May 1, 2011, ET Catholic by Diocese of Knoxville

This issue

He dwells among us.................. 2 Living the readings..................... 3 Diocesan calendar..................... 8 Deanery news............................ 9

The East Tennessee

La Cosecha............ center pullout East Tennessee news.............. 15 Catholic News Service............. 23

dioknox.org May 1, 2011 Volume 20 Number 16

Bishop Richard F. Stika

News from The Diocese of Knoxville

Where Jesus walked ET pilgrims talk about Holy Land

Seminarian support Collection will educate future priests

John Paul II Hailed as model Christian

‘We gather together with a unity of purpose’ The clergy and faithful fill the cathedral for the annual Chrism Mass. by Dan McWilliams

Priesthood is ‘not about office and prestige; it’s about serving God’s people.’ we gather together with a unity of purpose to celebrate the vocations of single people, married people, consecrated men and women, per-

Chrism Mass continued on page 6

MARY C. WEAVER

nity was the principal theme for Bishop Richard F. Stika on April 20 as he presided over his third Chrism Mass as the leader of the Diocese of Knoxville. From the ambo at Sacred Heart Cathedral, the bishop could see nearly 100 clergy seated before him, with the rest of the pews and several chairs in the side aisles filled with East Tennessee Catholics from throughout the diocese. “I’m grateful for all of you this evening for being here. I know life is busy,” said the bishop in his homily. “And yet, from all the different parishes that make up this church,

Oil of blessing Bishop Richard F. Stika breathes on the newly mixed sacred chrism—a combination of olive oil and balsam—during the annual Chrism Mass, held April 19 at Sacred Heart Cathedral. As a bishop breathes on the chrism, he prays that the Holy Spirit will be present in the oil. Assisting the bishop is seminarian Michael Hendershott; Deacon Doug Owens can be seen behind him.

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

He dwells among us

by Bishop Richard F. Stika

An orphanage of the heart God gives a home to the forsaken when we open our heart to others.

f the many memories I have from my recent pilgrimage to the Holy Land, one remains particularly vivid: the image of a tiny infant in the loving arms of an elderly religious sister from an orphanage we visited in Bethlehem (see the story and photos, beginning on page 16). I keep recalling this tender scene—like an icon that nourishes the faith of one who contemplates its sacred image—and the promise of Jesus that we celebrate at Easter and every Mass: “I will not leave you orphaned: I will come back to you” (John 14:18). Illegitimacy is particularly taboo in the Arab world. Because of the stigma attached to children born out of wedlock and subsequently abandoned or orphaned, their adoption is rare. There are several reasons for this. I learned that adoption of Muslim children by non-Muslims is strictly forbidden by sharia law. I also learned that adoption is highly commended in the Quran, which even specifies that the adopted child keep the biological father’s surname. But because a father has shamed his name by fathering a child out of

Diocesan policy for reporting sexual abuse

wedlock, the child also carries the stigma of his offense. The shame brought to the unwed mother’s family is also considered very grave. Since the late 19th century an orphanage in Bethlehem, operated by the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, has been a refuge for those who have been abandoned and orphaned. Recalling the nativity of Our Lord, who was born in a cave because there was no room in the inn, the Sisters named the orphanage the Crèche, where those who have been rejected by the “inn” of society are always welcome (cf. Luke 2:7). The orphanage is run by Sister Sophie and her sisters as part of Holy Family Hospital, under the auspices of the Knights of Malta. Although Sister Sophie is elderly, she has an aura of youthfulness, which one notices as she goes about caring for these infants, a number of whom have birth defects. As I watched her pick up one such child and rock him gently in her arms, I couldn’t help but think of what a beautiful image of the Church I was beholding. Though she is old, she is forever youthful, caring, and nurturing. The Church rejects no

one and especially welcomes those crippled by sin and neglect. But this image of the Church extends also to those from our pilgrimage group who spontaneously sat down and started to play with the toddlers, entertaining them with games of patty-cake and peek-aboo. Others took turns holding the infants, competing with one another to see who could elicit a bigger smile or giggle from them. I could almost hear the words of Jesus— “Let the children come to me . . .” and “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me” (Matthew 19:14, 18:5). Watching this reminded me of how great is the gift of our redemption. Like these children who bore the shame of their parents and were subject to the harsh reality of the law they were born into, we once were orphaned because of the shame of the sin of our father Adam. But because Christ took upon himself the shame of our sin and suffered its penalty upon the cross, he won for us our adoption as sons and daughters of God. In his name we now have life (cf. John 20:31). As St. Paul reminds us, “when the

The East Tennessee

fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to ransom those under the law, so that we might receive adoption. As proof that you are children, God sent the spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, ‘Abba, Father!’” (Galatians 4:5-6). All of this filled my mind as we stopped in Emmaus not far from Jerusalem, where we celebrated Mass in the open-air ruins of a third-century basilica. Its site is believed to be the place where after his resurrection Jesus revealed himself in the breaking of bread (Luke 24:13-35). Those who had despaired and felt orphaned by his crucifixion then rejoiced because they had encountered him in the Eucharist as we do at every Mass. I will carry these memories from our pilgrimage in my heart through Holy Week and into the Easter season and beyond. I ask you to keep Sister Sophie and her sisters and all the orphans they care for in your prayers. I also ask you to pray for Sandi Davidson of Catholic Charities of East Tennessee and her efforts to provide adoption services. In our preparation for the great celebration of the resurrection of Our Lord this Easter, let us endeavor to open our hearts in a greater way to Christ and to Holy Mother Church. But let us also strive to make an orphanage in our heart to all who feel rejected and lonely in this life. n

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

Margaret Hunt Administrative assistant Dan Pacitti Intern

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

2 May 1, 2011

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

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Living the readings

Bishop Stika’s Schedule These are some of Bishop Stika’s appointments: May 1: beatification of Pope John Paul II, Rome May 4-7: Papal Foundation board of trustees meeting, Rome May 9: 7 p.m., confirmation Mass, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Chattanooga May 10: 11 a.m., Presbyteral Council meeting, Chancery; 7 p.m., confirmation Mass, Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus May 11: 7 p.m., confirmation Mass, St. Patrick, Morristown May 13: 7 p.m., confirmation Mass, St. Mary, Oak Ridge May 14: 5 p.m., confirmation Mass, Our Lady of Fatima, Alcoa May 15: 11 a.m. CDT, confirmation Mass, St. Alphonsus, Crossville; 6 p.m., confirmation Mass, St. John Neumann, Farragut May 17: 8:05 a.m., Mass with schoolchildren, Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus May 18: 8 a.m., Mass, St. Joseph School, Knoxville May 19-20: provincial bishops’ meeting, Jackson, Miss. May 21: 10 a.m., graduation, Knoxville Catholic High School; 5 p.m., confirmation Mass, Holy Trinity, Jefferson City May 22: 11 a.m., confirmation Mass, St. Stephen, Chattanooga; 2 p.m., graduation for Notre Dame High School, Memorial Auditorium, Chattanooga May 24: 11 a.m., general priest meeting, Chancery May 25: 11:30 a.m., staff meeting, Chancery; 6 p.m., confirmation Mass, St. Augustine, Signal Mountain May 26: 7 p.m., confirmation Mass, St. Albert the Great, Knoxville

Schedule continued on page 5

The East Tennessee Catholic

by Father Joseph Brando

Continuing the joy

Divine Mercy Sunday is one of the Church’s ‘happiest days.’

oday is among the happiest days in the Church year. First, it is the octave of Easter. Major feasts such as Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost are celebrated for eight days, and the last of them, the octave, is celebrated with extra joy. It’s no accident that New Year’s Day is the octave of Christmas. In addition, this Sunday is Divine Mercy Sunday. It’s a day for prayer and thankfulness for God’s great mercy. And today we celebrate the beatification of Pope John Paul II. Appropriately, the readings are positive. In the first reading we have the results of Luke’s research into the early history of the first Christian community in Jerusalem. It was ideal. Luke points out four aspects of their Christian life. Every

day (that is, not merely on Sundays) they met together. They devoted themselves to the Apostles’ teaching, to community, to Eucharist, and to prayer. Luke also mentions their attitude of exultation and praising God as well as their enjoying favor with non-Christians. What a great group of people! Their attitude began, as the Gospel tells us, on the first octave of Easter. On the first Easter only 10 of Jesus’ Twelve saw the risen Lord. Judas and Thomas were missing. When Thomas returned he gave no credence to his companions’ story of what had happened Easter Sunday. This could have created a serious division. They could have thrown Thomas out for his contrary attitude. But they didn’t. The following

Proclaiming Easter joy

Like the disciples in the Upper Room did, we too can receive the risen Christ.

hink of it. The two disciples with whom the risen Jesus walked on the road to Emmaus not only walked for seven miles but then ran back those same seven miles to the Upper Room, where the other disciples beat them to the punch with the excited words, “The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!” Only afterward did they tell those assembled their amazing story. All those in the Upper Room were feeding one another’s faith with stories of their encounters with the risen Christ. First were the women who had gone to the tomb just before daybreak. Then there were Peter and the beloved disciple. Next was Mary Magdalene who at first thought Jesus was the gardener. Soon the Lord

would come to all of them assembled in that room. All of this took place on the first day, Easter. Today’s readings skip Christ’s appearances between Easter and the Ascension. But strangely, the disciples did not seem ready to tell the whole world about their visions. It wasn’t until 50 days later that we have the scene described in the first reading. It was on the Jewish feast of Booths (our Pentecost) that the Holy Spirit came upon them and they began to proclaim what might have been taken as an unbelievable story. Jesus was alive, risen from the dead! Peter was the first to proclaim the message to the world. He told the assembled crowd, “God raised this Jesus; of this we are all witnesses.” That is to say, in the meantime, the number

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May 1 second Sunday of Easter Acts 2:42-47 Psalm 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24 1 Peter 1:3-9 John 20:19-31

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Sunday he was still there with his friends in the Upper Room. That night the joy was truly redoubled, as Thomas not only saw Jesus but also touched his wounds and was able to proclaim a message that went beyond what the other disciples had told him. He proclaimed the risen Jesus “my Lord and my God.” No wonder the Jerusalem community flourished. They kept the tradition of the first eight days that had begun with the first Easter. They lived lives of joy, which Peter describes in the second reading. Through the Resurrection the early Christians gave birth to a living hope. They experienced the power of God. They rejoiced with “an indescribable and glorious joy.” They felt the Divine Mercy of God. So should all of us. n

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May 8 third Sunday of Easter Acts 2:14, 22-33 Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-11 1 Peter 1:17-21 Luke 24:13-35

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of eyewitnesses of the risen Lord had risen to a pretty large number. Given those numbers and the power of the Holy Spirit, no one could keep Jesus’ resurrection a secret. These Scripture readings present us with the historical background and a challenge. The Christian community does not gather at Eucharist mainly for each member’s personal gain. We also come together to reinforce our faith and courage. We need to come out of our parish church on Sunday as that first Christian community came out of the Upper Room. That is, we need to be excited by the fact that we have received the risen Christ in Communion. We need to be encouraged by the outpouring of faith we felt and to tell the world, “Jesus is alive!” n May 1, 2011 3

Weekday Readings Monday, May 2: Memorial, Athanasius, bishop, doctor of the Church, Acts 4:23-31; Psalm 2:1-9; John 3:1-8 Tuesday, May 3: Feast, Philip and James, apostles, 1 Corinthians 15:1-8; Psalm 19:2-5; John 14:6-14 Wednesday, May 4: Acts 5:17-26; Psalm 34:2-9; John 3:16-21 Thursday, May 5: Acts 5:27-33; Psalm 34:2, 9, 17-20; John 3:31-36 Friday, May 6: Acts 5:34-42; Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14; John 6:1-15 Saturday, May 7: Acts 6:1-7; Psalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19; John 6:16-21 Monday, May 9: Acts 6:8-15; Psalm 119:23-24, 26-27, 29-30; John 6:22-29 Tuesday, May 10: Acts 7:51–8:1; Psalm 31:3-4, 6-8, 17, 21; John 6:30-35 Wednesday, May 11: Acts 8:1-8; Psalm 66:1-7; John 6:35-40 Thursday, May 12: Acts 8:26-40; Psalm 66:8-9, 16-17, 20; John 6:44-51 Friday, May 13: Acts 9:1-20; Psalm 117:1-2; John 6:52-59 Saturday, May 14: Feast, Matthias, apostle, Acts 1:15-17, 20-26; Psalm 113:1-8; John 15:9-17 Monday, May 16: Acts 11:1-18; Psalms 42:2-3 and 43:3-4; John 10:11-18 Tuesday, May 17: Acts 11:19-26; Psalm 87:1-7; John 10:22-30 Wednesday, May 18: Acts 12:24– 13:5; Psalm 67:2-3, 5-6, 8; John 12:44-50 Thursday, May 19: Acts 13:13-25; Psalm 89:2-3, 21-22, 25, 27; John 13:16-20 Friday, May 20: Acts 13:26-33; Psalm 2:6-11; John 14:1-6 Saturday, May 21: 9 Acts 13:44-52; Psalm 98:1-4; John 14:7-14 Monday, May 23: Acts 14:5-18;

