In its second year as a straight raffle, the fundraiser awarded $27,000 in prize money for 2020-21 By Bill Brewer Despite ongoing challenges from COVID-19, Diocese of Knoxville schools are off to a healthy start in 2021. On Jan. 12, winners of the diocesan Catholic Schools annual raffle were drawn, …
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On wings and prayers
Hope Kitchen offers spiritual nourishment as it feeds and clothes the homeless in Knoxville and perhaps beyond Story by Bill Brewer Photography by Bill Brewer and Stephanie Richer Mike and Melanie Wrinkle have come to believe in wings and prayers. The members of Holy Ghost Church rely on them when …
Rep. Dunn receives Tennessee Right to Life award
Veteran legislator, longtime Holy Ghost Parish member honored for his service to the state and pro-life movement By Bill Brewer Rep. Bill Dunn, a state legislator whose 26 years in the House helped swing Tennessee from a pro-abortion General Assembly to one that has become decidedly pro-life, received the 2020 …
St. John Neumann parishioner hailed as a first-responder hero
Officer Kyle Botica’s fast action saves man’s life, helps prevent traffic incident from being a tragedy By Bill Brewer Sometimes the road less traveled really does make all the difference. Just ask Kyle Botica. The University of Tennessee Police Department officer has been saluted as a hero for saving a …
Fellowship amid COVID-19
FOCUS missionaries at UT-Chattanooga are working to evangelize in socially distanced ways By Bill Brewer As the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga watches 2020 end just as it began, with the coronavirus pandemic wreaking havoc on students and their course work, a small group of Catholic missionaries is fervently working to keep …
Funeral Mass held for longtime priest Fr. Paul Valleroy
Mass celebrant Bishop Stika eulogizes pastor who served East Tennessee parishes for 46 years By Bill Brewer Father Paul Joseph Valleroy saw a lot of East Tennessee during the 46 years he served as a priest, first for the Diocese of Nashville and then for the Diocese of Knoxville. The …
Keeping vigil
40 Days for Life campaign kicks off with visit to St. Mary-Athens by founder Shawn Carney, Knoxville vigil By Bill Brewer As the Diocese of Knoxville joins Catholic dioceses across the country in sponsoring the 40 Days for Life prayer vigil this month, 40 Days for Life founder Shawn Carney …
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Deacon candidates another step closer to ordination
By Bill Brewer The Diocese of Knoxville’s newest class of permanent deacons has taken a key step closer to ordination as they now can serve as lectors proclaiming the Word of God. Bishop Richard F. Stika celebrated the Rite of the Institution of Lectors for the 25 candidates for the …
Inquiry begins into Fr. Ryan sainthood cause
Basilica at center of historic moment as Bishop Stika presides in opening session By Bill Brewer The cause for the beatification and canonization of Servant of God Patrick Ryan took a historic turn Sept. 28 with the opening session of an inquiry into the East Tennessee priest’s life and the …
Hicks Armor named to diocesan stewardship post
Chattanooga native and Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul deacon selected by Bishop Stika for fundraising leadership role By Bill Brewer Bishop Richard F. Stika only had to go as far as Chattanooga to find the Diocese of Knoxville’s new director overseeing diocesan-wide giving programs, including planned giving and development, …
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The Cuzco Legacy
Children of Catholic art genre carrying on the family tradition Story by Bill Brewer Photography by Stephanie Richer When Clorinda Galdos Bell presses her intricately woven paint brush against a canvas, she’s illustrating her faith for all to see. It’s her vocation, her charism, her ministry. Will it be her …
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Diocesan Tribunal of Knoxville becomes a reality
New ministry based in Chattanooga to handle annulment requests, other canon law cases By Bill Brewer The Diocese of Knoxville now has a fully functioning tribunal, a canon law ministry that will decide annulment cases and other legal matters that are within the specific purview of the Catholic Church and …