May 1, 2022, ET Catholic, B section

New Knoxville Catholic auditorium dedicated A building that was 22 years in the making will serve KCHS as well as the community at large

BILL BREWER

K

noxville Catholic High School’s new 375-seat auditorium, 22 years in the making and just over a year under construction, was dedicated April 25 and hosted its first live performances to the delight of students, parents, faculty, and benefactors who have anxiously awaited an opening night.

Bishop Richard F. Stika blessed the St. Gregory the Great Auditorium, with Father Chris Michelson delivering the opening prayer and KCHS chaplain Father Christopher Floersh giving the dedication prayer. Father Michelson is pastor of St. Albert the Great Parish and serves as chairman of the KCHS board of trustees and as a special consultant to the school. They were joined by other Diocese of Knoxville priests, including former KCHS principal Monsignor Patrick Garrity, and Father Tim Sullivan, CSP, associate pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish.

Completion of the auditorium was just in time for the high school theater and music department production of “The Music Man” musical, with public performances given the weekend of April 30.

But the first public performances came during the dedication by members of the KCHS choir and band, along with a solo by sophomore singer Madison Mounts.

KCHS president Dickie Sompayrac emceed the dedication and welcomed those on hand to be among the first to see the $5 million facility. In addition to Bishop Stika, schools superintendent Sedonna Prater, and the KCHS students, staff, and board of trustees, he thanked the donors who made the project possible, such as lead benefactors John and Sondra Faris, Mike and Carol Connor, and Bob and Margaret Petrone. Mr. Petrone and Mr. and Mrs. Connor are KCHS

By Bill Brewer

Auditorium ‘has been a long time coming’ Bishop Richard F. Stika, reflected in theatrical lighting, blesses the St. Gregory the Great Auditorium at Knoxville Catholic High School as KCHS chaplain Father Christopher Floersh looks on. graduates, and Mr. Faris’ four sons graduated from the high school.

Mr. Sompayrac also thanked Rocky and Mary Ann Smith, Julia Schriver, Jon Nix, Craig and Katie Witsoe, Tom and Mindy Coulter, Dorman Blaine, and Patricia and Gino Zanolli, for whom the auditorium green room is named as well as Johnson Architecture and Rouse Construction, who were the lead architect and contractor on the project.

“We’re so excited to be here to dedicate St. Gregory the Great Auditorium. This has been a long time coming. Welcome to Faris Theater.

It’s hard to believe, but the first blueprints for this building were drawn up in 2010, so it really has

been a long time coming,” Mr. Sompayrac said.

“We have so many donors here tonight, and I just want to say thank you. You’re here because you have a vested interest. You’ve been a student here, or you’ve had a student here, or you’re a donor. I just want to thank you for making this a reality,” Mr. Sompayrac continued.

“This building is going to get used, and it’s going to get used a lot. And our kids are going to benefit. That’s what it’s about.”

Mr. Sompayrac reserved a special thank-you for Ben and Maureen Birkel, parents of Megan Birkel, a KCHS student for whom the auditorium stage is named. Megan was in

the class of 2005 and was killed in a tragic car accident midway through her senior year. She was active in the school’s theater program at the time.

Mr. and Mrs. Birkel were visibly pleased with the fully appointed auditorium and grateful for Mr. Sompayrac’s acknowledgment of their daughter and for the naming of the stage after her.

“What the Coulters did, what the entire Catholic community did, and how much they remember Megan for this long, it’s great. It’s way more than I can even accept.

It’s way above and beyond. It’s just great to come back here and see that Auditorium continued on page B2

Feeding the 5(0),000 “Jesus replied, ‘They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat’” (Matthew 14:16).

W

ith one boy’s offering of five loaves and two fish, Christ was able to feed the multitude of 5,000. With hundreds of donors and volunteers throughout the Diocese of Knoxville, Christ’s Church was able to feed 50,000. On Saturday, March 26, the Knoxville Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (KDCCW) hosted a meal-packing event for Cross Catholic Outreach, preparing 50,000 meals to go to the hungry in Haiti and Guatemala.

Last fall, the KDCCW leadership was looking for a service project in which the entire diocese could participate. Around that same time, Patty Johnson, who coordinated the project, received a phone call from June Lawrence, the Cross Catholic Outreach development officer for Tennessee.

“She said to me, ‘The children in Haiti are starving,’” Mrs. Johnson recalled.

The National Council of Catholic Women had partnered with Cross Catholic Outreach since 2010, so Ms. Lawrence knew that Mrs. Johnson, who previously served as president of the National Council of Catholic Women, and the KDCCW board

would be willing to help.

Approximately 815 million people around the world, many of them children, are suffering from malnutrition. Inadequate nutrition is one of the leading causes of death for children under the age of 5. The sad reality is that globally there is enough food to feed everyone, but economics, politics, and logistics of availability and distribution keep millions from regular access to healthy meals. Cross Catholic’s food program aims to cut through those barriers.

“This is one of our biggest projects right now because food is such a need all throughout developing countries,” Ms. Lawrence said. She attended the March 26 event to oversee the process and answer any questions people might have.

Cross Catholic Outreach’s mission is “to mobilize the global Catholic Church to transform the poor and their communities materially and spiritually for the glory of Jesus Christ.” Its programs bring food, water, housing, medical care, education, and disaster relief to those most in need around the world.

Cross Catholic Outreach’s mealpacking ministry pairs Catholic ministries in the United States and developing countries to get thousands of healthy meals to people Food packing continued on page B3

By Emily Booker

EMILY BOOKER

KDCCW hosts meal-packing event to provide food for people in the nations of Haiti and Guatemala

‘One of our biggest projects right now’ Patty Johnson coordinated the food-packing project for the Knoxville Diocesan Council of Catholic Women. Mrs. Johnson is a parishioner of St. Francis of Assisi in Fairfield Glade.

Honoring Megan Ben and Maureen Birkel stand next to the sign commemorating their daughter in the St. Gregory the Great Auditorium at KCHS. dedication.

Mr. Bodie was appreciative and impressed by the modern auditorium and couldn’t help but juxtapose it with the much-smaller, classroomsize performance setting he and his peers had when he was in school.

When KCHS relocated from the original Magnolia Avenue site to the present Cedar Bluff campus in 2000, theater and music performances were in an arts classroom.

KCHS supporters raised money for a new performing arts wing at the school, which was named the Megan Birkel Performing Arts Center when it opened in 2005.

The wing doubled as a classroom but provided more space for performances.

However, a full-scale auditorium has always been in the plans for the high school.

“Theater started out in one of the band rooms, then we had the addition of the Megan Birkle theater in the spring of 2005. There was a makeshift stage in there, but it was still a classroom. Desks and chairs had to be moved out of the way when we rehearsed and performed,” said Mr. Bodie, who is an educator and a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Tennessee.

“This is a very professionallooking setup compared to just a short while ago. Just listening to the solo and the band and choir performance, it’s leaps and bounds from what we had 15 to 20 years ago. The talk about having an auditorium has been around since the school moved here in 2000, before I was even a student,” he continued. “To see this coming to fruition finally is pretty overwhelming.”

Bishop Stika explained that although an auditorium was part of the original design of the Cedar Bluff campus, financial resources prevented it from becoming a reality until now.

“Dickie put together a good fund­ raising apparatus, and with some very generous donors, we have this beautiful new auditorium named for Pope Gregory. The impact this will have on the Catholic community, the school community, and the community at large will be great,” Bishop Stika said. “It’s about the kids, the young men and women, and it’s important for them to have the proper setting to develop the fine arts. More and more that is what we need.”

Father Michelson pointed out that the auditorium is already paid for through the generous giving of donors, and there will be no debt for the school or diocese and no impact on school finances or tuition.

“I was surprised it took 22 years, but we got there, and we keep moving on. I was confident it would come about, but it’s in the Holy Spirit’s time, not necessarily our timeline. My timeline would have been about 10 years ago. But that’s OK,” Father Michelson said.

He added that for large assemblies, KCHS had to use its gymnasium and has even rented off-campus venues.

