Knights’ Silver Rose visits St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Madisonville

A Silver Rose was featured prominently in a special liturgical service March 30 at St. Joseph the Worker Church in Madisonville. The Silver Rose program, sponsored by Knights of Columbus Council 15585, is a national devotion in honor of Our Lady, with a specific dedication to the sanctity of human …

Easter basket project in Chattanooga brings joy to children in need

An Easter basket project in Chattanooga started about eight or so years ago with one individual person, Joni Hotchkiss, who liked to bring joy by making Easter baskets for others in need. Once she was making more baskets than she could handle by herself, it grew into a Lenten service …

 St. John XXIII Parish (finally) marks 50th anniversary

By Jim Wogan It took longer than expected, but parishioners of St. John XXIII last month finally marked the 50th anniversary of their parish’s dedication—52 years after it happened. The COVID pandemic stalled the original plans for the Catholic community’s jubilee by two years, but the delay didn’t mask the …

Father Sturm installed as pastor of two parishes

Bishop Stika performs the rite at OLPH in LaFollette and again at Christ the King in Tazewell   By Dan McWilliams Father Sam Sturm recently had the feeling that it was déjà vu all over again, to quote the great Yogi Berra. Although Father Sturm has had his current assignment for …

Speaker Melissa Foley leads Lenten talk, prayer for women at St. John Neumann

Speaker Melissa Foley leads Lenten talk, prayer for women at St. John Neumann By Gabrielle Nolan “Am I worth dying for?” Women of the diocese were presented with this question at a Lenten evening of reflection at St. John Neumann Church in Farragut on Mar. 31. Nearly 100 women gathered …

On the road again

Bishop Stika resumes a full confirmation schedule as youth prepare to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit By Dan McWilliams Bishop Richard F. Stika is back on the road conferring confirmations after COVID paused most of his celebrations of the sacrament last year, and no one may be any …

Following GPS during the holiest of seasons

Does God’s Plan for Salvation include you? IC Lenten ecumenical service offers a map to penance By Bill Brewer In the holiest spirit of neighborly ecumenism, downtown Knoxville churches celebrated the Lenten season leading into Easter by sharing each other’s faith practices, and Immaculate Conception Church was at the forefront. …

Mission: Possible

St. Dominic Parish hosts first men’s conference, hopes to turn it into an annual Lenten event By Bill Brewer When the mission is sainthood, achieving the holiest of endeavors—getting to heaven—is of utmost importance to anyone of faith. And for dozens of men in the Five Rivers Deanery who aspire …

Knights of Columbus Council 645 marks 120 years of service

Members past and present are recognized for continuing the faith-based traditions of one of Tennessee’s oldest councils By Bill Brewer Knights of Columbus Council 645 at Immaculate Conception Church marked a milestone last month when it celebrated its 120th anniversary, tracing its origin to February 1902. To put the date …

Wedding celebration welcomes back Sacred Heart newlyweds

Dozens of couples married at new cathedral since 2018 reunite to mark National Marriage Week USA By Gabrielle Nolan Nearly 50 married couples gathered at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in Knoxville for an evening to celebrate their unique marriages. The event, which took place the …

Sewing ministry creates hygiene kits for women

Group at All Saints Parish imitates the example of St. Tabitha to help women around the world By Gabrielle Nolan Here in the West, it is called “period poverty.” When girls and young women do not have the resources to care for their monthly menstrual cycles, they are forced to …

Father Jim Vick installed as pastor of St. Bridget

The priest has been at the Dayton parish a little while, but Bishop Stika made his position official   By Dan McWilliams Although he had been appointed to lead the parish in October 2020, Father Jim Vick had never been installed as pastor of St. Bridget in Dayton until Bishop Richard …