April 1, 2012, ET Catholic

This issue

He dwells among us.................. 2 Catholic News Service............... 8 Diocesan calendar................... 10 Deanery news.......................... 11

The East Tennessee

La Cosecha............ center pullout Catholic schools...................... 15 Columns............................. 18-22

dioknox.org April 1, 2012 Volume 21 Number 8

Bishop Richard F. Stika

News from The Diocese of Knoxville

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Top kicker OLPH player receives national honor

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CCET dinners Catholic Charities holds diocesan fundraisers

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Q&A Father Joseph Mary Hammond shares journey

Rites of Election introduce new faithful to Church Holy Week services to highlight Easter season for more than 200 catechumens, candidates

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By Dan McWilliams

early 230 future Catholics gathered around the diocese on the first weekend of Lent for the annual Rite of Election ceremonies.

Bishop Richard F. Stika presided at each of the four deanery rites, accompanied by Sister Mary Timothea Elliott, RSM, director of Christian Formation for the diocese.

“All of you have had a personal journey that has brought you to this moment in your faith life, in your life itself,” said Bishop Stika in his welcoming remarks Feb. 26 at St. Albert the Great Church in Knoxville, “All of you have had a personal journey that has brought you to which hosted the Smoky Mountain Deanery Rite of Election. “We celebrate with one another in the presence of God and give praise to Jesus himself.”

The event’s full name is the Rite

Rite of Election continued on page 4

DAN MCWILLIAMS

this moment in your faith life...”

‘We celebrate with one another’ Bishop Richard F. Stika delivers the homily at St. Albert the Great Church during the Smoky Mountain Deanery’s Rite of Election on Feb. 26.

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He dwells among us

by Bishop Richard F. Stika

Bishop Stika’s schedule

Tough times

These are some of Bishop Stika’s public appointments:

When the going gets tough, the tough embrace the Church

fter nearly 40 days of preparation, renewed discipline and many sacrifices, a new season is almost upon us—two actually—Easter and a new Major League Baseball season! I love coincidences, especially when they regard our Faith and baseball!

So it is an added joy for me this year, especially as I celebrate my third anniversary as bishop of this wonderful diocese, that Lent and the Easter celebration are so closely shadowed by baseball’s spring training schedule and its first official game of the year. The icing on the cake is that my beloved St. Louis Cardinals and defending World Series champions will inaugurate this new season during Holy Week.

And just as ball players make or renew their commitment to their team and the sport they love during spring training with the hope of a championship trophy at season’s end, so we make or renew our baptismal commitment for an infinitely higher purpose and goal in life. For the days that follow Easter, more so than baseball’s long season, will be filled with joys as well as many challenges, some of which will

Diocesan policy for reporting sexual abuse

sorely try our faith and might even destroy us if not for the graces and strength received during Lent.

“Prepare for tough times.” These words of warning were recently addressed to all the U.S. bishops by my good friend, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York.

Writing in his capacity as president of the U.S. bishops’ conference, he shared his deepening concern over the increasing attacks upon our rights of conscience and religious freedom, and with the growing media assault upon the Catholic Church which each day seems to become more brazen and vulgar (see http://bit.ly/CardinalDolan). Yes, it is becoming more difficult to be a Catholic, but ironically this is one of the ways in which we and the Church become stronger.

We are now seeing the tip of an iceberg and it appears that the Church in America is on a collision course with something that is much larger than what we may see above the water’s surface. I say this not to create fear, but to inspire hope. For even when times become challenging, when lived with faith in Christ, they can be filled with hope and joy as St. Paul reminds us—“I am content with

weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10).

But as history has repeatedly demonstrated, persecution has a way of awakening people and bringing them to a conversion of heart. Given the growing attacks upon our faith, I am amazed at the number of fallen-awayCatholics who are now returning with renewed longing and a zeal for the truth which the Church possesses in its fullness and is guardian of.

I wonder if many of us are not much different than a parishioner I knew when I was an associate pastor as a young priest. His wife was not Catholic but decided she wanted to take instruction in the faith. Naturally, I thought her husband would be very happy, but I was amazed when I learned that he actually objected to her becoming Catholic. Like so many, his understanding of the Church and his faith had been influenced and prejudiced by a good measure of misinformation from secular and non-Catholic sources and their agendas. It wasn’t until I invited him to accompany his wife to an RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)

The East Tennessee

Tuesday, April 3: 7:30 p.m., Chrism Mass, Cathedral of the Sacred Heart Thursday, April 5: 7 p.m., Holy Thursday Mass, Cathedral of the Sacred Heart Friday, April 6: 7 p.m., Good Friday service, Cathedral of the Sacred Heart Saturday, April 7: 8:30 p.m. Easter vigil Mass, Cathedral of the Sacred Heart April 11: 7 p.m., Confirmation at St. Mary Church, Johnson City April 12: 7 p.m., Confirmation at St. Dominic Church, Kingsport April 14: 5 p.m., Confirmation at St. Mary Church, Athens April 15: 11 a.m. (CDT) Confirmation at St. Alphonsus Church, Crossville April 17: 7 p.m., Confirmation at St. Gerard Majella Church, St. Louis April 18-22: Papal Foundation Board Meeting, Rome April 24: 7 p.m., Confirmation at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Knoxville April 26: 4 p.m., Knoxville Council of

Bishop continued on page 3

Calendar continued on page 3

Bishop Richard F. Stika Publisher

Dan McWilliams Assistant editor

Bill Brewer

Margaret Hunt

Anyone who has actual knowlEditor Administrative assistant edge of or who has reasonable 805 Northshore Drive, S.W. • Knoxville, TN 37922 cause to suspect an incident of The Diocese of Knoxville sexual abuse should report such The East Tennessee Catholic (USPS 007211) is published monthly by The Diocese of Knoxville, 805 Northshore Drive Southwest, information to the appropriate Knoxville, TN 37919-7551. Periodicals-class postage paid at Knoxville, Tenn. Printed on recycled paper by the Knoxville News Sentinel. civil authorities first, then to the The East Tennessee Catholic is mailed to all registered Catholic families in East Tennessee. Subscription rate for others is $15 a year in bishop’s office, 865-584-3307, or the United States. Make checks payable to The Diocese of Knoxville. the diocesan victims’ assistance coordinator, Marla Lenihan, 865Postmaster: Send address changes to The East Tennessee Catholic, 805 Northshore Drive Southwest, Knoxville, TN 37939-1127 Reach us by phone: 865-584-3307 • fax: 865-584-8124 • e-mail: webmaster@dioknox.org • web: dioknox.org 482-1388. n

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Chattanooga player, 14, is top U.S. kicker At Our Lady of Perpetual Help, teammates call him ‘D1’ By Dan McWilliams

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Bishop continued from page 2

class that he began to experience a real conversion of heart as he encountered the truth of Christ’s Church and her teachings. I am happy to say that this husband and his wife now run the RCIA program at their parish.

Particularly during the early period of the Church’s history, but no less absent in any other age of her existence, persecutions have sometimes been so intense that a catechumen’s preparation for baptism and the emphasis upon dying to ones self in order to live out a new life also included a preparation for the very real possibility of martyrdom. We mustn’t forget that in many places throughout the world, being Catholic means being persecuted in terrible ways.

The East Tennessee Catholic

Catholic Women Mass and Banquet, Gatlinburg April 27: 7 p.m., Joint Confirmation for Holy Cross and St. Mary churches, Pigeon Forge April 29: 9 a.m., Confirmation at St. Joseph Church, Norris April 29: 6 p.m., Confirmation at St. John Neumann Church, Knoxville n

Bishop announces two appointments COURTESY OF BILLY DEARING

ans of the football team at Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in Chattanooga saw a talented kicker playing for the Rams last season.

Just how talented he is became apparent recently when prokicker. com named Alex Darras as the top middle school kicker in the country.

Alex, 14, stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 180 pounds. He is the son of Chris and Maria Darras of Ooltewah, parishioners of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Chris Darras said his son’s kicking honor was “definitely a surprise,” especially when he came out on top after his stats were put up against those of middle school players from across the nation.

“I knew he was strong, but I didn’t realize he was that strong,” Mr. Darras said.

Alex, who will play this fall at Notre Dame High School, didn’t believe the good news either initially.

“At first I didn’t really think it was true,” he said. “I had to get my dad to show me on the website that it actually happened. I thought I did

Calendar continued from page 2

On the tee Alex Darras kicks off during an Our Lady of Perpetual Help football game last season. Alex was named the top middle school kicker by prokicker.com. The 6-3, 180-pound eighth-grader will continue his playing career this fall at Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga.

fairly well at the camp, but I didn’t think I did that good.”

Eighteen graduates of prokicker camps, founded by former National

Football League punting great Ray Guy, currently play in the NFL. Alex, now an eighth-grader, attend-

When the going gets tough, the tough embrace the Church. Post World War II Poland is an excellent example.

This Easter, 229 catechumens (those not yet baptized) and candidates (those who have not completed the sacraments of initiation) in our diocese will be received into the Church having completed a very thorough period of preparation. I offer my congratulations to them and my many prayers for their continued growth in the faith, as well as my deepest gratitude to the catechists and sponsors who have helped to so enrich their RCIA experience. I would also like to offer a special thanks to Sister Mary Timothea and Father Richard Armstrong in our Office of Christian

Formation, and to all our priests, deacons, religious and laity of this great diocese for being the face of Jesus and preaching the Gospel “in season and out of season” (2 Timothy 4:2). It is your great faith and volunteer spirit that I inherited three years ago when I became your bishop. I am so grateful to all of you for the gift of being able to truly call East Tennessee my home.

A closing thought. Unlike baseball teams whose goal of winning the World Series is anything but assured, we have such assurances of victory because Christ is Risen—He has triumphed—and in His Church, we also triumph. It is but up to us whether we want to be on his winning team or not. May God bless you. n

Kicker continued on page 7

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Bishop Richard F. Stika announced two appointments in a March 2 letter to diocesan clergy, seminarians, consecrated religious, school principals and diocesan staff.

“I am pleased to announce that I have appointed Father Julius Abuh as parochial administrator of St. Therese Church in Clinton. He will reside at the St. Therese rectory in Clinton. In addition to this appointment, I am assigning Father Julius as vice chancellor for special projects.

In this capacity Father Abuh will be spending 12 hours a week fulfilling these duties, and the remainder of his time will be spent serving at St. Therese parish.

“Furthermore, I have appointed Father Tom Moser as assisting priest to the Diocese of Knoxville. In this capacity Father Moser will be supporting the ministerial needs of the diocese by substituting for priests when they become ill or take vacation. His current assignment as parochial vicar at St. Thérèse of Lisieux will remain in effect, and he will continue to reside at the St. Thérèse of Lisieux rectory in Cleveland.

“Please join me in praying for and thanking both Father Julius and Father Tom for their support in serving in these new roles.” n April 1, 2012 3

of Election of Catechumens and the Call to Continuing Conversion of Candidates. A total of 173 candidates and 56 catechumens participated in this year’s rites. Catechumens have never been baptized and will receive the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and Eucharist at the Easter Vigil. Candidates have been baptized and will be confirmed and receive the Eucharist at the Easter Vigil.

The 2012 Rites of Election began with the Chattanooga Deanery ceremony Feb. 25 at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga.

Also on Feb. 25, St. John Neumann in Farragut hosted the rite for the Cumberland Mountain Deanery. St. Patrick in Morristown was the host for the Five Rivers Deanery rite on Feb. 26.

“How many of you when you were younger, let’s say, maybe less than 10 years of age, thought that Sunday you would be in a church that was dedicated to St. Albert the Great, celebrating the Rite of Election?” asked Bishop Stika. “Or it’s just like asking the sisters, or my brother priests and deacons, when they were young, had they ever thought that they would be a priest or a deacon—or in my case, now a bishop. I don’t think any of us would raise our hands at that young of an age.

“What I do know is you are here because Jesus has invited you to be here at this moment. It’s part of God’s plan that each and every one of you came from different parts of the country or different parts of the world, but now at this moment you’ll gather tonight to make a statement of faith.”

The bishop shared with the catechumens and candidates one of his favorite reminders.

“In my three years as bishop, one of the constant themes that I’ve always been speaking about is that we are invited to be the hands and the voice and the face of Jesus,” he said.

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“If we look at the world in which we live today—a world that is so angry, broken, and fractured—so many people don’t even believe in the existence of God anymore or are disappointed with anything that is institutional.

“Maybe the challenge for all of those in the Church, especially those who are cradle Catholics, is that we just have to do better to be his face, his voice, his hands.”

The catechumens soon to be baptized “are claimed by Jesus,” said Bishop Stika.

“At the moment of your conception, you were touched by God. As your baptism approaches you are touched in a significant way

by Christ as he brings you into his Church. And part of that ceremony in baptism is that you’ll be sealed with the Holy Spirit, praying that all those tremendous gifts of the Holy Spirit will fill you so that you can go out without fear and live lives as Christians.”

Candidates, baptized earlier in life, will “join with us in prayer in the Eucharist, in the breaking of the bread,” said the bishop.

Bishop Stika encouraged all the newcomers at St. Albert the Great to continue learning about the Church.

“What I hope is that you don’t fall in the same category so often that we cradle Catholics sometimes fall into. There are some Catholics out there who believe once you’re baptized, receive the Eucharist for the first time, or are confirmed, that you know everything there is to know about everything, so you don’t study more about the Church.

“If you fall into that category, especially those who are to be received into the Church and baptized, you’re missing something.

All of us are invited by the Lord to be more informed about our faith, to learn what it really means to be a Christian and a Catholic—not just by making a claim but by living it daily, moment to moment in our lives.”