He noted that KCHS is looking at ways the broader community outside of the Catholic Church can have access to the auditorium for meetings and performances.

Mr. Sompayrac is thankful a key piece of the overall campus master plan is now in place, and that students, faculty, and the community will benefit from it.

“This is a need. This is like having a basketball team and a volleyball team at a school but not having a gym. It’s a credit to all the teachers who have taught theater, chorus, and band throughout the years without having a proper venue,” the KCHS president said.

“This is just so exciting because this is going to serve so many kids here. We have close to 80 kids involved in our choral program.

Theater reaches so many kids. Band reaches so many kids. It’s just so exciting to finally have a place that will be theirs,” he added. n

COURTESY OF PAM RHOADES

and feel that,” Mr. Birkel said.

“There are so many things about losing a child, but one of the worst things is you think she’s going to be forgotten. The kids who are here now weren’t even born when Megan died. And they put her name up on the plaque for all these kids to see. She’s not being forgotten.

We don’t have very many joyful days; she was our only child. But today is definitely a joyful day.

And we’re so grateful,” Mrs. Birkel added.

Bishop Stika echoed Mr. Sompayrac’s gratitude to all those who made the auditorium possible and read a quote from St. Gregory the Great, who lived in the seventh century: “‘You don’t climb a mountain in leaps and bounds. But you take it slowly to get to the top.’ Isn’t that what’s happening here? Step by step, the buildings and facilities, and now this beautiful auditorium, carry us into the future. All the generations that follow will be touched in one way or another because of your donations, your prayers, your assistance in whatever way that might be. I think Pope Gregory would be well pleased for having this auditorium named after him,” the bishop said.

Construction on the auditorium began in March 2021 on greenspace in front of the school between the main entrance and the separate two-story classroom “B” building.

Among its features, in addition to the ample seating, are: n A stage that is 55 feet wide by 40 feet deep; n A 1,385-square-foot scene shop; n An audio-video production suite; n A 4,000-square-foot lobby; n An 871-square-foot green room; n Full theatrical lighting; n Full accessibility.

KCHS estimates the new performing-arts center will draw more than 10,000 visitors to KCHS annually and will be operational year-round.

It will host plays, musicals, concerts, ceremonies, guidance nights, honor society inductions, Irish Media Network productions, open houses, diocesan and foundation school events, and other activities.

Davis Bodie, KCHS class of 2006, who is a former football standout and performer in the school’s theater program, was on hand for the

BILL BREWER

Auditorium continued from page B1

DR. KELLY KEARSE

Outside view A look at the St. Gregory the Great Auditorium from the outside in an artist’s rendering.

Directors together At the auditorium dedication were (from left) Jay Romines, Knoxville Catholic band director; Daniel Varnell, former KCHS choir director; Shaun Schuetz, band director at St. John Neumann School in Farragut; and Phil Holloway, KCHS choral director.

B2 n MAY 1, 2022

BILL BREWER

DR. KELLY KEARSE

‘It’s about the kids’ Bishop Stika speaks at the dedication of the St. Gregory the Great Auditorium at KCHS.

Everybody sing Phil Holloway, choral director at KCHS, leads the school choir in a performance at the dedication of the St. Gregory the Great Auditorium. w ww.di o k no x .o rg

TH E EA S T TEN N ES S EE C ATH OLI C

quickly. The ministries in the United States raise the money to buy the food in bulk and pack the food into individualized meals. By buying in bulk and dividing it here, the meals offer a balanced, nutrient-rich diet for as low as 33 cents a meal. Ministries in the developing countries then oversee distribution of the individually packed meals to children and families in need in their area.

Cross Catholic Outreach handles the logistics of finding ministries, ordering food, and shipping the meals internationally.

“We are partnering with Catholic ministries in the developing world that are great but need resources.

So, we link the two. We’re all part of the same body. It’s just that God has given strengths on either side. We get together to get those developing countries on their way to being who they can be,” Ms. Lawrence said.

Many of the meals go to children through schools and orphanages.

With proper nutrition, children do better in school and have fewer ongoing health issues, which gives them a stronger foundation for the rest of their lives.

The first step for any parish or organization holding a meal-packing event is the fundraising.

Many Diocese of Knoxville parishes were already familiar with the work of Cross Catholic Outreach through its Box of Joy program, which sends children in developing countries a gift box filled with toys, clothing, school supplies, and a rosary. It is a popular annual service among many parishes in the diocese. So, when the call came to partner with Cross Catholic Outreach to send meals, the response was enthusiastic.

KDCCW president Susan Collins was thrilled by the generous response from parish CCWs and individuals for the meal-packing

project.

“It takes quite a bit of money to purchase the food and things,” Mrs. Collins said. “But the money came in above and beyond. Originally, we were going to do 40,000 [meals], and we ended up with 50,000. It’s been great. The support’s been great all over the diocese.”

KDCCW raised around $18,000, enough for 50,000 meals, with enough leftover to make a $1,300 donation to Catholic Relief Services’ Water for Life, which provides people access to clean water.

Mrs. Johnson agreed with Mrs. Collins.

“Our goal was to raise $13,500, but we raised more than that,” Mrs. Johnson said. “When we met our goal and exceeded it, I asked June what the next increment was. We raised $16,500 for 50,000 meals. We had a lot of individual donations.

We had donations for organizations.

We received donations from every deanery.”

The next step was finding a space large enough to pack 50,000 meals.

The cathedral hall at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus served that purpose. Rows of tables were set up throughout the hall for teams of 10 to 12 volunteers to form assembly lines and pack the food into meal packages and the packages into boxes.

The bulk order of food arrived on March 24. On March 26, the volunteers packed the meals, and by March 28, the meals were on their way to Cross Catholic Outreach headquarters in Florida, where they would be quickly shipped out to ministries in Haiti and Guatemala.

Joan Rowe, volunteer coordinator for KDCCW, said that interest in helping with this project was high.

More than 120 people signed up to volunteer, but on the day of the event, even more people showed up

More than 150 help with food-packing project Volunteers fill and weigh individual packs of meals that will go to those in need in developing nations. The meals contain vitamins, proteins, vegetables, and rice.

TH E EAST T E N N E S S E E C AT HO L I C

EMILY BOOKER (5)

Food packing continued from page B1

Mom and two helpers Tamara Montgomery and daughters Maya and Juliet prepare the vitamin packs that will accompany the nutrient-rich meals. wanting to help.

“We’ve really had a good turnout from all over,” Ms. Rowe said.

“People have really stepped up.”

More than 150 volunteers spent the morning packing meals.

Teams followed a specific order to make sure each meal got the right amount of food: first was an enclosed pack of vitamins, followed by soy, beans, dehydrated vegetables, and rice. The amount of each ingredient was weighed out, and at the end of the assembly line, the bag was weighed again. Any needed adjustments were made, and then the bag was sealed and labeled.

The meals are designed to meet the needs of the malnourished, especially children, and provide an optimal balance of vitamins, protein, fiber, and carbohydrates. Once they arrive at their destination, they can be prepared with spices or include additional ingredients to suit local tastes.

The volunteers enjoyed friendly competition between teams as they packed the meals. When the first pallet of boxes was completed, representing about 11,000 meals, there was an announcement, and a cheer went up among the volunteers.

Members of the Knights of Columbus at St. John XXIII University Parish offered to do the heavy-lifting—sorting the large sacks of bulk food and moving the pallets of boxes ready to ship. Many hands made the event go smoothly and swiftly.

“This is my first time being involved in [a meal packing project], so this was all new to me. But I just

think it’s great,” Ms. Rowe said.

“Everybody who showed up has really enjoyed it, and it’s a lot of fun.

It really brings everybody together.

I think it’s great.”

For Mrs. Johnson, it was the perfect service project for Lent.

“We’re trying to make our Lent more meaningful by helping to feed 50,000 of the poorest children in the world. And we’re doing that through the packing of the meals,” Mrs. Johnson said.

She reflected how the war in Ukraine was rightfully getting a lot of attention and aid, but that people in other countries and situations are still struggling, too. It’s important to see the needs of everyone and to help where we can.

