Handmaids of the Precious Blood pray with a pioneer spirit for priests By Emily Booker Just outside of New Market, on top of the third-highest point in Jefferson County overlooking the Holston River, a group of women keep vigil, praying for the sanctification of priests and the health of the …
With God’s help
Society of St. Vincent de Paul serves those in need in East Tennessee By Mark Dmochowski The Catholic Church is known universally for assisting people from all walks of life, whether the need is immediate, such as during a disaster in upper East Tennessee, or more gradual, such as providing …
TN4Life Banquet puts spotlight on pregnancy-support centers
More than 200 supporters filled the Ron Ramsey Regional Agricultural Center in Blountville to capacity on Oct. 3 for the annual TN4Life Banquet benefiting East Tennessee pregnancy-support centers and their mission of providing life-affirming services to women, children, and families. The evening began with guests browsing a variety of silent-auction …
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Blessed Franciscan friars
Oct. 31 beatification for five Georgia Martyrs is 429 years in the making By Bee Goodman On a Sunday morning in September 1597, a Franciscan priest on the Georgia coast was preparing to celebrate Mass. He never reached the altar. Father Pedro de Corpa and four fellow Franciscans, Father Blas …
Care of Creation Ministry organizes hike with bishop
On a beautiful sunny Friday morning in September, 11 hikers joined Bishop Mark Beckman on a Smoky Mountain adventure organized by the Diocese of Knoxville’s Care of Creation Ministry. The group gathered at the Middle Prong trailhead near Townsend and began with a reflection from Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’ encyclical—“A …
Permanent-deacon candidates now acolytes
12 men in the diocese’s 2027 class take the last major step before their ordination next June By Dan McWilliams The Diocese of Knoxville had its own version of the Sending of the Twelve on Oct. 1 as a dozen candidates for the permanent diaconate became acolytes, the last major …
‘Ignorance of Scriptures is ignorance of Christ’
Conference is opportunity for bishops to catechize on immigration By Bill Brewer What would Jesus do? Bishop Mark Beckman of the Diocese of Knoxville posed that question during Mass as part of a regional immigration conference titled “Deepening Our Moral Witness” in Knoxville on Sept. 30 attended by bishops, priests, …
Synod moves into action in the diocese
Delegates across East Tennessee discuss Bishop Beckman’s ‘guiding questions’ By Jim Wogan On Sept. 19, more than 70 parish and ministry delegates gathered at four locations in the Diocese of Knoxville to reflect on the process of synodality in the Catholic Church. It was a major step in a Vatican-initiated …
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Father Willey rescues family in burning home
The All Saints associate pastor was on his afternoon run in Cleveland when he spotted the flames By Bill Brewer Job No. 1 for a Catholic priest is to save souls as he celebrates the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and administers the sacraments, primarily the Eucharist. There are occasions …
People of Hope
Traveling museum shares personal stories from Catholic Charities By Emily Booker People of Hope: Faith-Filled Stories of Neighbors Helping Neighbors, a national storytelling initiative, arrived in the Diocese of Knoxville last month, sharing stories of and insights into lives impacted by Catholic Charities. Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) launched People of …
‘Feeling that feeling’
Diocese of Knoxville men follow different paths on their journey to priesthood By Bill Brewer As the Diocese of Knoxville’s growth rate sets a feverish pace, studies suggest it needs to be adding priests at an equally impressive rate to keep up with the rise in Catholic population across East …
Evangelizing Sisters mark Golden Jubilee
Bishop Beckman, priests join in celebrating Mass for Sisters from across the U.S. By Bill Brewer The solemnity of the Assumption of Mary on Aug. 15 was an especially joyous day for the Missionary Congregation of the Evangelizing Sisters of Mary from Uganda. The three Evangelizing Sisters who serve in …