Readings continued on page 5

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Good shepherds

As the Lord forgives us, we should offer peace and forgiveness to those who hurt us.

he fourth Sunday of Easter is traditionally Good Shepherd Sunday. This is so because the readings for all three years of the Sunday cycle of the liturgy of the word have as their theme the concept of Jesus as the Good Shepherd. In the first reading, a conclusion of Peter’s Pentecost address from the Upper Room, the people ask him for the proper response to the amazing news they had just heard. Peter’s answer was, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ . . .” His listeners had come from all over the known world, and 3,000 of them did exactly as Peter directed. They soon found out what he meant by the word repent. For those of us who weren’t there, Peter tells

us what he meant in today’s second reading. In his first letter to the Church he teaches us much the same lesson Paul taught the Philippians. We must have the same attitude as Christ. Peter gives us his understanding of such an attitude. It includes being “patient when you suffer for doing what is good . . . because Christ also suffered for you.” Jesus returned no insult when insulted, and when he was hurt, he offered no threats in response. “He bore our sins in his body upon the cross.” In short, he did what a good shepherd would do for his sheep. Just think about people you know who love animals and have pets. Such people play with them even to the point that they may be licked,

How to find bliss

Will we find Jesus a stumbling stone or a rock to build on?

ven in the midst of true bliss, sticky situations can arise. The kingdom of God on earth had a shaky start. The disciples began to be hauled into jail. Some were even executed. The way Christianity reacted to those challenges says a lot about how we should live. Today’s readings present us with some of the early Church’s reactions to such difficulties, modeling how we should act. The first reading tells us of the formation of the order of deacons. The story begins by informing us that the Church cared for widows and had a special love for them. These women had a difficult time back then. Unless they came from rich families or had working sons who could take care of them, they had no source of income. Christians im-

mediately saw the problem and realized they were the solution. They took widows in, cherished them, and provided for their needs. All went well until a language problem arose. Greek-speaking widows were not served as well as their Hebrew counterparts, thus dividing the community. The solution was to bring the problem to the Twelve who, in turn, took their answer to the “community of the disciples.” The decision was to appoint Greek speakers as deacons to serve the physical needs of the Church. Out of the problem came a new way for the Church to organize itself and to grow. What Luke teaches us in story form, Peter presents as a principle by means of a play on words. Simon Bar-Jonah certainly remembered the day Jesus gave him the name Peter.

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May 15 fourth Sunday of Easter Acts 2:14, 36-41 Psalm 23:1-6 1 Peter 2:20-25 John 10:1-10

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scratched, or even bitten. Should the over-playful pet draw blood, the caretaker would, in the long tradition of good shepherds, lightly shrug it off with a smile. That’s the way Christ reacts to us. When we do what human beings tend to do, the Lord forgives us. He goes so far as to make excuses for us. Treated in this humane fashion by God, we should cultivate a caring relationship in response to our shepherd. In addition, we should do the same when other people hurt us in any way. In return for the pain they might inflict on us, we should offer them peace and forgiveness. That’s what repentance means. We change the way we think. We no longer think as humans do but as God does. n

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May 22 fifth Sunday of Easter Acts 6:1-7 Psalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19 1 Peter 2:4-9 John 14:1-12

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He was the first man in recorded history to be called Rock. He must not have been ashamed of it because he used it to illustrate how to be a Christian. He called Jesus a “living stone.” There are two things you could do with such a stone. You could trip over it, or you could start building with it. You could reject the Lord as problematic and stumble over him, or you could believe in him and find yourself in a magnificent spiritual house. Jesus loved problems. In today’s Gospel both Thomas and Philip raised questions that might have stumped an ordinary teacher. Jesus took those challenges and revealed that he is the way, the truth, and the life and one with the Father. Christ still turns sticky situations into bliss. n dioknox.org

A job for the Holy Spirit

Readings continued from page 4 Psalm 115:1-5, 15-16; John 14:21-26

Christ sends the Advocate to all who ‘love the Lord and keep his commandments.’

Tuesday, May 24: Acts 14:19-28; Psalm 145:10-13, 21; John 14:27-31

Wednesday, May 25: Acts 15:1-6; Psalm 122:1-5; John 15:1-8

oday the Church starts preparing us for the Feast of Pentecost, which is only a fortnight away. We have a lot to learn about this capstone of salvation history. The first reading takes us to Samaria. That was where Jesus met the “woman at the well.” Unfortunately, the political mess there prevented follow-up by the disciples until after the establishment of the deacons who, as Hellenists, did not have the same hang-ups as the conservative Jews of the time. Although Samaria contained Jacob’s Well and Joseph’s bones and had been the original religious and political capital of Israel, military and political events had resulted in Israelites’ being displaced as pagan refugees flowed in. The newcomers adopted a form of Hebrew worship, but when the Jews

Thursday, May 26: Memorial, Philip Neri, priest, Acts 15:7-21; Psalm 96:13, 10; John 15:9-11 Friday, May 27: Acts 15:22-31; Psalm 57:8-10, 12; John 15:12-17 Saturday, May 28: Acts 16:1-10; Psalm 100:1-3, 5; John 15:18-21 Monday, May 30: Acts 16:11-15; Psalm 149:1-6, 9; John 15:26–16:4 Tuesday, May 31: Feast, Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Zephaniah 3:14-18; Isaiah 12:2-6; Luke 1:39-56 Wednesday, June 1: Memorial, Justin, martyr, Acts 17:15 and 17:22– 18:1; Psalm 148:1-2, 11-14; John 16:12-15 Thursday, June 2: Acts 18:1-8; Psalm 98:1-4; John 16:16-20 Friday, June 3: Memorial, Charles Lwanga, martyr, and companions, martyrs, Acts 18:9-18; Psalm 47:2-7; John 16:20-23

returned from Babylon, they did not accept them. Both sides wrote each other off. As it turns out, Nablus, as it is now called, still has much the same problems. To such an intractable problem comes the Holy Spirit. First the Church sent Philip, the deacon, to proclaim Christ to them. He met with immediate success. That causes us to speculate that the “woman at the well” and the people who spoke with Jesus for the two days he stayed there may still have been around. At any rate, the people of the city not only received Philip but also experienced many miraculous healings that resulted in immense joy. Hearing the news of the tremendous success of the Gospel in Samaria, Peter and John went there to finalize the Samaritans’ entrance into the faith by laying hands on them.

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May 29 sixth Sunday of Easter Acts 8:5-8, 14-17 Psalm 66:1-7, 16, 20 1 Peter 3:15-18 John 14:15-21

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They had manifested the signs of the Spirit. Now, through the laying on of hands by the apostles, they were confirmed in the Holy Spirit. The background for this confirmation can be found in today’s Gospel. The scene is the Last Supper. Jesus tells the Twelve he will send the Advocate. But there are two conditions: they must love the Lord and keep his commandments. Surely the Samaritans had fulfilled those conditions, and so they received the Holy Spirit. The keys are joy and love. Remember that for John the supreme commandment of Jesus is, “Love one another as I have loved you.” That’s a formula for joy. It is also a prerequisite for receiving the Holy Spirit of God. n Father Brando is the pastor of St. Mary Parish in Gatlinburg.

Saturday, June 4: Acts 18:23-28; Psalm 47:2-3, 8-10; John 16:23-28 n

Schedule continued from page 3

May 28: 11 a.m., priestly ordination of Douglas Owens, Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus May 29: 11 a.m., confirmation Mass, Notre Dame, Greeneville; 6 p.m., confirmation Mass, Holy Ghost, Knoxville June 1: 6 p.m., confirmation Mass, Immaculate Conception, Knoxville June 2: 6:30 p.m., confirmation Mass, Blessed John XXIII, Knoxville n

The East Tennessee Catholic

RICK MUSACCHIO, TENNESSEE REGISTER

May 27: 6 p.m., Mass in celebration of Monsignor Xavier Mankel’s golden jubilee, Holy Ghost, Knoxville

Bishops visit Capitol for Catholic Day on the Hill Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris (far right) of Collierville speaks with the three bishops of Tennessee during the annual Catholic Day on the Hill on April 13. From left, those present are Bishop J. Terry Steib, SVD, of Memphis, diocesan Justice and Peace director Paul Simoneau, Bishop David R. Choby of Nashville, Bishop Richard F. Stika, diocesan chancellor Deacon Sean Smith, and Mike Murphy of the Tennessee Catholic Public Policy Commission. The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee

May 1, 2011 5

‘United in faith’ Clergy from throughout the diocese and seminarians surround Bishop Stika during the Liturgy of the Eucharist at the Chrism Mass on April 19 at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Seven seminarians served during the Mass, and transitional Deacon Doug Owens was the deacon of the Eucharist. Photo by Scott Maentz Chrism Mass continued from page 1

manent deacons, and presbyters— priests of Jesus Christ—and how all of us are privileged to be united in faith.” More than 60 priests concelebrated the Mass, including principal concelebrants Father David Boettner, the cathedral rector and vicar general; Monsignor Xavier Mankel, vicar general; and all four deans, Fathers Bob Hofstetter, Bill McKenzie, Chris Michelson, and George Schmidt. Father Christopher Riehl and vice chancellor Father David Carter served as masters of ceremony. Members of the Diocesan Youth Ministry Advisory Council served as greeters. Assisting at the altar were transitional Deacon Doug Owens and seven diocesan seminarians. Deacon Rich

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Carner of St. Mary in Johnson City proclaimed the Gospel. Nearly 40 permanent deacons and more than 15 women religious attended the Mass. All of the priests and deacons wore new vestments designed by Father Randy Stice, diocesan director of Worship and Liturgy. As always at the Tuesday-ofHoly-Week Mass, the bishop blessed the oil of the sick; the oil of catechumens, used in baptism; and the chrism oil, used for the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and holy orders and for the dedication of churches. The oils “remind us of the process of becoming one in faith in the Catholic Church,” said Bishop Stika, adding that they have “a ripple effect throughout the whole diocese: for the sick, for the ordinations of priests, and for bringing people into

our community of faith.” The Chrism Mass is unique in its call for “the priests and the bishop to make a recommitment to the good people of God whom we’re privileged to serve,” said the bishop. Bishop Stika cited two Holy Fathers, Pope Benedict XVI, for his declaration for the Year for Priests that the world needs “good and holy priests,” and Blessed John XXIII, for his recognition of a basic element of priesthood. The bishop told of a group of 10 priests that met Blessed John XXIII some 50 years ago. The first nine priests in line to genuflect before the Holy Father and kiss his hand all held major positions in the Church, such as diocesan chancellor or university president. The 10th priest purposely came up last

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

and told the pope that he was “just a parish priest.” Upon hearing that, the pope genuflected to the priest and kissed his hand. “And Blessed John XXIII said that priest reminded all of them, the pope and the other priests, what priesthood is all about,” said Bishop Stika. “It’s not about office and prestige; it’s about serving God’s people.” Bishop Stika recognized two clergy who have milestone events on the horizon: Monsignor Mankel, who will celebrate his golden jubilee of priestly ordination May 27 at Holy Ghost Church in Knoxville, and Deacon Owens, who will be ordained to the priesthood the following day at the cathedral. The bishop thanked all the priests in the diocese who, “old or young, whatever our background, whatever dioknox.org

our language, are invited by God to build his kingdom and take care of the world until he comes again.” Bishop Stika urged the faithful to pray for the diocese’s seminarians and to contribute to the Easterweekend special collection for seminarian education. “We are blessed to have most of them here tonight and, God willing, we might have five or six entering next year,” he said. “We’re greatly blessed with vocations, but again— like I said last year—I’m greedy. I want more, so pray for vocations, encourage vocations, nurture vocations.” The bishop also encouraged the assembly to pray for those joining the Church at the Easter vigil and to be “the face and the voice of Jesus” to “those men and women, young and old and everything in between who join us in faith this weekend:

those to be baptized, those to be received into the Church, those to be confirmed. Welcome them into your family and into the diocese.” After the homily all of the priests stood before the bishop and pledged to “renew [their] dedication to Christ as priests of his new covenant,” to unite themselves “more closely to Christ,” and to be “faithful ministers of the mysteries of God.” The assembly then pledged to the bishop to pray for him and to “pray for your priests” so “that they will be able to lead you” to Jesus, “the fountain of salvation.” Bishop Stika then blessed the holy oils. The balsam for the chrism was brought forward by Knoxville Catholic High School senior Allison Connelly, accompanied by Monsignor Philip Thoni, the diocese’s senior active priest. Cathedral parishioners Robert and Dorothy Curtis presented

the oil of the sick to the bishop. Catechumen Lacy Corkadel of All Saints Parish in Knoxville and Marvin Hef lin of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Lenoir City brought forward the oil of catechumens. Father Moises Moreno, the most recently ordained priest in the diocese, presented the olive oil to be used in the chrism. The offertory gifts were brought forward by diocesan staff members Shannon Hepp and Jim Link. Mrs. Hepp is diocesan controller; Mr. Link directs the Stewardship and Planned Giving Office. At the end of Mass, Bishop Stika thanked the participants in and everyone involved in the planning of the liturgy, from the choir and banner bearers to the cantors and servers. “I want to thank you because you are truly a sign of unity as we come together and celebrate this very special Mass,” he said. n

