Bishop Beckman gets to know DOK students

The diocese’s shepherd visits both high schools and four elementary schools during August and September By Dan McWilliams Bishop Mark Beckman made several school visits in August and September as he traveled to Notre Dame High School, Our Lady of Perpetual Help School, and St. Jude School, all in Chattanooga, …

Sorrow and survival

Impact Plastics worker describes harrowing rescue from floodwaters as river overran Erwin plant By Bill Brewer “Don’t let go!” And with that urgent plea, Efraín Gómez Sr. convinced his co-worker to keep clinging to plastic pipes floating in the rapidly rising Nolichucky River that had swept up nearly a dozen …

‘Praying the whole time’

Dad braves Hurricane Helene, long hike to walk his daughter down the aisle at St. Mary By Gabrielle Nolan What do a wedding, a hurricane, and a father’s multi-state journey have to do with each other? No, this is not the plot of a Hallmark movie (yet), but rather the …

Diocese responds to flood disaster

Diocesan pastoral teams reach out to residents in need of spiritual, physical, emotional, and financial support By Dan McWilliams Bishop Mark Beckman was able to see firsthand the ministry to victims of flooding caused by Hurricane Helene in visits to Erwin and Hampton on Oct. 2. The bishop met with …

Sole consultor

Pope Francis names Diocese of Knoxville resident as only American in Synod role By Gabrielle Nolan Sociologist, researcher, and Knoxville resident Tricia Bruce is contributing to the second session of the Synod on Synodality at the Vatican this month, being held Oct. 2-27. A lifelong Catholic, Dr. Bruce was appointed …

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Catholic Charities of East Tennessee gives update on emergency-relief efforts

The East Tennessee Catholic Catholic Charities of East Tennessee (CCETN) continues to lead emergency-response efforts to assist individuals and communities impacted by Hurricane Helene. Deacon David Duhamel, CCETN executive director, provided an update on Oct. 1 on the areas of upper East Tennessee that are dealing with devastation from record …

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St. Mary-Oak Ridge opens reading room in memory of teacher Anne Garrett

St. Mary School in Oak Ridge recently announced the opening of the Treehouse Reading Room in the school library, redesigned and renamed in memory of a beloved former teacher, Anne Garrett. Mrs. Garrett was a revered teacher at St. Mary who passed away in 2019. She zealously taught from 1987-2014 …

Notre Dame Parish holds annual vacation Bible school

Vacation Bible school was held on all Wednesday nights in June and the first Wednesday night in July at Notre Dame Church in Greeneville. The theme of the annual event was “Camping in God’s Creation.” Through the VBS activities, the children learned to appreciate the wonder of God’s creation and …

St. Jude School receives honor to host the Freedom Flag on Sept. 11

St. Jude School in Chattanooga was chosen as only the second school in Tennessee and the first elementary school to host the Freedom Flag on Patriot’s Day, Sept. 11. The Freedom Flag Foundation chose St. Jude for the honor after an application made by third-grade teacher Katlyn Darling. The foundation …

Sunny weather greets foursomes at 16th Ladies of Charity Tournament

The original day in May for the 16th annual Ladies of Charity of Knoxville Golf Tournament was wet and rainy, but the make-up date of Aug. 8 was a beautiful day for the 23 foursomes at Egwani Farms Golf Course in Rockford. Executive director Susan Unbehaun said the event set …

OLPH class of 1974 gathers for 50-year reunion

Many students in the class return to reminisce at the Chattanooga church and school By Dan McWilliams The class of 1974 from Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in Chattanooga returned to the campus July 20 for its 50-year reunion. Some 80 percent of the 58-member eighth-grade class attended the …