OA Word from the Bishop by
Bishop Mark Beckman
The mystery of Christmas
Holy Family's exile points to people today fleeing from violence, poverty who also find that there is ‘no room in the inn'
f all the feasts celebrated by Christians, it seems Christmas has most captured the imagination of Western civilization. In recent centuries our world has become saturated with beautiful traditions surrounding “Santa Claus” or “jolly old St. Nick,” with Christmas trees and gift-giving, with Christmas lights and the sending of Christmas cards, and many others.
In the last century, an amazing variety of songs and carols, both secular and religious, have become part of our annual holiday tradition. Almost all of us can sing or hum along with these “classics” like “Jingle Bells,” “Frosty the Snowman,” “White Christmas,” “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” and so many more. For us Catholic Christians, the deeper roots of Christmas take us back to the very beginnings rooted in the mystery of the birth of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Memories of childhoods attending Mass on the eve of Christmas, at midnight, or on Christmas Day remind us of the
“reason for the season.”
I suspect most of us could do a fairly good job of summarizing the beautiful narrative of the birth of Jesus found in Luke’s Gospel, of the search to no avail for a “room in the inn,” and of Mary finally giving birth in a stable surrounded
by animals.
Our memories carry vivid depictions of the Lord in a feeding trough wrapped in swaddling clothes and of the shepherds hearing the angelic message and coming to adore the Christ Child. Our Christmas cards, the tapestry of older religious hymns and of the art of Christian tradition, and especially the Nativity scenes or creches capture the imagination of that most holy night With the dawn of the pandemic, my former parish of St. Henry in Nashville instituted a most beautiful tradition of creating a living scene of first-century Bethlehem. In that first year, it was a spectacular drive-by scene that led to a traffic jam on all the surrounding roads. In later years, all of Bethlehem was re-created in a walk-through version that led to the stable scene. The Knights of Columbus were particularly fond of playing Roman soldiers and did so admirably well.
I suggested teasingly to Deacon Mike (the
Bishop continued on page A9
How the Grinch stole Hattie’s hearts
St. Joseph 3rd-graders rally around classmate's fundraiser for Children's Hospital
By Bill Brewer
There aren’t any hearts two sizes too small in the third grade at St. Joseph School: only hearts three sizes larger.
How can you tell? Just look at the Grinchthemed Christmas tree the students in Jenifer Ingram’s class created to raise money for East Tennessee Children’s Hospital in Knoxville and its cancer-treatment program.
Third-grader Hattie Halter is the inspiration behind the classroom project that has brought Christmas joy not only to the St. Joseph community but also to people throughout East Tennessee who saw Hattie, her classmates, and their heart-filled Christmas tree featured in a news segment on local station WBIR-TV.
Hattie, who many would say has all the qualities of Cindy-Lou Who (bright, friendly, energetic, hopeful, and a strong believer in the true spirit of Christmas), has an especially close connection to Children’s Hospital. She is a patient ambassador there, telling the public about all the good things happening at the pediatric medical center while regularly visiting patients, a youthful lay ministry she knows something about.
A divinely inspired kinship
Hattie, who is 8, was a Children’s Hospital patient herself. And as a cancer survivor, she knows all too well about the health center that has saved her life.
“I remember that I had cancer and I was in Children’s Hospital. I had leukemia. Other kids had cancer, and I prayed for the other kids who had cancer, too,” Hattie said while sitting in Mrs. Ingram’s classroom after the class Christmas tree was displayed at the popular Fantasy of Trees, an annual holiday festival held at the Knoxville Convention Center that raises money for Children’s Hospital.
As a patient ambassador, Hattie sees her “friends” quite often when she is at the hospital. Even though Hattie’s cancer is in remission, she is at Children’s frequently for blood tests to monitor the remission, which is in its seventh year. Hattie was diagnosed with acute myeloid leu-
kemia when she was 9 months old. She was treated with chemotherapy at Children’s Hospital and received a bonemarrow transplant at TriStar Centennial Medical Center in Nashville, where she also received radiation treatments and chemotherapy. Although the Halter family lives in Knoxville, Hattie was in Nashville for three months receiving life-giving care. Now, she goes to East Tennessee Children’s Hospital for checkups every six months.
“I need to get blood work because Mr. Jack, he had to give me some of his blood, so I have to get blood work every few weeks,” Hattie said, referring to her bone-marrow donor.
She continues to receive regular medical care at Children’s for complications from the cancer treatment.
Hattie continued on page A18
Third-graders revisit Whoville
Above: Mrs. Jenifer Ingram's thirdgrade class at St. Joseph School.
Left: Hattie Halter, alias Cindy-Lou Who, stands next to the Grinchthemed Christmas tree she and her classmates created for the Fantasy of Trees to benefit East Tennessee Children's Hospital and its pediatric cancer-treatment program
Edmund Fitzgerald at 50
The gales of November and the God who remembers harken the song that captured the sinking
By Mark Irons National Catholic Register
Why does God allow tragedy? Is He absent in our worst hour of suffering?
Or, as musician Gordon Lightfoot sang, “Does anyone know where the love of God goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours?”
Those lyrics from Mr. Lightfoot’s famous ballad, “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,” capture desperate faith reflections in the immediate aftermath of one of the worst tragedies in Great Lakes history. November marked 50 years since the loss of all 29 men aboard the SS Edmund Fitzgerald, when the cargo ship sank into the icy depths of Lake Superior.
The 729-foot American freighter, en route from Superior, Wis., to a steel mill near Detroit, disappeared from radar as it succumbed to a powerful storm with hurricaneforce winds and mountainous
Immortalized in verse The SS Edmund Fitzgerald, an American freighter, is shown prior to its tragic sinking on Nov. 10, 1975. The 50th anniversary of the tragedy that was made even more memorable in singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot's haunting hit song "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" was marked last month.
waves the night of Nov. 10, 1975.
“I was very angry that God took away my father,” said Debbie
The Handmaids of the Precious Blood this year celebrate the 78th year since their founding in 1947; more than three-quarters of a century of prayer and sacrifice for priests. To receive weekly cartoons and short reflections and news from the Handmaids of the Precious Blood, visit their website, nunsforpriests.org, and sign up for the FIAT newsletter.
A December prayer intention for Christians in areas of conflict
“Let us pray that Christians living in areas of war or conflict, especially in the Middle East, might be seeds of peace, reconciliation, and hope.”
Pope Leo XIV
Gomez-Felder as she thought back 50 years. Oliver “Buck” Champeau, her father, was a 41-year-old engi-
neer aboard the Edmund Fitzgerald. Ms. Gomez-Felder was 17 years old at the time, a senior in high school at St. Pius XI in Milwaukee.
“I just couldn’t understand any of this,” she said. She recalls banging on the rectory door at a local church, demanding answers from the priest. But no answers could limit the pain. “I stopped going to church. I said some very bad things to God.”
Ms. Gomez-Felder joined other surviving relatives of the lost crew at the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum in Whitefish Point, Mich., for a memorial service marking the 50th anniversary on Nov. 10.
As each crew member was named aloud, loved ones rang the ship’s bell, recovered from the wreck site in 1995. That site lies 17 miles northwest of Whitefish Point, more than 500 feet below the surface of Lake Superior in Canadian waters. It’s the final resting place for 29 sailors who had become friends.
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How to sign up and qualify for Diocese of Knoxville’s safe-environment program
The Diocese of Knoxville has implemented the CMG Connect platform to administer the Safe Environment Program, which replaces the former Safe Environment Program (VIRTUS “Protecting God’s Children”).
CMG Connect is a web-based platform that will assist in ensuring that all employees and volunteers who are in a position of trust with children and vulnerable adults within Diocese of Knoxville schools and parishes are trained to recognize behavior patterns of potential abusers and provide pro-active measures for preventing abuse in any context.
“Safe Haven-It’s Up to You” is a three-part video that provides vignettes of real-life situations to educate the viewer about methods of grooming, desensitization, bullying, and neglect, all of which can lead to abuse.
Each part of the video is immediately followed by a brief questionnaire to further develop understanding.
Education is a key
element of the Safe Environment Program
All clergy, employees, contracted school personnel, volunteers, members of groups and organizations over the age of 18 who work, volunteer, or participate in any capacity are required to complete the diocesan Safe Environment training and a criminal-background check before they can begin employment, volunteer, or participate with ministries, groups, and organizations affiliated with the Diocese of Knoxville.
In addition, the mandatory renewal training must be completed every five years and a new background check submitted before the five-year expiration of prior training.
The Diocese of Knoxville Safe Environment compliance training and renewal training is a condition of employment and for volunteer ministry in the Diocese of Knoxville.
The CMG Connect
platform contains all three elements of the Diocese of Knoxville’s Safe Environment Program: n Annual review of the Diocese of Knoxville’s Policy and Procedures Relating to Sexual Misconduct; n CMG Connect Safe Haven training program to be completed every five years; n Criminal background check to be completed every five years.
In compliance with the Diocese of Knoxville’s Safe Environment Program, all affiliates require that volunteers and employees complete the requirements prior to working and/or volunteering in a parish, school, or through Catholic Charities of East Tennessee and/ or St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic Go to https:// dioknox.org/safeenvironment on the Diocese of Knoxville website for more information ■
Sr. Regina
2025 Handmaids of the Precious Blood
Wreck
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Traditional Latin Mass transitioning to the Novus Ordo Bishop implements Traditionis custodes
By John Mecklenborg
Bishop Mark Beckman is implementing Traditionis custodes in the Diocese of Knoxville. Parishes with Traditional Latin Mass communities are transitioning to the 2002 Roman Missal.
The parishes will still offer Mass in Latin according to the 2002 Missal while committing to all the traditional options permitted in its rubrics. The rubrics allow for Gregorian chant, the Latin language, ad orientem, etc.
In response to the desires of the faithful to have a continued experience of the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM) according to the 1962 missal, and to honor donor intent, the Mass will be celebrated monthly at Christ Prince of Peace (CPOP) Retreat Center in Benton. Mass dates and times are posted on the CPOP website, dioknoxretreat.org
The apostolic letter, Traditionis custodes, issued as a motu proprio by Pope Francis on July 16, 2021, regulates the use of the 1962 Roman Missal—colloquially known as the Traditional Latin Mass, Tridentine Mass, or the Extraordinary Form—to promote unity around the post-Vatican II liturgy.
In a letter to the faithful on Nov. 25, Bishop Beckman wrote, “it became clear to me that the desire of the Holy Father was that we move in the direction of re-establishing one form for the celebration of the Roman Rite.”
The response
The TLM community was first made aware of this decision by pulpit announcements on Oct. 12 at each of the three homes for the Extraordinary Form in East Tennessee: Holy Ghost in Knoxville, St. Mary in Johnson City, and the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga.
Father David Carter, rector of the basilica, stated in his homily that day, “Since Christmas 2014, we have enjoyed the celebration of Mass according to the 1962 Missal. ... I remind you that our parish is a Novus Ordo parish at which the Traditional Latin Mass is celebrated, and that the primary purpose of doing so was mutual enrichment.”
He continued, “We are not masters of the liturgy; we are its servants.” He then proceeded to outline his
Assisting at
plan for transitioning the Latin Mass at the basilica from the 1962 Missal to the 2002 Missal while committing to all the traditional options permitted in its rubrics.
“This is not the path of loss—it is the path of unity,” Father Carter stated as he promised to retain Latin language, prayer, chant, sacred silence, and ad orientem worship in conjunction with fuller cycles of Scripture, the unified calendar, and deeper participation.
“These are not enemies; they are gifts meant to complement each other,” he added.
The promises of preservation in terms of beauty, reverence, tradition, and sacredness from parish pastors
Mass is complex
A brief history of liturgical reform in the Church
By John Mecklenborg
Every Sunday, Catholics are obligated to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ through celebration of the sacred Mass.
It’s a time of communal worship, celebration, rest, reflection, prayer, Word, and unity around the eucharistic table. Precisely how Catholics participate in that obligation has taken many forms and has been a liturgical conversation for centuries.
While the purpose of liturgy is clear—the sacramental re-presentation of Christ’s divine eucharistic sacrifice—the practice has been modified numerous times throughout the history of the Church.
The Second Vatican Council
The most impactful reform in recent times began on Dec. 4, 1963, when Pope Paul VI closed the second session of the Second Vatican Council with a series of liturgical reforms outlined in Sacrosanctum Concilium (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy).
At the time, the need for liturgical reform met near-unanimous
approval—2,147 bishops voted affirmatively and only four voted negatively—triggering the largest Catholic ecclesial renewal since the Council of Trent in 1570.
The reforms were profound, fostering active and conscious lay participation, restoring ancient elements and vernacular liturgy, and renewing the Church’s mission for a modern world.
The transformation was rapid. Ancient liturgies had been discovered in Vatican libraries, manuscripts had been retranslated, and the rites were to be “simplified, while due care is taken to preserve their substance.”
By the first Sunday of Advent 1969 (Nov. 30), the updated Roman Missal was being implemented worldwide through the Missale Romanum, establishing what became known as the Novus Ordo (New Order of Mass).
The Traditional Latin Mass continues In his 1988 motu proprio Ecclesia Dei, St. John Paul II permitted a limited use of the 1962 Missal to foster unity and bring into com-
Reform continued on page A19
connections, and even physical relocation of families from areas of the country where the TLM had been regulated or removed.
It is clear that this community is filled with spiritual passion, love of Scripture, and connection to the depths of the Catholic faith, and that any change to the TLM in East Tennessee represents a profound sadness in their spiritual lives.
Listening sessions
On the evening of Nov. 5, Bishop Beckman and Father Carter held a listening session at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul to hear directly from parishioners at the frontline of the transition.
Community members expressed a range of emotion: connection, nourishment, uncertainty, reverence, and desire for a stable and recognizable Catholic Church. Many of the speakers stated they were converts, catechists, or Catholics who did not find their spiritual home until they encountered the TLM.
The attendees brought up requests for the bishop to appeal to Rome for an extension, as several dioceses around the United States and world have done with successful outcomes. They further asked if the TLM could be moved to an approved chapel or if an external order could be brought in to celebrate the TLM in the diocese.
were nonetheless met with disappointment, sadness, and frustration by some members of the TLM community. News immediately traversed outside the confines of the diocese as online and international watchdog groups immediately elevated this to a crisis—with several sources painting the decision as suppression, and others painting it as a novel alternative to the more common path of relocation and consolidation.
In the following days and weeks, Bishop Beckman received many messages, phone calls, and requests for meetings. These messages contained stories of spiritual nourishment, conversions of heart, deep
After listening to the comments and requests, Bishop Beckman assured the community that their voices were heard and that, “I sincerely believe, based on my direct witness of Father Carter, that those elements will all continue as he celebrates the Latin Mass in the Novus Ordo. I am convinced he will do that because he knows this community, he loves you, and I know you all love him.”
Shedding some light on the background of this decision, Bishop Beckman revealed that his predecessor had filed for an extension in March 2023 and that he had been contacted by the Vatican Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments while still a bishopelect with a request that he revisit what Pope Francis said in Traditionis custodes
In the revisiting process, discussions with pastors explored the option of finding another chapel, but Father Carter expressed the impor-
Latin Mass continued on page A19
Extraordinary Form Above: The Traditional Latin Mass is celebrated at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga by Father Valentin Iuorchkin in 2021. Below: The Traditional Latin Mass is celebrated at Holy Ghost Church in Knoxville in 2015. Father John Orr, center, is the celebrant, with Father Michael Hendershott, right, serving as concelebrant.
the Mass is Deacon Gordy Lowery, left.
Jubilee of Synodal Teams and Participatory Bodies
Pope: A synodal Church evangelizes better
Holy Father says the
Church has ‘a voice’ that it needs to work for justice
By Cindy Wooden and Carol Glatz Catholic News Service
The pursuit of synodality should strengthen the Catholic Church’s mission of proclaiming the Gospel and help all Catholics learn to collaborate to make the world a better place, Pope Leo XIV said.
“As Pope Francis reminded us on numerous occasions,” the Holy Father said, the purpose of synodality “is to help the Church fulfill its primary role in the world, which is to be missionary, to announce the Gospel, to give witness to the person of Jesus Christ in every part of the world, to the ends of the earth.”
That witness includes speaking up for justice, caring for the planet, and promoting peace, Pope Leo said during a meeting on Oct. 24 with participants in the Jubilee of Synodal Teams and Participatory Bodies.
“The Church has a voice, and we need to be
courageous in raising our voice to change the world, to make it a better place,” he told the pilgrims, who included about 150 representatives from the United States with 15 U.S. bishops.
During the evening meeting, the pope lis-
tened to seven regional reports on the implementation of the 2021-2024 Synod of Bishops on synodality and answered a question from each regional representative. Pope Leo took notes during the presentations, and his responses appeared to be unscripted.
Two questions drew strong applause from participants, a reaction Pope Leo noted in his responses. The first applauded question was about changing the minds of “bishops and priests who are concerned that synodality may diminish their authority as pastors”; and the second was whether the pope believed “equality between men and women in the Church can become a lived reality in the future.”
Canadian Bishop Alain Faubert of Valleyfield, Quebec, gave the North American report, which ended with the question about getting all bishops and priests onboard.
Pope Leo said there is a need “to invite the Church continued on page A20
Humbly seeking the truth
Synodal participants invited to contemplate and rediscover mystery of Church
By Jim Wogan for The East Tennessee Catholic
If it wasn’t plainly evident that this “Synod thing” was facing headwinds in the United States before I arrived at the Vatican in late October, it became more so on my first evening there—when Pope Leo XIV met with more than 2,000 Synod delegates on Oct. 24.
Father Peter Iorio, pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Alcoa and vicar general and moderator of the curia for the Diocese of Knoxville, and I attended this three-day Jubilee of Synodal Teams and Participatory Bodies from Oct. 24-26 at the request of Bishop Mark Beckman.
The jubilee weekend was more than a series of discussions and classroom sessions—all of which proved valuable. The Vatican encompasses a large area and classrooms are tucked into halls and buildings that I never knew existed. At times I had flashbacks of sprinting across campus in my college days and arriving at my next lecture completely out of breath. Who scheduled this and what was I thinking?
We learned a lot in the classroom-and-dialogue sessions. But I realized that attending the Synod Jubilee was a reminder of the holy bond that we as Catholics share, especially during our time on earth.
That weekend, the universal Church wasn’t just a concept. Father Peter and I were walking within it. We felt it. It spoke to us. We saw it in the faces and heard it in the words of other Catholics who represented their own dioceses in their own countries and continents: Africa, the Middle East, Oceania, Asia, South America, Latin America, Europe, and North America.
We shared our Catholicism, our love of God, our belief in the redemptive gift of Jesus Christ, our thoughts, our concerns, and our mutual respect for each other in a setting that reaffirmed that together we really are one people in Christ. But before all that, during our first session with Pope Leo, we were reminded that doubt remains about this particular Synod process.
Following a moving opening prayer and inaugural session led by Vatican Synod secretary Cardinal Mario Grech, the Friday evening encounter-dialogue with Pope Leo included seven representatives of various regions of the world
updating the Holy Father and the assembly on how the Synod is progressing in their areas and then asking the Holy Father a question. Each representative went. Africa? Check. Oceania? Check. Other regions? Check. North America? Uh, well, hold on for a minute.
Roughly halfway through the session, Bishop Alain Faubert of Canada spoke on behalf of North America and addressed one of the issues the Synod is facing in the United States, if not elsewhere.
“Holy Father, what would you say to bishops and priests who are concerned that synodality may diminish their authority as pastors? How can we better understand and promote co-responsibility, accountability, and transparency in our dioceses and parishes?” Bishop Faubert asked
A noticeable level of muttering was heard from delegates in attendance. Pope Leo acknowledged it when answering the question.
“One of the disagreements that apparently many of you experienced—judging by your
reaction when the question was asked—is the concern among some pastors or bishops that their authority may be diminished. Apparently, some of you have had that conversation, let us say. I would like to invite all of you, as we were invited during the Synod sessions, to reflect upon what synodality is about, and to invite the priests, particularly even more so than the bishops, I think, to somehow open their hearts and take part in these processes,” Pope Leo said.
Bishop Faubert’s question got attention and Pope Leo’s answer, I thought, captured one of the real issues as we continue to ask: What is synodality? What is this particular synod all about? And how will it impact the Church?
In this context, Pope Francis defined synodality as a journey—walking together in communion as we discuss issues facing the Church. This particular synod opened in 2021—albeit with a cumbersome name—The Synod on Synodality. Dioceses around the world, including the Diocese of Knoxville, conducted dialogue sessions in 2021, and our reports were submitted to Rome for review and discernment.
As a result, the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops produced a report called (the) Final Document, which was later endorsed by Pope Francis on Oct. 26, 2024. It’s lengthy and action-oriented, especially for local dioceses Pope Leo has approved the next phase of the Synod: the Implementation Phase, which, based on Bishop Faubert’s question and the assembly’s reaction, will generate even more questions.
The journey Father Peter and I made to Rome wasn’t intended to answer every question. Instead, the gathering of synod representatives
Team Togetherness U.S. delegates to the Jubilee of Synodal Teams and Participatory Bodies came together for a photo inside the Pope Paul VI Hall at Vatican City on Oct. 25. Some 150 U.S. delegates attended. Jim Wogan is on the second row from the bottom (left). Father Peter Iorio is on the third row from the top (left).
Mass with the Holy Father Father Peter Iorio, center, pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Alcoa and vicar general and moderator of the curia for the Diocese of Knoxville, concelebrated the Oct. 26 Mass that Pope Leo XIV celebrated for delegates to the Jubilee of Synodal Teams and Participatory Bodies. Father Iorio also was selected to serve Holy Communion during the Mass.
