Lawyers for state of Tennessee, plaintiffs debate before federal panel legality of 2014 constitutional amendment vote By Will Brewer After three years in legal limbo, advocates of Tennessee’s pro-life Amendment 1 finally got their day in court on Aug. 2. Amendment 1 amends the state’s constitution to say that there …
Book highlighting plight of Appalachian women will aid mission
Marie Cirillo, a former Glenmary sister who has spent the last 50 years in the Clear Fork Valley of Campbell and Claiborne counties trying to help East Tennesseans create opportunities after suffering job loss from mining and related problems, is on a new mission. She is working with a group …
Natural Family Planning: a decision made without regrets
A couple looks back on its choice to learn NFP more than two years ago and finds that ‘it’s clear that we have been blessed’ by Tim Walker I recently came across the Natural Family Planning (NFP) pamphlet we received from the Couple to Couple League during our marriage preparation …
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Living the readings: Things are not what they seem
What did Jesus want to accomplish during his public ministry? By Father Joseph Brando You may have noticed that this column has been adjusting to the publishing schedule of The East Tennessee Catholic. Over the long haul this column has developed from a bi-weekly format to a monthly, and now …
He dwells among us: Saints don’t run away
They keep their eyes on Jesus, learning to see His eyes in those of our brothers and sisters By Bishop Richard F. Stika “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere …
Marriage Enrichment: Is your marriage an evangelization tool?
Couples can model the qualities of positive marriages to the outside world by serving as mentors to others by Marian Christiana Have you ever considered your marriage to be an evangelization tool? I have to admit that until I started working for the Office of Marriage Preparation and Enrichment the …
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St. Mary, St. Augustine share Haiti mission trip experience
On June 10, St. Mary Parish in Johnson City sent 33 youth, parents, parishioners, and their pastor, Father Peter Iorio, on the church’s first mission trip to Haiti. Of the travelers, only Father Iorio, St. Mary pastor, had ever been to Petite Riviere de Nippes, a small fishing village in …
Praying for perspective: Twelve minutes a day
That’s the average time a parent and child spend talking, and a parent regrets making it hard for his kids to share their feelings By George Valadie I can’t believe it, but I’ve just gotten started in my 58th year in the world of education. And though perhaps not diverse …
Praying for perspective: A priestly notion that’s ‘not ready for prime time’
Idea of ordaining married priests leads to unexpected discussion By George Valadie You can’t have two nicer weekends than we’ve had. The first was spent in Little Rock with all three of our daughters and their families. There was swimming, a cookout, and a lot of grandpa goofiness on the …
He dwells among us: The cathedral of our heart
Holiness is a beauty that exceeds even the most beautiful cathedral in the world Bishop Richard F. Stika “You are God’s field, God’s building. …Each one must be careful how he builds upon it” (1 Corinthians 9:9, 10). As I watch the many construction workers laboring daily to give greater …
Fr. Randy Stice appointed to USCCB position
Three-year assignment to begin July 1 From staff reports Father Randy Stice, director of the Office of Worship and Liturgy for the Diocese of Knoxville since 2009, has been appointed associate director of the Secretariat of Divine Worship for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, effective July 1. The Secretariat …
He dwells among us: Reverence and silence
In the presence of Our Lord at church, quiet is a sacred blessing that we must all respect and practice By Bishop Richard F. Stika My house shall be called a house of prayer…” (Matthew 21:13). I chose these words of Jesus to be inscribed on the cornerstone of our new …