He dwells among us.................. 2 Diocesan calendar................... 10 Deanery news.......................... 11 La Cosecha............ center pullout
This issue
The East Tennessee
Catholic schools...................... 15 Columns............................. 18-22 Mass times.............................. 23
dioknox.org Nov. 4, 2012 Volume 22 Number 3
Bishop Richard F. Stika
News from The Diocese of Knoxville
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Happy anniversary OLPH Parish celebrates milestone
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Firm foundation Catholic Foundation helps build Church
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Saintly support St. Thérèse family witnesses canonization
Eucharistic Congress to kick off Jubilee year ‘Miraculous’ lineup of speakers providing inspirational start to diocese’s 25th anniversary
Jubilee continued on page 4
DAN MCWILLIAMS
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he Diocese of Knoxville’s yearlong 25th anniversary jubilee will kick off Sept. 13-14 with a family weekend that includes a Eucharistic Congress for all the diocesan faithful featuring some of the most influential personalities in the U.S. Catholic Church—a lineup called “almost miraculous.” The two-day celebration will take place at the Sevierville Convention Center, with lodging available at the adjacent Wilderness at the Smokies Waterpark Resort and Family Adventure Center and dozens of other hotels in Sevier County. The diocese’s first Eucharistic Congress is designed for families, with activities planned for adults, teens and young children. The jubilee kickoff celebration will begin Friday, Sept. 13, with a youth mass for all diocesan students followed by a youth concert and adoration led by
By Bill Brewer
Upon this East Tennessee rock Pope John Paul II established the Diocese of Knoxville with this decree, written in 1988 in Latin on parchment with a papal seal. The framed document hangs in the Diocese of Knoxville Chancery along with other artifacts signifying the diocese’s birth. The diocese will kick off its 25th anniversary jubilee Sept. 13-14 with a Eucharistic Congress and family weekend in Sevierville.
The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee
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He dwells among us
by Bishop Richard F. Stika
Bishop’s schedule
A year of thanksgiving
These are some of Bishop Stika’s public appointments:
When we learn to give thanks, the little we have becomes an abundance and a gift for others to enjoy
wo of my favorite saints recently reminded me of something that is so very crucial to our faith and the measure of our love—that of thankfulness. I certainly needed their help in this regard following the St. Louis Cardinals’ disappointing Game Seven loss last month that ended my hopes of seeing them play in another World Series. The first reminder came from a recording of that most memorable voice of Blessed John Paul II praying in English with his heavy accent Psalm 92—“It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praise to your name, Most High….” And although the words of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta were not exactly what I wanted to hear, she reminded me that the gifts most beneficial to our soul are not always in the form of something given, saying of Christ, “I love Him— not for what He gives—but for what He takes!” It is the ungrateful heart that always seems to say “It’s not enough.” This was the essence of the first temptation described in the Garden of Eden, and found in the expression, “Enough is always a little more than a man has.” What is ironic is that often the more
Diocesan policy for reporting sexual abuse
we have, the more ungrateful we become. If people seem less thankful today than in years past, perhaps it is because as a nation we are the largest consumer of material goods in the world and have grown accustomed to such an excess of goods. Where there is a constant expectation of something more, even moderation is viewed as representing something less. Diet drinks and low fat foods allow us to consume more with supposedly fewer consequences to our waistline. And with the growing number of self-storage facilities we can even increase our material possessions beyond the capacities of our home. With such abundance, the further irony is that people often are not happier, but quite the opposite. Here I am reminded of the sadness of the rich young man for whom the promise of “treasures in heaven” were not enough to let go of his “many possessions” and to give to those who truly did not have enough (Matthew 19:16-22). Many are surprised that the Thanksgiving holiday that has now become synonymous with the frenzy of “Black Friday” shopping deals, was initially
proclaimed by Abraham Lincoln in 1863 to not only be a day for offering thanks, but one also of “humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience.” It was above all to be a day of penitence, thanksgiving, and praise to God. With the Year of Faith that began Oct. 11, Pope Benedict XVI has called upon Catholics throughout the world to enter into no less of a period of thanksgiving. Specifically, he asks that we pray daily the Nicene Creed so as to better contemplate God’s many gifts—those of “the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth”—of Our Lord Jesus Christ who “became man” and “for our sake was crucified”—of “the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of Life”—and that of Church and “the forgiveness of sins” through our baptism. Our Year of Faith should indeed be a special year of thanksgiving marked by frequent recourse to the Sacrament of Penance—of Reconciliation with God and neighbor through the power of the Sacrament—and of Eucharistic adoration and the reception of the Eucharist within the Liturgy of the Holy Mass, so as to be a true year of penitence, thanksgiving and praise. n
The East Tennessee
Nov. 10-15: U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops meeting in Baltimore Nov. 18: 5 p.m., Daughters of St. Paul benefit dinner Nov. 25: 6 p.m., Mass at Northeast Correctional Complex, Mountain City Nov. 26-28: Province meeting in Lexington, Ky. Nov. 29: 9 a.m., visit St. Joseph School Nov. 30: 6 p.m., Mass celebrating Father Michael Nolan’s Silver Jubilee followed by banquet, St. Dominic Church n
Virtus training Holy Cross, Pigeon Forge, 9 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 3 St. Jude, Chattanooga, noon, Monday, Nov. 5 Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Chattanooga, 6 p.m., Monday, Nov. 5 St. Dominic Church, Kingsport, 1 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 11; 9:30 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 11 St. Francis of Assisi, Fairfield Glade, noon, Sunday, Nov. 18 All Saints, Knoxville, 1 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 8 Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, 7 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 15 St. Mary Church, Johnson City, 9:30 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 22 n
Bishop Richard F. Stika Publisher
Dan McWilliams Assistant editor
Bill Brewer
Margaret Hunt
Anyone who has actual knowlEditor Administrative assistant edge of or who has reasonable 805 Northshore Drive, S.W. • Knoxville, TN 37919 cause to suspect an incident of The Diocese of Knoxville sexual abuse should report such The East Tennessee Catholic (USPS 007211) is published 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 37919-7551 Reach us by phone: 865-584-3307 • fax: 865-584-8124 • e-mail: webmaster@dioknox.org • web: dioknox.org 482-1388. n
2 November 4, 2012
The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee
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OLPH Church, School mark 75th anniversary Parishioners celebrate historic date with Mass, community dinner
The East Tennessee Catholic
Happy anniversary Bishop Richard F. Stika celebrates Mass for the 75th anniversary of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church and School in Chattanooga. Deacon Mark Gang is shown assisting Bishop Stika. Concelebrating at the Mass, pictured above from back left, were OLPH associate pastor Father Michael Creson, vicar general Monsignor Xavier Mankel, and Father Jim Vick, OLPH pastor.
Harold] Shea, to come to scout out property, which he did,” said the bishop. “They found this property, which was a number of acres, and it was so very appealing because it was kind of on a hill. It in some ways reflected the Scriptures when it talks about how the church, a person of faith, should be like a lantern burning brightly—it should never be covered as by a bushel basket, but should burn brightly.” OLPH has done just that, Bishop Stika said. “Hasn’t this parish for 75 years now since its foundation burned brightly in all those moments where buildings were added and renovated, when there were vocations to religious life and to the priesthood, and in nurturing young priests and sometimes not-so-young priests in their desire and their willingness to serve God’s people?” The day of the anniversary Mass was a time to remember Father Shea and the founding families of
Diocesan news n Bishop
DAN MCWILLIAMS
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he family of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Chattanooga turned out in full Oct. 6 as their parish celebrated its 75th anniversary. Bishop Richard F. Stika presided at the church on a hill on South Moore Road that has overlooked the East Ridge community since 1937. “What a joy it is to celebrate 75 years of existence of this parish dedicated to Our Lady of Perpetual Help,” Bishop Stika said in his greeting at the anniversary Mass. “A parish that sits on a hill—a high point along the highways and byways of this community that has for so many years functioned as a place of prayer, a place of faith, and a place where people can feel welcomed. All are welcome.” Concelebrating at the Mass were Father Jim Vick, OLPH pastor; Father Michael Creson, OLPH associate pastor; Monsignor Xavier Mankel, Diocese of Knoxville vicar general and pastor of Holy Ghost Church in Knoxville; Father Alex Waraksa, associate pastor of St. Patrick Church in Morristown and a former associate pastor at OLPH; Father Alberto Sescon, pastor of St. Thérèse of Lisieux Church in Cleveland; and Father Mathew Thelly, parochial vicar of St. Stephen Church in Chattanooga. Deacon Mark Gang Jr. assisted. After the anniversary Mass, the celebration continued with a dinner held in the OLPH School gym, which was attended by more than 400 people. An anniversary celebration for the school and its faculty, staff, and students was held Oct. 5. Diocese of Nashville Bishop William L. Adrian created OLPH as Chattanooga’s second parish after Sts. Peter and Paul Parish downtown, Bishop Stika said in his homily. “He appointed a priest, a very good priest, a holy priest, Father [J.
By Dan McWilliams
OLPH who began their parish in the midst of the Great Depression, “a time when people had a hard time just supplying food for the table, keeping the lights on, and wondering what tomorrow would be like,” Bishop Stika said, “and yet the people together with the bishop and the first pastor came together and they trusted in God.” OLPH “has come together to welcome our Hispanic brothers and sisters in a joyful praise” and welcomed “the Korean community and other communities of people who have gathered together from a variety of different places,” Bishop Stika said, adding that the parish also includes those “who in their past had a different faith tradition, and they had a desire to join the Catholic Church.” Those gathered for the anniversary Mass “have a lot to be thankful for this day: for the goodness of God and his grace present in our midst
Anniversary continued on page 8
The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee
Richard F. Stika announced that Sister Mariana Koonce, RSM, has joined the diocese as director of the Office of Health Services. This new office, under the direction of Sister Mariana, who is a family medicine physician, will perpetuate the work of the Sisters of Mercy by assessing and providing essential care to underserved communities across the many counties of East Tennessee. There are currently plans in place to expand this service through the operation of a mobile medical clinic. n Bishop Stika announced that Father Ragan Schriver will serve solely as director of Catholic Charities of East Tennessee after dividing his ministry between Catholic Charities and Holy Family Parish in Seymour, where he has been pastor since 2009. Effective Nov. 15, Father Joseph Thomas, CMI, will be pastor of Holy Family Parish in Seymour. Father Thomas has been in residence at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Bishop Stika expressed gratitude to Father Schriver for his dual ministerial roles and noted the responsibilities of directing Catholic Charities and Holy Family are now too large for one priest. n Bishop Richard F. Stika and Deacon Sean Smith, diocese chancellor, announced that Father John O’Neill’s request for transfer to the Diocese of Nashville has been approved, effective Oct. 1, when he was incardinated into the Diocese of Nashville. “We give thanks to Father O’Neill for his many years of holy ministry and fidelity to the Church of East Tennessee. We wish Father O’Neill well and offer him our prayers as he continues to serve the good people of the Diocese of Nashville,” Deacon Smith said. n November 4, 2012 3
the Southeast Pastoral Institute and is a regional director for Hispanic Ministry for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, will lead a workshop for Hispanic parishioners. Singer and speaker ValLimar Jansen, a university professor and leader of worship and prayer who presents workshops at conferences across the country, is leading a youth breakout session. And Sister Rosa M. Hernandez, MGSpS, who is with the migrant ministry team in the Diocese of Stockton and previously was the diocesan director of Hispanic Ministry for the Diocese of Birmingham, also will lead a workshop for Hispanic members of the diocese. Bishop Richard F. Stika will celebrate the diocesan-wide Mass that concludes the Eucharistic Congress on Sept. 14, with priests from across the diocese concelebrating. Parishioners attending this Mass will fulfill their Sunday Mass obligation that weekend. The list of high-profile speakers and singers is expected to attract attendees from across the diocese and throughout the Southeast region.
COURTESY OF WILDERNESS AT THE SMOKIES WATERPARK RESORT
nationally known singers Josh Blakesley and Sarah Kroger. On Saturday, Sept. 14, Cardinal Timothy Dolan of the Archdiocese of New York will deliver the keynote address at the Eucharistic Congress. Cardinal Dolan, who has been named one of the “100 Most Influential People in the World” by Time magazine, is president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Best-selling author and speaker Dr. Scott Hahn, whose books include The Lamb’s Supper and Rome Sweet Home and is internationally acclaimed as a lecturer and founder of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, will lead two workshops—one for adults and one for youth—on Sept. 14. Father Robert Barron, founder and executive director of the popular Word on Fire Catholic Ministries who is described as one of the Catholic Church’s best messengers, also will lead a workshop for adults. Father Barron is rector and president of the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary near Chicago. Father Rafael Capó, who heads
Family weekend fun The Wilderness at the Smokies Waterpark Resort and Family Adventure Center in Sevierville will serve as the main hotel for those attending the diocese’s Eucharistic Congress and family weekend Sept. 13-14. The resort, adjacent to the Sevierville Convention Center, features the largest indoor waterpark in Tennessee.
4 November 4, 2012
COURTESY OF SEVIERVILLE CONVENTION CENTER
Jubilee continued from page 1
Eucharistic Congress site The Sevierville Convention Center, located just off Highway 66, will be the site of activities for the Diocese of Knoxville’s 25th anniversary jubilee kickoff Sept. 13-14. The recently expanded Wilderness at the Smokies Resort is to the right.
