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 Blessing the officers: man and his best friend

Police chaplain Fr. Charlie Donahue leads service for Knoxville’s finest By Bill Brewer With heavy hearts and a somber countenance on Oct. 6, Knoxville Police Department officers and their canine partners received prayers and a blessing from Father Charlie Donahue, CSP, to mark the feast of St. Francis of Assisi …

Fourteenth annual Irish Fest draws 700 to IC

By Dan McWilliams A little rain early on did not stop some 700 people from enjoying the 14th annual Irish Fest on Aug. 12, hosted again by Immaculate Conception Parish in downtown Knoxville. The event netted more than $10,000 that will be earmarked for capital repairs at IC. The Irish …

Laurence “Larry” V. Gibney Jr.

Laurence “Larry” V. Gibney Jr., 81, died June 30 in Erwin. Mr. Gibney was born and spent his life in Knoxville, graduating from Knoxville Catholic High School in 1960. He completed undergraduate studies at St Bernard College in Cullman, Ala., and earned a master’s degree in social work from the …

‘A very unique assignment’

Diocese of Knoxville’s Patrick Murphy-Racey becomes affiliate deacon for Paulist Fathers By Gabrielle Nolan Deacon Patrick Murphy-Racey would describe his work within the Church as “a very unique assignment.” Ordained in 2007 with the Diocese of Knoxville’s first deacon class, Deacon Murphy-Racey is assigned to St. John XXIII Catholic Center …

Funeral Mass for Louie Rankin

A funeral Mass for Louie Rankin was held on Oct. 21 at Immaculate Conception Church. Mr. Rankin was born in Knoxville on Sept. 10, 1943, and died on Oct. 10. He was buried at Calvary Cemetery. Mr. Rankin was a devoted lifelong member of Immaculate Conception, was a Fourth Degree …

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. …

A Knights of Columbus homecoming

Immaculate Conception Parish welcomes back Michael McCusker, new state deputy for the Knights By Bill Brewer There was a homecoming on July 26 for Michael McCusker. As the new state deputy of the Tennessee Knights of Columbus took his place at the lectern inside Immaculate Conception Church, he surveyed the …

Sisters of Mercy celebrate 150 years of faithful service

Religious order first began serving Tennessee in 1866, East Tennessee in 1896 providing education, health care By Dan McWilliams Whether it’s through educating young people, ministering in parishes, or simply praying with a hospital patient, the Sisters of Mercy have a long and deep legacy in East Tennessee. The Sisters …

Blood drive planned for Capt. Jeff Stiles

The Knoxville Police Department is sponsoring a blood drive for Immaculate Conception parishioner Jeff Stiles, who is a captain with the KPD and is battling cancer. Capt. Stiles, who was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in May and continues his courageous fight to beat the disease, currently is undergoing daily treatment …

Annual Calvary Cemetery rosary set for Nov. 2

It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins. (2 Maccabees 12:46). By Father Ron Franco, CSP Here in the northern hemisphere, as the sun rises a little later each morning and sets a little earlier each afternoon, there …

Bishop Stika celebrates annual Red Mass

Attorneys, judges, and other members of the legal profession joined Bishop Richard F. Stika for the annual Red Mass on Oct. 8 at Immaculate Conception Church in downtown Knoxville. The Red Mass is a centuries-old tradition in the Church, Bishop Stika – dressed in red vestments for the liturgy – …

Diocesan students recognized at Youth Mass

It isn’t often that a bishop asks students for advice on what to tell the pope. But that is what happened Sept. 27 during the Diocese of Knoxville’s annual Youth Mass. Bishop Richard F. Stika told the students that he would be going to the Vatican and needed advice on …