Dec1 2013

This issue

He dwells among us.................. 2 Audited financial report......... 8-13 Deanery news.......................... 15 La Cosecha............ center pullout

The East Tennessee

Catholic youth......................... 19 Columns............................. 26-30 Penance services................28-29 Virtus training...........................30

Dec. 1, 2013 Volume 23 Number 2 Bishop Richard F. Stika

News from The Diocese of Knoxville • Visit us at dioknox.org or etcatholic.org

4

6

Halfway Deacon candidates take major step in faith journey

Diamond Jubilee St. Augustine celebrates 75th anniversary

19

State champs KCHS girls soccer team wins title

Diocese’s newest church is dedicated Growing Vietnamese Catholic community begins to build a parish at Church of Divine Mercy

Divine Mercy continued on page 22

DAN MCWILLIAMS

S

ome 20 years of prayer, planning, hard work, and trust in Christ by Knoxville’s Vietnamese Catholics culminated Nov. 17 in a Mass celebrating the community’s first church.

Bishop Richard F. Stika dedicated the Church of Divine Mercy before an audience that included 10 priests, a number of religious sisters, Chancery staffers, and a standing-room-only gathering of Divine Mercy faithful. The Divine Mercy Catholic Mission originated in the early 1990s and previously called Immaculate Conception Church downtown and Knoxville Catholic High School home before moving west to 10919 Carmichael Road in September. Among those present at the dedication Mass were Father Ron Franco, CSP, pastor of Immaculate Conception, and Dickie Sompayrac, principal of KCHS. “What a great joy it is to be here at this Church of Divine Mercy as we celebrate as a diocese, but also

By Dan McWilliams

‘This very special moment’ Divine Mercy chaplain Father Hoan Dinh prays a portion of the Eucharistic Prayer during the dedication Mass for his mission’s new church. With him are (from left) Deacon Mike Gouge, Bishop Richard F. Stika, Father David Boettner, master of ceremonies Father Joe Reed, and Deacon Sean Smith.

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

W

He dwells among us

by Bishop Richard F. Stika

Hope and new beginnings

B p C Dec. 2-4: Louisville Province meeting and renew in us, I am reminded that guided others to Christ born f hosted by the Diocese of Knoxville of someone I met almost 20 years amongst them. p Dec. 6: 7-9 p.m., University of Tenago in Rome. His name is Cardi Resolved to living each moment w nessee, Knoxville Catholic Student Asnal François-Xavier Nguyen Van “brimming with love” instead of in

sociation Advent Party at the bishop’s Thuan of Vietnam, who as an arch- bitterness and anguish in the dire c residence bishop serving in Saigon in 1975 circumstances he found himself in, K Dec. 9-11: Papal Foundation Board of was arrested by the new commuCardinal Van Thuan touched the h Trustees meeting in Washington, D.C. nist regime that had taken over the lives of his fellow prisoners in such n country. a way that he also influenced the i Dec. 12-16: Priestly ordination of He was imprisoned for 13 years, lives of his atheist guards. Christ w Deacon Arthur Torres Barona in Cali, nine of them in solitary confinewas made present to them—a b Colombia ment. Released from prison in true Christmas—and they were d Dec. 18: 2:30 p.m., Golden Jubilee 1988 and exiled from Vietnam in converted. d Mass of Francis Cardinal George, OMI, 1991, Cardinal Van Thuan would Cardinal Van Thuan would not

at the Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago continue to suffer the effects on his wait for a better day to come bei health of his maltreatment until cause his hope was Christ, and a Dec. 20: 9:30 a.m., Finance Council his death in 2002. Eight years later, not even prison or torture could s meeting at the Chancery the Church would point to him as change or take Christ away from f Dec. 23: 5 p.m., Mass with inmates at an apostle of hope for our age and him. And it was this hope that a Morgan County Correctional Complex in officially opened his process for caused him to live differently and

Wartburg canonization in 2010. that can cause us to live differently, b Dec. 24: Midnight Mass at the Cathe What is so remarkable and intoo. This is what the Advent season t dral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus spiring about his long imprisonof hope leads us to—the transforc ment was that Cardinal Van Thuan mative love of Christ present and C Dec. 26: 6 p.m., Christmas gatherdidn’t wait in hope for a better of Christ who will come again. p ing with seminarians at the bishop’s day to come. He instead lived each So many people today live t residence moment, no matter how dark and without real hope in their lives, a a Dec. 27: 6 p.m., Christmas gathertortuous, with a love born of his spiritual poverty worse than mateb ing with priests of the diocese at the hope in Christ. It was this hope rial poverty. In a season when our fi bishop’s residence n that made a star rise in the darkthoughts are given to pondering

ness and sufferings of the prison the gifts we will buy for others and N camp like the star of Bethlehem Bishop continued on page 3 t s a a g Bishop Richard F. Stika Dan McWilliams The East Tennessee h Publisher Assistant editor m Bill Brewer Margaret Hunt

Editor Administrative assistant h “ 805 S. Northshore Drive • Knoxville, TN 37919 Diocese of Knoxville m The East Tennessee Catholic (USPS 007211) is published bimonthly by The Diocese of Knoxville, 805 S. Northshore Drive, Knoxville, TN

37919-7551. Periodicals-class postage paid at Knoxville, Tenn. Printed on recycled paper by the Knoxville News Sentinel. b The East Tennessee Catholic is mailed to all registered Catholic families in East Tennessee. Subscription rate for others is $15 a year in t the United States. Make checks payable to The Diocese of Knoxville. w e Postmaster: Send address changes to The East Tennessee Catholic, 805 S. Northshore Drive, Knoxville, TN 37919-7551

Reach us by phone: 865-584-3307 • fax: 865-584-8124 • e-mail: webmaster@dioknox.org • web: dioknox.org m

Advent reminds us of what a new beginning truly is when our hope is Christ

e all look forward to the new beginnings that mark life’s journey, which we hope will be filled with much good in our future and in the lives of others.

And with every life disappointment and suffering, there also is a hope born for something better to come. We need hope if we are to live differently than the circumstances and crosses of life might dictate.

Those who know my love of baseball know how much I am looking forward to a new Cardinals baseball season with the hope of a championship year following the disappointment of the team’s recent World Series loss.

But there are more serious hopes that we all have, and these are needed because without them the present would easily overwhelm us. But with each Advent season the Church reminds us that there is but one hope and joy that truly transforms and offers us a present moment and a future no one can change or take away—Christ among us and Christ to come!

When I think of the Advent season and the hope it should inspire

Diocesan policy for reporting sexual abuse Anyone who has actual knowledge of or who has reasonable cause to suspect an incident of The sexual abuse should report such information to the appropriate civil authorities first, then to the bishop’s office, 865-584-3307, or the diocesan victims’ assistance coordinator, Marla Lenihan, 865482-1388. n

2 December 1, 2013

Bishop Stika’s schedule

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

These are some of Bishop Stika’s public appointments:

dioknox.org

Archbishop Kurtz elected USCCB president

BALTIMORE — The newly elected president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has been a bishop for nearly 14 years, but it’s as a priest, family member and social worker that he describes himself.

By way of introduction to American Catholics, Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Ky., talked about his upbringing in the coal regions of northeastern Pennsylvania, of spending most of his priesthood as a social worker, and of caring for his older brother, George, who had Down syndrome, for 12 years after their mother died. George Kurtz died in 2002.

He takes obvious pride in his identity as both a coal-town native and a transplanted southerner, after serving as bishop of Knoxville, Tenn., from 1999 to 2007, when he became archbishop of Louisville.

Archbishop Kurtz, 67, was elected by his fellow bishops to serve a three-year term as president of the conference, succeeding New York Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan in the post. He has been vice president of the USCCB for the past three years and was elected amid a slate of 10 bishops with a 125-vote win on the first ballot Nov. 12.

In an interview with Catholic News Service shortly after his election, Archbishop Kurtz spoke of seeing the example of Pope Francis as a model for outreach, listening and collegiality. “He’s asking us to go beyond what we’ve been doing,” he said. “If it was a car, I guess we’re moving in to high gear.”

He demurred about specific issues he might like to take up as president.

“It’s too early for me to comment too much about that.”

But he suggested there might be a thread to consider in his intervention in October 2012 at the world Synod of Bishops on the new evangelization.

There, he used his allotted five minutes to focus on parish obserThe East Tennessee Catholic

By Catholic News Service

CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

Diocese of Knoxville’s second bishop succeeds Cardinal Dolan

Passing the mantle Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville acknowledges applause by fellow bishops following his election Nov. 12 as president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Outgoing USCCB President Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York is shown with Archbishop Kurtz.

vances, particularly the Rite for the Blessing of a Child in the Womb.

The ceremony is a “pastoral moment of first evangelization of the child and new evangelization of the family,” Archbishop Kurtz told the synod.

He told CNS Nov. 12 that he sees the rite as a way of “reaching out to people on the margins, especially a woman who is pregnant, especially if they’re distant from Christ, distant

from the church.”

Picking up on themes of Pope Francis, Archbishop Kurtz said, “We need to reach out, not, as the Holy Father said so well, (first) with rules and regulations — which are appropriate if you’re going to present a child for baptism — but it should not be the first step. We should be reaching out as the first step.”

That rite of blessing has resonated

Bishop continued from page 2

perhaps the ones we hope to receive, there is one gift we must strive to give continuously, not waiting for a better day—the gift of Christ.

The Advent hymn, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” always has been a favorite of mine.

Though expressing a longing for Christ to come, we know in faith that He has come in time and that “He dwells among us” still in the Eucharist and the sacraments, and with love born of hope that He will come again. It is my fervent prayer that in this season of hope you will make greater room for Jesus in the “inn” of your heart so that you in turn may give the gift of hope, which is Christ in all you do each day.

In the name of Cardinal Rigali, and all of our priests, deacons and religious, I want to wish everyone a fruitful Advent season and a very blessed Christmas. May you make the new year of 2014 a continuation of our Jubilee Year of Celebration that is meant to help lead us deeper into the mystery of “Christ among us.” n

Want to try online delivery?

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

USCCB continued on page 30

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

December 1, 2013 3

Diaconate class takes key step on faith journey 23 permanent deacon aspirants take part in Rite of Admission to Candidacy for Holy Orders

4 December 1, 2013

DEACON PATRICK MURPHY-RACEY

N

ewly admitted deacon candidate David M. Oatney said he and his fellow members of the Diocese of Knoxville’s next diaconate class “are really not at a midpoint” after two and a half years of study “but at a continuing place in our journey.”

Mr. Oatney made his remarks after he and 22 other men in the diocese’s next deacon class took their first major public step Oct. 12 at All Saints Church in Knoxville as they participated in the Rite of Admission to Candidacy for Holy Orders.

The men are halfway through their five-year-long studies for the permanent diaconate.

Bishop Richard F. Stika, calling it “a major step in the religious formation” of the future deacons, presided at the candidacy Mass.

Concelebrants were Father Charlie Burton, Father Ron Franco, CSP, Father Pontian Kiyimba, and host pastor Father Michael Woods.

More than 20 permanent deacons attended as well.

“In a particular way, as my brothers this day make this step in their direction towards eventual ordination to the diaconate, they take what is called candidacy, a public proclamation that, ‘yes, I’m studying for the diaconate, to be of service to God’s people,’” Bishop Stika said.

The new deacon candidates also include Hicks Armor, William D. Bitzer, Gilbert T. Campos II, John F. DeClue, James M. Duncan, Bernard M. Feldhaus, Albert T. Forsythe, Donald R. Griffith, Stephan P. Helmbrecht, Michael Humphreys, Robert H. Ketteringham, Scott Maentz, Durwood Byron Maples, Stephen A. May, Dennis L. Meinert, Peter A. Minneci, Walter D. Otey, Stephen E. Ratterman Sr., Larry R. Rossini, Phillip M. Talmadge, Thomas T. Tidwell Jr., and Fredy T.

By Dan McWilliams

‘A public proclamation’ Bishop Richard F. Stika questions the group of deacon aspirants gathered in front of him at All Saints Church during the Rite of Admission to Candidacy for Holy Orders.

Vargas. Mr. Armor proclaimed the first reading of the Mass in English, and Mr. Vargas proclaimed the second reading in Spanish.

“The diocese now recognizes where we are and the work that we’ve been doing and that we are taking a public step, that we acknowledge that we’re ready to move forward in discernment,” Mr. Oatney said. “And the bishop also acknowledges that, so that’s really what it meant to me. I was thinking about that coming over here today, and I was praying the office on the way over. The prayers for today really spoke to me because the readings were really appropriate for the occasion.”

Mr. Oatney said the deacon candidates’ studies “for the most part have been quite difficult.”

“They’ve not been lax with us at all. We have had a couple of instructors who I would say have

been generous to say the least, but most of the time, very few months go by that we don’t have a paper to write. … It’s been very difficult work but well worth it, and we learn a lot about the Church.”

In his homily, Bishop Stika said, “the thing I most admire about the permanent diaconate, which was restored in the ’70s by Pope Paul VI, of blessed memory, was that these men for the most part are still working.

“They have jobs like everyone else, and yet they gather together on weekends to study over five years to learn about theology, to learn about Scripture, to learn about even canon law, to learn how to preach the word of God, to learn how to be a person of prayer.

That’s why I admire them so much. ...

“You see, that’s what the beauty of the Church is. The Lord calls

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

each and every one of us in our lives by virtue of who we are to build his kingdom, whether you’re single, whether you’re married, whether you’re celibate, whether you’re a bishop or a priest or a deacon or a religious, whether you’re kind of lukewarm in your faith or filled with the vitality and energy and grace of a person who realizes that God loves them.”

The bishop pointed out the dalmatic worn by the deacons.

“It’s a vestment with sleeves because in some ways they’re supposed to roll up their sleeves and do the work of the Church,” he said.

Following the homily, the deacon aspirants were called forward individually. Bishop Stika then questioned the group, and after the recitation of the Creed, invited all present to pray for the newly ad-

Diaconate continued on page 31 dioknox.org

Campaign planning study under way

United States Postal Service Statement of ownership, management, and circulation Required by 39 U.S.C. 3685 1. Publication title: The East Tennessee Catholic 2. Publication number: 0007-211 3. Filing date: Oct. 1, 2013 4. Issue frequency: Bi-monthly 5. Number of issues published annually: 6 6. Annual subscription price: $15 7. Complete mailing address of known office of publication: 805 S. Northshore Drive, Knoxville, Knox County, TN 37919-7551 8. Complete mailing address of headquarters or general business office of publisher: Same 9. Full names and complete addresses of publisher, editor, and managing editor: publisher, Bishop Richard F. Stika, Diocese of Knoxville, 805 S. Northshore Drive, Knoxville, TN 37919-7551; editor, Bill Brewer, 805 S. Northshore Drive, Knoxville, TN 379197551; managing editor, Dan McWilliams, 805 S. Northshore Drive, Knoxville, TN 37919-7551 10. Owner: Roman Catholic Diocese of Knoxville, 805 S. Northshore Drive, Knoxville, TN 37919-7551 11. Known bondholders, mortgagees, and other security holders owning or holding 1 percent or more of total amount of bonds, mortgages, or other securities: None 12. Tax status (for completion by nonprofit organizations authorized to mail at nonprofit rates): Has not changed during preceding 12 months 13. Publication name: The East Tennessee Catholic 14. Issue date for circulation data below: Dec. 1, 2013 15. Extent and nature of circulation Average number copies each Number copies of single issue during preceding 12 months issue published nearest to filing date A. Total number of copies (net press run) B. (1) Paid/requested outside-county mail subscriptions stated on Form 3541 (2) Paid in-county subscriptions stated on Form 3541 (3) Paid distribution outside the mail (4) Other classes mailed through the USPS C. Total paid and/or requested circulation D. Free distribution by mail (1) Free or nominal rate outside-county on Form 3541 (2) Free or nominal rate in-county on Form 3541 (3) Other classes mailed through the USPS (4) Free or nominal rate distribution outside the mail E. Total free or nominal-rate distribution outside the mail F. Total distribution G. Copies not distributed H. Total I. Percent paid

22,125

22,400

21,302 0 0 0 21,302

21,569 0 0 0 21,569

434 0 0 0 434 21,736 389 22,125 98.0

404 0 0 0 404 21,973 427 22,400 98.2

16. Statement of ownership will be printed in the Dec. 1, 2013, issue of this publication.

17. Signature and title of editor, publisher, business manager, or owner: Bill Brewer, editor. Date: Oct. 1, 2013 I certify that all information furnished on this form is true and complete. I understand that anyone who furnishes false or misleading information on this form or who omits material or information requested on the form may be subject to criminal sanctions (including fines and imprisonment) and/or civil sanctions (including civil penalties).

