Diocese of Knoxville is home to diverse groups of faithful who share and demonstrate a love for Christ Story by Dan McWilliams Photos by Dan McWilliams, Bill Brewer, and Stephanie Richer The Diocese of Knoxville is made up of many different Mass communities, more than just the English/Roman rite that …
Building the kingdom before our eyes
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By
Dan McWilliams
Diocese is poised to set a record for new Catholics at Easter Vigil By Dan McWilliams A standing-room-only gathering at the diocese’s cathedral for the annual Rite of Election was evidence that the Church in East Tennessee is growing at a record rate, reflecting a trend that is being seen nationwide. The Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus was packed to the gills on Feb. 21 as Bishop Mark Beckman presided at the first-weekend-of-Lent ceremony, known in full as the Rite of Election of Catechumens and the Call to Continuing Conversion of Candidates. An all-time high of 956 entered the Church in East Tennessee in 2025, and the Diocese of Knoxville is expected to “meet and exceed” that number this year as it experiences “unprecedented growth,” said Deacon Jim Bello, diocesan director of Christian Formation. Those arriving late to the Rite of Election were forced to park two... Read more →