Bishop Richard F. Stika has assigned Deacon Kenneth Ouma Wandera to support Glenmary Father Tom Charters at St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Erwin. Father Charters is the pastor of St. Michael the Archangel Parish. Deacon Wandera took his final vows with the Glenmary Home Missioners on June 26 and …
St. John Paul II Catholic Mission names pastoral associate
Father Neil Pezzulo, GHM, pastor of St. John Paul II Catholic Mission in Rutledge has announced the hiring of a new pastoral associate, Clarisa Chavarria. Ms. Chavarria will assist the parish in serving the local Catholic minority, fostering cooperation with other local churches, evangelization, social outreach, and social justice efforts, …
New safe environment program replaces VIRTUS training
The Diocese of Knoxville is introducing a new safe environment program for the protection of children and vulnerable adults that will apply to all diocesan volunteers and employees. Effective July 1, the diocese has implemented the CMG Connect online platform to administer the safe environment program, which replaces the VIRTUS …
God’s work and ours
We glorify God through the work Christ accomplishes in us and through us in the world about us By Bishop Richard F. Stika We glorify God through the work Christ accomplishes in us and through us in the world about us Father…, I glorified you on earth by accomplishing the …
Caroline Carlin named principal of Our Lady of Perpetual Help School
Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in Chattanooga had to look no farther than its faculty to find its next principal. Caroline Carlin, who joined the OLPH faculty in the summer of 2019 as academic dean, was named principal to begin the 2020-21 academic year. She succeeds Paul Jette, who …
Brittany Garcia named director of Youth, Young Adult, Pastoral Juvenil Ministries
Bishop Richard F. Stika has appointed Brittany Garcia to lead the newly named diocesan Office of Youth, Young Adult, and Pastoral Juvenil. Mrs. Garcia has led the Pastoral Juvenil Hispana ministry in the diocese for the past five years. She is an East Tennessee native and is an elected member …
Deacon Forsythe appointed to lead two ministries
Bishop Richard F. Stika has announced that Deacon Al Forsythe has been appointed the new director of the Office of Marriage Preparation and Enrichment and program and development manager for the Christ Prince of Peace Retreat Center in Benton. Deacon Forsythe was ordained to the permanent diaconate in 2016 and …
John Deinhart accepts position with NPH-USA
John Deinhart, director of stewardship and strategic planning for the Diocese of Knoxville since 2012, will be leaving his role in the diocese to answer a personal call of the Holy Spirit to lead NPH-USA as its new president and CEO. Bishop Richard F. Stika made the announcement in an …
Writer’s block
Christ offers words of wisdom when we’re at a loss over the current state of affairs By George Valadie I have no words. And I’m really, really sad about it. If you write for this publication — or any publication — and your goal is to say something that you …
Giving to God and neighbor
To truly ‘live our Mass,’ it must be the fruit of our offering to God that we share with others By Bishop Richard F. Stika “How blessed the people who know your praise…, who find their joy every day in your name, who make your justice their joyful acclaim” — …
Basilica joins list of churches adding weekly Latin Masses
Bishop supports regular extraordinary form celebrations for Chattanooga, warns against illicit Masses outside of Church Bishop Richard F. Stika, working with Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul rector Father David Carter, has authorized the addition of a traditional Latin Mass to the Basilica’s regular Sunday Mass schedule on a weekly …
St. Stephen celebrates Father Pérez’s 15th anniversary
On May 24, following the noon livestreamed Mass, the parish community at St. Stephen in Chattanooga celebrated its pastor, Father Manuel Pérez, with a parade for his 15th anniversary as a priest. Practicing their social distancing, parishioners secretly decorated their cars and lined up for the parade. When Mass was …