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DAN MCWILLIAMS

Rite of Election continued from page 1

Making it official Bishop Stika signed the Book of the Elect for each parish’s catechumens and candidates at the Rite of Election ceremonies. Above, he signs the book for a Smoky Mountain Deanery parish at St. Albert the Great Church.

At each deanery’s Rite of Election, Sister Timothea presented the catechumens to the bishop and said that “they ask that . . . they be allowed to participate in the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and the Eucharist.”

RCIA leaders from deanery parishes introduced their catechumens, and Bishop Stika asked godparents whether the catechumens had lis-

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tened and responded to the Word “proclaimed by the Church” and “shared the company of their Christian sisters and brothers and joined with them in prayer.”

The catechumens then pledged “to enter fully into the life of the Church” through the three sacraments of initiation. Each RCIA leader brought forward his or her parish’s Book of the Elect for Bishop dioknox.org

DAN MCWILLIAMS

Support the Annual Bishop’s Appeal

Meeting Bishop Stika The bishop greeted catechumens, candidates, godparents, and sponsors at each of the four deanery Rites of Election. Above, he speaks with candidate Barbara Haughton (left) of St. Albert the Great Parish and her sponsor, Drea Nelson. Catechumens and candidates at the Rite of Election pledged their desire “to enter fully into the life of the Church.”

Stika to sign, after which the bishop greeted the catechumens and godparents.

Sister Timothea then presented to the bishop “the candidates who seek to complete their Christian initiation.” RCIA leaders introduced their candidates, after which the bishop said that “the Christian life and the demands that flow from the sacraments cannot be taken lightly.

Therefore, before granting these candidates their request, it is important that the Church hear the testimony of their sponsors about their readiness.”

Sponsors affirmed that the candidates “have come to a deeper appreciation about their baptism,” “reflected sufficiently on the tradition of the Church,” and “advanced in a life of love and service.” The The East Tennessee Catholic

candidates also echoed the catechumens’ desire “to enter fully into the life of the Church.”

The bishop signed the Book of the Elect for the candidates and greeted them along with their sponsors.

In his closing remarks, Bishop Sti-

“All the people who make up the fabric of the Church of over a billion Catholics, they’re all praying for you over these next days.” ka told the catechumens and candidates they’ll never be alone in their Christian journey. Catholics around the world will be praying for them, whether it be at a Mass led by the pope in St. Peter’s Square or at one celebrated by a military chaplain on the hood of a Jeep in Afghanistan,

the bishop said.

“It could be in the greatest cathedral or the smallest chapel, a newly ordained priest or a priest ordained 70 years—all the people who make up the fabric of the Church of over a billion Catholics, they’re all praying for you over these next days,” said Bishop Stika. “For as we have prayed for catechumens and candidates, so have they. So you will be uplifted in prayer, especially in these next days during this Lenten season as we prepare for the Easter mysteries.

“Don’t ever feel by yourself, or alone, or abandoned, or ignored, because for the rest of your life in the Catholic Church, Catholics are praying for you that you might grow, moment to moment of every day, closer to Jesus Christ.” n

The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee

The growth of our Church depends on you. When you support the Annual Bishop’s Appeal, 100 percent of your gift provides for essential ministries throughout East Tennessee.

Each year the appeal provides n education for children in Catholic schools and faith formation for those in religious-education programs n shelter for more than 300 homeless people n meals for almost 10,000 families n counseling and support for more than 11,000 people facing unemployment, depression, addiction, divorce, crisis pregnancy, or the death of a loved one n preparation for the more than 300 adults who join the Church at the Easter Vigil n services for the elderly and people seeking to become American citizens n and much more.

Bishop Richard F. Stika urges the faithful to join him in making a sacrificial gift to the Annual Bishop’s Appeal. “I can’t think of a better investment than spreading the Gospel and helping people grow in holiness,” he said.

For more on the appeal, see “Annual Bishop’s Appeal launches” from the Feb. 5 ETC, available online at bit.ly/AlbkzP. n

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The East Tennessee Catholic offers online delivery for those who wish to receive a digital copy and discontinue the print edition. Sign up for online delivery at bit.ly/subscribe-online. If you decide online delivery isn’t for you, you can return to a print subscription at any time. If you have questions, e-mail mhunt@ dioknox.org. n April 1, 2012 5

Catholic Charities’ three events raise money, awareness Area businesses recognized for contributions to organization’s service programs By Bill Brewer

BILL BREWER

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noxville-area companies Whirlpool, Alcoa and Kimberly-Clark were among those recognized by Catholic Charities of East Tennessee during its annual Emerald O’ccasion event honoring individuals and organizations for their assistance in Catholic Charities’ 17 service programs in 36 counties.

The first Creating Hope Award, honoring a local business that donates time and resources to Catholic Charities, was presented to Whirlpool for its work with Samaritan Place, a shelter for seniors age 55 or older that provides emergency housing, transitional and long-term supportive housing and overnight and day-stay respite care. Samaritan Place is located at 3009 Lake Brook Blvd.

The companies were recognized March 8 at the 27th annual Emerald O’ccasion dinner and auction, the largest yearly fundraiser for Catholic Charities’ Knoxville Region.

More than 500 supporters attended the event held at the Knoxville Convention Center that was hosted by Bishop Richard F. Stika and Father Ragan Schriver, Catholic Charities of East Tennessee executive director.

“We couldn’t survive without the help and support of the communi-

Celebrating Catholic Charities of East Tennessee Bishop Richard F. Stika and Father Ragan Schriver hosted the 27th annual Emerald O’ccasion fundraiser for the service organization. Whirlpool, Alcoa and Kimberly-Clark were recognized for their contributions.

ty,” Father Schriver said. “We appreciate all of our volunteers, especially the corporations that send us their own staff and use their work time to help us.”

Whirlpool employees have adopted the homeless seniors at Samaritan Place as the personal charity for their employees.

Alcoa and Kimberly-Clark were recognized for donating time to the Kids Helping Kids Fun Walk to benefit Columbus Home Children’s Services.

Father Schriver compared the service organization to a team whose clients, staff, volunteers and supporters work together with winning results.

“Because of your presence and your support, you have allowed us to be the face of Christ to those who need it the most,” Father Schriver said.

Bishop Stika said for every one of those in need that Catholic Charities assists, the organization’s staff, volunteers and supporters “in one way or another … are portraying what I have said since my first day here in the diocese.”

“We are the face, and the hands, and the voice of Jesus Christ and you extend that voice, and those hands, and your person in a variety of ways. You might not be there on location, but by what you do you support the people with that energy, and your contributions, and your prayer,” Bishop Stika said.

Fundraisers also were held for Catholic Charities’ Tri-Cities and Chattanooga regions.

The Tri-Cities event was held March 15 at St. Dominic Church in Kingsport and the Chattanooga fundraiser was held March 29 at the Chattanooga Convention Center.

Father Larry Snyder, president of Catholic Charities USA, was the guest speaker in Chattanooga. n

Fourteenth annual Kids Helping Kids Fun Walk scheduled for April 1

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ore than 1,200 children and their parents are expected at the 14th annual Kids Helping Kids Fun Walk on Sunday, April 1, at Knoxville Catholic High School.

The event will raise funds for Columbus Home Children’s Services,

a program of Catholic Charities of East Tennessee (CCET) that for 40 years has provided help and safe haven for at-risk, abused, and neglected children and youth.

Advance registration is $15 per person and $30 per family, increasing to $20 per person and $35 per

family on the day of the event. Text “walk” to 41522 or visit columbushomewalk.eventbrite.com to register.

Festivities begin at 2 p.m. with food, inflatable games, and other activities on the football field at KCHS. In the event of rain, the

event will move indoors to the gymnasium. At 3 p.m., CCET executive director Father Ragan Schriver and Frank Murphy, an on-air personality with Star 102.1, will lead a one-mile fun walk around the KCHS track and on the adjacent grounds of All Saints Church. n

Ladies of Charity dinner, dance, and auction set April 28 at KCHS

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he Ladies of Charity of Knoxville are having a “Wild West Roundup” for their fundraising

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dinner, dance, and auction this year.

The dinner is set for 6 p.m. Saturday, April 28, in the Knoxville

Catholic High School gym.

Tickets are $75 and include the dinner and auction. Ages 21 and

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over only. Make reservations by Friday, April 20, by calling Carolyn at 865-584-1480. n dioknox.org

Chancery staffers attend day of recollection

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hancery staffers took a break from their duties March 7 for a day of recollection at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Lenoir City.

Father Michael Woods, pastor of All Saints Parish in Knoxville, led the day. He said he was “very humbled” when Bishop Richard F. Stika asked him to be the leader.

“My first reaction was, ‘Oh, no, please not me,’” he said. “That the bishop had confidence to ask me and trust to lead it, I had to go because God was asking me.”

The day began with a Mass concelebrated by Father Woods, Father David Boettner, and Father Randy Stice, with Deacons Sean Smith and Tim Elliott assisting.

Father Woods had a theme for the day of recollection, attended by Kicker continued from page 3

ed a prokicker camp last summer in Knoxville and also participated in a camp in 2010.

Alex also is a good student and excels in other sports.

“The good thing that I like is that he doesn’t let it go to his head,” said his father. “He keeps a good balance with everything and doesn’t showboat it like some kids do sometimes.

He’s definitely a team player.”

Alex’s average kickoff distance is 56 yards with a four-second hang time, and in OLPH’s 12-1 season last fall he put half of his kickoffs into the end zone and made 31 of 32 extra points.

Alex didn’t play football until sixth grade, although OLPH coaches were after him for some time to participate.

“They probably had been pestering me for a good two or three years before I finally came out,” he said. “During football season, they would be like, ‘Hey, why aren’t you out there on the field practicing?’ I heard that for a few years before I The East Tennessee Catholic

more than two dozen staffers.

“What I wanted to happen at the end is to see the trust that Jesus has in living his life in a Chancery setting, and that it must be lived there as much as anywhere else,” he said. “So often Chancery is seen just as an entity rather than an opportunity to live the body of Christ.

“Also the bishop asked me to create a sense of unity and togetherness in the work that they do because so many are strong personalities and strong leaders, so that to bring about unity is really the exercise of grace.”

Materials presented to the Chancery staff included the book Five Loaves & Two Fish (Pauline Books & Media, 2003) by Cardinal Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan. n finally decided to try out.”

Alex already has dreams of where he might like to play in college. He is known as “D1” on the middle school team because of the likelihood he will play at the Division 1 level collegiately.

“I’ve grown up a Tennessee fan, so it would be cool to play for Tennessee and run through the ‘T,’ but it could always change in the future,” he said.

The middle school player is an A student and also a standout in soccer, baseball, and basketball. Alex said he is just as proud of his good academic standing as he is of his athletic accomplishments.

“My parents have always told me if I don’t keep my grades up, I can’t play sports, so I’ve always striven to have good grades,” he said.

Kicking often is a lost art even at the high school level, where many teams go for two-point conversions instead of extra points and are unable to make deep kickoffs.

Alex nearly boomed one field goal

DAN MCWILLIAMS

Father Michael Woods leads a retreat for the group at St. Thomas the Apostle Church By Dan McWilliams

Day of Recollection Father Michael Woods celebrates Mass during the Chancery’s Day of Recollection on March 7 at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Lenoir City. Mass concelebrants were Father David Boettner (second from left) and Father Randy Stice.

Deacons Tim Elliott (far left) and Sean Smith (far right) assisted in the Mass.

from 48 yards in a game at Lookout Valley.

“It was just half a yard short of the goal post,” OLPH coach Bucky Dearing said.

“I’ve made a 45-yarder in practice before,” Alex noted.

“I get the feeling that Alex goes out and spends a lot of time on weekends or whatever practicing,” Mr. Dearing added.

Alex won OLPH’s Michael Appleby Best All-Around Player award in 2010 as a seventh-grader after excelling as a passer, receiver, lineman, kicker, and punter.

“There is literally not a position on the team that he cannot play,” Mr. Dearing said. “He was probably our leading receiver as well as our leading passer in yards.

On offense, if I didn’t have him at quarterback or at end, I’d have him playing tackle, and he’d just pancake his kid.

“He can punt 50 yards and—it depends what we were asking for—if I told him to put the ball

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into the end zone, then one out of every two went into the end zone.

He can kick a beautiful onside.”

Mr. Dearing made a video of Alex, intending to show the young player’s different football feats back-to-back without repeating any.

“It ended up being two minutes long,” the coach said. “It was a video of him pancaking on a block, getting a quarterback sack, getting in the backfield and shutting another runner down, kicking a 40-yard field goal, kicking an extra point, throwing a two-point conversion, catching a two-point conversion, catching a touchdown pass, and blocking a punt and picking it up and running it in for a touchdown.”

Mr. Dearing called his kicker “a real special kid.”

“You don’t find many high school kids who can kick off and get a touchback. If he’s doing that as an eighth-grader, you know he’s going to be doing that in high school and college.” n April 1, 2012 7

Bishops continue ‘vigorous efforts’ against HHS mandate Committee says government has no place defining religion, religious ministry WASHINGTON (USCCB)—The U.S. bishops are strongly united in their ongoing and determined efforts to protect religious freedom, the Administrative Committee of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) said in a March 14 statement.

The Administrative Committee, chaired by Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York, president of the USCCB, is the highest authority of the bishops’ conference outside the semi-annual sessions of the full body of bishops. The committee’s membership consists of the elected chairmen of all the USCCB permanent committees and an elected bishop representative from each of the geographic regions of the USCCB. The full statement can be found at www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/ religious-liberty/upload/AdminReligious-Freedom.pdf.