Mr. Wogan
Synod continued on page A20
COURTESY
OF JIM WOGAN
Bishop ordains newest deacon
Daniel Cooper joins transitional diaconate ahead of pending priesthood
By Bill Brewer
The feast of St. Albert the Great will forever hold a sacred place in Daniel Cooper’s priestly formation as the Nov. 15 date was when he was ordained to the transitional diaconate at St. Albert the Great Church in Knoxville.
Bishop Mark Beckman presided at the ordination Mass, with 25 priests and 20 deacons attending the celebration.
To begin the ordination Mass, Bishop Beckman said Nov. 15 was “a day of great joy for our diocese as we gather to ordain Daniel Cooper on this the feast of St. Albert the Great, an integral feast of this parish. What a beautiful day it is.”
“The Lord has indeed summoned you, Daniel, and you have responded. We are grateful today to be celebrating with you this moment in your life,” Bishop Beckman told the ordinand.
Ordination to the holy Order of the Diaconate is an integral step a seminarian makes before becoming a priest. And as a transitional deacon, Deacon Cooper will serve in this role until his ordination to the priesthood next year.
Deacon Cooper will become the 65th priest ordained for service in the Diocese of Knoxville since its founding in 1988. Including priests, he joins more than 200 clergy now serving in the diocese.
Daniel Cooper, a 35-year-old convert to the Catholic faith, was seated in a front pew with family and friends, across from the concelebrating priests and permanent deacons in attendance, as the ordination Mass began.
To open the ordination rite, Deacon Sean Smith, Diocese of Knoxville chancellor, summoned
“The gathering of the Church of God for the celebration of ordination is one of the most beautiful, joyful, and important moments in the life of the Church. And today as we gather to celebrate the ordination of a deacon destined to be a priest of this Diocese of Knoxville, our Church is filled with great joy. ”
Mr. Cooper to approach the sanctuary, where the deacon-to-be announced he was “present.”
Then, Father Mark Schuster, pastor of St. John Neumann Parish in Farragut who also serves as vocations director for the diocese, exclaimed, “Most Reverend Father, Holy Mother Church asks you to ordain this man, our brother, to the responsibility of the diaconate.”
Bishop Beckman then asked, “Do you judge him to be worthy?”
“After inquiry among the Christian people, and upon recommendation of those concerned with their formation, I testify that he
Men ’s Emmaus Retreat set for April 24-26
The East Tennessee Catholic
Amen’s Emmaus Retreat will be held for the first time in East Tennessee April 24-26 at the Christ Prince of Peace Retreat Center in Benton.
It is estimated that 1.4 million men and women throughout the world have completed the Catholic Emmaus Retreat.
A women’s Emmaus Retreat also is planned and will be scheduled for East Tennessee in the future.
The Emmaus Retreat is based on the Gospel of Luke, chapter 24, where Jesus joins two of His disciples as they walk from Jerusalem to the village of Emmaus. This “walk” takes these two disciples from being dejected and filled with anxiety and stress to being full of life and filled with joy after Jesus joins them and their eyes are opened to recognize Him as their Lord and Savior.
In the early 1980s, the Emmaus Retreat, under the direction of Father David Russell, was developed at St. Louis Church in Miami as a retreat for women. The men of the parish, seeing how the women had been transformed, worked with new pastor Father James Fetscher and modified the retreat slightly to be more in tune with what men need and conducted the first men’s Emmaus Retreat in 1985.
From this humble beginning, the Emmaus Retreat has spread through the United States and throughout the world, including the Caribbean and Europe, and even to Cuba, China, and Russia. Now men in East Tennessee will have the opportunity to experience the Emmaus Retreat.
Michael and Helen Hart, who were part of the early days of the Emmaus Retreat in Miami, retired
and relocated to Signal Mountain. They became active members of St. Augustine Parish and spoke with St. Augustine pastor Father John Dowling about the Emmaus Retreat. Father Dowling was interested in bringing the retreat to the area.
The Harts have become involved in various ministries at St. Augustine. In June, Father Dowling asked them, “When are we bringing the Emmaus Retreat to East Tennessee?” His question was the impetus to begin the process.
Mr. Hart contacted John Lobo, a longtime parishioner of St. Louis in Miami who now resides in St. Augustine, Fla. Mr. Lobo arranged for Mr. Hart to be part of the team for an Emmaus Retreat in South Carolina in August and the men continue to advise and lead the process for the East Tennessee Emmaus.
Men of the Emmaus of the Carolinas and Florida Emmaus Brothers will form a team to lead the Emmaus Retreat in East Tennessee. There are a few Emmaus Brothers who reside in Tennessee who will also be part of the team.
The retreat will be led by a team of ordinary men who have completed the Emmaus weekend and desire to share their experience with other men. Team members volunteer their weekend, travel to the retreat at their own expense, and pay the same registration fee as the candidates.
Registration for the Emmaus Retreat will begin in January. The retreat is for men age 18 and older. Reserve the weekend of April 24-26 on your calendar.
For more information on the retreat, contact Michael Hart at 423414-4532 or mikehartfl1987@gmail. com ■
— Bishop Mark Beckman
has been found worthy,” Father Schuster replied.
Bishop Beckman then proclaimed: “Relying on the help of the Lord God and of Our Savior, Jesus Christ, we choose this, our brother, for the Order of the Diaconate.” The congregation responded, “Thanks be to God!” and gave Mr. Cooper an ovation.
As the Mass continued, Bishop Beckman gave his homily that was steeped in vocation and ministry.
“The gathering of the Church of God for the celebration of ordination is one of the most beautiful, joyful, and important moments in the life of the Church. And to-
day as we gather to celebrate the ordination of a deacon destined to be a priest of this Diocese of Knoxville, our Church is fi lled with great joy. This Order of the Diaconate, Daniel, that you are to enter today is sometimes spoken of as a transitional diaconate,” the bishop said.
Bishop Beckman noted the distinctions of the transitional and permanent diaconate and emphasized that the diaconate will be an integral part of Mr. Cooper’s ministry as a priest.
“In some way the word transitional is not appropriate because the Order of the Diaconate that you have been called to will be a constituent part of your ministry as a priest for the rest of your life. And fi ttingly so because the Lord Jesus Himself became a servant and a slave for all of us. The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many,” Bishop Beckman said.
“The very essence of the ministry of Jesus is intimately connected with service. For one who is in the form of God became one with us, took on the form of our humanity all the way to the cross at Calvary. So, likewise, Daniel, your ministry as deacon will be marked by service, by the humble beginnings that we witnessed in the Acts of the Apostles today,” the bishop continued. “I think about the Apostles saying, ‘We are challenged by the overwhelming responsibilities around us as there is confl ict between the Hellenists and the Jews.’ It’s interesting to note there was already confl ict and controversy early in the history of the Church. We need this order of deacons to assist us.” Bishop Beckman referred to the Deacon continued on page A25
'The Lord has indeed summoned you' Bishop Mark Beckman celebrates the ordination to the holy Order of the Diaconate for Daniel Cooper, standing before the bishop. The ordination Mass at St. Albert the Great Church was on Nov. 15, the feast of St. Albert the Great.
Parish works together to offer holiday meal for the community St. Thérèse hosts annual Three Kings Feast
By Bee Goodman
The meaning of Christmas as Christians know is much more than ribbons and bows.
Christmas is a day everyone comes together to remember the holy arrival of an infant who would give His life for the world.
The best way to celebrate is by sharing the love that Jesus shares with the world.
St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish in Cleveland has a long-standing tradition to do just that.
Knights of Columbus, parishioners, and volunteers gathered early Saturday morning on Dec. 6 to prepare and serve their community a special meal to celebrate the Three Kings Feast.
The warm holiday treat was offered to anyone who craved fellowship and a festive meal. In addition, presents and blankets were given to those in need.
The Three Kings Feast tradition stems back over 30 years and serves hundreds of people annually. This year, the parish greeted nearly 900 guests, with more than 150 volunteers joining in the celebration to share the love of Christ.
Celebrating Christmas is rarely a small expense, and the bigger the family the more the need. As many people already struggle with food prices and other costs, especially this year with the temporary lapse in SNAP benefits, the holidays can pose a difficult time.
Many rely on the kindness of their loved ones and the community around them for help or otherwise must do without.
St. Thérèse parishioners served a hot plate of turkey and gravy with green beans and mashed potatoes, or a kid’s meal of fries, mac and cheese, and chicken nuggets. Each meal also included a fresh baked dinner roll, a drink, and choice of
‘
dessert.
The wonderful meal had community guests lined around the parish campus as early as 9 a.m., with serving beginning at 11. Each family member was treated as a welcome guest of St. Thérèse. For those who arrived early, hot choco-
Addressing wounds ’
Worship leader Jackie Angel brings her message of healing to St. John Neumann
By Bee Goodman
St. John Neumann Parish in Farragut hosted a special evening from the Catholic Women’s Team of Knoxville. The Oct. 21 event featured guest speaker Jackie Angel, who spoke to women about addressing emotional trauma and how to move forward.
Mrs. Angel is a full-time worship leader, vlogger, author, singer-songwriter, and devoted wife to Bobby Angel. She’s also a mother of five. The Tuesday-night event saw strong attendance, with many women on hand to listen to Mrs. Angel’s talk, “Addressing Our Wounds.”
Mrs. Angel shared how emotional wounds often halt the ability to grow and can hinder a relationship with faith. She told of challenges she faced after growing up with parents who were less supportive than most. Because of this she never felt that she was good enough, or just the opposite—she was too much. Just as with many women, this can lead to a strong desire for assurance—often leading them to the arms of someone or something that cut their wounds deeper. But Band-Aids don’t fix bullet holes.
Mrs. Angel also addressed her search for the right partner before marrying her husband, Bobby, who is a Catholic author, speaker, and certified mentor for the CatholicPsych Institute, with more than 20 years of experience in ministry. She shared how she longed to be fulfilled as a person after finding her prince charming.”
She noted how Mr. Angel is her best friend. He respects her, he builds her up—things that are great and important, but she still felt as though
something was missing. She thought her situation was pushing toward marriage, and once she was a wife and mother she’d be perfect, she’d be worth something. But even after they married, she still sought more.
Through her faith, she found the companionship and fulfillment she’d always been looking for. She found a friend in Jesus. And she has been able to use faith in everything she does, from parenting to podcasts.
Jackie and Bobby Angel work together hosting their podcast, “Conversations with Jackie and Bobby,” where they invite guests to cover a variety of topics in a casual, “long chat” format, as mentioned on their website. Mrs. Angel also hosts another show separate from her husband about learning Scripture.
The Memorize Scripture podcast is exactly what it sounds like, a tool to help listeners learn and memorize Scripture. Each month the podcast covers a particular topic addressed in Scripture. As episodes are posted, listeners are tasked to memorize one part of Scripture a week. Episodes usually
families could then go to the “toy shop,” where parents could pick a gift for their children and were provided diapers and gloves if they needed them. Families also could receive a ticket for a blanket.
The annual event is a feast, and it was treated like a welcoming holiday fair. A corner of the room was dedicated to pictures with Santa, where children would gaze upon jolly ol’ St. Nick making a visit from the North Pole just in time for Christmas.
A photo booth on site allowed the families to get a quick picture together so they would have a reminder of this memory later, long after they returned home and the parish doors were closed.
A stage was adorned with a Nativity scene featuring the Holy Family, a tall standing cross, and a glowing tree. The parish room offered a seasonal feeling that tied the community together with love.
Anyone taking a good look around could spot at least one of three wise men in the dining room carrying small chests with chocolate gold coins and treats as if they were gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
late was served while they waited.
Once inside, families were escorted to tables, had their drink orders taken, and were served by the volunteers who brought their home-cooked meals to their tables in a most friendly and festive way.
Once finished with their meals,
It takes a large number of people to host this feast. Brad Benefield, of the Knights of Columbus and St. Thérèse Parish, organized the dining room and volunteers to keep food on plates and people in seats Mr. Benefield shared that he’s been a part of the feast for at least 15 years, and it’s something he looks forward to each year, noting that the Knights and parish members began planning for the event back in the summer.
“They start preparing months in advance, maybe late summer; there’s a committee. They start getting funding planned and then raise money for it. We start doing
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For over 25 years, Abbey Caskets has handcrafted
The meaning of Christmas Above: St. Thérèse Parish in Cleveland prepared its annual Three Kings Feast on Dec. 6 for its members and members of the greater Cleveland community. Below: Father Mike Creson and St. Thérèse volunteers prepare plates of food for the guests taking part in the Three Kings Feast held at the parish.
Bobby and Jackie Angel
Diocese of Knoxville Catholic schools host a special Christmas card contest each year for students in kindergarten through 12th grade. Each year, a theme is chosen for the contest. This year the theme was,
"In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled... So all went each to his own town." Luke 2:1
Over 100 students submitted cards for the contest. Here are a few our favorites alongside the winning entry from Gianna Giglio of Notre Dame High School.
1st Place Winner: Gianna Giglio 12th grade Notre Dame High School
(Outer left) Adrienne Hamm 5th Grade Sacred Heart Cathedral School
(Inner left) Philip Henry Hannerman 5th Grade Sacred Heart Cathedral School
(Outer right) Teddy Sampson 8th Grade St. Mary-Johnson City
(Inner right) Hannah Katras 4th Grade St. Mary-Johnson City
(Left) Cooper Brewer 4th Grade St. Dominic School
(Right) Lila Wasem 3rd Grade St. Mary-Johnson City
Addilyn Batley 8th Grade St. Joseph School
India Ford 10th Grade Notre Dame High School
School Spotlight Notre Dame High School
Notre Dame High School’s 150th Jubilee Looking back; Looking ahead
What gift would you give the pope if you had such an opportunity?
“We had hoped it might come true And we all brought clothes just in case Then we didn’t find out our visit was a ‘go’ until the night before But that’s also when we realized we hadn’t brought any sort of gift to give him.”
Such is the recollection of Jay Donnelly, current Notre Dame High School parent, recounting his family’s recent chance to meet Pope Leo XIV
Well, some of the family
Jay and Kelli have three sons, Jack and Holder, who attend Notre Dame in Chattanooga, and Patrick, who attends Our Lady of Perpetual Help, where the older two also attended But not all got to meet the Holy Father
er also got the H
“We had 13 in our party, and we were all going to Mass in St. Peter’s Square for sure. But when the news came, we were told we’d only received three tickets for the party that would actually get to meet him, and I got to go with my mom and dad,” Jay said
Jay’s mom and dad are Bubba and Chris Donnelly, who in 2023 had celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary
“We didn’t really have a big to-do for them, if you know what I mean,” said Jay “So sometime after, my mom decided she wanted all of us (them, Jay’s brother and his family, wife Kelli, and the boys) to go to Rome to also celebrate the Jubilee Year She really wanted to walk through the Holy Doors of St Peter’s
“But getting to meet him was a miracle really, I don’t know any other way to describe it. I had no idea how complex the process was. But she was deter mined and diligent, and still we didn’t have any idea until right beforehand There were so many things that had to fall in place A real miracle,” Jay explained
But they still didn’t have a gift
“I asked my son, Jack, if we should give Pope Leo his ND kelly-green baseball hat he’d wor n all through the trip And he loved the idea” Jay said
Did you plan what you might say?
“No, not really, we only had maybe a minute to say hello – and that might be stretching it Mom took the lead and talked about some Chicago connections and her admiration for his efforts on behalf of immigrants,” Jay replied “And when there was a moment, I jumped in ”
“Holy Father, we want to give you my son Jack’s baseball cap It’s from Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and they’re getting to ready to celebrate their 150th jubilee
“And in the South, you know it’s a real accomplishment when anything Catholic survives that long
“And he laughed. Being American, I knew he understood.
“And that’s when my mom jumped in one last time ‘Jack is the first student with Down’s syndrome to attend Notre Dame ’”
As Notre Dame prepares to celebrate its 150th Jubilee, there will be no shortage of people, things, and events to remember Milestones and memories Proms and pep rallies Championships and friendships
And while it’s always good to have a long history, it’s more important to have a long future
Thus Notre Dame chose to add a new story to its history when it enrolled Jack Donnelly, the school’s first Down’s-syndrome student
“We’re Catholic to the core. All of my 32 cousins attended Catholic schools,” offered Jay. “But we needed to make sure for Jack.”
“So we checked out several other schools in the area. But what was critically important to us was we wanted it to be a family experience. And when we reached out to Notre Dame to see if it might be possible, they didn’t blink” he shared
With input from other Catholic schools as well as OLPH, where Jack had attended, a program has been created that includes all his teachers, a part-time instructor as well as his “peer mentors,” who take tur ns accompanying him to each of his classes
Parker Coode, a junior and one of Jack’s peer mentors, jumped right in, “I want to start by saying I love getting to do this with Jack ”
“I’m his religion mentor We usually meet at his locker so we can make sure he gets to class with his Bible and everything We take notes together and I point out some things he might miss,” Parker shared.
“I’ve lear ned so much Not just about Jack, but it’s also changed my view of how much and how many things such students can do His social skills are off the charts,” the NDHS junior said
Dad added, “I just love it when one of them texts him at night and says, ‘Jack, be sure you have such and such homework done for tomorrow ’”
How does Jack like all of it?
“He’s obsessed,” Jay said. “Every mor ning, as we pull into the parking lot, he plays the Fight Song, blasting it out of his phone. And I mean every single mor ning!”
“Cheer! Cheer! for ” 150 more years!
‘ Sharing joyfully at the Lord’s table’
Bishop
Beckman consecrates the new altar at Our Lady of Perpetual Help
The East Tennessee Catholic
As the universal Church prepared to celebrate the feast of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception (Dec. 8) and marked the memorial of St. Ambrose on Dec. 7, the second Sunday of Advent, Bishop Mark Beckman celebrated yet another first as the shepherd of the Diocese of Knoxville.
The bishop consecrated his first altar as Our Lady of Perpetual Help officially completed the restoration of its sanctuary.
Bishop Beckman was joined by OLPH pastor Father Arthur Torres and associate pastor Father Andrew Crabtree in observing the sacred moment in the history of the Chattanooga church.
Deacon Dennis Meinert assisted at the Mass as deacon of the Word and the Eucharist.
“Beloved brothers and sisters, we have gathered here with joy today to dedicate a new altar by celebrating the Lord s sacrifice. Let us join in these sacred rites with fervent hearts, listening to God’s Word with faith and sharing joyfully at the Lord’s table. Let us
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raise our hearts toward the blessed hope that as we come together at one altar, we draw nearer to Christ, the living stone in whom we grow into a holy temple,” Bishop Beckman said.
Bishop Beckman began Mass by blessing the congregation, sprinkling the nave with holy water
chief organizer of the event) that we might want to consider adding the scene of the “slaughter of the innocents” as depicted in the Gospel of Matthew’s infancy narrative. He would roll his eyes at my suggestion. But it is interesting to note how little of our memories of that first Christmas are rooted in the deeply disturbing darkness revealed in Matthew’s narrative.
How a secular power was so willing to invoke violence to kill the most vulnerable of his day in his efforts to cling to his own power. The followup narrative of the Holy Family having to flee their own country as refugees and escape to another country looks back to the exile of the Is-
and then the sanctuary, where the new altar rested with no altar cloth, candles, cross, or the Book of Gospels.
Those would adorn the altar immediately after the consecration.
In his homily, Bishop Beckman quoted from the prophet Isaiah, “Prepare the way of the Lord.
raelites in Egypt but sadly also points forward to the many people today fleeing from violence and poverty in our world who also often find “no room in the inn.” The Catholic Church preserves this dangerous memory every year with the feast of the Holy Innocents on Dec. 28.
For me it is the Gospel of Christmas Day from John that holds together the many elements of the Christmas mystery. In bold proclamation, it is John’s Gospel that announces most poetically the great mystery of the Incarnation—that the Word who was forever with God and is God has become flesh and dwelt among us (literally pitched His tent.) God has taken on our humanity; God has His own “skin
Make straight a path for our God” — a call to repentance.
“And today so beautifully, we mark this occasion by consecrating for you a new altar, a beautiful symbol of Christ the Lord right here in our midst in which the great mystery of His dying and rising and the great paschal mystery become present every time the Eucharist is celebrated,” the bishop said.
He noted how it was so fitting that the Mass began by sprinkling the altar with blessed water—“a reminder that the great gateway into the life of the kingdom of God begins in water.”
He asked the congregation to think of John out along the Jordan River, noting that he must have been a “sensation” in his day, attracting people from all over Jerusalem, Judea, and throughout that region to hear his preaching.
“Something about his preaching moved people to go down into the waters of the Jordan River, a sign of repentance,” the bishop said.
“And yet for us, who are Christians, there is more to it than that turning from sin. It is being im-
in the game”! There is no situation in our world, no human suffering and misery that anyone ever must suffer alone because God made flesh has embraced all time and history. We are never abandoned but embraced by love itself.
The Christmas mystery invites us all to put our “skin in the game”—to be so united with the Word made flesh that His love once more becomes embodied in us. It is we ourselves in our own time and place who must once more give “birth” to Christ.
As we celebrate Christmas this year, may we be so intimately united to Christ that we bear his light for all the world! Christmas blessings to you and your families in this most holy season ■
COURTESY OF ROBERT JONES/OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP PARISH
Altar dedication Bishop Mark Beckman consecrates the new altar at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Chattanooga on Dec. 7. Assisting the bishop are Father Andrew Crabtree, center, and Father Arthur Torres.
