Diocese ‘shaking with joy’ amid record numbers entering the Catholic Church
Parishes celebrate the Light of Christ during Holy Week, Easter Masses
By Olivia Kuhens and Bill Brewer
Churches from South Pittsburg to Mountain City and Copperhill to Crossville were filled with faithful celebrating the risen Lord April 4-5 as Easter illuminated the Diocese of Knoxville.
Across the nation and right here in East Tennessee, the Catholic Church is experiencing a record number of newcomers. Parishes throughout the diocese officially welcomed their new members at Easter Vigil on April 4, and it is clear records definitely were set.
The Church in East Tennessee saw 851 people enter during Easter Vigil this year, a 39.5 percent increase over last year’s Easter Vigil. Along with new Catholics entering the Church at other times throughout the year, the diocese is on target to see around 1,100 people enter the Catholic Church in East Tennessee this year.
Parishes are feeling the effects of this growing number of converts, and the proof is in the pews. One group of parishes where this trend is especially evident is Our Lady of Perpetual Help in LaFollette, St. Jude in Helenwood, and Christ the King in Tazewell, all under the pastorship of Father Sam Sturm.
At this year’s Easter Vigil, 24 people from Father Sturm’s parishes received the sacraments of initiation. Because of the size of the group, Father Sturm and Deacon Chad Shields decided to move Holy Week Masses to Our Lady of Perpetual Help, the largest of the three parishes and the most centrally located.
That decision turned out to be wise and informed. At Christmas, the number of candidates for the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults had swelled to around 27, and it was at that point that Father Sturm got a little worried.
“I said to Deacon Chad that if all of these
Easter continued on page A19
‘A tremendous gift’ Bishop Beckman celebrates Chrism Mass, expresses gratitude to priests
By Dan McWilliams
When Bishop Mark Beckman asked the faithful in the pews at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus to show their love for their priests during the annual Chrism Mass, the people responded enthusiastically.
The bishop celebrated the annual Holy Week liturgy, during which he blesses the oils used during the Church year and diocesan priests renew their ordination promises, on March 31.
At the end of Mass, Bishop Beckman said, “I want to express my genuine gratitude to all of my brother priests: you all are a tremendous gift to me and also to this diocese. And one of the things I loved about this presbyterate when I arrived was, there is a beautiful sense of fraternity and community in this presbyterate, so let’s let our priests know how much we appreciate them.”
A round of applause quickly turned into a standing ovation
A total of 75 priests concelebrated the Mass, and 35 deacons attended along with more than 20 men and women religious and members of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of
A brotherhood of faith Bishop Mark Beckman leads the Chrism Mass on March 31 at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. The Holy Week Mass is the one celebration where the bishop preaches directly to Diocese of Knoxville priests, who are seated around the altar. During the Mass, the priests renew their priestly promises and the bishop consecrates the sacred chrism.
DAN MCWILLIAMS
The flame of faith Above: Bishop Mark Beckman presents a candle to a young catechumen as she receives the Light of Christ.
Left: Bishop Beckman baptizes a catechumen during Easter Vigil Mass at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus on April 4. The cathedral welcomed 108 people into the Church during the Mass.
KATHY RANKIN (2)
Big Tech’s ‘tobacco industry moment’?
Landmark Meta and YouTube youth-harm verdict is a blow to social media companies
By Kimberley Heatherington OSV News
It’s the landmark court decision some are calling Big Tech’s “tobacco industry moment”: a verdict that—just like the misrepresentation that cigarettes are safe— indicates social media companies may have a lot to answer for to the public.
On March 25, social media giant Meta (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger, Threads, and more) and video streaming service YouTube (owned by Google) were found liable for negligence owing to design features of their products. A Los Angeles jury concluded they are intentionally addictive and led to mental distress for K.G.M., the 20-year-old woman at the center of the case.
Meta must pay $4.2 million, while YouTube must pay $1.8 million, for a combined total of $6 million. Both companies signaled their
Social media on trial Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg looks at X Corp. CEO Linda Yaccarino and TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew as they raise their hands to be sworn in during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on online child sexual exploitation at the U.S. Capitol in Washington Jan. 31, 2024.
intent to appeal the verdict.
Popular apps TikTok and Snapchat—named in the same suit—earlier settled out of court.
Meanwhile, OpenAI, an artificial intelligence research company of-
The Handmaids of the Precious Blood this year celebrate the 79th year since their founding in 1947; more than three-quarters of a century of prayer and sacrifice for priests. To receive weekly cartoons and short reflections and news from the Handmaids of the Precious Blood, visit their website, nunsforpriests.org, and sign up for the FIAT newsletter.
An April prayer intention for priests in crisis
“Let us pray for priests going through moments of crisis in their vocation, that they may find the accompaniment they need and that communities may support them with understanding and prayer. ”
Pope Leo XIV
fering services such as ChatGPT, faces copyright and data privacy litigation, with billions of dollars in potential damages and milestone implications for AI data handling.
The Meta and YouTube suit al-
leged features such as auto-scrolling addicted the plaintiff to the platforms, leading to anxiety, depression, and body image issues— assertions parents and researchers have been making for years, previously to no avail.
An appeal is expected, but given the gargantuan assets of Meta and Alphabet (the parent company of Google)—$108.72 billion and $206.04 billion, respectively, for the fiscal quarter ending in December 2025—will even an avalanche of court victories really make a difference?
Clare Morell, a fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington and author of The Tech Exit: A Practical Guide to Freeing Kids and Teens from Smartphones, told OSV News she believes “it’s a tremendous victory.”
“Because this is just a first case, this is a bellwether trial for just one individual plaintiff, and there are
How to sign up and qualify for Diocese of Knoxville’s safe-environment program
The Diocese of Knoxville has implemented the CMG Connect platform to administer the Safe Environment Program, which replaces the former Safe Environment Program (VIRTUS “Protecting God’s Children”).
CMG Connect is a web-based platform that will assist in ensuring that all employees and volunteers who are in a position of trust with children and vulnerable adults within Diocese of Knoxville schools and parishes are trained to recognize behavior patterns of potential abusers and provide pro-active measures for preventing abuse in any context.
“Safe Haven-It’s Up to You” is a three-part video that provides vignettes of real-life situations to educate the viewer about methods of grooming, desensitization, bullying, and neglect, all of which can lead to abuse.
Each part of the video is immediately followed by a brief questionnaire to further develop understanding.
Education is a key
element of the Safe Environment Program.
All clergy, employees, contracted school personnel, volunteers, members of groups and organizations over the age of 18 who work, volunteer, or participate in any capacity are required to complete the diocesan Safe Environment training and a criminal-background check before they can begin employment, volunteer, or participate with ministries, groups, and organizations affiliated with the Diocese of Knoxville.
In addition, the mandatory renewal training must be completed every five years and a new background check submitted before the five-year expiration of prior training
The Diocese of Knoxville Safe Environment compliance training and renewal training is a condition of employment and for volunteer ministry in the Diocese of Knoxville.
The CMG Connect platform contains all three elements of the Diocese of Knoxville’s Safe Environment Program: n Annual review of the Diocese of Knoxville’s Policy and Procedures Relating to Sexual Misconduct; n CMG Connect Safe Haven training program to be completed every five years; n Criminal background check to be completed every five years.
In compliance with the Diocese of Knoxville’s Safe Environment Program, all affiliates require that volunteers and employees complete the requirements prior to working and/or volunteering in a parish, school, or through Catholic Charities of East Tennessee and/ or St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic. Go to https:// dioknox.org/safeenvironment on the Diocese of Knoxville website for more information ■
Sometimes all we need to do is take a step down a new path
arly in my priesthood, I was seeking a quiet spot to pray away from the busyness of parish life during Holy Week. I had heard about a place called “Radnor Lake,” which had been set aside as a state natural area, and decided to go exploring.
It was a perfect April day, warm and sunny, and as I stepped out of my car and began walking up the path through the forest, the beauty overwhelmed me. The entire forest floor was covered in new spring flowers, and the trees above were bursting forth with new green leaves. “Where have I been all of my life?” I thought to myself.
Never had I been so attentive to the beauty of God’s creation as I walked quietly through the forest. That decision to begin a walk down a path literally changed my life. Since then, I have been a regular hiker and later a backpacker. And I have enjoyed the beauty of every season and time in God’s creation.
The beauty of the spring unfolding around us happens every year during the great 50 days of the Easter season. It points us to the deeper mystery of Christ’s victory over sin and death, which we have so recently celebrated in the days of Holy Week.
The Basilica of San Clemente in Rome depicts in a 12th century mosaic a profound theological vision in artwork of the mystery of the new creation God has begun in the mystery of His death and resurrection. The cross of Christ stands at the center, with living water flowing from His side
That stream becomes a life-giving spring that flows out to touch all creation. Everywhere new life is bursting forth in plants and animals and humanity. Our new Catholics, born from the waters of baptism at the great Easter Vigil this year, are living signs of the New Life God is creating right here in East Tennessee as they join us at the table of the Lord throughout this season of grace.
God is inviting all of us to a new beginning. We are invited to follow Him on a pathway, a decision meant to change us and those around us to bring forth a springtime in the life of our communities. The beauty God wills for us is marked by peace, hope, a living faith, a tender respect for the vulnerable people in our midst, and for all human life, by a confident and purposeful and sustained commitment to care for this beautiful world God has given us.
May the Spirit of God open our eyes to truly see His presence in the faces of those around us, to help us to be responsive to their needs with renewed compassion and generosity. In a world still disfigured by the sins of war, self-centered isolation, and the mistreatment of so many vulnerable people, you and I serve as
is to take a step down a new path, and suddenly everything changes! ■
Sermon on the Integrity
Artemis II mission pilot preaches Christ’s command to love on lunar flyby
By Gina Christian OSV News
As the astronauts of NASA’s first crewed lunar flyby in half a century reached their closest approach to the moon, the team’s pilot reminded the Earth of Jesus Christ’s command to love both God and neighbor.
“As we get close to the nearest point to the moon and farthest point from Earth, as we continue to unlock the mysteries of the cosmos, I would like to remind you of one of the most important mysteries there on Earth, and that’s love,” said astronaut Victor Glover, pilot of the Artemis II mission, speaking to ground control April 6 from aboard NASA's Orion spacecraft Integrity.
“Christ said, in response to what was the greatest command, that it was to love God with all you are,” said Capt. Glover. “And He also, being a great teacher, said the second is equal to it. And that is to love your neighbor as yourself.”
Capt. Glover, a Christian who has spoken publicly about his faith, citing Psalm 30 during his previous mission to the International Space Station, shared that message minutes before the Integrity faced an anticipated 40-minute communication lapse with ground control, as the spacecraft passed behind the moon, with radio and laser signals consequently blocked.
The craft launched April 1 from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida for a 10-day journey that took the crew around the moon, spanning 695,081 miles from launch to splashdown off the coast of San Diego.
Artemis II traveled a record-breaking maximum distance of 252,760 miles from the Earth, or more than 4,100 miles further than the 1970 Apollo 13 mission.
Joining Capt. Glover in space were commander Reid Wiseman and two mission specialists: Christina Koch and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, who is the first from that nation to undertake a lunar mission.
Artemis II’s priorities focus on preparing for deep space exploration by humans and laying the groundwork for what NASA calls “a sustained presence on the moon.”
With the flight taking place amid widespread geopolitical conflicts and tensions from Ukraine to a widening war in the Middle East Capt. Glover’s most recent words echoed earlier comments on how the lunar mission is also reaffirming human dignity, as well as the need for both unity and gratitude amid entrenched
Capt. Glover, speaking from the spacecraft earlier on April 5 to CBS News, said that “as we go into Easter Sunday, thinking about all the cultures all around the world, whether you celebrate it or not, whether you believe in God or not, this is an opportunity for us to remember where we are, who we are, and that we are the same thing, and that we’ve got to get through this together.”
“When I read the Bible and I look at all of the amazing things that were done for us who were created you have this amazing place, this spaceship,” he said. “You guys are talking to us because we’re in a spaceship really far from Earth, but you’re on a spaceship called Earth that was created to give us a place to live in the universe.”
He added, “Maybe the distance we are from you makes you think what we’re doing is special, but we’re the same distance from you. And I’m trying to tell you just trust me you are special.”
Capt. Glover, who is the first Black astronaut to travel around the moon, pointed to “all of this emptiness” and “whole bunch of nothing” that “we call the universe,” describing Earth as “this oasis, this beautiful place” where “we get to exist together.”
Speaking to BBC News ahead of the mission, Capt. Glover said, “When we’re behind the moon, out of contact with everybody, let’s take that as an opportunity. Let’s pray, hope, send your good thoughts and feelings that we get back in contact with the crew.”
Moments before the April 6 period of loss of signal, which ended as scheduled, with the crew safely emerging on a homeward-bound trajectory, Capt. Glover said, “As we prepare to go out of radio communication, we’re still able to feel your true love from Earth. And to all of you down there on Earth and around Earth, we love you from the moon.”
“Houston copies,” ground control replied to the U.S. Navy officer. “We'll see you on the other side.”
the seeds of a new beginning, watered from the side of the pierced heart of Christ who has given Himself for the healing of all creation. Sometimes all we need to do
strife.
Christianity and the cosmos Artemis II crew members give a shout-out to NASA’s SpaceX Crew11 and their upcoming mission to the International Space Station during a press conference at the Kennedy Space Center Press Site in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on July 30, 2025. Artemis crew members are, from left, Jeremy Hansen, a mission specialist from the Canadian Space Agency, and from NASA, Christina Koch, mission specialist; Victor Glover, pilot; and Reid Wiseman, commander.
The beauty of God's creation
Left: Dogwoods are seen along the Middle Prong in the Tremont section of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Below: "Triumph of the cross" An Apsis mosaic from the Basilica San Clemente in Rome, 12th century, is shown in this image.
Ms. Christian
WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Glimpsing the Church of 2050
Speaker offers advice on growing the next generation of Catholics in East Tennessee
By Bee Goodman
In a growing trend, the U.S.
Church is seeing an overall increase in the number of members, and the same can be said for the Diocese of Knoxville.
Last year, a survey conducted by the diocese revealed a positive number of active members across its 51 parishes and one mission. A recent meeting of diocesan priests reveals their plan to continue the growth for the Church of 2050: the next generation of Catholics.
During the most recent study day for the priests of the Diocese of Knoxville, keynote presenter Katherine Angulo Valenzuela, who is director of pastoral enrichment programs at the University of Notre Dame, spoke on the topic “Call to Serve the Church of 2050,” which focused on youth and young-adult ministry and the changing demographics of the Church in the United States.
Bishop Mark Beckman and many priests attended the talk, including Father Peter Iorio.
“Katherine was giving us a picture, based on what data and research we have, of what the
Generation C Young adults in the Diocese of Knoxville take part in the Easter Vigil Mass at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus on April 4. The diocese is witnessing a surge of new members, prompting diocesan leaders to plan for ministering to the next generation of Catholics in East Tennessee.
Catholic Church will look like around the world 25 years from now. It was actually good news;
the Church is growing,” Father Iorio said.
“Africa grew 3.1 percent at the
end of 2021, according to the Vatican, and then the Americas had 48 percent of the world’s Catholics. Brazil has a great number of those. Of course, there were a lot of questions regarding Hispanics, and one of the questions (from priests) was of the focus on immigration and deportation in this country. Will that affect the number? And her answer was no,” Father Iorio added.
“The majority of those (Hispanic Catholics) are U.S. citizens; they were born here, so they’re first- and second-generation Spanish heritage, sometimes Spanish-speaking, sometimes bilingual,” Father Iorio noted.
As Catholic populations grow nationwide, the most significant increases are occurring in the South, including East Tennessee. In the Diocese of Knoxville, that growth is driven by a rise in young families and new Catholics as well as an influx of people relocating from northern and western states.
“Bishop Beckman is already focusing on engagement of youth and young adults, and how to grow them. And Katherine talked about the path of adulthood and Generation C continued on page A22
50 and still going strong
Tennessee Right to Life celebrates five decades as fight to protect the unborn continues
The East Tennessee Catholic
Tennessee Right to Life is marking a major milestone this year as the pro-life organization that began in 1976 when a small group of women sat at a kitchen table and decided to fight for the survival of babies in the womb celebrates its 50th anniversary.
The grassroots work of the women, including Diocese of Knoxville parishioners Mary Dunn and Hazel Brimi, continues today with a new generation of advocates, and the statewide organization they created is fighting harder than ever to turn the tide of abortion.
A year of celebration commenced on March 24 in Nashville, where hundreds of Tennessee Right to Life leaders and supporters gathered for Pro-Life Day on the Hill, a daylong summit where participants congregated in fellowship at the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum, received updates on TRL legislative and organizational initiatives, and then visited with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to deliver pro-life messages.
“This is probably the most impor-
tant thing that you could be doing today. It’s good that you are here to stand for life in the halls of our government, where life and death decisions are made. It matters that you are here,” said Stacy Dunn, president of Tennessee Right to Life and a member of Holy Ghost Parish
in Knoxville.
Mrs. Dunn pointed out that March 24 also was the day Planned Parenthood, the nation’s leading provider of abortions, was on Capitol Hill lobbying for pro-abortion legislation.
As pro-life supporters filled the
floors of the Cordell Hull state office building, where legislators’ offices are located, they encountered the Planned Parenthood crowd.
However, the Tennessee Right to Life contingent’s voices were heard as key legislation to solidify the state’s position as having the strongest pro-life laws in the nation passed in the House and Senate and is expected to be signed into law by Gov. Bill Lee.
The nearly 300 people on hand for Pro-Life Day on the Hill relished the anniversary as many of them have followed in the footsteps of family members and friends who have carried the mantle of life.
For years, the annual event was called Women’s Day on the Hill. However, the group realized that men make up a growing segment of the pro-life movement and should be included in the annual day to celebrate life.
“Our organization was chartered 50 years ago. So, we stand on the shoulders of giants who began this work in our state after it became apparent that the tragic Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade wasn’t going away, and they Life continued on page A12
the inspiring, feature film based on the true story of a woman who suffered from depression after having an abortion, leading her to the brink of suicide. She was saved by a stunning revelation from her four-year-old daughter who had been having a series of recurring dreams about meeting her older brother in heaven. This film shows that the path to forgiveness and healing for post-abortive women is available to all through reconciliation with God.
To see how a powerful film can change hearts and minds, watch the trailer at HeNamedHimAdam.com
If you’re passionately pro-life and have the means, please help us get this movie made. We know the power movies have in changing hearts. Pregnancy Resource Centers that show the trailer to women who are contemplating abortion tell us that it has already saved lives. If the trailer can do that, just imagine what the movie will do
We’re selling profit-participating Preferred shares. Angel Studios (The Chosen, Sound of Freedom, Cabrini) has committed up to $5,000,000 for theatrical distribution. With internationally known actors, Kelsey Grammer, Vivica Fox and Sam Sorbo, we believe a healthy return on your investment is likely.
Why are we making this movie? Because half the people in this country still believe there’s nothing wrong with killing babies in the womb and no amount of logic, reason or science will change their minds. For 50 years, Hollywood has been telling powerful, emotional stories that have normalized abortion. Emotional stories have a profound effect on what a person believes which is why Jesus used the parables to proclaim the Gospel. Movies that tell the truth and reach millions can make all the difference in the world. Only when we change these hardened hearts will abortion be unthinkable.
To find out more, go to HeNamedHimAdam.com. Click on the INVESTORS ONLY link next to the first video. You’ll n eed this password: HNHA to enter. There, you’ll find lots of information about this exciting opportunity.
There are estimated to be over 20 million women and men who regret their abortions. We hope you will prayerfully consider supporting this film to show those who are hurting that there is peace and redemption through Christ.
Lobbying for life Pro-Life Day on the Hill participants included, from left, Angel Brewer, Jeanie Schamell, Abi Kirk, Maria Pittman, Angela Maden, Jenna Witkemper, Greg Thomas, Donna Thomas, Marieta Dunn, Mary Wilson, Marli Hillesheim, Pat Danko, and Debbie Donahoo. The group is standing outside of Lt. Gov. Randy McNally's office on Capitol Hill.
