June 3, 2018, ET Catholic, A section

June 3

| 2018

VOL 27 NO 5

IN THIS ISSUE

A4

CONFIRMATION SEASON Nearly 2,000 receive sacrament in cathedral

JUBILEE B1 GOLDEN Fr. Jim Haley marks

priestly milestone at Immaculate Conception

FINISH B5 STRONG KCHS grad takes

10th place in Boston Marathon

He dwells among us ......................... A2 Parish news ....................................... B2 Diocesan calendar ............................ B3 Columns ............................................. B8 Catholic youth ................................... B9 La Cosecha ............................Section C

Cathedral hosts first performance in Concert Series Knoxville Handel Society joins Sacred Heart to stage ‘The Creation’ with full choir, orchestra

By Bill Brewer

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BILL BREWER (2)

n what probably is a first for the Diocese of Knoxville, the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus served as center stage for a live secular choir and orchestra performance as part of a new diocesan arts initiative called the Cathedral Concert Series.

The Knoxville Handel Society performed Joseph Haydn’s composition The Creation on April 29 to a standing-room-only audience.

More than 70 vocalists were joined by 30 instrumentalists in performing The Creation for parishioners, Handel Society members, and the general public.

The performance also was a first for the Knoxville Handel Society, a choral organization serving the Knoxville area that puts on classical masterworks like The Creation.

The society was formed in 2016.

Bishop Richard F. Stika greeted some 1,300 patrons, describing for them how the new cathedral was a perfect fit as the setting for Haydn’s celebrated classic, which follows the biblical account of God’s six days of creation.

Bishop Stika explained that in St. Louis, where he is originally from, the archdiocese would hold performances of sacred music for the community. As the Diocese of Knoxville’s new cathedral was being built, he hoped to establish a similar program.

“Music, as we all know, elevates our minds and our thoughts. And we have such a vast assortment from throughout the centuries of sacred music. I’m kind of like a nervous father. This is our first group of over 1,300 people in this cathedral,” Bishop Stika said.

“I want you to feel at home.

Cathedrals historically have been places of music in the tradition of bringing people together to elevate our minds and our thoughts.

The Creation Top: The Knoxville Handel Society performs “The Creation” inside Sacred Heart Cathedral for the public. Bottom: Bishop Richard F. Stika gives a prayer prior to the performance.

That is what my prayer is for this evening. The creation, that is what we’re going to celebrate this even-

ing, the beginnings of who we are, the beginnings of the universe that God has created,” he added.

Bishop Stika encouraged the audience to place themselves in a sacred moment, no matter their faith tradition, and pray that the Lord be with them as they witness the miracles of music, accomplishment, and talent.

He then led the audience in a prayer, after which he prompted them to yell out a loud “Amen.”

He then responded loudly, “Alleluia, sisters and brothers!”

“That was for my Baptist friends,” he concluded, drawing laughs.

Just before the performance, the audience heard from Don King, Knoxville Handel Society music director, who explained how the society and the diocese teamed to put on The Creation.

“Dec. 13, 2017, is a red-letter day The Creation continued on page A7

Priest assignments set for several Diocese of Knoxville parishes Retirements, pastoral moves to take place at more than a dozen churches on July 1

By Bill Brewer

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ishop Richard F. Stika has announced pastoral assignments that will take effect July 1 for several Diocese of Knoxville parishes. Included in the upcoming moves are the retirements of Monsignor Patrick Garrity and Father Mike Creson.

Monsignor Garrity, who has served as pastor of St. John Neumann parish in Farragut since Feb. 1, 2010, is retiring from full-time priestly ministry but will continue to serve the diocese as vicar for priests, chairman of the Clergy Materials Concern Committee, and a member of the Priest Benefit and Trust Board.

Additionally, Bishop Stika has appointed Monsignor Garrity as chaplain of the Knoxville-area Serra Club.

Ordained a priest of the Diocese of Nashville in 1976 by Bishop James D. Niedergeses, Father

Msgr. Garrity

Fr. Creson

Garrity’s first assignment was as a teacher at Father Ryan High School and associate pastor of St. Edward Parish in Nashville.

After three years in Nashville, he moved to Chattanooga, where he served as spiritual director at Notre Dame High School until 1985. Between 1979 and 1985, he also held positions as associate pastor at several Chattanooga parishes and as director of the Catholic Youth Of-

Fr. Woods

Fr. Owens

fice for the Chattanooga Deanery.

From 1981-1985 he was pastor of St. Bridget Parish in Dayton.

In 1985, Father Garrity moved to Knoxville, where he was named principal of Knoxville Catholic High School and pastor of Holy Family Parish in Seymour. Father Garrity stepped down as Knoxville Catholic High School principal in 1997 to return to full-time pastoral work and was named pastor of St.

Fr. Reed

Patrick Parish in Morristown and Holy Trinity Parish in Jefferson City.

In 2011, Bishop Stika announced that Father Garrity had been elevated to monsignor, a papal honor bestowed on Monsignor Garrity by Pope Benedict XVI. Monsignor Garrity, 69, a native of Wichita, Kan., also has chaired the diocesan Presbyteral Council, Priests continued on page A12

He dwells among us

by Bishop Richard F. Stika

‘My sacrifice and yours’

Every day should be a series of offertories where we offer ourselves to Christ “No one shall appear before [the Lord] empty-handed” (Exodus 23:15).

The Mass does not end when we leave the church each week. The commands to “Go forth,” to “announce the Gospel of the Lord,” “glorifying the Lord by your life” mean we must now go and “live the Mass” — to “live our Mass.” Each moment of each day should be a series of offertories where we continue to offer ourselves to Christ, to die in Him, and to give Christ to others.

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o those who say, “I don’t get anything out of attending Mass,” Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen would answer, “It’s because you must bring something to it.” So important is this point that we should ask our selves, “What do I bring to Mass?”

Cardinal Robert Sarah, prefect for the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, laments in his book, The Power of Silence, that “we have lost the most profound meaning of the offertory.” He observes with sadness how the sacred time during which the altar is prepared, and the gifts brought up and offered are sometimes viewed as “empty space” or an intermission between the liturgy of the Word and the liturgy of the Eucharist. But if our life is to truly be “eucharistic,” it must begin and be renewed weekly in the offertory of the Mass.

Among the numerous reflections by Archbishop Sheen, I highly recommend his presentation titled “On the Meaning of the Mass,” which can be Googled and viewed on YouTube. In it, he describes the Mass in terms of a Greek drama with three indispensable parts, or acts, to it. In Act I, the offertory, we offer ourselves to Christ. In Act II, the consecration, we die in Christ’s offering of Himself on Calvary for our sins, which is represented in an unbloodied manner in the Mass.

And in Act III, Communion, we rise to new life in Him for “no one dies to Christ without receiving new life.”

During the offertory, we offer the matter required for the sacrifice of the Mass — “the fruit of the earth” and “the fruit of the vine” that “will become for us the bread of life” and “our spiritual drink.” We offer “something” in the offertory that during the consecration will become “someone” — Christ Jesus. But the material gifts brought to the altar must include something else — each of us. For by virtue of our baptism, we are members of the Body of Christ, and the “someone” who will be offered must be the whole Christ — both head and body.

This is the “active participation” the Church asks of us — our own offering that will be transformed in Christ upon the altar.

When the gifts of bread and wine are brought to the altar, we also should want to be brought with them, saying to Christ, “I want to be offered with you in your great act of redemption.” In humility, we acknowledge that apart from Jesus we can do nothing (John 15:5), and that for our offering to “be acceptable to God, the almighty Father” it must be united by Christ to His offering, which is of infinite and eternal

value.

In the offertory, we bring the poor and insufficient offering of our prayers, our sacrifices, our labors and sufferings of body and soul, our works of mercy.

We bring our vocations as a husband or wife, father or mother, our families, our joys and disappointments, our loneliness and trials. We bring everything to the altar and place it with the gift of ourself on the paten and in the chalice, under the form of bread and wine. It does not matter if we think it is an unworthy offering. In truth, there is nothing we can offer to God the Father that is worthy of Him except what Christ His Son offers. How blessed we are then that it pleases Christ to join the tiny morsel of our offering with His. When the gifts, the crucifix, and altar are incensed during the offertory, and the celebrant and the entire congregation are incensed by the deacon or another minister, it gives further image to how we are all united in the one sacrifice that will be offered in the consecration.

During the consecration, we solemnize our offering by dy-

Follow Bishop Richard Stika on Twitter @bishopstika and Facebook for news and events from the diocese.

ing in Christ upon Calvary. It is then that our offering, united by Christ to His, truly becomes a sacrifice acceptable to God, the almighty Father. With the immortal words of Christ — “This is my Body…. This is the Chalice of my Blood” — we die in Christ by repeating His words back to Him saying, “This, too, is my body…, this, too, is my blood!”

It is this longing of the heart that cries out, “I am all Thine, My Lord!” that best prepares us for Holy Communion. And the fruit of our Communion with our Lord depends upon the dispositions of our heart, which we prepared with the gifts in the offertory.

The Mass is truly Christ’s sacrifice, but now we can say that it is our sacrifice, our praise and adoration, our thanksgiving “through Him, with Him, and in Him.” The Mass does not end when we leave church each week. The commands to “Go forth,” to “announce the Gospel of the Lord,” “glorifying the Lord by your life” mean we must now go and “live the Mass” — to “live our Mass.”

Each moment of each day should be a series of offertories where we continue to offer ourselves to Christ, to die in Him, and to give Christ to others. But to be the hands, the feet, the face, and the heart of Jesus, we ourselves necessarily need to be transformed by Christ so that we give more than just ourselves when we give to others.

And it is this transformation that begins in what we offer in the offertory.

May every Mass bear much fruit as you go and live your Mass each day. ■

Bishop Stika’s calendar of events for June June Prayer Intentions “That social networks may work towards that inclusiveness, which respects others for their differences.”

–– Pope Francis

”As we celebrate the solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus this month, let us make an effort to place our trust and our hearts in Him so that we can receive the comfort He brings to each of us, especially in times of need.“ –– Bishop Stika

A2 n JUNE 3, 2018

These are some of Bishop Stika’s upcoming public appointments: n June 2: 11 a.m. ordination of Mark Schuster to the Order of Deacon at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in Knoxville n June 3: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament following the 1 p.m. Mass at the Cathedral of the Most Sa-

cred Heart of Jesus; Corpus Christi Procession with the Knights of Columbus Honor Guard following at 4 p.m. n June 3: 5 p.m. appearance on “A Call To Discipleship” television show on CTV n June 4: 6:45 a.m. appearance on Relevant Radio n June 4-7: Annual Priests’ Convocation in Chattanooga n June 9: 7 p.m. Mass for

novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus with the Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters at Mount Grace Convent in St. Louis n June 12-14: spring meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. n June 22: 10 a.m. CST, Catholic Public Policy Commission board meeting in Nashville. ■

Upcoming Virtus training sessions are scheduled

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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. Mary Church, Johnson City, 1 p.m. Saturday, June 9; 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 25; 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22 n Our Lady of Fatima Church, Alcoa, 9 a.m. Mon-

day, June 11 n St. Dominic Church, Kingsport, 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 11; 9 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 12 n St. Mary Church, Oak Ridge, 1 p.m. Monday, Aug. 6; 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 29; 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept 26. ■

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

Thanks Mom

for Choosing Life!

Bishop Richard F. Stika Cardinal Justin Rigali Thomas Adams and Family Carol Akerman and Children William and Thersa Allington Familia Alvarenga Sandy Alvarez Wally Anderson Pete and Maureen Armendarez Sally Baran Janel Bell M. E. Berger Gary and Robin Bevins Tom and Linda Bolen Kathy M. Bracic Bill and Angel Brewer Will, Becca and Penelope Brewer Virginia and Gerald Brimer and Family Hazel Brimi The Brodd Family Dr. Walter H. Brott and Family John Minton Newell and Family Scott O’ Connell and Family Ashley Brown Cindy Brown John and Elizabeth Bunker T J and Mary Mary Butcher Buthcher and Family and Family The Byrne Family Lisa and David Campbell and Family Troy and Jacquelyn Cantrell The Carlson Family Richard and Susie Cataldi and Family Catron Family Cynthia Chan Cieslik Family Art and Sue Clancy and Family Art Clancy III Family Gerald and Bea Clark Nancy Clarke Cecilia Cobos Mark and Rita Cook and Family Pam Cook Cortese Family Janet Cosens Cumberland Mountain Deanery CCW Larry and Kathy DeWine Ruth S. Dorman Rev. John Dowling Bill and Stacy Dunn Daniel, Mary Amber, Samuel and Peter Dunn Paul and Mary Dunn Peter, Susannah and Thomas Dunn Sarah Dunn Paul Dunn III and Marieta Davenport Heri and Carrie Fernandez Mike and Sharon Fisher Bob and Jean Fox Lee and Terry Frank and Family John and Debbie Geppi Kenneth and Marianne Goodwin Ken and Jane Greenwell Kay and Andy Gross Robert Grzywacz Maurice Guinn Family of Halfords Bill and Deedee Hansen Tristin Hanson The Hargett Family Jerry and Lois Harkenrider Dr. Jake and Terry Harrison Father Michael Hendershott Ann Hill Ken Hodak Family Beverly Hoffmeister Ryan, Leslie, Will and Caroline Hunse Rick and Joan Hutchison Mike and Molly Jester and Family Michael and Carmella Jochmann Amberlee Jones, P.J. and Tori Aleigha Millington Millington Erin Jones Richard and Bunnie Jones, Andy and Kathryn Jones, Mike and Peggy Kennedy Charles and Chris Kite and Family Mike, Lisa Marie, Matthew, Marissa and Michael Kirrman Knights of Columbus Council 8781 Farragut Mr. and Mrs. Jim Kohl and Family Jim and Mary Kois Ron and Delores Kopp Kosnikowski Family Jane and Gary Kramp The Kropilak Family Ana Maria y Maria Irene The Louis LaMarche Family James and Bonnie Larison The Ray Lefebvre Family Stephen and Maureen Lison