“Some people have said to me, ‘Why this instead of Ukraine?’ Well, we planned this well before anything started in Ukraine, and these people are just as needy as those in Ukraine,” Mrs. Johnson said.

“Ukraine is garnering a lot of contributions right now. So, I still feel good that we’re doing it for these people. It’s just a really beautiful opportunity I think to do what Christ has asked us to do.

“We all know when he said, ‘When I was hungry, you gave me food.’ We try to keep that in mind.”

Thanks to the efforts of donors and volunteers in the Diocese of Knoxville, 50,000 people with full bellies will remember that, too.

You can learn more about the work of Cross Catholic Outreach at www.crosscatholic.org. n

‘Making our Lent more meaningful’ Volunteers form assembly lines to pack bulk food into individual meals ready to ship. Cross Catholic Outreach connects ministries in the U.S. and developing nations to feed thousands in need.

w ww.di o k no x .o rg

MAY 1, 2022 n B3

Parish notes St. Jude, Chattanooga Because of some generous donors and the ongoing donations to the St. Jude Maintenance Fund, a couple of big projects around the campus are about to begin. The parish life center kitchen will be completely remodeled beginning in late May (finished in early July). The men’s and women’s restrooms in both the church and parish life center will be given complete and much-needed facelifts.

The parish welcomed Lori Bessler, Richard Greene, Sandy Greene, William Lewis, Thomas Scoggins, and Robert Stanley, who joined the Church at the Easter Vigil.

The Knights of Columbus thanked youth Joe Clark, Baylor Bradshaw, Cori Hill, Boone Hammond, and Coen Herreth for participating in its basketball free-throw championship.

Barb Coye (61), Raymond and Barbara Clark (60), Joseph and Nancy Grunduski (59), Terry and Nancy Allen (58), Jim and Anita Renick (58), Bob and Kathy McCone (57), Norm and Carol Adams (57), David and Sally Kowalski (55), Charles and Dolores Gruet (54), David and Corinne Bain (53), Arthur and Deborah Stockwell (53), Dennis and Rosemarie Robak (52), Phil and Lyn Rogers (51), Keith and Sandra Larkin (40), Tom and Debra Crillo (35), James and Tara Olson (25), William and Tammy Anzenberger (25), Bob and Mary King (5) St. John Neumann, Farragut The Ladies of Charity thanked pastor Father Joe Reed and parishioners for making a recent Easter basket fundraiser a success. Their generosity helped the Ladies raise $1,500, which will be used to buy food and necessities for the needy in the community.

COURTESY OF BILL HEWITT

Chattanooga Deanery

St. Henry Knights visit pregnancy center Knights of Columbus from Council 8860 at St. Henry Parish in Rogersville recently visited the Hawkins County Pregnancy Center and met with Kelly Snodgrass, ministry director. Ms. Snodgrass gave the Knights a brief tour of the pregnancy center and discussed its operation. While in the center, council chairman for the Faith in Action Life Category Stephen Derosia presented a check to Ms. Snodgrass from funds raised through a church event that would help purchase needed supplies. St. Henry pastor Father Bart Okere (second from right) mentioned and Grand Knight Bill Hewitt (right) echoed that the parish and Knights hope this is the start of a partnership that continues to flourish over time.

Also pictured is Beverly Carmack (left).

St. Joseph, Norris St. Mary, Athens St. Joseph welcomed Patrick Sharp, Donny and Nolan Tan Troung, and Marinna Mercer into the Church at the Easter Vigil.

Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus are planning a short program for Memorial Day weekend in May. If any member of a parish family was a veteran who is now deceased, the Knights need the person’s name and the branch of service he or she was in. The veteran does not have to have been a member of the parish. Call the parish office at 423-745-4277 or Frank Prevatt at 423-453-2049 with names.

St. Therese, Clinton

The parish needs someone who can help with its website. Call the office (see number above) if you can help.

Holy Trinity, Jefferson City

Vacation Bible school is set for July 11-14.

St. Stephen, Chattanooga The parish made adoration of the Blessed Sacrament available from 3 to 4 p.m. on Divine Mercy Sunday, April 24.

Anniversaries: Clarence and Pat Bodnar (58), Roger and Donna Fiske (50), Craig and Catherine St. Pierre (45)

Cumberland Mountain Deanery

St. Therese welcomed Ben Nation into the Church at the Easter Vigil.

The parish thanked in-house chef Don McCarthy and volunteers who served up soups and fish dinners throughout Lent.

Five Rivers Deanery

Gordon Marshall received the sacraments of Holy Communion and confirmation at the Easter Vigil Mass.

The parish thanked the Knights of Columbus and all the parishioners who recently helped clean, trim, cut, dig, rake, and do an all-around cleanup of the church and rectory grounds.

The parish’s first Easter egg hunt was held Easter Sunday, April 17.

Holy Trinity wished a happy seventh anniversary to His Majesty’s Gift Shop, which carries first Communion and confirmation gifts. All proceeds go to the spiritual life committee.

Blessed Sacrament, Harriman The parish welcomed Heath Jones and Valerie Works, who received the sacraments at the Easter Vigil Mass.

First communicants: Hudson Arnold, Isabella Barrios, Shelby Clapp, Lily Corrigan, Riley Oatney, Mila O’Connor, Maks Solarz, Nora Patoka, Amy Maritza Vences

St. Francis of Assisi, Fairfield Glade Newcomers: Joseph and Marie Ramby On March 29, pastor Father Michael Woods bestowed a special healing for those in need of restoration and prayers at a healing Mass that was concelebrated with Father Mark Schuster, pastor of St. Alphonsus in Crossville. It was well attended, with 170 people receiving personal blessings.

Two women came into the Church at the Easter Vigil. Gail Keaton received three sacraments: baptism, confirmation and first Holy Communion. Cary Moore received confirmation and first Communion.

A six-week course based on “33 Days to Morning Glory” by Father Michael E. Gaitley, MIC, began with two new groups, one April 5 and the other April 7. For more information, call Kathy Donley at 707-321-9563 or Cherie Trapp at 931-287-8296.

A Bible study of St. Luke’s Gospel with Kathy Fitch started April 18 and continues for six weeks. For more details, call 931-287-0644.

The Prayer Warriors meet every Tuesday in the parish library at 9 a.m. for those who need special prayers.

Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist, a presentation by Brant Pitre, was scheduled for April 22.

Anniversaries: John and Jean Shonly (68), John and Anna Moyer (62), Norm and Judith Charest (62), John and B4 n MAY 1, 2022

COURTESY OF FATHER JULIUS ABUH (2)

Pastor Father John Orr will recognize and bless the parish’s graduating high school seniors on Sunday, May 15.

Notre Dame, Greeneville The parish welcomed six into the Church at the Easter Vigil.

Notre Dame parishioners took part in a Divine Mercy Sunday holy hour in front of the Blessed Sacrament on April 24.

Pastor Father Joseph Kuzhupil, MSFS, recently sent a total of $5,478 to the diocese representing parishioners’ donations to help Polish churches that are supporting the people of Ukraine.

Vacation Bible school will be held Wednesday nights from June 22 to July 13. Contact susan@notredametn. org to assist.

St. Patrick, Morristown The Knights of Columbus have set the date for their next annual yard and garage sale, Aug. 19. Those with items for sale who cannot store them before the sale should contact Dave Lande at 423-273-0976, James Mach at 865-475-1999, or Mike Leonard at 423-353-0844. All proceeds from the sale will go toward St. Patrick facilities improvements.

The Knights of Columbus are continuing their Freddy’s Steakburgers fund­ raiser. Those who eat at Freddy’s in Morristown from 5 to 9 p.m. May 26 and June 23 should mention “Knights of Columbus,” and the restaurant will Parish notes continued on page B7

In honor of Our Lady St. Joseph the Worker pastor Father Julius Abuh and Grand Knight Ed Harless display the Silver Rose.

Knights’ Silver Rose visits St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Madisonville

A

Silver Rose was featured prominently in a special liturgical service March 30 at St. Joseph the Worker Church in Madisonville.

