Diocese of Knoxville system meets standards set by international, national agencies By Gabrielle Nolan Diocese of Knoxville Catholic Schools have once again passed a rigorous accreditation review process. This process ensures that diocesan schools meet the standards established by the National Standards and Benchmarks of Excellence for Effective Catholic …
Speaker Melissa Foley leads Lenten talk, prayer for women at St. John Neumann
Speaker Melissa Foley leads Lenten talk, prayer for women at St. John Neumann By Gabrielle Nolan “Am I worth dying for?” Women of the diocese were presented with this question at a Lenten evening of reflection at St. John Neumann Church in Farragut on Mar. 31. Nearly 100 women gathered …
Easter: the new creation has come
Nearly 200 faithful prepare to enter the Church in East Tennessee at Easter Vigil By Gabrielle Nolan The Catholic Church in East Tennessee is about to grow with the approaching feast of Easter, as nearly 50 catechumens and 130 candidates continue their preparation to receive the sacraments of initiation. …
Diocese of Knoxville joins pope in consecrating Russia, Ukraine to Immaculate Heart of Mary
Bishop Stika leads special Mass, called for by the Holy Father, at the cathedral By Gabrielle Nolan Bishop Richard F. Stika heeded the call of Pope Francis to consecrate and entrust Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on March 25. Bishop Stika offered the act during noon …
Wedding celebration welcomes back Sacred Heart newlyweds
Dozens of couples married at new cathedral since 2018 reunite to mark National Marriage Week USA By Gabrielle Nolan Nearly 50 married couples gathered at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in Knoxville for an evening to celebrate their unique marriages. The event, which took place the …
Sewing ministry creates hygiene kits for women
Group at All Saints Parish imitates the example of St. Tabitha to help women around the world By Gabrielle Nolan Here in the West, it is called “period poverty.” When girls and young women do not have the resources to care for their monthly menstrual cycles, they are forced to …
SEEK22 regional event brings youth to diocese
Nearly 1,000 FOCUS students attend conference in downtown Knoxville By Gabrielle Nolan “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” College students traveled to Knoxville to do just that for SEEK22, the annual winter conference hosted Feb. 4-6 by the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS). FOCUS …
Marches for life attract supporters of all ages
Events in Chattanooga, Knoxville attract hundreds of supporters By Gabrielle Nolan Multiple March for Life events took place across the state of Tennessee as Jan. 22 commemorated the 49th anniversary of Roe v. Wade legalizing abortion throughout the United States. Knoxville and Chattanooga held marches for participants to walk through …
Schools work to include special-needs students
Diocese of Knoxville educators accommodate children with a wide range of learning needs By Gabrielle Nolan The Diocese of Knoxville has been serving students with special learning needs for more than 20 years. The Office of Catholic Schools’ Special Services Handbook, which is revised every five years, is “a living …
‘At home and secure’
St. John XXIII Parish volunteers assist refugees, including Afghans, relocating to East Tennessee By Gabrielle Nolan Imagine you must flee your home country. All you can take with you is what you are able to carry on your back and in your hands, if it doesn’t get lost or stolen, …
Historical artifacts of Father Patrick Ryan find a home in basilica
Possible second-class relics from Servant of God’s remains occupy a casket in anticipation of canonization By Gabrielle Nolan In the Church, relics are an important component of the Catholic faith, commemorating the saints who have gone before who are able to intercede in the lives of the faithful through their …
Sister shares love of woodworking with students
Dominican Sister Maria Kolbe’s pupils have made candle holders, stools, plaques, and more By Gabrielle Nolan The first time Sister Maria Kolbe Rossi, OP, worked with wood, she was in the sixth grade. “It was a woodworking class in school that you took during the day, and it was once …