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Called By Name Sunday
Diocese of Knoxville Office of Vocations
Januar y 17-18, 2026 Called By Name Sunday
Januar y 17-18, 2026
Across the Diocese of Knoxville, parishes will obser ve Called By Name Sunday, a time to ref lect on how God calls each person to follow Him with pur pose and g enerosity T his diocesan initiative invites all of us to recognize, encourag e, and suppor t vocations within our faith community
Earlier this fall, Bishop Beckman sent a letter to all parishes outlining the pur pose of Called By Name Sunday and inviting parishioners to suppor t vo cations in a special way Parishes will be sharing this messag e locally through their bulletins and communication channels
During the weekend Masses, priests throughout the diocese will speak about their own jour ney to the priesthood, how they discer ned God’s invitation and responded in tr ust.
Parishioners are invited to take par t in two simple ways that help our community nur ture future vocations:
1) Be open to God’s call. If you feel drawn to priesthood or consecrated life, tr ust that God gives the g race and courag e needed to respond.
2) Prayerfully consider someone in your parish who may have the qualities for priesthood or consecrated life.
During the weekend of Januar y 17–18, 2026, cards will be available in the pews at ever y Mass for you to write the name and contact infor mation of someone you believe God may be calling to the priesthood or religious life After the cards are collected, Bishop Beckman and our Vocation Director, Fr Mark Schuster, will personally reach out to those individuals with a letter of encourag ement
God is the one who calls, but He often uses our voice of encourag ement and invitation to do so With your help, we can make this Called By Name Sunday a g reat succ ess that will bear fr uit in our diocese for g enerations to come T hank you for your openness and g enerous par ticipation
Resources can be found at: Dioknox org/called-by-name
Kroger, Maher perform for a capacity crowd
Tour visits St. John Neumann Parish
By Maggie Parsons
On night two in their returning countrywide Cathedrals tour, Catholic musicians Matt Maher and Sarah Kroger made a stop at St. John Neumann Church in Farragut for a night of Advent worship on Dec. 5.
The “Cathedrals: An Advent Night of Worship” stopped at 11 cities around the country, visiting different parishes to worship with different communities.
The sold-out show in the Diocese of Knoxville, with around 700 hundred in attendance, followed the tour opener in Nashville, with over 1,100 in attendance at the Diocese
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are close to three minutes long and do not require deep dives into Scripture. In addition to the podcast, Mrs. Angel also has written a book titled Memorize Scripture: Simple Steps to Pray, Ponder, and Practice God’s Word
The Angels’ website storefront describes the book as “a 12-month journey into the timeless beauty and transformative power of Scripture memorization. With 120 carefully selected verses, each organized into 12 thematic chapters, Jackie equips you with practical tools to make memorization simple, meaningful, and accessible.”
Mrs. Angel talks about how her family life while growing up has made her who she is as a mother. She was raised by her Catholic mother and atheist father. Her father wasn’t the emotional type and didn’t take the time to build his children’s confidence. She recalled that she “never had Daddy tell her that she was a pretty little girl.” And her mother would often make comments about her body that made her feel bad about herself, not because her mother was trying to put her down but just a comment about how she could be something better “if only I tried harder.”
Reflecting that pain, Mrs. Angel ensures her kids know they are loved, even when they are throwing tantrums and getting into trouble.
She remembers a time her daughter was being disciplined for hitting her brother, sharing how as a child her daughter internalized the thought that when she did bad things, her parents didn’t love her anymore. So, Mrs. Angel told her, “Mommy and Daddy love you even when you do bad things.”
Later, Mrs. Angel was preparing for her mother to visit when her daughter asked if she was trying to impress “Gigi” (Mrs. Angel’s mother). When Mrs. Angel explained she was trying to get a room ready for Gigi, her daughter asked, “She’s your mommy and she’ll love you no matter what, right?” This showed Mrs. Angel that her daughter “understood that a mommy and daddy should love their kids no matter what.”
She continued to say how she has noticed many Catholics can lose sight of God’s unconditional love by thinking they are only loved by God when they continue to pray the rosary, regularly go to confession, and attend daily Mass—they must earn God’s love. She pointed out the mistake: “If you have to earn someone’s love, that also means you can lose their love. And that’s not how God works.”
Just as Mrs. Angel shares her love with her kids, God loves His children even when they sin, noting that we are His children and that insecurities are not the only wounds people bear.
Many women have suffered from abuse, which can have a lasting impact, according to Ms. Angel. There’s an inability to trust from the fear it could happen again. The isolation for protecting oneself creeps in until it’s too much to bear. Leaving an abusive relationship can be just as hard as going through it, especially if children are involved.
Many mothers must reface their abuser every time they drop their kids off with their father. And many
of Nashville’s Catholic Pastoral Center the previous night.
In promoting the tour, Mr. Maher and Ms. Kroger invited concertgoers to experience a close, community-filled evening of worship, reflection, and music amid Advent as Catholics prepare their hearts for Christmas.
The hope of the singers/songwriters is to break up the busyness of the Christmas season and to remove the distractions of the secular world. They provided a space to breathe, deepen faith, and fill hearts with hope.
Mr. Maher and Ms. Kroger offer prayers, Scripture, music, and sto-
Advent concert continued on page
don’t have the financial means to start over. Just as the feelings of insecurities can hinder a woman from reaching her potential, they also strain a relationship with the Lord.
Some girls are forced to endure abuse at an early age, and it has dramatic effects on their ability to give and receive love, from friends and family, and God, research has shown. Just like an orchid, the trauma they carry demands constant and tiresome care.
Mrs. Angel described how the devil wants us to keep our wounds in the dark, where it can harm us— just as it would harm an orchid. The reason, Mrs. Angel explained, is “the devil wants us to keep all this stuff in the dark because that’s where he gets his power over it.”
She explained that the only combat against the darkness and Satan is light, so bringing out pain into the light is the first step toward healing. She compared it to gold.
“When gold is refined, it is heated into liquid and all of the impurities rise to the top and are thrown out. This happens over and over again until the goldsmith knows it’s pure when he can look at his reflection. That is what God is doing with our hearts,” she said. “We are being refined over and over and over again. Our sins are coming to the top; our wounds are coming to the top; our brokenness is coming up. God is refining us into something pure.”
As the faithful allow themselves to open up and come to the light, they are forced to face their pain and to let it out.
Mrs. Angel gave this reminder: “The beautiful thing is Jesus does not abandon us in the pain. He is
right there with us. And in those really painful moments of our lives where all that stuff is coming to the top, Jesus asks us to give it to Him.”
At St. John Neumann, Mrs. Angel offered insight on why people sin within their search for love. She explained that as people seek out love from other places, they find themselves covered in sin. As they search for happiness, they take the quickest route to get it even though it’s only temporary.
“It felt good to eat a whole cheesecake, and now it doesn’t feel so good. It felt good in the moment to do this with this person, but now it doesn't make sense. That's what sin does. … We look for love in all the wrong places.”
From childhood, everyone carries wounds into adulthood that hinder the ability to see and accept God’s love. People tell themselves, “I’m not pretty enough or I’m not smart enough,” or the opposite, and then feel they should be punished for who they are.
And while people are human, and they sin, there is a wonderful and loving God who wants His children to seek Him out and accept His love. Sin is forgiven out of God’s love.
Mrs. Angel explained how people have a natural need for approval and love from others. “Each one of us has a deep desire to be loved, and that’s a good desire. It’s a good desire that we want to be seen. It’s a good desire that we want someone to know us and love us no matter what.”
“That’s the deepest desire in our hearts. And the thing is, we know that when we take that to God. God does know us and loves us and sees us. And He has known us since
before our conception. He knows every hair on our head,” she said.
Mrs. Angel recalled that as her parents raised her, she felt that she could be loved only when she was accomplishing something. She had to have the best grades; her clothes needed to be nice and fit well. She felt that she had to earn their love.
This was something that she wanted to improve on with her own children.
“For my two oldest daughters, I say this to them, ‘why do I love you?’ And I have them say to me, ‘because I'm your daughter.’ Then, I go, ‘That's right,’” she said.
“Do I love you because you’re good at piano? No. I say, ‘Do I love you because you’re good at math? No. I say, ‘Why do I love you?’ And they go, ‘Because I'm your daughter.’ And I say that's right.”
The Angels also co-wrote a devotional for married couples who want to have a strong start to their marriage or revitalize a marriage of several years. The 2017 title, Forever: Marriage Devotional, takes inspiration from Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body. Mrs. Angel’s husband also has written several other books about faith restoration, recovery, discernment, and other faith topics.
While women of all ages attended her talk in Farragut, Mrs. Angel was speaking particularly to women of marriage and child-bearing age. Her platform primarily covers women’s life before and after marriage and motherhood. She and husband cover marriage topics together and offer advice to their audience.
Some of those attending Mrs. Angel’s talk were students from St. John XXIII Parish on the University of Tennessee-Knoxville campus. Many of them said they “look up to Jackie because she’s a good example of a strong relationship and (she) isn’t afraid to address questions that many of us (young women) have.”
One of the young female students said, “I really connect with Jackie because when she was talking about her family and how she grew up, I could really see myself as a little girl and how I’m still that little girl and still need all that love I was missing then. She talked about remembering to love ourselves and let ourselves be loved because we still are those little girls, just in an older body. I think that was really important because we carry our problems all our life and if we remembered to be patient with ourselves and, you know, gave things to Jesus, we’d have so much light in our hearts.”
The Angels also have a YouTube series in collaboration with Ascension, a Catholic media network that aims to present “truth and beauty of the Catholic faith by serving parishes, schools, small groups, and individuals through innovation resources and powerful media.”
The Angels’ series hosted by Ascension can found on YouTube at tinyurl. com/2pvecpkd Mrs. Angel’s social media platform is geared toward relationship advice for women. She speaks about dating and marriage, motherhood, chastity, and how to make God a priority in relationships and daily life. Her most popular platform is Instagram, where she frequently posts short videos, or reels, giving advice on any of these topics. ■
Addressing the wounds Above: Jackie Angel delivers a talk to a near-capacity audience at St. John Neumann Church in Farragut on Oct. 21. Mrs. Angel's talk was sponsored by the Catholic Women’s Team of Knoxville. Below: Mrs. Angel autogaphs copies of one of her books for young women attending her talk.
An Advent night of worship Popular Catholic singers/songwriters Matt Maher and Sarah Kroger performed their inspirational songs of faith at St. John Neumann Church in Farragut on Dec. 5. The concert was part of their "Cathedrals: An Advent Night of Worship" national tour.
MAGGIE PARSONS (2)
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St. Patrick Parish Knights of Columbus mark 50 years ‘Building up a communion of love’
By Dan McWilliams
The Knights of Columbus from St. Patrick in Morristown celebrated their 50th anniversary this fall, and Richard Hidalgo has been there for the entire half-century of a council that has taken part in virtually every aspect of parish life and in the community at large.
Mr. Hidalgo, 85, is the only surviving charter member among the 32 men who founded Joseph P. Doherty Council 6730 in 1975. Thenpastor Father Sterling McGuire asked Mr. Doherty, one of a few parishioners who had been driving to Knoxville to attend meetings of Knights Council 645, to address St. Patrick men about forming a council there. Mr. Doherty’s presentations over two weekends were so good that it motivated the 32 men to form Council 6730, Mr. Hidalgo said.
“I was one of them. I was 12,” the charter member quipped.
Bishop Mark Beckman celebrated an anniversary Mass for the council—now 125 members strong—on Nov. 1 at St. Patrick Church, with a dinner and program following at nearby Morristown Landing. Mr. Hidalgo proclaimed both readings and read the closing announcements at Mass, and fellow council members served as ushers and took up the offertory. Fourth Degree Knights of Bernard O’Connor Assembly in Morristown provided an honor guard for the liturgy.
“Tonight, we honor in a special way this local council of the Knights of Columbus to mark 50 years. What a great milestone that is, of building up a communion of love in this community,” Bishop Beckman said.
St. Patrick associate pastor Father Hoan Dinh concelebrated the Mass and in opening remarks welcomed the bishop to the church, and parish Deacon Jim Fage and Deacon Hicks Armor assisted.
State Deputy Eric Pelton of St. Jude Parish in Chattanooga, Council 6730 Grand Knight Dave Howells and many of his predecessors in that leading role, and numerous current Knights attended the Mass and dinner, where council wives also received a special mention. Mr. Hidalgo shared many memories from the council’s 50 years in a talk after dinner, telling of the Knights’ work with the intellectually disabled and numerous other causes, and he received a special award from Mr. Howells at the end of the evening.
All
the Souls
The Mass was held on the vigil of
All Souls.
“One of the most important gifts of the Knights of Columbus, I believe, is our Knights help men in our communities to grow, a place where brothers help brothers to become more like Christ, to live the Beatitudes of the Gospel that we heard tonight,” Bishop Beckman said. “An active and growing and thriving council in a parish community supports the building of communion of the brothers and sisters of this community in a beautiful way.”
The anniversary celebration, held one day before the official 50year mark on the Knights council’s charter, fell at an appropriate time on the Church calendar, the bishop said.
“I think it fitting tonight that we honor the Knights of this council and celebrate this milestone on a feast like the feast of All the Souls,” he said. “Why is that so important?
Because this feast day reminds us that God has put us together in His Church, in a communion of love, and that itself does not separate us from those who have gone before us . . . Something that we can do to support them . . . is we pray for them, that the Lord will purify them and draw them to Himself.”
Bishop Beckman spoke of St. Monica, mother of St. Augustine, as “one of the most beautiful examples of that communion of love I have found . . .when she was approaching her hour of death.”
St. Augustine in his Confessions remembers that “the day is now approaching” when his mother would pass away.
“‘One thing only I ask you: that you remember me at the altar of the Lord wherever you may be,’” the bishop said in quoting St. Monica. “Those words of Monica spoken to her sons: ‘Do not worry about where you will bury my body. One
thing alone I ask: wherever you go, at the altar of the Lord, always remember me.’
“Isn’t that what we do tonight at this altar, on this feast of All the Souls, as we do at every Mass? We remember those who have gone before us at the altar of the Lord, and there is no place in the world, I believe, that we are closer to our loved ones than here in this place, as we celebrate the Eucharist at the altar of the Lord.”
Bishop Beckman thanked Mr. Hidalgo for his service not only at the Mass but for the Knights council over its 50 years.
“He is the only charter member of the council left. It is wonderful to have you serving in this role tonight at the liturgy,” the bishop said, adding that “I told him he must have been 2 when he became a Knight,” a remark followed by a round of applause for Mr. Hidalgo.
The charter member, who attended the Mass and dinner with his wife of 62 years, Valerie, said after the liturgy that he is “the only one left” from the original council members.
“It’s incredible. These are wonderful people, and the ones who preceded them, all of these folks, are terrific, too. I’m missing a lot of my brother Knights, but this has been a grand time for us,” Mr. Hidalgo said. “We’ve had 50 successful years as a council, so we’re really happy for that.”
A shared vision
Those early years were “very exciting,” Mr. Hidalgo said, “because 32 people joined.”
“That was a big group to join the Knights, and so we hit the ground running,” he said. “We got noticed by the state right away, and we did a lot of good things.”
From 1980 to 2015, Council 6730 operated the Sutherland-Metz group home for intellectually disabled men.
“That was one of the many things we did. We had ‘Holy Bingo’ here every Wednesday while we could. We did a lot of good things because of bingo. We brought the parish together. We had some good dinners—any kind of festivity, the Knights of Columbus were there,” Mr. Hidalgo shared.
The group home was named after council members Tom Sutherland and Chuck Metz.
“It was very successful, and we had wonderful house parents who took care of the men. That was a big plus for us,” Mr. Hidalgo said.
“Chuck Metz and Tom Sutherland—Tom was a retired Navy guy
Knights continued on page A22
Vatican OKs new Liturgy of the Hours edition
Latest version of ancient daily
By Lauretta Brown OSV News
The faithful can expect a new edition of the Liturgy of the Hours by Easter 2027, according to Bishop Steven J. Lopes, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Divine Worship who made the announcement Nov. 11 during the bishops’ fall meeting.
To loud applause from the bishops assembled, Bishop Lopes, head of the Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter, shared the news that the Vatican’s Dicastery for Divine Worship issued a decree approving the new edition of the Church’s ancient daily liturgical prayer.
The Liturgy of the Hours, or the Divine Office, is the daily prayer of the Church and sanctifies the day with prayer. This liturgical prayer also takes different set forms within the Latin Catholic and 23 Eastern Catholic churches that together make the worldwide Catholic Church, and each form has prayers that vary in accordance with each particular church’s calendar.
The standard Liturgy of the Hours in the Roman rite of the Latin Church is divided into five “hours” or parts prayed at different times each day: the of-
liturgical prayer is expected by Easter 2027
fice of readings; morning prayer or lauds; daytime prayer; evening prayer or vespers; and night prayer or compline. These five parts, which draw from Scripture, particularly the Psalms, usually take less than 20 minutes to pray.
Outgoing USCCB president Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the U.S. Archdiocese for Military Ser-
vices signed the decree of publication, moving the process to the publishers.
“It is imagined, because that’s a bit of a complicated work to produce a four-volume work like that, that the first volume to be released will be Volume Two: Lent and Easter and so that will be able to go into effect for Ash Wednesday of 2027,”
Bishop Lopes said.
Bishop Lopes expressed his gratitude to the body of bishops for its patience and work over “what has been a 13-year process” from when the bishops first agreed to begin work on revising the Liturgy of the Hours in November 2012 with the aim of retranslation to “more accurately reflect the original Latin texts.”
On Oct. 7, Ascension and Word on Fire Publishing announced that they had been selected as publishers for the new edition.
At the time, Word on Fire’s senior publishing director, Brandon Vogt, said that Word on Fire was honored to be selected. He told OSV News that the organization published booklets to help the lay faithful—30,000 subscribers—in praying the Liturgy of the Hours, which he called the “highest form of prayer” after the Mass and sacraments.
Liturgy continued on page A14
DAN MCWILLIAMS
Golden Knights Above: Richard Hidalgo, center, the only surviving charter member of Knights of Columbus Council 6730, stands with Grand Knight
Dave Howells, left, and Greg Oparyk of the Knights of Columbus, who served as anniversary-dinner emcee. Below: Bishop Mark Beckman celebrates Mass for the 50th anniversary of the Knights of Columbus at St. Patrick Parish. Father Hoan Dinh, left, St. Patrick associate pastor, concelebrated the Mass. Assisting the bishop are Deacon Hicks Armor, right, and Deacon Jim Fage.
New edition The Liturgy of the Hours, also called the Divine Office, is a widely used daily prayer of the universal Church that sanctifies each day with prayer.
Pope, Archbishop Pérez share message of hope with youth attending NCYC Jesus ‘is the king of our hearts’
By Sean Gallagher
The Criterion/OSV News
Philadelphia Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez looked out from a sanctuary built on the floor of Lucas Oil Stadium on the 16,000 youths from across the country who came to Indianapolis for the National Catholic Youth Conference Nov. 20-22. He shared with them a message of hope he wanted them to nurture in their hearts as they returned to their homes.
“When you feel lost, Jesus is your shepherd,” Archbishop Pérez said in his homily during the conference's closing Mass on Nov. 22. “Remember that. When you feel you’re in darkness, Jesus is your light. When you feel you're absolutely hungry and your soul is weighed down, Jesus is your bread.”
Jesus, he returned to again and again in his homily on the feast of Christ the King, is the “king of our hearts.”
In reflecting on Christ the King, Archbishop Pérez said that He is not a king in the way that the world views such rulers.
“His throne is a cross,” he said. “His crown is not made of gold and gems. It’s made of thorns. He doesn’t wear fancy, beautiful, priceless rings on His hands. He has nails.”
According to the world, Christ’s death on the cross was “the worst of all ways to execute a criminal.”
But, because of Christ’s resurrection, the Church in faith proclaims that His crucifixion was actually a great victory for Him and all who believe in Him.
“Goodness has won,” Archbishop Pérez said. “Christ the King has already given us victory. We have to embrace that, internalize that, and
make that a part of who we are. And that’s the journey of our Christian life.”
Three times in his homily, Archbishop Pérez cried out in a popular and historic phrase in Spanish, “Viva Cristo Rey!” (“Long live Christ the King!”). And each time, the congregation cried out the common reply, “Que viva!” (“He lives!”).
Because the centerpiece of this year’s NCYC was a nearly hourlong video interaction of the participants with Pope Leo XIV, Archbishop Pérez reflected in his homily on parts of the pontiff’s message.
He reminded them in the pope’s words that Jesus “‘knows when life feels heavy. Even you do not feel His presence; our faith tells us He is there.’”
Archbishop Pérez encouraged them in the pope’s words to take
“‘daily moments of silence … whether through adoration, or reading Scripture, or simply talking to’” Jesus in order to build up a relationship with Him and to “‘entrust their struggles’” to Him.
“‘Little by little, we learn to hear His voice both from within and through the people He sends us. As you grow closer to Jesus, do not fear what He may ask you for. If He challenges you to make changes in your life, it's always because He wants to give you a greater joy and freedom. God is never outdone in generosity.’”
Archbishop Pérez offered a heartfelt prayer at the end of his homily after quoting Pope Leo’s words.
“Thank you, Lord, for the visit of your vicar,” he said. “We are blessed and honored to have had him with us. And thank you, Lord, for being our King, for being the King of our
hearts.”
The archbishop and the 16,000 youths in the stadium then ended the homily as they had begun it.