The Silver Rose program, sponsored by Knights of Columbus Council 15585, is a national devotion in honor of Our Lady, with a specific dedication to the sanctity of human life. Every March, silver roses are stewarded by Knights councils along routes from Canada to Mexico with the current ninemonth journey across North America. The opportunity to pray in front of the Silver Rose was a grace to all who attended in the parish.

The Silver Rose program began in 1960, when the first live rose was blessed by Bishop John C. Cody of London. It was later flown to New York, then onto Dallas, and it crossed the border into Mexico.

The rose ended its pilgrimage at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City on Dec. 12 that year, coinciding with the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The Silver Rose pilgrimage is now a yearly tradition, and because of the popularity of the program throughout the Americas, eight silver roses travel unique routes each year.

At St. Joseph the Worker Parish, the ceremony began with the delivery of the Silver Rose to the local Grand Knight, Ed Harless, who then presented it to pastor Father Julius Abuh. After the presentation, led by the Hispanic choir, Father Abuh led a solemn procession into the church

w ww.di o k no x .o rg

for a bilingual service divided into three parts: praying the holy rosary in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Liturgy of the Word concluding with a consecration to Our Lady of Guadalupe in English and Spanish, and finishing with a solemn blessing and dismissal hymn.

“One Life, One Rose” is an appropriate motto and a tribute to Our Lady of Guadalupe, who appeared to St. Juan Diego, expressing her desire for the preservation of life and peace throughout the world. Juan Diego carried her message to the bishop and presented him with what came to be known as the “Miracle of Roses.” After all the trips around North America, it is expected that this Silver Rose will return to Mexico on Dec. 12, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. n TH E EA S T TEN N ES S EE C ATH OLI C

Calendar

The Sending of the Neophytes Mass will take place at 4 p.m. Sunday, May 15, at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. New Catholics who enter the Church this Easter will be formally sent forth by Bishop Richard F. Stika at the annual ceremony.

The annual Diocesan Confirmation for Adults is set for 4 p.m. Sunday, June 5, at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Bishop Richard F. Stika will confer the sacrament of confirmation on adults from around the diocese. Any adult 18 and over who has had the sacraments of baptism, first Holy Communion, and reconciliation but has not been confirmed can receive the sacrament on this date. Interested candidates should call their parish office for more information. Learn more at https://dioknox.org/adult-confirmation.

Knoxville Catholic High School is hosting “Camp Irish,” a variety of summer camps this year. Camps include baseball, boys basketball, Lady Irish Future Stars, football, volleyball, junior theater, robotics, band, dance, lacrosse, soccer, and math camps. For more information, visit knoxvillecatholic. com/camp-irish/.

The Covecrest Summer Camp, open to rising high school freshmen through graduating seniors, is planned for June 6-11 at Life Teen Covecrest, 25 Falls Drive, Tiger, Ga. Cost is $675 and includes transportation, meals, and a shirt. For forms required for youth and adult participation, a flyer, and a camp packing list, visit dioknox.org/events/ covecrest-2022. For more information, contact Brittany Garcia at bgarcia@ dioknox.org or 865-776-9635.

An Engaged Encounter weekend is set for July 22-23 at All Saints Church in Knoxville. Catholic Engaged Encounter is a weekend to plan for a sacramental marriage. It is designed to TH E EAST T E N N E S S E E C AT HO L I C

The annual God Camps, “Reach” and “Discover,” for incoming fifth- through eighth-graders, are taking place in June at the Harrison Bay State Park Group Camp in Harrison in the Chattanooga Deanery. The Reach camp for upcoming seventh- and eighth-graders is set for June 20-23, and the Discover camp for upcoming fifth- and sixthgraders will be held June 23-25. Camp activities include a big water day, a pool day, outdoor sports, bonfires with s’mores, prayer services, skits, crafts, the celebration of Mass, team-building activities, group interaction, and time to enjoy the park. Some highlights include four square, basketball, volleyball, capture the flag, hiking, and (for Reach) an Escape Room Adventure and (for Discover) a Treasure Hunt Adventure, along with some surprise activities planned by the leaders. God Camps give participants the opportunity to make new friendships, grow in their relationship with God, and discover who God created them to be. Costs are $140 for the Reach camp and $115 for the Discover camp and include lodging, all meals, a pool pass, activities, dance (Reach camp), and a T-shirt. For more information, contact Donna Jones at 423-622-7232 or djones6029@gmail. com. Registration forms are available at https://dioknox.org/events/reachcamp-2022 and https://dioknox.org/ events/discover-camp-2022. Registration deadline is Friday, May 27.

Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga is currently accepting applications for the 2022-23 academic year.

Visit www.myndhs.com to apply online.

Call Laura Goodhard at 423-624-4618, extension 1004, for more information.

St. Joseph School in Knoxville is now enrolling pre-K (4) through eighthgrade students. Contact azengel@ sjsknox.org, call 865-689-3424, or visit www.sjsknox.org for more information.

JIM WOGAN JOHN FERGUSON

New cathedral mosaic a gift from the diocese Bishop Richard F. Stika and Father David Boettner, rector of the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, display the newest artistic addition to the mother church of the diocese. The 17-by-17-inch, Italian-crafted, Byzantine-style mosaic depicts St. Joseph, St. Teresa of Jesus (Ávila), and St. Thérèse of Lisieux, and is now mounted on the interior north vestibule at the cathedral. The mosaic is a gift from the diocese to honor a Carmelite religious order that wishes to remain anonymous for its very generous donation to the cathedral building project.

SHERRY FERGUSON

Singers, choir directors, organists, clergy, and others interested in sacred music are invited to the seventh Southeastern Summer Sacred Music Workshop, to be held midday Friday, July 29, through Saturday, July 30, at Holy Ghost Church in Knoxville. The workshop is an ideal opportunity for participants to learn Gregorian chant or improve their chant skills and to prepare and sing polyphonic music for Mass Saturday afternoon. Presentations will include the history and purpose of Gregorian chant, what the Church teaches about sacred music, improving parish music programs on a limited budget, free online sources of liturgical music, and more. Cost of the workshop, including all materials, is $75 per person. Online registration is available now. Southeastern Sacred Music is a chapter of the Church Music Association of America. For more information, visit https://southeasternsacredmusic. com/, e-mail mary@holyghostknoxville. org, or call or text Mary Weaver at 865-437-8620.

The next Picture of Love engagedcouples retreat is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, at Christ Prince of Peace Retreat Center in Benton. This marriage-preparation program for engaged couples explores the joys and challenges of living out life together as a married couple with special focus on the importance of inviting Jesus to be the center of marriage and family life. The retreat is to supplement couples’ marriage formation process with their parish priest or deacon. The cost is $100 per couple, and the experience will qualify couples for a $60 discount on a Tennessee marriage license. A light breakfast, lunch, and snacks are included. Participants wishing overnight accommodations should contact Deacon Al Forsythe at aforsythe@ dioknox.org. Cost for overnight accommodations is $45 per person. For more information, e-mail kbyrne@dioknox. org or call Karen Byrne at 865-5843307. To register and fill out requested exercises, visit dioknox.org/events/ one-day-picture-of-love.

Bishop confirms 14 at St. Stephen Church Bishop Richard F. Stika (top photo) confirmed 14 candidates at St. Stephen Church in Chattanooga on April 9. Father Manuel Pérez and Father Christopher Manning concelebrated. Deacon Gary Brinkworth was the master of ceremonies, and Deacon David Waguespack was deacon of the Word. The confirmandi’s teachers were Donna Snuggs and Anacaren Oceguera. In the bottom photo are a few of the Ladies Auxiliary members who prepared and served the reception for the confirmation. From left are Jeanette Craig, Susan Lloyd, Maryann Duvall, Priscilla McLean, Elaine Holland, and Linda Lee.

COURTESY OF COLLEEN JACOBS

All Saints Parish in Knoxville will host a Health and Mental Wellness Expo from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 19, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20. The event will feature speakers throughout the day and other health-related information from the Knoxville community.

