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 …

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Catholic Charities marks 30th year for Emerald O’ccasion fundraiser

The 30th annual Emerald O’ccasion dinner to benefit Catholic Charities of East Tennessee will be held Thursday, March 12, at the Knoxville Marriott hotel with Father Eric Andrews, CSP, as the featured speaker. Father Andrews is the president of the Paulist Fathers and is the former pastor at St. John …

Diocese of Knoxville churches schedule Lenten penance services

Churches in the Diocese of Knoxville have scheduled Lenten penance services through the end of March. Chattanooga Deanery All services begin at 7 p.m. unless noted otherwise: Thursday, March 5, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Chattanooga; Thursday, March 12, St. Jude, Chattanooga; Wednesday, March 18, Holy Spirit, Soddy Daisy; 5:30 …