“Viva Cristo Rey!” “Que viva!” “Viva Cristo Rey!” “Que viva!” “Viva Cristo Rey!” “Que viva!”
The love for Christ that the youths and their chaperones showed during the homily poured forth during Communion when many knelt and raised their hands in prayer, entering into the popular praise and worship music that the conference’s house band played.
As Archbishop Pérez, more than 20 concelebrating bishops, and nearly 250 concelebrating priests processed from the stadium’s floor at the end of the closing Mass, the house band struck up again the praise and worship music that filled the hearts of the 16,000 youths who joyfully celebrated their faith.
With the music continuing to play and youths still overflowing with joy in the stadium, Karyna Lopez spoke in a concourse of the stadium about experiencing her second NCYC.
“It was so good that I had to come again,” Karyna, a teenager from the Diocese of Jefferson City, Mo., told The Criterion, Indianapolis' archdiocesan news outlet. “The Holy Spirit is very strong here. Everyone is just so inspired for the Lord.”
Like many of the other teens who attended NCYC, Karyna took memories of her encounter with Pope Leo as she left Lucas Oil Stadium and prepared to return home.
“We got to see the pope,” she said with joy. “It was amazing. He had so much wisdom to share. I’m just glad that I got to experience that.”
One of the most impactful experiences of the National Catholic Youth NCYC continued on page A19
Contingent from East Tennessee participates in national conference Diocesan youth take part in NCYC
By Amanda Henderson
Youth from across the Diocese of Knoxville joined some 16,000 Catholic teenagers and ministry leaders from around the country for the National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) Nov. 20-22.
The three-day gathering invites high-school youth to encounter Christ through prayer, worship, and fellowship, offering a powerful experience of the universal Church.
This year’s theme centered on Moses and the burning bush, focusing on God’s holy name, “I AM,” and reminding teens that God continues to call His people today—choosing, transforming, anointing, healing, and sending them forth.
Several parishes from the diocese participated, attending either with the diocesan delegation or with individual parish groups. The diocesan presence included more than 125 teens and adult leaders. For many, the magnitude of the gathering left a deep impression.
“I actually gasped when I walked into the stadium,” said Olivia from St. Jude Parish in Chattanooga. “Seeing that many young Catholics and how on fire they were for the faith—it was incredible.”
Youth ministers shared similar reactions.
Susan Collins, director of religious education and youth ministry at Notre Dame Parish in Greeneville, said her most memorable moment was witnessing “16,000 teens coming together in prayer during adoration in Lucas Oil Stadium,” adding, “Wow! The place was so on fire for Christ. It brought tears to my eyes.”
The digital encounter with Pope Leo was another highlight that united the entire stadium. Pauline O’Keeffe, the director of youth ministry at St. Alphonsus Parish in
Crossville, shared that her group “returned home eager to grow more involved in their faith and parish life. Mission accomplished!”
For many teens, the weekend offered connection and encouragement they had never experienced before. Sarah, from St. Mary Parish
in Oak Ridge, said realizing that thousands of teens were “searching for God’s grace and guidance just like I was” helped her feel deeply connected to the wider Church.
Lila from St. Jude Parish said NCYC “helped me open my heart to the Lord and His plans,” while Lucy from St. Mary recalled the unforgettable silence of thousands of teens united in eucharistic adoration.
In addition to the large gatherings, participants attended breakout sessions on topics ranging from discipleship to vocations. Mrs. Collins noted that teens appreciated choosing sessions based on their interests—some held in rooms that fit 100 and others drawing nearly 1,000.
She said the youth “witnessed a vibrant Church, filled with the Holy Spirit, and met in person the speakers and musicians they had only seen in classroom videos.”
Many rural parishes expressed deep gratitude for the support that made this pilgrimage possible.
“Being from a rural area, many of our youth would not be able to attend such a gathering without fundraising efforts,” Mrs. Collins said. “We are very appreciative of the organizations and individuals whose generosity made this trip possible.”
Throughout the weekend, teens participated in Mass, received the sacrament of reconciliation, joined in service activities, and enjoyed opportunities to meet peers from across the country. For several, the music that opened each session and the testimonies from youth their own age were particularly impactful
As these young people return home, the hope is that the fire ignited at NCYC will continue to shine in their hearts, strengthening them as joyful missionary disciples in East Tennessee. ■
Youth engagement Pope Leo XIV speaks on Nov. 21 with some 16,000 Catholic youths gathered in Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis for the National Catholic Youth Conference. The pontiff had a 45-minute live video encounter with the youths, which was moderated by Katie Prejean McGrady.
Discovering who 'I AM' Above: Participants from the Diocese of Knoxville at the National Catholic Youth Conference, held Nov. 20-22 in Indianapolis, gather for a photo opportunity in Lucas Oil Stadium, which hosted some 16,000 teenagers and ministry leaders from around the United States. Below: Another group from the Diocese of Knoxville attending NCYC takes its seats in Lucas Oil Stadium for the festivities.
COURTESY OF AMANDA HENDERSON (2)
Chronicling Fr. Ryan’s path to sainthood
Deacon DeGaetano pens book on Servant of God; cause takes important step
By Maggie Parsons
The cause for sainthood of Servant of God Father Patrick Ryan, whose ministry in the 1800s centered on Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Chattanooga, is advancing as it takes its canonical journey to the next level.
In May, the Vatican validated the diocesan inquiry, approving the process performed by the Diocese of Knoxville that serves as an initial, local investigation, led by the bishop, that gathered documents and testimonies about the life and virtues of Father Ryan.
With the Vatican determining that the diocesan inquiry was done correctly, Father Ryan’s cause will now proceed to the Roman phase, which involves the historical and theological examinations. Then the final document will be presented to the Holy Father for approval.
The next major goal will be to have Father Ryan named “venerable.”
As Father Ryan receives pontifical review, Deacon Gaspar DeGaetano, the retired vice postulator for the Chattanooga priest’s cause, has published a book about Father Ryan’s life titled A Cause Whose Time Has Come, in which he highlights the importance of the Sts. Peter and Paul pastor who died a martyr’s death in Chattanooga’s yellow fever epidemic of 1878 when he was only 33 years old.
“I wanted something interesting to work on; it turned out to be just a great gift. It’s something that if I had a dream of what I would really want to do, that was it,” said Deacon DeGaetano, who spoke with joy about the process of writing the book.
Deacon DeGaetano discussed how his journey in writing the book was a short one although the research involved occurred over years.
“I would start telling these stories years ago, and somebody would say, ‘You ought to write a book,’ and then I thought to myself, I'll start collecting information. And that started the whole process,” he said.
“I would put things in a file on my phone. I wrote this whole book on my phone, and I would just think someday I’ll get to work on it,” the deacon who has served at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul said. “When I ended up retiring, it was less than a year that I finally put it all together.”
continued from page A12
“The success of these booklets has positioned Word on Fire well to publish the new Liturgy of the Hours, Second Edition,” Mr. Vogt added. Jonathan Strate, president and CEO of Ascension, said in a press release at the time that the company was honored to serve as publisher for the new edition.
“Our goal is to create a reverent and beautiful edition that embodies the dignity of the Church’s common prayer. This new translation marks an extraordinary moment for Catholics everywhere,” he said.
Ahead of the new English edition of the Liturgy of the Hours to be released, liturgical experts have been encouraging parishes and other Catholic communities to begin praying the Liturgy of the Hours.
While it is a required prayer for clergy, the Church encourages the faithful to take it up as it is meant to “become the prayer of the whole people of God,” according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church Sacrosanctum Concilium, the Second Vatican Council’s Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, encourages the laity to pray the Divine Office “either with the priests, or among themselves, or even individually.”
The Liturgy of the Hours (Liturgia Horarum in Latin), also known as the Divine Office or Opus Dei (“Work of God”) is a set of Catholic prayers comprising the canonical hours of the
Telling the sainthood story
Above: Deacon Gaspar DeGaetano's display on Father Patrick Ryan at St. Jude School in Chattanooga featured him signing a book he has written on the Servant of God titled A Cause Whose Time Has Come Left: A prayer card for Servant of God Father Patrick Ryan. Below: Deacon DeGaetano is shown at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Chattanooga at the grave of Father Ryan, whose remains have since been relocated to the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul and placed in a tomb inside the basilica nave next to the sanctuary as part of his sainthood cause.
Deacon DeGaetano explained how what began as a response to a comment ended as a reward of a gift to the Church to be able to discuss the life of such a faithful servant of God.
In Deacon DeGaetano’s book, there are 12 chapters that chronicle the process thus far of the sainthood cause. He covers each step from his personal point of view
universal Church.
The Liturgy of the Hours forms the official set of prayers “marking the hours of each day and sanctifying the day with prayer.”
The term “Liturgy of the Hours” has been retroactively applied to the practices of saying the canonical hours in both the Christian East and West—particularly within the Latin liturgical rites prior to the Second Vatican Council, and is the official term for the canonical hours promulgated for usage by the Latin Church in 1971. Before 1971, the official form for the Latin Church was the Breviarium Romanum, first published in 1568 with major editions through 1962.
The Liturgy of the Hours, like many other forms of the canonical hours, consists primarily of psalms supplemented by hymns, readings, and other prayers and antiphons prayed at fixed prayer times. Together with the Mass, it constitutes the public prayer of the Church.
Prayer of the Divine Office is an obligation undertaken by priests and deacons intending to become priests. It also is prayed by permanent deacons. Religious also pray the Liturgy of the Hours daily.
The chant or recitation of the Divine Office forms the basis of prayer within the consecrated life, with some of the monastic or mendicant orders producing their own versions of the Liturgy of the Hours and the older Roman Breviary. ■
He said “yes” to God by taking action as an act of faith to be able to highlight someone who devoted his life and then gave his life so faithfully.
In helping to promote his book, and to help others continue to be educated on Father Ryan’s life, Deacon DeGaetano has done multiple book signings since his work was published.
He pointed out that the signings were not to generate popularity but to help in continuing Father Ryan’s cause toward sainthood.
“The book signing is to promote the cause. It promotes it financially, and then it promotes it by information we share,” he remarked.
As the sainthood cause proceeds, it needs additional financial support to help cover the process of examinations.
Deacon DeGaetano is using earnings from his book sales to help support the cause in more ways than one.
Father David Carter, rector of the basilica, who has had a vital role in the sainthood cause, discussed where the diocese is in the comprehensive, yearslong process.
“We had the diocesan inquiry that concluded a couple of years ago, and since then we hand-delivered the diocesan inquiry acts,”
Father Carter said. “The first step is the verification of the diocesan inquiry, the canonical study. So, did you follow the proper procedures and processes? Did you do everything you were supposed to do, and can it be verified?”
“We submitted the cause to that study, and we have since gotten the decree that it was canonically verified, and now we’ve passed the first major hurdle in the Roman phase,” he said. “It’s now being submitted to the historical censors. These are the people who are going to be looking at it since there were no live witnesses. It’s all based on the history, looking at if the historical commission in the diocesan inquiry did its job correctly.”
and what it has meant to him to be a part of a remarkable undertaking.
“It was just a great joy saying yes to what you think might be an inspiration if it's something you'd like to do, and some ideal thing you'd like to do to just say let's give it a try and let's do it,” Deacon DeGaetano said, discussing what one of his roles was in the cause that led him to write his book.
Because a sainthood cause is so special and unique, Father Carter discussed why someone’s cause for sainthood is so important in the Catholic Church.
“Making saints is the No. 1 primary duty of the Catholic Church. That’s why we exist: to make saints. So, finding those people who exemplify the Catholic Christian way of living, and then hold-
Sainthood continued on page A19
Liturgy
ries to provide those in attendance with hope as they walk away feeling closer to Jesus since He is the reason for the season.
Mr. Maher opened the concert with “O Come, O Come Emmanuel,” with Ms. Kroger providing harmony and encouraging others to sing along. Emmanuel (meaning God is with us) in the song is a reminder that God is with everyone in this special season. As Mr. Maher sang his rendition, the congregation meditated on the lyrics for the coming of the Lord.
“Rejoice, for to all of us is born a Savior of the world. A weary soul take heart, for help is on its way, and holy is His name,” he sang out, reminding all not to fear because hope is coming at hand for all.
The musicians paid attention to each detail in all aspects of the concert to stay on theme for the Advent season. One of the beautiful ways they did that was by projecting different-colored lights to the ceiling above where they performed. The colors reflected the Advent/Christmas season and intensified the beauty of the sanctuary by projecting off of the gold
mosaics behind the crucifix above the altar.
To help incorporate more intimate quietness with the Lord, Mr. Maher and Ms. Kroger incorporated eucharistic adoration in the second half of the concert.
“In the busyness of the Advent season, just take a moment to slow down and let God look at you, and you look at Him,” Mr. Maher remarked.
In preparation for his audience to come face to face with the Lord in eucharistic adoration, Mr. Maher recalled a story from St. John Vianney that he keeps with him as a reminder to always have that intimate moment with Jesus.
Mr. Maher invited all those in the pews, from any walk of life, to kneel before Jesus in such a reverent moment. As the holy Eucharist was brought to the altar, everyone who was able fell to their knees as they became face to face with Jesus.
With his guitar in hand and leading the congregation in hymns of prayer, Mr. Maher himself knelt before the monstrance, exemplifying that pure relationship with Jesus that He invites in all hearts.
To take part in a giving time
mersed into the mystery of Christ Himself, baptized into His dying so that we can rise with Him.”
He noted that as part of being baptized to Christ, an integral part of that sacrament is being anointed with the sacred chrism.
Bishop Beckman recalled with joy when he was ordained the fourth bishop of the Diocese of Knoxville on July 26, 2024, that Archbishop Shelton J. Fabre anointed him with “an abundance” of chrism, the fragrance of which he still vividly remembers.
“I preached about this at our Chrism Mass. That is what God is like, such gracious abundance. The presence, and power, and grace of God transform us into a new creation. The fragrance of a new beginning,” the bishop said.
He then asked the congregation to engage in their own recollections.
“As we anoint the altar today, all of you are invited to remember that moment after baptism when your heads were marked with sacred chrism in the sign of the cross,” he said. “This is a day of joyful preparation to meet the Lord.”
The bishop assured OLPH members that great care would be taken in consecrating the new altar.
“But the real preparation always happens in the human heart. And it’s here that we take care during these days of Advent to prepare well for the coming of the Lord. For the great paschal mystery of Jesus dying and rising that unfolds on the altar is meant also to take place in our own hearts. We are to be so united with Jesus, but in dying with Him we rise to eternal life,” the bishop said. “Let us pray that this day will be for each and all of us here a day of great grace.”
Bishop Beckman proceeded to anoint the new altar with holy chrism, carefully pouring the sacred oil in the center and four corners of the altar before covering with the chrism the entire surface of the altar with his hand.
Afterward, Father Torres and Father Crabtree carefully wiped the excess chrism from the surface and
of year, “Cathedrals: An Advent Night of Worship” is sponsored by the International Justice Mission, whose mission is to “protect people in poverty from violence by rescuing victims, bringing criminals to justice, restoring survivors to safety and strength, and helping local law enforcement build a safe future that lasts.”
The performers spoke on what the mission has accomplished during a break in the show, encouraging those in attendance to help any way they could to give the gift of freedom that each person has in Christ.
After Mr. Maher and Ms. Kroger departed from Knoxville, they looked ahead to their remaining nine shows of the tour. They headed next to Chester Springs, Pa., at St. Elizabeth Church, then to Boston at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, on to Brooklyn, N.Y., to the CoCathedral of St. Joseph, then next to Bridgeport, Conn., at the St. Augustine Cathedral Parish. The tour then proceeded to St. Petersburg, Fla., at the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle, and next to Akron, Ind., where they play at Tippecanoe Valley High School in the Performing Arts Center.
Preparing the Lord's table
Left: Bishop Mark Beckman anoints the new altar at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Chattanooga with sacred chrism during the altar's consecration on Dec. 7.
Right: Incense burns in a crucilble on the new OLPH altar symbolizing the prayers of the faithful. Bishop Beckman is assisted by Father Andrew Crabtree, right.
placed an altar cloth atop it.
Then the candles, the altar cross, and the Book of Gospels were carefully positioned in their rightful places before the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
Father Torres explained that relics that are placed into an altar that is being consecrated were already present under the new altar.
“It truly was a blessing for me to concelebrate this consecration of the altar Mass with the bishop because it brought back to me some beautiful memories when I was at the dedication of the new cathedral in Knoxville. I was one of the emcees for that dedication Mass at the time when it happened, and now, seeing my own parish having its altar being consecrated was indeed a holy moment,” Father Torres said.
“And also this is the first time Bishop Mark has consecrated an altar as a bishop. What a joy for him and for us at OLPH to experience such a unique moment that will stay with us forever,” Father Torres continued.
On Aug. 16, Bishop Beckman, Father Torres, and Father Crabtree joined members of OLPH in rededicating the church’s worship space.
The newly renovated sanctuary and nave have given new life to the church that was originally blessed on Sept. 8, 1938.
Bishop Beckman blessed the upgraded worship space, purifying the sanctuary with incense and sprinkling the nave with holy water as a nearly standing-room-only congregation participated.
The consecration of the new altar was an equally sacred and historic moment for the parish.
“Even for the young children that were there, it was very memorable. They made comments like, ‘Wow the church smells like perfume (yes, because of the holy chrism that bishop poured on the altar). Or, ‘Why did the bishop do that on the altar?’ Obviously they didn’t understand at the moment what was happening. But now for them it became clear that our altar was being consecrated for the celebration of Holy Mass,” Father Torres said. ■
From there they traveled to Detroit to visit the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament, and after that they were on to Chicago to perform at Holy Name Cathedral. The tour ended on Dec. 18 with an Advent night of worship in Cleveland at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist.
With 11 shows in two weeks, the talented pair are touching hearts in many cities. Traveling from diocese to diocese to perform at a variety of parishes, they provided a worship experience that is a beautiful journey, reminding all of the quietness needed during a hectic holiday season.
The St. John Neumann concertgoers ended the evening feeling touched by the mystery of God’s Word through music.
In their own spiritual way, Mr. Maher and Ms. Kroger brought the Advent season to life in the lyrics they sang, encouraging each person in the pews to participate in a quiet and intimate moment with the Lord. Their prayer was to not let the moment end after they stopped performing but to keep the Lord present in preparation to celebrate His birth and His life. ■
Altar continued from page A9
Photos by Robert Jones/Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish
St. Christopher marks anniversary
Jamestown parish celebrates 50 years of faith, service in Fentress County
The East Tennessee Catholic
The year 2025 will be reflected in the history of St. Christopher Parish with the achievement of a milestone.
The faith community of St. Christopher in Jamestown proudly celebrated the parish’s 50th anniversary on Aug. 23 as Bishop Mark Beckman led Mass and was the featured guest at a golden-anniversary dinner afterward in St. Teresa Hall.
Father Michael Sweeney, who has served as pastor of St. Christopher since 1999, concelebrated the vigil Mass. He also serves as pastor of Blessed Sacrament in Harriman and St. Ann in Lancing.
Bishop Beckman was familiar with the Jamestown church before he was assigned by Pope Francis as the Diocese of Knoxville’s fourth shepherd, having hiked nearby before becoming a bishop. His familiarity and appreciation for St. Christopher has grown even more.
“One of the things I love about St. Christopher is it’s at the northwestern tip of our diocese, and it was such a joy to celebrate with them the 50th anniversary of their founding as a parish. It’s a real milestone for a community. And there was such joy in the community,” Bishop Beckman said.
Bishop Beckman also spoke of the St. Christopher community’s faith in an especially rural part of the diocese that is surrounded by the beauty of God’s landscape.
“I knew about this parish because I hiked at Pickett State Park before I became bishop-elect. I had seen the church, and I wasn’t even sure at that time that it was in the Diocese of Knoxville until I became the bishop of the diocese. It’s a wonderful faith community, and they have a great pastor,” the bishop added, referring to its picturesque setting on the Cumberland Plateau amid the Cumberland Mountains.
St. Christopher was organized in 1974 as the Jamestown Catholic Mission, connected at that time to Blessed Sacrament. For a short time, Mass was held in the home of Bill and Emily Craven, then at the Fentress County Bank. Mr. Craven, who established a building fund in the mission’s early days, became a Catholic in 1983.
Beginning in 1975, Masses were held at Allardt Presbyterian Church in Allardt, located
southeast of Jamestown, which was the mission’s home for 33 years. Emily Craven located the Allardt Presbyterian Church for the young Catholic mission. Fentress County Catholics honored the Allardt church in October 2002 upon its 100th anniversary.
The mission parish was renamed the Catholic Community of Fentress County upon the Diocese of Knoxville’s establishment in 1988.
Charter parishioner and Jamestown attorney Jim Romer, who married wife Denise on Oct. 11, 1975, at Allardt Presbyterian, has served as a parish leader for St. Christopher since 1990. The Cravens were Denise Romer’s parents.
In 2000, a hillside property totaling 12.45 acres for a new church on Holt Spur Road in Jamestown was purchased from the Holt family by the diocese with the help of the Catholic Foundation of East Tennessee. The site is just off a bypass near the major intersection of U.S. Highway 127 and state Highway 52, and the church can be clearly seen from 127.
Mr. Craven died in 2000. Just a few days after his death, the deed came in on the mission’s newly purchased property.
Parishioners of St. Francis of Assisi in Fair-
field Glade and St. Mary in Gatlinburg, along with other East Tennessee parishes and Catholic Extension, contributed to the St. Christopher building fund.
