Parishes embrace Tenebrae

Moving service highlights the darkness present before Easter By Emily Booker Slow. Quiet. Dark. It can be difficult to step away from the busyness and noise of the world and to truly enter into a space that offers a stillness in order to draw you closer to God. If you …

Walking with Purpose speaker leads evening of reflection

Catholic blogger helps celebrate women’s ministry at St. John Neumann Parish By Gabrielle Nolan Laura Phelps, a blogger and speaker with the women’s ministry Walking with Purpose, recently visited the Diocese of Knoxville for a Lenten evening of reflection at St. John Neumann Parish. Hosted by Regnum Christi, the evening …

Bishop Stika leads East Tennessee faithful into Lent

Ash Wednesday Mass celebrations mark beginning of Easter countdown By Emily Booker Ash Wednesday on Feb. 22 marked the beginning of Lent, the 40 days of penance and prayer as the Church spiritually prepares for Easter. Although not a holy day of obligation, Ash Wednesday is one of the most …

Speaker Melissa Foley leads Lenten talk, prayer for women at St. John Neumann

Speaker Melissa Foley leads Lenten talk, prayer for women at St. John Neumann By Gabrielle Nolan “Am I worth dying for?” Women of the diocese were presented with this question at a Lenten evening of reflection at St. John Neumann Church in Farragut on Mar. 31. Nearly 100 women gathered …

Bishop Stika, priests enter Lenten season by celebrating Ash Wednesday

From staff reports Diocese of Knoxville faithful entered the holiest of Christian seasons on March 2 by receiving the sign of the cross during Ash Wednesday Masses. Diocesan priests welcomed full churches as adults and students enthusiastically took part in the liturgy to begin Lent. Ashes were plentiful as were …

In Mass en masse

Parishioners turn out in strong numbers to begin Lent If Ash Wednesday is any indication, parishioners in the Diocese of Knoxville are welcoming the Lenten season and their walk of faith to Easter. Parishes around the diocese reported strong, if not high, attendance at Masses on Feb. 17, the first …

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Diocesan parishes prepare for Lenten celebrations as Easter approaches

By The East Tennessee Catholic Bishop Richard F. Stika is looking forward to a more normal Lenten season and Easter celebration in 2021, unlike last year when a mysterious coronavirus shut down the world. With the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 17, Catholics across the Diocese of Knoxville …

‘Our Good Friday’

Bishop Stika reassures diocese, takes historic safety action due to coronavirus outbreak; Mass suspended By Bill Brewer Shuttered stores and schools. Locked restaurants and bars. Dissipated traffic. Silent theaters. Barren grocery shelves. Empty churches. The novel coronavirus, a mysterious, communicable illness that first appeared on the other side of the …

Once upon a time: Preparing for a ‘good’ Lent

Churches old and new are inspiration for a closer relationship with God By Monsignor Xavier Mankel Immaculate Conception Church has covered Summit Hill in Knoxville since the 1880s. Typical of many churches of that era, architects saw little need for a large vestibule. People came to church to pray and …

Catholic Relief Services’ Rice Bowl marks 40th year

Catholic Relief Services marks 40th year of Lenten fundraiser Catholic Relief Services in 2015 marks the 40th anniversary of CRS Rice Bowl, the largest and oldest Lenten program used by millions of Catholics across the United States. Known for its iconic and symbolic cardboard “rice bowl,” the program has evolved …