Michael and Mary Ellen Little and Family Leslie and Carol Lougheed William and Regina Lovelace and William Edward Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Lynn Brissa Maciolek Gene and Ruth Masters Matthew 6 Bryan T. May, Jr. Brian and Rose Mayfield and Family Kevin and Kim McCready Tony and Janet McGuire Cynthia McMillan Ken and Ellen McWhirter Ernie Meiners The Rich Melton Family Aurelia Montgomery Paul and Francesca Montgomery Lisa and Robb Morris and Family Sue and Jeff, Hannah, Jaime, Bailey and Gage Morris Nasser Family Judy and Joe Nemec Elida Nieblas Arleen and Richie O’Brien The O’Hara Family The Osucha Family Unborn Lives Matter!! By Judy and Hal Osucha Pacitti Family Richard and Kathy Parrish Fr. Steve Pawelk Chris and Leta Pease and Family Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Pelicano Pat Pennebaker Phil and Carol Perkins Tom Perry Sandy Peterson Stan and Ellen Pickering David and Patty Powers Carole Price Roger and Gin Punzalan Josette and Stanley Rabun Sid and Ida Randall and Family David and Gayle Roulier and Family Julia D. Schriver Ines de Segura Curt and Kay Sheldon William E. and Barbara Shero Donald and Gretchen Showman Jim Shular - (Sevier) Shurina Family Kirk and Kim Smith St. John Paul II Catholic Mission St. Teresa of Kolkata Catholic Church Mike and Barbara Stahl Dan and Beth Stainforth Mikki Steinhoff Alice M. Stephens Sumpter-Getino Family Carolyn K. Susano John and Wilda Sweeney Joel and Marian Sylvester Evangeline Taylor Mary Thacker Philip Vance Tom Whitfield George and Andrea Wignall The George N. Willard Family Shelby, Joshua, Alex and Andrew Williams Jim and Carole Wilson Paula Wilson and Family William C. and Mary A. Wilson and Family Dylan and Rachel Wolfenbarger Jim and Ginny Wood Fr. Michael Woods Anne Young All Saints Catholic Church Beaver Dam Baptist Church Berean Bible Church Black Oak Heights Baptist Church Blount County Chapter Right to Life Blount County Pregnancy Resource Center Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ Chapel Christ our Savior Lutheran Church Church of the Harvest First Lutheran Church Gallaher Memorial Baptist Church Grace Lutheran Church Holy Ghost Catholic Church Holy Trinity Catholic Church Knights of Columbus Council 3832 Alcoa Knoxville Baptist Tabernacle Our Lady of Fatima Council of Catholic Women Our Lady of Fatima Respect Life Committee Park West Church Dutch Valley RIO Network of Churches- Blount County

St. John Neumann Catholic Church St. Mary’s Catholic Church St. Thomas the Apostle Church Trinity Community Church Wallace Memorial Baptist Church West Park Baptist Church IN HONOR OF: Maria Isabel Renteria by Angel G. Alvarez Viviana Lopez Soto by Angel G. Alvarez Ana Maria Avalos by Familia Avalos Maria de Avila by Juan de Avila The Birge Family by Laurie Birge Our Parents by Mandy & Gerardo Boquin Bonnie Cadotte by Katie Cadotte Cindy Carvin by Russ Carvin and Family All mothers who chose Life and placed their baby in an adoptive home by Ginger Davis My daughter who I made the decision to place in an adoptive home by Ginger Davis Maura Lujan De Nova Our Mothers by the Despard Family Carmen Dominguez and Fransisca Servellon by Patricia Dominguez Leo, Marie, Kevin, Marie Jeanne, Ernie, May by Deacon Tim and Pauline Elliott Susanne Finneran by Kathleen and Lawrence Finneran Georgette Spalding Burnam by Michael Fox My Mother Helen Freeh by Nadine Freeh Alicia Pina by Helio, Hector, Axel, Alexa Gonzalez Angelica Mojica by Familia Gonzalez Graciela Medina Gonzalez by Maria Camacho Margarita Ayard Manzo by Familia Gonzalez Maria Consepcion Gandarilla by Familia Gonzalez Carol Grady by Alice Handley Our four granddaughters by the Harrisons The Helsel and Murrie Family’s Mothers by Lin and Bob Helsel Frank Phillips by Jennie and Tom Johnson Baby William Melvin King by Linda C. King The Mancini and Little Families Juana De Nova Lopez Marge Doucette and Ann Marie Lubert

by Mom Maria Cespedes by Brissa Maciolek Angelica Marie Morris by Gladys Morris Ashley King by Bailey and Gage Macaria Camacho by Maria Parra Lisa Morris by Judith Pedas Fran Pichiarella by Pichiarella Family Ellen Clancy Pickering by Judy Pickering Mary Pollock; Pollock and Jones Family Family Living by William and Joan Price Elizabeth Swierzowski by Quayle Family Moms by Patricia Sharp Eric Thomas Clement by Jackie Shields Cristina de Soriano and Marina Soriano by Salvador Soriano Coral Getino by Justin Sumpter Agnes and In Memory of Carol by Jean S. Theobald Carrie Johnston by David and Susan Thompson Our Mothers by Mr. and Mrs. Joel Weeks Kathryn Williams by her family Sara, Elaine, Rebecca Clem by Jeanette Clem Willis IN MEMORY OF: Gertrude Jacobs & Hope Blackorby by Bob and Mary Blackorby Kristopher Borton by Dennis and Julia Borton Our Parents by Jim and Connie Brace Adrienne Brown by Michael and Daryl Brown Betty Perry by Russ Carvin and Family Will Scheyd by Loni Cole Joan Conway by Mary Conway Ginny Hyatt by Leanette Coyne Rachel Lucille Dawson, beloved Mother by Cynthia Dawson Ryan Dickinson by Jack and Charlotte Dickinson Laura Blalack and Lucille Donahoo by Duane and Debbie Donahoo and Family Lucille Dykas by Diane and Wally Dykas Ruth and Bill Eron by Mary Eron Our Mothers by Jerry and Suzanne Erpenbach Nina Maeyens and Jason Edwards by Elaine Fadnek and Andy Kathleen Tuthill by Kathleen and Lawrence Finneran Justina Fitzgerald by Lynn Fitzgerald Barbara D. Fox by Michael Fox

Our Mothers by Mary Jane and George Frederick My Mother Harriet O’Dor by Helen A. Freeh Dave Fricke by Joan Fricke Barbara Gill by Janet Gay Kimberly Greenwell by Greenwell Family Gladys Zimmer by Marlene Guerinot Herman L. Hannel by Jean Hannel Bob Hansen by Monica Hansen Baby Dawson Arthur by the Harrisons Greg Henke by Cy and Carol Henke Hillesheim, Einsiedel families by Marli Hillesheim Mary Agnes Huber by Huber Family Mary Jeanette Barile by Nancy Hullander Sarah LeFaive by Phyllis A. Ide James Vann Johnston, Sr. by Nick and Amy Iverson, Mary, Nicklaus, Joseph, Daniel & Anna James V. Johnston, Sr. by Patricia Johnston Julia J. Frank Kaspar by June Kaspar Jenny Curtis by Christine, Jason, Caid, Kailey and Corinne Kear Mary Ann Buman Kenkel by Patrick and Christina Kenkel Geraldine Bogert and Margaret Knoerl by Donna E. Knoerl Blanche Dickman and Marian Kramer by Bill and Mary Paula Kramer Stella Rodriguez by Sarah Lancaster Rev. Albert Henkel and In Honor of Daniel Dunn by Calvin Lane Bertha Liddington by Lynne A. Liddington Richard Mancini, Jack and Betty Little, Monsignor James Kulp and all deceased family members Corinne Schaus by Regis Loffman Margaret Lubert by Bertie Lubert Alfie Evans by Christine and Deacon Scott Maentz Marie O’Malley May by Bryan T. May, Jr. Patrick McCleary by Julie McCleary Lilith by Catherine McHugh My Niece Susie by Carol A. Meadows Robert & Rose Anne Ward by Bill and Kitty Menhinick Adela Manzo Perez, Lilia Hinojosa by Gloria Mercedo Frances Lee Miller by Metz Family Stephen Miller by Jeanne Miller Family Family by Robert Montgomery Family Alfie Evans by Shirley and Terry Moore Eileen Marie Murphy by Sheila Murphy My Mother Elena and In Honor Daughters Virginia and Margaret by Jesus Navarro Annetta Provenza Armetta and In Honor of Beulah Armetta by Tona Neal Dolores Duncan by Pichiarella Family Jane Hurst Hannah by Kathy H. Pittman Pat Hummelberg and In Honor of Amanda Donovan by Stephen and Mary Price Family Deceased by William and Joan Price Florence Brandt by Diane Przybyszewski Elizabeth T. Mullen by Elizabeth A. Purvis Deanna Quayle by Quayle Family Delores Shaner by Kathleen A. Ragsdale Annunciata C. Nutter and Patricia C. Raines

by Jim and Julianna Raines Bryan Reavy by Linda and Bill Reavy Francisco Rojas by Juan de Avila All Who Need It by Fredine Schick Judy Schmidt by Jennifer Schmidt Gertrude Sharpe by Rick Sharpe Bernadine Patrick by Pamela A. Skinner Mothers by Janice Slyman Carolyn Wagner by Mark and Jamie Smith Sharon Dawley by Kimberly and Pat Stapleton Lonneman and Stine Families by Barbara Stine Chris Stone by Sue Stone Frances Burkhalter by the Scott Suchomski Family All Aborted Babies by Richard and Natalie Tabler Gabriel by Ursula Thompson Bonnie Sell by Margaret Timm Marie A. Nugent by John and Maureen Toman Wilma Vallone, My Mother by James Vallone Irene Puetz and In Honor of Shirley Vargas

by Vargas Family Margaret Owens by Drs. Pat and Julius vonClef Our Moms by Dave and Barb Wasil and Theresa Virginia Marie Macher by Christine Williams Sara Elder (Granny) Dee Dee Clem

by Jeanette Clem Willis

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JUNE 3, 2018 n A3

Military Chaplain Corps dispenses ‘hope and optimism’ Father Brownell of St. Patrick Parish in Morristown is called to serve

By Staff Sgt. Timothy Cordeiro/Tennessee Army National Guard

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t. Col. Gary Anderson, Army National Guard’s 278th the battalion chaplain for Armored Cavalry Regiment. the Tennessee National The soldiers have been particiGuard’s 30th Combat Sustainpating in a number of complex ment Support Battalion, believes training exercises in preparathe Chaplain Corps is much tion for upcoming deployments more important to the military to Europe. than most people realize.

More than 2,000 feet Lt. Col. Anderson, a Lawabove sea level, the NTC is a renceburg, Tenn., native, is now 1,000-square-mile Army trainin his 27th year of Army service ing facility isolated in the with the Chaplain Corps, and Mojave Desert. The facility is has made it his life’s mission to designed to challenge training support soldiers in their time of units with hybrid threats of need. peer-opposing insurgent forces, “My dad was a prison chapas well as complex scenarios lain,” Lt. Col. Anderson said. riddled with social, ethical, and “When I was a kid, I used to moral dilemmas, designed to watch a military show and one mimic what units will likely of the soldiers was having some face while deployed. issues. The first sergeant said

The 278th ACR, based PHOTO BY STAFF SGT. TIMOTHY CORDEIRO, 118TH MOBILE PUBLIC AFFAIRS, TENNESSEE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD he was going to get the chappredominantly out of Tenlain. I was all excited thinking Serving God and country Maj. Patrick Brownell, brigade chaplain for the 230th nessee and Pennsylvania, is what was he going to do? How Sustainment Brigade, Tennessee Army National Guard, celebrates Mass for soldiers composed of roughly 3,000 was he going to help?” at the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, Calif., on May 6. Father Brownell of the soldiers, dispersed through six Later on, after a series of oth- Diocese of Knoxville also is pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Morristown. squadrons, to include armor, er events later in life, Anderson field artillery, and mechanized made the decision to join the Army as a chaplain in 1992. “This is what infantry companies. Lt. Col. Anderson, with his small team, is here tryGod has been preparing me for my whole life,” thought the lieutenant ing to help as many soldiers as possible. colonel.

“Even George Washington would pray a lot before engaging in com He has been serving at the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, bat,” Lt. Col. Anderson said. “There’s no such thing as an atheist in a Calif., administering chaplain services to members of the Tennessee Chaplains continued on page A13

Sacred Heart Apostolate relocates to Diocese of Knoxville Cathedral parishioner Lisa Morris to lead international enthronement organization

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he Diocese of Knoxville is now home to the Sacred Heart Apostolate, a global movement for promoting the Enthronement of the Sacred Heart of Jesus as a way to renew communities by centering families on the love of God incarnated in the sacred heart of Christ.

