Members of convention center congregation moved by faith-filled celebration
By Dan McWilliams
Beautiful. Impressive. A great day for the Diocese of Knoxville. Those were among the reactions, from just a few of the 4,000 attending, to the July 26 ordination and installation of Bishop Mark Beckman as the Church in East Tennessee’s fourth leader.
State Sen. Randy McNally, who also serves as lieutenant governor and speaker of the Senate, attended the ordination. Sen. McNally is a parishioner of St. Mary in Oak Ridge.
“The ordination ceremony was extremely impressive, one of the best I’ve attended,” he said. “Having been without a bishop for over a year, I am grateful that Father Beckman agreed to take the post. I attended a funeral Mass he was involved with at St. Henry’s in Nashville, and it was quite clear he was a capable and compassionate priest. He is an extremely well-qualified individual. With God’s help, I am confident he will do well here.”
Mary Catherine Willard, a parishioner of Immaculate Conception in Knoxville, processed in before Mass separately—accompanied by her sister Therese Hurley—by virtue of being a papal honoree. She is a recipient of the Benemerenti Medal for service to the Church. The longtime Knoxville resident reflected on the ordination Mass.
Mary Catherine Willard, right, recipient of the Vatican’s Benemerenti Medal, is joined by her sister, Therese Hurley, as they process into the Mass of ordination and installation for Bishop Mark Beckman on July 26 at the Knoxville Convention Center. Mrs. Hurley and Mrs. Willard are members of Immaculate Conception Parish in Knoxville. (Photo Renee McNutt / BOPP)
“It was just a wonderful occasion with so much participation from all people of the diocese, from the young children in the choir to the older people like me who had to struggle down the aisle,” Mrs. Willard said. “It was just a wonderful time, and I think this bishop is going to bless our diocese so much, and I pray that everybody will join with him and follow him as our true shepherd.”
Mrs. Willard has attended all four episcopal ordinations for the Diocese of Knoxville. She was the layperson in charge of the ordinations of Bishop Anthony J. O’Connell in 1988 and Bishop Joseph E. Kurtz in 1999.
“That was wonderful to have those opportunities,” she said.
Sister Marie Blanchette Cummings, OP, was among the numerous women and men religious present for the ordination. Sister Marie Blanchette served as principal of St. Mary School in Oak Ridge from 2013 to 2021 and now leads Overbrook Catholic School in Nashville.
The ordination of Bishop Beckman “was absolutely beautiful,” she said. “Nashville has sent the Diocese of Knoxville one of its best priests. We are super excited for Bishop Beckman to serve in Knoxville. He has a shepherd’s heart. He is going to do great things here, and even though the Diocese of Nashville is sad to lose him, we know that it is best for the whole Church.”
Sister Marie Blanchette spoke of the many religious attending the ordination.
“This is a celebration for the whole Church, not just Knoxville but for everywhere,” she said.
The Dominican Sister knew Bishop Beckman in Nashville, where he served as pastor of St. Henry Parish and School before being named bishop of Knoxville.
“He’s been a close friend of our community,” said Sister Marie Blanchette, who is with the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia Congregation in Nashville. “At St. Henry’s, he was pastor, and our Sisters are at the school there, so our community has known him for many years.”
The staff from the Chancery, the Knoxville facility that includes Bishop Beckman’s office as well as those for a number of diocesan ministries, was well represented at the ordination.
Chris Kite is a 12-year employee at the Chancery who serves as administrative assistant to Deacon Jim Bello, director of Christian Formation and the Diaconate and Deacon Formation.
“It was a beautiful, beautiful ceremony,” Mrs. Kite said. “This is a new time for the Diocese of Knoxville, with one who will be serving Jesus Christ yesterday, today, and forever,” adding that the bishop will not be the only one following those words. “We all will be. I love that that is his motto.”
Father David Boettner, rector of the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in Knoxville, was among five diocesan consultors at the ordination.
“It’s a great day for the Diocese of Knoxville. It’s a great day for the Church of East Tennessee,” he said. “Bishop Mark is a great pastor. He’s already proven as a pastor, and he has the heart of a shepherd, and I think he’s going to love the people of East Tennessee. I think they’re going to love him.
