Cathedral marks 5th year since dedication

By Bill Brewer It seems like just yesterday when a standing-room-only congregation gathered at 711 S. Northshore Drive in Knoxville to finally see the result from decades of prayer, thought, and planning: the new Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. In a ceremony 30 years in the making, …

St. Dominic hosts second men’s conference

Those attending learn about true friendship, go to confession, and attend Mass with Bishop Stika    By Dan McWilliams For the 100 men who attended the second annual Catholic Men’s Conference at St. Dominic Church in Kingsport on March 11, the event offered them a chance to make new friends, …

‘A match made in heaven’

Echo graduate students making a local impact in diocesan schools and parishes By Gabrielle Nolan Since 2017, the Echo Graduate Service Program has brought nine graduate students to the Diocese of Knoxville to enrich the parish and school communities here. The program, which is under the McGrath Institute for Church …

A New Hope

Ultrasounds are a critical tool for health-care providers and mothers-to-be; Knights of Columbus working with pregnancy help centers in the Diocese of Knoxville By Janice Fritz-Ryken They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and Beth Henderson, CEO of New Hope Pregnancy Care Center of Cleveland, agrees. Ms. Henderson …

Youth and adults take part in annual Bishop’s Breakfast for Scouting

By Dan McWilliams Diocesan youth and adult Scouts came together March 4 for the annual Bishop’s Breakfast for Scouting at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. The day began with an 8:05 a.m. Mass in the cathedral before the meal in the Cathedral Hall. At the end …

‘Where are the Catholics hanging out?’

Catholic Chatt answers that question and others young adults are asking By Claire Collins Patrick and Margaret Hanus were just two young adults searching for a community in Chattanooga when they encountered Catholic Chatt, a ministry dedicated to serving young adults in the local churches. Mr. Hanus, a native of …

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She’s incapacitated; he’s doing the cooking

His IOU to her is seemingly never-ending—until she makes a comment about the bedsheets By George Valadie I’ll tell you the truth: being a housewife is hell. At this very moment, instead of writing this column, I really ought to be in the kitchen. There are dirty dishes in the …

Local author shares love of early Church history

Rod Bennett brings a bit of ‘hillbilly’ to his writing projects, which are gaining acclaim By Gabrielle Nolan Rod Bennett admitted laughingly that he is “a little bit of a hillbilly.” Although the Catholic author grew up in and spent many years living in Atlanta, he was born in Maryville. …

‘Congratulations!’

The one word that saved an unborn child and changed the life of a college student By Janice Fritz-Ryken You never know how deeply one word, one simple thing you say to someone, can impact their life. In this case, one word—a simple “congratulations”—transformed the fear of a scared, single …

Addressing the Trinity during Mass

In sacramental communion, we receive the Trinity and become ‘partakers of the divine nature’ By Father Randy Stice The Trinity is the central mystery of our faith and life. The entire Christian life “is a communion with each of the divine persons, without in any way separating them.” When we …

Young Adult Conference explores authentic faith

By Emily Booker What does an authentic faith look like in a world that is terrified of authenticity and faith? The Diocesan Young Adult Conference, “Bold Faith in the Modern World,” was held at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus on Feb. 18 aiming to address that …

Notre Dame boys reach first state tourney final

The Fighting Irish make school basketball history, and ‘the future is bright’ for the team       By Dan McWilliams The Notre Dame High School boys basketball team made Fighting Irish history by reaching the program’s first state-championship game. Notre Dame hung close to Goodpasture for three quarters before the school from …