The Administrative Committee said it was “strongly unified and intensely focused in its opposition to the various threats to religious freedom in our day.” The bishops will continue their vigorous work of education on religious freedom, dialogue with the executive branch, legislative initiatives and efforts in the courts to defend religious freedom. They promised a longer statement on the principles at the heart of religious freedom, which

will come later from the bishops’ Ad Hoc Committee on Religious Liberty.

The bishops noted that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) mandate that forces all private health plans to provide coverage of sterilization and contraceptives – including abortion-inducing drugs – called for an immediate response. Of particular concern, they said, are a religious exemption from the mandate that the bishops deem “arbitrarily narrow” and an “unspecified and dubious future ‘accommodation’’’ offered to other religious organizations that are denied the exemption.

The bishops thanked supporters from the Catholic community and beyond “who have stood firmly with us in our vigorous opposition to this unjust and illegal mandate.”

“It is your enthusiastic unity in defense of religious freedom that has made such a dramatic and positive impact in this historic public debate.”

The bishops said this dispute is not about access to contraceptives but about the government forcing the Church to provide them. Their concerns are not just for the Catholic Church but also for “those who recognize that their cherished beliefs may be next on the block.”

“Indeed, this is not about the Church wanting to force anybody

to do anything; it is instead about the federal government forcing the Church — consisting of its faithful and all but a few of its institutions – to act against Church teachings,” they said.

The Church has worked for universal health care in the United States since 1919, they added, and said the current issue “is not a Republican or Democratic, a conservative or liberal issue; it is an American issue.”

The bishops called the HHS mandate “an unwarranted government definition of religion,” with government deciding who is a religious employer deserving exemption from the law.

“The introduction of this unprecedented defining of faith communities and their ministries has precipitated this struggle for religious freedom,” the bishops said.

“Government has no place defining religion and religious ministry,” they said.

“If this definition is allowed to stand, it will spread throughout federal law, weakening its healthy tradition of generous respect for religious freedom and diversity,” they said.

The bishops said the government’s foray into church governance “where government has no legal competence or authority” is beyond disturbing. Those deemed

by HHS not to be “religious employers,” the bishops said, “will be forced by government to violate their own teachings within their very own institutions. This is not only an injustice in itself, but it also undermines the effective proclamation of those teachings to the faithful and to the world.”

The bishops also called the HHS mandate “a violation of personal civil rights.” The new mandate creates a class of people “with no conscience protection at all: individuals who, in their daily lives, strive constantly to live in accordance with their faith and values,” the bishops said. “They, too, face a government mandate to aid in providing ‘services’ contrary to those values — whether in their sponsoring of, and payment for, insurance as employers; their payment of insurance premiums as employees, or as insurers themselves — without even the semblance of exemptions.”

The bishops called for the Catholic faithful, and all people of good will throughout the nation to join them in prayer and penance “for our leaders and for the complete protection of our First Freedom — religious liberty.”

“Prayer is the ultimate source of our strength,” the bishops said, “for without God we can do nothing.

But with God all things are possible.” n

Incidences of anti-Christian prejudice, legislation on the rise in Europe OXFORD, England (CNS)—A church-backed report has documented rising anti-Christian prejudice in Europe, despite calls for fairer legislation and measures to curb discrimination.

“Studies suggest 85 percent of hate crimes in Europe are directed against Christians — it is high time for the public debate to respond to

8 April 1, 2012

this reality,” said Gudrun Kugler, director of the Vienna-based Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians.

“A restrictive application of freedom of conscience is leading to professions such as magistrates, doctors, nurses and midwives as well as pharmacists slowly closing for Christians. Teachers and parents

get into trouble when they disagree with state-defined sexual ethics,” Kugler said March 19. Her agency’s 53-page report, published the same day, said incidents in 2011 had included a resolution by European legislators calling for a reassessment of legislation with “negative ramifications for Christians,” and a ruling by the European Court of

The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee

Human Rights that Christian crosses could remain in Italian schools after a constitutional challenge. It said “countless individuals and institutions” had warned of increasing anti-Christian intolerance and that the observatory had documented acts of vandalism, desecration, defamation and the exclusion of Christians from public and social life. n dioknox.org

Jail ministry: an outreach program in need of volunteers More teams, priests sought to contribute time serving local inmates

L

ast Lent as I listened to Jesus’ words in Matthew’s gospel, “For I was in prison and you visited me” (Matt. 25:36), I sadly realized that I had never practiced this corporal work of mercy. I didn’t even know where our Knox County jails were located or how someone goes about visiting a prisoner.

I silently prayed, “God, how can I do this?” It wasn’t long before my prayer was answered with a bulletin announcement asking for Jail Ministry volunteers. The ministry involved weekly worship services in Spanish and English.

The words from the Gospel echoed in my mind and tugged at my heart, “Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40). So I went to the first meeting and have been active in this ministry since.

A detail that Jesus leaves out, maybe intentionally, is the great joy and personal blessings that we receive from visiting those in jail.

Anyone who has donated alms, clothing, food or water to the poor can attest to the joy that fills the heart after practicing this act of generosity. Many times you never see or know the people who receive these donations. However, when you visit those in jail, you look into the eyes of Christ. These men and women are separated from and forgotten by society. At a time when they have hit rock bottom, they are alone. This is their desert and their hearts cry out, “I thirst” (John 19:28). They thirst for a compassionate ear, for hope, for love, and most of all, they thirst for God. No longer distracted by the world, they are seeking the meaning of their life and evaluating their own worth.

I would say that many believe the lie that they are unlovable. This is a dangerous way of thinking, a hopeless way of thinking. Jesus came to open a path to help our souls find God. God couldn’t bear to spend eternity without us so he sent his

By Susan McMillan

only Son to break down the walls that our sin has built up. We try to remind the inmates of the price Jesus paid for their soul. The best way to do this is visiting, to give what is most valuable to us, our time.

lingual Jail Ministry team has been given permission to offer a service in another part of the jail.

For this reason, we need new volunteers to lead music or conduct a service.

The quality most needed is greetFor information, contact Charlie ing the inmates with genuine hospitality. Spanish speaking volunteers Mulligan, 865-249-6802 or 865are important, but volunteers who 244-7375, or Geri Mulligan, 865speak only English can speak the 249-6802 or 865-243-7052. language of the heart as well.

It is difficult to describe the blessOur presence powerfully communiings I have received from this miniscates love, acceptance and the price- try: the humble gratitude expressed less value of their being. We are a re- by those visited, the way their eyes freshing break in their monotony; a light up when they see us, the preshope and reminder that they are ence of Christ powerfully experiloved by God and that He has not enced and the new relationships forgotten them. developed in each team and as a All this is done in a simple Catho- group. lic prayer service or the Sacrifice of The rewards are priceless. the Mass when a priest is available.

So, if you would like to make a (Priests are needed!) Right now, we deposit in your treasure chest in have three teams of three people heaven, come with us to the jail one who lead these services on SaturSaturday to see if you would like to days from 3-4 p.m. In June, our Bijoin a team. n

Diocesan Council of Catholic Women to convene April 26-28 in Gatlinburg

T

he Knoxville Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (KDCCW) will hold its 23rd annual convention from April 26-28 in Gatlinburg.

All events are being held at the Edgewater Hotel and Conference Center, with the exception of Masses that will be celebrated at St. Mary Church in Gatlinburg. This year’s theme, “Lessons From Our Mothers,” will be celebrated through speakers, commission sessions, daily liturgies, a mini-retreat, networking, and entertainment throughout the convention.

Bishop Richard F. Stika, the KDCCW’s honorary president, will preside at the annual memorial Mass at St. Mary Church on Thursday afternoon, April 26, in honor of all women who died this past year in the Diocese of Knoxville.

The East Tennessee Catholic

Thursday evening’s opening banquet will be held at the Edgewater Hotel and features Michael Trujillo, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Communications Program officer for the Southeast Regional dioceses in Georgia, Tennessee, and Alabama, who will give the keynote address.

Mr. Trujillo facilitates CRS Southeast relationships with diocesan communication directors and Catholic and secular media and promotes CRS fair trade/economic justice programs. He will share some of the many works CRS is involved in.

KDCCW service commission chair Jennifer Perkins will present two workshops, “Let the Older Women Teach the Younger,” a look at the spiritual foundations of mentoring across the generations, and “Simply Irresistible: Drawing Younger Women Into

the CCW.” Miss Perkins holds a bachelor’s degree in communications and public relations and is a parishioner at Blessed Sacrament in Harriman. She is originally from South Carolina, is a convert to Catholicism, and currently serves the diocesan Office of Christian Formation and the Office of the Diaconate at the Chancery.

Marilyn Hafner and Brenda Blevins are sponsoring convention workshops. Mrs. Hafner, the KDCCW spirituality commission chair, has a bachelor’s in sociology with a socialwork emphasis and is a member of Immaculate Conception Church in Knoxville. Mrs. Blevins, the leadership commission chair, is a native of Missouri and holds an MBA. She is a parishioner at St. Thérèse of Lisieux.

Leadership and spirituality workshops will be presented by Deacon

The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee

Gary Brinkworth, also from St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish, where he has served for one year. Deacon Brinkworth was ordained in 2000 in Tallahassee, Fla., and has coordinated RCIA, led adult formation courses, and served as chaplain of a Boy Scout council. He will present three workshops, “Mother May I,” “The Pope and the Chauffeur,” and “What do you get when you mix a donkey with an elephant?”

On April 28, Sister Timothea Elliot, RSM, director of Christian Formation for the diocese, will lead a mini-retreat. Sister Timothea holds a doctorate in sacred Scripture and a master’s in theology. All women are invited to attend the convention.

To register, visit www.kdccw.org or contact Amelia Sweeney at 865-2099097 or singinglt@gmail.com. n April 1, 2012 9

Diocesan calendar

by Margaret Hunt St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Lenoir City will host the premiere performance of Dr. Cormac O’Duffy’s “Requiem Gloriosam,” featuring the combined choirs of St. Thomas plus guest soloists and guest artists from the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, at 7:30 p.m.

Palm Sunday, April 1. Admission is free.

Dr. O’Duffy, director of music ministries at St. Thomas, has been composing Christian music since 1980. His compositions have been published and performed throughout the world. For more information on the concert, call the St. Thomas parish office at 865-986-9885.

The Roueché Chorale and Orchestra will present a free Holy Week program, “Colors of Grace,” at 7 p.m.

Monday, April 2, at Concord Baptist Church, 7025 E. Brainerd Road in Chattanooga. The program will include a chorus, orchestra, cast, and narrator.

Jeff Roueché, a parishioner of St. Stephen in Chattanooga, is the founder and artistic director of the chorale. For more information, call the chorale office at 423-855-2981, visit www.the rouechechorale.org, or call the church office at 892-9313.

A Gregorian chant workshop for children age 7 to 18 will be held on Saturday, May 12, at Holy Ghost Church in Knoxville. The day will begin at 9 a.m. and conclude with Mass at 4 p.m. Participants will learn to read chant notation and to sing chant in English and Latin. Lunch is provided. Cost is $25 per child, with a family maximum of $50. For more details, call Mary Frazier Garner at 865-805-3187.

The Sevier County chapter of Tennessee Right to Life is having its seventh annual oratory contest at 6 p.m.

Thursday, April 12, at the Sevierville Civic Center. The contest is open to Sevier County high school students, and speeches can be on the topic of abortion, euthanasia, stem-cell research, or infanticide. The deadline for applications

10 April 1, 2012

is Thursday, April 5. The first-place winner will receive a cash prize of $200, second place $150, and third place $100. An art contest will also be held for Sevier County middle-school students at the same day and time as the oratory contest. Participants can create a work of art that illustrates any one of the life issues. Prizes are $100 for first, $50 for second, and $25 for third. To learn more or obtain an entry form, contact Terry Aparicio at 865-654-7685 or seviercountyrighttolife@yahoo.com.

Knoxville Catholic High School is hosting a Golden Grad Brunch for the classes of 1962 and earlier from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 21, in the KCHS Commons. Cost is $15 per person. RSVP to Diannah Miller at dmiller@knoxville catholic.com by Tuesday, April 3, to reserve your spot.

The fourth annual Paulist Open Golf Tournament will take place at Willow Creek Golf Course in Farragut on Saturday, June 9. The tournament will begin with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. and will have a scramble format. Several other activities will take place the day before and the evening after the tournament including a welcome dinner and silent auction from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, June 8, at The Foundry and Mass at Blessed John XXIII Catholic Center at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, followed by a cocktail hour and awards banquet at the University of Tennessee Visitor Center. To register, volunteer, or become a sponsor, visit www.paulist.org/golf or contact Izabella Downs at 800-472-8547 or ilopez@paulist.org.

The Ladies of Charity of Knoxville will hold a golf tournament Friday, May 4, at Knoxville Municipal Golf Course. The event has a morning start and includes door prizes, breakfast, beverages, pizza, closest-to-the-pin prizes, player gifts, and team prizes.

Four hole-in-one prizes include a trip to Pebble Beach. The tourney format is four-person select shot. Registration is $125 and includes mulligans. To register or learn more, contact Joe Fuhr at

865-693-1810 or fuhr4221@aol.com.

Teams or individual players (men or women) and sponsors are welcome to participate.

or family name listed in the ad is $10 per person or $15 per family. For further details, contact the TRL office at 865-6891339 or trlknox@knology.net.

The Blue & White Spring Fling, benefiting the endowment and scholarship funds at St. Mary School in Oak Ridge, is set for Friday, April 20. The day will begin with a golf tournament and “PuttPutt Bling-Bling” at Centennial Golf Course and end with a family dinner and dance (“boots, chaps and cowboy hats”) in the school gym. All alumni and current school families are encouraged to attend. Call the school office at 865483-9700 for more information.