Bishop Stika said the Eucharistic Congress and the yearlong jubilee celebration is a fitting tribute to the Church in East Tennessee and the parishioners who have worked hard to build the diocese. Bishop Stika’s inspiration for the jubilee was his ordination as bishop in March 2009, where he witnessed the entire diocese join together to celebrate his consecration as the third bishop of the Diocese of Knoxville. “We do together what we can’t do by ourselves. Every parish contributes to our existence. This is the Diocese of Knoxville. It is Chattanooga, the Tri-Cities, Helenwood, the new missions, and all the various parishes,” Bishop Stika said, adding that he is honored to be the bishop at this historic anniversary. He said the jubilee celebration is built on the tradition of the diocese’s first two bishops and called the Diocese of Knoxville’s 25th anniversary “significant,” pointing to the impressive list of Eucharistic Congress speakers, even as the mother diocese, the Diocese
The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee
of Nashville, celebrates its 175th anniversary. “For us, 25 years is just as significant,” he said. “So often, people say we’re a small diocese. We may be small in population, but this shows, with our invited guests, that we’re as important as any diocese in the United States. We may be small in numbers, but the vitality and zeal of the people in our diocese is as big as any in the United States.” Deacon Sean Smith, chancellor of the Diocese of Knoxville who chairs the planning committee for the anniversary jubilee and the Eucharistic Congress, said the Sept. 13-14 kickoff was planned as a family weekend. He strongly encourages families within the diocese to start making plans, including booking their hotel rooms at the Wilderness Resort while there is availability. Deacon Smith said the diocese was able to negotiate a 40 percent discount on the room rates at the Wilderness Resort, with standard rooms that normally are $149 a night costing $89 a night during dioknox.org
the Eucharistic Congress. Some premium rooms could cost more. “The family weekend concept is where families as a whole can participate and celebrate,” Deacon Smith said, pointing to programs for adults and youth as well as the Wilderness Resort indoor (largest in Tennessee) and outdoor waterparks for children of all ages. “It is our hope that families will be able to set aside this three-day weekend to reap all the fruits of this Eucharistic Congress.” In addition to events surrounding the congress and activities at the Wilderness Resort, Deacon Smith said families will have access to all the amenities of Sevier County, including retail stores, restaurants, and entertainment venues. To allow for attendance at the congress, all 10 diocesan schools will close by midday on Sept. 13 so families will have time to travel to Sevierville. The first event of the congress is a youth 6:30 p.m. youth Mass on Sept. 13 at the Convention Center, followed by the Josh Blakesley-Sarah Kroger concert and adoration. A full day of activities on Sept. 14 also will be at the Convention Center. “This Eucharistic Congress will be the first in the Diocese of Knoxville. The committee has tried to secure wellknown, talented public speakers and we’ve been able to do that. The caliber of the speaking corps is almost miraculous,” Deacon Smith said. He said he and the planning committee worked more than a year in advance to secure speakers and singers that will appeal to all attendees. “We wanted to ensure that all members of the faithful of the Diocese of Knoxville—youth, young adults, adults, Hispanic—will find something of interest,” Deacon Smith said. In addition, Bishop Stika has asked diocesan pastors to cancel all vigil Masses on Sept. 14. The only exception is at parishes where the Saturday vigil Mass is the only one that weekend. The bishop also is asking that all diocesan priests concelebrate the Mass closing the Eucharistic Congress. “We hope families will go ahead and start booking their rooms to ensure they will have accommodations. We picked Sevierville because it has thousands of hotel rooms in addition to the Wilderness at the Smokies Resort. So in addition to the Eucharistic Congress, families will have a chance to enjoy the resort and surrounding amenities as a family,” Deacon Smith said. For lodging information at the Wilderness at the Smokies Waterpark Resort and Family Adventure Center, located at 190 Gists Creek Road off Highway 66 in Sevierville, go to www.wildernessatthesmokies.com or call 877-3259453 and specifically mention the Diocese of Knoxville Eucharistic Congress to access the special room rates. The Sevierville Convention Center is located at 202 Gists Creek Road. n The East Tennessee Catholic
Diocese of Knoxville 25 th Anniversary Kickoff Celebration Family Weekend with Eucharistic Congress - September 13 & 14, 2013 Sevierville Events Center/Wilderness at the Smokies Hotel & Waterpark Sevierville, Tennessee
Friday, September 13, 2013 Time
Topic
Location
6:30 – 7:30 pm
All Schools/Youth Mass
8:00 – 9:30 pm
Youth Concert and Adoration – Josh Blakesley & Sarah Kroger Josh Blakesley’s Christian music journey began in 1992 while he was – North Exhibit Hall A involved with a high school peer ministry team. During that time he saw the power of God at work in the lives of teens as they were transformed into believers and lovers of Jesus Christ. In a world where well‐produced secular music is dominant, he has dedicated himself to making quality contemporary Catholic music. Sarah Kroger is a worship/music leader from Melbourne, FL. She has led worship/music at various Life Teen events and Steubenville youth conferences. Sarah has an incredible heart for leading teens closer to Christ and leading all people into worship. Her music can be heard in her first release "Your Time."
– South Exhibit Hall B
Saturday, September 14, 2013 Time
Topic
Location
9:00 – 9:45 am
Welcome / Morning Prayer – ppt Presentation
– South Exhibit Hall B
9:45 – 10:15 am 10:15 – 11:30 am
Break & Opportunity to View Exhibits/Vendors Adult Breakout Session – Dr. Scott Hahn
– South Exhibit Hall B
Dr. Scott Hahn is the author (or editor) of over forty books, including the best‐ selling title “The Lamb's Supper.” An exceptionally popular speaker and teacher, Dr. Scott Hahn has delivered thousands of popular talks and academic lectures, nationally and internationally. He has appeared on hundreds of television programs and is a professor at the Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio where he has taught since 1990. He is the founder and president of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology. Youth Breakout Session – ValLimar Jansen ValLimar Jansen is a college/university professor, a leader of worship and prayer, and a Catholic workshop presenter at conferences across the United States. ValLimar Jansen has sung sacred music since she was five years old. ValLimar has sung and toured professionally throughout the United States, Switzerland, France, Germany, Belgium and Japan. ValLimar’s specializes in ensuring “audience participation” when she speaks at Catholic conferences.
Hispanic Breakout Session – Rev. Rafael Capó Father Rafael Capó, an educator and religious priest from the Order of the Piarist Fathers, left the Archdiocese of San Juan, Puerto Rico and arrived in Miami to take the helm at arguably the most important Hispanic‐Catholic institute in the United States: SEPI: Southeast Pastoral Institute. Father Capó also serves as regional director for Hispanic Ministry for the U.S. Bishops’ Regions V and XIV. He holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degree of education from Pontifical Catholic University in Puerto Rico; a bachelor’s in theology from Pontifical University in Mexico; a licentiate in theology from the Gregorian University in Rome; and a doctoral degree in ministry at Barry University. 11:30 – 1:00 pm 1:00 – 2:00 pm
– North Exhibit Hall A – Ballroom A/B/C/D
Lunch & Opportunity to View Exhibits/Vendors Adult Breakout Session ‐ Rev. Robert Barron Father Robert Barron is the Founder and Executive Director of Word on Fire Catholic Ministries (including the popular DVD series Catholicism). Fr. Barron is also the Rector/President of the University of Saint Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary. Father Barron received his Master’s Degree in Philosophy from the Catholic University of America in Washington DC in 1982 and his doctorate in Sacred Theology from the Institut Catholique in 1992. Fr. Barron lectures extensively in the United States and abroad. Cardinal George calls Fr. Barron “one of the Church’s best messengers.” Youth Breakout Session – Dr. Scott Hahn ‐ See Above
– South Exhibit Hall B
Hispanic Breakout Session ‐ Sr. Rosa M. Hernández, MGSpS Sister Rosa is a member of the Migrant Ministry team in the Diocese of Stockton. This Ministry works in a pastoral manner to respond to the concrete needs of migrant workers, collaborating deeply with the mission of the redeeming and saving Christ. Sister Rosa was previously the Diocesan Director of Hispanic Ministry for the Diocese of Birmingham.
– Ballroom A/B/C/D
2:00 – 2:30 pm 2:30 – 3:15 pm
Break & Opportunity to View Exhibits/Vendors Eucharistic Procession followed by Adoration and then Reposition of Eucharist to Tabernacle
– South Exhibit Hall B
3:15 – 4:30 pm
Keynote Address ‐ Cardinal Timothy Dolan His Eminence, Cardinal Timothy Dolan was installed as Archbishop of New York on April 15, 2009. On November 16, 2010, Cardinal Dolan was elected president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. On January 6, 2012, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI announced that Cardinal Dolan was to be appointed to the College of Cardinals. Cardinal Dolan was named by Time Magazine as “one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World.”
– South Exhibit Hall B
4:30 – 5:00 pm 5:00 – 6:30 pm
Break / Vesting of Clergy/Lineup th Mass – Kickoff celebration for the 25 Jubilee Anniversary
– South Exhibit Hall B
The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee
– North Exhibit Hall A
November 4, 2012 5
Diocese of Knoxville seminarian Arthur Torres Barona will be ordained into the diaconate on Saturday, Dec. 1, at St. Mary Church in Johnson City. Mr. Barona is a student at Sacred Heart School of Theology in Hales Corner, Wis. He is the son of Duvan Torres Gil and Ana Julia Barona of Cali, Columbia. He is a Theology III student at Sacred Heart and earlier this year completed an internship at St. Mary Church in Johnson City. n
Monsignor Garrity named to national organizations Monsignor Patrick Garrity, pastor of St. John Neumann Church in Farragut, has been elected vice president of the National Federation of Priests’ Councils at a recent meeting in Chicago. Monsignor Garrity was elected to the organization’s executive council in April after being appointed to the board last year as the Louisville Province representative. He also is serving a one-year term on the executive board of the Institute for Priests and Presbyterates at St. Meinrad in Indiana and is the representative for Region V, which includes Kentucky, Tennessee, Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi for the National Organization for the Continuing Education of Roman Catholic Clergy. n
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6 November 4, 2012
Parishes, members join Catholic Foundation Organization funds seminarian education, church land purchases
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he Catholic Foundation of East Tennessee’s aims are to provide money for seminarian education and for property purchases in the diocese, and a beneficiary of each goal spoke to CFET members at the group’s annual dinner Oct. 14. A larger-than-expected group of 127 attended the dinner, including Bishop Richard F. Stika, Cardinal Justin Rigali, numerous priests, deacons, and CFET members and guests. The cardinal gave the evening’s invocation. During the event, Bishop Stika presented the diocese’s third Immaculata Award to CFET member Bill Swain. Glenmary Father Tom Charters of St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Mission in Erwin and diocesan seminarian Deacon Christopher Manning were the guest speakers. The dinner was the first for John Deinhart, the director of both CFET and the diocese’s Office of Stewardship and Strategic Planning, who joined the Chancery last spring. Mr. Deinhart called CFET “our bestkept secret.” “It really is. I’d never really heard of it before. It’s by far the best-kept secret in the diocese,” he said. The foundation’s total contributions reach well into the seven-figure range. “With your continual support, the Catholic Foundation of East Tennessee has distributed over $2.5 million
By Dan McWilliams
DAN MCWILLIAMS
Ordination for seminarian Arthur Torres Barona set
Congratulations Bishop Richard F. Stika is shown with Catholic Foundation of East Tennessee members Tomilee and Bill Swain, who were recognized for their contributions to the foundation. Mr. Swain received the diocese’s Immaculata Award.
since its inception,” Mr. Deinhart said. “Since 1988 when the diocese was formed, we have purchased 12 pieces of property on which parishes have been built, and we have had 40 priests ordained in this diocese since 1988.” CFET money helps support seminarian education, a tall order in the Diocese of Knoxville with its high number of men studying for the priesthood. “Does anybody have a rough figure of what it costs to send a man to the seminary? It’s about $45,000 per year,” said Mr. Deinhart. “With 19 seminarians, it’s about $850,000 annually.”
