The East Tennessee Catholic Tennessee cemented its stature as a leading right-to-life state on June 24 when lawmakers and dignitaries dedicated the Monument to Unborn Children in Nashville on the Capitol grounds. The privately funded monument, eight years in the making, is reportedly the first one dedicated to victims of …
Ruth Montgomery Edwards
Ruth Ellen Montgomery Edwards, born on June 21, 1965, passed away on June 9 after a long and courageous battle with multiple sclerosis. Mrs. Edwards was a graduate of Knoxville Catholic High School class of 1983 and the University of Tennessee. She had a creative spirit and loved art, and …
St. Catherine of Siena and ‘the gentle light’
The doctor of the Church dedicated herself to God at age 6 and was ‘eager for’ the next Mass By Father Randy Stice In previous columns, I have introduced the eucharistic teaching of St. John Chrysostom, St. Francis of Assisi, and St. Thérèse of Lisieux. This month, I want to …
Pope Leo XIV’s Magnifica humanitas encyclical
On the use of AI, he urges us to reject the Babel model of progress without God By Deacon Bob Hunt Pope Leo XIV has released the first encyclical letter of his pontificate. Titled Magnifica humanitas (“Magnificent humanity” or MH), it is subtitled: “On Safeguarding the Human Person in the …
Diocese forms ETCCIL Inc. for Deposit and Loan Fund
New corporation will better safeguard assets of the diocese canonically, legally By Christine Lucheon The Diocese of Knoxville has taken a key step in strengthening financial stewardship and aligning parish and diocesan assets more in accord with Church canon law. A new corporation called East Tennessee Catholic Community Investment and …
On being sent
Parishes show the Holy Spirit is alive and well in East Tennessee By Bishop Mark Beckman One of my greatest joys as bishop has been the opportunity to journey to our parishes and meet the people of God in our many communities throughout East Tennessee. A few weeks ago, I …
Parishes moving to MinistryPlatform
New system to strengthen parish record-keeping and parishioner engagement The East Tennessee Catholic The Diocese of Knoxville is preparing to move all 51 parishes to MinistryPlatform, a new parish management software system that diocesan leaders say will modernize how parishes manage parish records, donations, and communications. The decision, finalized in …
Regina Perez-Cisneros
Regina Perez-Cisneros, age 88, passed away on June 23. Mrs. Perez-Cisneros was a native of Knoxville and a 1955 graduate of Knoxville Catholic High School. She went on to meet the love of her life at the University of Tennessee. Following their marriage and the birth of their three children, …
Fr. Gerald Peterson, GHM
Father Gerald Joseph “Pete” Peterson, a Glenmary Home Missioner, died on May 13 in Cincinnati. He was 96 and in his 74th year of religious life. Father Peterson, who was raised on a family farm in Loretto, Ky., was one of the earliest Glenmarians. He was in the second novitiate …
Diocesan publications recognized nationally
Catholic Media Association touts The East Tennessee Catholic, DioNotes, staff The East Tennessee Catholic The East Tennessee Catholic and the Diocese of Knoxville communications office have been recognized by the Catholic Media Association with top awards for content created during the 2025 calendar year. During the CMA annual conference June …
Right before our very eyes
As the Synod unfolds, the Implementation Phase is in plain sight By Jim Wogan One of my most persistent and self-loathing traits is something we’ve all probably experienced in life—my not-so-unique but absolutely confounding and frustrating ability to misplace things. My wife affectionately refers to it as “carelessness.” Ouch. Where …
Notre Dame Club of Chattanooga named No. 1 for first time ever
At the 2026 University of Notre Dame Alumni Leadership Conference, held on the campus in April, the Notre Dame Club of Chattanooga was named the 2026 Outstanding Club of the Year in its size classification. Though the club was nominated a number of times before, this was the first time …