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 …
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Catholic Charities of East Tennessee opens Columbus Home Safe Place for Kids
By Jim Wogan Four bedrooms and a lot of love. That might be the best way to describe the newest ministry of Catholic Charities of East Tennessee. The Columbus Home Safe Place for Kids is a recently opened haven for children who have come into custody of the Tennessee Department …
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 …
UTK students consider Catholic law society
Bishop Stika meets with group looking to form a faith-based legal organization on campus By Jim Wogan The University of Tennessee-Knoxville could be the next college campus to host a Catholic legal society for students. While the idea is still in its early stages, Bishop Richard F. Stika met recently …
St. John XXIII Parish (finally) marks 50th anniversary
By Jim Wogan It took longer than expected, but parishioners of St. John XXIII last month finally marked the 50th anniversary of their parish’s dedication—52 years after it happened. The COVID pandemic stalled the original plans for the Catholic community’s jubilee by two years, but the delay didn’t mask the …
Paraclete bookstore makes contribution to educate seminarians
By Jim Wogan The Paraclete Catholic Books and Gifts store, a ministry of the Diocese of Knoxville, made a significant contribution to the life of the Church in January. Store manager Sara Lauer and business consultant Deacon Walt Otey presented Bishop Richard F. Stika with a check for more than …
Parishes hold listening sessions as Synod process moves forward
By Jim Wogan If your parish seems especially chatty this month, the voices you hear might be coming from special listening sessions or town hall meetings organized to gather opinions on the Church and its mission. The 2023 Synod of Bishops, commissioned by Pope Francis, is calling on every diocese …
Synod training sessions conclude; project now goes to parishes
By Jim Wogan Pope Francis’ call to catalogue the thoughts of Catholics around the world, through the Synod on Synodality, enters its next important phase in the Diocese of Knoxville as parishes and other organizations begin the process of gathering feedback from parishioners and anyone else inside and outside of …
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New name, same important mission
2022 Bishop’s Appeal, which assists vital ministries, begins with faith in the continued generosity of parishioners By Jim Wogan Deacon Hicks Armor has mixed feelings about the annual Bishop’s Appeal. The yearly undertaking to raise vital funds for diocesan ministries set another record for giving in 2021 and may reach …