From the filmmakers who made Father Ryan: A Higher Call comes
Thank you for your prayers, generosity, and participation in this 2025 Bishop’s Appeal for Ministries. Over 6,300 households came together, helping raise more than $3.2 million to support essential ministries across East Tennessee. Through this shared commitment, lives are uplifted, ministries are strengthened, and our local Church continues to grow.
Joined in faith and shared mission, your witness reflects the heart of our community, and we are deeply grateful for you.
TOP 10 PARISHES – HIGHEST % OF PARTICIPATION
• Christ the King, Tazewell
• Good Shepherd, Newport
• Our Lady of Lourdes, South Pittsburg
• St. Catherine Laboure, Copperhill
• St. Francis of Assisi, Fairfield Glade
• St. Francis of Assisi, Townsend
• St. Henry, Rogersville
• St. Jude, Helenwood
• St. Therese, Clinton
• St. Thomas the Apostle, Lenoir City
HIGHEST % OF RECURRING DONORS*
• Our Lady of Lourdes, South Pittsburg
• Holy Spirit, Soddy-Daisy
• St. Albert the Great, Knoxville
• St. Alphonsus, Crossville
• St. Augustine, Signal Mountain
• St. Catherine Laboure, Copperhill
• St. Francis of Assisi, Fairfield Glade
• St. Francis of Assisi, Townsend
• St. Therese, Clinton
• St. Thomas the Apostle, Lenoir City
GREATEST NUMBER OF NEW BA25 DONORS
• All Saints, Knoxville
• Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul, Chattanooga
• St. Faustina Public Association of the Faithful, Chattanooga
• St. Francis of Assisi, Fairfield Glade
• St. John Neumann, Knoxville
• St. Jude, Chattanooga
• St. Mary, Johnson City
• St. Stephen, Chattanooga
• St. Therese of Lisieux, Cleveland
• St. Thomas the Apostle, Lenoir City
*Recurring donors maximize the impact of their gifts by providing consistent, ongoing support each month to serve the ministries and mission of the Catholic Church in East Tennessee.
Scan here to learn more about the Bishop’s Appeal for Ministries
TOP 10 PARISHES – HIGHEST TOTAL GIFTS RECEIVED
• All Saints, Knoxville
• Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Knoxville
• Our Lady of Fatima, Alcoa
• St. Dominic, Kingsport
• St. John Neumann, Knoxville
• St. Jude, Chattanooga
• St. Mary, Johnson City
• St. Mary, Oak Ridge
• St. Stephen, Chattanooga
• St. Thomas the Apostle, Lenoir City
GREATEST INCREASE IN AVERAGE CONTRIBUTION FROM BA24 TO BA25
• Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul, Chattanooga
• Holy Ghost, Knoxville
• Our Lady of Lourdes, South Pittsburg
• Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Chattanooga
• St. Christopher, Jamestown
• St. Dominic, Kingsport
• St. Francis of Assisi, Townsend
• St. John Paul II Mission, Rutledge
• St. Jude, Chattanooga
• St. Mary, Gatlinburg
GREATEST PERCENTAGE GROWTH OVER THE LAST 5 YEARS (BA21–BA25)
• Blessed Sacrament, Harriman
• Christ the King, Tazewell
• Holy Trinity, Jefferson City
• Notre Dame, Greeneville
• Our Lady of Lourdes, South Pittsburg
• St. Catherine Laboure, Copperhill
• St. Faustina Public Association of the Faithful, Chattanooga
• St. John Paul II Mission, Rutledge
• St. Jude, Chattanooga
• St. Michael the Archangel, Erwin
Easter boom
U.S. dioceses say rise in new Catholics may point to regional
By Kimberley Heatherington OSV News
While the religiously unaffiliated are on the rise globally, something curious is also happening: Some dioceses have reported significant upticks in adults preparing to enter the Catholic Church this Easter.
Sherry Anne Weddell, the co-founder and executive director of the Catherine of Siena Institute in Colorado Springs, Colo., and an expert in Catholic evangelization, said that the “high point” of adult Catholics joining the Catholic Church in the United States was in 1999, with 172,000 adult baptisms and receptions.
“And then there was just a steady sort of decline,” she said.
That has since changed.
“There was significant growth between 2023 and 2024,” she told OSV News. And while the data for 2025 and 2026 have yet to be published, “the numbers that are being reported are getting bigger and bigger.”
The 2024 Official Catholic Directory reported that in 2023, 619,775 people entered the Catholic Church in U.S. Latin-rite dioceses. Of those, 77.6 percent were infant baptisms, 9.5 percent were baptisms of minors, 4.8 percent (29,752) were adult baptisms, and 8.1 percent (50,490) were receptions into full communion from another Christian tradition, which could include adults or minors.
In 2024, adult baptisms and receptions (adults and minors) increased again to 34,552 and 55,453, respectively, according to the 2025 Official Catholic Directory
This year, the Archdiocese of Newark, N.J., is among dioceses reporting an uptick in Catholic conversions, with 1,701 individuals preparing to join the Church a 30 percent increase since 2025, a 48 percent increase since 2024, and a 72 percent increase since 2023. Of those, 645 catechumens celebrated the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and Eucharist during the Easter Vigil on April 4 a 14 percent rise since 2025, a 41 percent rise since 2024, and a 75 percent rise since 2023.
‘ revivals’
around the world is witnessing a resurgence in people practicing the
“In this nebulous world of gray, the Catholic Church has offered some black and white,” he said. “They see in the Catholic Church a consistency in teaching, a consistency in values, a
Father Armand Mantia, the archdiocese’s director of the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults the Catholic adult initiation process says the Church’s lasting stability contributes to the rising numbers.
Faith on the rise
The Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, above, and St. Jude in Chattanooga, left, are among the parishes in the Diocese of Knoxville and the United States that are seeing a surge in attendance and in people entering the Catholic Church. The Church
faith.
Motherhood and embracing the works of mercy
Corporal, spiritual actions offer a pathway to holiness for mothers and their children
By Gabrielle Nolan
During the month of May
we celebrate mothers of all kinds: biological mothers, adoptive mothers, grandmothers, godmothers, and all the women in our lives who have given of themselves in a motherly way, such as teachers, mentors, aunts, sisters, and best friends.
As a first-time mother myself (I have a 7-month-old son at the time of publishing), I have a new perspective on the intricacies of motherhood, self-giving, and unconditional love. Mothers make endless sacrifices for their children, and there is almost no better comparison to motherhood than the Catholic Church’s corporal and spiritual works of mercy.
In paragraph 2447 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the works of mercy are described as “charitable actions by which we come to the aid of our neighbor in his spiritual and bodily necessities.” There are seven corporal works of mercy and seven spiritual works of mercy. When mothers take on these works with a spirit of love and generosity, it is surely a pathway to holiness.
Corporal works of mercy
1. and 2. Feed the hungry and give drink to the thirsty
“Mom, can I have another snack?” Kids seem to be endless vacuums of food, don’t they? How often throughout the day are mothers feeding their children and giving them something to drink? It’s a constant and basic need for growth, nourishment, and survival. Even in God’s great biological design of women’s bodies, many women are able to nurse their children at birth.
3. Shelter the homeless
Providing a safe, clean, and happy home allows a child to
As a first-time mother myself (I have a 7-month-old son at the time of publishing), I have a new perspective on the intricacies of motherhood, self-giving, and unconditional love. Mothers make endless sacrifices for their children, and there is almost no better comparison to motherhood than the Catholic Church’s corporal and spiritual works of mercy
grow both in maturity and in creativity. Mothers not only provide a physical home and room for their children, but their feminine hearts shelter their children, too. Our children’s desires, dreams, fears, and needs take up special room in our motherly hearts.
4. Visit the sick
My infant son recently had his first fever. I was not overly worried because his overall demeanor was fairly normal, but the fact that he had a fever still tugged on my heart. Thankfully, there are infant Tylenol and lots of cuddles to help!
Caring for our sick children places their needs above our own and helps us grow in selflessness. For mothers whose sick children require hospitalization or surgery, visiting the sick takes on a very literal and tender meaning.
Bishop: Educators must help heal the human heart
Catholic teachers gather for NCEA convention to address education issues
By Josh McGovern OSV News/The Catholic Spirit
Too many people have wounded hearts, and it is the job of Catholic educators to help heal them, Bishop Andrew H. Cozzens of Crookston, Minn., said on April 7 in a keynote opening the National Catholic Educational Association convention.
NCEA 2026 marked the first time in 17 years the conference was held in Minneapolis. Catholic and religious educators from around the country gathered at the Minneapolis Convention Center to exchange ideas and research related to education. Steven Cheeseman, president and CEO of the NCEA, helped welcome about 3,800 educators to the April 7-9 conference. He said what people learn at the 2026 conference is not meant to remain in a notebook but is meant “to be lived, meant to be implemented. It’s meant to be shared.”
Bishop Cozzens stressed that like a spiritual director or pastor, a Catholic educator’s vocation is rooted in helping heal the heart. He shared a video recording of the singer Gracie Abrams during one of her concerts, singing her introspective song “Camden.”
The video, Bishop Cozzens pointed out, showed a young woman who is talented, beautiful, successful, and “seems to have everything going for her,” he said. But the lyrics Ms. Abrams sings speak to someone who is experiencing sorrow.
“The poetry that she sings about expresses the depth of pain that she
carries in her heart, and what’s even more clear is that it resonates with tens of thousands of people in the stadium all her same age,” Bishop Cozzens said. “Many people in the stadium also feel like singing … . Brother(s), sisters, this is the height of popular culture. This is what our young people are singing about, the gaping wounds in their hearts.”
A great evil that comes from social media, Bishop Cozzens said, is that a person’s value comes from their social media likes, and their identity is tied to how they are seen. At the center of his life, Bishop Cozzens said, are three words: relationship, identity, and mission. The order is important, he said.
“The most fundamental thing in any person’s life is their relationship, and my identity comes from my relationship,” Bishop Cozzens said. “I’m meant to know who I am, and I’m meant to experience my goodness because I know I am loved by God. And then my mission comes from my identity. The problem is we get the order all messed up. We learn to take our identity from what we do, not from who we are. We start to take our value from our success and what other people think of us.”
Artificial intelligence can’t help heal the human heart, Bishop Cozzens said. Neither can technology, popular culture, or politics. “In fact, it seems to be making it worse,” he noted. Bishop Cozzens asked, “How can we speak to that wound in their hearts?”
“Brothers and sisters, this is why NCEA continued on page A10
5. Visit the prisoners
There are undoubtedly mothers out there who know the pain of having a child in prison. Let us pray for the strength of those mothers to endure that hardship! However, not all prisons are physical, brick-and-mortar cells. What emotional, mental, or spiritual “prisons” might children be facing that mothers are there to help with? Whether it be depression, anxiety, addiction, eating disorders, or bullying, mothers are there to visit with their children and help them as best they can.
6. Give alms to the poor Mothers surely know the constancy of spending money on diapers, formula, new clothes, toys, school supplies, medications, and other necessities for their children. And don’t forget the fun gifts on birthdays and holidays! Aside from
spending money on our children, it is also a blessing to teach our children how to give alms to the poor. Practically, this could look like an annual clean-out of old toys, clothes, and baby furniture that children can learn to donate to charity.
7. Bury the dead Mothers can be a consoling presence to their children when they experience death for the first time, such as when a grandparent passes, or even a beloved family pet. Children often have many questions about death, and mothers can reassure them with the Church’s teachings. And of course, let us not forget the mothers who firsthand have known the deep sorrow of burying their babies whether experiencing the loss of miscarriage, an infant death, or an older child who has died due to illness or an accident. Our Lady of Sorrows surely meets these mothers in the mercy of burying their deceased loved ones.
Spiritual Works of Mercy
1. Instructing the ignorant In paragraph 1656 of the Catechism, it states that “believing families are of primary importance as centers of living, radiant faith… the Second Vatican Council, using an ancient expression, calls the family the Ecclesia domestica.” Mothers and fathers are the primary teachers of their child, especially when it comes to the religion they are passing down within their “domestic church” at home. Thankfully, today there are so many Catholic resources to help mothers within their homes to educate their children in the Catholic faith!
2. Admonishing the sinner Mothers can mirror the merciful Father in how they admonish their
Gabrielle Nolan, her husband, Kevin, and their son, Liam are All Saints parishioners. Mrs. Nolan is a former journalist for The East Tennessee Catholic
Funeral Mass held for Father James K. Mallett East Tennessean and longtime Diocese of Nashville
The East Tennessee Catholic and the Tennessee Register
Father James K. Mallett, a son of East Tennessee and a priest of the Diocese of Nashville, was laid to rest on April 1 at Mount Olivet Cemetery in his native Chattanooga.
Father Mallett, who was born on April 24, 1941, and was retired from active ministry, died on March 21 in Signal Mountain at the age of 84.
Bishop Mark Beckman presided at the funeral Mass for Father Mallett, which was celebrated at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Chattanooga before the burial service and inurnment at Mount Olivet.
Bishop J. Mark Spalding of the Diocese of Nashville concelebrated the Mass, delivering a brief eulogy and the final commendation for Father Mallett. Also concelebrating was Father John J.H. Hammond, vicar general and judicial vicar for the Nashville Diocese.
Father Mike Nolan, pastor of St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish in Cleveland, gave the homily, which was a tribute to a priest who grew up in the same Chattanooga neighborhood as Father Nolan.
Father Nolan recalled that unlike now as Our Lady of Perpetual Help is enveloped by urban growth and interstate traffic, the church in the East Ridge community was surrounded by farmland when newborn James Kelly Mallett was brought by his parents to OLPH to be baptized on May 5, 1941, by Father Harold Shea, the founding pastor of OLPH.
Father Mallett attended Catholic elementary school, received his first Holy Communion at OLPH on May 8, 1949, and was confirmed by Bishop William L. Adrian of the Diocese of Nashville on Dec. 8,
1949, in the OLPH sanctuary.
“Even at that tender age, he had an inkling that he was being called to the priesthood,” Father Nolan said. “He would tell others,
Jesus came,” Bishop Cozzens said.
“He cares about those tens of thousands of people in that stadium. He wants to speak to the wound in their hearts. He understands that wound because He created the human heart, and He knows why it’s wounded. He has an answer for it. In fact, brothers and sisters, this is why He opened his own heart.”
It is the job of Catholic educators to invite people to let their hearts be healed by an encounter with the heart of Christ, the one who reveals what it means to be human, the “God who became human to heal our humanity,” Bishop Cozzens said.
Bishop Cozzens said his talk was inspired by a quote from Pope Leo XIV when he spoke to Catholic educators in October 2025 during the Jubilee of the World of Education.
Bishop Cozzens said Catholic educators need to know the truth of their own hearts in encounters with the Lord to be able to invite other people to encounter Christ.
“This first must begin with you,” Bishop Cozzens told the crowd. “(The heart) is the place where our deepest longings live, our deepest hopes live, and also our deepest fears. It’s the place where we are
meant to know ourselves.
“It can be the place where we love ourselves or the place where we experience shame or even embarrassment. … It can be the place of truth, where we see our dignity, who God created us to be, but it can also be the place where lies live about myself, half-truths, and based on how my heart is, what I believe about myself.”
Bishop Cozzens said there are three practical steps to teach young people that might lead to the healing of their hearts. The first is to understand that hearts are broken. The second is to open young people to the truth that love can heal their hearts. The third is to teach that “when their hearts are healed, they’ll find joy in making a gift of themselves.”
Our hearts, he explained, are broken because they are affected by sin.
“Healing of the human heart has to happen by experience and it happens primarily through the experience of being loved,” The bishop said. “We call it mercy: unearned love. It restores. It regenerates. It reveals the truth about ourselves. This is the love that our young people are longing for, that you and I are longing for, and that God is longing to give.” ■
the Notre Dame High School class of 1959 before attending St. Bernard College in Cullman, Ala., and the Pontifical North American College in Rome.
Father Nolan noted that in Father Mallett’s Notre Dame graduation class, 50 percent of the boys (13 of 26) went on to seminary.
“It wasn’t a huge class, but what a percentage. It speaks well of the influence his Catholic community, his family, his neighborhood had on him. Growing up over at South St. Marks (Avenue), just a block or so away (from OLPH), I didn’t know him growing up. … But I, too, grew up just a few blocks away. I didn’t realize it at the time, but we grew up in a Catholic ghetto. Our neighbors were Catholic. We had the ability to walk to school. We were surrounded by people who practiced their faith and influenced us whether we wanted to admit to it or not,” Father Nolan continued.
He shared that God spoke to Father Mallett in many ways, which was like how God spoke to the prophet Jeremiah: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you. Before I dedicated you, I appointed you.”
“And what a priest he was,” Father Nolan said, pointing out that Father Mallett was ordained to the priesthood at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome on Dec. 17, 1966.
Father Mallett was widely known and respected for his intellect and pastoral qualities. Those were reflected in the many roles he served within the Diocese of Nashville.
and I don’t know how well it was received, that he was going to be a priest and that he was going to Rome. And he did!”
was a member of
“Anyone who knew Jim knew that he was graced with an extremely superior intellect. He was often and usually the smartest voice in the room,” Father Nolan said before lightheartedly exclaiming, “I just spoke to someone in the Father Mallett continued on page A26
Father Mallett
Well done, good and faithful servant Above: Diocese of Nashville Bishop J. Mark Spalding delivers the final commendation during the funeral Mass for Father James K. Mallett on April 1 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Chattanooga. Assisting Bishop Spalding is Deacon Hicks Armor. Below: Father Mike Nolan, pastor of St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish in Cleveland, gives the homily during the funeral Mass for Father Mallett.
DAN MCWILLIAMS
(2)
NCEA continued from page A9
A message of healing Bishop Andrew H. Cozzens of Crookston, Minn., delivers a keynote talk on April 7 to open the National Catholic Educational Association convention at the Minneapolis Convention Center.
OSV NEWS
PHOTO/DAVE HRBACEK, THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
Pope Leo makes first apostolic journey to Africa
History in the making as scholars hope Church recovers its history on the continent
By Kimberley Heatherington OSV News
As Pope Leo XIV is making his first apostolic journey to Africa April 13-23, some scholars of the Church’s past are hoping he won’t just make history but that he’ll also help the wider Church recover that history.
“It’s important for us to get the message out that Western Christianity is fundamentally African, in the way that Eastern Christianity is fundamentally Greek,” Mike Aquilina, a prolific author on Church history, doctrine, and devotion, told OSV News. “Africa is likely where our Latin liturgy developed, and we get our vernacular liturgy today from the Latin liturgy. So, many of our traditions came out of Africa because Africa was a great center of Roman learning, of Latin learning.”
The pope who traveled all over Africa before his May 8, 2025, election and so has firsthand knowledge of the continent visits on this papal trip Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea, countries where Catholic residents vary from a fraction of the population to the majority.
In Algeria, there are no more than 9,000 Catholics among more than 45 million people; in Cameroon, Catholics account for approximately 1 in 3 of the 30 million population; in Angola, the Catholic Church is the largest single religious institution, where estimates identify 40 to 55 percent of the country as Catholic; while Equatorial Guinea is one of the most Catholic countries in sub-Saharan Africa with nearly three-quarters of its people being Catholics.
“That is where our own Western tradition emerged,” emphasized
Mr. Aquilina, who is author of The Fathers of the Church: An Introduction to the First Christian Teachers
He said, “The Latin tradition came out of places like Tunisia and Algeria, and even the Greek tradition was developed in profound ways in Alexandria, in Egypt, and in Ethiopia. It’s a land of important Christian origins that we all share.”
Each nation has its own attractions for Pope Leo, but Algeria is the land of St. Augustine of Hippo, who is regarded as the greatest of the Latin Church Fathers and is the inspiration for the religious order to which the pope belongs.
“St. Augustine was an African,” Mr. Aquilina said. “He spent most of his life in Africa. He spent a small part of his life in Italy, where he was baptized and people associate him with Milan and Rome but he was born and raised in Africa. He died in Africa,
and he identified himself culturally with Africa.”
Bishop Michel Guillaud of Constantine-Hippone in Algeria said the pope’s presence will demonstrate that Christianity “is an asset and not a danger” to Algeria.