Visit the diocese on Facebook: on.fb.me/ dioceseofknoxville

Follow the diocese on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ knoxdiocese

1 The East Tennessee Catholic

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

The Diocese of Knoxville is launching a campaign planning study to determine the level of support for a diocesan capital campaign.

Representatives from the Steier Group, a Catholic development and fundraising firm, will be conducting interviews and collecting surveys seeking feedback about the proposed campaign. The campaign would address individual parish needs, building a cathedral, charitable initiatives, priest retirement, and tuition assistance for Catholic school families.

The study will be conducted starting in December and ending in early 2014. During the 12-week study, parishioners will have a variety of ways to respond. While some will be personally interviewed, others will have the option to mail in a survey, go online to answer questions, and/or attend focus groups. Participants will be given a case statement that outlines each of the needs and how the diocese would like to address them. Responses collected during the study are confidential.

The results will be used to recommend how the diocese will proceed and what it can expect to accomplish.

Under the current campaign plan, the amount needed is estimated to be between $35 million and $40 million. The Diocese of Knoxville’s GiFT campaign, conducted nearly 10 years ago, was successful in raising more than $27 million.

The Steier Group, based in Omaha, Neb., has directed a number of successful efforts, including a $51 million campaign in the Diocese of La Crosse, Wis. and a $49 million campaign for the Sioux Falls, S.D., Catholic schools. n December 1, 2013 5

St. Augustine marks 75th anniversary with special Mass Members celebrate milestone as Bishop Stika dedicates new building addition

6 December 1, 2013

DAN MCWILLIAMS

S

t. Augustine Parish in Signal Mountain marked its 75th birthday Nov. 3 as Bishop Richard F. Stika celebrated an anniversary Mass, dedicated a new education/ multipurpose wing at the church, and blessed the parish’s new outdoor Stations of the Cross.

Concelebrating were current St. Augustine pastor Father Joseph Kuzhupil and three former pastors in Father Bob Hofstetter, Father Peter Iorio, and Father Paul Valleroy. Father David Carter served as master of ceremonies, and Deacon Gordon Kilburn assisted.

Sunshine and blue skies made for a pleasant morning at St. Augustine.

“We have been waiting for this day, and look outside, what a beautiful day God has given us to rejoice,” Father Kuzhupil said. “Let’s thank the Lord from the bottom of our hearts.”

In attendance at Mass were Dominican Sisters, Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, Alexian Brothers, and a host of parishioners. The Alexians converted part of the old Signal Mountain Hotel into a chapel in the summer of 1938 and dedicated the chapel to St. Augustine, launching the parish that still flourishes today.

At Mass Father Kuzhupil recognized both Grey Wagner, 96, who was a junior at the University of Chattanooga when the parish was formed and is now St. Augustine’s most senior parishioner, and David Windle, a current parishioner who as an infant was present at the dedication ceremony 75 years ago.

In his homily, Bishop Stika recalled building a cabin with fellow students when he was enrolled at St. Augustine Minor Seminary High School in Michigan in his freshman year. The students worked through the fall, winter, and spring to finish the building.

“You know what [building the cabin] did do? It built our class,” Bishop Stika said. “For it was in that endeavor that we were able to learn about our

By Dan McWilliams

Happy anniversary Bishop Richard F. Stika incenses the gathering outside St. Augustine Church during the blessing of the parish’s new outdoor Stations of the Cross. During the blessing Bishop Stika recognized John Carlson, a young parishioner of St. Augustine whose Eagle Scout project was to build the outdoor Stations.

own abilities but also the abilities of others of the same age and of the same desire to build something, and I often wonder now after 40 years if that cabin is still standing.”

The cabin project “brought us together, and isn’t that the kind of concept of what we hope for in a parish?” Bishop Stika said. “Just think of this parish of St. Augustine that’s been around now for 75 years and all the different characters that have been involved in the development of this parish when it was first brought about to build something on this beautiful mountain called Signal Mountain.

All the different personalities who came together to raise funds and to build, but not only to build a building but also to build a sense of what that means to build a church.”

From the time Jesus said, “Take and

eat and take and drink because this is my body,” the “word of God traveled throughout the centuries, and eventually it came here to Signal Mountain in the state of Tennessee, through the graciousness of the people like the Alexian Brothers, who are founders of this parish,” Bishop Stika said.

St. Augustine Church is like the Scriptures’ lamp “burning brightly for all the world to see,” Bishop Stika said.

“In a very important way, in a very geographic way, Signal Mountain stands above other areas in geography so other people may see what this stands for as a parish. But it’s also a reminder to us that we stand for more than just a building, we stand for more than just a mountain, we stand with Jesus as he invites us, as he invites everyone, to know him so that we might

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

know the Father.”

The bishop spoke “in the name of all those many people who have been part of the Diocese of Knoxville these past 25 years and even before that.”

“I just offer to you all my congratulations for your ability and your willingness and your courage to look to the future, but also as you pause this day to say thanks to almighty God, for all those who have come before us marked with the sign of faith. We pray that through the intercession of St. Augustine, that great doctor of the Church, we might always have a certain sense of need to know that our hearts are restless, but also that they rest in the hands of God.” At the end of Mass, Bishop Stika recognized Father Iorio, a native of St. Augustine Parish.

Anniversary continued on page 21

dioknox.org

Typhoon hits close to home for Father Sescon

T

he killer typhoon that struck the Philippines in early November has been especially hard on Father Albert Sescon, pastor of St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish in Cleveland.

Father Sescon has a sister who lived in Tacloban, the city hardest hit by Typhoon Haiyan, known as Typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines. The priest had to wait three days for news that his sister was alive.

“That’s understandable because the communications were cut, there was no electricity, there was no way to go through the roads,” he said in a Nov. 13 interview, “because it was full of debris and trees, poles, and everything, so everybody’s trying to find their own friends and relatives. Some are dead, even, you know.”

The three-day wait was traumatic for Father Sescon.

“It was really an agony and a torture

for me, you know, but I surrendered everything to God. Whatever happens, he gave me the strength to accept it,” he said. “Finally, I called my brothers back Father Albert Sescon in the Philippines and other sisters to check, and they have cars, but they couldn’t go through the roads, so they walked like 50 miles. Finally, they found my sister; she was at home. Some were at the hotel, like she was, after the typhoon. She checked her home, and miraculously the whole subdivision was wiped out, but her house was the only one standing.”

Father Sescon had several family

members in harm’s way of the storm.

“My sister, her husband, my grandniece, and one helper in the house,” he said. “They were brought to my brother’s house, which is 300 miles away from Tacloban, but now I’ve heard that there’s been problems on that side of the island, because now the whole island is groping for food—everybody’s really run out of food and gas, you know, so I’ve planned and told them to move to the other island of Cebu.

There’s a big city, so they can have a better way of living.”

The priest expected his sister to move to Cebu on Nov. 13.

“I called them last night, and probably today they’re going to Cebu now—if there’s a boat, because now the piers are destroyed, the airports are destroyed, so it’s really hard to travel.

The Philippines are an archipelago with close to 700 islands, so if you move from one island to another, you

By Dan McWilliams need either to go by boat or by plane.”

Relief efforts for typhoon victims have been slow going, but Father Sescon said that’s understandable.

“It’s not easy to reach the people because, first, the roads are not clear, and it’s an island, so you have to move from one island to another. There’s no communication, and, in fact, one of my nephews went there to bring food, but five cities away he was mobbed by the crowd, so they gave all the food to the crowd because people were getting mad or angry or whatever.”

Getting medication to typhoon victims is another challenge.

“They have no medications in the hospital, especially antibiotics,” Father Sescon said. “Kids are having diarrhea now. I heard from my brothers and sisters, now they’re sick. In fact, one old woman died because there was no medication.”

Typhoon continued on page 21

Blessed John XXIII, Blessed John Paul II

April 21-29, 2014 / 9 dAys to Rome And Assisi $3,795.00 all inclusive per person, air, land, taxes from Knoxville on Us Air space extremely limited, so register now to be part of this historic event!

mAss celebRAted by cARdinAl RigAli & bishop stiKA FoR moRe inFoRmAtion contAct:

1

The East Tennessee Catholic

susan prendergast, select international tours & cruises (800) 842-4842 | e-mail: susan@select-intl.com | www.selectinternationaltours.com The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee

December 1, 2013 7

Diocese of Knoxville Annual Financial Report

BROWN JAKE & McDANIEL, PC CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS 2607 KINGSTON PIKE, SUITE 110 KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE 37919-3336 865/637-8600 • fax: 865/637-8601

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ:

BROWN JAKE & McDANIEL, PC

Each year at this time, I provide a report in The East Tennessee Catholic on the financial health of the Diocese of Knoxville. As your Bishop, I am entrusted with ensuring the proper stewardship of all our resources. I am pleased to report that in our silver jubilee year diocesan finances are stable and well positioned for the future. Through your generous sharing of time, talents, financial resources and prayers, the Diocese of Knoxville has been the beneficiary of your gifts, which continue to be wisely and prudently used to advance the mission of the Church. I offer my deepest appreciation for your great generosity. As good stewards of what you have entrusted to us, we strive to be fiscally responsible and transparent.

I thank the dedicated members of our diocesan Finance Council for their steadfast service and excellent advice. Our council meets quarterly and its members are composed of priests and lay professionals from parishes across the diocese who selflessly give their time and expertise in service of the Church.

This is a very exciting time for the Diocese of Knoxville. As we celebrate our 25th anniversary, we are mindful of Christ’s many blessings on our mission diocese and our calling to grow His Church in East Tennessee. Your generosity in responding to the needs of the Church – through our parishes, diocesan offices and in service to our most vulnerable – has continued to grow, touching lives in deep and meaningful ways. I’m happy to note that we have experienced continuing growth in parish offertory collections across the diocese and our 2013 Bishop’s Appeal will achieve its goal. Again this year, participation in the work of the Bishop’s Appeal has grown dramatically, providing essential funding to the Church’s growing ministries. Your response to the work of the Bishop’s Appeal continues to clearly demonstrate that “Love Never Fails.”

As you know, we celebrated the beginning of our silver jubilee year with a Eucharistic Congress held September 13-14 in Sevierville that was attended by more than 5,000 people from across the diocese and around the country. Our year-long celebration, which comes on the heels of the Year of Faith, should inspire us to live the Eucharist in a spirit of love, forgiveness and self-sacrifice, and turn to Jesus by entering into a deeper relationship with Him. As we remember September 8, 1988, when Blessed John Paul II established our diocese, let us give thanks to God for His many blessings bestowed upon the Church in East Tennessee during these years. By God’s grace our parishes have nurtured the faith of thousands during our short history.

Our blessings include the arrival of the St. Mary’s Legacy mobile medical clinic, which will deliver medical care to uninsured and underinsured people across our diocese who are in need of health care.

This new mobile medical clinic is made possible by the St. Mary’s Legacy Foundation of East Tennessee that provides direct support for charity, health care and education through Catholic organizations serving those in need in East Tennessee. The foundation continues to provide support for the ministry begun by the Sisters of Mercy with the opening of St. Mary’s Hospital in 1930. Our Christ Prince of Peace retreat center in Benton, made possible by a generous gift from parishioners, will serve our diocese and also be the new home of the Handmaids of the Precious Blood, a contemplative community relocating to our diocese from New Mexico.

I express renewed thanks for the faithful and loving service of our priests to their parishioners. I also am very grateful for the dedicated service of our deacons, consecrated religious and our laity. God has blessed us with 22 seminarians preparing for the priesthood and 23 candidates preparing for service as deacons.

We are enriched by the diversity embodied in the Catholic faithful of our diocese. We also are blessed by the many faithful who practice and share their Catholic values with great enthusiasm and conviction.

I am grateful to God for sending me to be your Bishop, and I thank you for the countless ways you support me and our diocese. With deepest gratitude, I want to assure you of my continued prayers.

Sincerely in Christ,

Most Reverend Richard F. Stika

JOE L. BROWN, CPA, CGFM, CGMA FRANK D. McDANIEL, CPA, CGFM, CGMA TERRY L. MOATS, CPA, CGFM, CGMA JAMES E. BOOHER, CPA, CGMA

CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS 2607 KINGSTON PIKE, SUITE 110 KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE 37919-3336 865/637-8600 • fax: 865/637-8601

JOE L. BROWN, CPA, CGFM, CGMA FRANK D. McDANIEL, CPA, CGFM, CGMA TERRY L. MOATS, CPA, CGFM, CGMA JAMES E. BOOHER, CPA, CGMA

MEMBERS AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT

Most Reverend Richard F. Stika Diocese of Knoxville INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT Chancery Office MostNorthshore Reverend Richard 805 DriveF. Stika Diocese of Knoxville Knoxville, TN 37919 Chancery Office 805 Northshore Drive

We have audited the accompanying financial statements of Diocese of Knoxville Chancery Office (a nonprofit Knoxville, TN 37919 which comprise the statements of financial position as of June 30, 2013 and 2012, and the related statemen and cash flowsthe foraccompanying the years then ended, and theofrelated to the financial statements.

We have audited financial statements Diocese notes of Knoxville Chancery Office (a nonprofit organization), which comprise the statements of financial position as of June 30, 2013 and 2012, and the related statements of activities

Management’s Responsibility for the and cash flows for the years then ended, and theFinancial related notesStatements to the financial statements.

Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these financial statements in ac Management’s Responsibility for the Financial Statements accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America; this includes the design, implem Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these financial statements in accordance with maintenance of internal control relevant the preparation and fair of financial statements tha accounting principles generally accepted in thetoUnited States of America; thispresentation includes the design, implementation, and material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. maintenance of internal control relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

Auditor’s Responsibility Auditor’s Responsibility Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted Our responsibility to express an opiniongenerally on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted audits in r accordance with is auditing standards accepted in the United States of America.

Thoseour standards accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free from material misstatement. misstatement.

