There was a time when midnight Mass was a 5 a.m. liturgical celebration Midnight Mass hasn’t always been held at midnight. One of Pope Pius XII’s last great gifts to the Church was the beginning of the restoration of Easter Vigil (time of day and language). By the time the …
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 – …
Once upon a time: The warm, friendly confines of home
Campaign to build up Church in East Tennessee promises to be a blessing to all of us As a child I suffered from asthma — so much so that I sometimes had to sleep in a chair in an upright position for days, weeks, or months at a time. If …
Once upon a time: Road to heaven should be traveled with love
Incorporating Scripture into a trip, regardless of the distance, will deepen your spiritual journey About two millennia ago, a teenaged Jewish girl (shall we name her Miriam?) who lived in the northern third of the Holy Land (Galilee) got wind that her older cousin, Elizabeth, who lived in the hill …
Funeral arrangements set for seminarian Jeff Emitt
Diocese of Knoxville seminarian Jeff Emitt passed away July 16 after a courageous battle against cancer. He was 61. Mr. Emitt was a longtime member of Holy Ghost Church, where he had played guitar for Sunday evening Masses. He was accepted into the seminary by Bishop Richard F. Stika in …
Once upon a time: Sacrifice is at the heart of Catholic education
Diocesan schools and their faculty always strive for excellence – in good times and bad Public schools in the South had it very hard during the Depression years and still produced some of the intellectual lights of the 20th century. Underfunded, they made do with what they had, held more …
Once upon a time: We can value the past by investing in future
Schools, churches, cathedral point to growth of Catholicism in East Tennessee that has foundation in history If the history of our Diocese of Knoxville had ended with its first anniversary on Sept. 8, 1989, a much different story would have been told. So I look forward to the final diocesan …
Once upon a time: Giving is so much a part of Church teaching
Stewardship of financial resources and support of Bishop’s Appeal critical to a healthy diocese As I look back on nearly 75 years of formal education in the Catholic faith, I have many things for which to be grateful. My parents taught me the basic prayers, how to pray the rosary, …
Once upon a time: Jubilee celebration has enriched our lives
A new Church year brings with it opportunities to continue growing in faith and service to our Lord I often come away from a wake service for one of our beloved dead with the question popping in my head, “what’s next?” For many folks it involves several months of settling …
Priests attend conference at Nashville cathedral
Father John Orr and Monsignor Xavier Mankel of Holy Ghost Parish in Knoxville and Father Patrick Resen of St. Catherine Labouré Parish in Copperhill attended the second annual “Renewing the Priesthood” Conference, sponsored by the Thomistic Institute at the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Nashville from July 16-18. There were …
Once upon a time: Following the Catholic Church in real time
Faithful now have almost instant access to developments as information dirt trail turns into a superhighway My, how times have changed!” Grandmothers say this to granddaughters as a preface to negative remarks about ladies’ fashion that follow. Fathers may preface some remarks about wonderful improvements in the whole arena of …
Once upon a time: Understanding the Eucharistic Congress
Signature event will highlight the Diocese of Knoxville’s Silver Jubilee celebration that begins in September I know that many of us are busy promoting the Diocesan Eucharist Congress and Family Weekend at the Sevierville Convention Center Sept. 13-14, 2013. It will certainly be a highlight celebration of the Silver Jubilee …
