Relics of Padre Pio exposed in diocese

Faithful from East Tennessee and beyond venerate beloved Italian saint By Dan McWilliams Hundreds of the faithful venerated the relics of St. Pio of Pietrelcina on Sept. 26 and 27 as they were exposed first at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in Knoxville and then the …

Ulster Project unites Northern Ireland, U.S. teens

East Tennessee families host Northern Ireland youth and see the bonds and friendships that form   By Gabrielle Nolan Northern Ireland has a storied past of violence known as The Troubles, an ethno-nationalist conflict that lasted around 30 years from the 1960s to the 1990s. The population was divided, largely between …

‘Share the love of God with others’

Diocese facilitates World Youth Day pilgrimage to D.C. for young adults By Gabrielle Nolan The diocesan office of Youth, Young Adult, and Pastoral Juvenil Ministry led a pilgrimage Aug. 4-6 to Washington, D.C., for 20 young adults in conjunction with World Youth Day, an international event that occurs about every …

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd returns

All Saints serves as host in continuing formation training for children By Claire Collins All Saints Church in Knoxville served as host in July for a weeklong intensive training for Level 1 of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, a program of the National Association of the Catechesis of the …

Driving the mission

Volunteer drivers answer call to get St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic where it needs to go By Bill Brewer There are a variety of ministries in which lay Catholics serve the Church. But when Mary Serbin and Randy Perrault answered the call, God had a slightly different path in mind for …

Fourteenth annual Irish Fest draws 700 to IC

By Dan McWilliams A little rain early on did not stop some 700 people from enjoying the 14th annual Irish Fest on Aug. 12, hosted again by Immaculate Conception Parish in downtown Knoxville. The event netted more than $10,000 that will be earmarked for capital repairs at IC. The Irish …

Pope Francis encourages participation in the Season of Creation

Creation Care ministries in Diocese of Knoxville parishes offering celebrations By Mary Tankersley and Denise Clark In 2015, Pope Francis boldly set out to make a profound moral and scientific statement regarding humanity’s relationship with the natural world by releasing his encyclical On Care for Our Common Home, or Laudato …

St. Francis-Fairfield Glade presents St. Alphonsus with a $30,000 gift

St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Fairfield Glade recently made a $30,000 gift to St. Alphonsus Parish in Crossville to help with the latter’s building campaign. Construction is nearing completion on a new St. Alphonsus Church. Parishioners have been worshiping in a parish life center since 2003. In his letter …

Crunching the data

Deacon David Duhamel armed with information as he leads schools’ sustainability By Jim Wogan Deacon David Duhamel is aware of the expectations that come with his new job. Among the lessons that came with battlefield leadership and a 20-year career in the U.S. Marine Corps, and the accomplishment of earning …

New superintendent eager to start the academic year

By Jim Wogan Mary Ann Deschaine, a veteran educator with nearly three decades of experience as a teacher, principal, and superintendent, was announced as the new superintendent of Catholic schools for the Diocese of Knoxville on May 31. She served as superintendent of Catholic schools in the Diocese of Saginaw, …

KDCCW leaders attend international assembly

World Union of Catholic Women’s Organisations attendees meet with pope By Emily Booker Two women from the Diocese of Knoxville attended the international World Union of Catholic Women’s Organisations (WUCWO) General Assembly in Assisi, Italy, in May. Patty Johnson and Sally Jackson joined more than 800 women representing nearly 70 …

Our Lady of Fatima Parish is debt free in 2023

Fr. Iorio, church members mark occasion by ceremonial burning of the mortgage By Bill Brewer Our Lady of Fatima celebrated the feast of Corpus Christi with Mass and a eucharistic procession on the campus of the Alcoa parish. But the celebration didn’t end there. Father Peter Iorio, pastor of Our …