East Tennessee’s two Catholic football teams kick off their seasons tonight in Chattanooga when Notre Dame hosts Knoxville Catholic in the second annual Irish Bowl. The game kicks off at 7:30 p.m. Bishop Richard F. Stika and Sister Mary Marta Abbott, RSM, superintendent of Catholic Schools, will be at the …
Pope Francis appoints Cardinal Rigali as special envoy
By Jim Wogan Cardinal Justin F. Rigali will represent Pope Francis as his special envoy at a celebration marking the 250th anniversary of the founding of the city of St. Louis. “It is a great honor to be the personal representative of Pope Francis,” Cardinal Rigali said. It brings me …
Three seminarians ordained into transitional diaconate
The pathway to priesthood in the Diocese of Knoxville continues to be busy as Bishop Richard F. Stika ordained three seminarians June 14 to the transitional diaconate, an important step in their religious education before priesthood. Newly ordained Deacons Jesús Guerrero-Rodríguez, Raymond Powell and Scott Russell participated in the Rite …
World Meeting of Families will be open to all as Vatican, Philadelphia get ready
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia next year will be open to families and people of different faiths, including no faith at all, to engage the wider society in dialogue and to serve and strengthen all families, organizers said. The gathering Sept. 22-27, 2015, “is …
Father Ragan Schriver honored at Emerald O’ccasion
Catholic Charities of East Tennessee’s 29th annual fundraising dinner was indeed an Emerald O’ccasion as some 500 supporters of the social-service agency joined in celebrating former executive director Father Ragan Schriver. The 2014 event, held March 13 at the Knoxville Marriott hotel, was planned as a tribute to Father Schriver, …
Hundreds on hand at 4th annual Rosary For Life
People from across the diocese gather near Planned Parenthood clinic in prayer to offer peaceful witness What looked to be a soggy Rosary For Life instead became a powerful witness for God and the sanctity of life Jan. 11 as a persistent downpour ended when Cardinal Justin Rigali began prayer …
Cardinal Rigali reflects on popes as canonizations near
Historic ceremony highlights legacies of Blessed John XXIII and Blessed John Paul II; pilgrimage planned As sainthood nears for two of the most beloved popes in recent memory, a contemporary of Blessed John XXIII and Blessed John Paul II remembers them as being particularly effective in spreading the Gospel around …
Rosary For Life attracts parishioners from across diocese
What looked to be a soggy Rosary For Life instead became a powerful witness for God and the sanctity of life Jan. 11 as a persistent downpour dried up when Cardinal Justin Rigali began prayer in front of Planned Parenthood’s East Knoxville clinic. Some 250 people from across the Diocese …
Bishop Stika, Cardinal Rigali entertain in ‘Evening Chat’
Amusing dialogue gives insight into Church, papacy Watch out Cardinal Dolan and Stephen Colbert, there’s a new Catholic stand-up team and they just might take their brand of catechetical comedy on the road. Bishop Richard F. Stika and Cardinal Justin Rigali held an “Evening Chat” Sept. 13 attended by more …
Pilgrimage to canonizations for John Paul II, John XXIII planned
Bishop Richard F. Stika and Cardinal Justin Rigali will be featured on a pilgrimage to Rome scheduled April 21-29 for the canonizations of Blessed John Paul II and Blessed John XXIII. The pilgrimage, sponsored by Select International Tours, will depart Knoxville’s McGhee Tyson Airport on April 21, and connect with …
Eucharistic Congress ‘wows’ 5,000 Catholic faithful
The Diocese of Knoxville celebrated its 25th anniversary in grand fashion Sept. 13-14 as some 5,000 faithful from throughout East Tennessee and around the country gathered in prayer and song, fellowship and worship at the Sevierville Events Center to rejoice the Holy Eucharist in the diocese’s first Eucharistic Congress. “Wow” …
Pope Francis presents blessing to Diocese of Knoxville
As Pope Francis establishes the 265th pontificate since St. Peter following his March 13 ascension from the College of Cardinals, the world is embracing the new pontiff and his acts of humility and compassion. The pope’s popularity is extending beyond Vatican City, where he has upended traditional security protocol by …
