June 4, 2017, ET Catholic, A section

June 4

| 2017

VOL 26 NO 5

IN THIS ISSUE MONSIGNOR HUNGER HANDS A4 NEW A17 FAITH B1 HELPING Fr. Gahagan receives UTC students savor CCETN opens 5th papal designation

Cemetery continued on page A13

Ladies of Charity celebrates 75th year Bishop Stika praises diocesan group’s work during special Mass

By Bill Brewer

Y

ou’ve come a long way, ladies.

The Ladies of Charity, which is marking its 75th anniversary this year, celebrated the milestone May 13 with a first for the nonprofit charitable organization that is part of the Diocese of Knoxville.

For a day, Ladies of Charity volunteers transformed their facility at 120 W. Baxter Ave. in North Knoxville into a Remote Area Medical clinic, where scores of residents in need received dental and vision treatment as well as basic health screenings.

The RAM clinic is another example of how the Ladies of Charity is changing to meet the needs of its clients, who predominantly live in lower-income areas or are homeless.

As these ladies can attest, there is no shortage of clients needing the services offered by Ladies of Charity. And Bishop Richard F. Stika acknowledged the contribution the organization makes to the community during a special Mass May 7 at Immaculate Conception Church honoring the Ladies of Charity for threequarters of a century of

charitable service.

Concelebrating the Mass were Father David Boettner, rector of the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus; Monsignor Al Humbrecht, pastor of Holy Spirit Parish in Soddy-Daisy; Monsignor Patrick Garrity, pastor of St. John Neumann Parish in Farragut; Father Diamond Jubilee Top: Ladies of Charity members Brenda Michael Woods, pastor Burnett and Laura Deubler assist clients. Bottom: Bishop of All Saints Parish in Richard F. Stika receives the gifts from Ladies of Charity Knoxville; Father Ron members Geri Sutter, Nancy Scheurer, and Debbie Donahoo.

Franco, CSP, pastor of Immaculate ConcepFather John Dowling, pasdinner following Mass. tion; Father Tim Sullivan, tor of Holy Ghost Parish Deacon Joe Stackhouse CSP, Immaculate Concepand spiritual moderator served as deacon of the tion associate pastor; and for the Ladies of Charity, Word and Deacon Mike Father Jim Haley, CSP. attended the anniversary Charity continued on page A14 BILL BREWER

Bishop Richard F. Stika, who announced in April the Diocese of Knoxville’s future plans for a new cemetery, is reaching out to the community for a donation of land for that cemetery.

Bishop Stika said the taxdeductible donation would be a wonderful expression of love and respect to the faithful departed from the Diocese of Knoxville and an important gift to the diocese.

The gift also would serve a vital, catechetical need because the diocese is in great need of new blessed and consecrated property where those from parishes in the Smoky Mountain and Cumberland Mountain deaneries who have died can be buried.

The land donation is being sought as Calvary Cemetery, the only Catholic cemetery serving the greater Knoxville area, nears capacity and can’t be expanded. The six-acre site in East Knoxville is landlocked in a residential area.

“I would like to acquire some property within a reasonable drive from the city of Knoxville, perhaps between Oak Ridge, Knoxville, and Powell,” Bishop Stika said.

“A diocese should provide burial spaces, and we are in the early stages of planning

pregnancy help center

BILL BREWER

Diocese seeking land gift to establish new cemetery

Church teaching

He dwells among us ......................... A2 Parish news ....................................... B2 Diocesan calendar ............................ B3 Catholic youth ................................... B5 Columns ........................................... B11 La Cosecha ............................Section C

Faith in the harvest

By Jim Wogan

I

couldn’t have chosen a more challenging day to watch someone pick tomatoes.

It was July 27, 2016, and the temperature in Grainger County hovered at around 96 degrees. Yes, that Grainger County — where home-grown and carefully cultivated tomatoes have gained a brilliant reputation for taste and texture from coast to coast, if not beyond.

While I personally prefer, and quite like, warm weather, I also prefer to work where the air is conditioned, and where my shirt can remain perspiration free. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve done physical labor in less-than-ideal conditions, mostly in college. But plodding along ripening rows of tomato plants on a dusty hillside in East Tennessee in late July challenged my definition of hard work, success, and faith.

However, the Santana family showed me the way.

Guadalupe Santana came to the United States from Mexico with virtually nothing except ambi-

tion. His eight-acre farm located in Rutledge is now well known to the “locals” who live nearby. The land is mostly for crops, but it also has room for a small family home, a barn where Mr. Santana can sell produce and maintain equipment, and three greenhouses.

When Lupe Santana first arrived in Grainger County in 2002 with his wife Reyna, he and other Central American immigrants picked tomatoes and other vegetables to earn a living. The Santanas did this for almost 10 years.

As time passed, their family grew. Some of their children also picked vegetables. A few years ago, when the former farm owner decided to sell his property, Mr. Santana said a neighbor helped negotiate an agreement allowing the Santanas to rent with an option to purchase. In 2011, Mr. Santana began the process to become the owner/operator of Santana Produce.

A sign for the farm sits just off Lakeshore Drive, barely a stone’s throw from Cherokee Lake. A short dirt road leads visitors past the crops and uphill to the family’s

JIM WOGAN

With work of human hands, Santana family farm carefully cultivates fruit of the vine

Fruits of their labor Father Steve Pawelk, GHM, assists Beatrice and Armando Juarez in showing tomatoes grown on the Santana family farm. home and an aluminum-sided barn that sits nearby. Inside the barn, fans run at full speed to keep visitors cool and the flies away.

“When we first started there were some concerns. We knew how to do the planting, but we also had to do the selling, and that was new (for us),” Mrs. Santana said through an interpreter.

“It is a lot of work, work, work.

It is always a lot of work, and sometimes at night you don’t sleep well. Do we have the right chemicals? Are the plants going to grow?

Are things going to be right? Are we going to have enough customers? But with a lot of strength, and a lot of hope, and a lot of work, it has been going good.”

The Santanas are defining their Harvest continued on page A12

He dwells among us

by Bishop Richard F. Stika

Reverence and silence In the presence of Our Lord at church, quiet is a sacred blessing that we must all respect and practice

M

y house shall be called a house of prayer…” (Matthew 21:13).

I chose these words of Jesus to be inscribed on the cornerstone of our new cathedral church to stress the reverence and awe we should always have when entering not only the cathedral, but any of our churches. Jesus spoke these words when he cleansed the Temple of Jerusalem of those whose earthly pursuits were impeding — and even denying — others from genuinely experiencing the presence of God. For this reason, Christ finishes his injunction with a harsh rebuke, “… but you are making it a den of thieves.”

When we are the source of distractions that keep others from experiencing the presence of God in church, we, too, can become robbers of the divine.

Scientists, not surprisingly, are warning of an increasingly “deaf generation” due to the near constant exposure to the electronic noises of our technological age.

The worst symptom of this, I believe, is evidenced by the growing number of people who are increasingly uncomfortable and even agitated with silence. Nowhere is this more obvious than in our churches.

Sadly, the following is an all too common scene in our churches, particularly before and after Mass: people kneeling in prayer attempting to reflect upon Our Eucharistic Lord, while others chatter about them in trivial conversations. This is not only rude but irreverent.

Our churches are sacred spaces for prayer and adoration of Our Eucharistic Lord, not the par-

Follow Bishop Richard Stika on Twitter @bishopstika and Facebook for news and events from the diocese. ish hall. Our churches are sacred spaces, not worship spaces for a social religious gathering. It is sacred space because of the One who is truly present in the tabernacle and upon the altar in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

I find it interesting that the word “noise” is closely related in Latin to the word “nausea,” with its nautical reference to sea-sickness and the unpleasant sound often associated with this condition.

The first sin recorded in Scripture occurs precisely because man and woman welcomed the distracting noise of Satan’s lies into their hearts. In allowing this noise to become sin, their reaction was to hide from “the sound of the Lord God” (Genesis 3:8). And it is no different today; Satan uses noise because he does not want us to hear God’s Word within the garden of our hearts any more than he wants us to hear it within the house of God. This is the worst kind of noise pollution.

So great is the need to educate Catholics on the importance of sacred silence that Cardinal Robert Sarah, prefect for the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, has written a book titled The Strength of Silence: Against the Dictatorship of Noise. He notes that noise is the “drug” we use to avoid having to confront our interior emptiness.

Cell phones keep us connected with the world about us, but if our “interior cell phone” is always busy with worldly matters, “how,” he asks, “can the Creator

June Prayer Intentions “That national leaders may firmly

commit themselves to ending the arms trade, which victimizes so many innocent people.”

–– Pope Francis

”Let us pray during this month of the Sacred Heart and the feast of Corpus Christi that we may have greater awareness of the love that Jesus has for us and His invitation to daily share that love with others. Let us also remember in a special way during this month of Father’s Day those men who have given us life or who have mentored us so that we may strive to make this world a better place.”

–– Bishop Stika

A2 n JUNE 4, 2017

reach us, how can he ‘call us’”?

For this reason our churches must be oases of silence where our hearts can rest against the Lord’s, like that of St. John at the Last Supper (John 13:23).

We must be a “welcoming church,” but above all foster the expectation people should have of encountering the sacred when they enter. Where physical space offers little buffer between the main area of the church (nave) and its entrance area (narthex), greeters and ushers should exercise care that while opening the doors in a friendly and welcoming way to those arriving that they do not inadvertently distract those within the church from opening the doors of their heart to Christ.

We must remember that Christ, too, is longing to be welcomed by us.

Scripture reminds us that we are each a temple of God. We are baptized into Christ, and as such are members of His Body. In the Eucharist, and in the tabernacles within our churches, Christ our Head is truly present. Jesus is the true Temple of God. Therefore, when we step inside a Catholic church, we are temples that enter the Temple!

Since we are admitted into the Body of Christ through baptism, we should bless ourselves with holy water as we enter and reverently genuflect toward the One who makes us a temple of His glory.

Christ hungers for us and our

prayer helps us to hunger for Him. When we eat normal food, it becomes what we are. But when we partake of the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ Jesus in the Eucharist, we in truth become what He is. How sad, then, the number of people who chew gum in church, even approaching to receive Our Lord in Communion while doing so. The church is not a movie theater!

Choirs, too, have their part in fostering silence and reverence.

While sacred music is a beautiful and integral part of the liturgy, sacred silence is no less important during the proper times of Mass. But the temptation to fill this space with music robs us of these precious moments. Sacred music should be gentle on the ear in its volume level, particularly during the preparation of the gifts and holy Communion, so as not to overwhelm the heart’s intimate prayer and offering during these times. The temptation to “turn up the volume” must be resisted, for even sacred music can become “noise” if it weighs the heart down instead of giving it flight.

When we walk into a church, where is our eye and heart first drawn to? Hopefully, they are drawn immediately to the sanctuary by the welcoming presence of Our Eucharistic Lord and Savior in the tabernacle who bids us to receive Him sacramentally.

As your bishop, then, it is my hope that all who enter our churches will experience the presence of God as a house of prayer where they hear the Lord calling, “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:11). ■

Bishop Stika’s calendar of events for June These are some of Bishop Stika’s upcoming public appointments: n June 3: 11 a.m. ordination of Rev. Mr. Christopher Floersh to the Order of Presbyter at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in Knoxville n June 4: 11:15 a.m., confirmation at St. John XXIII Uni-

versity Parish and Catholic Center in Knoxville n June 4: 4 p.m., Sending of the Neophytes at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in Knoxville n June 5-8: annual Priests’ Convocation at the Chattanooga Choo Choo n June 11: 11 a.m. confirmation at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Mountain City

n June 14-16: spring meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Indianapolis n June 18: noon, confirmation at Christ the King Church in Tazewell n June 25: 4 p.m. diocesanwide confirmation for adults at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in Knoxville ■

Upcoming Virtus training sessions are scheduled

T

he Diocese of Knoxville’s program for the protection of children, youth and vulnerable adults is offered throughout the diocese.

The seminars are required for parish and school employees and regular volunteers in contact with children and vul-

www.di o k no x .o rg

nerable adults.

The following training sessions are scheduled: n St. Dominic Church, Kingsport, 10 a.m. Thursday, June 15; 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 17; 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14; 9 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 6 n St. Mary School, Johnson

City, 10 a.m. Saturday, June 17 n St. Mary Church, Oak Ridge, 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 19 n All Saints Church, Knoxville, 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5 n St. Mary Church, Athens, 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 8 ■

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

We choose women We choose children We choose LIFE for your help.

Bishop Richard F. Stika

Bill and Theresa Allington Blanca Andablo by Cesar, Giovanni, Christopher, Alexander, Bianca, Maritza Andablo Wally Anderson Nicholas and June Antonas James and Mary Barnes Bill and Linda Barton Calvin and Bobbie Beasley Elinor Bedard Lisa Beldyk Patrick Belland Mary Ellen Berger Bob and Nancy Bireta Tom and Linda Bolen Jim and Connie Brace Kathy M. Bracic Bill, Angel, Will and Becca Brewer Bob and Barbara Briest Gerald and Virginia Brimer and Family Bryant Family The Bulmanskis John and Elizabeth Bunker Peggy Burnette and Family T. J. and Mary E. Butcher Lois E. Callaghan Jim Campbell Mr. and Mrs. Troy and Jackie Cantrell Bob and Lisa Capps Mario Cardenas Richard A. Cataldi Leigh and Linda Chagnon John and Lynn Christ Cieslik Family Cathleen Cirone Art and Sue Clancy Art III, Stephanie and Art IV Clancy Brian and Traci Clayton and Barlow and Maxwell Mark and Rita Cook and Family Carol Ackerman Cortese and Cortese Family Cortese Family Leanette Coyne John David and Donna Curry Mary Dale and Family Patricia Danko Chris Davis John and Vilma de Clue Marie Denton Dr. and Mrs. Jay Desvauk Larry and Kathy DeWine Chelsea Diaz Michael and JoAnn Dimeo All Saints Catholic Church Duane and Debbie Donahoo Jerry and Mary Dougherty Rev. John R. Dowling The Darrell & Julie Drouhard Family Dora Dugan Kat Dull Bill and Stacy Dunn Daniel, Mary Amber, Samuel and Peter Dunn Paul and Mary Dunn Sarah Dunn Paul Dunn III Martin Eble Joanne Ellsworth Jerry and Suzanne Erpenbach Heri and Carrie Fernandez Katy Filicky Larry and Katy Finneran Bob and Jean Fox Joan Fricke and Family Kenneth and Maureen Fricke Karen Froula George and Julia Gartseff Steve and Kim Garvin Ines Garzon by Gloria Segura John and Deborah Geppi David, Susan, Sydney, Brady, Bailey and Izzy Glasgow Rasario Gonzalez Marianne and Ken Goodwin Francis A. Goswitz, M.D. Francis and Helen Goswitz Helen Vododick Goswitz, M.D. Deacon Mike & Anita Gouge and Family Richard & Cathy Graves Bob and Gina Graviss Kay and Drew Gross Gloria Segura by Hernando Guevara Maria de los Angeles Chavez by Hernando Guevara Maurice, Jeanne, Nehemiah and McKrae Guinn Thomas and Sigrid Hahn Brad & Alice Handley Zac and Elizabeth, Anna and John William Hargett Jerry and Lois Harkenrider Tony and Marianne Hartman Carmelita Hawkins Joanne Iuppa-Hayden Ron and Andrea Henry Steven Hensley Marli E. Hillesheim Theresa M. Hodak Laura Holecek - The Holecek Family Honoring Bitsy Thompson by Peggy Wes and Peggy Humphreys Ryan, Leslie, Will and Caroline Hunse Rose G. Hust Charles B. and Glenna Hutchens Carmella and Michael Jochmann Jennie Johnson Patricia Johnston Erin M. Jones Sue Kawa Geri Keen Mike, Lisa Marie, Matthew, Marissa and Michael Kirrman Charlie and Chris Kite Karla Klippel