St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic will provide glucose, blood-pressure, and basic mental-health screening. Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts will lead health- and first-aid-related activities for children.

Outdoor aerobics and other activities are planned if weather permits. Friday evening speakers are Zack Kramer, owner of Trinity Strength, and Deacon Robert Rust. Saturday speakers are Mr. Kramer, Allison Maurer, Allison Lowe, Father Michael Maples, and Dr. Lisa Padgett. Information booths will feature All Saints caregiving ministries, a registered dietitian, a doctor of physical therapy, a chiropractor, and more. For more information, contact Christine Lucheon at 865-474-8601 or clucheon@ dioknox.org.

give couples the opportunity to talk privately, honestly, and intensively about their prospective lives together—their strengths and weaknesses, desires, ambitions, and goals, and their attitudes about money, sex, children, family, and their role in the Church and society—in a guided format. Cost of the weekend is $175 per couple, which includes a certificate good for a $60 discount on the couple’s marriage license in Tennessee. To receive a $60 discount, couples must attend a marriage-preparation weekend within one year of purchasing the license. To learn more or to register for a weekend, visit knoxville. engagedencounter.com or call Leslie Consoli at 865-803-6790.

Thirty-nine confirmed at St. Patrick Church Bishop Richard F. Stika confirmed 39 middle and high school students at St. Patrick Church in Morristown on April 20.

St. Dominic School in Kingsport has registration open for the 2022-23 school year. For more information, visit www.saintdominccatholicschool.com.

Call 423-245-0362 to arrange a tour.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help (OLPH) Homeschool Support Group is a Catholic homeschool support group in Knoxville and surrounding areas that is recognized by the diocese as a Private Association of the Faithful. The group supports one another as families who choose to educate their children at home in order to live, teach, and Calendar continued on page B7

COURTESY OF PATRICIA MORRILL

Bishop Richard F. Stika will ordain Joseph Austin, Neil Blatchford, and Andrew Crabtree to the transitional diaconate at 4 p.m. Sunday, May 29, at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. A reception will follow in the cathedral hall.

Holy Trinity parishioners take part in pro-life rally Parishioners at Holy Trinity in Jefferson City held a pro-life rally on March 20 at the church. During the 40 days of Lent, they prayed for life and all assaults against it. Everyone lined up next to Highway 92 with signs to show his or her stance on the abortion issue and to pray for the unborn.

w ww.di o k no x .o rg

MAY 1, 2022 n B5

Praying for Perspective

by George Valadie

No one Catholic school student is like another Parents and school staffers are sometimes surprised—and relieved—on graduation day

S

ince we’ve retired, the concept of time has taken on an odd sensation.

Random days are crazy busy. But others—when there’s not as much to do—feel like they crawl by, hours barely creeping along if they move at all, broken up only by reruns of Andy Griffith, an attempt at Wordle, Quordle, three meals, and an afternoon snack.

Around the country, though, and around this diocese, I imagine there are parents who feel it’s been nothing but a blur as they ready themselves for the event they have both prayed for and dreaded: their child’s graduation.

They were without question my favorite weekends of a 46-year career in education and still hold many fond memories.

I recall a commencement not too many years ago when after diplomas had been awarded, I ran into a senior’s aunt and uncle, who had themselves been parents in our school some 10 years prior. They had traveled cross country to honor their niece, who was now taking her turn crossing the stage of success.

“Ten years since our girl was here, can you believe that? Can’t believe how fast it’s gone by?” dad asked.

I nodded in agreement, “You’re so right, but I won’t lie, there have been a few days along the way that have dragged a bit.”

Time is funny like that.

And isn’t the same true for moms and dads, as they’ve no doubt uttered quite a few will-it-ever-getheres mixed with an equal amount of I-can’t-believe-it’s-the-last-time?

Most enjoyable for me was watching each kid, one by one, take his turn in line, just moments before crossing the stage. Some smiling proudly, some nervous about the future, some simply fearful of tripping in front of the crowd.

And while most were trying to picture their future, I often stepped back into their past, back to when I had met them as freshmen.

Years ago when I used to interview each applicant, I’d always ask

After getting the decades of others before them that far, I could never bring myself to say I was “happy” to see any of them go, but truth be told, there were always one or two who had found my last nerve and stepped on it . . . more than once. the same question. It sounded something like this: “Have you ever been to a high school graduation? At ours, right after the seniors toss their caps into the air, we finish with a procession.

“Faculty exits first, followed by the graduates. Our teachers always see some student pass by and they sigh, ‘Boy, we’re gonna miss that kid.’

“But then another follows and someone mutters under their breath, ‘Oh, thank God, they’re gone!’

“Tell me, before we accept you here at our school, which will they say about you?”

If this year’s group has wrapped up its final year like the classes before it, someone will get to brag to the crowd about the millions of dollars of scholarships they will have earned. And though COVID-19 interfered a lot, I still doubt it’s possible to accurately track all the service hours they will have given.

We’ve already heard of some having been admitted to the finest colleges in the country, while others will chase their degree at the school of their dreams—and isn’t that all that matters?

Beauty still lies in the eye of the beholder.

Though it’s not our show anymore, Nancy and I are still planning to attend. It’s not even been a full year, so we still know all these kids and have found that we have missed them dearly.

After getting the decades of others before them that far, I could never bring myself to say I was “happy” to see any of them go, but truth be told, there were always one or two who had found my last nerve and stepped on it . . . more than once.

For them, I was both surprised and proud they’d made it. And for

Thoughts and Prayers for the Faithful

one or two more, God has no greater miracle to his credit.

There were no scholarships for these, no colleges came calling. If you believe as I do that all people “have a thing,” well, school just wasn’t theirs.

There was always a reason they found it so darn tough to get this far. When it came to academics, some just didn’t, others just couldn’t. Some had to climb over impediments of self-inflicted stupidity. Others had to battle their own cross-wired brain and sadly—and wrongly—believed themselves to be stupid.

I was always more amazed at the few who fought every rule we had.

Dress code or cell phones—they loved walking the tightrope they’d strung precariously just above the exit.

There were times they strode down the halls smelling of attitude and arrogance—the smirky, snippy, I-wish-paddles-were-still-in-fashion kind.

We had all sorts of folks who believed we should have tossed such ding-dongs. Why put up with such nonsense? I get that, I really do. And on occasion, I allowed some to have a second chance—somewhere else.

But I also think the mission of a Catholic school is to embrace the needy as well. And Lord knows, these were the ones who needed us. In an odd way, I admit, but few needed us more.

I used to tell people that if you gave us, if you give any Catholic school, four years with a kid, we would win. We’ll help them get it together. We’ll help them get ready to go where they might not have even known they wanted to go.

Not all of them of course, no one bats a thousand, no one wins every game. Neither do we, but I like our record.

I talked to their parents—often.

Many of those moms and dads worked a lot harder than we did. And they knew way better than we the struggles their kids faced or created.

And when I got to shake their

hands afterward, I could see more than just joy, there was also that hardto-hide hint of relief that leaked out from the smile, the voice, the tears.

Nancy says the first real instruction a mom gets with her child is when the doctor says, “Push! Push!”

And 18 years later, here they are, still pushing that same child, through the school, out of the nest, into the world.

“You’re safe in my womb, I’d keep you there forever if I could, but you’re killing me and you gotta get out,” which evolves into “You’re safe in your room, I’d keep you there forever if I could, but you’re killing me and you gotta get out.”

Neither occasion comes all that easy.

There’s a beauty to working in schools—even in these pandemic years, as insane as they have been.

No student has ever been exactly like another. Sorta like snowflakes— without the peacefulness. Sorta like different kids in the same family.

Schools spend public-relations dollars advertising the accomplishments of our best and brightest.

If it’s brag-able, believe me, we’ll boast with the best of them.

But in reality, what we do with those other young people—that might be our finest work.

I’m looking forward to celebrating with all of them because we’ll not only celebrate their diploma, we’ll celebrate great hope.

No, they’re not all the same. But they can all make it through. It’s amazing the miracles God can accomplish . . . especially if we push.