Bishop Joseph E. Kurtz issued a decree on Nov. 9, 2005, approving parishioners’ choice of St. Christopher as the new name of the parish.
“I was drawn positively to St. Christopher because the word itself means ‘a bearer of Christ,’” Bishop Kurtz said at the time. “The legend is that the Christ Child was borne across a river by St. Christopher.”
Bishop Kurtz said the saint “was at the top of the list” for Fentress parishioners when they formally petitioned him for a name.
The bishop was reminded of the eventual patron of Fentress County Catholics when he visited Cologne, Germany, during summer 2005 for World Youth Day.
“Very prominent in the cathedral is a statue of St. Christopher that has welcomed pilgrims over the centuries,” Bishop Kurtz said. “So, the notions of our being a pilgrim people, bearing Christ in our daily lives, and through baptism bearing Christ to the world make the name
Anniversary
Marking a milestone Left photo: Father Michael Sweeney, right, addresses the St. Christopher congregation on Aug. 23 during Mass, where the parish's 50th anniversary was observed. Bishop Mark Beckman, left, was the Mass celebrant, and he was assisted by Deacon Vic Landa, far left. Right photo: Bishop Beckman celebrates the anniversary Mass, assisted by Deacon Landa.
COURTESY OF JIM ROMER/ST. CHRISTOPHER PARISH (2)
From around the diocese...
Baby on board Pope Leo XIV blesses Lucy Mynatt, one of the newest members of the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga, on Oct. 29 in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican. Lucy and her parents, Gus and Kendall Mynatt, were in Rome in October on a pilgrimage for the Jubilee Year. Lucy's grandparents are Margaret and James Mynatt, who are members of the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, and Leslie and Bob Lockwood of Oregon. The Holy Father blessed Lucy while standing in the Pope Mobile as he was driven around St. Peter's Square at the time of his General Audience.
Sealed with a gift Father Peter Iorio, (above right) pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Alcoa, who also serves as vicar general and moderator of the curia for the Diocese of Knoxville, was asked to celebrate Mass for Vice President J.D. Vance (above left) and his family in November while the vice president was visiting Blount County for an event at the Blackberry Farm resort. Father Iorio said the vice president presented him with a gift, a keepsake bottle of Woodford Reserve from Kentucky embossed with the vice-presidential seal. The vice president spent much time as a child in the Appalachian Mountains of Kentucky. Below: The Blackberry Farm resort in Walland.
Education scholarships Gov. Bill Lee signs the Tennessee Education Freedom Scholarship legislation into law last year. EFS application renewals began Dec. 9 and continue through Jan. 30. New EFS applications are available on Jan. 13 at noon. For information, go to tn.gov/ education/efs.html
Impact assessment Members of the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul turned out en masse for a Chattanooga Regional Planning Commission meeting on Dec. 8 to oppose the rezoning of property directly behind the basilica and the St. Dominic building for a high-rise commercial building.
The basilica is concerned the development will adversely affect the historic church's structural integrity and architecture and negatively impact basilica functions, including Masses
Basilica rector Father David Carter said the proposed 12-story building also would overshadow the basilica campus, including completely blocking light to the 135-year-old church's Tiffany stained-glass windows and worsening already inadequate parking in the area. Father Carter has sent a letter to the ChattanoogaHamilton County Regional Planning Commission to explain the basilica's concerns, and he appeared before the commission on Dec. 8, when the commission delayed action on the rezoning until January. Community members concerned about the development are expected to attend the next hearing
and Kevin
Luke Patrick
Lily
and
and
Distinguished service Former state representative Bill Dunn, who has been serving as an adviser to Gov. Bill Lee, officially retired from public service in October after 31 years. He retired as a legislator when his term was up in 2021.
Mr. Dunn was first elected in November 1993 and during his tenure he served as Speaker Pro Tempore and briefly as House Speaker. For the past five years he has served in Gov. Lee's administration as an adviser on education.
Mr. Dunn was recognized for his years of service during a reception on Nov. 3 in the North Knoxville district he represented in the legislature. During the reception, he was presented with a proclamation from the Tennessee General Assembly honoring him for his service. The proclamation was given to him by (pictured above) state Reps.
Justin
are
and
Jason Zachary, Elaine Davis,
Lafferty,
Dave Wright. He also is pictured with his family. Dunn family members
longtime Diocese of Knoxville parishioners.
Baptismal trifecta Bishop Mark Beckman presided at the sacrament of baptism for not one but three young Catholics on Dec. 6 at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Receiving the sacrament were Liam Anthony Nolan (parents Gabrielle
Nolan), Lily Thérèse Buck (parents Liz and John Buck ), and
Quayle (parents Lizzie
Jay Quayle). Liam Anthony was 7 weeks old,
Thérèse was 10 weeks old,
Luke Patrick was 8 weeks old. The couples are friends and planned the baptism ceremony before their babies arrived.
DAN MCWILLIAMS
Ready for dedication The Diocese of Knoxville's new Holy Cross Cemetery, located at 14301 Northshore Drive, is being dedicated by Bishop Mark Beckman at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 20.
“As part of that process, Hattie is an ambassador for Children’s Hospital. So, you might see photos or videos of her on the hospital’s marketing materials. She is basically a spokesperson for East Tennessee Children’s Hospital,” said Melissa Halter, Hattie’s mother, who serves as a learning specialist and an assistant to intermediate grades at St. Joseph School.
When her mom asked her to describe what she does as a patient ambassador, Hattie said, “We give stuff to people like cards that have me on them and posters and free stuff to get people to buy things that help Children’s Hospital.”
Hattie said she likes Children’s Hospital, and she knows the staff there likes her, too.
Mrs. Halter explained that for the 2025 edition of Fantasy of Trees, the fundraising focus was on hematology oncology—cancer of the blood—so participation in the event by Hattie and her classmates was a divinely inspired kinship.
Hattie’s mother, holding back tears, described with pride her daughter and the third-grader’s courageous efforts. Hattie works hard in class, but the (ophthalmology and endocrinology) complications from her cancer treatment make normal challenges in school doubly difficult.
“She is amazing. And she exudes sunshine. Her gift from God, I feel like, is the way she makes other people feel. It’s her words of affirmation and how she is so kind and loving to all and accepting to all. That isn’t something that everyone has,” Mrs. Halter said.
Heart and soul
Mrs. Halter recalls a Diocese of Knoxville orientation workshop where educational priorities were enumerated for diocesan educators. And while educational excellence was a top priority, it was placed in context.
“On the PowerPoint, it said ‘Heaven, not Harvard.’ I live by that now because heaven is more important than Harvard. If you can get both, that’s fine. But for me, Hattie sends that energy, and she has that gift that she shares with others. I think that’s why Children’s Hospital wanted her to represent them. They took such good care of her,” Mrs. Halter said. “She is cancer-free. She has her side effects, but she is cancer-free.”
Mrs. Halter is equally complimentary and grateful to St. Joseph School for the care and attention given to Hattie and her younger brother, Job, who is in preschool.
“I and my husband, John, wanted God for them in their education and all the things that are included. St. Joseph is a blessing. They are so accommodating and loving and caring. The whole community has been accepting. And that’s why we love it here at St. Joseph,” Mrs. Halter said.
The hundreds of Christmas trees featured at the Fantasy of Trees event are sold, with the money raised going to Children’s Hospital. Prices range from $75 to $3,500 for the larger, more elaborately decorated trees. The threefoot Christmas tree Mrs. Ingram’s class created—and all those of similar size—sold for $75.
Room parent Amanda Thurman, whose daughter, Finley, is a thirdgrader and a friend of Hattie, approached Mrs. Halter and suggested creating a Christmas tree for the Fantasy of Trees since the Halters have such a close connection to Children’s Hospital.
The class voted to take on the project and also voted on the theme and the color of the tree. Mrs. Thurman collected the money donated by all the room parents, purchased all of the supplies to make the artificial tree, and directed the creative process, which involved making the tree and all the tree decorations.
“The class chose the Grinch theme basically to focus on how the Grinch’s heart grew three sizes. So, the tree is centered around the heart—a lot of hearts,” Mrs. Halter said. Hattie explained how the class put its heart and soul into the Dr. Seussthemed Christmas-tree, which was strong on heart with just a hint of Grinch.
“We did it in our art class. We made the ornaments with little necklace
Birthday wishes As a 1-year-old,
for seven years.
things and little plastic cards. We put bows and little sticky hearts on the front. And we put little pompoms, green or red, in the ornaments,” Hattie said.
She pointed out that just as the Grinch’s heart grows three sizes, her and her classmates’ hearts also grew as they made their Christmas tree.
“It was white. And we made the green and red ornaments. It was fun,” she said.
Mrs. Ingram has been excited—and grateful—that the room parents, led by Mrs. Halter and Mrs. Thurman, took on such a worthwhile project that was meaningful to the thirdgraders and many others.
“I thought it was a great idea. So, we decided in September that we would do this project and came up
dents in the class who also are cancer survivors.
“These kids really embraced the project and are supportive of each other. They know there are times when Hattie might need some extra support. They help each other. They are like a family. It’s a really neat group of kids,” she said.
And in her own way, Hattie stands out at St. Joseph.
“She’s an awesome kid. You can say so many amazing things about her. She is a hard worker, but she just has this bright light about her spirit, and it’s contagious. And I think that is the best thing about her. She is so happy, and she has this way of speaking that is just joyful. She will give you a hug, and she just makes you feel good. She is like that with her friends, but she also is like that with her teachers. She is such a compassionate kid,” Mrs. Ingram said.
Something to remember
Hattie and her family attended the Fantasy of Trees to see the third-grade class’ creation on display. And Hattie had her picture taken with the tree.
“It was tilting a little like the real Grinch when he stole the Christmas tree. We added a pretend star on top, and it was pretty,” Hattie noted. “I was excited to see it.”
She was curious to know what Job, who is 4, thought of the class project. She believes he approves.
“Maybe he thinks it’s cool. I think he likes it. My brother, Harvey, likes the Grinch, too. He’s 2 years old and he loves the Grinch,” Hattie said.
She also hopes her friends at Children’s Hospital like it—both the patients and those helping the patients get well.
“I was on the news, and I was showing other people who saw me on the news how we made the tree for the kids’ hospital. And the kids who had surgery at the kids’ hospital might see it, too, because I had cancer, too. The Grinch tree was at the Fantasy of Trees and they got to see it, and it was very important to the kids’ hospital,” Hattie explained.
Mrs. Halter is very pleased with how the class project turned out, and she is hopeful that it can be repeated next year when the third-graders are in the fourth grade.
“I feel like a great thing came out of it. Not only did we do a great thing, we want to continue to do a great thing. And we also inspired others to want to do a great thing by possibly doing it every year,” she said.
Hattie agrees. She and Finley hope they can persuade Mrs. Thurman to give a repeat performance for the fourth grade.
“Maybe Finley’s mom can have a different idea for a tree for next year,” Hattie said.
Someone else who also agrees is St. Joseph School principal Andy Zengel. Mr. Zengel watched with excitement as the project successfully came together.
“We make a real effort to provide service opportunities for our students here, but it’s always impressive when students and families initiate a project and bring it to the school to get their classmates involved,” he said.
and
with the theme of the Grinch and his heart growing three times bigger. Everyone in the class was part of it. On the tree, there is a heart that the kids painted that shows the heart growing with three different sizes. Then there’s a heart that they stuffed with pompoms, and then there are some wreaths. And here at Christmas time, we watched the Grinch to present that message to the kids. We thought it was a nice thing for our class to do,”
Mrs. Ingram said.
Mrs. Ingram also was gratified that the class Christmas tree was ageappropriate in size and theme.
The project’s significance went beyond Hattie and her “friends” at Children’s Hospital.
Mrs. Ingram shared that as the project began, there were two other stu-
“If you have kids and you live in Knoxville, chances are you’ve visited East Tennessee Children’s Hospital and benefited from the wonderful work they do there. Hattie and some of our other students have spent a lot of their childhood there. They know how important it is for kids to feel loved and cared for during a time of fear and suffering, and so they want to help the hospital provide that. It's beautiful.”
And as for Mrs. Ingram’s thirdgrade class, the Grinch Christmas tree is already a highlight of the school year that has created a ripple effect.
The project inspired by Hattie is teaching an important lesson.
“A mission of the school is to give back. And the kids have such a great connection to this opportunity to do a project that brings awareness to them to give back to other children who are in a tough situation,” Mrs. Ingram pointed out. “They see how they are reaching outside of the classroom, outside of our school. I think they are enjoying that and it’s something they will really remember. I know I will remember it.” ■
On-camera interview St. Joseph School third-grader Hattie Halter is interviewed in her classroom by a WBIR-TV reporter.
Heartwarming Left: Hattie shows a T-shirt she helped create for East Tennessee Children's Hospital, where she is a patient ambassador. Right: St. Joseph School's third grade created this Dr. Seuss-themed Christmas tree to benefit Children's Hospital. The message the third-graders are conveying with their tree is that the Grinch's heart expanded three times its size as he grew to love Christmas.
COURTESY OF KATHY RANKIN/ST. JOSEPH SCHOOL (2)
Bulldog strong St. Joseph School principal Andy Zengel, kneeling left, is with Melissa Halter, back center, third-grade teacher Jenifer Ingram, and some of Mrs. Ingram's students, including Hattie Halter, who is wearing a St. Joseph Bulldogs shirt, in Mrs. Ingram's classroom.
BILL BREWER
Hattie Halter received cancer treatment
a bone-marrow transplant while in hospitals in Knoxville and Nashville. Hattie has been cancer-free
COURTESY
tance of maintaining the unity of the community at the basilica, the lack of suitable non-parochial locations, and the lack of other qualified and trained clergy to offer this form of the Mass.
Further, the Vatican indicated it was unlikely an exemption would be granted as the basilica holds special designation from the pope. As such, churches holding the title of a minor basilica are held to a higher standard as they hold a special bond of communion with the Roman pontiff that is greater than that of other churches in a diocese.
On Sunday, Nov. 16, Bishop Beckman visited Holy Ghost Church to continue hearing from the local TLM community.
In this visit, he met directly with the faithful after celebrating the 10 a.m. Novus Ordo Mass. Standing in the narthex, he greeted Holy Ghost parishioners as they exited and entered the church, hearing both support and concerns from the faithful. A line quickly formed with many of the sentiments from the Chattanooga listening session being again reflected in the individual conversations with Bishop Beckman.
One parishioner, Eric Laschon, was keen to mention that for the past 11 years he has traveled from Kentucky to attend the Mass at Holy Ghost Church—72 miles each way. At the same time, other members passed out instructions to Massgoers in the pews for petitioning the decision to the diocese, the apostolic nuncio in Washington, D.C., and the Dicastery for Divine Worship in Rome.
Jim Richmond, 83, recounted how happy he was to experience Mass in English for the first time in the 1960s–he could finally understand what they were saying.
Community voices
Parishioner Michael Dunn, several days after Bishop Beckman’s visit to Holy Ghost, said that his path was one of intellectual conversion.
“The Novus Ordo is a beautiful Mass in itself, and
Reform continued from page A3
munion of the Church those who had left as a result of the reform.
In 2007, Pope Benedict XVI issued Summorum Pontificum, significantly expanding access to the 1962 Missal and designating it the “Extraordinary Form.” This led to growth in traditional communities, particularly among young families and converts drawn to its stability and reverence
Sainthood continued from page A14
ing them up should be our No. 1 task so that we have people to imitate; they say this one did it right, this one followed Jesus closely,” the basilica rector said. “So, the cause of canonization is a very precious, beautiful thing to do, but it also is a very intimate thing because you delve into the life of a person.”
Father Carter’s remarks explained just how beautiful it is in the Church to have those role models to look up to, those who followed Jesus, those whose lives can be learned from.
continued from page A13
Conference held every other year in Indianapolis is the gathering of all participants in Lucas Oil Stadium for eucharistic adoration, which took place this year on Nov. 21.
“This evening is about healing,” said Gian Gamboa, one of this year’s NCYC emcees. “You can’t give until you are healed from within.”
Sister Miriam James Heidland, of the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity, spoke about healing before the Blessed Sacrament was reverently processed into the stadium in a monstrance.
She defined healing as “an ongoing encounter with God’s love and truth that brings us into wholeness and communion.”
“We have lots of secrets, don’t we?” Sister Miriam James asked. “And secrets just make us very ill. And so, what Jesus does is He comes into your life in an encounter with love and truth the love heals the wounds, the truth heals the lies.”
This encounter occurs in “a place where God dwells within you,” she continued. “It’s a place where your dignity cannot be destroyed, and the gift of who you are cannot be hidden. And it’s from this place, my dear friends, that the Lord speaks to us.”
During adoration, as Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services knelt before Christ in the Blessed Sacrament in the center of the stadium, he read the Bread of Life Discourse from John 6:35-58.
“We must partake of the bread of eternal life if we hope to achieve our goal eternal happiness in union with Almighty God,” he said. “Jesus insists twice on this necessity, even in the faith of the disbelief of His audience. He will not compromise to please the crowd. ... Unlike many who will only tell us what they think we want to hear, Christ’s words are spirit and life. They challenge us to grow. They invite us into communion with Him and with each other.”
Among the many speakers who addressed the NCYC crowd of 16,000 was Nolan McCracken, a senior at Cathedral High School in Indianapolis. He
it speaks to certain people,” he said.
“When I decided to go down the road of the Traditional Latin Mass, that is when I experienced a conversion of the heart.”
Saying it forced him to slow down, he continued, “it was hard and arduous, and everything about it was a mystery—that was the pivotal moment that has allowed me to grow spiritually. That’s the conversion of my heart in the faith versus intellectually.”
Mr. Dunn hopes that the TLM continues in the Knoxville area and he has been open about supporting a building project and outside orders to accommodate it.
What’s next?
The three diocesan parishes are currently transitioning to the 2002 Missal by the new year.
The Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul began the transition process on the celebration of Christ the King on Nov. 23.
Parishioner and Notre Dame High School religion teacher Ian Hoerner commented on the Mass
Recent restrictions
In 2021, Pope Francis issued Traditionis custodes, substantially reversing his predecessor’s approach. The apostolic letter placed new restrictions on use of the 1962 Missal, requiring diocesan bishops to phase out the Extraordinary Form in parish churches. Francis stated the reforms were necessary to promote unity around the post-Vatican II liturgy and prevent division within the Church.
Not only is Father Ryan providing a faithful example of life by the way he lived, having a cause for sainthood within the diocese is special in its own way.
“Having a local cause gives us hope that even Chattanooga can have saints. We can be saints. If Father Ryan can do it, so can I,” Father Carter said. “He lived and moved and walked and preached here in this place. The same streets that I'm walking on, he walked on and found his way to holiness by the grace of God. So can I.”
He described the joy and beauty of having a
that day: “I think a lot of people wouldn’t have even noticed ... there was still beautiful music. There was still what we oftentimes get described as like the smells and bells that I think a lot of people probably still appreciate.”
Mr. Hoerner is a strong supporter of the TLM, and when asked about what he is most concerned about in the transition, he said: “The main thing I think is just the stability ... if you go to a modern, a Novus Ordo Mass, you don’t know what you’re getting ... it’s really rough to have our community affected this way when those types of communities are oftentimes just let loose and not corrected in any public way.”
Bishop Beckman expressed his most ardent hope that the faithful in the diocese may continue to experience the richness and traditions of the liturgy in the reformed rite.
“I do believe the reform of the liturgy as directed by the Second Vatican Council and as implemented by St. Paul VI and St. John Paul II is a gift of the Holy Spirit for the Church,” Bishop Beckman said. ■
Implementation has varied significantly across dioceses, with some bishops restricting celebrations to single locations while others have sought extensions from Rome. The Diocese of Knoxville’s liturgical approach—transitioning to a Latin Novus Ordo with traditional elements like ad orientem worship, Latin language, and sacred music—represents one attempt to balance papal direction with pastoral sensitivity to communities formed around the older liturgy. ■
role model to revere and admire how they lived their life by the grace of God.
And Father Ryan’s example can hopefully inspire others to say yes to God.
As the process for Father Ryan’s sainthood cause continues, a vitally important element is for the faithful in the diocese to pray for his intercession.
Praying for his intercession and continuing to learn about his life can enrich the lives of Catholic faithful in East Tennessee and beyond and serve to strengthen that faith. ■
shared what was essentially a soulful, vulnerable, and unusual thank-you on Nov. 20.
He tied thanking God, his mother, his sister, his grandmother, and his friends to the three laws of motion of Sir Isaac Newton, a 17th-century mathematician and physicist.
“My journey with God so far can be understood by using Newton’s three laws of motion,” Nolan told the audience. “An object at rest will remain at rest unless acted upon by an external force. Force equals mass times acceleration; and for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.”
In middle school and his freshman year of high school, he was “an object at rest not physically or mentally but spiritually,” because he was focused on grades.
He switched to Cathedral High School for his sophomore year, where his “acceleration” was to
increase his success, he said, letting go of “friends, family, and a relationship with a God whose face I no longer recognized.”
But then he began to attend church with his mom and sister and also found that at every all-school Mass he “could be a part of a community, a part of a collective witness to love.”
During a junior retreat the cathedral held at the University of Notre Dame in northern Indiana, “I became open to hearing about the external force God had in their lives; I began to see that I could rely on God.” In accepting “God’s loving and powerful external force,” Nolan saw Newton’s third law of motion come into play in his life.