An auditinvolves involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence the amounts and An audit performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the about amounts and disclosures in disclosures the financial in statements. The procedures selected depend on the auditor’s judgment,judgment, including the assessment the risks of material statements.

The procedures selected depend on the auditor’s including theofassessment of the ris misstatement of of thethe financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. risk assessments, auditor misstatement financial statements, whether due to fraudInormaking error. those In making those riskthe assessmen considers internal control relevant to the entity’s preparation and fair presentation of the financial statements in order to considers internal control relevant to the entity’s preparation and fair presentation of the financial stateme design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an effectiveness of the entity’s internal control. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes evaluating the effectiveness of of theaccounting entity’s internal we express no such opinion.

An estimates audit alsomade includes appropriateness policies control. used andAccordingly, the reasonableness of significant accounting by appropriateness used and ofthe reasonableness ofWe significant estima management, as wellofasaccounting evaluating thepolicies overall presentation the financial statements. believe thataccounting the audit evidence we have obtained sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for of our audit opinion.statements. We believe that the management, asiswell as evaluating the overall presentation the financial we have sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.

Basis for obtained QualifiedisOpinion

As explained in Note 14 to the financial statements, management has elected not to report actuarially determined other Basis for Qualified Opinion post-retirement employee benefit costs as expenses and the associated obligation as a liability. Accounting principles As explained in Note to the financial statements, management has electedother not post-retirement to report actuarially det generally accepted in the14 United States of America require that actuarially determined employee post-retirement employee benefit costs as associated expenses and the associated as aThe liability. benefit costs be reported as expenses and the obligation be reportedobligation as a liability. effects Account on the generally accepted instatements the United States of to America require that actuarially determined other post-retirem accompanying financial of the failure report actuarially determined other post-retirement employee benefit costs as expenses the associated obligationand as a liability have not been determined. benefit costs beand reported as expenses the associated obligation be reported as a liability. The accompanying financial statements of the failure to report actuarially determined other post-retirement em Qualified Opinion and the associated obligation as a liability have not been determined. costs as expenses In our opinion, except for the effects of the matter described in the Basis for Qualified Opinion paragraph, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Diocese of Knoxville Chancery

Qualified Opinion Office as of June 30, 2013 and 2012, and the changes in its net assets and its cash flows for the years then ended in In our opinion, except forprinciples the effects of theaccepted matter in described inStates the Basis for Qualified Opinion paragraph accordance with accounting generally the United of America. statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Diocese of Knox Office as of June 30, 2013 and 2012, and the changes in its net assets and its cash flows for the years accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Knoxville, Tennessee October 9, 2013

Knoxville, Tennessee October 9, 2013

Bishop of Knoxville

8 December 1, 2013

MEM AMERICAN CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOU







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







dioknox.org

Statement of Activities June 30, 2013 Use of funds $7,973,482

Source of funds $11,483,108 Source of funds $11,483,108

Use of funds $7,973,482

Source of funds $11,483,108

Use of funds $7,973,482

Property donated to Property donated to the Diocese the Diocese $2,426,000 $2,426,000 21% 21%

Grants Grants $845,474 $845,474 7% 7% $‐ $‐

Diaconate forma;on Diaconate forma;on $128,914 $128,914 Communica;ons Communica;ons 2% 2% Diocesan governance/ Diocesan governance/ $279,364 $279,364 Promo;on of Promo;on of Property donated to a Property donated to a administra;on administra;on 3% 3% voca;ons voca;ons parish parish $2,198,669 $2,198,669 $813,498 $813,498 $265,644 $265,644 28% 28% 10% Educa;on 10% Educa;on 3% 3% $602,135 $602,135 8% 8%

Parish assessments Parish assessments $3,180,640 $3,180,640 28% 28%

0% 0%

$‐ $‐ 0% 0%

Investment Income/ Investment Income/ Gains Gains $1,022,147 $1,022,147 9% 9% Other income/service Other income/service fees and net gain on fees and net gain on sales sales $716,175 $716,175 Deposit/loan fund Deposit/loan fund interest income 6% 6% interest income $721,282 $721,282 6% 6%

Contribu;ons/bequests Contribu;ons/bequests

$535,892 $535,892 5% 5%

Bishop's Appeal Bishop's Appeal $2,035,498 $2,035,498 18% 18%

Unrealized gains/investments Statement of Financial Ac­count­ing Standard (SFAS) No. 124 re­quires that investments be recorded at mar­ket value rather than at cost, and this results in the recognition of un­re­al­ized gains/ losses.

Pastoral Grants to parishes and in­sti­tu­tions; Diocesan Council of Catholic Women grant; Youth Min­is­try; Hispanic Ministry; Campus Min­is­try; Evan­ge­li­za­tion; Justice and Peace; Marriage Preparation and Enrichment.

The East Tennessee Catholic

Catholic Chari;es Catholic Chari;es grant grant $404,200 $404,200 5% 5%

Religious personnel Religious personnel development/care development/care $1,314,524 $1,314,524 16% 16%

Deposit/loan fund Deposit/loan fund interest expense interest expense $718,088 $718,088 9% 9%

Pastoral Pastoral $1,248,446 $1,248,446 16% 16%

Parish assessments Administrative assessment for di­oc­e­san governance/ad­min­is­tra­tion; seminarian assessment for vocations promotion; reimbursement for priest health insurance and re­tire­ment; communications assessment for The East Tennessee Catholic newspaper and online programs; school as­sess­ment for the op­er­a­tion of the Catholic Schools Office; assessment for the diocesan diaconate program.

Education Religious Education and Cath­o­lic Schools offices. n

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

December 1, 2013 9

Annual Financial Report

10 December 1, 2013

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

dioknox.org

Annual Financial Report

The East Tennessee Catholic

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

December 1, 2013 11

Annual Financial Report

12 December 1, 2013

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

dioknox.org

Annual Financial Report

The East Tennessee Catholic

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

December 1, 2013 13

Diocesan calendar

by Margaret Hunt Knoxville Catholic High School is accepting applications for the 201415 school year and registering students for the placement test. Visit www. knoxvillecatholic.com/admissions/apply to access the online application. All applications and supporting documents are due by Friday, Feb. 14. To register for the placement test, contact Nichole Pfohl, dean of admissions, at 865-5600502 or npfohl@knoxvillecatholic.com.

The placement test is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 7, and Saturday, Jan. 25.

The St. Luke’s Guild is sponsoring two days of reflection to focus on the universal call to holiness as outlined by the Second Vatican Council in Lumen Gentium. The first day of reflection is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, at St. Mary Church in Johnson City and will be facilitated by Gail Ratti Curran and Father Bill Gahagan.

The theme of the day will be “Personal Prayer as a Loving Response to God’s Invitation to Holiness.” Cardinal Justin Rigali, archbishop emeritus of Philadelphia, will present “The Sacraments: Striving for Holiness Helped by God’s Gift of Grace” from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 18, at All Saints Church in Knoxville. Each day of reflection will include the presentations, Mass, the opportunity for confession, quiet time for prayer, and lunch. The cost for each day is $10. For more information, contact Emily Jacobssen at 865-584-3307 or ejacobssen@dioknox.org.

Deacon Arthur Torres Barona will be ordained to the priesthood at St. Anne Church in Cali, Colombia, at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 14. Bishop Stika will preside at the ordination Mass.

Cardinal Justin Rigali will lead the “Rosary for Life” in front of the Planned Parenthood located at 710 N. Cherry St. at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 11. All are invited to pray the rosary for the unborn and their families. For more information, contact Paul Simoneau,

14 December 1, 2013

director of the diocesan Office of Justice and Peace, at 865-862-5753 or psimoneau@dioknox.org.

Sister Mary Timothea Elliott, RSM, director of the diocesan Office of Christian Formation, will present three conferences for RCIA participants in the Diocese of Knoxville. The first will be at St. Mary Church in Athens on Saturday, Jan. 11. The second conference will take place at Holy Ghost Church in Knoxville on Saturday, Jan. 25, and the third will be at Holy Trinity Church in Jefferson City on Saturday, Feb. 8. All of the conferences will meet from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, contact Sister Timothea at 865-584-3307 or srmarytimothea@dioknox.org.

Several Search weekends for high school juniors and seniors are scheduled in the diocese during winter 2014. Search is a retreat program intended to assist young people with developing their faith lives and to discern how they can use their gifts to build the Church. The first Search is planned for the weekend of Feb. 7-9 at Knoxville Catholic High School. For more information, contact Deacon Dan Hosford at 865-603-9682. The second is scheduled for Feb. 14-16 at St. Dominic Church in Kingsport. Contact Deacon Jim Fage at 423-748-2836 for more information. The third Search will take place the weekend of Feb. 21-23 at All Saints Academy next door to the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga. Contact Donna Jones for more information at 423-7184387. The cost to attend any of the Search weekends is $55 per person.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Chattanooga is hosting a program presented by Family Honor Inc. for seventh- and eighth-grade students and their families on God’s gift of sexuality and chastity from 7 to 9:15 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7, and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8. The program is free of charge, but donations will be accepted. Register online at familyhonor.org. For more information, contact Marian Christiana at 423892-2310 or mchristiana@dioknox.org.

Catholic Day on the Hill is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 18. Meet with state representatives to discuss and lobby issues important to Catholic voters. For more information, call Kathleen Murphy at 615-828-4713.

The next Engaged Encounter weekend will take place Feb. 21-23 at the Holiday Inn Express in Lenoir City. The cost of the weekend is $239 per couple.

To register, contact Jason and Carmen Jeansonne at 865-377-3077 or cee knoxville@yahoo.com. For other information, contact Jerry or Mary Dougherty at 865-458-4117 or ceeknoxville@gmail. com. For information on other weekends, visit www.engagedencounter.org.

The next Picture of Love engagedcouples retreat will take place the weekend of Feb. 28-March 1 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Chattanooga. The retreat will meet from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday and continue from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. The program is designed to help couples gain a better understanding of the joys and challenges of being married in their day-today lives. The cost is $135 per couple, which includes a certificate good for a $60 discount on a marriage license.

Couples must attend the entire retreat to receive the certificate. For more information, contact Marian Christiana, director of the Office of Marriage Preparation and Enrichment, at 423-892-2310 or mchristiana@dioknox.org.

Catholic Charities of East Tennessee has announced the dates of three of its annual fundraisers for 2014. The Emerald O’ccasion is scheduled for March 13 at the Knoxville Marriott; the Kids Helping Kids Fun Walk will take place on May 4 at Knoxville Catholic High School; and the Common Good Golf Classic is planned for June 9. Visit www.ccetn.org for details.

Father Charlie Burton and Deacon Gaspar DeGaetano will be the spiritual directors of a pilgrimage to Italy from March 16-28, 2014. The group will visit Rome, Pompeii, Sorrento, Sicily, and

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

many other places during the trip. The all-inclusive cost is $4,199. For more details, call Proximo Travel at 855-8428001 or visit www.proximotravel.com.

Father John Dowling will be the spiritual director for a 10-day pilgrimage to France June 30–July 9, 2014. The group will visit several shrines and holy sites around France, including the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal and SainteChapelle, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Amiens, the tomb of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the American Military Cemetery at Omaha Beach, Chartres Cathedral, the Shrine of the Sacred Heart in Parayle-Monial, and the basilica in Ars that houses the incorrupt body of St. John Vianney. The final day will feature a drive through the French Alps. Mass will be celebrated daily. The price for the pilgrimage including airfare from either Nashville or Knoxville is $3,945, which includes U.S. government taxes, fees, and airline fuel surcharges up to $665; economy-class round-trip airfare, threeand four-star hotel accommodations (based on double occupancy), eight breakfasts and dinners, a professional tour manager, local English-speaking guides, all scheduled sightseeing and entrance fees, a modern motor coach, and group tips. Interested pilgrims can also arrange their own airfare and pay $2,849 (if 30 pilgrims register). Register early and receive a $50 discount. For more information, contact Father Dowling at 931-484-3628 or frjohndowling@ gmail.com.

Mass in the extraordinary form (“traditional Latin”) is celebrated at 1:30 p.m. each Sunday at Holy Ghost Church in Knoxville; at 3 p.m. on first and third Sundays at St. Thérèse of Lisieux Church in Cleveland; at 3 p.m. on second and fourth Sundays at St. Joseph the Worker Church in Madisonville; at 11 a.m. on most Sundays at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Townsend; and at 3 p.m. on second and fourth Sundays at St. Mary Church in Johnson City.

Calendar continued on page 17 dioknox.org

Chattanooga Deanery calendar The Sant’Egidio Community meets every Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the University of Tennessee Catholic Student Center in Chattanooga. For more information, contact Father Michael Cummins at 423624-4618. For further information on the community in general, visit www.sant egidio.org.

Parish notes: Chattanooga Deanery

The online ChattiGras auction benefiting Chattanooga-area Catholic schools begins Jan. 27, 2014. The annual ChattiGras dinner will take place Saturday, Feb. 15, at the Chattanooga Trade and Convention Center. To donate an auction item or to learn more, contact Cissy West at 423622-1481 or cwest@catholicweb.com. n

Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Chattanooga The parish is participating in the Angel Tree program again this year. Participants need to choose an angel and purchase the gift listed on the ornament and place it under the tree. Call the parish office at 423-622-1481 for more information.

St. Jude, Chattanooga The Star Tree will be in the vestibule of the church during the Advent season. Participants are asked to take an envelope labeled with a child’s name and return it filled with a gift card worth $20 or more. Ordering gift cards through the St. Jude School SCRIPS program will also benefit the school. For more information, call the parish office at 423-870-2386 or the school at 877-6022.

St. Stephen, Chattanooga A family Advent crafts day will take place from 3-5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8, for families with children in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. Advent crafts, treats and singing are planned. Contact the parish office for more information at 423-892-1261.

ELIZABETH CONWAY

Knights of Columbus Council 6099 congratulated Craig Bodnar for being named Knight of the Month and Ron, Libby, and Chris Schliefer for being named Family of the Month.

Holy Spirit Knights present Responder of the Year award Knights of Columbus Council 14079 from Holy Spirit Parish in Soddy-Daisy recently awarded the Responder of the Year award to Lt. Tony Sylvester, district supervisor/special operations for Hamilton County Emergency Medical Services.

Pictured left to right are Grand Knight Steve DeRight, Holy Spirit pastor Monsignor Al Humbrecht, Lt. Sylvester and Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office director of support services Gino Bennett. Lt. Sylvester, a native of Chattanooga, completed his Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training in May 1991 at Chattanooga State Community College and received his paramedic license in August 1992. He has served in a variety of roles over the years, including volunteer firefighter, police patrolman, and SWAT team member. To maintain his professional skills levels, Lt. Sylvester attends an average of 350 hours of professional continuing education and recertification annually.

Johnsons celebrate 50th wedding anniversary

D

on and Judy Johnson of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Fairfield Glade celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary July 13 with a dinner and music held in the parish’s Sheehan Hall.

The Johnsons were married at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in MariThe East Tennessee Catholic

nette, Wis. The couple’s children are Jeff Johnson of Gaithersburg, Md., and Greg Johnson of Talmo, Ga. They have one grandchild.

