Two priests ordained for the Diocese of Knoxville in 2001 will celebrate their silver jubilees this month. Father John Orr and Father Brent Shelton were ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Joseph E. Kurtz on June 16, 2001, at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Now pastor of Holy Ghost Parish in Knoxville, …
A Mass of Thanksgiving
St. Albert the Great Parish welcomes Father Daniel Cooper’s first celebration By Bill Brewer Father Daniel Cooper’s first Mass, his Mass of Thanksgiving, attracted a large St. Albert the Great congregation to the 11 a.m. service on June 7. Concelebrating the Mass was Father Christopher Floersh, pastor of St. Albert …
Diocese commits to caring for creation
Ecological retreat, Mass led by Bishop Beckman launch Care of Creation Commission By Brett McLaughlin Long before young Mark Beckman was consciously discerning his future, he was being tugged into a relationship with God the Creator as he explored the fields and forests of his native Lawrenceburg, Tenn. Now, as …
Patsy (Pat) Watkins
Patsy (Pat) Ruth Greer Watkins passed away on May 14 at the age of 93. Mrs. Watkins was born on July 5, 1932, to Orpha and Orval Greer in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Her family moved to Kingsport in 1948, where she attended Dobyns-Bennett High School. She received a bachelor’s degree …
A celebration of priesthood
Msgr. Garrity marks 50 years of ministry, says vocation is a bit like Dollywood By Bill Brewer Monsignor Patrick Garrity publicly recognized a number of people vital to his vocation during a Mass celebrating the golden jubilee of his ordination to the priesthood. They included fellow priests, seminarians, some bishops, …
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‘Come, follow me’
Father Daniel Cooper ordained a priest by Bishop Mark Beckman By Bill Brewer The solemnity of Corpus Christi was observed with extraordinary sacredness at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus on June 6 as Bishop Mark Beckman ordained Daniel Cooper to the priesthood during a Mass that …
Father Stice named censor librorum
Father Randy Stice, who serves as director of Worship and Liturgy for the Diocese of Knoxville, has also been named censor librorum. In this position, an ecclesiastical authority appointed by Bishop Mark Beckman, Father Stice will review texts for doctrinal accuracy and give an official declaration that texts contain no …
Ladies of Charity’s annual golf tourney raises more than $17,000
The annual Joseph E. Fuhr Golf Tournament sponsored by the Ladies of Charity of Knoxville took place on May 7 at Egwani Farms Golf Course in Rockford, and despite rain, the event was a great success. The tourney drew 24 teams made up of four players each, bringing a total …
St. Joseph the Worker gala raises more than $50,000 for new FLC
St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Madisonville, on April 11 at Tellico Village Yacht Club in Loudon, held its first Spring Gala to raise funds to build a family life center. A total of 154 came to the gala. Bishop Mark Beckman provided a video message for the event, and …
Called into action
Simon of Cyrene did not go looking for the cross; it was placed upon him By Bee Goodman It’s hard to be a bystander, just passing by. Most of us simply want to mind our own business and stay out of other people’s way—neither to be a bother nor be …
’25 Bishop’s Appeal sets record
Diocese parishioners again demonstrate generosity in supporting ministries By Bill Brewer The Diocese of Knoxville’s 2025 Bishop’s Appeal set a record for funds raised to support important Catholic ministries in East Tennessee, such as Catholic Charities of East Tennessee, the St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic, diocesan schools, seminarians, and programs for …
Holy Ghost renovating its original 1908 church building
A $3 million project will transform the older structure next door into a parish life center By Dan McWilliams One of the highlights of the 100th-anniversary celebration of Holy Ghost Church’s current building is the effort to renovate the North Knoxville Catholics’ original 1908 church into a parish life center. The …