“If you feel you are an object at rest or even moving in the wrong direction, Jesus is there for you,” he told his peers. “I invite you to accept Him, to close your eyes and know that you are held.” ■
COURTESY
On the road to Indy Diocese of Knoxville youth prepare to board a bus for Indianapolis to attend NCYC 2025, where they were joined by 16,000 other young people from around the United States
NCYC
Sacred liturgy Mass in the Extraordinary Form is celebrated at St. Mary Church in Johnson City. The Mass celebrant is Father Dustin Collins, pastor of St. Mary.
COURTESY OF ST. MARY PARISH-JOHNSON CITY
first offered us a spiritual boost in various forms, including the jubilee’s opening prayer session led by Cardinal Grech on Friday and a pilgrimage through the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica very early Saturday morning.
I arrived at the Vatican that day walking from my small apartment to the Porta del Purgino just off Via Aurelia as the sun was rising over Rome. The scene was inspiring to say the least. And its inspiration was needed as Saturday proved to be a very long day.
It began with small-group dialogue sessions after the Holy Door pilgrimage. Father Peter attended an encounter focused on “Conversation in the Spirit,” which utilizes prayer, reflection, and discernment to explore and discuss opinions and issues. Listening is essential. Discussion is focused. Prayer is included. Debate is non-existent. At the same time, I found myself in a large theater-style auditorium with Cardinal Grech and other Vatican Synod leaders who heard statements and took synod-related questions from fellow cardinals, bishops, priests, and laypeople. Four languages were spoken, and similar to video coverage you’ve seen from the United Nations, participants had the benefit of live-translation headsets.
Less spiritual and more practical, one of the chief concerns raised at that meeting was about the time frame set up for dioceses to complete their tasks. Much of the work at the diocesan level will take place in 2026 and early 2027, with an ecclesial assembly set for late 2028 in Rome. Before lunch, more than 150 members of the U.S delegation gathered for a photo on the steps of the main stage inside the Pope Paul VI Hall. Meeting and sharing our experiences with other U.S. Catholics—priests, bishops, and laypeople— during this brief interlude was rewarding.
Following lunch, the Saturday classroom marathon continued. Father Peter attended two workshops: “A Synodal Church Walks Together—Listening, Sharing, and Growing in Christ,” and “For a Synodal Church That Listens to the Cry of the Poor and the Earth.” My college flashback came when I was surprisingly directed out of the Pope Paul VI Hall and down the street to the Istituto Maria Santissima Bambina. I attended a class on “Nurturing Synodality in the Local Church: Parish Life and Synodal Teams” and another (appropriately) titled “Ecclesial Discernment and Polarity Management.”
Remarkably, the day wasn’t over. That evening, back at the Pope Paul VI Hall, Cardinal Grech offered closing remarks and a synod mandate to delegates. “Synodality is not taught, but caught. It can be contagious. I am hopeful that once we go back home after this splendid ecclesial, synodal experience, it will be also our call to try to not teach but to share this experience; to help our
brothers and sisters feel that they missed something not being here,” he said.
Following dinner, delegates were invited back to St. Peter’s Square for a Marian prayer vigil. By then, the weather had changed, and a soft rain was falling. Still, our candles remained lit, and in his homily, Cardinal Grech drew on the example of the Blessed Virgin. “Mary is the image of a Church of synodal style because she meditates and dialogues,” the cardinal-secretary said. “After listening to the Word of God in prayer, Mary measures the events of her existence in her heart in order to discern God’s will. In this, Mary is a teacher of ecclesial discernment, a model of a Church which, beginning with listening, discerns the will of God and puts it into practice.”
It was a profound way to end a long day—15 hours of prayer, discernment, discussion, and learning.
Sunday morning was no less exhilarating. Father Peter and I arrived at St. Peter’s Basilica shortly after 8 a.m. It was sunny and warm, and the square was starting to feel the squeeze of thousands of pilgrims who had journeyed to Rome in this Jubilee Year.
The Holy Father, Pope Leo, celebrated Mass for the Synod Jubilee delegates. Father Peter was a vested concelebrant and was also selected to serve Holy Communion. I was seven rows from the altar, seated in a transept. The pope’s homily,
Church continued from page A4
priests, particularly, even more so than the bishops, I think, to somehow open their hearts and take part in these processes. Oftentimes, the resistances come out of fear and the lack of knowledge.”
The synodal process of listening to one another without immediately judging or defending one's position has practical applications, he said.
Apparently referring to the breakdown of U.S.-Canada talks about trade and tariffs, the pope noted that the two countries “are experiencing even great difficulties. Two countries that were once considered the closest allies, at times, become separated from one another, and it’s another proof, another expression, of why synodality listening and dialogue are so important, and how they have concrete applications in our daily lives.”
People committed to synodality in the Church need to be patient, though, he said. “We have to understand that we do not all run at the same speed, and sometimes we have to be patient with one another, rather than a few people running ahead and leaving a lot behind, which could cause even a break in an ecclesial
experience.”
Presenting the European report, Klara-Antonia Csiszar, a professor of theology in Linz, Austria, told Pope Leo that “the question of women remains an important issue throughout Europe. In many local churches in the West, impatience for greater female participation is an open reality, while elsewhere, debates on the diaconate or on women’s leadership encounter resistance, skepticism, or fear.”
Responding, the pope began by telling the delegates that sometime in the 1970s he remembers asking his mother if she wanted to be equal to men. “And she said, ‘No, because we are already better.’ And she was not joking.”
“Leaving aside the most difficult themes that are being studied by study groups,” particularly the question of ordaining women to the diaconate, Pope Leo said he believed the lack of equality for women in the Church is due mainly to “cultural obstacles.”
“I mean, women could play a key role in the Church, but there are priests and bishops who hesitate,” he said. “There are cultures in the Church where women still suffer because of inequality. In some cultures, women are considered
offered in Italian, reaffirmed his commitment to the synodal process.
“Brothers and sisters, as we celebrate the Jubilee of the Synodal Teams and Participatory Bodies, we are invited to contemplate and rediscover the mystery of the Church. She is not merely a religious institution, nor is she simply identified with hierarchies and structures. The Second Vatican Council reminds us that the Church is the visible sign of the union between God and humanity…
“Dear friends, we must dream of and build a more humble Church; a Church that does not stand upright like the Pharisee, triumphant and inflated with pride, but bends down to wash the feet of humanity; a Church that does not judge as the Pharisee does the tax collector, but becomes a welcoming place for all; a Church that does not close in on itself, but remains attentive to God so that it can similarly listen to everyone. Let us commit ourselves to building a Church that is entirely synodal, ministerial, and attracted to Christ and therefore committed to serving the world.”
The Holy Father also included Synod delegates in his Mass prayer intentions and later, at noon, as is custom, he addressed thousands of Catholic pilgrims in his Sunday Angelus prayer and Gospel reflection from a window high above St. Peter’s Square.
After recording our final video report for the Diocese of Knoxville’s Facebook page, Father Peter and I spent time at lunch discussing what had just taken place. We agreed that our biggest challenge now is bringing the spiritual enthusiasm we lived in Rome back to the Diocese of Knoxville—and its parishes and ministries.
For three days, Father Peter and I walked together with thousands of synodal delegates in Rome, and we did our best to represent Bishop Beckman and the Diocese of Knoxville in the continuation of a journey Pope Francis started four years ago.
What lies ahead in 2026 will require a lot of work and an equal amount of prayer. The “Final Document” released by the Vatican remains the framework for action. Understanding what it is, and equally important, what it is not, will be vital. The document is posted on the Diocese of Knoxville website (dioknox.org/synod) with another important document: “Pathways for the Implementation Phase of the Synod,” which I humbly suggest reading first. ■
Jim Wogan served as communications director for the Diocese of Knoxville from 2014-2024 and is assisting the diocese in implementing the Vatican’s Synod on Synodality programs
as second-class citizens and in reality do not enjoy the same rights as men.”
A challenge for the Church, Pope Leo said, is to “understand how we can promote respect for the rights of everyone, men and women. How can we promote a culture in which these things become not only possible, but they become a reality, a culture in which there is co-participation of all the members of society, each according to their vocation, so everyone can play a role, can have a role of responsibility in the Church.”
The Church, he said, must find ways “to transform cultures according to the values of the Gospel. Unfortunately, often the way that we live out our faith is influenced more by our culture than by Gospel values.”
The Holy Father celebrated Mass to mark the closing of the Jubilee of Synodal Teams and Participatory Bodies.
The supreme rule in the Catholic Church is love, which compels all of the faithful to serve, not to judge, exclude, or dominate others, Pope Leo said during the Mass.
“No one should impose his or her own ideas; we must all listen to one another. No one is ex-
Speaking to the pope Pope Leo XIV and Vatican leadership listen to presentations from delegates attending the Jubilee of Synodal Teams and Participatory Bodies inside the Pope Paul VI Hall on the opening evening of the jubilee.
COURTESY OF JIM WOGAN (2)
Opening day Father Peter Iorio and Jim Wogan prepare for the opening prayer and inaugural session of the Jubilee of Synodal Teams and Participatory Bodies on Oct. 24 as they stand outside St. Peter's Basilica and the Pope Paul VI Hall in Vatican City. Father Iorio and Mr. Wogan represented the Diocese of Knoxville in the Synod session that included representatives from around the world.
cluded; we are all called to participate,” he said in his homily during the Mass in St. Peter's Basilica on Oct. 26.
“No one possesses the whole truth; we must all humbly seek it and seek it together,” he said.
The Mass marked the closing of the Oct. 24-26 Jubilee of Synodal Teams and Participatory Bodies. About 2,000 members of synodal teams and bodies such as presbyteral councils, pastoral councils, and finance councils at the diocesan, eparchial, national, and regional levels were registered for the Jubilee events.
The Jubilee included workshops and other gatherings to further strengthen the implementation phase of the final document of the 2021-2024 Synod of Bishops on synodality.
“We must dream of and build a more humble Church,” Pope Leo remarked in his homily.
It must be a Church that does not stand “triumphant and inflated with pride, but bends down to wash the feet of humanity,” he said.
It must be a Church that does not judge, he said, “but becomes a welcoming place for all; a Church that does not close in on itself but remains attentive to God so that it can similarly listen to everyone.”
By “clothing ourselves with the sentiments of Christ, we expand the ecclesial space so that it becomes collegial and welcoming,” he said. This will “enable us to live with confidence and a new spirit amid the tensions that run through the life of the Church.”
“We must allow the Spirit to transform” the current tensions in the Church “between unity and diversity, tradition and novelty, authority and participation,” he continued.
“It is not a question of resolving them by reducing one to the other, but of allowing them to be purified by the Spirit so that they may be harmonized and oriented toward a common discernment,” he said.
“Being a synodal Church means recognizing that truth is not possessed but sought together, allowing ourselves to be guided by a restless heart in love with love,” he noted.
Synodal teams and participatory bodies, he said, should “express what occurs within the Church, where relationships do not respond to the logic of power but to that of love.”
Rather than follow a “worldly” logic, the Christian community focuses on “the spiritual life, which reveals to us that we are all children of God, brothers and sisters, called to serve one another,” he said, adding that “the supreme rule in the Church is love. No one is called to dominate; all are called to serve.”
He said Jesus showed how he belongs “to those who are humble” and condemns the self-righteous in the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector, which was the day’s Gospel reading (Luke 18:9-14).
The Pharisee and the tax collector both enter the temple area to pray, the pope said, but they are divided mostly because of the attitude of the Pharisee, who is “obsessed with his own ego and, in this way, ends
up focused on himself without having a relationship with either God or others.”
“This can also happen in the Christian community,” he said. “It happens when the ego prevails over the collective, causing an individualism that prevents authentic and fraternal relationships.”
“It also occurs when the claim to be better than others … creates division and turns the community into a judgmental and exclusionary place, and when one leverages one’s role to exert power rather than to serve,” the pope said.
The tax collector, on the other hand, recognized his sinfulness, prayed for God’s mercy, and “went home justified,” that is, forgiven and renewed by his encounter with God, according to the reading.
Everyone in the Church must show the same humility, he said, recognizing that “we are all in need of God and of one another, which leads us to practice reciprocal love, listen to each other, and enjoy walking together.”
This is the nature and praxis of the synodal teams and participatory bodies, he said, calling them
“an image of this Church that lives in communion.”
“Let us commit ourselves to building a Church that is entirely synodal, ministerial, and attracted to Christ and therefore committed to serving the world,” he said. Pope Leo cited the words of the late Italian Bishop Antonio Bello, who prayed for Mary’s intercession to help the Church “overcome internal divisions. Intervene when the demon of discord creeps into their midst. Extinguish the fires of factionalism. Reconcile mutual disputes. Defuse their rivalries. Stop them when they decide to go their own way, neglecting convergence on common projects.”
The Catholic Church, he said, “is the visible sign of the union between God and humanity, where God intends to bring us all together into one family of brothers and sisters and make us His people: a people made up of beloved children, all united in the one embrace of His love.”
Later in the day, before praying the Angelus at noon with those gathered in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Leo continued his reflection on the day’s Gospel reading, saying, “it is not by flaunting our merits that we are saved, nor by hiding our mistakes, but by presenting ourselves honestly, just as we are, before God, ourselves, and others, asking for forgiveness and entrusting ourselves to the Lord’s grace.”
Just as a person who is ill does not try to hide out of shame or pride their wounds from a doctor, the Christian also should not try to hide their pain if they are to be healed, he said.
“Let us not be afraid to acknowledge our mistakes, lay them bare, take responsibility for them, and entrust them to God’s mercy,” he said. “That way, His kingdom, which belongs not to the proud but to the humble and is built through prayer and action by practicing honesty, forgiveness, and gratitude, can grow in us and around us. ” ■
A meeting of the minds Pope Leo XIV leads a session of the Jubilee of Synod Teams and Participatory Bodies on Oct. 24 inside the Pope Paul VI Hall in Vatican City.
COURTESY OF JIM WOGAN
and a hero of World War II.”
Nashville Bishop James D. Niedergeses presided at the ceremony that launched the council in 1975.
“It was a wonderful ceremony. It was grand. Everybody had their vestments. It was very inspiring,” Mr. Hidalgo recalled.
Bishop Beckman said following the liturgy that it was “very, very providential” that the anniversary celebration occurred when it did.
“I think it’s so beautiful that we’re celebrating the gift of the Knights of Columbus, who are so devoted to fraternity and communion, on a day when we remember our communion with all those who have gone before us on this special day of All Souls,” he said. “Half a century, 50 years— that’s quite a remarkable achievement, a lot of service, a lot of charity, a lot of communion.”
One goal of the Knights of Columbus, as seen in their bulletin announcements asking men to join the order, is to help men “get to heaven.”
“That’s the goal of all the whole Church, right? To help each other to get to heaven, which is where all the saints are,” Bishop Beckman said. “We hope to join them someday.”
Greg Oparyk, faithful navigator of the Bernard O’Connor Assembly and financial secretary of Council 6730, emceed the dinner. In his opening remarks, Mr. Oparyk said that the average age of the council’s members is 67 and their average years of service to the Knights is 22. He then asked how many council members in the audience were above both averages, and several hands were raised.
Bishop Beckman spoke to the Knights and their wives at the dinner before giving the opening prayer
“I’ve been a Knight of Columbus since 1982, I think it was, in my college years,” the bishop said. “I’m so grateful for the Knights of Columbus. You all are a gift to the Church in the United States, and the fact that you have been here at St. Patrick for half a century to me is a true milestone. I ask the blessing of the Lord upon you tonight and the food that we’re about to share.”
In his prayer, Bishop Beckman said, “Gracious and loving God, we do indeed thank you tonight for the gift of the Knights of Columbus as we celebrate this council’s 50th anniversary. We ask you, Lord, to bless all of those who have gone before us, that they may know forever the goodness of your love in the kingdom of heaven and that someday we will join them. Help us, Lord, to carry forward that great torch of faith that has been handed on to us.”
Mr. Howells, the Grand Knight now halfway through his third year in the role, then took the microphone.
“On behalf of our council, it is my great honor and joy to welcome you as we celebrate this truly special milestone: our 50th anniversary as a Knights of Columbus council.
“Fifty years ago, a group of Catholic men at St. Patrick came together with a shared vision, and that vision was to serve God, to serve the Church, to serve the families, and to serve the community through the principles of charity, unity, and fraternity. Tonight, we gather to honor those 32 men who chartered the council back in 1975 and their dedication to the order. We also want to reflect on the countless ways our present and past Knights and brothers have lived that mission over the past five decades.”
The anniversary “is not only a celebration but a moment to give thanks—to God for His abundant blessings, to our pastors and clergy for their guidance, to our families for their support, and to every brother here who has brought time, talent, and faith to this order,” Mr. Howells said
“I also want to place a lot of value on the Knights’ ladies over these past 50 years,” he added. “As members of the council, we are called to serve. But none of this would be possible without the steadfast love and support of the women who stand by us. Our wives are not only our partners in life—they are the silent strength of the work that we do for
the order.”
Blessed Father Michael J. McGivney founded the Knights of Columbus, and the council continues his vision, Mr. Howells said.
served as its first Grand Knight.
In 1996, Holy Trinity Parish in Jefferson City was dedicated, and the January 2001 formation of its Knights council—in a ceremony that also honored the Doherty Council’s 25th anniversary—took away several members of the St. Patrick Knights.
“We lost many of our council members who lived in that parish, and they have continued to grow,” Mr. Hidalgo said.
Council 6730 Knights over the years have held spaghetti dinners and a Project Graduation event for high school seniors, which included a casino, and bingo.
“We operated ‘Holy Bingo’ every Wednesday for years, and we had between 2- and 300 people, some playing as many as 24 cards. We started at Madonna Hall and then in the parish center,” Mr. Hidalgo recalled, adding that the bingo games moved to the local VFW as attendance grew, before the state declared bingos a lottery and banned such events.
Proceeds from bingo allowed the council to make sizable contributions to volunteer fire departments, hold graduation dinners and dances for students of Morristown East and Morristown West high schools, and fund scholarships for the high schools, Mr. Hidalgo shared.
He also said Jim Mach designed and led a group of Knights in building a pavilion by the parish center, and Jim Miller built a grotto at St. Patrick to honor Our Lady of Fatima. Jerry Butler headed another contingent in installing Stations of the Cross behind the grotto.
“As we look ahead, let us be inspired by the legacy that we inherited and recommit ourselves to carrying the mission forward that our Blessed Michael McGivney envisioned over 100 years ago,” the Grand Knight said. “While our waistlines and hairlines may have moved over the years, our hearts are in the same place: to serve our God, our families, our Church, and our community. Our Lord and Savior asks one thing of us: ‘give me your heart.’ That is what all our brothers over those decades have desired to do. Thank you for being here this evening on this joyous occasion. May the evening be filled with gratitude, fellowship, and renewed purpose in the service of Christ and His Church.”
Mr. Pelton followed Mr. Howells.
“I bring you greetings from our Supreme Knight, Patrick Kelly, and as state deputy I echo his words of gratitude to the officers and members of the Joseph P. Doherty Council 6730,” he said. “We also want to thank the ladies who help support us in the mission. The mission was started in 1882 by Blessed Michael McGivney. That mission is still our mission today: to bring Catholic laymen together in a common cause, to strengthen the Church, to promote and protect the Catholic family, and to offer assistance to the less fortunate.
“For 50 years, you’ve been carrying out this mission of charity, unity, and fraternity. Morristown is a better place. St. Patrick’s is a better place for what the men and women of this council have done over the past 50 years. You can be rightly proud of yourself. Let me close by saying it’s my honor to say congratulations and thank you on behalf of the Tennessee Knights of Columbus.”
In his talk after dinner, Mr. Hidalgo remembered that Mr. Doherty, Bernard O’Connor, Mr. Sutherland, and Bernie Flederbach drove to Council 645 meetings on Magnolia Avenue in Knoxville. That council, based at Immaculate Conception Parish downtown, recently celebrated its 120th anniversary. A men’s club at St. Patrick had about seven members, Mr. Hidalgo said, before the original 32 men stepped up to form the Knights council in Morristown.
The man who made those original presentations to the men of the parish and gave his name to the council
“We even named the council the Joseph P. Doherty Council 6730 in his honor, and when it was established, we named our Fourth Degree Assembly as the Bernard O’Connor Assembly in Bernie’s honor because he was responsible for getting the Fourth Degree assembly up and running,” Mr. Hidalgo said.
Those early years
The council’s first Tootsie Roll Drive, a time-honored fundraiser for Knights to benefit the mentally challenged, was a resounding success, the charter member said.
“In our very first drive, we came in second in collections, and we were up against councils in Knoxville, Memphis, Nashville, Chattanooga, and all the state,” he said. “About 25-plus men manned the roadblocks and storefronts in the city, and we raised more than $21,000” for what was then called the state Knights’ MR Program.
Those after-Thanksgiving collections continue, Mr. Hidalgo said.
“Since that first Black Friday 50 years ago, brother Knights have come to the parish center to collect boxes of Tootsie Rolls, traffic cones, and gallon milk jugs fashioned into cash receptacles,” he said. “We would wear warm coats, sweaters, comfortable shoes or boots, scarves, and gloves and stand at roadblocks or storefronts in snow, rain, wind, or mild temps from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., missing football games or leftover turkey.”
The idea of a men’s group home for the intellectually disabled came up in those early years.
“We learned what was involved and we began to move in that direction. Brother Bill Jewett, who became Grand Knight, worked for Exxon in sales and marketing. He spoke with the powers at Exxon and secured a grant of close to $10,000 to purchase land on Gammon Street in the city,” Mr. Hidalgo said. “We spoke with people in Chattanooga who operated several group homes in that city . . . and they gave us invaluable insight into how to navigate through the Department of Housing and Urban Development. We learned how to write and present a request for a grant. We were successful and awarded close to $350,000 to build a group home for 10 intellectually disabled men in our community.”