“The Holy Father has already visited Algeria twice, in 2003 and 2014, when he was prior general of the Order of St. Augustine,” Bishop Guillaud said. “He is not coming primarily on a personal pilgrimage in the footsteps of St. Augustine but to meet the Algerian people and to support his Church, drawing on the strong bond between them through the figure of Augustine.”
Still, for someone who, as Mr. Aquilina put it, is “fiercely, intensely devoted to St. Augustine,” Pope Leo will obviously relish again walking in the footsteps of his spiritual hero.
“I’m certain that there’s an element of personal piety here,” Mr.
Aquilina said. “But he also wants, in a sense, to bring the world to the feet of this African master so we can learn and delight in Augustine the way he does.”
Catholic missionary activity in Cameroon dates to the 19th century; in Angola, the Church has taken on a key humanitarian role for migrants and refugees; and in Equatorial Guinea, there is also a robust missionary legacy.
Key themes of the apostolic journey will include peace, care for the poor, interfaith dialogue, and the family.
Mr. Aquilina noted that conflict has unfortunately marked numerous African regions, including Algeria. A Vatican commission concerned with modern martyrs created in 2023 by Pope Francis found more people were killed in Africa for being Christian compared with other continents.
Tensions have included “active efforts to wipe out Christian memory in those places,” Mr. Aquilina said. “I think they’ve succeeded to some degree and so the rest of us in the world have ceased thinking of them as Christian lands with a Christian history. But that’s false."
The historically significant Kingdom of Kongo, which once included part of what is now northern Angola as well as Congo, the Republic of Congo, and parts of Gabon, is a vibrant example of the long history of Catholicism in Africa.
Portuguese navigators reached Kongo, in the northwest, in 1483.
“When the Portuguese first reached this area and after a couple of exchanges Kongo sent a mission to Portugal,” said John Thornton, professor of history and African American studies at Bos -
Africa continued on page A23
Retracing historic steps Pope Leo XIV greets a young woman as he attends a meeting with the Algerian community at the Basilica of Our Lady of Africa in Algiers, Algeria, on April 13. The Holy Father is making his first apostolic visit to Africa, a continent he was familiar with as Cardinal Robert F. Prevost.
More than 200 people attend rally and walk in support of all lives Chattanooga hosts March for Life
The East Tennessee Catholic
Pro-life East Tennesseans finally had the opportunity to show their opposition to abortion en masse on March 14 as they took to the streets of Hamilton County for the Chattanooga March for Life.
Community members from across the region gathered on that Saturday for the march, which was hosted by Tennessee Right to Life at Walker Pavilion in Coolidge Park. The annual event brought together individuals, families, churches, and pro-life organizations to affirm the value of life and demonstrate continued support for the pro-life movement in the Chattanooga area.
The event was originally scheduled for Jan. 31 but was postponed because of inclement weather.
Approximately 250 participants attended the rally and march, which began with an exhibitor fair featuring 10 local and regional pro-life organizations sharing information about their missions, services, and ways to support lifeaffirming work in the community.
The event began at noon with a rally that included prayer, music, and remarks from keynote speaker Greg Mayo, the award-winning author of Almost Daddy: The Forgotten Story
Mr. Mayo spoke about the importance of fatherhood and creating space for healing from abortion.
“The goal is to get men talking about it, drag it out of the shad-
Making their presence known Above: Pro-life supporters take to the streets of Chattanooga during the March for Life on March 14. Below:
shows his support for life at all ages and stages.
needed to organize and officially enter the battle for life,” Mrs. Dunn told those assembled. “We are walking in their footsteps today and carrying on the important work they started 50 years ago. And today you will be a part—a very important part—of continuing the work that was started 50 years ago building a culture of life in our state. And you will see for yourself that it matters that you are here.”
Father Patrick Fitzsimons, associate pastor of St. Stephen Parish in Old Hickory, opened the event in prayer.
“Almighty God, giver of all that is good, we thank you for the precious gift of human life; for life in the womb coming to creative power; for the life of our children making us glad with freshness and promise; for the life of our young people hoping for a better world; for the life of people who are disabled, teaching us that every life has value; for the life of the elderly, witnessing the ageless values of patience and wisdom. Like Mary, who said yes to God to be the mother of our Savior, the Light of Life, may we always say yes to Your gift. May we defend it and promote it from natural conception to natural death. And bring us at last, O Father, to the fullness of eternal life in Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen,” Father Fitzsimons prayed.
Honoring Lt. Gov. McNally
Tennessee Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, who has served in the General Assembly since 1978 and has announced he is retiring this year and will not seek reelection, received the Lifetime Advocate Award from Tennessee Right to Life for his support of the organization and his effective advocacy of pro-life legislation.
Lt. Gov. McNally was first elected to the House from Anderson County and served four terms. He began serving in the Senate in 1987 and has served continuously since then. He was elected lieutenant governor by his legislative peers in 2017.
The lieutenant governor, who is a member of St. Mary Parish in Oak Ridge, received a standing ovation from the Pro-Life Day on the Hill attendees and thanked Tennessee Right to Life for the award.
“It is a real pleasure for me to receive this. But I couldn’t do it without the help of the people in the Senate and the people in the House. … This is something I will cherish in my retirement years. Thank you for all you do, and I appreciate all the help you have given me through the years,” Lt. Gov. McNally said.
Also recognized with Tennessee Right to Life’s Lifetime Advocate Award was Kent Pruitt, Shelby County chapter president for TRL, who also has served on the state board for Tennessee Right to Life.
“Mr. Kent Pruitt has been involved with lifesaving efforts since at least 1976. He was involved with our organization way back in the
day when we were called Tennessee Volunteers for Life. And chapter records show he joined the Shelby County chapter at its second meeting in 1976. Kent has served other pro-life organizations, including Memphis Coalition for Life and 40 Days for Life, and I am told he has spent more time on the sidewalk outside abortion facilities around Memphis than anyone else,” Mrs. Dunn said.
“I know he has spent countless hours at county fairs and other outreach efforts working the booth in helping his community to understand the humanity of the unborn child and the tragedy of abortion,” Mrs. Dunn added.
Mr. Pruitt also received an ovation.
Will Brewer, lobbyist and legal counsel for Tennessee Right to Life, described Sen. McNally as an invaluable friend of life in the legislature whose leadership has made a profound impact on pro-life laws in the state.
Legislative insight
Mr. Brewer updated the group on pro-life legislation that was making its way through the General Assembly.
“Our priority piece of legislation this year … is a bill that started last year, House bill 5 by Rep. Gino Bulso of Brentwood and Senate bill 419 by Sen. Joey Hensley of Hohenwald,” Mr. Brewer
opinion and protect their unborn child,” Mr. Mayo said during his address.
Following the rally, participants took to the streets of downtown Chattanooga for the annual March for Life, walking together in a visible demonstration of support for the dignity and protection of human life.
“Each year the Chattanooga March for Life is a powerful reminder that our community cares deeply about the dignity and protection of every human life,” said Candy Clepper, president of Tennessee Right to Life-Greater Chattanooga. “Seeing so many individuals, families, and organizations come together in peaceful witness encourages us to continue our work—supporting mothers, fathers, and children while promoting a culture that values life at every stage.”
After the march, many participants continued to the National Memorial for the Unborn in Chattanooga for a memorial ceremony honoring lives lost to abortion and offering a time for prayer and reflection.
Stacy Dunn, president of Tennessee Right to Life, attended the march and was thankful for the strong turnout.
“It was a beautiful day the Lord gave us to march for life. People showed up and we were excited to be able to stand for life in Chattanooga. The route was longer this
March continued on page A16
said.
Rep. Bulso is Catholic and a parishioner in the Diocese of Nashville.
Mr. Brewer explained the legislation, saying in Tennessee it is illegal to have a surgical abortion or to abort a fetus by taking the abortion pill.
“There is a criminal penalty for that. There are professional sanctions by the medical board for physicians who violate the law. However, the civil monetary judgment part of this law is weak, and it needs teeth. We need a strong disincentive for abortion-pill providers to stop sending pills into Tennessee,” Mr. Brewer noted. “That is because abortionists from Chicago, New York, India, and across the country and the world are shipping abortion pills into Tennessee in droves.”
He pointed out that the process for securing abortion pills by mail order is shockingly easy. Those seeking an abortion go online, answer three questions, pay about $150, and in two to three days the pills are on their doorstep.
A Pro-Life Day on the Hill participant, Cathy Waterbury, who manages a West Tennessee pregnancy resource center, was highlighted for her testimony in the General Assembly detailing the process to obtain abortion pills in Tennessee.
“Cathy Waterbury is here. She gave really compelling testimony last year about her pregnancy resource center ordering abortion pills just to see what the process was like. Her testimony was that for $150 and by answering three easy questions that had nothing to do with your medical condition, the pills were on her doorstep in three days. And when they came, they were in an unmarked package. You couldn’t see who it came from. There were barely any instructions. But one instruction said if you have medical complications from this pill, go immediately to the emergency room but do not tell them where this came from or what you took,” Mr. Brewer said.
“This is happening all across our state. We have girls and women who think that they know what they’re doing, but next to the package they received is an unmarked box of abortion pills they are taking, not knowing what they are aborting or how the abortion process will turn out,” he added. “Our goal is to create a financial disincentive. It’s very difficult to indict an abortionist in Chicago and then extradite him back to Tennessee to prosecute him. And they know that. So, they don’t have a strong criminal disincentive to stop doing this. We have to hit them where it counts, which is their wallets.”
This legislation is working its way through the House and Senate, and TRL is hopeful it will be signed into law by Gov. Lee.
“This will create a million-dollar cause of action. Where it was last year and earlier this year, the law has called for civil penalties up to $1 million. That will be gone. It will be a million-dollar cause of action,” Mr. Brewer said. “If you ship abortion pills into this state, the mother of the baby, the father of the baby, the grandparents of
ows of shame, out of the isolation of their pain, to get men healed so that young men faced with an
unplanned-pregnancy situation will see that there is an opportunity for them to stand up to voice their
Father Alex Hernandez, associate pastor of the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga,
Lifetime Advocate Tennessee Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, left, receives Tennessee Right to Life's Lifetime Advocate Award from TRL general counsel and lobbyist Will Brewer during Pro-Life Day on the Hill in Nashville on March 24. Lt. Gov. McNally is a member of St. Mary Parish in Oak Ridge. Mr. Brewer is a member of St. John Neumann Parish in Farragut.
Life continued from page A5
COURTESY OF HOPE
School Spotlight! St. Dominic Catholic School
St. Dominic School: W here formation happens in the everyday
St Dominic School in Kingsport has been part of the community for more than 80
years
It began in 1945 with 25 students meeting in the basement of St Dominic Church W hile the school has grown since then, its purpose has remained steady: to form children in faith knowledge and character through the ordinary rhythm of daily life
It is, at its core, a place where children are known
That becomes clear quickly when you step inside
In preschool, a small group of students gathers around a raised garden bed outside They take turns watering and watching closely for small changes such as new leaves, a bit more height, something just beginning to grow A teacher kneels beside them, asking questions and giving them time to notice Before heading back inside they pause for a short prayer
Down the hall, first-grade students are reenacting Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem One child plays the donkey, another plays Jesus, and the rest wave palm branches as they walk together through the room It is not staged or polished It is simply how they are learning
In the music room, students stand together listening and watching as their teacher guides them They learn how to match pitch, sing as a group, and pay attention to one another Over time, they begin to read music and play simple instruments like recorders, ukuleles, and hand bells W hat they practice in class finds its way into the life of the school at Mass, in the Christmas program, and in spring musicals, where their work becomes something shared
Older students work through a lesson on pi, measuring and calculating with quiet focus Along the way, their teacher points out something easy to overlook: that the consistency of these patterns reflects an order in the world that is not accidental
These are the kinds of moments that shape a typical day at St Dominic “We want our students to grow in every way, ” said St Dominic principal Bonnie Saleh “Academically, of course, but also in how they treat others, how they see themselves, and how they understand their place in the world ”
Faith is part of that formation, but it is not set apart from the rest of the day Students pray together, attend Mass, and learn Scripture Just as importantly, they practice habits that take root over time: patience, responsibility, and care for others
During the school’s recent 80th-anniversary celebration Bishop Mark Beckman described St Dominic as “ a school of love ” where students learn to see and respond to others That description is easy to recognize in the daily life of St Dominic
The school’s size plays an important role in that formation
With small class sizes, teachers are able to notice when a student is struggling or ready for more They know how each child learns and where they are growing Families often describe the communication as simple and direct and the relationships as personal
The school is a ministry of St Dominic Parish and that connection is central to its life Some families are already part of the parish while others come to know it through the school Over time, many are drawn more deeply into the life of the parish and the Church This is seen in tangible ways, including this year, as 14 members of the school community prepared to enter into full communion with the Church at the Easter Vigil
That sense of belonging tends to remain long after students leave
Alumni often speak less about specific lessons and more about what stayed with them One shared that the school was “ a guiding light where I first developed a passion for helping people ” Another described it as a place that helped form values that continued to shape decisions well into adulthood
Those outcomes are not tied to any single program
They are the result of years of small, consistent experiences, lessons, routines, and relationships that gradually shape both understanding and character
Today, St Dominic serves students from preschool through fifth grade, with after-school care, extracurricular and summer programs that support families Its commitment to academic preparation remains strong but what stands out most is something quieter
There is a steadiness to the school A sense that learning is taken seriously, that relationships matter, and that formation happens over time rather than all at once
After more than eight decades that steady approach continues to guide St Dominic School in Kingsport forming students not only for what comes next but also for who they are becoming
Kairos Kids Young Readers
Heavenly
Humor !
Question: What kind of car does a priest drive?
ANSWER: A HOLY ROLLER!!!
t B r e eastDay pril16t
St. Be rn a de t te FeastApril16th
e t n de : h
A sk Th e Bish o p
W hen I was a young girl I saw a vision of the Blessed Mother! W hen I saw her I immediately knelt down and began praying the rosary. Mary told me that she was the Immaculate Conception, which means her soul was always perfectly clean and sparkly without sin. Mary also blessed the water where she appeared. Now there is a beautiful church in Lourdes. People come from all over the world to pray.
Question: I'm making my first Holy Communion soon. What is your favorite memory from your first Holy Communion day? Penelope, 2nd grade
Answer: I remember we brought our own host on a gold, foil- covered square in the of fer tory procession, and the great excitement all of us had as we prepared to receive our first Holy Communion!
“Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from Him ” - Psalm 127:3
By Mary-Hannah MacCurdy
Judge pauses La. ’s abortion-pill suit pending FDA review
By Kate Scanlon OSV News
Afederal judge on April 7 paused Louisiana’s lawsuit challenging the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s approval of mifepristone pending its promised safety review.
But the judge also indicated the state could continue its challenge after that review.
U.S. District Judge David Joseph in Lafayette, La., said the state’s challenge to a 2023 rule allowing mifepristone to be dispensed by mail should not proceed until the FDA conducts its promised safety
the baby can file a lawsuit against the abortion provider and get $1 million.”
Mr. Brewer described the legislation as the largest financial penalty for shipping abortion pills in the country.
“Even though we have outlawed abortion in this state, it is estimated that there are about 8,500 medical abortions happening in our state every year,” he shared.
Mr. Brewer said Tennessee Right to Life is supporting legislation that mirrors a recent Alabama Supreme Court decision, which determined that fertilized embryos in an Alabama in vitro fertilization clinic are human life.
“We are also trying to create regulations for IVF facilities. It is the wild, wild west of medical technology, so we need to do whatever we can to make sure that there are regulations and oversight,” he said, noting that in April 2024 a Nashville IVF clinic abruptly closed, forcing the state of Tennessee to step in and take over the clinic to make sure the embryos were not destroyed.
“We want to make sure that doesn’t happen again,” Mr. Brewer said, referring to House bill 2290 sponsored by Rep. Ryan Williams and Senate bill 2461 sponsored by Sen. Paul Bailey. “There already is federal oversight of IVF clinics, but there is no state oversight. This would require IVF facilities to be licensed and certified by the state Department of Health,” he added. Other legislation Tennessee Right to Life is supporting in the 2026 General Assembly includes:
n A bill making it a class B felony to commit arson against a pregnancy resource center.
n A bill repealing a 2018 law making it easier for individuals and groups to sue the state over legislation that becomes law. The legislation, which narrowly passed the House and Senate and awaits Gov. Lee’s signature, makes it harder for people to sue Tennessee over prolife laws approved by the legislature and the governor.
Mr. Brewer listed a number of pro-abortion bills that were defeated in the legislature this session that would have overturned or weakened Tennessee’s pro-life laws.
“Those are huge victories,” he told the assembly numbering 285. And a key piece of legislation that Tennessee Right to Life opposed would have allowed prosecution of women who received abortions.
“Our point of view was yes, we want life to be protected at all stages, but we want to show sympathy and compassion for women. We do not want to prosecute them,” Mr. Brewer said, noting that abortionists are the ones who should be held criminally and civilly accountable for violating Tennessee’s statutes outlawing abortion.
Pro-life filmmakers
Also part of the daylong Pro-Life Day on the Hill program was a presentation by film producer Marc Aramian, who is making a movie with his wife, writer/director Veronica DiPippo, titled “He Named Him Adam.”
Mr. Aramian updated the group on the film, telling participants that Angel Studios, which has distributed “The Chosen,” “Sound of Freedom,” and “Cabrini,” has given “He
review and indicates whether it will seek to repeal the regulation.
“At this juncture, it is the completion of FDA’s promised good-faith, evidence-based, and expeditious review of the mifepristone REMS, not ‘government by lawsuit’ that this Court finds to be in the public interest,” Judge Joseph wrote, referring to the FDA’s current Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies governing mifepristone.
Previously, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill, alongside Rosalie Markezich, who said she was coerced into taking abortifacient drugs by her then-boyfriend, sued the FDA over a policy permitting
mifepristone, a drug commonly but not exclusively used for early abortion, to be distributed by mail. The suit contends the policy enabled Ms. Markezich’s former partner to acquire the drug from a California doctor, whom Ms. Markezich says never spoke with her, and then coerced her into taking it.
Under the Trump administration, the U.S. Department of Justice asked the court to pause Louisiana’s lawsuit, as well as similar efforts in other states, which sought to roll back the Biden administration’s eased restrictions on mifepristone. DOJ lawyers argued in their filings that the court “should
Named Him Adam” high marks.
Mr. Aramian and Mrs. DiPippo and their Crunch Entertainment production company are actively raising money through investors to complete production of “He Named Him Adam,” which stars Vivica Fox, Kelsey Grammer, and Sam Sorbo.
Mr. Aramian and Mrs. DiPippo have a distribution deal with Angel Studios and have raised $600,000 toward $3.5 million to make the prolife film that is based on the true-life story of Regina Block, a Chattanooga woman who found healing and purpose after the trauma of abortion
Mr. Aramian and Mrs. DiPippo are members of the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga and also produced the film “Father Ryan: A Higher Call” about Father Patrick Ryan, a former basilica priest who has been declared a Servant of God and whose cause for sainthood is before the Vatican.
Unwavering commitment
Daniel Breeden, executive director of Tennessee Right to Life, said the organization this year is celebrating five decades of unwavering commitment to defending the dignity and value of every human life.
“For half a century, God has been faithful. For half a century, Tennesseans have shown up. For half a century, life has been defended law by law, heart by heart, generation by generation,” Mr. Breeden said.
Founded in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, Tennessee Right to Life emerged at a time when the unborn were stripped of legal protection and cultural support. What began as a determined grassroots effort grew into one of the strongest, most influential pro-life organizations in the nation, Mr. Breeden noted.
“Through decades of cultural shifts, political pressure, and legal battles, one thing never changed: the belief that every human life has inherent dignity and worth,” he said.
He pointed out that because of that conviction, Tennessee became a national leader in pro-life law; parents, women, children, the disabled, and the elderly gained protection; and churches, families, and communities found a voice for life.
“This legacy was built by faithful volunteers, courageous leaders, generous supporters, and a shared commitment to truth,” Mr. Breeden said
Mrs. Dunn said Tennessee Right to Life worked for nearly 50 years toward a day that many thought would never come—when Roe v. Wade would be overturned. That
either stay this case until after FDA completes its review or dismiss it.”
This provoked frustration from some pro-life leaders who argued the Trump DOJ was undermining state efforts to protect women and unborn children.
