Here are the Advent penance services received as of press time. Note that many parishes are having, instead of penance services, extended or additional times for confession during Advent: Chattanooga Deanery Wednesday, Dec. 3—Holy Spirit, Soddy-Daisy, 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4—St. Bridget, Dayton, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4—St. Augustine, Signal …
Lessons of autumn
In this season of transition, we are thankful to God for His blessings By Bishop Mark Beckman During these days of autumn, the light has begun to shorten, the evenings and mornings are crisp and cool, and the colors of East Tennessee are on full display. This time of transition …
Making Sundays stressful is a talent for some
While seeking the unknowable balance between petition and gratitude By George Valadie Fourteen minutes, no more. Always the same. If it varies at all, it’s never more than 60 seconds either way. That’s all it takes to get from our house to Sunday Mass. What’s your drive like? When our …
Our Lady of Fatima Parish celebrating 75th anniversary
The East Tennessee Catholic Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Alcoa will cap a yearlong celebration of its 75th anniversary on Saturday, Nov. 22. Bishop Mark Beckman will preside at a bilingual Mass at 5 p.m., with pastor Father Peter Iorio and priests of the diocese concelebrating. A music prelude …
Explaining three profound aspects of the Mass
‘Memorial,’ ‘covenant,’ and ‘sacrifice’ are spoken in every liturgy, but what do they mean? By Father Randy Stice “As we celebrate the memorial”—“The new and eternal covenant”—“May the Lord accept the sacrifice.” We hear these phrases at every Mass, and the three italicized words—memorial, covenant, sacrifice—express three profound aspects of …
Lady Irish volleyball team places third in the state tournament
The Knoxville Catholic High School volleyball team finished third in the Division II, Class AA state tournament held Oct. 21-23 in Murfreesboro. The Lady Irish, under head coach Brent Carter, finished the season 25-10. KCHS began the tournament in the double-elimination round on Oct. 21 with a 20-25, 19-25, 25-23, …
Catholic hospitals in the Chattanooga area to receive name changes
CommonSpirit will be part of branding The East Tennessee Catholic CHI Memorial in Chattanooga, the only Catholic hospital in East Tennessee, and its sister facilities in the region are undergoing a name change. CHI Memorial has announced that its hospitals and care sites throughout Southeast Tennessee and North Georgia will …
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A reminder of what following Christ means
Erika Kirk forgives ‘that young man’ charged with assassinating her husband By Deacon Bob Hunt This world, and our country at this time, is a violent, destructive, dehumanizing place. Even still, every once in a while, there is a moment of grace that reminds us of God’s love and challenges …
Chesterton Academy Mass of the Holy Spirit celebrated at Holy Ghost
Father Neil Blatchford, chaplain for the Chesterton Academy of St. Margaret Clitherow in Knoxville, celebrated a Votive Mass of the Holy Spirit on Sept. 10 at Holy Ghost Church in Knoxville with students, staff, and families attending. The Mass is a Chesterton Schools Network tradition to celebrate the start of …
St. Mary Parish in Johnson City receives Haiti foundation honor
Don and Cynthia Davis of St. Mary in Johnson City, coordinators of the parish Haiti Twinning Ministry, traveled to Christ the King Church in Nashville to accept the Fiat of Ecclesial Magnanimity Award on behalf of the parish. The award, presented on Sept. 20 by the Visitation Hospital Foundation, is …
Holy Ghost Parish seeking names for books of ‘Our Dearly Departed’
In advance of next year’s celebration of the 100th anniversary of its current church building, Holy Ghost Parish in Knoxville is creating volumes of “Our Dearly Departed” to be placed permanently near the St. Joseph altar. The parish would like to devote one page to each of its deceased members …
KDCCW’s 2025-27 board holds first meeting in Shea Room at cathedral
The first meeting of the 2025-27 Knoxville Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (KDCCW) board was held Sept. 6 in the Shea Room at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. A rosary, prepared by Spirituality Commission chair Mary Wilson, was said before the meeting. The board consists of …