Cardinal Justin Rigali celebrated the first of three diocesan Masses and Celebrations of the Sacrament of Marriage on Jan. 26 at St. Mary Church in Oak Ridge. Some 60 couples renewed their wedding vows before the cardinal in the annual event. The marriage Masses are bilingual, and Cardinal Rigali addressed …
Farewell to a Major League legend and faithful parishioner
Bishop Stika delivers homily at funeral Mass for friend and baseball hero Stan Musial A funeral Mass for baseball legend Stan Musial was held Jan. 26 in St. Louis, where the Hall of Fame player spent his career. Bishop Richard F. Stika, a longtime Musial family friend and priest, delivered …
Seminarian Arthur Torres Barona ordained into diaconate
Deacon closer to priesthood as Bishop Stika leads ordination Mass at St. Mary Church in Johnson City Arthur Torres Barona is an important step closer to the priesthood following his ordination into the transitional diaconate Dec. 1 at St. Mary Church in Johnson City. Bishop Richard F. Stika welcomed the …
Former NFL player named Knoxville Catholic’s head football coach
Knoxville Catholic High School has hired Steve Matthews, a former NFL player, as its new head football coach. Mr. Matthews was introduced to the team Dec. 21. “We are very excited to have Steve Matthews as our new coach,” said Knoxville Catholic principal Dickie Sompayrac. “Our search committee has been …
KCHS grad named to soccer All-America team
Knoxville Catholic High School graduate Tim Baker, now a freshman at Lee University, was recently named a High School All-American by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. Mr. Baker was one of only 78 players nationally recognized. The midfielder was the Gatorade State Player of the Year in 2012 …
St. Mary in Athens celebrates Our Lady of Guadalupe
St. Mary Parish in Athens celebrated Our Lady of Guadalupe in both November and December. In November the parish received an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe as part of a Knights of Columbus initative that brought three such images to parishes around the country. The image was blessed by …
KCHS shortstop signs with Middle Tennessee State
Knoxville Catholic High School shortstop Aaron Aucker has signed to play with Middle Tennessee State University. “I really liked the coaching staff and really wanted to stay in-state and close to home,” Aaron told the Knoxville News Sentinel. As a junior with the Fighting Irish, Aaron batted .452 with a …
Christmas coming to Crazy Quilt Friendship Center
OAK RIDGE — Santa is on his way to Campbell County with the help of enterprising students at St. Mary School here and about 10 sport utility vehicles. St. Mary eighth-graders created angel trees for the school and St. Mary Church, complete with ornaments bearing the ages and gender of …
Prepare for Christmas with a strong Advent
It is incumbent for Catholics to remember that Dec. 25 is a holy day, not a secular holiday Bishop Richard F. Stika is urging the faithful to use Advent to approach this Christmas season spiritually. Bishop Stika is encouraging parishioners across the diocese to keep Christ in Christmas at this …
Divine Mercy Mission Masses near capacity in KCHS chapel
Divine Mercy Catholic Mission recently relocated from its home of nearly two decades, Immaculate Conception Church in downtown Knoxville, to the chapel at Knoxville Catholic High School. Sunday Masses for the mission that serves the diocese’s Vietnamese community are held at 9 a.m. in the chapel, although crowds may soon …
Diocesan schools plan Christmas season events
By Kara Lockmiller Throughout the Bible we are encouraged to sing praises to God and give to those in need. The children of the diocese plan to do just that this Christmas season in the many school programs and service projects being held across East Tennessee. Knoxville Catholic High …
Father David Boettner welcomed home
The Sacred Heart Cathedral School community welcomed back cathedral rector Father David Boettner in a big way Nov. 20. At an all-school Mass, Deacon Sean Smith led a packed cathedral in a round of applause for Father Boettner, who was on a Continuing Education experience overseas from July 18 until …