Special service open to all diocesan parishioners who are grieving or experiencing loneliness during holidays The Diocese of Knoxville will celebrate a special Christmas Mass on Dec. 24 for those who are alone, sad, or grieving during the holidays. The 8 p.m. Blue Christmas Mass will be celebrated at Blessed …
Bioethics at the center of diocesan seminar on health care issues
Advancements in medicine that have leapfrogged existing standard care practices, especially in reproductive science, are putting a premium on the view that “just because we could, doesn’t mean we should.” That was the assessment of Dr. Marie T. Hilliard, director of bioethics and public policy at the National Catholic Bioethics …
Diocesan Masses to have special collection for typhoon victims
East Tennessee Catholics are being asked to take part in a special collection for victims of Typhoon Haiyan, which struck the Philippines on Friday and left thousands dead and hundreds of thousands displaced. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, meeting in Baltimore, agreed on Nov. 11 to the special collection …
Archbishop Kurtz named president of bishops conference
The Diocese of Knoxville’s second bishop has been elected president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Former bishop Joseph E. Kurtz was elected to the high-ranking Church leadership post on Nov. 12 on the first ballot with 125 votes and will serve a three-year term that begins at the …
Unveiling the future
November is the month we close out Ordinary Time and make way for Advent and the beginning of the new Liturgical Year. It does so, however, with a flourish. We all get excited by books and movies that try to tell us about the end of the world. November presents …
Knights of Columbus raise funds for diocese seminarians, charities
Bishop Richard F. Stika received two checks totaling more than $10,000 from the Knights of Columbus on Nov. 1 in the Our Lady of the Mountains Chapel at the Chancery office in Knoxville. Making the presentations were Mike Wills, supreme director of the Knights; Tracy Staller, state treasurer; and Ron …
Families often are where we first learn about God
The Catholic Church has referred to the family as the “domestic church” ever since Lumen Gentium, the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, was published during the Second Vatican Council. The term domestic church means that it is within our families that we first learn about God and the Catholic Church. …
KCHS Lady Irish win state soccer championship
Knoxville Catholic High School’s girls soccer team made history Nov. 2, and in doing so made an impact on a state-wide level. The Lady Irish won the TSSAA Girls Soccer State Championship in Murfreesboro, defeating neighboring rival Christian Academy of Knoxville 3-1 in the Class A/AA title match at Richard …
St. Augustine Parish celebrates 75th anniversary
By Dan McWilliams St. Augustine Parish in Signal Mountain marked its 75th birthday Nov. 3 as Bishop Richard F. Stika celebrated an anniversary Mass, dedicated a new education/multipurpose wing at the church, and blessed the parish’s new outdoor Stations of the Cross. Concelebrating were current St. Augustine pastor Father Joseph …
Celebration of Día de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead)
A mix of religiosity and Mexican tradition By Lourdes Garza As Catholics, it is important to understand the origin and meaning of the celebrations that will be taking place in the following days. Halloween (October 31), All Saints Day (November 1), and All Souls Day and Day of the Dead …
Dedication Mass set for Church of Divine Mercy
One of the Diocese of Knoxville’s newest missions will have its first church dedicated on Nov. 17 to serve the growing Vietnamese community. Bishop Richard F. Stika will celebrate the dedication Mass at the Church of Divine Mercy, located at 10919 Carmichael Road in West Knoxville. Father Hoan Dinh, Divine …
Former OLPH educator Sister Helen Sherrard, BVM, dies
DUBUQUE, Iowa — Sister Helen Sherrard , BVM (Agneselle), died Oct. 21 at Marian Hall in Dubuque, Iowa. She was 87. Sister Helen is buried in the Mount Carmel cemetery in Dubuque. In the Diocese of Knoxville, Sister Helen was a librarian, parish minister and volunteer at Our Lady of …
