Knoxville Catholic holds third annual Academic Signing Day

By Dan McWilliams Knoxville Catholic High School hosted its third annual Academic Signing Day event May 8 in the school gym. The event honors those students who have been offered academic scholarships, covering all of their tuition and fees, at the college where they plan to attend next fall. The …

Scouting committee holds 17th annual Bishop’s Gathering

By Dan McWilliams The Knoxville Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting held its 17th annual Bishop’s Gathering and Adult Recognition on April 8 at Sacred Heart Cathedral. The day began with morning Mass, followed by a breakfast in the school cafeteria. Bishop Richard F. Stika presided at Mass, which was concelebrated …

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‘For your faithful, Lord, life is changed, not ended’

Cathechizing through Catholic cemeteries in the Diocese of Knoxville By Bill Brewer Photography by Bill Brewer and Dan McWilliams As the Diocese of Knoxville plans for the future and identifies areas of growth and need, Bishop Richard F. Stika and diocesan leaders are looking at Catholic population trends, parishes, schools… …

Catechesis through life … and death

Church teachings on funeral, burial liturgies help people understand the Catholic faith By Bill Brewer The need for a new cemetery in the Diocese of Knoxville to serve parishes in the Smoky Mountain and Cumberland Mountain deaneries prompts discussion about the Church’s teaching on the order of Christian funerals and …

Cathedral is making room for Holy Family Memorial Garden

By Bill Brewer When the new Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus opens next year, among its many features will be a memorial garden with burial spaces for bishops who have served the Diocese of Knoxville and a columbarium where Catholic faithful in the diocese can be laid …

Cardinal Rigali named an episcopal delegate

In a degree dated April 10, Bishop Richard F. Stika has appointed Cardinal Justin Rigali an episcopal delegate. The ministry of the episcopal delegate is one of service to the bishop and is someone who serves as a representative of the bishop, acts as his liaison, and offers pastoral concern …

Diocesan marriage tribunal to be established by July 2020

In a decree dated April 10, Bishop Richard F. Stika announced his intent to establish a marriage tribunal for the Diocese of Knoxville by July 2020. Bishop Stika has said the diocese is now large enough to handle its own marriage cases and should form its own tribunal to review …

Praying for perspective: Carrying the cross

Do we share our personal stories or hide them away? By George Valadie It’s got to be about a month now at least, and it probably felt really good to get back to work. The holiday weekend seemed so long ago now; you know how it is. There’s all that …

He dwells among us: Keeping death before us

Do not neglect the beauty and comfort of a Catholic funeral Mass By Bishop Richard F. Stika “Go to Joseph!” (Gn 41:55) These words of urgent counsel were spoken by Pharaoh to those seeking relief in ancient Egypt from the great drought and famine that afflicted the land. In this …

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He dwells among us: The sharpest sword

Blessed Mother recommends the rosary most to instill the peace of Christ in our hearts, homes, world By Bishop Richard F. Stika World crises in 1917 may not be all that different from ours today—wars, genocide, revolutions, divisions. But yet the best means for obtaining the peace so desperately needed …

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Understanding the sacraments: The Word of God in the liturgy – a closer look

The performance character of and the sacramentality of the Word are two aspects not fully appreciated today By Father Randy Stice In a previous column, I introduced the new Lectionary Supplement and briefly discussed aspects of the Word of God in the liturgy. In this column, I would like to look …

St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic to start serving Sevier County residents

By Jim Wogan The St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic, a 10-wheeled mobile medical ministry operated by the Diocese of Knoxville, will begin serving residents living in fire-ravaged areas near Gatlinburg starting in late April. “We are trying to meet the needs of the population that’s been there all along, but invisible. …