Mr. Deinhart announced that five parishes have joined CFET in the last year. They are Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga, St. Thérèse of Lisieux in Cleveland, St. Joseph the Worker in Madisonville, St. Dominic in Kingsport, and St. Bridget in Dayton. “We also had 17 new families become members of the Catholic Foundation,” said Mr. Deinhart. “That’s nearly 20 percent growth in the last five or six months. That is dynamic. That’s what we’re going to need to see.” Mr. Deinhart introduced Father Charters by imparting some news
CFET continued on page 20
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St. Thérèse of Lisieux parishioners touched by Blessed Marianne Cope’s sainthood Saint’s East Tennessee family watch with interest as revered Sister is canonized by Pope Benedict XVI
The East Tennessee Catholic
CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
D
aniel Koob was excited about witnessing the Oct. 21 canonization ceremony at the Vatican where Blessed Marianne Cope and Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha became saints. But for Mr. Koob, a parishioner at St. Thérèse of Lisieux Church in Cleveland, his attendance at the holy ceremony was much more than the passing interest of a faithful tourist. Mr. Koob’s great, great aunt is Blessed Marianne Cope, a 19th century Franciscan sister who ministered to Hawaiian lepers with iconic priest Father Damien, who was canonized in 2009 by Pope Benedict XVI. Mr. Koob said the family of Mother Marianne, which extends from Pennsylvania, to California, to Florida, to Tennessee and points in between, is thrilled that she is being recognized as a saint. Mr. Koob traveled to Rome, where he met a family member from Philadelphia, and they attended the Vatican canonization as representatives of Blessed Marianne’s family. “She has always been revered in the family,” Mr. Koob said. “We have always believed she would become a saint.” 0 Pope Benedict XVI formally recognized miracles attributed to St. Marianne and St. Kateri Tekakwitha last December, clearing the way for both women to be canonized. St. Kateri was an Algonquin–Mohawk virgin and religious laywoman. She is the fourth Native American to be venerated in the Catholic Church The two women lived in the United States and are among several individuals whose sainthood causes have been advanced by decrees authorized by Pope Benedict. The Congregation for the Causes of Saints approved Blessed Marianne’s second official miracle,
Marianne’s sainthood Banners of seven new saints hang from St. Peter’s Basilica for a canonization Mass led by Pope Benedict XVI at St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican Oct. 21. Among those canonized were St. Marianne Cope (second banner from right).
which involved the medical recovery of a woman in Syracuse, N.Y., who was cured of a fatal and irreversible health condition. Born in western Germany in 1838, Blessed Marianne entered religious life in Syracuse, where she served as a teacher and principal and established two hospitals before traveling to Hawaii, where she spent 30 years caring for lepers on the Hawaiian island of Molokai. She died on the island in 1918 at age 80 and was beatified in St. Peter’s Basilica in 2005. She joined the Sisters of the Third Order Regular of Saint Francis based in Syracuse and received the habit of the Franciscan Sisters along with the name Marianne. Mr. Koob said she was born and baptized as Maria Anna Barbara Koob but her last name was changed to Cope during her immigration to the United States. He has been in touch with Blessed Marianne’s order, and said the sisters there were surprised to hear from family members. A contingent of Franciscan Sisters and
supporters from Molokai attended her canonization. Mr. Koob, who resides in Calhoun, Tenn., with his wife, Kim, and six children, Eric, Jason, Laura, Katie, Ryan, and David, had hoped to meet with supporters of St. Marianne and Vatican staff. His mother, Delores Koob, who lives in Cleveland and also attends St. Thérèse of Lisieux Church, has kept up with the family history on St. Marianne. She described how the king and queen of Hawaii in the early to mid-1800s sought help to tend to the island nation’s growing leper colony. She said the few who responded were Father Damien and some sisters, who risked their own lives to aid those with Hansen’s Disease. Father Damien, who was canonized in 2009, eventually contracted the disease and died from it. However, St. Marianne never had the disease. “To do the work they did was a calling from the Lord. Every day they had to clean and bandage those wounds. She was confident she and the other Sisters would not
The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee
By Bill Brewer
get leprosy and they never did,” Mrs. Koob said, noting that St. Marianne took over operation of the leper colony when Father Damien died. While she was not in attendance in Rome, Mrs. Koob watched the canonization Mass on the EWTN cable channel at about 4 a.m. EDT. “A lot of us were watching. It’s not like being there, but it’s something and we can see and hear it like it was midnight Mass from Rome,” she said, adding that she watched it with her daughter, who was visiting from California. “It’s something the family will be able to talk about from now on. It’s unbelievable. It’s very thrilling. It’s a blessing,” she said. An estimated 80,000 pilgrims from the United States, Canada, the Philippines, Italy, Spain, Germany and Madagascar filled St. Peter’s Square for the canonization of the holy women and men who ministered among their people. The pilgrims applauded the proclamation of the new saints, who also included Pedro Calungsod, a teenaged Philippine catechist who was martyred in Guam in 1672; French Jesuit Father Jacques Berthieu, martyred in Madagascar in 1896; Italian Father Giovanni Battista Piamarta, founder of religious orders, who died in 1913; Sister Carmen Salles Barangueras, founder of a Spanish religious order, who died in 1911; and Anna Schaffer, a lay German woman, who died in 1925. In his homily at Mass following the canonization, Pope Benedict prayed that the example of the new saints would “speak today to the whole church” and that their intercession would strengthen the church in its mission to proclaim the Gospel to the world. n Catholic News Service contributed to this report. November 4, 2012 7
Chattanooga schools combine resources to streamline fundraising effort
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hattanooga’s Catholic schools, deciding to “work smarter instead of working harder,” have taken a unique approach to raising funds for programs and activities. The three schools, Notre Dame, Our Lady of Perpetual Help and St. Jude, decided last year after several years of discussion and planning to give up their spring dinners, dances and auctions in favor of one large event for the community.
Hundreds of volunteers worked in planning the one large event, which was called Chatti Gras and held last February as a Mardi Gras celebration to mark the Lenten season. “We were all working for the same benefit—the promotion of Catholic education, and were inviting and soliciting many of the same people. We decided to work together to garner this benefit, but even better to strengthen our Chattanooga Catholic community,” said
Kathleen Etherton, director of development and clinic manager at St. Jude School. “We believe our unique approach to holding a traditional school fundraiser succeeded in not only the typical outcome of extra monies but in creating a large Chattanooga Catholic event that has quickly developed a reputation of tradition,” she added. The organizers of Chatti Gras are working on the 2013 fundraiser,
8 November 4, 2012
DAN MCWILLIAMS
Anniversary continued from page 3
in the sacraments, in the Scripture, in all those moments of fun that are celebrated—the parish festivals and the dinners—but also those moments when there is a challenge,” the bishop said. Bishop Stika thanked those present who were among OLPH’s founding families for “continuing the mission of what was started by a parent or a family member.” The bishop also thanked the OLPH faithful “for nurturing us in our vocations, for teaching us how to be a good deacon, how to be a good priest, how to be a good religious.” Bishop Stika said that those attending the anniversary Mass “are on a mission from God.” “Let us pray that we always honor that commitment, that we might always honor that challenge, and let us pray that we might always be grateful to have faith,” he said. “Let us always pray with a spirit of gratitude for those founders of this parish who in the midst of the Depression took a risk and made a commitment. May we, too, daily in our lives do the same thing: be willing to take the risk and make that commitment for Jesus Christ.” Father Vick also thanked “in a very special way, all those original families” of OLPH, “many of whom have members here this very day.” “Let us thank our ancestors and
Celebrating a milestone Helen Mahn (right), a parishioner of Our Lady of Perpetual Help for 61 years, attended the 75th-anniversary celebration with daughter Kathy Mahn. The Mahns were among more than 400 people attending an anniversary dinner at OLPH School following Mass at the church.
every generation that’s come after them for the gift of faith that we celebrate today,” he said. Parishioners were given an anniversary booklet when they left Mass. The booklet detailed several projects at OLPH that were completed, under way, or in the planning
stages as of Oct. 6, including a new parish welcome sign at the corner of Moore Road and South Terrace; improved lighting for the altar area, choir, and balcony and on the statues; TV monitors for the balcony so that those in the back can see the altar area and ambo during Mass;
which will be held on Feb. 9 at the Chattanooga Convention and Trade Center. It will be a Mardi Gras event, Chattanooga style with dinner, casino games, auction, and dancing to the band “New Revival” out of Nashville. The event again will be sponsored by Notre Dame, Our Lady of Perpetual Help and St. Jude schools, with proceeds equally benefiting the three schools plus the Chattanooga Deanery Operating Fund that assists
Chatti Gras continued on page 9
restoration of the St. Joseph and St. Mary statues, the Stations of the Cross, and the crucifix; new processional crucifixes; and new kneelers for the pews on the main floor of the church. Helen Mahn, a parishioner of OLPH for 61 years, was among the many members attending the Mass and dinner. She called the anniversary celebration “fabulous,” adding that “I’m so thankful to be here.” “We’ve had marvelous priests all along,” she said. “I only wish that [former longtime pastor] Father Mike Nolan was here. He was here for so many years, but he was one of my boys. I raised him.” The parish has changed “tremendously” over the years, Mrs. Mahn said. “I can remember when we didn’t have a balcony, and it’s grown in diversity, but it’s just wonderful. The school has progressed so well. I had 11 of my family to go through OLPH and Notre Dame [High School], so I’m real proud to be a member of OLPH.” n
RESERVE THE DATE! Diocese of Knoxville’s 25th Anniversary Jubilee Kickoff Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013 Eucharistic Congress Keynote speaker: Timothy Cardinal Dolan
The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee
dioknox.org
DEACON PATRICK MURPHY-RACEY
Chatti Gras continued from page 8
Enjoying the ride St. Joseph School Principal Sister Mary Elizabeth Ann McCullough exhibits a surprising skill as she drives the hayride tractor during the school’s Fall Festival held Oct. 13 at St. Albert the Great Church. The school’s annual event attracted hundreds of fun-seekers.
in tuition support for families in need. At the first Chatti Gras last February, some 900 individuals in the Catholic community attended, prompting Mrs. Etherton to call Chatti Gras a signature event for the Catholic community that creates a new Chattanooga tradition. Attendees included alumni, parents, parishioners, grandparents, Knights of Columbus councils, and many faculty and staff. More than $40,000 was raised last February. Mrs. Etherton reported that $1.3 million was given in tuition assistance by the Chattanooga Deanery Operating Fund last year, benefiting
about 170 families. She noted that St. Jude and OLPH dedicate millions of dollars above their tuition income to Catholic parochial education, with all parishes in the Chattanooga Deanery contributing to the operating fund. She said the first Chatti Gras was a learning experience. “Because we had to turn folks away last year, we have increased our venue space and anticipate attendance of 1000 to 1,100 individuals,” she said. Memorial Healthcare System, which is the Catholic Hospital in Chattanooga, is the Chatti Gras presenting sponsor. Newschannel 9 and WGOW are providing media sponsorships. n
Cardinal Rigali leading Holy Land tour
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ardinal Justin Rigali will lead a 10-day pilgrimage to the Holy Land in February that will include tours of some of the most historically significant sites in the world. The former archbishop of St. Louis and Philadelphia, who is in residence in Knoxville as he continues to work at the Vatican, will lead the pilgrimage Feb. 12-21. He will guide parishioners from the Diocese of Knoxville and other dioceses to Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Jericho, Nazareth, the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea. While in Jerusalem, the group will stay at Notre Dame, a guest house/ hotel owned by the Vatican. Registration for the trip, which is being directed by tour operator Select International, is under way. The pilgrimage is open to people in the Diocese of Knoxville. Select International has been able to secure flights from Knoxville on US Airways at a cost of $3,695 per person based on two people per room. A limited number of single rooms are available at an additional cost of $695 per person. The East Tennessee Catholic
The price includes buffet breakfast and buffet dinner daily, plus one dinner at the Bedouin Tent restaurant in Bethlehem. The group also will be led by a Christian tour guide and will be able to meet with other Christians in the Holy Land. Mass will be celebrated daily in the most sacred sites in the region, including the Basilica of Annunciation, where, according to the Gospel of Luke, the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary; the Mount of Beatitudes; and St. Catherine’s Church in Bethlehem next to the Grotto of Nativity. “Traveling with his Eminence, Cardinal Rigali, provides the pilgrims with some exceptional experiences that they would not usually have on other pilgrimages because of his high ranking and his excellent connections in the Holy Land,” said Edita Krunic, president of Select International. Final deadline for the $500-per-person deposit is Nov. 8, with final payment due Dec. 6. For more information or a copy of the trip flier, contact Select International at 800-842-4842 or go to www.selectinternational tours.com. n The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee
November 4, 2012 9
Diocesan calendar by Margaret Hunt Father Mike Nolan is celebrating the 25th anniversary of his priestly ordination at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30, with a Mass of thanksgiving at St. Dominic Church in Kingsport and a dinner in the parish life center following the Mass. RSVP by Nov. 16 by calling the church at 423-288-8101 or e-mailing stdom church@aol.com. The adult faith formation program at Sacred Heart Cathedral is hosting two presentations on key documents of Vatican II during November. Sister Mary Timothea Elliott, RSM, will discuss the Constitution on Divine Revelation on Wednesday, Nov. 7, and Paul Simoneau will discuss the Constitution on the Church in the Modern World on Wednesday, Nov. 14. Both presentations will begin at 7 p.m. Dinner will be served in the Eagle Café; RSVP for dinner at kfilicky@shcknox.org. The cost for dinner is $6 per person or $20 per family of four or more. Dinner will be served at 6 p.m. Child care will be provided. The diocesan Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry is planning to participate in World Youth Day 2013, scheduled for July 21-29 in Rio de Janiero. The highlights of the event include a chance to see the Christ the Redeemer statue and pray at the chapel beneath the statue, the opening ceremonies at Copacabana Beach, catechesis sessions, a festival, and a closing Mass with Pope Benedict XVI at the Santa Cruz Military Air Field. The cost for the trip is $3,859 per person and includes seven nights in a three-star hotel, round-trip airfare from Knoxville to Rio, daily buffet breakfasts, and lunch and dinner. Fees not included are the World Youth Day registration (approximately $300), visa and passport, and single-room accommodations, which will be $650 extra. Contact Al Forsythe at 865-862-5754 or aforsythe@dioknox.org for more information or call Lucille, travel agent for Regina Tours, at 1-800-465-9248, extension 208.
