Lavonne (Vonnie) Marion Spicer, OFS, was called to her eternal rest, surrounded by family, on Oct. 29. She was 79. Born on July 19, 1945, in Oak Ridge, she was the oldest of five children. She attended the University of Tennessee, where she studied zoology. She met her to-be husband …
Dr. Thomas Haddox
Dr. Thomas “Tom” Fredrick Haddox, age 52, of Knoxville, passed away on Oct. 13. Dr. Haddox was a faithful member of Holy Ghost Parish in Knoxville since 2001. He was a graduate of Tulane University, University of Kent (England), and Vanderbilt University. He also was a Marshall Scholar and a …
Jan Johnsson
Janis (Jan) Maples Johnsson entered eternal life on Oct. 24. Ms. Johnsson spent 30 years in ministry to the Catholic Church in education and at the parish level. She served at both Knoxville Catholic High School and St. Joseph School. In the last decade of her work life, she worked …
Celebrating St. Vincent de Paul
SVDP conferences in the diocese gather for spiritual renewal festival By The East Tennessee Catholic The feast of St. Vincent de Paul was commemorated on Sept. 28 when Society of St. Vincent de Paul conferences from around the Diocese of Knoxville gathered for a festival at St. John Neumann Church …
Phyllis Rueff
Phyllis Mae Stanberry Rueff, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, passed away peacefully at her Nashville home on Oct. 13 surrounded by her family and the love of her devoted husband of more than 60 years. She was 81. Born in Fayetteville, Ark., on March 15, 1943, Mrs. Rueff …
Father James McQuade, CSP
Father James McQuade, CSP, entered eternal life on Aug. 2 at the Mary Manning Walsh Home in New York City. He was 95. Father McQuade, a priest for 68 years, was a parish priest, campus minister, Catholic Information Center staff member, and hospital chaplain. He had a nearly lifelong relationship …
Remembering those who serve
‘We thank you for and honor your service. We mean it’ By Father Charlie Donahue, CSP In 1989, a movie came out, Born on the Fourth of July. It starred Tom Cruise and is the biography of a man named Ronald Kovic. He is an injured and paralyzed veteran of …
Basilica names two recipients of the Servant of God, Father Ryan Award
The Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga announced two recipients of the Servant of God, Father Patrick Ryan Award, on Sept. 29. Parishioners Jim Gallagher and Carmen Hernández received the award this year. Mr. Gallagher has been a lifelong Catholic and a parishioner at Sts. Peter and Paul …
Order of the Fleur de Lis names award recipient
St. Stephen Parish member C. Michael Horten is given prestigious honor The East Tennessee Catholic C. Michael Horten, a member of St. Stephen Parish in Chattanooga, has received the Benjamin I. Kiper Award from the Order of Fleur de Lis. Mr. Horten received the award on Aug. 24 during the …
St. John XXIII salutes Nancy Brennan Strange
The longtime parishioner is stepping down from her role as Sunday-morning music leader she has held since 1993 After 31 years as the Sunday-morning music director at St. John XXIII Parish on the University of Tennessee campus in Knoxville, Nancy Brennan Strange is stepping down from the role. The parish …
A profession of gratitude for God’s mercy
Two Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma, Mich., who served in the diocese make their perpetual vows By Maggie Parsons Great joy surrounded the congregation in the Cathedral of Mary of the Assumption in Saginaw, Mich., on Aug. 16 to celebrate four Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma, Mich., professing …
The biblical understanding of sacrifice
‘The Eucharist,’ in the writings of Pope St. John Paul II, ‘is a sacrifice in the strict sense’ By Father Randy Stice At the Last Supper, Jesus spoke of His impending death as a sacrifice. He offered His disciples His body “which is given for you” and His blood “which …