UT-Chattanooga student joins others at event ‘yearning for what God was calling all of us to do’ By Maggie Parsons I joined 16,000 other Catholics in Columbus, Ohio, Jan. 1-5 for the annual SEEK26 conference to kick off the new year seeking what God had in store for me. The …
State dioceses rank high in fruitfulness
Number of seminarians, weddings, infant baptisms per Catholic place them in nation’s top 10 By Deacon Bob Hunt An article published last month by The Catholic World Report purports to rank the Catholic dioceses in the United States by how fruitful each diocese is in terms of seminarians, weddings, infant …
Investing in the diocese
Catholic Foundation of East Tennessee highlights key growth The East Tennessee Catholic Good works occurring in the Diocese of Knoxville were on display last fall as members and special guests were invited to join Bishop Mark Beckman for an evening in celebration of the Catholic Foundation of East Tennessee (CFET). …
1
New beginnings
Take time to reflect on Jesus’ words: You are the light of the world! By Bishop Mark Beckman As we enter 2026 in this time of a new year, my mind goes back to the humble beginnings of Jesus’ own ministry in Galilee. I will never forget the first time …
Youth travel to SEEK conference
Some 100 students from the Diocese of Knoxville celebrate their faith at the event in Ohio By Bee Goodman Most people enjoy traveling, and among those many are young adults. Finally getting a taste of freedom, they enjoy taking a spring-break trip to Daytona or making their way to Disney …
‘Moments of grace and unity’
East Tennessee pilgrims recall taking part in the Jubilee of Hope The East Tennessee Catholic On Jan. 6, the feast of the Epiphany, Pope Leo XIV closed the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica, officially marking the end of the Holy Year and the Jubilee of Hope. Pope Francis had …
Chattanooga panel votes in favor of basilica
Planning Commission denies request for high-rise adjacent to historic church The East Tennessee Catholic A proposed high-rise development that would be built immediately behind the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul was denied by the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission on Jan. 12 amid strong opposition by the basilica community …
Bishop consecrates new cemetery
Opening of Holy Cross gives Diocese of Knoxville third sacred site By Dan McWilliams The diocese’s new Holy Cross Cemetery went from a construction site to holy ground on Dec. 20 as Bishop Mark Beckman consecrated the 10.9-acre site on Northshore Drive near the Knox-Loudon county line. The property, formerly …
Celebrating NDHS
Notre Dame High School commemorates 150 years of educating students By Dan McWilliams Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga couldn’t have picked a better day than Jan. 6 to kick off its 150th-anniversary celebration. That was the day in 1876 when four Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia Congregation in Nashville …
2025 #iGive Catholic is another success
Money raised will benefit Diocese of Knoxville parishes, schools, ministries The East Tennessee Catholic Celebrated annually on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday, #iGiveCatholic is the U.S. Catholic Church’s giving day that kicks off the charitable season and joins the Catholic community in giving thanks and giving …
‘Devotion to Our Lady strengthens our call’
Holy Cross community unites to honor Our Lady of Guadalupe in celebration By Maggie Parsons Joy in a celebration of tradition brought together the community of faith at Holy Cross Parish in Pigeon Forge on Dec, 12, for its annual Our Lady of Guadalupe celebration. The celebration at Holy Cross …
Cousins—teammates at KCHS—sign with universities
Tyreek King goes to Tennessee football and Chaz Smith to Notre Dame at National Signing Day on Dec. 3 The East Tennessee Catholic Two four-star football recruits from Knoxville Catholic High School—who happen to be cousins—signed with major-college programs in December, each having committed to the teams in 2024. Tyreek …