March 7, 2010, ET Catholic

CNS/E. MARCARIAN, REUTERS

Scene of destruction A resident pushes her son in a wheelbarrow past destruction in La Pezca, Chile, on March 1. More than 700 people were killed when a massive earthquake struck the country’s central coast Feb. 27. page 10

THE EAST TENNESSEE

Volume 19 • Number 13 • March 7, 2010

The

N E W S PA P E R

of the D I O C E S E of K N O X V I L L E w w w. d i o k n o x . o r g

Decision to close St. Dominic School rescinded

Church newcomers ‘part of history’ Bishop Stika welcomes the Chattanooga-area catechumens and candidates at the Rite of Election. By Dan McWilliams

B

School continued on page 3

Please pray for our priests Dear Lord: We pray that the Blessed Mother will wrap her mantle around your priests and through her intercession strengthen them for their ministry.

We pray that Mary will guide your priests to follow her own words, “Do whatever he tells you” (John 2:5).

May your priests have the heart of St. Joseph, Mary’s most chaste spouse.

May the Blessed Mother’s own pierced heart inspire them to embrace all who suffer at the foot of the cross.

May your priests be holy and filled with the fire of your love, seeking nothing but your greater glory and the salvation of souls.

Amen.

St. John Vianney, pray for us. ■ Download prayers and a rosary booklet: bit.ly/priestprayers.

ishop Richard F. Stika presided at a deanery Rite of Election for the first time as Knoxville’s shepherd on Feb. 21 at St. Stephen Church in Chattanooga.

Just as the bishop is getting used to his role as the leader of East Tennessee’s Catholics, the catechumens and candidates are becoming accustomed to the Church, he told the newcomers, who represented nine Chattanooga Deanery parishes.

“I was ordained a bishop on March 19,” he said. “You might be mystified by what I wear. I’m mystified by what I wear.

When I was at St. Mary’s in Oak Ridge right before Christmas, it was further stamped into my mind. I was coming out of church, and there was this group of small children getting ready to go in for the celebration of Christmas. This young girl about 5 or 6 pointed at me and said, ‘Look, Mom. It’s

DAN MCWILLIAMS

B

‘THE BEAUTY OF BEING A CATHOLIC’

Bishop Stika greets Kristin Rievely, a candidate from the host parish of St. Stephen in Chattanooga, during the Chattanooga Deanery’s Rite of Election on Feb. 21. Behind her is her uncle and sponsor, Michael Horten.

one of the three kings!’”

Before he returned to Knoxville the same evening, the bishop led the Cumberland Mountain Deanery Rite of Election at St. Thomas the Apostle in Lenoir City.

Notre Dame in Greeneville hosted the Five Rivers Deanery rite Feb. 27, with diocesan episcopal vicar Father David Boettner presiding.

Monsignor Xavier Mankel, the diocese’s vicar general,

presided at the Smoky Mountain Deanery rite Feb. 27 at St. Albert the Great Church in Knoxville.

About 250 catechumens and candidates participated in the Rites of Election.

With them were the

catechumens’ godparents, the candidates’ sponsors, parish priests and directors of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), and family and friends of the newcomers.

Election continued on page 6

Catholic Charities says ‘thank you’ to its supporters Executive director Father Ragan Schriver celebrates a Mass—‘the greatest thing that we can do’—to express gratitude to CCET’s many friends.

B Y D A N MCW I L L I A MS

C

DAN MCWILLIAMS

ishop Richard F. Stika announced Feb. 26 that he has rescinded the decision to close St. Dominic School in Kingsport (Feb. 7 ETC) after the current academic year.

He said the school will have a two-year opportunity to demonstrate its overall strength. After the first year St. Dominic will need to have demonstrated increased enrollment, an overall reduction in costs, and a healthy pattern of improvement.

The decision to close the school was announced to school parents Jan. 22 and to parishioners at weekend Masses on Jan. 23 and 24.

Declining enrollment and an increasing financial burden to the parish led to the decision to close the school.

Consistent with diocesan practice, tuition assistance will be made available to registered, participating members of St. Dominic Parish through an objective financial review administered through Catholic Char-

‘THE GIFT OF ALL OF YOU’

Father Ragan Schriver delivers the homily at the Mass of thanksgiving for Catholic Charities on Feb. 11. Behind him are the concelebrants, Father Bill Gahagan (left) and Father Chris Michelson.

atholic Charities of East Tennessee invited all its supporters to Mass at All Saints Church in Knoxville on Feb. 11 mainly to say two words: thank you.

Father Ragan Schriver, CCET’s executive director for the last 11 years, used his favorite seven-letter adjective in welcoming more than 300 people from around the diocese to the liturgy.

“It’s really awesome we could have something like this just to be able to say thank-you to God for the gift of all of you,” he said. “It’s great we can come together and give thanks. Eucharist means thanks, and that’s why we’re here.”

Concelebrating with Father Schriver were Father Chris Michelson, the CCET board treasurer and the founding pastor of All Saints, and Father Bill Gahagan, pastor of St. Therese in Clinton and St. Joseph in Norris. Father Gahagan helped found CCET’s Columbus Home, served on the Charities’ board for many years, and mentored its current director during his seminary days.

In the pews were friends and staff of Catholic Charities from its Knoxville, Chattanooga, and Jonesborough divisions, as well as Newcomb, home of the Crazy Quilt Friendship Center.

CCET continued on page 2

letters to the

EDITOR

‘Wariness’ toward Eastern mysticism urged

I read with interest Ginger Hutton’s column about contemplative prayer and the papal document regarding caution about using Eastern nontheistic forms of meditation. I also read the letters it stimulated—letters that reflected an “ecumenical” openness to all seekers of truth and a defense of the works of Fathers Thomas Keating and Basil Pennington.

I see validity to both viewpoints, but for Catholics, the papal document focusing on wariness is more important. Some time ago I attended a retreat at a Cistercian monastery and “ecumenical retreat center.” The group of retreatants included both practicing Catholics and non-Christian seekers who had immersed themselves in Eastern non-theistic meditation, primarily Buddhist. The retreat master was a Cistercian priest taught by Keating and Pennington, and he did fairly well so long as he spoke only of a vague concept of “God” and “prayer,” with no mention of the Trinity or Christ. At one point he seemed to be disparaging prayer with images and scripted words; from people’s facial expressions I saw that this “higher” form of meditation without words or images resonated with the non-Catholics.

Then came the questions: Why did the great contemplative Teresa of Avila pray before an image of the suffering Christ and teach that focus on his sacred humanity was always appropriate in prayer? What about adoration before the Eucharist? What about the Mass, the sacraments, Scripture, the Office, etc.? Is all of this unconnected to the “contemplation” that is the subject of the retreat? Father spoke a few innocuous phrases and then realized he was floundering and cut the talk short.

If you approach contemplative prayer with intellectual honesty, the Buddhist and the Catholic will inevitably come to an irreconcilable clash of first principles. Remember, lex orandi, lex credendi.

Prayer implies existence of the “other.” Should we ignore the basic starting point and focus merely on methods? We are an incarnational Church, centered on Christ as true God and true man.

The Holy Father and your columnist were pointing out the pitfalls of a syncretism that strays from Catholic teaching. Skillful theologians such as Keating and Pennington, by precise language and editing, may avoid the pits into which lesser mortals may tumble.

—Jan Hicks Oak Ridge

Father Flaherty ‘hit the nail on the head’

Father Jay Flaherty, the pastor of Holy Cross Church in Pigeon Forge, gave a heartfelt message on Jan. 2 so profound that it’s worth repeating. He said “I am no longer Father Jay, but Father Flaherty.”

He began by explaining the Catholic Church’s rules for Mass and the Eucharist, and addressed parish volunteers. He reminded us of God’s presence in the tabernacle. There’s a family-life room for visiting, eating, and unruly kids, with Mass on TV. He spoke of growing disrespect for the host, such as the time one was found with a cough drop stuck on it. One must fast for one hour from food, drink, or chewing gum before taking Communion, Father said. “And if I or the eucharistic ministers see any of this, that person will not receive Communion. Don’t leave early; stay until Mass ends!”

Father addressed respectful attire, especially for ushers and those on the altar: ties, long pants, dresses, and no shorts. Latecomers must wait outside until after the homily, because “I do not use notes, and I get distracted.”

He ended by saying, “If you don’t like these changes, you can go worship elsewhere. You can complain to the bishop or go all the way to the pope.” As a priest, Father Flaherty is accountable for how he leads his flock to God. You could have heard a pin drop during his homily, but the congregation applauded at the end in agreement.

He had hit the nail on the head. I hope his message resounds throughout the diocese. ■ —Nancy Stutts Knoxville Letters should be 350 words or less and will be edited for grammar, style, clarity, and length.

Submit them by e-mail or mail: mweaver@ dioknox.org, 805 Northshore Drive Southwest, Knoxville, TN 37919. Letters to the editor reflect the opinions of their authors and not those of the editorial staff or the publisher.

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

2

■

MARCH 7, 2010

living the

READINGS

BY FATHER JOSEPH BRANDO

What is repentance?

The Lord’s infinite mercy gives us ‘extra chances to change.’

The Scripture readings for the third Sunday in Lent teach us about repentance. In the Gospel the people ask Jesus to comment on two current events. One was Pilate’s lethal crushing of a protest in Galilee. The other was an accident that killed 18 people at Siloam. Jesus uses these two incidents to illustrate what repentance really is. Jesus’ commentary on both those events ends with the statement, “But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!”

What do the two incidents have in common, besides the lamentable loss of life? In people’s minds, they brought up the problem of death being a punishment for sin. That gave

Jesus an opening to teach his followers what attitude we should adopt. Accordingly, Jesus tells the parable of the unfruitful fig tree.

The tree represents the world, created by God but not producing fruit. The owner who wants it cut down represents the attitude of many who wish to destroy anything that looks evil. The gardener offers God’s attitude. Don’t destroy it: rather, continue to love it and treat it kindly. It has the potential to become good.

The parable reveals God’s attitude toward the world as well as what our attitude should be. The Galilean protesters’ problem was that they saw the Romans as evil, without the possibility of changing. Their hard-core response of fighting fire with fire resulted in their own lives being consumed in the conflagration. As for the innocent victims of the falling building,

their situation was much like that of the hundreds of thousands of victims of the earthquake in Haiti. A number of fundamentalist preachers have called the disaster an act of God’s punishment. Jesus’ answer is that those people weren’t any better or worse than anyone else. The parable of the unproductive fig tree answers that mistaken idea.

God is not vindictive but rather keeps giving those who sin extra chances to change.

Paul’s commentary in the second reading is intended to show God’s infinite mercy to Israel, reminding his readers how the people had been spared from the dangers of the desert by a protective cloud. The only ones who died were those who did not trust in it.

So Jesus tells us that repentance is the realization that God gives everyone chances to become good. Our job is to become good and not mess with God’s plan. ■ March 7, third Sunday of Lent Exodus 3:1-8, 13-15 Psalm 103:1-4, 6-8, 11 1 Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12 Luke 13:1-9

Removing the reproach Our God ‘does not count our trespasses.’

T

he scene of the first reading has the people of Israel looking east at the Jordan River. That is tremendously significant. After 40 years in the desert and, traditionally, 450 years in Egypt, the people of Israel were finally west of the Jordan and back in the Promised Land. It was the land from which Jacob had fled

the famine to be with Joseph in Egypt.

Here, with Jericho in sight, the sons and daughters of Jacob celebrated Passover.

They had passed over not only the Red Sea but also the Jordan.

On that Passover the Lord told them, “I have removed the reproach of Egypt from you.”

