Girls basketball coach Travis Mains named new leader of KCHS boys

Knoxville Catholic High School announced March 12 that Travis Mains will take the reins as the next head basketball coach of the Fighting Irish boys basketball program. Mr. Mains has been the head varsity girls basketball coach at Knoxville Catholic since 2020 and has taken the Lady Irish to the …

Knights host regional free-throw contest at St. Mary-Oak Ridge

The Knights of Columbus held their East Tennessee Regional Basketball Free Throw Contest on Feb. 25, hosted by Father McRedmond Council 3175 at St. Mary Parish in Oak Ridge. The participants were winners of local contests held by Council 3175, Ted Denning Jr. Council 8781 at St. John Neumann Parish …

Bishop Beckman to celebrate Mass for Notre Dame Church’s 70th anniversary

A celebration of the 70th anniversary of the dedication of Notre Dame Church in Greeneville is set for Sunday, April 27, with Bishop Mark Beckman presiding at a bilingual Mass at 4 p.m., followed by a dinner and dance at the Eastview Recreation Center near Notre Dame. The parish will …

Defending champion Lady Irish basketball team falls in state semis

The Knoxville Catholic High School girls basketball team made the state tournament for the fifth consecutive year. The two-time defending champion Lady Irish fell in this year’s Division II, Class AA semifinals 50-47 to Christ Presbyterian Academy of Nashville on March 7 at the Hooper Eblen Center on the campus …

Knights of Columbus ‘Cor’ initiative growing in 2025

Program that originated in Diocese of Knoxville aims to strengthen Catholic men’s faith By Kimberley Heatherington / OSV News When Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly, leader of more than 2 million Knights of Columbus members worldwide, met with Pope Francis at the Vatican in April two years ago, he shared an …

Diocese of Knoxville reacts to news of Pope Francis’ death

By The East Tennessee Catholic Catholic faithful across East Tennessee, led by Bishop Mark Beckman, are responding in prayer to the news that Pope Francis has died. The Holy Father passed away on Easter Monday, April 21, at 7:35 a.m. Rome time at the age of 88. Pope Francis had …

Pope’s funeral rites, a celebration of hope, to begin late April 21, 2025

By Cindy Wooden/Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY ‑‑ Pope Francis’ funeral rites, like those for any pope or any Christian, are meant to “reinforce the hope and witness to the faith” that those who have been baptized in Christ “will rise with him to new life.” The prayer rituals for …

Valerie Hanks is new principal at Sacred Heart

Mary Sue Kosky steps down in order to care for her parents, and Mrs. Hanks will succeed her Father David Boettner, rector of the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, announced March 12 that Sacred Heart Cathedral School principal Mary Sue Kosky has decided to step down in …

Ministry in an emergency: A six-month lookback at historic Hurricane Helene flood

In September, upper East Tennessee was overwhelmed by historic flooding from Hurricane Helene. East Tennessee’s Catholic faithful stepped up with strong, immediate response. Six months later, the affected communities are still recovering and coming to terms to a new reality after the destruction. The East Tennessee Catholic staff visited the …

Thomas W. Dunne

Thomas Dunne, 73, of Knoxville, died on March 13, after a long battle with posterior cortical atrophy. Mr. Dunne was preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Betty, and his eldest sister, BJ. He is survived by his sisters, Kathy, Pat, and Nancy; his wife, Cynthia; his children, Rachel, …

Examining the special graces of Easter

The Catechism of the Catholic Church calls it ‘the Feast of feasts, the Solemnity of solemnities’ By Father Randy Stice In every celebration of Mass, wrote Pope Pius XII, Christ “continues that journey of immense mercy that He lovingly began in His mortal life.” In His journey with us in …