Morristown-area residents and manufacturers supported the Sutherland-Metz home, including a couple who took care of the residence and meals and drove the clients to their jobs.
Longtime St. Patrick pastor and now-Monsignor Patrick Garrity asked Mr. Hidalgo several years ago to build a columbarium.
“We went to brother Knights along with their wives, and they became the columbarium board of directors who made it happen,” the speaker remembered.
The council on Memorial Day honors deceased veterans inurned in the columbarium and has sponsored prostate-cancer screenings, and council Knight Luis Crespo drove Father Joseph Hammond, CHS, to Hispanic missions in the Five Rivers Deanery, among many other acts of service by Morristown Knights.
“Council 6730 has been a visible entity in our church community for the past 50 years,” Mr. Hidalgo said. “We installed the flagpole at the entrance to the church. We’ve taken our altar servers to Smokies baseball games, conducted basketball freethrow competitions, and donated funds to the building of the parish center and the expansion of our church.”
One Knights family received a special honor from the national council, he said.
“Brother John Coccia and wife Joan along with their children became the family of the year nationwide, for Joan’s dedicated work with handicapped children in her Adaptive Aquatic classes conducted at the Boys and Girls Club. The Coccia family was flown to New Haven, Conn., to be honored by the Supreme Council of our order.”
The local council’s spaghetti dinners began about 45 years ago, Mr. Hidalgo said.
“Brother Connie Gervasi, a Brooklyn native, was the head chef and taught some of us how to make pasta and meatballs,” he said. “When we lost Connie, John Karwowski stepped up to the stove, told everybody he was Italian, and kept the tradition going until he handed off the spoon to Mike Leonard.
“Brother Jerry Butler heads up St. Patrick’s Day suppers with gobs of delicious corned beef, which I sliced, colcannon mashed potatoes, which I peeled, and sometimes green beer, which I had to approve for consumption. It was always a fun event, and brother Knights and their wives would clean up the mess.”
The Morristown Knights also serve the meal at the parish Council of Catholic Women’s annual banquet; support Special Olympics; serve on the boards of United Way, the Red Cross, the Chamber of Commerce, and other organizations; and
Quoting Scripture Above: Bishop Mark Beckman gives the homily during the Mass marking the 50th anniversary of St. Patrick Parish's Knights of Columbus Council 6730. Below: At left, Richard Hidalgo shows an award he received from Grand Knight Dave Howells, standing right. And at right, a historic photo shows 15 of the 32 charter members of Council 6730. It was among a number of archive photos displayed at the anniversary dinner.
DAN MCWILLIAMS (3)
place white crosses on the front lawn of the church “to remind passersby of the tragedy of abortion,” Mr. Hidalgo said.
What’s next?
He concluded his remarks by asking “what’s next” now that the halfcentury mark has been reached.
“Many of our younger members are realizing that their talents will be needed in our church and the community at large,” Mr. Hidalgo said. “In fact, they are needed now. And it’s time for many of you to give prayerful consideration to deepen your personal involvement in our mission. Undoubtedly, there will be occasions where the Knights of Columbus will be called upon to exhibit charity, unity, fraternity, and, yes, patriotism, where we may be called upon by our bishop for some extraordinary tasks.
“And we have to say yes and gratefully answer those calls because we must—we are Knights of Columbus. Vivat Jesus. Thank you.”
Mr. Howells presented the award to Mr. Hidalgo, beginning with a mention of 1975 events such as the end of the Vietnam War, the founding of Microsoft, and the start of “Saturday Night Live,” and remarking that Bishop Beckman was then an eighth-grader at Sacred Heart School in Lawrenceburg, Tenn.
“It’s encouraging to hear that history and it should give us a lot of faith and energy to move forward,” Mr. Howells said. “The award is going to be given for living up to the ideals of Father McGivney. It demonstrates steadfast commitment to the Church, to his family, and to the community. It honors not only his
After-dinner
dance Couples enjoy popular sounds from the 1970s, including "You're the One That I Want" from the "Grease" soundtrack, as they show off their best dance moves following the Knights' anniversary dinner.
accomplishments but also his quiet acts of kindness, leadership by example, guidance, and willingness to answer the call to service. . . .
“It is with gratitude as you can tell from the stories that Richard got to live every day for 50 years. I want to thank you for showing us what a Knight of Columbus is all about. God bless you, and congratulations to your family.”
Also attending the dinner were Ron Henry, a Knights financial adviser, and wife Andrea; Joe Fromme, district deputy, and wife Joyce; and Andy LaBauve, Grand Knight of Council 12838 at Holy Trinity in Jefferson City.
Mr. Oparyk introduced a number of Council 6730 past Grand Knights in attendance. Mr. Hidalgo served as Grand Knight in 1982-83. Also present were Jim Beelaert, Andy Vrba, Steve Taylor, Don Urnick, Jim Mach, Mike Sandlock, Brian Stiesslinger,
John Karwowski, Allen Keller, Luis Crespo, Murad Mubarak, and Dave Lande. Another Grand Knight, Steve Parella, was unable to attend.
Including Mr. Howells, “that’s 15 of the 37 Grand Knights,” Mr. Oparyk said. “Some of them could not be here tonight, and others have gone before us. All 37 have helped form this council into what it is today.”
The Grand Knights then received a round of applause.
Mr. Oparyk also recognized three widows of Council 6730 Knights who attended the dinner: Julie Leonhardt, Mary Miller, and Susan Martocci
“Julie’s husband, Richard, was our 30th Grand Knight from 2011-2013.
Julie is accompanied by Bill Burrows, who is a former member of our council, and they came all the way from Green Bay, Wis., to join us,” Mr. Oparyk said. “Mary’s husband, Jim, was a member of our council, and we are very grateful for the work
Jim did in creating and developing the beautiful grotto area behind our columbarium. Susan’s husband, Jack, was not a member of our council for a lengthy period of time, but Jack will always be remembered for his kindness and his willingness to help in any way he could.”
Multiple ovations followed those introductions. “I’ve always learned: ladies do not get enough applause,” Mr. Oparyk said
A number of displays at the dinner included a photo of charter members; the council’s original application to the Supreme Council for a charter; the notice of 6730’s institution as a new council; congratulatory letters from the Vatican, Supreme Knight Mr. Kelly, and Fourth Degree Supreme Master Michael McCusker; and plaques bearing the names of deceased Knights of the Doherty Council and O’Connor Assembly.
A slide show of council members played during the dinner, and a dance followed the meal and program
Father Dinh led the closing prayer, thanking those who organized the event and congratulating the council on its anniversary.
“I hope you have an anniversary like this every year. How about every two years?” he said before the prayer.
That gave Mr. Oparyk an idea as the dinner ended.
“Thank you very much for what you have done for the parish for the last 50 years that make a great impact on the parish and also the community,” he said. “I am glad that Father Hoan mentioned next year or two years because I was going to ask for committee members for the 75th.” ■
of St. Christopher especially appropriate. I was happy to issue the decree.”
Father Sweeney said in 2010 that “having the opportunity to have their own church was immensely important to the parishioners. This is one of the reasons why they wanted St. Christopher as the name and patron of their parish. They truly understand what it means to be a pilgrim people.”
In their petition to Bishop Kurtz, the Fentress Catholics said “the name…and the powerful message of St. Christopher best suits our history and our aspirations….St. Christopher has always enjoyed a special place in the hearts of the faithful of this faith community as we have sought to carry Christ in our hearts. We believe the name of St. Christopher Catholic Church will speak to all who become aware of our church and will be an instrument of greater acceptance and openness on the part of our neighbors.”
Father Sweeney and more than 35 couples and individuals signed the petition. Ground was broken for a church at an outdoor Mass on June 10, 2006. Bishop Kurtz and Father Sweeney were joined in breaking ground by Mr. Romer and his wife, Denise, and Peggy Dalton, who along with Denise Romer had lived in Fentress County since the 1950s. Longtime parishioner Marie Cottrell also attended.
Construction began on July 30, 2007, and the first Masses after more than three decades in Allardt were held at the new church on June 7, 2008. The church cost $650,000, seats 130, and has 3,200 square feet each upstairs and down.
Bishop Richard F. Stika dedicated the new St. Christopher Church on its patron’s feast day July 25, 2009, with Father Sweeney and former pastor Monsignor Philip Thoni concelebrating. Some 75 parishioners and guests attended.
“Just as incense rises to the heav-
ens and our songs rise to the heavens, so today our prayers should rise to the heavens in gratitude again for the foundation of this church,” Bishop Stika said at the dedication, “for those who so long ago in the ’70s believed that the community could gather together in the name of the Lord Jesus to make a difference—a difference in faith and a difference in trust in God.”
Father Calvin Blankinship, pastor of Corpus Christi Parish in Fruitland, Idaho, also concelebrated. The Idaho parish donated the pews for St. Christopher Church. Deacon Sean Smith, diocesan chancellor, assisted at the Mass. The Rev. Don Padget of Allardt Presbyterian took part in the events before Mass and presented a gift to Father Sweeney at the end of the liturgy.
Ms. Dalton presented the key to the church to Bishop Stika outside the front doors before Mass. Mr. Romer gave the church blueprints to the bishop. New parents Becca and Pat Padget, holding the youngest St. Christopher parishioner, 1-month-old Sophia, presented a picture of the church to Bishop Stika.
A relic of St. Rafqa (1832-1914), a Lebanese Maronite Sister canonized in 2001, was placed in the new altar at St. Christopher.
Father Sweeney built sanctuary appointments such as tables, chairs, kneelers, candelabras, lamp stands, and more for temporary use when St. Christopher Church’s building was new. He said at the dedication that St. Christopher Parish’s experience was “unusual” as families paid rent to the Allardt church for 33 years and set up and took down the implements for Mass every week throughout that time.
“I called the experience the ‘church in a box,’” Father Sweeney said. “Everything the community owned fit into a small box. Families took turns bringing the box to church, setting up a makeshift altar, and preparing for the
celebration of the Eucharist, then putting everything back in the box afterward and taking it home with them.”
The parish remained a mission of Blessed Sacrament in Harriman until Feb. 15, 2010, when the Diocese of Knoxville Presbyteral Council heard Bishop Stika’s petition regarding the status of St. Christopher along with that of another mission parish and quasi-parish in the diocese at that time. Being able to stand on its own financially made St. Christopher deserving of elevation to a full parish, diocesan chancellor Deacon Smith said in 2010.
Previous pastors at St. Christopher were Jesuit Father Leo Schroeder from 1974 to 1976, based at Blessed Sacrament; three Ben-
edictine priests, Father Charles Reiner in 1976, Father Gabriel Germann from 1976-78, and Father Paul Koehler from 1978 -83, all based at St. Alphonsus in Crossville; Salvatorian Father George Sheehan from 1983 to 1996; and then-Father Thoni, a longtime Diocese of Knoxville priest, from 1996 to 1999. Father Sheehan and Father Thoni lived at St. Francis of Assisi in Fairfield Glade while serving the faithful in Fentress County. With Father Sweeney’s arrival at Blessed Sacrament in 1999, care of the mission returned to its original parish. The 6:30 p.m. Saturday vigil at St. Christopher now draws around 80 people. A bilingual Sundaymorning Communion service that began in Advent 2008 has up to 20 people attending each week. ■
Scripture passage that described how the Apostles spoke to the community and requested seven good men to serve in this role who were filled with the Holy Spirit.
He said faith in the Holy Spirit will be central to Mr. Cooper’s ministry once he is a deacon and then a priest as he serves the will of God.
“The order of deacons has remained in the life of the Church because we need that reminder of the importance of the one who came not to be served but to serve,” Bishop Beckman said.
The bishop referred to the feast day of St. Frances Cabrini on Nov. 13 and noted what a beautiful witness she was in serving God in the United States. “Her heart was full of courage and compassion. No stranger, no immigrant, was without concern to her.”
In a 2024 film on the life of St. Frances Cabrini, the faithful religious Sister who lived from 1850 to 1917 once told an editor of The New York Times that immigrants were living in worse conditions than the rats of New York, to which he responded, “I sincerely doubt that.” She then escorted him to where the immigrants were living to prove him wrong. She also stood up to the mayor of New York, demanding improved living conditions for immigrants.
“And because of that, her courage, the presence of Christ the servant became real. To that community of immigrants who so needed someone to care about them, the network of orphanages, of hospitals, the way she reached out has left a beautiful, lasting impact on the Church. So many of the people of God we have known have emulated the beautiful service of Jesus,” Bishop Beckman related to Mr. Cooper and the congregation.
“It’s so fitting today, Daniel, that we celebrate this order with you,” the bishop added. “Brothers and sisters, as we celebrate today this ordination, let’s pray that Christ the servant will keep and help and encourage with compassion those in service to all people. This we ask through Christ Our Lord.”
The bishop then continued with the Rite of Ordination to the Diaconate, asking Mr. Cooper to declare before the congregation his resolve to undertake the office of deacon.
As the bishop delivered the Promises of the Elect, Mr. Cooper was asked to publicly make the six promises.
n “Do you resolve to be consecrated for the ministry of the Church by the laying-on of my hands and the gift of the Holy Spirit?”
n “Do you resolve to discharge with humble charity the office of the diaconate so as to assist the priestly order and to benefit the Christian people?”
n “Do you resolve to hold fast to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience, as the Apostle says, and to proclaim this faith in word and deed according to the Gospel and the Church’s tradition?”
n “Do you resolve to keep the commitment of celibacy perpetually as a sign of the dedication of your life to Christ the Lord for the sake of the kingdom of heaven, in service to God and others?”
n “Do you resolve to guard and increase the spirit of prayer that is proper to your way of life and, in keeping with this spirit and circumstances of your life, to celebrate faithfully the Liturgy of the Hours with and for the people of God and indeed for the whole world?”
n “Do you resolve to conform your manner of life always to the example of Christ, whose body and blood you will handle at the altar?” Mr. Cooper responded “I do” to the first five questions and “I do with the help of God” to the last question.
The recent seminarian who completed his religious studies at St. Meinrad earlier this year then knelt before Bishop Beckman and placed his hands within the
Procession of faith Above: Daniel Cooper kneels as he approaches the sanctuary at St. Albert the Great Church in Knoxville on Nov. 15 to begin the Mass of Ordination to the holy Order of the Diaconate. Leading Mr. Cooper is seminarian Sam Sompayrac and following Mr. Cooper is Deacon Mike Eiffe and deacons and priests of the Diocese of Knoxville. In the front pew are, from left to right, Mr. Cooper's grandmother, Cindy Cooper, Joan Eiffe, Evelyn Elshaw, and Valerie Duncan. Below: Mr. Cooper, who at this point in the ordination Mass is not yet a deacon, stands before Bishop Mark Beckman; Father Mark Schuster, who serves as pastor of St. John Neumann Parish in Farragut as well as director of vocations for the diocese; and Deacon Sean Smith, chancellor of the diocese, as he is judged worthy of ordination.
bishop’s hands to make the promise of obedience. Bishop Beckman asked, “Do you promise respect and obedience to me and my successors?” Mr. Cooper responded, “I do,” prompting the bishop to say, “May God, who has begun the good work in you, bring it to fulfillment.”
“Let us pray, dearly beloved, that God, the Almighty Father, will, in His mercy, pour out the grace of His blessing on this, His servant, whom He is pleased to receive into the sacred order of the diaconate,” the bishop said.
As the congregation knelt, Mr. Cooper laid prostrate before the altar during the Litany of Supplica -
whose herald you have become. Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach.”
The bishop and the deacons present gave the sign of peace to the newly ordained minister and welcomed him as a fellow deacon.
Bishop Beckman offered a prayer for the priesthood of Christ and the ministry of priests, saying, “For Christ not only adorns with a royal priesthood the people He has made His own, but with a brother’s kindness He also chooses men to become sharers in His sacred ministry through the laying-on of hands. He chooses to lead your holy people in charity, to nourish them with the Word, and strengthen them with the sacraments. As they give up their lives for You and for the salvation of their brothers and sisters, they strive to be conformed to the image of Christ himself and offer you a constant witness of faith and love.”
Deacon Cooper then assisted Bishop Beckman at the altar during the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
At the end of Mass, the bishop congratulated Deacon Cooper, who received another round of applause.
Bishop Beckman acknowledged Deacon Cooper’s grandmother, Cindy Cooper, as he called the diocese’s newest member of the diaconate “a great gift to our Church.”
“We want to thank you for helping to form him into a fine young man,” the bishop told Ms. Cooper.
Deacon Cooper’s first assignment is at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Fairfield Glade, whose pastor, Father Michael Woods, and a contingent of Cumberland County parishioners attended the ordination Mass.
Deacon Cooper will serve there until his ordination to the priesthood.
Also attending the Mass were members of the staff and classmates of Deacon Cooper from St. Meinrad.
Following the Mass, Deacon Cooper expressed joy and gratitude as he reflected on his ordination—joy that his faith and desire to serve God are being fulfilled and gratitude toward all the people who helped him in answering God’s call to the priesthood. He also expressed relief and a sense of accomplishment that fiveand-a-half years of seminary studies are now behind him.”
“When I first started, it was a bit of a challenge like every major change in life. Once I settled into it, everything started to fall into place and things began to feel more and more like this is where God actually wants me,” Deacon Cooper said.
During his formation, Deacon Cooper said his faith grew “by leaps and bounds.”
“I thought I had a really good prayer life and faith life before, but being around the guys at St. Meinrad and being challenged by their own example of faith has caused me to grow even more. I’m eternally grateful to all of them for it,” he shared.
tion as the “Litany of Saints” was sung.
The gift of the Holy Spirit was then conferred on Mr. Cooper as Bishop Beckman initiated the laying-on of hands as he gave the Prayer of Ordination.
Deacon Cooper was invested with a stole and dalmatic by Deacon Shawn Ballard, who serves at St. John Neumann Parish. The vestments signify their ministerial role in the celebration of the Eucharist.
As Deacon Cooper knelt before Bishop Beckman, the bishop placed the Book of the Gospels in the ordinand’s hands and said, “Receive the Gospel of Christ,
Deacon Cooper expressed appreciation to the priests and seminarians from St. Meinrad who took part in his ordination, including Father Denis Robinson, OSB, who is the president-rector of the seminary, and Father Guerric DeBona, OSB, who heads spiritual formation at the seminary in St. Meinrad, Ind Deacon Cooper is a native of Knoxville who converted to Catholicism when he was 27. He was an associate pastor in the Baptist faith for a decade before joining the Catholic Church.
He entered the Church at St. John Neumann in 2017.
He explained that he moved to St. Albert the Great Parish when he entered seminary and now considers it his home parish. He has been looking forward to serving at St. Francis of Assisi.
“Father Michael is a great priest, and I am looking forward to getting to know that community,” Deacon Cooper said. ■
BILL BREWER (5)
Embracing the diaconate Above left: Daniel Cooper prostrates himself before the altar during the Rite of Ordination to the Diaconate as priests of the Diocese of Knoxville observe. Above right: Deacon Cooper embraces Deacon Shawn Ballard, who vested the diocese's newest deacon during the ordination Mass.
Called by name Daniel Cooper stands among priests and deacons from the Diocese of Knoxville to announce his presence as he prepares to be ordained a deacon at St. Albert the Great Church on Nov. 15.
Funeral Mass held for Sister Yvette Gillen, RSM
By Dan McWilliams
Sister Mary Yvette Gillen, RSM, a Sister of Mercy for 64 years who served for many years as a pastoral associate at St. Therese Parish in Clinton, St. Joseph Parish in Norris, and Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Alcoa, died on Sunday, Nov. 2, in Nashville. She was 83.
Sister Yvette was born Janice Sue Gillen on Feb. 23, 1942, in Findlay, Ohio, to Yvo and Grace Wise Gillen. She entered the Sisters of Mercy in 1961 in Cincinnati, making first vows in 1964 and final vows in 1969. Sister Yvette taught for 20 years in Ohio and Tennessee, including at St. Mary School at Immaculate Conception Church in downtown Knoxville.
Beginning in 1976, she ministered as a chaplain and assistant director of pastoral care at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Knoxville for 10 years. She found her work as chaplain on the oncology floor most rewarding, helping the dying and their families.
As a pastoral associate in Clinton, Alcoa, and Norris, she visited homes, hospitals, and nursing homes; gave sacramental instructions; and coordinated RCIA programs.
Sister Yvette became a fixture in Clinton after serving at St. Therese Parish from 1974 to 2013. She served as a volunteer there from 1974-85, then went full time as pastoral associate from 1985-2013.
Clinton was a special time in her life, she told The East Tennessee Catholic “Yes, it was,” Sister Yvette said, “working with different ministries I enjoyed very much. The first several years I worked with Father Bill Gahagan and the youth. The last several years it was pastoral work with families and RCIA from 1985 on. During that time, I worked with many different priests. Father Gahagan—he’s the one who started
Wreck continued from page A2
‘More than coworkers’
As Mr. Lightfoot wrote, the Edmund Fitzgerald had “a crew and good captain well-seasoned.” The ship had been making cargo hauls across the Great Lakes since its launch in 1958. Ms. GomezFelder pointed out that the crew would have been more like family.
“Those men, those 29 men, were more than coworkers. They were out there for sometimes eight and nine months. They were away from their families, and there was a closeness there,” she said.