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The diocesan Cursillo encounter and reunion will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Lenoir City. The day will include Mass, a grand ultreya, and a fiesta following the ultreya. For more information, contact Lois Schering at 865-681-7858 or contactdok@ knoxvillecursillo.org. Notre Dame High School is currently accepting applications for the 201314 school year. Admission testing for incoming ninth-graders is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 3. To learn more or request an application, call 423-6244618, extension 1004, or e-mail admis sions@myndhs.com. Knoxville Catholic High School is having an admissions information meeting at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 11, in the KCHS gymnasium for families interested in sending their children to the school. A placement test for eighth-grade students who are planning on attending KCHS will take place from 8 a.m. until noon Saturday, Dec. 1. Pre-registration for the test is required. Contact Nichole Pfohl, dean of admissions, to learn more or to register to take the placement test at 865-560-0502 or npfohl@knoxville catholic.com. The Ladies of Charity of Knoxville will be having their 13th annual holiday gift boutique from 2 to 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, in the Sacred Heart Cathedral School gym. Holiday décor, crafts, plants, kitchen items, toys and many other items will be for sale at the event. Students from Sacred Heart Cathedral School will be on hand to provide musical entertainment. Proceeds from the boutique will benefits the Ladies of Charity emergency-assistance program. For details, call Sue at 865-584-7929. Bishop Richard F. Stika will preside at three Masses to celebrate the sacrament of marriage in the diocese in 2013. The first Mass will take place at St. Mary Church in Oak Ridge on Saturday, Jan. 26; the second will be at St.
Mary Church in Athens on Saturday, Feb. 9; and the third will be at St. Patrick Church in Morristown on Saturday, March 9. All of the Masses will begin at 11 a.m. and will be followed by a reception. Register in advance to receive a certificate and to be photographed with Bishop Stika. Contact Karen Byrne at 865-584-3307 or kbyrne@dioknox.org to register. The Knoxville Irish Step Dancers will be starting an eight-week class in January at the Knoxville Arts & Fine Crafts Center. The KISD is a satellite school of the Nashville Irish Step Dancers organization. Call Caroline McLeod at 865-236-0491 or visit the website www.knoxvilleirishstepdancers.com for more information. The next charismatic Mass in the diocese is scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 11, at Holy Trinity Church in Jefferson City. Prayers for healing will follow the Mass. Monsignor Al Humbrecht and Father William Oruko, AJ, will lead a 14-day pilgrimage to the Holy Land from March 3-16, 2013. The itinerary includes Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Mount Zion and the Mount of Olives, Jericho, Masada, Nazareth, the Mount of Beatitudes, and Emmaus. The standard cost per person is $3,498 or a cash discount price of $3,299. The price includes economy-class airfare from Atlanta, accommodations in superior tourist-class hotels, meals, taxes, tips, and security fees. Contact Sister Albertine Paulus, RSM, for more information at 865-5458270, 207-4742, or smaevang@yahoo. com. Father Charlie Burton and Father Michael Cummins will lead a 12-day pilgrimage to Ireland from June 10-21, 2013. The itinerary includes stops in Dublin, Cork, Killarney, Adare, Ennis, Connemara, and Galway. The standard cost per person is $3,398 or a cash discount price of $3,199. The price includes economy-class airfare from Atlanta, accommodations in superior
The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee
tourist-class hotels, meals, taxes, tips, and security fees. Contact Sister Albertine Paulus, RSM, for more information at 865-545-8270, 207-4742, or smae vang@yahoo.com. The next Marriage Encounter weekend in the diocese is scheduled for Nov. 2-4 in Kingsport. For more information, contact John or Anne Wharton at 423581-1815 or acw193@bellsouth.net, or visit www.loveinthesmokies.org or wwme.org. The Community of Sant’Egidio is a Catholic lay ecclesial movement that focuses on prayer and service to the poor. For more information, call Father Michael Cummins at 423-926-7061. Everyone is welcome. Mass in the extraordinary form (“traditional Latin”) is celebrated at 1:30 p.m. each Sunday at Holy Ghost Church in Knoxville, at 3 p.m. on first and third Sundays at St. Thérèse of Lisieux Church in Cleveland, and at 3 p.m. on second and fourth Sundays at St. Joseph the Worker Church in Madisonville. Visit www.knoxlatinmass.net for updated information. St. Mary Church in Johnson City is planning on celebrating Mass in Latin on the second and fourth Sundays of the month at 3 p.m. Father Christopher Riehl will be the celebrant. Contact the parish office for more information or to volunteer to be a part of the planning committee at 423-282-6367. The St. Thomas the Apostle Ukrainian Catholic Mission celebrates Divine Liturgy at 10 a.m. Sundays in the chapel at the Chancery office in Knoxville. All services are in English. Call Father Richard Armstrong at 865-584-3307 or visit www.saintthomasknoxville.org for details. Holy Resurrection Ruthenian Byzantine Catholic Mission has Divine Liturgy celebrations at 9:30 a.m. Sundays at the old Holy Ghost Church, 1031 N. Central St. in Knoxville. For times of holyday services or for more information, visit www.knoxbyz.org or call Father Thomas O’Connell at 865-256-4880. n dioknox.org
Chattanooga Deanery calendar Theology on Tap will continue in November in the Chattanooga area for young adults ages 18 through 39. The next meeting will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 11, at El Meson in Hamilton Place. The topic will be “What Now? What Can You Do as a Young Adult Now?” For details, call Donna Jones at 423-622-7232. Catholic Charities is having its annual bake sale to benefit The Home Place the weekend of Nov. 10-11 at all of the area Catholic churches in Chattanooga. Chefs are needed to provide soups, casseroles, and baked goods to sell. Contact Krisie at 423-698-9079 or krisie@ccetn.org for more information. Catholic Charities in Chattanooga is requesting donations to help provide Thanksgiving meals to needy families. A $25 donation feeds a family of four.
Parish notes: Chattanooga Deanery
More than 500 families in the Chattanooga area received Thanksgiving meals in 2011. Send checks to Catholic Charities, 859 McCallie Ave., Chattanooga, TN 37403, and designate the donation for “Thanksgiving meals.” For more information, contact Christine Willingham at 423-266-1891.
Holy Spirit, Soddy-Daisy The St. Vincent de Paul Society’s Harvest Mart will be held in the church pavilion at Holy Spirit Church from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10. The event features arts and crafts, a Christmas store with new and used holiday decorations, and smoked pork sandwiches. Proceeds from the Harvest Mart will be used for those who are in need of financial assistance during the year. Call Cathy Kalinowski for more information at 423-468-3613.
The Brad Walker Orchestra, featuring singer Valerie Duke, will perform at a benefit for the World of Hope’s local Isaiah 58 chapter in the St. Jude Family Life Center in Chattanooga from 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10. The evening will begin with a social hour at 7 p.m. with heavy hors d’oeuvres and free dance lessons and continue with Big Band–era music and dancing from 8 to 11 p.m. The cost is $35 per person, $20 for students, or $250 for a table of eight. A cash bar will be available. Call 423-544-4445 or 7741160 to purchase tickets. n
St. Jude, Chattanooga Father Charlie Burton will celebrate a Mass for vocations at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 12, in the church. A rosary will be prayed following Mass. The St. Jude Haiti Mission Team is partnering with the Sisters of the Religious of Jesus and Mary to provide Christmas gifts to the people in the parish mission in Gros-Morne, Haiti. Cash donations will be accepted to provide families with schoolbooks, livestock, food, vehicles, and medication, and to support the mountain forestation project. The alternative Christmas gift order forms can be found in the parish bulletins from Nov. 3 through Christmas Day or by contacting the parish office at 423-870-2386. Donations should be placed in an envelope along with the order form and labeled “Haiti Mission Christmas”.
St. Mary, Athens Knights of Columbus Council 8396 is bringing a special image of Our Lady of Guadalupe to St. Mary Church. The image will be on display Nov. 12-18. The icon is one of a few unique images that have been touched to St. Juan Diego’s tilma in Mexico City containing the original image of Our Lady. The image also has been blessed by Pope Benedict XVI. The Knights have been sending these images to various councils around the country, with the Athens council receiving it for a full week. Additional information about the images is available at www.kofc. org/un/en/service/church/marian/chavez.html.
COURTESY OF SHARON POSTON
St. Stephen, Chattanooga
New postulant with Sister Servants of the Eternal Word Elizabeth Poston (right), sister of diocesan seminarian Michael Poston, entered the postulancy of the Sister Servants of the Eternal Word on the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Mother on Sept. 8. The Sister Servants of the Eternal Word follow the Rule of St. Francis of Assisi with St. Dominic and St. Francis as their patrons. The Sisters offer retreats and catechesis through the Casa Maria Retreat House and Convent in Birmingham, Ala. Information about the monthly retreats can be found at the Sisters’ website, www.sisterservants.org. Sister Elizabeth, whose family attends Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga, is pictured with fellow postulant Sister Brooke. The East Tennessee Catholic
Newcomers: Roxanne and David Barr, Kim and Tuan Do, Elizabeth and Jason Graves, Sann and Billy Pell, Beth Puh, Thais and Marcos Resende, Jen and Kevin Schafluetzel, Jennifer and Elizabeth Vamprine, Linda and Mark Zinnanti, Jamie Stogsdill, Mr. and Mrs. Ayman Jada
Sts. Peter and Paul, Chattanooga The annual All Souls Day devotion and rosary at Mount Olivet Cemetery will begin at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 4. Call the parish office for more details at 423-266-1618. n
The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee
November 4, 2012 11
Cumberland Mountain Deanery calendar Blessed Sacrament, Harriman Richard Hamer and Linda Spurling, residents of Harriman Care and Rehabilitation Center, were married Sept. 30. Father Michael Sweeney officiated at the ceremony.
St. Francis of Assisi, Fairfield Glade The Council of Catholic Women’s monthly meeting will be held after the 8 a.m. Mass on Wednesday, Nov. 14. Lois Davis will speak on the topic “Joshua’s Dog Biscuits.” The book club will meet at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 21, in the conference room to discuss Room (Little, Brown, 2012) by Emma Donoghue. Anniversaries: Steve and MaryLou Knowles (65), Gene and Ev Belvo (61), Lyle and Kathryn Flahaven (59), Ron and Terry Gleusner (56), Darius and JoAnn Bielicki (53), Fred and Sharon Henkel (51), Vern and Marianne Parrish (50), Mike and Susan Spitler (50)
St. John Neumann, Farragut Parishioner Steve Pacitti presented “The Pursuit of Purity: The Role of Men in Recovering and Protecting Purity in Our Families and Society” on Oct. 30 at the church. Mr. Pacitti discussed how families have been impacted by the sexual revolution, specifically by divorce, single parenthood, abortion, pornography, and homosexuality.
St. Joseph, Norris The St. Joseph Council of Catholic Women sponsored a program titled “Faithful Citizenship” on Oct. 14 in the St. Joseph social hall. Deacon Gary Brinkworth spoke on issues important for Catholics to consider for the upcoming presidential election.
St. Therese, Clinton The St. Therese Council of Catholic Women thanked the parish for supporting its rummage sale. Proceeds from the sale will go toward supporting the charitable works of the CCW. n
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St. Alphonsus Church will host a Day of Reflection for Widows and Widowers from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Central Time) on Thursday, Nov. 8. Monsignor Xavier Mankel, pastor of Holy Ghost Parish in Knoxville, will provide spiritual guidance and insight into Scripture passages that would be helpful to those who have lost a spouse. Paul Simoneau, director of the Office of Justice and Peace, will speak on the value of redemptive suffering and discuss endof-life issues from a Catholic perspective. Mass and the opportunity for confession will be available. Lunch will be provided. Register by contacting Sara Carey at 931-
456-5227 or saracarey@frontiernet.net. The St. John Neumann family and parish life committee and the diocesan Office of Marriage Preparation and Enrichment are sponsoring a Divorce and Beyond support group beginning at 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 11, at St. John Neumann Church in Farragut. The nine-week Catholic-based program costs $15 per person. Contact facilitator Mary Coffey at 865-671-6107 or e-mail mchartshop@charter.net, or Marilyn Derbyshire, St. John Neumann family and parish life coordinator, at 7774312 or mderbyshire@sjnknox.org. n
St. Francis Parish’s two Mrs. Campbells retire
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By Carol S. Adams ighteen years ago some parishioners of St. Francis of Assisi in Fairfield Glade approached the pastor, Father George Sheehan, asking for religion classes for their children. Father Sheehan told them they could have classes if they could find a teacher. Fortunately for them, their children, and all the children to follow, they found Carol (Mrs. Robin) Campbell, who had just retired from teaching in Michigan. However, a problem arose when they found that the 11 eligible students ranged in age from kindergarten to high school. Obviously more than one teacher was needed. Shirley Wolfgram agreed to teach the younger ones, and Jackie Houser took the high-schoolers. Carol Campbell led the middle group. In 1996 some changes occurred. Father Sheehan retired, and Mrs. Wolfgram and Mrs. Houser moved. Another Carol Campbell (Mrs. Tom) agreed to step forward and join the program. The two Mrs. Campbells bonded. Both had been teachers in Michigan, and they became teaching buddies. Mrs. Tom took the younger students and Mrs. Robin the older ones. Through these many years, the two Mrs. Campbells have worked with seven pastors and have involved their students in parish life
The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee
COURTESY OF CAROL S. ADAMS
Parish notes: Cumberland Mountain Deanery
Outgoing teachers Carol (Mrs. Tom) Campbell stands at left with St. Francis pastor Father John Dowling and Carol (Mrs. Robin) Campbell.
with May crownings, Advent’s Jesse Tree, and making church banners and cards for people on the prayer list. First Communions, confirmations, and participation in the Lenten Stations of the Cross have made the parish’s religious-education students an integral part of the parish. Mrs. Robin and Mrs. Tom are retiring this year. As they reflect on their many years of service to the community, they remember fondly the feeling of being part of a family with the older students helping the younger ones, with some students staying only a short time and others for most of their school years. The seeds that they have sown will continue to bear fruit under the direction of Amanda Bacon, assisted by Judy Piotrowski. n dioknox.org
Five Rivers Deanery calendar The 11th annual Holiday Bazaar at St. Patrick Church in Morristown will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday,
Parish notes: Five Rivers Deanery
Nov. 10. A wide array of Christmas crafts will be available for sale. Call Helen at 423312-6950 or Diane at 865-607-8809. n
Holy Trinity, Jefferson City
COURTESY OF JOSEPH AND DENISE FRINZI
The parish is participating in Operation Christmas Child during the holiday season. Participants are asked to bring a shoebox filled with small gifts for a child ages 2-4, 5-9, or 10-14 and place it in the designated box in the church narthex. Call the parish office for more information at 865-471-0347.