Catholic Charities of East Tennessee is holding a Rachel’s Vineyard weekend, a healing and recovery retreat for those experiencing emotional or spiritual difficulties as a result of abortion. The retreat will be held April 20 through 22 in Athens. Complete confidentiality is honored at all times. For more information, contact Sandi Davidson at 865-7764510 or sandi@ccetn.org or Catherine McHugh at 694-4971 or peace4lilith@ aol.com.

The ninth annual Fighting Irish Spring Classic, benefiting Catholic Charities’ Pregnancy and Adoption Services, is set for Saturday, April 28, at Smokies Park in Kodak. Grace Christian Academy will play Jefferson County in the first baseball game at 2 p.m., followed by Knoxville Catholic High School vs. Webb School of Knoxville at 4 p.m. Pregame entertainment will start at 1:30 p.m. Sponsorship opportunities are available. Call Tom Ciaccia at 865-765-4046 or e-mail tciaccia@comcast.net for details. Advance tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students ($6 and $4 at the gate). For groups of 10 or more, tickets are $4 per adult and $2 per student. To buy tickets or learn more, contact one of the participating schools or Mark Clubb at 3006662 or mclubb@tedfordtellico.com.

Fathers David Carter, Tom Moser, and John Dowling will lead a pilgrimage to Italy from June 30 through July 8.

Sites on the tour will include Rome, the Vatican, four major basilicas, the catacombs, the Coliseum, Tuscany, Florence, Assisi, and Venice. To register or learn more, visit www.proximotravel. com or call 855-842-8001.

A Beginning Experience weekend will be held April 13-15 at Deerfield Resort in LaFollette. The program helps grieving separated, divorced, and widowed individuals through a program of team presentations, private reflection, and small-group sharing. The cost of the weekend is $175. Contact Marian Christiana at 423-892-2310 or mchristiana@ dioknox.org. A downloadable registration form is available at bit.ly/yJyTgC.

The next Engaged Encounter weekend in the diocese will be held April 13 through 15 at the DoubleTree hotel in Oak Ridge. To register, call Jason or Carmen Jeansonne at 865-377-3077. For more information on Engaged Encounter, contact Jerry or Mary Daugherty at 865458-4117 or ceeknoxville@gmail.com or visit www.rc.net/knoxville/cee/.

Tennessee Right to Life is sponsoring its annual Mother’s Day ad in the Knoxville News Sentinel on Sunday, May 13. The cost to have an individual

The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee

The next charismatic Mass at Holy Spirit Church in Soddy-Daisy will be celebrated at 5 p.m. Sunday, April 29. Father Dan Whitman of Holy Trinity Parish in Jefferson City will be the celebrant.

Singers and instrumentalists who would like to participate should arrive at 4:30.

Prayers for healing will follow the Mass.

Call Dee Leigh at 423-842-2305 for more information.

Mass in the extraordinary form (“traditional Latin”) is celebrated at 1:30 p.m. each Sunday at Holy Ghost Church in Knoxville, at 3 p.m. on first and third Sundays at St. Thérèse of Lisieux Church in Calendar continued on page 11 dioknox.org

Chattanooga Deanery calendar Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in South Pittsburg is sponsoring Marian devotions each Sunday in May at the Virgin of the Poor Shrine in New Hope, beginning at 2 p.m. CDT. A light lunch will be served at noon. For details, contact the parish office at 423-837-7068.

The youth ministry at St. Augustine Parish in Signal Mountain is sponsoring “Cross Training,” an overnight high school service, fasting, and worship retreat, on Thursday, April 5, through Friday, April 6. Contact Catherine Wiedeman at 423886-3424 or cwiedeman@staugustine catholic.org.

St. Stephen Parish in Chattanooga is holding a golf tournament Saturday, April 14, at Brainerd Golf Course in Chattanooga. Check-in begins at 7:30 a.m., followed by a shotgun start at 8. The format is four-person select shot, with mulligans available for purchase. Prizes are available for holes in one on three par-3 holes, including one $10,000 prize. There will be door prizes for every player and special prizes for men’s and women’s longest drive and closest-tothe-pin shots. An auction of donated gifts

Parish notes: Chattanooga Deanery

will be held during lunch. Cost is $85 and includes greens fees, cart, hot dogs, two free drinks, and lunch. Proceeds will help reduce the debt on St. Stephen’s new kitchen. To register, volunteer, or become a sponsor, call the church office at 423892-1261 or contact John Vannucci at 309-5133 or jvannucci@comcast.net.

St. Augustine, Signal Mountain A parish mission was held March 25-28. Father Abraham Vettuvelil, a member of the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales, presented the mission.

St. Jude, Chattanooga The St. Jude Hispanic music ministry sold tamales to raise funds for musical instruments the weekend of March 3-4.

The next “Picture of Love” engagedcouples retreat will be held Friday and Saturday, June 1 and 2, in the parish life center at St. Thérèse of Lisieux Church in Cleveland. This marriage-preparation retreat supplements couples’ marriage formation with their parish priest and is designed to help couples gain a better understanding of the joys and challenges of living the sacrament of matrimony.

Couples will meet from 7 to 10 p.m. June 1 and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. June 2. Cost is $135 per couple and includes meals on Saturday. The retreat certificate, for those attending the entire event, is good for a $60 discount on a marriage license.

To register or learn more, contact Marian Christiana of the diocesan Office of Marriage Preparation and Enrichment at 423-892-2310 or mchristiana@dioknox. org. n

Parishioner Kristen McConnell is leading children’s liturgy during the 10:30 a.m.

Mass for children ages 3 to 5. The program will include music, games, and drama intended to make the readings from each Sunday more meaningful to this age group. E-mail Kristin at kgconnell@gmail.com to volunteer.

The Secular Carmelites meet from 1:30 to 5:15 p.m. on third Sundays in the Parish Life Center library. Contact Teresa at 423-875-4822 or Kathy at 509-6492 for more information.

A St. Joseph’s altar was prepared in the Parish Life Center on March 19. Donations of canned goods were requested for the Community Kitchen.

Volunteers are requested to help plan and teach the St. Jude vacation Bible school, scheduled for the week of June 11-15. Contact Kyra at 870-2386 for more information.

St. Stephen, Chattanooga The Primetimers (ages 50-plus) will be attending a baseball game featuring the Chattanooga Lookouts vs. the Mobile Bay Bears at 2:15 p.m. Sunday, April 29.

Tickets are $16.50. Contact Bill Reynolds at 423-893-8300 for more information.

Sts. Peter and Paul, Chattanooga A Lenten Hymn Festival was performed March 11. n

COURTESY OF PINKY YOUNG

Calendar continued from page 10

Free-throw contest conducted by St. Augustine Knights The Knights of Columbus at St. Augustine Parish in Signal Mountain recently held their first Free Throw Challenge at the Signal Mountain Town Hall gym. Eighteen kids ages 10 to 14 participated. Girls and boys winners by age group were Siena Rodrigues and Carter Kelly, age 10; Lizzy Diaz and Mark Jones, age 11; Teresa Holmes and Davis Kelly, age 12; Olivia Young and John Carlson, age 13; and Mallory Young and Christopher Feemster, age 14. Mark made the most baskets, sinking 12 out of 15 1shots. Winners progressed to the district competition.

The East Tennessee Catholic

Cleveland, and at 3 p.m. on second and fourth Sundays at St. Joseph the Worker Church in Madisonville. The 1:30 p.m. extraordinary form Mass on Easter Sunday (April 8) at Holy Ghost will be a solemn Mass with Father David Carter (celebrant), Father John Orr, and Father Christopher Riehl as the sacred ministers. The choir will offer sacred polyphony and the Gregorian chant of the Easter Mass. Visit www.knoxlatinmass.net for updated information.

The St. Thomas the Apostle Ukrainian Catholic Mission celebrates Divine Liturgy at 10 a.m. Sundays in the chapel at the Chancery office in Knoxville. All services are in English. Call Father Richard Armstrong at 865-584-3307 or visit www. saintthomasknoxville.org for details.

Holy Resurrection Ruthenian Byzantine Catholic Mission has Divine Liturgy celebrations at 9:30 a.m. Sundays at the old Holy Ghost Church, 1031 N. Central St. in Knoxville. For times of holy-day services or for more information, visit www. knoxbyz.org or call Father Thomas O’Connell at 865-256-4880. n

The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee

April 1, 2012 11

Cumberland Mountain Deanery calendar

Parish notes: Cumberland Mountain Deanery All Saints, Knoxville All Saints Church has organized a communications committee. The committee is planning to redesign the parish website, newsletter, bulletin, and parish directory.

Graphic designers, videographers, writers, and bloggers are needed to assist the committee with reaching these goals. Contact Rose Mayfield at rosem619@yahoo. com or 865-531-5970 or Martin Vargas at martinpvargas@hotmail.com to volunteer.

Father John Appiah thanked parishioners from All Saints and St. Mary Parish in Oak Ridge for organizing a Mardi Gras fundraising dinner. Proceeds from the dinner will benefit a medical mission he will be leading to Ghana later this year.

The parish hosted a Lenten retreat, “The Hidden Life: A Parish Mission,” from March 11-15.

The Senior Kids at All Saints Church in Knoxville are sponsoring a fashion show and tea at noon Wednesday, April 11. Reservations are required. Contact Camille at 865-671-3681 or Rae at 5589154 for more information.

of service projects for poor and shut-in residents of that community. Donations can be brought to the parish office in an envelope marked “youth mission trip.”

Contact Al Forsythe at 865-862-5754 for more information.

Gift cards to Lowe’s and Home Depot and cash donations are requested by the St. John Neumann Parish youth ministry to help defray the costs of a mission trip to Osage, W.Va., during the week of April 9-13. The youth of the parish will participate in a variety

The Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Home School Support Group will present a living Stations of the Cross at St. John Neumann Church in Farragut at 6 p.m. Friday, March 30. Contact Lydia Donahue at donahuen04@hotmail.com for more information. n

Blessed Sacrament, Harriman The Council of Catholic Women hosted a covered-dish dinner and talent show March 18.

The Catholic Youth Organization visited with residents of the Harriman Care and Rehabilitation Center on March 4.

St. John Neumann, Farragut

There will be an Easter egg hunt at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 7, at St. John Neumann School for children ages 8 and under. Refreshments will be served after the hunt.

Donations of candy can be made to the church office before March 30. Contact the parish office at 865-966-4540 for more information.

St. Francis of Assisi, Fairfield Glade The Council of Catholic Women will host a day trip to Chattanooga and the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul on Wednesday, April 18. The tour guide will be St. Francis’ pastor, Father John Dowling.

Parish “celebrities” at St. Francis include Jimmy Weismuller, a longtime religiouseducation student who has earned his Eagle Scout award; John Simms, an award-winning artist whose work is in galleries and private collections across the country; and John J. Gratton, a published author who has a “Dusty Diamond” mystery series that has been optioned by a film production company as a pilot and potential television series to be shot later this year.

Anniversaries: Tom and Joan Edwards (60), Ray and Susan Butkus (58), Ed and Claire Sisson (57), Don and Carolyn Beck (57), Paul and Sue Brink (57), John and Charlotte Marick (56), Jerry and Judy Smith (53), Frank and Pat Prejna (53), James and Lynda Tjaarda (52), Francis and Alice Radwick (51)

St. Mary, Oak Ridge Sean Ahern, Bogdan Vacaliuc, and Piotr Zolnierczuk received Third Degree status in the Knights of Columbus at their Feb. 26 meeting.

Cumberland Mountain continued on page 13

12 April 1, 2012

COURTESY OF GEORGE LECRONE SR.

A women’s retreat, with the topic “Eucharistic Dimension of the Passion of Christ in a Woman’s World,” was held March 17.

Knights hold clergy-appreciation dinner Knights of Columbus Council 8781 hosted its 21st annual clergy-appreciation dinner Jan. 19 in the gym at St. John Neumann School. More than 200 attended, including Bishop Richard F. Stika and Cardinal Justin F. Rigali. Council 8781 presented Bishop Stika with checks for the two seminarians it supports. Above, council Grand Knight George LeCrone Sr. stands with Bishop Stika and Cardinal Rigali.

Stoccos celebrate 60th wedding anniversary

A

nthony and Rosemarie Stocco of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Fairfield Glade celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary Feb. 9.

The Stoccos were married at Our Lady of Grace Church in Chicago.

Their four children are Debra Ann Branson of Island Lake, Ill.; Lynn

The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee

Marie Henning of Pasadena, Calif.; David Stocco of Highland Park, Ill.; and Bruce Stocco of Antioch, Ill. The Stoccos also have six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Mr. Stocco retired from the National Safety Council in Chicago, and the couple moved to the Glade in 2008. n dioknox.org

Five Rivers Deanery calendar St. Mary Parish in Johnson City will present a service of Holy Week Scriptures, readings, and hymns at 7 p.m. Palm Sunday, April 1. The service follows Jesus from Palm Sunday through Holy Thursday and Good Friday to his burial.

in the parish hall at St. Dominic Church in Kingsport. The evening events include a silent auction, a live auction, dancing to music from the 1940s through the 1960s, and more. Proceeds from ticket sales and the auctions will benefit the school.

Tickets cost $25 per couple and $12.50 for individuals and are available from the school office. Contact Mary Jo McCarty at 423-245-8491 for more information. n

Holy Trinity, Jefferson City The Knights of Columbus hosted a St. Patrick’s Day dinner for the parish. Funds raised from the event supported the area Special Olympics.

