Old cathedral hosts its final rites of election

More than 200 catechumens and candidates take part in the first-weekend-of-Lent ceremonies this year By Dan McWilliams Bishop Richard F. Stika presided as the final rites of election were held in the old Sacred Heart Cathedral in February. The first-weekend-of-Lent ceremonies will move to the new Cathedral of the Most …

On the other side

Bishop Stika ‘sends forth’ diocese’s newest members during Sending of the Neophytes Mass By Bill Brewer Bishop Richard F. Stika celebrated Pentecost on June 4 by recognizing the 227 catechumens and candidates baptized and confirmed at the Easter Vigil. Bishop Stika celebrated Mass at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred …

A faith reboot

As Easter nears, more than 200 believers prepare to enter the Church in East Tennessee. By Dan McWilliams Candy Chandler, looking to join a new faith community, visited the Our Lady of Fatima Church parking lot in Alcoa numerous times in 2015 without ever going in to Mass. Then she …

Church’s newest members put their faith into the diocese

A year of faith discernment for some 250 catechumens and candidates who were baptized and confirmed at Easter Vigil culminated June 7 in their official recognition by Bishop Richard F. Stika as the Diocese of Knoxville’s newest parishioners. Bishop Stika celebrated Mass and presided at the Sending of the Neophytes …

Diocese of Knoxville is Top 10 in U.S. for Catholic converts

Bob Armstrong has spent a lifetime looking for God. At age 82, the retired statistician and professed agnostic took a leap of faith after studying the probability of God’s existence and joined the Catholic Church at Easter Vigil. In search of evidence of God for much of his life, Mr. …

U.S. study gives Diocese of Knoxville high rank for converts

The rest of the country is learning something Diocese of Knoxville priests and parishioners already know – adults are joining the Church in ever increasing numbers. A report issued by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) at Georgetown University just before Easter said the diocese is tied …

More than 200 faithful take part in diocesan Rites of Election

Catechumens, candidates from deaneries gather for important step in faith journey to become Catholic Nearly 250 soon-to-be Catholics participated in this year’s Rite of Election of Catechumens and Call to Continuing Conversion of Candidates, an important step on their journey to joining the Church. “There were roughly 240 combined—catechumens and …

Some 240 faithful take part in diocesan Rites of Election

More than 200 soon-to-be Catholics participated in this year’s Rite of Election of Catechumens and Call to Continuing Conversion of Candidates, an important step on their journey to joining the Church. “There were roughly 240 combined—catechumens and candidates,” said Sister Mary Timothea Elliott, RSM, director of the diocesan Office of …

Faith journey begins with Sending of the Neophytes Mass

More than 300 new members of Church sent into diocese in full communion A journey of faith for 318 catechumens and candidates that was celebrated at the Easter Vigil through baptism and confirmation was recognized May 5 with The Sending of the Neophytes Mass at the Cathedral of the Sacred …

Diocese welcomes hundreds of new members at Easter

Rite of Election ceremonies for catechumens, candidates held A total of 300 future Catholics took part in the annual Rite of Election ceremonies held around the diocese on the first weekend of Lent. Bishop Richard F. Stika presided at each of the four deanery rites. Accompanying him was Sister Mary …