From the day the Israelites moved to

Egypt to enjoy its fleshpots, through the times they were oppressed there, to the Exodus, and finally the return to the Promised Land, God had been with them. For most of that time, they did not know God at all.

Moses, at the burning bush, had to ask God his name. Yet God never forgot them.

Now, back in the

land of Israel, with the people celebrating their Passover, the reproach of not knowing their God was over. They could look to the future, realizing they were being cared for by God. Their future would be dedicated to thankfulness and to praise of the Lord.

Readings continued on page 3

March 14, fourth Sunday of Lent Joshua 5:9-12 Psalm 23:1-6 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

WEEKDAY READINGS Monday, March 8: 2 Kings 5:1-15; Psalms 42:2-3 and 43:3-4; Luke 4:24-30 Tuesday, March 9: Daniel 3:25, 3443; Psalm 25:4-9; Matthew 18:21-35 Wednesday, March 10: Deuteronomy 4:1, 5-9; Psalm 147:12-13, 1516, 19-20; Matthew 5:17-19 Thursday, March 11: Jeremiah 7:2328; Psalm 95:1-2, 6-9; Luke 11:1423 Friday, March 12: Hosea 14:2-10;

Psalm 81:6-11, 14, 17; Mark 12:2834 Saturday, March 13: Hosea 6:1-6; Psalm 51:3-4, 18-21; Luke 18:9-14 Monday, March 15: Isaiah 65:17-21; Psalm 30:2, 4-6, 11-13; John 4:4354 Tuesday, March 16: Ezekiel 47:1-9, 12; Psalm 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9; John 5:1-16 Wednesday, March 17: Isaiah 49:815; Psalm 145:8-9, 13-14, 17-18;

John 5:17-30 Thursday, March 18: Exodus 32:714; Psalm 106:19-23; John 5:31-47 Friday, March 19: Solemnity, Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 2 Samuel 7:4-5, 12-14, 16; Psalm 89:2-5, 27, 29; Romans 4:13, 16-18, 22; Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24 Saturday, March 20: Jeremiah 11:18-20; Psalm 7:2-3, 9-12; John 7:40-53 ■

CCET continued from page 1

three points now: the first time that I was exposed to Catholic Charities through Father Bill, the name of our agency, and shopping for Valentine’s Day cards for the staff.”

In the early 1990s Father Gahagan had taken the future Father Schriver, as part of an internship during seminary, to a meeting of the board of Associated Catholic Charities of East Tennessee (the first word was later dropped from the name). Father Schriver was ordained a priest in 1995 and

became director of the agency four years later. He saluted Father Gahagan for that early guidance.

“I thank you for exposing me to the gift that Catholic Charities has been in my life,” he said.

Father Schriver challenged his audience at All Saints to “think about the first time you were exposed to the work of Catholic Charities and how that’s led your life in a positive direction, or how it’s led you to think about reaching

Parishioners from around the Knoxville area attended, including many from the host parish, where Father Schriver lived throughout much of his time as CCET director until he was appointed pastor of Holy Family in Seymour last fall.

The large attendance at the thanksgiving Mass forced Father Schriver to expand his homily outline a bit.

“I wasn’t expecting this many people. I really only had one point, but since there are so many people, I’ve got

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

THE EAST TENNESSEE

805 Northshore Drive S.W .

CCET continued on page 3

Margaret Hunt Administrative assistant Toni Pacitti Intern

Knoxville, TN 37919-7551

The East Tennessee Catholic (USPS 007211) is published twice monthly by the Catholic Diocese of Knoxville, 805 Northshore Drive S.W., Knoxville, TN 37919-7551. Periodicals-class postage paid at Knoxville, Tenn.

Printed on recycled paper by the Knoxville News Sentinel Postmaster: Send address changes to The East Tennessee Catholic, P.O. Box 11127, Knoxville, TN 37939-1127 How to reach us:

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

TH E E A S T TE N N E S S E E C ATH OLI C

guest

COLUMN

BY MONSIGNOR XAVIER MANKEL

Loving Lent The days leading to Easter offer several occasions to celebrate.

As we pass the one-third mark on our highway to heaven (Lent) this weekend, I strongly recommend that we look back over our collective shoulders and check to see how we’re doing. Any flat tires along the way? Any misalignments that make our tires wear and wear and wear? We can pump up those tires and realign our lives so that just four weekends from now, the journey will end. We can park along the tomb and wait.

For what are we waiting?

Let’s change carriers. Let’s mount a shuttle that will be driven by the blast-off of the resurrection of our divine Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

I believe that it was a pamphlet published by the Queen’s Work years ago that depicted on its cover a baby’s

face with a most unpleasant countenance indeed. The baby looked as if he (it must have been a boy; no girl could ever look that ugly) had just eaten a bowl of oatmeal cooked with sour milk and laced with vinegar! The title of the pamphlet was “I Don’t Like Lent.” Well, as I grow farther and farther from having a baby face, I still do not like Lent; I love it.

Lent gives me the blessed opportunity to celebrate a feast and two solemnities in addition to the six Sundays, which are always so special.

The feast has come and gone—that of the Chair of St. Peter. A feast for a piece of furniture? St. Joseph was the carpenter, not St. Peter. He might have been a master fisherman, but we do not have a feast of the boat or the net of that prince of the apostles. What’s going on here?

Well, the chair is a symbol of the authority given by the Lord to the Rock as he, the

pope, governs the body, the Church. It is from Peter’s chair—called cathedra in Greek—that the Church takes its direction. We name the principal church of the diocese a cathedral (“chair building”), and from that chair our bishop, as a successor to St. Peter and the other Apostles, leads the local church, the diocese.

Mankel continued on page 6

BISHOP STIKA’S SCHEDULE These are some of Bishop Stika’s appointments: March 7: 11 a.m., confirmation, St. Stephen Church, Chattanooga March 9: 11 a.m., general priests’ meeting, Chancery March 13: 2 p.m., discernment gathering, bishop’s residence March 14: noon, confirmation, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Cleveland; 6 p.m., Alive Again! concert, Knoxville Catholic High School gym March 18: 6 p.m., Catholic Charities of East Tennessee dinner, Knoxville Convention Center March 19: first anniversary of ordination as bishop of Knoxville March 20: 1 p.m., confirmation, St. Thomas the Apostle Church, Lenoir City March 21: 11:30 a.m., confirmation, Immaculate Conception Church, Knoxville; 6 p.m., confirmation, Holy Ghost Church, Knoxville ■

CCET continued from page 2

out to others.”

Thousands of needy people came to CCET in 2009, hoping to turn their lives in a positive direction, he said.

“Last year 23,000 came to us, many of them for the very first time,” said Father Schriver. “Many people we’ve seen have been in the middle class, and now because of the economic downturn are coming to us for the first time, but they come and are welcomed with open arms.”

CCET’s name nearly lost more than just the “Associated” part during Father Schriver’s days at All Saints, he said, recalling a conversation with Father Michelson one evening at the rectory.

“I had this bright idea that we could change the name of Catholic Charities. I said the name Catholic is just bringing us down. Everybody thinks that it’s ‘by Catholics for Catholics,’ and I said, ‘Why don’t we call it by the name Universal? Catholic means universal. We could call it Universal. And that word Charities—that’s kind of old.

We could call it Love. We could call our agency, how about Universal Love? Do you think Bishop [Joseph E.] Kurtz would go for that?’”

Perhaps anticipating the answer of the diocese’s second bishop, Father Michelson saved Father Schriver the trouble of presenting the idea

to his ordinary.

“Well, of course, Father Chris, with his level head, shot us down, so we decided to stick with the name Catholic Charities of East Tennessee,” said Father Schriver.

But the universal-love motive is integral to the work of CCET, he said.

“It is a universal effort to reduce poverty within our community here in East Tennessee.

It takes a universal effort with all kinds of people and all kinds of gifts and backgrounds to make this happen.”

Regarding Feb. 14, Father Schriver said it’s a tough day for him.

“Valentine’s Day at the seminary or the rectory or the convent is not an exciting day.”

This year he tried to make the day nice for his co-workers, but the greeting-card industry wasn’t much help, he said.

“I thought I’d pump it up with our staff by giving them a couple of Valentine’s Day cards. Well, they were all like, ‘You’re the buttercup, you are the bean of my life, I can’t breathe my next breath without you,’ and all this garbage.

I thought, This is ridiculous. I can’t give this to my staff.”

CCET staffers live out the spirit of Valentine’s Day, said Father Schriver.

“If I’m so committed to someone else and care so much about others and love

them, I want to give myself to them unconditionally. That’s what our staff does, really.

Our staff members give themselves each day unconditionally to the work of our agency and to the work of caring for the poor.

“They are the face of God to us here on earth: those who are in poverty, those who are struggling. We are reaching out to them and loving them the best way that we can.”

The staffers are “not the only ones” doing that, he added. “I look around the room today, and I see people who have worked hard on strategic plans, bagging food, writing checks, singing, giving their gifts and talents— whatever it is to make our agency better.”

Father Schriver said he hopes to make the thanksgiving Mass an annual event.

The way of saying thank-you to CCET supporters could not have been better, he said.

“We send thank-you notes.

We say thank you. We send an annual report and say thank you. We designate people to say thank you, but how do you really do something?” he said.

“I’m a priest. One of the things I can do—and the greatest thing we do—is offer the Eucharist, so this is the greatest way to give thanks to God for the people who have been a part of our agency.” ■

Penance services scheduled throughout the diocese ere is a list of remaining Lenten penance services around the Diocese of Knoxville:

H

Five Rivers Deanery 7 p.m. March 11—St. Dominic, Kingsport; March 15—Good Shepherd, Newport, and St. Elizabeth, Elizabethton; March 16—St. Mary, Johnson City; March 18—St. Henry, Rogersville; March 22—Notre Dame, Greeneville; March 23—St. Patrick, Morristown; March 24— Holy Trinity, Jefferson City; TBA—St. Anthony of Padua, Mountain City

Chattanooga Deanery 7 p.m. Eastern Time, except as noted. March 4—Sts. Peter and Paul, Chattanooga, 5:30 p.m., and Holy Spirit, Soddy-Daisy; March 9—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, T H E EA S T TE N N E S S E E C AT H OL IC

Cleveland, and Shepherd of the Valley, Dunlap, 6:30 p.m. CST; March 15—Our Lady of Lourdes, South Pittsburg, 6:30 p.m.

CDT; March 16—St. Mary, Athens; March 18—Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Chattanooga; March 21—St. Catherine Labouré, Copperhill, 6 p.m.; March 23—St. Stephen, Chattanooga; March 24—St. Bridget, Dayton, 6:30 p.m.; March 25— St. Jude, Chattanooga

Cumberland Mountain Deanery 7 p.m. Eastern Time, except as noted. March 3—St. Christopher, Jamestown, 6 p.m. CST; March 4—Our Lady of Perpetual Help, LaFollette; March 8— Knoxville Catholic High School seniors and juniors, 10:30 a.m.; St. John Neumann, Farragut; March 9—KCHS sophomores

and freshmen, 10:30 a.m.; St. Ann, Lancing; March 10—St. Therese, Clinton, and St. Joseph, Norris, at St. Therese; March 14—Christ the King, Tazewell, 1 p.m.; March 23—St. Francis of Assisi, Fairfield Glade, 6 p.m. CDT; March 29— All Saints, Knoxville

Smoky Mountain Deanery 7 p.m. March 3—St. Albert the Great, Knoxville; March 9— Holy Family, Seymour; March 15—St. Mary, Gatlinburg; March 17—St. Francis of Assisi, Townsend; March 22—Our Lady of Fatima, Alcoa, and John XXIII, Knoxville; March 23—Sacred Heart Cathedral, Knoxville; March 24—Holy Ghost, Knoxville, and Immaculate Conception, Knoxville, at IC; March 25—St. Joseph the Worker, Madisonville ■ www.d ioknox.org

Dominican Sisters returning to Notre Dame High School ishop Richard F. Stika has announced that three Dominican Sisters will serve at Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga, beginning in fall 2010.

The Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia, headquartered in Nashville, are a teaching order. The congregation—also called the Nashville Dominicans—will celebrate the 150th anniversary of its founding later this year.

The sisters are part of Notre Dame High School’s history, said Deacon Sean Smith, chancellor for the diocese, and served there at its founding in 1876. “The possibility of their return to the school has been a source of hope for the diocese and the Christian faithful of the Chattanooga area,” he said.

“I am grateful they have accepted Bishop Stika’s invitation to send three of their sisters to Notre Dame in the fall of 2010.”

Dominican Sisters currently serve at Knoxville Catholic High School and St. Mary School in Oak Ridge.

“The sisters’ presence at our schools has been a tremendous blessing, for which the entire diocese is grateful,” said Deacon Smith. “As the Dominican Sisters celebrate the 150th Jubilee of their congregation, Bishop Stika offers his prayers of gratitude and support for all their members.” ■

B

Catholic Charities’ annual dinners scheduled this month atholic Charities of East Tennessee will hold its three annual fundraising dinners, hosted

by Bishop Richard F. Stika and CCET executive director Father Ragan Schriver, this month.

The Chattanooga Division’s dinner is set for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 11, at the Chattanoogan hotel and has as its theme “Gift of a Caring Community.” The keynote speaker will be Lino Rulli, host of The Catholic Guy on Sirius and XM radio. For more information, contact Libby Schleifer at 423-267-1297 or libby@ccetn.org.

The Knoxville Division’s dinner, “An Emerald O’ccasion,” will start at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 18, at the Knoxville Convention Center. For details, call Lisa Ingle at 865-524-9896, extension 102.

The Jonesborough Division’s dinner has “Take Up Your Cross” as its theme. The dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. Friday, March 26, at St. Dominic Church in Kingsport. Mass will be celebrated at 5 p.m. For more information, contact Brenda Dunn at 423-753-3001 or bdunn0153@ comcast.net. ■

C

Want to try online delivery? he East Tennessee Catholic offers online delivery for those who would prefer to read a digital copy and to discontinue the print edition. If you would rather read the ETC online, visit bit.ly/subscribe-online to sign up.

If you decide online delivery isn’t for you, you can return to a print subscription at any time. If you have questions, e-mail mary@dioknox.org. ■

T

School continued from page 1

ities of East Tennessee Inc. Based on this review, CCET will determine each family’s ability to pay and pass that recommendation to the pastor of the parish, in this case, Father Michael Nolan.

The pastor reviews evaluations and then accepts or modifies them.

Non-Catholic students are welcome to attend the school as well, space permitting, but their families are responsible for paying the entire cost of tuition.

“This is a new opportunity to work hard and make the school financially feasible,” said Deacon Sean Smith, diocesan chancellor. “That’s what the bishop wants.” ■

Readings continued from page 2

That’s the message of what we now call the Parable of the Prodigal Son. The son left his home and went to a foreign country, where he ended up doing the work of slaves. One day he woke up, realizing what he had done and how much better life was in his father’s house. He had realized who his father really was and decided to return home.

All that time the prodigal son was never out of his father’s mind and heart. When he arrived home, his father was waiting for him and bestowed all the signs of his gracious love. The father had never forgotten him. He gave his wayward son a home—a source of clothing, food, and friendship.

That’s our God as well. St. Paul tells us, as if we didn’t already know, that our God is a God of reconciliation. He does not “count our trespasses.” He counts on our repentance. ■ Father Brando is the pastor of St. Mary Church in Gatlinburg.

MARCH 7, 2010

■

3

Chattanooga Deanery

pancake breakfast Feb. 28 to benefit Food for the Poor.

the conference room. The discussion will be on Devil in the White City (Vintage, 2004) by Erik Larson.

■ Anniversaries: Russ and Ruth Koepke (65), Bruce and Cecilia Merrill (35)

St. Augustine, Signal Mountain

St. John Neumann, Farragut

■ Volunteers from the parish are need-

■ The St. Vincent de Paul Society is organizing a nursing-home visitation group. Call Nancy at 865-675-7064 for details.

OLPH, Chattanooga ■ The Knights of Columbus served a

ed to sort, hang, and price clothing donations for resale at The Clothes House at Signal Mountain Social Services from 9 a.m. to noon Wednesdays, April 7, June 9, and Aug. 11. Call Sheila at 423-886-3460 for more information.

St. Catherine Labouré, Copperhill ■ The Knights of Columbus of St.

Catherine’s Roundtable sponsored a fish dinner after Stations of the Cross on Feb. 26.

■ The parish recently thanked those who have been donating to its fund for a new altar rail.

St. Jude, Chattanooga ■ The parish is collecting broken or unused rosaries for the St. Jude Haiti ministry. Bring rosaries to the parish office.

■ The Out to Lunch Bunch will resume meeting at noon Monday, March 15, at Biba’s Italian Restaurant on Hixson Pike. Call Mary Jo Koory at 423-842-6205 for details.

St. Mary, Athens ■ The Knights of Columbus will hold a

fish fry from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, March 26, at the VFW in Athens. The meal will include fish, hush puppies, slaw, fries, dessert, and coffee. Costs are $8 for adults and $4 for children under 12.

Sts. Peter and Paul, Chattanooga ■ A free Lenten hymn festival pre-

sented by the American Guild of Organists and featuring the Chattanooga Girls Choir will be held at 5 p.m. Sunday, March 14, at the church.

St. Stephen, Chattanooga ■ Steve Underwood presented a free

CPR workshop Feb. 28.

■ A flat-screen television and gently

used recliners are needed for the senior center. Call Ita at 423-894-9652 to donate.

Cumberland Mountain Deanery

All Saints, Knoxville

St. Mary, Oak Ridge ■ More than 60 women attended a day of reflection, organized by Mary Layton and JoEllen Iacovino, on Feb. 11.

■ A volunteer is needed to mow and care for the rectory and church courtyards. Call Lawrence O’Rourke at 865938-9691 for more information.

St. Thomas the Apostle, Lenoir City ■ The parish is sending the St. Thomas

Five Rivers Deanery

Holy Trinity, Jefferson City ■ Holy Trinity raised $10,412 in four

weeks for its sister parish of St. Pierre in Bainet, Haiti, more than doubling the goal of $5,000. The Jan. 12 earthquake in Haiti destroyed St. Pierre Church.

■ The spiritual-life committee will sponsor a Seder meal at 7 p.m.

Wednesday, March 10. The guest speaker will be Rabbi Louis Zivic of Heska Amuna Synagogue in Knoxville.

At 6 p.m. the committee will host a Lenten meal. Call the parish office at 865-471-0347 for details.

■ The Knights of Columbus will hold their annual St. Patrick’s dinner after the 5 p.m. Mass on Saturday, March 13.

Tickets are $10 each (under 10 free).

■ Newcomer: Ruby Kaplan

Notre Dame, Greeneville

prepare and serve the RCIA luncheon and vigil reception on Holy Saturday, April 3. Contact Tanya at 865-671-2392 or thebelangers@tds.net for details.

■ The men’s ministry’s annual father–daughter dance has been rescheduled for 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 10, in the parish hall. E-mail mclubb@tedfordtellico.com or call Mark at 300-6662 to respond.

■ The youth collected $301.53 in the Souper Bowl of Caring on Feb. 7 to benefit Notre Dame’s sister parish of Immaculate Conception in Roseaux, Haiti.

■ Anniversary: James and Theresa Slemp (10)

host a St. Patrick’s Day covered-dish dinner and talent show beginning at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, March 14, in Blessed Sacrament Hall. Call Gett Shooster at 865-376-7645.

OLPH, LaFollette

St. Patrick, Morristown

■ Lenten fish fries are held each Fri-

■ Prayer partners are needed for

day during Lent from 5 to 8 p.m. in the activity center. Costs are $10 per adult and $5 for children 8 and under.

second-graders preparing to receive their first Holy Communion at the 9 a.m. Mass on Sunday, April 18. Contact Allison McKenna at 423-585-0472 or Allison@mckennasmiles.com for more information.

St. Ann, Lancing ■ Paul Simoneau, director of the dio-

cesan Office of Justice and Peace, will discuss the importance of the Church’s involvement in social-justice issues after the Stations of the Cross on Friday, March 5. Stations will begin at 6:30 p.m., and Mr. Simoneau will speak during the supper that follows. Parishioners of Father Michael Sweeney’s other parishes of Blessed Sacrament in Harriman and St. Christopher in Jamestown are welcome to attend too, but they should call Father Sweeney at 865-882-9839 to reserve a place.

St. Francis of Assisi, Fairfield Glade ■ A St. Patrick’s Day dinner will be

served at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 14, in Sheehan Hall. The menu will feature corned beef, cabbage, carrots, and potatoes. Bring a nonperishable food item for St. Alphonsus Community Services. Cost is $5.

■ The parish book club will meet at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 24, in 4

■

MARCH 7, 2010

Some of the St. Bridget kitchen construction crew members pause for a picture. From left are Chip Garland, Richard Lehoullier, Bill Ward, and Jim Nordell.

BREAK TIME

Team effort goes into remodeled kitchen at St. Bridget t. Bridget Church in Dayton is sporting a new kitchen. The well-used kitchen was showing signs of wear, and appliances needed to be replaced.

Father Sam Sturm met with members of the Council of Catholic Women and other parishioners to see whether it was feasible to completely remodel the existing kitchen. The CCW and the Knights of Columbus committed money to the project, and the rest was paid for with donations from parishioners.

S

Parishioners gave not only of their treasure but also their time and talent. Jim Nordell planned and managed the construction.

Debbie Ward and Carolyn Patterson coordinated the volunteers.

Mrs. Patterson was also charged with purchasing responsibilities.

With all of the help that come forward, the huge project took only a couple of months.

The culmination of the project was a thank-you dinner prepared in the new kitchen by Father Sturm for all the volunteers. ■

St. Dominic, Kingsport ■ Those who have taken part in Retrouvaille are invited to join a CORE (Continuing Our Retrouvaille Experience) community. Contact Kelly or Heather Neuner at 423-839-1408 or help4marriage@gmail.com. All meetings will be held on third Saturdays.

■ Spaces are available in the completed parish columbarium. Call the office at 423-288-8101.

■ The Council of Catholic Women will

St. Jude CCW wishes Father Burton a happy birthday The Council of Catholic Women at St. Jude Parish in Chattanooga hosted a birthday luncheon for Father Charlie Burton on Feb. 16 in the parish life center. More than 80 parishioners gathered to offer birthday wishes for the St. Jude pastor, who was born Feb. 17. With the pastor above are (from left) Jennifer Huinker, Cathy Palisoc, Suzanne Erpenbach—a guest from Knoxville and the province director for the CCW—Theresa Reddick, and Ann Respess.

Treasure Chest of Family Prayer home with parishioners each Sunday.

Included are resources to help family members pray together. Call Jill at 865986-9885 for details.

■ The 10th annual St. Patrick’s Dinner Dance will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 17. Cost: $22.50; includes corned-beef-and-cabbage dinner and complete beverage service of wine, beer, and soft drinks. Call Steve McAvoy at 865-408-9826 or Dennis Preston at 458-9004.