The apostolate, which has been located in Syracuse, N.Y., relocated to Knoxville June 1 with the appointment of Lisa Morris as president of the Catholic Church-endorsed apostolate. Mrs. Morris, a parishioner of the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, is succeeding Gloria Anson, the apostolate’s founder who died last year in Syracuse following an illness. She was 82.

Mrs. Morris developed a close relationship with Mrs. Anson after the apostolate held a Sacred Heart Enthronement mission at the cathedral parish in October 2003. The three-day mission attracted many parishioners and laid a foundation for Mrs. Morris’ continued involvement, including the enthronement at Sacred Heart Cathedral School in November 2003.

“From there I started getting involved doing enthronements in homes with Father [Peter] Iorio

By Bill Brewer Enthroning the Sacred Heart of Jesus Lisa Morris, a parishioner at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, has been appointed to lead the Sacred Heart Apostolate. As part of the change in leadership, the international apostolate is relocating its main offices to Knoxville from Syracuse, N.Y.

and Monsignor [Al] Humbrecht.

In December 2003, shortly after the mission here had taken place, Father [William] Oruko arrived from Kenya. He also began helping families with the enthronement ceremony. Father William said the people in Kenya have such a love for the Sacred Heart of Jesus, but they have never heard of the enthronement. He said maybe someday we can take this there,” Mrs. Morris said. “By the grace of God, that became a reality in 2008 and we traveled to Kenya to his home parish to bring the message of the enthronement.

It was a beautiful four days of immersion in God’s grace, culminating with the enthronement of Jesus as King of the parish, and 18 other institutions, including the orphanage, the medical center, Enthrone continued on page A8

SUZANNA PICKERING

Bishop Stika leads confirmation Masses for DOK youth, adults From staff reports

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ishop Richard F. Stika began a month-long series of Mass celebrations on April 6 to offer the sacrament of confirmation to nearly 2,000 youth throughout the Diocese of Knoxville.

Bishop Stika and Cardinal Justin Rigali have been celebrating up to four Masses a weekend during the confirmation season. Bishop Stika estimated total cathedral attendance at the confirmation Masses to be about 20,000 people.

To mark the dedication of the new Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and the 30th anniversary of the Diocese of Knoxville’s founding, confirmation Masses for all parishes are being held in the new cathedral.

In one exception, Bishop Stika celebrated a confirmation Mass on Sunday, April 22, at St. Patrick Church in Morristown.

Cardinal Rigali celebrated a confirmation Mass for adults on May 20 at the cathedral, where 52 people from more than a dozen parishes received the sacrament of confirmation. Bishop Stika concelebrated the Mass.

Confirmation Masses usually are held in the parish churches, but Bishop Stika this year wanted to gather all the confirmands and their family and friends at Sacred Heart to celebrate the new cathedral.

At the first confirmation Mass on April 6, Bishop Stika pointed out that the entire focus of the cathedral is on the Lord our God and that parts of the cathedral serve as a reminder of what we can aspire to.

A4 n JUNE 3, 2018

“There are visual reminders of what you can become,” the bishop told those gathered, pointing to the various statues, such as Sts. Peter, Paul, Teresa, Faustina, John Paul II, and the disciples painted on the dome wall. “Saint after saint reminds us that we all have the possibility and potential of holiness.”

Bishop Stika recalled a saying that the definition of a saint is someone who knows he or she is a sinner.

He reminded the confirmands that when they selected a saint, that showed they had a special relationship to that saint.

“I pray that you emulate that saint. My confirmation saint is St. Joseph, the man chosen by God to teach Jesus to be a man and love the Blessed Mother. I probably should have chosen St. Anthony, because I talk to him on a daily basis: ‘Where are my keys, St. Anthony. Help find this or that. We are on a first-name basis,” Bishop Stika said.

He asked what it means to be confirmed, harkening back to when the confirmands were baptized and first touched by God. He then reminded them of their first Communion, when they made a statement of faith by accepting the body and blood of Christ and saying, “I believe.”

He then explained the beautiful steps of the rite of confirmation, elevating to the laying on of hands by him or Cardinal Rigali, when the bishop and cardinal pray over each confirmand, anoint them, and say, “Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit” and “Peace be with you.”

BILL BREWER (2)

Cathedral services host nearly 2,000 confirmands, 20,000 people

Sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit Top: Bishop Stika confirms a parishioner during the adult confirmation Mass celebrated May 20 at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Left: Cardinal Rigali and Bishop Stika confirm students during a Mass on April 6 at the cathedral.

Confirmed continued on page A6 www.di o k no x .o rg

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

Prostate Cancer?

Fight with proton therapy.

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JUNE 3, 2018 n A5

Pope Francis reconvenes Missionaries of Mercy Repentant sinners need merciful confessors, not inquisitors, Holy Father says

By Junno Arocho Esteves/Catholic News Service

P

riests must give hope to truth. I, too, can say, ‘I have men and women seeking been treated with mercy.’” forgiveness, encourag Pope Francis also warned ing them in their struggle away the priests to avoid acting in from the slippery slope of sin, a way that instead of bringing Pope Francis said. penitent sinners closer, “pushes Being merciful in the confesthem away.” That can happen, sional helps penitents return to he said, when, “by defending God without fear, even if they the integrity of the Gospel, they repeatedly stumble or slip on a overlook the steps that a person path that “is filled with stones is taking day by day” to move and banana peels,” the pope closer to God’s way. told 550 priests he designated as

“God’s grace isn’t nour“Missionaries of Mercy.” ished in this way,” he said. “To “In short, mercy restores digrecognize the sinner’s repennity,” the pope said April 10. tance is the same as welcoming “The penitent does not indulge him with arms wide open, to in self-pity for the sin commitimitate the father in the parable ted, and the priest does not who welcomes his son when he blame him for the evil from returns home.”

CATHOLIC NEWS AGENCY which he repented. Rather, he

Like the father of the encourages him to look to the fu- Reconvening the missionaries Pope Francis meets with Missionaries of Mercy prodigal son, who did not even ture with new eyes, leading him in Vatican City on April 10. The Holy Father announced that he is extending the let his son finish his apology to ‘springs of water.’” mandate of the Missionaries of Mercy indefinitely. when he returned, priests must The Missionaries of Mercy, not be inquisitors, concernreligious-order and diocesan priests from around the world, were among ing themselves with the gritty details which causes “shame to one who more than 1,000 who received a special papal mandate to preach and has already recognized his sin and knows he has made a mistake,” Pope teach about God’s mercy during the Holy Year of Mercy that began in Francis said.

December 2015 and ended in November 2016.

As missionaries of mercy, according to the Holy Father, priests are After listening to “many testimonies of conversion,” Pope Francis said called to be “interpreters and witnesses” of God’s mercy, which “welhe felt the need to prolong their mission. comes everyone and always without any distinction.”

“We must truly recognize that God’s mercy has no limits,” the pope “Mercy takes the hand and instills the certainty that the love with said, “and with your ministry, you are a concrete sign that the Church which God loves defeats every form of solitude and abandonment,” the cannot, should not, and does not want to create any barrier or difficulty pope said. that impedes access to the Father’s forgiveness.”

After his speech, Pope Francis celebrated Mass with the Missionaries of To be effective heralds of mercy, the pope continued, priests must recMercy at the Altar of the Chair in St. Peter’s Basilica. ognize the merciful love they first received from God in their own lives.

In his homily, the pope reminded them of their duty to serve individuals Departing from his prepared remarks, Pope Francis said he often reflects and communities and not be “fanatical priests” who carry out some exon St. Paul’s words to the community of Ephesus in which he praises God traordinary ministry. for “having treated me with mercy.”

“No,” he said. “Be normal priests: simple, meek, balanced yet able to let “This does so much good to me, it gives me courage,” the pope said. yourselves be constantly regenerated by the Spirit, docile to its strength, “That is to say, I feel the Father’s embrace, the Father’s caress. Repeatinteriorly free — especially free from yourselves — so that you are ing this, personally speaking, gives me so much strength because it is the moved by the ‘wind’ of the Spirit that blows where it wants.” ■

Diocese of Knoxville Missionaries of Mercy meet with Holy Father in Rome

Diocesan Missionaries of Mercy Monsignor Al Humbrecht, pastor of Holy Spirit Parish in Soddy-Daisy (left), and Father Joe Reed, associate pastor of Sacred Heart Cathedral, meet with Pope Francis in Rome in April. The Holy Father reconvened the Missionaries of Mercy to continue their ministry.

By Bill Brewer

W

hen Pope Francis reconvened the Missionaries of Mercy in April, Monsignor Al Humbrecht, pastor of Holy Spirit Church in Soddy-Daisy, and Father Joe Reed, associate pastor of the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, were among the hundreds of clergy from around the world answering the Holy Father’s call.

It was an unexpected call for the Diocese of Knoxville priests, who were bestowed the title

by Pope Francis for the Year of Mercy at the recommendation of Bishop Richard F. Stika.

Pope Francis initially intended for the Missionaries of Mercy to conclude their service at the end of the Year of Mercy, which lasted from Dec. 8, 2015, to Nov. 20, 2016.

Father Reed explained that the missionaries were only commissioned for a year, but the Holy Father extended the mandate indefinitely before reconvening the group April 8-11.

“I think everyone was surprised the Holy Father has extended our mandate. We received notice from the Holy Father that said, ‘You may have heard that your faculties end, but I want them to continue.’ He sees a need for people to know God’s mercy and to have people seeking out those mercies,” Father Reed said.

Monsignor Humbrecht and Father Reed met with the Holy Father during the Missionaries of Mercy gathering.

“I would call it a convocation. We were called together for prayer and reflection. It began with Mass on Divine Mercy Sunday in the Piazza of St. Peter’s in Rome. The pope preached on divine mercy and thanked us for preaching on God’s mercy,” Father Reed said.

Father Reed said Pope Francis is intent on the missionaries continuing their ministry for the immediate future, and he spoke as much in remarks to the missionaries during Mass at the Altar of the Chair of St. Peter on extending the mercy of God to others, especially to those who Confirmed continued from page A4

They will then proceed with their lives confident in knowing their relationship with God has been sealed with an act of faith.

Bishop Stika encouraged the youth to open their hearts to God and grow in their relationship with Him, and understand that God does not want them to fail. They were created in the image of God. A6 n JUNE 3, 2018

L’OSSERVATORE ROMANO (2)

Their mission is prolonged indefinitely

have a hunger for God. In their roles as commissioned by Pope Francis, the Missionaries of Mercy are representing the Church on a universal as well as diocesan level, and their impact is intended to be on a public and personal scale.

Father Reed described it as a universal mission of the Church for individuals.

“Many people fear approaching God or they may feel ‘less than’ in some way, so they don’t approach God or the Church. The mistake in that is that we think God wants the shiny, new things first. But the first gift he asks of us is our sins. If we give him our sins, he can create fertile ground with grace and glory as the fruit,” he said.

Monsignor Humbrecht called the recent convocation a “very fruitful experience.”

“It’s good to have the ongoing formation,” he said, echoing Father Reed in appreciation of the witness by missionaries from around the world who shared their stories of carrying out their mercy ministries.

Those witness accounts served to reinforce Pope Francis’ universal message of the Missionaries of Mercy – offering hope to people seeking

“One of my constant mantras has been to be the voice, the hands, the face, the feet, and especially the sacred heart of Jesus to everyone.

The bishop encouraged the confirmandi to place their trust in Jesus, particularly in this current time of divided, fragmented, and even broken society. “One question I have for you.

Are you willing to accept Jesus into your life, with all that it entails? ... Are

forgiveness and encouraging them in their faith journey and their challenges with sin.

“We must be mindful of people who come to confession to recognize that people have a sense of remorse and repentance by their very act of seeking the sacrament of reconciliation,” Monsignor Humbrecht said. “Our mandate is to make it easier for them to receive the sacrament of reconciliation and to make it more meaningful to receive the sacrament.”

As a Missionary of Mercy, Monsignor Humbrecht considers the pope’s mandate as a validation of the ministry he has been exercising as a pastor in the Diocese of Knoxville.

“It’s a reminder that we’re not to judge. We’re an instrument of peace,” he said. ■

you willing to accept Jesus into your life so that the goodness that is already a part of you may blossom and grow? ... I hope that is a question that you ask yourself all of the time. Am I willing to be Jesus to other people? It is not impossible. Just look at the people in the dome,” Bishop Stika said.

At the confirmation Mass for adults on the feast of Pentecost, Cardinal Rigali recounted the resur-

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rection of Jesus and how His solemn promises were fulfilled.

“Our celebration on this day of this event is not just the beautiful memory we have of what happened. It’s much more than that. Our celebration is actually an acceptance on our part of the action of the Holy Spirit who came to the apostles 50 days after His resurrection to fill their hearts with His love,” he said. ■ TH E EA S T TEN N ES S EE C A TH OLI C

Knights of Columbus present top awards at state convention

By Andy Telli

COURTESY OF ANDY TELLI

T

he Tennessee Knights of Columbus honored individual Knights, families, and councils for their contributions in the last year to the Church, their parishes and communities during the annual state convention held April 27-29 in Nashville.

