Diocese of Knoxville’s third shepherd laid to rest at Sacred Heart Cathedral By Dan McWilliams On an overcast afternoon nearly 17 years to the day he was ordained as the Diocese of Knoxville’s third shepherd, Bishop Richard F. Stika was laid to rest in the columbarium of the cathedral whose …
Building the kingdom before our eyes
Diocese is poised to set a record for new Catholics at Easter Vigil By Dan McWilliams A standing-room-only gathering at the diocese’s cathedral for the annual Rite of Election was evidence that the Church in East Tennessee is growing at a record rate, reflecting a trend that is being seen …
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Bishop Richard F. Stika, third bishop of Knoxville, dies
The East Tennessee Catholic Bishop Richard F. Stika, who served as the third bishop of the Diocese of Knoxville from 2009 to 2023, died in his native St. Louis at age 68. He was found in his residence on Feb. 17. A memorial Mass will be celebrated at the Church …
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Knoxville Catholic High School parent detained in ICE enforcement actions
en español Immigrant community unsure of proper steps By The East Tennessee Catholic On the morning of Jan. 28, the father of a Knoxville Catholic High School student, whose family has asked to remain anonymous, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents near The Home Depot in East …
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 …
Bishop ordains newest deacon
Daniel Cooper joins transitional diaconate ahead of pending priesthood By Bill Brewer The feast of St. Albert the Great will forever hold a sacred place in Daniel Cooper’s priestly formation as the Nov. 15 date was when he was ordained to the transitional diaconate at St. Albert the Great Church …
Look, listen, and learn
Diocesan-wide survey guides the diocese’s focus for the future By Emily Booker The Diocese of Knoxville has just concluded the largest survey of the faithful in its history. With 100 percent participation among the parishes, the survey results paint a detailed sketch of the Catholic Church in East Tennessee and …
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Teaching them as Jesus taught
Bishop leads class for young adults on ‘Mystery of Catholicism’ By Bee Goodman Bishop Mark Beckman is taking the solemn vow he made when ordained to be a “true and authentic teacher of the faith” to heart and soul. In addition to his daily ministry as the Diocese of Knoxville’s …
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Marked with the sign of faith
Seftons gift land for new Catholic cemetery By Dan McWilliams Longtime diocesan benefactors Alan and Sally Sefton have donated 10.9 acres in the Farragut-Concord area for a new Holy Cross Cemetery with a potential capacity of 3,500 graves, and the couple additionally contributed $1 million to establish a perpetual-care fund …
History in the making
Diocese founders recognized at Mass, reception to mark upcoming milestone By Dan McWilliams The spirit of 1988 lives on in the Diocese of Knoxville as evidenced in a Founders Mass that honored clergy and laity who were part of the establishment of the Church in East Tennessee that year and …
Father Joseph Hammond passes away
The Crusaders of the Holy Spirit priest was 79 and served in Hispanic ministry in the diocese for 27 years By Dan McWilliams Father Joseph Mary Hammond, CHS, a native of Ghana who had served in Hispanic ministry in the Diocese of Knoxville since 1998, died Saturday evening, Aug. 9. …
Listening to the whisper, feeling the nudge
Men’s Discernment Group contributes to Diocese of Knoxville vocations By Bill Brewer Every fourth Saturday of each month a group of men gather in the Diocese of Knoxville Chancery for fellowship and discussion about Catholicism led by Father Mark Schuster or Father Arthur Torres. While fellowship is common around the …