■ Newcomers: Sandra Hall; David and Anne Pecot

■ Former RCIA members are asked to

Blessed Sacrament, Harriman

COURTESY OF CATHY PALISOC

BY TONI PACITTI

COURTESY OF ROSA AYALA

NOTES

Smoky Mountain Deanery

Holy Ghost, Knoxville ■ The prayer-shawl ministry is seek-

ing volunteers to crochet or knit shawls for shut-ins. Donations of yarn are appreciated. Contact Carolyn at 865-599-3713 or carolyn.toal@yahoo. com for more information.

Immaculate Conception, Knoxville ■ Parishioners are invited to place

gifts, cards, or personal notes in mailboxes for those who will be received into the Church at Easter. The mailboxes may be found at the entrance of the church.

■ The women’s group will host the Smoky Mountain Deanery Council of Catholic Women’s general spring meeting from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 13. Mass will be celebrated. Cost for lunch is $6. Call Pat Wade at 865-539-5314.

Parish notes continued on page 5

COURTESY OF PAM RHOADES

parish

Class Christmas project benefits cancer patients Sacred Heart Cathedral School fifth-grade students celebrated a class Christmas party with a purpose Dec. 20. The students made rice bags for chemotherapy patients at the University of Tennessee Medical Center. SHCS parent Melinda Widmer provided the materials and sewed the bags, and students filled them with rice and stitched the ends. The students also created homemade Christmas cards for the patients. Rice bags may be heated in the microwave and used as warming pads for painful areas.

Pictured are (from left, front) Colin Baker, Noah Monnarez, and Jackson Sparks and (back) Madeline Boehm, Kate Albritton, and Emily Radney.

Annual baseball doubleheader to help Catholic Charities he seventh annual Fighting Irish– Warriors Spring Classic, a high school baseball doubleheader benefiting Catholic Charities of East Tennessee, is set for Saturday, May 1, at Smokies Park in Kodak.

Knoxville Catholic High School will take on Gibbs in the second game at 7 p.m.

The evening will be-

T

www.d ioknox.org

gin with a concert at 4 p.m. by the Grace Christian Academy high school ensemble.

The special-events choir from St. Joseph School in Knoxville will also perform.

The Warriors of Christian Academy of Knoxville will play Grace Christian in the first game at 5.

Tickets for adults are $4 in advance

(group of 10 or more), $5 in advance for singles, or $6 at the gate.

Student tickets are $2 in advance for a group of 10 or more, $3 in advance for singles, or $4 at the gate.

To purchase tickets, call KCHS at 865560-0313, CCET’s Pregnancy Help Center at 212-4942, or the other participating schools. ■

TH E E A S T TE N N E S S E E C ATH OLI C

St. Joseph School in Knoxville will host the eighth annual Sister Jolita Irish Supper and Sing-Along from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, March 13. The event is named for Sister Mary Jolita Hughes, RSM, a longtime St. Joseph teacher who died in 2001. Proceeds benefit the Sister Jolita Student Assistance Fund. Costs are $7.50 for adults, $5 for children, and $20 for families.

Call Jan Johnsson at 865-689-3424.

Notre Dame High School is holding its second annual St. Patrick’s Irish Ball fundraiser from 7 to 11:30 p.m. Saturday, March 13, at the National Guard Armory on Holtzclaw Avenue. The evening will include a silent auction, dinner, dancing, and music by Heart to Heart. Dress is “St. Patrick’s cocktail casual.” Tickets are $40 in advance or $45 at the door. Proceeds will go toward renovation of the school science labs. Register online at alumni.myndhs. com. Contact Veronica Seaman at seamanv@myndhs.com for details.

St. Patrick Parish in Morristown will host its ninth annual Irish Adventure Rally and Shamrock Shenanigans on Saturday, March 13. Road rally checkin starts at 2 p.m. and the rally at 3, with the event beginning and ending in the church parking lot. The party starts at 7 p.m. Mass will be celebrated at 5 p.m. Drawings will be held during the party for door prizes and a trip to Ireland. For the rally, costs are $40 per car for a two-person team (driver must be at least 21) and $10 apiece for up to two additional passengers (who must be at least 10). Party tickets are $30 each. A two-person rally team can pay $90 to enter the rally and receive two party tickets. Sponsorships are available. Tickets will be sold after Masses and at the parish office. For more information, contact Donna Thoraval at 423-586-5913 or stpatsccw @gmail.com, or visit stpatrick morristown.net.

The Catholic Middle School varsity baseball team in Knoxville began play March 1 with a game against Carter and was scheduled to take on Cedar Bluff on March 3. Remaining games, all at Lakeshore Park, are set for 5:30 p.m.

March 8 vs. Gibbs, 7:30 p.m. March 15 vs. Gresham, 5:30 p.m. March 19 vs.

Karns, 5:30 p.m. March 22 vs. Maryville, 5:30 p.m. March 26 vs. Northwest, 7:30 p.m. April 14 vs. Oak Ridge, 7:30 p.m. April 19 vs. Powell B, and 7:30 p.m. April 21 vs. South-Doyle. The Gibbs, Gresham, Oak Ridge, and South-Doyle games will be played on River field and the others on Anderson field.

Knights of Columbus Council 610 will host a “Black & White Ball,” an evening of dining and fellowship from 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, March 27, at the Loose Cannon Gallery in Chattanooga. The event will benefit the Firth family, who have lost two children to cancer and have another child battling cancer. Dress is formal. Costs: $40 per couple, $20 for singles.

The fourth annual Catholic Relief Services Food Fast will begin at noon Saturday, March 27, and end at the 1:30 p.m. Mass in Spanish on Sunday, March 28, at St. Mary Church in Oak Ridge. The fast is sponsored by the Pastoral Juvenil Hispana, the diocesan Hispanic youth and young-adult ministry. Funds collected will be donated to CRS for its programs to defeat infant mortality in Guatemala. For more information, contact Mario Merida at 865-640-2202 or r.luis99@yahoo.com or Lourdes Garza in the diocesan Office of Hispanic Ministry at 637-4769 or lacosecha@dioknox.org.

The next “Picture of Love” engagedcouples retreat will begin at 9 a.m.

Saturday, March 13, in the parish life center at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Chattanooga. This one-day marriage-preparation retreat is a supplement to couples’ marriage formation with their parish priest and is designed to help couples gain a better understanding of the joys and challenges of living the sacrament of matrimony in their day-to-day lives. The day will include a light breakfast, lunch, and dinner and end with Mass at 7 p.m. Cost is $135 per couple. The retreat certificate is good for a $60 disTH E EA S T TE N N E S S E E C AT H OL IC

National council speakers leading KDCCW workshops

BY TONI PACITTI

count on a marriage license. To register or learn more, contact Marian Christiana of the diocesan Office of Marriage Preparation and Enrichment at 423-892-2310 or mchristiana@dioknox.org.

The Sevier County chapter of Tennessee Right to Life will meet at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 4, at the Pigeon Forge Library. Final plans will be made for the chapter’s oratory contest.

A video on stem cells and cloning will be shown. Everyone is invited to attend. For more information, call 865908-2689 or 908-1968.

A pilgrimage to Fatima and Ireland with Father Patrick Resen of St. Catherine Labouré in Copperhill, departing from Knoxville, is planned for April 12 through 21. The trip features local guides, Mass each day, and plenty of time for touring and sightseeing.

The cost from New York is $2,899.

Breakfast and dinner are included. For more information, contact Dolores Maglione at 865-982-0090 or maglioned@bellsouth.net.

The seventh annual Chattanoogans for Life banquet has been set for 7 p.m. Friday, April 23, at the Chattanoogan hotel. The theme is adoption.

Singer and pro-life advocate Jaime Thietten is the guest speaker this year.

Tickets are $50 or $400 for a table for eight. To reserve a spot or a table, call Sue Shranko at 423-825-5912. To learn more or volunteer, call Kitty at 322-8356 or 290-7314 or visit chattanoogansforlife.org.

A Seekers of Silence Contemplative Saturday Morning will be held Saturday, March 20, at John XXIII Catholic Center in Knoxville. The meeting will take place on Contemplative Outreach’s United in Prayer Day, and the group will view a new video featuring Father Thomas Keating, OCSO. Coffee and tea will be served at 8:30 a.m.; the workshop will run from 9 a.m. to noon.

Bring a bag lunch. To RSVP, call 865523-7931.

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

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

he Knoxville Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (KDCCW) will hold its annual convention April 22 through 24 in the family-life center at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Lenoir City.

The theme of “Women of Faith, Women of Action” will be the basis for interactive workshops led by Kathy Bonner and Linda Clark, National CCW Leadership Training Development team members, on a variety of topics that can be employed not only in CCW but also in the parish, community, home, and work. Ms. Bonner and Ms. Clark have both helped to develop the newest NCCW leadership-development materials.

Ms. Bonner, a Chicago native now living in Orlando, has been involved in the CCW from the parish level to the NCCW level as second vice president. She has addressed audiences across the country about domestic violence and written many articles for pub-

T

COURTESY OF SALLY JACKSON (2)

CALENDAR

Kathy Bonner

Linda Clark

lications including Catholic Woman magazine. She has served on church and civic boards, including Catholic Charities and the Governor’s Task Force Against Domestic Violence.

She has produced and directed variety shows and is an international motivational speaker with more than 35 years of experience.

Ms. Clark, who grew up in Arlington, Va., and moved to Florida 25 years ago, has been a management consultant for more than 35 years.

She is the business administrator for the Catholic Community of St. Paul and a senior producer for the Catholic Community Television Network.

She has served on all levels of CCW, in-

cluding the national level for the past 10 years as organization chair, on finance and planning committees, and as one of the original members appointed to write the new Leadership Training Development materials.

The KDCCW convention is open to all women. The opening of the convention is the annual Mass for all deceased women of the diocese, to be celebrated by Bishop Richard F. Stika at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 22, followed by a banquet in the family-life center. To learn more or register for the convention, visit kdccw.org or e-mail sallyajackson@ bellsouth.net or bettetv410@ chartertn.net. ■

Catholic Day on the Hill events set for adults, students he annual Catholic Day on the Hill events are coming up soon in Nashville.

Catholic Day on the Hill for adults will be held Wednesday, March 24, and Catholic Schools Day on the Hill will take place Wednesday, April 14.

Adults and students will have an opportunity to advocate with their legislators at the state capitol on issues of importance to the Church and attend Mass at St. Mary of the Seven Sorrows Church downtown. All three of the state’s bishops are scheduled to concelebrate the Mass for the adults’ Day on the Hill. The adult agenda may also afford time to watch a House or Senate session.

T

Students will have a morning discussion and debate on current policy issues.

Registration deadlines are March 12 for the adult day and March 26 for the schools day.

Costs are $30 for adults, $20 for students, and $20 for teachers and chaperones. When forms and fees have been received, registrants will receive the final agenda, preparation materials, and information on Catholic Day on the Hill via e-mail.

For more information, contact Kathleen Murphy at 615-8284713 or tncppc@bellsouth.net.

Download a registration form and tentative agendas for the adult and student days at tncppc.org. ■

Mass in the extraordinary form (“traditional Latin”) is celebrated at 1:30 p.m. each Sunday at Holy Ghost Church in Knoxville, at 3 p.m. on first and third Sundays at St. Thérèse of Lisieux Church in Cleveland, and at 3 p.m. on second and fourth Sundays at St. Joseph the Worker in Madisonville. Visit www.knoxlatinmass.net for details.

Upcoming events for Catholic Singles of Greater Knoxville (40 and over) include the following: ■ Sunday, March 7: Easy to moderate hike. Meet in the All Saints Church parking lot near the pavilion at 9:30 a.m. Call Randy S. at 865-556-3781.

■ Tuesday, March 9: Free line-dance lessons in the Sacred Heart Cathedral school gym, 6:30 p.m. Continues Tuesdays through April 27. E-mail llmorrison99@yahoo.com.