Liz and Jim Kohl St. Teresa of Kolkata Church Mr. and Mrs. Ron B. Kopp Gene and Jean Kray Kirstin Kropilak The Louis LaMarche Family Mr. and Mrs. Paul LaPointe Glenn and Susan Lard Alice Lay David & Lisa Layman Mary Layton The Ray Lefebvre Family Cheryl Lehman Andrew and Kelly Lensi Stephen and Maureen Lison Liulevicius Deacon and Mrs. Joel Livingston James and Jennifer Long Leslie and Carol Lougheed William & Regina Lovelace Barbara Lovett Joseph and Angela Lukens Anne Lyles Ron and Rebecca Lynn John and Maggie MacDonald Monsignor Xavier Mankel Linda Manzano Claire Ann Martin Larry and Donna Martin Tom & Charlotte McDonald Barbara McFalls Peggy McGivney Tony and Janet McGuire Peter and Patricia McKenzie The McKeown Family Cynthia Mc Millan Mr. and Mrs. Ken McWhirter Dan & Lorraine McWilliams Albert and Joan Meric Maria Concepcion Gandarilla by Angelica Mojica Aurelia Montgomery Paul, Francesca and Anthony Montgomery The Bob Montgomery Family Moni Moore Terry Moore, Shirley Moore Dr. Sherry Morgan Angelica Morris The Morris Family Sheila Higgins Murphy Joe and Judy Nemec Deborah Noe Adriana Osnaya Parra by Willi, Alondra, Willie Jr. and Alexa Parra Pacitti Family Maria Palacios by Blanca Andablo Rita and Dave Patterson St. John Paul II Catholic Church Phil and Carol Perkins Frank Pickering Family Stan and Ellen C. Pickering Pooler Family Yvonne Porell Rita L. Powers Carole Price Roger and Gin Punzalan Judy and Bill Rabensteine Sid and Ida Randall William A. Renaud Ritchie Family in memory of "my babies" in Heaven Glenn and Maureen Romanoski Susie and Terry Rowland Julia Schriver Rev. John and Gloria Schulz Tom and Pat Shannon Curt and Kay Sheldon Janet Shelley and Family William and Barbara Shero Jackie Shields Mr. and Mrs. Don Showman Paul and Ann Simoneau Floyd and Sherrill Smithey Deborah DeMasse Snell Richard and Jill St. Yves Beth and Dan Stainforth Bruce and Kathryn Stearns Mikki Steinhoff Alice M. Stephens Hank Stevens David and Sara Stoetzel Joe and Geri Sutter John and Wilda Sweeney Michael and Dorothy Terheyden Mary Thacker Susan and David Thompson Ursula Thompson Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Tidwell and Family Trent Family The Tribble Family Margaret Timm Caitlin M. Trombly Woody and Gerry Troy Nancy and Gary Tucker Unthank, Daniel, Bounds and Stanley Families Bodgan and Karen Vacaliuc Philip Vance Ellen Vargas John and LaVerne Veeninga Vela Family Betty A. Velado Tony and Lynn Venafro Penny Visconti Julius von Clef, M.D. and Patricia von Clef, M.D. Theresa and Joseph von Clef Ken and Sherry Wade Larry, Jackie and Fulton Wagner Jim and Marcella Walsh Dave and Barbara Wasil Chris and Jennifer Watson Jean Wedekind Robert and Amanda Weiskopff

Shirley Westcott George and Andrea Wignall M. Patricia Wilson William C. & Mary A. Wilson Family Robert Calvin Wolford Joanne and David Wood Jim and Ginny Wood Fr. Michael Woods Anne Young

In Honor Of

All birth mothers who place their babies in adoptive homes. Bring them all peace with what they have done…given LIFE! By Ginger Davis Anna B. Graham and Anna Drobnick Anna Will Morris by Mariana Davis Anthony, Christian, Wyatt and Tatum by the Venafros Bonnie, my favorite mom, by Katie Cadotte Christy Marie Walker by Bill Olka Cindy Hernandez by Jose Perez, Luis Perez & Angel Diane Riley by Jennifer B. Neil Doug and Claudia Grams by Douglas M. Grams Eli, Olivia and Will by Bill and Deedee Hansen Eligia Rivero de Navarro by Zulay Navarro Pickering Elizabeth Ann Meyer, Dolly Jean Eilerman by Mike and Theresa Eilerman Eric Thomas Clement by Jackie Shields Esperanza Suarez by Felipe, David, Ana Maria Castro Eva Nations by Michael Kull Gerry Crocker by Ruth Insell Healthy grandchildren by the Tribble Family Isabel Rojas by Allison Robles, Ian Rojas Jean Denne by Bob Denne Kim Harvey by David and Becca Jenkins, Georgia, Gloria, Genevieve, Gemma and Gianna Kristen, Kate and Annie by Pauline Elliott Macaria Camacho, Elvira Parra, Nelida Parra, Oralia Parra, Angela Escamilla by Maria Parra Maria Andres Pedro by Hernesto Maria Lespedes by Brissa and Greg Maciolek Marie O’Keefe by Amy Dunajewski Mary Gayle Iverson and Patricia Johnston by Nick & Amy Iverson, Mary, Nick, Joe, Dan & Anna Mary Maciolek by Greg and Brissa Maciolek Mary Pollock by Sandra Pollock Mom, Margie-Ann Marie Lubert by Bertie Lubert My dearest mother Doris Thein by Jacqueline Sam My mother, Helen by Nadine Freeh My Wife Blanca by Fredy Vargas Patricia M. Cote by Bobby Cote Perry Katherine Allen by Tom & Kathy Perry Roisin Murphy by Roberta Frew Sam Lowery, Tracy and Lexi Davis by Deacon Gordy and Fran Lowery Sandi Davidson by Erin M. Jones The Gleason Gang by Robert Gleason The Robert J. Willard Family by Carole H. Willard Therese Stovall by Tim and Hong Stovall Wade Andrew Toman by Maureen and John Toman Zulay Navarro Pickering by Suanna and Walter Pickering

In Memory Of

My husband Jim by Millie Croley Adrienne Brown by Mike and Daryl Brown Alice Boughner by Eloise and Rita All aborted babies by Gail Taylor All Aborted Babies by Jim and Cathy Folts All Aborted Babies by Richard and Natalie Tabler All mothers of Neal and Armetta Families by Tona Neal Andrew Pint by Christina B. Pint Annunciata C. Nutter & Patricia C. Raines by Julianna Raines Barbara Gill Family by Janet Gay Barbara Rossi by Tamara Klauer Barbara Simpson by Robert Simpson Beatriz Trejo by Fredy Vargas Bernadine Patrick, In Honor of Meg Patrick and Angela Williams by Pamela Skinner Bernard Gulowski by Barbara Rulon Beryl Tighe and Anna Mulherin by Joe and Mary A. Mulherin Betty Kay Maras and Jean Cockrell by Marianne Fischer Blanche Dickman and Marian Kramer by Mary Paula Kramer Bob Hansen by Monica Hansen Butch Simoneaux by Linda A. Ritts Charles Dorman by Marianne Dorman Charles Edward Trail by Kathleen A. Hancock Charlotte Phillips by Jennie Johnson Christine Koneany by Jacqueline Bourke Christine Price by William C. Price Clea Browning by Michael Martinez Corinne Schaus by Regis Loffman Cornecelli Family by Susan and James Smith Don Dugan & Kim, Tricia & Alex Woliver by Dora Dugan Donald and Florence Pohl by Joe and Connie Roberts Donna J. Lambert by Karen Franklin Dorothea Schuster by Maureen and Bill Schuster Dr. R. J. Brimi, William Brimi and Barbara Brimi

by Robert and Connie Brimi Elaine Morrissey by Nance Lamberson In Memory of Eleonora Larrazabal by Zulay N. Pickering Elizabeth Drobnick Ellen Joy Clancy by Patricia C. Winter Eloise Susano by Carolyn Susano Florence Brandt by Diane Przybyszewski Frances Ruth Crisp (Pam’s mother) by Ronnie and Pam Clark Frank Kaspar by June Kaspar Fred D. Wells, Betty Jo Maggi Wells, Sara Wells Terrell, Danny Ray Wells by Cynthia Wells Carter

George H. and Marcella Beyer by George and Theresa Beyer Gertrude Jacobs by Bob and Mary Blackorby Harrison and Beulah Roberts by Joe and Connie Roberts Helen Pechak by the Bokan Family Helen Scanlon by Anne Grayewski Helen Schneider by Janel Bell Herman L. Hannel by Jean Hannel Hillesheims and Einsiedels Family by Marli Hillesheim Jane and Rogers Hannan by Kathy Pittman Jennie Mary Odor by Helen Freeh Joseph Duby by Pat Duby Josephine Marino by Mary Jo Marino Judy Brock by Kathy Wilharm Judy Schmidt by Jennifer Schmidt Kathleen F. Portune by Mary K. Noble Kathryn R. Enge by Kathryn Elaine Enge Kay Kistner, Ann Bock and Veronica Hostetler by Mary Kay Hostetler Kevin Elliott by Mom and Dad Lewis & Catherine Pennabaker by Pat Pennabaker Lily Runnels and in Honor of Veronica Milakiah

by Shannon Green Lorena Hardy by Gay Riley Louise Gasnow Cohen and In honor of Genevieve Thomas by Wen and Denise Thomas Lourdes Garza by Zulay Pickering Lucille Curran & Laura Blalock by Duane and Debbie Donahoo Lucille M. Cote by Robert Cote Lydia Punaro by the Montgomery Family Margaret Alexander by Margaret Timm Margaret Battaglia by Judith L. Bash Margaret Dekanich and In honor of Juliana Sinovec by Aloysia & Steven Dekanich Margaret Magner by Dale Family Margaret Yates by Ray Yates Maria Uzar by Diane Conklin Marilyn Jansen and Joyce Pawlicki by Ken and Kitty Jansen Martine Manthey by Maureen and Bill Schuster Mary Jane Burns by Mary Berger Mary Stone and in Honor of Dorothy Kotrola by Sue Stone Mother, Kathy Brown by Rena K. Becher Scott Mr. and Mrs. Joe Rachide by Nell and Fred Rachide Mr. and Mrs. John Johnson by Nell and Fred Rachide Mrs. Delores Shanen by Kathleen Ragsdale Mrs. Patricia Redig by Lisa & David Campbell, Courtney, Kerry and Chrissy My child (miscarriage) by John & Heather Lawrence My unborn child by Earl Annable Our Moms by Ernest and Claire Rodia Our Moms by Pat N. and Mark M. Mothers by Rausch Family Our Parents by Cap and Bette Purvis Our parents by Carol, Charles, Benjamin, Michael, Caitlin and Alexander Currier Pat Imperato by Maureen Fricke Pat Imperato by Vilma de Clue Pat Nations by Eva Nations Patrick McCleary by Julie McCleary Pearl Bush and In Honor of Beth Keyer by Mr. and Mrs. Bush Rachel Dawson by Cindy Dawson Ramona Harper and Mary Lawrence by John and Agnes Lawrence Rivera-Delgado Family by Deacon Jose and Carmen Rivera Roger Slivon by Lori Slivon Rose Anne Ward, beloved Mother and Granny by Kitty and Bill Menhinick Ruth and Bill by Mary Eron Sharon Peyton by Tim and Hong Stovall Sheldon and Rosemary Wagner by Carole Wilson Stephen Daniel Miller by Jeanne Miller And Family Suzette Williams by the Claytons The Pierce and Snyder Families by Donna Pierce Theresa Andrian by Joan and Richard Babeuf Theresa Phillips by Mary and Tim Phillips Theresa Rose and Shiloh and all unborn Tom and Marie Nugent by Maureen and John Toman Veronica Thie by Fran Thie Virginia Neuenschwander by Patty and David Powers Virginia Rulon by Paul S. Rulon William E. Russell by David R. Russell All Saints Catholic Church Beaver Dam Baptist Church Berean Bible Church Black Oak Heights Baptist Church Christ Chapel First Lutheran Church Grace Lutheran Church Highland Park Baptist Church - Lenoir City Holy Ghost Catholic Church Holy Trinity Catholic Church - Jefferson City Knoxville Baptist Tabernacle Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church and Respect Life Committee Park West Church Dutch Valley Ridgepoint Church - Oak Ridge Sacred Heart Cathedral St. John Neumann Catholic Church St. Mary’s Catholic Church - Oak Ridge St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church - Lenoir City Trinity Community Church Wallace Memorial Baptist Church West Park Baptist Church

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JUNE 4, 2017 n A3

Fr. Gahagan receives papal designation as monsignor Longtime diocesan priest receives standing ovation from fellow priests at St. Thomas the Apostle

By Jim Wogan

P

ope Francis has desig“From this moment on nated Father William GaMonsignor Gahagan is now a hagan, who has served in member of the papal housethe Diocese of Knoxville since hold, a chaplain of His Holiits inception in 1988, with the ness, and he doesn’t get a pay title of monsignor. raise at all,” Bishop Stika said The papal honor comes at jokingly. the recommendation of Bishop In comments following the Richard F. Stika, who made the announcement, Monsignor announcement at a meeting of Gahagan said he wanted to rediocesan priests on May 23 at member his parents and growSt. Thomas the Apostle Church ing up in Lewiston, Maine. in Lenoir City.

