Possible second-class relics from Servant of God’s remains occupy a casket in anticipation of canonization By Gabrielle Nolan In the Church, relics are an important component of the Catholic faith, commemorating the saints who have gone before who are able to intercede in the lives of the faithful through their …
Sister shares love of woodworking with students
Dominican Sister Maria Kolbe’s pupils have made candle holders, stools, plaques, and more By Gabrielle Nolan The first time Sister Maria Kolbe Rossi, OP, worked with wood, she was in the sixth grade. “It was a woodworking class in school that you took during the day, and it was once …
Tennessee poised for change, state pro-life leaders say
If Supreme Court overturns all or part of Roe v. Wade based on Dobbs case, legal infrastructure in place to protect life By Bill Brewer As U.S. Supreme Court justices weigh the pros and cons of legalized abortion and states’ efforts to regulate the federally protected practice, Tennessee pro-life leaders …
Synod training sessions conclude; project now goes to parishes
By Jim Wogan Pope Francis’ call to catalogue the thoughts of Catholics around the world, through the Synod on Synodality, enters its next important phase in the Diocese of Knoxville as parishes and other organizations begin the process of gathering feedback from parishioners and anyone else inside and outside of …
Bishop finds inspiration in rubble after blaze at Catholic Charities of ET
By Dennis Sadowski Catholic News Service Flashlight in hand, Bishop Richard F. Stika was walking through the fire-damaged administrative offices of Catholic Charities of East Tennessee when he came across a small wooden crucifix hanging on a wall with a rosary draped over it. Bishop Stika was inspired to see …
‘By God’s grace’
Ordinariate Mass brings into full communion those people who are in other ecclesial communities By Dan McWilliams An Ordinariate Mass held at Holy Ghost Church in Knoxville was the first of its kind celebrated in East Tennessee: a liturgy in English that also featured the incense, solemnity, and ad orientem …
Joseph Sprouls, member of St. Joseph Church in Norris, dies
A funeral Mass for Joseph Vincent Sprouls was held on Dec. 15 at St. Joseph Church in Norris, with Father Richard Armstrong serving as celebrant. Mr. Sprouls, who was 96, was born April 5, 1925, in Jersey City, N.J. to Joseph and Gertrude Pecinich Sprouls. Mr. Sprouls joined the U.S. …
Funeral Mass held for Mary Shirley Johnson Nicholson
A funeral Mass was held for Mary Shirley Johnson Nicholson, age 100, on Dec. 11 at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, with Father David Boettner serving as celebrant. Mrs. Nicholson, who died on Nov. 28 at Shannondale Health Care Center, was born on July 31, 1921, …
Ruth Cody Demers passes away at the age of 81
A funeral Mass was held at St. John Neumann Church on Dec. 4 for Ruth Cody Demers, who passed away peacefully on Nov. 27 at age 81 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Burial at Pleasant Forest Cemetery followed the Mass. Mrs. Demers was born in 1940 in Brockton, …
Funeral Mass held for Mickey Perry, former Knoxville Catholic High School teacher
A funeral Mass for Mickey Perry, age 78, was held Dec. 18 at All Saints Church. Ms. Perry was a school teacher for 30 years, having first taught at Rule High School in Knoxville before joining West High School, and then Knoxville Catholic High School for the last 10 years …
Farewell to a gifted priest
Funeral Mass for Diocese of Knoxville pastor and military chaplain; Fr. Joe Brando celebrated by Bishop Stika at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul By Dan McWilliams One would be hard-pressed to find an area of Church life that Father Joe Brando did not touch. The priest of 49 …
Silver anniversaries abound at Holy Trinity Parish
The Jefferson City community and newly installed pastor Father Jim Harvey each celebrate 25 years By Bill Brewer The number 25 was especially meaningful for Father Jim Harvey on Dec. 5, when Holy Trinity’s new pastor helped the Jefferson County parish celebrate its 25th anniversary. Father Harvey also is in …