The Johnson’s moved to Fairfield Glade in 2003 and enjoy golf and bridge. n

Sebastian Lozano became the first Scout from Troop 50 to earn an Eagle Scout award. Sebastian built a Marian prayer garden on the church property for his Eagle project.

The religious-education classes collected nonperishable food items for needy families for the holidays.

Newcomers: Eduvijes Rodriguez and Mindy Allen; Pedro and Teresa Manuel and family; Bassam Hamoui, Carolyn Cordero and family; Raul Morales, Carmen Rivera and family; Robert and Barbara Graham; Marvin Salinas, Andrea SalinasMartinez and family; Arturo Carrillo, Rosario Malchan and family; Sergio Diaz, Sofia Alvarez and family n

Notre Dame High School appoints OLPH parishioner director of development, alumni affairs

R

obert Jones is the new director of development and alumni affairs at Notre Dame High School.

Mr. Jones has more than 20 years experience in the newspaper industry, in which he has marketed and branded newspapers and worked to form business and community partnerships.

A native of Fort Mill, S.C., he

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

began his career at The Charlotte Observer and worked at newspapers in South Carolina. He also was circulation sales and marketing manager at the Chattanooga Times Free Press.

He and his wife, Emilia, are parishioners of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Chattanooga. Their daughter is in third grade at OLPH School, where Robert serves on the School Advisory Board. n December 1, 2013 15

Cumberland Mountain Deanery calendar

Parish notes: Cumberland Mountain Deanery

The All Saints Council of Catholic Women will sponsor the fifth annual Advent by Candlelight at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3, in the parish hall. Participants will decorate a table and provide a dessert. Contact Catherine McHugh at 865-694-4971 or rcmcmchugh@aol.com for more information.

All Saints, Knoxville Phillip Joseph Kiefer, son of David and Mitzi Kiefer, was awarded the rank of Eagle Scout at a ceremony held Sept. 14. Phillip refurbished and relocated three bat houses at the Knoxville Zoo for his Eagle project. Phillip is a member of Troop 147 chartered at West Hills Baptist Church and is a senior at Knoxville Catholic High School.

Jared and Monica Kimutis, certified instructors in the sympto-thermal method of Natural Family Planning, will present a three-part workshop on the method from 2-4:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8; Jan. 12, 2014; and Feb. 9, 2014, in the B building at All Saints Church in Knoxville. Cost for materials is $140. Register online at www. live-the-love.org. For more information, call Jared or Monica at 970-980-5009.

Blessed Sacrament, Harriman The Knights of Columbus will be taking orders for “Keep Christ in Christmas” cards on Saturday, Dec. 7, and Sunday, Dec. 8, after the Masses. Call Frank Knies for more information at 865-376-4793.

St. Alphonsus, Crossville St. Alphonsus recently held a potluck luncheon in honor of the 10th anniversary of its parish life center. The large crowd was treated to special exhibits about the life of St. Alphonsus, previous pastors, and the history of the parish, as well as music by some of the youth-ministry students. The event was coordinated by Georgene Krogman and the parish life committee.

Blessed Sacrament Church is sponsoring a healing Mass and anointing of the

sick at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6. During the Mass, those who wish to receive the sacrament of the sick are invited to come forward, be anointed, and receive a blessing.

An adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction will follow Mass at 7:30 p.m. For more information, call the parish office at 865-882-9838.

“Learning from Our Mistakes: A Mom and Her Daughters Look Back on this Generation,” a presentation on mother/ daughter relationships by Margaret Merrill, youth minister at St. Mary Church in Oak Ridge, and her three daughters, Kelly, Casey, and Deidre, is scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, in the St. Mary Youth Building. Heavy hors d’oeuvres will be served. RSVP by Monday, Dec. 2. For more information, contact Mrs. Merrill at mmerrill@smcor.org. n

St. Francis of Assisi, Fairfield Glade The Council of Catholic Women’s annual Christmas party will be held Wednesday, Dec. 11. Entertainment will be provided by the Mount LeConte Jug Band from St. Mary Church in Oak Ridge.

The St. Francis of Assisi choir will present a Christmas cantata at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15. The Cumberland County Band will accompany the choir.

Anniversaries: Steve and MaryLou Knowles (66), Lyle and Kathryn Flahaven (60), Edwin and Grace Johnson (60), Jack and Marilyn Alderton (59), Ron and Terry Glesuner (57), Frank and Judy Simmonds (57), Fred and Laura Reed (57), Ron and Mary White (55), Fred and Sharon Henkel (52), Robert and Janice Cahill (52), Vern and Marianne Parrish (51), Mike and Susan Spitler (51), Tom and Mary Dega (50), John and Elizabeth Mosior (50).

St. Mary, Oak Ridge

The parish collected grocery items for Thanksgiving baskets for clients of the St. Joseph Food Pantry sponsored by St. Mary Church during November. The pantry served 140-plus clients last Thanksgiving. n

16 December 1, 2013

MONICA HACKETT

The parish held a Flea Market for Africa on Nov. 15 and 16 to purchase a bread oven and other supplies for a resource center in Bono, Kenya, the hometown of former associate pastor Father William Oruko, and for a special project in the hometown of Father Bede Aboh in Nigeria.

St. Alphonsus volunteers contribute hats, scarves and gloves Volunteers from St. Alphonsus Parish in Crossville recently made or donated 1,313 hats and 340 scarves and gloves to be given to the needy in Cumberland County.

These warm-weather items were shared with six schools, two Head Start programs, Bread of Life Mission, Avalon Center for Domestic Violence Prevention, Plateau Pregnancy Center, and the Hilltoppers adult work program. Helen Davis, pictured at left, heads the project every year.

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

dioknox.org

Five Rivers Deanery calendar The seventh annual Madrigal Dinner will be held at Notre Dame Church in Greeneville at 6:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday evenings, Dec. 5-7. The evening will include a four-course meal, 15th- and 16th-century carols sung by the Madrigal

Parish notes: Five Rivers Deanery

“court” in period costumes, and a magic show by Notre Dame pastor Father Jim Harvey. Tickets are $30 and are available by calling 423-639-9381. People ages 12 and up are welcome. No tickets will be sold at the door. n

Holy Trinity, Jefferson City The parish collected gifts for Operation Christmas Child, a program that sends toys, clothing, and other items in shoeboxes to children overseas.

Newcomer: Cherise Martines Anniversaries: Joseph and Sally Braschler (30), Raymond and Nina Smith (25), Timothy and Victoria Schneider (15), Ralph and Aurora Levin (15), Edwin and Ardie Zawacki (10)

Dr. Carla Nickle speaks to Notre Dame CCW

T

he Council of Catholic Women of Notre Dame Parish in Greeneville held its monthly meeting Oct. 20. Dr. Carla Nickle, daughter-in-law of Bernadette Moughamer, vice president of the Notre Dame CCW, was the guest speaker and gave a presentation and slide show about her deployment as an Army doctor in Afghanistan.

During her deployment she received the Combat Medical Badge

for her care of wounded soldiers while under direct fire from insurgents. After the presentation Dr. Nickle was thanked for her services to the U.S. Army, the people of Afghanistan, and the personal sacrifices she made in the line of duty.

Dr. Nickle is a Greeneville native and a graduate of Chuckey-Doak High School. She currently practices with Tusculum Family Physicians in Greeneville. n

St. Mary, Johnson City Parishioners of St. Mary Church spent 27 hours in eucharistic adoration the weekend of Oct. 26-27 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the parish’s perpetualadoration chapel. Father Larry Villone, a priest from the Missionaries of the Blessed Sacrament, presented the homilies at weekend Masses and talked about the importance of the devotion. Participants in the eucharistic adoration signed 3-foot-by4-foot holy cards that were sent to Bishop Richard F. Stika and Pope Francis.

The parish Angel Tree has been decorated with gift requests from needy children in the Tri-Cities area. Everyone is encouraged choose an angel and then shop for the gift listed on it. Presents should be wrapped in a black plastic bag with the angel attached to it and returned to the church no later than Sunday, Dec. 8. Gifts can also be brought to the Catholic Charities office located at 1409 W. Market St., Suite 109, in Johnson City. For more information, call the parish office at 423-282-6367.

St. Patrick, Morristown

COURTESY OF JONATHAN DRAYNA

The Knights of Columbus sponsored a winter coat drive for homeless veterans living outside the Veterans Administration Hospital in Johnson City during November. n

Seminarian receives institution of acolyte Diocese of Knoxville seminarian Ray Powell (right) recently received the institution of acolyte at Sacred Heart School of Theology. The institution is an important milestone on the path to priesthood. Mr. Powell is expected to graduate in May 2015 and be ordained and begin serving in parish ministry in the Diocese of Knoxville shortly thereafter. The presider at the Oct. 9 institution Mass was Bishop Anthony Taylor of Little Rock. Mr. Powell is one of three Knoxville seminarians enrolled at Sacred Heart.

The East Tennessee Catholic

Calendar continued from page 14 The traditional Latin Mass of Christmas will be offered at Holy Ghost Church at 1:30 p.m. on Christmas Day. Beginning at 1 p.m. preceding the Mass, the Knoxville Latin Mass Schola will present a program of traditional Christmas music.

The Mass itself will include the liturgy of Christmas in Gregorian chant and sacred polyphony, with the ordinary parts of the Mass sung in a polyphonic setting (“Byrd’s Mass for Three Voices”) composed by the English renaissance composer William Byrd. Visit www.knoxlatinmass.net for updated information.

The St. Thomas the Apostle Ukrainian Catholic Mission celebrates Divine Liturgy at 9:30 a.m. Sundays in the lower level of Holy Cross Anglican Church, 515 Herron Road, Knoxville, TN 37934. Note the time change. All services are in English. Call Father Richard Armstrong at 865-584-3307 or visit www.saint thomas-knoxville.org for details.

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

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

December 1, 2013 17

Smoky Mountain Deanery calendar

Parish notes: Smoky Mountain Deanery

A Seekers of Silence Contemplative Saturday Morning will be held Dec. 7 at Blessed John XXIII Catholic Center in Knoxville. David Waite will speak on the topic “The Twelve Steps of Recovery.�

Coffee and tea will be served at 8:30 a.m.; the workshop will run from 9 a.m. to noon. Bring a bag lunch. RSVP to the John XXIII parish office at 865-523-7931.

Blessed John XXIII, Knoxville The parish is recruiting volunteers for participants in the annual Elf Project. Donors, donor/shoppers, and volunteer shoppers are needed to assist clients of the program to shop for Christmas gifts for themselves or their families. Call the parish office for more information at 865-523-7931.

Holy Family, Seymour Holy Family Church is hosting eucharistic adoration from 9 a.m. to 6:45 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 6. A sign-up sheet is on the bulletin board in the vestibule of the church.

Holy Ghost Church in conjunction with St. Joseph School is collecting gifts for children who are clients of the Crazy Quilt Friendship Center in Newcomb.

K

Donations of new or slightly used toys can be dropped off until Friday, Dec. 6, at the Holy Ghost Church rectory or at St. Joseph School. For more information, T contact Merilee Kerwin at 865-297-2558.

The sixth annual Father Albert J. Henkel Memorial Golf Tournament supporting the Ladies of Charity of Knoxville is scheduled for Friday, May 2, at Egwani Farms Golf Course in Rockford. Visit the website www.ladiesofcharitygolf.com for more details or contact Jim Fuhr at jfuhr4221@aol.com. n

Immaculate Conception, Knoxville The Philadelphian Prison Ministry has requested donations of 4-ounce bars of Dial soap for their Christmas care packages. A collection box will be in the narthex of the church until Sunday, Dec. 8, for those who wish to contribute.

Our Lady of Fatima, Alcoa Habitat for Humanity is sponsoring a gift-wrapping booth at Foothills Mall outside the Belk entrance from Saturday, Dec. 7, through Christmas Eve. Volunteers are needed to staff the booth and will receive a 20-percent Belk employee discount for the day they worked. Contact susan@blounthabitat.org or call 865-9828717, extension 240, to volunteer.

Sacred Heart Cathedral School is hosting two open houses at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3, and 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29. Potential students and their families are welcome to attend. Contact Joni Punch, at 865-558-4136 or jpunch@shcknox.org.

St. Albert the Great, Knoxville The St. Albert the Great youth group sold Honey Baked Ham certificates and the Scott Hahn book Rome Sweet Home to raise funds for their trip to the National Catholic Youth Conference in Indianapolis.

St. Mary, Gatlinburg St. Mary Church is hosting the third station of the Smoky Mountain Deanery pilgrimage marking the 25th anniversary of the Diocese of Knoxville. Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 1. Bishop Richard F. Stika will preside. A light lunch and short concert will follow Mass. n

18 December 1, 2013

MICHAEL TRUJILLO

Sacred Heart, Knoxville

Catechists, DREs attend leadership conference Catechists and directors of religious education from around the diocese recently attended the 39th annual Mid-South Catholic Leadership Conference at Lake Barkley State Resort Park in Cadiz, Ky. Pictured from left are (sitting) Randy Carey of St. Alphonsus Parish in Crossville, Sister Elizabeth of St. John Neumann in Farragut, Karen Wilkins-Butz of St. Mary in Oak Ridge, and Sara Carey of St. Alphonsus; and (standing) Marilyn Derbyshire of St. John Neumann, Ruth Campbell of St. Mary, Brigid Johnson of Immaculate Conception in Knoxville, Father Richard Armstrong of the diocesan Office of Christian Formation, Kathleen Quinn of St. Mary, and Peggy Long of All Saints in Knoxville.

Henry family donates to Memorial Foundation

T

he family of Danette Henry recently presented a check to the Memorial Health Care System Foundation for $20,546. The funds were raised during the sixth anThe Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee

nual Danette Henry Memorial Golf Tournament.

For information about giving opportunities at Memorial, visit www. memorial.org/foundation. n dioknox.org

Catholic youth

KCHS girls soccer team wins state title

The Lady Irish capture the first state crown for a girls team in Knoxville Catholic history

COURTESY OF KNOXVILLE CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL

K

With the championship hardware The Lady Irish soccer team gathers around the first-place trophy after defeating Christian Academy of Knoxville for the state title.

the championship match, but she fiercely defended the Lady Irish’s net en route to the title.

It was Catholic’s fourth meeting with CAK, and the Lady Irish won all four matches. The Lady Irish finished the season with a 21-3-4 record.

Molly, the leading scorer for the Lady Irish this season, will continue her soccer career at Furman University, where she has committed to play.

The 2013 Lady Irish soccer team

Dan Touzeau earns Eagle award Daniel Christopher Touzeau of Knoxville recently earned his Eagle Scout Award. A member of Boy Scout Troop 451, Dan is one of approximately 4 percent of all Boy Scouts who attain the Eagle rank, according to Scoutmaster Steve Pauly. Dan chose for his Eagle project to work with Ijams Nature Center in refurbishing the hail-damaged Insect House. Dan and his team replaced the netting over the top of the structure, painted, and replaced rotted wood planks so that the structure was a viable attraction once again. He has served as senior patrol leader for two years and received the Order of the Arrow, a scholastic honor within Scouting. Dan is a member of All Saints Parish in Knoxville and is a member of the National Honor Society at Karns High School, where he is a senior. He is the son of Tom and Leigh Anne Touzeau of Knoxville. He is the grandson of Buddy and Madelaine Cofer of Cleveland, Tenn., and Ginger Touzeau of Pickens, S.C. Dan is pictured with his parents and sister, Maddie.

