Partners in health

Dr. Dean Mire, Sacred Heart Parish teamed with Dr. Farmer to build Haiti health-care ministry       By Bill Brewer Dr. Dean Mire, a Knoxville family practice physician who has helped lead the Sacred Heart Cathedral Parish’s medical ministry in Haiti, remembers his first encounter with Dr. Paul Farmer. Dr. Mire …

Divine Mercy Parish celebrates Year of the Tiger

Knoxville’s Vietnamese community welcomes both the Lunar New Year and Bishop Stika                     By Bill Brewer Dragons, tigers, and Xoi, oh my! No, it wasn’t Oz; it was better. You might even say it was heavenly. The Church of Divine Mercy offered a cornucopia for the soul and senses on Jan. …

Tennessee poised for change, state pro-life leaders say

If Supreme Court overturns all or part of Roe v. Wade based on Dobbs case, legal infrastructure in place to protect life By Bill Brewer As U.S. Supreme Court justices weigh the pros and cons of legalized abortion and states’ efforts to regulate the federally protected practice, Tennessee pro-life leaders …

Silver anniversaries abound at Holy Trinity Parish

The Jefferson City community and newly installed pastor Father Jim Harvey each celebrate 25 years By Bill Brewer The number 25 was especially meaningful for Father Jim Harvey on Dec. 5, when Holy Trinity’s new pastor helped the Jefferson County parish celebrate its 25th anniversary. Father Harvey also is in …

Catholic Charities plans to rebuild after arson fire

Knoxville diocesan agency to serve its East Tennessee clients from temporary site By Bill Brewer The Diocese of Knoxville and its Catholic Charities of East Tennessee are determined to rebuild after an arsonist burglarized Catholic Charities’ administrative offices in North Knoxville on Nov. 28 and set the building on fire, …

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Lay artisans share their creations through Paraclete program

Consignment vendors emerge from the pandemic with a collection of crafts in time for Christmas sales     By Bill Brewer Necessity is the mother of invention, and never was that oft-repeated phrase truer than in early 2020 when the pandemic hit East Tennessee. That is when Kathy Willard went into action, …

‘Lights!’ ‘Camera!’ ‘Procession!’

Holy Ghost Church serves as setting for national Knights of Columbus training video on eucharistic processions    By Bill Brewer Happy Holler is going Hollywood, or at least it looked that way on Nov. 12 when professional videographers descended on Holy Ghost Church and surrounding streets to make a Knights of …

Building Our Church

Rutledge Catholic mission preparing to move into new worship space By Bill Brewer St. John Paul II Catholic Mission in Grainger County is approaching an important milestone toward its goal of becoming a Diocese of Knoxville parish. One of the newest faith communities in the diocese is nearing completion on …

And Then There Were None speakers expose abortion industry practices

Women who worked in facilities were featured at Tennessee Right to Life annual banquet                           By Bill Brewer Guest speakers for the Tennessee Right to Life annual banquet gave rare glimpses into the inner workings of abortion facilities, describing what they said was their descent into the abortion industry and …

‘I never lost my faith’

Belief of St. John Neumann parishioner and author is strengthened by 19 cancer diagnoses By Bill Brewer Steve Dekanich probably should not be here. But by God’s grace and healing, a fierce determination, and some good doctors, the parishioner of St. John Neumann in Farragut is not only here, he …

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Diocese to begin new deacon class in 2022

Prospective candidates for permanent diaconate can attend inquiry sessions beginning in January By Bill Brewer The Diocese of Knoxville will be starting a new class of permanent deacons in 2022 and is now reaching out to Catholic men interested in joining the clergy. The diocesan Office of the Diaconate and …