Co-worker of Lourdes Garza shares tributes following death of beloved Hispanic Ministries director By Blanca Primm Maria de Lourdes Garza is a woman whose presence is still felt among us even though she has left us to rejoice at the celestial banquet. What a battle you fought, friend and sister! Yes, …
Diocese mourns loss of Hispanic Ministries Director Lourdes Garza
Bishop Stika, Cardinal Rigali lead funeral Mass as regional, national Latino communities pay tribute to Chancery official By Bill Brewer Maria de Lourdes Garza, the Diocese of Knoxville’s director of Hispanic Ministry since 2004 who passed away July 9 at age 63 after a long, courageous battle with cancer, was …
Ministries Day draws parishioners from across diocese
More than 200 parishioners from around the Diocese of Knoxville took part Oct. 18 in Ministries Day, a daylong event where diocesan ministry leaders gather with fellow Catholics from the various churches to share ideas on how to more effectively spread the faith. Thirty presentations in English and Spanish were …
International priests providing true blessings to the diocese
Perhaps we might remember how, since our childhood, we have been asked to fund the work of missionaries around the world. These missionaries, priests and religious brothers and sisters, have taken the Good News to all corners of the world for many centuries. We now see the result of their …
Celebration of Día de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead)
A mix of religiosity and Mexican tradition By Lourdes Garza As Catholics, it is important to understand the origin and meaning of the celebrations that will be taking place in the following days. Halloween (October 31), All Saints Day (November 1), and All Souls Day and Day of the Dead …
Several attend conference for Hispanics on Respect Life
On Aug. 16-17, several diocesan parishioners attended a conference for Hispanics on Catholic Respect Life teachings. It is now their intent to integrate into existing pro-life programs and concerns in parishes and to be the link to the Spanish-speakers helping them to participate more actively. For additional information, call the …
40-day vigil brings awareness to immigration reform
Parishioners across the Diocese of Knoxville are taking part in a 40-day vigil on immigration reform. The vigil, which is part of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Justice for Immigrants Campaign, began Aug. 15 and ends Sept. 23. The diocese is asking parishes, organizations and individuals to dedicate …
Seminarians gather for annual retreat
Diocesan seminarians took part in their annual retreat Aug. 5-7 at Christ Prince of Peace Retreat Center in Benton. Eighteen of the diocese’s 23 seminarians were able to attend. “It’s an annual gathering, and really the main purpose is to bring the seminarians together for a couple of days of …
Diocesan faithful taking an active role in immigration issue
Diocese of Knoxville parishioners are planning additional activities to encourage members of Congress to adopt immigration reform legislation that the Senate passed in June. Lourdes Garza, director of the diocese’s Office of Hispanic Ministry, said more activities are planned once Congress returns from its summer break. In May, parishioners held …
Diocesan leaders honored with inaugural Latino Awards
The Diocese of Knoxville was well represented in Centro Hispano de East Tennessee’s first Latino Awards, with Hispanic Ministry Director Lourdes Garza, Holy Ghost Church member and volunteer Jose Luis Santiago, and Knoxville businessman and St. John Neumann parishioner Santiago Cuccarese receiving honors for their work in the Hispanic community. …
Lourdes Garza is named finalist for Catholic Extension Lumen Christi Award
Voting is now open to select 2013 ‘Light of Christ’ award winner Lourdes Garza, the Diocese of Knoxville’s Hispanic Ministry director, is among nine finalists for the 2013 Lumen Christi Award presented by Catholic Extension. It is the second consecutive year that Ms. Garza has been a finalist for the …