“I share this expression from “A lot of the younger priests the Holy Father and Bishop don’t know this, but Father Stika. I just hope that I can Gahagan is from Maine, and continue to live with you, he has been a chaplain in hoslove with you, serve with you, pitals, he’s been in (our) high and let’s always remember schools, he has been a dean, he the strength and the power has been a very successful pasof God’s presence; love overtor, and not to put any of you comes all things,” Monsignor JIM WOGAN guys down, but I haven’t met a Gahagan said. priest who has greater love for Papal decree Bishop Stika presents to Father William Gahagan the official decree Monsignor Gahagan was orhis brother priests than Father bestowing on the longtime Diocese of Knoxville priest the title of monsignor. dained a priest in the Diocese Gahagan,” Bishop Stika said. of Nashville in 1970 at the Bishop Stika noted Father Gahagan’s recent attempts to retire.

Cathedral of the Incarnation in Nashville by Bishop Joseph A. Durick.

“You know, he’s been retired and not retired, off and on, right? I He was incardinated into the new Diocese of Knoxville on Sept. 8, have a job for you. I was wondering if you would be a chaplain again, 1988, the date the Diocese of Knoxville was officially established. because His Holiness has named you a monsignor.”

He attended St. Pius X Seminary in Erlanger, Ky., St. John’s Semi Diocesan priests inside the large meeting room at St. Thomas the nary in Little Rock, Ark., and Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans.

Apostle erupted into applause, with the new monsignor receiving a Monsignor Gahagan has served in a number of roles in the Diostanding ovation.

Monsignor continued on page A13

Bishop Stika announces priest assignments for diocese From staff reports

B

ishop Richard F. Stika has announced several assignments for priests serving in the Diocese of Knoxville.

Father Alex Waraksa, currently associate pastor at St. Patrick Church in Morristown, will be in residence at Holy Trinity Parish in Jefferson City and will serve the Hispanic communities in the Five Rivers Deanery, including the parishes of St. Patrick, Notre Dame, Holy Trinity, Good Shepherd, and St. John Paul II Catholic Mission.

He also will be celebrating weekday Masses for the Handmaids of the Precious Blood at their convent in New Market.

Father Waraksa will begin his assignment on July 1.

“Father Waraksa, thank you for your service to the Hispanic communities in our diocese and your willingness to share your ministry

Fr. Waraksa

Fr. Cano

throughout the Five Rivers Deanery. Be assured of my continued prayers for you,” Bishop Stika said.

Father Andres Cano, who serves as the primary Fr. Floersh bilingual substitute priest in the diocese, has been appointed chaplain to the Hispanic community of St. Alphonsus Church in Crossville.

Bishop Stika said Father Cano’s current assignment will remain in

Fr. Giraldo

effect, but Father Cano began providing sacramental formation, hearing confessions, and celebrating the Mass in Spanish on Sundays at St. Alphonsus on May 20. Father Cano will reside at the rectory at Our Lady of Fatima Church in Alcoa.

Father Cano will serve as temporary parochial administrator for St. Alphonsus for eight weeks beginning July 22 when St. Alphonsus pastor Father Jim Harvey begins a medical leave of absence, during which time Father Cano will reside at the St. Alphonsus rectory.

“Father Cano, thank you for your

Fr. Randy Stice appointed to USCCB position From staff reports

DEACON SCOTT MAENTZ

F

A4 n JUNE 4, 2017

Fr. Okere

Fr. Powell

willingness to serve in this new role,” Bishop Stika said.

Father Antonio Giraldo, who has served as part-time associate pastor at St. John Paul Catholic Mission in Rutledge and also has been an assisting priest in residence at Holy Trinity Church in Jefferson City, has been appointed parochial administrator of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Townsend.

Father Giraldo’s current assignment will conclude June 30, and he will begin his new assignment on July 1.

Priests continued on page A11

Worship and liturgy Father Randy Stice, seen here with Bishop Stika and Deacon Jim Lawson during Father Stice’s installation as pastor at St. Mary Parish in Athens, will continue as co-director of Worship and Liturgy for the Diocese of Knoxville while he serves the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington, D.C.

Three-year assignment to begin July 1 ather Randy Stice, director of the Office of Worship and Liturgy for the Diocese of Knoxville since 2009, has been appointed associate director of the Secretariat of Divine Worship for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, effective July 1.

The Secretariat of Divine Worship carries out work for the USCCB in areas relating to the preparation and approval of liturgical books and texts in the United States; provides leadership in liturgical formation and sacramental catechesis; and serves as a resource for bishops and diocesan liturgical commissions and offices of worship seeking advice.

“This is a great honor for Father Randy and for the Diocese of Knoxville. We will miss him, but we also know he will do well and Fr. Stice will continue to make the Catholic Community of East Tennessee proud,” Bishop Richard F. Stika said.

Father Stice will serve in his position with the USCCB for three years, with the possibility of renewal.

The new position will require Father Stice to move to Washington, D.C. He will continue as director of Worship and Liturgy for the Diocese of Knoxville, and will now be assisted by Father Joe Reed, who has been appointed a co-director of the office by Bishop Stika.

Father Stice was raised Protestant and was active in missions, teaching English in the People’s Republic of China from 1980 to 1983, and training missionaries to speak English in Europe, Austra-

Fr. Russell

lia, and the United States. He was received into the Catholic Church in 1997.

Following his ordination in 2007, he served as a parochial vicar in two parishes. He was appointed director of the Office of Worship and Liturgy for the Diocese of Knoxville in 2009, diocesan master of ceremonies from 2011 to 2013, and pastor of St. Mary Parish in Athens in 2013.

Father Stice earned a licentiate in sacred theology from Mundelein Seminary in 2007 and an M.A. in liturgy from the Liturgical Institute in 2011. He has published articles in The Heythrop Journal, Sacred Architecture, and the Adoremus Bulletin as well as three books on the sacraments utilizing a rite-based approach.

“I am both humbled and excited about serving the conference of bishops as the associate director of the Secretariat for Divine Worship. I love the liturgy, and the secretariat, which is the full-time staff that serves the Bishops’ Committee on Divine Worship and all of the U.S. bishops, is involved in a number of exciting projects,” Father Stice said. “My office also works closely with a number of other offices at the conference, so I am looking forward to some very stimulating collaborations. An added attraction is that one of my seminary professors who was the adviser for my www.di o k no x .o rg

STL thesis on St. Teresa of Avila is now working at the Conference.”

Father Stice said the appointment came about when the USCCB began looking for a priest to serve on its staff who had specialized qualifications.

“There aren’t a whole lot of priests who have advanced degrees in liturgy, and so the Conference was looking for priests with that kind of qualification, and my name came up as someone who had studied at the Liturgical Institute,” he said.

At the USCCB, Father Stice will be working with the Secretariat, which coordinates the translation and publication of new liturgical books, serves as a resource for bishops and priests in the United States, oversees the liturgies for the semiannual bishops’ meetings, produces a monthly newsletter, and advises on internal USCCB events, such as the Fortnight for Freedom.

“So there will be a lot of variety in my job,” he said, adding that he begins work with the USCCB on July 1.

Before being assigned to St. Mary, Father Stice served as associate pastor at St. Mary Parish in Johnson City and at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. ■ TH E EA S T TEN N ES S EE C A TH OLI C

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Pope Francis canonizes Our Lady of Fatima children Child seers from Fatima, Portugal, become Catholic Church’s youngest non-martyred saints

In the presence of saints Pope Francis prays at the tomb of Fatima seer Francisco Marto before celebrating the canonization Mass for him and his sister, Jacinta Marto, at the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal, May 13.

CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE/PAUL HARING

FATIMA, Portugal — Standing before the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, Pope Francis canonized two shepherd children who saw Mary at Fatima, but more importantly, he said, they heeded the call to pray for sinners and trust in the Lord.

“We declare and define Blessed Francisco Marto and Blessed Jacinta Marto as saints,” the pope said May 13 as hundreds of thousands of pilgrims broke out in applause before he finished speaking.

The relics of the young shepherd children, encased in two thin golden crosses, were placed in front of the famed statue of Our Lady of Fatima, the “lady dressed in white” as the siblings and their cousin described her.

The Marian apparitions began May 13, 1917, when 9-year-old Francisco and 7-year-old Jacinta, along with their 10-year-old cousin Lucia dos Santos, reported seeing the Virgin Mary. The apparitions continued once a month until Oct. 13, 1917, and later were declared worthy of belief by the Catholic Church.

After contracting influenza, Francisco died April 4, 1919, at the age of 10, while Jacinta succumbed to her illness Feb. 20, 1920, at the age of 9.

The children, beatified by St. John Paul II in 2000, are now the youngest non-martyrs to be declared saints by the Catholic Church.

Before his arrival at the shrine, the pope met privately with Portuguese Prime Minster Antonio Costa and then made his way into the sanctuary that houses the tombs of Sts. Francisco and Jacinta and their cousin Lucia, who died in 2005 at the age of 97. The diocesan phase of her sainthood cause concluded in February and now is under study at the Vatican.

Pope Francis stood for several minutes in front of the tombs with his eyes closed and head bowed.

In his homily at the canonization Mass, the pope reflected on the brief lives of the young sibling saints, who are often remembered more

for the apparitions Pope Francis called rather than for their on the pilgrims to holy lives. follow the example But it is Mary’s of heroic virtue lived message and exby St. Francisco and ample, rather than St. Jacinta, particuan apparition, that larly their insistent is important, he told prayer for sinners the crowd, which and their adoration Portuguese auof “the hidden Jesus” thorities estimated at in the tabernacle. about 500,000 people.

This continual presFrancisco and Jacinta Marto “The Virgin Mothence of God taught er did not come here so that we to them by Mary, he said, “was the could see her. We will have all etersource of their strength in overcomnity for that, provided, of course, ing opposition and suffering.” that we go to heaven,” the pope By following their example, the said. pope said, Christians can become Instead, he continued, Mary’s “a source of hope for others” and messages to the young children counter “the indifference that were a warning to all people about chills the heart” and “worsens our leading “a way of life that is godmyopia.” less and indeed profanes God in his “We do not want to be a stillborn creatures.” hope! Life can survive only because “Such a life — frequently proof the generosity of other lives,” he posed and imposed — risks leading said. to hell. Mary came to remind us It is with the light of hope, the that God’s light dwells within us pope added, that the church can and protects us,” the pope said. radiate “the true face of Jesus” and The hopeful message of Fatima, reach out to those in need. he said, is that men and women “Thus, may we rediscover the have a mother and like children young and beautiful face of the clinging to her, “we live in the hope Church, which shines forth when that rests on Jesus.” she is missionary, welcoming, free,

Our Lady of Fatima statue makes pilgrimage stops at Diocese of Knoxville parishes

A6 n JUNE 4, 2017

BILL BREWER

O

ur Lady of Fatima was a guest of the Diocese of Knoxville in April, spending five days visiting parishes and leading parishioners in the rosary to commemorate her appearance to three children in Portugal.

The Blessed Mother was in the form of the International Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima.

During this 100th anniversary year of the 1917 Fatima apparitions, the International Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, which has been touring the world for the past 70 years, is visiting 140 U.S. dioceses in all 50 states to bring the statue and the message of Fatima to as many people as possible.

Bishop Richard F. Stika asked the International Pilgrim organizers to include the Diocese of Knoxville on its U.S. Tour for Peace.

Riding aboard a recreational vehicle that can accommodate two custodians who are with the statue at all times, the Our Lady icon stopped for day-long visits at St. Dominic Church in Kingsport, the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in Knoxville, Our Lady of Fatima Church in Alcoa, St. Mary Church in Oak Ridge, and the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga from April 27-May 1. It then traveled to the Diocese of Memphis before more stops in the Midwest.

Patrick Sabat, the Our Lady statue’s primary caretaker, said the Diocese of Knoxville stops were part of an effort to cover the country.

“We’re visiting all 50 states – and 100 dioceses – in honor of the 100th anniversary,” said Mr. Sabat, who

explained that response to the pilgrim statue has been so strong that 40 dioceses have been added to the list of stops, and the pilgrimage, which began Easter Monday 2016, has been extended from October to December 2017.

“The responses from the bishops have been phenomenal. The people you meet are amazing, their devotion to Our Lady of Fatima. We see the graces flowing from Our Lady,” he said.

At Sacred Heart Cathedral, the Our Lady of Fatima icon was present for the morning and noon Masses, with brief presentations on the pilgrimage and rosaries following each Mass.

During the noon Mass, Father David Boettner, rector of the cathedral and moderator of the curia for the diocese, said Sacred Heart was blessed by the presence of the Our Lady of Fatima pilgrim statue, noting a small sign at the base of the statue that reads, “Do Not Touch Her. She Will Touch You.” “And she does touch us, in many ways,” Father Boettner said.

“Many of us have been touched by the Blessed Mother in one way or another.”

In his homily on grace, Father Boettner told those attending the Mass and viewing the statue of Our Lady of Fatima that God’s grace is overflowing, and that abundance is seen through Marian apparitions like Our Lady of Fatima, Our Lady of Lourdes, and Our Lady of Guadalupe.

“Today, as we have the gift of the pilgrim statue of Our Lady of Fatima, you are invited into prayer, to pray with Mary, to pray at the foot

faithful, poor in means, and rich in love,” he said.

Addressing the sick before concluding the Mass, Pope Francis said that Christ understands the “meaning of sorrow and pain” and, through the church, offers comfort to the afflicted just as it did for Sts. Francisco and Jacinta in their final moments.

“That is the church’s ministry: the church asks the Lord to comfort the afflicted like yourselves, and he comforts you, even in ways you cannot see. He comforts you in the depths of your hearts and he comforts you with the gift of strength,” the pope said.

The “hidden Jesus” the young shepherds adored in the Eucharist is also present “in the wounds of our brothers and sisters,” where Christians can adore, seek, and recognize Christ.

Pope Francis encouraged the sick present at Mass to “live their lives as a gift” and to not think of themselves simply “as the recipients of charitable solidarity” but rather “a spiritual resource, an asset to every Christian community.”

“Do not be ashamed of being a precious treasure of the Church,” he said. ■ In the presence of Our Lord and Our Lady of Fatima A parishioner kneels in prayer before the historic statue of Our Lady of Fatima and the statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus on April 28. The Our Lady of Fatima icon stopped at several parishes in the Diocese of Knoxville as part of its pilgrimage across the United States.

Kingsport, Chattanooga, Alcoa, Oak Ridge, Knoxville host icon

By Bill Brewer

By Catholic News Service

of the cross of Jesus, and to recognize that beautiful gift of grace that flows into our lives, so that it might touch us,” Father Boettner said.

According to the World Aposto-

www.di o k no x .o rg

late of Fatima USA, the world-renowned International Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima was sculpted in 1947 by José Thedim Statue continued on page A13

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

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September 7: Celebrate Mass and tour St. Bernadette’s home and the basilica. Pray the Stations of the Cross and have the opportunity to bathe in the healing waters. Participate in the candlelight Rosary procession.