Three of the top awards presented were: Tennessee Knight of the Year, William Boland of St. Francis of Assisi Council 16088 in Fairfield Glade; Tennessee Family of the Year, Gary and Juanita Buda of St. Alphonsus Council 10641 in Covington; and Lifetime Achievement Award to Alberto C. Go of St. Stephen Council 9282 in Hermitage.

Mr. Boland was honored for his many activities in the council, parish, and community. With the council, he built two four-feetby-eight-feet display boards to showcase the council’s awards and honors, constructed easels to support Holy Family icons while on display at St. Francis of Assisi, worked two shifts at Council 8152’s annual Oktoberfest, serves

In memory Bishop Richard F. Stika of the Diocese of Knoxville celebrates the Memorial Mass at the 115th Knights of Columbus Convention held in Nashville on April 28. monthly at the Bread of Life food pantry ministry, worked four shifts on the council’s annual Tootsie Roll Drive, helped five brother Knights with home improvement projects, volunteers with Special Olympics, and helps with the annual Christmas party for Hilltoppers clients.

Mr. Boland is active in Habitat for Humanity and the Crab Orchard Food Pantry, and initiated a drive at his parish to collect warm clothing and blankets for the needy. He also uses his woodworking and carpentry skills to do projects at his parish.

The Budas, the Family of the

Year, are both retired from the U.S. Navy, Mr. Buda as a lieutenant commander in Naval Intelligence and Mrs. Buda as a captain in the Navy Nurses Corps. They have three grown sons.

Mr. Buda is a past Grand Knight of his council and a past Faithful Navigator of his Fourth Degree assembly. The Budas serve as readers and extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion at St. Alphonsus in Covington. In addition to these duties, Mr. Buda heads the parish’s lawn maintenance program, ensuring someone is always scheduled to mow the lawn, and he supervises the maintenance and upkeep of all lawn equipment.

Mrs. Buda, in addition to being the Chief Nurse of Operations for the Veterans Administration Hospital in Memphis, is a master seamstress who made several seasonal liturgical banners and other cloths essential to celebrating Mass.

She also made several complete sets of vestments for the priests and donated a set to be auctioned Knights continued on page A9

The Creation continued from page A1

”Music, as we all know, elevates our

minds and our thoughts. And we have such a vast assortment from throughout the centuries of sacred music. ... Cathedrals historically have been places of music in the tradition of bringing people together to elevate our minds and our thoughts.”

because that is when we met with [cathedral rector] Father David Boettner, and Glenn Kahler, with the blessing of Bishop Stika. What began there was a warm and genuine relationship between the Knoxville Handel Society and Sacred Heart Cathedral. Our first visit to the cathedral was that day,” Mr. King said.

He noted that he and Wendell Boertje, also a Handel Society music director, toured the stillunder-construction cathedral. As they admired its size and emerging beauty, they couldn’t help but wonder if it would be open in time for the concert. Mr. Boertje served as conductor for The Creation.

“Even at that time, Wendell and I sensed that this was that sacred space we needed to have this sacred work performed in. We are all here to witness this celebration of God’s creation in the creation of man inspired by the Creator,” Mr. King said. “The only phrase I can think of that we need to share comes from the master of our performance, Soli Deo Gloria, to God alone the glory.”

Mr. Kahler thanked the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus for hosting the first performance in the Concert Series. He also recognized the Diocese of Knoxville Music Commission, which represents all quarters of the diocese and serves the laity and clergy by providing support services and resource management of worship music at the parish and diocesan levels.

The Music Commission manages a roster of activities with the mission to promote the Gospel message of Jesus and the glory of God through musicianship in service to the Church, to protect the Church’s great repository of sacred music, to preserve the musical traditions of the Church, and to enrich activities for worship, education, and service of all diocesan music ministers.

Mr. Kahler, music director for Sacred Heart Cathedral and the diocese, said The Creation kicked off a series of concerts the diocese will be hosting. The fall concert will be a Celebration of the American Negro Spiritual, with guest conductor Dr. Everette McCorvey and renowned guest soloists from the American Spiritual Ensemble.

According to Mr. Kahler, the Cathedral Concert Series supports the arts in its goal to provide opportunities for local, regional, national, and international music ensembles to perform sacred and classical musical works for the community in an effort to establish an appreciation for sacred music in East Tennessee.

The Creation, it is generally believed, was inspired by George Frideric Handel and Handel’s oratorios. Haydn was moved by Handel’s celebrated classic Messiah. Haydn spent two years composing his great oratorio modeled after Handel’s work. Also influencing Haydn was John Milton’s literary classic Paradise Lost.

Haydn’s work has been described as a statement of warm optimism about the world and our place in it, a constant reflection of his love of mankind and God’s creation. ■ TH E EAST T E N N E S S E E C A T HO L I C

BILL BREWER (4)

–– Bishop Stika

Elevating music The Knoxville Handel Society’s performance of “The Creation” at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus on April 29 provided a visual as well as audible delight for the public. Dozens of vocalists and musicians filled the cathedral with sounds from the classic oratorio by composer Joseph Haydn. A standing-room-only audience turned out for the first performance in the diocese’s Concert Series.

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JUNE 3, 2018 n A7

Ladies of Charity hold 2nd annual RAM clinic Thrift store, warehouse transformed into a mobile medical center as inner-city clients receive free health care

By Bill Brewer

Enthrone continued from page A4

and several schools. This led to more [enthronement] missions in Africa following that, which has truly been such a blessing in so many ways.”

Following the Sacred Heart Parish enthronement mission, Mrs. Morris said Father John Dowling had the apostolate give the enthronement mission at St. John Neumann Parish, and enthronement missions have been held at Our Lady of Fatima, St. Mary in Athens, Holy Family, Holy Ghost, and St. Dominic parishes, among others, as well as schools doing the enthronement ceremony including Knoxville Catholic and Notre Dame high schools.

Since 2003, Mrs. Morris’ role within the Sacred Heart Apostolate has grown. She assisted Mrs. Anson on Enthronement missions across the country, and when Mrs. Anson’s health began to decline, she asked Mrs. Morris to take on more of a leadership role.

Following Mrs. Anson’s death on Nov. 25, the eve of the feast of Christ the King, Sacred Heart Apostolate leaders approached Mrs. Morris about succeeding Mrs. Anson. Mrs. Morris accepted and the leadership agreed that, with Bishop Richard F. Stika’s approval, the apostolate would relocate to East Tennessee.

Mrs. Morris met with Bishop Stika and said he couldn’t have been more supportive and accommodating, “It was a wonderful meeting and I can’t thank him enough for his approval and encouragement to move forward, an answer to prayer for sure.”

The Sacred Heart Apostolate’s office is now at 813 S. Northshore Drive, Suite 201D, in Knoxville, 37919, near the Chancery and the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. The organization’s web address is sacredheartapostolate.com.

The Sacred Heart Apostolate still will be advised by Father William Gaffney, CSsR. Father Gaffney is a Redemptorist Missionary serving in the New York area. The apostolate also is governed by a board of directors and U.S. and international advisers.

Mrs. Morris described her mission now as continuing Gloria Anson’s ministry in spreading the message of the enthronement.

“For her to pass away on the eve of the feast of Christ the King, as sad as it was, it was also such a gift and so beautiful.” Mrs. Morris said. “She spent half her life spreading the message of Jesus as King. It was never about her. It was always about Him. She made her impact one heart at a time. And that is our mission, changing the world for Christ, one heart at a time.”

A8 n JUNE 3, 2018

BILL BREWER

T

he Ladies of Charity headquarters in Knoxville was transformed for a second consecutive year into a temporary medical center to serve the uninsured and underinsured.

And based on responses from patients and health-care providers, the Remote Area Medical clinic hosted by the Ladies of Charity on April 7 continues to be a success.

The Ladies of Charity-RAM clinic doubled the number of dental professionals on site to treat patients from last year, and the clinic treated 274 people with free dental and vision care.

Ten dentists and three eye doctors provided 140 tooth extractions, 43 fillings, 45 teeth cleanings, and 145 eyeglasses during the daylong event at the 120 W. Baxter Ave. facility.

A team of dental hygienists and dental assistants treated patients in another 10 chairs, and eye specialists made glasses available on the spot to most of the eye patients.

Remote Area Medical supplied a mobile van with equipment to make eyeglasses, so patients could receive glasses with the correct vision prescription while they waited.

Also, more than 100 volunteers assisted in the effort over a twoday period.

“It went really well. We certainly served more people than we did

Hands-on attention Dentists and dental assistants cared for more than 250 people at the Ladies of Charity-Remote Area Medical clinic April 7 at the Ladies of Charity facility near downtown Knoxville. last year, and we served them better,” said Susan Unbehaun, Ladies of Charity executive director. “We were able to provide people their eyeglasses while they waited.

We had double the number of dentists, and a majority of them are parishioners in the Diocese of Knoxville.”

The Ladies of Charity initiated the RAM clinic last year to help mark the nonprofit organization’s 75th anniversary. And again this year they transformed their headquarters, which houses administrative and counseling offices, a retail thrift store, and a warehouse to receive and distribute goods, into a

health-care operation.

Even with the larger number of volunteers to treat the Ladies of Charity clients, the demand for services still was high. Mrs. Unbehaun said the dental and vision physicians began seeing patients at 6 a.m. on April 7 and the last den-

Mrs. Morris plans to resume the gathering of Sacred Heart Apostolate leaders on an annual basis, something that was suspended during Mrs. Anson’s illness. The leaders will gather in Knoxville July 27-28 to discuss moving forward while taking part in Mass and adoration.

The Christian renewal of families through the Sacred Heart will continue to be the focus.

She explained that an enthronement ceremony is a one-time event that can be renewed. She noted there have been many enthronements in the diocese, whether in homes, schools, businesses, or organizations.

Enthronements are led by either a priest, deacon, or an apostolate representative.

“You are making the family the domestic Church,” she said. “The enthronement is taking the love you already have for Jesus in your heart, and in one step furthering your faith journey, you make a statement that you make Jesus king of your home, your school, your business. And the graces just flow in when you say yes.”

In the 17th century, Jesus appeared to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque and promised eternal salvation to those who will receive Holy Communion on nine consecutive First Fridays in honor of His Sacred Heart. Jesus revealed that wherever the image of His Sacred Heart was exposed and given special honor, great blessings and graces would abound.

This revelation inspired formal enthronement of the Sacred Heart as a way to expose Jesus in the home.

Then, in 1907, Father Mateo CrawleyBoevey, SSCC, began the worldwide Enthronement of the Sacred Heart of Jesus apostolate to carry on the work of spreading the Sacred Heart devotion that began in France with St. Margaret Mary Alocoque. Father Mateo believed that the evangelization of souls for Christ and the building of a civilization of love starts with the evangelization of the family.

The enthronement is for all families, whether married with children, single, widowed, or divorced. It is for everyone and all are welcome.

The Sacred Heart of Jesus enthronement ceremony was approved by Pope St. Pius X in 1908 and since then has spread throughout the world. Enthronement recently was featured as a way for families to prepare for and respond to the spiritual initiatives of the 2015 World Meeting of Families that was attended by Pope Francis.

Prior to the actual enthronement ceremony, a representative of the apostolate provides the preparation materials. Participants go over what the enthronement is, how it

came to be, and the many blessing that flow from it. The family is also given a pilgrim statue of Mary, and the promoter explains that Mary will always lead us to her son. The statue will stay with the family until the enthronement ceremony and then she will go on to the next family…thus the pilgrim statue.

Mrs. Morris said she is humbled by the appointment and believes the relocation of the apostolate at this time is divinely inspired since June 8 is the feast of the Sacred Heart of

Jesus.

“I am very excited, honored, and grateful. I see the blessings of the families, and it is amazing what God can do when you say yes to this. It really spills out into the wider communities. God brings his love and his mercy out into the marketplace. It’s no longer just within the walls of the church or home. And that’s what we are called to do,” she said. “It really is a simple message with such a powerful impact. I make You King of my family.” ■

www.di o k no x .o rg

Clinic continued on page A11

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

Local Knights of Columbus mission program may have national appeal

T

he idea was born from a desire to better assist priests. It was then shared with a priest who helped modify and nurture it.

Now that idea has morphed into a Knights of Columbus initiative being introduced to all Knights councils across the state with the hope it will at some point be endorsed by councils across the country.

“Strengthening Our Parish Home” is the program inspired by the Holy Spirit and blessed by the Handmaids of the Precious Blood and Holy Ghost Parish pastor Father John Dowling, according to Jimmy Dee, a district deputy for the state Knights of Columbus and an adviser to the Handmaids, a cloistered religious order in New Market whose charism is to pray for priests and strengthen the priesthood vocation.

Mr. Dee, the founding Grand Knight of Holy Ghost Council 16523, said he originally discussed with Father Dowling ways that Knights Knights continued from page A7

at the Diocese of Memphis’ annual Seminarians Dinner that raised $2,000 for the Seminarian Fund.

She routinely mends clothing and vestments for their parish priest and other priests in the diocese, including a set of vestments for Memphis Bishop Martin D. Holley.

The Budas both assist with the religious-education program at St. Alphonsus, with Mrs. Buda teaching confirmation classes.

Mr. Buda coordinates operations at the concession stands for the Brighton, Tenn., Special Olympics, and cooks each month for the council’s business meetings. He also oversees the council’s Lenten and other dinners.

Alberto Go, the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, is a Fourth Degree Knight who has been in the Knights of Columbus for 32 years.

