‘The Scouting program has fortified people who are able to recognize their challenges, gifts, and abilities’ By Dan McWilliams Bishop Richard F. Stika continued an annual recognition of youth and adults in Scouting this year with an 8:05 a.m. Saturday Mass on March 7 at the Cathedral of the Most …
‘Our Good Friday’
Bishop Stika reassures diocese, takes historic safety action due to coronavirus outbreak; Mass suspended By Bill Brewer Shuttered stores and schools. Locked restaurants and bars. Dissipated traffic. Silent theaters. Barren grocery shelves. Empty churches. The novel coronavirus, a mysterious, communicable illness that first appeared on the other side of the …
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The Church is a lighthouse in the severest of storms —or pandemics
Cardinal Rigali puts the coronavirus in context as he reflects on challenges in Catholic history By Dan McWilliams Cardinal Justin Rigali has seen a little of everything in his nearly 59 years as a priest and nearly 85 years of life. He was on the ground floor as a young …
‘God’s dwelling place’
Our Lady of Fatima Parish marks the 20th year since its ‘new’ church was dedicated in Blount County By Bill Brewer A special Mass celebrated March 11 to mark the 20th anniversary of the dedication of Our Lady of Fatima’s present church, parish hall, and offices, was as much …
Parishioners asked to continue supporting parishes by giving online
Online giving helps Diocese of Knoxville churches sustain operations in this uncertain time By John Deinhart These are challenging times for so many — filled with confusion and uncertainty. At this time, so many are in need of our support. Our families, neighbors, community leaders, and health-care workers, or one …
KCHS soccer players respond to Cookeville relief efforts
Fighting Irish teammates, fathers rally to aid Putnam County community devastated by March tornadoes By Bill Brewer Soccer was played after all, just not how the players had envisioned the match. And it was a few days late, too. However, it was a welcome distraction for Cookeville High School’s boys …
Make a spiritual Communion
Whether we can receive the Eucharist or not, we should always desire to be in union with Christ By Bishop Richard F. Stika “Do not fear: I am with you; do not be anxious, I am your God.”— Isaiah 41:10 Since the first words of fallen Adam: “I was afraid,” …
The power of Marvel
Catholic values reflected through the work of game giant’s executive, who is a Notre Dame High School grad By Alyssa Neuhoff Bill Rosemann sat in the teacher’s lounge at Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga on Jan. 31 after speaking to an assembly of students and teachers as well as …
Catholics encouraged to practice spiritual Communion
Pope Francis, bishops are encouraging faithful who are not able to attend Mass to desire a union with Jesus in the Holy Eucharist By FAITH Catholic After the Angelus prayer on March 3, Pope Francis invited the faithful “to rediscover and deepen the value of the Communion that unites all …
In these times, meditate on faith, hope, and love
As Christians, we are called to a greater response to whatever challenges our community By Bob Hunt I am writing this in the middle of the coronavirus national emergency. As of this writing, my daughter’s school is on an extended spring break, many restaurants and other businesses have closed their …
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Understanding the divisions of the Old Testament
The books are grouped into four major sections in the Christian tradition By Sister Anna Marie McGuan, RSM One challenge when reading the Old Testament is dealing with the amount of material contained therein. As a person reads along, he encounters narrative or story-like books or portions of books. The …
Virus and a death in the family make for ‘hellish week’
Every kid wants an extra day of spring break, but no one was hoping for a total school shutdown By George Valadie What a week! One of those unbelievable, don’t-ever-want-to-do-it-again sorts of weeks. I should begin by pointing out that because monthly diocesan newspapers function the way they do, columnists …