Alma, Mich., Sisters enter a jubilee year; Knoxville convent marks milestone By Gabrielle Nolan The Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma, Mich., have entered into a jubilee year of celebration. Sept. 1 marked the 50th anniversary of the religious order’s founding, which occurred in 1973. Sister Mary Lisa Renfer, RSM, …
‘Heroic. Holy. Humble.’
Life of Fr. Patrick Ryan celebrated at Closing Session of Tribunal in sainthood cause By Gabrielle Nolan The Diocese of Knoxville is one step closer in the cause for beatification and canonization of Servant of God Father Patrick Ryan. The Closing Session of the Tribunal of the Diocese of Knoxville …
Ulster Project unites Northern Ireland, U.S. teens
East Tennessee families host Northern Ireland youth and see the bonds and friendships that form By Gabrielle Nolan Northern Ireland has a storied past of violence known as The Troubles, an ethno-nationalist conflict that lasted around 30 years from the 1960s to the 1990s. The population was divided, largely between …
‘Share the love of God with others’
Diocese facilitates World Youth Day pilgrimage to D.C. for young adults By Gabrielle Nolan The diocesan office of Youth, Young Adult, and Pastoral Juvenil Ministry led a pilgrimage Aug. 4-6 to Washington, D.C., for 20 young adults in conjunction with World Youth Day, an international event that occurs about every …
Giving hope
RCIA Summer Conference offers help in reaching the faith-seekers By Gabrielle Nolan The Diocese of Knoxville’s Office of Christian Formation hosted its annual RCIA Summer Conference at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Lenoir City on June 24. The conference theme was “Leading them Home: Catechetical and Pastoral Insights for …
‘There am I in the midst of them’
Alive in You Catholic conference, service camp brings teens to diocese By Gabrielle Nolan Jesus tells us in Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” It is without question that Jesus was present when nearly 300 …
Uvalde a year later
Fr. Peter Iorio attends anniversary event of school shooting By Gabrielle Nolan The small town of Uvalde, Texas, is still grieving one year after a tragic school shooting shocked its community. The shooting that took place on May 24, 2022, at Robb Elementary School took the lives of 19 children …
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‘Where are we going?’
Archbishop Fabre, as apostolic administrator, celebrates Mass, offers direction By Gabrielle Nolan The Diocese of Knoxville is undergoing a time of transition following the resignation of Bishop Richard F. Stika, who served the diocese as bishop for 14 years and announced his retirement on June 27. While the diocese awaits …
Thinking about religious life?
Avow discernment program aids young women considering a vocation By Gabrielle Nolan A new discernment opportunity is available to young women of the diocese who are interested in learning more about a vocation to religious life. “It’s a women’s discernment program that is put out through Vianney Vocations to help …
Couples renew vows at marriage celebration
Wives and husbands married within diocese say ‘I do’ all over again By Gabrielle Nolan Married couples within the diocese were given a special opportunity to say “I do” all over again. A Mass of reaffirmation of marriage vows took place at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of …
Bilingual stories teach children about virtues
Francesca Follone-Montgomery lives a life of creative improvisation that has seen her write four books By Gabrielle Nolan Francesca Follone-Montgomery, OFS, likes to adapt the expression, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” “I say, make a lot of things: lemon cream pie, lemon cookies,” she laughed. “Whatever inspiration, be …
Parish ministries live out call of Laudato Si’
Pope Francis’ encyclical inspires East Tennessee Catholics ‘to achieve climate and ecological justice’ By Gabrielle Nolan “Care for our common home.” This phrase was made popular by Pope Francis in his 2015 encyclical Laudato Si’, in which the pope both encourages the faithful to practice good stewardship toward the …
