Masses, rosaries are said as the faithful mark the month of remembrance
By Bill Brewer
Diocese of Knoxville faithful ushered in the month of remembrance and thanksgiving on Nov. 1 as young students at diocesan schools adopted their favorite saints on All Saints’ Day, and churches organized rosaries on All Souls’ Day.
Bishop Mark Beckman celebrated Mass with the students and faculty of St. Joseph School on Nov. 1 and then visited classrooms during his introduction to the North Knoxville campus. St. Joseph marked the last of 10 diocesan schools the bishop has visited since his July 26 ordination and installation.
The day before, on Halloween, Bishop Beckman surprised the students at Sacred Heart Cathedral School by visiting them dressed as Gandalf, a protagonist character from The Lord of the Rings novels written by renowned Catholic author J.R.R. Tolkien.
Halloween costumes are an annual occurrence on the Sacred Heart Cathedral School campus on All Hallows’ Eve. Sacred Heart dads traditionally dress up in Halloween costumes as they greet students in the morning drop-off line outside the school.
Bishop Beckman toured St. Joseph with its principal, Andy Zengel, and Father Chris Michelson, who has served as president of St. Joseph as well as pastor of St. Albert the Great Parish until his retirement from active ministry in July.
While meeting with St. Joseph students in their classrooms, the bishop asked them questions about academics, their favorite saints, and their interests. In turn, they asked him about being a bishop and a priest as well as his favorite hobbies.
Bishop Beckman engages St. Joseph students in questions and answers during his homily. (Photo Kathy Rankin)
The all-school Mass at St. Joseph was concelebrated by Father Michelson, Father Neil Pezzulo, GHM, pastor of St. Teresa of Kolkata Parish in Maynardville and St. John Paul II Catholic Mission in Rutledge, and Father Tim Sullivan, CSP, who serves at Immaculate Conception Parish in Knoxville. Deacon Michael Eiffe, who serves at St. Albert the Great Church in Knoxville, assisted at the Mass.
Bishop Beckman told the students that everyone is called by the grace of God to become saints.
“To be a saint is to be close to the Lord and to become like the Lord. In a sense it is to live the Beatitudes, which we hear in the Gospel today. So, we pray today that the Lord will give us the grace someday to be with Him forever in heaven,” the bishop said.
In his homily, Bishop Beckman took the opportunity to point out the various saints in attendance, looking toward the younger grades and the saintly costumes they were wearing. He also noted the school’s namesake, who lived such a humble, ordinary life as he cared for Jesus and Mary.
“This is also a day when we remember not only all of the saints that we celebrate the rest of the year, but we also remember some people in our personal lives who we now believe and trust and hope are with the Lord in heaven. Some of them loved us very well. Often this time of year, when we remember all the saints, I think about some of the people in my own life who have been such good witnesses of God’s love for me,” the bishop said.
He noted an older prayer that speaks of saints as living witnesses of God’s unchanging love.
“One of those witnesses for me was my grandmother. She was Italian. She had a way of loving with such a clear heart. I felt uniquely loved by her as if I was the only person in the world when I was with her. When she went to the Lord when I was about 30 years old, of course I prayed for her, but very soon thereafter I really felt like she was with the Lord in heaven. So, sometimes I will ask her to pray for me now with the Lord. I say, ‘Grandma, I believe you are with the Lord. Would you say a prayer so that I can also love like you did and be a living witness of your love?” Bishop Beckman shared.
“So, some of you all may know people in your life who also have gone to the Lord. You can ask their prayers on your behalf. You can pray for them. So, we’re still connected with them,” he added.
He then pointed out that All Souls’ Day would follow All Saints’ Day and is a day when all the faithful departed are remembered.
The bishop wanted the students to know that becoming loving is the most important step they can take in living out the Beatitudes and understanding what love looks like—“all of those beautiful qualities that make us good Christians.”
Bishop Beckman shared with the students his love of Catholic schools. He attended Sacred Heart School in his hometown of Lawrenceburg, Tenn.
“One of the things I love about Catholic schools is Catholic schools help us to learn how to become holy, don’t they? What’s the best way Catholic schools help you to become holy,” he asked the students, who gave a variety of answers such as attending Mass, learning religion, and “letting Jesus shine.”
