St. Dominic approaches Home Campaign in a ‘very good spot’

By Jim Wogan The Home Campaign is well under way in the Diocese of Knoxville — with 34 parishes and mission churches now at various stages of participation. Early this year, 17 more parishes will join the campaign as Wave 3 participants. While the Home Campaign operates nearly the same …

Religious Sisters of Mercy convent dedicated by Bishop Stika

By Jim Wogan Shortly after Bishop Richard F. Stika arrived in Knoxville in 2009, he reached out to a religious order based in Alma, Mich., with a request: come to Knoxville and help serve Roman Catholics in East Tennessee. The Religious Sisters of Mercy accepted the bishop’s offer, and the …

SMLF grants total $720,000 for 2016

The St. Mary’s Legacy Foundation and Bishop Richard F. Stika have announced grant distributions for 2016 totaling $720,000 for local charities and nonprofit organizations serving Catholics and non-Catholics across East Tennessee. Since its creation in 2011, the St. Mary’s Legacy Foundation has now provided more than $3 million to benefit …

Funeral service held for diocesan lay leader George Haggard

By Emily Booker Generous philanthropist and community leader George O. Haggard, Jr., passed away suddenly on Dec. 12. He was 83. Mr. Haggard was the most recent recipient of the Immaculata Award, given for his dedication and service to the Diocese of Knoxville. A funeral Mass was celebrated on Dec. …

Knoxville Catholic wins state high school football title

By Dan McWilliams Knoxville Catholic scored 48 unanswered points to capture its second state high school football championship with a 48-8 win over Pearl-Cohn on Dec. 5 in the BlueCross Bowl Class 4A finals at Tucker Stadium on the campus of Tennessee Tech in Cookeville. The Fighting Irish, also champions …

Holy Door of Mercy

By Dan McWilliams Following the lead of Pope Francis in Rome, Bishop Richard F. Stika opened a Holy Door of Mercy at Sacred Heart Cathedral on Dec. 8, the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The opening of holy doors around the diocese and around the …

A Legacy of Healing

Patients, volunteers in growing numbers are drawn to the mercy of a mobile clinic By Bill Brewer Reimbursements for medical care given by the St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic come in various forms when the mobile doctor’s office makes its rounds treating East Tennessee patients. “Thank you,” “I appreciate what you …

Once upon a time: Seeking the passage to salvation

By Monsignor Xavier Mankel Doors. We so often take them for granted. Cellar doors protected crops stored for the winter, or Christmas presents, or family stills during Prohibition days. Basements store furnaces, air-conditioning units, and family treasures. The doors to our houses offer safe passage to those who enter invited …

He dwells among us: The eyes of mercy

What we receive without cost, we must give without cost By Bishop Richard F. Stika The Religious Sisters of Mercy have a picture at their motherhouse in Alma, Mich., that depicts a sobbing St. Peter being comforted by the Blessed Mother. In her hands, Mary holds her son’s crown of …