Idea of ordaining married priests leads to unexpected discussion By George Valadie You can’t have two nicer weekends than we’ve had. The first was spent in Little Rock with all three of our daughters and their families. There was swimming, a cookout, and a lot of grandpa goofiness on the …
He dwells among us: The cathedral of our heart
Holiness is a beauty that exceeds even the most beautiful cathedral in the world Bishop Richard F. Stika “You are God’s field, God’s building. …Each one must be careful how he builds upon it” (1 Corinthians 9:9, 10). As I watch the many construction workers laboring daily to give greater …
He dwells among us: Reverence and silence
In the presence of Our Lord at church, quiet is a sacred blessing that we must all respect and practice By Bishop Richard F. Stika My house shall be called a house of prayer…” (Matthew 21:13). I chose these words of Jesus to be inscribed on the cornerstone of our new …
Understanding the Sacraments: The ‘peculiar graces’ of the Mass
The saints, including St. John of the Cross and St. Faustina, experienced this liturgical presence in profound ways By Father Randy Stice The meaning and power of the liturgical year was elegantly summarized by Vatican Council II: “Within the cycle of a year, moreover, she [the Church] unfolds the whole …
Living the Readings: Pentecost to Ordinary Time
The nine Sundays of June and July include three key feast days By Father Joseph Brando This edition of The East Tennessee Catholic takes us beyond the Easter Season, through the feasts of Pentecost, Holy Trinity, and the Body and Blood of Christ, and right back into Ordinary Time. It’s …
Marriage Enrichment: Communication is the bedrock of any relationship
Differences in language between two people, based on what their family of origin passed on, can present a challenge By Marian Christiana Language, both verbal and physical, is a key ingredient to good communication. The first two factors dealing with good communication both focus on language. The first reminds us …
Praying for Perspective: ‘Common Sense Parenting’ class came too late
Raising children brings daily parenting decisions that are surely ‘in the manual we never got’ By George Valadie We Valadies have had the opportunity to live in three very different cities since the original two of us grew larger than that. One small, one midsize, one very large city. Each …
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 …
Living the readings: Out of the darkness
The Lord is with us—in the Kingdom all is light by Father Joseph Brando Spring brings the earth to life. The air is warmer; the grass is greener; the sunsets are later; and our lives become more enjoyable. However, it isn’t merely the movement of stars and planets that makes …