He is a charter member of Council 9282 at St. Stephen Catholic Community in Hermitage, and has served as Grand Knight, Fourth Degree Faithful Navigator, and a District Deputy. He has served the State Council as the membership director, retention director, council consultant, and family consultant.

His family has been a recipient of the State Family of the Year.

Mr. Go, a native of the Philippines, is a graduate of Mapua Institute of Technology in Manila, with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. He spent 32 years in the aerospace industry before retiring in 2002. He has spent the last 17 years of his retirement working in a variety of positions at Lowe’s, presently working as a part-time customer service associate.

Mr. Go also has had a number of other civic and educational affiliations and positions, mostly leadership, including with the Nashville Red Cross, National Conference of Christians and Jews, Philippine American Association of Middle Tennessee, Father Ryan High School Marching Band Boosters, Nashville Board of Education, and he is a former Junior Achievement adviser.

Mr. Go is a Cursillisto, and he serves his parish as a minister of hospitality and an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion. He currently serves on the St. Joseph Parish Council. He has been very involved in a number of parish committees, including being a member of the newcomer committee, the bereavement committee, group leader of the Filipino American Families Prayer Group, and coordinator of the International Ministry at both St. Stephen and St. Joseph parishes.

Several councils also were honored with program awards. n The Church Activity of the Year award was presented to Holy Ghost Council 16523 in Knoxville for its efforts in support of the Silver Rose pilgrimage sponsored by the Knights of Columbus each year.

Each year, a Silver Rose is handed from council to council as it makes its way across North America to Mexico City to bring attention to Our Lady of Guadalupe and her appearance to St. Juan Diego.

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

could be of more assistance to parish priests. From that conversation came the idea for Knights councils to create a pastoral partnership with parish priests.

“Father Dowling communicated the importance of the sacraments to our survival,” Mr. Dee said. “The idea is a program for councils to plan their activities in a way that is more closely aligned with the parishes. The programs and agendas of each council should promote spiritual growth. This program would have all councils more closely work with pastors, and the Grand Knights would frequently meet with pas-

While in Knoxville, Council 16523 arranged for the Silver Rose to spend a day with the Handmaids of the Precious Blood, a community of cloistered nuns in the Diocese of Knoxville who perpetually pray in adoration for the protection and sanctification of priests across the world.

After the visit to the Handmaids, the Silver Rose was carried to Holy Ghost Church in Knoxville for a special Mass and rosary, attended by 300 people. n The Community Activity of the Year Award was presented to the Timothy J. Coyle Council 9317 at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Memphis, which participated in the National Day of Service with Catholic Relief Services, Helping Hands, and the parishioners of St. Francis in preparing more than 20,000 meals for the impoverished people of Burkina Faso in West Africa. n The Council Activity of the Year Award was presented to Council 15196 at Church of the Holy Spirit in Memphis, which developed a professional mentoring program for young Knights, including resume development and networking. Council 15196 is hoping to spread the program to other councils. n The Culture of Life Activity Award was presented to Council 9282 at St. Stephen Catholic Community in Hermitage for participating in the “Stand for Life” event at the church in commemoration of the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade court decision that legalized abortion.

More than 20 Knights were among the more than 50 parishioners who stood along the road in front of the church holding pro-life signs and waving at passers-by. n The Family Activity of the Year Award was presented to Council 12012 at St. Henry and St. Matthew parishes in Nashville for its “Sweethearts” program.

The program pairs Knights with widows of deceased Knights to visit them, invite them to functions, help with yard work or household repairs, run errands, and let them know they are being thought of by the council. n The Vocations Activity of the Year Award was presented to Holy Family Council 6099 in Chattanooga for its support and encouragement for Catholic college students at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, including two who have applied to become seminarians. n The Youth Activity Award was presented to Council 7447 at St. Catherine Church in Columbia for its efforts to coordinate with the Maury County Fair Board, fair vendors, the Maury County School System, and the King Daughters School to provide a free day at the Maury County Fair for children with special needs.

More than 600 children from Maury and surrounding counties attended the fair for the event. The council provided meals for the children, recruited some chaperones and staff, and donated more than 1,000 bottles of water to hydrate the children.

The top award councils can

tors to make sure the council goals more closely align with those of the pastors and bishops.”

Mr. Dee believes the “Strengthening Our Parish Home” program will have a ripple effect for parishes and dioceses, including a positive impact on vocations.

Mr. Dee praised Knights of Columbus State Deputy Tracy Staller, a parishioner at Holy Family Church in Seymour, who has been developing the program with Mr. Dee. Mr. Staller introduced it to all state councils at the state convention in Nashville in April.

“We’re launching it across the state. We hope it ignites a wildfire of faith across the country,” Mr. Dee said.

He explained the five steps each council can follow to strengthen the parish home and accomplish the Knights of Columbus fraternal mission: n Serve God by partnering with your local pastor to align the council’s agenda with his plans Program continued on page A12

COURTESY OF ANDY TELLI

By Bill Brewer

Knight of the Year Tennessee Knight of the Year William Boland, center, of St. Francis of Assisi Council 16088 in Fairfield Glade receives the award from State Deputy Tracy Staller. receive from the Tennessee State Council in recognition of providing a full program of activities is the Bishops’ Award, given in honor of the state’s three bishops, Richard F. Stika of Knoxville, Martin D. Holley of Memphis, and J. Mark Spalding of Nashville.

Councils receiving the Bishops’ Award were: Council 4563 at St. Rose of Lima Church in Murfrees-

boro, Holy Family Council 6099 in Chattanooga, Council 7447 at St. Catherine Church in Columbia, Council 7449 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Germantown, Council 8576 at St. Jude Church in Chattanooga, Council 9132 at Our Lady of the Lake Church in Hendersonville, and Council 16088 at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Fairfield Glade. ■

PILGRIMAGE TO THE

HOLY LAND

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with Fr. Randy Stice

11 Days September 19-29, 2018

Land and Air: $3995

We share your faith

For More Information Contact: Lisa Morris at 865-567-1245 lisam@select-intl.com www.selectinternationaltours.com

JUNE 3, 2018 n A9

CONGRATULATIONS to the 365 winners

MAY JUNE WINNERS

OF THE 2018 SCHOLARS LEADERS SAINTS CALENDAR RAFFLE

MAY 1 | John Hitt

JUN 1 | Roswell Schnur

MAY 2 | Jane Walker

JUN 2 | Ed Trent

St. Albert the Great Church

Notre Dame High School

Knoxville Catholic High School

Knoxville Catholic High School

MAY 3 | Kathy Walker

JUN 3 | Danny Fleming

MAY 4 | Sheila Bertlekamp

JUN 4 | Joy Stephens

MAY 5 | Louis Curl III

JUN 5 | Patricia Sniezek

MAY 6 | Robyn Wilson

JUN 6 | Peggy Jordan

MAY 7 | Robert Brunetti

JUN 7 | Mary Tennant

MAY 8 | Peter Staab

JUN 8 | Yamileth Hernandez

Corporate Sponsor

Knoxville Catholic High School

St. John Neumann School

Knoxville Catholic High School

St. Patrick Church

St. John Neumann School

Our Lady of Perpetual Help School

Knoxville Catholic High School

St. Dominic School

Our Lady of Fatima Church

St. Francis of Assisi Church, Fairfield Glade

MAY 9 | Alex Razo

JUN 10 | Ty and Christine Krug

MAY 10 | Arleen Morey

Notre Dame High School

St. Albert the Great Church

JUN 11 | Michelle Goldman

MAY 11 | Robyn Wilson

St. John Neumann School

Knoxville Catholic High School

JUN 12 | Gary Eischeid

MAY 12 | Sherri Mossing

St. Thérèse of Lisieux Church

Notre Dame High School

JUN 13 | Marcelle Riddle

MAY 13 | Robert Pelle

St. Jude School

St. Albert the Great Church

JUN 14 | Luzzette Slough

MAY 14 | Warren Searby

Knoxville Catholic High School

St. Dominic School

JUN 15 | Lauren Silber

MAY 15 | Elizabeth Salsbery

St. Thérèse of Lisieux Church

JUN 16 | Mark Togna

Sacred Heart Cathedral School

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JUN 9 | Long Nguyen Church of Divine Mercy

St. Joseph School

MAY 16 | Tony Branson

St. Mary Church, Johnson City

JUN 17 | Margaret Latham

Knoxville Catholic High School

MAY 17 | Jeremy Coakley

Knoxville Catholic High School

JUN 18 | Juliana McCleary

St. Dominic School

MAY 18 | Calvin Murphy

All Saints Church

JUN 19 | Jamie Caldwell

St. Jude School

MAY 19 | Steve Frantom

Purchased from Diocese of Knoxville website

JUN 20 | Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul

St. Jude School

MAY 20 | Helen Ewers

Notre Dame High School

Knoxville Catholic High School

JUN 21 | Neil Schmitt

St. Jude School

JUN 22 | Andrew Dorn

St. Mary School, Oak Ridge

JUN 23 | Renee Benoit

St. John Neumann School

JUN 24 | Deanna Barnum

Knoxville Catholic High School

JUN 25 | Dr. Marlyn Leisy and James Manning

MAY 21 | Pam Wegenka

Corporate Sponsor

MAY 22 | Dave and Lois Hudgens MAY 23 | Evangelizing Sisters of Mary

St. Jude School

St. Mary School, Oak Ridge All Saints Church

MAY 24 | Peter Micheli MAY 25 | J.J. Wilder

Knoxville Catholic High School

St. Mary School, Oak Ridge

JUN 26 | Philip and Lisa Oakley

MAY 26 | Jessie Trowbridge

St. Albert the Great Church

Knoxville Catholic High School

JUN 27 | Lyn McConnell

MAY 27 | Enrique Fraire

St. John Neumann School

St. Joseph School

JUN 28 | Maureen Reed

MAY 28 | Mary Smith

St. Jude School

St. Dominic School

JUN 29 | Gertrude Herber

MAY 29 | Christina Hubbard

St. Joseph School

St. John Neumann School

MAY 30 | O’Rourke Orthodontics

St. John Neumann School

MAY 31 | Laura Kress

JUN 30 | Jenny Lamb

St. Francis of Assisi Church, Fairfield Glade

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT

This year, calendar sales raised more than $225,000 for tuition assistance for our 10 schools.

Knoxville Catholic High School

A10 n JUNE 3, 2018

St. Teresa of Kolkata Church

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

CPOP expansion taking shape

PAUL SIMONEAU (2)

Construction nears completion on updates to the Christ Prince of Peace Retreat Center in Benton. Expanded facilities include three retreat houses and two bunk houses. There also is a large cabin meeting center and a bathroom/shower facility. The expanded retreat center will accommodate larger groups for Christian formation and outreach.

Beth Parsons named manager for diocesan Office of Vocations

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eth Parsons, longtime director of youth and young adult ministry at Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Alcoa, has been named office manager for the Diocese of Knoxville Office of Vocations.

In her new role, Mrs. Parsons will work closely with the director of the diocese’s Office of Vocations, Father Joe Reed. She also will be working with Father David Carter, deanery coordinator for vocations, and Father Michael Hendershott and Father Scott Russell, associate vocation directors, as well as with Sister Mary Charles Mayer, RSM, who is the delegate for religious

for the diocese.

For the past 15 years, Mrs. Parsons has served as the director of youth and Beth Parsons young adult ministry at Our Lady of Fatima, which has had an active youth ministry program.

And for the past year she also has served as the Smoky Mountain

Deanery coordinator for youth and young adult ministry.

In addition to her new role, she will continue as Smoky Mountain Deanery coordinator. A successor has been named to fill her position at Our Lady of Fatima and will begin there in July.

“I am very excited to be working with the seminarian process,” Mrs. Parsons said. “A very important part of my job is promoting vocations. Vocations are a vital part of our Church, and I’m looking forward to assisting in this.”

She said part of her work with the Office of Vocations will be serving as a liaison with the

seminarians while they are away at school. Although they are attending seminary out of state, they continue to have responsibilities and assignments when they return to the diocese on breaks, over the summer, and as they near ordination to the transitional diaconate and then the priesthood.

Mrs. Parsons also will be promoting vocations to the religious orders.

“I’m continuing to work with young people, and vocations are the root of our faith. So I’m very excited to be working on this end of the process,” she said. ■

Scenes from a volunteer clinic Top left, a volunteer eye doctor gives an examination to one of the Ladies of Charity clients taking advantage of the free Remote Area Medical clinic. Top right, Ladies of Charity member Debbie Donahoo works with people seeking care at the RAM clinic. Left, a line of dental assistants and hygienists offers dental care to patients. Above, patients seeking care at the clinic first go through a triage process to determine basic medical conditions.

Clinic continued from page A8

tal patient was treated at 6:15 p.m.

The Ladies of Charity received assistance from Knights of Columbus Holy Ghost Council 16523, which prepared breakfast and lunch for the patients and volunteers and also provided translators so the Spanish-speaking patients could communicate their needs to the volunteers. Olive Garden restaurant donated the dinner. Also assisting the Ladies of Charity was TH E EAST T E N N E S S E E C A T HO L I C

the Diocese of Knoxville Office of Hispanic Ministry as well as student hygienists from Roane State Community College and volunteers from Chattanooga.

As the Ladies of Charity and Remote Area Medical grow this annual clinic that serves mainly people in the vicinity of downtown Knoxville, they also hope to grow the donor base that helps cover the clinic costs.