Holy Trinity honors seniors ages 90 and up The 90-plus seniors of Holy Trinity Parish in Jefferson City enjoyed a community birthday celebration Oct. 7 at the parish life center. They are (from left) Norah Hut, 96; Marie Evon, 97; Myrtle Reidell, 97; Helen Clark, 93; Lorena Himmelsbach, 92; Henry Tujague, 101; and Peter Gambino, 96.
The parish had a “churching” celebration to honor the families who had newborns this past year. Rhya Daimes Davis, Samuel Alexander Holt, Megan Elizabeth Potts, and Thomas Cormac Richards were welcomed to the parish with a blessing during the 5 p.m. Mass on Sept. 29. A baby shower for the families followed the Mass. Baptism: Megan Elizabeth Potts, daughter of Tim and Leanne Potts Newcomers: Dorsey and Laura Brown
Notre Dame, Greeneville The St. Elizabeth Guild at Notre Dame Church requests small items for use as prizes for weekly games played with residents of Life Care Center in Greeneville. New tube socks, small stuffed animals, necklaces, bracelets, and seasonal items can be placed in a box in the narthex next to the food donation bin. Anniversaries: Bill and Ruth Hawk (40), Chris and Laura Lenker (10)
St. Dominic, Kingsport St. Dominic Church will have a blood drive Sunday, Nov. 4, in the church parking lot during all the Masses. Those who participate will be entered for a drawing for a $50 gift certificate from Fleet Feet. The Knights of Columbus will be taking pre-orders for whole smoked pork loins and briskets after the Masses on the weekend of Nov. 3 and 4. Smoked pork loins will be $25 and briskets $30. Orders will be available for pickup after Masses on Nov. 10 and 11.
St. Henry, Rogersville
COURTESY OF ALLEN KELLER
Knights of Columbus Council 8860 held a Tootsie Roll drive in Rogersville on Sept. 21 and 22. They also sponsored a spaghetti supper in the church hall Oct. 19. The women of St. Henry will hold their November luncheon at noon Wednesday, Nov. 14 at the Pig and Chick in Rogersville. Anniversaries: Alan and Carol De Groff (50), Bob and Joan Sweeney (45). n
Knights council honors family, Knight of the Year Knights of Columbus Council 6730 in Morristown recently honored Bob Terlep as Knight of the Year and Greg and Mary Oparyk as Family of the Year. The Oparyks are pictured above with Grand Knight Dick Leonhardt (left). The presentations were made Aug. 20 during the group’s annual Wives Appreciation Dinner at Baneberry’s Tavern on the Green. Council 6730 from St. Patrick Parish has conducted n these honor ceremonies since 1982. The East Tennessee Catholic
The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee
November 4, 2012 13
Smoky Mountain Deanery calendar
Parish notes: Smoky Mountain Deanery
A Seekers of Silence Contemplative Saturday Morning will be held Nov. 17 at Blessed John XXIII Catholic Center in Knoxville. Dr. Thomas Heffernan will speak on the topic “The Languages of the Historical Jesus in the Context of Galilee.” Coffee and tea will be served at 8:30 a.m.; the workshop will run from 9 a.m. to noon. Bring a bag lunch. RSVP at 865-523-7931.
Blessed John XXIII, Knoxville The Elf Project is recruiting volunteers for Christmas 2012. This is the fifth year that Blessed John XXIII Parish has partnered with the Elf Project to provide Christmas gifts to children in Knox and Anderson counties. Participants are asked for a commitment of $50 per child and about an hour of time to meet and shop with the parents of the gift recipients. In 2011 gifts were provided to 298. Contact Sandra McEntire at achildschristmas@comcast.net to register.
Our Lady of Fatima Church in Alcoa will be sponsoring an Advent day of reflection titled “Opening Our Hearts and Moving Closer to God” beginning with 8 a.m. Mass on Saturday, Dec. 1, and ending at 3 p.m. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. Donations for the cost of the meals will be accepted. RSVP by Monday, Nov. 26, to Mary Brent at 865-982-3672 or mary.brent@olof.org. n
Immaculate Conception, Knoxville The IC women’s group is collecting items for comfort care baskets for cancer patients. A list of appropriate items to donate can be found in the back of the church. The items will be given to chemotherapy patients at the Thompson Cancer Survival Center at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center.
Knights of Columbus Council 645 is sponsoring a free father-son dinner at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 8, at IC. The guest speaker will be Knoxville Police Chief David Rausch. Grilled hamburgers with all the trimmings will be served. Baptism: Bronx Giovanni Rivera, son of Michael and Brittany Rivera
ROY EHMAN
The annual women’s group craft fair will take place after all Masses the weekend of Nov. 17-18. To learn more or reserve booth space, contact Beth Meyer at 865456-8857 or meyer.beth73@gmail.com.
Our Lady of Fatima holds Public Square Rosary At noon Oct. 13, the exact date-and-time anniversary of the Fatima miracle, Our lady of Fatima Parish in Alcoa held a Public Square Rosary sponsored by America Needs Fatima. The parish event was one of more than 8,000 rallies that took place. The rosary was offered as reparation of sins and offenses committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary and to fervently pray for the conversion of the United States.
Sacred Heart Cathedral The young-adult ministry will be reading My Life With the Saints by Father James Martin, SJ, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Thursdays beginning Nov. 8 and ending Dec. 20 (except Thanksgiving) in the youth center. Participants ages 20-40 are welcome to attend. Contact Kat Edwards for more information at kedwards@shcknox.org.
St. Albert the Great, Knoxville The St. Albert high school youth group will have a progressive dinner starting at 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10. Food, games, and dessert with the pastor, Father Chris Michelson, are planned for the evening. For details, contact Grace Lawley at 865-300-4198 or 922-5239. Baptism: Eile Roan, daughter of Kelsey and Brennan Lenihan
The parish prayed a Rosary Novena for Life and Liberty during the week of Oct. 14-22. The parish is collecting money for the Pregnancy Resource Center through the Bottles for Babies program. Parishioners are asked to fill the provided baby bottles and return them to the parish by Sunday. Nov. 4. Contact the parish office at 423-442-7273.
St. Mary, Gatlinburg St. Mary Church had a blessing of the animals on Oct. 4, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. A covered-dish dinner followed the blessing. n
14 November 4, 2012
COURTESY OF MARY WILLIAMS
St. Joseph the Worker, Madisonville
Father Brando celebrates 40th anniversary Father Joseph Brando’s formal celebration of his 40th anniversary of ordination was held Sept. 21 in Gatlinburg, where he is pastor of St. Mary Parish. Father Brando is pictured above with Megan Mahoney, his niece; Peter Brando, his brother; and Mary Mahoney, his sister.
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Catholic schools
KCHS students dine with Bishop Stika
Bishop rededicates Notre Dame High chapel
COURTESY OF GAYLE SCHOENBORN
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ishop Richard F. Stika rededicated the newly renovated chapel at Notre Dame High School on Oct. 4. The renovation of the chapel was a project envisioned by Father Augustine Idra, AJ, spiritual director at Notre Dame High School from July 2009 to January 2012. Funding for the project was realized through the generous donations of many benefactors as well as fundraising events by the students and faculty. The renovation project—under the direction of Father Patrick Brownell, current chaplain at Notre Dame; Perry Storey, principal; and John Mullin, dean of students—was completed during the past summer. A Leadership Dinner followed the Mass and rededication. Parish and school leaders attended the dinner.
Newly renovated chapel Sister Mary Celeste D’Souza, OP (left), and Sister Margaret Mary Salwasser, OP, dress the altar during the rededication ceremony. Looking on are (from left) Deacon Sean Smith, Bishop Richard F. Stika, and Father Patrick Brownell.
Bishop Stika thanked those in attendance for their support of Catholic
schools and stressed the importance of Catholic education. n
COURTESY OF GAYLE SCHOENBORN
Homecoming queen and king at NDHS Bridget Haywood and Nick Chambers were selected as homecoming queen and king at Notre Dame High School this fall. Bridget is the daughter of Blane and Mary Pat Haywood, parishioners of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Chattanooga. Nick is the son of Jeff Chambers and Cathy Phillips. Nick and his family attend St. Jude in Chattanooga. Other members of the homecoming court were Blair Barker, Ellyn Conn, Abbie Dobson, Francesca Gearinger, Katie Ward, Will Armour, Tony Marini, Rick Prochazka, Christian San Miguel, and Tony Tortora. The Notre Dame football team defeated Bledsoe County 31-7 on homecoming night Sept. 14.
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The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee
Members of Knoxville Catholic High School’s We the People Club and the AP government classes had dinner with Bishop Stika at his residence Oct. 9. They discussed politics and the upcoming election. The students also toured the bishop’s home and looked over numerous pieces of memorabilia he has collected over the years. Cardinal Justin Rigali was unable to attend but left a gift of a rosary blessed by Pope Benedict for everyone who attended. n
KCHS government class hosts a presidential debate Knoxville Catholic High School’s senior AP government class on Oct. 18 hosted a presidential debate, complete with posters, advertisements, and commercials. The two major political parties were represented, as well as the Green Party and Libertarian Party. During the debate, the candidates discussed major policy issues and had to argue their party’s platform. The candidates had three advisers each but had to be prepared to answer all questions themselves. The students representing the parties were Elliot Consoli, Jacqueline Chavez, Theo Sholly, and Kathleen Conaty. Erin Chady, the AP government teacher, praised all of her students for being well prepared and motivated. n
November 4, 2012 15
NDHS basketball coaching clinic set A basketball coaches clinic will be hosted by boys basketball head coach J. P. Nerbun and assistant coach Chuck Flynn on Saturday, Dec. 1, at Notre Dame High School. Coach Nerbun played for the University of South Carolina and coached six years in Europe. Coach Flynn played for Dartmouth College and is a Notre Dame Law graduate. The clinic is free and will be held 9-11 a.m. Call Coach Nerbun at 423-624-4618, extension 1402, for more information. n
16 November 4, 2012
Luke earns Eagle Scout award Eagle Scout Luke Lewis of Troop 223 in Chattanooga received his Catholic Eagle certificate from Bernard Coombes, vice chairman for the Knoxville Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting, in a recent presentation. At left is Luke’s mother, Mary Pat Hall. Luke is a parishioner of St. Jude in Chattanooga. He was one of the first two Scouts in the Diocese of Knoxville to receive the Four Pillars Award, which is given only to Scouts who have earned all four Catholic Scouting awards (two in Cub Scouts and two in Boy Scouts). For his Eagle project, Luke and his team cleaned, refurbished, and painted the Vocational/Athletic Building at Hixson High School, involving 167 man-hours of labor. Luke currently is in basic training with the Army at Fort Jackson, S.C.
COURTESY OF GREG KNIEDLER
The Notre Dame High School boys golf team finished the season as the district champions and placed second in the region. Alexander Riddle placed second in the state tournament. His second-place finish earned him a spot at the Tennessee Junior Cup, a tournament that is held in conjunction with the Tennessee Challenge Cup matches that pit the state’s most deserving professionals against amateur points leaders for the season in a Ryder Cup format. The tournament was held at the Vanderbilt Legends Club. n
Catholic youth
Eagle award for Cory Cory Phillips of Boy Scout Troop 172 at St. Jude Parish in Chattanooga recently received his Eagle Scout award. At right, Dr. Eugene Ryan, troop committee chairman, presents the Catholic Eagle certificate to Cory. For his Eagle project, Cory organized work at Greenway Farms, an area park, in which his team built two horseshoe pits, refurbished a picnic table, and constructed two benches. Cory, the son of David and Mary Phillips, attends Pellissippi State Community College in Knoxville.
COURTESY OF GREG KNIEDLER
Notre Dame golfers have strong season
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Trips to Scotland, France, Ireland, Shrines of Europe and much more… ranging from $3,599—$4,699 for 2012 and 2013.
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Supporting life Former NFL player Chris Godfrey met Dominican Sisters (from left) Mary Celeste D’Souza, Marie Monique Upgaard, Mary Evelyn Potts, and Margaret Mary Salwasser before the Celebrate Life Benefit Banquet in Chattanooga Oct. 18.
