The school again has a strong showing in the regional fair at the University of Tennessee Students at St. Mary School in Oak Ridge continued their tradition of success at the Southern Appalachian Science & Engineering Fair (SASEF). The annual St. Mary School middle school science fair was held Feb. 18. …
St. Therese, St. Joseph ministries come to aid of Africa orphanage
Clinton, Norris parishes raise funds for vehicles to serve Father Abuh’s home diocese in Nigeria The East Tennessee Catholic Father Julius Abuh is familiar with roads – the ones well-traveled, and the ones less taken. Ministering to parishioners at St. Therese Parish in Clinton and St. Joseph Parish in Norris, …
St. Thérèse member named statewide Knight of the Year
From staff reports The Tennessee Knights of Columbus paid tribute to the efforts of councils, Knights, and their families to support their parishes and their communities during the annual state convention held April 29-May 1 at the Marriott Cool Springs in Franklin. And a Knight from the Diocese of Knoxville …
Knights of Columbus initiative focusing on Church parishes
Fraternal organization working on bringing chapters into closer cooperation with churches By Liz O’Connor, Andy Telli The Knights of Columbus is working to bring the order into closer cooperation with parishes. Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson launched the new initiative late last year. “We will use our resources of time, …
Funeral Mass held for Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma foundress
Mother Barbara Anne Gooding, RSM, a foundress of the Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma, Mich., who was in residence in the Diocese of Knoxville, died April 1, following a brief illness. Called in religious life Sister Barbara Anne Marie, she was born on Feb. 12, 1940, in Cincinnati and …
Perspective from a child of God
By Rhetta Botts From the perspective of someone who converted to Catholicism and was confirmed during the high school years, I can say that I wish I had received the graces sooner. “Confirmation isn’t magic,” Sister John Catherine Kennedy, OP, once told me. We must desire the graces, and we must …
Bishop Stika lowers confirmation age to fifth, sixth grades
By Rhetta Botts Following an extended period of study, the age of confirmation in the Diocese of Knoxville is being lowered to a middle-school grade level. Bishop Richard F. Stika has announced that the confirmation age will drop from high school to fifth and sixth grades. With this change, Bishop Stika …
Once upon a time: Building His Church, living stone by living stone
By Monsignor Xavier Mankel With the canonizations of Pope John Paul II, Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Louis and Zelie Martin, and many other lesser-known saints, we should have at our disposal a sufficient number of saints from a catalogue of the saints to cultivate devotions for many years to come. …
He dwells among us: Ocean of mercy
In life’s hard journey, we all must dive into the ocean of mercy By Bishop Richard F. Stika As the media began reporting last month on the release of Pope Francis’ document on marriage and family, titled The Joy of Love (Amoris Laetitia), I thought of the story of the …
Understanding the sacraments: A multilingual celebration of Mass
Guidelines for liturgy can enhance our cultural and linguistic diversity By Father Randy Stice One of the riches of diocese is its growing cultural diversity, with Mass celebrated in a number of different languages, including Spanish, Vietnamese, and Korean. In this respect we mirror the diversity of the Church in …
Marriage enrichment: Helping couples blend their faith
Ecumenical, interfaith marriages should openly discuss religious practice By Marian Christiana Marriage preparation is one of the great joys of my job. I love working with couples of all ages who are beginning their marital journey. Their happiness and optimism is infectious, and their enthusiasm spills over into my own …
Once upon a time: The Holy Week(s) of Easter
Celebration of Christ’s triumph over death has expanded through the years Holy Week always has been special. Before there was a Holy Week, Easter began with the Easter vigil. And before many years had passed Easter included seven days beginning on Palm Sunday. Gradually the week turned into two weeks, …