Father Dickerson on leave of absence Bishop Richard F. Stika announced in an April 20 memo that Father Anthony Dickerson had The Diocese asked for of Knoxville and been granted a Viviendo nuestra fe of Católica leave absence, effective imRomana en el Este de Tennessee mediately. Father Dickerson had been serving as parochial vicar of St. John Neumann Parish in Farragut. n

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Procession of the oils Monsignor Philip Thoni, the diocese’s senior active priest, accompanies Allison Connelly as she brings balsam to the altar during the annual Chrism Mass. Allison is a senior at Knoxville Catholic High School and a member of the Diocesan Youth Ministry Advisory Council, representing Immaculate Conception Parish. The East Tennessee Catholic

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

May 1, 2011 7

Diocesan calendar by Dan Pacitti Bishop Richard F. Stika will celebrate a Mass at 4 p.m. Sunday, June 5, for new Catholics from throughout the diocese who were received into the Church at the Easter Vigil. The Mass will be held at Sacred Heart Cathedral, followed by a reception at the Chancery for the honorees and their godparents and sponsors. The Office of Hispanic Ministry is sponsoring a new bilingual worship service at the Knox County Jail at 3 p.m. Saturdays. Mass will be celebrated once a month, and on the other Saturdays the liturgy of the word will be offered. The ministry needs volunteers to help with hospitality, leadership, and music. Bilingual capability is appreciated but not required. Call Geri or Charlie Mulligan at 865-249-6802 for more information. Chattanoogans for Life will hold its annual Banquet in Celebration of Life at the Chattanoogan hotel at 7 p.m. Friday, May 6. The speaker will be Tony Melendez. Banquet tickets cost $50 per person or $400 per table. Before the dinner, a prayer service at the National Memorial for the Unborn will be held at 3 p.m., and a Mass at Sts. Peter and Paul Church will take place at 5:30 p.m. To reserve tickets, call Sue Shramko at 423-825-5912 or Kitty Cross at 322-8356. The Knoxville Ulster Project is recruiting high school youth and their families to host a teenager from Northern Ireland from June 24 through July 22. Each summer the Ulster Project brings Protestant and Catholic teens ages 14 to 16 from Northern Ireland to spend four weeks with American families. Ulster Project International was founded in 1974 by the Rev. Kerry Waterstone, a Church of Ireland priest. Its mission is “to help young Christian-based potential leaders from Northern Ireland and the United States to become peacemakers by providing a safe environment to learn

8 May 1, 2011

by practicing the skills needed to unite people when differences divide them.” For more information, contact Barbara O’Brien at HoopsOB@chartertn.net, 865300-9090 (cell), or 675-1048 (home). An application form may be found at www. theulsterproject.com. Father John Dowling, pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Fairfield Glade, will be the spiritual director for a 10-day pilgrimage through Italy beginning Nov. 2. Stops will include Rome and the Vatican, Assisi, Florence, Siena, and Tuscany. A three-day extension trip to Sicily is also available. The basic tour costs $3,046 from Knoxville or $2,996 from Nashville (double occupancy) and includes airfare, motor coaches, guided sightseeing, accommodations, daily breakfast and dinner, fees, fuel surcharges, and more. To learn more or request a brochure, call Fran at 615-3906104, Sandy at 390-6439, or Father Dowling at 931-484-3628 or 456-0415. Catholic Charities of East Tennessee will hold its second annual Common Good Golf Tournament on Monday, June 6, at Cherokee Country Club. For more information, contact Mike Smith at 865250-1215 or irish100@chartertn.net. Catholic Charities’ eighth annual Pregnancy and Adoption Services Golf Tournament is scheduled for Saturday, June 18, at Brainerd Golf Course. The format is four-person scramble. Sponsorships are available, and volunteers are needed to help plan the tourney and offer event-day assistance. To volunteer, sponsor, or register, contact Christine Willingham at 423-267-1297 or christine@ccetn.org. The Ladies of Charity of Knoxville will hold their annual fundraiser, dinner, and live auction at 6 p.m. Friday, April 29, at The Foundry on the World’s Fair site. The Chillbillies will perform. Several vacations will be up for bids in the auction. Tickets cost $75. For reservations, call Carolyn Susano at 865-584-1480, or Debbie Donahoo at 599-0088.

The annual diocesan Youth Leadership Institute for rising ninth- through 12th-graders will be held from June 2 through 6 at the Horn’s Creek NOC Resort in Ocoee. Youth will attend workshops on leadership styles, methods of prayer, how to lead prayer services, and more. Cost is $255 and includes meals, lodging, transportation, and course materials. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis and will end Friday, May 27. Visit bit.ly/e2sGGV to download a form or learn more. For more information, youth may also contact Al Forsythe, diocesan director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, at aforsythe@dioknox.org or deanery coordinators Donna Jones (Chattanooga) at djones6029@gmail. com, Deacon Jim Fage (Five Rivers) at djim5rivers@charter.net, or Deacon Dan Hosford (Cumberland Mountain and Smoky Mountain) at djh2@comcast.net. Catholic author and apologist Dr. Scott Hahn will speak at Our Lady of Fatima Church in Alcoa from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 16. His topics are “The Lamb’s Supper,” “Hail, Holy Queen,” and “Lord, Have Mercy.” The sacrament of reconciliation will be available at 4 p.m., with Mass at 5. Tickets cost $15 and include lunch. For more information, visit ourladyoffatima.org or contact Ken Lhotka at 865-380-1681 or klalcoa@charter.net. An 11-day pilgrimage to Italy is set for Nov. 6 through 16. On “A Spiritual Journey to Rome and Italy,” pilgrims will visit the Italian capital, Assisi, Siena, Florence, Padua, Venice, and more. Mercy Sister Albertine Paulus, diocesan director of pilgrimages, is the coordinator for the trip. The group will depart from Atlanta. Cost is $3,299 (cash discount price) or $3,498, plus airport taxes, security fees, fuel surcharges, and tips. To request a color brochure or a registration form, contact Sister Albertine at 865-545-8270, 207-4742, or smaevang@yahoo.com. The Catholic Alumni Club International is holding a “Young Adults Fun Weekend” from June 2 through 5 in St. Louis.

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

Ages 21 to 39 are welcome to register. For more information, contact Steve at valksr@yahoo.com or visit csacstlouis. org/youngadults.html. The National Catholic Bible Conference is set for Friday and Saturday, July 22 and 23, at St. Peter Chanel Church in Roswell, Ga. The conference theme is “The Great Conversation: Encountering God’s Word.” Speakers include Jeff Cavins, Dr. Tim Gray, Dr. Edward Sri, and Sarah Christmyer. To register or learn more, visit Catholic BibleConference.com, call 888-8422853, or e-mail registration@Catholic BibleConference.com. The 2011 Mid-South Regional Catholic Charismatic Conference will be held Friday and Saturday, July 22 and 23, at St. Ignatius of Antioch Church in Antioch. This year’s speakers are Father Michael Baltrus and Father Mark Nolte. For more information, contact Teresa Seibert at 615-430-9343 or tseibert@ bellsouth.net, or visit www.msrcc.org. The ninth annual Scouting Retreat sponsored by the Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting will be held from 10 a.m. Saturday, June 4, to 1 p.m. Sunday, June 5, at Misty River Cabins & RV Resort in Walland. This year’s theme is “The Holy Spirit’s Role in the Living Church.” Scouts 13 and older are invited to attend. Scouter development training for adults will be offered as well. Mass will be celebrated Sunday morning. Registration fee is $30 if postmarked by Friday, May 20, and $35 afterward. For more information, contact George LeCrone Sr. at 865-675-1306 or lecroneg@charter.net. The multinational One Million Rosaries for Unborn Babies prayer event is set for the weekend of May 6 through 8. Last year people from more than 40 nations registered rosaries, although the goal of one million was not met. This year the St. Michael the Archangel Organization of Memphis is again encouraging pro-lifers to participate by Calendar continued on page 9 dioknox.org

Chattanooga Deanery calendar Parish notes: Chattanooga Deanery Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Chattanooga is sponsoring a vacation Bible school with the theme “PandaMania,” scheduled for 9 a.m. to noon weekdays June 6 through June 10. Teenage and adult volunteers are needed. To volunteer, contact Sheri Fava at 706-7641757 or favamama@yahoo.com, or call the parish office at 423-622-7232. The 15th annual St. Jude School Golf Classic will be held Friday, May 6, with shotgun starts at 8 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. at Valleybrook Golf and Country Club in Hixson. Cost is $100 per player, with hole sponsorships available for $150 and corporate sponsorships for $500. To register or learn more, call Kathie Etherton at 423-877-6022. A Spring Deanery Dance for all sixththrough eighth-grade youth in the Chattanooga Deanery will be held in the family-life center gym at St. Jude Church in Chattanooga on Saturday, May 7. The event will begin with Mass at 5:30 p.m. and end at 10 p.m. Cost is $8 and includes pizza, snacks, and drinks. For more information, call Alicia Bradshaw at 423-870-2386. The St. Vincent de Paul Society of Holy Spirit Parish in Soddy-Daisy will hold its annual yard sale in the church pavilion from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday, May 19 and 20, and from 7:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 21. The event is a major fundraiser for the parish, and thousands of items will be available for sale. All proceeds will be used throughout the year to help those in the area in need of financial assistance. The Chattanooga Deanery will host its annual God Camps this summer at Harrison Bay State Park. The “Dare to Dream” camp, for students who will be in high school this fall, will be held from June 20 through 25 and will cost $140 per child. “Reach,” for rising seventh- and eighth-graders, will take place from June 27 through 30. Cost is $95. “Discover,” for upcoming fifth- and sixth-graders, will be held from June 30 through July The East Tennessee Catholic

2. Cost is $85. Costs cover housing, meals, a T-shirt, swimming, a dance and concert (for the two older groups), and other activities. To learn more or request registration forms, contact a youth minister, Notre Dame High School at 423-6244618, or Donna Jones at 267-9878 or djones6029@gmail.com. The 12th annual Knights of Columbus Charities Golf Tournament will be held Friday, May 6, at Chatata Valley Golf Club in Cleveland, and it will begin with a 9 a.m. shotgun start. The tournament will benefit the many charities supported by the Cleveland Knights council. Entry forms may be obtained from any Knight or from the Knights tray in the vestibule at St. Thérèse of Lisieux Church in Cleveland. For more information, contact Barry Boettner at 423-476-6918 or bbb6235@ aol.com. The next “Picture of Love” engagedcouples retreat will be held Friday and Saturday, June 3 and 4, at St. Stephen Church in Chattanooga. This marriagepreparation retreat supplements 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. Couples will meet from 7 to 10 p.m. on June 3. On June 4 the retreat will begin with a light breakfast at 9 a.m. and end with dinner at 6 p.m. Mass will be celebrated. Cost is $135 per couple and includes meals. The retreat certificate, for those attending the entire event, is good for a $60 discount 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 Serra Club of Greater Chattanooga meets on second and fourth Mondays in the Crystal Room at the Chattanooga Choo Choo. Meetings begin with Mass at 11:40 a.m. celebrated by club chaplain Father George Schmidt, with lunch and a speaker following. Visit www.serrachatta. org for further details. n

Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Chattanooga Drew Ingle of Our Lady of Perpetual Help School finished first in the John Ross District Pinewood Derby race March 19. OLPH student Ian Agbannaoag placed first in the regional Nexstar dance competition held March 18 through 20 in Chattanooga.

St. Augustine, Signal Mountain The Knights of Columbus held a First Degree ceremony April 12. The Knights named the Ed Jemison family as family of the month for March.

St. Jude, Chattanooga Knights of Columbus Council 8576 sponsored a social April 25 in the parish life center. Guest speakers were invited from religious orders to discuss vocations to the religious life. Brother Benedict, a Benedictine monk from Cullman, Ala., and Sister Mary Sarah Macht, RSM, of Knoxville spoke on consecrated life.