A patriotic rosary was led by Marlene Holt at the church March 24 to pray for U.S. troops.

St. Dominic, Kingsport Members from St. Dominic Church who participate in the prison ministry in Sullivan County have been collecting paperback books in English or Spanish for the inmates in the Sullivan County Jail. Devotional guides like Guideposts, Magnificat, or other religious publications are accepted along with magazines such as Reader’s Digest and Prevention. A donation tub is located on the left side of the administration building for those who wish to make a contribution. Contact Billye Whitaker by e-mail at billyeann@charter.net or by phone at 423-239-3199 for more information.

COURTESY OF MAGGIE MAY

A “Route 66 Party” celebrating St. Dominic School’s 66th anniversary will be on Saturday, April 14 at 6:30 p.m.

Parish notes: Five Rivers Deanery

Notre Dame CCW has baby shower to benefit center The Council of Catholic Women of Notre Dame Parish hosted a baby shower Feb. 19 to benefit the Hope Center in Greeneville. Numerous gifts of baby clothes, baby toiletries, children’s Bible stories, toys and toy bins, and much-needed diapers and baby wipes were gathered by the parish and donated to the Hope Center. Sharon Hodgens, director of the Hope Center, was the guest speaker, accompanied by Melissa Lamb, a part-time employee at the facility. From left are Ms. Lamb, Ms. Hodgens, CCW vice president Sandy Alter, and CCW president Aimee Place.

St. Dominic Elementary and Preschool is accepting parishioner applications for the 2012-13 school year. Information can be found in the church narthex, online at www.saintdominiccatholicschool.com, or by contacting the school at 423-245-8491.

St. Henry, Rogersville The women of St. Henry held a Valentine/Mardi Gras dinner and white-elephant exchange at Juanita’s Mexican Restaurant in Rogersville.

Knights of Columbus Council 8860 recently held a Tootsie Roll Drive and donated $1,450 to the Chip Hale Center in Rogersville.

The women of St. Henry held an organizational meeting at the Legacy Bay clubhouse March 22.

Anniversaries: Chuck and Star Dennis (59), Bernardino and Josefina Marcelo (53)

St. Patrick, Morristown

COURTESY OF JANE WICKER

The social-action committee collected cleaning items for the Morristown Association Temporary Shelter during March. n

Prayer-blanket ministry has workday Members of the prayer-blanket ministry at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Fairfield Glade gathered recently for a workday to update their inventory of prayer blankets for the new year. These blankets will be blessed by pastor Father John Dowling and prayed over by members of the parish. They will then be distributed throughout the year by request to parishioners and acquaintances of parishioners who are sick and in need of prayer.

The East Tennessee Catholic

Cumberland Mountain continued from page 12 St. Thomas the Apostle, Lenoir City The St. Thomas women’s guild will have its monthly meeting in the family life center Monday, April 23. The meeting will begin at 9:15, after morning Mass. Parishioner Cindy Solomon will speak on “Prayer Through Journaling.” All women of the parish are welcome to attend, as are any guests.

The annual luncheon and card party sponsored by the women’s guild is set for Thursday, May 10. The luncheon begins at 11:30 a.m., and card games will be played until 3 p.m. Tickets are $16; to purchase tickets, call Pam Skinner at 865408-9817. n

The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee

April 1, 2012 13

Smoky Mountain Deanery calendar

Parish notes: Smoky Mountain Deanery

A Tenebrae service will be celebrated at Holy Ghost Church at 8:30 p.m. Monday, April 2. The Tenebrae is a Holy Week devotion that is characterized by the successive extinguishing of candles as the service progresses. Most of the Tenebrae is taken verbatim from the Scriptures.

Call the parish office at 865-522-2205 for more information.

Immaculate Conception, Knoxville The women’s group is collecting handmade or purchased lap quilts and afghans to be distributed to Meals on Wheels participants during the week before Easter.

A collection basket is available in the narthex.

Baptism: Holden Chad Sharp, son of Jeremy and Heather Sharp

Our Lady of Fatima, Alcoa Members of Our Lady of Fatima participated in Operation Inasmuch on March 24. Participants in Operation Inasmuch volunteer at several social-service agencies and schools performing a variety of tasks for the agencies involved in the program.

The IC Bees at Immaculate Conception Church in Knoxville are sponsoring a quilt show after all Masses the weekend of March 31 and April 1. A twin-sized quilt will be raffled at the end of the show. Baby and lap quilts will be available for sale. Entry forms are available in the narthex and are

The parish collected anti-bacterial soap and children’s books for Operation Inasmuch.

There are eight new Third Degree members of the Our Lady of Fatima Knights of Columbus: Robbie Buck, John Donovan, Frank Faber, Michael Riley, Wendell Riley, Bruce Sakry, Jeff Stults, and Matt Ward.

due by Wednesday, March 28. Proceeds from the show will be used to buy more materials to make quilts, afghans, and baby layettes for Meals on Wheels recipients, Ladies of Charity clients, and many others. Contact Geri Couturier for more information at 865-932-1208.

A Seekers of Silence Contemplative Saturday Morning will be held April 14 at Blessed John XXIII Catholic Center in Knoxville. Monica Armstrong will speak on the topic “The Spirituality of St. Ignatius of Loyola.” Coffee and tea will be served at 8:30 a.m.; the workshop will run from 9 a.m. to noon. Bring a bag lunch. RSVP at 865-523-7931. n

Sacred Heart, Knoxville The Haiti Outreach Program sponsored the annual Fierce & Fancy Formals fashion show on March 3 at the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. The prom dress sale on March 4 and March 10-11 raised more than $5,000 for a new secondary school in Boucan-Carré, Haiti.

St. Albert the Great, Knoxville

The Corporal Works of Mercy committee sponsored its second annual Easter basket and food drive the weekend of March 24-25, which will benefit families the parish assists during the Christmas season.

St. Albert the Great is sponsoring a Soles4Souls shoe drive. Gently used shoes can be placed in collection barrels located outside the parish center doors. The drive began March 28 and will run through Saturday, April 28.

St. Joseph the Worker, Madisonville A reception Feb. 29 introduced men of the parish to the Knights of Columbus.

The reception included a short program on what it means to be a Knight and what the Knights do for families, the parish, and the community. A recent survey indicated a strong desire to establish a Knights council at St. Joseph the Worker, and the parish was authorized by the Knights to form a Round Table. n

14 April 1, 2012

COURTESY OF GEORGE LECRONE SR.

Father Terry Cramer, parochial vicar of the Church of the Blessed Sacrament in Alexandria, Va., presented a Lenten day of reflection for the parish titled “The Beatitudes: A Ladder to Heaven” on March 10.

Scouting awards presented at Sacred Heart About 100 people attended the Scouting Blue and Gold award ceremonies held in the Sacred Heart Cathedral School gym March 11. Twelve boys received religious-emblem awards from the Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting. Pictured are (front) Connor Brunson, who received the Parvuli Dei award; (from left, middle row) Tyler Pruitt, Davis Huber, and James Valderama, who received the Light of Christ award; and (back row) Dominic Spezia, Collin Tornstrom, Will Stokes, and Kevin Farmer, who received the Light of Christ award. Not pictured are J. J. Nix, Charlie Nations, and Ethan Marx, who received the Light of Christ award, and Parvuli Dei recipient Matthew Valderama.

The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee

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Catholic schools

NDHS QB Moore signs with Eastern Kentucky

Diocesan schools receive AP honor The scores of KCHS and NDHS students on AP Exams help earn recognition for the district.

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Knoxville Catholic High School and Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga had to not only increase access to Advanced Placement course work but also maintain or increase the percentage of students earning scores of 3 or higher on AP Exams.

Achieving both of these goals is the ideal scenario for a district’s AP program, because it indicates that the district is successfully identifying

motivated, academically prepared students who are likely to benefit most from AP course work. The majority of U.S. colleges and universities grant college credit or advanced placement for a score of 3 or above on AP Exams.

The Diocese of Knoxville school district is one of four from across Tennessee to be named to the AP District Honor Roll. n

COURTESY OF KATHRYN CHOU

iocese of Knoxville Schools recently had the honor of being placed on the second annual AP District Honor Roll for significant gains in Advanced Placement access and student performance.

The Diocese of Knoxville is among 367 school districts from across the United States and Canada on the list, which is named by the College Board.

To be considered for this honor,

Tree planting at St. Mary School in Oak Ridge St. Mary School in Oak Ridge hosted the city of Oak Ridge’s 27th annual Arbor Day and Tree City USA award ceremony March 2. Mayor Tom Beehan was present as well as Kevin Hoyt, director of the University of Tennessee Forest Resources Research and Education Center, and Dr. Tom Bailey, superintendent of Oak Ridge City Schools. Nancy Campbell’s fourth-grade class acted as the student representatives, and members of St. Mary’s Cub Scouts posted an honorary color guard while the donated tree—a red maple—was being planted.

The East Tennessee Catholic

The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee

Notre Dame’s Josh Moore recently committed to continue his football career at Eastern Kentucky University.

About 150 friends, family, and coaches joined Josh for his signing ceremony at NDHS’s John Varallo Athletic Center.

Josh finished his playing career with the Fighting Irish, and the 6-foot-2 signal caller helped lead the team to the state playoffs. He accumulated more than 4,000 passing yards, 40 touchdown passes, and three rushing TDs in a stellar career.

“I’m so appreciative of my time at ND,” Josh said. “My experience playing football at Notre Dame was incredible; however, I am even more grateful for how much I have matured as a person and how much I have grown spiritually.”

Josh thanked his parents, coaches, and fellow players during the ceremony. “I really want to thank my parents for all they have done for me through the years,” he said. “My parents are the best, and they have always supported and encouraged me in everything I have done.”

Josh’s coach and mentor over the last four years has been Charles Fant. “I can’t begin to tell you how much he has done for me as a player and a person,” Josh said. “It’s great to have a coach that played in the SEC and has the experience and knowledge he has. He has had a huge impact on my athletic career and even a bigger impact on my life. Coach Fant is family.”

After the ceremony, Josh reflected on the one short year he has been at Notre Dame. “This is such a special place. It just went by too fast.” n April 1, 2012 15

16 April 1, 2012

Oak Ridge parishioner’s Eagle project named No. 1 by Scouting council

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n Eagle project by Nick Bellofatto of St. Mary Parish in Oak Ridge was recently selected as the 2011 top Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project in the Great Smoky Mountain Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

Mr. Bellofatto’s service project consisted of designing and building a playhouse for the Wildcat Preschool program, a part of the Early Childhood Education Academy at Oak Ridge High School. He also cleaned up the playground area and sanded and painted pieces of the main playground structures. The program serves up to 15 preschoolage children each year and is open to the community.

The Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award recognizes valuable service of an exceptional nature by a Scout to a religious institution, a school, the community, or other entity. Mr. Bellofatto’s project was selected based on: St. John Neumann students celebrate Pi Day St. John Neumann School in Farragut was busy with standardized testing at the time, but middle school students still found time to celebrate Pi Day on March 14 (“3/14”). Pi is the numerical constant that represents the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter, on a flat plane surface, and is often rounded to 3.14. The middle school students brought in pies, cupcakes, and other treats with the pi symbol or 3.14 on them. The students also had a contest to see who could recite the digits of pi to the furthest decimal. Finally, seventh-graders (at right) posed for a group photo in the shape of the Greek symbol for pi.

Project planning and effort required to develop the project, and n The extent and character of the leadership provided by the Scout.

Mr. Bellofatto was presented his Eagle Scout award Dec. 17 at St. Mary Church. He is a scout with Troop 129 of Oak Ridge. Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program. Requirements include earning at least 21 merit badges and demonstrating Scout spirit through the Boy Scout Oath and Law, service to the community, and leadership.

This includes an extensive service project that the Scout plans, organizes, leads, and manages.

Mr. Bellofatto graduated from Oak Ridge High School in June 2011 and now attends the University of Cincinnati’s College of Design, Art, Architecture, and Planning. He is majoring in industrial design and plans to continue in Scouting as an assistant Scoutmaster when he returns from college. n n

COURTESY OF KIM BELLOFATTO

Alex Bahna, Brian Halford, Sam Melhorn, Thomas Morris, and Alex Notte were presented with Ad Altare Dei religious emblems in a Scout Sunday ceremony at All Saints Church on Feb. 11 at a vigil Mass.

George LeCrone Sr., lay chair of the Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting, presented the awards. The Ad Altare Dei is the oldest Catholic religious emblem and represents more than a year of hard work for the recipients. It is one of four Catholic religious emblems Boy Scouts can earn. Boy Scouts who earn all four can wear the Pillar of Faith pin on their uniform.

The four boys were also presented the International Awareness Award, an award created by the International Catholic Conference on Scouting to create awareness of Catholic Scouting around the world and the true meaning of the word Catholic. Thomas re-qualified for the award, which he earned as a Webelos Scout. Also presented with the International Awareness Award were adult Boy Scout volunteers Donald Bahna and Michael Morris.

The emblems were paid for by Knights of Columbus councils 5702 and 8781.

Giannine Morris received her official certification as counselor for the Ad Altare Dei program in the ceremonies.

For information on religious emblems or other patch programs such as the Rosary Series or Footsteps of the American Saints for Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, or American Heritage Girls, visit kdccs.org or call the Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting at 865-719-1548. n

Catholic youth

Nick Bellofatto

The project’s impact on the Early Childhood Education Academy n The originality of the project n The scope of the work n The level of skill employed to complete the project n

COURTESY OF MICHELLE DOUGHERTY

Boy Scouts, adult leaders honored at All Saints Church

The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee

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Our priests

From nurse to priesthood—answering a pastoral care call Father Joseph M. Hammond makes a long journey to the Knoxville Diocese By Margaret Hunt

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ather Joseph Mary Hammond, CHS, is the pastor of St. Patrick Church in Morristown. He was one of three sons of the late Joseph Hammond and Rebecca Quarshie and was born in Accra, Ghana.

