Gatlinburg parishioner installed as NCCW province director

Sevierville resident Amelia Sweeney was recently installed as the National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW) director for the Province of Louisville at the NCCW national convention in Salt Lake City. The NCCW acts through its members to support, empower, and educate all Catholic women in spirituality, leadership, and service. There …

Bishop Stika dedicates St. Mary-Gatlinburg’s new parish life center

Recently completed project fulfills 5-year plan By Dan McWilliams Bishop Richard F. Stika dedicated the new parish life center at St. Mary Church in Gatlinburg on Aug. 22, blessing a building that will give the growing parish space for CCD classes, offices, and more. The dedication followed the 11 a.m. …

St. Mary Parish breaks ground on parish life center

Gatlinburg church will have more room for CCD classes, other youth and adult programs By Dan McWilliams St. Mary Church in Gatlinburg is bursting at the seams, and the 85-year-old community just recently broke ground on a new parish life center that will help provide space for a growing number …

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Keeping the needy fed during the pandemic

Diocese of Knoxville parishes and organization live out Christ’s message to feed the hungry By Dan McWilliams Feeding the hungry is among the most basic of the corporal works of mercy, and several Catholic food pantries around the Diocese of Knoxville are doing just that. For some pantries, the coronavirus …

Family life center at the heart of future plans for St. Mary-Gatlinburg

Despite setbacks from wildfires, Sevier County parish is outgrowing present space for activities By Bill Brewer Unlike the proverbial phoenix, St. Mary Parish in Gatlinburg hasn’t had to rise from the ashes, though that possibility was a sobering thought for Father Antony Punnackal on Nov. 28, 2016. Still, Father Punnackal, …

Fr. Punnackal celebrates 25th anniversary in priesthood

By Bill Brewer Six months after devastating wildfires wreaked havoc on his parish and parishioners, the mood at St. Mary in Gatlinburg was considerably more celebratory May 24 as the parishioners joined together to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Father Antony Punnackal’s ordination to the priesthood. Father Punnackal, CMI, who …

Fairfield Glade Knights give help to fire victims

Knights of Columbus Council 16088 of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Fairfield Glade recently provided assistance to victims of the fire disasters in the Gatlinburg-Pigeon Forge area. The help came about when the council asked Father Antony Punnackal, CMI, pastor of St. Mary in Gatlinburg, what they could do …

Giving and Receiving

Help is just around the corner as Schrivers reach out to family hit by Gatlinburg firestorm By Bill Brewer November wildfires that swept through Gatlinburg left a charred trail of destruction with a most unusual signature. Some houses and businesses in the path of flames were untouched while structures beside …

Reaching out from ground zero

St. Mary Parish escaped the firestorm, and reaches out to help those who did not By Bill Brewer Photography by Stephanie Richer St. Mary Parish was ground zero in the wildfires that devastated parts of Sevier County on Nov. 28, 2016. And while flames reached to within yards of the …