Mrs. Unbehaun noted that the

2018 clinic’s total cost was under $3,000 for $103,000 worth of services performed.

“We had three major donors this year: Dr. John and Ashley Coulter, Tom and Patricia Shannon, and Michael and Barbara Stahl. And an All Saints parishioner, Mr. Michael Gibson of Holiday Inn Express, donated hotel rooms for the clinic,” she said, noting that the rooms are needed for service providers traveling from out of town.

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With two clinics under their belt, the Ladies of Charity intend to continue providing the free service to people in need.

“We are going to do it again next year. We will have to address the need for more parking because of the increased demand. Other than that, everything went smoothly and we are all set for next year. We are very pleased. It turned out really well this year,” Mrs. Unbehaun said. ■ JUNE 3, 2018 n A11

Priests continued from page A1

served as dean of the Five Rivers and Cumberland Mountain deaneries, and was elected to the National Federation of Priests’ Councils.

Succeeding Monsignor Garrity at St. John Neumann will be Father Joe Reed, who currently serves as associate pastor of the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Father Reed, a Knoxville native who grew up in Sacred Heart Parish, has served as an associate priest at the cathedral since June 2013. He also is chaplain of Sacred Heart Cathedral School. He was officially received into the Diocese of Knoxville as a diocesan priest in May 2015.

While in seminary at Conception Seminary College, he entered Conception Abbey in Conception, Mo. He was a Benedictine Brother for 10 years before being ordained to the priesthood and taught in the seminary college. He also received graduate degrees from St. John’s University and St. Vincent Seminary.

He was ordained into the priesthood in May 2007.

In addition, Father Reed serves as director of vocations for the diocese, assisting Bishop Stika in fostering the formation of men who are preparing for the priesthood.

Father Mike Creson, who has served as associate pastor of St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish in Cleveland since July 2016, also will retire from full-time priestly ministry. However, he will continue to serve as sacramental minister to Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga and will assist as needed at St. Thérèse and Notre Dame High School.

Father Creson, who is a native of Sherwood, Tenn., and attended school in Franklin County as well as Tennessee Tech and the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Nashville in January 1987 at Good Shepherd Church in Winchester by Bishop Niedergeses.

He served as an associate pastor at Notre Dame Parish in Greeneville, Good Shepherd Parish in Newport, and St. Dominic Parish in Kingsport as well as director of campus ministry at East Tennessee State University.

In 1992, he was appointed pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Norris, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in LaFollette, and Christ the King Parish in Tazewell. In 1996, he was assigned as pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in South Pittsburg and the Virgin of the Poor Shrine in New Hope.

While in South Pittsburg, he was charged with re-establishing Program continued from page A9

and needs. n Anchor your council and parish in the sacraments by implementing programs that teach and promote the sustaining gift of God’s sacraments.

A12 n JUNE 3, 2018

Fr. Powell

Fr. Sescon

Fr. Orr

Fr. Abuh

Fr. Armstrong

a Catholic community in Sequatchie County, and in February 1997, the Shepherd of the Valley Catholic community celebrated Fr. Stone its first Mass since the 1950s in Dunlap.

In addition to being the founding pastor of Shepherd of the Valley Parish, he founded Holy Spirit Parish in Soddy-Daisy while serving at St. Jude Parish in Chattanooga. He was appointed associate pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Chattanooga in 2010 before returning to Campbell and Claiborne counties in 2015 when Bishop Stika named him pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in LaFollette and Christ the King.

Father Creson also has served as dean of the Chattanooga Deanery, as director of the Catholic Center at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, and as diocesan coordinator of vocation promotion and ministry to the deaf.

Father Michael Woods, who has served as pastor of All Saints Parish in Knoxville – the diocese’s largest parish – since 2006, has been named pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Fairfield Glade.

Father Woods, 75, who had requested a transfer to a smaller parish, was ordained as a priest for the Archdiocese of Atlanta in June 1966.

He was named associate pastor of St. Mary Parish in Oak Ridge in February 1994. He was then named pastor of St. Mary in September 1996.

Father Doug Owens, pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Lenoir City, has been named pastor of All Saints.

Father Owens, who has served at St. Thomas since July 2013, was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Stika in May 2011. Before joining St. Thomas, he served as associate pastor at St. John Neumann from July 2011 to June 2013.

Father Owens also serves the diocese as a vicar general and moderator of the curia.

Father Ray Powell will succeed Father Owens Dcn. Schuster as pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle. Father Powell has been serving as pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in LaFollette, Christ the King, and St. Jude Parish in Helenwood since July 2017.

Father Powell, who was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Stika in June 2015, also has served as associate pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Chattanooga.

Father Alberto Sescon, who has been serving as pastor of St. Francis of Assisi in Fairfield Glade since July 2014, will serve as pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in LaFollette, St. Jude in Helenwood, and Christ the King.

Father Sescon is familiar with Our Lady of Perpetual Help and Christ the King. He has served as a substitute priest at those parishes in recent years. He has been a priest of the Archdiocese of Cebu in the Philippines and has served in the United States for many years. Previously, he was parochial administrator and pastor of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, a chaplain at the University of Tennessee Medical Center, and he has celebrated Mass for the Filipino Catholic community at Sacred Heart Cathedral.

Father John Orr has been appointed pastor of St. Mary Parish in Athens, where Father Jim Haley, CSP, has been serving on a temporary basis as parochial administrator.

Father Orr has been serving as pastor of St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Madisonville since July 2016. Prior to that he served as pastor of St. Therese Parish in Clinton and associate pastor of Holy Ghost Parish in Knoxville. At St. Joseph the Worker, St. Therese, and Holy Ghost, Father Orr has offered

Masses in the extraordinary form [the “traditional Latin Mass”] in addition to the standard Roman Rite Mass.

Father Orr, who earned his Ph.D. in 2014 from the Maryvale Institute in the United Kingdom and who also previously served as spiritual director at Knoxville Catholic High School, was ordained into the priesthood in 2001 by then-Bishop Joseph E. Kurtz.

Father Julius Abuh will be the next pastor of St. Joseph the Worker Parish. Father Abuh goes to Madisonville from St. Therese Parish in Clinton and St. Joseph Parish in Norris, where has served as parochial administrator and now as pastor of those parishes.

Originally from the Diocese of Idah in Nigeria, Father Abuh has been in the United States since 2011. He received his Ph.D. in sacred theology from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome. Before serving in Clinton and Norris, Father Abuh was a priest in residence at St. John Neumann in Farragut.

Father Richard Armstrong has been appointed parochial administrator of St. Therese and St. Joseph.

Father Armstrong, who serves the Diocese of Knoxville as the assistant director of Christian Formation, also is a priest of the Byzantine Catholic Church and is pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle Eastern (Byzantine) Catholic Mission in Knoxville.

Father Armstrong was ordained into the priesthood in May 2009 at St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in Parma, Ohio, by Bishop Robert M. Moskal.

Father Ron Stone, who has been serving as parochial administrator of Holy Cross, has been appointed pastor of the Pigeon Forge parish.

Father Stone has been in the Diocese of Knoxville since 2014, serving with the Handmaids of the Precious Blood and at St. Jude in Helenwood.

Mark Schuster, who was ordained to the transitional diaconate on June 2 at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, has been assigned to provide diaconal service for the summer at St. John Neumann Church. ■

n Embrace our common priesthood by implementing programs that teach and promote the common priesthood as a way to strengthen vocations and evangelize. n Help foster a positive image of our priests in the parish, in the

home, and in the community. n Turn to God for his help through prayer. Brother Knights will be asked to commit themselves and their council to pray for their priests and for new vocations.

“This brings the love and light of

Christ to each man who gives his fiat,” Mr. Dee said. “This is right in line with what Father (Michael) McGivney (Knights of Columbus founder) envisioned in 1882. We’re getting back to the basics, the things that are fundamental.” ■

www.di o k no x .o rg

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

KDCCW holds annual convention at St. Stephen Church Bishop Stika celebrates Mass for diocesan organization at Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

By Emily Booker

EMILY BOOKER

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ishop Richard F. Stika celebrated Mass for the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus on April 26.

Concelebrants were Father Dan Whitman, Father Michael Woods, and Father Joe Brando. Deacon Gary Sega was deacon of the Word.

The bishop thanked the women for all of the work that they do in their parishes and challenged them to be role models and intentional disciples.

“Look at all you do for the Diocese of Knoxville. In your parishes, in your experiences, in your personal commitments to other people….You know how St. Francis of Assisi would say, ‘Always preach the Gospel, and sometimes use words?’ That’s it. That’s intentional discipleship. And that’s what we’re all called to be,” he said.

“For you women who have been around a little bit longer, in your maturity and wisdom, you can be true mentors to younger women who are facing different situations and challenges than maybe you faced in your generation. For the younger women, as they follow you, the same is true,” the bishop added.

Bishop Stika also encouraged the women to remain committed to their faith and involved in helping the Church.

“Thank God for all of you who make such a difference in every church in East Tennessee, in all your parishes, and in all the things that you do, noticed and unnoticed, because it’s about Jesus, and building His kingdom,” he said.

Music for the Mass was provided by the All Saints Parish choir.

For many, this was the first time visiting the new cathedral. Bishop Stika took time at the end of Mass to point out specific features of the cathedral, including the refur-

In support KDCCW president Karen Vacaliuc and her daughter, Marian, present Bishop Stika with a check representing the volunteer hours the diocesan women’s group provides to the Diocese of Knoxville. bished Stations of the Cross, the large tabernacle, and the statue of Pope St. John Paul II. Following Mass, Karen Vacaliuc, president of the KDCCW, presented Bishop Stika with a check totaling 365,244 volunteer hours contributed by the KDCCW to the diocese.

The KDCCW held its annual convention April 12-14 at St. Stephen Church in Chattanooga.

Speakers at this year’s convention included Kitty Cleveland, a lay evangelist, singer, songwriter, and inspirational speaker. Her keynote address was “Mary at My Door: Welcoming Mary into Your Heart.”

Mrs. Cleveland began her professional career as a lawyer, university instructor and career

counselor. But during a family crisis, she heard a call to become a “music missionary.” She heeded that call and has since released 12 CDs of music and prayer. She and her husband and daughter live in Madisonville, La. The KDCCW also heard from Kathleen Gruseck, an author, speaker, and spiritual retreat director who spoke on “The Beloved Disciple: Who is that Disciple?

How Mother Mary is a Model and Mirror.”

Mrs. Gruseck is familiar to many in the Diocese of Knoxville for her work coordinating the spiritual component of the Council of Catholic Women at St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish in Cleveland. She and her husband now live in Columbus, Miss.

Dr. Majel Gliko Braden, an educator, counselor, author, and speaker, facilitated a discussion on “Finding Healing and Hope in Suffering and Grieving.” Ms. Braden, who is an international speaker, lives near San Antonio, Texas.

The KDCCW members also were treated to a virtual tour to the shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes.

The guided tour, shown at St. Stephen, led them on an interactive and prayerful experience with the Lourdes water, the Grotto rock, eucharistic blessing, and a candlelight rosary procession. They also learned about the timeless message of Our Lady of Lourdes to St. Bernadette. Pope Francis has granted a plenary indulgence to all faithful who participate in the virtual pilgrimage. ■

“[George] Washington used to describe what kind of traits and values a chaplain should have, even as far down as expressing that hay should be afforded to the chaplain’s horse. The Chaplain Corps is one of the oldest in the Army, and that says a lot for its importance.”

— Maj. Patrick Brownell Chaplains continued from page A4

foxhole. These soldiers are going to be experiencing some tough conditions and trying times, so we are here to help in any way we can.”

An environment like this, however, presents challenges for chaplains during training. “There are so many moving parts,” he noted.

“Everybody has different timelines and schedules, and there isn’t a lot of free time, so getting the word out that we are here providing services can be a challenge.”

Alongside Lt. Col. Anderson, as part of the Unit Ministry Team, is Maj. Patrick Brownell, the Brigade Chaplain for Tennessee’s 230th Sustainment Brigade, who also has been at Fort Irwin doing his part.

“Chaplains should be dispensers of hope and optimism,” said Maj. Brownell, a 13-year Army chaplain from Morristown, Tenn. “Our mission is to perform or provide. If we can’t meet a soldier’s request for a service, we will do whatever we can to provide that service.”

Both Lt. Col. Anderson and Maj. Brownell know the importance of being visible so the soldiers feel comfortable coming forward with any issues they may be having.

“If I do my job well, anyone should feel they are free to believe in whatever they want,” Maj. Brownell said. “We are not here to discriminate or to pass judgment, just to ensure the constitutional rights and religious protections of all soldiers.”

Though challenging at times, the Chaplain Corps also is very rewarding, Lt. Col. Anderson explained.

“I like being able to minister to hurting people,” he said. “It feels good to be able to give a soldier TH E EAST T E N N E S S E E C A T HO L I C

some attention when he or she desperately needs it.”

Maj. Brownell, like Lt. Col. Anderson, also referred to George Washington in regard to the history of the Chaplain Corps.

“Washington used to describe what kind of traits and values a chaplain should have, even as far down as expressing that hay should be afforded to the chaplain’s horse,” said Maj. Brownell, who is the pastor of St. Patrick Catholic Parish in Morristown.

