In full communion

Nearly 400 catechumens, candidates entering Catholic Church at Easter Vigil By Bill Brewer The season of Lent brings with it newness and growth, as in the hundreds of catechumens and candidates who will be entering into full communion with the Catholic Church at Easter. Many of those catechumens and candidates …

Giving hope

RCIA Summer Conference offers help in reaching the faith-seekers By Gabrielle Nolan The Diocese of Knoxville’s Office of Christian Formation hosted its annual RCIA Summer Conference at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Lenoir City on June 24. The conference theme was “Leading them Home: Catechetical and Pastoral Insights for …

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Welcome to the Church in East Tennessee

Bishop Stika greets catechumens, candidates during Rite of Election ceremonies By Bill Brewer Bishop Richard F. Stika welcomed more than 200 catechumens and candidates into the Catholic Church during Rite of Election services Feb. 25-26 at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. It was a robust congregation …

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Going forth to live the faith

Diocese’s newest members embrace Catholicism as they complete their RCIA formation   By Bill Brewer John Patterson has been sent forth to proclaim the faith as a new Catholic—and as an octogenarian. So, does Mr. Patterson feel like a neophyte at age 80? “Sure, I’m a rookie. I told the bishop …

Easter: the new creation has come

Nearly 200 faithful prepare to enter the Church in East Tennessee at Easter Vigil       By Gabrielle Nolan The Catholic Church in East Tennessee is about to grow with the approaching feast of Easter, as nearly 50 catechumens and 130 candidates continue their preparation to receive the sacraments of initiation. …

2022 diocesan winter RCIA conference set

Fr. David Carter, Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul rector and a canon lawyer, to discuss marriage, annulments The Diocese of Knoxville Office of Christian Formation is holding a winter RCIA conference on Jan. 22 that will feature Father David Carter, rector of the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul …

Fall RCIA conference takes leaders ‘back to basics’ of faith

Parishes throughout the Diocese of Knoxville strive to form and retain new Catholics                    By Gabrielle Nolan Parish coordinators for the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults in the Diocese of Knoxville gathered recently for a day-long conference on learning ways to strengthen the Church through RCIA. “I see the …

Sent forth to proclaim the Word of God

Sending of the Neophytes Mass resumes as East Tennessee’s newest Catholics pick up the cross By Dan McWilliams Many of the nearly 200 people who came into the Catholic Church at this year’s Easter Vigil in the Diocese of Knoxville were formally sent forth in the annual Sending of the …

‘He is risen’

Saving us through the bath of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit By Bill Brewer Easter Masses were again teeming with people two years after pews were last full for the holiest of liturgical celebrations. And the Catholic Church in East Tennessee welcomed nearly 200 new members who joined …

A study in catechism: from the cavalry to Calvary

Tennessee National Guard member is among more than 200 people entering the Catholic Church By Bill Brewer Charles Hutson’s faith journey can be measured in miles, all 4,800 of them. That’s the distance the Tennessee Army National Guard captain has bridged to join the Catholic Church. Capt. Hutson is among …

A Joyful Witness

How the Bishop’s Appeal transforms lives in the Diocese of Knoxville Story by Jim Wogan Photography by Stephanie Richer In early February, Bishop Richard F. Stika’s voice boomed across the Diocese of Knoxville with a message for all parishioners. “It is a joy to be with you on this feast …

That look and smell

Neophytes are sent forth with a fresh perspective to share their newfound faith with the masses By Bill Brewer “Do you all smell?” And with that risky query that begs a certain amount of self-awareness among those being questioned, Bishop Richard F. Stika sent the Diocese of Knoxville’s newest members …