Raised a Methodist, he was baptized a Catholic when he was 9 years old. Before Father Hammond was ordained a priest, he was a brother in the Order of St. John of God, a Spanish order that does hospital ministry.

He studied with the Crusaders of the Holy Spirit in London and was ordained Aug. 5, 1989, at St. Patrick Church in Birmingham, England, by Bishop Joseph Francis Cleary.

He came to the Diocese of Knoxville in 1998 through a connection with Father Tom Powers, whom he had met as a seminarian in London.

He became a U.S. citizen in 2011. Father Hammond enjoys walking, reading and praying before the Blessed Sacrament.

Who first influenced you in your vocation?

Father Baffoe was one of my first influences. I think the way he celebrated Mass is what caught my attention.

I liked the reverence in the way he said Mass and his personal holiness.

How did you become Catholic?

Through the school. I went through the catechism and everything at the school and then I was baptized.

How did you meet the Order of St. John of God brothers?

They had a hospital and I had been thinking about becoming a brother before. One of the priests there recommended me, so I went with them.

What was it like serving as a nurse?

I think it was great. I was taking care of the people when they were sick The East Tennessee Catholic

was a Franciscan priest who came there once a week. I was the first resident priest there for some time and then also I had 15 substations and I tried to visit those stations— more towns, more villages—where there was no priest at all. I tried to visit all of them. On Saturdays and Sundays I said four Masses (daily).

I did baptisms, first Communions, and weddings whenever I was there.

Right after I had gotten there, I had four weddings that year. The next year, the number shot up to 12 and it kept increasing. The presence of a priest also helps the people to come and they can get their catechesis and so on.

Father Joseph Mary Hammond

and giving comfort, especially those who were dying. Sometimes they were left alone and I tried to give them consolation and help them to die in peace.

How did you discern that you wanted to be a priest?

I had a confessor, Father Byrne, who was an SMA (Society of African Missions) father. He suggested I become a priest. I said yes, so he gave me the address of the CHS order and I wrote to them and they accepted me.

Where do priests from your order serve?

They serve in England, Ireland, in the U. S., in Venezuela, Colombia, and Argentina. They are missionaries where priests are needed most.

What did you enjoy most about your time as a missionary in Venezuela?

I served in the towns and villages around Guanarito, Venezuela. I was in a parish where the previous pastor

What gives you the most joy in your priesthood? What is most challenging for you?

Mostly, I prefer the pastoral work.

I go to the hospital to visit the sick and visit them in their homes. I find comfort doing that rather sitting in the parish office. I would say that the administration stuff is the most challenging.

How do you feel you’ve grown as a priest since your ordination?

When I was ordained, I thought I could do everything. Now I do the best I can. When I was in Venezuela, I tried to do everything that was asked of me and I got sick. I was advised to take care of myself and slow down.

If I didn’t slow down, I wouldn’t be able to do ministry.

Deacon James E. Wilson dies Deacon James Edward Wilson, 69, of Rossville, Ga., died Friday, March 16. Deacon Wilson served at Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Chattanooga.

Born and raised in Chattanooga, Deacon Wilson was a member of the Knights of Columbus Third and Fourth degrees and the American Legion. He served in the Vietnam War as a U.S. Navy hospitalman.

Deacon Wilson was preceded in death by his mother, Eva Wise, and father, George Wilson.

Survivors include his wife of 45 years, Glenda Wilson; sister, Brenda Yoder; daughter, Tammy and husband John Edde; sons, Christopher Wilson and Joseph and wife Pansy Wilson; and nine grandchildren.

The funeral Mass was celebrated Tuesday, March 20, at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul with Bishop Richard F. Stika and Monsignor George Schmidt officiating. Burial followed in Chattanooga National Cemetery. Condolences may be shared at www.chattanooga​ eastchapel.com. n

What advice would you give a young man considering a vocation to the priesthood?

I would say let the grace of God work through you. Listen to Him and do what he tells you in your heart. Pray during your discernment and give God the control. n

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April 1, 2012 17

Living the readings

Weekday Readings Sunday, April 1: Palm Sunday, Mark 11:1-10 (procession); Isaiah 50:4-7; Psalm 22:8-9, 17-20, 23-24; Philippians 2:6-11; Mark 14:1–15:47 Monday of Holy Week, April 2: Isaiah 42:1-7; Psalm 27:1-3, 13-14; John 12:1-11 Tuesday of Holy Week, April 3: Isaiah 49:1-6; Psalm 71:1-6, 15, 17; John 13:21-33, 36-38; Chrism Mass, Isaiah 61:1-3, 6, 8-9; Psalm 89:2122, 25, 27; Revelation 1:5-8; Luke 4:16-21 Wednesday of Holy Week, April 4: Isaiah 50:4-9; Psalm 69:8-10, 2122, 31, 33-34; Matthew 26:14-25 Holy Thursday, April 5: Mass of the Lord’s Supper, Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14; Psalm 116:12-13, 15-18; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-15 Good Friday, April 6: Celebration of the Lord’s Passion, Isaiah 52:13– 53:12; Psalm 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-17, 25; Hebrews 4:14-16 and 5:7-9; John 18:1–19:42 Holy Saturday, April 7: Holy Saturday, Easter Vigil, Genesis 1:1–2:2 and Psalm 104:1-2, 5-6, 10, 12-14, 24, 35; Genesis 22:1-18 and Psalm 16:5, 8-11; Exodus 14:15–15:1 and Exodus 15:1-6, 17-18; Isaiah 54:5-14 and Psalm 30:2, 4-6, 11-13; Isaiah 55:1-11 and Isaiah 12:2-6; Baruch 3:9-15 and 3:32–4:4 and Psalm 19:811; Ezekiel 36:16-28 and Psalms 42:3, 5 and 43:3-4; Romans 6:3-11 and Psalm 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23; Mark 16:1-7 Sunday, April 8: Easter Sunday, Acts 10:34, 37-43; Psalm 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23; Colossians 3:1-4; John 20:1-9 Easter Monday, April 9: Acts 2:14, 22-33; Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-11; Matthew 28:8-15 Easter Tuesday, April 10: Acts 2:36-41; Psalm 33:4-5, 18-20, 22; John 20:11-18 Easter Wednesday, April 11: Acts 3:1-10; Psalm 105:1-4, 6-9; Luke 24:13-35 Easter Thursday, April 12: Acts Readings continued on page 19

18 April 1, 2012

by Father Joseph Brando

The great transformation

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From Jesus of Nazareth to the risen Christ

pril is a transition month. It connects the winds of March to the flowers of May by means of that great transformation we call spring. April begins with the bleakness of death and ends with an abundance of life and the promise of more as planting begins. So, too, do the liturgies of April.

During springtime we see the epic change in our Lord. The spring of our relationship with God begins with Jesus’ transforming death and resurrection. Jesus becomes our risen Savior. We can watch this transition take place in the readings of April by paying attention to the names Jesus goes by in the course of the Sunday liturgies. My hope is that you will become interested and look up Jesus’ various titles that you find here and meditate on them. Your efforts will be well rewarded.

The readings of Palm Sunday present us with the first stage of the Easter transformation. The Old Testament reading, from Isaiah, presents one of his four “poems of the suffering servant.” Jesus saw these enigmatic poems as revelatory of his identity and his mission. It seems that Jesus saw in them and in Psalms 22 the blueprint for his life’s work. He would die for us. The human race would look to Him on the cross and, in sorrow and repentance for sin, return to Him and his heavenly Father.

The very next reading explains this more deeply. Paul explains to the Philippians and to us that Jesus, “though he was in the form of God, Christ Jesus…emptied himself taking the form of a slave.” Here we have two totally opposite titles for Jesus. Paul, writing some 20 or so years after the resurrection clearly calls Jesus “God.” He was God before he became man.

He is divine. What he did as God was to empty himself and become

man as well. God so loved us (even in our sinfulness) that the Second Person of the Trinity would share our humanity. He lowered himself even further by becoming a prisoner tied in rope and chains on that Holy Thursday night and Good Friday. He was literally a slave, pushed around, ridiculed, beaten and left to die on a cross.

Paul gives away the rest of the story in the last half of this extraordinary profession of Faith. “Because of this, God greatly exalted him… [So that] every tongue confesses that Jesus Christ is Lord.

We have three more names that we will see a great deal more of this month. Jesus goes without saying. It’s the name given him by the angel and that Mary and Joseph dutifully called him. It means, “God saves.” It’s related to “Joshua,” another common name that reminded everyone of the Patriarch who, leading the Israelite nation through the Jordan riverbed, took possession of the Promised Land. We now realize Jesus leads us through death by means of the waters of baptism into the “promised land” of heaven.

Christ is the title we know best about Jesus. It is a Greek word that translates to “Messiah” in Hebrew and means “Anointed One” in English. The “Anointed One” was a person specially appointed by God to lead his people out of trouble into safety and freedom. In Jesus’ time, there was an expectation that God would send someone to deliver Israel from its present status as divided and dominated by Rome. Some contemporaries of Jesus would take that concept to an eschatological level, predicting the Messiah would lead Israel to a New Age after the world as we know it ends.

Lord was a title that had several

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levels of understanding. It could be merely a polite title for a man, like “Sir.” It also could refer to someone who has total control of our lives as a master has over slaves. Further, it can relate to God. As Christianity entered the Roman Empire there was a great problem with that title. Pagan Roman government demanded that the emperor be called “Lord.” The Christians, by that time, taught that only Jesus could be called “Lord.” Many martyrs chose to die rather than call Caesar by a title that would deny the supremacy of Christ. With the first two readings as background, Palm Sunday presents us with the Passion according to Mark as our Gospel.

Let’s take a cursory look at this ‘masterpiece within a masterpiece’ from two of the many features it displays.

The first is from its overall structure.

Mark likes to use what some call brackets. Three consecutive passages would relate to each other as ABA. The beginning of Mark’s Passion narrative uses just such a device.

The Gospel starts with the chief priests and scribes plotting to have Jesus killed. Then we have the story of the woman anointing Jesus at Bethany. Third, we hear of Judas conspiring with the plotters. See, there’s a “sandwich” or bracket there.

The two pieces of bread describe the planning to execute Jesus. The ‘meat’ in between is the anointing of Jesus.

The plotting, therefore, was furthering Jesus’ program. And, the woman in Bethany was a prophet predicting that Jesus would soon become the Messiah, the anointed one.

Looking at these three passages we also can find that there is a contrast of darkness and light. The plotting is dark and the anointing is light. We can continue through Mark’s passion narrative to see light and dark following each other. The message there may be that Jesus’ passion and death is a battle of good versus bad, or life versus death or both. It is a drama of eternal significance.

Don’t miss yet another of the many themes running through the account. dioknox.org

There are several different titles given to Jesus throughout the two chapters of Mark’s Passion. They present an insight into the development of the life and death struggle.

The first title is given Jesus at the Last Supper. He is the teacher. He is bestowing deeper meaning on his disciples about such things as the bread and wine of the Passover Seder. In the garden, Judas greets Jesus with the title, Rabbi. It is still a common name for Jewish religious leaders meaning “my teacher” in English. Remember, Jesus didn’t want his followers to call anybody that. Either Judas missed that lesson or he was elevating Jesus to a higher status than human. When Jesus was interrogated, he was asked if he were the Christ. He answered, “I am.” We know from John’s Gospel and the priests’ reaction that these simple words meant more than “yes.” They also refer to the name God called himself in answer to Moses, “I AM WHO AM.” Under torture, Jesus revealed the truth of his being. In the same testimony Jesus goes on to call himself the Son of Man. This hearkens back to Ezekiel and Daniel. The high priests get this reference. Daniel had interpreted a dream in which a succession of animals dominate the earth until the last figure, a Son of Man, comes to rule forever. The animals represent nations and so the man represents someone divine.

During Pilate’s grilling of Jesus he wanted to know if Jesus is the King of the Jews. Jesus already had rejected being a king at the temptations in the desert; but this was important to Pilate. He was trying to see if he had authority to make a decision. He controlled, in the name of Rome, the political affairs of Judea and Israel. Jesus declared his kingdom was not of this world. Pilate understood that and said Jesus was not under his jurisdiction and, therefore, not guilty of the charges. He, nevertheless, ordered Jesus’ execution on the only grounds he had authority over, namely that he truly was the King of the Jews.

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As Jesus hung on the cross, he was mocked as the Christ and the King of Israel. In that last title, he would be the leader of all 12 tribes of Israel, which had never been united since the death of Solomon 950 years previous. The mock had the ring of truth as Jesus came to unite all of us.

As Jesus breathed his last, a centurion who should have had no idea what was really going on, made a pronouncement of profound significance, “Truly, this man was the Son of God.” Israel saw itself and its entire people as sons of God. That would not be remarkable. However, this man was Roman. Mark was writing to Romans. For them and for all us Westerners, “Son of God” meant what it sounds like. This Jesus whom his disciples called teacher, who became a slave for us and gave his life really is God. The centurion was wrong on one count. The “was” will soon be proved to be shortsighted.

As Easter dawns so also do more names for Jesus. Properly, Peter calls Jesus of Nazareth (very human) the Christ (meaning the one who went through death to be anointed with new life). He also is the judge of the living and the dead. As judge, our Lord dispenses the forgiveness and redemption for which he died. So, Paul tells us, we Christians are called to share his risen life.