Sts. Peter and Paul, Chattanooga The women’s guild is sponsoring a Women’s Networking Brunch in the parish hall after the 9 a.m. Mass on Sunday, May 1. Tickets cost $10. Call the church office at 423-266-1618 for more information. n

Calendar continued from page 8 praying at least one rosary for an end to the surgical and non-surgical killing of the unborn. Register online at SaintMichaelTheArchangelOrganization.org. The Trappist Abbey of Gethsemani in Trappist, Ky., is hosting several free “LiveIn Experience” vocational retreats this year for single men aged 18 to 55. Attendees can work and pray with the monks and hear vocational talks for a weekend or an entire week. Retreat dates include May 2 through 9 and May 9 through 16. To learn more, call 502-549-4103 from 8 a.m. to noon. The next charismatic Mass in the diocese will be celebrated at 5 p.m. Sunday, May 22, at Holy Spirit Church in Soddy-Daisy. Father Dan Whitman of Holy Trinity Parish in Jefferson City will be the celebrant. Singers and instrumentalists who would like to participate in the choir should arrive at 4. Prayers for healing will follow the Mass. Call Dee Leigh at 423-842-2305 for more information. The next Marriage Encounter weekend in the diocese is scheduled for Aug. 12 through 14 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Knoxville. For more information, contact John or Anne Wharton at 423-581-1815 or acw193@bellsouth.net or visit www.loveinthesmokies.org or wwme.org. The next Engaged Encounter weekend in the diocese will be held May 13 through 15 at the Magnuson Hotel in Sweetwater. To register, call Jason or Carmen Jeansonne at 865-377-3077. For more information on Engaged Encounter, e-mail Paul or Pam Schaffer at ceeknoxville@gmail.com or visit www.rc.net/knoxville/cee/. Calendar continued on page 12

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

May 1, 2011 9

Cumberland Mountain Deanery calendar Parish notes: Cumberland Mountain Deanery

The Knox County chapter of Tennessee Right to Life is sponsoring its annual Mother’s Day ad in the Knoxville News Sentinel on Sunday, May 8. Names of pro-life supporters will appear in the ad. All Saints Parish in Knoxville will hold sign-ups for the ad after Masses on the weekend of April 30 and May 1. Cost is $10 per person or $15 per family listed in the ad. Call Debbie at 865-694-0348 for more information on the sign-ups, or contact the TRL chapter at 689-1339 or trlknox@knology.net.

All Saints, Knoxville The parish will hold a Divine Mercy celebration at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 1. Call Miriam at 865-692-0980 for more information. The annual Adult Social Fundraiser, featuring the comedy “Late Nite Catechism,” will be held at 6 p.m. Friday, May 13, in the Knoxville Catholic High School gym. The social will include live entertainment, dancing, and an auction. Tickets cost $35. Contact Ida Randall at 865-777-1092 for details. Knights of Columbus Council 5207, which serves All Saints and Sacred Heart parishes, held a fundraising golf tournament April 15 at Willow Creek Golf Club. Proceeds will support the council’s 50th-anniversary activities.

Christian musician Tony Melendez and his band will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 7, at St. John Neumann Church in Farragut. Tickets cost $5 in advance or $8 at the door. To purchase tickets or learn more, contact Al Forsythe, diocesan director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, at 865-584-3307 or aforsythe@dioknox.org.

Blessed Sacrament, Harriman The parish held its annual Easter egg hunt April 23. The religious-education office sponsored a community celebration and Seder supper on Palm Sunday, April 17, in Blessed Sacrament Hall.

St. Francis of Assisi, Fairfield Glade The St. Francis Council of Catholic Women will host a combined meeting with the CCW of St. Alphonsus in Crossville on Wednesday, May 11. The meeting will begin with Mass at 8 a.m., with breakfast to follow.

St. John Neumann Parish in Farragut will begin an eight-week grief-support program titled “Harvesting Our Tears” at 7 p.m. Monday, May 7. Anyone who has experienced the death of a loved one is invited to participate. Cost for supplies is $20. For more details, con-

The social-life committee hosted a high tea on April 27. Anniversaries: Jack and Betty Campbell (62), Kevin and Helen Coyne (58), Ralph and Ralphaline Olson (57), John and Jean Sohnly (57), Joseph and Rose Giorgio (57), Dick and Caroline Cieszenski (56), Don and Shirley Savercool (55), Eugene and Marilyn Schmitt (55), Ed and Carolyn Mayo (54), Jerry and Doris Troy (54), Irvin and Carol Stenger (53), John and Ellie Gratton (53), James and Betty Harrison (52), John and Yvonne Marciniak (52), Medard and Laura Kaluszka (51), Norm and Judith Charest (51), John and Anna Moyer (51), Thomas and Arlene Simmons (50)

tact Natalie Prendergrast at nprender@ knology.net or Carol Dawson at qms carol@hotmail.com. To register, contact Marilyn Derbyshire at 865-966-4540 or mderbyshire@sjnknox.org. St. Mary Parish in Oak Ridge will hold its vacation Bible school June 6 through 10. A number of volunteer positions are still available. To volunteer, call Karen at 865-766-8386. St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Lenoir City has set its vacation Bible School for the week of June 20 through 24. This year’s theme is “Hometown Nazareth.” For more information, call the parish office at 865-986-9885. St. John Neumann Parish in Farragut will hold a women’s event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 14. Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. in honor of pastor Father Pat Garrity’s 35th anniversary. A social will follow in the gym, where women can learn about ministries at the parish and fill out questionnaires to indicate their interests. Door prizes will be given away throughout the day, and the priests will open the gifts they received in a house shower to supply the new rectory. n

A Festival for Haiti took place April 17 to benefit the Good Neighbor Orphanage in Haiti, which houses 30 orphans from the January 2010 earthquake.

St. Thomas the Apostle, Lenoir City The Knights of Columbus will have their first Polish Feast dinner and dance beginning at 6 p.m. Friday, May 20. Tickets cost $25, and attendance is limited to 230. To make reservations or obtain ticket information, contact Ed Valente at 865-4081537 or evpv315@aol.com or Chet Kwiatkowski at 988-3894. The parish’s next Kairos Prison Ministry weekend is scheduled for May 5 through 8 at Morgan County Correctional Complex. Parishioners and youth will bake cookies for the program. Contact Chuck at 458-8520 or chastrid@aol.com or George at 423-884-3844 or kit707@yahoo.com to learn more. n

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COURTESY OF ROSEANN STRAZINSKY

St. John Neumann, Farragut

Glade choir performs at Valentine’s Day fundraiser The music ministry of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Fairfield Glade presented an “evening of love” on Feb. 14 as a fundraiser for a new piano. The program, with the theme “Love Changes Everything,” included an Italian dinner provided and served by the musicians, a concert, and a silent auction. The event raised more than $5,000.

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

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Parish notes: Five Rivers Deanery Holy Trinity, Jefferson City The Council of Catholic Women sponsored a fish fry April 15, followed by Stations of the Cross. Proceeds will support the Appalachian Outreach week to be held in July.

COURTESY OF JUDITH HALL

Anniversaries: William and Elva Connors (61), Clyde and Joyce Ward (58), Peter and Frances Gambino (35), Frank and Carol Clamon (30)

St. Dominic, Kingsport The parish celebrated Passover with a Seder meal April 20.

St. Elizabeth, Elizabethton Parish volunteers prepared and served 202 meals for homeless and elderly people April 2 at St. Thomas Episcopal Church as part of the community-wide Food for the Multitude program. The next opportunity for the parish to volunteer for the program is Saturday, May 7.

Renew International retreat held at Holy Trinity Holy Trinity Parish in Jefferson City hosted a Renew International retreat April 8. Anne Scanlan, pastoral associate for Renew International, was the presenter; the topic was “Meeting Jesus at the Well.” The retreat was well-attended by a group of participants that included parishioners from Notre Dame in Greeneville and St. Henry in Rogersville, including St. Henry pastor Father Mike Jennings. Pictured from left are Holy Trinity spiritual-life committee chair Judith Hall, Mrs. Scanlan, and Holy Trinity deacons Gordon Lowery and John Riehl.

Anniversaries: Richard and Patricia Skerlec (45), Greg and Cathy Watson (35) Baptism: Leo Benjamin Grubb, son of Matt and Kathleen Grubb

St. Mary, Johnson City

CCW hears talks on altar vessels, craft guild

The parish thanked a parishioner who recently donated $10,000 to St. Mary School, as well as all those who donated items for and attended the school’s auction April 9.

The East Tennessee Catholic

Boy Scout Troop 112 will hold its annual plant-sale fundraiser the weekend of April 29 through May 1.

St. Patrick, Morristown

COURTESY OF MAGGIE MAY

arishioners Sandy Alter and Mary Lou Lamb spoke at the Feb. 27 meeting of the Council of Catholic Women at Notre Dame Parish in Greeneville. Council president Denise Michaud welcomed the 25 members who attended and introduced Mrs. Alter, a longtime parishioner who spoke on the care of numerous altar vessels and linens. Notre Dame pastor Father Jim Harvey provided Mrs. Alter with a portable Mass kit, which she used to explain the proper name for each item. Mrs. Lamb, who with Wendy Hankins is co-chair of the parish’s St. Catherine Guild, was the second speaker. She gave a brief history of the guild, which was started about five years ago as a crafting guild and was named for St. Catherine of Bologna, a patron saint of artists. Sales of crafts are held during the year as fundraisers for both the CCW and the parish. Mrs. Lamb exhibited a

Gifts for meeting’s speakers Notre Dame CCW president Denise Michaud (center) presented certificates of appreciation to February meeting speakers Mary Lou Lamb (left) and Sandy Alter.

Bill McDuffie has volunteered to serve as maintenance coordinator and is looking for volunteers who would like to help with maintenance around the church. Interested persons should call the church office at 423-586-9174. The parish is collecting items for the Youth Yard Sale on Saturday, May 21. Items will be accepted at the church office from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays. Proceeds from the sale will help defer the cost of the St. Patrick youth trip to this year’s National Catholic Youth Conference. The annual Seder meal took place April 20 in the parish center. n

youth Bible with a crafted canvas book cover, one of which will be given to each of the children receiving first Holy Communion, and a rearview-mirror rosary that will be given to the confirmation students. n The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee

May 1, 2011 11

Smoky Mountain Deanery calendar

St. Joseph School in Knoxville will host the eighth annual Red Kidd Memorial golf tournament Thursday, May 5, at Three Ridges Golf Course in Knoxville. Lunch will be served at 11 a.m., with a shotgun start for the tourney set for 12:30 p.m. The format is four-person scramble. Entry fee is $125 and includes lunch, beverages, and golfing attire, as well as mulligans, red-tee starts, and other advantages. For details, call 865-689-3424.

The Ladies of Charity of Knoxville will hold their third annual golf tournament beginning at 9 a.m. Friday, May 6, at Knoxville Municipal Golf Course.

Blessed John XXIII, Knoxville The parish will host an appreciation dinner at 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 6, at the church for volunteers, staff, teachers, workers, eucharistic ministers, and others who help the parish. To make reservations, call the office at 865-523-7931. The parish’s Paulist novice, James Olague, led a class with the theme “Isaac Hecker: Reflection, Transcendence, and Impact” on April 7 and 14.

Holy Ghost, Knoxville

A Seekers of Silence Contemplative Saturday Morning will be held May 7 at Blessed John XXIII Catholic Center in Knoxville. Peg Becker and Susan Fowlkes will give a talk titled “Overcoming Our Obstacles to Living in Christ Consciousness: Helpful Ways to Control Negative Thoughts and Emotions.” Coffee and tea will be served at 8:30 a.m.; the workshop will run from 9 a.m. to noon. Bring a bag lunch. To RSVP or learn more, call 865-523-7931.

The parish celebrated the Office of Tenebrae, an annual Holy Week service, on April 18.

Immaculate Conception, Knoxville In April the women’s guild held its fifth annual “Wrap It Up Project,” a collection of lap quilts and afghans for Meals on Wheels participants.

Our Lady of Fatima, Alcoa The parish named twin sisters Della and Donna Malach as Stewards of the Month. They have served as sacristans and cared for the altar linens at Our Lady of Fatima for more than 50 years. n

The Serra Club of Knoxville meets on second and fourth Thursdays in the Shea Room at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Meetings begin with Mass at noon, followed by lunch and a speaker. For more information, call Florence Holland at 865-483-0624. n

Cajun celebration at Holy Cross The Council of Catholic Women at Holy Cross in Pigeon Forge held a successful Cajun dinner fundraiser March 4. The event included a homemade meal and dancing, and more than 50 parishioners attended. Each table had a handmade float as its centerpiece. Above, Bruce Boudin (left) and Evelyn Acosta lead an umbrella dance. The CCW is planning an international dinner and a Polish dinner later this year.

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Parish notes: Smoky Mountain Deanery

Closest-to-the-pin and putting prizes will be awarded. Among the four hole-in-one prizes is a Pebble Beach vacation, which includes airfare for two, four nights at the Lodge at Pebble Beach, and golf at the Pebble Beach, Spyglass, and Spanish Bay courses. Cost is $100. To register as an individual or with a team, or to sponsor the tournament, contact Joe Fuhr at 865-693-1810 or jfuhr4221@aol.com.

Calendar continued from page 9 Mass in the extraordinary form (“traditional Latin”) is celebrated at 1:30 p.m. each Sunday at Holy Ghost Church in Knoxville, at 3 p.m. on first and third Sundays at St. Thérèse of Lisieux Church in Cleveland, and at 3 p.m. on second and fourth Sundays at St. Joseph the Worker Church in Madisonville. There will be no extraordinary-form Masses at St. Thérèse in July. Visit www.knoxlatinmass.net for updated information.

COURTESY OF BARBARA TUCIBAT

Sacred Heart Cathedral School is hosting a dinner and a performance by the Einstein Simplified improvisationalcomedy group from Knoxville at 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 6, in the gym. Dinner will be provided by Gourmet’s Market and beverages by Ashe’s Wine & Spirits and Calhoun’s restaurants. Cost is $35 per person or $50 per couple. Proceeds will benefit the Sacred Heart Cathedral School Annual Fund. RSVP to the Office of Development at jpunch@shcknox.org or 865-558-4153.