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September 8: Celebrate Mass at the Basilica and have leisure time to pray and to explore Lourdes.

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JUNE 4, 2017 n A7

Fathers, sons make Stations of the Cross come alive St. Joseph students portray the same roles as their dads in the Passion during Holy Week re-enactments PHOTOS COURTESY OF DEACON SCOTT MAENTZ AND KATHY RANKIN

T

By Bill Brewer

he living Stations of the Cross and Passion, which are held in several Diocese of Knoxville parishes during Holy Week, had an especially familial flavor this year.

As Jorge Quiroz portrayed Jesus and Enrique Fraire played a Roman soldier during the Living Stations and Passion on Good Friday at Holy Ghost Church, Mr. Quiroz’s son, Jose, was portraying Jesus during a similar service at St. Joseph School on Holy Thursday, and Mr. Fraire’s son, Bryan, played a Roman soldier in the school’s service.

The parallel pathos left an indelLike fathers, like sons Left photo: Students Bryan Galindo, left, Jose Quiroz, center, and Daniel Clemmons, take ible impression on the four who part in the Passion at St. Joseph School on Holy Thursday. Right photo: Bryan’s father, Enrique Fraire, left, and re-enacted the Passion.

Jose’s father, Jorge Quiroz, center, played identical roles in the Passion at Holy Ghost Church on Good Friday.

Mr. Quiroz, who has been taking part in the Holy Ghost service for about four years, said he and his son shared a joy in portraying Jesus and in bringing His story to life.

“You feel like you are Jesus. It’s just something you feel. It is somber, but you are moved to do it, and you are inspired,” Mr. Quiroz said.

Mr. Quiroz has noticed a change in his son since the Living Stations and Passion were held at St. Reliving the Stations of the Cross Father Michael Hendershott leads the living StaJoseph.

“He was so happy. He tions of the Cross on Good Friday at Holy Ghost Church. didn’t know what to expect, but it has changed excited,” Mr. Quiroz said, describwould like to give a repeat perhis life a little bit. He wants to be ing how his wife reacted to her formance in 2018. better with his brothers,” said the husband and son playing identical “We can do it again next year. father. “It was moving for Jose. roles in the Living Stations of the I would like to do it again. I feel He understands more about Jesus’ Cross. “My two children were exlike what we were doing was life now. He was a little frightened cited, too, but one of my kids, who very real. You can see what Jesus’ Passion Participants and observers take part in the Passion at Holy Ghost at first, but he would like to do it is 3, was frightened when he saw life was like,” he said. again.”

Jesus being tortured.”

As a Roman guard in the Holy Church on Good Friday.

Jose Quiroz wasn’t the only one Mr. and Mrs. Quiroz’s two older Ghost Living Stations and Pasin the family who was pleased sons, Jose, 10, and Pedro, 7, attend sion, Mr. Fraire was caught off Living Stations and Passion. with the performance.

St. Joseph. guard by his son’s portrayal of the “I was asked to take part, but I Passion continued on page A16 “My wife was real happy and And as for Mr. Quiroz, he also same character in the St. Joseph

President Trump meets with Pope Francis at Vatican; talks center on hopes for world peace Papal audience is a first for new United States leader

Experience The Eastern Lung Of Our Christian Faith On A Pilgrimage To

By Cindy Wooden/Catholic News Service

P

ope Francis and U.S. President Donald Trump spent 30 minutes speaking privately in the library of the Apostolic Palace May 24, and as the president left, he told the pope, “I won’t forget what you said.”

The atmosphere at the beginning was formal and a bit stiff.

However, the mood lightened when Pope Francis met the first lady, Melania Trump, and asked if she fed her husband “potica,” a traditional cake in Slovenia, her homeland. There were smiles all around.

Pope Francis gave President Trump a split medallion held together by an olive tree, which his interpreter told Trump is “a symbol of peace.”

Speaking in Spanish, the pope told Trump, “I am giving you this because I hope you may be this olive tree to make peace.”

The president responded, “We can use peace.”

Pope Francis also gave the president a copy of his message for World Peace Day 2017 and told him, “I signed it personally for you.” In addition, he gave President Trump copies of his documents on The Joy of the Gospel, on the family, and Laudato Si, on the environment.

Knowing that Pope Francis frequently has quoted the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Trump presented Pope Francis with a large gift box containing five of the slain civil rights leader ’s books, including a signed copy of The Strength to Love.

“I think you will enjoy them,” Trump told the pope. “I hope you do.”

After meeting the pope, Trump went downstairs to meet Cardi-

A8 n JUNE 4, 2017

nal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, and Archbishop Paul Gallagher, the Vatican foreign minister. He was accompanied by Rex Tillerson, U.S. secretary of state, and H.R. McMaster, his national security adviser. The meeting lasted 50 minutes.

The Vatican described the president’s meetings with both the pope and with top Vatican diplomats as consisting of “cordial discussions,” with both sides appreciating “the good existing bilateral relations between the Holy See and the United States of America, as well as the joint commitment in favor of life, and freedom of worship and conscience.”

“It is hoped that there may be serene collaboration between the state and the Catholic Church in the United States, engaged in service to the people in the fields of health care, education and assistance to immigrants,” the Vatican said.

The discussions also included “an exchange of views” on international affairs and on “the promotion of peace in the world through political negotiation and interreligious dialogue, with particular reference to the situation in the Middle East and the protection of Christian communities.”

President Trump’s meeting with Pope Francis immediately followed the president’s historic trip to the Middle East, where he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Bethlehem.

President Trump is the first sitting U.S. president to visit the

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Trump continued on page A9 www.di o k no x .o rg

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

By Bill Brewer

M

onsignors Xavier Mankel and Patrick Garrity have been recognized for their years of service to Knoxville Catholic High School with school wings named in their honor.

The two longtime Diocese of Knoxville priests, who served as principals of the diocesan high school, were honored April 4 at the school with a reception and dedication ceremony.

The school library has been renamed the Monsignor Mankel Media Center, and the school’s administrative department has been renamed the Monsignor Garrity Administrative Suite.

Bishop Richard F. Stika dedicated and blessed the departments

that are across from each other in the school’s main commons area.

Monsignor Mankel, who was not able to attend the event because of health reasons, served as principal of the high school from 1967-1979.

George Mankel, the monsignor’s brother, was on hand to receive an honorary plaque from school President Dickie Sompayrac.

Monsignor Garrity, who was present and spoke at the dedication, served as principal of the school from 1985-1997.

Mr. Sompayrac called Monsignors Mankel and Garrity “two of Knoxville Catholic’s greatest leaders of all time.”

Mr. Sompayrac noted that Francis Xavier Mankel graduated from KCHS in 1953 as salutatorian. He

BILL BREWER

High school wings named in honor of Msgrs. Mankel, Garrity

In honor of our monsignors KCHS President Dickie Sompayrac and Bishop Stika recognize Monsignor Patrick Garrity April 4 at the high school.

KCHS continued on page A11

KDCCW tackles the theme ‘One World, One Concern’ for 2017 annual convention Our Lady of Fatima in Alcoa is host parish for convocation

T

he Knoxville Diocesan Council of Catholic Women gathered at Our Lady of Fatima Church in Alcoa for its annual convention May 4-6 to celebrate the theme: “One World, One Concern.”

KDCCW members heard from Jeff Gardner, founder and director of the Picture Christians Project, an effort to shed light on the persecution of Christians and media manipulation.

They also heard from Theresa Boscia, the National Council of Catholic Women’s representative to the United Nations, and Audrey Assad, a songwriter and musician who is a convert to the Catholic faith. Jimmy Dee, a member of Holy Ghost Parish who leads the Knights of Columbus chapter there and also works closely with the Hand-

maids of the Precious Blood, spoke to the women about the cloistered order of nuns who reside in the Diocese of Knoxville.

Bishop Richard F. Stika celebrated Mass for the convention at Our Lady of Fatima on May 5. Concelebrating priests included Monsignor Bob Hofstetter, pastor of Good Shepherd Parish; Monsignor Al Humbrecht, pastor of Holy Spirit Parish; Father Bill McKenzie, pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Parish; Father Bill McNeeley, associate pastor of Our Lady of Fatima; Father Michael Woods, pastor of All Saints Parish; Father Charles Burton, pastor of St. Jude Parish; Father Dan Whitman, pastor of Notre Dame Parish; Father Ron Franco, pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish; Father Joe Brando; and

Trump continued from page A8

live. President Trump’s daughter, Ivanka, went to the Community of Sant’Egidio, a Catholic lay movement, for a meeting on combating human trafficking.

The United States and the Vatican have long partnered on antitrafficking initiatives, a common effort White House officials had said President Trump hoped to discuss with the pope. The White House also pointed to a shared commitment to promote religious freedom around the world and to end religious persecution.

The evening before President Trump met the pope, the Vatican newspaper carried two articles on the president’s policies. One, echoing the U.S. bishops, praised the Trump administration’s decision to extend by six months the Temporary Protected Status program for Haitian citizens in the United States.

The second article was about the budget plan the Trump White House released May 23.

L’Osservatore Romano, the Vatican newspaper, noted it contained cuts in subsidies “for the poorest segments of the population” and “a drastic — 10 percent — increase for military spending.”

What is more, the newspaper said, “the budget also includes financing for the construction of the wall along the border with Mexico. We are talking about more than $1.6 billion.”

The border wall is an issue where Pope Francis and President Trump have a very clear and public difference of opinion.

In February 2016, shortly after celebrating a Mass in Mexico just yards from the border, Pope Francis was asked by reporters about then-candidate Trump’s promise to build a wall the entire length of the border.

“A person who thinks only of building walls, wherever it may be, and not of building bridges, is not Christian,” Pope Francis said. ■

the Western Wall in Jerusalem.

Israelis and Palestinians claim Jerusalem as their capital city.

In Rome, security measures were tight, with hundreds of state police and military police patrolling the Vatican area and conducting attentive searches of pilgrims’ bags.

Reaching the St. Damasus Courtyard of the Apostolic Palace, where the U.S. flag flew for the morning, President Trump was welcomed by Archbishop Georg Ganswein, prefect of the papal household, and a formation of 15 Swiss Guards.

Accompanied by the archbishop up an elevator and down a frescoed hallway, the president passed more Swiss Guards in the Clementine Hall.

Although the president and Pope Francis are known to have serious differences on issues such as immigration, economic policy, and climate change, the pope told reporters 11 days before the meeting that he would look first for common ground with the U.S. leader.

“There are always doors that are not closed,” the pope told reporters May 13. “We have to find doors that are at least a little open in order to go in and speak about things we have in common and go forward.”

After leaving the Vatican, the president was driven across Rome for meetings with Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni.

Asked by reporters there how his meeting with the pope went, President Trump responded, “Great.” “He is something,” the president said. “We had a fantastic meeting.”

Meanwhile, the first lady went to the Vatican-owned Bambino Gesu children’s hospital — right next door to the Pontifical North American College, which is where U.S. seminarians in Rome TH E EAST T E N N E S S E E C A T HO L I C

EMILY BOOKER

By Emily Booker

Remembering women of the diocese Father Dan Whitman reads names of KDCCW members who have died as a member lights a candle in memoriam.

Monsignor William Gahagan, both retired.

Bishop Stika noted that he looked forward to the KDCCW Mass every year.

“We come together as a Church, as a diocese. That’s something very beautiful, and what do we do? We see Jesus,” he said.

The bishop thanked the women for the work that they

do in their parishes and in the diocese.

“As a bishop, you see the miracle of people coming together in different parishes, in different situations, in different backgrounds and cultures, and building the church,” he said.

At the end of Mass, prayers were offered for members of the KDCCW who had died.

KDCCW continued on page A11

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

Unveiling the dome Left, the dome of the new cathedral is now visible as construction progresses. Crews also are placing limestone and brick on the cathedral exterior. Right, the cathedral’s interior is taking shape as framing is close to completion and ceiling panels are put in place. Bishop Richard F. Stika has set a date for the cathedral dedication, which will be March 3, 2018.

JIM WOGAN

KDCCW continued from page A9

At a banquet following Mass, Bishop Stika was presented with a ceremonial check of 250,000 volunteer hours performed by the KDCCW. He also was presented with a donation of $2,500 toward the interior of the new Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus on behalf of the women of the diocese.

The theme of this year ’s convention was “One World, One Concern.”

Mr. Garner, the keynote speaker, is the founder of the Picture Christians Project, which educates the public about the lives

of Christians around the world.

He has traveled frequently to countries like Iraq, Syria, Jordan, and Egypt to document the stories of Christian refugees.

Mr. Garner spoke about the persecution and trauma Christians suffer in the Middle East.

Ms. Boscia talked about her journey to becoming the NCCW representative to the United Nations and what she has observed and learned while representing the Catholic women before the international association of countries.

Ms. Assad also held a concert at Our Lady of Fatima, which was open to the public. ■

EMILY BOOKER

JIM WOGAN

Gift of hours KDCCW member Pat Ryan presents Bishop Stika with a “check” for volunteer hours given by the women’s organization.

Priests continued from page A4

“Father Giraldo, thank you for your service to the faithful of St. John Paul II Catholic Mission and Holy Trinity Parish. Also, I am grateful to you for your willingness to now share your many gifts as parochial administrator of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Townsend,” Bishop Stika said. “Be assured of my continued prayers for you.”

Father Giraldo succeeds Father Jerry Daniels, who has been serving as parochial administrator at St. Francis.

Father Daniels, a priest of the Diocese of Jackson, Miss., has relocated to the Mississippi-Louisiana area to serve as a retreat center chaplain.

Bishop Stika has named Father Scott Russell parochial administrator of St. Mary Parish in Athens, effective July 1.

Father Russell has served as chapTH E EAST T E N N E S S E E C A T HO L I C

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KCHS continued from page A9

then went on to the seminary and was ordained a priest in 1961 by Bishop William L. Adrian at the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Nashville. And he has been a vicar general of the Diocese of Knoxville since its founding in 1988.

“Monsignor Mankel was named principal of Knoxville Catholic High School just 14 years later [after graduation] and served in that capacity through 1979. He is the only person who has given his all to KCHS as a student, teacher, principal, superintendent, school-board member, vicar of education, chancellor, and moderator of the curia for the diocese.

“Monsignor Mankel’s interest in and appreciation for newspapering, together with his mastery of the English language honed through Catholic education and teaching, has helped sustain The East Tennessee Catholic through the years. As a peer reviewer, Monsignor Mankel has edited nearly every issue of The East Tennessee Catholic over the last 25 years; that is more than 500 editions of The East Tennessee Catholic.”

