Diocese of Knoxville deaneries announce Lenten penance services for parishes

Here are the Lenten penance services scheduled for parishes around the diocese received as of press time: Cumberland Mountain Deanery 7 p.m. ET, unless noted. Feb. 20 — St. Mary, Oak Ridge; Feb. 26 — St. Teresa of Kolkata, Maynardville; March 7 — Our Lady of Perpetual Help, LaFollette; March …

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The apostolic pardon

Guest Column by Father Arthur Torres Barona As priests at Sacred Heart Cathedral, we receive phone calls almost every day asking us to come to the hospital or the nursing home to administer the so-called Last Rites to the dying. Not long ago, a faithful parishioner called me to come …

‘Tiny Saints’ are living their faith at SJN

By Jessica Tarentino and Richard Tabler The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Conference at St. John Neumann Parish in Farragut now has a group of student affiliate members from St. John Neumann Church and School. These students joined together with the goal of helping the needy and vulnerable in …

Food baskets benefit 63 families in need

Staff and volunteers from the Ladies of Charity in Knoxville on Dec. 22 distributed 63 Christmas food baskets from their Baxter Avenue location to families in need. Forty of the baskets were offered for distribution to the Ladies of Charity by Knox County’s Community Action Committee and the Knoxville News …

Marriage Enrichment: A month dedicated to love and romance

February is a time to focus on marital relationships and a time to celebrate long marriages By Marian Christiana February is nationally recognized as the month dedicated to love and romance. Feb. 14 is Valentine’s Day, a day when people celebrate the established loving relationships in their lives or the …

Praying for Perspective: A return to a time when we knew better

When civility reigned, a minor disagreement would not have escalated into a shooting with a fatality By George Valadie I just don’t know anymore. The paper offered up yet one more story about one more shooting death. Sadly, there are more than a few to read about. But this one …

He dwells among us: Builders of God’s dwelling

With the help of St. Joseph, let our eucharistic Lord transform you into a beautiful cathedral By Bishop Richard F. Stika “How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, God of Hosts!” (Ps 84:1) The opening verse of this psalm, which is one of my favorites, echoes more and more in …

Praying for perspective: Catholic schools—they’re worth it

A week spent celebrating them annually isn’t enough time to thank everyone involved, but it does get the message out By George Valadie For the most people around the country, the first Friday in February coming up will bring to conclusion another Catholic Schools Week celebration. Over the last 30-plus …

St. Michael youth help with recovery

Twelve members of the St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Mission youth group, Elena Orozco, Chris Andrade, Zayra Andrade, Tanya and Samantha Chavez, Andrea Lopez, Aaron Manzanares, Daniel Meza, Fernanda Murillo, Luz Perez, Bernice Luquin, and Fernanda Ruiz-Yin, gave up their fall break from school to travel to Naples, Fla., to …

A ministry of the soil at St. Mary

Catholic parishes throughout the Diocese of Knoxville support a number of different ministries. Some are focused on developing the mind, some on healing the spirit, some on leading souls to conversion, and some are of the soil. Yes, soil. As in agriculture. As in farming. As in growing vegetables to …

He dwells among us: Silent heart, holy heart

Silence is not noiselessness but the condition for receiving what God wishes to give us By Bishop Richard F. Stika “Mary treasured all these things and reflected on them in her heart.” — Luke 2:19 The season of Advent is a special time of preparation to reflect upon the mysteries …