The Community of Sant’Egidio is a Catholic lay ecclesial movement that focuses on prayer and service to the poor. Two Sant’Egidio groups regularly meet in the Diocese of Knoxville, in Knoxville and Johnson City. For more information on the Knoxville group, call Ellen Macek at 865-675-5541. Call Father Michael Cummins at 423-926-7061 for more details on the Johnson City group. Everyone is welcome to attend. Holy Resurrection Ruthenian Byzantine Catholic Mission has Divine Liturgy celebrations at 3:30 p.m. Sundays at the old Holy Ghost Church, 1031 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 office in Knoxville. Call Father Richard Armstrong at 865-584-3307 for more information. n

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

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Sports

Three Notre Dame athletes sign with colleges A golfer and two basketball players will continue their playing careers at the next level.

COURTESY OF GAYLE SCHOENBORN

hree seniors at Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga will continue their athletic careers in college after recent signings. Golfer Maddi Everts signed a letter of intent with Tennessee Tech. Maddi was a four-year standout for the Lady Irish who competed in the state tournament all four years and was a Chattanooga Times Free Press Best of Preps selection three years in a row as a sophomore, junior, and senior. “Maddi’s accomplishments over the last four years are very impressive,” said Irish golf coach Jeff Fisher. “At the top of the list has to be leading her team to a runner-up finish and a third-place finish in the state golf tournament [during her freshman and sophomore seasons].” Notre Dame’s Stewart Gunter signed a letter of intent to continue his basketball career at Tennessee Wesleyan. Stewart led Notre Dame to consecutive district championships over the past two seasons. During that time he led the team in rebounds and blocks. “Signing with Tennessee Wesleyan is a big deal for me, and it is a big part of my life,” Stewart said. “It is a big step up, but it’s something I have dreamed of doing since I started playing basketball as a kid.

Tennessee Wesleyan signee Stewart Gunter of Notre Dame High School sits with his mother, Sherry Gilchrist, and stepfather, Shawn Gilchrist. Standing are (from left) Brad Harris, NDHS basketball head coach; Ray Stone, Tennessee Wesleyan assistant men’s basketball coach; and NDHS athletics director Howie Sompayrac and assistant basketball coach Zac Byron. Stewart is a member of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga.

Just like any other player, I hope to improve my athletic ability, but also I want to get a good education and go on to improve myself as a person and a player at the same time.” Basketball player Nick Ellis signed to play for LaGrange College in Georgia. In his senior year Nick recorded 119 assists, 92 steals, 182 rebounds, and 275 points. He shot

86 percent from the free-throw line, going 67 for 78 on the year. “Nick is a hard worker, and on defense I would rank him among the top in the city,” said Irish head coach Brad Harris. “There is not a player that I would put Nick on that he couldn’t shut down. He is very coachable and did anything I asked him to do, giving me 110 percent.” n

Altar servers invited to attend picnic, Tennessee Smokies game, concert

he diocese invites altar servers to attend a picnic and Tennessee Smokies baseball game Sunday, July 31, at Smokies Park in Kodak. The annual outing for servers also includes a postgame concert by Sidewalk Prophets and Chris August. Servers should meet in front of the will-call cabin at 3:45 p.m. The picThe East Tennessee Catholic

nic begins at 4, and the Smokies will take on the Birmingham Barons at 5. Tickets cost $22.95 and include the picnic and field-level seats for the game and concert. Servers interested in attending should contact their parish altar-server coordinator or pastor. Parishes must purchase tickets directly from the Smokies. Purchase

deadline is Thursday, July 14. Parishes should reserve their seats by contacting Jeff Martin of the Smokies at 865-286-2313 or jmartin@ smokiesbaseball.com. For more information on the event, contact Maura Lentz at the Chancery office at 584-3307 or mlentz@dioknox.org. n

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

KCHS, NDHS set golf tournaments A pair of golf tournaments to benefit Knoxville Catholic High School and Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga are on tap for this spring. n The 25th annual KCHS Shamrock Open golf tournament, which has a scramble format, will be held Friday, June 10, at Egwani Farms Golf Course in Rockford. Proceeds will be used to purchase a mobile computer lab for the school. The tournament’s first flight will have check-in at 7:30 a.m., a shotgun start at 8:30, and lunch at 12:30 p.m. The second flight will have lunch and checkin at 11 a.m. and a shotgun start at 1:30 p.m. The $100 entry fee includes a round of golf, lunch, a golf shirt, a goody bag, and beverages. Cost is $75 for full-time college students. Prizes will be awarded for the winning foursome in each flight and for the closestto-the-pin and longest-drive winners. Golfers can also win a car with a hole in one. Register online at knoxville catholic.com. To sponsor the tourney or learn more, contact Megan Locke at 865-560-0509 or mlocke@knoxvillecatholic.com. n Notre Dame High School’s seventh annual Wrestling and Football Golf Tournament was rained out April 16 and reset for Friday, May 13, at Brown Acres Golf Course in Chattanooga. The tourney, which has a fourperson scramble format, will begin with lunch at 11:30 a.m. and a shotgun start at 1 p.m. Cost is $90 and includes a round of golf, a cart, unlimited range balls, a goody bag, contests, and lunch. Register online at alumni. myndhs.com. E-mail John Mullin at mullinj@myndhs.com for more information. n May 1, 2011 13

Catholic youth

14 May 1, 2011

The Tabor Life Institute priest and radio host leads a Lenten day of reflection at NDHS.

WTN radio host Father Thomas Loya of the Tabor Life Institute gave presentations at Knoxville Catholic High School on March 22 and at Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga on March 23. The institute’s motto is “Transforming Lives Through the Theology of the Body.” Father Loya’s presentation at Notre Dame was titled “This Is MY Body: A Lenten Day of Reflection.” The theme of his talk at KCHS was “Living a Sacramental Worldview.” At Notre Dame, the all-day presentation began with an extraordinary-form Mass, with Father Loya as homilist. Later in the morning, Father Loya gave two talks to boys titled “The Masculine Adventure,” and Catherine Baranko—founder of the Tabor Life Institute—led two sessions for girls titled “The Feminine Heart.” Father Loya gave an afternoon talk titled “Walking the Walk: Loving as God Loves.” Students at St. John Neumann observe ‘Pi Day’ Middle school students at St. John Neumann School in Farragut celebrated “Pi Day” on March 11 instead of the normal March 14 (“3/14”) because of spring break. The students, who had recently studied a geometry unit that involved pi, brought in treats with the pi symbol or the number 3.14. Pictured with pi treats are middle school math teacher Ann Simoneau and (from left) sixth-graders Lauren Ramos, Yvonne Smith, Stephanie Penpek, Riley McFall, Daisy Flomberg, Nicky MacWilliams, and Ginny Hale.

COURTESY OF GAYLE SCHOENBORN

The Diocese of Knoxville’s program for the protection of children and youth—a threehour seminar called “Protecting God’s Children”—is offered regularly throughout the diocese. The seminars are required for parish and school employees and regular volunteers in contact with children or vulnerable adults and are recommended for parents and grandparents. The following training sessions have been scheduled: n St. Thomas the Apostle Church, Lenoir City, 9 a.m. Saturday, April 30 (session will be held in the Deacon José Room) n St. Stephen Church, Chattanooga, 9 a.m. Saturday, April 30; 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 17 n St. Dominic Church, Kings port, 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 11; 9:30 a.m. Thursday, June 9; 1 p.m. Saturday, July 30; 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 10 n St. Jude Church, Chattanooga, 1 p.m. Thursday, May 19; 6 p.m. Thursday, July 28; 1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 22; 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 1 (sessions will be held in the parish life center) n St. Thérèse of Lisieux Church, Cleveland, 1:30 p.m. Sunday, June 12 (session will be held in the Trinity Room). n St. Mary Church, Johnson City, 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 20; 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14; 6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 17 (sessions will be held in St. Ann Hall). Participants are asked to donate $1 for session materials. To register, visit virtusonline.org. n

Father Loya speaks at Notre Dame, KCHS

Theology of the Body presentation at NDHS With Father Loya at Notre Dame High School are (from left) Dominican Sisters Mary Evelyn Potts, Anna Wray, Peter Verona Bodoh, and Thomas More Stepnowski; Catherine Baranko, founder of the Tabor Life Institute; and NDHS spiritual-life committee members Linda Spangler and Lisa Tuggle.

The afternoon also included a presentation for seventh- and eighthgraders. The day concluded with an

evening program for youth groups, confirmation students, teens, and parents. n

COURTESY OF MICHELLE DOUGHERTY

Diocese offers ongoing Virtus child-protection training sessions

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

dioknox.org

Knights of Columbus

Tennessee Knights roll out latest shipment of wheelchairs Parishes and Veterans Affairs medical centers throughout the state receive 280 wheelchairs. By Andy Telli

The East Tennessee Catholic

The deliveries ended in Johnson City, where 30 wheelchairs were donated to the Mountain Home VA Medical Center and two to Niswonger Children’s hospital, Mr. Wicke said. “They were desperate for some of the smaller sizes,” Mr. Wicke said. “We’ll add them to our list next time around.” Two wheelchairs are on hold in each of Tennessee’s three dioceses for new councils the Knights hope will come online in the next few months, Mr. Wicke said. “If not, we’ll give them away.” The wheelchairs cost $150 each, which includes delivery anywhere in the world. They have sturdy steel frames painted yellow and solid rubber tires, Mr. Wicke said. The chairs have the Knights of Columbus logo on the back and sides. Councils have sponsored a variety of fundraisers to buy and deliver the wheelchairs. “We hope a higher profile will raise awareness and help raise money to continue providing wheelchairs to those who need them,” said Mr. Wicke. “For $150 you can give an institution a wheelchair that will be used by dozens of people.” Currently the Knights are raising money to send a shipment of wheelchairs to Haiti, Mr. Wicke said, and the destination scheduled after that is the Holy Land. Knights in Florida, Texas, California, and Tennessee are pooling their efforts for the Holy Land shipment, he added. n

ANDY TELLI, TENNESSEE REGISTER

he Knights of Columbus delivered 280 wheelchairs in March to parishes and Veterans Affairs medical centers from Memphis to Johnson City. Councils across the state have been raising funds to buy the wheelchairs through the American Wheelchair Mission, which is run by Chris Lewis, the son of entertainer Jerry Lewis, said Bill Wicke, past state deputy of the Knights in Tennessee and the coordinator of the wheelchair program in the state. Mr. Wicke is a parishioner of St. John Neumann in Farragut. “The goal is to give people mobility,” he said. The Knights are distributing the wheelchairs primarily for use by veterans and the needy. The first shipment of wheelchairs paid for by Tennessee Knights was distributed in Middle Tennessee, most of them to the Alvin York Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Murfreesboro. Delivery of the latest shipment of wheelchairs began in Memphis. One hundred-thirty-five of the wheelchairs were delivered to the Memphis VA Medical Center there to be used by patients at the facility, said Mr. Wicke. Another five were delivered to veterans living in Memphis, he said, and one was given to a woman in Somerville, where the Knights Council had sponsored a concert that raised $7,000 for the program. Heading east, Mr. Wicke dropped off 93 wheelchairs to be delivered to 91 parishes. “Our goal is to put one in every parish down the road,” Mr. Wicke said, but for now the effort is focused on parishes that have a Knights of Columbus council. In Nashville Mr. Wicke dropped off six more that will be donated for use at three veterans cemeteries.

‘Giving people mobility’ Bill Wicke, past state deputy of the Tennessee Knights of Columbus and coordinator of the American Wheelchair Mission program in the state, hands a wheelchair to John Park of Nashville. Mr. Wicke recently delivered 280 wheelchairs to Veterans Affairs medical centers and parishes from Memphis to Johnson City. The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee

Mr. Telli writes for the Tennessee Register, published by the Diocese of Nashville. Editor’s note: The Knights of Columbus are a primary supporter of the American Wheelchair Mission and have raised funds to deliver tens of thousands of wheelchairs. To learn more about the organization, visit /bit.ly/hlfBr3. May 1, 2011 15

Holy Land

St. Dominic Church in Kingsport and the Five Rivers Deanery are hosting the 22nd annual Knoxville Diocesan Council of Catholic Women Convention set for Thursday through Saturday, May 5 through 7. The convention will begin with a memorial Mass and a banquet May 5. Keynote speakers are Sister Helena Burns of the Daughters of St. Paul, an international congregation of women religious dedicated to spreading God’s Word through media, and Christi Wigle, president of the Community Coalition Against Human Trafficking. For more information on the speakers, see the March 20 (Sister Helena) and April 10 (Ms. Wigle) editions of the ETC. Catholic women of all ages are encouraged to attend the convention. High school students are especially welcome and may register at a reduced fee. The convention’s service project is a collection of items to benefit St. Dominic School in Kingsport. To see the school’s wish list, visit www.kdccw.org/ serviceproject.pdf. Registration is $110 for both days, $35 for Thursday only, $65 for Friday only, and $35 for Saturday only. Full-registration cost for a priest, religious, or spouse is $40. For high school girls, registration is $50 for both days and $35 for Friday or Saturday only. For registration forms, hotel information, and more details about the convention, visit www.kdccw.org/conventions. html or call co-chairs JoAnn Preske at 865-436-5339, Judy Collins at 423-639-0688, or Ann Wharton at 423-581-1815. Hotel reservations may be made through the KDCCW site. n

16 May 1, 2011

ALAN SEFTON

DCCW convention set for May 5-7

Lenten journey to the Holy Land Pilgrims from the Diocese of Knoxville celebrate Mass in a cave in Shepherds’ Field, the site where the angels announced the glad tidings of Christ’s birth to the shepherds keeping watch. From left, they are Father Randy Stice, Deacon Sean Smith, Bishop Richard F. Stika, and Father Mike Nolan.