Heavenly Father—Please be with these students as they go where they do not know. As they seek to grow in knowledge, we ask they grow in faith. As they start to conquer the world, we hope they conquer their fears. As they strive to find their place, we hope that they find you.

Please go where we cannot, protect when we cannot, give strength that we cannot.

And bring them safely home. Amen. ■ George Valadie is a parishioner at St. Stephen Church in Chattanooga.

by Bob Hunt

Sobering statistics on mental health Even great saints experienced mental illness; the Church has resources to help those who suffer

T

he statistics on mental health in the United States are sobering.

According to the National Institute for Mental Health, 52.9 million adults, or 21 percent of the adult population, experience a mental illness, including 14.2 million who suffer a severe mental illness, meaning that it significantly impacts their ability to function well in their daily living.

Less than half of those with mental illness receive any kind of treatment. Reasons for not receiving treatment include lack of medical care, denial on the part of the mental health sufferer, lack of a support system for the person experiencing mental illness, the negative stigma still associated with mental illness, lack of adequate insurance, poverty, and living in a rural community where mental health services are sparse. NIMH estimates that just under 50 percent of adolescents experience mental illness, including 22 percent who have severe impairment. Unfortunately, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that only 21 percent of adolescents with mental illness receive any kind of treatment.

The consequences of mental illness can be tragic. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States, and the second-leading cause of death among those 10-

B6 n MAY 1, 2022

34 years old. There have been many headlines reporting the increase in crime rates across the country, especially homicide, and that is a genuine concern. Suicide, however, accounts for more than twice as many deaths in the United States as homicide. The World Health Organization reports that the coronavirus pandemic has led to a 25 percent increase in the incidence of anxiety and depression worldwide.

Those are the cold statistics, or at least some of them. What help is available to those who experience mental illness? The two most prevalent treatments are therapy and medication. There is an abundance of research demonstrating the efficacy of various types of therapy and of medications to help treat mental illness.

No one need suffer alone. Family members, friends, pastors, teachers, co-workers, doctors should all be supportive and encouraging of those who experience mental illness and desire help. Catholics should know that the Church fully supports both therapy and appropriate medications to combat mental illness. Catholics should also know of their obligation to support their family members, friends, and confreres who struggle with mental illness. Catholic Charities offers professional counseling to individual adults and couples, of all faiths

and none, on a sliding scale, so cost should not be a concern. Many parishes offer grief and caregiver support groups.

Mental illness is no barrier to sanctity. Some of our great saints have suffered mental illness. Many know of Venerable Matt Talbot, the Irish laborer who suffered with alcoholism. St. Mark Ji Tianxiang, a respected layman in 19th-century China, became addicted to opium after treatment for a stomach ailment. He confessed it regularly, until his priest told him he lacked true repentance and would not give him absolution. For 30 years he went to Mass but never received Holy Communion. Still addicted to opium, he was martyred with his family during the Boxer Rebellion and was canonized in 2000.

St. Thérèse of Lisieux endured extreme fears and anxieties and at least one mental breakdown, while her father, St. Louis Martin, developed dementia late in life, including hallucinations and paranoia, requiring admission to a psychiatric hospital. St. Oscar Romero carried the burden of scrupulosity. A psychiatrist diagnosed him with obsessive-compulsive disorder, and he received help through counseling and psychoanalysis. St. Jane Frances de Chantel’s depression was triggered by the death of her husband.

St. Benedict Joseph Labre was dis-

w ww.di o k no x .o rg

missed from his monastery because of neuroses. His abbot “feared for his reason.”

Sanctuary is a course on mental health from a Catholic perspective.

It has been offered at some parishes and is available on FORMED.org.

The course helps Catholics see mental illness through the lens of faith, with reflections on Scripture and Church teaching, and interviews with those who experience mental illness, as well as therapists, theologians, and bishops. It is an excellent way for Catholics to gain a better understanding of mental illness and empathy for those with mental illness.

Pope St. John Paul II said, “Whoever suffers from mental illness always bears God’s image and likeness in himself, as does every human being. In addition, he always has the inalienable right not only to be considered as an image of God and therefore as a person, but also to be treated as such.” Jesus was a healer. As Catholics, we should follow His example and do what we can to provide healing for those who hurt.

Be Christ for all. Bring Christ to all. See Christ in all. ■ Bob Hunt is a husband, father, grandfather, and parishioner at All Saints Church in Knoxville and is a candidate for the permanent diaconate.

TH E EA S T TEN N ES S EE C ATH OLI C

CATHERINE OLIVER (3)

Easter basket assembly Jeanie Geraci (second from left) and Joni Hotchkiss have partnered to keep the Easter basket project going. Also pictured above are (from left) Sylvia Chardos, Ruby Tinney, and Anna Steciw.

The founder of the project Joni Hotchkiss (right) started the Easter basket project some eight years ago. She stands with Marilyn Bianculli above.

Easter basket project in Chattanooga brings joy to children in need

A

n 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 project at the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish Bible study group she attended, in conjunction with the Ladies of Charity in Chattanooga, where she volunteered.

Another Bible study member and Ladies of Charity volunteer, Reta Rodgers, became the liaison between the two groups. They started out making about 75 Easter baskets, with the number growing each year. It again got bigger than the Bible study could manage, and a group of ladies at St. Stephen Parish got involved to help them.

The Easter baskets are wrapped in clear cellophane tied with ribbons and are filled with candy, toys, crayons, bubbles, sidewalk chalk, stuffed animals, and more.

Sadly, Ms. Rodgers passed away in 2019, but with the help of her friends Jeanie Geraci and Mrs. Hotchkiss, the project has continued in her memory and keeps growing. The past few years, the baskets have been assembled at St. Stephen Church. This year, more than 300 Easter baskets were made, bringing many smiles on Easter morning. This 300-plus number is great, but it has become too much for the leaders to handle. They will continue to assist, but they are looking for someone to take over leading this ministry.

Mrs. Hotchkiss and Mrs. Geraci are making the following announcement: “We would like to thank all of those who helped make Easter baskets for the Reta Rodgers Easter Basket Program benefiting Ladies of Charity of Chattanooga. Without the help of all volunteers who gave their time, talent, and/or financial contributions, we would not have been able to make more than 300 baskets, many of which were donated. Others were sold at a

Lots of baskets Karen Carden (left) and Leslie Fox are among the Easter basket volunteers. very reasonable price either in the LOCC resale store or were bought by individuals who donated them to needy children. All profits benefited Ladies of Charity of Chattanooga. If someone or some

organization would like to adopt this program next year, call LOCC on Rossville Boulevard at 423-6243222, and they will get information from us. A very sincere and heartfelt thank-you.” n

City; at 6 p.m. most Thursdays at St. Mary Church in Oak Ridge; and at 11:30 a.m. every Sunday at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga. For more information, visit www.KnoxLatin Mass.net.

(Byzantine) Catholic Mission located at 2304 Ault Road, Knoxville, TN 37914, meets for Divine Liturgy every first, second, and fourth Sunday at 3 p.m. All services are in English. Call Father Richard Armstrong at 865-621-8499 or visit www.facebook.com/SaintThomas Knoxville/ for more information. n

Calendar continued from page B5 preserve their Catholic Christianity. The group celebrates Mass together and has a monthly holy hour; has regular park gatherings, field trips, and feast day celebrations; offers faith-based small groups for children, teens, and adults, as well as many other activities. For more information, contact Lenore Pacitti at lmgouge@gmail.com or 865-684-6358, or Sarah Bryant at jsbry412@gmail.com or 865-742-3534.

Catholic Charities is hosting a free Rachel’s Vineyard healing and recovery retreat the weekend of Oct. 7-9 at Christ Prince of Peace Retreat Center, 250 Locke Lane in Benton, for those experiencing emotional or spiritual difficulties from a past abortion or abortions.

Complete confidentiality is honored at all times. If you are unable to attend a weekend retreat, one-on-one counseling is available with counselors who have been trained in this area. For more information, contact Sandi Davidson at 865776-4510 or sandi@ccetn.org.

