he dwells
AMONG US
BY BISHOP RICHARD F. STIKA
come, minus the taxes and Social Security he pays into our economy, is sent back to his family abroad. These remittances, collectively, represent the largest Scripture provides a threefold image of the human person, calling for respect. and most effective poverty-reduction program in the world. When we attack the migrant, Scripture from the present Sacred art is we increase poverty and take day, we are sometimes chalvery much food away from the hungry. lenged to see the connection part of my But we are growing more between the sacred pages and faith experifearful as a people and a socieour everyday circumstances. I ence, and ty. When that happens, as hisknow this was the case for me certain icons tory demonstrates, the weakest even though I had often read and paintand most vulnerable in a socithe passages repeated freings in my ety are attacked. The slogans quently in the Old Testament private are familiar: fear of overpopuand the Psalms that charge us chapel have lation, fear of lost autonomy, not to neglect the care of the always aided fear of the foreigner. widow, the orphan, and the my prayers and reflections. The three panels making up foreigner. These sacred images, despite a triptych must be viewed as a Who are the widows, orthe many years I’ve gazed single image if we are to fully phans, and foreigners of toupon them, appear somehow appreciate the mystery they day? The new widows include new to me every day. I am alreflect. It is no different in the those pregnant women whose ways amazed at how each triptych of the human person: boyfriends or husbands have time I contemplate these goswe must contemplate not abandoned their responsibilipels of line and color, someonly the widow and the orties to them and to the unborn thing new is revealed through phan but also the foreigner if children they helped to conthem of the mystery of God we are to truly contemplate ceive—and it is these who are and of man. the face of Jesus in the human the new orphans. Many of One form of Christian art person. these new widows, alone and that is special to me is the Like the Israelites, suffering overwhelmed by a fear of the triptych (pronounced triphorrible injustices of fear and unknown, readily respond to tik), from the Greek word litthe culture of death’s invitation prejudice, who cry out in Exerally meaning “trifold.” A odus 2:23, the Psalmist to take care of the “problem.” triptych is a work consisting echoes a cry that grows ever Thankfully, we are witnessof three connected icons or louder today: “How long, O ing growing solidarity in efpaintings that are meant to be Lord . . . , they kill the widow forts to defend the life of the viewed as a single image. Last and the stranger and murder unborn and in our loving outyear I offered a Marian tripthe fatherless child” (Psalm reach to pregnant women. tych as a gift to the Sisters of 94). Beneath this cross is our Healing help for post-abortive Mercy of Alma, Mich., on the weeping Mother. ■ women is increasing as well. day their first convent home How grateful I am to those in our diocese was blessed. who promote healing through Like these sacred works of BISHOP STIKA’S SCHEDULE the Silent No More campaign art, Scripture provides us a These are some of Bishop Stika’s and Rachel’s Vineyard (see the particular triptych of the huappointments: calendar on page 5). I comman person that helps remind Sept. 26: 11 a.m., Mass, Cathedral mend all those who extend us of our responsibility toof the Sacred Heart of Jesus; their witness and helping hand 6 p.m., Catholic Foundation of East ward those most vulnerable to the widow and orphan of and in need of our help. It is Tennessee dinner, Fox Den Country our day, and I ask God to furthe triptych of the widow, the Club, Farragut ther bless their efforts. orphan, and the foreigner (cf. Sept. 29: 7 p.m., “Ask the Bishop” But we also must remember Exodus 20-22). By contemQ&A session, John XXIII Catholic the third person in this tripplating this sacred image of Center, Knoxville tych image—the foreigner— human beings in their exOct. 1: 6 p.m., first of four dinners represented in the person of treme weakness, we can betwith deacons and wives, bishop’s Simon of Cyrene. In a special ter answer the question, residence way, he shared in the cross of “What would Jesus do?” Oct. 6: 5 p.m., homilist for Alumni Christ, and his image is alIn the approaching month Days Mass, Kenrick-Glennon Semiof October, a month dedicated ways found in the Stations of nary, St. Louis the Cross displayed in our to Our Lady and to a special Oct. 8: 6 p.m., dinner with deacons churches. witness to the sanctity of life, and wives, bishop’s residence Simon of Cyrene is not too we draw close to she who is Oct. 9: 6 p.m., 60th-anniversary hard to find outside churches particularly close to those livdinner and dance, St. Mary Church, as well. He may be the one ing in fear and abandonment, Oak Ridge roofing our house, laying the Mother of all, born and Oct. 10: 10 a.m., installation of Fabrick and mortar, mowing the unborn, documented and unther Ron Franco, CSP, as pastor, grass along our highways, or documented. Immaculate Conception Church; even landscaping our yard. Because thousands of years 5 p.m., centennial celebration, St. Most of his very modest inseparate what we read in Ann Church, Lancing ■
Triptych of love
COURTESY OF LOURDES GARZA
Unicoi continued from page 1
and take out all the furnishings from the chapel to set up a church,” said Lourdes Garza, director of the diocesan Office of Hispanic Ministry. Ms. Garza has attended Masses in Unicoi with both Bishop Joseph E. Kurtz and Bishop Stika. “Bishop Stika was extremely gracious,” she said. “He talked to many people in the crowd and shook their hands after Mass and after breakfast.” Bishop Kurtz celebrated a Mass in Unicoi on Aug. 25, 2002, to mark the Guadalupe chapel’s 10th anniversary. Ms. Garza said she is grateful for the Scott family’s generosity and for the fact that annual visits by the bishop have resumed. “I’m pleased we’re continuing the tradition because we are in a working camp where the owners have let us build a chapel even though they’re not Catholic themselves,” she said.