The East Tennessee Catholic

featured seniors Molly Dwyer, Charlotte Sauter, Lucy Hanson, Abby Leake, Brenna Zimmerman, Katie Covino, and Rebecca Mathien; juniors Colleen Baker, Ashley Hickman, Tyler Beard, Gabby Prevost, and Abby Bower; sophomores Paige Merry, Camille Mancini, Renee Semaan, Alyston Dorsten, and Isabelle Pinzon; and freshmen Katie Whitaker and Anya Wegryn. The assistant coaches are Vahan Janoyan and Martha Hall. n

The Diocese of Knoxville Catholic Schools admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other schooladministered programs. n

KCHS Interact Club members serve breakfast to veterans In September, members of the Interact Club at Knoxville Catholic High School participated in the Honor Air Knoxville project to serve breakfast to the veterans of World War II and the Korean War. This Honor Air preflight informational meeting was held at Sacred Heart Cathedral.

This is the fifth year the club has assisted at the breakfast.

The following members volunteered their service: David LaBine, Nick Kelly, David Truon, Charlie Amrein, Tommi Nguyen, Hunter Kelley, Julian Knudsen, Michael Schmidt, Morgan Briggs, Michael Aleman, Abby Bower, Emily Thompson, and Merrick Knudson. n

COURTESY OF LEIGH ANNE TOUZEAU

noxville Catholic High School’s girls soccer team made history Nov. 2, and in doing so made an impact on a statewide level.

The Lady Irish won the TSSAA girls soccer state championship in Murfreesboro, defeating neighboring rival Christian Academy of Knoxville 3-1 in the Class A-AA title match at Richard Siegel Park.

It was the first state championship for any girls team in KCHS history.

Under the direction of head coach Mark Leader, the Lady Irish have been knocking on the door of a state title. But the team finally burst through with the help of a senior and a freshman.

Senior Molly Dwyer scored all three goals in the victory and freshman Katie Whitaker, who was thrust into the match with 78 minutes to play, recorded six saves. Katie was called on when the starting goalkeeper was forced to leave the match after being issued a red card for running into a CAK player.

Katie, who started the season at goalkeeper before being sidelined by a wrist injury, was caught off guard when summoned to play in

Catholic Schools’ non-discriminatory policy notice

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

December 1, 2013 19

NDHS soccer coach receives A.F. Bridges Award The A.F. Bridges Awards were recently announced by the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association, and Notre Dame High School soccer head coach Jim Schermerhorn was named Male Coach of the Year. Coach Schermerhorn has coached soccer at Notre Dame since 2003. Bernard Childress, executive director of the TSSAA, said, “Being recognized for one of these awards as a school or individual should be seen as one of the highest honors in high school athletics in our state. Those who receive the awards truly reflect what high school athletics should be about, and that’s good sportsmanship and good citizenship.”

Brianna Elizabeth Donahue recently received her Stars & Stripes Award in a presentation held in the gym at St. John Neumann School in Farragut. This is the highest award given to an American Heritage Girl as she learns leadership and life skills.

The Knoxville Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting recognized Brianna with a certificate as well as noting that she was the first American Heritage Girl from the diocese to attend the St. George Trek (a vocational trek) held at Cimarron, N.M., by the National Catholic Committee on Scouting. n

COURTESY OF GAYLE SCHOENBORN

Catholic youth

Stars & Stripes Award presented to Brianna Donahue

The 1988 Notre Dame High School Lady Irish state champion soccer team was honored Sept. 17 at the NDHS–Chattanooga Christian School soccer game.

Members of the 1988 team who attended the game were greeted at a pregame reception and recognized during halftime.

George Valadie, NDHS president, and select members of the 2013 Lady Irish team presented each alumna with a framed picture of her 1988 team and a Tshirt that read, “Still Champions After All These Years.”

Also present for the event were NDHS athletics director Howie Sompayrac; Robin Eiselstein, ’89; Melissa Geraci Loyd, ’92; Marites Erwin, ’91; Lori Gnaster Eiselstein, ’90; Lori Jenkins Brewster, ’92; and Kelly Swafford Simon, ’92. n

20 December 1, 2013

COURTESY OF BUD JACKSON

Notre Dame’s 1988 girls soccer state champs honored

OLPH and St. Jude schools combine to form Catholic Rams middle school football team Students from Our Lady of Perpetual Help and St. Jude schools in Chattanooga joined forces to form the Catholic Rams middle school football team this past fall. The inaugural season was a success as the team won the Choo Choo Bowl and finished with a winning record. Coach Billy Dearing said that “our conference keeps adding larger schools. For safety and competitive reasons, joining together worked out great. The boys really embraced the concept, and team camaraderie couldn’t have been better.” The name “Catholic” was a natural, said coach Bucky Dearing. “Every member of the team, from the coaches to the water girls, is Catholic. It was a memorable first season.” He added, “We look forward to watching these guys on Friday nights as they continue to play together at Notre Dame High School.” The Catholic Rams had many team leaders and accomplishments, including Alex Spraker of St. Jude, who amassed 1,260 rushing yards and scored more than 100 points, and Sam Stovall of OLPH, who anchored the line.

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

dioknox.org

Typhoon continued from page 7 The devastation in Tacloban almost defies description.

“It was like there was a war when the bomb was dropped and everything was flattened,” Father Sescon said. “Along the way, you find dead

bodies. It’s stinking already for two days, and no houses have stood up, and people are walking like they were zombies because they don’t know where to go.

“Money’s not useful anymore because there are no stores—nothing to

buy. They want food, so they’re scavenging food from the destroyed stores and everything. My sister’s house is full of mud. The stores are also are full of mud. They were scavenging for food underneath the mud—that’s how terrible it is.”

Father Sescon is glad that U.S. bishops have authorized a special collection for typhoon victims that were taken up either on the weekend of Nov. 16-17 or Nov. 30-Dec. 1.

“The church helping us—that would be a wonderful idea,” he said. n

Anniversary continued from page 6

by Pope Francis to the parish. Father Kuzhupil then gave Bishop Stika two baseball caps, one from each World Series opponent this year: St. Louis and Boston. The bishop’s beloved Cardinals lost to the Red Sox in the Series. When presented with the Boston cap, Bishop

Stika joked about getting a “new pastor” for the parish.

Also during the program, parish council chair Mary Bach thanked former pastors Father Iorio and Father Patrick Brownell and Father Kuzhupil for their efforts in planning and developing the education-wing project.

“The new wing has been a long time in coming as most of us know, and our former pastors can attest to that too,” Mrs. Bach said.

She also thanked architect Thomas Johnson and project manager Marvin Cornelison and project superintendent Charlie Sterchi, both of Raines Brothers, the contractor. Mrs. Bach also expressed gratitude to John Carlson, the columbarium committee for the execution of the Stations, and Stations architect Pat Neuhoff.

“The St. Augustine building committee has worked tirelessly over years and made this happen, and so many people in this room and outside of this room have helped in getting the new education and multipurpose wing to its almost complete state—we’re almost there,” Mrs. Bach said.

Anniversary-committee chair Mike St. Charles introduced a video that summarized the history of the parish.

He also introduced several St. Augustine youth who came forward to “share with us their vision for the future of the parish.”

Former pastors Father Anietie Akata and Father Paul Hostettler sent their thanks to the parish, and Monsignor Al

Humbrecht sent a video greeting.

The parish’s anniversary celebration began on Nov. 1 with an All Saints Day Mass, followed by a talk by Sister Mary Timothea Elliott, RSM, who discussed the topic “Called to Be Saints: The Universal Call to Holiness.”

Sister Mary Timothea is director

of the diocesan Office of Christian Formation.

The parish held an All Souls Day Mass Nov. 2, followed by a prayer service at the parish’s columbarium.

Sister Mary Timothea then led a discussion on “Intentional Discipleship: The Work of the Parish.”n

“The reason I had him stand up is because I had a vision that one of you boys would be just like him,” the bishop said. “Or you girls—you see we have this whole front row of sisters from different communities.

You could end up being like one of them, or the Alexian Brothers, who for centuries have been taking care of the needs of people, especially in illness and in age.

“My vision, my hope, is that this parish, the grace of God and his invitation might touch your minds and your life, and I’d invite you to consider becoming a priest or religious. Whatever it is, I hope you pray. And that you pray for God’s guidance that for whatever you choose in your life, it might make you happy, but that it would also make you a stronger person in your faith.”

During the blessing of the Stations, Bishop Stika recognized young parishioner John Carlson. John is an Eagle Scout, and the outdoor Stations were his Eagle project.

“This is a perfect example of someone getting involved in the church, in the parish—having a great idea and then working together to build this great place of prayer to honor those who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith,” Bishop Stika said.

“Let’s remember that these Stations of the Cross remind us that Jesus died for us.”

The bishop let John wear his zucchetto as he recognized him.

“John, I want to thank you. You don’t get to keep the hat, though,” Bishop Stika said.

In a program in the parish hall after the dedications, Bishop Stika helped unveil an apostolic blessing given The East Tennessee Catholic

Help Save Lives from March 5 – April 13, 2014

40 Days for Life: a peaceful, prayerful witness for life…

March 5 – April 13, 2014 7am – 7pm Planned Parenthood (710 N. Cherry St. Knoxville TN) Contact Paul Simoneau 584‐3307 or Lisa Morris 865‐567‐1245 email: information@40daysknoxville.com

www.40daysforlife.com/Knoxville

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

December 1, 2013 21

Bishop Stika, Cardinal Rigali taking part in papal canonization pilgrimage

B

ishop Richard F. Stika and Cardinal Justin Rigali are encouraging Diocese of Knoxville parishioners interested in witnessing the canonization of Popes John Paul II and John XXIII to join a pilgrimage to Rome next spring and be a part of this historic event.

Bishop Stika and Cardinal Rigali will take part in the nine-day pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi, Italy.

Recognizing that Blessed John

XXIII and John Paul II have impeccable reputations for holiness and that years of studying their lives and actions have proven their exceptional virtue, Pope Francis announced Sept. 30 that he would declare his two predecessors saints at a ceremony on April 27, which is Divine Mercy Sunday. Blessed John Paul served as pope from 1978 to 2005 and was beatified by Pope Benedict XVI on Divine Mercy Sunday, May

1, 2011. Blessed John XXIII, who was pope from 1958 to 1963, was beatified by Blessed John Paul in 2000.

The pilgrimage, sponsored by Select International Tours & Cruises, is April 21-29 and will cost $3,795 per person, including roundtrip transportation from Knoxville on US Air. During the pilgrimage, Bishop Stika and Cardinal Rigali will celebrate Mass in Rome for those on the pilgrimage.

Susan Prendergast of Select International said space on the trip is “extremely limited,” so registration now is important. For more information about the pilgrimage, contact her at 800-842-4842 or e-mail her at susan@ select-intl.com. Also for information about Select International or the pilgrimage, go to the company’s website, www.selectinternational tours.com. Space is limited, so early registration is urged. n

22 December 1, 2013

DAN MCWILLIAMS

Divine Mercy continued from page 1

in a special way as we celebrate with our Vietnamese sisters and brothers, this very special moment in the life of this diocese,” Bishop Stika said, “in the life of the church within the life of a family that has suffered so greatly throughout the centuries but comes together in hope, and joy, and gratitude to almighty God.” In his homily the bishop stated that a relic of St. Faustina Kowalska, who is venerated as the Apostle of Divine Mercy, was on its way to the new church.

“For St. Faustina reminds us to trust in Jesus—‘Jesus, I trust in you,’” said Bishop Stika, who wore during the Mass a ring that belonged to St. John Neumann. “For over 20 years this community has done just that, until it has brought us to this time and place to celebrate faith and to celebrate family.”

During Mass, Divine Mercy chaplain Father Hoan Dinh thanked the Catholic Foundation of East Tennessee, which made a $250,000 grant to the mission to help it purchase the property that the Church of Divine Mercy stands on. He also thanked the bishop, deacons, sisters, benefactors, and all of the visitors and parishioners for their attendance.

“This shows how much love we have received from you all, and we so much appreciate it from the bottom of our hearts,” said Father

With these gifts Bishop Richard F. Stika receives the gifts for Mass from Church of Divine Mercy parishioners (left to right) Kim Trang Do, Canh Quang Pham, Anh Quynh Ngo, and Bao Gia Do.

Hoan, who later handed the keys to the church to Bishop Stika.

The Mass saw the bishop anoint walls in four places in the church and anoint and incense the altar, which was then dressed and lighted so that the Liturgy of the Eucharist could begin.

The Vietnamese Catholic community held its first Mass in the new church on Sept. 1, and members have been working in their spare time to prepare the church for its dedication.

The diocese acquired the former Northstar Church building in Sep-

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

tember after Northstar relocated to a church facility at 9929 Sherrill Blvd.

Father Hoan said Divine Mercy members have been doing renovations at night and on weekends to transform the building into a Catholic church in preparation for the dioknox.org

Funeral Mass held at Holy Cross Church for Father Jay M. Flaherty

A

funeral Mass for Father Jay M. Flaherty was held Oct. 10 at Holy Cross Church in Pigeon Forge. He was the founding pastor of Holy Cross.

Father Flaherty died Oct. 5 in Nashville following an extended illness. He was 66.

The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated by Bishop Richard F. Stika on Oct. 10 at Holy Cross Church. Father Dan Whitman, pastor of Holy Trinity Church in Jefferson City, gave the homily.

P riests from the Diocese of Knoxville and visiting priests concelebrated the Mass.

A rosary Father Jay M. Flaherty for Father Flaherty was prayed on Oct. 9 at Atchley Funeral Home in Sevierville. He

was buried at Smoky Mountain Memory Gardens in Pigeon Forge.

Father Flaherty was named the first pastor of Holy Cross Parish in 1993, shortly after joining the Diocese of Knoxville, and served in that position until 2011.

He joined the Diocese of Knoxville in 1992.

He was ordained a priest on May 11, 1985, at the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Nashville.

He served as a priest in the Diocese of Nashville, first as an as-

sociate at the cathedral in 1985 and then as an associate at St. Henry Church in Nashville from 1987-1989. He also served as an associate at Immaculate Conception Church in Clarksville from 1985-1987.

He was appointed pastor of Holy Trinity Church in Hohenwald, Tenn., and also served as pastor of St. Cecilia Church in Waynesboro, Tenn., and at Christ the Redeemer Church in Centerville, Tenn. n

dedication. The Carmichael Road property includes a house that will serve as the Church of Divine Mercy rectory.

Bishop Stika complimented parishioners for their late-night labors.

“It is amazing what can occur in a church in just a couple of months,” he said. “Since September, right around Labor Day, when the diocese and when this parish community took possession of this church, it seems like they’ve been working until 2 or 3 o’clock in the morning to make this place an acceptable place of worship for the church, and also the hall that is in the building behind us.

“So in the name of all your brothers and sisters in the Diocese of Knoxville, to all of those in the community of Divine Mercy, I give to you my congratulations and support.”

Divine Mercy now has incurred something that makes it akin to many diocesan parishes.

“Not only does the parish community now have an appropriate place of worship, you also have a debt. Welcome to the Catholic Church,” the bishop said.

As a young priest in 1988, Bishop Stika attended the canonization in Rome of 118 Vietnamese martyrs.