■ Wednesday, March 10: Coffee at Cedar Bluff Panera Bread, 6:30 p.m.

Call Randy S. at 556-3781.

■ Friday, March 12: Dinner at 6 p.m. and Stations of the Cross at 7 at All Saints, both sponsored by the singles.

Contact Sheila M. at 384-9654 or bulldogsx22000@yahoo.com.

■ Saturday, March 13: Dinner and/or a movie. Meet at Ramon’s Pizza at 5:30 p.m. Call Patty at 566-8881 if you wish to attend only the movie.

■ Wednesday, March 17: Meet at Gail’s for corned beef, boiled potatoes, and cabbage at 7 p.m. Cost: $5. RSVP

by March 15 to 966-8205 or gbraunsroth@charter.net.

■ Saturday, March 20: “BYOC (bring your own chair, but no loungers) party” at Jan’s. Finger foods supplied; bring your own drink. Contact Jan at 7423193 or janmm52@hotmail.com. ■

COURTESY OF GEORGE LECRONE SR.

on the

Scouting committee presents awards at annual bishop’s dinner The Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting held its annual Bishop’s Gathering and Recognition on Feb. 20 at Rothchild Catering & Conference Center in Knoxville.

The bishop’s dinner was the first for Bishop Richard F. Stika as Knoxville’s shepherd.

Scouting committee chairman George LeCrone Sr. presented the Quality Diocese Award from the National Catholic Committee on Scouting to Bishop Stika. Giannine Morris, pictured above with other honorees, received the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Award for service to Girl Scouts. With the bishop above (from left, front) are Sarah Hendershott, Jean Young, Mrs. Morris, Scouting chaplain Deacon Otto Preske, Angeline Morris, Jonathan McGee, and Kathy McGee and (back) Sister Andrea Marie, OP, Robert Forney, and Mr. LeCrone.

Parish notes continued from page 4

■ Father Gerard “Jerry” Tully, CSP,

will be assisting at IC for the next few months.

Our Lady of Fatima, Alcoa ■ The St. Michael Prayer is being

prayed after daily Masses for the protection of the unborn.

■ A pancake breakfast will be served from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, March

www.d ioknox.org

7, in the Fatima Center to benefit Haiti recovery operations.

■ The 55-Plus group hosted potluck and bingo Feb. 24 in remembrance of Cis McCorkle, who was instrumental in forming the group.

St. Albert the Great, Knoxville ■ Baptism: Lane David, son of Michelle and Keith Harris ■ MARCH 7, 2010

■

5

Catholic radio show in Spanish launched in East Tennessee

BY L O U RD E S GAR ZA

or some time now, we have been preparing to broadcast a Catholic radio program in Spanish in the central area of the diocese, primarily Knoxville and Lenoir City. About three to four hours of Sunday programming in Spanish are already broadcast in this area, produced by native Hispanic Pentecostal and Evangelical preachers.

Our new radio show, Hora Católica, is sponsored by the diocesan Hispanic Ministry Office and St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Lenoir City.

Our programming airs on Wednesdays at noon for 30 minutes and on Sundays at 10 a.m. for an hour. It can be heard on WKZX-FM 93.5.

An important part of our decision to have the radio program in Spanish is the availability of programming provided by Tu Compañero Católico, which is sponsored by the U.S. bishops’ Catholic Communication Campaign. We have carefully reviewed Tu Compañero Católico’s materials and are very pleased with them. We are very encouraged that they are available to us and that we can use them to spread the teachings of the Church. We cannot express enough how valuable this tool is to us.

The other resource material being used for the radio show comes from Hombre Nuevo, an organization with 24/7 radio coverage. Hombre Nuevo is sharing its resources with us for free.

The first series of programs we are airing is titled “Por que Soy Católico” (“Why Am I Catholic”) by Father Juan Rivas, LC. It is a series on apologetics with a strong message on Catholic teachings and evangelization.

Our program began on Feb. 1, and we will need the continued support of programming materials from Tu Compañero Católico to continue evangelizing Hispanics in this area of the diocese. It is critically important, as Protestant churches in East Tennessee often carry out aggressive proselytizing efforts toward Hispanics.

Catholics constitute barely 3 percent of the population, so our own evangelization and missionary efforts must be very precise and effective.

This programming effort has had the support of

F

Radio continued on page 9

6

■

MARCH 7, 2010

DAN MCWILLIAMS

Election continued from page 1

In our parish churches there is also a special presidential chair for the pastor or his delegate, another priest, to lead that portion of God’s people in public worship. Lent, as we all know, offers ample opportunity for public worship, liturgy at its best. Once we do the Triduum according to the mind of the Church, there can be no doubt that Jesus will have risen as he said.

The first of the two solemnities is of St. Joseph, March 19, our bishop’s first anniversary as our shepherd. Yay, bishop! This gives added reason for celebration that day, even though we’re still in Lent. We could tie on the feedbag with our families and dine at one of the several Lenten fish dinners available at parishes throughout the diocese. Yay, St. Joseph!

The Thursday following, March 25, is the solemnity of the Annunciation of Our Blessed Lady and the Incarnation of her Son, our Lord and God. On that day, just as on Christmas nine months later, we not only bow at significant words, we genuflect at the words and became man as we profess our faith with the creed. And it’s not even Holy Week yet.

But Father, you skipped over St. Patrick’s Day! Yes I did. And although St. Patrick is mentioned only in passing in our Liturgy of the Hours and at holy Mass that day, I personally am going to celebrate it by way of anticipation at Father Ragan Schriver’s Catholic Charities dinner the very next day and precede all that by dining at St. Joseph School’s Sister Jolita Irish Supper and Sing-Along on March 13: great fun, food, fellowship, and an opportunity to acquire some Irish “stuff”—crystal, linen, needlework, etc. Wear your green and come—5 to 8 p.m. at St. Joseph School.

As we rejoice throughout the diocese that sisters of the St. Cecilia Dominicans will be returning to venerable Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga, for the 2010-11 school year, I remember my classmate from first grade at St. Mary School in Knoxville, 1941-42, Joe Ann Hughes, who as a Sister of Mercy of the Union gave herself and generously spent herself for the salvation of souls and the improvement of minds (she was a master teacher and principal) to the glory and honor of God. Bishop Stika will be home soon, and in his name I invite you to celebrate with him and all your priests the Mass of Chrism this year at Sacred Heart Cathedral at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday in Holy Week, March 30. That occasion presents a bishop at his very best, blessing the chrism and other holy oils used throughout the diocese during the coming year in the celebration of the sacraments.

You know I’m not even sure that I really don’t like Lent anymore, but I am sure that I still love it very much. ■

‘ENTER FULLY INTO THE LIFE’ Bishop

Stika signs the Book of the Elect ratifying the call of the candidates for St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish in Cleveland during the Rite of Election at St. Stephen. Looking on is St. Thérèse associate pastor Father Michael Maples, who attended the ceremony with pastor Father Peter Iorio.

Catechumens have never been baptized and will receive the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and Eucharist at the Easter vigil. Candidates have been baptized and will be confirmed and receive the Eucharist at the Easter Vigil.

At St. Stephen, Father Gilbert Diaz and Deacon Gary Brinkworth of the host parish and diocesan emcee Father Tony Dickerson joined the bishop for the celebration.

Bishop Stika began his homily by offering his congratulations to the newcomers.

“Please know that daily, moment to moment, anytime I pray—even though I might not know you by name or by your faces—you’re in my prayers,” he said. “That’s the joy and the beauty of belonging to the Church: anytime you breathe, move, or think, there are other people in this world—and for the Catholic Church, [that’s] over a billion people—who are praying for you, celebrating with you, and honoring you with their prayers as they place them before God.” The bishop said that the catechumens and candidates will “progress to more knowledge” of the Church’s teachings and traditions but that “it all comes down to this: God so loved the world that

he sent his only son into the life of the world and into our own personal lives so that we might know God just a bit more. God sent his son, Jesus, into this world so that we might know the power of forgiveness.”

Deacon Brinkworth, St. Stephen’s interim director of religious education, began the rite—following the homily— by presenting the catechumens to the bishop. Parish RCIA leaders called the names of their catechumens, and the choir sang “Deep Within” after each group was introduced.

Bishop Stika asked the godparents whether their charges “have faithfully listened to God’s word proclaimed by the Church” and “have responded to that word and begun to walk in God’s presence.” The bishop secured the catechumens’ promise “to enter fully into the life of the Church.”

The bishop then signed each parish’s Book of the Elect and greeted the catechumens and godparents individually.

The rite continued as Deacon Brinkworth presented the candidates to the bishop and RCIA leaders introduced the candidates and sponsors.

Bishop Stika asked the sponsors several questions, including whether the candi-

dates “have come to a deeper appreciation of their baptism, in which they were joined to Christ and his Church.”

The candidates also declared their wish “to enter fully into the life of the Church.”

The bishop ratified their call by signing the Book of the Elect and greeted the candidates and sponsors as each RCIA leader presented the book.

His signing the book made the newcomers “part of our history” in the diocese, said Bishop Stika.

“It’s part of the fabric of who we are as the Catholic Church of East Tennessee. . . .

I pray that God might bless you and be with you as you progress in these next weeks and that you might discover more about the beauty of what it means to be a Catholic, a Christian, and a child of God.” The bishop concluded the celebration by adding a surprise requirement for the RCIA class members.

“I don’t know if they told you, but at the end of this whole process, there’s one question they’re going to ask you: name all the popes from St. Peter to Pope Benedict.

“If you can do that, you can be the bishop, because I can’t.” ■

COURTESY OF CINDY KEDROWSKI

Mankel continued from page 3

East Tennessee Catholics participate in National March for Life Chattanoogans for Life took 100 students and chaperones to participate in the National March for Life in Washington, D.C., in January. Father Augustine Idra, AJ, spiritual director at Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga, accompanied the buses. Above, the group poses on the steps of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on Jan. 22. The buses left on the evening of Jan. 20 and arrived in Washington in late morning. The group visited the Holocaust Museum, checked into The Catholic University of America, went to the basilica for Mass, and returned to the university to sleep on the gym floor. On Jan. 22, the day of the march, the travelers attended Mass at the basilica, where Cardinal Justin F. Rigali and Bishop Richard F. Stika were among the celebrants. www.d ioknox.org

TH E E A S T TE N N E S S E E C ATH OLI C

our

PRIESTS

BY MARGARET HUNT

‘We’ve got to understand God as family’ Father Hofstetter recalls the roots of his vocation and speaks about the rewards of the priestly life.

ather Bob Hofstetter was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Nashville on May 1, 1954. He is the youngest of six children born to Marguerite and Oscar Hofstetter, and he grew up in Nashville.

Since 2005 he has served as pastor of Good Shepherd Church in Newport. Father Hofstetter also serves as dean of the Five Rivers Deanery.

Tell us about your family growing up.

I grew up in a Catholic family.

My mother went to Mass every day. I can remember as a grade school kid how proud I was to see Mother there when the schoolchildren went to Mass. I was one of six children. I have two sisters who are Dominican sisters. Dad would go to daily Mass on Saturdays, and after he started slowing down a little bit from work, he would go more often, so I grew up in a family that was very much Catholic.

My sisters and I have about 175 years total of service to the church. Both of them have been sisters for more than 60 years, and I’m 55 years a priest, so we’ve been at it a long time.

I was taught by the St. Cecilia Dominicans in grade school, and I’m sure they fostered that vocation by little hints and little suggestions and so forth. Then I went to Father Ryan High School, and of course at that time, it was staffed almost totally by priests. The Mercy Sisters were there too. With the exception of that and the coaches, we were taught by priests, and I’m sure they taught by their lifestyle and by their friendship certainly encouraged me to be a priest.