Young people from the Unicoi Hispanic Catholic community performed after Mass. REGIONAL DANCES
“They have allowed us to build a chapel so that the men who work there six months out of the year can continue to worship in their Catholic tradition.” Farm workers and their families pulled out all the stops for Bishop Stika’s visit. “They were so excited to have their bishop come to their home and be with them,” said Father Boettner. “They prepared an amazing feast, and there were folk dances and songs
T H E EA S T TE N N E S S E E C AT H OL IC
that the young people had prepared. The choir rehearsed a song for the bishop’s visit.” The meal featured a number of traditional dishes. “There was a lot of food,” said Ms. Garza. “They prepared a special table for the bishop and his guests.” Children and young adults from St. Mary Parish “had been practicing some folkloric dancing from different regions of Mexico” before the bishop’s visit, said Ms. Garza.
“It is traditional to teach the children those dances.” Bishop Stika visited the Guadalupe chapel during a tour of the grounds. “He saw the living quarters of the young men who lived there,” said Ms. Garza. “He told them he noticed it was kept very clean and neat, and that their mothers would be proud of them because they take very good care of their living area.” The bishop’s visit came in the latter part of the season for the Scott workers, who work from May through October. “It was a powerful reminder that Bishop Stika is the chief pastor for all of the people of East Tennessee, even those who are not normally seen or noticed,” said Father Boettner. “Their bishop came to them to show them they are not forgotten.” Bishop Stika told the worshipers that he hoped to celebrate the Unicoi Mass in Spanish himself next year. ■
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Take note of ETC deadlines e welcome submissions about parish and community events. Send notices by e-mail (news@dioknox.org), fax (865-584-8124), or mail (805 Northshore Drive Southwest, Knoxville, TN 37919). To make sure we receive information about upcoming events in time for publication, please submit it by the following deadlines: ■ Monday, Sept. 27, for the Oct. 10 issue ■ Monday, Oct. 11, for the Oct. 24 issue. When submitting photos or information about past events, please keep in mind that we have a backlog of submissions. ■
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Diocese offers ongoing Virtus child-protection training sessions he Diocese of Knoxville’s program for the protection of children and youth—a three-hour seminar called “Protecting God’s Children”—is offered regularly throughout the diocese. The seminars are required for parish and school employees and regular volunteers who are in contact with children or vulnerable adults and are recommended for parents and grandparents. The following training sessions have been scheduled: ■ Our Lady of Fatima Church, Alcoa, 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 25 (session will be held in room 206 of the Fatima Center) ■ St. Alphonsus Church, Crossville,
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1 p.m. CDT Sunday, Oct. 3 ■ Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, Chattanooga, 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 17 (session will be held in the parish life center) ■ St. Mary Church, Johnson City, 6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 18 (session will be held in St. Ann’s Hall) ■ Sacred Heart Cathedral, 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 19 (session will be held in the Shea Room) ■ All Saints Church, Knoxville, 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23 ■ St. Patrick Church, Morristown, 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 11. Participants are asked to donate $1 for session materials. To register, visit virtusonline.org. ■
Corrections n the Sept. 12 issue, the article on Bill Casey stated that he pleaded guilty to two abuse charges in Scott County, Va.; he did not plead guilty. Also in the Sept. 12 issue, the article on diocesan attorney John T. O’Connor’s retirement should have stated that he assisted in the purchase of property for All Saints Parish during Bishop Anthony J. O’Connell’s years in East Tennessee. ■
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Readings continued from page 2
committing widespread unchecked atrocities in Israel. He asked for immediate relief from the hardship his people bore. The answer came back: you must wait. The picture you have now is not complete. It will have a happy ending. Be consoled with that, and you will be blessed. Anything less is being rash. God is telling us we must realize there will be bad times. He will give us the power to live through them until we ultimately see a happy ending. In the meantime, we should have faith, be people of integrity, and remain steadfast. Christians are to be fearless and cool under fire. Today’s Gospel reading presents the next stage. The Apostles, most likely realizing they were to face overwhelming resistance themselves, ask Jesus for an increase of faith. Jesus responds by telling them faith is more powerful than one might think. A little bit can move huge trees. A life of struggle against resistance is easy for people of faith. It’s all in a day’s work. And that should be our attitude when times get tough. We should stand up and face troubles head on, as if we were experiencing an average day. The strength to overcome any difficulty will be given us through our relationship with Christ. The same power that got Jesus through the pain of Good Friday will carry us through our Calvary as well. ■ Father Brando is the pastor of St. Mary Parish in Gatlinburg.
Diocese of Knoxville procedure for reporting sexual abuse Anyone who has actual knowledge of or who has reasonable cause to suspect an incident of sexual abuse should report such information to the appropriate civil authorities first, then to the bishop’s office, 865-584-3307, or the diocesan victims’ assistance coordinator, Marla Lenihan, 865-482-1388.
SEPTEMBER 26, 2010
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