“Now these many years later as the bishop of the Diocese of Knoxville, I’m privileged in dedicating this church of Divine Mercy in some ways dedicated to that same person who canonized those saints so long ago: Blessed John Paul, who is known as the Pope of Divine Mercy as he elevated St. Faustina to the dignity of canonization.”

Bishop Stika said that many throughout Church history have had the gift of hope, “but especially the Vietnamese people, who have suffered so much throughout these centuries, especially in the 20th century when all they wished for was the gift of freedom, but without the gift of freedom, they also lived lives of great danger because they wanted to believe in the name of Jesus and his invitation to the gift of hope.”

The bishop said that “as I anoint the walls of this church, as we dedicate this altar of sacrifice to almighty God, we pray that this community may continually grow and celebrate its gift to the world, a unique gift, a special gift, a gift of their own culture.”

Bishop Stika offered congratulations to Divine Mercy “in the name of all the churches of the Diocese of Knoxville…at this special moment in your history.”

“We pray especially this day for the intercession of St. Faustina, a great woman who bore the message of Divine Mercy,” he said.

“We pray for the intercession of Blessed John Paul, the pope of Divine Mercy, who created this diocese. Together with the pope and the saints and with the angels, we all praise God for the gift that he has given to us: the gift of Jesus, for indeed, Jesus, we have continued to trust in you.”

Father Hoan said the Vietnamese mission has been steadily growing to the point a permanent church to hold Masses was needed. The Vietnamese Catholic community began forming in Knoxville in the early 1990s and by the mid-1990s was gathering for Masses. The dioceses of Memphis and Lexington, Ky., for years dispatched Vietnamese priests each month to Knoxville to lead Mass for the community.

As the community grew, Bishop Stika recognized the need for a permanent priestly presence for it, and in June 2012 announced that Father Hoan would become chaplain for the community. At that time he also announced the community would become Divine Mercy Catholic Mission.

Divine Mercy Catholic Mission now has nearly 400 members.

Masses at the Church of Divine Mercy are held each Sunday at 9 a.m. and weekdays at 8:30 a.m.

The mission’s website is www. divinemercyknox.org.

“Every time we build a new church or open a new parish or a mission, it just brings more beauty to the church we call the Diocese of Knoxville,” Bishop Stika said.

“From parishes that have been around for a long time, like Immaculate Conception, to our newest mission, every parish is vital and is just as important as any other parish no matter what your size or where your location.

“We’re all people of God, and that’s a blessing that you give to all of us. You’ve given us two blessings: for one, your community, but also you’ve got a beautiful, wonderful priest who’s going to lead you, so I just want to thank you.”

Father Hoan said that “we’ve been waiting for a long time” for a building Divine Mercy could call its own.

“We needed a place where can have the best Mass times, especially where we can celebrate the liturgy in our culture, in our language; and we could have many other activities like teaching Vietnamese and catechism in Vietnamese,” he said. n

The East Tennessee Catholic

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

December 1, 2013 23

Christ the King, Tazewell Sunday noon Church of Divine Mercy, Knoxville (Vietnamese) Sunday 9 a.m.

OLPH, LaFollette Sunday 9:30 a.m.

St. Alphonsus, Crossville Saturday 5 p.m. (CT); Sunday 8:30, 11 a.m.; 1st Sunday 6 p.m.(Spanish) St. Ann, Lancing Sunday 8:30 a.m.

Bl. John XXIII, Knoxville Saturday, 5:30 p.m.

Sunday 9, 11:15 a.m.; 8 p.m.

Holy Cross, Pigeon Forge Saturday 5 p.m.; Sunday 8, 10:30 a.m.; 6 p.m.(Spanish) Holy Family, Seymour Saturday 5:30 p.m.; Sunday 8, 10:30 a.m.

Holy Resurrection Mission 9:30 a.m. (Ruthenian Rite)

Our Lady of Fatima, Alcoa Saturday 5, 7 p.m.(Spanish); Sunday 8:30, 11 a.m.

Sacred Heart Cathedral Saturday 5 p.m.; Sunday 7:30, 9, 11 a.m.; 1 p.m. (Spanish)

St. Joseph, Norris

Sunday 9 a.m., 7 p.m. (Spanish)

St. Jude, Helenwood Saturday 5:30 p.m.

St. Mary, Oak Ridge Saturday 5:30 p.m.

Sunday 8, 10 a.m.; noon 2 p.m. (Spanish) St. Therese, Clinton Saturday 5 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m.

St. Thomas the Apostle, Lenoir City Saturday 5, 7 p.m. (Spanish); Sunday 9, 11:30 a.m.

Holy Ghost, Knoxville Saturday 7 p.m. (Spanish); Sunday 7, 8:30, 10, 11:30 a.m.; 6 p.m.; 1:30 p.m.

(Latin)

Immaculate Conception, Knoxville Saturday 6 p.m.; Sunday 8:30, 10, 11:30 a.m.

St. Albert the Great, Knoxville Saturday 5 p.m.; Sunday 9, 11 a.m.

St. Thomas Byzantine Mission, Knoxville Sunday 10 a.m.

St. Joseph the Worker, Madisonville Sunday 8, 10 a.m.; 12:30 p.m. (Spanish); 2nd, 4th, St. Francis of Assisi,Townsend 5th Sunday 3 p.m. (Latin) Saturday 4 p.m.; Sunday 9, 11 a.m. (Latin) St. Mary, Gatlinburg Saturday 7 p.m.; Sunday 9, 11 a.m.

24 December 1, 2013

Holy Trinity, Jefferson City Saturday 5 p.m.; Sunday 10:30 a.m.

Five Rivers Deanery

All Saints, Knoxville St. Christopher, Jamestown Saturday 5, 7 p.m. (Spanish); Saturday 6:30 p.m. (CT) Sunday 8:15, 10, 11:45 a.m.

St. Francis of Assisi, Fairfield Blessed Sacrament, Harriman Glade Saturday 5 p.m.; Saturday 5 p.m.; Sunday 8, 10 a.m. (CT) Sunday 10:30 a.m.

St. John Neumann, Farragut Bl. Teresa of Calcutta Mission, Saturday 4:30 p.m.; Sunday Maynardville 8:30, 10:30 a.m.; 6 p.m.

Sunday 9, 11 a.m. (Spanish)

Notre Dame, Greeneville Saturday 5 p.m.; Sunday 8, 11 a.m.; 3 p.m. (Spanish) St. Elizabeth, Elizabethton Saturday 5 p.m.; Sunday 9 a.m.

St. James the Apostle, Sneedville Sunday 12:30 p.m.

St. Mary, Johnson City Saturday 5 p.m.; Sunday 8, 10 a.m.; noon (Spanish) St. Michael the Archangel Mission, Erwin Sunday 10 a.m.

Bl. John Paul II Mission, Rutledge Saturday 5 p.m.; Sunday 5 p.m. (Spanish) Good Shepherd, Newport Sunday 8:30 a.m.

St. Anthony of Padua, Mountain City Sunday 11 a.m.

St. Dominic, Kingsport Saturday 5:30 p.m.; Sunday 8, 9:30, 11 a.m. (Spanish); 12:30 p.m.

St. Henry, Rogersville Sunday 9 a.m.

St. Patrick, Morristown Saturday 5 p.m.; Sunday 9, 11:30 a.m.; 5:30 p.m. (Spanish)

Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul

Holy Spirit, Soddy-Daisy Saturday 5:30 p.m.; Sunday 8, 10:30 a.m.

Our Lady of Lourdes, South Pittsburg Saturday 5:30 p.m.(CT); Sunday 10:30 a.m.

Shepherd of the Valley, Dunlap Sunday 8 a.m. (CT); Thursday 6:30 p.m.

(Spanish)

Saturday 5:30 p.m.; Sunday 9, 11:30 a.m.; 1:30 p.m. (Spanish)

Chattanooga Deanery

Cumberland Mtn. Deanery

Smoky Mountain Deanery

Diocese of Knoxville Mass Times

OLPH, Chattanooga St. Augustine, Signal Mountain Saturday 5:30 p.m.

Saturday 5:30 p.m.; Sunday 7:30, 10 a.m.; noon, Sunday 10:30 a.m.

2 p.m. (Spanish); 2nd St. Bridget, Dayton Sunday 4 p.m. (Korean) Saturday 5:30 p.m.; St. Catherine Labouré, Sunday 10 a.m.; 12:30 p.m.

Copperhill (Spanish) Saturday 5:30 p.m.; Sunday 9 a.m.; 6 p.m. (Spanish) St. Mary, Athens Saturday 5 p.m.; Sunday St. Jude, Chattanooga 10 a.m.; 1 p.m. (Spanish) Saturday 5:30, 7:30 p.m.

(Spanish); Sunday 8, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, 10:30 a.m.; 12:15, 5:30 p.m. Cleveland Saturday 6 p.m.; St. Stephen, Chattanooga Sunday 8 a.m. (Spanish) Saturday 5:30 p.m.; 9:30 a.m.; noon; 1st, 3rd Sunday 8:30, 11 a.m.

Sunday 3 p.m. (Latin)

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

dioknox.org

From Memphis to the Mountains, Putting Members First From Memphis to the Mountains our agents use their educational focus and professional training to enable our members and their families to better understand insurance and retirement planning products. We are helping Catholic families like yours put in place the proper products to insure life’s dreams happen no matter what. Contact your agent today to learn more about our services and solutions.

Help Your Community & Your Parish.

Join the Knights of Columbus.

Have you been asked to become a member of the Knights of Columbus? Consider yourself asked. The Knights of Columbus continues to answer the call to service that began in 1882. Contact your local agent to learn more.

To learn more, contact your East Tennessee Team member at 855-4TN-KofC or visit www.kofctnagency.com

Daniel Schachle General Agent

Stephen Regan Field Agent Chattanooga

Hank McCormick Field Agent Knoxville South & West

Kevin Van Dusen Field Agent Tri-Cities

Ron Henry Field Agent Knoxville North & East

LIFE INSURANCE • LONG-TERM CARE • ANNUITIES • DISABILITY • ESTATE PRESERVATION There is no more highly rated insurer in North America than the Knights of Columbus.

The East Tennessee Catholic

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

December 1, 2013 25

Living the readings

Weekday Readings

Watching the sun rise

Sunday, Dec. 1: Isaiah 2:1-5; Psalm 122:1-9; Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:37-44 Monday, Dec. 2: Isaiah 4:2-6; Psalm 122:1-9; Matthew 8:5-11 Tuesday, Dec. 3: Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17; Luke 10:21-24 Wednesday, Dec. 4: Isaiah 25:6-10; Psalm 23:1-6; Matthew 15:29-37 Thursday, Dec. 5: Isaiah 26:1-6; Psalm 118:1, 8-9, 19-21, 25-27; Matthew 7:21, 24-27 Friday, Dec. 6: Isaiah 29:17-24; Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14; Matthew 9:27-31 Saturday, Dec. 7: Isaiah 30:19-21, 23-26; Psalm 147:1-6; Matthew 9:35–10:1 and 10:5-8 Sunday, Dec. 8: Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17; Romans 15:4-9; Matthew 3:1-12 Monday, Dec. 9: Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Genesis 3:9-15, 20; Psalm 98:1-4; Ephesians 1:3-6, 1112; Luke 1:26-38 Tuesday, Dec. 10: Isaiah 40:1-11; Psalm 96:1-3, 10-13; Matthew 18:12-14 Wednesday, Dec. 11: Isaiah 40:2531; Psalm 103:1-4, 8, 10; Matthew 11:28-30 Thursday, Dec. 12: Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Zechariah 2:1417; Judith 13:18-19; Luke 1:26-38 Friday, Dec. 13: Isaiah 48:17-19; Psalm 1:1-4, 6; Matthew 11:16-19 Saturday, Dec. 14: Sirach 48:1-4, 9-11; Psalm 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19; Matthew 17:9-13 Sunday, Dec. 15: Isaiah 35:1-6, 10; Psalm 146:6-10; James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11 Monday, Dec. 16: Numbers 24:27, 15-17; Psalm 25:4-9; Matthew 21:23-27 Readings continued on page 27

26 December 1, 2013

by Father Joseph Brando

D

Christ’s constant presence gives light to the darkness

ecember is the darkest month of the year. Its first 20 days are a progression into ever longer nights until the 21st of December, when we experience in the Northern Hemisphere the longest day of darkness of the year.

The Church reacts to this natural phenomenon by turning on full blast the spiritual lights of our faith. Each month normally has four or five major liturgies depending on the number of Sundays in that month.

In December, the Church makes use of no less than 11 major liturgies.

There are the four Sundays of Advent to start with. There are two Marian feasts by means of which the Church presents the light of grace that God promised us from the beginning. Of course, there are four distinct and magnificent liturgies of Christmas.

And, finally, there is the feast of the Holy Family. All provide us divine light to overcome the lonely darkness of outer space filling our minds with fear.

Giving each one of these liturgies the attention they deserve would drive us well beyond the available space in this paper and the time you have to read. So, this article will focus on the four Sundays of Advent and how each of them demonstrates a different aspect of divine light dawning on the world. Then we’ll briefly describe some of the bright lights of the Christmas Day liturgies. But, first, we’ll begin with Mary, that constant star faithfully pointing us toward deeper relationship with her Son. Her two December feasts are monumental for us in the new world. The Immaculate Conception is the feast of the patroness of our beloved country.

Our Lady of Guadalupe is the feast of the Americas. In both of these feasts Mary is depicted as a true star. She is the bright light in a dark sky. As

Adam and Eve faced the gloom of living their lives stuck in sinfulness, God gave mankind the hope of a woman whose son would crush the serpent’s head, thus destroying the darkness that threatens man’s souls.

In the Gospel, we hear of Mary’s acceptance of that role as the virgin Mother of God. She becomes the most important Christmas star leading us constantly to her son, Jesus.

We celebrate one gigantic instance of Mary taking on her vocation of illuminating her Son in human history on the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. She comes in a robe of stars to a Native American. The readings of that day remind us of the sign in the Book of Revelation of the woman in the sky about to give birth. She is about to give birth to millions of new Christians throughout all the countries of the Western Hemisphere as she speaks endearingly to Juan Diego and opens his heart to the love of Christ.

These two Marian feasts provide us with enough light to make our way through a dark Earth to remain faithful until the dawn of the light of Christ at Christmas.

Now, let’s take a closer look at the four Sundays of Advent. In contrast to the darkness of December, these liturgies each present us with a different type of dawning. Our Messiah is coming. The light is getting stronger.

As the first rays of the sun trickle over the horizon, so, through Sunday liturgies of Advent, we will experience the dawning of peace, justice, hope, and salvation.

On the first Sunday of Advent, we experience the dawning of peace.

Isaiah raises our hope and expectation that peace is coming with the words engraved outside the United Nations headquarters, “they shall beat their swords into plowshares

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

and their spears into pruning hooks…one nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again….O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord.” One can feel true joy as our Lord comes to put an end to all mankind’s conflicts.

Paul tells us to “throw away the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.” That is to say, this dawn does not come to us from the sky; but from within ourselves. We become heralds of a new age as we repel the darkness of the world, wearing the armor of light. The world becomes ever brighter as our numbers increase.

