Church teachings on funeral, burial liturgies help people understand the Catholic faith By Bill Brewer The need for a new cemetery in the Diocese of Knoxville to serve parishes in the Smoky Mountain and Cumberland Mountain deaneries prompts discussion about the Church’s teaching on the order of Christian funerals and …
Cathedral is making room for Holy Family Memorial Garden
By Bill Brewer When the new Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus opens next year, among its many features will be a memorial garden with burial spaces for bishops who have served the Diocese of Knoxville and a columbarium where Catholic faithful in the diocese can be laid …
Diocese celebrates consecrated life in East Tennessee
Mass held for women and men religious By Bill Brewer Women and men religious serving in the Diocese of Knoxville, who were recognized Feb. 4 at a Mass celebrated by Bishop Richard F. Stika, filled the front pews of St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Lenoir City. Among those represented …
Cornerstone of faith
Bishop Stika marks key step in construction of the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus By Bill Brewer The Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus reached an important — and symbolic — milestone March 25 when Bishop Richard F. Stika unveiled the cathedral cornerstone during a …
Diocesan school system achieves accreditation
AdvancED team evaluates all 10 schools, says they meet or exceed high standards By Bill Brewer The Diocese of Knoxville’s school system has been given two thumbs up for its accreditation efforts following a two-year evaluation process involving all 10 diocesan schools. A team of eight education evaluators with AdvancED, …
Giving and Receiving
Help is just around the corner as Schrivers reach out to family hit by Gatlinburg firestorm By Bill Brewer November wildfires that swept through Gatlinburg left a charred trail of destruction with a most unusual signature. Some houses and businesses in the path of flames were untouched while structures beside …
Once Upon a Time: The end of an era at The East Tennessee Catholic? Maybe not yet
Monsignor Xavier Mankel takes a step back from his duties as a columnist and peer reviewer By Bill Brewer A phrase often overused is “the end of an era.” Shoppers staying at home and buying their Christmas gifts online instead of crowding the malls and outlet stores might be a …
Schools accreditation reaches critical phase
The Diocese of Knoxville school system is being reviewed by AdvancED for certification as a system of excellence By Bill Brewer Diocesan-wide schools accreditation, a project Diocese of Knoxville education leaders have been working on for two years, reaches a critical phase this month. The diocesan school system is officially …
Monsignor Mankel receives MLK Commission award
By Bill Brewer The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Commission has presented its 2017 Chair’s Award to Monsignor Xavier Mankel for his work in support of justice and equality. In revealing its selection, the MLK Commission cited Monsignor Mankel’s work with the commission and the Knoxville community through the …
St. Mary-Oak Ridge parishioner is new lieutenant governor
Sen. Randy McNally is first Catholic to hold state’s second-highest elected office By Bill Brewer When Diocese of Knoxville priest Father Michael Woods delivered the invocation to convene the 110th General Assembly in Nashville on Jan. 10, Sen. Randy McNally was putting his imprint on a longtime tradition in the …
Hundreds take part in Knoxville March for Life
Pro-life community joins together in support of women and their unborn children By Bill Brewer Women, men, and children of all walks of faith joined together Jan. 22 to pray for an end to abortion and show solidarity to mark the 44th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court …
Reaching out from ground zero
St. Mary Parish escaped the firestorm, and reaches out to help those who did not By Bill Brewer Photography by Stephanie Richer St. Mary Parish was ground zero in the wildfires that devastated parts of Sevier County on Nov. 28, 2016. And while flames reached to within yards of the …