Once upon a time: World is witness to new, improved papal election

Holy Spirit at work as selection of pontiffs for over a century has been a smooth process without controversy Wow! Habemus papam! Awesome to today’s ninth-grade student, the election of Pope Francis in March seemed quite different from that student’s experience in primary school. To that same individual’s parents and …

Once upon a time: Holy Mother Church blessed with great popes

The best pontiffs have made significant contributions through teaching, acts of initiative, wisdom I love popes, especially holy and great ones with which Holy Mother Church, the body of Christ, has been blessed during the modern times of pontificates beginning with Blessed Pius IX (1846-1878) and continuing to the present: …

Once upon a time: Many people are ‘foundational to our story’

Popes, bishops, priests, deacons, brothers, sisters and laypeople all ‘give dimension to this Church of ours’ The month of January, traditionally our coldest month of the year, was the last month to have her calendar filled from New Year’s Day until the feast of St. John Bosco (the 31st). The …

Once upon a time: In praise of improvements for celebrating Mass

Times have changed since ‘midnight Masses’ at 5 a.m., 100-degree choir lofts, long Eucharistic fasts I have served in several parishes by now, but in only one of them do I find the cavities cut in the pews for hinges to the wee doors that once were affixed to every …

Once upon a time: A special glory of its own

East Tennessee Catholics are invested in The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem By Monsignor Xavier Mankel The Holy Land is called Holy because so many, many holy things happened there. Abraham would have sacrificed his son, Isaac, there (Mount Moriah). Three temples were erected there (Solomon’s was …

Holy year is a chance to grow in faith, hope, love

Year of Faith is a time to reflect on Church’s path to where we are, look ahead to where we are growing How many times do we think to ourselves or even say aloud, “Been there, done that,” to indicate our relative lack of interest in something? The Church kept …

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Once upon a time: Women religious and school days gone by

One young student recalls the influential role sisters played in local Catholic education Many times people ask me when we’re talking about history just how deacons, brothers, sisters, third orders and associates fit into the picture of the growth and vitality of our Church. We look at all these things …