The bishop compared a Catholic school to a laboratory of love, where all of those in the school community, such as priests, deacons, principals, teachers, guidance counselors, coaches, custodians, and cafeteria staff are helping each student to learn to love like Christ.
Following Mass, Bishop Beckman toured the school and visited classrooms, where he interacted with the students ranging in grades from kindergarten to eighth.
As he completed Mass and his introduction to all 10 diocesan schools, the bishop remarked how special and unique each school community is and how well they are educating children to grow in the love of God.
“What a beautiful celebration of the Eucharist. You all prayed together very well today at St. Joseph School. I can tell that this is a very special Catholic school. The palpable sense of faith here in this community and your love for the Lord are so clear. Those of you who have been helping teach these young people, I want to thank you,” the bishop remarked to conclude Mass.
The bishop took joy in the fact he is now familiar with the Diocese of Knoxville’s elementary and high schools as well as the Catholic student centers on the campuses of the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga and Knoxville.
“I have now been bishop for less than 100 days, and I’ve been to all of our Catholic schools in the diocese. So, that delights me. I love meeting the kids. Every school I’ve been to I’ve been very impressed with,” Bishop Beckman said.
The bishop noted that he began his school campus tour by visiting St. Dominic on Aug. 8, which was the feast of St. Dominic. Since then, he has been to St. Mary in Johnson City, Sacred Heart in Knoxville, St. Mary in Oak Ridge, Knoxville Catholic High School, St. John Neumann in Farragut, and in Chattanooga Notre Dame High School, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, and St. Jude, then concluding with St. Joseph.
In between, he visited the Newman Center on the UT-C campus as well as St. John XXIII University Parish on the UT-K campus.
“I went to my first school in Kingsport at St. Dominic. And I thought to myself that first day that it was one of the most precious schools. I had the same thought today here at St. Joseph. I thought this is the most wonderful Catholic school. I was overwhelmed. It’s a special place. The kids today at Mass prayed together beautifully. The students who led the Mass doing roles of ministry were so comfortable and articulate. This is a wonderful community. You can tell,” Bishop Beckman said, adding that he encountered similar academic communities at the other schools.
Bishop Beckman believes Catholic schools are essential in building the faith.
“I think there is not much better that we do than Catholic schools for our young people. A quality, good Catholic school is probably one of the best gifts that we can give our young people. Absolutely. No question,” he said.
In his comments to students just before Mass, Mr. Zengel noted that in addition to Bishop Beckman, Father Michelson, Father Sullivan, and Father Pezzulo, Diocese of Knoxville interim superintendent of schools George Valadie was in attendance.
“Jesus is currently here in the tabernacle, and I think I see my wife, Caroline, in the back. So, please pray for me since all of my bosses are here in the same room,” Mr. Zengel said, drawing laughs.
The principal then turned his attention to the students.
People from around the Diocese of Knoxville pray the rosary at Calvary Cemetery in Knoxville on Nov. 3 for All Souls’ Day. Father Tim Sullivan, CSP, associate pastor at Immaculate Conception Church in Knoxville, led the rosary. (Photo Bill Brewer)
“What does it mean to be a saint? You might say to be with Jesus in heaven. One famous saint said, ‘All the way to heaven is heaven.’ The great thing about Jesus is that He comes to us here on earth to make us into saints in advance, if we let Him, just as we say here at St. Joseph School: Holiness is a way of life,” Mr. Zengel said.
“So, get ready. In just a short while, heaven will touch down to earth right here. And we will praise Him in the company of all the angels and saints,” Mr. Zengel added as Mass began.
Solemn observances to mark All Souls’ Day were held at the Diocese of Knoxville’s two Catholic cemeteries: Mount Olivet in Chattanooga and Calvary in Knoxville.
At Mount Olivet, Father David Carter, rector of the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul, and Father Alex Hernandez, associate pastor of the basilica, celebrated Mass on All Souls’ Day. The priests were assisted by Deacon Hicks Armor.
And at Calvary, Father Tim Sullivan, CSP, associate pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish, prayed the rosary for those who were remembering the faithful departed.
The Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and St. Alphonsus in Crossville were among the parishes holding remembrance services at their columbariums.
At. St. Alphonsus, Father Mark Schuster blessed the columbarium niches with holy water and parishioners lit luminary paper bags to honor the faithful departed.