He pointed out that in the mid-1990s, Bishop Anthony J. O’Connell called on Monsignor Mankel to locate a plot of land for a new Knoxville Catholic High School to accommodate the school’s growing student population.

“Who better to choose than Father Mankel, a man who loves KCHS the most. He found a little piece of property, 38 beautiful acres at the corner of Fox Lonas and Cedar Bluff roads. Make no mistake, Monsignor Mankel’s love for Knoxville Catholic is second to none,” he said. “And Monsignor Mankel’s love for Knoxville Catholic High School still shines through today. So it is with great pride that we honor Monsignor Mankel with the dedication of our media center, which will now be known as the Mankel Media Center.”

Mr. Sompayrac said a plaque in the media center describes Monsignor Mankel as “a guardian of our past and a visionary for our future.”

Monsignor G. Patrick Garrity, a native of Wichita, Kan., where he graduated from high school in 1967, was excited to be on hand for the dedication of the administrative suite in his name. He gradu-

Monsignor Mankel Media Center KCHS President Dickie Sompayrac presents a plaque to George Mankel, brother of Monsignor Xavier Mankel, honoring Monsignor Mankel. ated with undergraduate and graduate degrees from St. Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology in 1971 and 1976, respectively, and was ordained to the priesthood in 1976 by Bishop James D. Niedergeses in the Diocese of Nashville. He served as a faculty member and spiritual director at Father Ryan High School in Nashville and Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga before becoming principal of Knoxville Catholic High School.

“During his 12-year tenure at KCHS, he was instrumental in the school’s first major capital campaign fundraiser, which added a new wing to the school. He also led a restoration of the school building on Magnolia, and his time will be remembered as a period that enhanced the fine arts,” Mr. Sompayrac said.

The KCHS principal pointed out that like Monsignor Mankel, Monsignor Garrity’s love for Knoxville Catholic High School “is profound, and he continues to serve the school as a member of the school board despite his many other responsibilities.”

Mr. Sompayrac said Monsignor Garrity’s reputa-

lain of Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga and part-time parochial vicar of the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul.

He follows Father Randy Stice, who has served as pastor of St. Mary since 2013. Father Stice has accepted a three-year appointment to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington, D.C., where he will serve as associate director of the Secretariat of Divine Worship. Father Stice will continue as co-director of Worship and Liturgy for the diocese along with co-director Father Joe Reed, who is an associate pastor at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Father Russell’s assignment will begin July 1.

“Father Russell, thank you for your service to Notre Dame High School and the basilica. Also, I am grateful to

tion for attention to detail served the school well, especially as it moved from Magnolia Avenue to the corner of Cedar Bluff Road and Fox Lonas Road in January 2000. The principal quoted from former colleagues of Monsignor Garrity, who said the priest played a pivotal role in turning around the school’s finances and enrollment ahead of its move to West Knoxville.

“His foresight and leadership helped retire the school’s debt, increase enrollment, and laid the framework for the school’s eventual move to Fox Lonas Road,” Mr. Sompayrac said. “Thank you, Monsignor Garrity, and know that KCHS continues to reap the rewards of your great sacrifice.”

Mr. Sompayrac said the plaque placed at the entrance to the Garrity Administrative Suite reads, “Gratefully recognizing his service as an uncompromising educator and visionary leader.”

In being recognized for his service, Monsignor Garrity said the high school has come a long way since he first became principal in 1985. By improving the school’s finances, enrollment, and physical plant, it was able to relocate a healthy student population to new facilities with little or no existing debt, and the former East Knoxville school was sold to the state of Tennessee for $3.2 million.

“I was blessed to surround myself with some really great people who helped to make Catholic High a much better place, the place it is today,” Monsignor Garrity said.

Bishop Stika said he enjoys going into the diocese’s schools and seeing the plaques and photographs honoring giants of the past like Monsignor Mankel and Monsignor Garrity.

“Knoxville Catholic has a long and beautiful history with the many staff members who have come through the halls of the old school and this present school, and the many young adults who have come through here. … We have much to be proud of with Knoxville Catholic and Notre Dame and our other schools. And in a very special way, I want to congratulate Monsignor Garrity for being recognized with the Monsignor Garrity Administrative Suite, and congratulate Monsignor Mankel for being recognized with the Monsignor Mankel Media Center,” Bishop Stika said. ■

you for your willingness to now share your many gifts as parochial administrator of St. Mary Church in Athens.

Be assured of my continued prayers for you,” Bishop Stika said.

Father Christopher Floersh, the diocese’s newest priest who was ordained June 3 at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, has been assigned as chaplain of Notre Dame High School and part-time parochial vicar of St. Stephen Church in Chattanooga.

As a high school chaplain, Father Floersh will celebrate Mass and hear confessions each school day, be present in the Chaplain’s Office for student visits and counseling, be present in the school for evangelization and vocation promotion, and be a teacher of religion courses. He will be in residence at St. Stephen.

www.di o k no x .o rg

It is customary for priests in their first year of service after ordination to serve in a parochial administrative role.

Additionally, Bishop Stika said that Father Ray Powell, who is the parochial administrator at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in LaFollette, St. Jude Parish in Helenwood, and Christ the King Parish in Tazewell, has been appointed pastor of those parishes.

And Father Bartholomew Okere, parochial administrator of St. Henry Parish in Rogersville, also has been appointed pastor of St. Henry.

Bishop Stika announced that Father Tony Budnick, who has been serving as associate pastor of St. Albert the Great Parish in Knoxville and also as a teacher of broadcasting and speech at Knoxville Catholic High School, has taken a leave of absence. ■ JUNE 4, 2017 n A11

Harvest continued from page A1

JIM WOGAN

JIM WOGAN

JIM WOGAN

JIM WOGAN

own version of success. Compared with other commercially successful operations in Grainger County, Santana Produce is small. While some of the other farms sell to supermarket chains, the Santanas have survived by selling their produce at farmers markets, and to locals who stop by to purchase directly from the fields.

Baskets of thick, red tomatoes are displayed in their barn in July.

During our visit, at least two different customers, Anglos, not Hispanics, arrived to buy produce.

While Mr. Santana’s children are grown and married (Lupe and Reyna now have six grandchildren), his daughter, Beatrice Juarez, a U.S. citizen, and son-in-law, Armando Juarez, worked together in the fields until recently.

Beatrice announced last summer that she was pregnant. She gave birth to the couple’s first child, Emma, on March 28.

“When you work with family, besides being together, everyone Tending to the harvest Armando and Beatrice Juarez inspect tomato plants on their family farm in Grainger has confidence. Everyone underCounty for produce ready to be sold to the public. stands the business, and everyone understands the goals, so you more helping each other,” Father don’t have conflicts about pay or Pawelk said. when to get paid or who gets paid. “There was no need to interact if You are together, everyone knows you didn’t work for the same peowhat they are doing and everyone ple or if they weren’t your blood benefits as a famrelative… One ily,” Mr. Santana of them recently ”I am not worried about said. was able to pur ”For me, it’s chase his first the future because I feel important behome, and diflike I have a good relationcause I can have ferent members ship with the people here. my plants, my of the (church) They come, they like our family, and I feel took turns helpproducts. I know my fambetter because ing him build his ily, and I work hard, and we my family helps extension. Soon, produce a good product. I me to work, and they will be a really don’t have any worwe can make all family of four, ries about the future. We are this work with so the home was doing fine. You always want Baskets of goodness The Santana family farm also grows peppers, everybody. I feel not big enough, more money, but we are OK. beans, cucumbers, and other produce in addition to their Grainger better because I so they worked ... Faith lets you keep goCounty tomatoes. have my family together. That ing, and without that I don’t here because we could have think I would have as much can do more.” never happeace and confidence with The Santapened five years Fresh from [the] challenges that are benas’ arrival in ago because he the field fore me.”

Grainger County wouldn’t have Armando actually predates Juarez car–– Guadalupe Santana known anyone the Catholic besides his imries some Church there. mediate family. of the Mr. Santana So that’s one of just-picked grew up Catholic the great gifts (of produce, in Mexico and was aware of the this church),” he added. which will faith, but according to Father Steve A few years ago, Mr. Santana rebe readied Pawelk, GHM, pastor of St. John ceived first Holy Communion. for sale to Paul II Catholic Mission in Rut “I was able to make my first customers. ledge, participation in the Church Communion, and with that sacrawasn’t central to Lupe’s life. With ment I am much more closer to no Catholic church in Grainger God. I am very grateful for the County, being active in their faith opportunity for my faith to grow was challenging at best. here. God exists. God is true and Before 2011, Masses were occaGod exists,” Mr. Santana said. sionally offered during the harvest “When we first came here, it was season. Priests from the Diocese of just working and picking tomatoes.

Knoxville would visit Rutledge to That’s what we did. We worked for celebrate Mass at the agriculture someone else and we worked, and center. we worked, and you didn’t feel Six years ago, at the invitation of like you had time for God or other Bishop Richard F. Stika, the Glenthings,” Mrs. Santana said. mary Home Missioners arrived.

“When the Church started here, In November 2011, Father Pawelk, we became very involved and now a Glenmary priest, celebrated the I can’t see how I managed without first regular weekend Mass in my faith. The family is better, there Grainger County. are fewer problems. It just makes The Santanas were among 26 a grand difference in how we live, Latino families to attend. Father and how we work, and how we Pawelk said it was “BYOC, as in, think. We sometimes might fall, bring your own chair.” Father but we know we can get up again, Pawelk described the altar as a din- and be strong. It is just very, very ing room table and the presider’s important. It is more and more and chair was purchased at a garage more important in our lives.” sale two days before Mass was Being faithful doesn’t make work celebrated. in the fields easy. With their heads Since then, the Catholic Church covered to protect them from the has grown and become an imsummer sun, Beatrice, husband Arportant bond for the immigrant mando, and two other Santana Profamilies that live and work in the duce employees walked along rows And much more! The Santanas advertise their fresh produce on a sign Rutledge area. Masses in Spanish of tomato plants looking for ripennext to their farm that catches passing traffic on Lakeshore Drive near and English are now celebrated at ing fruit. For a visitor, the sign of St. John Paul II Catholic Mission, ripened tomatoes isn’t always obvi- Cherokee Lake in Grainger County. located in a small strip mall just ous. They’re still green, with just a off Rutledge Pike in the center of future because I feel like I have a watermelons, and cantaloupes. slight hint of color change. town. good relationship with the people During the winter, the Santanas For the pickers, consideration The St. John Paul II community here. They come, they like our spend their days maintaining is given to color, size, and quality has grown to the point where it products. I know my family, and I equipment and preparing the before the fruit is hand-harvested. someday hopes to build its own work hard, and we produce a good plants for seeding in their three Once picked, the tomatoes are church — on land recently purproduct. I really don’t have any placed into cardboard boxes, hand- greenhouses. chased in Rutledge.

They started small and have now worries about the future. We are carried along the long rows of “They knew of each other but doing fine. You always want more grown their business into selfplants, and eventually loaded onto now they have formed a sense of sufficiency. They hope their story is money, but we are OK. … Faith the bed of a small truck. community. They have formed a lets you keep going, and without one that offers an example for oth Farming for the Santanas is a sense of support. They no longer that I don’t think I would have as ers—that hard work is good and year-round business. Tomatoes are see each other as competitors, who much peace and confidence with planted and harvested three to four necessary, and that faith keeps the is going to get the better job or (the) challenges that are before times a year. The family also grows family going. work at the bigger farm? There is me,” Mr. Santana said. ■ cucumbers, squash, beans, peppers, “I am not worried about the A12 n JUNE 4, 2017

www.di o k no x .o rg

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

Knights elect Holy Family’s Tracy Staller as new state deputy

By Andy Telli

T

he Tennessee Knights of Columbus elected a new leader during their annual state convention, held April 28-30 at the Franklin Marriott at Cool Springs, but the emphasis on service remains the same.

“I’m a firm believer if you ask a man why he joined [the Knights of Columbus], deep down it gave him a chance to answer that call to serve. That’s what the Knights did for me,” said Tracy Staller, of Council 12961 at Holy Family Church in Seymour, who was

Mr. Staller

Mr. Comm

elected state deputy, the top officer at the state level in the international order.

He succeeds Steve Comm, a member of Council 9282 at St.

Mr. Markiewicz

Mr. Laufenberg

Stephen Catholic Community in Old Hickory. Also elected to state leadership positions from the Diocese of Knoxville were Fred Laufenberg, Bill Markiewicz and

Cemetery continued from page A1 for a cemetery. We have areas for

cremains in our columbaria. But the Church still prefers burial, which has been our long tradition.”

Bishop Stika is hopeful someone with land suitable for a cemetery who would like to make a donation can be identified before Calvary runs out of space.

Calvary is one of two cemeteries in the diocese of Knoxville. The other is Mount Olivet in Chattanooga, which serves parishes in the Chattanooga Deanery. Both Calvary and Mount Olivet date to the

BILL BREWER

Statue continued from page A6

based on the description of Sister Maria Lúcia of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart, whose wish was that the pilgrim image represent Our Lady’s position when she revealed herself as the Immaculate Heart to the three shepherd children at Fatima in 1917, of which Sister Lúcia was one.

On May 13, 1917, three shepherd children named Lucia, Jacinta, and Francisco saw a vision of the Blessed Mother, who was dressed in white and holding a rosary. These apparitions in Fatima, Portugal, lasted through October 1917 and brought messages of prayer, repentance, and reparation.

The apparitions were declared of “supernatural character” by the Catholic Church in 1930, and a shrine was erected near the original apparition site in Fatima. Since then, thousands of pilgrims have made their prayerful journeys to Fatima, including four popes: Pope Paul VI, Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis.

Pope Pius XII crowned Our Lady of Fatima as Queen of the World in 1946, then the statue was blessed by the bishop of Fatima on Oct. 13, 1947, in the presence of hundreds of thousands of pilgrims, and was commissioned to serve as the Pilgrim Virgin who would carry the blessings of Fatima throughout the world. Its custody and mission are under the auspices of the World Apostolate of Fatima USA –Our Lady’s Blue Army.

It has traveled continuously around the world since 1947, visiting more than 100 countries, including Russia and China, and bringing a message of salvation and hope. Mr. Sabat, who has been accompanying the Our Lady icon since 2003, sees the effects of the Blessed Mother’s presence during the statue’s travels.

Spiritual caretakers Patrick Sabat, right, and Tom Ross accompany the International Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima on its journey.

He also accompanies it as it visits sites around the world.

He and fellow statue custodians Tom Ross and Larry Maginot relate conversion stories prompted by the Blessed Mother’s visits.

“By traveling the world with her, I see her changing the world,” Mr. Sabat said, citing a mother in Ohio estranged from her grown children who reunited with them soon after seeing the Blessed Mother icon.