I think as a Church, we’re ready to move forward and really have a shepherd who is with his sheep.”
The cathedra Bishop Beckman sat in as he was installed at the ordination came from the old Sacred Heart Cathedral, Father Boettner pointed out. The bishop’s chair features the diocesan coat of arms and before the ordination was in use at the Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma, Mich., convent located in Knoxville.
Numerous family members of Bishop Beckman posed for photos with him before the altar after Mass.
“It’s beautiful. He’s got such a gift in heaven, a family that’s strong, and he’s a very family-oriented man, and his family is going to be a real strength for him,” Father Boettner said. “I think it also gives him a great insight into our families as well.”
Blanca Primm, director of Hispanic Ministry for the diocese, assisted by Coral Getino and Lilia Walker, provided interpretation to the Spanish-speaking faithful who attended the ordination.
Ms. Getino said the interpreters’ booth was not in the main room at the ordination site, the Knoxville Convention Center, so the trio watched the Mass through a large-screen TV monitor.
“Since we had three interpreters, I was able to peek in during a small part of the Mass, but not during the consecration, which I was very emotional about—I wonder what it would have been like to be inside,” she said.
The music was “beautiful,” Ms. Getino noted, adding that “we could appreciate that from the TV. What we missed was the ambiance, the communion with the people, and that electrifying presence of the Holy Spirit. I had never been at a bishop ordination before, and I hope this is my last one (in Knoxville at least!).”
The Hispanic community has been “praying for a long time” for a new bishop, “and he is the answer to our prayers,” Ms. Getino said.
“We will continue to pray for him so that he can guide us in such humble ways,” she continued. “The Diocese of Knoxville is a very vibrant community, and I hope he will learn to love us as we already love him.”
Susan Unbehaun, executive director of the Ladies of Charity of Knoxville, also was in the congregation at the convention center.
Lt. Gov. Randy McNally of St. Mary Parish in Oak Ridge greets Therese Hurley and Mary Catherine Willard during the Mass of ordination and installation for Bishop Mark Beckman. (Photo Eleyana Nahigian)
“My husband and I attended the ordination of the new bishop together,” she said. “We have not had the opportunity to witness an ordination before, and we were looking forward to it. The Mass had beautiful music, which led into the celebration. My favorite part was when the bishop-elect carried the pope’s assignment letter through the aisles. His smile was so full of joy, and the congregation was being invited to accept him as our new shepherd. Bishop Beckman will be a good fit for the Diocese of Knoxville. Everyone I have talked to is very excited for this new chapter in our faith community.”
Fred Laufenberg of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Fairfield Glade is a former state deputy for the Knights of Columbus and earlier witnessed the ordinations of Bishop Richard F. Stika in Knoxville, Bishop J. Mark Spalding in Nashville, and Bishop David P. Talley in Memphis.
“I have been blessed to be present at the ordination of three bishops in the state of Tennessee and one installation,” Mr. Laufenberg said. “I was part of the honor guard for the ordination and installation of Bishop Stika of the Diocese of Knoxville and Bishop Spalding of the Diocese of Nashville. I was able to attend the installation of Bishop Talley of the Diocese of Memphis.
“Being present at the installation and ordination of Bishop Mark Beckman as the bishop of Knoxville was special because, as a Catholic and member of the Knoxville Diocese, we were there to witness the ‘laying on of the hands’ and the continuation to the successor of Peter. The procession of our priests, religious, the hierarchy of the Church, and our Knights of Columbus added to the importance of what we witnessed.”
Bishop Beckman’s reflections “reached our hearts,” Mr. Laufenberg added, also referring to the new bishop’s passion for the outdoors.
“We are excited to meet him as he tours the diocese and meets his congregation,” he said. “Everyone who has met our bishop shares the same thoughts. He is a kind and humble man. The thought that he finds peace on the trails and in nature resonates with so many. The Knights of Columbus look forward to serving him and all our priests as we strive to be the heart of Jesus.”
