Bishop Stika, Cardinal Rigali react to the death of Pope Benedict XVI

By Jim Wogan Benedict XVI was pope emeritus longer than he was pope, and the sum of his influence on the Catholic Church will be analyzed and debated for decades and perhaps even centuries to come. Among those who served with and eventually under the man once known as Father, …

Catholic Foundation events held across diocese

By Jim Wogan Each year, Bishop Richard F. Stika makes a point to bring together members of the Catholic Foundation of East Tennessee [CFET] to recognize and thank them for their work in building the Diocese of Knoxville. For the second year in a row, three cities in the diocese …

A trip to remember

Scotland vacation puts schools superintendent in the middle of royal history By Jim Wogan In early September, Dr. Sedonna Prater, superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Knoxville, and her husband, Ron, had an unexpected encounter with world history. Their much-anticipated and COVID-postponed trip to Scotland finally happened, and it …

Our Lady of Perpetual Help celebrates milestone

Chattanooga parish and school hold events to mark 85th anniversary By Jim Wogan The list is long and illustrious, but Father Arthur Torres did a good job reciting from memory the names of some of the pastors who have served at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish during its 85 …

Diocesan priests named pastors

By Jim Wogan Bishop Richard F. Stika has announced that three priests serving as parish parochial administrators are now elevated to pastors of their respective parishes. Bishop Stika has appointed Father Arthur Torres as pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Chattanooga. He was previously assigned to the …

Summer schooling

Diocese of Knoxville seminarians share experiences away from formal studies By Jim Wogan Summer was anything but a vacation for the men studying for the priesthood in the Diocese of Knoxville. Sure, there were allowances for personal adventures and time to reconnect with family and friends during their break from …

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Deacon Jim Bello named director of Christian Formation

Diocesan position is not all that Bishop Stika is asking new member of diaconate to undertake By Jim Wogan It didn’t take Deacon Jim Bello long to blend into his new role with the Diocese of Knoxville. A congenial personality and a genuine Christian spirit have helped him navigate the …

All Saints health and wellness expo set for Aug. 19-20

All Saints health and wellness expo set for Aug. 19-20 By Jim Wogan In 10 years as a Catholic priest, Father Doug Owens has become proficient at ministering to those in need. The pastor of All Saints Parish in Knoxville has anointed the sick, comforted those in distress, and, of …

Diocese of Knoxville responds to Ukraine war effort

Parishioners step up with generous donations to diocesan second collections By Jim Wogan Through a special collection that could be classified as historic for the Diocese of Knoxville, Bishop Richard F. Stika and Father David Boettner, rector of the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have separately wired …

Diocese delivers Synod report to USCCB

Chancellor calls process ‘inspiring and illuminating’ as local document heads to Rome      By Jim Wogan When Pope Francis laid out his plan for the upcoming Church Synod, Deacon Sean Smith knew it eventually would come to this. Collecting the thoughts and opinions of more than 1.2 billion Catholics around …

Bishop Stika, Cardinal Rigali meet with Ukraine archbishop

Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church leader invites U.S. bishops to visit war-torn nation By Jim Wogan The leader of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church has experienced the horrible impact of Russia’s war on Ukraine in grotesquely vivid ways. In early April, Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk was called to pray before mutilated …