Sister Mary Yvette Gillen, RSM, is shown with the pastor of St. Therese Church, Father Julius Abuh, at a recent reception reception for her.
St. Therese Church in Clinton has grown from a small mission to an established parish since its founding in 1971; and for the past 38 years, Sister Mary Yvette Gillen, RSM, has faithfully served the parishioners and priests of St. Therese as the church has expanded.
May 2013 marks the end of an era for St. Therese and Sister Mary Yvette, who resigned as pastoral assistant after nearly four decades of service to the Anderson County parish. “She brought a sense of continuity through the growth of St. Therese from a small mission to the established parish it is today, and through many pastor changes,” said Father Julius Abuh, pastor of St. Therese.
Sister Yvette’s service to the parish began in 1974 when she was in Nashville teaching school and in Knoxville during the summer working on her master’s degree. Father Bill Gahagan approached her about teaching vacation Bible school during the summer when she was in Knoxville. She taught VBS for two years and in 1976 transferred to St. Mary’s Medical Center as chaplain. Father Gahagan then asked her to help with adult education and youth programs while still serving as St. Mary’s chaplain.
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Alex Notte and Belen Mozo pose on the steps of Alex’s Knoxville home on May 11 just before the Bearden High School senior prom.
Photo by Stephanie Richer
Alex Notte and Belen Mozo share a passion for golf. Now, the Bearden High School student who is a member of All Saints Church and the international golf pro have something else in common—a date to remember to Bearden’s senior prom.
Alex has become an overnight sensation after being featured in newspaper and television reports for his YouTube video inviting Miss Mozo, a rising star on the Ladies Professional Golf Association tour, to the prom. The video, which was shot by Alex’s sister, Arielle, has nearly 10,000 hits and the number has risen every day.
And it had an impact on Miss Mozo, who was wowed by Alex asking her to Bearden’s prom to the hit song, “Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepsen. Arielle shot the video as Alex played golf in January.
“I was really moved when I saw the video. I knew immediately that I wanted to say ‘yes’,” said Miss Mozo, 24, who is from Cadiz, Spain.
Alex’s dream of taking Miss Mozo to prom came true on May 11 with a little help from his family and friends. Alex’s entourage at his home included his parents, grandparents, other family members and friends.
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Doug Kennedy, chair of the Emerald Youth Foundation board of trustees, honored the Sisters of Mercy: from left Sister Margaret Turk, Sister Marie Moore, Sister Janice Brink, and Sister Martha Naber, all longtime supporters of Emerald Youth Foundation.
Photo courtesy of Emerald Youth Foundation
The 20th annual Emerald Youth breakfast that benefits the Emerald Youth Foundation and its efforts to help inner-city youth honored the Sisters of Mercy on May 3 during the event that attracted about 1,000 guests at the Knoxville Expo Center.
One of the highlights of the breakfast event was to honor the Sisters of Mercy, longtime supporters of Emerald Youth Foundation.
Other highlights were worship music by a 70-member youth choir and a dialogue between Rick Dunn, lead pastor of Fellowship Church, and Emerald Youth participants.
The event raised key support for Emerald Youth Foundation, a 22-year-old youth ministry that serves more than 1,350 children, teens and young adults who live in Knoxville’s urban neighborhoods.
And of special note this year was the 20th anniversary of the first Emerald Youth breakfast, which took place in 1993 at St. Mary’s Medical Center, now Physicians Regional Medical Center owned by Tennova Healthcare. St. Mary’s provided pivotal support in the formation of Emerald Youth, including financial support, volunteers and even a building.
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