Catholic Relief Services’ Rice Bowl marks 40th year

Catholic Relief Services marks 40th year of Lenten fundraiser Catholic Relief Services in 2015 marks the 40th anniversary of CRS Rice Bowl, the largest and oldest Lenten program used by millions of Catholics across the United States. Known for its iconic and symbolic cardboard “rice bowl,” the program has evolved …

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Catholic Charities marks 30th year for Emerald O’ccasion fundraiser

The 30th annual Emerald O’ccasion dinner to benefit Catholic Charities of East Tennessee will be held Thursday, March 12, at the Knoxville Marriott hotel with Father Eric Andrews, CSP, as the featured speaker. Father Andrews is the president of the Paulist Fathers and is the former pastor at St. John …

Diocese of Knoxville churches schedule Lenten penance services

Churches in the Diocese of Knoxville have scheduled Lenten penance services through the end of March. Chattanooga Deanery All services begin at 7 p.m. unless noted otherwise: Thursday, March 5, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Chattanooga; Thursday, March 12, St. Jude, Chattanooga; Wednesday, March 18, Holy Spirit, Soddy Daisy; 5:30 …

16 student athletes from Notre Dame, KCHS sign with colleges

Nine student athletes from Knoxville Catholic High School and seven from Notre Dame High School signed letters of intent with colleges on Feb. 4, which was National Signing Day. Family, friends, and coaches joined the students at the schools as they signed letters that were immediately faxed to their school …

Cardinal Rigali leads Rosary for Life for diocesan faithful

Cardinal Justin Rigali was joined by more than 250 Catholic faithful Jan. 10 in front of Planned Parenthood’s East Knoxville clinic for the annual Rosary for Life. Cardinal Rigali led the prayer service on the sidewalk in front of the clinic at 710 N. Cherry Street, one of two abortion …

St. John Neumann School students show love by lopping off locks

With a drum roll from music teacher Jonathan Leichman, 21 girls at St. John Neumann School in Farragut on Jan. 29 continued a four-year tradition of donating their ponytails to benefit cancer patients. As the student body looked on in the gymnasium, parents and friends began snipping the locks, some …

He dwells among us: Bucket lists

Joy comes from being the hands, the face and the heart of Christ to others Have you ever been asked, “What’s on your bucket list?” For those not familiar with the phrase, it is a list of things that a person wants to do before he or she dies. For …

Catholic Education Trust Fund marks 10 years of assisting schools

Diocese of Knoxville program provides critical funding for parishes, schools to improve religious education At St. Stephen in Chattanooga, the parish is seeing growth in the number of registered families. That’s a good situation for a Catholic church to be in. But it also can present a problem. Limited parish …

Diocese of Knoxville’s Lenten season begins with 40 Days for Life

Vigil will be held in front of East Knoxville Planned Parenthood facility Feb. 18-March 29; parishioners urged to take part As issues concerning the sanctity of life and protection of the unborn take center stage in Tennessee following the passage of Amendment 1 and the start of the legislative session, …

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Charism is at the heart of Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma

Diocesan schools, health care, social services benefit from the Catholic order’s ministries By Sherrie Shuler On a bitterly cold evening in January, I pull into the driveway of the Convent of St. Richard in a West Knoxville neighborhood and approach a rather unpretentious entry. The moment I reach for the …

Pope Francis celebrates Mass for 6 million during Philippine trip

MANILA, Philippines — Pope Francis told a crowd of an estimated 6 million gathered in a Manila park to protect the family “against insidious attacks and programs contrary to all that we hold true and sacred, all that is most beautiful and noble in our culture.” The pope’s homily at …