Diocesan pilgrims ‘walk in Christ’s footsteps’ Bishop Stika leads a group that visits sites throughout the Holy Land. By Dan McWilliams

ishop Richard F. Stika and 35 other travelers from the Diocese of Knoxville walked where Jesus walked in a pilgrimage to the Holy Land that included stops in Bethlehem, the Old City of Jerusalem, Emmaus, Nazareth, Cana, the Mount of Beatitudes, and many more cities and sites. Father Randy Stice, diocesan director of Worship and Liturgy, Father Mike Nolan of St. Dominic Parish in Kingsport, and chancellor Deacon Sean Smith also were part of “In the Footsteps of Jesus: A Lenten Pilgrimage,” which took

place March 20 through April 2. Each joined the bishop in delivering homilies during the group’s daily Masses. For Sister Albertine Paulus, RSM, diocesan director of pilgrimages and a veteran of five trips to the Holy Land, there was no single highlight of the latest visit there. “It all stands out,” she said. One of the most memorable visits was to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, “the most sacred piece of real estate on earth,” said Sister Albertine. “You can reach in and touch the

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rock of Calvary. There’s an opening, and you can put your hand in and feel that rock, and you know it’s Calvary—the same Calvary Jesus died on. Or you can go into the tomb and see the slab. There’s nothing like it.” The group benefited from a “very knowledgeable and very experienced” guide, Jerusalem native Johny Asmar, said Sister Albertine. Mr. Asmar was with the group for the entire trip. “He met us at the airport and left us at the airport,” she said. The pilgrims visited the Dead Sea, dioknox.org

The East Tennessee Catholic

ED SPRAY

‘Not my will but yours be done’ Gethsemane, the Garden of Olives, seen above, is the site where Jesus prayed on the night before his crucifixion. The Diocese of Knoxville pilgrims visited the garden on March 22.

makes all the difference in the world.” A diocesan pilgrimage to Rome and other cities in Italy is set for this fall (see the calendar on page 9). Another Holy Land pilgrimage is coming up next winter, Feb. 27 through March 11. Father Sam Sturm of St. Bridget Parish in Dayton will be among the priests on the Rome pilgrimage, and Monsignor Al Humbrecht of Holy Spirit in Soddy-Daisy will travel with the Holy Land pilgrims in 2012. For more information on both trips, contact Sister Albertine at 865207-4742 or smaevang@yahoo.com. Sister Albertine makes a distinction between tours and pilgrimages. “I’m not in the business of tours. I’m in the business of pilgrimages,” she said, adding that “the reason I love it” is seeing the impact each holy place has on the travelers. “I watched this time. At different places and different times, different people were moved to tears.” n

ALAN SEFTON

Masada, and Qumran, sites not on the itinerary of the Holy Land pilgrimage last fall. “They swam in the Dead Sea and went up and wandered around Masada. That was great,” said Sister Albertine. Tourists are able to enter and leave Bethlehem, unlike the residents in Christ’s birthplace, who are literally walled in under heavy Israeli security. “They can’t go visit their relatives six miles away in Jerusalem,” said Sister Albertine. “They’re in a ghetto with a wall around it, which—until you see it—you can’t believe. I think a number of people had their eyes opened about the political situation there and the way it affects people.” Deacon Smith said his most memorable part of the pilgrimage was “our very first Mass outdoors, in the Garden of Gethsemane.” “All I could contemplate was how Scripture tells us Jesus was sweating drops of blood, and I found it such a great privilege to hold the sacred cup of his precious blood,” said Deacon Smith. “All I could think of was seeing him there in the garden. That was a precious moment I will never forget.” Visiting Sister Sophie’s orphanage (see Bishop Stika’s column on page 2) and the Mount of Beatitudes were two more highlights, he said. Deacon Smith, Father Nolan, and Father Stice each delivered one homily during the pilgrimage. Deacon Smith’s was at Emmaus. “That was a special place,” he said. “The only thing remaining there was the ruins of [an ancient church] on the spot where Jesus broke bread,” he said. Deacon Smith, having now made his first Holy Land pilgrimage, said the trip has influenced the way he reads the Bible. “I’ll never, ever read Scripture the same. Now when I read Scripture, when I pray my morning and evening prayer and read the psalms, I can put myself there with the Scriptures. It

Sister Sophie, who runs an orphanage in Bethlehem for children born out of wedlock, poses with Bishop Richard F. Stika. Dating from the late 19th century, the orphanage is operated by the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul.

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

May 1, 2011 17

Around the diocese

Glenmary establishing ministries in three DOK counties

Grainger, Unicoi, and Union could all receive their ﬁrst Catholic parish as the missioners return to ET. By Dan McWilliams

18 May 1, 2011

DAN MCWILLIAMS

he diocese currently has six counties without a Catholic parish, but by summer or early fall that number could be cut in half, thanks to the return of Glenmary Home Missioners to East Tennessee. Bishop Richard F. Stika, in an April 8 letter to Glenmary president Father Dan Dorsey, granted his approval to the society’s detailed plans for Union, Grainger, and Unicoi counties. “I am ﬁlled with joy as I reﬂect on the good work the Glenmary Missioners will bring to East Tennessee,” the bishop wrote. “I consider your mission a great gift to our diocese.” Glenmary plans to establish a church in Maynardville, the county seat of Union, “that would also serve northern Grainger County with sacramental ministry,” Father Dorsey said in a recent letter to the bishop. In the Grainger County seat of Rutledge, Glenmary intends to establish either a “Catholic center” or a church “to serve as an outreach to the Hispanics who live and work near the lake,” the letter stated. Father Dorsey, in an April 13 interview, said “our ideal” is that the Grainger County entity be a parish. Whatever happens in Grainger or elsewhere, “our goal in all those places is one day to have a church building and a viable, active Catholic community,” he said. For Unicoi County, Glenmary recommends that a church be established in Erwin, the county seat, “with outreach ministry to the migrant camps and Hispanics in the area.” A short-term “mission house” or vocation house will also be set up in Unicoi County. The Church does have a presence in the county in the Chapel of Our

Former Glenmary parish St. Joseph the Worker in Madisonville began life as the Catholic Community of Monroe County in 1992, after Glenmary priest Father Jerry Dorn began seeking Catholics who lived in the area. In 2001 the building’s fellowship hall was completed. Mass was celebrated there until January 2003, when the worship space was consecrated. In July 2003 the diocese assumed responsibility for the parish.

Lady of Guadalupe, established in 1992 for the Hispanic workers at Scott Strawberry & Tomato Farms in the town of Unicoi. The chapel is under the care of St. Mary Parish in Johnson City. Glenmary will elect new leaders at its General Chapter in June, and they will “sit down and figure out what the agenda is going to be for the next four years,” said Glenmary second vice president Father Mike Kerin, adding that the new president and vice presidents will make the personnel assignments for East Tennessee so the new parishes can begin. “That new leadership has to figure out how to fill spots.” Glenmary’s plans for the three counties follow a series of meetings held in November in a number of areas in the diocese, as well as visits by GHM’s mission-planning committee to Catholics in counties with-

out a parish. Judging from a recent ETC issue’s mailing list, more than 70 Catholic families live in Grainger County, with about 40 in Union and 30 in Unicoi. The diocese would grow to 50 parishes if a parish is established in all three counties. In 2007 the diocese established a summer-only Catholic Community of Meigs County, which met in a storefront in Ten Mile, to gauge support for starting a parish in that county. The Glenmary mission planning committee visited Meigs County and “was quite impressed” with the diocese’s outreach there, Father Dorsey wrote in his letter to the bishop. The summer-only community, a mission of St. Mary in Athens, drew about 35 to 45 Catholics to Mass each week. Glenmary “will not be

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able to serve Meigs County for some time,” however, Father Dorsey said in the letter. The ETC is mailed to about two dozen families in Meigs County. “We were very impressed with the work the diocesan priests had done in Ten Mile, and it was part of the recommendation to the bishop that he might consider reopening it, if he had the neighboring pastors willing to do that,” said Father Kerin. Glenmary also visited Bledsoe County, which has about 20 ETC families but no parish. The only county the missioners did not travel to, tiny Pickett County in the northwest corner of the diocese, has no registered Catholic families. Glenmary established the Catholic Community of Monroe County in Madisonville in 1992, under the lay leadership of Jay Gilchrist and later Paul and Ginny Witte, before turning it over to the diocese in July 2003. Today the parish is going strong as St. Joseph the Worker. “Our charism is to go to places where there’s no Catholic church and to start one,” said Father Dorsey, “and then to nurture it in its early years to get it to a point where it is sustainable, return it to the diocese, and go on to the next place.” Grainger County Catholics travel to a number of different churches to attend Mass. The shortest drive for families in Thorn Hill in the northeast corner of the county is to Christ the King Church in Tazewell, whereas Catholics in Blaine—near the Knox County line—often drive to a Knoxville church. Rutledgearea Catholics typically go to St. Patrick in Morristown, Holy Trinity in Jefferson City, or Holy Ghost in Knoxville. “There are about six different Glenmary continued on page 22 dioknox.org

Vocations

Gifts to seminarian collection show ‘hope for the future’ Those who did not contribute to the special collection on Easter weekend may still do so in coming weeks. By Dan McWilliams

The East Tennessee Catholic

MARY C. WEAVER

he diocese’s second annual special collection for seminarian education took place Easter weekend, but East Tennessee Catholics who didn’t contribute at that time still have an opportunity to do so. Nearly all parishes in the Diocese of Knoxville use Our Sunday Visitor envelopes, which include a special envelope for the seminarian collection, said Jim Link, diocesan director of Stewardship and Planned Giving. “The parishes will be collecting those for several weeks after Easter, so all a person would need to do is put a gift in that envelope and put it in the offertory basket, and it will get to us,” he said. “Or they could just send a gift here to the Chancery and write ‘seminarian education’ on it.” Mr. Link, in his April 10 column in the ETC, urged the faithful to match the seminarians’ generosity in giving their lives to the Church “with as much treasure as we can muster” in one of the diocese’s most important collections of the year. “I really think it demonstrates hope in the future of the diocese and hope for the future of the church,” he said. “There’s really no better gift we can give to the Church than to perpetuate the faith and have it continue for our children and grandchildren and by preparing holy priests who will be able to ensure that the faith is passed on to future generations.” The annual cost to educate each seminarian is $45,000, a total that may seem surprisingly high to many of the faithful, said Mr. Link. The diocese pays not only for each seminarian’s tuition, room, and board but also his medical insurance and travel to and from his seminary. “I think most people don’t realize how much it costs unless they have

‘No better gift we can give’ Seminarians pose with Bishop Richard F. Stika outside Sacred Heart Cathedral on Nov. 14, 2009, following Father Christopher Riehl’s priestly ordination. The seminarians are (from left) Christopher Manning, Scott Russell, Michael Hendershott, Michael Poston, Jeff Emitt, Adam Kane, Anthony Budnick, Dustin Collins, and Deacon Doug Owens. Mr. Budnick and Mr. Emitt are students at Sacred Heart School of Theology in Hales Corners, Wis.; Mr. Collins, Mr. Kane, and Mr. Russell are studying at St. Meinrad School of Theology in St. Meinrad, Ind.; Mr. Hendershott, Mr. Owens, and Mr. Poston attend St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pa.; and Mr. Manning is a student at Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein, Ill. Deacon Owens is scheduled for priestly ordination on May 28 at Sacred Heart.

a child in college,” said Mr. Link, “but when you fold everything in, it’s $45,000 a year. It’s really the full cost of educating a seminarian for a whole year. We do ask the families of men in the college seminary program to make a gift to underwrite the cost of their college education, and many of the families do participate and do what they can, but it’s a big cost to the diocese.” The diocese has 15 seminarians this year, including Deacon Doug Owens, who will be ordained to the priesthood May 28. The cost to educate this year’s class was $675,000, but with as many as four new seminarians set to enroll this fall, the diocese may be paying $810,000 in the

coming year. “We want as many seminarians as we can get, but that means we have to raise a lot more money,” said Mr. Link. A portion of the Annual Catholic Appeal—$45,000—helps educate seminarians. Some people incorrectly assume that the Catholic Foundation of East Tennessee is responsible for all of the seminarians’ education costs, said Mr. Link. “That is a primary focus of the foundation, along with the acquisition of new property for churches, but CFET takes care of only two seminarians. The foundation gives $90,000 a year to educate two seminarians, so the bulk of what it costs

