Bishop Stika welcomes new members into the Catholic Church

By Dan McWilliams Bishop Richard F. Stika greeted more than 100 newcomers to the Catholic Church on Feb. 13 in the Rite of Election ceremony for the Chattanooga and Five Rivers deaneries held at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. “A total of 244 catechumens and candidates from …

Pilgrimage to Shroud of Turin stokes teacher’s scientific fire

By Bill Brewer Looking around Dr. Kelly Kearse’s classroom at Knoxville Catholic High School, you can almost hear the big bang when faith and science collide. There are the chemical equations on the white board waiting to be balanced. There is the periodic table of elements on the wall. And …

Sharing the bread of life

By Bill Brewer If she had lived in the 1700s, Marie Noe’s vocation may have been town crier. As a modern-day resident of Claiborne County, Mrs. Noe wants the public to know that people are going hungry here. Hunger is no game in this Appalachian county, where residents living paycheck to …

Once upon a time: Getting from ashes to Easter

By Monsignor Xavier Mankel Every parish has some. Packed away in a box or two, there is a supply of bunting and other material used to drape the doors of the parish church in gold and white when the pope dies. In civil matters, the bunting may be red, white …

Merciful like Joseph

On our pilgrim journey of life, call upon the help of St. Joseph as your guide By Bishop Richard F. Stika What would you think if you had a dream involving seven healthy cows and seven well-developed ears of corn, followed by a vision of seven gaunt, emaciated cows and …

Home Campaign enters home stretch as Wave 3 gets underway

By Jim Wogan Diocesan parishioners have heard a lot about the 2016 Bishop’s Appeal in recent weeks. But for many parishes around the diocese the Home Campaign is getting equal attention. While the annual Bishop’s Appeal supports the lives of thousands of people each day through essential ministries, the Home …

Bishop Stika recommends Msgr. Humbrecht, Fr. Reed for papal designation

By Jim Wogan While Catholics across the world have been called on by Pope Francis to celebrate the Jubilee of Mercy, two priests from the Diocese of Knoxville will receive a special mandate from the Holy Father in Rome to further spread merciful works. Monsignor Al Humbrecht, pastor at Holy …

Diocesan contingent braves blizzard to attend national March for Life

Weather doesn’t deter pro-life supporters, including presidential candidate Carly Fiorina, from Washington rally By Jim Wogan When Kari Lopez heard the weather forecast, she didn’t waver. After months of planning to attend the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C., Kari wasn’t about to let a little snow get in …

Alexian Brothers renew vows

Alexian Brothers Tom Klein and Andrew Dinegar renewed their vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience for the period of one year during a Dec. 10 Mass at the Alexian Brothers chapel in Signal Mountain. Father Joseph Thomas, CMI, celebrated the Mass, with the vow renewal following his homily that focused …

Notre Dame High School athletes sign letters of intent

Six Notre Dame High School students recently signed letters of intent to continue their athletic careers in college. The students were honored at a signing ceremony hosted by the athletic department and the athletes’ parents. Zach Riddle will attend Trevecca Nazarene University on a golf scholarship. He is the son …

St. Jude School celebrates its 55th anniversary ’60s style

St. Jude School in Chattanooga recently celebrated its 55th anniversary with a variety of events that reflected the spirit of its founding in 1960. Superintendent Sister Mary Marta Abbott, RSM, joined the students for a Mass with school Mass songs from the 1960s. Students and teachers alike dressed for the …