The next Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekend is set for Sept. 9-11 at the Hilton Garden Inn Atlanta North in Johns Creek, Ga. Apply online at GATNwwme.org, call 678-242-WWME, or e-mail applications@GATN-wwme.org.

Also, WWME has a focused program for couples with a spouse in the military. Information can be found at www.for yourmilitarymarriage.com.

Father Arthur Torres of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Chattanooga, Father Miguel Velez of St. Patrick in Morristown, and Father Fredy Bonilla of Shepherd of the Valley in Central Point, Ore., are leading an 11-day pilgrimage to the Holy Land from July 4-14. Cost from Atlanta is $3,790 per person. For more information, call 832-406-7050 or e-mail info@nativitypilgrimage.com.

Father Julian Cardona of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Lenoir City is leading a pilgrimage to Mexico to visit the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe and other religious points of interest. The departure date is Sept. 26 and the return date Oct. 2. Mass will be celebrated each day in special churches. To download the brochure, visit www.selectinternationaltours.com. In the search box type “Jim TH E EAST T E N N E S S E E C AT HO L I C

Gecsei.” Call Mr. Gecsei at 865-8033555 for more information.

Father Bill McNeeley of Holy Ghost Parish in Knoxville will be the spiritual director for a pilgrimage to Ireland from Sept. 29 to Oct. 8. Pilgrims will visit Dublin, Wicklow, Glendalough, Tipperary, the Rock of Cashel, Kerry, Dingle Peninsula, Shannon, the Cliffs of Moher, Corcomroe Abbey, Galway, Corrib Lake, Clonmacnoise, and Knock. Cost is $3,759 per person from Knoxville. For more information, visit www.pilgrimages. com/frmcneeley.

Join Father Mike Nolan on a pilgrimage to Northern Ireland and Scotland from June 12-23, 2023, and visit St. Patrick’s Church in Armagh and his gravesite in Downpatrick. Pilgrims will stop in Glenarm and Ballycastle and drive the Causeway Coastal Route. They will experience the beauty of Giant’s Causeway and stay two nights in a beautiful coastal town before visiting Belfast, where they will have the opportunity to see the Peace Wall and visit the Titanic Belfast Exhibit, St. George’s Market, and more. The group will then take a ferry to Scotland, visiting Glasgow, Inverness, Edinburgh, and St. Andrews. For more information, contact Lisa Morris at 865567-1245 or lisam@select-intl.com.

A pilgrimage to Greece, including a four-day Aegean cruise, is set for Sept.

18-29, 2023. Join Glenmary Father Steve Pawelk “In the Footsteps of St. Paul” as pilgrims visit the places where St. Paul preached the Gospel—Thessaloniki, Philippi, Corinth, and Athens— and visit the Meteora Monasteries. The Aegean cruise stops on the islands of Mykonos, Santorini, Crete, Rhodes, and Patmos and will also visit the ancient city of Ephesus, featuring some of the most magnificent excavations in the world, and visit Mary’s house. For more information, contact Lisa Morris at 865-567-1245 or lisam@select-intl. com.

Mass in the extraordinary form (“traditional Latin”) is celebrated at noon each Sunday at Holy Ghost Church in Knoxville; every Sunday at 8 a.m. at St. Mary Church in Athens; at 2 p.m. each Sunday at St. Mary Church in Johnson

The St. Thomas the Apostle Eastern Parish notes continued from page B4 donate 15 percent to the council.

Anniversaries: Michael and Marjorie Sandlock (50), Jose Bravo-Roblero and Maricruz Juarez-Escalante (10), Cleiber and Elia Escalante-Roblero (10)

Smoky Mountain Deanery Holy Ghost, Knoxville Knights of Columbus Council 16523 recently welcomed its newest member, Micah Devan.

The second annual Chant Camp for youth is set for 9:15 to 11:30 a.m. Monday through Wednesday, May 23-25, at Holy Ghost Church. Mary C. Weaver, director of music ministry at Holy Ghost, will again share her expertise. Two sessions are set: from 9:15 to 10 a.m. for non-readers ages 4 and up and 10 to 11:30 a.m. for strong readers ages 7 and up. Parents are welcome to drop off or stay. For more information, visit holyghostknoxville.org or e-mail misty​ weberrn@gmail.com.

The vigil of Pentecost parish picnic is set for 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, June 4. The Knights are cooking, and the Council of Catholic Women will provide desserts.

There will be lawn games, face painting, a bounce house, music by a parish Hispanic band, and more. To help or learn more, contact Christine Blair at christine.h.blair@gmail.com.

ily Spring Tea from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 15, in the parish hall. All are invited to wear their best spring outfit and bring finger food to share. The event replaces the annual Mother-Daughter Banquet.

The hospitality committee would like to resume offering coffee and doughnuts after Sunday Masses. New team members are needed to make this happen. If you can serve one Mass once a month or pick up doughnuts, contact Mikki Steinhoff at 865-523-6434 or 567-9851 or danmikki@comcast.net.

The IC Bees announced that winners at its recent quilt show of a large quilt, a small quilt, a wall hanging, and a raffle quilt included Pat Ryan, Beth Collier, Marilyn Reda, Karin Hoover, Kathy Parrish, and Jackie Cantrell.

The Ladies of Charity thanked pastor Father Charlie Donahue, CSP, associate pastor Father Tim Sullivan, CSP, and parishioners for making a recent Easter basket fundraiser a success. Their generosity helped the Ladies raise $1,477, which will be used to buy food and necessities for the needy in the community.

First communicants: Victoria Fermanich, Augusta Harmon, Hattie Johnson, Skylar Hanna, Lincoln Manresa Confirmandi: Patrick Belland, Josie Weedman, Gabby Christof, Eleanor Mowrer, Jeremiah Osaro

Immaculate Conception, Knoxville

St. Joseph the Worker, Madisonville

IC welcomed those who were newly received into the Church: Allison Cate, Jackie and Alexis Crawford, and Isabella Carrera, as well as Katie Beckett, who was confirmed at the Easter Vigil.

Coffee and doughnuts were served after the 8 a.m. Mass on April 24, and a potluck covered-dish meal followed the 10 a.m. Mass.

The women’s group is having a Fam-

w ww.di o k no x .o rg

The Knights of Columbus’s spring flower sale was held April 9 and 10. n MAY 1, 2022 n B7

JIM WOGAN (4)

Parish and community news

COURTESY OF AL SALATKA (2)

Bishop Stika visits Holy Ghost fish fry Bishop Richard F. Stika visited Holy Ghost Parish in Knoxville for its Lenten fish dinner April 1. While there he met (above, from left) kitchen volunteers Joanna Dickerson, Angela Taylor, and David Montgomery. He also chatted with pastor Father Bill McNeeley (above right) and associate pastor Father Michael Hendershott, and saw Father McNeeley lead the Stations of the Cross (below). At bottom right, the bishop visits with Meredith and Victor Frank and their child, Gabriel.

St. Jude-Chattanooga Knights serve Lenten fish meals Philip Paul Breen Knights of Columbus Council 8576 of St. Jude Parish in Chattanooga provided a fish fry meal during the six Fridays of Lent. Attendance was brisk, and the council served nearly 1,000 meals to parishioners, friends, and guests. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the council did not have opportunities for this fundraising event in 2020 and 2021. The council expresses its deep gratitude to all who attended.

Cumberland Mountain Deanery CCW meets in Fairfield Glade The Cumberland Mountain Deanery Council of Catholic Women held its spring general meeting at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Fairfield Glade on April 2.

Speakers included spirituality commission chair Kathleen Kelly; Lucy Brown; Cora Rhew (above), founder and executive director of Crossroads Center for Hope; and Angel Brewer (below) of Tennessee Right to Life. At right, deanery CCW president Donna Curry presents Ms. Rhew with a donation check for Crossroads.

B8 n MAY 1, 2022

w ww.di o k no x .o rg

TH E EA S T TEN N ES S EE C ATH OLI C

COURTESY OF AMANDA CAMPFIELD

COURTESY OF AMANDA CAMPFIELD

Catholic schools

KCHS tennis player honored Knoxville Catholic High School sophomore tennis player Eleni Liakonis was recently named the U.S. Tennis Association’s Tennessee junior sportsman of the year. The award is presented to players who exemplify outstanding sportsmanship through leadership, civic responsibility, and character while maintaining a competitive spirit.