“The Chaplain Corps is one of the oldest in the Army, and that says a lot for its importance.”

Even if the training makes things a little more difficult, and the environment makes ministering a bit more complicated, it goes to show that the Chaplain Corps will be there for their soldiers under any circumstances.

“There’s an old story of a young boy who was trying to roll a big rock across the backyard,” Lt. Col. Anderson recalled. “He wasn’t getting very far, when his father comes out and asks, ‘Hey, son, are you using all of your resources?’ to which the boy replied, ‘I think so, dad,’ and he kept on pushing.

“Struggling again, the dad asks the same question, to which the boy replied with the same answer. Until finally the father gets sick of watching his son struggle and says, ‘Son, you didn’t ask me for help. You’ve got to use all of your resources.’ And they went on to roll the big rock across the yard. That story is a lot like the Chaplain Corps and the Army; you’ve got us chaplains as a resource, so when there’s training like this going on, you might as well use us.” ■ www.di o k no x .o rg

JUNE 3, 2018 n A13

Pope: confirmation gives Catholics strength to be led by God

By Carol Glatz/Catholic News Service

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veryone who has received the sacrament of confirmation has received the gift of the Holy Spirit, who guides them and gives them the strength to follow God’s will, Pope Francis said.

“Every one of us has the Spirit within us. The Spirit is in our heart, our soul,” the pope said May 22 at his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square.

Having concluded a series of audience talks about the sacrament of baptism, and having celebrated Pentecost May 20, the pope began a new series of talks on the sacrament of confirmation. The apostles received the Holy Spirit on Pentecost and they — like their successors, the world’s bishops — were granted the power to invoke the

Holy Spirit upon those who have been baptized.

Jesus gave his disciples a truly great mission — to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world, the pope said.

“These are images that make us think about our behavior because both the lack of and any excess of salt makes food revolting, just as a lack of and too much light hinder sight,” he said.

The only one who can guarantee each person has been given just the right amount of salt and light is Christ’s Spirit, who makes sure his disciples are “the salt that gives flavor and protects against decay and the light that illuminates the world,” the pope said.

“The Spirit guides us in life so that we become the right salt and the right light for humanity,” he

said.

After one is reborn to divine life in baptism, he said, the next step is to live like true children of God, conforming oneself to Christ and sharing in the mission of the church.

The sacrament of confirmation, he said, is about confirming the grace of baptism and anointing people with the Holy Spirit to bear witness to Christ in the world.

“How do we see if we have received the gift of the Spirit?” the pope asked. “If we fulfill the works of the Spirit, if we speak with words taught by the Spirit.”

“Christian witness consists of doing only and everything that the Spirit of Christ asks us while granting us the strength to do it,” he said.

After his main audience talk, the

pope greeted Ukrainians who took part in the International Military Pilgrimage to Lourdes May 17-22.

“I constantly pray the Lord may heal the wounds inflicted by war and grant his peace to beloved Ukraine,” he said.

Meanwhile, Italian police cordoned off an area at the end of the long boulevard leading to St. Peter’s Square to investigate a bomb threat.

News outlets reported an unidentified person called emergency services alleging a bomb was inside a bank near the Vatican.

Occupants in nearby buildings, which include some Vatican offices, were asked to evacuate.

The security measures did not affect or interrupt the general audience, and the threat was later found to be a false alarm. ■

Voters in Ireland overwhelmingly pave way for abortion on demand

By Michael Kelly Catholic News Service

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oters in Ireland have opted to remove the right to life of the unborn from the country’s constitution, paving the way for abortion on demand up to 12 weeks.

Results from the nationwide referendum showed that 66.4 percent of citizens opted to remove the Eighth Amendment from the constitution, while 33.6 percent voted to retain it.

Turnout was 64.5 percent.

Voters inserted the original amendment in the constitution in 1983 by a margin of 2-1, and it “acknowledges the right to life of the unborn and, with due regard to the equal right to life of the mother, guarantees in its laws to respect, and, as far as practicable, by its laws to defend and vindicate that right.”

That text will now be deleted and replaced with an article stating that “provision may be made by law for the regulation of termination of pregnancy.”

Bishop Brendan Leahy of Limerick told Massgoers May 26 that the result “is deeply regrettable and chilling for those of us who voted ‘no.’”

He said “the final result of the referendum is the will of the majority of the people, though not all the people.”

“It is a vote, of course, that does not change our position. Our message is one of love: love for all, love for life, for those with us today, for those in the womb,” he said.

Referring to Pope Francis’ Aug. 25-26 visit, Bishop Leahy said: “In August, we will unite as a family, to renew that sense of family when the World Meeting of Families comes here. We have the privilege of Pope Francis coming, and today I cannot think of his visit being more timely: to come here and remind us of the importance of family, of the love we have of family, of the reality that, yes, families get bruised sometimes, but they should never be broken.”

Minister for Health Simon Harris has said he would introduce legislation that would allow abortion on demand up to 12 weeks, up to 24 weeks on unspecified grounds for the health of the mother, and up to birth where the child is diagnosed with a life-limiting condition that means he or she may not live long after birth.

An exit poll conducted by Ireland’s national broadcaster RTE asked voters what motivated them to opt for either “yes” or “no.”

Among “yes” voters, the most

A14 n JUNE 3, 2018

important issues were the right to choose (84 percent), the health or life of the woman (69 percent), and pregnancy as a result of rape (52 percent).

Among “no” voters, they cited the right to life of the unborn (76 percent), the right to live of those with Down syndrome or other disabilities (36 percent), and religious views (28 percent).

John McGuirk, spokesman for Save the Eighth, which campaigned for a “no” vote, described the outcome as “a tragedy of historic proportions.”

“The Eighth Amendment did not create a right to life for the unborn child — it merely acknowledged that such a right exists, has always existed, and will always exist,” he said, insisting that “a wrong does not become right simply because a majority support it.”

“We are so proud of all of those who stood with us in this campaign — our supporters, our donors, our families, and our loved ones,” he said. “This campaign took a huge personal toll on all of us who were involved, and we have been so grateful for their support.”

Insisting that pro-life campaigners will continue their efforts, McGuirk told Catholic News Service: “Shortly, legislation will be introduced that will allow babies to be killed in our country. We will oppose that legislation. If and when abortion clinics are opened in Ireland, because of the inability of the government to keep their promise about a (general-practitioner-led health) service, we will oppose that as well.

“Abortion was wrong yesterday.

It remains wrong today. The constitution has changed, but the facts have not,” he said.

Ruth Cullen of the LoveBoth campaign insisted that the organization will try to ensure that the Irish prime minister, or Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, is true to his pledge that the government will work to ensure that abortions are rare.

“We will hold the Taoiseach to his promise that repeal would only lead to abortion in very restrictive circumstances. He gave his word on this, now he must deliver on it. No doubt many people voted for repeal based on the Taoiseach’s promises in this regard,” she said.

Commenting on the campaign, Cullen said: “We are immensely proud and grateful to all our volunteers throughout the country who worked tirelessly over recent months to ensure unborn babies would not be deprived of legal

protections.

“The campaign to protect unborn babies will endure,” she said.

Eamonn Conway, a theologian at Mary Immaculate College in Limerick, told Catholic News Service he was “greatly saddened” by the result. However, he pointed out that “the truth is that the Irish Constitution merely recognized the right to life that is antecedent to all law. This most fundamental of all human rights is not extinguished

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or diminished because our constitution no longer acknowledges it.

What is diminished is our constitution,” he said.

Conway said he believes “the task facing the Catholic Church now is to ensure that it makes every effort to accompany with the healing compassion of Christ everyone caught up in the tragic circumstances that surround an abortion ... from grieving parents to medical practitioners.” ■

Pilgrimage to the

HOLY LAND with His Eminence

Cardinal Justin Rigali 12 Days Sept. 30 – Oct. 11, 2018

For More Information Contact: Select International Tours 800-842-4842 susan@select-intl.com We share your faith

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

Ninja priest?

Meet the unlikely new contestant on a hit network TV show

BILL BREWER

Fr. Stephen Gadberry will pump you up

By Perry West Catholic News Agency

A

mong the contestants on season 10 of NBC’s American Ninja Warrior, there’s one who stands out.

In addition to being a physical trainer, Father Stephen Gadberry is also a Catholic priest. He hopes that his participation in the upcoming season of American Ninja Warrior will make the clergy appear more human and available.

Physical activity can be a “simple way to start a conversation with a spiritual leader, with a pastor, where [people] may be too nervous or hesitant to start [deeper] conversations right off the bat,” he told Catholic News Agency.

Contestants on the hit NBC show compete in obstacle courses of increasing difficulty, testing their strength, agility, and skill for a shot at $1 million and the title of “American Ninja Warrior.” The final round takes place on the Las Vegas strip, where participants must complete – among other obstacles – a 75-foot rope climb in under 30 seconds.

Father Gadberry was challenged to apply for the show by Sean Bryan, a two-time previous contestant who drew attention for donning a shirt bearing the colors of the papal flag and words “Papal Ninja.”

The Arkansas priest applied for the show in December and two months later received an invitation to participate in the preliminary round in Dallas. Father Gadberry said he “would be a bad steward of God’s gifts if [he] didn’t humbly and gratefully accept this opportunity as a moment” to proclaim the Gospel. “[Evangelizing] is the primary reason for me doing this. The Lord tells us to go out and make disciples of all nations,” he said. “As this platform has stumbled into my lap…I can further deliver the message of the Gospel that I am supposed to as a priest.”

The priest serves as pastor for two parishes in the Arkansas Delta: St. Cecilia Church in Newport and St. Mary Church in Batesville. Having been raised on a farm, Gadberry said he grew up loving hard physical labor. Later in the military, he said he was introduced to the fitness regimen CrossFit. Gadberry works out one to two hours per day, but said that his workouts do not interfere with his priestly ministry, because he rarely watches television and schedules his exercise regime around his duties as a priest.

People periodically ask for his advice on lifting techniques, and once dialogue has been established, conversations sometimes turn toward spiritual and personal questions – ranging from struggles with adultery to trouble with teenagers at home.

Additionally, he said, physical activities take him to what Pope Francis has called “the peripheries.” Besides attending to sick and visiting patients in hospitals, the priest is heavily involved with prison ministry. There, he has been able to exercise with inmates, building trust and initiating vulnerable conversations.

“The whole time we are talking about life problems and struggles,” he said. “The guards loved it because they saw it was changing the guys I was working out with.”

The priest cautioned against judging people who exercise as prideful, stressing that taking care of the body is a form of stewardship.

“Often times people will stereotype a priest or religious or someone who is devout in their faith as being uber spiritual,” to the point of neglecting the body, he said, warning that this not Catholic teaching.

He added that dietary and exercise disciplines have a correlation to the spiritual life “because virtues are developed through physical discipline.”

Father Gadberry advised individuals to take challenges one step at a time, whether they face physical or spiritual obstacles, rather than stressing too much about the end goal.

“The whole mood of this ninja warrior thing is all about conquering obstacles. You’re not going to get the last obstacle, to hit the buzzer, until you get over the obstacle that is right in front of you,” he said. ■ TH E EAST T E N N E S S E E C A T HO L I C

Sharing the faith Bishop Richard F. Stika led an ecumenical prayer service April 19 at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Joining him were Bishop Brian Cole of the Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee (second from left), and the Rev. Christopher Hogin, assistant rector of the Church of the Ascension (fourth from left). Also taking part were Sacred Heart associate pastors Father Joe Reed (left) and Father Arthur Torres Barona (right).

Exploring the life of a hermit A glimpse into the low-profile vocation

T

he word “hermit” might conjure up some strange images, a la John the Baptist living reclusively in the desert, wearing a hair shirt and eating locusts and honey.

The word itself comes from the Greek “eremos,” meaning wilderness or an isolated place. The vocation of a hermit became most popular among early Christians, who, inspired

by Old Testament saints such as Elijah and John the Baptist, desired to live a life set apart and therefore withdrew into the desert in order to live lives of prayer and penance.

But the vocation is still a recognized calling in the Church today and is about so much more than seemingly-odd ascetic practices and isolation.

In an interview, Brother Rex, a hermit at Little Portion Hermitage in the Diocese of Portland, Maine, told Catholic News Agency what it is like to live the eremitic life in the 21st century.

What does it mean to be a hermit?

According to the Church’s latest Code of Canon Law, the canonical definition of a hermit is as follows: Can. 603 §1. In addition to institutes of consecrated life, the Church recognizes the eremitic or anchoritic life by which the Christian faithful devote their life to the praise of God and the salvation of the world through a stricter withdrawal from the world, the silence of solitude, and assiduous prayer and penance. §2. A hermit is recognized by law as one dedicated to God in consecrated life if he or she publicly professes in the hands of the diocesan bishop the three evangelical counsels, confirmed by vow or other sacred bond, and observes a proper program of living under his direction.

A shorthand and non-canonical definition that I use is to say that a hermit is a woman or man who lives alone expressly for the glory of God, the good of the Church, and the salvation of souls. Some hermits are consecrated by the Church per Canon 603 above and live their vocation in the name of the Church; some hermits live out their calling without publicly professing their commitment in the hands of the diocesan bishop. I am a hermit of the former kind, i.e. according to Canon 603.

How did you find out about this way of life, and what drew you to it?

Grace drew me to this life.

