January 1
| 2023
VOL 32 NO 5
IN THIS ISSUE AN A4 GIVING ACCOUNTING
Diocesan financial report is published
GROWING A9 ALEGION
Legion of Mary is on the move
AN EAST B1 OFFICIALLY TENNESSEAN
Father Valentin Iurochkin is incardinated into diocese
He dwells among us ......................... A3 Diocesan calendar ............................ B5 Columns ..........................................B6-7 Parish news ....................................B8-9 Catholic schools ............................. B10 La Cosecha ............................Section C
Bishop welcomes Benedictines
Two religious orders are relocating to East Tennessee from Italy By Bill Brewer
BILL BREWER (2)
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he Diocese of Knoxville welcomed two new religious communities to East Tennessee on the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe as the Benedictines of Divine Will and the Benedictine Daughters of Divine Will formally announced they are relocating from Italy to Blount County. Both religious orders are contemplative communities; however, they are not cloistered. They were erected in the Diocese of San Marino-Montefeltro a decade ago in concert with their devotion to Servant of God Luisa Piccarreta of Corato, Italy, whose cause for sainthood is under study by the Vatican as are her widely followed Divine Will writings. Father Elijah John Joseph of Our Lady of Guadalupe, who leads the Benedictines of Divine Will, and Mother Gabrielle Marie Breaux, mother superior and foundress of the Benedictine Daughters of Divine Will, were present for the decree-signing ceremony held on Dec. 12 in the Our Lady of the Mountains Chapel at the Diocese of Knoxville Chancery. The decrees formally establish the public associations of the faithful in the Diocese of Knoxville. Bishop Richard F. Stika helped lead the effort to transplant the Benedictine orders near Maryville after the orders had sought guidance on possibly relocating to the United States, where they felt developing vocations would be more productive. Signatories on the decrees were Bishop Stika, Deacon Sean Smith, who is the Diocese of Knoxville chancellor, Father Elijah, and Mother Gabrielle Marie. The decrees also received the signature of the bishop of the Diocese of San Marino-Montefeltro in Italy, Monsignor Andrea Turazzi, who was not in attendance. Cardinal Justin Rigali was on hand as the documents were signed. The documents recognized that on April 12, 2011, Monsignor Luigi Negri, then the bishop of the Diocese of San Marino-Montefeltro, erected the Benedictine Daughters of Divine Will as a public association of the faithful. Then on Sept. 25, 2012, Dec. 31, 2013, March 19, 2015, March 19, 2018, and Feb. 25, 2021, Monsignor Turazzi, the current bishop of the Diocese of San Marino-Montefeltro, renewed and confirmed the Benedictine Daughters of Divine Will. On Dec. 20, 2014, Bishop Turazzi erected the Benedictines of Divine Will as a public associa-
Signed, sealed, and devoted Above: Bishop Richard F. Stika signs the canonical decrees establishing the Benedictines of Divine Will and the Benedictine Daughters of Divine Will in the Diocese of Knoxville. Cardinal Justin Rigali and Deacon Sean Smith also took part in the signing ceremony. Father Elijah and Mother Gabrielle Marie, above and below, of the Benedictines lead the religious communities.
“This is truly a historic moment for the diocese. ... I welcome two new communities. It’s the power of prayer. You can come up with new programs, new plans, new ideas to carry us into the future. But those are empty if you don’t have the power of prayer.”
–– Bishop Richard F. Stika tion of the faithful. Then on Oct. 1 of this year, he renewed and confirmed the men’s religious order. The decrees go on to state that the Benedictine Daughters and the Benedictines formally petition the bishops of San Marino-Montefeltro and Knoxville in writing their desire to transfer their motherhouses and public associations of the faithful from the Diocese of San MarinoMontefeltro to the Diocese of Knoxville “with the complete understanding that this would include the transfer of competent ecclesiastical authority of the public associations from Bishop Turazzi to Bishop Stika.” Bishop Turazzi and Bishop Stika communiBenedictines continued on page A18
Diocese, McNabb Center partner on sexual assault reporting Innovative agreement announced after months of detailed discussion By The East Tennessee Catholic
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he Diocese of Knoxville has announced that the McNabb Center, the region’s leading nonprofit provider of mental health, substance use, and social and victim services, will serve as the diocese’s new sexual assault victim’s reporting provider, the first point of contact for anyone wishing to report a possible sexual abuse claim against the diocese. “This is a positive step for our diocese, but most important it is a new path forward for anyone who feels that they have been a victim of abuse,” said Bishop Richard F. Stika. “We are pleased and grate-
ful that the McNabb Center has agreed to take on this vital role as an independent third-party agency.” The agreement between the diocese and the McNabb Center was announced after several months of detailed discussion. “Sexual abuse is often difficult to talk about, and we want to encourage individuals to report and receive support and assistance,” said Catherine Oaks, who is the director of victim services for the McNabb Center. “Calls from the reporting line will be responded to compassionately by a master’s level clinician uniquely experienced and trained
within our victim services division of McNabb.” This partnership with McNabb and the Diocese of Knoxville will provide an independent avenue for individuals to report sexual abuse and receive information on how and where to access support and treatment as needed. In the Diocese of Knoxville, the coordinator maintains a vital role in making sure any abuse victim is treated with dignity and respect, and the coordinator will follow all mandatory reporting laws. The diocese’s previous victim’s assistance coordinator, Marla Lenihan, a licensed mental health therapist from Oak Ridge, served
in that position for 20 years. Ms. Lenihan died in March following a battle with cancer. Father Doug Owens, pastor of All Saints Parish in Knoxville and a vicar general of the Diocese of Knoxville, served as the interim coordinator while the new agreement was being developed. “Marla did a remarkable job for our diocese for two decades. She was compassionate and had a great understanding of the challenges faced by abuse victims. We are indebted to her service,” Bishop Stika said. “It is unique to partner with an independent outside agency, but McNabb continued on page A10