When I came home from college at the University of Notre Dame, my first Christmas, Monsignor Joe Siener was our pastor at that time.

He gave a homily on vocations, and after Mass I went back and said, ‘I’ll go, what do I do?’ That was it. The idea subconsciously was that God had been working all along, but that brought it to the surface, and from that day, some 60 years ago or more, I’ve never doubted that this is the way it ought to be.

What books have been most helpful to you in your spiritual life?

When I was in college, The Seven Storey Mountain (Har-

called to

FOLLOW

DEACON PATRICK MURPHY-RACEY

F

Father Bob Hofstetter

court, Brace & Co., 1948) by Thomas Merton came out. I began to read Merton, and then I made my ordination retreat at Gethsemani. I made a retreat there for probably 17 or 18 years, so Merton is deeply influential in my spiritual life.

Henri Nouwen is a great writer. He wrote with tremendous depth and was a very readable person. I find him a very inspiring person. His book Reaching Out (Image Books, 1986) is a classic. It’s a reaching out toward others, a reaching out to our inner self, and a reaching out toward God. It’s a very simple outline.

Probably because of Merton I’m reading and we’re studying in the parish a very wonderful book by Brian Pierce called We Walk the Path Together (Orbis Books, 2005), and it’s a book that takes the spirituality of Meister Eckhart, who was a 13th-century mystic, and shows how he says much the same thing that Thich Nhat Hanh—the Buddhist monk who writes so much on Christianity— [says], how basically their spirituality is the same. It’s a fascinating book. Brian Pierce is an excellent writer. To hear him reflect on baptism and the Eucharist in terms of those two backgrounds, I find very exciting.

What part of your life as a priest has been most satisfying?

I think the richest part is meeting the wonderful people I’ve met over the years. As we went into the seminary, we were kind of trained that we were there to get holy and to take care of those people out there. You soon learn that that’s where the holy people are and that they’re going to take care of you.

BY SUZANNE ERPENBACH

Lent as pilgrimage Walking in the footsteps of Christ is a life-changing experience.

Moving clocks ahead an hour (on March 14 this year) is an annual event, yet the words fast forward focused my attention in a new way on stewardship, relationships with God and others, and the experience of Lent 2010.

The loss of an hour causes people to notice the change.

Time is precious, no matter what hour, season, or happening. This Lent, try keeping a log of your use of time over a TH E E A S T TE N N E S S E E C AT H OL IC

week. Discover where and how your hours are really being dedicated. Is redirection needed? What can and will you do to make changes?

We fast forward in so many ways that it is easy to get caught up in a whirlwind of happenings and forget or miss what can be of greatest importance. Reflecting on the good things and blessings of each day and looking for the presence of God in each, we can enhance our use and appreciation of time and life. We might find that there are too many blessings to count.

Taking cues from Christ’s life, we can plan a personal getaway for prayer and reflec-

The most valuable part of my overall philosophy is the idea of family. I really believe that parishes are family, and that’s been my thrust ever since I’ve been a pastor—to invite us into a family kind of spirit. That’s not only a nicesounding thing: I think it’s a tremendously profound thing because I think if we’re going to understand God, we’ve got to understand God as family.

If any of you have read The Shack (Windblown Media, 2007) by William Paul Young, it’s a beautiful expression that God is family, and when you live that way, two things happen. First of all, you are going to be a part of the wonderful family of your parish, and then you can invite your parish to be a family with one another.

As I say, that’s the way we learn something about what it means to be Father, Son, and Spirit—the giving, receiving, and love that are born of that, and that’s maybe the richest bit of philosophy in my priesthood.

What has been the biggest challenge for you as a priest?

When I was going through the seminary, we were right on the edge of the whole Vatican II world, and because I was very interested in liturgy, I was eager for all of the changes that took place. So when Vatican II came out and the changes came, I was ready for it.

As a matter of fact, I was one of the avant-garde kind of teachers at that time, and it’s been very interesting to me to watch as we have gotten into the last few years, as we’re moving back to a more conservative kind of church, and I’ve laughed about it a lot.

We’re getting now what we did to the old priests many years ago. Probably what I’ve learned from that is, whether it’s a real Vatican II kind of wonderful new liturgy or whether it’s the more conservative, legalistic kind of liturgy that we’re getting back to now and generally ecclesiology along with that—they’re exercises.

And what really matters is that in whichever direction we have to go, we have a deep respect for ourselves and others and that we grow in love for others and love for the Church—that’s what matters. ■

tion. Like Christ, we can also focus on knowing and serving others through our conversations and interactions.

We might also reflect on past Lents. Recall the people who helped to make them memorable. Assess how they made a difference. Evaluate what might make this Lent more spiritually enriching and beneficial. Then make it happen.

Reflect on Christ’s life and ministry. Consider the people he met, the places he traveled, and the works he performed.

So much can still be experienced thousands of years later.

Pilgrimages bring multitudes of people each year to the Holy Land to see where Christ was born, lived, taught, ministered, and died. People of all religions, races, cultures, and ages gather with a desire to learn more about him.

It’s truly a life-changing experience to walk the roads Christ and his disciples trav-

Q and A with seminarian Michael Hendershott

BY DA N MCW I L L I A MS

ichael Hendershott is a junior in the College Division of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pa. He is a son of Howard and Susan Hendershott of Farragut. His home parish is St. John Neumann in Farragut.

M

What is your most challenging course in seminary and why?

Metaphysics, because it stretches my mind greatly. This course has such a wide scope that proper training is essential and laborious, but at the same time these efforts are very rewarding. Although it’s my most challenging course, it is one of my most important courses in the philosophy school because it is the handmaid of theology.

What is your favorite course and why?

Ecclesiastical Latin, because I see the importance of the Latin language throughout the history of the Church as we study the Vulgate, liturgy, the Fathers of the Church, medieval Latin, ecumenical councils, and modern ecclesiastical Latin.

What do you most look forward to in your future life as a priest?

I look forward especially to celebrating Holy Mass and hearing confessions. I also look forward to helping the bishop in his care of souls while serving the faithful of our diocese.

Who are your inspirations as a seminarian, and why?

The priests of the diocese who provide a good example of priestly service, especially Father John Dowling and Father John Arthur Orr. I am also encouraged by St. John Vianney and St. Thomas Aquinas to live heroic virtue in fidelity to God’s grace.

How old were you when you first considered the priesthood?

I was about 10 years old when Father Dowling mentioned the idea of the priesthood to me. He planted this seed that sprouted about eight years later. This encouragement was very effective for me, and I hope that other young men can receive the same encouragement to pursue the priesthood.

What things about you have changed the most as a seminarian?

My outlook on life has changed the most. I have begun to see the world as it truly is. I see the devastating effects of original sin, while at the same time I see the wondrous workings of God’s grace. This view helps me to see the importance of the Church, especially her sacraments.

Along with their prayers for you, is there another way East Tennessee Catholics can support you?

A good way to support seminarians is to send care packages or letters. This helps us stay connected with the diocese, especially because we are far away and visit infrequently. ■

marriage

ENRICHMENT

The beauty of sacrifice

BY M A RI A N CHR I S T I A NA

he season of Lent is upon us. Lent is an opportunity to change our behavior and our vision so we can recognize the presence of the Lord in our lives. This understanding gives meaning to our sacrifices and allows them to become a source of strength as well as an exercise of devotion.

How can this time of reflection and sacrifice improve your marriage relationship? Try practicing your Lenten promises as a couple. You still have time to incorporate this practice into your Lenten experience.

This month’s date focuses on sacrifice. Sacrifice can make us more aware of the Lord in our lives and less focused on ourselves and help us become better wives and husbands.

■ Bundle up and take a walk together. Recall a time when your partner sacrificed for the good of your relationship and the family. Take turns sharing your remembrances and thank each other for his or her gift of self.

■ Discuss the impact each sacrifice has had on your relationship or family. How has recognizing your spouse’s sacrifice helped you see God in your marriage?

■ Together decide on a Lenten sacrifice you will do together for the good of your family, parish, or community. Commit to and implement your promise for the rest of Lent.

■ Thank God for each other and for the opportunity to share God’s presence in your life. ■

T

Erpenbach continued on page 8

www.d ioknox.org

MARCH 7, 2010

■

7

Award-winning Christian recording artist Matt Maher will perform at KCHS on March 14 ongwriter, recording artist, and worship leader Matt Maher will give a concert, Alive Again!, at Knoxville Catholic High School at 6:30 p.m.

Sunday, March 14. The event is sponsored by the diocesan Youth and Young Adult Ministry Office.

The evening of praise and worship will begin with a free dinner from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. The program is designed for ages 13 and up. Mr. Maher will be joined by inspirational guest speaker Paul George of Adore Ministries.

Tickets may be purchased online at dioknox. org or bit.ly/aliveagain for $8 or at the door for $10. A “free will” offering will also be taken during the evening. Profits will be used to benefit Haiti relief efforts.

Mr. Maher’s music can be heard on Christian radio stations, including WYLV-FM 89.1 in Knoxville. He recently received six nominations for the annual GMA Dove Awards in categories including Song of the Year, Worship Song of the Year, and Praise and Worship Album of the Year. His hit single, “Alive Again,” was named Best Christian and Gospel Single of 2009 by the Apple iTunes Store.

He first gained notice as the writer of “Your Grace Is Enough,” from his 2008 project, Empty & Beautiful. Last fall Mr. Maher was the opening musical host for the American leg of Michael W. Smith’s “New Hallelujah World Tour.”

For more information on Mr. Maher, visit his website, www.mattmahermusic.com.

For details on the concert, call Al Forsythe, diocesan director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, at 865-584-3307 or Shelly Letendre at 806-7070. ■

S

St. Mary Oak Ridge offers Lenten retreats for church musicians and all involved in ministry t. Mary Parish in Oak Ridge is offering two Lenten retreats on March 12 and 13. From 7:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, March 12, internationally known composer, conductor, and lecturer Christopher Walker will lead a Lenten reflection for cantors, singers, and other church musicians.

He is the director of music for St. Paul the Apostle Church in Los Angeles.

From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 13, the parish is sponsoring a retreat for all who minister: teachers, clergy, religious, catechists, lay ministers, musicians, and volunteers of all sorts. The retreat will begin with a focus on personal spirituality and then explore ways to minister more effectively.

Cost of the March 12 event is $15 and of the March 13 event (includes refreshments and lunch) is $30. Cost to attend both is $35.

For more information, contact Francine Britto at 865-482-2875 or franbritto@comcast.net. ■

S

Erpenbach continued from page 7

eled; to view the places where he spent his time; to carry a cross along the Way of the Cross; to put one’s hand into the hole where Christ’s cross was planted, beside the rock that is split down through three levels of the church; to kiss the anointing stone; and to kneel and pray in the tomb where he was laid to rest. It’s inspiring to stand in the cave where Christ taught his disciples how to pray to God the Father. There’s so much to see and absorb.

All these places return to a pilgrim’s thoughts when the Gospels are read, when one thinks of Jesus, or one prays the Our Father.

Dedicate some time this Lent to reading one of the Gospels from start to finish, seeking deeper meaning and appreciation for Christ’s words and deeds. View photos or documentaries on the Holy Land to gain perspective on the area, people, and way of life. Initiate conversations with those who have made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, carefully observing their sensory impressions and reflections. Plan your own “pilgrimage” by studying different aspects of Christ’s ministry and the customs of his day.

On Ash Wednesday we are reminded that life will certainly end for us. Someday each of us will have to give an account to God for our life, particularly in reference to using the gifts we’ve received. God calls and expects us to be good stewards, not occasionally, but as a way of life. Stewardship is about saving souls: ours and others’.