The Gospel is from the 24th chapter of Matthew. This is where the evangelist begins Jesus’ teaching on the last times. People go about their ordinary routine. It is like immediately before dawn, when the sky becomes ever so slightly brighter that you can hardly notice. However, it is dawn and those who know it’s coming become aware and awaken to the light.

Others, in the words of the Gospel, “will have the thief come without notice and his house will be broken into.” The thief steals peace; one has to be prepared.

On the second Sunday of Advent, we experience the dawning of justice. Isaiah, again, sets the stage. “…

He shall judge the poor with justice and decide aright for the land’s afflicted…. Justice shall be the band upon his waist, and faithfulness a belt around his hips. Then the wolf shall be the guest of the lamb.” The dawn of justice will be a time when both sides of a conflict will feel the triumph of justice. And, the light will shine.

Paul continues this train of thought as he writes to the Romans, May the “God of endurance and encouragement grant you to think in harmony with one another….Welcome one another…as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” Paul reveals to us that such an act of welcoming makes the glory of God shine dioknox.org

brighter.

In the Gospel, Matthew takes us to the desert where John the Baptist prepares us to meet the dawn. For John, the key to justice is repentance. We must see things in an entirely different way and, thereby, produce good fruit.

On the third Sunday of Advent, we experience the dawning of hope.

Once again, Isaiah presents the theme.

“Strengthen the hands that are feeble, make firm the knees that are weak, say to those whose hearts are frightened: be strong, fear not.” The opposite of fear is hope. Isaiah prophesies that those the Lord will ransom “will leap like a stag…crowned with everlasting joy.”

St. James, in the second reading counsels his readers to “be patient until the coming of the Lord.” The hope that comes from patience cures a complaining attitude and makes our hearts firm and our voices able to speak in the name of the Lord.

Matthew’s Gospel takes us back to the last days of John the Baptist. Even in prison John continues to send his disciples to Jesus. He remains filled with hope as he continues his mission.

He commands them to ask Jesus if he is the one who is to come or not. Jesus tells them to see what he is doing.

Looking, they see for themselves that Jesus is doing the work of the Messiah.

The dawning of the Kingdom of God is, indeed, at hand.

On the fourth Sunday of Advent, we experience the dawning of salvation. For the fourth time Isaiah sets the scene. This time we are in the throne room of Ahaz, the king of Judah. Jerusalem is surrounded by an overwhelming enemy. Isaiah asks him to ask God for a sign. The king refuses. Still, Isaiah persists and gives him God’s sign, “the virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel.” God is with us! Salvation is at hand. With the greatest army in the world ready to attack, salvation comes to Israel. The enemy did retreat. It was not because of those defending Jerusalem; but because the Lord saved them.

St. Paul identifies this salvation with The East Tennessee Catholic

We are redeemed and comforted and saved. We have nothing left to do but rejoice, sing, and shout for joy. Darkness is no more.

Jesus Christ, who was established as the Son of God in power through his resurrection from the dead. Then, Paul addresses his readers in Rome as “the beloved of God called to be holy and called to belong to Jesus Christ.” There is the sound of joy in Paul’s letter. It is the joy of salvation dawning. Christ is near!

As one should expect for the last Sunday Gospel before Christmas, the Gospel is the story of Joseph receiving the message from an angel that Mary is to be the mother of Jesus, who “will save his people from their sins.” Jesus is the savior. The dawning of salvation is at hand. Despite the darkness and despite the evil into which humanity has fallen, the Son of God has come and the world is covered in light. The dawn has come!

Now we come to the four Masses of Christmas, namely the vigil Mass, midnight Mass, the Mass at dawn and the Mass during the day. Today, for the people of faith, darkness turns out to have been an illusion. The true reality is the brightness of the Son of God, born for us. He is our peace, our justice, our hope, and our salvation.

Advent has proven true. The light is alive within us. All is bright.

As it was for Advent, the vigil Mass of Christmas begins with Isaiah proclaiming we are no more “forsaken” but “espoused.” We are the bride of Christ. Paul preaches in Antioch the good news that God has brought to Israel a Savior. The Gospel relates the genealogy of Jesus showing he was coming all this time. God has been with us.

There was indeed a light dawning in this world.

The Mass during the night again begins with Isaiah proclaiming, “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.” Therefore, we can now be eternally joyful. We have good news to share. “A child has been born

to us; upon his shoulder dominion rests.” True peace has come. St. Paul translates these concepts into New Testament language, “the grace of God has appeared.” And the Gospel of Luke recalls the announcement of the birth of our Savior to the shepherds by angels. Forever, the glory of the Lord shall shine.

The Mass at dawn begins with Isaiah telling us the Lord God proclaims that our Savior comes! The people are redeemed. Paul, again, translates that into “Christian,” telling us that we have been justified by faith “through the bath of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit whom he richly poured out on us through Jesus Christ, our Savior.” Luke’s Gospel follows the shepherds on Christmas night. They find the child and make known to Joseph and Mary what the angels told them about Jesus. “Then the shepherds returned glorifying and praising God.” So should we in the glory of the new day.”

Finally, we come to the Mass during the day. Wouldn’t you be disappointed if it didn’t begin with a passage from Isaiah? Sure enough, the prophetic eyes of Isaiah see the glory of the Lord.

Accordingly, he accurately tells us to listen to the good news.

We are redeemed and comforted and saved. We have nothing left to do but rejoice, sing, and shout for joy.

Darkness is no more. Then comes the Letter to the Hebrews reminding us that God’s Word is now complete because now it comes directly from the Son of God. Christ is now at the right hand of the Father. Salvation is complete. And, finally, the mighty prologue of John’s Gospel comes to put the final touch to the Liturgy of the Word for Christmas. “And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth.”

May you all have a bright Christmas! n Father Brando is the pastor of St. Mary Parish in Gatlinburg.

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

Readings continued from page 22 Tuesday, Dec. 17: Genesis 49:2, 8-10; Psalm 72:1-4, 7-8, 17; Matthew 1:1-17 Wednesday, Dec. 18: Jeremiah 23:58; Psalm 72:1-2, 12-13, 18-19; Matthew 1:18-25 Thursday, Dec. 19: Judges 13:2-7, 24-25; Psalm 71:3-6, 16-17; Luke 1:5-25 Friday, Dec. 20: Isaiah 7:10-14; Psalm 24:1-6; Luke 1:26-38 Saturday, Dec. 21: Song of Songs 2:8-14; Psalm 33:2-3, 11-12, 20-21; Luke 1:39-45 Sunday, Dec. 22: Isaiah 7:10-14; Psalm 24:1-6; Romans 1:1-7; Matthew 1:18-24 Monday, Dec. 23: Malachi 3:1-4, 23-24; Psalm 25:4-5, 8-10, 14; Luke 1:57-66 Tuesday, Dec. 24: 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8-12, 14, 16; Psalm 89:2-5, 27, 29; Luke 1:67-79; Solemnity, Vigil of the Nativity of the Lord, Isaiah 62:1-5; Psalm 89:4-5, 16-17, 27, 29; Acts 13:16-17, 22-25; Matthew 1:1-25 Wednesday, Dec. 25: Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas Day): (midnight) Isaiah 9:1-6; Psalm 96:1-3, 11-13; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-14; (dawn) Isaiah 62:11-12; Psalm 97:1, 6, 11-12; Titus 3:4-7; Luke 2:1520; (day) Isaiah 52:7-10; Psalm 98:16; Hebrews 1:1-6; John 1:1-18 Thursday, Dec. 26: Acts 6:8-10 and 7:54-59; Psalm 31:3-4, 6, 8, 16-17; Matthew 10:17-22 Friday, Dec. 27: 1 John 1:1-4; Psalm 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12; John 20:1-8 Saturday, Dec. 28: 1 John 1:5–2:2; Psalm 124:2-5, 7-8; Matthew 2:13-18 Sunday, Dec. 29: Sirach 3:2-6, 1214; Psalm 128:1-5; Colossians 3:1221; Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23 Monday, Dec. 30: 1 John 2:12-17; Psalm 96:7-10; Luke 2:36-40 Tuesday, Dec. 31: 1 John 2:18-21; Psalm 96:1-2, 11-13; John 1:1-18 n

December 1, 2013 27

Advent penance services scheduled Here is a list of remaining Advent penance services around the Diocese of Knoxville: Chattanooga Deanery 7 p.m. EST, except as noted.

Dec. 2–St. Augustine, Signal Mountain; Dec. 4–St. Mary, Athens, 6:30 p.m.; Dec. 5–Notre Dame High School, 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.; Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Chattanooga, 6 p.m.; St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Cleveland; Dec. 10–St. Jude, Chattanooga; Dec. 11–St. Mary, Athens, 6:30 p.m.; Holy Spirit, Soddy-Daisy; Dec. 16–St. Stephen, Chattanooga; Dec. 17–Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul, Chattanooga, 5:30 p.m.; Dec. 18–St. Mary, Athens, 6:30 p.m.; St. Bridget, Dayton, 6:30 p.m.; Shepherd of the Valley, Dunlap, TBD; Our Lady of Lourdes, South Pittsburg, TBD; St. Catherine Labouré, Copperhill, TBD Cumberland Mountain Deanery 7 p.m. EST, except as noted.

Dec. 4–Blessed Sacrament, Harriman; Dec. 5–Our Lady of Perpetual Help, LaFollette; All Saints, Knoxville; Dec. 10–St. John Neumann, Farragut; Dec. 11–St. Joseph, Norris and St. Therese, Clinton, at St. Therese; Dec. 12–Christ the King, Tazewell; Dec. 16–St. Ann, Lancing; Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, Maynardville, 6 p.m.; Dec. 17– St. Christopher, Jamestown, 7:30 p.m. (CST); St. Alphonsus, Crossville, 6 p.m. (CST); Dec. 18–St. Mary, Oak Ridge; Dec. 19–St. Francis of Assisi, Fairfield Glade, 6 p.m. (CST) Five Rivers Deanery 7 p.m., except as noted. Dec. 4–St. Elizabeth, Elizabethton; Dec. 5–St. Mary, Johnson City;

Penance continued on page 29

28 December 1, 2013

Marriage enrichment

by Marian Christiana

Looking forward to a Synod of Bishops Special assembly meeting in October 2014 to focus on the pastoral care of the family

P

ope Francis in early October called for a Synod of Bishops to gather in Rome in October 2014. A Synod of Bishops consists of an assembly of bishops chosen from different regions around the world who will meet to consider questions and areas of focus that have been specifically identified by the Holy Father.

This synod called for by Pope Francis will focus on the pastoral care of the family and the pastoral challenges faced with regard to the evangelization of the family. I am very excited about this historic event because the outcome of this synod will have a direct effect on the pastoral care of individuals within the family context. As a result of this outcome, ministering to engaged and married couples will also be enriched.

In my online column last month, I discussed how the Catholic Church considers the family to be the “domestic church” and it is in our “domestic churches” that we first learn about God. The Synod of Bishops will consider how society is impact-

ing our “domestic churches” and the best way to aid families in their faith journey. You don’t have to wait until the Synod of Bishops has ended to begin to strengthen your own “domestic church.”

Many of the everyday activities It might come as a shock to some family members that Jesus is present even at your family meals. This realization might help curtail some bad behavior at the dinner table! we are already doing in our homes can strengthen our faith and the faith of our children. We need to make an intentional connection between our home life and our faith life. One example to consider is the similarities of your family dinner to the holy meal of the Eucharist as celebrated during Mass. At your next meal together discuss their similarities.

Some shared characteristics are both meals are communal and both meals require sacrifice. Family meals require sacrifices of time (we all sit down and take time to be

together) and money (grocery costs continue to rise), while the holy meal at Mass requires the ultimate sacrifice, that of Jesus on the cross.

The most important shared characteristic between the family meal and the Eucharist is that in both circumstances Jesus is present.

It might come as a shock to some family members that Jesus is present even at your family meals. This realization might help curtail some bad behavior at the dinner table!

Now, with Pope Francis and the Synod of Bishops focusing on the challenges of family life, it is exciting to anticipate that our own diocese may ultimately have new and innovative ways to support families.

It also may help us realize even more clearly that within our everyday lives, and maybe even more importantly within the sanctity of our homes, Christ always is with us. n Mrs. Christiana is coordinator of the diocesan Marriage Preparation and Enrichment Office.

World embraces simple hug by Pope Francis VATICAN CITY (CNS) — For someone who has frequently been shunned and humiliated because of a disease that has severely disfigured his entire body, receiving the pope’s loving embrace was like being in paradise.

Vinicio Riva, who is afflicted with neurofibromatosis, said his brief encounter with Pope Francis Nov. 6 at a general audience in St. Peter’s Square “seemed like forever.”

Images of the pope kissing and embracing the Italian man made headlines, but his identity and background weren’t known until two Italian news outlets found and interviewed him.

“My heart was bursting,” he said.

When the pope hugged him tight, “I felt like I was in paradise.”

Riva, 53, lives in a small village near Vicenza in northern Italy with his younger sister Morena Riva, who has the same genetic disorder, and their aunt, Caterina Lotto, who cares for them. The siblings’ late mother also suffered from the disease, which is typically hereditary.

Riva told the Italian magazine Panorama Nov. 18 that what struck him most was the pope didn’t hesitate.

“I’m not contagious, but (the pope) didn’t know that. But he did it, period:

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

He caressed my whole face and while he was doing it, I felt only love,” he said.

“First, I kissed his hand, while he caressed my head and wounds with his other hand,” Riva explained.

“Then he pulled me toward him, hugging me tight and kissing my face.

My head was against his chest and his arms were wrapped around me. He held me so tightly, cuddling me, and he didn’t let go. I tried to speak, to say something, but I wasn’t able to: I was too choked up. It lasted just a little more than a minute, but, for me, it seemed like forever,” he said. n dioknox.org

Understanding the sacraments

by Father Randy Stice

Penance continued from page 28

Sacred art and furnishings

I

Unity, not uniformity, is the Church’s criterion in identifying sacred creations that praise God

n my last column I interrupted my series on the Second Vatican Council’s Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy to talk about the cathedral church of a diocese, summarizing the discussion found in the Ceremonial of Bishops. This month I would like to return to the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy and discuss the concluding chapter, “Sacred Art and Sacred Furnishings.”

The Constitution begins its discussion on sacred art by explaining the relationship between sacred art and beauty, specifically the beauty of God. All of the sacred arts “are oriented toward the infinite beauty of God, which they attempt in some way to portray by the work of human hands.” Their purpose is to give praise and glory to God, a purpose they achieve to the extent they succeed in “turning men’s minds devoutly toward God” (n. 122).

This means, continues the Constitution, that “all things set apart for use in divine worship should be truly worthy, becoming, and beautiful, signs and symbols of the supernatural world” (n. 122).

To fully appreciate what the Second Vatican Council fathers are saying here, we need to understand what the Church means when she speaks of signs and symbols. In -everyday life, signs are pointers or indicators—a hospital sign, for example, indicates the location of a nearby hospital, but it does not “contain” the hospital.

However, when the Church speaks of signs and symbols in connection with the liturgy, she means something different. Liturgical signs and symbols are “bearers of the saving sanctifying action of Christ” (CCC, 1189). This is why Blessed John Paul II spoke of passing from the liturgy’s The East Tennessee Catholic

“signs to the mystery which they contain” (Stay With Us Lord, n. 17).

