NEWS FROM THE DIOCESE OF KNOXVILLE
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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
DAN MCWILLIAMS
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ishop 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 Sacred Heart of Jesus beginning in 2019. This year’s rites of election were held Saturday, Feb. 17, for the Chattanooga and Five Rivers deaneries and Sunday, Feb. 18, for the Cumberland Mountain and Smoky Mountain deaneries. “The rite of election is very important to me as a bishop because it is a time when I can gather together with people who have a desire to follow Jesus in a particular way,” Bishop Stika said Feb. 18. The diocese received 162 candidates and 63 catechumens at Easter Vigil services at parishes in the four deaneries on March 31. The Feb. 17-18 events’ full name is the Rite of Election of Catechumens and the Call to Continuing Conversion of Candidates. Catechumens have never been baptized and received the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and Eucharist at the Easter Vigil. Candidates have been baptized and were confirmed and received the Eucharist at the Easter Vigil. Bishop Stika said the diocese’s rite of election is so important that he declined an invitation to attend the rite of election in his hometown of St. Louis for his nephew and godchild, who was baptized a Catholic
Greetings from the bishop Bishop Richard F. Stika has fun with a youngster during the rite of election for the Chattanooga and Five Rivers deaneries Feb. 17. but not raised Catholic and is taking part in the rite of election with his wife and two teenage children. “I always value the people who participate in the rite of election and the people who are involved in RCIA, because for the most part you are adults who have had an interesting and wonderful journey in life and for whatever reason you’ve decided to be baptized and to be received into full communion with the Catholic Church,” he said. “And you know a lot more than a lot of typical Catholics do.” Bishop Stika pointed out that the area of the original cathedral where the elect and their sponsors were
sitting was called a nave, which is a Latin form of the word “ship.” He then cited the readings for Sunday, Feb. 18, that referred to Noah and the ark. “I think we’re in a situation in our lives, especially in our day and age, when we’re kind of in a ship that’s being tossed about with all the challenges that come to us in our culture and the world that surrounds us,” he said. “God knows that. God has given to the Church what we call the sacraments. Seven moments of grace in which Jesus reaches into our life and touches us – whether it’s in baptism that many of you will soon participate in, the Eucharist,
By Dan McWilliams the sacrament of reconciliation, the anointing of the sick, marriage, whatever the sacrament might be, these are all moments of strength that are given to us. “So as members of the Church, we are in that nave, we are in that ship, we are in that boat. It’s like being tossed about from the Gospels, with the apostles and Jesus. The Lord God has given to us help, what is so necessary. Each of you has a particular story to tell. Maybe you were touched by the Catholic Church through the sacrament of marriage, or maybe because you were just interested or maybe because it was something you always wanted to do and all of a sudden here you are. Here you are as you stand before God. You’re making a public proclamation of faith: ‘yes, this is what I wish.’” Bishop Stika said “people are praying for you all through the world this weekend, because the rite of election is being celebrated all through the world on this first Sunday of Lent. It is a risk because we stand before our sisters and brothers and say that we are a sinner.” “We all have our own journey. God speaks to each of us in a variety of ways and experiences. He will continue to do that as you float in this ship that we call the Church, that which carries us closer and closer to the Lord,” the bishop continued. Bishop Stika commended the Rites of election continued on page B2
Catholic veterans post helps vets with ‘anything’
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eacon Ken Long spends each Tuesday giving Communion to a small group of men he barely knows but shares much in common. He’s a veteran helping other Catholic veterans remain strong in their faith. The retired military men who regularly meet with Deacon Long reside at the Ben Atchley State Veterans Home in Knoxville, a nursing home caring for veterans from across East Tennessee. Deacon Long is just one of several Diocese of Knoxville vets involved in Catholic War Veterans of the United States of America Post 1973 at Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Alcoa. The post was established in October 2015 at the request of parish pastor Father Bill McKenzie. And in the two-and-a-half years since forming, the post finds itself assisting veterans in ways it never anticipated. “This is veterans helping veterans,” Deacon Long said as he described an array of projects he and fellow post veterans have taken on. “My vision is that we will help veterans in anything we can do.” The term “anything” proved prophetic. Since its inception, projects have included the purchase and placement of a veteran’s memorial stone at Our Lady of Fatima, food drives for the Blount County veterans food pantry, flag-retirement ceremonies on the weekend of Flag Day each June, and maintaining outside Stations of the Cross at Our Lady of Fatima. But they also have involved more personal missions that have made lasting impacts on individual veterans’ lives. When the gravel driveway of a
priest’s residence on a mountainside kept washing out, the Catholic War Veterans post raised funds to help provide a paved drive for the priest, who is a veteran. The post also funded a factory-installed GPS system in the vehicle of another priest and veteran who serves several parishes in the diocese and their parishioners. And Post 1973 has assisted a disabled veteran in putting up a fence on his farm. They’ve even reached out to a veteran in need by retrieving and delivering firewood to heat his residence during the winter. “Well, his driveway is in disrepair, too, and we’ve arranged to assist him in getting his driveway repaired,” said Our Lady of Fatima veteran Baron Johnson. “There are veterans in other counties who probably need help and we just don’t know about it.” The organization’s largest effort to date is a two-year, $10,000 project to build and install a handicap-accessible covered glider for veterans who are at the Ben Atchley State Veteran’s Home. The swing can accommodate a wheelchair and three others. Terry Pate, director of activity at Ben Atchley, said the new glider has been a godsend for the residents there. He explained that organizations often ask Ben Atchley how they can assist the veterans home and its residents. Ben Atchley had been interested in providing a swing for its residents, including those who require a wheelchair, and appealed to those organizations for assistance. “Post 1973 is the only organization we had to approach us to get that done. It was a huge accomplishment for us to get that swing done,” Mr. Pate said. Mr. Pate described how the
By Bill Brewer
BILL BREWER
Post 1973 at Our Lady of Fatima assists vets in a variety of projects, including food drives and flag-retirement ceremonies
Glider for veterans Catholic War Veterans Post 1973 members gather around the handicap-accessible glider they funded for the Ben Atchley State Veterans Home in Knoxville. From left are Mike Peterson, Carl Muse, Wil Wellman, Patrick Flanagan, Mike Converse, Deacon Ken Long, William Potter, Mike Alley, and Baron Johnson. glider is comforting to Ben Atchley residents, often rekindling fond memories. “The glider is like rocking on the front porch. It brings back memories of home for our residents and their family members. A number of families have commented to us how nice that is,” Mr. Pate said, mentioning one resident in particular who had cognitive issues but found comfort in the swing. “That swing was able to help him remember some good times. It’s like that swing keeps on giving.” Mr. Pate also spoke highly of Deacon Long’s weekly work with the veterans, especially in ministering to the Catholic veterans. “Deacon Long has been assisting our residents for quite a while. He is a true blessing to our residents. I think he really gives a purpose for life. He is a wonderful person,” said
Mr. Pate, who hopes the Our Lady of Fatima veterans maintain their ministry. “We would love to have them continue their outreach at Ben Atchley.” Our Lady of Fatima is the first – and so far the only – parish in the Diocese of Knoxville to have a Catholic War Veterans of the United States of America post. It also was the first post in Tennessee. Eleven veterans who attend Our Lady of Fatima Church were sworn in as officers of Post 1973 in October 2015. Deacon Long served as the post’s first commander. The Blount County post originated when a visitor to Our Lady of Fatima asked Father McKenzie if the parish had a Catholic War Veterans of the USA chapter and handed the priest a brochure. After some research, Deacon Long Veterans continued on page B2