Bishop Stika greets catechumens, candidates during Rite of Election ceremonies By Bill Brewer Bishop Richard F. Stika welcomed more than 200 catechumens and candidates into the Catholic Church during Rite of Election services Feb. 25-26 at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. It was a robust congregation …
Understanding the fullness of the Eucharist
Hundreds of faithful gather for Eucharistic Revival weekend at cathedral By Jim Wogan Bishop Ron Hicks laid out his motivation for last month’s visit to Knoxville in simple terms. “There are recent studies that are pretty devastating about what Catholics actually know about the Eucharist,” Bishop Hicks said. “Catholics don’t …
Nashville Diocese: school shooting ‘sad, shocking,’ prayers being urged
By OSV News Officials of the Diocese of Nashville called news of a mass shooting and loss of life at a private Christian school in the city on March 27 heartbreaking and “deeply sad and shocking” and urged prayers for the victims and their families. Six individuals, including three children, …
Three men called to Holy Orders in Diocese of Knoxville
Bishop Richard F. Stika has called to Holy Orders three transitional deacons to become priests of the Diocese of Knoxville at a Mass of Ordination on June 10 at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. “This is a joyous time for me personally and for all the …
External forms of participation in the Mass
From posture and gesture to the saying of ‘Amen,’ we can engage more fully in the liturgy By Father Randy Stice Our participation in the Mass is most fruitful when we do so “fully aware of what [we] are doing, actively engaged in the rite, and enriched by its effects” …
Buy Nothing group offers a way to give, receive
Basilica members combine the beauty of Catholic tradition and the richness of Catholic social teaching By Claire Collins The Bird family, inspired by a call from fellow Catholic friends around the country, have started a “Buy Nothing” group at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga. The idea …
Gatorade honors KCHS runner Keegan Smith
In its 38th year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, Gatorade on Jan. 30 announced that Keegan Smith of Knoxville Catholic High School is the 2022-23 Gatorade Tennessee Boys Cross Country Player of the Year, the second straight year the Fighting Irish runner has won the award. Keegan …
Knoxville Catholic’s Deondrea Lindsey named state’s top soph in basketball
Knoxville Catholic High School sophomore basketball standout Deondrea Lindsey was recently named the top player in the state for the 2025 signing class by 247Sports. The 6-foot-7, 205-pound Deondrea is receiving collegiate offers from Division I programs Georgetown, Georgia Tech, Ole Miss, and SMU. The Fighting Irish finished the season …
Blanche Mackay
Blanche Mackay, age 97, of Knoxville, passed away Feb. 5. Mrs. Mackay volunteered at Ladies of Charity, was a board member of the Council of Catholic Women, and active in AARP and Newcomers Club. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Mackay. She is survived by her children, …
Dr. Patricia Davis-Wiley
Dr. Patricia Davis-Wiley, fondly known as “Pattie,” passed away unexpectedly on Jan. 23. A funeral Mass for Dr. Davis-Wiley was held on Feb. 3 at St. John XXIII University Parish and Catholic Center in Knoxville, with Paulist Father Don Andrie serving as celebrant and Paulist Father John Ardis concelebrating. A …
Benedict delineates the elements of charity
Those who carry out the Church’s charitable activity ‘must be people moved by Christ’s love’ By Deacon Bob Hunt Last month, in honor of Pope Benedict XVI, I offered a summary of the first part of his encyclical Deus Caritas Est, “God Is Love,” and promised a summary of Part …
KCHS tennis player follows in mom’s footsteps
Gigi Sompayrac is bound for college in the sport her mother, Cathy, also played for the Lady Irish By Bill Brewer The circle is now complete. May the circle be unbroken. Knoxville Catholic High School senior Gigi Sompayrac put the finishing touches on that 360-degree journey on Feb. 1 when …