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for all the seminarians comes from the diocesan operating budget.” Some of the seminarians helped promote the special collection themselves in April, in talks given in the diocese’s six largest parishes. On the weekend of April 2 and 3 Deacon Owens spoke at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Chattanooga, Michael Poston at St. Jude in Chattanooga, and Michael Hendershott at St. John Neumann in Farragut. On the following weekend Scott Russell spoke at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Dustin Collins at All Saints in Knoxville, and Christopher Manning at St. Mary in Oak Ridge. Mr. Link heard Mr. Hendershott’s talk at St. John Neumann. “He did a great job. He explained the whole formation program and really what the four pillars of priestly formation are: the pastoral formation, the spiritual, the academic, and the human formation, and he used some great examples of how each of the seminarians is growing in each of those four areas. Michael is a very bright seminarian, and he spent a good deal of his talk focusing on the academic preparation and the philosophical and theological education.” Mr. Link said he hopes this year’s collection will reach $180,000. Last year the diocese’s first special collection for seminarian education totaled approximately $130,000. The 2010 collection did not have as much advance publicity as this year’s, said Mr. Link, but posters, the OSV envelopes, the six seminarian talks, bulletin announcements, and an article at dioknox.org all helped spread the word about the collection this spring. “We’re hoping this year with all the efforts to promote the collection that we can get about $50,000 more than we got last year.” n May 1, 2011 19

An ideal time for marriage enrichment By Marian Christiana The Easter season is a great time to remember that we have been renewed and restored through Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. This period of restoration can be used to assess our marital relationships as well and determine areas that need improvement. Here are some tips based on the research of John Gottman, Ph.D., about what helps move relationships forward: n Calm down and give each other space: This technique helps prevent arguments from escalating. Research says you will not have a productive conversation when your adrenaline is pumping. Take time to calm down and revisit a difficult topic when you are both calm. n Talk, don’t text: This seems so basic, but people often get into trouble with their relationships by e-mailing and texting about important issues. Important discussions deserve face-to-face communication. n Validate and apologize: Sometimes an apology isn’t enough. Sometimes others need to know you heard them and understand their feelings. Empathy must be expressed and felt by both parties. n Plan for prevention: Brainstorm and develop a plan to prevent spinning your wheels over an issue. Agree to try various solutions to a problem. You can learn more in Dr. Gottman’s book Why Marriages Succeed or Fail and How You Can Make Yours Last (Simon & Schuster, 1995). You can read more about Dr. Gottman and his work at http://bit.ly/fMBc0D. n Mrs. Christiana is coordinator of the diocesan Marriage Preparation and Enrichment Office.

20 May 1, 2011

Life and dignity

by Paul Simoneau

Evangelizing death

Through the cross of Christ, suffering itself has been redeemed.

ear the end of his earthly pilgrimage Pope John Paul II penned a beautiful letter of solidarity with those in the “autumn years of life.” In his “Letter to the Elderly” he states that there is an “urgent need to recover a correct perspective on life as a whole . . . , that of eternity, for which life at every phase is a meaningful preparation” (No. 10). Unfortunately, fear of aging—of feeling useless, of suffering and death—frequently assails us along our earthly journey. Indeed, “it is in the face of death that the riddle of human existence grows most acute” (Gaudium et Spes, No. 22). Today’s “efficiency culture” contributes much to these fears and to the marginalization of those deemed to be a burden upon society. For this reason it is imperative to reclaim a Catholic understanding of the dignity of the journey. Fear lies at the heart of the culture of death, which rejects the mystery of the cross and through it the sacred value Christ gave to suffering. But in the name of “death with dignity,” some wish to eliminate suffering at all costs and to arbitrate death. Euthanasia, a word whose Greek roots mean “good death,” mixes truth with falsehood and causes confusion even among those who truly want to do the right thing. Church teaching specifies that a terminally ill person has “a right to die in total serenity, with human and Christian dignity” (Charter for Health Care Workers, No. 119). However, “this cannot be interpreted as the power to kill oneself or to give this power to others but to experience dying in a human and Christian way and not flee from it ‘at any cost’” (ibid). Church

teaching, however, protects us from the “therapeutic tyranny” of “being overly medicalized” (ibid, Nos. 119, 117) as well from neglecting appropriate medical treatment and care. The U.S. bishops’ document “Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services,” fifth edition (bit.ly/ERD5th), is a short but essential guide for the conscience of health-care professionals and patients alike. Part five, “Issues in Care for the Seriously Ill and Dying,” provides a concise explanation of what constitutes “ordinary” or “proportionate” means for preserving life, which are obligatory, and those optional means that are “extraordinary” or “disproportionate.” “Ordinary” or “proportionate” medical treatments include those “that in the judgment of the patient offer a reasonable hope of benefit and do not entail an excessive burden or impose excessive expense on the family or the community” (ERD, No. 56). Likewise, “a person may forgo extraordinary or disproportionate means of preserving life,” defined as those that “in the patient’s judgment do not offer a reasonable hope of benefit or entail an excessive burden, or [that] impose excessive expense on the family or community” (ibid, No. 57). The directives also distinguish between ordinary care and medical treatment, however, specifying that “the administration of water and food, even when provided by artificial means, always represents a natural means of preserving life, not a medical act” (footnote No. 40). “In principle, there is an obligation to provide patients with food

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and water, including medically assisted nutrition for those who cannot take food orally. “This obligation extends to patients in chronic and presumably irreversible conditions . . .” It becomes “morally optional” only “when they cannot reasonably be expected to prolong life or when they would be ‘excessively burdensome for the patient or [would] cause significant discomfort,” such as when “a patient draws close to inevitable death . . . [and] certain measures to provide nutrition and hydration may become excessively burdensome and therefore not obligatory in light of their very limited ability to prolong life or provide comfort” (ERD, No. 58). Applying this teaching requires honest and prayerful discernment. Tried by illness and suffering, we especially need the sacrament of the anointing of the sick. The grace from this sacrament brings relief, strength, and especially “hope, which opens the human present to the future of God” (Charter for Health Care Workers, No. 111). In the darkness of approaching death in the garden of Gethsemane, Peter, who had earlier professed his willingness to die at the side of Christ (cf. Luke 22:33), drew his sword out of fear. Jesus ordered it sheathed, for the sword can never be drawn if death is to be evangelized and the Gospel proclaimed to the dying person (cf. Ibid, No. 131). Ending with my traditional play on the words of Pope Paul VI, “If you want peace . . . ,” be not afraid. n Mr. Simoneau directs the diocesan Justice and Peace Office. dioknox.org

Building the kingdom

by Jim Link

A ‘precious privilege’

Prayer ‘adds immeasurably,’ not to God’s greatness but to ours.

eeling as though I needed to enhance my knowledge of America’s past, I recently read Don’t Know Much About History (HarperCollins, 2004) by Kenneth C. Davis. Because religion played a significant role in our nation’s founding, a portion of the book is devoted to the topic. Davis quotes H. W. Brands, who in The First American: The Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin (Anchor, 2002), states: “As the deists did, Franklin measured the immensity of the universe against the minisculity of the earth and the inhabitants thereof and concluded from this that it was ‘great vanity in me to suppose that the Supremely Perfect does in the least regard such an inconsiderable nothing as man.’ Moreover, this Supremely Perfect had absolutely no need to be worshiped by humans. He was infinitely above such sentiments or actions.” Despite his brilliance, Franklin appears to have seen only half the picture. Two truths are central to our faith: the Incarnation and the Resurrection. A deist may conclude that the earth and its inhabitants are nothing compared with the supreme perfection of God, yet a Christian knows that by becoming one of us, the Crewator elevated humanity. God loves his creation as much as it reflects his glory. He wants to be as intimately involved in our individual and collective lives as we—given the beauty of free will—allow him to do so. Philippians 2:3-9 describes the connection between the Incarnation and the Resurrection and illustrates the Christian ideal: Though he was in the form of God, Jesus did not deem equality with God something to be grasped at. The East Tennessee Catholic

Rather, he emptied himself and took the form of a slave, being born in the likeness of men. He was known to be of human estate, and it was thus that he humbled himself, obediently accepting death, death on a cross. Because of this, God highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name above every other name, so that at Jesus’ name, every knee must bend in the heavens, on the earth, and under the earth, and every tongue proclaim to the glory of God the Father: Jesus Christ is Lord.

Franklin was half right. Prayer adds nothing to God’s greatness; however, it adds immeasurably to ours. Prayer transforms the person who practices it, making of his or her life a rich and beautiful offering to God. Father Thomas Dubay, in Prayer Primer (Ignatius Press, 2002), one of the finest books I’ve read on the subject, describes prayer as a “precious privilege.” Father Dubay adds: “That the Lord of glory, himself unending joy, beauty, and goodness, would invite us to communicate with him and then begin the conversation with his inspired word, which welcomes our response, is an unimaginable blessing.” Benjamin Franklin notwithstanding, there’s no better time than Easter to renew one’s faith in a God who loves us intimately and passionately, nor is there a better miracle to ponder than Christ’s victory over sin and death. Our gifts of time, talent, and treasure build up the kingdom of God, but it’s prayer that most delights the Lord and prompts the practitioner to a greater offering of self. n Mr. Link directs the diocesan Stewardship and Planned Giving Office.

Monsignor Mankel to celebrate golden jubilee onsignor Xavier Mankel, vicar general and pastor of Holy Ghost Parish in Knoxville, will celebrate his 50th anniversary of ordination with a Mass of thanksgiving at 6 p.m. Friday, May 27, at Holy Ghost. Monsignor Mankel was ordained May 27, 1961, at the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Nashville by Bishop William L. Adrian. For details, call Holy Ghost at 865-522-2205. n

Deacon Owens to be ordained a priest May 28 eacon Doug Owens will be ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Richard F. Stika at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 28, at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Deacon Owens will be the 39th priest ordained for the Diocese of Knoxville and the fourth by Bishop Stika. The bishop ordained Deacon Owens to the diaconate June 5, 2010, at his home parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Chattanooga. A native of London, Ky., Deacon Owens studied for the priesthood at Conception Seminary in Missouri and St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pa. n

Workshop set on music of the Roman Missal arish musicians are invited to a workshop on music for the third edition of the Roman Missal from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 4, in the Sacred Heart Cathedral School gym. The workshop will be conducted by Father Randy Stice, the director of the diocesan Worship and Liturgy Office, and Faerie Pabich, director of music and liturgy for Sacred Heart. Cost of the workshop is $20. Lunch will be provided for those who register in advance. Online registration is available at bit.ly/exjtjz. Materials will be provided, and participants will have the opportunity to purchase “Misa Luna,” the Mass setting that will be used by all diocesan parishes during the first year after the new Missal is put into effect. For details, contact Father Stice at frrandy@dioknox.org or 865-584-3307. n

All Saints choir to perform Easter cantata he All Saints Parish choir, directed by Walter Otey and augmented by singers from a half-dozen other parishes, will perform an Easter cantata to benefit Catholic Charities at the church on Cedar Bluff Road in Knoxville on Friday, April 29, and Sunday, May 1. The work, which will be accompanied by a chamber orchestra, is a compilation of two cantatas and contains variations of some familiar hymns. “In searching for an appropriate Easter cantata, we could not find one that covered the Easter story from Palm Sunday to the resurrection,” Mr. Otey said. “I combined the two works to create a cantata that covers the entire story.” The performance will begin at 7 p.m. on Friday and at 6 p.m. on Sunday. It is free and open to the public. A collection will be taken at the end, with all proceeds going to Catholic Charities. Mr. Otey, a founding member of All Saints Parish, holds a degree in music education from Illinois Wesleyan University and has taught band in Illinois and Kansas. He is a percussionist and a member of the East Tennessee Concert Band. Sandy Seffernick, All Saints choir director, assisted Mr. Otey in preparing the choir. n

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May 1, 2011 21

Once upon a time Glenmary continued from page 18

churches [Grainger County Catholics] traveled to, if they went to church at all,” said Father Kerin, “and of course, there are a lot of unchurched people in the county too.” The Grainger County announcement came as good news to Patricia Goebel, who along with husband Mike Kauffman has been instrumental in having Mass celebrated in Rutledge. The couple moved to Tennessee from Illinois in 2001. For a 22-month period from 2001 to ’03, monthly Masses took place in the Goebels’ convenience store, with Father Joseph Hammond, CHS, of St. Patrick in Morristown presiding. “It was just a grocery store/ gas-station and restaurant, but we had 40 to 70 people once a month,” said Ms. Goebel. “We had one wedding there.” Masses have returned to Grainger County in the form of monthly Saturday vigils at the University of Tennessee Agricultural Pavilion on Bryan Road in Rutledge, behind Rutledge Elementary School. The first Mass was celebrated March 26, and the next two Mass dates are April 30 and May 21. The celebrant is Father Hammond or Father Alex Waraksa of St. Patrick. “Mass is at 7, and then we have a potluck,” said Ms. Goebel. Glenmary’s visits helped restart the monthly Masses, she said. “We’re really excited to hear that they’re coming.” n