He also mentioned a man in Chicago who was prepared to drink his life away until being in the presence of Our Lady of Fatima with 4,000 faithful processing down a street in her honor led him to change his life and return to the Church.

“That’s the work of the Blessed Mother,” Mr. Sabat said.

He said similar stories of conversion and redemption are plentiful from the Blessed Mother icon’s travels around the world.

When visiting other countries, the icon travels by plane with a custo1800s, but Mount Olivet is larger, with many more cemetery plots available, and there is available acreage to expand.

Mount Olivet also has columbaria, where cremains can be placed.

And some parishes, like St. Thomas the Apostle in Lenoir City, St. Mary in Oak Ridge, and, when completed, the new Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have columbaria with available space.

Anyone interested in donating land for the cemetery can contact the Diocese of Knoxville at 865584-3307. ■

dian, occupying its own seat in coach class. Mr. Sabat said it isn’t unusual for pilots to alert passengers that a special guest is accompanying them, telling them that with Our Lady on board, the flight undoubtedly will be smooth and safe.

In Tennessee, the Blessed Mother made her way across the state via the RV, with the statue secured in its case, resting in its own seat secured by a shoulder harness seatbelt.

On this leg of the journey, Mr. Sabat and Mr. Ross are secure in the fact they are traveling with Our Lady of

Mr. Pelton

Eric Pelton.

“Since I was a young kid, my mother believed you had an obligation to use your talents that God Knights continued on page A16

Fatima, presenting her to hundreds of churches and thousands of parishioners on her U.S. Tour for Peace.

“There are the physical challenges of logistics and geography, but you have the spiritual reward of devotion to her and adoration. Our Lady is winning the day, and the enemy does not like it,” Mr. Sabat said.

There have been few bumps along the way as the International Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima crosses the country.

Mr. Sabat is amused by a couple of fender-benders in which drivers of other vehicles didn’t see the highly visible Our Lady of Fatima RV before colliding. In one of the mishaps, a police officer even questioned how the other driver wasn’t able to see such a large, recognizable bus.

“We have logged 45,000 miles so far. We are up to more than 90 dioceses, so we’re more than halfway there,” he said. “For us, it isn’t simply a task. It’s a mission. I refer to us as Our Lady’s donkey because we carry her across the country and the world. It’s an honor. There is a sense of urgency to what we’re doing. The world needs Our Lady’s message of peace more today than ever.”

The U.S. Tour for Peace has completed the eastern leg of its journey and will end in Texas in December after touring the western United States, including Alaska. ■

SPIRITUAL DIRECTION TRAINING PROGRAM

F

2017-2019

eeling called to companion others on their journey with God? Sign up for the 2017-2019 Spiritual Direction Training Program, sponsored by Mount Saint Joseph Conference and Retreat Center and the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph.

Beginning Oct. 16, you will meet for a weekly training session eight times over a two-year period, entering into study, reflection and prayer around a topic fundamental to the understanding and practice of spiritual direction. You will receive intense training, practice and supervision by a coordinating team of religious sisters and educators.

The program, which leads to certification as a spiritual director, takes place on a quiet, rural campus in Maple Mount, Kentucky.

Close to 50 individuals from across the U.S. have completed the program since it began in 2004.

Meet some of our Tennessee graduates! lMonica Armstrong

(Knoxville)

“I share this expression from the Holy Father and Bishop Stika. I just hope that I can continue to live with you, love with you, serve with you, and let’s always remember the strength and the power of God’s presence; love overcomes all things.”

— Monsignor Gahagan Monsignor continued from page A4

cese of Nashville first, and then the Diocese of Knoxville. They include assignments at the Cathedral of the Incarnation and Christ the King in Nashville, as assistant chaplain at St. Mary’s Hospital in Knoxville, as a teacher at Knoxville Catholic High School, director of then-Knoxville Catholic Charities, director of CCD for the Knoxville Deanery of the Diocese of Nashville, pastor or associate pastor of St. Therese in Clinton and St. Joseph in Norris, Our Lady of Perpetual Help in LaFolTH E EAST T E N N E S S E E C A T HO L I C

lette, vocations director for the Knoxville Deanery, St. Dominic in Kingsport, St. Mary in Oak Ridge, and St. Thérèse of Lisieux in Cleveland.

Monsignor Gahagan is only the fifth priest in the diocese to currently carry the honorific title of monsignor.

He joins Monsignor Patrick Garrity, Monsignor Bob Hofstetter, Monsignor Al Humbrecht, and Monsignor Xavier Mankel.

Prior to his elevation as shepherd of the Diocese of Knoxville, Bishop Stika was a monsignor in his home archdiocese of St. Louis. ■

hTheresa

Nardi (Blaine)

Gail Ratti Curran Sister Yvette Gillen (Clinton) RSM (Knoxville) 2015 Spiritual Direction graduates and team leaders (Monica is both)

Limited scholarships are available. Please register by Aug. 31, 2017.

To register or for more information, contact Sister Mary Matthias Ward

270-229-0200

mary.ward@maplemount.org

www.di o k no x .o rg

A brochure can be found at ursulinesmsj.org

JUNE 4, 2017 n A13

In the blood

Acts of charity Left: Dr. John Coulter, a Knoxville dentist and a Diocese of Knoxville parishioner, treats a patient during the Remote Area Medical Clinic at the Ladies of Charity headquarters on May 13.

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When the Ladies of Charity was established in the Knoxville area in 1942, the United States was just entering World War II, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was in his third term as president, and the country still was trying to shake off the effects of the Great Depression.

And a handful of Catholic women formed a group to reach out and assist those in the community struggling to make ends meet.

Now, 75 years later, the Ladies of Charity still is reaching out to give those in need a hand up – but in new ways that complement the services already offered.

For decades, the Ladies of Charity in Knoxville operated from the ground floor of the former Holy Ghost Church at the corner of Central Street and Hinton Avenue.

The Ladies of Charity also has Tennessee offices in Chattanooga, Nashville, and Memphis.

Volunteers provided clothing and food at no cost to those in need and manned a thrift store from the building, where clothing, household

items, and other donated goods were sold to raise operating funds for the organization.

Business was steady and the need was great.

Erika Fuhr was a 17-year-old nurse when she began volunteering with the Ladies of Charity 40 years ago. Now, it’s in her blood.

She recalls working inside the old Holy Ghost Church building, sorting clothes dropped off by donors and stocking the food pantry.

“The Ladies of Charity went into the old Holy Ghost Church in 1964 and was there until 2011, when we moved into the new building. Back then, clothing was sorted on tables and the food pantry was small.

There was no privacy for clients,” she said.

Mrs. Fuhr, who has recruited her husband, Joe, to be a Ladies of Charity volunteer, pointed out that even with renovations to the old Holy Ghost Church building in the early 1990s, demand was exceeding the space needed to meet it. For a time, the food pantry and the clothing operation were split into separate addresses to provide more space for each, but that proved a hardship for those in need with transportation challenges.

It became increasingly clear that a larger facility was needed, and efforts were made to find a larger location. Mrs. Fuhr said that in 2006, the Ladies of Charity and the diocese looked seriously at the vacant Merita Bakery building about two blocks away. But the property wasn’t a good fit. In the meantime, Mr. and Mrs. Fuhr had their eye on the Royal Beauty Supply building on Baxter Avenue, just around the corner from the old Holy Ghost Church.

The Royal building had become vacant and was available for purchase. It had just what the Ladies of Charity had been looking for — a warehouse with loading dock to receive larger amounts of donated items, ample room for a food pantry, plenty of retail space to sell donated items, a number of offices, and a large, open area for meetings.

It also had a price tag of nearly $1 million.

“In my 40 years with the Ladies of Charity, nothing is more apparent than the hand of God. It is amazing how often you run into a wall and then the wall moves,” Mrs. Fuhr said.

She explained that the Ladies of Charity had established a building fund and a financial plan for a new facility. Monsignor Humbrecht had advised the organization that increasing its size would result in increased sales. The Diocese of Knoxville approved the plan and pledged assistance.

However, the day Ladies of Charity leaders were going to finalize plans to purchase the Royal Beauty Supply building, the LoC leaders decided to bow out, uncertain about the financial commitment such a purchase would require.

“The day we decided to tell them (diocese) we couldn’t do it, they were going to tell us we shouldn’t do it. Then we received a call that day that a bequest was leaving us $384,000 plus another $14,000,” Mrs. Fuhr said.

The real estate deal was back on and the Ladies of Charity bought the newer, more spacious headquarters in 2009, moving into it in March

Healing hands A team of dentists and dental hygienists from the Knoxville area volunteered its time and services to treat people from the center city needing dental care during the RAM clinic at the Ladies of Charity.

A14 n JUNE 4, 2017

Inaugural lift Below: Father John Dowling and Ladies of Charity members, including Julia Schriver and Geri Sutter, take the first ride in the new elevator serving the Ladies of Charity headquarters building at 120 W. Baxter Ave. in Knoxville.

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Charity continued from page A1

Gouge served as deacon of the Eucharist at the Mass. A choir of Ladies of Charity volunteers provided the music liturgy.

“It’s a great joy to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Ladies of Charity. We gather together to give thanks to almighty God for the gift of this fine, fine organization, an outreach of Jesus himself in so many ways,” Bishop Stika said.

The bishop related to the Ladies of Charity staff and volunteers a story about St. Teresa of Kolkata, who was Mother Teresa at the time. He said she stopped to help a woman on the street in India in distress.

When the woman in need recognized her as Mother Teresa, she resisted intently, fearing that Mother Teresa would try to convert her to Christianity in order to care for her.

“The woman, terrified, kept yelling, ‘Leave me alone. Leave me alone. Why are you helping me?’

And she did that over and over,” Bishop Stika said.

Bishop Stika said Mother Teresa finally told the woman that God is always with us and that she, through God, could help her.

The woman, still quite upset, said, “Which God is your God? What is the name of your God?” And Mother Teresa replied, “My God’s name is love.”

“Charity. Love. Kindness. The language we speak is the language of our actions. That’s what I wanted to share with you as you celebrate 75 years as the Ladies of Charity,” the bishop said.

He told the women — and men — who volunteer for the Ladies of Charity that their work, through the Catholic Church, provides a broad spectrum of charity, love, and kindness in the assistance they provide to people in their journey through life.

The bishop said he often encourages parishioners to be the face, hands, voice, feet, and especially the heart of Jesus.

“To me, that’s what the Ladies of Charity do in so many different ways. You exemplify that. Thank you. So, 75 years down and another 75 to go. And then in another 75 the mission will still be the same — to be Jesus,” the bishop said.

2011.

Thanks to the generous bequest, the Ladies of Charity had a manageable monthly mortgage, which was offset by fundraisers like an annual golf tournament organized by Joe Fuhr and other volunteer men.

And then the hand of God revealed itself once more.

Mrs. Fuhr said a man who had volunteered with the Ladies of Charity passed away, and his wife paid off the remaining mortgage, which was about $167,000.

“You can’t tell me the hand of God wasn’t involved in this,” she said.

The Ladies of Charity has annual reports dating to the 1940s that indicate donations received typically were 50 cents and a dollar, with $5 and $20 only occasionally given.

“People have always given what they had. My husband refers to it as the ‘mustard seed,’” Mrs. Fuhr said.

Whether it was a dollar donation in 1947 or a bequest of hundreds of thousands of dollars in recent years, the Ladies of Charity know how to put their donations to good use.

“They know how to stretch a dollar. It always has been by the skinny skin to keep things going,” Mrs. Fuhr said. “We thank the volunteers, the donors, and the people of the Catholic community who have donated money and in-kind donations to make this work over all this time.”

“The need out there is too great now. The generosity of donors and volunteers allows the Ladies of Charity to not only survive but thrive,” she said.

Fast forward to 2017, business continues to be steady and the need is still great.

Like many other Ladies of Charity members, Debbie Donahoo is blessed with perspective. She joined the organization in the 1980s when it was located in the original Holy Ghost Church and has watched it change as a volunteer, as president (2011-2012), and now as volunteer coordinator.

After being in the new building, she is amazed at how much was done in the old church building and from the Dameron Avenue office.

“When we moved here, we knew our mission would bloom. It was wonderful to be under one roof,” Mrs. Donahoo said. “Everything we do is for our clients. To have both areas under one roof was fantastic for the clients. And we’ve been able to reach out to more people. In this ZIP code, a lot of people are in need.”

She noted that Knoxville Area Rescue Ministries (KARM), the Salvation Army, Volunteer Ministries, and FISH food pantry have operations in the same ZIP code as the Ladies of Charity.

The charitable response in the community is a product of need and

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not competition. And through the intercession of Sts. Vincent de Paul, Louise de Marillac, and Teresa, Mrs. Donahoo feels the Holy Spirit will nourish clients and volunteers spiritually.

“The Holy Spirit is the one who covers this entire place. I hope, through Him, we can use our volunteer resources and their know-how to increasingly benefit our clients,” she said.

A good fit

Ladies of Charity donors — like its volunteers — come in a variety of packages. There are singles, couples, young and older, families, wealthy, middle-, and lower-income individuals.

When serving those in need, demographics don’t matter.

Mrs. Fuhr cited one donor who personifies the spirit of giving and the mission of the Ladies of Charity.

A young woman regularly donates clothing — very nice designer clothing.

After watching this young woman repeatedly drop off her donations, Mrs. Fuhr befriended her and discovered that when this woman was a young girl, her mother, trying to make ends meet, brought their family to shop at the Ladies of Charity.

As they pored over the tables of clothing on a visit, they found a designer outfit that fit the young girl and she wore it to school.

The girl soon realized that her “new” designer clothes allowed her to fit in, and for the first time she felt comfortable with her peers.

“That left an impression on her, and she said now she wants to donate her clothes so that a young girl in need might have the same experience,” Mrs. Fuhr said. “We thank our donors and tell them they keep us going.”

And just like the donors, the donations have evolved over time.

Since moving into a larger facility, the Ladies of Charity has expanded its offerings to include refrigerated foods like milk and meat, furniture, electronics, and even specialty prodCharity continued on page A15 TH E EA S T TEN N ES S EE C A TH OLI C

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Sounds of joy Ladies of Charity volunteers gathered to form a choir for the Diamond Jubilee Mass to celebrate the organization’s 75th anniversary.

Seeing clearly A volunteer for the Remote Area Medical clinic held at the Ladies of Charity assists a client with eyeglasses. The clinic offered free dental and vision care for Ladies of Charity clients.

Another 75 years

Even though she has been on the job for two years and is leading the Ladies of Charity in new directions, Mrs. Unbehaun continues to be surprised at the scope of need and care.

“The magnitude is mind-boggling,” she said.

And she looks to the future with an eye leveled squarely on the past.