Although Judge Joseph denied Louisiana’s request to block the regulation that permits mifepristone to be dispensed by mail, he indicated that the state could renew its case after the review.
However, the status and timeline of the FDA’s review are unclear. A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services, which
said. “This anniversary is a call to build, not to coast.” Mrs. Dunn and Mr. Breeden have been leading efforts to grow and strengthen TRL chapters across the state as well as expand statewide education and communication; increase support to sustain long-term mission impact; develop new partnerships with churches, organizations, and leaders; invest in the next generation of pro-life advocates; and build systems that support life at every stage, from conception to natural death.
day happened on June 24, 2022, when the U.S. Supreme Court decided the federal Constitution does not confer a right to abortion and returned to states the right to decide the legality of abortion.
But as many thought abortion would become a thing of the past, and as TRL-supported state laws took effect to ban abortion throughout the state, abortion is again surging in Tennessee because of the abortion pill.
While no surgical abortions have been performed in Tennessee in three years, nearly 10,000 medical abortions have taken place across the state in the last year alone.
“The end of Roe was not the end of the work; it was the beginning of a new chapter,” Mrs. Dunn said.
Mrs. Dunn and Mr. Breeden said TRL’s 50th anniversary is not about just looking back. It’s about asking how a culture of life for the next generation can be strengthened; how will women, families, and children be supported beyond legislation; how can education, engagement, and presence be expanded statewide; and how will pro-life leaders be prepared for the next 50 years.
“The answers demand growth, innovation, and unity,” Mr. Breeden
“It’s an exciting time to be part of the pro-life movement, and Tennessee Right to Life is celebrating our 50th year of being an organization. This has ignited some folks to get back involved, people who may have thought the battle is over after Roe v. Wade was overturned. They are now realizing it is not over, so they need to get re-engaged in this battle all across the state. And that is happening, praise be to God,” Mrs. Dunn said.
Candy Clepper, president of Greater Chattanooga Right to Life, TRL’s Hamilton County chapter, is confident Pro-Life Day on the Hill will influence state lawmakers to defend life.
“I thought Pro-Life Day on the Hill was a productive and effective event. Our elected officials need to hear from their pro-life constituents, and having an organized day for that makes a tremendous impact. I appreciated the changes event organizers made this year, allotting more time for visits with legislators,” Ms. Clepper said.
She is grateful for Tennessee Right to Life’s longevity but would like to think there won’t be a need for the organization 50 years from now.
“The work Tennessee Right to Life has done for the past 50 years has saved countless unborn babies and their mothers from the tragedy of abortion. I hope and pray another 50 years is not needed to make abortion not only illegal but unthinkable,” she said. ■
Life continued from page A12
Chattanoogans for life Pro-Life Day on the Hill participants from Chattanooga included, from left, Daniel Wright, Shirley Wright, Marc Aramian, Curt Sheldon, Kay Sheldon, Steve Hagarty, Candy Clepper, Carol Marriott, and Linda Brown.
COURTESY OF CANDY CLEPPER
Abortion pill continued on page A16
The Light of Christ: Celebrating Easter in the Diocese of Knoxville
Seven last words Cathedral hosts ecumenical service, bringing faiths together
By Emily Booker
“Were you there when they crucified my Lord?”
On Good Friday, April 3, at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Christians of different backgrounds joined together to reflect on the Lord’s Passion and the last words of Christ. Though from different churches, they prayed together as one family in mourning Christ’s death.
Father David Boettner, rector of the cathedral, greeted those gathered.
“It’s always such a joy—I know on Good Friday it seems strange to say joy—but it’s always a joy to be able to gather together for this Good Friday ecumenical service,” he said.
Father Boettner noted that Good Friday is a day when the Church mourns Christ’s death, and the ecumenical service feels like family gathering together for a funeral.
“You know, whenever you have a family member who dies, everybody gets together. And even if you have a family that is broken and fractured, a death in the family can bring everybody together. I think on Good Friday it makes sense that even though Christianity is fractured by division, at the same time we can get together and pray together.”
For more than 30 years, the annual ecumenical Seven Last Words of Christ service has brought together pastors from different churches around Knoxville, each sharing a brief reflection on one of the last sentences spoken by Christ.
This year’s preachers each poignantly reflected on a moment of Jesus’ Passion, calling attention to Christ’s love and mercy at the cross.
Matt Durante of Knoxville First Seventh-Day Adventist Church spoke on “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
“In a world already filled with outrage, suspicion, and deep division, forgiveness can almost seem unreasonable. Unreasonable because we live in a time that encourages us to hold on to the offense, to keep the score, and to defend our pride. And yet, when we come to Calvary on
March continued from page A12
year, almost two miles, so it was a great opportunity. We walked through a park, and since it was a beautiful day, there were a lot of people at the park,” Mrs. Dunn said.
“So, it made a great impression on a lot of people. We got to reach a lot of people with the march,” she added.
Abortion pill continued from page A15
oversees the FDA, said in a written statement provided to OSV News, “The FDA is conducting its safety study of mifepristone, including the collection of robust and timely data, evaluation of data integrity, and implementation of the analyses, validation, and peer-review.”
“Once the FDA finishes its analysis of the data, the agency will decide whether to make substantive changes to the (Mifepristone Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy),” the spokesperson said on April 8. “The agency is taking care to do this study properly and in the right way. We are planning to complete the study as soon as possible while ensuring we are not cutting any corners from a scientific-research standpoint.”
The spokesperson said such studies “often take approximately a year or more to conduct,” but they plan “to have this study done sooner than that time frame.”
“Drug safety is a paramount issue with all drugs that the agency approves,” the statement said.
But Judge Joseph wrote that the stay he granted to the FDA “will not remain open-ended.”
“FDA has an obligation to act with all deliberate speed to review its past actions and complete a thorough analysis that addresses the deficiencies it has acknowledged,” he wrote. “The parties and the American public deserve nothing less.”
Should the FDA fail to complete its review and make any necessary revisions to the mifepristone REMS “within a reasonable time frame,” he added, “the Court’s analysis and the weight accorded to these factors will inevitably change.”
In an April 8 statement, Marjorie
Tennessee Right to Life hosts the annual March for Life each year to bring the community together in peaceful witness and to highlight organizations providing support and resources for women, families, and children.
Tennessee Right to Life is the state’s oldest and largest pro-life advocacy organization. It is a nonprofit, non-sectarian, volunteer-based organi-
Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, argued that the judge’s ruling vindicated Louisiana’s right to bring the lawsuit forward.
“This ruling comes after the DOJ has repeatedly tried to get states’ challenges to the policy dismissed, even while online abortion-drug vendors flagrantly violate state laws and send women and girls to emergency rooms across the country,” she said. “The Trump-Vance administration should stand with Louisiana and other states to enforce their laws and protect women and unborn children rather than defending Biden’s disastrous COVID-era policies.”
Ms. Dannenfelser added, “It is urgent that the FDA complete its promised safety study on these drugs, but this study also should not delay commonsense action: Deadly abortion drugs do not belong in the mail with no in-person doctor visit, no ultrasound, no meaningful medical oversight, and no accountability.”
Proponents of the drug argue it is statistically safe for a woman to take and attempts to restrict it are an attempt to ban abortion outright. In contrast, opponents argue there are significant risks to those who take it, particularly outside of medical settings, in addition to ending the life of an unborn child early in its development.
The FDA under the second Trump administration also recently approved a new generic for mifepristone, commonly known as the “abortion pill,” an action that frustrated pro-life leaders as the first Trump administration also approved the drug’s first generic.
Bishop Daniel E. Thomas of To-
that He speaks are words of forgiveness: ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’”
He said that Jesus had every reason to harbor anger and bitterness as He was crucified, yet He chose mercy instead.
“If there was ever a moment in Jesus’ life in which anger could have been justified, it would have been here. And yet, instead of calling down judgment out of heaven, Jesus calls down mercy. Christ lifts His eyes toward heaven, and He prays for forgiveness over the very people responsible for His suffering…because you see, friends, Calvary is not only where sin is exposed. It’s also where mercy flows.
“May we receive the grace at Calvary today so that it becomes the grace that we give to others
Seven continued on page A24
zation affiliated with the National Right to Life Committee in Washington, D.C., and made up of local county chapters throughout Tennessee. Tennessee Right to Life is committed to effectively advocating the protection of human life through educational outreach, passage of protective legislation, and the development of an informed, active grassroots movement statewide. ■
ledo, Ohio, chair of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, recently offered his support to legislation that would revoke the FDA’s approval of mifepristone for abortions. However, that bill faces long odds in Congress.
The Catholic Church teaches that all human life is sacred from conception to natural death, and as such, opposes direct abortion. After the 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision, Church leaders in the United States have reiterated the Church’s concern for both mother and child and have called to strengthen available support for those living in poverty or other circumstances that can increase the risk of abortion. ■
Good Friday, we hear words from Jesus that interrupt all that. We can’t miss this, friends, that as Jesus hung on the cross, the very first words
Sharing the faith Sacred Heart priests Father David Boettner, Father Martin Gladysz, Father Danny Herman, and Father Diego Rivera, wearing white albs with red stoles, are shown with, from left, Protestant preachers Mark Moreland, Mike Wilkinson, Laura Henrik, Jason Scott, Dr. Willa Estell, and Matt Durante, who took part in a Holy Week ecumenical service at the cathedral.
EMILY BOOKER (2)
Rev. Durante
Jerusalem.
The Light of Christ: Celebrating Easter in the Diocese of Knoxville
Principal concelebrants included
cathedral rector Father David Boettner, diocesan vicar for priests Father Michael Cummins, and diocesan vicar general and moderator of the curia Father Peter Iorio.
Deacon Jim Bello, director of the diocesan Office of Christian Formation, was deacon of the Word at the Chrism Mass. Deacon Daniel Cooper, who will be ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Beckman on June 6, was deacon of the altar.
Deacon Walt Otey of the cathedral and Deacon Hicks Armor were masters of ceremonies at the Mass.
Mark Calvert, a parishioner of St. John Neumann in Farragut, proclaimed the first reading in English, and Blanca Primm, diocesan director of Hispanic Ministry, proclaimed the second reading in Spanish.
Glenn Kahler, director of music and liturgy for Sacred Heart, led the choir and instrumentalists.
Sarah-Clementine Mire was the lead cantor.
For the fourth year in a row, Father Michael Woods—representing the diocese’s senior priests—opened the procession of the oils by bringing forward the balsam for the chrism. The oil of catechumens was presented by Barry Walsh, Cody Stiner, and Tracy VanDorselaer of the cathedral OCIA team, and the oil of the sick by Sister Gianna Marie Savidge, RSM, Bri Vinyard, and Sam Souza of the St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic. Deacon Cooper brought forward the oil for the chrism.
The gifts were presented by Chancery staff members Janie Hennessy and Beth Parsons.
Healers of souls
Bishop Beckman began his homily—during which he stood at his chair (cathedra) in the cathedral and faced the priests sitting around the altar—by referring to a talk he once heard by Cardinal Joseph Bernardin.
“Back in the 1990s, I was a part of our presbyteral council in the Diocese of Nashville, and in those days they had the National Federation of Priests’ Councils, and they would celebrate annual conventions throughout the United States. I had the opportunity to attend a number of those,” the bishop said.
“I enjoyed the opportunity to meet the priests from throughout the United States, but sometimes we would also have some really good speakers. One year, the speaker was Cardinal Bernardin from Chicago. He spoke to us about the role of the priest that year, and he said to us, ‘The priest is called to be a bearer of the mystery of God and a healer of souls.’ I have never forgotten those two paradigms that he presented, and through the years as a priest they have come back to me over and over. In preparing for this Mass of the holy Chrism during the days of Lent, I’ve been thinking about these paradigms again.”
Bishop Beckman referred to the first reading at Mass from Isaiah 61, in which the prophet says God has “sent me to bring glad tidings to the lowly, to heal the brokenhearted” and to the Gospel reading from Luke 4, where Jesus says the words from Isaiah are “fulfilled in your healing.” Priests truly are “healers of souls,” he said.
“It’s so fitting in a way that we should focus for a moment on the fact that we are healers. Jesus Himself, so beautifully today in the Gospel of Luke, begins His ministry as a powerful reflection on the healing that the prophet Isaiah spoke so clearly about,” the bishop said. “‘The Lord has anointed me, has sent me to bring glad tidings,’ good news, to the lowly or the poor. The very proclamation of God’s Word is a healing power, isn’t it, in our communities.
“As people hear the Word of God proclaimed and we preach the Gospel, the power of God’s healing Word touches the hearts of those who listen. Also, to heal the brokenhearted, to bring sight to the blind, liberty to the captives, release
Bearers of the mystery of God Above: Bishop Mark Beckman directs his homily to his brother priests during the Chrism Mass on March 31 at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Below: Bishop Beckman breathes on the sacred chrism to invoke the Holy Spirit in consecrating the oil used by all diocesan churches in baptisms, confirmations, ordinations, and dedications of churches and altars. Assisting the bishop are Deacon Walt
and cathedral acolyte Jerry Bodie.
to prisoners. Perhaps the deepest captivity of the human person—we know it so well, don’t we?—is the captivity of sin. And you and I as ministers of the Gospel have the opportunity to be a healing presence in the lives of our people in so many profound ways. Whether it has been less than a year or more than 60, your hands were anointed with sacred chrism to bring the healing power of Christ to the people of God.”
Every priest within earshot at the Chrism Mass, whether their ordination was recent or many decades ago, has experienced requests for healing, Bishop Beckman said.
“For a moment, think back over those years of your priesthood— whether short or long—how many persons who have approached you in need of the healing power of Christ. The moments of reconciliation, when you hold out your hands over the head of the penitent and say the words of absolution:
‘God the Father of mercies, I absolve you,’” he said. “There are moments—we’ve all had them as priests—when that encounter is not only a powerful moment of grace for the penitent but also for us who witness the work of God’s mercy. The healing of the sick and the sacrament of the anointing, (the oil for) which we will bless again tonight, another profound moment that we’ve all had as priests.
“I think about the moments when people have waited for us in a hospital or a nursing home, toward the end of life, and you walk into the room and you immediately see in the faces, of the family or the person, the palpable joy that you have arrived to celebrate that sacrament. We embody the presence of God in those moments, brothers, don’t we?
The bishop recalled one person who was near the end of his life who asked for a priest to anoint him.
“I will never forget: one Sunday I had all the Masses. I was very tired, and at the end of the last Mass, one of the families said, ‘Father, would you come to the nursing home and anoint our family member?’ It was the last bit of energy I had, but I went there,” Bishop Beckman said.
“As I walked toward the room, they said, ‘We don’t know why he’s waited so long.’ I walked into the room. I gave him the anointing of the sick, and they told me later that before I made it back to the elevator on that second floor that he had died. Those moments, all
that Eucharist to someone on his or her deathbed as viaticum, those moments of encounter with Christ in the Eucharist not only bear the mystery of God, but they’re also profoundly healing moments for God’s people.”
The renewal of priestly promises followed Bishop Beckman’s homily.
“Tonight, we have the privilege to renew the promises that we made on our own ordination days. Think back for the moment to the day of your ordination. I hope it was a day of joy for you, a day of celebration, and a day when you knew that God had claimed you,” the bishop said. “That moment in time—for me there were two very profound moments: when I fell prostrate, that was one of them, as I lay there and the Litany of the Saints was being sung. The second was when I was clothed for the first time in the chasuble of priesthood. There were so many powerful moments in that ordination liturgy when we first said yes to these sacred promises.”
Bishop Beckman compared the joy of a father giving away his daughter at her wedding to the healing ministry of priests.
of us could repeat, right? Profound moments when we were able to be present to the people of God in a healing way.”
Celebrating the Eucharist holds “the most powerful moments of all for most of us priests,” the bishop said, “when we hold in our hands the very body and blood of the Lord given for us. Whether it’s a second-grader receiving the Eucharist for the first time or carrying
“A few years ago, I went out to San Diego for a wedding, and I went to the reception afterward, and the father of the bride got up, and he said, ‘They told me before I got married that my wedding day was going to be the happiest day of my life,’” the bishop remembered. “And he said, ‘But they lied. It was not the happiest day of my life.’ He said, ‘It was the happiest day of my life up to that moment, but I have had many happier moments since, including the birth of my two daughters, and this very day when I give my daughter away in marriage is the happiest day of my life.’
“I have thought about his words often. The days of our ordination hopefully were indeed joy-filled days, but as we look back at all the ways God has invited us to bear Him to His people and to be healers,
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your gift and learn more today at dioknox.org/appeal.
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CATHOLIC MINISTRIES SUPPORTED BY THE BISHOP’S APPEAL FOR MINISTRIES
Chrism
Otey, far left,
BILL BREWER (2)
Chrism continued on page A18
‘Expressing a grave concern’
U.S. bishops sound alarm on ICE treatment of pregnant women
By Gina Christian OSV News
Two U.S. bishops, who lead the U.S. Catholic bishops' efforts on pro-life and migration concerns, have advised the new head of the Department of Homeland Security of their “ grave concern ” over the treatment of pregnant and postpartum women in immigration detention.
“There are increasing numbers of alarming reports of pregnant mothers not getting the medical care they need while in immigration detention, tragically resulting in miscarriage in some cases, as well as reports of nursing mothers
haven’t there been so many profound moments on the great journey of priesthood?
Saying yes to the Lord “So, brothers, today, I invite you once more to say yes to the Lord. He has called each one of us. That’s why we said yes. He has anointed us to bring glad tidings, to heal the brokenhearted, to give sight to the blind, to release those imprisoned, to be bearers of the great mystery of God and healers of souls. I invite you today, brothers, to renew those promises once more.”
Bishop Beckman led the renewal of commitment to priestly service.
“Beloved sons, on the anniversary of that day in which Christ, Our Lord, conferred his priesthood on His Apostles and on us, are you resolved to renew, in the presence of your bishop and God’s holy people, the promises you once made? Are you resolved to be more united with the Lord Jesus and more closely conformed to Him, denying yourselves and confirming those promises about sacred duties toward Christ’s Church, which, prompted by love of Him, you willingly and joyfully pledged on the day of your priestly ordination? Are you resolved to be faithful stewards of the mysteries of God in the Holy Eucharist and other liturgical rites and to discharge faithfully the sacred office of teaching, following Christ the Head and Shepherd, not seeking any gain, but moved only by zeal for souls?”
The priests responded “I am” to each question.
The bishop then addressed the assembly, requesting “as for you, dearest sons and daughters, pray for your priests, that the Lord may pour out His gifts abundantly upon them and keep them faithful as ministers of Christ, the High Priest, so that they may lead you to Him, who is the source of salvation.”
Bishop Beckman asked those in the pews to “pray also for me, that I may be faithful to the apostolic office entrusted to me in my lowliness and that in your midst I may be made day by day a living and more perfect image of Christ, the Priest, the Good Shepherd, the Teacher, and the Servant of all.”
After the oils were presented, the bishop began the blessing of them with the oil of the sick.
“O God, Father of all consolation, who willed to heal the infirmities of the weak through your Son, listen favorably to the prayer of faith,” he said. “Send forth from the heavens, we pray, your Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, upon this oil in all of its richness, which you have graciously brought forth from the verdant tree to restore the body so that by your holy blessing, everyone anointed with this oil as a safeguard for body, soul, and spirit may be freed from all pain, all infirmity, and all sickness. May your holy oil, O Lord, be blessed by you for our sake, in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever.”
Bishop Beckman then blessed the
being separated from their babies when detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, wrote Bishop Daniel E. Thomas of Toledo, Ohio, and Bishop Brendan J. Cahill of Victoria, Texas, in an April 13 letter addressed to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin.
The two prelates respectively chair the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on ProLife Activities and Committee on Migration. Their letter follows a Feb. 13 letter in which more than 30 pro-life leaders urged President Donald Trump, Mr. Mullin’s predecessor Kristi Noem, and ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons to reinstate fed-
eral guidance that would largely prevent immigration detention for pregnant and new mothers.
“Medical advocacy groups and investigative reporting have documented prolonged detention of women with high-risk pregnancies, delayed emergency treatment, miscarriages, and stillbirths,” stated the letter, whose signatories spanned the ideological and religious spectrum. “Simply stated, unborn children are dying because of this policy.”
