One of those sisters taught at St. Mary-Oak Ridge, while another from Sacred Heart made her first vows By Dan McWilliams Two Dominican Sisters with East Tennessee ties reached important milestones over the summer. Sister Anna Ruth Wilson was among eight Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia Congregation to make their …
St. Teresa provides prayerful response to gun violence with vigil
Union County faith community shares emotional testimonials as Fr. Pawelk calls for a spiritual solution By Dan McWilliams St. Teresa of Kolkata Parish in Maynardville hosted a vigil on gun violence Aug. 13, an event prompted by the recent deadly shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio. Glenmary Father …
God is all in –– are we?
The cost of discipleship is one we are all called on to cover By Bill Brewer Father Chris Michelson hopes his lesson to students active in the Diocese of Knoxville’s youth ministry didn’t fall on apathetic ears during his homily for the annual Diocesan Youth Mass on Sept. 15. His …
Seftons receive papal knighthood
Bishop Stika nominates St. John Neumann couple for induction into the Order of St. Gregory the Great; Pope Francis approves the recommendation By Dan McWilliams Alan and Sally Sefton said they felt stunned as they became the first people in the Diocese of Knoxville to be inducted into the Order …
Priesthood: a way of life, not just a career
Diocesan Home Campaign is building support for priests reaching retirement age By Jim Wogan Long before he was a priest in the Diocese of Knoxville, Monsignor Bill Gahagan thought he had made a deal with the Lord. It was 1959, and Monsignor Gahagan was a young man serving in the …
One Family’s Exodus
Rwandan couple giving back to East Tennessee, which welcomed them as refugees Story by Bill Brewer Photography by Stephanie Richer and Michael Patrick Drocella Mugorewera is a woman of faith. Her name even says so. She sees God in action everywhere she goes. And she sees the face of Jesus …
A Crisis with a Captial C
Rep. Chuck Fleischmann is calling for Congress and the country to solve a humanitarian crisis By Bill Brewer Rep. Chuck Fleischmann understands the U.S. immigration crisis inside the halls of Congress and out at the border crossings. He has visited on more than one occasion the U.S. border with Mexico, …
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The Immigration Issue from a Bishop’s Perspective
Bishop Stika shares his thoughts with the Catholic Legal Immigration Network The Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC) has asked Bishop Richard F. Stika to share his and the Diocese of Knoxville’s experiences when federal agents raided a Grainger County meatpacking plant and detained scores of Hispanic workers in 2018. In …
Working to keep a community together
St. Patrick Parish leader finds herself on the front line of the immigration issue in East Tennessee By Bill Brewer This is a busy time of year for Veronica Galvan. The director of religious education and adult faith formation coordinator at St. Patrick Church in Morristown has been registering families …
Ain’t life ‘grand’
Parenting never grows old, especially when you add the titles ‘Grumpy’ and ‘BB’ to the job description By George Valadie It doesn’t happen all that often. It certainly hasn’t been typical for our family. But remarkably, one of our longed-for dreams has come true. Katy, our oldest, her husband, Clint, …
Rights of migrant and country
In considering the issue of immigration, we need to keep two basic rights in perspective By Bishop Richard F. Stika “They took hold of a certain Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country; and after laying the cross on him, they made him carry it behind Jesus” …
A Catholic pastor responds to immigration questions
By Father Steve Pawelk, a Glenmary Home Missioner and pastor of St. Teresa of Kolkata Parish in Maynardville and St. John Paul II Catholic Mission in Rutledge “Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt.” (Matthew 2:14) “For I was hungry and you …