The Gospel for the first of the Easter liturgies is from John. In it, significantly, there are no names for Jesus. The sight of the ‘empty tomb’ presents so strong an aura that no words can be spoken and no words are needed. Something striking happened and the tomb impels people to see and believe. Luke’s resurrection narrative has Mary Magdalene excitedly ask, “Where have they taken the Lord?” She asks this of someone she thinks is the gardener. When the risen Lord calls her by name she realizes who he is and calls him, “Rabboni,” a name of personal endearment meaning my dear teacher. Indeed, the risen Christ deserves a deeply personal place in our souls.

The following weekend in April brings us to Divine Mercy Sunday. If, at Easter, the Church was at awe of Christ’s resurrection and was silent, on Divine Mercy Sunday we realize that it is not by words but by personal witness that the name of Jesus Christ is to be proclaimed. The Jerusalem community of Christians show that they have the Lord in their midst as they express their unity by such ways as sharing their wealth. They loved one another. They had become the Body of Christ.

John, in his first epistle, which is the Sunday’s second reading, explains why that community and his community in Ephesus and every true Christian community can think that way. “If you believe that Jesus is the Christ you have been begotten by God.” Now that Jesus is risen from the dead, he can share our lives. We become sharers in the life of the one who is fully human and fully God. In Christ, we have overcome the world.

That’s what Easter does for us. We become one with the Word of God. That “Word,” which we speak, must be a word of mercy. Look back on the first meetings of the risen Christ with his Church. That is the scene John gives us in the Gospel. On Easter, Christ not only reunited his disciples who had scattered on Good Friday but he also ordered them to forgive others. This commandment was immediately put into effect as they worked to reconcile with the missing and doubting Thomas. We all know the story and its wonderful result. Thomas gets to see and touch the Lord and then put the definitive words on his encounter with the Christ by saying, “My Lord and my God.” Jesus, now risen, is personally ours; he is the Lord of our lives and is truly God. This is due to a merciful community that knows its soul is the risen Christ.

On the Third Sunday of Easter the Church presents the witness of Christian belief and practice some years after Christianity brought the Faith

Readings continued from page 18 3:11-26; Psalm 8:2, 5-9; Luke 24:35-48 Easter Friday, April 13: Acts 4:1-12; Psalm 118:1-2, 4, 22-27; John 21:1-14 Easter Saturday, April 14: Acts 4:13-21; Psalm 118:1, 14-21; Mark 16:9-15 Second Sunday of Easter, April 15: Divine Mercy Sunday, Acts 4:32-35; Psalm 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24; 1 John 5:1-6; John 20:19-31 Monday, April 16: Acts 4:23-31; Psalm 2:1-9; John 3:1-8 Tuesday, April 17: Acts 4:32-37; Psalm 93:1-2, 5; John 3:7-15 Wednesday, April 18: Acts 5:17-26; Psalm 34:2-9; John 3:16-21 Thursday, April 19: Acts 5:27-33; Psalm 34:2, 9, 17-20; John 3:31-36 Friday, April 20: Acts 5:34-42; Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14; John 6:1-15 Saturday, April 21: Acts 6:1-7; Psalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19; John 6:16-21 Third Sunday of Easter, April 22: Acts 3:13-15, 17-19; Psalm 4:2, 4, 7-9; 1 John 2:1-5; Luke 24:35-48 Monday, April 23: Acts 6:8-15; Psalm 119:23-24, 26-27, 29-30; John 6:22-29 Tuesday, April 24: Acts 7:51–8:1; Psalm 31:3-4, 6-8, 17, 21; John 6:30-35 Wednesday, April 25: Feast, Mark, evangelist, 1 Peter 5:5-14; Psalm 89:2-3, 6-7, 16-17; Mark 16:15-20 Thursday, April 26: Acts 8:26-40; Psalm 66:8-9, 16-17, 20; John 6:44-51 Friday, April 27: Acts 9:1-20; Psalm 117:1-2; John 6:52-59 Saturday, April 28: Acts 9:31-42; Psalm 116:12-17; John 6:60-69 Fourth Sunday of Easter, April 29: Acts 4:8-12; Psalm 118:1, 8-9, 21-23, 26, 28-29; 1 John 3:1-2; John 10:11-18 Monday, April 30: Acts 11:1-18; Psalms 42:2-3 and 43:3-4; John 10:110 n

Brando continued on page 22

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April 1, 2012 19

Reassess the temples in your marriage

Life and dignity

A leper’s lesson

By Marian Christiana During Lent my husband and I read The Little Black Book—Six minute Meditations on the Sunday Gospels of Lent as part of our Lenten practices.

The Little Black Book is produced by the Diocese of Saginaw, Mich. The March 15 reflection struck a particular chord with us and I thought it might strike a chord with other married couples, too.

The scripture reading was (John 2:19) “Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.’” Jesus knew that the Temple in Jerusalem had to come down because God had something new and wonderful in mind for his people.

The reflection focused on how we all build temples in our lives. Our temples are the plans we make for ourselves and for our families. Our intentions are always good but they might not be the best or most fruitful decision for us and for our families.

This month, let’s discuss the temples we build in our marriage. Are we listening to God’s plan for us as we build? n Say a short prayer together for an understanding heart before you begin your discussion. n Pick a temple from your past that had to come down.

Change can be difficult but now that you have some perspective, discuss how God had something much better planned for you. n Identify a temple that you are currently building. Is it good for both of you and for others?

Can you see God’s plan for you and your family in its blueprint? n Does your current temple need adjustments? Spend some quiet time with your spouse in

Marriage continued on page 21

20 April 1, 2012

by Paul Simoneau

A

The gift we have received is the gift we should give.

humbling encounter with a leper 10 years ago continues to offer me a lesson regarding the beauty and wisdom of the Church’s teaching on the measure of the gift we are called to be.

I used to live in Senegal, the westernmost country in Africa. Though I was in qan Islamic Republic, I was able to attend daily Mass at a nearby Catholic church. Every morning as I made the short walk to attend Mass, I would pass a number of lepers begging for alms. I always tried to have some small bills on hand, approximately a dollar in value, so as to give something, satisfied that I was being charitable.

One morning, I came before a blind and severely disfigured leper.

The area immediately around him reeked terribly of urine and the leper’s odor was no less strong. Wanting to quickly move on, I hurriedly dug into my pocket and drew out two banknotes of the same value, but with a big difference between them. One was brand new—crisp and clean. The other bill was so filthy and had been in circulation so long that it was falling apart, its printed value barely recognizable, so stained had it become. For a brief moment I examined and pondered which bill to give, and then bent down and dropped the dirty, crumpled bill into the leper’s coin bowl, already anxious to wash my hands for having handled something so disgusting.

What occurred next shook me to my core. Because the advance stages of his disease had claimed the leper’s eyesight and all of his fingers, he struggled to pick up the money that he knew I had dropped into his bowl. And to my horror, I watched as he managed to raise the foul wad of paper up to his mouth and,

anchoring it between his toothless gums, began to unroll the fetid bill with his fingerless hands. I realized then what a horrible thing I had just done.

A short time later, the roles were reversed. Despite the great shame I felt, I continued on to Mass that morning and was even more humbled when I found myself standing before Christ at communion time.

Now I was the beggar, infinitely poorer and far more disfigured by my selfishness than the leper I had stood before earlier. Despite my unworthiness and sin, Christ still held nothing back in offering Himself totally to me. His gift to me was no less than it had been upon Calvary.

Now I was the beggar, infinitely poorer and far more disfigured by my selfishness than the leper I had stood before earlier.

But how could I receive Holy Communion day after day and yet, when meeting Christ in the person of a leper, or for that matter any person, still act so selfishly? I had to admit that the manner in which I responded to the leper that morning—withholding the very best I had for myself—was no different from the way I was responding to Christ in the Eucharist.

Every time we receive Christ in the Eucharist, there is real communion, of which the sacramental two-in-one flesh union of a man and woman is a beautiful image (Ephesians 5:31-32). But Christ Our Bridegroom does not just seek communion with us, His bride, but also wants this union to be fruitful (John 15:8). There was sterility in my life and I knew it was because I was not being open to what Christ was of-

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fering. I was contracepting my relationship with him.

I started to think of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta and how she would go out into the streets in search of the poorest of the poor.

She seemed to give so much although she had so few means available to her. She never seemed to worry whether she had enough food or money to give, but only whether she had enough love to give—a love nourished by her communion with Christ.

Mother Teresa knew that to give as God gives, she needed to be a fruitful bride of Christ. And so each day she would offer Him the total gift of herself and her meager and finite resources—her five loaves and two fish (John 6:9). Christ would then make this communion with her fruitful and she in turn, through the gift of herself to others, would share this fruit—a bounty of “thirty, sixty, and hundredfold” (Mark 4:8).

Everything is given to us in the Sunday Eucharist, and the rest of the week is a time for giving back to Christ and to our neighbor the fruit of our communion with him.

I still have the banknote from 10 years ago. It reminds me that the Church’s teaching regarding contraception applies first and foremost to our relationship with our Heavenly Bridegroom and that it is the fruit of our communion with Christ that we are to share through the gift of our self with our spouse and our neighbor. It is a teaching not so much against something as it is to protect something very precious—the reciprocal gift of love and the fruit that is of Heaven and earth. n Mr. Simoneau directs the diocesan Justice and Peace Office. dioknox.org

Understanding the sacraments

by Father Randy Stice

Marriage continued from page 20

The Bible and the Sacraments

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Word of God and faith response must accompany symbolic actions of the liturgy

he Bible repeatedly affirms the power of God’s word. According to German theologian Johann Auer, “The Scripture never tires of speaking of the wonderful effect of the ‘Word of God,’ an effect that can otherwise be attributed only to the sacramental reality.” In Isaiah God declares, “My word that goes forth from my mouth shall not return to me empty, but shall accomplish that which I intend” (Isaiah 55.11). And in Jeremiah God asks, “Is not my word like fire and like a hammer which breaks the rock in pieces?” (Jeremiah 23.29).

We find the same teaching in the New Testament. The Letter to the Hebrews says “the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). Pope Benedict XVI calls this “the performative character of the word itself. In salvation history there is no separation between what God says and what he does. His word appears as alive and active (cf. Hebrews 4:12)” (The Word of the Lord, 53).

For this reason, there is an intrinsic and essential relationship between the liturgical word and the liturgical gesture. “The liturgical word and action are inseparable both insofar as they are signs and instruction and insofar as they accomplish what they signify. When the Holy Spirit awakens faith, he not only gives an understanding of the Word of God, but through the sacraments also makes present the ‘wonders’ of God that it proclaims. The Spirit makes present and communicates the Father’s work, fulfilled by the beloved Son” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, No. 1155). Word The East Tennessee Catholic

and gesture together make present the wonderful works of God in the sacraments.

The Second Vatican Council affirmed the importance of the Bible in the liturgy. “In the celebration of the liturgy, Sacred Scripture is extremely important. From it come the lessons that are read and explained in the homily and the psalms that are sung. It is from the Scriptures that the prayers, collects, and hymns draw their inspiration and their force, and that actions and signs derive their meaning” (Sacrosanctum Concilium, 24). For this reason, “it is essential to promote that warm and lively appreciation of sacred scripture to which the venerable tradition of Eastern and Western rites gives

The formula of absolution in the sacrament of reconciliation is a good example of a liturgical text that draws inspiration and force from the Scriptures. testimony” (SC, 24). Finally, it called for “a more ample, more varied and more suitable reading from sacred scripture” in all liturgical celebrations (SC, 24).

The formula of absolution in the sacrament of reconciliation is a good example of a liturgical text that draws its inspiration and force from the Scriptures: “God, the Father of mercies, through the death and the resurrection of his Son has reconciled the world to himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins; through the ministry of the Church may God give you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

The address, “God, the Father of

mercies,” is from 2 Corinthians 1:3: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort.”

The next phrase, “through the death … reconciled the world to himself” is also from 2 Corinthians: “God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself” (5.19). The gift of the Holy Spirit for the forgiveness of sins is taken from Jesus’ post-resurrection appearance to the apostles in the upper room: “He breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained’” (John 20.2223). The formula of absolution is woven from the living and active Word of God. In his apostolic exhortation “The Word of the Lord,” Pope Benedict XVI explained why it is important to understand the power of God’s word in the liturgy: “In the liturgical action, too, we encounter his word which accomplishes what it says.

By educating the People of God to discover the performative character of God’s word in the liturgy, we will help them to recognize his activity in salvation history and in their individual lives” (n. 53).

The symbolic actions of the liturgy are an essential part of the sacraments. However, “the Word of God and the response of faith have to accompany and give life to them, so that the seed of the Kingdom can bear its fruit in good soil. The liturgical actions signify what the Word of God expresses: both his free initiative and his people’s response of faith” (CCC, 1153). n Father Randy Stice directs the diocesan Office of Worship and Liturgy. He can be reached at frrandy@dioknox.org.

The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee

prayer. Visit the Blessed Sacrament together. Go to Mass early or stay late. Ask God to be the foundation of all of your temples.

Have a very Blessed Easter season! Enjoy the Good News, and let the meaning sink in.

Then, pass it on! n Mrs. Christiana is coordinator of the diocesan Marriage Preparation and Enrichment Office.

Jobs available

Sacred Heart Cathedral School is accepting applications for the positions of elementary school teacher, elementary music teacher, and technology coordinator.

Applicants for elementary teacher and music teacher must be certified and hold a current Tennessee teaching license. The music teacher will be responsible for teaching daily music classes in K through 5, produce Christmas and spring concerts, conduct the Sacred Heart Singers Chorus, produce a spring talent show, and lead the liturgical preparation in the elementary grades.