Chattanooga, Knox pro-life events highlight gains in battling abortion By Dan McWilliams
CHATTANOOGA— The ninth annual Celebrate Life Benefit Banquet, held by Chattanoogans for Life, this year added a co-sponsor in the Chattanooga Deanery Office of Youth Ministry. The event was held Oct. 18 at the Pier 2 banquet hall on Chattanooga’s riverfront. Guest speakers were singer-songwriter Kara Klein and former NFL and USFL player Chris Godfrey, founder and president of Life Athletes. Jim Bello emceed the banquet. Ms. Klein sang a cappella versions of three of her songs, including “Beautiful Still,” dedicated to Terri Schindler Schiavo and her family. Ms. Klein was attending The Catholic University in Washington, D.C., when Mrs. Schiavo was in the news, which prompted Ms. Klein to seek inspiration from God. “One day I was praying on the Metro on the subway, and I wrote this song just from my heart to God, and I don’t think I was necessarily thinking about Terri Schiavo,” she said. “The truth is that he loves every one of us. We were all made in the The East Tennessee Catholic
image and likeness of God, and Terri Schiavo was as well. I didn’t realize it, but when I was writing that song, that exact moment, her feeding tube was being removed.” Mr. Godfrey sported his Super Bowl XXI ring that he earned as a football player for the New York Giants. Life Athletes started during his playing days “and has since grown to be an organization of over 300 professional and Olympic athletes who teach and inspire our young people to live lives of virtue, abstinence, and respect for life,” he said. The ex-pro football player said his group focuses on four values in its work with young people: “we’re made in the image of God,” “human life is sacred,” “we’re valuable,” and “God has a plan for our lives.” Tennessee Lieutenant Gov. Ron Ramsey spoke at the Knox County chapter of Tennessee Right to Life banquet on Oct. 11. He and TRL leader Stacy Dunn spoke about legislative gains made that led to the closing of a Knoxville abortion clinic and a change in the legislative balance of power favorable to pro-life bills. n
Italy/Switzerland: Apr. 6-18, Apr. 13-25, Apr. 20-May 2, Apr. 27-May 9, May 4-16, May 11-23, May 18-30, May 25-Jun. 6, Jun. 1-13, Jun. 8-20, Jun. 15-27 … Italy Regular: Apr. 6-14, Apr. 13-21, Apr. 20-28, Apr. 27-May 5, May 4-12, May 11-19, May 18-26 … Holy Land: Apr. 1-11, Apr. 8-18, Apr. 15-25, Apr. 22May 2, Apr. 29-May 9, May 6-16, May 13-23, May 2030, May 27-Jun. 6, Jun. 3-13, Jun. 10-20 … Holy Land/Italy: Apr. 1-14, Apr. 8-21, Apr. 15-28, Apr. 22-May 5, Apr. 29-May 12, May 6-19, May 13-26, May 20-Jun. 2, May 27-Jun. 9, Jun. 3-16 … Italy South: Nov. 3-15, April 27-May 9, May 4-16, May 11-23, May 18-30, Jun. 15-27 … France: Apr. 27-May 9, May 4-16, May 11-23, May 18-30, May 25-Jun. 6, Jun. 22-Jul. 4, Jun. 26-Jul. 11.. France/Portugal/Spain: Apr. 27-May 9, May 4-16, May 11-23, May 18-30, May 25-Jun. 6, Jun. 1-13 … Ireland/Scotland: Apr. 27-May 9, May 4-16, May 1123, May 18-30, May 25-Jun. 6, Jun. 1-13, Jun. 8-20... Tuscany/Assisi/Cinque Terre: Apr. 27-May 8, May 4 -15, May 11-22, May 18-29, Sept. 7-18, Sept. 14-25... Italy/Lourdes/Fatima: Apr. 20-May 2, Apr. 27-May 9, May 4-16, May 11-23, May 18-30, Jun. 1-13 … Medjugorje/Lourdes/Fatima: Apr. 22-May 3, Apr. 29 -May 10, May 6-17, May 13-24, May 20-31 … www.proximotravel.com email: anthony@proximotravel.com
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855-842-8001 | 508-340-9370 Carmela A. Dupuis, Executive Director
November 4, 2012 17
Living the readings
Weekday Readings
Jesus goes ‘all in’
Sunday, Nov. 4: Deuteronomy 6:2-6; Psalm 18:2-4, 47, 51; Hebrews 7:23-28; Mark 12:28-34 Monday, Nov. 5: Philippians 2:14; Psalm 131:1-3; Luke 14:12-14 Tuesday, Nov. 6: Philippians 2:5-11; Psalm 22:26-32; Luke 14:15-24 Wednesday, Nov. 7: Philippians 2:12-18; Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14; Luke 14:25-33 Thursday, Nov. 8: Philippians 3:38; Psalm 105:2-7; Luke 15:1-10 Friday, Nov. 9: Feast, Dedication of the Lateran Basilica, Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12; Psalm 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9; 1 Corinthians 3:9-11, 16-17; John 2:13-22 Saturday, Nov. 10: Memorial, St. Leo the Great, pope, doctor of the Church, Philippians 4:10-19; Psalm 112:1-2, 5-6, 8-9; Luke 16:9-15 Sunday, Nov. 11: 1 Kings 17:1016; Psalm 146:7-10; Hebrews 9:24-28; Mark 12:38-44 Monday, Nov. 12: Memorial, St. Josaphat, bishop, martyr, Titus 1:1-9; Psalm 24:1-6; Luke 17:1-6 Tuesday, Nov. 13: Memorial, St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, virgin, Titus 2:1-8, 11-14; Psalm 37:3-4, 18, 23, 27, 29; Luke 17:7-10 Wednesday, Nov. 14: Titus 3:1-7; Psalm 23:1-6; Luke 17:11-19 Thursday, Nov. 15: Philemon 7-20; Psalm 146:7-10; Luke 17:20-25 Friday, Nov. 16: 2 John 4-9; Psalm 119:1-2, 10-11, 17-18; Luke 17:26-37 Saturday, Nov. 17: Memorial, St. Elizabeth of Hungary, religious, 3 John 5-8; Psalm 112:1-6; Luke 18:1-8 Sunday, Nov. 18: Daniel 12:1-3; Psalm 16:5, 8-11; Hebrews 10:1114, 18; Mark 13:24-32 Monday, Nov. 19: Revelation 1:14 and 2:1-5; Psalm 1:1-4, 6; Luke 18:35-43 Tuesday, Nov. 20: Revelation Readings continued on page 19
18 November 4, 2012
by Father Joseph Brando
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We put our life on the line but the good news is we can’t lose
oing ‘all in’ is an expression that recently has become very popular. Its source is found in certain versions of poker in which one player decides he will close all the betting by declaring ‘all in’ and placing every chip he has into the pot. Other players can stay in the game only if they put an equal amount into the pot. Then, the remaining cards are dealt. If the ‘all in’ bettor loses, he becomes bankrupt and the game is over for him. If he wins, he more than doubles his chips. This metaphor for life also can also be an apt way of looking at what November’s Sunday readings (these are the last four Sundays of the Liturgical Year) are telling us about Jesus’ last days before his death. Accordingly, we will journey through the Old Testament and Gospels readings first; then we’ll go back over the same territory with the guidance of the glorious viewpoint of the Epistle to the Hebrews and Revelation, which make up the second readings of the month. The Gospel for November’s first Sunday presents the beginning of the last days of Jesus. Palm Sunday already was a memory when the Lord came to the temple area. He was approached by a friendly (according to Mark) scribe who wanted to hear Jesus’ answer to a common question of the day—namely, what is the greatest commandment? There were 613 to choose from divided according to such categories as positive or negative and heavy or light. Naming one as “greatest” would indicate a person’s theology and give a glimpse of his or her inner life. This was important for Mark to enlighten his readers as to what Jesus was thinking at this crucial time. Jesus answered by combining two
commandments, one from Numbers and the other from Deuteronomy. The one from Deuteronomy is our first reading. It is the law to love God with everything we have, our heart and soul and strength. It was not only a law, it was a cherished prayer as well. The Shema was prayed three times a day then and nowadays is attached to the door lintel of every pious Jewish family. The commandment that Jesus combined with it is to love your neighbor as yourself. Mark is making it clear to us that the most important thing in the world, according to Jesus, is our love for God and compassion for neighbor. If Jesus were to go ‘all in,’ and give up his life it would be due to his immense love for his Father and for mankind. Interestingly, Mark relates that the scribe (whose theology is on the side of the high priests) agreed with the Lord and even said love was superior to sacrifices. Remember, the location of the conversation was at the temple where the high priests were busy sacrificing lambs, and that sacrifice was the essence of the high priestly faith. Jesus gave an answer quite opposed to his training. Yet, the scribe agreed. No wonder Jesus exclaimed that this scribe was not far from the Kingdom of God. He listened well. Mark has now set up two of the three entities one needs to go ‘all in.’ Jesus’ hand is his infinite love for God and man. His chips are nothing less than his earthly life. The third factor is his motivation. That is covered on the second Sunday of November, where the spotlight shines on a widow. She came to the temple a few days before Passover to offer a precious sacrifice, herself. A widow, then, had no right to inheritance and no source of wealth except what she
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may have been given during the life of her husband and what her children, if any, would give her. This woman possessed only two small coins that together could hardly buy one last meal. She decides to make one last heroic statement that only God could hear. She would boldly give away her last possessions for the upkeep of the temple, and then die of starvation. Perhaps she was thinking of the widow who appears in our first reading of the day. Elijah, the prophet who prayed for the famine that brought her to the brink of death, asked her to make him a meal. This would deplete all the food she had left. She courageously made him that meal. She was, as it were, betting her life on the holy man. Something good might happen. It did. The flour and oil she had never ran out until the rains came. Betting on God can be enriching. So, this widow at the temple tossed her last two coins into one of the receptacles for donations not realizing that Jesus was watching and her unfinished story would be known wherever the Gospels are proclaimed. One sidebar to her story (one which Mark most probably thought about) was that the temple treasury had stacks of gold stored away. We have evidence less than 40 years later that the Romans took about $1 billion from the temple when they sacked Jerusalem. The widow’s self-sacrifice affected Jesus. He now had an example of what it takes to go ‘all in.’ This is what Jesus had planned to do since he first warned his disciples at Caesarea Philippi. Things were so bad that everyday people were making drastic decisions like the widow’s. Something had to be done to overcome that situation. Jesus had the will to do it. On the third Sunday of November, the Gospel takes us from Jerusalem all the way to the end of the world. Jesus tells his disciples what he told Pilate: “The Son of Man will come in dioknox.org
the clouds with great power and glory.” And then, in fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, Jesus reveals that he will “gather his elect from the four winds.” In effect, the Son of Man will be the judge of the living and the dead. The Gospel assures us that Jesus will return. Because our Lord and Savior went “all in,” and because one of his reasons for becoming man was “that all may be one,” his victory means our salvation is assured if we follow his divine will—that is if we go “all in” with him. At this stage, we recognize why November is the month of “All Souls.” Starting with the feasts of All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days, the whole month serves as a 30-day remembrance that those who have died are waiting for the final days when their souls and bodies will be reunited and when the Son of Man will return. It is good for us to remember and pray for the dead. Finally, we come to the Feast of Christ, the King, the final Sunday of the entire liturgical year. One would expect a treatment of the last times and this Sunday delivers. It begins with a passage from Daniel. By the time the Book of Daniel was written, people had figured out that one super power succeeded another in a progression that still continues. In the face of that reality, Daniel prophesies that this cycle will end. Only the last superpower will be the Kingdom of God. The world will end with the coming of a “son of man.” We know that “son of man” is none other than Jesus Christ, raised from the dead. Consolingly, it is He who went “all in” for us. Those who are
“in Christ” form the body of this superpower. The Gospel hearkens back to Jesus’ trial before Pontius Pilate. Pilate asked Jesus if he were a king. If Jesus answered affirmatively, then the Roman procurator would have jurisdiction and his accusers could make a good case against him. Jesus surprised Pilate. Admitting he was a king, he replied, “My kingdom does not belong to this world.” Jesus continued his response to Pilate saying, “I came into this world to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” With those words Jesus went “all in.” He rested his case on the truth. Pilate, an expert on politics and international diplomacy, could only scoff at that statement. His decision to allow Jesus to be executed was based not on the facts, but on political expediency. He did not recognize “truth” as a defense. He lived in a world where lies ruled. Jesus went “all in” on the side of truth. The Second Readings of the four Sundays in November provide a recapitulation of the drama that unfolded in the Old Testament and Gospel readings. Three of them come from the Letter to the Hebrews, and the final flourish is taken from the first chapter of Revelation. They all emphasize the eternal reality present in Jesus. In effect, Jesus’ willingness to lay down his life cannot but be efficacious. He can’t lose. Death can’t defeat him. Nor can sin. When Jesus goes “all in,” he will always win. Looking back at the New Testament readings for November, we find a converging road that joins
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that of the Gospels at the end. During the first three weeks, the Epistle to the Hebrews first presents Jesus as possessing a priesthood that will not pass away. He is a “son” who is made perfect. Then, it shows Jesus exercising his priesthood. In dying on the cross, Jesus did truly what Jewish high priests do symbolically. They go into the Holy of Holies on earth to beg for remission of the sins of the people. Instead, Jesus went to heaven. His action there accomplished salvation. Finally, the epistle goes on to remind us that this remission of sins is not temporary like that of the Old Testament. Jesus is God and as such the forgiveness of sins he accomplished is eternal. It all comes together on the Feast of Christ, the King. The Church switches to the Book of Revelation for the grand conclusion. Jesus’ going “all in” on Earth ended in victory. The effects of that victory include Jesus becoming “the firstborn of the dead… who has freed us from our sins by his blood, who has made us into a kingdom.” The Kingdom will triumph in the end. Through the sacramental life of the Church, beginning with Baptism, we are part of that Kingdom. In poker, the moment a player goes “all in” is dramatic. He can lose everything he has. In real life, when we go “all in” it can be a tense situation because we’re putting our whole life on the line against the deceptive riches of this world. But the good news of November is that we can’t lose. n Father Brando is the pastor of St. Mary Parish in Gatlinburg.
