Bishop Beckman joins a roster of speakers focused on the theme of ‘Weathering the Storm’ By Dan McWilliams The fifth annual Appalachian Highlands Men’s Conference at St. Dominic Church in Kingsport on Feb. 28 drew a record 157 attendees, with Bishop Mark Beckman on hand to give his advice on …
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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 …
Through the eyes of a child
SEEK26 conference was a new kind of fulfilling experience for FOCUS parents By Claire Collins Ten years ago, I found myself in the back of a crowded conference room full of thousands of college students. I was a first-year missionary with the Fellowship of Catholic University Students and had just …
Chesterton students carry on chalk-art tradition
‘Madonnari’ drawings now seen on driveways or sidewalks hark back to 16th-century Italian Renaissance Since 2009, the Dogwood Arts Chalk Walk, an annual chalk art festival, has occupied Market Square in downtown Knoxville. Jim Dodson, co-chair of Chalk Walk, states: “Beginning with humble roots, this art experience has enriched our …
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‘Who wants to read the newspaper?’
OLPH 5th-grader takes faith, school, and The East Tennessee Catholic to heart By Bill Brewer Genevieve Moy wants to change the world—one book report, poem, notebook drawing, math problem, violin piece, school play—and newspaper—at a time. The fifth-grader at Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in Chattanooga isn’t just about …
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Bishop Beckman visits with students at St. Joseph School
Bishop Beckman visits with students at St. Joseph School By Bee Goodman Bishop Mark Beckman had planned to spend Catholic Schools Week traveling throughout the diocese, visiting classrooms and celebrating the educators and students who make Catholic education a defining part of parish life. Winter weather, however, forced changes to …
Preparing the way of the Lord
Lent 2026 is here, and Catholic faithful around East Tennessee are readying for Holy Week The East Tennessee Catholic and OSV News It has been just over a month since the feasts of Epiphany and Baptism of the Lord marked the end of Christmas. And now in 2026, Lent is …
‘Humble, prayerful, obedient servant of the Church’
Bishops Beckman, Spalding lead funeral Mass for Father John Kirk By Jim Casey Nashville Catholic Father John Kirk, a priest of the Diocese of Nashville for more than 55 years, died on Jan. 18 in Knoxville. He was 84. A funeral Mass was celebrated by Bishop Mark Beckman of Knoxville …
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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 …
Faith communities join for immigration vigil
Diocese of Knoxville takes active role in prayer service for Hispanic families By Blanca Primm and Viridiana Marin On Dec. 1, people of faith gathered at St. Andrews Center in Chattanooga to bear witness to a truth at the heart of the Gospel: families are sacred, and no person is …
Seeking God in abundant ways
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 …
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). …