Bishop Beckman visits with students at St. Joseph School

Bishop Beckman visits with students at St. Joseph School

By Bee Goodman

Bishop Mark Beckman had planned to spend Catholic Schools Week traveling throughout the diocese, visiting classrooms and celebrating the educators and students who make Catholic education a defining part of parish life. Winter weather, however, forced changes to many of those plans.

Despite the disruptions, Bishop Beckman concluded the week with a visit to St. Joseph School in Knoxville on Jan. 30, bringing encouragement, prayer, and a sense of joy to the pre-K-through-eighth-grade school community.

The visit began with Mass celebrated by Bishop Beckman, attended by students, parents, teachers, and staff. Students took part in the liturgy as readers and musicians, leading prayers and hymns that filled the school chapel. The participation reflected a core mission of Catholic education: to invite students not only to learn about their faith but to actively live it.

During his homily, Bishop Beckman addressed the adults gathered alongside the students, emphasizing the shared responsibility of forming young people in faith and character.

“You are a part of God’s work in scattering the seed of the kingdom,” he said.

The message affirmed the daily efforts of parents, teachers, and staff whose work often goes unseen but shapes the spiritual and academic growth of children.

Bishop Mark Beckman visits Jackie Delaney’s first-grade class at St. Joseph School on Jan. 30 during Catholic Schools Week. The students and Bishop Beckman were having an engaging dialogue. (Photo Bee Goodman)

Catholic Schools Week, celebrated annually, highlights the role Catholic schools play in educating students and supporting families. At St. Joseph, the week included special activities designed to strengthen community and celebrate student life, many of which coincided with the bishop’s visit.

Following Mass, students gathered as the Knoxville Catholic High School pep band performed in St. Joseph’s gym. The band’s appearance offered a glimpse into opportunities students may have in the coming year. St. Joseph is preparing to introduce a band program for students in fifth through eighth grades, and the performance sparked excitement among students who watched closely as instruments filled the space with sound.

Knoxville Catholic High band director Paul Foster addressed St. Joseph with the pep band to introduce different instruments and their respective sounds to the young audience. The introductions piqued the interest of many potential future KCHS band students.

Bishop Beckman remained to watch the performance before beginning a tour of the school. As he walked the hallways, he stopped to greet students and teachers, taking time to ask questions and listen to stories from the classrooms.

For many students, the visit was their first opportunity to meet a bishop, and curiosity followed him from room to room.

The bishop also viewed a newly completed mural depicting the Holy Family. The mural, displayed prominently within the school, serves as a visual expression of the school’s mission and values. It reflects the central role faith plays in daily life at St. Joseph School, where religious instruction is woven into academics and extracurricular activities.

The visit coincided with one of the most anticipated events of Catholic Schools Week: a student-teacher volleyball game. The matchup featured the eighth-grade class facing off against their teachers. Anticipation for the game had been building throughout the week, and Bishop Beckman joined in the excitement by asking students in each classroom who they thought would win.

Each time, he was met with enthusiastic shouts of “Students!” and “Eighth grade!” While a few students expressed confidence in the teachers’ volleyball prowess, most were firmly in favor of their classmates.

When the game took place later that day, the gymnasium filled with cheers, laughter, and friendly competition. Students and teachers encouraged one another from the sidelines as the teams played.

The eighth-graders ultimately claimed victory, drawing applause and celebratory cheers from classmates and staff. The game served as a reminder that community-building moments are just as important as academic instruction in shaping a positive school environment.

For Bishop Beckman, returning to a school setting often brings back personal memories. He frequently recalls his time teaching at St. Henry School in the Diocese of Nashville. The opportunity to walk through classrooms and interact with students continues to hold special meaning for him.

During Mass, the bishop told the students to “have faith in Him and hope in God’s work in the world.”

In one classroom, a student asked the bishop why he enjoys church so much. Bishop Beckman responded that he “enjoys the presence of God and seeing how He shares His love with us.” His answer, delivered simply and thoughtfully, resonated with students and prompted further questions about faith and prayer.

In another classroom, a young boy shared his dream of becoming a priest. When Bishop Beckman asked if he was serious, the student nodded confidently and said, “Yep. I’m going to be the pope.”

The comment drew laughter from classmates, but Bishop Beckman responded with encouragement. Smiling, he told the student that with hard work and dedication, he could one day become the next American pope, following Pope Leo XIV.

The exchange reflects a hallmark of Catholic education: creating a space where students feel comfortable expressing big ideas and bigger aspirations rooted in faith. While such dreams may seem distant, Bishop Beckman emphasized that encouragement and guidance can help students discover their vocation over time.

During his visit to the kindergarten classroom, Bishop Beckman asked students what they wanted to be when they grew up. Their answers ranged from cheerleader and veterinarian to teacher and firefighter. Each response reflected a child’s ever-growing sense of identity, imagination, and young heart.

Providing an environment where students feel supported requires daily commitment from school administrators and teachers. Education is demanding work, often requiring early mornings, long hours, and constant adaptability. At St. Joseph School, staff begin each day with prayer, grounding themselves in faith before welcoming students.

These daily routines help create an atmosphere where students can thrive academically and spiritually. Teachers not only deliver lessons in reading, math, and science, but also model kindness, patience, and service. Through classroom instruction, prayer, and spiritual example, the students at St. Joseph are encouraged to see learning as a lifelong pursuit connected to their faith.

Bishop Beckman reminded parents and educators during Mass that while students are still young and learning, their potential is vast. With guidance and support, he said, children are capable of achieving far more than they may realize.

Catholic schools play a unique role in helping students recognize their gifts while nurturing a sense of responsibility toward others. By integrating faith into education, Catholic schools aim to prepare students not only for future careers, but for lives rooted in compassion, service, and leadership.

As Catholic Schools Week came to a close on Jan. 31, Bishop Beckman’s visit to St. Joseph School stood as a reminder of the enduring impact of Catholic education. Despite weather-related changes to school schedules, the visit offered students and staff an opportunity to celebrate their shared mission.

“May God continue to bless all of you here at St. Joseph, continue to grow in His love, and this goodness,” the bishop said as his visit concluded.

The day concluded with a sense of gratitude and renewed purpose. For students, the visit was a chance to feel seen and encouraged. For teachers and staff, it was a reminder that their work matters deeply. And for the wider parish community, the visit highlighted the role Catholic schools play in shaping future generations.

Through prayer, learning, and community, St. Joseph School continues to serve as a place where faith and education meet. Bishop Beckman’s visit reinforced that mission, leaving behind not only memories of a special day, but a lasting message of hope, encouragement, and possibility.