Baseball author goes by The Book

By Jim Wogan Bryan Steverson doesn’t go anywhere, including Mass, without a pen and some three-by-five index cards in his back pocket. The Virginia native and his wife, Barbara, have been parishioners at Our Lady of Fatima in Alcoa for 30 years. During Mass, Mr. Steverson’s focus is on the …

Pope speaks as a pastor in call to protect earth, USCCB president says

By Dennis Sadowski Catholic News Service WASHINGTON — Pope Francis speaks with a pastor’s voice and with deep respect for science in calling the world to address threats to all life on earth through environmental degradation and a the mindset of a “throwaway culture” in his encyclical, the president of …

All creation sings God’s praise, but people are silencing it, pope says

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — The earth, which was created to support life and give praise to God, is crying out with pain because human activity is destroying it, Pope Francis says in his long-awaited encyclical, “Laudato Si’, on Care for Our Common Home.” All who …

A Conversation with the Cardinals

It was a fireside chat for the ages – at least for the ages in the Diocese of Knoxville – when Bishop Richard F. Stika emceed an insightful and often lighthearted discussion by three of the Roman Catholic Church’s pre-eminent prelates – Cardinals Justin Rigali, William Levada and Timothy Dolan …

Cardinal Timothy Dolan is featured speaker at Following Jesus Conference

In delivering keynote remarks for the Diocese of Knoxville’s Following Jesus Conference, Cardinal Timothy Dolan summoned the new and not-too-distant legacies of Popes Francis, Benedict XVI and St. John Paul II to illustrate his message on the New Evangelization. And in the process, Cardinal Dolan would help make history in …

Being faithful and fruitful in the New Evangelization

Curtis Martin, the dynamic Catholic lay evangelist who founded the FOCUS missionary movement in the United States and abroad, delivered his unique brand of evangelization to the Diocese of Knoxville on April 18 as a featured speaker for the diocese’s Following Jesus Conference. Mr. Martin started the Fellowship of Catholic …

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Cardinal Rigali reflects on a career spent at the altar of Catholic history

Whatever Cardinal Justin Rigali touches turns historic — or so it seems. The walls and shelves in his Chancery office, crowded with photos, documents and items from some of the most heralded Church events in recent time, prove the point. Vatican II, saints, popes, papal visits around the globe, papal …

Cardinal Justin Rigali through the years

April 19, 1935: Born in Los Angeles April 25, 1961: Ordained a priest in Los Angeles October 1961-1964: Graduate studies at Pontifical North American College and Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome October 1962-1963: Priest assistant at the Second Vatican Council in Rome 1966-1970: Secretary of the Apostolic Nunciature to Madagascar …

Catholic Charities celebrates an Emerald O’ccasion

Catholic Charities of East Tennessee on March 12 marked the 30th anniversary of its Emerald O’ccasion, the organization’s annual fundraising dinner in the Knoxville area. Bishop Richard F. Stika hosted the dinner along with CCETN Executive Director Sister Mary Christine Cremin, RSM, and the Catholic Charities Action Council. The featured …

Catholic Relief Services’ Rice Bowl marks 40th year

Catholic Relief Services marks 40th year of Lenten fundraiser Catholic Relief Services in 2015 marks the 40th anniversary of CRS Rice Bowl, the largest and oldest Lenten program used by millions of Catholics across the United States. Known for its iconic and symbolic cardboard “rice bowl,” the program has evolved …