Thus, when the Constitution says that all things used in divine worship should be “signs and symbols of the supernatural world,” it is describing an important dimension of the lit“Let great care be taken that [churches] be suitable for the celebration of liturgical services and for the active participation of the faithful.” urgy—the participation of the earthly liturgy in the heavenly liturgy.

This is how the Constitution describes this participation: “In the earthly liturgy we take part in a foretaste of that heavenly liturgy celebrated in the holy city of Jerusalem toward which we journey as pilgrims, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God, a minister of the holies and of the true tabernacle; we sing a hymn to the Lord’s glory with the whole company of heaven” (n. 8).

Thus, if the earthly liturgy is a participation in the heavenly liturgy, and the things used in the earthly liturgy should be “signs and symbols of the supernatural world,” then the church building itself as well as its art and furnishings are part of the liturgy and are bearers of the divine life that is communicated to us in the liturgy.

Sacred art and sacred furnishings are one of the ways that God manifests his presence and saving power to us in the liturgy.

The Constitution also addresses the question of art and architectural style. “The Church has not adopted any particular style of art as her very own; she has admitted styles from every period according to the natural talents and circumstances of peoples, and the needs of the various rites” (123). She has no inherent preference

for the Renaissance or Gothic or Baroque style.

The reference here to “the natural talents and circumstances of peoples” recalls a general principle of reform: “the Church has no wish to impose a rigid uniformity in matters which do not implicate the faith or the good of the whole community; rather does she respect and foster the genius and talents of the various races and peoples” (37). Indeed, she is willing to admit elements from the culture “into the liturgy itself, so long as they harmonize with its true and authentic spirit” (37). Unity, not uniformity, is the Church’s criterion.

Finally, the Church also welcomes the work of contemporary artists.

“The art of our own days, coming from every race and region, shall also be given free scope in the Church, provided that it adorns the sacred buildings and holy rites with due reverence and honor; thereby it is enabled to contribute its own voice to that wonderful chorus of praise in honor of the Catholic faith sung by great men in times gone by” (123).

The Constitution also addresses the building of new churches: “let great care be taken that they be suitable for the celebration of liturgical services and for the active participation of the faithful” (127). In its reform of the liturgy, these are two great concerns: respect for the nature and dignity of the sacred liturgy, and full, conscious and active participation of the faithful. Only thus can we ensure the two purposes of the liturgy: the glorification of God and the sanctification of His people. n Father Randy Stice is pastor of St. Mary Parish in Athens and is director of the Office of Worship and Liturgy. He may be reached at frrandy@dioknox.org.

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

Dec. 9–St. Patrick, Morristown; Church of the Good Shepherd, Newport; St. Michael the Archangel, Erwin; Dec. 10–St. Henry, Rogersville, 6 p.m.; Dec. 11– Holy Trinity, Jefferson City; Dec. 16–St. Dominic, Kingsport; Dec. 17–Blessed John Paul II; Dec. 20–Notre Dame, Greeneville Smoky Mountain Deanery 7 p.m. Dec. 3—St. Albert the Great, Dec. 2–Blessed John XXIII, Knoxville, 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 5–St. Mary, Gatlinburg; Dec. 10– Cathedral of the Sacred Heart; Dec. 11–Holy Family, Seymour; Dec. 16–Holy Ghost, Knoxville, and Immaculate Conception, Knoxville, at Holy Ghost; Dec. 17–Holy Cross, Pigeon Forge; Dec. 19–St. Joseph the Worker, Madisonville n

Funeral Mass held in Nashville for Sister Mary Ethel Raulston Sister Mary Ethel Raulston, RSM, 83, who once served at Knoxville Catholic High School, died Thursday, Nov. 7, at Mercy Convent in Nashville.

A Sister of Mercy for 59 years, Sister Ethel ministered in institutions of secondary and higher education in Cincinnati, Knoxville, and Nashville, including KCHS from 1975 to 1979, in the areas of modern languages, counseling, and religion.

After retiring from education, she worked in the business office at Mercy Convent.

Sister Ethel was born June 27, 1930, in Johnson City. She received a bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University and a master’s degree from The Catholic University in Washington, D.C. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ethel and Martin.

The funeral Mass took

Sister continued on page 30 December 1, 2013 29

Once upon a time

Sister continued from page 29

place Nov. 11 at Mercy Convent, with burial following in Calvary Cemetery in Nashville. n

Sister Helen Sherrard dies at age 87

Sister Helen Sherrard, BVM (Agneselle), died Oct. 21 at Marian Hall in Dubuque, Iowa. She was 87.

In the Diocese of Knoxville, Sister Helen was a librarian, parish minister and volunteer at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Chattanooga from 1982 to 2003.

She also taught elementary school and was superior/principal in Wichita, Kan.; Pasadena, Calif.; and in Cedar Falls, Clinton, Iowa City, Davenport, Dubuque and Tama in Iowa. She is buried in the Mount Carmel cemetery in Dubuque.

Born Dec. 17, 1925, she entered the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary congregation from Sacred Heart Parish in Boone, Iowa, on Sept. 8, 1943. She professed first vows on March 19, 1946, and final vows on Aug. 15, 1951.

Memorials may be given to the Sisters of Charity, BVM Support Fund, 1100 Carmel Drive, Dubuque, Iowa 52003, or online at www.bvmcong.org/ whatsnew_obits.cfm. n

Virtus training sites n Our

Lady of Perpetual Help, Chattanooga, 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 2 n St. Mary, Johnson City, 6 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 5 n Blessed Sacrament, Harriman, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5 n Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul, Chattanooga, Monday, Dec. 9 n St. Dominic, Kingsport, 1 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 14 n St. Jude, Chattanooga, 1 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 23 n

30 December 1, 2013

by Monsignor Xavier Mankel

Jubilee celebration has enriched our lives

I

A new Church year brings with it opportunities to continue growing in faith and service to our Lord

often come away from a wake service for one of our beloved dead with the question popping in my head, “what’s next?”

For many folks it involves several months of settling affairs: the will, the estate, the stipends sent to those who serve the family of the deceased, Masses to be celebrated in the future, and dissolution of the estate.

Much of this points to the fact that we can’t take it with us. What can we take with us? A simple answer it is.

At death our souls receive a particular judgment before the Lord and our eternal destination is hell or heaven.

Some are not ready for the beatific vision of God and so we are relegated to purgatory until the time punishment due to our sins is satisfied— thereafter we go to God. November is the month during which we reflect seriously upon these things and pray for ourselves and loved ones here on earth as well as for the souls in purgatory (our prayers and good works can actually shorten their period of time punishment in purgatory). Knowing that there is life after death is one of the most consoling teachings of our holy Church.

Is there life after a diocesan silver jubilee Eucharistic Congress? Let me assure you that there is: individual life, family life, parish life, deanery life, diocesan life and Church life in general.

How would someone know? Sunday Mass attendance has increased; Bible reading has increased; “Catholic” conversation is more commonplace; even offertory collections are increasing. I salute and congratulate all who are making monthly visits to the designated parishes throughout the diocese in celebration of our 25th anniversary.

Such effort really pays off. Visiting other parishes promotes the concept that we truly are a community of faith.

How many study groups have been formed throughout our diocese since the holy Year of Faith was announced?

All of this goes together to promote the exposure of the Face of Jesus among our people.

The new Church year began the afternoon of Nov. 30, with the first Sunday of Advent being Dec. 1. We use the “A” cycle readings on Sundays and major feasts this year and cycle II on weekdays. These cycles enable us to cover God’s revealed Word once every three years so that in the average adult lifetime we make the holy Bible

our own. We are indeed not only a people of the Table (altar); we also are a people of the Book.

Advent Sunday Masses are different. The Gloria is not sung nor recited—a stark difference from the sung praise of Christmas, a celebration that goes on and on to Jan. 12, the feast of the Baptism of the Lord.

So, oh yes, there is life after the Eucharistic Congress and the holy Year of Faith, and well beyond!

We have outlined on these pages the harried steps taken by the Diocese of Nashville in arriving over the years to publishing the award-winning Tennessee Register. The evolution of the Catholic newspaper of the Diocese of Knoxville certainly has been much more rapid. At present our bishop is trying six issues of The East Tennessee Catholic newspaper and six issues of The East Tennessee Catholic Magazine to reach all of us with the way, the truth and the life of our Lord.

The Catholic press is evolving mightily and this is certainly true in our Diocese of Knoxville. n

USCCB continued from page 3

the job he’ll now add to his archdiocesan role, Archbishop Kurtz said that in some ways it’s impossible to be prepared for what God calls one to do.

“Do we ever get the gist of what it means to serve Christ?” he observed.

Being an officer of the USCCB is a ministry of service and unity, he said­—service to the U.S. bishops and the people of God, and unity with those groups, with the pope and with episcopal conferences around the world.

Archbishop Kurtz still identifies strongly with his roots. That approach has served him well in making a new home in Tennessee and later Kentucky, he said.

“I think no matter what culture a person comes from, we can learn (about them) from their sense of family, their sense of devotion,” the archbishop said. Citing Pope Francis’s comments about focusing on love and mercy, seeing the dignity of an individual, and accompanying people in their struggles, he said, “I think those words suit me well.” n

with people in the Archdiocese of Louisville, he said, as became apparent in recent listening sessions held there. He said the rite tangibly helps affirm the central role of children in society, “not as property, not as a possession, but as a true gift of creation.”

He’d like to see that approach used more broadly, he said, perhaps with other segments of society that are marginalized.

While his term as vice president has helped him become familiar with

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

Monsignor Mankel is a vicar general of the diocese and the pastor of Holy Ghost Parish in Knoxville.

dioknox.org

Blessed John XXIII Parish to offer Blue Christmas Mass Special service open to all diocesan parishioners who are grieving or experiencing loneliness during holidays

T

he Diocese of Knoxville will celebrate a special Christmas Mass on Dec. 24 for those who are alone, sad, or grieving during the holidays.

The 8 p.m. Blue Christmas Mass will be celebrated at Blessed John XXIII Parish and University Center on the University of Tennessee campus.

“Christmas can be a challenging time for people who are grieving or alone. And people who are alone sometimes don’t feel comfortable,” said Father Rich Andre, CSP, the associate pastor at Blessed John XXIII who will celebrate the Blue Christmas Mass.

Father Andre said it will be the first Blue Christmas Mass celebrated in the diocese. He said U.S. churches began holding services about 20 years ago for members who were lonely or

sad, noting that the winter solstice can have adverse affects on people who are feeling blue.

“The Paulist Fathers have been doing a Father Rich Andre, CSP Blue Christmas Mass at the Ohio State University for nearly 10 years,” he said. “It will be the same liturgy, but it is intended for people experiencing pain or loss. The music will have a more muted tone and the Mass will emphasize a message of hope more than a message of joy.”

Father Andre emphasized that the Mass is specifically for those experiencing sadness during the holidays.

Diaconate continued from page 4

The deacon studies have been difficult, Mr. Armor said, “but I think the Lord inspires us, and we’re learning about our faith.

Even though you’re reading two or three books a month on theology or ecclesiology, you’re really learning the depth of your faith.

It’s really been a blessing for all of us.”

Deacon Tim Elliott, the diocese’s director of deacons, said the Rite of Admission to Candidacy was a “beautiful ceremony, and having the bishop pray with the men was just outstanding.”

He said it signifies that “we’re halfway there, but we still have an awful lot of growth to go.”

“The formation isn’t over—this is just the very first step in recognition, the first public recognition of who the men are that are moving forward,” Deacon Elliott said. n

mitted candidates.

Mr. Armor called it a “milestone” to reach the candidacy stage after two and a half years.

“It’s a long journey, but it’s been very special for all of us,” he said.

“We’ve learned a lot about our faith and what God means to us.”

Mr. Armor is a nephew of the late Deacon Thomas Johnson of Chattanooga.

“It’s been especially good for me: my uncle was a deacon, and I got to carry his pyx,” Mr. Armor said. “He passed away about 20 years ago, and this afternoon his wife brought it for me to use tonight, so it was very special. He was one of the first deacons for the Diocese of Knoxville. I think they actually trained with Nashville, but he was a deacon with the Diocese of Knoxville when they began before he passed away.”

The East Tennessee Catholic

“Our hope is for people who would feel comfortable attending their own parishes to celebrate Christmas there. But the idea is for people who are alone across the diocese to come to our service,” he said.

“The Diocese of Knoxville, the Paulist Fathers, and Pope Francis all emphasize outreach to those on the margins.

The Blue Christmas Mass is another ministry for that outreach.”

Father Andre attended his first Blue Christmas Mass in 2008 at St. Thomas More Newman Center on the Ohio State University campus during his pastoral internship. And the Mass has had a lasting effect on him.

“It was the most beautiful Christmas Eve Mass I have ever attended.

We can only imagine what Mary and Joseph must have been thinking and feeling on that first Christmas. They must have had a whole range of emo-

By Bill Brewer

tions,” he said.

“At the Blue Christmas Mass, sitting among people experiencing a range of emotions, too, brought me closer to experiencing Christmas the way I imagined Mary and Joseph did,” he added.

Father Andre said the special Mass is receiving support from Blessed John XXIII parishioners as well as parishes around the diocese and there are plans to announce it in church bulletins.

He asked that any Diocese of Knoxville parishioners who know of someone who would be interested in attending the Blue Christmas Mass should contact Blessed John XXIII Parish at 865-523-7931.

For more information on the Blue Christmas Mass, go to http://www. john23rd.org/liturgy/blue-christmas-mass. n

Lord Jesus Come In the midst of pain, I seek your love.

Blue Christmas Mass A liturgy of hope for those experiencing pain and loss Tuesday, Dec. 24, 8 p.m.

Blessed John XXIII Parish 1710 Melrose Place, Knoxville, TN 37916 Learn more at: http://www.john23rd.org/liturgy/blue-christmas-mass

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

December 1, 2013 31

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS of the DIOCESE OF KNOXVILLE

32 December 1, 2013

Please join us in joyful celebration this Advent season as we prepare for the coming of the Christ Child.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Chattanooga Christmas Program: 12/19 (6:00 pm) St. Jude School, Chattanooga Christmas Pageant: 12/18 (11:30 am) St. Mary’s School, Johnson City Christmas Program: 12/19 (7:00 pm) St. Dominic School, Kingsport Christmas Program: 12/17 (6:30 pm) Sacred Heart Cathedral School, Knoxville “A Christmas Carol” play*: 12/7 (7:00 pm) Preschool Christmas Program: 12/16 (6:30 pm) Christmas Concert: 12/19 (6:30 pm) Knoxville Catholic High School *at Bearden H.S. “Lesson & Carols” Service: 12/5 (7:00 pm) Fine Arts Celebration: 12/12 (6:30 pm) Saint Joseph School, Knoxville Christmas Program: 12/13 (7:00 pm) Notre Dame High School, Chattanooga Christmas Band Concert: 12/12 (7:00 pm)

St. John Neumann, Knoxville “Why Do We Celebrate Christmas?” Musical: 12/17 (1:00 pm) and 12/18 (6:30 pm) St. Mary’s, Oak Ridge Advent Family Mass and Reception: 12/19 Prelude Music, Mass (5:00 pm, 5:30 pm) Concert and Reception (6:30 pm)

dioknox.org/schools

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

dioknox.org