As a freshman at KCHS, Eleni was a state singles semifinalist, the region singles runner-up, an honoree for PrepXtra’s “best in Knoxville” female tennis player of the year, selected as one of only four members of the Tennessee Sports Writers Association all-state tennis team, and selected to the All-5StarPreps first team.

TH E EAST T E N N E S S E E C AT HO L I C

COURTESY OF DEACON SEAN SMITH

COURTESY OF KNOXVILLE CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL

COURTESY OF ANDY ZENGEL

COURTESY OF ANDY ZENGEL

COURTESY OF ANDY ZENGEL

Sacred Heart eighth-grader bound for National Spelling Bee Miriam Campfield (above, center, and top right), an eighth-grader at Sacred Heart Cathedral School, won the East Tennessee Regional Spelling Bee and will compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee on June 2 in Washington, D.C. Seventh-grader Mary Zengel (above, left) of St. Joseph School in Knoxville finished third in the regional bee, which was held March 26 at the University of Tennessee’s Cox Auditorium. The regional bee was sponsored by the Tennessee Titans football team and began with the top 50 spellers in the region, who not only won their individual school bees but also had the top scores on an online qualifying test. After 13 rounds, it was down to three spellers, including runner-up Noah Frank (above, right), a fifth-grader from West Elementary School in Morristown. Miriam spelled “fulcrum” and “étagère” to win the reigonal bee. Miriam, who belongs to All Saints Parish in Knoxville with her family, will attend Knoxville Catholic High School this fall. Mary is pictured with her family and with Kelley Griffin, the St. Joseph librarian who also directs the school spelling bee. The national bee will be televised on ION and hosted by LeVar Burton.

Keegan Smith continues setting records Knoxville Catholic High School freshman Keegan Smith had a robust indoor campaign this past winter that culminated in his setting two national all-time records for a freshman as he ran 3 minutes, 57 seconds, in the 1,500 meters and 4:14 in the mile at the New Balance Indoor National Championships in New York City.

After taking a well-deserved rest before beginning the outdoor season, Keegan broke the all-time national freshman record (held for 51 years) with a time of 8:52 in the 3,200 meters at the Eastern Relays at the University of Louisville.

w ww.di o k no x .o rg

MAY 1, 2022 n B9

DAN MCWILLIAMS (4)

Catholic schools

KATHY RANKIN (2)

Knoxville Catholic holds spring signing day Knoxville Catholic High School held its spring athletic signing day April 13 in the gymnasium. Eight student-athletes signed letters of intent that will chart their academic and athletic careers. From left (above) are Camilla Thurman, who signed in tennis with Randolph-Macon College; Emma Meyer, volleyball, Sewanee: The University of the South; Marina Azevedo, volleyball, Barry University; Paige Janoyan, soccer, Tennessee Wesleyan University; Mary Oakley Robertson, track and field, East Tennessee State University; Presley Patterson, basketball, Auburn University; Spencer Margolis, baseball, Roane State Community College; and Rachel Brettin, soccer, Illinois Institute of Technology. Family, friends, and coaches joined the students as they formally committed to their colleges and universities. This school year, 23 KCHS student-athletes from 10 sports have committed. The athletes in the spring signing day have posted an average GPA of 3.6.

DR. KELLY KEARSE

KCHS choir performs at St. Joseph School The Knoxville Catholic High School choir, under the direction of Phil Holloway, performed at St. Joseph School in Knoxville on April 5.

KCHS names Sedes Sapientiae award-winners Knoxville Catholic High School seniors Spencer Stovall and Samaha Duffy were honored March 28 as the school’s Sedes Sapientiae award-winners. The award is the highest honor that KCHS confers on its graduating seniors and is presented to the two students who best epitomize loyalty, service, scholarship, and authentic Christian leadership. The award honors the Blessed Virgin Mary, who was the Seat of Wisdom for Jesus. Samaha and Spencer spoke at KCHS’s graduation on May 13. Spencer recently received an appointment to West Point, and Samaha’s college choice is Clemson.

Daily readings Sunday, May 1: Acts 5:27-32, 40-41; Psalm 30:2, 4-6, 11-13; Revelation 5:11-14; John 21:1-19 Monday, May 2: Memorial of St. Athanasius, bishop and doctor of the Church, Acts 6:8-15; Psalm 119:23-24, 26-27, 29-30; John 6:22-29 Tuesday, May 3: Feast of Sts. Philip and James, Apostles, 1 Corinthians 15:1-8; Psalm 19:2-5; John 14:6-14 Wednesday, May 4: Acts 8:1-8; Psalm 66:1-7; John 6:35-40 Thursday, May 5: Acts 8:26-40; Psalm 66:8-9, 16-17, 20; John 6:44-51 Friday, May 6: Acts 9:1-20; Psalm 117:1-2; John 6:52-59 Saturday, May 7: Acts 9:31-42; Psalm 116:12-17; John 6:60-69 B10 n MAY 1, 2022

Sunday, May 8: Acts 13:14, 43-52; Psalm 100:1-3, 5; Revelation 7:9, 1417; John 10:27-30 Monday, May 9: Acts 11:1-18; Psalms 42:2-3 and 43:3-4; John 10:1-10 Tuesday, May 10: Acts 11:19-26; Psalm 87:1-7; John 10:22-30 Wednesday, May 11: Acts 12:24– 13:5; Psalm 67:2-3, 5-6, 8; John 12:44-50 Thursday, May 12: Acts 13:13-25; Psalm 89:2-3, 21-22, 25, 27; John 13:16-20 Friday, May 13: Acts 13:26-33; Psalm 2:6-11; John 14:1-6 Saturday, May 14: Feast of St. Matthias, Apostle, Acts 1:15-17, 20-26; Psalm 113:1-8; John 15:9-17 Sunday, May 15: Acts 14:21-27;

Psalm 145:8-13; Revelation 21:1-5; John 13:31-35 Monday, May 16: Acts 14:5-18; Psalm 115:1-4, 15-16; John 14:21-26 Tuesday, May 17: Acts 14:19-28; Psalm 145:10-13, 21; John 14:27-31 Wednesday, May 18: Acts 15:1-6; Psalm 122:1-5; John 15:1-8 Thursday, May 19: Acts 15:7-21; Psalm 96:1-3, 10; John 15:9-11 Friday, May 20: Acts 15:22-31; Psalm 57:8-10, 12; John 15:12-17 Saturday, May 21: Acts 16:1-10; Psalm 100:1-3, 5; John 15:18-21 Sunday, May 22: Acts 15:1-2, 2229; Psalm 67:2-3, 5-6, 8; Revelation 21:10-14, 22-23; John 14:23-29 Monday, May 23: Acts 16:11-15; Psalm 149:1-6, 9; John 15:26–16:4 Tuesday, May 24: Acts 16:22-34;

www.di o k no x .o rg

Psalm 138:1-3, 7-8; John 16:5-11 Wednesday, May 25: Acts 17:15 and 17:22-18:1; Psalm 148:1-2, 11-14; John 16:12-15 Thursday, May 26: Memorial of St. Philip Neri, priest, Acts 18:1-8; Psalm 98:1-4; John 16:16-20 Friday, May 27: Acts 18:9-18; Psalm 47:2-7; John 16:20-23 Saturday, May 28: Acts 18:23-28; Psalm 47:2-3, 8-10; John 16:23-28 Sunday, May 29: The Ascension of the Lord, Acts 1:1-11; Psalm 47:2-3, 6-9; Ephesians 1:17-23; Luke 24:46-53 Monday, May 30: Acts 19:1-8; Psalm 68:2-7; John 16:29-33 Tuesday, May 31: Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Zephaniah 3:14-18; Isaiah 12:2-6; Luke 1:39-56 n TH E EA S T TEN N ES S EE C ATH OLI C