Chattanooga Deanery
St. Augustine, Signal Mountain
The “White Hot for Haiti” dinner-dance and auction May 5 raised more than $15,000 to provide education and food for the 1,200 students who attend St. Antoine School in Petite Rivière de Nippes, Haiti. Tracie and Chris Lesar were thanked for chairing the event along with numerous patrons and sponsors.
St. Catherine Labouré, Copperhill
The parish held its second annual International Tasters Dinner on June 19. Parishioners were asked to bring their favorite ethnic dish or dessert. Donations at the event benefited the Divine Mercy Society.
St. Jude, Chattanooga
St. Jude Church held holy hours June 21 and 28 to observe the “Fortnight for Freedom” designed by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops as a means to pray for religious freedom in this country.
St. Jude School recognized several graduating eighth-grade students for their achievements during the 2011-12 school year: Niamh Cahill, Guy Westhoff, Hailey Shelby, Kendra Masterson, Nick Coronis, Colin Sawyer, Annie Ripper, Emma Higgins, Aaron Marini, and Vidas Dubininkus.
St. Mary, Athens
The parish welcomed seminarian Jeff Emitt, who worked at St. Mary during June.
St. Mary will have a vacation Bible school, “Sonrise National Park,” from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. July 16-19. Registration packets are available in the narthex. Contact Holly Gates at 423-507-5899 or the parish office at 745-4277 for more information.
Sts. Peter and Paul, Chattanooga
Father Patrick J. Ryan Assembly 1084 of the Knights of Columbus conducted a flag-retirement ceremony June 14 at Camp Columbus.
Cumberland Mountain Deanery
All Saints, Knoxville
The social-action committee is asking parishioners to bring in a nonperishable food donation when they come in to be photographed for the parish directory through Aug. 11. Participants will receive a $5 discount on their portrait order from Lifetouch. The canned goods will be used to stock the Ladies of Charity food pantry.
The parish congratulated the 118 students who received their first Holy Communion on April 29.
Father John Appiah is in the process of finalizing plans for a medical mission to Nkonya-Wurupong, Ghana, scheduled for July 29-Aug. 10. More than $20,000 has been donated and will be used to purchase medication and eyeglasses for the patients of the medical clinic. Thirty-three people from the diocese, including 11 doctors and four nurses, will be participating in the mission. Dr. Elaine Bunick will be making her fourth trip to Ghana to assist with the mission. Contact Father Appiah at 865-531-0770 for more information about the mission or to make a monetary donation.
Blessed Sacrament, Harriman
Confirmandi: Megan Butler, Connor Cooney, Samantha Eisenberg, Kyra Grubbs, Jonathan Higgins, Scott Nelson, Cody Palko, Aubrey Riggs, Adam Roberts, Cynthia Roberts, Alison Smith, Aaron Tapley
St. Francis of Assisi, Fairfield Glade
Sign-ups are being accepted for the Harmonia Dinner Group. This group meets four times a year in member homes and offers a way to meet other parishioners, make new friends, and renew old acquaintances. Sign-up sheets are on the parish hall bulletin board and in the parish office.
A prayer-blanket workshop is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, July 17, at the church. Participants should bring an iron, an ironing board, a sewing machine, or any other materials deemed helpful for completing their projects. Lunch will be served. Contact the parish office for more details at 931-484-3628.
Anniversaries: Guy and Billie LaBorde (64), Al and Kay Evans (62), Joe and Millie Walisinski (62), Bernard and Darlene DeFillipi (58), Victor and Loretta Galdes (57), William and Janette LaRou (57), Mark and Eileen White (57), Larry and Reva Lanzerotti (56), Ken and Norma Guillory (55), Philip and Johanne Ardire (54), Bernard and JoAnne Bunyak (52), John and Sally Price (52), Neil and Barbara Ferency (50)
St. John Neumann, Farragut
The parish welcomed Yvonne Kidder, who will be the new confirmation coordinator. Ms. Kidder replaces Tom Perry, who coordinated the program since 2006 and had been involved with teaching confirmandi since 1989.
Michelle Walters, a home-schooled senior, and several volunteers have built and installed a Stations of the Cross along a 471-foot path that the group dug behind St. John Neumann Church. The project helped fulfill requirements for the Stars and Stripes Award, the highest recognition award in the American Heritage Girls program.
