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 …

First Polish Heritage Festival at cathedral cheered as a success

By Kasia Golec The Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus hosted Knoxville’s first Polish Heritage Festival on Aug. 3 in a milestone that was long-awaited and embraced by the Polish community. The festival’s high point was a performance by the Zaradni Highlander Group from Chicago. Zaradni, founded in …

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The thirst for freedom from addiction

Catholic Extension-funded iThirst program begins to have an impact in diocese By Gabrielle Nolan Drugs. Alcohol. Sex. Gambling. Addiction comes in many forms, whether it’s substance abuse or behavioral addiction. Addiction not only affects the addict, but also their family members, friends, and communities. Providing support for all involved in …

Evangelization new and old

Holy Cross Parish’s faithful outreach is attracting Catholics and non-Catholics By Bill Brewer The Church in East Tennessee is larger by a dozen new Catholics who officially became members of Holy Cross Parish in Pigeon Forge on Aug. 25. Father David Mary Engo celebrated the Mass that featured the sacraments …

Marie Cirillo, Appalachia community development pioneer, dies

The East Tennessee Catholic Marie Cirillo, an almost larger-than-life figure in community development initiatives in rural Appalachia and a friend and mentor to the family of President John F. Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy, died peacefully in her home in Clairfield, Tenn., on July 4. Ms. Cirillo, who was born in …

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Hillbilly Thomists bring bluegrass and Bible to Bijou

Performance by Dominican friars band benefits the Chesterton Academy By Emily Booker The Hillbilly Thomists, a band of Dominican friars, shared their blessed, soul-filled sound to a packed Bijou Theatre in Knoxville on Aug. 3. The concert, part of their Marigold Tour through the South, was a fundraiser for the …

Challenges affecting participation in Mass

In a media-driven age, writes Pope Benedict XVI, signs and symbols are no longer understood By Father Randy Stice Recent popes have identified three cultural challenges that can affect our participation in the Mass. Pope Francis has written that many today no longer believe that God is present and active …

Looking, listening, and learning

‘Bishop of the Mountains’ discovering the spirit of the Lord is active in East Tennessee By Bishop Mark Beckman Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, what a joy it is to be your shepherd here in the Diocese of Knoxville! From the first moment I arrived as bishop-elect in early …