KCHS girls soccer team wins state title

The Lady Irish capture the first state crown for a girls team in Knoxville Catholic history Knoxville Catholic High School’s girls soccer team made history Nov. 2, and in doing so made an impact on a statewide level. The Lady Irish won the TSSAA girls soccer state championship in Murfreesboro, …

KCHS Interact Club members serve breakfast to veterans

In September, members of the Interact Club at Knoxville Catholic High School participated in the Honor Air Knoxville project to serve breakfast to the veterans of World War II and the Korean War. This Honor Air pre-flight informational meeting was held at Sacred Heart Cathedral. This is the fifth year …

Stars & Stripes Award presented to Brianna Donahue

Brianna Elizabeth Donahue recently received her Stars & Stripes Award in a presentation held in the gym at St. John Neumann School in Farragut. This is the highest award given to an American Heritage Girl as she learns leadership and life skills. The Knoxville Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting recognized …

Notre Dame’s 1988 girls soccer state champs honored

The 1988 Notre Dame High School Lady Irish state champion soccer team was honored Sept. 17 at the NDHS–Chattanooga Christian School soccer game. Members of the 1988 team who attended the game were greeted at a pregame reception and recognized during halftime. George Valadie, NDHS president, and select members of …

Bishop Stika, Cardinal Rigali taking part in papal canonization pilgrimage

Bishop Richard F. Stika and Cardinal Justin Rigali are encouraging Diocese of Knoxville parishioners interested in witnessing the canonization of Popes John Paul II and John XXIII to join a pilgrimage to Rome next spring and be a part of this historic event. Bishop Stika and Cardinal Rigali will take …

Funeral Mass held at Holy Cross Church for Father Jay M. Flaherty

A funeral Mass for Father Jay M. Flaherty was held Oct. 10 at Holy Cross Church in Pigeon Forge. He was the founding pastor of Holy Cross. Father Flaherty died Oct. 5 in Nashville following an extended illness. He was 66. The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated by Bishop …

Living the readings: Watching the sun rise

Christ’s constant presence gives light to the darkness December is the darkest month of the year. Its first 20 days are a progression into ever longer nights until the 21st of December, when we experience in the Northern Hemisphere the longest day of darkness of the year. The Church reacts …

World embraces simple hug by Pope Francis

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — For someone who has frequently been shunned and humiliated because of a disease that has severely disfigured his entire body, receiving the pope’s loving embrace was like being in paradise. Vinicio Riva, who is afflicted with neurofibromatosis, said his brief encounter with Pope Francis Nov. 6 …

Marriage enrichment: Looking forward to a Synod of Bishops

Special assembly meeting in October 2014 to focus on the pastoral care of the family Pope Francis in early October called for a Synod of Bishops to gather in Rome in October 2014. A Synod of Bishops consists of an assembly of bishops chosen from different regions around the world …

Understanding the sacraments: Sacred art and furnishings

Unity, not uniformity, is the Church’s criterion in identifying sacred creations that praise God In my last column I interrupted my series on the Second Vatican Council’s Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy to talk about the cathedral church of a diocese, summarizing the discussion found in the Ceremonial of Bishops. …

Funeral Mass held in Nashville for Sister Mary Ethel Raulston

Sister Mary Ethel Raulston, RSM, 83, who once served at Knoxville Catholic High School, died Thursday, Nov. 7, at Mercy Convent in Nashville. A Sister of Mercy for 59 years, Sister Ethel ministered in institutions of secondary and higher education in Cincinnati, Knoxville, and Nashville, including KCHS from 1975 to …

Sister Helen Sherrard dies at age 87

Sister Helen Sherrard, BVM (Agneselle), died Oct. 21 at Marian Hall in Dubuque, Iowa. She was 87. In the Diocese of Knoxville, Sister Helen was a librarian, parish minister and volunteer at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Chattanooga from 1982 to 2003. She also taught elementary school and was …