Christ’s constant presence gives light to the darkness December is the darkest month of the year. Its first 20 days are a progression into ever longer nights until the 21st of December, when we experience in the Northern Hemisphere the longest day of darkness of the year. The Church reacts …
World embraces simple hug by Pope Francis
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — For someone who has frequently been shunned and humiliated because of a disease that has severely disfigured his entire body, receiving the pope’s loving embrace was like being in paradise. Vinicio Riva, who is afflicted with neurofibromatosis, said his brief encounter with Pope Francis Nov. 6 …
Marriage enrichment: Looking forward to a Synod of Bishops
Special assembly meeting in October 2014 to focus on the pastoral care of the family Pope Francis in early October called for a Synod of Bishops to gather in Rome in October 2014. A Synod of Bishops consists of an assembly of bishops chosen from different regions around the world …
Understanding the sacraments: Sacred art and furnishings
Unity, not uniformity, is the Church’s criterion in identifying sacred creations that praise God In my last column I interrupted my series on the Second Vatican Council’s Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy to talk about the cathedral church of a diocese, summarizing the discussion found in the Ceremonial of Bishops. …
Funeral Mass held in Nashville for Sister Mary Ethel Raulston
Sister Mary Ethel Raulston, RSM, 83, who once served at Knoxville Catholic High School, died Thursday, Nov. 7, at Mercy Convent in Nashville. A Sister of Mercy for 59 years, Sister Ethel ministered in institutions of secondary and higher education in Cincinnati, Knoxville, and Nashville, including KCHS from 1975 to …
Sister Helen Sherrard dies at age 87
Sister Helen Sherrard, BVM (Agneselle), died Oct. 21 at Marian Hall in Dubuque, Iowa. She was 87. In the Diocese of Knoxville, Sister Helen was a librarian, parish minister and volunteer at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Chattanooga from 1982 to 2003. She also taught elementary school and was …
Once upon a time: Jubilee celebration has enriched our lives
A new Church year brings with it opportunities to continue growing in faith and service to our Lord I often come away from a wake service for one of our beloved dead with the question popping in my head, “what’s next?” For many folks it involves several months of settling …
Blessed John XXIII Parish to offer Blue Christmas Mass
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 …