St. Mary Parish breaks ground on parish life center

Gatlinburg church will have more room for CCD classes, other youth and adult programs By Dan McWilliams St. Mary Church in Gatlinburg is bursting at the seams, and the 85-year-old community just recently broke ground on a new parish life center that will help provide space for a growing number …

Looking back, looking ahead

Father Ronald Franco celebrates silver anniversary in the priesthood as he prepares for next assignment By Dan McWilliams The celebration of 25 years as a priest for Father Ronald Franco, CSP, incorporated all three of his assignments, including his latest stop at Immaculate Conception Parish in downtown Knoxville. Slide shows …

Rep. Dunn receives Tennessee Right to Life award

Veteran legislator, longtime Holy Ghost Parish member honored for his service to the state and pro-life movement By Bill Brewer Rep. Bill Dunn, a state legislator whose 26 years in the House helped swing Tennessee from a pro-abortion General Assembly to one that has become decidedly pro-life, received the 2020 …

Letters of Hope connect seniors to pen pals

Knoxville Catholic High School students turn COVID outreach idea into global group By Emily Booker The pandemic has kept many people apart and homebound for much of the year. For seniors it can be an incredibly lonely time as family and friends can’t visit in order to keep them safe …

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Last two of original Sisters of Mercy retire

The Sisters of Mercy of the Americas have served in East Tennessee since coming to Knoxville in 1896  By Dan McWilliams The retirement of the last two Sisters of Mercy of the Americas in the Diocese of Knoxville ends a tradition of more than 120 years of the community’s service …

St. John Neumann parishioner hailed as a first-responder hero

Officer Kyle Botica’s fast action saves man’s life, helps prevent traffic incident from being a tragedy By Bill Brewer Sometimes the road less traveled really does make all the difference. Just ask Kyle Botica. The University of Tennessee Police Department officer has been saluted as a hero for saving a …

Annual Ladies of Charity golf tourney raises more than $14,000

The annual Ladies of Charity of Knoxville Golf Tournament was held Sept. 3 at Egwani Farms Golf Course in Rockford. The slightly windy day kept the golfers cool and the play fast. Eighty-two men and women brought their clubs to support the Ladies of Charity mission to serve those in …

Fellowship amid COVID-19

FOCUS missionaries at UT-Chattanooga are working to evangelize in socially distanced ways By Bill Brewer As the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga watches 2020 end just as it began, with the coronavirus pandemic wreaking havoc on students and their course work, a small group of Catholic missionaries is fervently working to keep …

How God has made His presence known to us

Before He ascended into heaven, Jesus left us with His glorious presence in the Eucharist By Bob Hunt The Advent and Christmas seasons are a good time to reflect on the presence of God in our Church and in our lives. God made His presence known in glory to Moses …

Understanding God’s wisdom in the Old Testament

Books of literature express the longing of the human heart for God By Sister Anna Marie McGuan, RSM The Wisdom literature of the Old Testament is an eclectic collection of proverbs, moral lessons, riddles, warnings, extended meditations, and philosophical inquiry and debate. It also includes hymns and even love poetry …

Funeral Mass held for longtime priest Fr. Paul Valleroy

Mass celebrant Bishop Stika eulogizes pastor who served East Tennessee parishes for 46 years By Bill Brewer Father Paul Joseph Valleroy saw a lot of East Tennessee during the 46 years he served as a priest, first for the Diocese of Nashville and then for the Diocese of Knoxville. The …

Knoxville Catholic and Notre Dame runners place at state championships

Runners from Knoxville Catholic High School and Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga stood out at the 2020 TSSAA State Cross Country Championship meets held at Sanders Ferry Park in Hendersonville on Nov. 6. Senior Riley Smith of KCHS placed third in the state in the Division 2, Class AA …