Gatlinburg wildfires | East Tennessee Catholic

Fleeing the flames on foot: At age 82, the Hullanders outran the Great Smoky Mountains firestorm

January 1, 2017

By Bill Brewer Rains have finally fallen on the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, offering much-needed relief to an area parched from months of drought and now scarred from the perfect firestorm. But the rainfall was a day late and several inches short for scores of victims of the fires, …

‘It looked like Armageddon’: David and Debbie’s prayer-filled escape from the raging fires

January 1, 2017

By Bill Brewer Photography by Stephanie Richer David and Debbie Reed’s home in the Norton Creek area of Sevier County is hallowed ground. You don’t have to look much farther than the name the couple gave their property in 2003, “Bella Lisieux.” But just how sacred “Beautiful (St. Thérèse of) …

Cathedral hosts special Mass for Venezuela

July 19, 2026 5:00 pm | By Bill Brewer

The devastating earthquakes in June impacted the family of diocesan seminarian Abrahan Da Silva By Bill Brewer A special Mass for Venezuela celebrated on July 8 at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus was especially poignant for Antonio Da Silva and his wife, Yazmin Vidao, who are natives of the South American country that was devastated by earthquakes on June 24. The couple, who live in Knoxville and whose son, Abrahan Da Silva, is preparing for ordination to the transitional diaconate for the Diocese of Knoxville and is to be ordained a priest next year, have family in harm’s way. Mr. Da Silva and Mrs. Vidao said after the Mass that family members were killed while either rescuing victims or trying to escape following the 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes that struck the Venezuelan coastal area surrounding the capital of Caracas. And many of their relatives lost their... Read more →