And if the present is any indication, the Ladies of Charity has a future in helping those needing assistance.

Mrs. Unbehaun credits dedicated board members and volunteers for making the organization work, citing the acquisition of the new building as an example of the Ladies of Charity always finding a way to carry out its mission.

She said 190 people received dental and vision treatment at the RAM clinic, something that wouldn’t have been possible in years past.

“The RAM clinic was very successful. It showed people what we can do here with the extra space. The board members were very touched by it, and Father Dowling said that many organizations distribute food, but offering a healthcare clinic in addition to all our services goes above and beyond,” she said.

Mrs. Unbehaun is hopeful the Ladies of Charity can host other RAM clinics because she believes clients’ lives are changing with the additional programs, whether it’s receiving dentures or utility assistance that allows them to get into a new residence.

She believes the Ladies of Charity is having to adapt to changes in the way business is done by companies and government agencies with which LoC must work in order to help its

clients. She noted that changing times keep LoC from operating the way it always has.

But there is a silver lining.

By changing the way donated goods are handled, Ladies of Charity has seen its sales increase from a projection of 9 percent to actual growth of 20 percent in 2016.

Besides sales growth, what are other indicators that activity is up?

Mrs. Unbehaun said a volunteer recently remarked that she used to arrive for work at the Ladies of Charity building with magazines and her knitting to bide the time.

However, she said those days are gone and the magazines and knitting now stay home.

On any given day, the Ladies of Charity building is a whirlwind of activity, whether serving customers in the retail shop, distributing goods to clients, or warehousing donated items. Mrs. Unbehaun said the organization has devotions to St. Vincent de Paul, who founded the Ladies of Charity; St. Louise de Marillac, who grew the order; and modern-day intercessor St. Teresa of Kolkata that help sustain it. And locally, there is praise for Father Albert Henkel and Monsignor Xavier Mankel, both former pastors of Holy Ghost, who served for years as Ladies of Charity spiritual moderators.

“We have to remember where we came from and that there is a purpose in everything we do because of what has taken place historically,” Mrs. Unbehaun said. “These ladies have very strong backs to get the Ladies of Charity to where it is today. We want to continue that, to make differences in people’s lives and help them move ahead.” ■

Giving thanks and praise Ladies of Charity members and Diocese of Knoxville deacons take part in the 75th-anniversary Mass for the Knoxville organization at Immaculate Conception Church on May 7.

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“With increased resources we have increased our services. But there is a need for more volunteers,” Mrs. Sutter said, praising corporate sponsors like longtime partner Whirlpool for their support.

When Mrs. Sutter and Mrs. O’Hara step back and survey the organization, they are “amazed” by its scope. “Even when the new building was purchased, we couldn’t envision ever filling it up,” Mrs. O’Hara said.

“The Holy Spirit was present when He provided financing for us,” Mrs. Sutter added, pointing out the contributions of former member Helen Marx, whose bequest made the building purchase possible, and Shirley and Edward Nicholson, whose donation allowed the Ladies of Charity to pay off the building’s mortgage.

“The gift of time is invaluable, and the small gifts add up. But the large gifts and grants we receive are so important,” Mrs. Sutter said.

Mrs. Sutter, Mrs. O’Hara and other Ladies of Charity members agree on the importance of being good stewards of time, money, and other resources. And they believe the Ladies of Charity’s track record bears that out. Recent evidence of applying resources to a specific need is the nonprofit’s new elevator, which now allows ease of access between the building’s first and second floors.

Mrs. Unbehaun said the elevator, which was put into service earlier this year, was needed to allow people with disabilities or physical limitations access to the second floor, where offices and a large meeting space are located.

The need for an elevator was apparent May 13 during the RAM clinic. The dental treatment area, complete with dental chairs, lights, treatment equipment, and dental staff, occupied the second floor.

That space is in demand daily, as Laura Deubler can attest.

Ms. Deubler is the emergency assistance program manager for the Ladies of Charity, overseeing the services clients who are in need receive.

According to Ms. Deubler, Ladies of Charity sees 50 to 75 families a day needing assistance, up from about 20. The reason for the increase, she said, is because more people are now off the federal food stamp rolls.

In addition to assisting people in the desperate throes of poverty, Ms. Deubler said many clients can be categorized as the working poor, who rely on Ladies of Charity to fill in gaps of food and shelter assistance between paychecks.

She would like to see a day when the emergency assistance program numbers decrease rather than increase, but she isn’t too hopeful.

And as part of that service expansion, Ladies of Charity now offers assistance with prescriptions through the emergency assistance program. Ms. Deubler explained that the program partners with CVS in covering the cost of basic antibiotics, blood pressure and other heart medication, and meds for specific conditions like diabetes and thyroid.

The program does not assist with pain meds or any prescriptions that are mood altering, antidepressants, or seizure-control prescriptions.

What began as a $5,000 annual budget allotment for prescription assistance has now increased to $10,000. “It really fills a need, and there are few places that help with medication,” Ms. Deubler said.

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Charity continued from page A14

ucts like floral items and Christmas goods.

In addition, the charitable group now uses a truck to pick up food and furniture donations and has a team of volunteer repairmen to fix damaged furniture and electronics for resale.

Thanks to a $17,500 grant from the diocese’s St. Mary’s Legacy Foundation, the Ladies of Charity in 2016 was able to install a walk-in refrigerator/freezer to store perishable food. And through generous donations and discounts, the organization also is able to provide fresh fruit and produce, bread, and eggs in addition to canned goods, milk, and meat.

For the longtime volunteers, it’s a stark difference from the early food pantry tucked away in a corner of the original Holy Ghost Church.

“We’re overwhelmed by the enterprise,” said Kathi O’Hara, who serves on the LoC executive board as treasurer. “Before, we were getting 400 to 500 pounds that we could buy (at a discount) from Second Harvest that would fit in a car.

Now, with our truck, we can pick up 4,000 to 5,000 pounds of food.”

“And we now can offer fresh milk. Mayfield delivers milk for the whole week. Without the refrigeration unit, we had to distribute powdered milk,” Mrs. O’Hara added.

Mrs. O’Hara explained that the milk, fruit, meat, and canned and boxed goods are purchased at a reduced rate while all the bread is donated by area grocery stores.

They are all elements of every food package given to those in need.

“We are really proud of our food packages, which have been approved by nutritionists,” she noted.

And while clothing and the food pantry remain the core of what Ladies of Charity offers to those in need, they are only part of the overall picture.

Responding to the need, Ladies of Charity also offers shelter services that include kerosene for heating, utility, and rent assistance. The organization has added basic medicine to its portfolio of services. It works with CVS pharmacies to fill general prescriptions like antibiotics for people with no access to health insurance. No opioids are dispensed.

In 2016, Ladies of Charity distributed 4,025 pounds of toiletries, 26,334 clothing items to 17,120 people, and 26,763 food packets.

Mrs. O’Hara pointed out that the Ladies of Charity does not only serve its immediate area, although its ZIP code, 37917, has a lion’s share of the residents in need.

“We have shoppers and clients from all over the Knoxville area. We don’t restrict our services to Knox County. We serve people in need from all over the area,” she said.

Geri Sutter, the current president of Ladies of Charity, credits much of the organization’s change to Susan Unbehaun, who was named in March 2015 as the organization’s first executive director. That sentiment is echoed throughout the LoC. “For 72 years we did not have an executive director. We have been blessed because we now have one,” Mrs. Sutter said. Mrs. O’Hara added that the change in leadership was prompted by growth.

The group’s president and treasurer agree that once the Ladies of Charity relocated to its much larger facility and then Mrs. Unbehaun led an expansion of services, demand quickly caught up to supply.

Happy anniversary Bishop Stika shares a friendly hug with Ladies of Charity member Blanche Mackay after the Diamond Jubilee Mass for the Knoxville organization at Immaculate Conception Church on May 7.

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JUNE 4, 2017 n A15

Father Greg Neuzil marks 50th anniversary as priest

Retired priest Father Greg Neuzil, who formerly served in the Diocese of Knoxville, celebrated his 50th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood May 25.

Father Neuzil was ordained May 25, 1967, at St. John the Baptist Church in Silver Spring, Md. In East Tennessee, Father Neuzil served as pastor of St. Henry Parish in Rogersville and St. James the Apostle in Sneedville, as pastor of St. Alphonsus in Crossville, as pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in LaFollette and Christ the King in Tazewell, as pastor of St. Francis of Assisi in Fairfield Glade, and as associate pastor of St. Patrick in Morristown and Good Shepherd in Newport.

Fr. Neuzil In retirement he has served in the Diocese of Biloxi, Miss., following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, and has ministered to many military veterans.

He wishes “to let the dear people of the Diocese of Knoxville know that I have served with a grateful and humble heart, to God’s glory and the love of my brothers and sisters in Christ.”

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“I’m a firm believer if you ask a man why he joined [the Knights of Columbus], deep down it gave him a chance to answer that call to serve. That’s what it did for me.”

— Tracy Staller, newly elected state deputy, Tennessee Knights of Columbus has given you to serve others,” said Mr. Staller, a chemist and director of product and process development at EmeraChem in Knoxville. “That drives a lot of what I do. Mom was right.”

Mr. Comm echoed the Knights’ emphasis on service. “There’s a pride in doing. A pride in serving,” he said. “We think any eligible Catholic man … who seeks to be a better man … a better Catholic, the Knights are a place they can accomplish those things and give back to the Church and community in ways they may already be doing” but with the support of an organization whose reach extends around the globe.

Mr. Staller joined the Knights at his parish about 13 years ago, but admits he was reluctant at first.

When the council was founded, “I was one of those guys who said, ‘Guys, I’m too busy to do this,’” he said. “Two years later, I found I was working side by side with a lot of these guys in the parish.”

That experience changed his mind about the Knights, Staller said. “I had seen what the Knights were doing in the parish.”

What drew him to the Knights falls in line with the international order ’s initiative of “Building the Domestic Church, Strengthening Our Parish.” The initiative is designed to help Catholic men deepen their faith and strengthen their families and at the same time better integrating the local councils with the activities of the parishes where they are located.

Building on that initiative so it can continue to grow will be one of Staller ’s priorities in his new role, he said. “The Supreme Knight has already put us on the track to be more integrated in our parishes. It’s about serving in a more visible manner in our parishes and expanding our reach by involving others.”

After serving as an officer at his council at Holy Family, Staller moved to the state level as a district deputy and eventually running for and being elected State Warden, the first of five state offices that culminates with being State Deputy. Typically, state officers serve two one-year terms before moving up to the next state office. After State Warden, the offices are State Advocate, State Treasurer, State Secretary, and State Deputy.

With two years of service as the immediate past state deputy, becoming a state officer can typically be a 12-year commitment.

“You feel the Lord pushing you in a direction,” said Mr. Staller, who with his wife, Sharon, has two children, Kathleen, a student at Maryville College, and Joseph, a student at Tennessee Tech. “I felt a call.”

Like Mr. Staller, Mr. Comm started as an officer for his local council, 8354 at St. Ignatius of Antioch Church in Nashville, which he joined in 2003. After serving as state program director, Mr. Comm was elected state advocate when the person in line for that post had to step down.

“It’s a lot of responsibility,” Mr. Comm said of being state deputy.

“Whatever you think the job is going to be like, multiply that by a factor of five. You have to be in the moment.”

One of his goals as state deputy was to improve communication with the other state officers, district deputies and the local councils, said Mr. Comm, a retired sales executive who has two sons, David, 27, and Nick, 25.

His experience taught him how important it is for the state leadA16 n JUNE 4, 2017

Knights of Columbus chaplains Father John Orr, left, pastor of St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Madisonville, and Father Bartholomew Okere, pastor of St. Henry Church in Rogersville and St. James the Apostle Parish in Sneedville, serve the Knights of Columbus across the state as chaplains. ership “to be in close touch with the councils as much as possible,” he said. “It’s amazing to see how appreciative local councils are to see someone from the state. … A number of councils don’t always feel they are part of the larger team. … It’s important they feel the value of being a part of the larger organization.”

Mr. Staller has asked Mr. Comm, as past state deputy, to continue reaching out to local councils across the state as his representative. “I’ll be trying to do my best to spread the message,” Mr. Comm said.

Besides Mr. Staller, other state officers elected at the state convention included: n State Secretary Mike McCusker of Council 9317 at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Cordova. n State Treasurer Fred Laufenberg of Council 16088 at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Fairfield Glade. n State Advocate Bill Markiewicz of Council 4572 at St. Thérèse of Lisieux Church in Cleveland. n State Warden Eric Pelton of Council 8576 at St. Jude Church in Chattanooga.

The Knights also presented several program awards: n Church Activity: Council 15837 at Holy Family Church in Lafayette, Grand Knight John Boxold. n Community Activity: Council 544 at the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Nashville, Grand Knight Dave Johnson. n Council Activity: Council 12012 at St. Henry Church in Nashville, Grand Knight Jim Kiser. n Culture of Life Activity: Council 15196 at Holy Spirit Church in Memphis, Grand Knight Joshua Boss. n Family Activity: Council 8576 at St. Jude Church in Chattanooga, Grand Knight Paul A. Jette. n Vocations Activity: Council 6099, Holy Family Council in Chattanooga, Grand Knight Craig Bodnar. n Youth Activity: Council 12633 at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Lenoir City, Grand Knight Donald G. Hoyle. n Knight of the Year Award: presented to Thomas H. Dega of Council 16088 at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Fairfield Glade. n Family of the Year Award: presented to the family of Patrick and Libb Greg of Council 9317 at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Cordova. n Lifetime Achievement Award: presented to Charles Logsdon of Council 9168 at St. Luke Church in Smyrna.

State chaplains for the Tennessee Knights of Columbus are Father John Orr, pastor of St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Madisonville, and Father Bartholomew Okere, pastor of St. Henry Parish in Rogersville and St. James the Apostle Parish in Sneedville.

Father Orr has served as the lead state chaplain for the Knights of Columbus in Tennessee. ■

Mass of dedication for new Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus scheduled for March 2018 Bishop Richard F. Stika has announced that a Mass of dedication for the new Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus will be celebrated on Saturday, March 3, 2018.

Bishop Stika said the Mass and Rite of Dedication of a church and its altar is one of the most solemn liturgical celebrations in the Catholic Church. The rite is sacred and dates back to the early years of the Church. He noted that the Mass and the rite will elevate “this beautiful structure into holiness.” ■

Passion continued from page A8

wasn’t planning on it. They needed my help,” Mr. Fraire said. “It surprised me that Bryan did the same thing.”

“My wife wanted Bryan to do it.

He at first said no, but he changed his mind. It was good for him to do it.”

Mr. Fraire is volunteering to give a repeat performance next year if he is needed. And if he does, it would be his fourth year to participate. He also would like Bryan to give a repeat performance.

