State bishops meet with governor, legislators

The three get in front of lawmakers to advocate on topics important to the Church  By Katie Peterson The Tennessee Register The shepherds of the Catholic Church in Tennessee—Bishop J. Mark Spalding of Nashville, Bishop David P. Talley of Memphis, and Bishop Richard F. Stika of Knoxville—came together to meet …

Bishop Stika, Father Collins receive Catholic Scouting’s St. George Medal

By Dan McWilliams Bishop Richard F. Stika presided at the annual diocesan Scouting Mass and breakfast Feb. 12 at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, but he may have been surprised at the latter event when he was among the youth and adults receiving awards. Bishop Stika …

Wedding celebration welcomes back Sacred Heart newlyweds

Dozens of couples married at new cathedral since 2018 reunite to mark National Marriage Week USA By Gabrielle Nolan Nearly 50 married couples gathered at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in Knoxville for an evening to celebrate their unique marriages. The event, which took place the …

‘What are you waiting for?’

FOCUS missionaries are changing lives by bringing the Catholic faith to university students By Claire Collins My sophomore year of college at the University of Tennessee, I was getting closer and closer to leaving the Catholic Church. While my Dominican Catholic education had convinced me of Jesus’ presence in the …

Bishop Stika, priests enter Lenten season by celebrating Ash Wednesday

From staff reports Diocese of Knoxville faithful entered the holiest of Christian seasons on March 2 by receiving the sign of the cross during Ash Wednesday Masses. Diocesan priests welcomed full churches as adults and students enthusiastically took part in the liturgy to begin Lent. Ashes were plentiful as were …

State Knights of Columbus first with evangelization position

Diocese of Knoxville parishioner Jimmy Dee to lead efforts to bring men into organization   By Andy Telli/Tennessee Register In its ongoing efforts to become more Christ-centered, the Tennessee Knights of Columbus have become the first jurisdiction in the international fraternal organization of Catholic men to create the position of director …

Divine Mercy Parish celebrates Year of the Tiger

Knoxville’s Vietnamese community welcomes both the Lunar New Year and Bishop Stika                     By Bill Brewer Dragons, tigers, and Xoi, oh my! No, it wasn’t Oz; it was better. You might even say it was heavenly. The Church of Divine Mercy offered a cornucopia for the soul and senses on Jan. …

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 St. Jude School-hosted Eucharistic Miracles Exhibit touches all lives

Touring display, created by Blessed Carlo Acutis, is being shown at Diocese of Knoxville locations By Janice Fritz-Ryken Parents often complain that teens’ lives are run by computer technology, and yet one inspirational teenager in Italy used the computer to evangelize Christ and create an exhibit that is still drawing …

Parishes hold listening sessions as Synod process moves forward

By Jim Wogan If your parish seems especially chatty this month, the voices you hear might be coming from special listening sessions or town hall meetings organized to gather opinions on the Church and its mission. The 2023 Synod of Bishops, commissioned by Pope Francis, is calling on every diocese …

Silver anniversaries abound at Holy Trinity Parish

The Jefferson City community and newly installed pastor Father Jim Harvey each celebrate 25 years By Bill Brewer The number 25 was especially meaningful for Father Jim Harvey on Dec. 5, when Holy Trinity’s new pastor helped the Jefferson County parish celebrate its 25th anniversary. Father Harvey also is in …

Catholic Charities plans to rebuild after arson fire

Knoxville diocesan agency to serve its East Tennessee clients from temporary site By Bill Brewer The Diocese of Knoxville and its Catholic Charities of East Tennessee are determined to rebuild after an arsonist burglarized Catholic Charities’ administrative offices in North Knoxville on Nov. 28 and set the building on fire, …

‘Lights!’ ‘Camera!’ ‘Procession!’

Holy Ghost Church serves as setting for national Knights of Columbus training video on eucharistic processions    By Bill Brewer Happy Holler is going Hollywood, or at least it looked that way on Nov. 12 when professional videographers descended on Holy Ghost Church and surrounding streets to make a Knights of …