A new joint report from the Women s Refugee Commission and Physicians for Human Rights found that “ICE is violating its own policy to keep parents and
oil of catechumens.
“O God, strength and protection of your people, who have made the oil you have created a sign of strength, graciously bless this oil. Grant courage to the catechumens who will be anointed with it, so that receiving your divine wisdom and power, they may understand more deeply the Gospel of your Christ, that they may undertake with a generous heart the labors of the Christian life and, made worthy of adoption to you as sons and daughters, they may rejoice to be born anew and to live in your Church, through Christ, our Lord,” he said.
The bishop mixed the balsam and olive oil used to make the sacred chrism, which is used in the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and holy orders.
“Let us pray, dear brothers and sisters, to God the Almighty Father that He bless and sanctify this oil so that all who are outwardly anointed with it may be inwardly transformed and come to share in eternal salvation,” he said.
Bishop Beckman then breathed over the chrism, praying that the Holy Spirit be present in it.
“O God, author of all growth and spiritual progress, receive in your goodness the grateful homage that the Church joyfully offers to you through our voice. For in the beginning, you commanded the earth to bring forth fruit-bearing trees, among which olive trees would arise as providers of this most rich oil, so that their fruit might serve for sacred chrism. Therefore, we beseech you, O Lord, be pleased to sanctify with your blessing this oil in its richness and to pour into it the strength of the Holy Spirit, with the powerful working of your Christ.
“From His holy name it has received the name of chrism, and with it you have anointed your priests, prophets, kings, and martyrs. May you confirm the chrism you have created as a sacred sign of perfect salvation and life for those to be made new in the spiritual waters of baptism. May those formed into a temple of your majesty by the holiness infused through this anointing and by the cleansing of the stain of their first birth be made fragrant with the innocence of a life pleasing you. May those anointed with royal, priestly, and prophetic dignity be clothed with the garment
children together,” while “detaining pregnant and postpartum women and not providing adequate medical care for pregnant women with life-threatening conditions.”
Among the violations cited in the report were “mistreatment, inadequate health care, insufficient food, and shackling of pregnant and postpartum women in detention.” One 25-year-old pregnant woman deported to Honduras reported that she had bled for days while in detention but received no medical attention despite requests for aid. Another woman reported that she was deported following an untreated miscarriage ■
teaching authority as bishop, and he addresses his priests like a father to his sons. It’s beautiful,” Father Boettner said.
Joined by the clergy and religious, many East Tennessee Catholics from around the diocese filled the cathedral for the Chrism Mass.
Casey O’Neal is a member of Holy Ghost Parish in Knoxville. He attended the Chrism Mass with his wife, who is expecting their fourth child in May, and their three young sons. In past years, work has prevented Mr. O’Neal from attending the Chrism Mass, but this year he was able to be part of it with his family.
of an incorruptible gift in keeping with the sacrament you have established. May this oil be the chrism of salvation for those born again of water and the Holy Spirit, and may it make them partakers of eternal life and sharers of heavenly glory, through Christ, Our Lord.”
Standing ovation
Before giving the final blessing at the Chrism Mass, the bishop jokingly referred to his closing remarks as a “second homily” that would be timed by Monsignor Patrick Garrity
“I want to take a moment: we have a lot of priests who have joined our diocese since last Chrism Mass, either by ordination or other reasons, so I want to invite those of you in your first time at the Chrism Mass here in Knoxville to stand. These are the folks new to our diocese. We want to give you all a warm welcome,” Bishop Beckman said, and the assembly applauded.
After leading the applause for the priests that drew a standing ovation, the bishop expressed thanks for “the great variety of the members of the body of Christ here present. What a beautiful representation you all are of the whole Church of the Diocese of Knoxville. Your presence here is a gift to this diocese—know that.”
Father Boettner, the cathedral rector, said after the Chrism Mass that “it’s just such a joy to be able to join together with our brother priests and surround our bishop in ministry, and his words to us were perfect: the ministry of Christ is a healing ministry, and it’s God’s Spirit moving through the priests that brings that healing and that proclamation of the Gospel to the ends of the earth. I think all of us feel the same way. We’re all grateful for being invited by God to share in this ministry with our bishop, and we’re just sometimes overwhelmed and humbled by the fact that God chose me and is using me to be a blessing to others.”
In his two Chrism Masses as the diocese’s shepherd, Bishop Beckman has faced the priests when he delivers his homily.
“Normally when he’s preaching, he comes down and faces the people and talks to them there, but when it’s the Chrism Mass he stays at his chair, the symbol of his
“The Mass was beautiful. I thought the bishop’s homily to the priests was sanctifying and beautiful. I love our priests, and it’s just beautiful to see them all gathered at the altar together with the bishop, and to watch him consecrate the oils,” he said. “It is quite special to see all of our brethren who are not at our parish gather together. It’s cool to get together to worship and glorify our Lord.”
Jackie Owen is a member of St. John XXIII University Parish in Knoxville. She finds the Chrism Mass spiritually moving, with the music, liturgy of the Eucharist, and the consecration of the sacred chrism oil especially meaningful to her “Bishop Beckman consecrating the oil just adds to the special flavor of the service and what this whole (Holy) week means,” she said. “To have the highest ambassador of God in our area be here celebrating the Mass for all of us in the diocese, and to have all of the priests gather together to renew their vows is so special.”
Mrs. Owen talked about the priests receiving a standing ovation from the congregation.
“I bet they were quite surprised,” she said. “That was a neat touch. Our priests might not receive a lot of thank-yous and words about how much we appreciate them. But it’s so nice for them to hear it from others, even from those who are not members of their own parishes. It’s so nice to be able to gather together in a large group to show our appreciation for one and all.”
John Gensheimer is a teacher at St. Joseph School in Knoxville and also is in the current class of men in formation for the permanent diaconate for the Diocese of Knoxville.
“It’s always a privilege to attend the Chrism Mass, whether as a member of the faithful or as a deacon candidate, in order to witness all of the assembled priests of the diocese praying together and renewing their vows of commitment to service to us,” he said. “As a gathering of people who have dedicated their entire lives to service to God and to us, the people of God, it’s a very powerful reminder of all of those who have made such a sacrifice for God and for God’s people “And as a deacon candidate, as someone who is hoping to continue in service to the people and also to assist the priests in any way we can, it’s especially impactful to watch them renew their own vows of service to God.” ■
Presenting the sacred oils Bishop Mark Beckman receives the oil for the chrism from Deacon Daniel Cooper during the Chrism Mass. Assisting the bishop are Deacon Walt Otey and Deacon Jim Bello, right
DAN MCWILLIAMS
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The Light of Christ: Celebrating Easter in the Diocese of Knoxville
people follow through, we won’t have room for them [in the church] at the Easter Vigil,” Father Sturm said. “Deacon Chad suggested moving Easter Vigil to OLPH," which could more easily accommodate the large group.
As OLPH’s and Christ the King’s OCIA programs steadily grew, the relocation to OLPH seemed imminent. Along with St. Jude, the parishes came together at Our Lady of Perpetual Help for Holy Week Masses. And at Easter Vigil, the 23 OCIA candidates brought their friends and families to fill the first five rows of pews on both sides. The church, too, was fuller than at past Easter vigils.
“In my 26—almost 27—years of priesthood, I’ve never been at a Triduum liturgy with that size crowd,” Father Sturm said. “That was a first for me, and never have this many people come
into the Church.”
It’s unclear what’s behind this recent influx of converts—not just here in East Tennessee but across the United States as well. Many dioceses are seeing the same uptick in numbers.
For Father Sturm, some of the answers may lie in what’s happening on a national and international scale. He cited events like the death of Charlie Kirk as a possible catalyst for the growing interest in various faiths. Still other schools of thought point to the election of the first American pope, which may have put religion— specifically Catholicism as Pope Leo XIV settles deeper into his role—at the forefront of people’s minds and conversations.
“Ever since Charlie Kirk died, I think that started a tsunami and got people to start talking about church again,” Father Sturm said. “Not just the Catholic Church but across all Christian
religions.” Whatever the reason, the Catholic Church is feeling the effects, and parishes large and small across the diocese are thrilled at putting new parishioners in the pews, all at various stages in their journey to becoming fully Catholic.
In all, Christ the King had five catechumens and 13 candidates this year, and Our Lady of Perpetual Help had five catechumens and one candidate. Parishioner Andy Pungratz led the OCIA group at OLPH, while Deacon Shields was in charge of the OCIA program at Christ the King.
Each OCIA candidate’s journey to the faith is unique, and Mr. Pungratz and Deacon Shields were privy to those personal stories as they got to know the members of their groups. One particular candidate was Jennifer Houser, who
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The Light of Christ: Celebrating Easter in the Diocese of Knoxville
joined the Church with her husband after a 15-year journey of looking at and studying the Catholic Church.
For Mrs. Houser, a Christ the King parishioner, the decision to join the Catholic Church was one that came after much thought and research.
“I was raised in a pretty non-religious household,” Mrs. Houser said. “We didn’t grow up going to church. But then I got married and had kids, and I started considering my relationship with God.”
Mrs. Houser began studying the Church Fathers as well as the history of the Church, saying she “wanted to know where all this came from.”
Along the way and over the course of about 15 years, she shared what she was learning with her husband, Joe, who grew up in a Protestant household.
Their journey led to OCIA at Christ the King with Deacon Shields, who Mrs. Houser described as “wonderful, very thorough, and so informative.” Together, the Housers joined the Church. Mrs. Houser was baptized, received her first Holy Communion, and was confirmed at the Vigil Mass; Mr. Houser was confirmed and received first Holy Communion that evening as well.
According to Father Sturm, both Mr. Pungratz and Deacon Shields were instrumental in guiding the Housers and their 22 counterparts through the OCIA program and in organizing and coordinating the many details that go into a Mass like the Easter Vigil.
“I’m amazed at the patience and dedication both men showed this past year as the groups grew and grew,” Father Sturm said.
Deacon Shields came into his role as OCIA co-
ordinator at Christ the King when it became apparent that the physical distance between OLPH in LaFollette and Christ the King in Tazewell (about a 40-minute drive) would leave Father Sturm in a time crunch on Sunday mornings.
“Deacon Chad just stepped in and filled that role for the first time ever,” Father Sturm said.
And the role seems to suit Deacon Shields.
“I would show up halfway through class because I was in transit from OLPH, and I would walk in and Chad would just be so animated. He was so excited and ecstatic the way he would teach,” said the pastor of OLPH, St. Jude, and Christ the King.
Deacon Shields, who was ordained to the permanent diaconate in 2022, was instrumental in growing the OCIA program at Christ the King. Not only did he welcome those seeking initiaEaster continued
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tion into the Church, but Father Sturm credits him with making the OCIA process a church-wide affair.
“You have all these candidates, but now you need just as many sponsors,” Father Sturm explained.
Deacon Shields wisely turned to those around him each week at Mass. Tapping into the pool of Christ the King parishioners, he pulled many longtime Catholics into this special occasion by asking them to work with and sponsor the growing number of OCIA candidates.
“The kicker was, many of these people were honored to be asked to be a sponsor,” Father Sturm said. “Chad did a great job with the classes but just as good of a job getting sponsors and involving the rest of the parish.”
Deacon Shields, himself a convert, did not shy away at the prospect of having a group that kept adding members. He notes the time commitment of leading such a group but also the importance.
“All the energy and hours spent being a catechist become instantly worth it the moment you watch one of your students get baptized or receive the Holy Eucharist for the first time,” Deacon Shields said.
While the Church celebrates its growing numbers and watches this somewhat surprising trend, the growth does come with a price: larger flocks for the same number of priests who already struggle with meeting the needs and demands of not just one but sometimes multiple parishes.
Father Sturm, himself in charge of three parishes, feels blessed to have dedicated parishioners such as Mr. Pungratz to step in and fill pivotal roles like OCIA coordinator. The pastor also points to the tremendous growth and change in his relationship with Deacon Shields— and the deacon’s place at Christ the King.
“I was tickled pink and genuinely excited and happy that Deacon Chad stepped into this role,” Father Sturm said. “I would come in halfway through class sometimes and Chad seemed just as excited as the people were.”
Father Sturm has come to rely on and trust Deacon Shields as each of the parishes’ number of members steadily increases.
“I was truly blessed that he took this on,” Father Sturm said of Deacon Shields’ instant willingness to lead the Christ the King group, “and he can do it so much better than I can, in my opinion, because he is fresher. I never asked him; he never complained. He just took the program and made it happen. That made the Easter season very fun for me.”
The final tally of newcomers for the diocese remains to be seen as parishes continue to report Easter Vigil numbers. One thing seems certain, however: this truly marks an exciting time in the Catholic Church and right here in East Tennessee, too.
The great Christian Passover
The 40 days of Lent, which began on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 18, led the Catholic faithful to Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week on March 29, ending on Holy Thursday, April 2, giving way to the holiest time of the Christian year.
Bishop Mark Beckman began Holy Week celebrations with the Chrism Mass at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus on Tuesday, March 31. Priests from around the diocese gathered at the annual Mass to renew their priestly vows, joined by their brother deacons and many parishioners from around the diocese.
The sacred paschal Triduum commenced on Holy Thursday, April 2, as the three-day pinnacle of the liturgical year ushered in the Passion, death, and resurrection of Our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Parishes marked Holy Thursday by holding the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. Bishop Beckman commemorated the Last Supper at Sacred Heart Cathedral by washing the feet of 12 parishioners just
The Light of Christ Above: Bishop Mark Beckman lowers the Paschal candle into the baptismal font at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus during the Easter Vigil Mass on April 4. Assisting the bishop from left are Deacon Mike Mescall, acolyte Jerry Bodie, Deacon Walt Otey, altar server John Gensheimer, Father Danny Herman, altar server Scott Baron, Father Elijah Cirigliano, and Father Diego Rivera. Below: Bishop Beckman baptizes one of the catechumens who entered the Church at the cathedral during Easter Vigil.
before celebrating the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
In his Holy Thursday homily, Bishop Beckman spoke of the Apostle Simon Peter, who is quoted in the Gospel saying, “Lord, you will never wash my feet.”
“Why did Peter object to Jesus washing his feet? It was the job of the lowest slave of the household to wash the dirty feet of people when they arrived in a home. And Simon Peter, having been called by Christ and knowing Him to be Lord and Master, thought ‘He will never wash my feet.’ He did not under-
stand at that moment what the Lord was doing for him,” Bishop Beckman said.
Bishop Beckman related a personal story to illustrate Jesus’ position with Peter. The bishop, when once prompted by a question from a college student, divulged that his favorite meal was homemade ravioli that his Italian grandmother would make.
But as she became older and her hands and fingers grew more arthritic, it became painful for her to knead the dough for the ravioli.
“One time I watched her do it,
Sealed with the Holy Spirit Above: Sacred Heart Cathedral catechumen Odilia Sales-Morales receives the Light of Christ from Bishop Beckman during Easter Vigil Mass. Below: Bishop Beckman confirms one of the 108 catechumens and candidates who entered the Church during Easter Vigil at the cathedral on April 4.
and she looked in considerable pain. I said, ‘Grandma, why are you making these if your hands hurt so badly?’ She just looked at me and smiled with a sparkle in her eye and continued her work. I realized later that feeding us was more important to her than her hands. ‘Lord, why would you wash my feet?’ He loved them (the Twelve) to the very end. His washing of the feet is an embodiment of His love for us from the Father. It is the same love with which He will take ordinary bread and wine and transfigure them into His own body and blood as food for them. ‘This is my body, given for you. This is my blood, my life poured out for you.’
“It is the same love with which he will stretch out His arms the next day on the cross at Calvary and receive the nails into the wood of the cross. It is the same love with which He will appear in the upper room on Easter Sunday evening to show them once more the marks and allow them to touch them though they hide behind locked doors,” Bishop Beckman said.
The bishop explained that the congregation was gathered in church because of Jesus’ love for His people.
“In a very powerful way, He has washed us, even our feet, the most embarrassing, dirty parts of who we are. And He feeds us tonight with the gift of Himself, His own body and blood poured out for us,” Bishop Beckman continued. “That is the reason we are drawn here tonight. And once we understand that mystery, then we know that we must love one another, even as we are loved by the Lord.”
Bishop Beckman was reminded of an exchange between legendary artists Renoir and Matisse. Renoir, at the end of his life, had severe arthritis and had great difficulty painting. He was forced to tie paint brushes to his hands to paint to overcome the pain.
Matisse asked why he continued that way if he was in so much pain. And Renoir responded, “The pain passes, but the beauty endures.”
“The pain of what the Lord did for us does pass. But the beauty He creates in us lasts forever. Having loved us, He loves us to the end,” the bishop concluded.
Walking in Christ’s footsteps
Just as priests and deacons lead the faithful in the Stations of the Cross inside churches in the diocese each Friday, the grounds of diocesan parishes were the scenes of Living Stations of the Cross, where parishioners reenact Jesus’ excruciating trek from Jerusalem to Calvary, where He was crucified. Each of the 14 stations along the path is highlighted during the Way of Sorrows, and at the end, men from the parishes taking part are suspended on the crosses. It is an impactful moment that grips the people who follow along on the Living Stations path.
The parishes that held Living Stations of the Cross included St. Thérèse of Lisieux in Cleveland, St. Mary in Johnson City, St. Dominic in Kingsport, Notre Dame in Greeneville, St. Patrick in Morristown, St. Joseph the Worker in Madisonville, St. Teresa of Kolkata in Maynardville, St. Thomas the Apostle in Lenoir City, Holy Cross in Pigeon Forge, Our Lady of Fatima in Alcoa, and Holy Ghost and All Saints in Knoxville.
And a number of parishes held Tenebrae services during the Triduum commemorating the Passion and death of Jesus. During the service, lit candles are extinguished symbolizing the abandonment of Jesus by His disciples leading to darkness, silence, and then the strepitus representing the earthquake at His death
The cathedral hosted an the ecumenical service on the Seven Last Words of Christ (see the story on page 16). Seven pastors representing different denominations each spoke on the last words spoken by Christ during His Passion. The annual service brings together Christians of all stripes to reflect on the
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KATHY RANKIN (2)
KATHY RANKIN (2)
how it is. I’m part of the older generation now, and before (the path to adulthood) was always high-school graduation, college, job field. Now it’s kind of a different path for young adults,” Father Iorio explained.
“Not so necessarily graduating from high school and going right to college. There may be a gap year; you may travel abroad to broaden your experience and whatever, do an internship. Young people who are together who may or may not become their spouse. So, it’s not linear anymore but is a different type of reality,” he continued.
Ms. Valenzuela also shared that this newer generation differs because many are coming from families who chose not to baptize their children as infants because they felt “the children should be able to choose when they are older.” This creates a domain where the teachings of faith skip a generation.
This is where Ms. Valenzuela shares the importance of grandparents.
She calls this the “abuela effect,” which comes from the need of seeking believers in the older generation, typically a grandparent, or a person who fills that role.
Young adults have begun approaching the “grandparent generation” to discuss their beliefs. Ms. Valenzuela has advice for young adults who are questioning generational differences: act in “finding the believers in their parish and ask questions. They should ask why they continue serving, why they continue to be a part of the mission.”
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suffering and death of Jesus.
Growing in the faith Children and their parents follow the Stations of the Cross in the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga on Good Friday, April 3. Diocese of Knoxville leaders are planning for the future of the Catholic Church in East Tennessee, which involves ministering to youth and young adults.
Grandparents can live what they believe, and for the young adults this is a large part of what leads them to or from the Church.
“They are coming into a parish with questions. They (younger generation) are coming and asking, ‘Can you show me someone who believes what you are teaching me?’” Ms. Valenzuela explained.
“Abuelita theology” is a framework termed in the Latin community that focuses on the role of grandmothers as leaders of faith along with culture and theology. Abuelitas, or grandmothers, stand as pillars of faith in the family and
The observance of Triduum culminated in Easter Vigil Masses celebrated in each church that began at dusk on April 4 with the lighting of the Paschal candle representing the risen Lord, who is the light of the world. That light of the world is then spread as parishioners light each other’s individual candles throughout each church.
In addition to the Liturgy of the Eucharist, the highlight of Easter Vigil is the catechumens and candidates entering as the newest members of the Body of Christ.
