Funeral Mass held at Notre Dame for Br. Roland Driscoll

A funeral Mass was held Nov. 2 for Brother Roland Driscoll, CSC, who died Oct. 28 at Holy Cross Village in Notre Dame, Ind. He was 98. Brother Roland was born in Knoxville on Feb. 1, 1918, to Leo and Nell Brennan Driscoll. He attended Knoxville Catholic High School through …

Fr. Collins succeeds Dcn. Preske as Scouts chaplain

Father Dustin Collins, associate pastor of St. Mary Parish in Oak Ridge, has been named chaplain for Scouting for the Diocese of Knoxville. He succeeds Deacon Otto Preske, who is retiring as chaplain but continues serving as deacon at Good Shepherd Church in Newport. “We couldn’t have found a better …

Understanding the sacraments: To rise with Christ

Vatican’s Congregation for the Faith issues instructions on burial and cremation practices By Father Randy Stice In October the Congregation for the Faith issued an instruction titled To Rise with Christ (Ad resurgendum cum Christo) that reiterates the Church’s “doctrinal and pastoral reasons for the preference of the burial of …

He dwells among us: The mercy of God invites us!

Christ wants us to open the door to the ‘inn’ of our hearts to God’s mercy that we might sow peace By Bishop Richard F. Stika The dust has far from settled from a political election that reveals how truly divided we have become as a nation. While we all …

Praying for Perspective: The Christmas story and common ground

The times may be different, but relating to Mary and Joseph is easier than you would think By George Valadie Season’s greetings! A year or so ago, when The East Tennessee Catholic and I began talking about writing this column, I had but one idea to offer and it was …

Cubs win! A steadfast faith always sees us through in the end

A fan’s message on being ‘assured of things hoped for and convinced of things unseen’ By Deacon Patrick Murphy-Racey As a kid growing up in Chicago in the late 1960s, I had two big problems. I knew nothing about sports and I had no brothers. My folks were highly educated, …

St. Mary-Oak Ridge hosts NFL Punt, Pass & Kick sectional

St. Mary School in Oak Ridge hosted the East Tennessee Sectional Championship for the NFL’s Punt, Pass & Kick (PPK) competition Oct. 16. Boys and girls ages 6-15 from East Tennessee competed in the free contest sponsored by the NFL and USA Football. PPK began in 1961, and continues today …

St. Mary-Oak Ridge repeats as volleyball champs

The girls varsity volleyball team at St. Mary School in Oak Ridge recently competed in the Knoxville Independent School League small-school tournament and beat Apostolic Christian Academy to win the championship at the Knoxville Christian School gym in a winner-take-all match. This year’s Lady Crusader squad won the KISL regular-season …

Creative KCHS yearbook staff paints art wall in Market Square

Several Knoxville Catholic High School yearbook students painted a “Before I Die” wall on the alley side of the Oliver Hotel building in downtown Knoxville on Nov. 6. This wall creates an interactive space for Market Square visitors to write and share things they want to accomplish before they die. …

KCHS boys cross country team captures state championship

The Knoxville Catholic High School boys cross country team won the Class A-AA state championship for the second year in a row Nov. 5 at the Percy Warner Park Steeplechase Course in Nashville. Georde Goodwyn and Jake Renfree finished 1-2 in the state for the Irish against a field of …

A priest’s open letter to young adults: Why you need the Church

In a world where Catholicism increasingly is pushed to the periphery, the 18-and-over group is vital By Father Michael Cummins Why do some young adults wander away from the Church? There are no easy answers to this. At least I have not found one in my own experience of ministry. …

He dwells among us: Never alone

We are all called to be the consoling presence of the Merciful Father to others By Bishop Richard F. Stika “THE HOUR IS COMING,” Jesus said to His disciples, when “each of you will be scattered … and you will leave me alone; yet I am not alone for the …