priests a paten holding the bread and a chalice containing wine mixed with water for the celebration of the Mass. As the bishop hands them to the newly ordained, he says, “Receive the oblation of the holy people, to be offered to God. Understand what you do, imitate what you celebrate, and conform your life to the mystery of the Lord’s Cross.” This rite signifies priests’ “duty of presiding at the celebration of the Eucharist and of following Christ crucified” (Rite of Ordination, n. 113). For deacons, the bishop places the Book of the Gospels in the new deacon’s hands and says, “Receive the Gospel of Christ, whose herald you have become. Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach.” This action and the explanatory words signify “the office of the Deacon to proclaim the Gospel in liturgical celebrations and to preach the faith of the Church in word and in deed” (Rite of Ordination, n. 188). The celebration of the sacrament of holy orders is a rich and profound liturgy that expresses the mystery and power of the ordained ministry. ■ Father Stice is pastor of St. Mary Church in Athens and directs the diocesan Office of Worship and Liturgy. He can be reached at frrandy@dioknox.org.

Virtus continued from page 21 ■ St. Dominic School, Kingsport, 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 25. ■ St. Jude, Chattanooga, noon Thursday, July 31. ■

Funeral services held for Brother John W. Grider Brother John W. Grider, CFA, an Alexian Brother for nearly 75 years, passed away May 9. He was 94. Born in Springfield, Ky., on Dec. 13, 1919, Brother John was preceded in death by parents Otho Blane Grider and Martha Cecilia Tobin, brother Forrest Grider and sister Louise Grider Freibert. He is survived by nieces Dr. Cathie Freibert, Ellen Mershom (Freibert), and Nancy Freibert; and nephews, John Grider, Joe Grider and Jerry Grider. Brother John joined the Alexian Brothers at Signal Mountain on Sept. 9, 1939, and made his Life Profession on March 19, 1947. He was educated and served as a registered nurse and a medical technologist, later accepted the ministry of director of postulants, served as community health nurse in Walterboro, S.C., plus many other roles within the Alexian Brothers. Services for Brother John were conducted at the St. Augustine Chapel at Alexian Village on Signal Mountain, with a Christian wake held May 13 followed by a Mass of Christian burial on May 14. Interment was in the Alexian Brothers section of Mount Olivet Cemetery in Chattanooga. ■

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Camp Marymount marking 75th anniversary with summer reunion Catholic summer camp serving Tennessee dioceses combines nature, spirituality

Knights continued from page 6

including $1.4 million the Knights are providing Special Olympics this year to house all U.S. and Canadian athletes; support for the St. John Paul II Institute and Shrine in Washington, D.C.; and a $35,000 grant for the Eucharistic Congress hosted last fall by the Diocese of Knoxville to celebrate the 25th anniversary of its founding. Growing membership helps keep the insurance program strong, which in turn allows the Knights to continue supporting various charities, Wills said. A recent poll of what Catholics know about the Knights showed that most

23 June 1, 2014

CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

or generations of young people, Camp Marymount in Fairview, Tenn., has been more than a place to spend a few weeks in the summer. It’s where bonds are forged over campfires, craft projects and late-night talks under the stars. “The thing about camp is it’s timeless, it hasn’t changed that much,” said Jose Gonzalez, former camper and counselor at Camp Marymount, who now sends his children there. As Camp Marymount celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, its leaders are encouraging former campers and counselors to attend a camp reunion family weekend Aug. 8-10. As the Southeast’s only Catholic summer residential camp, Marymount draws campers from Tennessee, surrounding states and even Mexico and Canada. Part of its charm is how it has stayed the same over the years and doesn’t have fancy amenities. In fact, camper cabins have no air conditioning or attached bathrooms and the camp doesn’t have a swimming pool or indoor gym. “It doesn’t matter where you come from or how much money you have,” Gonzalez said, because at camp, everyone is on a level playing field, new to each other, ready to survive and thrive together in the weeks ahead.

By Theresa Laurence, Catholic News Service

Summer fun throwback A group of girls session campers and counselors pose for a photo in 1951 at Camp Marymount. Among them is Susie Pierini Hagey, mother of Camp Marymount director Tommy Hagey, in the first row, second from right.

At the camp, some new buildings have been added recently, but the rustic, communal living environment -- and most of the activities-- have remained the same for decades. Camp Marymount’s roots reach back to 1939 to Camp Happy Hollow in Joelton, a small Catholic residential camp owned by the Diocese of Nashville.

In the fall of 1945, the late Monsignor George Rohling purchased a fishing camp in Fairview thinking it would be the ideal place for the diocese to expand its summer camp. When Marymount opened its current location in 1946, it had a small lodge, an infirmary, nine cabins and an outdoor chapel. Two years later, senior camp

people associate the Knights with putting on dances and other social activities in parishes, Wills said. “We need to make people aware of what we do for charity,” he said. “We do the work, let’s do a better job of getting the word out there.” Several councils and individual Knights received awards recognizing their successful activities, including: ■ Knight of the Year Award to Jerry Dougherty of Council 12633 in Loudon; ■ Church Activity of the Year to Council 11542 in Sewanee for renovations to Our Lady of Lourdes Church; ■ Community Activity of the Year to

Council 7447 in Columbia for its Law Enforcement Appreciation Dinner; ■ Council Activity of the Year to Council 11049 in Soddy-Daisy for its Valentine’s Spouse Appreciation Dinner; ■ Culture of Life Activity of the Year to Council 6099 in Chattanooga for its pork loin sales fundraiser to support culture of life activities; ■ Family Activity of the Year to Council 7449 in Germantown for its Family Prayer Week project; ■ Vocations Activity of the Year to Council 8349 at St. Ignatius of Antioch Church in Nashville for its vocation awareness project;

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was added to better accommodate older campers. St. Anthony’s Chapel was dedicated in 1951. Then, for more than 50 years, Marymount’s buildings remained nearly unchanged. It was not until 2008 that major renovations and additions were completed at the camp. That year a new dining hall, offices, meeting rooms and winterized staff cabins were added, allowing the camp to operate on a year-round basis by hosting retreats and special events. A new chapel also was added. Today, Camp Marymount totals 340 acres, 18 rustic camper cabins, four cabins for support staff and retreats, an outdoor amphitheater, nature center and a fiveacre spring-fed lake. Tommy Hagey, who has served as the camp director for 17 years, is a second generation Marymounter. Both of his parents attended camp as have seven of his eight children. Hagey’s mother, Susie Pierini Hagey, remembers spending her summers at Marymount’s original incarnation, Camp Happy Hollow. She recalls summers during World War II during which they “ate Spam every day” in the camp dining hall. “I loved it,” she said of the camp. “I still love it. I’d go back now if I wasn’t 81,” she told the Tennessee Register, diocesan newspaper of Nashville. ■ ■ Youth Activity of the Year to Council

4947 in Loretto for its fundraiser to support Sacred Heart School; ■ Family of the Year to Ed and Cecilia Stahl of Council 15393 in Memphis; ■ Lifetime Achievement Award to Mike Porter of Council 9282 at St. Stephen Church in Hermitage. Porter is a past state deputy of the Tennessee Knights. The state council also presented Frank Jackson of Tullahoma with a special award in recognition of his service as a past state deputy, the supreme warden, and a supreme director. ■ dioknox.org

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