22 May 1, 2011

by Monsignor Xavier Mankel

Parish names show dedication to Mary

Since 1852 parishes and other institutions in East Tennessee have been named for the Blessed Mother.

he Official Catholic Directory is published annually by P. J. Kenedy & Sons, with offices in New Providence, N.J. The Kenedy Directory, as it is colloquially called, remains the premier resource for matters relating to the Catholic Church in these United States. Every diocese and its parishes, every Catholic institution—schools, colleges, universities, hospitals, nursing homes, etc.—is listed. The name of every Catholic priest is listed in alphabetical order. The volume includes charts and data that make it a very valuable tool for research and ongoing information about our priests and parishes today. Oh yes, it is pricey. The retail cost has soared beyond $300. Very few priests subscribe to a personal copy, but each diocese has one in its Chancery. Many public libraries subscribe. The Kenedy Directory has this to say about the Diocese of Knoxville: “Established Sept. 8, 1988. Square miles 14,242. Comprises the counties of Anderson, Bledsoe, Blount, Bradley, Campbell, Carter, Claiborne, Cocke, Cumberland, Fentress, Grainger, Greene, Hamblen, Hamilton, Hancock, Hawkins, Jefferson, Johnson, Knox, Loudon, McMinn, Marion, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Pickett, Polk, Rhea, Roane, Scott, Sequatchie, Sevier, Sullivan, Unicoi,

Union, and Washington in the state of Tennessee.” The directory notes that Bishop Richard F. Stika was ordained a priest on Dec. 14, 1985, appointed third bishop of Knoxville on Jan. 12, 2009, and ordained and installed on March 19, 2009. The book further lists the ordination and installation dates for our two previous bishops, Anthony J. O’Connell and Joseph E. Kurtz. The OCD is updated twice each year so it gives us a rather accurate and current picture of many items in church life, from priest to priest, parish to parish, diocese to diocese, province to province, region to region—indeed, a pretty fine snapshot of the Church in our land. I mention this bit of detail because our local church didn’t just happen. Our diocese came about because studies were made and assets analyzed, and in consultation with the Holy See, the Holy Father (John Paul II at the time) endorsed the recommendations of the studies. And so it came to be . . . As we begin this new format of The East Tennessee Catholic, the voice of our bishop into our minds and hearts, let us consider during this month of May the parishes and institutions dedicated to our Blessed Lady, the Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, and also our Queen: First,

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Immaculate Conception Church in Knoxville, which became one of the very first parishes in the world to bear that name (1852). The jury is still out on what the name of the “church on the hill” was before 1852. Most say it was called St. Andrew Parish. More research, more time . . . Our Lady of Fatima in Alcoa (1950) reflects a 20th-century title of our Blessed Lady. Indeed, nobody had heard of devotion to Our Lady of Fatima until she appeared to Lucy, Jacinta, and Francisco in Portugal in 1917. Other East Tennessee institutions named after Our Lady are St. Mary in Athens (1968), Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Chattanooga (1937), St. Mary in Gatlinburg (1935), Notre Dame in Greeneville (1955), St. Mary in Johnson City (1906), Our Lady of Perpetual Help in La Follette (1904), St. Mary in Oak Ridge (1943), Our Lady of Lourdes in South Pittsburg (1899), Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga (1876), St. Mary’s Health System in Knoxville (1930)—all dedicated to the Blessed Mother of God. We have been dedicated to Mary. We are dedicated to her. We shall ever be dedicated to her. n Monsignor Mankel is a vicar general of the diocese and the pastor of Holy Ghost Parish in Knoxville.

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From the wire

John Paul II: model Christian VATICAN CITY (CNS)—As church officials keep emphasizing, Pope John Paul II is being beatified not for his performance as pope but for the way he lived the Christian virtues of faith, hope, and love. When the Vatican’s sainthood experts interviewed witnesses about the Polish pontiff, the focus of their investigation was holiness, not achievement. What emerged was a spiritual portrait of Pope John Paul, one that reflected lifelong practices of prayer and devotion, a strong sense of his priestly vocation, and a reliance on faith to guide his most important decisions. More than leadership or managerial skills, these spiritual qualities were the key to his accomplishments—both before and after his election as pope in 1978. From an early age, Karol Wojtyla faced hardships that tested his trust in God. His mother died when he was 9, and three years later he lost his only brother to scarlet fever. His father died when he was 20, and friends said Wojtyla knelt for 12 hours in prayer and sorrow at his bedside. His calling to the priesthood didn’t happen overnight. It took shape during the dramatic years of World War II, after a wide variety of other experiences, including acting with a theater group, splitting stone at a quarry, writing poetry, and supporting a network that smuggled Jews to safety. Wojtyla’s friends of that era remembered his contemplative side and his habit of intense prayer. A daily Mass-goer, he cultivated a special devotion to Mary. In 1938 he began working toward a philosophy degree at the University of Krakow. A year later the Nazi blitzkrieg of The East Tennessee Catholic

Poland left the country in ruins. During the German occupation Wojtyla began attending weekly meetings called the “living rosary” led by Jan Tyranowski, a Catholic layman who soon became his spiritual mentor. Tyranowski introduced him to the 16th-century Spanish Carmelite mystic St. John of the Cross, who would greatly influence the future pope. Wojtyla called Tyranowski an “apostle” and later wrote of him, “He showed us God much more immediately than any sermons or books; he proved to us that God could not only be studied but also lived.” At a spiritual crossroads in 1942, Wojtyla entered Krakow’s clandestine theological seminary. In the pope’s 1996 book Gift and Mystery (Doubleday) he remembered his joy at being called to the priesthood but his sadness at being cut off from acquaintances and other interests. He said he always felt a debt to friends who suffered “on the great altar of history” during World War II while he pursued his underground seminary studies. As a seminarian he continued to be attracted to monastic contemplation. Twice during these years he petitioned to join the Discalced Carmelites but was said to have been turned away with the advice: “You are destined for greater things.” He was ordained four years later, as Poland’s new communist regime was enacting restrictions on the Church. After two years of study in Rome he returned to Poland in 1948 and worked as a pastor. From the beginning he focused much of his attention on young people, especially university students—the beginning of a lifelong pastoral interest. Students would join him on hiking

CNS PHOTO/CATHOLIC PRESS PHOTO

The late pope embodied faith, hope, and love. By John Thavis

‘A very great cross’ Pope John Paul II prays at the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, in this undated photo.

and camping trips, which always included prayer, outdoor Masses, and discussions about the faith. Father Wojtyla earned a doctorate in moral theology and began teaching at Lublin University, at the same time publishing articles and books on ethics and other subjects. In 1958 at age 38 he was named an auxiliary bishop of Poland, becoming the youngest bishop in Poland’s history. He became archbishop of Krakow in 1964 and played a key role in the Second Vatican Council, helping to draft texts on religious liberty and the church in the modern world. After Pope John Paul I was elected in 1978, Cardinal Karol Wojtyla said in a sermon in Poland that the papacy, “although it is a great office, is also a very great cross.” He said of the new pope: “He took up the cross of contemporary

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man . . . of all the tensions and dangers which arise from various injustices: the violation of human rights, the enslavement of nations, new forms of colonial exploitation . . . wrongs which can be righted only in the spirit of Christ’s cross.” A few weeks later Pope John Paul I was dead, and the “cross” of the papacy fell to Cardinal Karol Wojtyla. Early in his pontificate, on May 13, 1981, the feast of Our Lady of Fatima, the Polish pope experienced a brush with death that intensified his already strong devotion to Mary. Mehmet Ali Agca, a Turk who had previously threatened the pope, shot and seriously wounded the pontiff in St. Peter’s Square. The pope’s life hung in the balance, and his recovery was slow. He credited Mary

John Paul continued on page 24 May 1, 2011 23

From the wire

John Paul continued from page 23

Pope: be vigilant against evil VATICAN CITY (CNS)—When Jesus asked his disciples to stay awake while he prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, he was asking every believer throughout history to remain awake to the reality of God and to the reality of sin, Pope Benedict XVI said. Jesus’ request that his disciples keep watch was “a permanent message for all times because the drowsiness of his disciples was not just a problem in that moment; it is a problem throughout history,” the pope said April 20. Explaining the liturgies of Holy Week and Easter to an estimated 13,000 people gathered in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Benedict said the drowsiness that Jesus warns all believers against is “a certain insensitivity of the soul to the power of evil, insensitivity to all the evil in the world; we don’t want to let ourselves be too bothered by these things. We want to forget them, or we try to think they aren’t so serious.” But, the pope said, the lack of awareness about evil is the flip side of an equal lack of awareness about the presence and love of God. “This is our real drowsiness,” the pope said. “We don’t feel God’s presence; it would disturb us,” so we “stay on the path of our own comfort.” “We must also stay vigilant in order to do good, to struggle on behalf of the force of goodness,” Pope Benedict said. Unlike Jesus, whose humanity allowed him to experience suffering and anguish at the thought of suffering and death but whose obedience led him to accept God’s will completely, the pope said, most people “struggle against God’s will,” thinking it will lead them into slavery. The Holy Week and Easter liturgies, which culminate in the procla-

24 May 1, 2011

CNS PHOTO/PAUL HARING

Doing God’s will reveals the ‘path to life.’ By Cindy Wooden

True freedom Pope Benedict XVI is seen at the start of his general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican April 20.

mation of Christ’s resurrection, are a clear reminder that true life and freedom come from doing God’s will, the pope said. Pope Benedict prayed that Catholics everywhere would experience the Holy Week and Easter services as moments to reaffirm their own commitment to doing God’s will, “aware that in doing so—even when it seems hard and in contrast to our own desires—we find precisely that which truly is good for us, the path to life.” Among those at the audience were more than 3,000 students from more than 200 universities participating in an Opus Dei conference and pilgrimage. The pope told the students, “I hope these days in Rome will be an opportunity to rediscover the person of Christ and will give you a strong experience of Church so that you can return home enlivened with a desire to witness to the mercy of the heavenly Father.” n Copyright 2011 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

with having saved him, and he later traveled to the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal, where he placed a bullet fragment that had been removed from his body in the crown of a statue of Mary. Years later the pope published the “third secret” of Fatima, which described a period of suffering for the church and the shooting of a bishop in white—a figure the pope believed was linked to the attempt on his life. Pope John Paul’s private prayer life was intense, and visitors who attended his morning Mass described him as immersed in an almost mystical form of meditation. He prayed the liturgy of the hours, he withdrew for hours of silent contemplation and eucharistic adoration, and he said the rosary often—eventually adding five new luminous mysteries to this traditional form of prayer. The pope also took penitential practices seriously. In a book published after his death, the postulator or his sainthood cause, Monsignor Slawomir Oder, said Pope John Paul spent entire nights lying with his arms outstretched on the bare floor, fasted before ordaining priests or bishops, and flagellated himself with a belt. Throughout his life Pope John Paul was a devotee of the Divine Mercy movement, founded in the early 1900s by Sister Faustina Kowalska, a sister from Krakow. Her special devotion to the divine mercy of God was a theme the pope himself took up in his 1980 encyclical Dives in Misericordia (“Rich in Mercy”). The pope beatified Sister Faustina in 1993 and canonized her in 2000, proclaiming the second Sunday of Easter as Mercy Sunday throughout the world. Pope John Paul’s death in 2005 came on the eve of Mercy Sunday, and his beatification May 1 will be celebrated on Mercy Sunday. Pope John Paul canonized 482 people, more than all his predecessors combined. Although the Vatican was sometimes humorously referred to as a “saint factory” under Pope

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John Paul, the pope was making a very serious effort to underline what he called the “universal call to holiness”—the idea that all Christians, in all walks of life, are called to sanctity. “There can never be enough saints,” he once remarked. He was convinced that God sometimes speaks to the world through simple and uneducated people. St. Faustina was one, and the pope also canonized the Italian mystic St. Padre Pio and St. Juan Diego, the Mexican peasant who had visions of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The world knows Pope John Paul largely because of his travels to 129 countries. For him they were spiritual journeys. As he told his top advisers in 1980, “These are trips of faith and of prayer, and they always have at their heart the meditation and proclamation of the word of God, the celebration of the Eucharist, and the invocation of Mary.” Pope John Paul never forgot that he was, above all, a priest. In his later years he repeatedly said that what kept him going was not the power of the papacy but the spiritual strength that flowed from his priestly vocation. He told 300,000 young people in 1997, “With the passing of time, the most important and beautiful thing for me is that I have been a priest for more than 50 years because every day I can celebrate Holy Mass.” In his final years the suffering brought on by Parkinson’s disease, arthritis, and other afflictions became part of the pope’s spiritual pilgrimage, demonstrating in an unusually public way his willingness to embrace the cross. With his beatification the church proposes not a model pope but a model Christian, one who witnessed inner holiness in the real world and who through words and example challenged people to believe, to hope, and to love. n Copyright 2011 Catholic News Service/ U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops dioknox.org