September 5
| 2021
VOL 31 NO 1
He dwells among us ......................... A3 Columns ..........................................B2-3 Parish news ....................................... B4 Diocesan calendar ............................ B5 Catholic schools .......................... B7,10 La Cosecha ............................Section C
IN THIS ISSUE ORANGE WHITE, VERY B10 BIG B1 BLACK, A6 BISHOP'S Second KCHS basketball READ ALL OVER SPECIAL DAY Special needs kids, families to be feted
The East Tennessee Catholic turns 30
player will be joining Tennessee Volunteers
Chosen for the order of the priesthood Fr. Matthew Donahue becomes the 56th priest ordained for the Diocese of Knoxville By Dan McWilliams
DAN MCWILLIAMS
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Joined in Christ Bishop Richard F. Stika joins his hands with those of Matthew Donahue during his ordination to the priesthood at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus on Aug. 7. Father Donahue becomes the 23rd priest that Bishop Stika has ordained. Also shown are from left, Deacon Sean Smith, Deacon Hicks Armor, and Deacon Fredy Vargas. At the far left is Father Peter Iorio, pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Alcoa.
o hear Lydia Donahue tell it, it’s no wonder her son Matthew became a priest, with all of the Catholic vocation examples he has had in his life. “First is Father David Mary Engo, who is his uncle, my brother. He’s a Franciscan. That was [an influence] all his life,” she said. “Then Father James McCartney on Long Island. He was our homeschooling spiritual director. He would have Mass each week for the kids, confessions with them, and sacraments with them. “Then when we moved here to Knoxville, it was Father David Carter, Father John Dowling, and Monsignor [Pat] Garrity, who was huge in his life in making him feel part of the fraternity when he wasn’t even in seminary. [Diocesan chancellor] Deacon Sean Smith has known Matthew since we moved to the diocese, so he used to go talk with Deacon Sean. When the bishop came, we went to the bishop’s installation Mass, and we have a picture with Bishop [Richard F.] Stika and Matthew and the family. Ordination continued on page A7
Bishop Stika dedicates St. Mary-Gatlinburg’s new parish life center By Dan McWilliams
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ishop Richard F. Stika dedicated the new parish life center at St. Mary Church in Gatlinburg on Aug. 22, blessing a building that will give the growing parish space for CCD classes, offices, and more. The dedication followed the 11 a.m. Mass, during which Bishop Stika addressed a church full of parishioners and tourists. “This is a very historic moment for this parish of St. Mary’s in Gatlinburg,” he said. “It’s a small parish, but it welcomes tourists probably from around the world. Today we’re going to dedicate their new parish center, which is great—they need it because of the growth of this parish, especially in CCD and functions. . . . This is a very special moment.” The new parish life center is a 3,200-square-foot single-story building that cost about $1 million. The bishop also blessed the St. Mary grotto, which was moved when the parish life center was built to a new location at the right-front of the property, and a rosary garden by the grotto. St. Mary pastor Father Antony Punnackal, CMI, concelebrated the Mass, as did Father David Boettner, vicar general and rector of the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, and Father Moisés Moreno, associate pastor of St. Mary and of Holy Cross in Pigeon Forge and leader of the His-
panic communities at those parishes. Diocesan chancellor Deacon Sean Smith assisted at the Mass and dedication of the parish life center. Bishop Stika began his homily by referring to the story of the wedding at Cana, where Mary told the wedding workers to ‘do as He tells you,’ referring to her son, Jesus. “For many decades now, this parish of St. Mary’s in Gatlinburg has been doing just that,” the bishop said. He said the Diocese of Knoxville is “growing at a wonderful pace,
DAN MCWILLIAMS (2)
Recently completed project fulfills 5-year plan
Celebrating the life of a parish Bishop Richard F. Stika cuts the ribbon to dedicate and open the new parish life center at St. Mary Parish in Gatlinburg on Aug. 22. but with many of our parishes, the churches were small because of the small Catholic population. This is a
smaller church, but, you know, it’s in the right location. Even though we’re St. Mary continued on page A13
Double blessing Bishop Stika blesses the rosary garden and also the grotto on the grounds of St. Mary Church in Gatlinburg. St. Mary pastor Father Antony Punnackal, CMI, holds the prayer book. Also taking part are, from left, Father David Boettner, Joe Barthol, and Father Moisés Moreno.