Paraclete book, gift store ceases operations

By The East Tennessee Catholic

The Paraclete Catholic book and gift store, which operated in Knoxville for 37 years, closed permanently on July 3.

The store had used space since 1990 in a building now owned by the Diocese of Knoxville and the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, but with the growth of the cathedral parish, additional office and daytime meeting space was needed to support parish ministries.

The store’s online sales also have ceased.

Diocese of Knoxville parishioner Karl Fillauer founded The Paraclete and funded it as a ministry in 1987.

The first building used by the store belonged to Mr. Fillauer and was on North Broadway near the Fourth and Gill neighborhood in Knoxville. Three years later, The Paraclete moved to another building owned by Mr. Fillauer adjacent to the cathedral at 417 Erin Drive. Until 1995, the store shared space with the Chancery offices before a new Chancery building opened on the opposite side of the cathedral.

The Diocese of Knoxville took ownership of The Paraclete on April 1, 2012, when Mr. Fillauer and his wife, Becky, gifted the store to the diocese.

It served as the only dedicated Catholic book and gift store in the Diocese of Knoxville, although several parishes operate small shops within their church buildings that sell similar faith-based merchandise.

In addition to books and gifts, The Paraclete supplied many diocesan churches with items such as candles, Communion hosts, and vestments and clerical shirts for priests and deacons.

Mr. Fillauer hired Vonnie Spicer to manage the store, and she and daughter Tricia Sellers were longtime employees. Mrs. Spicer died on Oct. 29 at age 79 (see her obituary on page A25 of the November 2024 edition of The East Tennessee Catholic).

The word “Paraclete” means the Holy Spirit but can also signify “called to the side of,” “counselor,” “comforter,” and “consoler.”

The Paraclete closing may be part of a national trend as dedicated Catholic book and gift stores face increasing challenges from online sales as more consumers choose to make their retail purchases over the internet.

The only book and gift store serving the Archdiocese of New Orleans closed earlier this year.