Readings continued from page 18 3:1-6, 14-22; Psalm 15:2-5; Luke 19:1-10 Wednesday, Nov. 21: Memorial, the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Revelation 4:1-11; Psalm 150:1-6; Luke 19:11-28 Thursday, Nov. 22: Memorial, St. Cecilia, virgin, martyr, Revelation 5:1-10; Psalm 149:1-6, 9; Luke 19:41-44; Thanksgiving Day, Sirach 50:22-24; Psalm 145:2-11; 1 Corinthians 1:3-9; Luke 17:11-19 Friday, Nov. 23: Revelation 10:811; Psalm 119:14, 24, 72, 103, 111, 131; Luke 19:45-48 Saturday, Nov. 24: Memorial, St. Andrew Dung-Lac, priest and martyr, and his companions, martyrs, Revelation 11:4-12; Psalm 144:12, 9-10; Luke 20:27-40 Sunday, Nov. 25: The Solemnity of Christ the King, Daniel 7:13-14; Psalm 93:1-2, 5; Revelation 1:5-8; John 18:33-37 Monday, Nov. 26: Revelation 14:1-5; Psalm 24:1-6; Luke 21:1-4 Tuesday, Nov. 27: Revelation 14:14-19; Psalm 96:10-13; Luke 21:5-11 Wednesday, Nov. 28: Revelation 15:1-4; Psalm 98:1-3, 7-9; Luke 21:12-19 Thursday, Nov. 29: Revelation 18:1-2, 21-23 and 19:1-3, 9; Psalm 100:1-5; Luke 21:20-28 Friday, Nov. 30: Feast, St. Andrew, apostle, Romans 10:9-18; Psalm 19:2-5; Psalm 19:8-11; Matthew 4:18-22 Saturday, Dec. 1: Revelation 22:1-7; Psalm 95:1-7; Luke 21:3436 n
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November 4, 2012 19
Holiday togetherness occurs in many ways By Marian Christiana
By the time you read this my family will have already celebrated Thanksgiving dinner together. Our family couldn’t all be together on Thursday, Nov. 22, so we celebrated early. This might have seemed strange to me at an earlier time in my life but now it makes perfect sense. Thanksgiving is a time to express our gratitude for all of our blessings. Two of our three greatest blessings happen to live in different states now. To adjust to this reality, we decided to create a new tradition of celebrating the holidays whenever we could all be together instead of lamenting our separation on a designated day. Many families experience additional stress during the holidays as they try to juggle multiple schedules to get everyone together at one time. This year, let’s take a different approach to the holidays and focus on how we can share these special times even if we aren’t physically together. You might be a couple who alternates spending the holidays with each other’s extended family, or you might have a loved one serving in the military or one who lives in another part of the country. Maybe money is tight and you can’t travel as you have in the past. Here are some simple suggestions to create memories with those family members you can’t be with during the holidays: n Phone calls are an obvious point of contact. Put the phone on speaker so everyone can share in the conversation. If there is a song that has special meaning to your family, play it while you are all on the phone and enjoy it together.
Marriage continued on page 21
20 November 4, 2012
CFET continued from page 6
that has made the St. Michael the Archangel community happy. “I’m pleased to say that the Catholic Foundation of East Tennessee just purchased 15 acres in Unicoi County, a beautiful piece of property,” he said. “It’s going to be the future home of St. Michael the Archangel Parish.” Father Charters opened by thanking CFET for the land purchase, which amounted to $249,600. “Without that, we couldn’t have the property,” said the Glenmary priest. “It was a real surprise and a blessing. We were shocked. Totally. We thought, ‘How long would it be before we could get the money together?’” Father Charters’ stops in his Glenmary service included parishes in Western Kentucky, Texas, Arkansas, and West Virginia before he came to Unicoi County in East Tennessee. “Somebody asked me, ‘How can you go into a place you’ve never been? It must be threatening.’ I said, ‘You put an ad in the paper and you ask if there are any Catholics and [for them] to come to a meeting.’ And that’s what I did.” An ad in the Erwin newspaper announced an initial meeting of the Catholic community at the local senior center. “I expected there would be maybe 15 people, and 43 people showed up,” said Father Charters. “I didn’t know what to do with such a big crowd because half of them didn’t speak English and I don’t speak Spanish.” Eventually the community secured the Elks Club as a place for Mass. “We started basically with 37 people, and I thought I’d died and gone to heaven to have so many people at Mass. You think I’m kidding— I’m not. In our Glenmary missions, when I was in Morgantown, Ky., the Sunday collection was $19 and we had 20 people, and I thought, wow, they’ve got a collection over $200 [in the Unicoi community] and they haven’t even gotten a church.” The numbers have grown, Father
Charters said, referring to members and guests. “We are averaging 70 on Sunday now. We had 82 last week, and people are enthusiastic. They are evangelizing. You talk about New Evangelization—it’s happening right now in Unicoi. They are reaching out. I see these people and I say, ‘Who are these people?’ They say, ‘Oh, they’re my neighbors. I invited them over for church.’ ‘Who are these people?’ ‘Oh, they’re some people we met. We thought they’d like to come.’ They are reaching out.” Deacon Manning is a young man but has seen much change in the diocese as a 23-year parishioner of Sacred Heart Cathedral. “During all these years, I have seen the growth that has occurred in this diocese, and much of it is thanks to you and the Catholic Foundation,” he said. Deacon Manning attends Mundelein Seminary near Chicago and said he has noticed a difference between the Archdiocese of Chicago and the Diocese of Knoxville. “In Chicago I’ve seen the churches struggle with having to close parishes and struggle to find priests to celebrate Masses,” he said. “We [in the Diocese of Knoxville] struggle to pay seminarian tuitions and build new parishes. It is in facing these problems that you so graciously stepped in. “Before I came into town this weekend, many of my classmates asked me, ‘What exactly does the Catholic Foundation of East Tennessee do?’ My response was a simple one: ‘They care about the future of the diocese and the future of the Church.’ You are the ones who have helped make our continued growth possible.” Deacon Manning described the ways in which CFET funds have helped him. “Your monetary donations, but more importantly your support and prayers, have encouraged me in my studies. Practically speaking, your donations have helped to cover things like tuition, insurance, and books, but
The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee
it means much more to me and to my fellow seminarians. For us it’s a connection to the diocese we love and yet must leave for parts of the year.” Two of CFET’s most long-standing members, John and Betsy O’Connor, and newest members Mike and Barb Stahl presented Bishop Stika with a check from the foundation for $20,000 to be used for seminarian education. In his closing remarks, Bishop Stika described some of his travels throughout the diocese. “I see the results of all this,” he said. “Since I’ve been in Knoxville, a little over three years, I think I’ve dedicated or blessed three new churches, a number of parish halls, and a columbarium. I blessed a football field at Knoxville Catholic, so in a real way on a weekly basis, I see all the profound results of things like the Catholic Foundation.” The bishop said the that the diocese has “accomplished a great deal” in its almost 25-year existence, as seen by the number of priests, seminarians, and parish building projects. “It’s all because of the goodness of people just like yourselves and all the people you represent this evening. So in a very special way I want to thank you for all that you do because without you, the Church of Knoxville would have very great difficulties,” he said. Bishop Stika concluded the evening by presenting the Immaculata Award to Mr. Swain, who has served on the Diocesan Finance Council, worked with Catholic Charities, and served as president of a bank. Mr. Swain, attending with wife Tomilee, has been involved with the Diocese of Knoxville since its earliest days. “He has a wonderful wife and is just a sterling member of the community,” Bishop Stika said. Membership in the Catholic Foundation requires a “significant personal investment,” Mr. Deinhart said. “Why should we give? We should give for gratitude,” he said. “Because we’re grateful for what God has blessed us with.” n dioknox.org
Understanding the sacraments
by Father Randy Stice
Marriage continued from page 20
Mail might be an old-school communication style but there is still something very special about receiving a personal note or card from someone you love. Don’t underestimate the impact of a hand-written note. n Taking advantage of technology makes staying connected even easier. There are e-mails, instant messaging and digital cameras to name a few helpful tools. My personal favorite is the use of web cams for live visits. n Make a pact with your loved ones that you will all volunteer on the same day to help people less fortunate in your own community. Share with each other your experiences. It is important to remember that whatever changes your family is going through during the holidays you are all going through them together. If you work together and support each other you will all have a more memorable holiday season. Happy Thanksgiving. n n
From sign to mystery: mystagogical catechesis
I
Pastors’ commitment to efforts in leading faithful into the mystery of the sacred liturgy emphasized
n its Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, the Second Vatican Council put special emphasis on “full, conscious and active participation in liturgical celebrations” by all the faithful (Sacrosanctum Concilium, 14). “In the restoration and promotion of the sacred liturgy, this full and active participation by all the people is “the aim to be considered before all else” (SC 14). The council’s vision of participation requires a profound understanding of all the elements that compose a liturgical celebration. An approach recommended by recent popes is called “mystagogical catechesis,” (the word mystagogy means “to lead into the mystery”) and was the type of instruction given to new Christians in the first centuries of the Church. In Mane Nobiscum Domine, Blessed John Paul II encouraged and explained this approach: “Pastors should be committed to that mystagogical catechesis so dear to the Fathers of the Church, by which the faithful are helped to understand the meaning of the liturgy’s words and actions, to pass from its signs to the mystery which they contain, and to enter into that mystery in every aspect of their lives.” This is the essence of the kind of participation envisioned by the Second Vatican Council, passing from the visible elements of the liturgy to the mystery they make present, and letting that mystery permeate every facet of our lives. In Sacrament of Charity, Pope Benedict XVI elaborates on Blessed John Paul II’s recommendation of mystagogical catechesis. An effective mystagogical catechesis, he says, does three things. First, it inThe East Tennessee Catholic
terprets the rites in the light of salvation history, recognizing the Old Testament persons and events that prefigure Christ and affirming the unity of divine revelation. According to the Catechism, “the Chosen People received from God distinctive signs and symbols that marked its liturgical life…signs of the covenant, symbols of God’s mighty deeds for his people. Among these liturgical signs from the Old Covenant are circumcision, anointing and consecration of kings and priests, laying on of hands, sacrifices, and above all the Passover. The Church sees in these signs a prefiguring of the sacraments of the New This is the essence of the kind of participation envisioned by the Second Vatican Council, passing from the visible elements of the liturgy to the mystery they make present, and letting that mystery permeate every facet of our lives. Covenant” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1150). Christ, summing up all things in himself (Ephesians 1.10), is the definitive meaning of all of these signs. Second, effective mystagogical catechesis presents the meaning of the different signs contained in the rites. These signs include things like water, oil, bread, wine, candles and rings, as well as gestures and posture. Pope Benedict XVI emphasizes this aspect: “This is particularly important in a highly technological age like our own, which risks losing the ability to appreciate signs and symbols. More than simply conveying information, a mystagogical catechesis should be capable of making the faithful more sensitive to the language of signs
and gestures that, together with the word, make up the rite” (Sacramentum Caritatis, 64). The third aspect of effective mystagogical catechesis brings “out the significance of the rites for the Christian life in all its dimensions” — work and responsibility, thoughts and emotions, activity and repose. Part of the mystagogical process is to demonstrate how the mysteries celebrated in the rite are linked to the missionary responsibility of the faithful. The mature fruit of mystagogy is an awareness that one’s life is being progressively transformed by the holy mysteries being celebrated” (SacCar, 64). There are four primary sources for mystagogical catechesis. Of primary importance is the rite itself: the words, gestures, and signs that make up the individual sacraments. A second source is the general instruction that governs the rite and that is found in the front of the ritual book. The biblical readings constitute a third source; every sacrament includes a liturgy of the word with a number of biblical readings from which to choose. Finally, the Catechism of the Catholic Church discusses not only the theology of each sacrament, but also the rite, explaining the meaning of the different elements and signs. In subsequent columns I will be presenting a mystagogical catechesis of each of the sacraments following the method presented in this column, so that our participation in the liturgy can become ever more fruitful. n
Mrs. Christiana is coordinator of the diocesan Marriage Preparation and Enrichment Office.
Father Stice directs the diocesan Office of Worship and Liturgy. He can be reached at frrandy@dioknox.org.