Applicants for technology coordinator should have experience in a school setting or training in technology education and be proficient with Microsoft Office, Mac OS X Lion, and educational software and hardware.

Occasional evenings and weekends are required.

Excellent benefits and opportunities for extracurricular involvement are included. Send a letter of interest and résumé to Sedonna Prater, Principal, Sacred Heart Cathedral School, 711 Northshore Drive, Knoxville, TN 37919. E-mail résumés to djackson@shcknox.org. n

April 1, 2012 21

Once upon a time

Brando continued from page 19

to the world. Luke gives us the Pauline perspective of 25 to 30 years after the resurrection. John gives us the insight of his community up to the year 100 ad. Interestingly, both traditions, that probably had no contact with each other, present Christ as the Righteous One. To be righteous is to walk in harmony with God, to conform our will to God’s. As Jesus did, so also should we concentrate on doing God’s will.

The Gospel, this Sunday, tells us what that means. Luke narrates a post-resurrection appearance of Christ. At first, the disciples think they are seeing a ghost. After the Lord convinces them otherwise, he tells them their function is to be the instruments of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. That makes sense. Jesus is our savior. We share his life and mission of righteousness. So, we are to live this Christian lifestyle of mercy towards all.

The last Sunday of April sums up this whole transition of Jesus through his passion, death and resurrection. Peter, at the Jerusalem Temple heals a cripple.

Then, he tells the crowd that this was done in the power of Jesus, the Nazarene. That’s a human term for Jesus before his resurrection. He’s letting them know a fantastic change has taken place. He is risen. And, He has established a people who can exercise the power of the Lord. John, in the epistle, writes that this “people” have a name, “Children of God.” That’s us!

We are empowered and led by Christ. So, the Gospel ending our April Liturgies is a fitting remembrance of what Jesus is for us after Easter and for all time, our Good Shepherd. n Father Brando is the pastor of St. Mary Parish in Gatlinburg.

22 April 1, 2012

by Monsignor Xavier Mankel

Following the footsteps of editors

I

The East Tennessee Catholic has a storied history dating to the early years of the Tennessee Register

was not at liberty to release the good news for our last column because of timing but the good word is out now that our Most Rev. Bishop has engaged as the next editor of this publication Mr. Bill Brewer, a longtime newspaperman who in recent years managed the business news department for the Knoxville News Sentinel.

Known throughout the region for his expertise in all aspects of modern newscasting, it surely comes as no surprise that our Bishop has appointed Bill as media director for our diocese.

Bill follows in the footsteps not only of our founding editor of The East Tennessee Catholic, Ed Miller, his successors April Partin and Mary Weaver, but also in the noble tradition established by editors of the Tennessee Register, the first regularly published enterprise of the diocese of Nashville that was begun in its centenary year of 1937 by the late great Bishop William L. Adrian, D.D., then the new Bishop of Nashville who served so magnificently until he went home to God. The Catholic Directory lists his term as our bishop from April 16, 1936, until his death on Feb. 13, 1972.

Bishop Adrian appointed as his first editor of his diocesan newspaper Monsignor George Flanigen, who served in this capacity from 1937 to 1942 and again from 1962 to 1968. Monsignor Flanigen was no stranger to the Catholic Press in Ten-

nessee as he had served as editor of previous attempts to provide a Catholic newspaper during the episcopacy of Nashville’s sixth bishop, the Most Reverend Alphonse J. Smith, D.D. (1924-1935). Monsignor Flanigen also authored the little history booklet, Catholicity in Tennessee 18371937, published for the centenary of the Diocese of Nashville (at that time including the entire state of Tennessee). A significant drawback to the work was that it lacks footnotes but it is still a most valuable tome.

The second editor of the Tennessee Register was Father Edward Cleary, who served from 1943-1949. Father Cleary served at St. Paul’s in Whitehaven in later years. The third editor was Father Joseph Wilson Cunningham, who was no stranger to the church of East Tennessee. Father Cunningham had served at the then new St. Mary’s Memorial Hospital in Knoxville as chaplain. His dear mother was a resident at the hospital during those years when the lines of hospital hospitality were drawn differently.

Father William E. Morgan was editor from 1956-1962. Again, an East Tennessee connection: Father Morgan was ordained a priest at Knoxville’s Church of the Immaculate Conception on Aug. 18, 1945, along with Fathers Carl Fassnacht (Chattanooga) and Knoxville’s own Father Jimmy Driscoll (principal of Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga in the 1950s, pastor at St

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The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee

Mary’s Gatlinburg, 1958-68, and uncle of our Father Ragan Schriver).

Father Morgan’s niece, Susie Rowland, teaches at Knoxville Catholic High School.

The first layman appointed editor of the Tennessee Register was Mr. Joseph Sweat, editor 1969-72 (and communications director 1972-1992).

Father James Eugene Eiselein was consulting editor with Mr. Sweat.

In 1972 Monsignor Owen Francis Campion was named editor and served until 1985, when he joined the staff of Our Sunday Visitor in Huntington, Ind., as publisher and assistant publisher of various journals there and as the editor of the professional journal The Priest.

There was no official Tennessee Register editor from 1985 until 1993, when Mr. Tony Spence was named editor until 1998. Since 1999, Mr. Rick Musacchio has been the editor and communications director for the Diocese of Nashville.

So, Mr. Bill Brewer has a formidable task ahead of him. He will continue to build on the work of the giants who preceded him and he will help all of us adapt to the everexpanding worlds of journalism and communication, to which laser-age technology beckons all who search for truth. Jesus Christ is our Truth and The Truth shall set us free. n Monsignor Mankel is a vicar general of the diocese and the pastor of Holy Ghost Parish in Knoxville.

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Diocese names Brewer as media director The East Tennessee native has worked for local newspapers, wire service

B

By Vonnie Spicer

DAN MCWILLIAMS (2)

ill Brewer of Knoxville has accepted the position as the diocese’s media director, starting March 12.

Mr. Brewer succeeds Mary C. Weaver, who had served in the role since 2001 before leaving the job March 2 to launch her own business.

The position’s responsibilities include serving as editor of The East Tennessee Catholic and maintaining the dioknox.org website.

Mr. Brewer is one of two newcomers on the Chancery staff. John Deinhart, the new director of the Stewardship and Strategic Planning Office (Feb. 5 ETC), will begin work April 16.

Mr. Brewer has been at the Knoxville News-Sentinel for the past 22 years, first as a copy editor and page designer, then as a business writer, assistant business editor, and since 2007 as business editor. Before that he was a bureau manager for United Press International and a reporter for The Knoxville Journal.

He has won awards from the Ten-

Bill Brewer

John Deinhart

nessee Press Association, the Society of Professional Journalists, and the Knoxville Newspaper Guild and is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists.

He received his bachelor of science degree in communications

from the University of Tennessee, where he served as editor of The Daily Beacon newspaper.

Mr. Brewer married his wife, Angel, in 1988. They are members of Holy Ghost Parish in Knoxville and are the parents of a son, Will. n

Memorial launches capital fundraising campaign

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he Memorial Health Care System Foundation already has raised $8 million on the way to a $15 million goal, and the amount includes a generous gift from the Hamico Foundation that is the largest single gift in Memorial’s history.

The Memorial Foundation and Memorial Health Care System also announce generous gifts from Mitch and Deborah Everhart for The Heart Center, a gift from the Lehman family at the bequest of Marguarite Lehman, and a gift from the Davenport family for the Joseph H. and Alice E. Davenport Outpatient Infusion Center.

Memorial welcomed these gifts as it kicked off a capital fundraising campaign to help fund its Master The East Tennessee Catholic

From the Paraclete: Easter reflections

Facility Plan. The plan is a $318 million expansion and renovation project that will improve and update Memorial’s facilities at both the Glenwood and Hixson campuses.

“For 60 years Memorial has provided Chattanooga with some of the finest health-care services available, and this Master Facility Plan will ensure Memorial continues to be a health-care leader and innovator for years to come,” said James M. Hobson, president and chief executive.

The nearly 580,000-square-foot project ranges in scope from updated and expanded operating rooms to a one-of-a-kind, state-of-the-science Hybrid Operating Suite, a 20-bed Clinical Decision Unit, a seven-story

cardiac bed tower, a new Central Utility Plant, improved imaging capabilities, and much more.

The Capital Fundraising Campaign leadership team includes co-chairs Zan Guerry and Bill Stacy, Ph.D.; honorary chair Scotty Probasco; Heart Center co-chairs Eric Conn, M.D., Joe Decosimo and Deborah Everhart; Surgery Center co-chairs Ryan Crimmins and Peter Hunt, M.D.; Lung Center co-chairs Carlos Baleeiro, M.D., Davey Daniel, M.D., and Hilda Murray; Infusion Center co-chairs Joan Frierson and Charles A. Portera Sr., M.D.; chapel co-chairs John Boxell, M.D., and Leo Brown; Jennifer Nicely, foundation president and chief development officer; and Mr. Hobson. n

The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee

We are in the most holy time of our liturgical year and it is my favorite season.

Easter’s life-affirming events start with Palm Sunday’s procession and the reading of the Passion, the sounds of music during the Chrism Mass, Holy Thursday and its symbolic washing of the feet, and Good Friday, with the adoration of the cross and reposing of the Blessed Sacrament. Easter Vigil then is here.

Along with this blessed season, our Church celebrates with each person receiving baptism, reconciliation, Eucharist, and confirmation. To aid those looking for spiritual gifts for loved ones on this journey, the Paraclete has memorable gifts for each person on your list.

One highlight for first communion is the book Friendship with Jesus by Amy Welborn and Ann Kissane Engelhart (Ignatius Press 2010, $14.95). A group of children visiting Pope Benedict XVI in Rome were given a unique opportunity to question him about first Communion, confession, and going to Mass on Sunday.

Other very popular items for first Communion or confirmation are Bibles, rosaries, crucifixes, and bracelets with charm-size medals of each sacrament received.

All children’s missals have been updated with changes to the Roman Missal. We also have missals in Spanish. We carry our regular stock of Communion veils, ties, and even party goods for Communion celebrations. n Visit the Paraclete at 417 Erin Drive in Knoxville; call 865-5880388; or visit the store’s Facebook page at bit.ly/theparaclete.

April 1, 2012 23

From the wire

Archbishop Lori is now a key face of religious liberty fight Chairman of U.S. Bishops’ Ad Hoc Committee leading efforts to counter constitutional encroachments By Nancy Frazier WASHINGTON (CNS)—With meetings at the White House and testimony before Congress, Archbishop William E. Lori, appointed March 20 to be the next archbishop of Baltimore, has been one of the most visible faces of the U.S. Catholic Church in recent weeks.

As chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Ad Hoc Committee on Religious Liberty, he has been leading their efforts to fight what the bishops see as encroachments on the religious freedom enshrined in the U.S. Constitution, especially from the Obama administration’s requirement that most religious employers provide free contraceptives to their employees through their health insurance plans.

“We will not violate our consciences,” he told a House committee in mid-February, saying that the issue is about “forcing the church” to provide contraceptives against church teachings. “That’s what we don’t want to do. It’s one thing when tax dollars pay for it. It’s another when church dollars do.”

Following a March 14 meeting with White House officials about the contraceptive mandate, Archbishop Lori told Catholic News Service that the administration’s definition of religious institutions that could be exempt appears “here to stay” and “non-negotiable.”

“We find that to be distressing and it does not bode well for future discussions,” he said.

At a news conference March 20 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore, Archbishop Lori said religious freedom should be an issue that concerns all Americans.

“As someone involved in the leadership of the church over the years,” he said, “it was hard to miss that there’s been an erosion of religious liberty over time -- sometimes through laws, sometimes through court decisions and sometimes through the increasing secularity of the culture.”

In addition to his work on religious liberty,

Archbishop Lori has been active on other issues within the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops since 1995, when he became an auxiliary bishop in Washington.

He served on the Ad Hoc Committee on Sexual Abuse (now the Committee for the Protection of Children and Young People) and was instrumental in drafting the “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.” He also serves on the committees on doctrine and pro-life activities and the Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage.

In 2005, he was elected supreme chaplain of the Knights of Columbus, a post he continues to hold.

He writes a series of monthly articles for the Connecticut-based organization’s magazine, Columbia.

During his episcopacy in Bridgeport, Archbishop Lori launched several initiatives in support of Catholic education, vocations, Catholic Charities and evangelization. n

Immigration reform called for USCCB issues letter urging congressional consensus on laws WASHINGTON (USCCB)—Congressional leaders should “build consensus” toward reform of the nation’s immigration laws, said Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and Archbishop José Gomez of Los Angeles, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Migration, in a March 22 letter.

“Passage of immigration reform is more important now than ever, as state laws and local enforcement initiatives are filling the policy vacuum left by Congress,” the bishops wrote in a letter to House Speaker John Boehner, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and the minority leaders of both chambers. “This has created a patchwork of laws and policies throughout the country which has led to discord in our

24 April 1, 2012

communities.”

Cardinal Dolan and Archbishop Gomez expressed concern over the impact that state and local initiatives are having on immigrant families, which become separated because of these policies.

“Children are often the innocent victims of these policies, which leave them without parents and with less opportunity to live a full and productive life in their home country, the United States.”

The letter came on the eve of Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Mexico.

Around 60 percent of undocumented immigrants in the United States are of Mexican origin. The letter also indicated that the USCCB will soon file an amicus brief supporting the “full authority” of the federal government to “enact and implement” laws governing immigration. n The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee

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