In the presence of Our Lord at church, quiet is a sacred blessing that we must all respect and practice By Bishop Richard F. Stika My house shall be called a house of prayer…” (Matthew 21:13). I chose these words of Jesus to be inscribed on the cornerstone of our new …
Funeral Mass held in Nashville for Dr. Ruth Queen Smith
Dr. Ruth Queen Smith, longtime pastoral associate at St. John XXIII University Parish and Catholic Center on the University of Tennessee-Knoxville campus, passed away May 18 after an extended illness. A funeral Mass was celebrated for Dr. Smith on May 24 at St. Henry Church in Nashville, where she retired …
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Bishop Stika announces priest assignments for diocese
From staff reports Bishop Richard F. Stika has announced several assignments for priests serving in the Diocese of Knoxville. Father Alex Waraksa, currently associate pastor at St. Patrick Church in Morristown, will be in residence at Holy Trinity Parish in Jefferson City and will serve the Hispanic communities in the …
Faith in the harvest
With work of human hands, Santana family farm carefully cultivates fruit of the vine By Jim Wogan I couldn’t have chosen a more challenging day to watch someone pick tomatoes. It was July 27, 2016, and the temperature in Grainger County hovered at around 96 degrees. Yes, that Grainger County …
Our Lady of Fatima statue makes pilgrimage stops at Diocese of Knoxville parishes
Kingsport, Chattanooga, Alcoa, Oak Ridge, Knoxville host icon By Bill Brewer Our Lady of Fatima was a guest of the Diocese of Knoxville in April, spending five days visiting parishes and leading parishioners in the rosary to commemorate her appearance to three children in Portugal. The Blessed Mother was in …
Hungry for the faith
UT-Chattanooga students savor their education on Catholicism and Christianity; Bishop Stika offers a pep talk By Emily Booker Younger generations often are accused of being entitled, individualistic, and seeking instant gratification. There is worry that millennials and Gen Z are abandoning traditional customs, including their faith. But some young adults …
Fr. Gahagan receives papal designation as monsignor
Longtime diocesan priest receives ovation from fellow priests at St. Thomas the Apostle By Jim Wogan Pope Francis has designated Father William Gahagan, who has served in the Diocese of Knoxville since its inception in 1988, with the title of monsignor. The papal honor comes at the recommendation of Bishop Richard …
High school wings named in honor of Msgrs. Mankel, Garrity
By Bill Brewer Monsignors Xavier Mankel and Patrick Garrity have been recognized for their years of service to Knoxville Catholic High School with school wings named in their honor. The two longtime Diocese of Knoxville priests, who served as principals of the diocesan high school, were honored April 4 at …
V Encuentro retreat draws 29 young Catholic leaders
By Sedonna Prater Twenty-nine young leaders in diocesan Catholic schools stepped back for a day of reflection and a call to action through their participation in a V Encuentro retreat. The retreat was held at the diocesan Christ Prince of Peace Retreat Center in Benton on May 11 and was …
Knights Cup raises $10,000 for Catholic Charities
By Dan McWilliams Rain plagued the Knights Cup Lacrosse Tournament at Knoxville Catholic High School for the second straight year but didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the event’s donors. The second annual tourney took place April 21 and 22 at KCHS’s Blaine Stadium and featured the semifinals and finals of …
Conor Metz of All Saints earns Eagle Scout Award
Conor Metz of Troop 444 in Farragut received his Eagle Scout Award at a Court of Honor held May 2. He is Eagle Scout No. 125 for Troop 444, which was established in 1991 and is chartered by Farragut Presbyterian Church. Conor is a son of Ann and David Metz …
Knights elect Holy Family’s Tracy Staller as new state deputy
By Andy Telli The Tennessee Knights of Columbus elected a new leader during their annual state convention, held April 28-30 at the Franklin Marriott at Cool Springs, but the emphasis on service remains the same. “I’m a firm believer if you ask a man why he joined [the Knights of …
