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A church open to all

St. John Paul II community strong in faith despite limited resources By Omar Cabrera Glenmary Challenge When Esperanza and her husband, Miguel, decided to prepare for confirmation, they ran into an obstacle. The parish they attend offers classes for this sacrament only on weekdays at 7 p.m. It’s an impossible …

The Eucharist impels us to mission

St. Michael the Archangel Parish hosts advent retreat led by USCCB’s Yohan Garcia By Theresa Nguyen-Gillen The Glenmary Home Missioners are hosting an advent retreat day on Saturday, Dec. 2, that is open to everyone in the Diocese of Knoxville, either in person or via livestream. The retreat, titled “The …

Bishop Stika dedicates Rutledge church

New St. John Paul II Catholic Mission building serves Grainger County faith community By Dan McWilliams When Bishop Richard F. Stika dedicated the new church building for St. John Paul II Catholic Mission in Rutledge on May 29, he shared his personal connection with its namesake pope. The bishop was …

Building Our Church

Rutledge Catholic mission preparing to move into new worship space By Bill Brewer St. John Paul II Catholic Mission in Grainger County is approaching an important milestone toward its goal of becoming a Diocese of Knoxville parish. One of the newest faith communities in the diocese is nearing completion on …

Glenmary volunteers meet on ‘Toppa Joppa’

The program on Joppa Mountain in Grainger County draws teens and adults ‘to serve others first’ By Dan McWilliams Jesse Butler, a wheelchair-bound resident of Luttrell, can attest to the benefits of the Glenmary Group Volunteer Program based on Joppa Mountain in Grainger County. During the week of Oct. 17-22, …

Kenneth Wandera ordained to the priesthood

Three Glenmary Home Missioners were ordained to the priesthood on March 20 by Bishop J. Mark Spalding of the Diocese of Nashville, including Father Kenneth Wandera, who is from Kenya and is serving as an associate pastor at St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Erwin. Joining Father Wandera in the …

St. Michael the Archangel gets transitional deacon

Bishop Richard F. Stika has assigned Deacon Kenneth Ouma Wandera to support Glenmary Father Tom Charters at St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Erwin. Father Charters is the pastor of St. Michael the Archangel Parish. Deacon Wandera took his final vows with the Glenmary Home Missioners on June 26 and …

St. John Paul II Catholic Mission names pastoral associate

Father Neil Pezzulo, GHM, pastor of St. John Paul II Catholic Mission in Rutledge has announced the hiring of a new pastoral associate, Clarisa Chavarria. Ms. Chavarria will assist the parish in serving the local Catholic minority, fostering cooperation with other local churches, evangelization, social outreach, and social justice efforts, …

Glenmary Father John Rausch dies at age 75

The dedicated longtime missionary in Appalachia was a former columnist for The East Tennessee Catholic By Dennis Sadowski/CNS Glenmary Father John Rausch recognized early in his time as a missionary in Appalachia that people were facing severe environmental and economic challenges and devoted his ministry to seeking solutions and calling …

‘Humbled and blessed’

Father Steve Pawelk exits East Tennessee for new Glenmary assignment after building Catholic communities in Union, Grainger counties By Bill Brewer As Father Steve Pawelk packed his belongings, mementos, and memories from eight years of ministry in East Tennessee, the Glenmary Home Missioners priest couldn’t help but reflect on the …

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Ecumenical evangelization

Brother Craig Digmann is a modern-day circuit-rider for the Catholic Church By Dan McWilliams Photos by Stephanie Richer and Dan McWilliams In Hancock County, everybody knows Brother Craig Digmann. Well, it sure seems that way. Now in his fourth year of his self-described Catholic Presence Ministry in the East Tennessee …

Glenmary Home Missioners elect new leadership team

Father Dan Dorsey, 68, was elected president of Glenmary Home Missioners during the society’s Chapter of Elections May 6-10 at St. Meinrad Archabbey in St. Meinrad, Ind. Glenmary’s president leads a three-person executive council consisting of himself and two vice presidents. Elected to serve with Father Dorsey were Father Aaron …