Parish notes: Smoky Mountain Deanery

Holy Family, Seymour Holy Family Church is hosting a yard and bake sale from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 8; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9; and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 10. For more information, contact Anita or Jerry Miller at 865-712-8252 or …

Smoky Mountain Deanery calendar

The seventh annual Irish Fest on the Hill will take place from 4-10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9, at Immaculate Conception Church. The festival will include Irish music, dancing, beer, a tour of the church, games, and much more. Admission is $5 for adults and free for children 12 and under. …

Notre Dame High’s Howie Sompayrac moves to St. Joseph

Notre Dame High School’s Howie Sompayrac resigned as athletics director April 8 after 15 years in the position. Mr. Sompayrac has accepted a job at St. Joseph School in Knoxville, where he will be the director of School Advancement. His wife, Cathy, has been offered an elementary teaching position there …

Funeral Mass held for diocesan seminarian Jeff Emitt

Diocese of Knoxville seminarian Jeff Emitt died July 16 after a courageous battle with cancer. He was 61. Mr. Emitt was a longtime member of Holy Ghost Church, where he had played guitar for Sunday evening Masses. He also was a fourth-degree Knight of Columbus prior to joining the seminary. …

St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic breaks ground on garage, offices

Facility for mobile medical unit will be on the Church of Divine Mercy campus in West Knox County The St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic will soon have a new home. The diocese broke ground July 1 for a 40-by-60-foot warehouse that will house the mobile clinic, which is a family physician’s …

Diocese schools in Chattanooga, Kingsport see new principals

Top educators at St. Dominic, Our Lady of Perpetual Help retire; successors eager to begin new year Two diocesan elementary school principals retired following the 2013-14 school year, and each has a successor eager to step in and fill the role. Jeri McInturff stepped down at Our Lady of Perpetual …

Church of Divine Mercy holds inaugural first Communion, confirmation Mass

Bishop Richard F. Stika gave the sacrament of confirmation to nearly every Diocese of Knoxville parish during the spring. The sacrament was especially eagerly anticipated at one church, which held its first Mass of confirmation and first Holy Communion. Divine Mercy Catholic mission celebrated milestones for 21 of its youngest …

Weekday readings for August 2014

Friday, Aug. 1: Jeremiah 26:1-9; Psalm 69:5, 8-10, 14; Matthew 13:54-58 Saturday, Aug. 2: Jeremiah 26:11-16, 24; Psalm 69:15-16, 30-31, 33-34; Matthew 14:1-12 Sunday, Aug. 3: Isaiah 55:1-3; Psalm 145:8-9, 15-18; Romans 8:35, 37-39; Matthew 14:13-21 Monday, Aug. 4: Jeremiah 28:1-17; Psalm 119:29, 43, 79-80, 95, 102; Matthew 14:22-36 Tuesday, …

Living the readings: Making it through rough times

Many lessons are learned about God’s abundant love August is known for its long hot days and sweaty boring nights that made kids wish school were back in session. Schools, in Tennessee at least, have accommodated this desire and have welcomed the children back ever earlier each year, making today’s …

Once upon a time: Road to heaven should be traveled with love

Incorporating Scripture into a trip, regardless of the distance, will deepen your spiritual journey About two millennia ago, a teenaged Jewish girl (shall we name her Miriam?) who lived in the northern third of the Holy Land (Galilee) got wind that her older cousin, Elizabeth, who lived in the hill …

Marriage enrichment: Home really is a holy place

Finding new ways to communicate this message more effectively I have just returned from the National Association of Family Life Ministers (NACFLM) annual conference. The theme this year was “Home is a Holy Place,” which was perfectly timed to tie into the emphasis Pope Francis has placed on the Church …

Understanding the sacraments: The Synod on the Family

Praying for the pope and bishops as they address how the Church can live more fully the sacrament of reconciliation Pope Francis, recognizing the enormous challenges facing the family, has called the Third Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops to consider “pastoral challenges to the family in the …