The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee
November 4, 2012 21
Catholics urged to be Catholic in voting booth
Once upon a time
ROME (CNA/EWTN News)—As election day arrives in the United States, Archbishop Charles J. Chaput of Philadelphia is encouraging Catholic voters to place their faith above their allegiance to political parties. “I’m always encouraging our people minimally to vote, maximally to run for political office, and make sure that they’re Catholic prior to being Democrat or Republican and that they put that into practice politically,” he said. Archbishop Chaput echoed the calls of other American bishops to have their flocks consider their faith in the voting booth. “We do believe in the separation of church and state, but we don’t believe in the separation of faith from our political life,” he said. “It’s very important for Catholics to make distinctions when voting that they never support intrinsic evils like abortion, which is evil in all circumstances. That’s a lot different from different economic policies” that people can reasonably disagree on, the archbishop explained. His remarks come as an Oct. 22 Gallup poll shows the “economy in general” is the issue rated most important by Americans as the election nears. “But people who are practicing Catholics cannot have alternate views on abortion,” he stated. “Such foundational issues have a huge impact and it’s important that Catholics make those distinctions.” “A person (candidate) might be right on a lot of secondary issues but wrong on the foundational issues. And if that’s the case, it would be very difficult for a Catholic to vote for someone who, for example, favors unlimited access to abortion … undermines the meaning of marriage or supports policies that really undermine the foundation of our culture.” n
Holy year is a chance to grow in faith, hope, love
22 November 4, 2012
H
by Monsignor Xavier Mankel
Year of Faith is a time to reflect on Church’s path to where we are, look ahead to where we are growing
ow many times do we think to ourselves or even say aloud, “Been there, done that,” to indicate our relative lack of interest in something? The Church kept this in mind when she greatly magnified the use of holy Scripture in the lectionary of the revised Liturgy of the Word and also in giving us a multiplicity of eucharistic prayers. I used to consider the change from Mother Latin to Sister Vernacular and the placement of the celebrant behind the altar as the principal improvements made in our worship patterns, and they certainly are wonderful things. The older I get, however, the more the expansion of the use of Scripture in our public worship seems to be an even greater manifestation of the Holy Spirit’s working in our lives. Variety certainly is the spice of life. Another device that Mother Church uses to add to the excitement of our lives is to give us, now and then, a special holy year. We began such an episode Oct. 11 as we marked the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the Second Vatican Council (the First Vatican Council began in 1869). A holy year is that period of time during which a solemn plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful under certain conditions (Mass, Holy Communion, confession within certain times, and (this is a hard one) detachment from deliberate venial sin). Special faculties are given to confessors during a holy year. Holy years are “ordinary” when they occur at regular intervals (every 25 years in modern times) and “extraordinary” when they are proclaimed for some very special reason, e.g. in 1933 to celebrate the anniversary of the Redemption. Twenty-five general holy years were celebrated between 1300 and 1950. In pre-Exilic Judaism, every 50th year was a “jubilee” year, or year
of remission, in which debts were pardoned and slaves freed. After the Exile and until 70 A.D., the Jews continued to hold a sabbatical year in which debts of fellow Jews were remitted. The popes of the Middle Ages came to apply such a custom spiritually, decreeing a Holy Year or Jubilee, beginning and ending with special sacred ceremonies, which was intended to improve the religious life of the faithful. The first holy year in 1300 began on the evening of Dec. 24-25 (the end of the old year and beginning of the new, by the reckoning of the Roman Curia) when large crowds visited St. Peter’s Basilica. Others continued to come on the following days, for a tradition had arisen that the first year of every century was especially propitious for gaining special indulgences. Pope Leo XIII renewed the special solemnities for Holy Year 1900 (as in 1800 the French invasion of Italy prevented its celebration). Pope Leo XII celebrated in 1825 but political troubles prevented having one in 1850. In 1875 Pope Pius IX was a prisoner in the Vatican and felt obliged to celebrate the jubilee in a very restricted way; Pius IX proclaimed the ordinary holy year in 1925 and an extraordinary one in 1933. The holy year of 1950 found unprecedented crowds thronging to Rome. There was the special Marian Year in 1954. Many of us still treasure the all-blue porcelain statues of our Blessed Lady that Bishop Fulton J. Sheen helped popularize during that year. And now we come to the Holy Year of Faith: Oct. 11, 2012, until Nov. 24, 2013. What an opportunity! Oct. 11 marked the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council and also was the 20th anniversary of the publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. I might suggest
The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee
that if we make the documents of Vatican II and the Catechism our “textbooks” during this Holy Year of Faith, we will grow in faith, hope, and love and God will be served and adored. I have noticed that many of our parishes have scheduled special events and programs throughout this very special year of faith, and it is my sincere wish, hope, and prayer that the kingdom of God may grow, and grow, and grow. If you find that the entire collection of constitutions of the Council are a bit too formidable, let me suggest that you pick just one and study it in detail. My favorite is the one on the sacred liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium, the first constitution given us by the Council and one that has affected so very much the way the people of God worship Him. To say that this is very important stuff is quite an understatement. It will be a great development in our lives as individual Catholics as well as in our lives as members of a pilgrim people community that if we will take advantage of these wonderful opportunities, we shall have a great holy year of faith. In closing this month’s column, I would ask your good prayers for the complete healing of the ETC editor’s son, Mr. Will Brewer, who is an active member of Blessed John XXIII Parish at UT. Will, who was seriously injured when a golf cart flipped over on him, was helping at the annual golf tournament that supplements expenses at his alma mater, St. Joseph School. His complete recovery is anticipated, but weeks of rehabilitation lie before him. Please know, Will, that you are in our thoughts and prayers that you will enjoy a speedy recovery. Our Blessed Lady, help of the sick, pray for us all. n Monsignor Mankel is a vicar general of the diocese and the pastor of Holy Ghost Parish in Knoxville. dioknox.org
Christ the King, Tazewell Sunday noon Divine Mercy Mission, Knoxville (Vietnamese) Sunday 9:30 a.m. at KCHS OLPH, LaFollette Sunday 9:30 a.m. St. Alphonsus, Crossville Saturday 5 p.m. (CT); Sunday 8:30, 11 a.m.; 1st Sunday 6 p.m.(Spanish) St. Ann, Lancing Sunday 8:30 a.m.
Smoky Mountain Deanery
Bl. John XXIII, Knoxville Sunday 9, 11:15 a.m.; 5:30, 10 p.m. Holy Cross, Pigeon Forge Saturday 5 p.m.; Sunday 8, 10:30 a.m.; 6 p.m.(Spanish) Holy Family, Seymour Saturday 5:30 p.m.; Sunday 8, 10:30 a.m. Holy Resurrection Mission 9:30 a.m. (Ruthenian Rite)
Our Lady of Fatima, Alcoa Saturday 5, 7 p.m.(Spanish); Sunday 8:30, 11 a.m. Sacred Heart Cathedral Saturday 5 p.m.; Sunday 7:30, 9, 11 a.m.; 1 p.m. (Spanish)
St. Joseph, Norris Sunday 9 a.m. St. Jude, Helenwood Saturday 5:30 p.m. St. Mary, Oak Ridge Saturday 5:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. (Spanish) Sunday 8, 10 a.m.; noon St. Therese, Clinton Saturday 5:30 p.m.; Sunday 10:15 a.m.
St. Thomas the Apostle, Lenoir City Saturday 5, 7 p.m. (Spanish); Sunday 9, 11:30 a.m.
Immaculate Conception, Knoxville Saturday 6 p.m.; Sunday 8:30, 10, 11:30 a.m. St. Albert the Great, Knoxville Saturday 5 p.m.; Sunday 9, 11 a.m. St. Thomas Byzantine Mission, Knoxville Sunday 10 a.m. St. Joseph the Worker, Madisonville Sunday 8, 10 a.m.; 12:30 p.m. (Spanish); 2nd, 4th, 5th Sunday 3 p.m. (Latin)
Holy Ghost, Knoxville Saturday 7 p.m. (Spanish); Sunday 7, 8:30, 10, 11:30 a.m.; 6 p.m.; 1:30 p.m. St. Francis of Assisi,Townsend (Latin) Saturday 4 p.m.; Sunday 9, 11 a.m. (Latin) St. Mary, Gatlinburg Saturday 7 p.m.; Sunday 9, 11 a.m.
The East Tennessee Catholic
Holy Trinity, Jefferson City Saturday 5 p.m.; Sunday 10:30 a.m.
Five Rivers Deanery
All Saints, Knoxville St. Christopher, Jamestown Saturday 5, 7 p.m. (Spanish); Saturday 6:30 p.m. (CT) Sunday 8:15, 10, 11:45 a.m. St. Francis of Assisi, Fairfield Blessed Sacrament, Harriman Glade Saturday 5 p.m.; Saturday 5 p.m.; Sunday 8, 10 a.m. (CT) Sunday 10:30 a.m. St. John Neumann, Farragut Bl. Teresa of Calcutta Mission, Saturday 4:30 p.m.; Sunday Maynardville 8:30, 10:30 a.m.; 6 p.m. Sunday 9, 11 a.m. (Spanish)
Notre Dame, Greeneville Saturday 5 p.m.; Sunday 8, 11 a.m.; 3 p.m. (Spanish) St. Elizabeth, Elizabethton Saturday 5 p.m.; Sunday 9 a.m. St. James the Apostle, Sneedville Sunday 12:30 p.m. St. Mary, Johnson City Saturday 5 p.m.; Sunday 8, 10 a.m.; noon (Spanish) St. Michael the Archangel Mission, Erwin Sunday 10 a.m.
Bl. John Paul II Mission, Rutledge Saturday 5 p.m.; Sunday 5 p.m. (Spanish) Good Shepherd, Newport Sunday 8:30 a.m. St. Anthony of Padua, Mountain City Sunday 11 a.m.
St. Dominic, Kingsport Saturday 5:30 p.m.; Sunday 8, 9:30, 11 a.m. (Spanish); 12:30 p.m. St. Henry, Rogersville Sunday 9 a.m. St. Patrick, Morristown Saturday 5 p.m.; Sunday 9, 11:30 a.m.; 5:30 p.m. (Spanish)
Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul
Holy Spirit, Soddy-Daisy Saturday 5:30 p.m.; Sunday 8, 10:30 a.m.
Our Lady of Lourdes, South Pittsburg Saturday 5:30 p.m.(CT); Sunday 10:30 a.m.
Shepherd of the Valley, Dunlap Sunday 8 a.m. (CT); Thursday 6:30 p.m. (Spanish)
Saturday 5:30 p.m.; Sunday 9, 11:30 a.m.; 1:30 p.m. (Spanish)
Chattanooga Deanery
Cumberland Mtn. Deanery
Diocese of Knoxville Mass Times
OLPH, Chattanooga St. Augustine, Signal Mountain Saturday 5:30 p.m. Saturday 5:30 p.m.; Sunday 7:30, 10 a.m.; noon, Sunday 10:30 a.m. 2 p.m. (Spanish); 2nd St. Bridget, Dayton Sunday 4 p.m. (Korean) Saturday 5:30 p.m.; St. Catherine Labouré, Sunday 10 a.m.; 12:30 p.m. Copperhill (Spanish) Saturday 5:30 p.m.; Sunday 9 a.m.; 6 p.m. (Spanish) St. Mary, Athens Saturday 5 p.m.; Sunday St. Jude, Chattanooga 10 a.m.; 1 p.m. (Spanish) Saturday 5:30, 7:30 p.m. (Spanish); Sunday 8, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, 10:30 a.m.; 12:15, 5:30 p.m. Cleveland Saturday 6 p.m.; St. Stephen, Chattanooga Sunday 8 a.m. (Spanish) Saturday 5:30 p.m.; 9:30 a.m.; noon; 1st, 3rd Sunday 8:30, 11 a.m. Sunday 3 p.m. (Latin)
The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee
November 4, 2012 23
Diocese’s Year of Faith begins with speaker series on Vatican II
24 November 4, 2012
BILL BREWER (2)
T
he Year of Faith has started in earnest in parishes across the diocese as the faithful seek a closer relationship with God. Sacred Heart Cathedral launched its Year of Faith celebration Oct. 17 with the first in a series of discussions on the Second Vatican Council and its important documents that have influenced the Church. Father Randy Stice, director of the diocese’s Office of Worship and Liturgy, began the Year of Faith celebration Oct. 17 with his presentation of Vatican II’s Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy. Then Cardinal Justin Rigali, who attended the Second Vatican Council as a young priest assistant, delivered a lecture Oct. 24 at the cathedral about Vatican II’s Constitution on the Church. Sister Mary Timothea Elliott, RSM, director of the diocesan Office of Christian Formation, will speak at
Insight into Vatican II Father Randy Stice (left) and Cardinal Justin Rigali (right) present their lectures to parishioners at Sacred Heart Cathedral Oct. 17 and 24 about Second Vatican Council documents that have influenced the church.
the cathedral Nov. 7 about the Constitution on Divine Revelation. And the Sacred Heart Cathedral series concludes Nov. 14 with Paul Simoneau, diocesan director of the Office of Justice and Peace, speaking about the Constitution on the Church in the Modern World. St. John Neumann Church began
its Introduction to the Year of Faith Oct. 13 with a faith formation course on faith and reason (science). The two-day course, which concluded Oct. 27, was led by Deacon Mike Gouge, a retired physicist and naval engineer. Pope Benedict XVI declared a special “Year of Faith” in 2011 to help
Catholics appreciate the gift of faith, deepen their relationship with God and strengthen their commitment to sharing faith with others. The observance began Oct. 11—the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council—and concludes Nov. 24, 2013—the feast of Christ the King. n
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