The liturgy in the KCHS chapel provides a ‘calming experience’ without music, bells, or microphones
By Dan McWilliams
The Diocese of Knoxville’s new Special Friends ministry sponsored its first sensory-friendly Mass on July 25 in the chapel at Knoxville Catholic High School.
The liturgy did not make use of music, bells, or microphones, which can be a distraction for some Mass-goers.
Father Randy Stice, director of the diocesan Office of Worship and Liturgy and a chaplain at KCHS, celebrated the Mass.
“I enjoyed it. We want to make Jesus accessible to everybody. And I’ve had experience doing (similar) Masses, like for deaf communities. So, I’ve learned that we have to make some adjustments so that Jesus can really touch everybody.”
And that’s the biggest takeaway.
“Yes, that’s what we want,” Father Stice said.
In his homily, the KCHS chaplain spoke of the day’s Gospel reading from Matthew 13.
“Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to a great treasure and to a valuable pearl. The kingdom, the treasure, the pearl, is not a thing—it is a person. It is Jesus Himself. He is the great treasure. He is the pearl of a great price,” Father Stice said.
Father Randy Stice delivers the homily during the sensory-friendly Mass in the chapel at Knoxville Catholic High School. (Photo Dan McWilliams)
Pope Benedict XVI said that “wherever Jesus is, there is the kingdom. Scripture tells us that Jesus is the king, he is God, he is the savior, but we also see Him in the Gospels as a teacher, a healer, a server, one who serves others, a brother, a friend, and a comforter,” he added. “We know that during His earthly ministry, men did not receive Him, they did not treat Him well, He was rejected, He was betrayed, He was made fun of, He was abused, He forgave.”
Jesus “understands what we go through because He went through everything that we go through. He understands what we struggle with, how we can be mistreated. … And He is for us a comforter, a healer, and a friend,” Father Stice said.
And Jesus “is present with us now. He is present because we have come together in His name,” the KCHS chaplain said. “He is present in His word, and in a few minutes He is going to be present substantially on the altar, under the appearances of bread and wine. So, the Gospel, I think, invites us to ask: What do we need from Jesus today? Do we need a friend? Do we need a healer? Do we need a comforter? Do we need a teacher? Take a moment to think about what it is we want from Jesus today and ask Him for that.”
Sarah Warner Sperl, assistant director of the diocesan Office of Christian Formation, is a leader with the Special Friends ministry.
The idea of a sensory-friendly Mass “came about through several families who contacted the diocese, and they also contacted Julie Radachy,” Mrs. Sperl explained. “They were interested in looking for support and resources for their children with special needs.”
Ms. Radachy is the team leader for the Special Friends ministry, which has seven members after being created about two months before the first sensory-friendly Mass.
Mrs. Sperl said she thought the Mass at KCHS “was very beautiful. It was a nice, intimate setting. We had several families who signed up who did show up, and everyone seemed to really appreciate the Mass.”
Two of those attending the first sensory-friendly Mass were 2025 Knoxville Catholic graduates Melina Avalos and Kaspar Winston.
“It was a really calming and soothing experience. I really liked how quiet it was. It was just really, really relaxing,” Ms. Avalos said.
Mr. Winston said the Mass “definitely left a lot more room to have some self-reflection and prayer time without so many distractions like the music or the bells that they normally use.”
The next event for the Special Friends ministry is the annual Bishop’s Very Special Day, set for 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 29, at St. John Neumann Church in Farragut. Bishop Mark Beckman will celebrate Mass at 10:30 a.m. on what will be a faith-filled day of fun for special-needs individuals and their families.
Check-in will begin at 10 a.m. The day will include activities, skits, and lunch. Register or sign up to volunteer at dioknox.org/events/bishops-very-special-day.
Sensory-friendly Masses will be held on fourth Saturdays, with the next one at 4 p.m. on Sept. 26 in the chapel at KCHS, followed by a Mass on Oct. 31 and on Nov. 28 at KCHS.
The Special Friends ministry also has an “All Saints Bash” planned for 5 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 1, at Holy Ghost Church in Knoxville.
For more information, contact 865-584-3307 or DKSF@dioknox.org.