Catholic Chatt answers that question and others young adults are asking By Claire Collins Patrick and Margaret Hanus were just two young adults searching for a community in Chattanooga when they encountered Catholic Chatt, a ministry dedicated to serving young adults in the local churches. Mr. Hanus, a native of …
Losing Mom to Alzheimer’s, one Catholic ritual at a time
Seeing a loved one battle the disease ‘is like a death over and over again . . . the long goodbye’ By Jeannie Hixon I have a confession to make . . . lately I have found myself distracted during the Mass. I used to be distracted by the typical …
Easter basket project in Chattanooga brings joy to children in need
An Easter basket project in Chattanooga started about eight or so years ago with one individual person, Joni Hotchkiss, who liked to bring joy by making Easter baskets for others in need. Once she was making more baskets than she could handle by herself, it grew into a Lenten service …
Chattanooga hosts U.S. Catholic youth ministry convocation
Thriveanooga! event rejuvenates parish youth ministers, looks at ways to re-emphasize student outreach amid pandemic, cultural distractions By Janice Fritz Ryken “If it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a parish to do youth ministry.” These words, uttered by Sister Thea Bowman more than 40 years ago, …
St. Stephen, NDHS youth take part in bed build
Young volunteers and their families make 50 beds for the Sleep in Heavenly Peace charity to help the needy By Dan McWilliams Youth from St. Stephen Parish and Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga came together July 10 to help children in need who don’t have a bed to sleep …
Conversation with pastor leads to stained-glass project
By Mark Vallee A few years back, I had the good fortune to spend some time with Father Manuel Pérez, pastor of St. Stephen Parish in Chattanooga, when Angela and I renewed our wedding vows. After the ceremony in the St. Stephen chapel, we gave the attendees some stained-glass ornaments …
St. Stephen parishioner receives honor from the Order of the Fleur de Lis
The Order of the Fleur de Lis is an organization of Catholic men incorporated under the laws of the state of Louisiana as a not-for-profit organization, and it recently honored a parishioner of St. Stephen in Chattanooga. The order’s domain is a five-state region consisting of Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, …
Basilica rosary prayed in response to St. Stephen vandalism
Parishioners from the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul and St. Stephen Church gathered on Sunday, July 19, in front of the basilica’s Marian Grotto to pray the rosary in reparation for sins against holy things. The rosary was in response to recent vandalism and arson of churches and statues …
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Wave of Church vandalism strikes East Tennessee
Chattanooga parish joins growing list of U.S. church properties damaged by hate acts By The East Tennessee Catholic/Catholic News Service As increasing incidents of vandalism against Church properties are reported across the country, St. Stephen Parish in Chattanooga has sadly found it was not immune. A 5-foot-tall outdoor statue …
St. Stephen celebrates Father Pérez’s 15th anniversary
On May 24, following the noon livestreamed Mass, the parish community at St. Stephen in Chattanooga celebrated its pastor, Father Manuel Pérez, with a parade for his 15th anniversary as a priest. Practicing their social distancing, parishioners secretly decorated their cars and lined up for the parade. When Mass was …
St. Stephen Church hosts Family Honor workshop
Some Chattanooga Deanery families have taken advantage of a program aimed at preparing and empowering parents, the primary educators of their children, and church leaders to evangelize about the truth and meaning of God’s gift of sexuality. St. Stephen Catholic Church in Chattanooga hosted a unique chastity program Feb. 7-8 …
