The Office of Marriage Preparation and Enrichment is sponsoring three “Surviving the Holidays” workshops for those who have experienced a separation, a divorce, or the loss of a loved one. Workshops are scheduled for 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, at St. Mary Church in Johnson City; 8:15 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 8, in the parish life center at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Chattanooga (beginning with Mass at 8:15); and from 3-5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 16, in Seton Hall at St. John Neumann Church in Farragut. The workshop will have two different groups: one for those who have experienced separation or divorce and one for those who are grieving the loss of a loved one. The cost of the program is $10. A light breakfast or refreshments will be served. Babysitting is available at an additional cost. To register, contact Marian Christiana at mchristiana@
dioknox.org or 423-892-2310.
Dr. Cormac O’Duffy, director of worship for St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Lenoir City, is recruiting choir members to perform his oratorio, “The Kingdom of God,” in honor of the 25th anniversary of Diocese of Knoxville. Three concerts will be performed in the diocese in Johnson City, Knoxville, and Chattanooga during 2013. The choir will also provide the music at the closing Mass of the Eucharistic Congress scheduled for Sept. 14, 2013. The first rehearsal is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2013, at St. John Neumann Church in Farragut. For more information, contact Dr. O’Duffy at Cormac@stthomaslc.com, or 865-986-9885, ext. 17.
Bishop Richard F. Stika is hosting the Ladies of Charity of Knoxville’s annual Bishop’s Tea at his residence on Saturday, Dec. 15 from 1 to 3 p.m. Contact Carolyn Susano at 865-584-1480 to learn more or to RSVP.
The fourth annual Knoxville Catholic High School classes of the 1950s and ’60s Christmas Social will be held at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 26, at Calhoun’s on the River in Knoxville. All KCHS grads are welcome to attend. Visit “KCHS Classes of the 50’s and 60’s” on Facebook, and if you are not receiving e-mails on this or other events, send your e-mail address to curtiscurley@aol.com or LLong3@utk.edu.
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.
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.
The annual Rites of Election for RCIA will take place on the first weekend of Lent in each of the four deaneries. St. Mary Church in Johnson City will host the Five Rivers Deanery rite at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16. At 6:30 p.m. that day, St. John Neumann Church in Farragut will host the Cumberland Mountain Deanery rite. St. Stephen Church in Chattanooga will be the site for the Chattanooga Deanery rite at 1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 17. At 5 p.m. that day, Our Lady of Fatima Church in Alcoa will host the rite for the Smoky Mountain Deanery.
Notre Dame High School is currently accepting applications for the 2013-14 school year. To learn more or request an application, call 423-624-4618, extension 1004, or e-mail admissions@myndhs.com.
Knoxville Catholic High School is having a placement test for eighth-grade students who are planning on attending KCHS 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@knoxvillecatholic.com.
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.
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 865-545-8270, 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 tourist-class hotels, meals, taxes, tips, and security fees. Contact Sister Albertine Paulus, RSM, for more information at 865-545-8270, 207-4742, or smaevang@yahoo.com.
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; at 3 p.m. on second, fourth, and fifth Sundays at St. Joseph the Worker Church in Madisonville; at 11 a.m. each Sunday at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Townsend; and at 3 p.m. on second and fourth Sundays at St. Mary Church in Johnson City. Visit www.knoxlatinmass.net for updated information.
The St. Thomas the Apostle Ukrainian Catholic Mission celebrates Divine Liturgy at 10 a.m. Sundays now in a new location: the lower level of Holy Cross Anglican Church, 515 Herron Road, Knoxville, TN 37934. All services are in English. Call Father Richard Armstrong at 865-584-3307 or visit www.saintthomas-knoxville.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 holy-day services or for more information, visit www.knoxbyz.org or call Father Thomas O’Connell at 865-256-4880.
