Diocese part of USCCB-led border pastoral encounter

Pastoral Juvenil Hispana leader joins clergy, laity from across U.S. to meet with immigrants, refugees where they are By Emily Booker In the headlines and political discourse, it’s sometimes difficult to remember that immigration and border discussions are about thousands of individuals, each deserving of dignity and care. The plight …

#iGiveCatholic is a success

$62,000 raised in 24-hour campaign By Emily Booker Hundreds of people “gave Catholic” on Giving Tuesday as 22 parishes, schools, and ministries in the Diocese of Knoxville received $62,871 through the online #iGiveCatholic campaign. As part of Giving Tuesday, which was Dec. 3, the #iGiveCatholic campaign was started in the …

NDHS students take part in benefit bake sale

Some 20 young people volunteer for a two-day ‘bake off’ to help Catholic Charities of East Tennessee By Emily Booker If you were to walk the hallways of Notre Dame High School after school Nov. 5 and 6, you might have noted the sweet scent of baking cookies and jolly …

CCETN’s Paul Ritter trains to be stronger leader

By Emily Booker Catholic Charities is rooted in love, but it can take a lot of business savvy to coordinate nine different programs helping thousands of clients all over the region. So when Paul Ritter, director of programs for Catholic Charities of East Tennessee, had the opportunity to further develop …

All Saints Parish participates in Enthronement

‘It’s just taking the love you already have for Jesus in your heart and going one step further . . .’ By Emily Booker Jesus is King! All Saints Parish in Knoxville made a public proclamation of this truth June 30 as the parish participated in the Enthronement to the …

Feeding Happy Holler

Catholic Charities of East Tennessee’s community garden yields vegetables for North Knoxville residents By Emily Booker If you build it, they will eat. That’s the hope for Lisa Healy, executive director of Catholic Charities of East Tennessee, as she looks out at the newly planted community garden at the CCETN …

Abby Johnson film arrives Unplanned in Diocese of Knoxville

Catholic protagonist of popular book and movie delivers pro-life message at St. Mary Church in Athens         By Emily Booker The movie Unplanned made an unscheduled appearance at Athens’ movie theater this spring. And it was a one-night sensation when the film’s real-life champion, pro-life author and speaker Abby Johnson, brought …

God’s joy is abundant as KDCCW holds annual convention in Oak Ridge

Fr. Dan Whitman, keynote speaker Kelly Wahlquist encourage diocesan women to be God’s joyful witness to the world By Emily Booker Reflecting God’s Joy was the theme of the Knoxville Diocesan Council of Catholic Women’s 30th annual convention, and joy was visible among the women attending. The convention was held …

AI expert Dr. Kai-Fu Lee returns to alma mater

St. Mary-Oak Ridge honors the internationally known venture capitalist and author at a school assembly  By Dan McWilliams What a difference a sister can make in the life of one of her students. Before he became the internationally known venture capitalist, artificial-intelligence expert, and bestselling author that he is today, …

Community service is the focus of Catholic Charities dinners

Fundraisers held in Knoxville, Chattanooga to raise awareness of CCETN programs in East Tennessee By Emily Booker The annual Catholic Charities of East Tennessee dinners, held in Knoxville and Chattanooga, enhanced their content this year with additions of a silent auction, live music, and dancing. But the most substantial change …

Instruments tell the story with Violins of Hope

Restored violins that survived the Holocaust come to Knoxville Catholic High School and are part of a special performance By Emily Booker Music is a powerful messenger that can communicate across language and culture. Sometimes, the instruments themselves can tell a story. Bishop Richard F. Stika, Knoxville Catholic High School …