Andy Zengel, principal of St. Joseph School, is heartened to see students take part in such an important story about Jesus.

“At St. Joseph School, it is vital for our younger students to see the older ones taking their faith seriously. It certainly brings the Stations to a whole new level of prayer for our little ones. Earlier in Lent, our eighth-graders took on that leadership role with an outdoor Living Stations of the Cross,” Mr. Zengel said.

He noted how important it is for adults like Mr. Quiroz and Mr. Fraire to live their faith.

“Numerous studies have shown that the more faithful adults a child has in their life, the more likely they are to live a sacramental life in the Church when they grow up. Pope Paul VI wrote in Evangelii Nuntiandi, ‘modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses.’ I am so glad that the students in our Catholic schools in the Diocese of Knoxville have such witnesses,” he said.

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Mr. Zengel applauded all participants in the Living Stations and Passion for their efforts.

“The boys and all their classmates did a wonderful job. In fact, their teacher, Mrs. Mollie Krueger, was absent from school that day since her daughter had recently been in the hospital. I believe the students wanted to give their best, not only to our Lord, but for their teacher — a ‘win one for the Gipper’ mentality,” Mr. Zengel said. “Bryan, who played the soldier, said, ‘I felt fine about it, but I forgot just one thing — I was supposed to grab Jesus’ arm when they were going to crucify him.’ Jose said, ‘I felt good because I was doing something for Jesus.’”

The “blessed coincidence” was not lost on Mr. Zengel or Deacon Scott Maentz of Holy Ghost Parish, who photographed the Good Friday service.

“Bryan related that he volunteered to portray the soldier. Jose was chosen by Mrs. Krueger because ‘she knew I would be serious.’ I was standing backstage with our fourth-graders during their Living Stations. Jose and Bryan walked past me 14 times,” Mr. Zengel said.

“I attended the Living Stations at Holy Ghost on Good Friday with my family and was happy to see many of our St. Joseph School families involved. It wasn’t until I was reviewing photos of our fourthgraders for our school newsletter that I made the connection. When I asked Deacon Scott Maentz to share his photos from Good Friday, I think he saw the divine intervention right away. He wrote, ‘what a blessed coincidence!’” ■

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Hungry for the faith UT-Chattanooga students savor their education on Catholicism and Christianity; Bishop Stika offers a pep talk

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Faithful Moccasins Bishop Stika, center, is joined by Deacon Brian Gabor and his wife, Donna, right, for a group photo with students from the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Newman Center.

Deacon Gabor said.

“They’re very faith-filled, and they’re hungry to learn more about their faith.”

The center has grown dramatically in the past few years, and Deacon Gabor credits that growth to the students enthusiastically embracing their Catholicism.

It all started with a Bible study.

Two years ago, a few of the women at the Newman Center formed a weekly Bible study. Newman Center resident Katie McDowell said it was there that they realized they wanted the center to celebrate its Catholicism.

“Before, we were kind of trying to act like the other Christian groups that were here, doing things like them and trying to be more like the other groups on campus,” she said. “But then we realized that we’re Catholic and we’re different, so whenever we started going deeper into saying the rosary or doing the Liturgy of the Hours or doing Mass more often or going to adoration — that was something that totally changed everything here.”

“We’ve started doing adoration on Friday nights,” student Avery Grant said. “So we’ll do adoration from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and then you’re like, ‘OK, it’s Friday, we’re in college, none of us are going to bed for a lot of

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ounger generations often are accused of being entitled, individualistic, and seeking instant gratification. There is worry that millennials and Gen Z are abandoning traditional customs, including their faith.

But some young adults are seeking faith. And the faith they want is an authentic, deeply rooted, and devotional one.

For Catholic students at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, the Newman Center offers a wellspring of Christian community and faith formation during the sometimes hectic and stressful years of college life.

During a visit to the university’s Newman Center on March 29, Bishop Richard F. Stika celebrated Mass and spoke with students about the struggles that come with college and confronting different viewpoints and lifestyles than the ones they were raised with.

“People who challenge us can threaten us, in terms of our attitudes about life or attitudes about relationships or our relationship with God. College does that, too, doesn’t it, when you go to university? Sometimes you go in there and you’re a little confused,” he said.

But Bishop Stika also advised the students that being challenged can be good. College is a time of growth, when students will decide who they are and what they believe as young adults.

“We belong to something greater than ourselves. We belong to the Church. We belong to humanity. We belong to the world that surrounds us,” he said.

The Newman Center helps Catholic students face those challenges and grow in their faith.

Deacon Brian Gabor and his wife, Donna, are the Newman Center directors, and they work to make sure the center offers students a safe and supportive home away from home to study, pray, or just relax.

“It’s a great group,”

In prayer and adoration A student prays in the Newman Center chapel on the campus of UT-Chattanooga. There is a fervor for the faith among UTC Catholic students.

“People who challenge us can threaten us, in terms of our attitudes about life or attitudes about relationships or our relationship with God. College does that, too, doesn’t it, when you go to university? Sometimes you go in there and you’re a little confused. ... We belong to something greater than ourselves. We belong to the Church. We belong to humanity. We belong to the world that surrounds us.”

— Bishop Richard F. Stika hours anyway.’ So we’ll throw a bonfire outside, and we’ll just sit out on the porch ‘til all hours of the night and just kind of hang out.”

By revolving its activities around Catholic practices such as adoration and the rosary, the Newman Center attracted more Catholics on campus. The women’s Bible study eventually had to split into two groups.

The men began their own group, called Mantopia, where they discuss philosophy and theology with Father Colin Blatchford, who is the chaplain.

Newman Center President James Sowder credits the men’s and women’s groups for forming the strong friendships that has helped the center grow and remain faith-focused.

“I think for the most part, the people in my generation get a pretty bad rep for not being very intellectual or for not being very passionate about things, especially when it comes to matters of faith … I know so much more about Catholicism from being at the Newman Center for a year and a half than I do from, like,

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anything before that,” he said.

At the center, discussions on apologetics can spring up at pizza parties or The Office marathons.

The students have found a balance between study and levity.

“There are a lot of opportunities to take advantage of here with this short amount of time that we have with the Newman Center as our home,” Mr. Sowder said.

“There are a lot of really, really good people here, and we have a lot of really in-depth conversations. I’ve never met kids who I know who are like the kids at the Newman Center. They’re really special.”

A particular challenge for the Newman Center and other college ministries is the transitory nature of students. Every few years brings a new crop of students while its older members move on to their post-grad lives.

“It’s tough to see them move off, to graduate and move off, because we do become a family here,” Deacon Gabor said.

“That is a challenge of this kind of ministry as opposed to the parish ministry where people are usually there for the long term. Here, four years, maybe five, and then they move on,” added Deacon Gabor, who also serves St. Jude Church in Chattanooga.

But the time in college is formable, and students need a solid respite from the distractions and temptations of modern, young adult life.

“I kind of determined my freshman year that I didn’t want to lose my faith, so I knew that if I surrounded myself with really good people, that it would be really easier to keep strong in my faith and be able to grow in a community,” Miss McDowell said.

Miss Grant agreed. “Especially in college I’ve found that it’s so important to have other friends striving for virtue and striving for holiness and just lifting one another up,” she said. ■

Funeral Mass held in Nashville for Dr. Ruth Queen Smith

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r. Ruth Queen Smith, longtime pastoral associate at St. John XXIII University Parish and Catholic Center on the University of Tennessee-Knoxville campus, passed away May 18 after an extended illness.

A funeral Mass was celebrated for Dr. Smith on May 24 at St. Henry Church in Nashville, where she retired in May 2016 after a 25-year tenure at St. John XXIII. Father Eric Andrews, CSP, president of the Paulist Fathers order of priests who worked for years with Dr. Smith at St. John XXIII, was the celebrant and homilist at the Mass.

Father Charlie Donahue, CSP, who also worked for several years with Dr. Smith at St. John XXIII, remembered her as a person who was formed and informed by Scripture.

“She was able to read in Scripture her suffering, and she was able to help others do the same,” Father Donahue said, referring to her strong faith and redemptive suffering.

Dr. Smith was a renowned Biblestudy leader, who was known around the country for her insight into Scripture and her unique abil-

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ity to communicate that knowledge.

At a retirement reception last year, former St. John XXIII associate pastor Father Rich Andre, CSP, described her as “remarkable; poised articulate, filled with insight.”

He said she was in demand as a speaker around Dr. Smith the country.

Dr. Smith first moved to Knoxville in 1991, when she enrolled in the University of Tennessee to pursue an advanced degree. At the time, she asked Father Stan MacNevin, CSP, then-pastor of St. John XXIII Parish, how she could best use her gifts. He encouraged her to lead a Bible study, and from there began her mission to share the Scripture near and far.

Dr. Smith is survived by her sister, Nancy Smith of Nashville, niece Angela Smith, sister-in-law Karen Smith, and several grand-nieces and grand-nephews. Interment was at Harpeth Hills Memory Gardens in Nashville. ■ www.di o k no x .o rg

JUNE 4, 2017 n A17

Another great year in our Catholic Schools!

2017 Highlights:

Diocesan District Accreditation through AdvancED

244 graduates from our two high schools

Over $27 million in college scholarships offered

Dear families and friends of the Catholic Church in East Tennessee, As you see from the highlights above we have had a successful academic year. I express my gratitude to our administrators, faculty, and staff for assisting our students in their success. Just last week I received the following letter from one of our families as they complete their time from one of our eight foundational schools and continue to stay involved in one of our two Catholic high schools. This letter highlights how we in the Diocese of Knoxville are fulfilling our mission to prepare SCHOLARS, LEADERS and SAINTS. Thank you!

Because of Jesus, Sister Mary Marta Abbott, R.S.M., Ed.S. Superintendent of Catholic Schools Bill and Mary Sue: (Administration at St. John Neumann Catholic School in Farragut) I wanted to send a message to you and the teachers and staff at SJNCS. I don't know if you will share this with anyone, but please feel free to do so if you choose to, as I want to express my gratitude to the administration, faculty, and staff at SJNCS. In August 2003, I sent my oldest child (Cora) to kindergarten at SJNCS. In May of 2017, my youngest child (Max) will graduate from SJNCS. In between, we sent Grady and Madelyn to SJNCS. That's 14 consecutive years with at least one, and as many as four at one time, children at SJNCS. We've had kids in every grade, with almost every teacher, through different administrations, with teachers and staff coming and going and staying, etc. Our kids have participated in a variety of sports, band, and other extracurricular activities. They've been on field trips, mission trips, and retreats. They've participated in field days, science fairs and history days, and we've attended countless school programs, fundraisers, concerts, chili cook-offs, ice cream socials, etc.

I can recall conversations with Megan back in 2001 and 2002, as we weighed the anticipated cost vs the potential benefits of enrolling our children in Catholic school. As you know, Catholic school tuition is a big commitment, and our decision to pursue a Catholic education for our children was a huge decision for us. Our investment in SJNCS went well beyond tuition, to include countless hours in countless activities, and we have always tried to be supportive of PTMO and school functions, programs, etc. We've driven enough miles to and from SJNCS, and spent so much time in pick-up and drop-off lines, we've had to replace cars because they were worn out from all the driving. As we near the end of the road, as we reach the time when we will make our last drive to drop-off or pick-up one of our children as a student of SJNCS, I just wanted to share with you that I am convinced our investment and commitment has been entirely worthwhile.

I am grateful for the education my children have received at SJNCS. Their education has taken place not only in the classroom with the "core" curriculum, but perhaps more importantly, they have learned about their faith, self-worth, personal responsibility, being kind to others and about their role and place in the world. While I can't list every person who's made a difference or every meaningful interaction my kids have had over the years, I will say my children have benefitted from their association with the SJNCS community, which is comprised of people of high character and integrity, who have hearts for children and demonstrate values and evidence priorities that are consistent with my understanding of the Catholic faith. Obviously, the foundation of every child's education is at home, but I have always been confident my children were being educated at SJNCS in a way that complemented and supplemented their education at home.

I want to acknowledge that there were a handful of times (very few) over the years when we experienced "friction" with a teacher or a situation at SJNCS. I think it would have been impossible to have 36 "student years" (4 kids x 9 years each) at SJNCS without experiencing friction at some point. We know we are imperfect people and imperfect parents, with imperfect children who are imperfect students. I would never expect perfection from the administration, faculty, and staff at SJNCS (although, like most parents, we probably subconsciously hope for that). We have always tried to interact respectfully with school personnel, and we have always felt school personnel did the same with us. I can say without reservation, that in any circumstance where friction arose, once the question or issue was "resolved," I was comfortable that any mistake that was made was made with good intentions at heart, and I did not feel judged, disrespected or discounted. On a couple of occasions, I have been able to gain insight into my own children because I was willing to be open to observations and well-intentioned input and feedback from teachers --- even when they shared with me something I didn't really want to hear.

Finally, I want to share this. I have attended a number of school Masses over the years, but one stands out in my mind above the others. When Madelyn was in second grade, I attended Mass one morning and sat with Megan near the back. I participated in the Mass as I generally did at that time. I was a Christian, but I was not Catholic, although I had attended church with Megan dating back to before we were married in 1990, and we were mutually committed to raising our children as Catholics. For some reason, as I observed that Mass, as I watched all four of my children participate in that Mass, as I watched the entire school community participate in that Mass, I felt a tremendous sense of the power of the faith and unity shared by the SJNCS community. While the Holy Spirit had been working on me for some time, I resolved at that Mass to become Catholic. I participated in RCIA that year and formally entered the Church during Easter Vigil that spring. I became Catholic for several reasons, but that day at that Mass was almost an epiphany for me and solidified my resolve to formally become a part of the Catholic faith community. I felt the power of the faith of the children, and I recognized the significant role a faith community plays in the lives of the children that are part of that community. I am Catholic today in part because my children attended SJNCS. I apologize for the length of this message. I have felt compelled for some time to try to put pen to paper to say, "Thank you." I am truly grateful and feel extremely blessed to have been able to send my children to SJNCS. Please continue to "fight the good fight" and do what you do because the importance of the roles you are playing in the lives of children and their families cannot be overstated. I believe you (the SJNCS community) are fulfilling a God-given mission, and I believe that mission is even more important today than it was 14 years ago when Megan and I walked Cora into Mrs. Dougherty's kindergarten for the first time and then cried on the way out of the building because our baby was in school now. I imagine we might shed a tear again as we walk Max out of the gym following graduation later this week; this time because our baby has finished his time at SJNCS. Again, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you.

Best personal regards, Grady and Megan Vanderhoofven

Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Knoxville prepare SCHOLARS, LEADERS, and SAINTS!

A18 n JUNE 4, 2017

www.di o k no x .o rg

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