Growing the Body of Christ
Bishop Beckman celebrated Easter Vigil at the cathedral, which was filled to capacity with faithful and was standing-room only. Parishes around the diocese reported similar turnout.
Bishop Beckman and Father David Boettner, rector of the cathedral, welcomed 108 people into the cathedral parish during the Easter Vigil Mass as many of them were baptized and all of them were confirmed and received their first Holy Communion.
In addition to Father Boettner, concelebrants of the Vigil Mass were cathedral associate pastors Father Martin Gladysz, Father Danny Herman, and Father Diego Rivera, who were joined by Father Elijah Cirigliano of the Benedictines of Divine Will. Cathedral deacons Fredy Vargas (deacon of the Word), Mike Mescall (deacon of the Eucharist), and Walt Otey (master of ceremonies) assisted at the Easter Vigil Mass.
At the beginning of Mass, during the Service of Light outside the cathedral, Bishop Beckman exclaimed that the cathedral was “quaking with joy” as sung in the “Exsultet.”
During the Service of Light, Bishop Beckman blessed the new fire that lit the Paschal candle as the congregation, gathered on the cathedral’s front steps, entered the church in a candlelight procession marking the transition from death to resurrection.
In his homily, Bishop Beckman remarked how the congregation gathered as the day turned into night and lit a new Easter fire, and from that Easter fire the paschal candle, a symbol of Christ risen from the dead, was carried into the darkened church, “and that light began to spread on the faces of you who believe in Him and in His resurrection.”
The bishop cited the Book of Genesis, which told of darkness covering the face of the abyss, and a mighty wind swept over the waters, and God said, “Let there be light.”
“And there was light, the beginning of God’s creation,” Bishop Beckman said, again citing Scripture as God guided His people through the parting of the Red Sea, and “God was present to them in a column of fire by night. … And the Light of Christ, risen from the dead, greeted the women, who began a journey in darkness to the tomb of Jesus.”
“Dear brothers and sisters preparing tonight for the gift of baptism. You began this great journey, most of you, about nine months ago. It
be best answered by someone who commits to living their life according to the faith, someone teens can identify as authentic.
An authentic believer is exactly what any religious candidate seeks to find within the Church, and the interaction of the older and younger generations is a major factor in leading the new generation to the Church.
Father Iorio pointed out that young adults don’t follow the lifestyle plan from previous generations. These plans can be part of what they believe as well in addition to the ability to connect and understand the importance of not only knowing the sacraments but also how to live them.
In a reality where virtually everything is done online and where many people are left to determine if what they see is AI fakery or legitimate content, there is a large detachment in a faith-filled lifestyle. Outreach in a physical sense grows increasingly difficult.
are sometimes referred to as “live-in ministers.”
In some of her previous work with the Archdiocese of Atlanta, Ms. Valenzuela served as editor of The Mark, a Catholic teen magazine. In the magazine was a column she wrote called “Ask Abuela,” where readers could write questions and receive responses from abuelas and other faithful who volunteer answers. Some columns featured questions about bullying and what to do when someone doesn’t like you, as well as faith-related questions like why Catholics go to Mass and confession. They are questions that can
Ms. Valenzuela shared that when working in groups with teenagers, they typically play an introduction game because many of them don’t know how to introduce themselves. They are accustomed to gathering information from an online profile, but in real life they can’t determine who a person is based on a 150-character self-written bio.
Ms. Valenzuela believes teens and young adults are experiencing an increasing rate of panic attacks because of social anxiety. Along with anxiety, rates of depression have increased dramatically among them,
" In my 26—almost 27—years of priesthood, I’ve never been at a Triduum liturgy with that size crowd. That was a first for me, and never have this many people come into the Church Ever since Charlie Kirk died, I think that started a tsunami and got people to start talking about church again. Not just the Catholic Church but across all Christian religions."
spans the time of a child conceived in the womb of his or her mother, which also begins in darkness. Nine months later, that baby is born into the world of light and greeted with joy,” the bishop said.
“My dear friends, tonight those of you who approach the waters of baptism will be born anew. You will meet Christ, your light, in a profoundly new way: in the waters of baptism. Whatever darkness that you have had in your hearts will be scattered tonight by the light of Christ, risen from the dead.
“But the light does not stop here in this holy place. The light of Christ will touch the universe. … The power of God will scatter the darkness that still touches our world. That is the power of the spirit of God, of the Lord Jesus Christ, risen from the dead,” he added.
The 108 catechumens and candidates, along with their godparents and sponsors, filled the front pews of the cathedral as Bishop Beckman came down into the center aisle and spoke among them. Every seat in the cathedral was taken and members of the congregation lined the aisles and filled the narthex for the sacred liturgy.
“Brothers and sisters, may this building tonight indeed shake with holy joy as we celebrate the baptism of these beloved daughters and sons of God most high. May the light of Christ dispel all darkness,” the bishop said, concluding his homily.
Bishop Beckman then proceeded to baptize the 42 catechumens who joined him, one by one, at the cathedral baptismal font.
Bishop Beckman and Father Boettner then confirmed all 108 catechumens and candidates, sealing them with the Holy Spirit, before they received their first Holy Communion.
Filled with the Holy Spirit
Many, if not most, churches in the Diocese of Knoxville were at capacity for Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday Masses, prompting smiles of joy for priests, who were ministering to the masses
The expected surge in attendance led the cathedral parish to establish a satellite location for Easter Sunday Masses at the Lighthouse, a nearby event center. The Lighthouse Masses were at capacity, too.
While not faced with opening satellite Mass sites, many parishes did have to open overflow areas to accommodate swelling attendance.
And while Mass attendance at Easter and Christmas is typically high for Catholic churches, Catholic evangelization experts are seeing
sudden and significant increases in people coming into the Church in recent years.
It is apparent that the Diocese of Knoxville is part of this trend.
Deacon Sean Smith, chancellor of the Diocese of Knoxville, like Bishop Beckman, has been made aware of the impressive attendance at the 2026 Holy Week and Easter Masses.
“From every parish I have heard from, it has been standing-room only plus some. At my own parish, we had four Masses on Easter Sunday, and all four were jam-packed, including the 7 a.m. Mass,” Deacon Smith said.
“At my parish, St. Thomas the Apostle in Lenoir City, on Good Friday it took more than an hour just for reverencing the cross during the two-hour Mass,” the chancellor said.
Deacon Jim Bello, who serves at Holy Spirit Church in Soddy-Daisy and is director of Christian Formation for the diocese, has been receiving similar reports.
“I’m hearing that all over the place. I can tell you at Holy Spirit, every liturgy we had was bursting at the seams practically. We had a lot of people for the Triduum. And we had a lot of people for our Seven Last Words service on Good Friday at noon. It was more crowded than I have ever seen it for that,” Deacon Bello said.
“All over the diocese I’m hearing this,” he added. “There is a tangible excitement right now. It’s unlike anything I have ever seen.”
Thirteen people were welcomed into the Church at Easter Vigil at Holy Spirit, a number that is high for the Hamilton County parish. Holy Spirit had a similar number of people join the Church at Easter Vigil 2025.
Deacon Bello noted that just since Easter, five people who attended Easter Mass at Holy Spirit have told him they want to join the Church, and he is seeing news reports about the surge of people joining the Catholic Church nationally and internationally.
“Nobody can look at this and say God isn’t on the move with this Church,” he said.
As Deacon Bello surveyed the numbers of people joining the Church at Easter and thought about the individual churches that were stretched to the limit to accommodate all the people, he said the surprising growth could be an issue for parishes going forward.
“It’s a beautiful problem,” he said. “What a beautiful time it is now to say, ‘I’m part of the Catholic Church. This appears to be a historical time in the Church. This feels biblical. And it sort of sets an expectation. I expect the Holy Spirit will continue this work.” ■
Father Sam Sturm
CLAIRE COLLINS, BASILICA OF STS. PETER AND PAUL
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ton University.
“They lived there for four years. It was a group that included nobles and some children, so they could become bilingual,” he explained. “They studied Portugal; they studied Christianity; they learned to read and write; and they taught at least some people there to teach their language, as well.”
“Out of that,” Mr. Thornton continued, “they developed what you might call the first catechism, although we don't have a text for it. When they came back, they had a big baptism of the elite; and then over the next few years, everybody else was brought in.”
The Portuguese, however, wished to retain control of the new Catholics to the detriment of the Church and its evangelizing mission.
“They tended to block Kongo’s efforts to get its own diocese and its own bishop; they played politics with that,” Mr. Thornton said. “And then they never sent very many priests, anyway so Kongo was perpetually, disastrously short of clergy.”
While in Angola, Pope Leo is visiting Muxima, a small town on the Kwanza River.
Every year between Aug. 31 and Sept. 1, more than 1 million pilgrims visit Muxima to commemorate an 1833 apparition of the Virgin Mary. In 1924, its church,
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Retracing historic steps Pope Leo XIV signs a book, alongside Mohammed Al-Mamoun Al-Qasimi Al-Hassani, rector of the Great Mosque of Algiers, as he visits the mosque in Algiers, Algeria, on April 13. The pontiff visited the mosque, one of the largest in the world, in a gesture aimed at reinforcing Christian-Muslim dialogue
Nossa Senhora da Conceição da Muxima, was listed as a historical monument, and in 1996 it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List.
Muxima is intertwined with the life of Queen Nzinga (15831663), who ruled the kingdoms of Ndongo and Matamba, located in present-day Angola. While she initially attempted diplomacy with Portugal Portuguese explorers and missionaries first came to Ndongo in 1575 she eventually ended up going to war as Portugal’s forces ravaged villages and enslaved tens of thousands of her
children after they sin, which is an inevitable part of our human experience. When siblings fight, or a child won’t listen to instructions, a mother’s correction can be an example of God’s duality of justice and mercy. A mother can exemplify humility and forgiveness by going to the sacrament of reconciliation and taking her children with her to experience that sacrament for themselves.
3. Counseling the doubtful Children, especially as they grow older, have myriad decisions to make. What college should I attend? Should I date this person? How can I use my talents? Mothers are able to combine their years of wisdom with the intimate knowledge they have of their children to help them discern decisions, big and small. When a child experiences doubt, the love of a mother can help guide that child toward prayer and following God’s will.
4. Comforting the sorrowful Similarly, a mother’s heart is often a balm to
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partially due to pressures caused by social media. Youth ministry not only has to connect to their groups but also show them how to connect with each other.
Despite increasing anxiety in young-adult and teen culture, Ms. Valenzuela said, “Since COVID, we’re seeing a growth of young people, especially teens and young adults, globally.”
Father Iorio was excited to talk about the increasing numbers as well and shared his gratitude for the work within the diocese and the mission presented to priests.
“It’s probably universal in the Catholic Church of the United States. I believe that we are on the right track with what we are doing through the vision of Bishop Mark. I’m very impressed with the work of Amanda Henderson, our director of the Youth, Young Adults, and Pastoral Juvenil Office. We are growing that office quite a bit, which is a great thing. Having worked with her, I know what the structured plan is, and it’s in good, prepared hands,” said Father Iorio, who is pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Alcoa and serves as vicar general and moderator of the curia for the Diocese of Knoxville.
“We will continue to grow with some of the strategies they (Diocese of Knoxville) have been working on for the strategic plan to grow the youth ministry, to have more engagement with the parishes and at the diocesan level. I think we’ll see some wonderful things,” he added.
Father Iorio then shared, “I have been in my parish for six and a half, coming to seven years, and I have seen an explosion—and I am delib-
more or less fully, in 1656, when she signed a treaty with the Portuguese,” Mr. Thornton said. “They finally decided they couldn’t defeat her,” he added, “And at that point, she returned to the Church and finished her days as a good Christian.”
The Angolan portion of the papal journey also is an opportunity for Pope Leo to get in touch with his own African roots. He has Afro-Creole heritage from New Orleans and Haiti through his maternal grandparents, Joseph Martinez and Louise Baquié.
Many Black Catholics descend from Africans who were already practicing the Catholic faith when their European co-religionists enslaved and transported them to the Americas; they passed on not only their Catholic faith but also their long fight for freedom to their descendents.
people. Queen Nzinga threatened Portugal's fortress in Muxima, and the war she waged over 30 years significantly disrupted the transatlantic slave trade, saving many African people from that fate.
Over this period, Queen Nzinga struggled with her Catholic faith at times, given the scandal of Portugal trying to use Catholicism as a tool for its own colonial agenda but she was aided by sympathetic Capuchin missionaries from Spain who also advocated for her before the Vatican.
“Nzinga was herself baptized and she returned to the Church,
a sorrowful child. Whether experiencing a lost toy, a missing pet, a first break-up, or a job rejection, mothers are there to help ease the pain, even if they cannot solve the problem completely. A mother’s receptivity to her child’s emotions can create a safe space for tears to flow and hearts to mend.
5. and 6. Forgiving injuries and bearing wrongs patiently
Certainly, there are times when a mother and child will not get along, have different viewpoints, or hurt each other’s feelings. As the parent, the mother has a special privilege to show her children how to forgive when injuries occur, initiating reconciliation and connection. While bearing wrongs patiently is easier said than done, the example does provide a Christlike witness to children they will hopefully one day imitate themselves.
7. Praying for the living and the dead Mothers can be a primary example of showing their children what it looks like to commit
erate on using that word—of families, young families coming into and joining the parish. Of course, the pandemic years changed things, but it surprised me how fast and how much we have young families coming in.”
“Being older now, and a spiritual father, I don’t have children or grandchildren like married people my age do. I love to see growth in people and transformation in different ways,” Father Iorio continued, sharing his love of seeing young families in church.
Another focal point of the talk with priests was the changing demographics of the Church, both globally and locally.
Ms. Valenzuela revealed that diocesan priests wondered how the changing numbers of immigration would affect the future of the Church. Many would assume that with current deportations and the treatment of immigrants, the number of Catholic adults would decline, but data reveals the opposite for the nation and Knoxville.
The Knoxville Diocese has a large number of legal immigrant Catholics, meaning deportations aren’t having a large effect on numbers, so the culture around them will continue to expand. This is important for Church leaders to know so the immigrants can connect with their parishes, which can then plan for growth.
Ms. Valenzuela said diocesan leaders must be “proactive in the way we minister.”
Being proactive requires priests to integrate with incoming cultures.
Father Iorio noticed a difference in the Hispanic community, noting that the Hispanic culture identities differently with the image of the crucifix.
“One thing that Katherine did
“A huge wave of Congolese were sent to Louisiana by the slave trade,” Mr. Thornton noted. “So, the Louisiana coast has been influenced by the Kingdom of Kongo.”
Ultimately, Mr. Aquilina said he hopes Pope Leo’s apostolic journey can help global Catholics realize their debt to Africa.
“We’re dependent on African Latin tradition,” Mr. Aquilina said. “Even though we don’t acknowledge it anymore even though we no longer see it I think it’s good for us to recover our sight in this area.” ■
to daily prayer, whether that be through a family rosary or private devotional prayer. Practically, praying for the living can include praying for individual family members during night-time prayers or praying a novena in preparation for a sibling’s namesake feast day. Praying for the dead could include going to Mass as a family on All Souls’ Day or visiting the cemetery on the death anniversary of a loved one.
If you’re a mother, I encourage you to meditate upon these 14 works of mercy and discern where God may be calling you to enter in more deeply.
In chapter 25 of Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus tells us that “whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.”
May the Blessed Virgin Mary, who is our perfect example of motherhood and the works of mercy, intercede for all mothers during the month we celebrate them.
Happy Mother’s Day! ■
share that surprised me was that the crucifix is different for differentcultured Catholics,” the pastor said.
Hispanic communities identify more with the suffering of Jesus, while Anglo-Saxon culture focuses on the risen image of Christ. Ms. Valenzuela touched on this point as well, pointing out that Hispanic congregations relate to the suffering of Jesus as He was punished for His identity, similar to what the Hispanic community currently faces.
“She shared that in Asia, oftentimes, you see the crucifix surrounded by a communion of saints. It means they identify with Christ— crucified and risen—with a nuance of emphasis,” Father Iorio said.
Ms. Valenzuela touched on another aspect of bringing younger people into the Church: space.
Sometimes when someone is considering joining the Catholic faith and learning about it, he or she feels bombarded with information but doesn’t have time to process the
information and allow it to become meaningful. Even if the information is learned, it doesn’t always come with the knowledge required to carry out Catholic beliefs.
Being given that much information but being unable to process it may lead people to become overwhelmed and turn away. When the Church provides a comforting space, candidates for Catholicism can dive deeper into their faith. The space also provides an opportunity for fellowship and communication.
That sense of connection is important because it allows the candidates to feel God working through them. It also means the stranger sitting next to them in a pew becomes a person with whom they can share the presence of the Lord.
As the Diocese of Knoxville continues to grow, the focus remains not just on increasing numbers but on forming authentic, lasting faith in the next generation. Through intentional outreach, cultural awareness, and stronger connections among generations, priests and ministry leaders are working to meet young Catholics in their own environment.
While challenges such as social anxiety, shifting life paths, and digital culture continue to shape how young people engage with faith, leaders remain optimistic. With expanding youth-ministry efforts and a renewed emphasis on community, the diocese is positioning itself to support what many see as a promising future for the Church.
“The Church is alive, and it’s growing,” Father Iorio said. “If we continue to engage and walk with young people where they are, I think we’re going to see even more good things in the years ahead.” ■
Generation
Ms. Valenzuela
Bishop announces Chancery appointments
The East Tennessee Catholic
Bishop Mark Beckman has announced appointments for key positions within the Chancery to serve the Diocese of Knoxville.
Christine Lucheon has been named diocesan financial officer, effective March 16. Mrs. Lucheon’s appointment is for a five-year term.
Mrs. Lucheon has nearly 28 years of experience in accounting
tomorrow.”
and finance, including 24 years of dedicated service to the Diocese of Knoxville in a variety of roles. She also has served as finance manager for All Saints Parish in Knoxville. She first joined the diocese in 2002 and served as the diocesan controller for eight years, overseeing financial operations and ensuring compliance with accounting standards and diocesan policies.
She spent the next 15 years at two parishes while continuing to sup-
Mark Moreland of Central Baptist Church Bearden spoke on “Truly I say to you, today, you will be with Me in Paradise.”
He noted how on Palm Sunday the crowds shouted, “Hosanna, save us!” but by Good Friday the crowds had turned and shouted, “Crucify Him!” Yet one of the criminals crucified next to Jesus continued to pray, “Save me.” And as Christ was dying, He still answered that prayer. And Jesus Christ continues to answer that prayer today.
“Jesus is still declaring, ‘If I be lifted up, I will draw all persons to myself.’ Jesus is still assuring us, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live.’ Do you believe this?
“Thanks be to God, who gives us an eternal victory through Jesus and His death on the cross. Jesus is our eternal King for an eternal kingdom that will not pass away.”
Laura Henrik of the Episcopal School of Knoxville spoke on “Woman, behold your son. Son behold your mother.”
“At first glance, it might seem like a small, tender exchange; a son making sure that His mother is taken care of; a practical arrangement in a moment of crisis. But it’s more than that… Jesus is creating something new at the foot of the cross. Jesus redraws the lines of family, not by blood, not by obligation, but by love. In His final moments, as everything is being taken away from Him, Jesus is still giving, still forming a community.”
In forming that community, she said, Jesus has entrusted one to one another.
“This is what love looks like at the cross, not just a feeling, not just a sentiment, but a responsibility. Even as His own life is slipping away, Jesus is making sure that love continues through the people He leaves behind. …. Jesus is creating something that will outlast the cross—a family, a community, a way of living love that doesn’t just comfort, it commits. So that long after this moment has passed, long after the cross, love will still show up in this world through us.”
Dr. Willa Estell of St. Paul AME Zion Church spoke on “My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?”
“I want to suggest to you that there are four things we can learn from this text. First, we learn how horrible sin is in the eyes of Almighty God. We learn how horrible it is when we think about the price that was paid for our sin. Secondly, we learn how amazing God’s love is for us. He didn’t have to do it, but He chose to do it.