The example of the Desert Fathers and Mothers drew me to this life. The example of many of the great saints throughout history — Francis of Assisi, just www.di o k no x .o rg

By Mary Rezac/Catholic News Agency-EWTN News

CATHOLIC NEWS AGENCY

Father Stephen Gadberry

The Chicken Whisperer Brother Rex at his Maine hermitage. to name one well-known saint who lived as a hermit for a time before he was called to found a religious fraternity of Brothers — drew me to this life.

Through all and with all and in all of this it was God’s grace calling me to this particular way of discipleship.

How does one become a hermit? Was there someone you followed or learned from?

How is the formation process different than that of a religious in community?

If a person wishes to discern a vocation to the eremitic life according to Canon 603, that person will want to contact the chancery of the diocese in which they live to determine whether or not the Ordinary of the diocese is open to the possibility of having a hermit under his canonical jurisdiction. If he is, the Ordinary or his representative in conversation with the would-be hermit will determine how the discernment process is to proceed.

What does a day in the life of a hermit look like?

Each hermit has his or her own schedule. My schedule looks like this: My day begins around 4 a.m.

I make a daily Holy Hour from 5-6 a.m. during which I pray the Morning Office. I attend daily Mass at a local parish at 7 a.m. After returning from Mass I have breakfast and spend the rest of the morning engaged in spiritual reading, Lectio Divina, and meeting occasionally with any person who has made an appointment to see me for spiritual direction. After noonday prayer and lunch, the afternoon (approximately 1-5 p.m.) consists of a work period during which I respond to e-mail, and take prayer requests via e-mail or regular mail. I pray the Evening Office at 5 p.m., my evening meal is at 5:30 p.m, night prayer is at 7 p.m., and lights out by 8 p.m. most nights.

This schedule is rigid enough to provide stability for my vocation in the silence of solitude, yet flexible enough to accommodate running errands, doctor’s appointments,

accomplishing tasks around the hermitage, and so forth.

How isolated are hermits, in practice? How often or in what context do you encounter other people?

It varies. Some hermits rarely venture out of their hermitage.

Some hermits venture out a couple of days a week to some form of work to provide financial support. The amount of time a hermit spends outside the hermitage or otherwise encounters other people is determined to a large degree by the interpretation of Canon 603 in dialogue with their Ordinary or his representative, and the hermit’s Rule or Plan of Life.

What are some of the biggest misconceptions about this way of life that you have encountered?

The biggest misconception I have encountered is that people seem to think that hermits are misanthropes who dislike other people and so hide away from them; that our life is not so because we love God, but because we can’t get along with other people (at best) or dislike humans altogether (at worst).

I would argue that eremitic life and misanthropy are two very different things. Eremitic life is a calling from God and includes a love of others. Misanthropy on the other hand is a psychologically maladaptive response to the world. ... Hermits in a healthy and Christian sense do not, indeed cannot, “dislike humankind,” which is the very definition of misanthropy.

What are some of the most joyful aspects of the life of a hermit?

One of the most joyful aspects of my life as a hermit is the opportunity God has given me to spend long periods in the silence of solitude to practice being present to God and to my neighbor through prayer.

Paradoxically, perhaps, another joyful aspect of my vocation is the part I am blessed to play in the lives of other people as they invite me to join them on their life journey through the ministry of intercessory prayer. ■ JUNE 3, 2018 n A15

Funeral Mass held for former St. Elizabeth pastor Fr. Steve Smith

By Dan McWilliams

D

ominican Father Steve Smith, who served as pastor of St. Elizabeth Parish in Elizabethton from 1989 to 2000, died April 4 in New Orleans. He was 86.

Steve Kieran Smith was born in New York City on May 7, 1931. He entered the Dominican novitiate for the Province of St. Joseph in August 1952 in Dover, Mass. He professed first vows at St. Stephen Priory in Dover on Aug. 26, 1952. On June 5, 1958, he was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop and future Cardinal Amleto Giovanni Cicognani in Washington, D.C. Father Smith held several degrees, including his J.C.D., earned in 1962; theology, 1959; and philosophy, 1955.

The first assignment Father Smith had was as a peritus at the Second Vatican Council from 1962-63. Journeying to Pakistan from 1963-1982, Father Smith was first the secretary of the Apostolic Nunciature. Then he was the pastor at Our Lady of Fatima, volunteer director and then director for Catholic Relief Services, and co-founder of Inter-Aid Karachi.

In 1982, Father Smith was assigned as associate pastor and prior at St. Anthony of Padua in New Orleans. Following New Orleans, he was associate pastor at Holy Cross Parish in Atlanta for four years, before he came to Elizabethton.

In 1998 in Elizabethton, Father Smith celebrated 40 years in the priesthood. In an interview with The East Tennessee Catholic, he recalled his time at Vatican II. “The spirit was moving. You wouldn’t believe it could be pulled together so wonderfully,” he said. “In our modern age, we had never seen such a gathering in the Church. The Church had been expanding, with many of the missionary bishops from Africa and Asia present. I was struck by the variety,

the universality, the colorfulness.”

He also looked back on his time in Pakistan, where it was difficult to gain converts in the Muslim nation.

“For them to be converted to Christianity, if it became known, it’s as if someone had died in the family and funeral services were held,” Father Smith said. “They are cut off. It’s a major deFr. Smith, OP cision. You don’t make that decision lightly, and you don’t recommend it unless you know someone has the stamina, the guts, and the wherewithal to make it.”

Father Smith left Elizabethton for an assignment in Raleigh, N.C., where he served as Defender of the Bond and an itinerant preacher until 2012. For the next year, he ministered in Memphis.

Father Smith will be missed by many of the parishes and people he blessed, and all of the Pakistani families he sponsored to the United States during his tenure in Pakistan.

In 2013, Father Smith came to live at Our Lady of Wisdom Health Care Center in New Orleans, where he would remain until his death.

Father Smith is preceded in death by his parents, Bridget Brady Smith and Peter Smith, and three brothers, Peter, Andrew, and Thomas. He has two sisters-in-law, Attracta E. Rodgers and Louise Adair Smith, currently living in New York. He also is survived by 10 nieces and three nephews. He presided over many of their weddings and at the baptisms of their children.

The funeral Mass was held Friday, April 13, in the Our Lady of Wisdom chapel in New Orleans.

Interment was in Rosaryville Cemetery. To view and sign the family guestbook, visit www.schoenfh. com. ■

St. Augustine funeral Mass held for Mrs. Grey Littleton Wagner

G

rey Littleton Wagner, a resident of Signal Mountain and a charter member of St. Augustine Parish, died April 29. She was 100.

Mrs. Wagner was the daughter of the late Marguerite Warner Littleton and the late Augustine Brabson Littleton, formerly of the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul. She also was preceded in death by her late husband, Joseph Church Wagner, and her brother Lt. Col. Augustine Brabson Littleton of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish.

Survivors include her children, Robert Wagner of St. Augustine Parish, Marguerite Cissy (Bob) Coleman of Vicksburg, Miss., Alice (Sib) Evans Jr. of St. Augustine Parish, Richard (Sunny) Wagner, Jon Wagner, MaryJo (Rob) Richie of St. Augustine Parish, Kathleen (Fred) Robinson, Michael (Joan) Wagner of St. Augustine Parish, and Patricia (Wayne) Stewart, also of St. Augustine Parish.

She had 16 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Wagner graduated from Academy of Holy Names (Class of ‘35) in Florida, receiving her bachelor’s degree from the University of Chattanooga (Class of ‘39) and a master’s degree from Columbia University in New York.

Upon graduation from Columbia, she served on the faculty of the University of Chattanooga and then on the faculty of Randolph Macon.

Joe and Grey Wagner were married in Idaho Falls, Idaho, where Mr. Wagner was stationed with the FBI during World War II. After the war, they returned to Signal Mountain, where Mr. Wagner joined his father in the family law firm.

During World War II, Mrs. Wagner volunteered by teaching swimming to Navy recruits, in the Red Cross, and as a nurse’s aide in various hospitals. She received several awards from the American Red Cross for her

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wartime service.

When she returned to Chattanooga, she volunteered with Hamilton County Juvenile Court Home for Girls, with the YWCA, and was a founding member of two parish boards of education.

She is a past president of the Nashville Diocesan Council of Catholic Women, provident director and national director of the National Mrs. Wagner Council of Catholic Women, and she maintained membership in the Knoxville Diocesan Council of Catholic Women from its inception.

She also was an active member of the Junior League of Chattanooga, Nancy Ward Chapter of the DAR, recipient of the Gold Eaglet from the National Girl Scouts in which she was a Scout leader, she was president of Chi Omega Fraternity/Delta Alpha Chapter at the University of Chattanooga, and was recognized in “Who’s Who” in American universities and colleges.

Mrs. Wagner was awarded the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice from Pope Paul VI in 1975. As a Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice recipient, she was in the procession at the Mass to establish the Diocese of Knoxville on Sept. 8, 1988.

She also was recognized by the Chattanooga Association of Churches, the Tennessee Association of Churches, and the Diocese of Nashville for representing the Catholic Church in the ecumenical movement.

A funeral Mass was celebrated May 4 at St. Augustine. In the funeral procession to Mount Olivet Cemetery, the Signal Mountain Police Department, Fire Department, and Walden’s Ridge Fire Department lined U.S. 127 atop Signal Mountain to salute Mrs. Wagner. ■

East Tennessee Catholic Briefs TripAdvisor recognizes St. Mary Church in Gatlinburg St. Mary Church in Gatlinburg has been recognized by travel services website TripAdvisor with a 2018 Certificate of Excellence.

The recognition honors organizations that consistently achieve outstanding reviews on TripAdvisor.

A large number of Catholics who worship at St. Mary each year are visitors to Gatlinburg and Sevier County who also take advantage of the hotels, restaurants, and entertainment in the area.

St. Mary earned a perfect five-star rating by TripAdvisor guests who rated churches and cathedrals and is listed at No. 10 of 119 things to do in Gatlinburg. The Certificate of Excellence was signed by Marc Charron, president of TripAdvisor for Business.

Among the reviews, St. Mary was cited for its “friendly,” “welcoming,” parishioners and staff, “wonderful priest” and Father Antony Punnackal’s homilies, inexpensive parking rates for tourists needing somewhere to park to visit Gatlinburg, and Mass frequency. One reviewer said St. Mary was “easy like Sunday morning.”

Cardinal Rigali to lead diocesan pilgrimage to Holy Land Cardinal Justin Rigali will lead Diocese of Knoxville parishioners on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land Sept. 30-Oct. 11.

Pilgrims will arrive in Tel Aviv, Israel, and drive to the Sea of Galilee. From there they will visit Acco and Mount Carmel, with Mass at the Discalced Carmelite Monastery of Muhraq before traveling to Cana, Mount Tabor, and Nazareth. At Cana, Cardinal Rigali will preside at the renewal of sacred wedding vows for couples in the group.

At Mount Tabor, the group will see the Church of Transfiguration and then visit Nazareth, Mary’s home. Mass will be celebrated at the Basilica of the Annunciation where St. John Paul II celebrated Mass Cardinal Rigali during his historic papal visit in 2000.

A trip to the archaeological site to the see the remains of Nazareth, Mary’s Well, and St. Joseph’s Church are also on the itinerary as is Magdala. There will be a morning boat ride on the Sea of Galilee and then Mass will be celebrated at the Mount of Beatitudes.

Pilgrims will then travel to Capernaum, where Jesus began his Galilean ministry, to explore the synagogue dating to the time of Christ and the site of St. Peter’s home before visiting the Church of the Primacy of Peter on the shore of the Sea of Galilee and the Church of Multiplication of Loaves and Fishes, commemorating where Jesus fed the crowd of 5,000. Stops also are planned for Korazim, Jericho, the River Jordan, where a baptismal blessing will be given, Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found, and Bethlehem, with a visit to Manger Square and the Church of the Nativity. Pilgrims will spend a day in Jerusalem, before traveling to Via Dolorosa, Mount Zion, the Wailing Wall, and Old Town Jerusalem.

For more information, call 800-842-4842 or e-mail susan@select-intl.com.

Holy Family Church seeking organist for Masses Holy Family Church in Seymour is in need of an organist for the 5:30 p.m. Saturday Mass and the Sunday Masses at 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. A good knowledge of Catholic liturgy is a must.

Please call the Holy Family Church office at 865-573-1203 for further information or send your resume to secretary@holyfamilyseymour.org or Holy Family Catholic Church, 307 Black Oak Ridge Road, Seymour, TN 37865.

St. Ann Parish in Marietta, Ga., to host Jesus’ Fire retreat The Catholic Church of St. Ann in Marietta, Ga., will be set ablaze when it hosts Jesus’ Fire!, a retreat on Receiving and Living the Full Anointing of the Holy Spirit, presented by “Catholics Living in The Spirit,” June 22-24.

The speakers will include international evangelist and healing ministers Father Peter Mary Minh Bui and Father James Blount, SOLT. Jesus’ Fire! is open to the public and begins Friday, June 22, at 7 p.m. and continues through 1 p.m. Sunday, June 24. The retreat is $35 per person, or $69 for a family. Special hotel rates have been arranged for out-of-town travelers.

A special Mass followed by a healing and miracle service is set for June 23 from 7-10 p.m. and is open to the public and free, so all are welcome.

For more details contact the website at www.atlccr.org or contact event coordinator Marlene Lee-Seaton. ■

www.di o k no x .o rg

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