Programs to honor encyclical are planned at parishes around the Diocese of Knoxville By The East Tennessee Catholic “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” (Psalm 24:1) Catholics around the world are marking the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis’ groundbreaking …
Plaque at St. Mary-Gatlinburg honors Father Brando’s bequest to Legacy Clinic
St. Mary Parish in Gatlinburg placed a plaque in honor of former pastor Father Joe Brando in its family life center to recognize the late priest’s bequest of funds to the St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic, whose mobile medical van now visits St. Mary monthly. “We certainly appreciate Father Brando’s leadership …
Bishop celebrates ‘profound’ Chrism Mass
More than 60 of the diocesan presbyterate join Bishop Beckman as he presides at the Holy Week liturgy By Dan McWilliams Bishop Mark Beckman participated in many Chrism Masses as a priest of the Diocese of Nashville, hearing his bishops receive the annual renewal of promises made by the presbyterate …
Singer-songwriter leads St. Thérèse of Lisieux retreat
Grammy-nominated Sarah Hart delivers a message of love in word and music By Gabrielle Nolan The St. Thérèse of Lisieux Women of Faith and the Chattanooga Deanery Council of Catholic Women presented a Lenten day retreat for women on March 22 at St. Thérèse of Lisieux Church in Cleveland. More …
St. Dominic hosts fourth men’s conference
This year’s event draws 112 men from around the diocese and beyond for a day of talks, breakouts, and Mass By Dan McWilliams The fourth annual Appalachian Highlands Men’s Conference hosted by St. Dominic Parish in Kingsport on March 8 underwent a name change this year to reflect the wider …
Diocese of Knoxville reacts to news of Pope Francis’ death
By The East Tennessee Catholic Catholic faithful across East Tennessee, led by Bishop Mark Beckman, are responding in prayer to the news that Pope Francis has died. The Holy Father passed away on Easter Monday, April 21, at 7:35 a.m. Rome time at the age of 88. Pope Francis had …
Sisters reflect on St. Mary School’s 75th jubilee
‘A love for learning, a love for the Lord, and a love for other people’ By Gabrielle Nolan St. Mary School in Oak Ridge is celebrating 75 years of education and service of its kindergarten-through-eighth-grade students. The school, which will have jubilee celebrations in the spring and the fall of …
‘Not head knowledge: a personal encounter’
Father Randy Stice encourages devotion to the Eucharist, ‘the wonder of the Mass,’ in his latest book By Gabrielle Nolan Initially drawn to the Catholic Church in the 1990s because of the Church’s teachings on the Holy Eucharist, Father Randy Stice decades later has written a book on cultivating a …
In Mountain City, there’s a silver lining in every cloud
God sent His workers to help in disaster recovery By Dan McWilliams Father Jesús Guerrero, having been in Texas for a family event when Hurricane Helene’s flooding ravaged East Tennessee on Sept. 27, noticed one thing when he flew back in to Tri-Cities Airport in Blountville two days later. The …
The ministry of presence matters as Erwin is recovering
Glenmary team leading efforts to unify Unicoi By Bill Brewer As St. Michael the Archangel Parish and the town of Erwin move forward from the devastating flood wrought by Hurricane Helene last September, Father Tom Charters is preparing for yet another emotional moment. Next month, the pastor will give first …
‘We had dreamed it possible’
Our Lady of Fatima Parish celebrates 25 years in Alcoa church building By Gabrielle Nolan The parish community at Our Lady of Fatima in Alcoa has multiple reasons to celebrate this year. With a Mass on March 11, the parish recognized 25 years of worshiping in its current church building …
Pilgrims of Hope
Charitable grants are now available to Diocese of Knoxville parishes By Allison DiGennaro The Pope Francis Charitable Trust Fund exists to support and accelerate charitable outreach at the parish level in the Diocese of Knoxville. The fund provides matching grants to parishes to foster local, parish-based charitable works. The Pope …