Let our faith and stewardship be reflected in acts of care and kindness, outreach and service, time and prayer as we move forward on life’s journey. We will experience challenges and temptations to part us from stewardship. By staying connected to Jesus and the Holy Eucharist, we can maintain our focus. May this Lent be your best yet in preparation for Easter and your eternal future. God bless you. ■ Mrs. Erpenbach is the director of the diocesan Stewardship and Development Office.

8

■

MARCH 7, 2010

obsessions

BY GINGER HUTTON

Catholic ‘Millennials’ Young adults support life and marriage—yet most buy into moral relativism.

The Knights of Columbus, in collaboration with Marist College, have published an important study on the moral values of “Millennials”—that generation now 18 to 29 years old.

American Millennials: Generations Apart—Religion is fascinating and deserves to be read in its entirety.

It contains some very good news: American Millennials in general and Catholic Millennials in particular are committed to the institution of marriage and believe marital infidelity is wrong. They’re also pro-life: almost 60 percent believe that abortion is morally wrong.

Two ominous statistics stand out, however: 61 percent of American Catholic Millennials answered that it was OK for people of their religion also to practice another religion.

Worse yet, 82 percent said morals are relative and there is no definite right and wrong for everyone. Despite the incessant work of John Paul II and Benedict XVI to educate the faithful against these errors, moral relativism and religious syncretism remain all too common among young Catholics.

How can that be? Perhaps the experience of a Millennial friend of mine, an altar boy turned atheist, will shed some light on the problem. Relatively early in his abandonment of the faith, this bright,

the new

MISSAL

well-informed young man tried an experiment. While on a retreat led by his religiouseducation teachers and attended by Catholic teens, he decided that he would participate fully and enthusiastically but that he would—without identifying them as such—espouse Buddhist rather than Catholic positions.

To his disgust, no one on the retreat noticed. It wasn’t just that no one refuted him publicly. After all, others might choose to do that out of misplaced charity. Rather, he reported that his insights and contributions were enthusiastically praised, that no one seemed to have the slightest qualm about what he said, and that no one during or after the retreat questioned him on any point.

He came away convinced that his teachers didn’t have sufficient knowledge even to distinguish their own faith from another religion. Any lingering respect he had for the Church was obliterated.

Granted, he was already moving away from the faith, or he would never have tried such an experiment. He might have left the Church no matter what. But because not one person on his retreat possessed the necessary formation to see through him and confront him publicly or privately with the discrepancies between what he espoused and what the Church affirms, he ended up leaving with the idea that the Church is a joke.

It doesn’t have to be so bad.

One of the bright points in the Marist study is the finding

BY FATHER RANDY STICE

The Bible in the Mass The new Missal reflects Scripture’s divine words with ‘freshness and power.’

In previous columns we have looked at various aspects of the Mass. First and foremost, it is a unique encounter between the triune God and his people, the event that nourishes and sustains our relationship with God and forms us into the people of God, his body the Church. At the same time, it is an authoritative expression of the Church’s faith—we pray as we believe, and liturgical prayer strengthens and forms us in the faith. The translation of the new Roman Missal is intended to clarify both aspects of the Mass.

A third aspect of the Mass is its biblical character. The Second Vatican Council affirmed the vital relationship between Sacred Scripture and the Liturgy: “Sacred Scripture is of the greatest importance in the celebration of the liturgy. . . . It is from the Scriptures that the prayers, collects, and hymns draw their inspiration and their force, and that actions and signs derive their meaning” (The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, No. 24).

Because of this intrinsic relationship between sacred Scripture and the liturgy, the translation into the vernacular of biblical words and images in the Mass is vitally important.

The power and richness of the www.d ioknox.org

liturgy are diminished when its relationship to Scripture is obscured. This is why one of the key principles of Authentic Liturgy is that “the manner of translating the liturgical books should foster a correspondence between the biblical text itself and the liturgical texts of ecclesiastical composition which contain biblical words or allusions” (No. 49).

Let me give two examples from the new Missal. In the current translation of the Gloria we sing, “Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth.” This is a reference to Luke 2:14, the praise offered by a multitude of the heavenly host to the infant Jesus. In the new Missal we will sing, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will,” a more accurate translation of Luke 2:14. According to the Catechism, the angels’ “song of praise at the birth of Christ has not ceased resounding in the Church’s praise: ‘Glory to God in the highest!’”

This reminds us of an important aspect of the Mass: we are not the only ones present.

“In each celebration of the Eucharist, the Church is taken up into the eternal liturgy in which the entire communion of saints, the heavenly powers, and all of creation give praise to the God of the universe.” As St. John Chrysostom wrote 16 centuries ago: “Think now of what kind of choir you are going to enter. Although vest-

that Millennial Catholics are interested in studying their faith. This is excellent news— and a serious challenge for those of us now teaching the faith. Indeed, the prevalence of relativism and syncretism among the young reveals just as much about older Catholics as younger ones. It points to our own unconscionable failure to proclaim the faith with clarity and conviction.

We are not lacking the tools.

The Scriptures, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and the encyclicals of John Paul II and Benedict XVI are all sufficiently clear. They teach that there is only one God in three Divine Persons, and that God alone is worthy of worship.

It follows that the practice of another religion in addition to Catholicism is logically untenable even if it weren’t contrary to the faith—and it is.

The same documents demonstrate that the moral law is rooted in the nature of God, in truth, and in the God-given dignity of the human person.

The last two popes, in particular, have spoken openly in their encyclicals about the threat moral relativism poses not only to the faith but also to human dignity. If the young are confused, it is not because the Church in her teaching office is unclear on these points.

The problem is one alluded to by the Fathers of Vatican II in Gaudium et Spes (No. 19): “To the extent that [believers] neglect their own training in the faith or teach erroneous doctrine or are deficient in their religious, moral, or social life, they must be said to conceal rather than reveal the authentic face of God and religion.” ■ Miss Hutton is a member of Holy Ghost Parish in Knoxville and a full-time godmother. ed with a body, you have been judged worthy to join the powers of heaven in singing the praises of him who is Lord of all.”

A second example is the prayer before Communion: “Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed.”

This is what the centurion with the sick slave said to Jesus: “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof . . . But say the word, and let my servant be healed” (Luke 7:6-7). With the new Missal we will say what the centurion said: “Lord I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.” And remember, Jesus praised the centurion for his faith and healed his servant.

The words of the centurion can strengthen our faith in Christ’s power to transform our lives and our world.

St. Teresa of Avila was convinced that the Jesus we receive in Communion is the same Jesus who performed such miracles. “Why doubt,” she asks, ”if we have faith, that miracles will be worked while he is within us and that he will give what we ask of him, since he is in our house?

His Majesty is not accustomed to paying poorly for his lodging if the hospitality is good.” For St. Teresa, receiving Communion truly meant that Jesus was “entering under her roof.”

The Mass, permeated with the words and events of sacred Scripture, makes us contemporaries of the heavenly host at the birth of Jesus and of the centurion who implored—and received—the Lord’s mercy. This is why the Second Vatican Council Missal continued on page 9

TH E E A S T TE N N E S S E E C ATH OLI C

catholic

SCHOOLS

from the

PARACLETE

BY VONNIE SPICER

The shadow of the Cross his is year C in the Church’s lectionary, so the Sunday Gospels are taken from Luke. There are, however, reasons to make at least a brief study of Mark’s Gospel during Lent. Mark speaks to catechumens seeking baptism at Easter, to those struggling with faith, and those enduring suffering.

In The Beginning of the Gospel: Introducing the Gospel of Mark, Volume 1 (Liturgical Press, 1999), Eugene LaVerdiere agrees with Frank Matera’s assessment of Mark as a baptismal catechesis.

In What Are They Saying About Mark?

(Paulist Press, 1987) Matera suggests it was read at the Easter vigil to catechumens preparing for baptism on Easter morning.

LaVerdiere goes on to credit Mark with “introducing the theme of the desert . . . a symbolic place associated with repentance, . . . fasting, prayer, solitude, and rest.”

It reminds the catechumens of the sacrifice inherent in baptism and the testing that will follow.

Mark portrays Jesus’ disciples as well-meaning but obtuse people who desert Jesus at his arrest. For those of us struggling with discipleship, believing, and understanding the

TRACEY EPPOLITO

T

Flyover at St. John Neumann School Assistant principal and curriculum coordinator Tracey Eppolito of St. John Neumann School in Farragut took this aerial photo showing the school, St. John Neumann Church, and a human cross on the ball field behind the church.

Nearly 400 students, faculty, and volunteers formed the cross as part of St. John Neumann’s celebration of Catholic Schools Week. Pilot Lee Rayburn took Mrs. Eppolito and fellow staffer Michelle Dougherty up in his plane to shoot the photo.

Students at OLPH School collect items to benefit community, Haiti ur Lady of Perpetual Help School in Chattanooga celebrated Community Day on Feb. 1 during Catholic Schools Week.

As part of their service-learning and community outreach, the students started a project in mid-January. Students in kindergarten through third grade collected items for the Salvation Army. Students in grades four through six collected items for the Pet Placement Center, and students in seventh and eighth grades donated items to the Ronald McDonald House.

The school also responded to the Red Cross in its efforts to help victims of the

OLPH teacher Carleen Evans (left), Barbara Alexander (center) of the Red Cross, and Jules Kinder of Ronald McDonald House are shown with items collected from students.

GIVING BACK

earthquake in Haiti.

On Feb. 1 Jules Kinder of the Ronald McDonald House; Heather King of the Pet Placement Center; Barbara Alexander, the disaster-relief coordinator for the

Red Cross of Chattanooga; and Jennifer Fisher of the Salvation Army came to OLPH and talked to students about how the collected items would help their organizations.

Students collected $1,053.92 for the Red Cross and learned that the money would be used for medical supplies, water, and basic items needed by people in Haiti. ■

Call the store at 865588-0388 or 800-3332097.

Take note of ETC deadlines e welcome submissions about parish and community events. Send notices by e-mail (mary@dioknox.org), fax (865-584-8124), or mail (805 Northshore Drive Southwest, Knoxville, TN 37919). To make sure we receive information about upcoming events in time for publication, please submit it by the following deadlines: ■ Monday, March 8, for the March 21 issue ■ Monday, March 29, for the April 11 issue.

When submitting photos or information about past events, please keep in mind that we have a backlog of submissions. ■

W

Radio continued from page 6

the past and current pastors of St. Thomas—Father David Boettner and Father Christian Mathis, respectively—and the parish’s Spanish-speaking leadership. It is their hope that many fallen-away Catholics will return to the faith.

Research indicates that in the 1950s about 10 percent of Hispanics who came to the United States left the Catholic Church for a Protestant denomination. In the late 1990s the percentage rose to 25 percent—a loss the U.S. bishops have called a “hemorrhage” that must be stopped.

We appreciate the efforts of the Catholic Communication Campaign, which are helping us attain this goal. Little by little we can start to make a difference and invite our Spanish-speaking folks to come back home. Please continue to support Catholic Communication Campaign programs such as Tu Compañero Católico: its evangelization potential is invaluable.

If you would like to help support our evangelization efforts, e-mail lacosecha@dioknox.org or call 865 637-4769. ■

COURTESY OF KATHIE ETHERTON

Sharpshooters at St. Jude School Knights of Columbus Council 8576 recently held its annual freethrow contest at St. Jude School in Chattanooga.

Winners (from left) are St. Jude students and alumni Katie Lamsey, Lizzie Fortin, Nick Burch, Charles Jabaley, Peter Berce, Andrew Lewis, Ryan Mink, Hailey Shelby, and Emily Ray. All advanced to the district-level competition.

