Monsignor Xavier Mankel takes a step back from his duties as a columnist and peer reviewer By Bill Brewer A phrase often overused is “the end of an era.” Shoppers staying at home and buying their Christmas gifts online instead of crowding the malls and outlet stores might be a …
Understanding the sacraments: The Word of God in the liturgy
The Lectionary for Mass Supplement contains additions for a number of optional memorials By Father Randy Stice In its Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Vatican Council II stressed the multifaceted role of Sacred Scripture in the liturgy. “Sacred Scripture is of the greatest importance in the celebration of the liturgy. …
Living the readings: A midwinter retreat
Ten weeks of Scripture meditation will prepare you for Easter By Father Joseph Brando In this issue we will be looking at all the Sunday Scripture readings in February and March. This period of time starts in Ordinary Time following Epiphany and continues until the day before Holy Week. One …
Marriage enrichment: Celebrating the diocese’s longest-married couples
A husband and wife married 69 years share their love story, which began in the ‘Magic City’ By Marian Christiana The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) National Marriage Week annual initiative begins Feb. 7 and ends Feb. 14 this year. Archbishop Charles Chaput, chairman of the Committee on Laity, …
Praying for Perspective: The man on the curb in front of the Krystal
A weekend visit to the fast-food eatery leads to fretting over the circumstances of a seemingly homeless person By George Valadie I love weekends, especially when our Friday night games have gone well and all the students have made it home safely. After these many years, with our girls now …
St. Therese in Clinton hosting a parish Lenten mission featuring speaker Carlos Taja
St. Therese Parish in Clinton is hosting a Lenten mission titled “Returning to God With All of One’s Heart.” The mission will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 11, at the church. It includes lunch in the church hall. For lunch purposes, call the St. Therese …
Lego Crusaders advance to ET Championship
The Lego Crusaders of St. Mary School in Oak Ridge competed with 27 other Lego teams Dec. 3 to qualify to advance to the East Tennessee Championship. The annual Lego Challenge requires participants to identify and research a real-world problem, develop and implement a solution, and communicate their results to …
Knights crown state soccer champs at Challenge
The results are in from the Knights of Columbus Soccer Challenge State Championships held at St. Rose School in Murfreesboro. Seven boys and three girls from Tennessee, ages 9 to 14, were recently named state champions in the 2016 Knights Soccer Challenge and have earned the right to compete at …
Gold Award project benefits foster-care children
On a cold Saturday evening in early December, the Blount County Foster Care Association held its annual Christmas dinner and party. For the foster-care children, it meant an opportunity to meet Santa and play with friends. For Erin Smith, it meant the culmination of the biggest project and highest award …
St. Mary student wins VFW essay contest
Students at St. Mary School in Oak Ridge recently had the opportunity to participate in the Veterans of Foreign Wars Essay Competition. Conducted nationwide, the Patriot’s Pen is a VFW-sponsored youth essay competition that gives students an opportunity to write essays expressing their views on an annual patriotic theme. This …
Middle school football team undefeated — again
The Chattanooga Catholic football team finished the 2016 season with a perfect record, going 11-0. It was Catholic’s second consecutive undefeated campaign. Chattanooga Catholic, a cooperative middle school football program of Our Lady of Perpetual Help and St. Jude school students, competes in the Independent School Conference. Before 2015, it …
State Knights of Columbus membership efforts are paying off
Tennessee Knights councils have recruited 330 new members in first six months of the fraternal year By Andy Telli The Tennessee Knights of Columbus’ membership efforts are paying dividends. In the first six months in the 2016-17 fraternal year, the Knights in Tennessee have recruited about 330 new members, which …