“Thirdly, we learn that it’s OK to feel abandoned sometimes. It has less to do with your faith and more to do with your humanness. If I were to take account, I am sure that everybody here has felt abandoned at one time or another, has felt and cried out like Jesus, ‘God, where are you? I’m hurting, God, where are you? ... Have you forsaken me?’
“But I want you to know that He hasn’t. That’s the last thing we learn from this passage. What
port diocesan churches with PDS software support.
Mrs. Lucheon began her career in 1987 after earning her degree in accounting and obtaining her CPA designation. She worked in the audit department with Ernst & Whinney (now Ernst & Young) and later held accounting roles within the commercial real estate industry in the Chicago area.
She and her husband, Deacon David Lucheon, are members of
do we do in our darkest hour? I bless God for priests and preachers and counselors. I bless God for my family. I bless God for my church family. … Whatever life may hold, whatever life brings our way, we can call on the name of Jesus and expect Him to answer.”
Jason Scott of Knoxville First Church spoke on “I thirst.”
“We live in a world that’s consumed with money, with chasing after status and fame and cars, likes image and aura. We’re chasing after all of those things. And we need to hear today that image is nothing but thirst is everything. … Are we thirsting after those things, or are we thirsting after Jesus, the one who hung on a cross and said, ‘I thirst’? Because if we thirst after things of this world, you and I both know we end up unsatisfied.”
He noted that Jesus’ thirst showed us His humanity as well.
“When Jesus hung on the cross and said, ‘I thirst,’ He was revealing that He was truly human, that the cross was not some symbolic thing. It was not poetic. It was a brutal, real thing that was taking place. … His body was collapsing, blood loss, shock, dehydration. And from His cracked lips our Savior yells, ‘I thirst.’ This wasn’t the voice of distant deity. This is the voice of a suffering Savior, the Son of God, entering fully into human pain.
“Jesus spent His ministry satisfying the thirst of the world, the thirst for hope, the thirst for forgiveness, the thirst for life. Yet on the cross, the one who satisfies thirst seems to become thirsty. Why? Because He was taking our place…spiritual dryness, separation from God, the judgment of sin. He drank that so that we would never have to.”
Father Boettner spoke on “It is finished.”
“In order to see the end, we have to go back to the beginning. We have to go to Genesis: ‘In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless waste, and darkness covered the abyss. And God said let there be light.’ So, if your life happens to be in chaos right now, if you feel like a formless waste, you are the material God loves. You are exactly what He needs to create with; you are the elements of creation. Because God takes chaos and He breathes His spirit over it, and He brings chaos into order.
“It’s also important to look at the middle. You
All Saints Parish. Deacon Lucheon served as diocesan financial officer from July 1, 2003, until his retirement on July 1, 2014. Deacon and Mrs. Lucheon have two children who are married, and they have five grandchildren. The Lucheons have been married for 36 years. “I am deeply humbled and honored to be entrusted with this role, and I am grateful to be able Appointments continued on page A25
know, most of the time in our lives, we feel like we’re in the middle. We see our lives in the middle of things, and we don’t see the end. We don’t know where we’re going. We don’t know how the story ends. We just know that there’s times along the way where we feel chaos, where we feel like we’re in darkness.
“And that’s why we’re invited on this Good Friday to meditate on the cross of Christ, yes, that image of pain and suffering but also that image of light, of life, of love. The cross is not just an instrument of torture. It’s a sign of the depth of God’s love for us. … God desires communion with us, and He’s willing to go to any length in order to be in communion with us, even death on a cross.
“It is finished because there is no hatred that cannot be overcome by love. There is no darkness that will not be overcome by light. There is no fear that will not be overcome by faith. There is no uncertainty that does not have its answer in the cross. … All these things that cause us to struggle now have an end, and that end is in love. It is in light. It is in the beautiful order that comes from life in the Holy Spirit.”
Mike Wilkinson of First Cumberland Presbyterian Church spoke on “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.”
“After hours of excruciating pain, darkness, and the weight of the world, sin, that is, the weight of your sin and my sin, the weight of the world’s sin before Christ, and to this day, the weight of all the human sin in history, Jesus’ last words were not a cry of defeat, but rather His final words were a prayer of perfect intimacy with the Father and trust in Him. At the peak of agonizing suffering on the cross of Calvary, the likes of which we can hardly imagine, Jesus did not show panic. Instead, He demonstrated profound peace.
“He chose to rest in the Father’s love, like a child falling asleep into a parent’s arms. Make no mistake about it. Jesus’ final breath was not a cry of defeat but a deliberate surrender, a deposit of His spirit into the hands of the One who holds all eternity.
“As followers of Jesus the Christ, you and I are invited to live and die with this same confidence. We often hold our lives with a tight grip, worrying about our future or struggling to control even our current circumstances. But Jesus showed a different way. He showed us the way of committal, of commitment. … Whatever you’re holding too tightly today, whether that be your future, your anxieties and worries, or your safety, I want you to know that Jesus invites you to entrust them to the Father’s safekeeping. … The same hands that caught Jesus’ spirit in death hold us securely in life.”
The Sacred Heart choir provided music for the service, including a choral meditation of “My Lord Is Weeping.” At the end of the service, the congregation sang “Were You There When They Crucified My Lord?”
“As a preacher, I look forward to this service, because we have such a rich fare of preachers gathered to share the Word of God with us, to call us to the unity that Christ desires for us,” Father Boettner said.
“There’s also a miracle that happens every time we have this ecumenical service on Good Friday,” he said, smiling. “That seven preachers can get up and preach in one service and we still finish in under an hour.”
Father Boettner was grateful to the visiting preachers as well as all those who attended the service.
“Thank all of you for gathering together, because when we gather together in fellowship, in prayer, and in unity, the Lord is indeed pleased. This is a fitting way to honor Him this day,” the cathedral rector said. ■
Rev. Moreland
Rev. Henrik
Dr. Estell
Rev. Scott
Father Boettner
Rev. Wilkinson
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to serve our priests, parishes, and community in this way,” Mrs. Lucheon said.
Mrs. Lucheon succeeds Guy Scheiwiller, who left the diocese at the beginning of 2026. She has been serving as interim financial officer since Feb. 2.
“Christine’s deep institutional knowledge of the Diocese of Knoxville, combined with extensive experience in nonprofit and religious financial systems and strong technical expertise, uniquely qualifies her for this important position,” Bishop Beckman said.
Peggy Humphreys has been named executive secretary for Bishop Beckman, effective May 23.
Mrs. Humphreys first joined the Diocese of Knoxville in February 2008 as an administrative assistant for the offices of Justice and Peace,
Easter boom continued from page A8
and Stewardship. In June 2009, she transitioned to the role of executive secretary for the Office of the Bishop, where she served with dedication until her retirement in January 2021.
“Following her retirement, Peggy courageously faced and overcame a challenging battle with breast cancer. After spending meaningful time with family and friends, she now feels called by God to return to serve in the Chancery office. We are deeply grateful for her willingness to answer this call,” Bishop Beckman said.
Mrs. Humphreys and her husband, Wes, have three grown children and have been married for 36 years. She will succeed Sister Marie de Paul Stokes, RSM, who has been serving as the interim executive secretary to Bishop Beckman.
Sister Marie de Paul will have a
historical provenance, and scriptural providence to what we’re doing.”
In Ohio, the Diocese of Cleveland has more than doubled its OCIA class since 2023. In Virginia, the Diocese of Richmond is touting a “record” 900 to be baptized at Easter. In Indiana, the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend held its 2026 Rite of Election outside its cathedral in a larger parish church to also accommodate growing numbers.
In the Archdiocese of Boston, more than 680 catechumens joined the Church at Easter, an increase from last year’s 450 and previous years’ average of 250-300. Boston Archbishop Richard G. Henning “has been saying that there’s some sort of revival,” said Patrick Krisak, the archdiocese’s director of faith formation and missionary discipleship.
“There may not be a revival across the country, but there are revivals,” he said. “And at what point do all of those pockets of revival that we’re seeing all over the country add up to a revival?”
Mr. Krisak cited liturgy, certainty amid change, and moral leadership as possible attractions. There is also old-fashioned rebellion, he said.
“There’s also the sense in which generations like to be countercultural,” he said. “If you’re rebelling against the folks who rebelled against the establishment, then you’re in some sense perhaps turning back to some aspects of the establishment.”
In the Archdiocese of Portland, Ore., one of the largest OCIA groups in recent memory attended this year’s Rite of Election, where catechumens present themselves to their local bishop as they begin their final preparations to join the Church.
The rise began in 2023, when the number was about 700. That grew to 1,000 the following year, then 1,200, and this year to 1,700 registered.
Last year, Archbishop Alexander K. Sample told the new converts it was their turn to bring someone to the Church. It appears to have made an impact, Father Randy Hoang, the Portland Archdiocese’s assistant director of the Office of Divine Worship, said.
“We are witnessing a broader renewal among our people,” he said. “Many are beginning to live what was once a largely private faith more openly in daily public life, and that witness is now bearing fruit.”
In the Archdiocese of Denver, catechumens
new assignment with the Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma, Mich., beginning May 23. In preparation for Sister Marie de Paul’s departure, Mrs. Humphreys has served as Sister Marie de Paul’s apprentice since Feb. 1.
Mrs. Lucheon and Mrs. Humphreys are joined by Carolyn Krings, who was named the Diocese of Knoxville’s director of Marriage and Family Life, effective Oct. 1.
The Office of Marriage and Family Life assists couples in living out their vocation of marriage. As part of the ministry, Mrs. Krings and her staff assist couples in marriage preparation, which aims to help engaged couples more fully understand the Church’s beautiful vision of marriage and equip them with the information and tools necessary to deal with the day-to-day joys and struggles of married life.
Mrs. Krings joined the diocesan
Record numbers Paris Archbishop Laurent Ulrich blesses the congregation with holy water as he celebrates the Easter Vigil Mass at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris on April 4. The Archdiocese of Paris convened a special council that would help embrace a record number of adult conversions across the archdiocese in recent years. In France, 21,000 people were baptized on Easter 2026.
jumped from 669 in 2022 to 936 in 2024. Andrew McGown, the archdiocesan executive director of mission and evangelization, said the Denver Archdiocese has indeed “seen a statistical increase, but when you average that out around our 120 pastorates, it’s really only three people per parish more than we had three years ago so it’s not staggeringly larger numbers.”
However, he added: “What I know is happening in our parishes is that we have a considerably larger amount of energy being put into trying to offer programs, initiatives, events that are geared towards those who are not in the community.”
Several of the diocesan representatives who spoke with OSV News noted that their increased OCIA numbers are not attributable to a post-COVID postponement of sacraments, as that time has passed.
Catholic ministries on college campuses are reflecting growth as well. St. Mary’s Catholic Center at Texas A&M University brought 70 people into the Church this past November, while at the University of Notre Dame, 125 new
staff in January 2023, providing assistance to the diocesan offices of Marriage and Family Life and Youth and Young Adults. She has a background in education, having attended the University of Tennessee and Tennessee Tech.
She and her husband, Kevin, have two children, Connor and Catelyn. They have been married for 29 years.
“Joining the Chancery office has been a great privilege for Carolyn to serve as Bishop Beckman’s ambassador to youth, young adults, and families from various cultures. Carolyn looks forward to continuing to serve in the Marriage and Family Life Office as the diocesan director while collaborating with various offices and parish groups in the community,” Deacon Sean Smith, Diocese of Knoxville chancellor, said at the time of Mrs. Krings’ appointment. ■
Catholics the largest group there in at least 25 years received the sacraments last Easter. This year, Notre Dame expects to surpass that number with 163 catechumens and candidates.
This past semester, Arizona State University’s Newman Center welcomed 52 students into the Church, and they expected 50 more for the 2026 Easter Vigil. The previous record for any year was 39 in 2019. Ben Power, the OCIA coordinator at ASU’s Newman Center, attributes that growth to “relationships and communities that are being built and spread across ASU’s campus.”
Reports of more adults joining the Catholic Church “are true not just in the U.S., but in significant parts of Europe,” Ms. Weddell said.
The Archdiocese of Paris welcomed 788 converts this Easter, its largest group ever. The Archdiocese of Westminster, England, reported its highest number of converts since 2011 and a 60 percent increase from 2025 to 2026. Dioceses in Belgium, Ireland, and the Netherlands have also reported increased numbers of people joining the Church in recent years.
In the United States, some 92 percent of Catholics are “cradle Catholics” people who say they were raised Catholic and also say they are Catholic when asked about their religion today. The remaining 8 percent are converts to Catholicism.
“What if, instead of 8 or 9 percent, we went to 20 percent?” asked Ms. Weddell. “It changes the dynamic.”
“Traditionally, almost all Catholics were cradle Catholics,” she explained. “We could be moving into a new kind of American Catholic culture in which intentional Catholicism is much more common than inherited Catholicism.”
The Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University, a national nonprofi t research center that conducts social scientifi c studies about the Catholic Church, counseled that reports of increased numbers of converts are still at this point anecdotal.
The nation’s nearly 200 dioceses and archdioceses did not begin formally reporting 2025 sacramental data until early 2026, and those fi gures will be publicly available with the release of the 2026 Offi cial Catholic Directory later this year.
And yet, “There’s this growth in the numbers,” affirmed Ms. Weddell, who visits dioceses from coast to coast. “Many of the parishes I’ve talked to say, ‘Yeah, we’re seeing it in our own small way.’” ■
OSV NEWS
PHOTO/LIAM HOARAU,
COURTESY OF ARCHDIOCESE OF PARIS
Abortions, taxpayer funding on the rise Planned Parenthood reports drop in cancer screenings, prevention services
By Kate Scanlon OSV News
Planned Parenthood released its new 2024-25 annual report that showed an increase in abortions from the previous year’s report while also showing an increase in government funding. At the same time, it showed a decrease in cancer screenings and prevention services.
The organization’s latest annual report reflects its fiscal year as of June 30, 2025, just a few days before President Donald Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act into law on July 4.
That legislation, which enacted key items from his legislative agenda on issues including taxes and immigration, also included a provision eliminating funds to health providers who also perform abortions—but just for one year.
Although it was not named in the provision, Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion provider, sued in response, arguing the parameters for ending these funds effectively singled it out. However, the provision was ulti-
visitation who said, ‘Well, he’s in a better place.’ And I said, yeah, but he might not be the smartest person in the room anymore.”
“But I can see him lovingly soaking it all up,” Father Nolan added. “And though he had a superior intellect, he was also blessed not to have a superior attitude but rather a humble servant’s heart. His desire was always to sympathize, to uplift, to treat everyone with kindness.”
During his 59 years of priestly service, Father Mallett served the Diocese of Nashville in numerous appointments, including chancellor, director of vocations, moderator of the curia, vicar general, judicial vicar, judge of the tribunal, college of consultors, presbyteral council, coordinator of formation for the permanent diaconate, and pastor of Christ the King Parish from 19872007, among others.
“I remember traveling with Father Mallett to the National Federation of Priests’ Councils annual conference in San Antonio when I was a young priest. I think he was the chair of our (Diocese of Nashville) presbyteral council at the time, and I was the vice chair. Recently when I visited with Father Mallett, I noticed a volume of Aristotle at the table by his chair and was surprised he was still studying such things toward the end of his life,” Bishop Beckman said.
“He replied that he ‘loved studying Aristotle in the original Greek.’ He spent some time reflecting on many profound moments of his ministry through the years, including teaching a class in Greek to university students and having them perform a choral version of the Passion according to St. John in Greek,” Bishop Beckman continued.
After completing an additional year of studies in Rome after his ordination, Father Mallett began his service in the Diocese of Nashville, which, at the time, included the entire state of Tennessee.
He served as assistant pastor of St. Louis Parish in Memphis, parttime professor at Catholic High School in Memphis, and associate editor of the Tennessee Register for Chattanooga. The Tennessee Register is the Diocese of Nashville newspaper. He later returned to his alma mater, Notre Dame High School, serving as a full-time professor from 1969-71, and was also an associate pastor at Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in downtown Chattanooga. He also served as chaplain at Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga, now the only Catholic medical center in East Tennessee, and as chaplain of the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Newman Center.
From Jan. 27, 1971, through Nov. 1, 1975, Father Mallett undertook the appointment of diocesan director of vocations. He served as chancellor of the Diocese of Nashville from Sept. 1, 1974, through Nov. 1, 1975.
It was during Father Mallett’s
mately allowed to go into effect. But it is scheduled to expire on Independence Day July 4.
“PPFA is not only weathering this storm— we’re looking beyond it. Because it will end,” a joint opening message in the report from Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and Alexandra Guevara, its board chair, said.
The report showed Planned Parenthood performed 434,450 abortions, an increase of over 32,200, or 8 percent, from the previous year’s report.
Planned Parenthood reported $832 million in “Government Health Services Reimbursements & Grants,” an increase of about $39.8 million from the previous year’s report.
Meanwhile, Planned Parenthood reported 389,449 total cancer screening and prevention services—such as pap tests and HPV vaccinations— a decrease from 426,268 the previous year.
Tessa Cox, senior research associate at the Charlotte Lozier Institute, the research arm of Susan B.
holding a rosary and sign promoting the defunding of Planned Parenthood. A new Planned Parenthood annual report shows both an increase in abortion and taxpayer funding for the organization.
time as vocations director that Father Ed Steiner said he started to more seriously consider the priesthood. One evening he received a call from Father Mallett.
“He was going up to St. Meinrad to visit our seminarians who were up there, and he asked me if I wanted to go. I said sure,” Father Steiner recalled during an interview for his 40th anniversary of priesthood in 2022. “I loved Father Mallett. He and my father were great friends.”
During that trip to St. Meinrad, Father Steiner spent time with two of the Diocese of Nashville’s seminarians, and before he knew it, “I hung a U-turn and, all of a sudden, I’m going to St. Meinrad,” he said.
“I told Father Mallett I wanted to go, and he started the process.”
Father Mallett also helped inspire Deacon Bob True’s vocation to the diaconate.
“At age 61, I really felt the calling, and Father Jim Mallett, who was my spiritual director and mentor for the diaconate, said it was time. I slipped in just under the wire and was 65 when I was ordained,” Deacon True said during a 2024 interview for his silver jubilee as a deacon.
After leaving his duties as vocations director and chancellor, Father Mallett was released to study Church law and administration at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., in September 1977.
Upon completing his studies, he was appointed vicar for administration for the Diocese of Nashville in 1979, moderator of the curia and vicar general in 1982, and judicial vicar of the diocesan tribunal in 1985. For the next two years, while also continuing studies at Vanderbilt University, he served at St. Patrick Parish and St. Henry Parish in Nashville before being assigned to the longest pastorship of his presbyterate.
Father Mallett was assigned as the fourth pastor of Christ the King on July 1, 1987, as the parish celebrated
its 50th anniversary. During his twodecade tenure, he oversaw much growth at the parish in the BelmontHillsboro area of Nashville.
On Christ the King Parish’s 60th anniversary, during a Mass celebrated by Bishop Edward U. Kmiec, the 10th bishop of Nashville, Father Mallett announced a capital project and fundraising campaign to improve facilities at the church and school campus. After six months of campaign preparation, parishioners pledged more than $2.75 million in time for the feast of Christ the King in 1997. A new parish center and extensive renovations to the school were dedicated on the feast of Christ the King, Nov. 21, 1999.
Father Mallett retired as pastor of Christ the King on July 1, 2007, after serving that faith community for two decades.
Father Mallett returned to his native Chattanooga, where he taught courses in international law at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga and served as Catholic campus minister there for the Diocese of Knoxville.
Father Nolan noted that Father Mallett was able to accomplish all that he did despite suffering from migraine headaches nearly every day of his adult life.
“Yet it was in serving others that he served Christ and His Church. It was in serving that he expressed his love for Christ time and time again, answering repeatedly when asked
to fulfill whatever ministry or task set before him, to provide that servant leadership to those entrusted to his care,” Father Nolan said.
“In the Gospel passage today, we hear the beautiful exchange between our Lord and St. Peter. ‘Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these? Feed my lambs.’ And Jim did at the Newman Center and Memorial Hospital and at Notre Dame High School.
“‘Simon, son of John, do you love Me?’ And Jim did, in leadership positions of the diocese, serving his brother priests with tasks that most of them were glad somebody else had.
“‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’ Jim did for 20 years as loving pastor of Christ the King Parish and in so-called ‘retirement,’ where he decided to become a professor at UTC and taught courses in human rights and international law, inspiring his students to make a difference in the world, to help good prevail. Always for the good. Always for others. Always for the kingdom. Ordained to serve and not be served. A priest according to the Order of Melchizedek.”
“I am certainly not a neurologist, but I imagine his head hurt because of all the knowledge he accumulated and all the wisdom he had in there that found release through his words, through his deeds, through his prayer, and most effectively through his servant’s heart,” Father Nolan shared. “May he rejoice, headache free, in hearing the words, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’”
In addition to Bishop Spalding, nearly a dozen priests of the dioceses of Knoxville and Nashville concelebrated the Mass and were assisted by a half-dozen deacons from the dioceses.
Before giving the final commendation, Bishop Spalding called the funeral Mass “a wonderful celebration for Jim.”
“Father Nolan, as you read that litany of duties and responsibilities and offices that Jim had through his life, my heart sank only to be thinking of all the meetings that he had to go to,” Bishop Spalding said to knowing laughs.
“There were a lot of things you mentioned. But I know Jim, and I know the priests and deacons around me here. There is so much work that nobody ever saw that he did. And we are thankful. Family and friends, my prayer is for you,” the Nashville bishop continued.
“We celebrate the gift that was Jim.”
A memorial Mass for Father Mallett was held on April 17 at Christ the King Church in Nashville.
Father Mallett, who died at Alexian Rehabilitation and Healthcare of Signal Mountain, was preceded in death by his father, Louis James Mallett, and by his mother, Ruth Marie Campbell Mallett.
He is survived by his sister, Patricia Ann Mallett Mayo, his aunt, Jean Campbell Glassco, and many cousins. ■
Insight into abortion A pro-life protester is pictured in a file photo
OSV NEWS
PHOTO/SAM LUCERO, THE COMPASS
Father Mallett continued from page A10
Celebrating 'the gift that was Jim' Above: Bishop Mark Beckman celebrates the funeral Mass for Father James K. Mallett, a priest of the Diocese of Nashville who was a native of Chattanooga. The Mass was held at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Chattanooga. Diocese of Nashville Bishop J. Mark Spalding, right, concelebrated the Mass as did Father John J.H. Hammond, second from left, vicar general and judicial vicar for the Nashville Diocese. Deacon Joe Holzmer, third from left, of the Nashville Diocese, served as deacon of the Eucharist. Deacon Dennis Meinert, at left, of OLPH served as deacon of the Word. Below: Father Mallett is pictured in an archive photo
DAN MCWILLIAMS
Father James K. Mallett
COURTESY OF NASHVILLE CATHOLIC
Planned Parenthood continued on page A27
almost 3,000 other cases pending in the state of California alone,” Ms. Morell said.
“You have to look at that $6 million awarded in this trial, and just multiply it,” she added. “Because if this case went this way, the likelihood then of the companies settling these other cases before going to trial is very high.”
And more suits are on the horizon.
“There’s a big multidistrict litigation case pending as well—it’s supposed to go to trial this summer—by 40 state attorneys general,” Ms. Morell noted.
She added that Congress hasn’t passed a law to protect children online for almost three decades; furthermore, the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 was enacted well before the advent of social media.
“A lot of these cases were dismissed because of Section 230, which says companies can’t be held liable for harm from third-party content they host,” Ms. Morell explained.
Section 230—a component of the Communications Act of 1934 after its amendment by the Communications Decency Act of 1996—gives limited federal immunity to providers and users of interactive computer services.
“This case really took a novel approach,” Ms. Morell observed. “They did not make it at all about the content; they made it just about the design features. ... I think it does indicate that now the industry really does have to pay attention— that their massive immunity shield of Section 230 has a kind of critical hole pierced in it.”
However, Sister Helena Raphael Burns, a Daughter of St. Paul who holds a graduate degree in media literacy education, studied screenwriting at UCLA, and can herself be found on the social media platform X, expressed skepticism regarding the verdict’s impact.
“I don’t think it will do much good in the long run,” she said.
“It’s too little too late: a feeble kind of virtue signaling that we really do care about our youth,” Sister Helena said. “I think most people know that a startling number of youth—down to the youngest toddlers—are screen-addicted, and to hold Big Tech responsible continues to shift the responsibility off of where it belongs: the parents and the home.”
“There is nothing more precious than the minds, imaginations, hearts, willpower, formation, experiences, healthy development, habits, tastes, pastimes, and very souls of our children,” she said. “And often very little attention is given to their spiritual care, and all the focus is on the physical, which is only for this life and doesn’t determine character.”
Sister Helena, who has analyzed, written, and given workshops on the topic of social media addiction for close to two decades, had an illustration. She said that when she speaks with teens about good use of social media, she asks them: “Do you think God intended that at some point in history, we’d all be walking around with little
Parenthood continued from page A26
Anthony Pro-Life America, said in a statement, “Yet again, abortions performed by Planned Parenthood hit a record high, demonstrating that abortion remains a top priority for the organization.”
“Over the past decade, abortions, government funding, and total revenue soared, even as the number of clients served has declined and total services have stagnated,” Ms. Cox said. “Women deserve better alternatives, which outnumber Planned Parenthood by 15 to 1 nationwide.”
Federal law generally prohibits the use of Medicaid funds for abortion. Supporters of allowing Planned Parenthood to receive Medicaid funds argue the group provides cancer screening and prevention services. But opponents argue the funds are fungible and could be used to facilitate abortion, and therefore the organization should be denied taxpayer funds.
The Catholic Church teaches that all human life is sacred from conception to natural death, and as such, opposes direct abortion while also advocating for increased support for those living in poverty or other causes that can push a woman toward aborting her unborn child.
The Trump administration signaled it is providing another year of Title X grant money to Planned Parenthood the day before those funds were set to expire, prompting condemnation from leaders of pro-life groups.
Title X grant funds, part of a federal program that subsidizes family planning, are provided for up to five years to eligible groups. The fourth year s funding concluded March 31, and the fifth round of funding started April 1.
Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, said in a March 31 statement, “Funding Planned Parenthood means propping up a business whose main purpose is to end the lives of innocent unborn children.”
Jennie Bradley Lichter, president of the March for Life, said in a post on X it was “absolutely maddening” that the Department of Health and Human Services “is continuing to fund an organization whose business model is built on ending human lives.”
Both leaders in the pro-life organizations are Catholic. ■
through addictive social media platforms. The Schotts said Annalee took her own life at age 18 in 2020 after social media algorithms worsened her anxiety and depression.
" I think most people know that a startling number of youth—down to the youngest toddlers—are screen-addicted, and to hold Big Tech responsible continues to shift the responsibility off of where it belongs: the parents and the home "
computers in our hands, staring at them 24/7?”
“They always answer with a resounding ‘No,’” she said. “Then why are we, and why do we let our children?”
Ms. Morell, however, cautioned against putting the onus for children’s social-media habits entirely on parents because they are also dealing with situations completely out of their hands.
“You as a parent could do everything you possibly can to keep your kid off social media,” she suggested. “But if they borrow a friend’s phone or get on a computer, they can make an account really anywhere, instantly—without any parental involvement.”
Ms. Morell said she suspects the shift in public opinion with this initial verdict “may compel” Big Tech to make more changes to their products: “Because social media doesn’t have to be addictive.”
Mary Graw Leary, a professor at The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law, agreed there may now be some degree of change.
“The strategy of these platforms—and tech in general—has been to prevent getting to discovery,” she said. Discovery is the formal, courtauthorized, pre-trial process where lawsuit par-
ties exchange information, evidence, and witness lists.
“To prevent, so as to win at a motion to dismiss,” Ms. Leary said. “And once they lost that, what we thought was going to happen, happened. All of a sudden, there are all these internal documents that tell the world and tell the jury that they have known how bad their products are and have proceeded anyway.”
Ms. Leary echoed Ms. Morell’s call that Congress should act.
“Congress,” she advised, “really should follow the example of many of the states, which have said, ‘Well, we are watching the bodies pile up. So, we are going to take action.’”
However, she added, “Congress is not.”
And if Congress is not, said Ms. Leary, they need to hear from their constituents.
“As engaged Catholics in public life, we should think about what is pro-life, what is honoring the dignity of people,” she suggested. “And it is clearly not supporting a world in which these companies—through their money—can continue to exploit our children.”
Ms. Leary noted that from a Catholic perspective, the harm of social media addiction is disproportionately impacting the most vulnerable in society: children.
“When people are evaluating policymakers in the country—as well as business leaders and civic leaders—they should consider: Are they willing to sacrifice our children for money?" she asked. “And if they are, that is not a culture of life. People should let their representatives know they want legislation—they want this to stop.” ■
Remembering Annalee Avery and Lori Schott hold pictures of their daughter, Annalee, as they pose outside a Los Angeles court on March 25 after the jury found Meta and Google liable in a key test case accusing Meta and Google's YouTube of harming children's mental health
Sister Helena Raphael Burns, Daughters of St. Paul
Planned
Ruth Coughlin
Ruth Cathcart Coughlin passed away on March 16 on her 103rd birthday. Her goal was to make it to that day, and it seemed quite fitting that she did—celebrating with a special Mass and family gathering at her home on the eve of her birthday, a final occasion that allowed her to be surrounded by those she loved the most. She entered into eternal life peacefully in the early-morning hours of her actual birthday. What a remarkable way to go out!
Mrs. Coughlin was a true icon to all who knew her, not simply for the length of her life but for the richness of it. She was the anchor of her family and friends, providing encouragement, strength, wisdom, and always an honest opinion.
She will be remembered for her spunk and sense of humor, her generosity, and her many talents including her exceptional cooking, her gift for hosting beautiful gatherings, her thoughtful handwritten notes, and her exquisite sewing and stitching. She lived life fully for 103 years a grand and gracious Southern lady with the faith and courage of a titan.
Mrs. Coughlin was born in Spartanburg, S.C., in 1923 to W.R. and Teresa Cathcart, the eldest of three children. Upon graduation from high school, she moved to Birmingham, Ala., to be closer to her grandmother and to attend nursing school at St. Vincent’s Hospital. In 1944, she graduated from the nursing program—remarkably as the only student from her original class of 18 to do so. Following graduation, she began her nursing career in Birmingham, where she lived with and cared for her grandmother until Mrs. Coughlin reached 30.
In 1953, Mrs. Coughlin decided it was time to broaden her horizons, so she joined the U.S. Navy. She was initially stationed at Bethesda Naval Hospital (now Walter Reed). As a Navy lieutenant, she made 28 transatlantic crossings during the mid1950s, serving as the required female officer aboard Navy ships transporting military personnel and their families between the United States and West Germany during the Korean War. At that time, a female officer was assigned whenever women and children were on board, ensuring their care and well-being during the long journeys.
Mrs. Coughlin was later stationed at Corona Naval Hospital in southern California, where she met the love of her life and future husband, Dr. Dennis Coughlin, of Knoxville, who was serving as a Navy surgeon. Ruth and Dennis married in February 1958 on a snowy day in Birmingham. They immediately moved to Rochester, Minn., where Dr. Coughlin began his orthopedic residency at the Mayo Clinic.
While in Minnesota, their first two children were born. In 1961, they moved back to Knoxville, where Dr. Coughlin began his career in orthopedic medicine, and Mrs. Coughlin gave birth to three more children between 1961 and 1964.
Mrs. Coughlin was nearly 35 years old when she married and had always wanted a large family, which explained the joyful urgency with which she embraced bringing five children into the world in her first six years of marriage. She was a devoted mother and stayed busy with her children’s activities, ensuring regular church attendance, preparing wonderful meals, and often hosting gatherings of family or friends. She was an accomplished seamstress, often making clothes for her daughters, herself, and some of Dr. Coughlin’s trademark bow ties. She also learned to smock, creating several beautiful christening gowns for her grandchildren.
Mrs. Coughlin was active for many years with Knoxville Medical Auxiliary (now Knoxville Academy of Medicine Alliance) and served as a volunteer and fundraiser for The Boys and Girls Clubs of Tennessee. She also was very active in the Knoxville Symphony League, especially with the Symphony Showhouse Committee, and she enjoyed attending Knoxville Symphony Orchestra performances for years. In 2015, she had the privilege of participating in the Honor Air Knoxville Flight No. 18 with her son, Dennis, escorting her. She was the only female veteran on board with this group of Korean War veterans.
Mrs. Coughlin also played an integral role in promoting the vision for a new cathedral for the Diocese of Knoxville and was involved from the earliest stages of the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus building project. She took great pride and joy in the completion and dedication of the cathedral in 2018. Mrs. Coughlin was an active member of Sacred Heart Cathedral from 1961 until her passing, and her faith remained a guiding force throughout her life.
Faithful Departed
Mrs. Coughlin was preceded in death by her parents, W.R. and Teresa Cathcart; her husband, Dr. Dennis Coughlin Jr.; her daughter, Mary Louise Coughlin Dubay; her son-in-law, Michael Gray; her brothers W.R. “Buddy” Cathcart Jr. (Bobbie) and Thomas Riley Cathcart; and several cousins, nieces, and nephews.
She is survived by her sons, Dennis Coughlin III (Cindy), Mark Coughlin, and Steven Coughlin; daughter Annemarie Coughlin Gray; former daughter-in-law, Kim Coughlin Millsaps; sonin-law, Duane Dubay; grandchildren, Hannah Coughlin Royer (Josh), Dennis Coughlin IV (Sarah Lauren), Megan McClamroch (John Cho), Will McClamroch, John McClamroch, and Mary Lindley Gray; and great-grandchildren: Jay, Maggie, and Riley Royer, and RuthAnn Coughlin
The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to Mrs. Coughlin’s devoted team of caregivers: Kim Millsaps, Karen LaSorsa, Kelly Wylie, Angela Evan, Jacqueline Evan, Donna Boling, and Jennifer Hanson; to UT Hospice; and to her church family at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, especially Father David Boettner and Father Martin Gladysz
A celebration of life service and funeral Mass were celebrated at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus on March 26, with Father Boettner serving as the celebrant and Father Gladysz and Father Danny Herman serving as concelebrants. Deacon Walt Otey assisted at the Mass. A burial service at Berry Highland Memorial Cemetery in Knoxville followed.
Donations in Mrs. Coughlin’s memory may be made to the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, 711 S. Northshore Drive, Knoxville, TN 37919, AGAPE Outreach Homes Inc., 5403 Jacksboro Pike, Knoxville, TN, 37918, or the charity of your choice
Vincent J. Senatore
Vincent John Senatore, 91, passed away peacefully on March 26 in Knoxville
Mr. Senatore, born in 1934 in San Francisco, was raised in the city he loved and carried its spirit with him throughout his life. Since August 2005, he had been a resident of Knoxville, where he lived with his beloved wife, Louise Creekmore, a Knoxville native.
Mr. Senatore was a devoted member of St. John Neumann Parish in Farragut. He was a Fourth Degree member of the Knights of Columbus and a former grand officer of the Sovereign Military Order of the Temple of Jerusalem (Knights Templar).
Mr. Senatore’s life was marked by a deep commitment to service, education, and community. He graduated from St. Cecilia Grammar School in 1949, Archbishop Riordan High School in 1953, and the University of San Francisco in 1957, and earned a master’s degree in criminal justice from Northwestern University in 1974.
He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army in 1958 and served four years on active duty as an air defense artillery officer. He continued his military career in the Army Reserve and National Guard as a military police officer, ultimately retiring with the rank of colonel.
Following active duty, Mr. Senatore joined the San Francisco Police Department, where he served in a variety of roles. As a lieutenant, he completed the prestigious police administration course at Northwestern University in 1973–74, graduating with honors. Among his many assignments, he especially enjoyed his time as a motorcycle officer. He retired as a captain from the San Francisco Police Department at the end of 1986
Mr. Senatore’s dedication to service extended beyond his police and military careers. He later worked as a civilian employee at the Presidio of San Francisco and went on to expand his own business, Senatore Collision Forensics. He also continued contributing his expertise as a volunteer with the California Military Department
Mr. Senatore was a man of many interests who found great joy in his woodworking shop, where he was always engaged in projects that enhanced his home and those of others. He was an avid baseball fan and a devoted supporter of the San Francisco Giants
Mr. Senatore also was an avid HO gauge model railroad enthusiast. His professional and civic affiliations included the San Francisco Police Officers Association, Veteran Police Officers Association, International Police Officers Association, Society of Automotive Engineers, and the Market Street Railway Association. He also served for four years on the Fort Mason Officers Club Council and was a life member of the Reserve Officers Association of the United States, including two
years as president of the Presidio Chapter. Mr. Senatore was preceded in death by his parents, Vincent Michael Senatore and Suzanne Helen Daly Senatore; his first wife, Helen; and his son, Vincent Glenn Senatore. He is survived by his loving wife, Louise Creekmore; his daughter, Holly; his son, Cmdr. Richard Senatore, U.S. Navy; his daughter, Dana; and his son, Stephen Senatore. He also leaves behind six cherished grandchildren and many cousins A funeral Mass for Mr. Senatore was celebrated at St. John Neumann Church on March 30. A burial service with full military honors followed at Berry Highland Memorial Cemetery.
Mr. Senatore will be remembered for his unwavering dedication to service, his craftsmanship, his leadership, and his deep love for family and community
Jeffrey MacDonald
Jeffrey Allen MacDonald, 71, of Knoxville, passed away peacefully on March 12. He was the father of three, grandfather to 10, Uncle Jeffy to many nieces and nephews, and father figure to countless others.
Mr. MacDonald attended St. Mary School, and then was a graduate of Knoxville Catholic High School, class of 1973. He worked as a conductor for Norfolk Southern Railroad until his retirement.
Mr. MacDonald grew up in East Knoxville along with his nine other siblings and loving parents, Sam and Esther MacDonald. Being No. 5 of 10 of the MacDonald clan, Mr. MacDonald quickly learned how to go with the flow, a skill that he mastered and carried with him throughout his years.
A staple in Mr. MacDonald’s life was going to the MacDonald family cabin on Norris Lake, a place he loved and cared for dearly. He eventually took on the roles of head breakfast chef, dedicated groundskeeper, and ultimate snake spotter. Despite all his assumed cabin roles, he still found time to float for hours.
His greatest achievements though, and greatest joy, were his children with his former wife, Suzy: Aaron, Drew, and Alex, and later his 10 grandchildren.
In his retirement years, Mr. MacDonald became a full-time babysitter for his four local grandchildren and had a near-perfect resume always available, free…and he rarely followed the rules. The grandkids learned to love “Bonanza,” regular trips for milkshakes, and occasional water-balloon fights.
Among Mr. MacDonald’s many gifts, quite possibly the greatest of all, was his storytelling. You may not have always believed his stories, but that wouldn’t stop anyone from listening, and by the end, he’d have you somewhat convinced it was true. He was a man of many tales that usually began with Y’all, it was unbelievable! ” and classic Jeffy one-liners like “The only way to listen to the Stones is all the way up. ”
To know Mr. MacDonald was to love him. He had a knack for noticing the beauty in everyday life, whether it be a bald-eagle sighting on the cabin dock or meeting his new best friend in the grocery store parking lot. He was always looking up and out, and his love and care for others were infectious. He was always the first (and last) on the dance floor with a head full of hair you couldn’t mistake and a laugh that you couldn’t help but laugh along with.
His love for his family was profound, and it showed. Once you entered Mr. MacDonald’s world, he made you a part of it forever (just ask Suzy and Kim his former spouses with whom he still had loving friendships.)
He was truly a one-of-a-kind human, and the mark he left is as unique as it is indelible. His legacy is his heart of gold, which he shared so generously with all he encountered.
“I shall pass through this world but once. Any good, therefore, that I can do for any human being, let me do it now”
Mr. MacDonald is preceded in death by his parents, his siblings Anna, Joe, and John, his beloved son, Aaron, and his grandson, Zane. He is survived by his two children: Drew and his wife, Courtney, Alex and her husband, Rich; Aaron’s wife, Stefanie; and his grandchildren, Abby, Capers, Juni Belle, Joey, Lucy, Penelope, Oliver, Sage, and Olivia.
A funeral Mass for Mr. MacDonald was held on March 23 at Immaculate Conception Church in Knoxville. ■