Father Dustin Collins, the diocese’s most recently ordained priest, celebrated a Mass of thanksgiving at St. John Neumann Church on June 17.
Five Rivers Deanery
Holy Trinity, Jefferson City
Deacons Gordy Lowery, Jim Prosak, and John Riehl were recognized in June for their service in honor of the fifth anniversary of their ordination.
Anniversaries: Stan and Virginia Borzick (54), Vinnie and Katherine Clossey (54), James and Margaret Ray (53)
Newcomer: Kelsey Fleck
Notre Dame, Greeneville
The parish vacation Bible school, “Prayer Safari,” will meet Wednesday nights between 6 and 8:30 p.m. July 11 through Aug. 1. Participants will study Bible stories, make crafts, perform skits, and sing songs. Dinner will be provided each night. To register or to volunteer, call Susan Collins at 423-329-9173.
Notre Dame celebrated the Fortnight for Freedom by sponsoring two holy hours at the church June 21 and 28.
Anniversaries: Vandy and Dorothy Nachazel (53), Bob and Maggie May (50), Anthony and Carol LaMarca (45), Arthur and Eleanor LaPoint (30), Terry and Rebecca Barekman (15)
St. Dominic, Kingsport
During June, the parish collected diapers and baby wipes for Hope House, a crisis pregnancy center. To donate other items, contact Angie at 423-247-7994.
St. Henry, Rogersville
The women of St. Henry held a yard sale May 4 and 5 to benefit the building fund. They also met May 16 to plan a craft project and again May 23 at Juanita’s Mexican Restaurant for their monthly luncheon.
Anniversary: Mory and Rita DeWitte (56)
St. Mary, Johnson City
Betty Cox and Mary Jordan made their initial covenant as Mercy Associates during a ceremony at the 5 p.m. Mass on June 9.
St. Patrick, Morristown
The Knights of Columbus honored Brandon Lawson as Knight of the Quarter for his work with the basketball and soccer contests as well as his help with other council activities. Greg and Mary Oparyk were recognized as the Family of the Quarter.
Smoky Mountain Deanery
Blessed John XXIII, Knoxville
The Pregnancy Help Center thanked the parishioners of John XXIII for their participation in the annual Baby Bottle Drive. The parish raised more than $4,400.
Immaculate Conception, Knoxville
The parish’s fifth annual Irish Fest on the Hill is set for Saturday, Aug. 11, and includes music, dancing, a silent auction, and a variety of activities for all ages. IC is looking for vendors to sell their Celtic wares, volunteers to help with planning for or working at the event, and donations for silent-auction items. Sponsors are also needed. For more information, contact Becky Birdwell at 865-414-7430 or bird wellent@bellsouth.net to volunteer or to donate items for the silent auction.
On May 14 the FISH team distributed food to 80 families, with a total of 214 people served.
Anniversary: John and Ann McAllister (60)
Sacred Heart, Knoxville
The demolition of part of the parish office building is under way, beginning a renovation to expand the preschool facilities. To assist with labor during the project, call Tom Greer at 865-588-4108.
The Anthony Mary Memorial Blood Drive was held June 13 in the Shea Room.
Bishop Richard F. Stika will be leading a holy hour of prayer following the 8:05 a.m. Mass at Sacred Heart Cathedral on Wednesday, July 4, in observance of the final day of the Fortnight for Freedom, a special period of prayer, study, catechesis, and public action for the cause of religious freedom in the United States.
Totus Tuus Vacation Bible School will be held July 22-27 at the cathedral. Children in grades one through six will meet from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. each day July 23-27, and junior high and high school students will meet from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. July 22-26. Participants will receive age-appropriate catechetical instruction about the Eucharist, Marian devotion, and vocations through talks, skits, crafts, and outdoor activities. Registration forms are on the Sacred Heart Cathedral website, shcknox.org, and at the parish office. Every family will be asked to provide an adult volunteer for either a day or an evening or to provide dinner for the Totus Tuus team. For more information, contact Brigid Johnson at 865-584-4528 or BJohnson@shcknox.org or visit shcathedral.org.
St. Joseph the Worker, Madisonville
The St. Joseph the Worker women’s group is collecting donations for a Rosary-Meditation Garden. The group hopes to purchase a statue of the Blessed Mother and build a grotto on the parish grounds. Contact the parish office to make a donation at 423-442-7273.
St. Joseph the Worker is participating in the Fortnight for Freedom by praying the rosary at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 4. n