COURTESY OF KATHY SUMRELL

O

message and person of Jesus, Mark provides hope and encouragement. LaVerdiere explains that Mark writes for people who “could see themselves mirrored in the life of the disciples with all their hopes, struggles, and failures.”

Matera and others have described Mark’s Gospel as a Passion narrative with an extended introduction. In an article found in the Collegeville Bible Commentary (Prentice Hall, 1999) Marie Noonan Sabin calls it the Gospel of the Cross.

Donald Senior, in The Passion of Jesus in the Gospel of Mark (Liturgical Press, 1991), explains how the entire span of Jesus’ ministry lies in the shadow of the cross. Mark’s Jesus is the suffering servant of Isaiah. Suffering is an integral part of ministry and of the Christian journey.

Our suffering unites us with the Suffering Servant of God. The Paraclete offers excellent resources for the study of Mark’s Gospel: commentaries, introductory volumes, and guided reflections.

Let Mark remind you of the cost of baptism, answer your doubts, and give meaning to suffering. ■

COURTESY OF JAN JOHNSSON

Ms. Garza directs the diocesan Hispanic Ministry Office.

Missal continued from page 8

St. Joseph School Beta Club students, parents fill food baskets Students and parents from the Beta Club at St. Joseph School in Knoxville spent a Saturday afternoon in December helping to fill food baskets for families in need for The Knoxville News Sentinel Empty Stocking Fund. The fund provided 3,500 70-pound food baskets and toys to needy families. Pictured in a warehouse full of baskets are (from left, front) Melissa Summitt, Rebecca LeBouef, and Drew Browning and (back) Danielle Allen, Linden Claytor, Claire McNabb, Lucy Wood, Zach Gee, Derrick Connolly, Hudson Margetts, and Richard Crowell. Not pictured are Monica Armstrong and Beta Club sponsor Debbie Houbre.

TH E EA S T TE N N E S S E E C AT H OL IC

www.d ioknox.org

taught that “the sacred liturgy is full of the divine words.” The new Missal shows forth these divine words with freshness and power.

Here is a link to the new Missal, including all of the biblical references in the Mass: www.usccb.org/romanmissal/WhiteBook Annotated.pdf. ■ Father Stice is the director of the diocesan Worship and Liturgy Office. He can be reached at frrandy@dioknox.org.

MARCH 7, 2010

■

9

from the

WIRE

Time to start talking about new Missal

‘TERRIBLE DAMAGE’

A resident sits in front of her destroyed home in La Pezca, Chile, on March 1. More than 700 people were killed when a massive earthquake struck the country’s central coast Feb. 27.

Pope prays for victims of massive quake in Chile B Y J O HN T HAVI S

VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Pope Benedict XVI prayed for the victims of the massive earthquake in Chile and pledged the assistance of Catholic relief organizations.

The pope made the remarks at his noon blessing Feb. 28, the day after a magnitude 8.8 quake struck the South American country, triggering giant waves and leaving at least 700 dead.

“My thoughts are with Chile and with the populations stricken by the earthquake, which caused great loss of life and terrible damage,” the pope said from his apartment window above St. Peter’s Square.

“I am praying for the victims and am spiritually close to those affected by this serious catastrophe. For them, I ask God to grant relief of suffering and courage in this adversity. I am sure solidarity will be shown by many, in particular by church organizations,” he said.

Many stricken towns in central Chile, the worst-hit area, were still cut off, so authorities feared the death toll could climb much higher.

Bishop Alejandro Goic Karmelic of Rancagua, president of the Chilean bishops’ conference, said in a message to the country that the Catholic Church would mobilize to help meet the people’s spiritual and material needs.

“With the strength of the Gospel, we are bearers of hope in moments of anguish, pain, and devastation. To the public authorities, to those working for the state, and to volunteer organizations, we offer our help,” he said.

A superior of the Sons of Divine Providence religious order in Chile, Father Roberto Simionato, reported that churches and church administrative buildings were among those damaged in the hard-hit city of Concepcion.

He said that when the earthquake struck at 3:34 a.m., he thought it would pass like previous tremors in Chile. But after 30 seconds the quake was still getting stronger, he told the Vatican missionary agency Fides.

“It was frightening in its intensity. As it went on, things began to collapse, the noises grew louder, and the lights went out. I remained still in bed.

When it was over I went down to the courtyard and found all the priests. We checked to make sure we were all there and that no one was harmed,” he said.

He said damage in Concepcion was extremely heavy, with collapsed houses, fires, sunken streets, and no electricity, water, or telephone service.

Caritas Internationalis reported from its Rome headquarters that Caritas Chile was mobilizing to respond to the catastrophe. The first emergency aid was being distributed in Maule and Bio-Bio, the worst-affected regions, according to a Caritas statement.

“We are collecting food to be sent immediately to communities which have been most affected by the earthquake and where shortages are already being reported. Our own communications network and capacity to offer warehouses and points of collection and distribution are immediately available,” said Caritas Chile Director Lorenzo Figueroa.

Meanwhile, a Caritas emergency response team and search and rescue teams were traveling to Santiago March 1 to help support relief efforts.

The Mexican search and rescue team recently worked in Haiti as part of Caritas relief efforts.

The president of Caritas Internationalis, Honduran Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga, said Caritas Chile and the local bishops were providing updates on the needs of the people.

“Chile has faced a terrible catastrophe. The Caritas confederation will be there in support of the survivors in this initial phase of emergency response and as they look to rebuild the country,” the cardinal said.

Caritas centers in 23 dioceses and archdioceses in Chile have been mobilized with help from the parishes.

Archbishop Ricardo Ezzati Andrello of Concepcion condemned the actions of those using the chaos to loot, saying they were responsible for a “second earthquake.” ■ Copyright 2010 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops 10

■

MARCH 7, 2010

WASHINGTON (CNS)—The new English translation of the Roman Missal might not be in U.S. parishes for as long as two years, but Father Rick Hilgartner hopes Catholics are talking about it now.

Mention of the upcoming changes in the prayers at Mass might come in the occasional bulletin insert, in adult religious-education classes or Bible-study groups, or in a homily at Mass, said the associate director of the U.S. bishops’ Secretariat of Divine Worship in Washington.

“Anything to heighten people’s awareness,” Father Hilgartner added in an interview with Catholic News Service.

Along with such organizations as the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions and the National Association of Pastoral Musicians, the divine worship secretariat is gearing up to help educate the nation’s 68 million Catholics on changes to the language of the Mass that were initiated in 2002 when Pope John Paul II issued a new edition of the Roman Missal in Latin.

The last time a new edition of the missal was implemented was in 1975.

For nearly a decade representatives of bishops’ conferences in 11 English-speaking countries, including the United States, have been working on the English translation of the 2002 Missal, which each conference has approved in sections over the years.

A news release issued at the Vatican in late January said the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments is in the final stages of reviewing the last sections of the translation before issuing its recognitio, or approval.

Once the Vatican approval is received, the president of each bishops’ conference will decide when the new missal will start being used in each country.

But before that can happen, priests and people must be involved in a “twotiered catechetical process” that starts with “general and broad” discussions of such issues as the “nature of the Mass, how it builds up the church, and how we encounter Christ,” Father Hilgartner said.

“Some people want to jump right to conversations about the texts” themselves, without the proper context and background, he added.

But some of the liturgical texts that have been translated date to the fourth

CNS PHOTO/NANCY WIECHEC

CNS PHOTO/ENRIQUE MARCARIAN, REUTERS

Catechesis, homilies, and study are needed. By Nancy Frazier O’Brien

‘HEIGHTENED AWARENESS’ Shown is the title page of the new Roman Missal issued by Pope John Paul II in Latin in 2002. The new English translation of the Missal is awaiting final approval by the Vatican and might not be available for use in U.S. parishes for as long as two years.

century and “were not crafted in the 21st-century American sound-bite culture” that communicates in “short, simple statements,” Father Hilgartner said.

He said those who have criticized the new liturgical language as out of touch with today’s Catholics are not taking the context into proper account.

“The way I might send a text message to a friend is not the way I’d speak in a job interview,” Father Hilgartner said. “And the way we speak in prayer ought to communicate a sense of reverence.”

will play key roles in implementing the missal, the workshops will provide an overview of the new texts, demonstration and practice of the chants of the missal, discussion of the “art of celebrating” the Mass and discussion of leading a community through change.

The dates and locations for the workshops are April 15-16, Cincinnati; April 20-21, Richmond, Va.; April 2930, Phoenix; May 11-12, Grand Rapids, Mich.; May 13-14, Kansas City, Mo.; May 19-20, Helena, Mont.; May 24-25, St. Paul, Minn.; June 89, Denver; June 21-

You can learn much more about the new Roman Missal on the diocesan website’s Worship and Liturgy pages.

Find them here: bit.ly/worship-and-liturgy Some critics have regarded the new translations from the original Latin as “elitist and remote from everyday speech and frequently not understandable.” One critic recently said that the translation’s use of words such as “ineffable,” “consubstantial,” “incarnate,” “inviolate,” “oblation,“ and “ignominy” are not understandable to the average Catholic.

Beginning in April and continuing through November, Father Hilgartner and Monsignor Anthony Sherman, executive director of the divine worship secretariat, will be traveling around the country for 11 each of the 22 scheduled workshops on implementation of the Roman Missal.

The Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions and the National Organization for Continuing Education of Roman Catholic Clergy are co-sponsoring the two-day sessions.

Designed for priests and diocesan leaders such as clergy personnel administrators, members of liturgical commissions, and diocesan music directors who

www.d ioknox.org

22, Orange, Calif.; June 29-30, Louisville; July 20-21, Emmitsburg, Md.; Aug. 5-6, Milwaukee; Aug. 10-11, Trenton, N.J.; Aug. 24-25, San Francisco; Sept. 7-8, Oklahoma City; Sept.

22-23, Boston; Sept.

29-30, Seattle; Oct. 45, Alexandria, La.; Oct. 18-19, Albany, N.Y.; Oct. 26-27, Honolulu; Oct. 2829, San Antonio; and Nov. 4-5, Orlando, Fla. The workshops will run from 2 p.m. on the first day until 3 p.m. on the second day.

Further details about the seminars is available at www.fdlc.org, and registration for the workshops (limited to priests and diocesan leaders) is at www.usccb.org/ romanmissal.

For those unable to attend the workshops, the federation is offering a video “workshop in a box” that can be used in small groups and a set of audio recordings to help celebrants listen to and speak the prayers aloud to become more familiar with their construction and cadence.

Further information and resources are available at a website launched by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, www.usccb.org/ romanmissal.

U.S. publishers are gearing up to offer other resources, such as the World Library Publications’ recently announced “Prepare and Pray” recordings of the new eucharistic prayers, as read by Bishop J. Peter Sartain of Joliet, Ill. “I imagine that priests will find it useful and time-saving to play the CDs in their cars while traveling or even to download them to their mp3 players to listen while exercising, walking, and taking time in prayer,” said Jerry Galipeau, associate publisher of World Library Publications.

The National Association of Pastoral Musicians also is hosting webinars and preparing audio and video recordings of the priests’ chants in the new Missal.

In addition, an international group of priests and scholars called the Leeds Group—for Bishop Arthur Roche of Leeds, England, longtime chairman of the International Commission on English in the Liturgy—is developing a multimedia resource called “Become One Body, One Spirit in Christ.” The package will include more than 80 hours of video, including expert interviews and scenes of Mass from New York to Auckland, New Zealand.

Also in the works at the USCCB is a parish implementation kit that will outline when and how parishes should take each step toward implementation of the Missal, such as preparing the music and worship aids for the congregation.

That timeline will be established after an implementation date is announced for the new Missal, Father Hilgartner said. ■ Copyright 2010 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

TH E E A S T TE N N E S S E E C ATH OLI C