During the time she had with her father, Ms. Gomez-Felder recalls the “good in his heart.” He came to her confirmation and gave her a Bible signed by a bishop. He wanted her to attend Catholic school, and he helped reinforce the faith she developed during her teenage years. But when Buck Champeau died, his daughter’s faith in God was shaken.
Only 5 years old at the time of the accident, Darren Muljo didn’t experience a crisis of faith, but he says his family has dealt with “a lifetime of healing” following the loss of his grandfather. Ransom Cundy was a 53-year-old watchman aboard the Edmund Fitzgerald that night. Mr. Muljo has a distinct, singular memory of him. In August 1975, family members enjoyed lunch and spent time at a park in Superior, Wis., with Mr. Cundy. After the visit, Mr. Muljo said his grandfather “climbed back aboard the Fitzgerald and waved down to us as we left and drove off. That’s my only memory.”
Months later, on Nov. 9, the great freighter left for its fateful journey. It never made it to Detroit. A church in the heart of the city hasn’t forgotten. Each year, Mariners’ Church of Detroit commemorates the Edmund Fitzgerald and the more than 6,000 ships and the estimated 30,000 lives lost in Great Lakes history.
Founded in 1842, this Anglican church has brought great comfort to surviving family members, including Mr. Muljo. He knows it as a “place to commemorate the souls and the memory of the men.” The church is also made famous in song.
Mr. Lightfoot called it the “maritime sailors’ cathedral” where “the church bell chimed ‘til it rang twenty-nine times for each man on the Edmund Fitzgerald.” Mr. Muljo returned for the 50th anniversary. “I’m going to Mariners’ Church, and I know I’m going to be welcomed,” he said.
‘Life is fragile, but God cares’ Past visitors to the church have included a Catholic priest from Michigan, Father Larry Van Damme.
“I just remember having a special appreciation for that building because of what they were able to do for those who perished and for their families and loved ones,” said Father Van Damme. He grew up on the shores of Lake Superior. His memory of the 1975 sinking is vivid.
“I remember being a sophomore in high school when it happened,” he said. His teacher told the class, “It’s hard to imagine anybody surviving that storm.”
A priest for 32 years, Father Van Damme has ministered to many who have suffered and bat-
me there.”
Sister Yvette became known for her roller skating, raising $45,000 in five years for the Kidney Foundation and for Catholic Charities of East Tennessee’s Columbus Home. She was proud of her nickname, “The Skating Nun.”
Sister Yvette told The East Tennessee Catholic how her religious vocation began.
“I always had sort of a desire to be a Sister, but I think that was more manifested when I was in my freshman year of high school. We had nine grades in our Catholic school, and I thought at the time I had a vocation,” Sister Yvette said. “I worked at
the priests’ house, and the pastor had two nieces who were Sisters of Mercy. I met them, and they said, ‘Why don’t you try our aspirants’ school?’
“So, I went to the aspirants’ school my sophomore and junior years, and in my senior year I moved in with my sister. I still had vocation in the back of my mind; it would come and go a little bit in my senior year. But then I met a lady who talked to me about Glenmary, which was fascinating to me because my father was a farmer from way back and I liked to do things out in the open. I was told that Tennessee and Kentucky were home missions, and I saw a picture of a Sister on a tractor. Even though I didn’t drive then, I thought, ‘Oh, that’s me. I want to do that.’
“But I still kept in contact with the Sisters of Mercy, and I talked to a Sister at (Our Lady of the) Pines where I went to school in Fremont, Ohio. She said, ‘Honey, whatever you decide, but we really would like you to come back to the Mercys.’ So, I prayed about it and I entered the Sisters of Mercy. I find it ironic that I’m in the area that I would probably have been in with the Glenmarys, because they were in Tennessee at the time when I moved here.”
In 2020, Sister Yvette retired to Mercy Convent in Nashville.
Sister Yvette was preceded in death by her parents and by her siblings Norman, LaDonna Koening (Homer), and Ruth Ann Phillips (Harry). Sister Yvette is survived by her sister, Beverly Nye (Richard); her sister-in-law, Nancy Gillen; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews; and her Mercy community.
The funeral Mass for Sister Yvette was held Nov. 12 at Mercy Convent in Nashville with Father Bill McKenzie serving as celebrant. A burial service followed in Calvary Cemetery in Nashville.
Memorial services for Sister Yvette are planned at St. Therese and Our Lady of Fatima churches. ■
tled life’s storms. He said Christ is present not only in our rejoicing but also in our “deepest losses and our tragedies.” He described the “reality of God accepting the cross” as a supreme act of love and a reminder that Christ also suffered.
“Life is fragile. But God cares, and He sent his only Son so that we would know of such care and such amazing love,” said Father Van Damme. He added, “God may not take away our suffering, and He may not prevent the tragedies, the catastrophes, the accidents. But He is certainly with us in our grief. He’s with us in our hope. He’s with us as we mourn and as we carry on.”
Debbie Gomez-Felder understands that now. Her Catholic faith is stronger than ever.
“It took me a while to get there, but I did get there, and now it’s unbreakable, it’s unshakable,” she said. Praying the rosary and keeping close to the sacraments have given her strength.
“Receiving Communion really makes me at peace,” she said, adding that it’s also comforting to know people like Darren Muljo and the other surviving family members.
“We’re connected like steel,” Ms. Gomez-Felder remarked. “We’re each other’s strength, and we help each other through it all.”
Special moment
Remembrance
Left: Debbie GomezFelder stands next to the bell recovered from the SS Edmund Fitzgerald. The bell and other items from the ship are on display at Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum at Whitefish Point in Michigan.
Below: Ms. GomezFelder holds a picture of her father, Oliver “Buck” Champeau, who was a crew member on the SS Edmund Fitzgerald when it sank on Lake Superior.
A special moment for the families came on July 17, 1999. Aboard a U.S. Coast Guard vessel northwest of Whitefish Point, they participated in a ceremony above the watery grave of the 29 men. The Anglican pastor of Mariners’ Church of Detroit, the Rev. Richard Ingalls, offered a prayer at the site.
“Bless, we pray thee, this gravesite, and grant that they whose bodies are here entombed may dwell with Christ in paradise,” he prayed. Tears were shed on Lake Superior as a bagpiper played “Amazing Grace.” Mr. Muljo called the service healing.
“But the hurt has returned with people speculating on future dives,” he said.
For years, surviving relatives fought hard to keep the underwater resting place of their loved ones undisturbed. Their advocacy paid off with the passage of a Canadian law protecting the wreck site from exploration. A dive hasn’t happened in 30 years. But there are concerns about the future.
Mystery still surrounds the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald and the exact cause of its demise. Speculation remains that future dives might find more answers.
“People still want to dive down there and disturb their final resting place. That makes me extremely angry,” said Ms. Gomez-Felder. Mr. Muljo called the site a “sacred place” and added, “I have a resolve to defend it as such.” He said the families plan to reach out to Canadian authorities and share their concerns.
Gales of November remembered
Father Van Damme believes the 1975 tragedy “when the gales of November came early,” as Mr. Lightfoot wrote, can offer a reminder. The Catholic Church recognizes November as a special time to pray for those who have died.
Father Van Damme said it’s a time “when we pray for the souls of the faithful departed in a pronounced way, in a very faithful, hope-filled way.”
For Ms. Gomez-Felder, hope is what keeps her moving forward. Over the past 50 years, she has experienced grief, but she is confident in Christ.
“When the chips are down and you have nothing, you have your faith. That’ll move mountains,” she said. ■
COURTESY OF MARIA GONZALEZ (2)
May perpetual light shine upon her Sister
Mary Yvette Gillen, RSM, passed away on Nov. 2 in Nashville, where she had retired in 2020 to the Mercy Convent.
Deacon Mark White
Deacon Mark Fleming White Sr., 93, of Olive Branch, Miss., entered eternal life on Nov. 17.
As a deacon of the Diocese of Knoxville, he served at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Fairfield Glade.
Deacon White was born in Woodside, Long Island, N.Y., in 1932 to James and Ismay White. He grew up in Yonkers, N.Y., attending Public School 23 and Barnard High School, and he graduated from New York University in 1954.
He met his wife of 69 years, Eileen, while she attended Hunter College in New York.
The U.S. Army drafted Deacon White two weeks after his college graduation. After he served a year in the Army, Deacon and Mrs. White were married on July 2, 1955. After he was honorably discharged, they moved to Baltimore, where they began a family.
Deacon White was called to enter the study program for the permanent diaconate and was ordained on Nov. 10, 1974. His ministry included being at the altar, preaching, bringing Communion to the sick, and other diaconal duties. He worked with battered women for four years and was in prison ministry for 46 years, which during that time he worked with men on death row in Nashville.
He celebrated 50 years of ordination on Nov. 10, 2024, at Queen of Peace Church in Olive Branch.
Deacon White was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Eileen Agnes (Magee) White, his brother, James C. White, and his daughter, Alyson White Hazelton. He is survived by his sons, Mark Jr. (Clarita) of Grand Blanc, Mich., Brian (Donna) of Parsons, Tenn., Paul (Michelle) of Olive Branch, and David (Lihong) of Clarkston, Mich. His surviving grandchildren are Andrew (Rebekah), Alexander (Shara), Nicholas, Benjamin (Jeff), Kaylee, Brendan, and Ismay. His surviving great-grandchildren are Lydia, Ruby, Theodore, and Sullivan.
Since Deacon and Mrs. White’s trip to Africa in 2013, they encouraged the education of children at Our Lady of Nazareth School in Nairobi, Kenya, through their continuous contributions and correspondence with the children. Please consider supporting the Partnership with the Poor program of the Marianist missions ( www.marianist.com/oln ) in Dayton, Ohio, in memory of Deacon and Mrs. White.
A funeral Mass for Deacon White was celebrated on Dec. 1 at Queen of Peace Church.
Walter A. Clancy II
Longtime Knoxville businessman Walter Augustine Clancy II, who was a member of one of the Knoxville area’s oldest Catholic families, died in his sleep on Nov. 16.
Mr. Clancy, of Clancy’s Service Stamp Co. in Knoxville, was born to John A. and Ellen Joy Clancy on Feb. 6, 1934, the eighth of 13 children. He became known to many as “Ben.”
Mr. Clancy attended St. Mary School next to Immaculate Conception Church on Vine Avenue, where he learned from the Sisters of Mercy and served as an altar boy. He graduated from Knoxville Catholic High School in 1954, where he served as a class officer for all four years and was presi -
Faithful Departed
dent of his class his senior year.
He attended the University of Tennessee before joining the U.S. Army. He was proud to be a Fourth Degree Knight in Knights of Columbus Council 645.
Mr. Clancy is predeceased by his parents, his siblings Teresa Clancy Irwin, Mary Clancy Williams, Ellen Clancy Pickering, Joy Clancy Carden, Joseph Lawrence Clancy II, John A. Clancy Jr., Thomas S. Clancy II, Frances Clancy Noe, and Annunciata Clancy Nutter; nieces Marie Williams and Elizabeth Anna Clancy, nephews John Irwin Jr., Skid Williams Jr., John Clancy Pickering, Frank G. Pickering, Gene Nutter Jr., and Gregory Nutter; and great-nephew Matthew S. Kirrman
He is survived by sister Patricia Clancy Winter and brother Daniel A. Clancy (Diana) and several nieces and nephews, great-nieces and -nephews and great-greatnieces and -nephews, special friend Letha Lehman, and dear friends Jim Grigsby and David McCarley.
A rosary for Mr. Clancy was prayed on Nov. 23 led by Father John Orr and assisted by Father Valentin Iurochkin.
A funeral Mass for Mr. Clancy was celebrated by Father Orr at Holy Ghost Church on Nov. 24, with Father Iurochkin serving as concelebrant. Deacon Gordy Lowery assisted at the Mass.
A burial service followed at Calvary Cemetery. Pallbearers included Mr. Clancy’s nephews Brett Nutter, John Irwin III, Nathan Irwin, Patrick Pickering, John Pickering, Rob Hunter, Will Brewer, William Edward Lovelace, and Michael Kirrman. Honorary pallbearers were Anthony Irwin, Tom Carden, Jim Pickering, Ron Rochelle, Wes Morgan, Charles Susano Jr., and David McCarley.
Carolyn King Susano
Carolyn King Susano, 88, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Nov. 1.
Mrs. Susano was born in 1937 in Williamsburg, Ky., to Thomas and Edna (Siler) King, both of whom preceded her in death.
Her family moved to Knoxville in 1946, where she attended East High School and graduated in 1955. She taught dance and did modeling before going to work at the Knoxville News Sentinel
Mrs. Susano married Charles D. Susano Jr. in 1964, and after starting a family, she turned her love of antiques into a business, first with her brother, David King, then with her friend, Ginny Rogers, and finally with her friend, Brenda Griffith.
She also contributed time and care to her community through charitable endeavors, including service with the Ladies of Charity, Volunteer Ministry Center, and the InterFaith Health Center. In her free time, she loved reading, gardening, and bird-watching.
Mrs. Susano also was preceded in death by her husband, Judge Charles “Charlie” Susano, who passed away in May 2022. They were married for 57 years. She is survived by her sons, Stephen (Ana) and Charles (Robin); a daughter, Maria; and Preston Warren (Lynn), who she loved like a son.
She also is survived by her brother, David King (Jennifer), and six adored grandchildren, Sophie, Jacob, Madison, Sydney, Hanna, and Hudson.
A funeral Mass for Mrs. Susano was celebrated on Nov. 21 at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Donations in her memory can be made to The Judge Charles D. Susano Jr. Memorial Scholarship Endowment at the
University of Tennessee College of Law, Attn.: Ellen Cole, Director of Advancement at UT College of Law, 1505 Cumberland Ave., Suite 248, Knoxville, TN 37996.
Joseph B. Kirk Sr.
vices. Upon his final retirement in 2015, Mr. Reiner moved to Vonore, where he became a loyal Tennessee Vols fan and enjoyed fishing, woodcarving, and gardening.
Joseph Billington Kirk Sr., better known as Pop Pop, lived from March 7, 1940, to Nov. 16, when he died on a Sunday morning at the same time he normally would have been celebrating the Holy Eucharist at the Lord’s table.
Mr. Kirk is preceded in death by his parents, Stephen L. Kirk Sr. and Anna M. Billington Kirk, and his in-laws, Roberts V. Weaver Sr. and Helen Howard Weaver.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years as of Nov. 25, Helen Weaver Kirk; children, The Rev. Barbara Helen Kirk-Norris and her husband, William Christopher Norris, Joseph Billington Kirk Jr. and his wife, Melinda Blevins Kirk, and Margeret Compton Kirk Clark and her husband, Andrew Jones Clark; grandchildren, Cecelia Clementine Kirk, Thompson Staley Clark, Joseph Billington “Trey” Kirk III, and Vivian Wallace Clark.
Mr. Kirk attended Knoxville parochial schools and the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. He was a member of The Men’s Cotillion Club, Cherokee Country Club, South and West Knoxville Rotary clubs, and the Morning Men’s Bible Study held at Cherokee Country Club, and a qualifying member of the Million Dollar Roundtable in insurance sales. He was proud to serve in the U.S. Army and was a former member of the Knights of Columbus.
Mr. Kirk’s family members were founding members of Sacred Heart Parish, and he was elected to the first parish council at Sacred Heart.
The family wants to thank University of Tennessee Medical Center hospice services, Dr. Amy E. Forsee, Pat Summitt Clinic, The Episcopal Church of the Ascension’s Healing Service, Father Joe Reed, and Immaculate Conception Church.
A funeral Mass for Mr. Kirk was celebrated on Nov. 22 at Immaculate Conception Church. Donations in Mr. Kirk’s memory may be made to the charitable organization of your choice.
John Reiner
John Reiner, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, entered eternal rest on Oct. 12 at the age of 77
Mr. Reiner, who was born in Manhattan, N.Y., on March 6, 1948, grew up in Rahway, N.J. He is predeceased by his parents, Norman Place Reiner and Marion Karanicola Reiner.
When his family moved to Iselin, N.J., Mr. Reiner enlisted in the U.S. Army and served honorably on active duty in Germany. During his military service, he earned multiple medals, awards, and decorations for rifle, missile, and military proficiency, and he was honorably discharged at the rank of sergeant (E5).
He was a proud life member of American Legion Post 0256 and VFW Post 12135, both in New Jersey and Tellico.
In New Jersey, Mr. Reiner attended the Newark College of Engineering while working at Honeywell. He retired after 20 years and later became a partner at Industrial Systems Inc. He went on to work as a sales account manager for ADT Security Ser-
Mr. Reiner was a longtime member of St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Madisonville, where he held several roles in Knights of Columbus Council 15585. In New Jersey, he served as Grand Knight of Council 6245 at Immaculate Conception Parish in Clinton, N.J Affectionately known as “Foxy,” he also served as council commissioner from 2005–2008 with the Central New Jersey Council of the Boy Scouts of America and as Scoutmaster of Troop 92 in Lebanon Township, N.J. Among his most cherished honors were the Order of the Arrow Vigil Honor and the Wood Badge Award. Mr. Reiner also was active in the Rahway and Clinton Jaycees and past president of the New Jersey JCI Senate. He put his heart into his years of service with the Jaycees, Boy Scouts, and the Knights of Columbus. His warmth, service, and witty humor will be deeply missed by the many friends and neighbors whose lives he touched.
Mr. Reiner is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Susan (Karaman) Reiner of Vonore; his daughter, Jennifer Reiner of Whitehall, Pa.; his son, Eric Reiner of Charleston, S.C.; two grandsons, Matthew Figueroa of Florida and Gavin Reiner of North Carolina; and five nieces and nephews.
A funeral Mass for Mr. Reiner was held at St. Joseph the Worker Church on Nov. 3, followed by a military service at the church led by the U.S. Army VFW Post 5156 and American Legion Post 106. Donations in Mr. Reiner’s memory may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 Saint Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 ( stjude.org ), the American Cancer Society ( donate.cancer. org ), or the Boy Scouts of America, Great Smoky Mountain Council ( donations.scouting.org ).
Patricia Golden
Patricia (Norton) Golden of Knoxville passed away on Oct. 13 at home surrounded by her loving family.
The youngest of 10 children, Mrs. Golden will be remembered as a wife, mother, aunt, and grandmother with an incredible zest for life. She was always the life of the party and was never afraid to say what was on her mind.
She was a devout Catholic and communicant of St. Martin de Porres.
Her most cherished time spent was weekly adoration. She was the first person her children and grandchildren called if they had someone they wanted prayers for.
Born and raised in Greenwich Village in New York City, Mrs. Golden settled in Wellesley, Mass., with her husband and children, eventually retiring in Stuart, Fla., at the world-famous Vista del Lago, eventually returning to Knoxville to be with her children.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Gerard F. Golden, two brothers, and six sisters.
Mrs. Golden will be sadly missed by her sister, Betty Moran, of Old Greenwich, Conn., and her children, Kelley Kennedy and her husband, Mark Kennedy, of Knoxville, Kathleen Sullivan and her husband, Dan Sullivan, of Oak Ridge, Jerry Golden of Knoxville, Colleen Gartenberg and her husband, Jeff Gartenberg, of Las Vegas, and Tracey Sorrell and her husband, Tim Sorrell, of Summerville, S.C.
Mrs. Golden was so proud of her grandchildren, Ryan Alley, Colleen Alley, Matthew Sullivan, Patrick Golden, Katie Golden, Maddie Gartenberg, Thomas McKee, and Abby McKee.
A funeral Mass for Mrs. Golden was held on Nov. 7 at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Deacon White
Mr. Clancy
Mrs. Susano
Mr. Kirk
Mr. Reiner
Jeffrey Kerschner
Jeffrey “Jeff” Kerschner, 69, passed away peacefully at home on Oct. 30 in Lenoir City following a battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his loving family.
Mr. Kerschner was born on April 6, 1956, in Dayton, Ohio, to Robert and Marilyn Kerschner. He graduated from Ohio State University in 1983. He worked for 38 years in the dairy industry, where he demonstrated leadership and expertise in plant manufacturing and qualitycontrol management.
Mr. Kerschner married his wife, Maureen, on June 30, 1978, in Dayton. They were married for 47 years, living in eight states and 14 cities while sharing adventures together and growing their family and their faith.
Mr. Kerschner was a tremendously loyal fan of Ohio State University and an avid golfer. He thought Saturdays were for golf and college football. He also enjoyed the outdoors, especially fishing and camping in his retirement years in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Indian Boundary in the Cherokee National Forest.
He loved to watch his grandchildren’s sporting events and valued tight-knit relationships with family and close friends. In an ever-noisy world, he carried himself with quiet strength but always spoke up for those he loved most. He held himself to a high standard and cultivated an attention to detail in his children and grandchildren.
Mr. Kerschner is survived by his wife of Lenoir City; his daughter, Mary (Philip) Hanneman, of Knoxville; his son, Nicholas (Allie) Kerschner, of Spring Hill, Tenn.; his sister, Lynn (Melvin) Singer, of Centerville, Ohio; and his eight grandchildren, Henry, Luke, Lydia, Peter, Julia, Caroline, Reagan, and a grandbaby on the way.
He is preceded in death by his father and mother and his brother, Jonathan Kerschner.
A funeral Mass and inurnment for Mr. Kerschner was held on Dec. 5 at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Donations in Mr. Kerschner’s memory may be made to the Pregnancy Help Center at Catholic Charities of East Tennessee (ccetn.org/donate)
Kay Antunes
Kay Dickey Antunes, age 73, of Knoxville, passed away peacefully on Nov. 4 at Sacred Ground Hospice House surrounded by her family.
Mrs. Antunes was born on July 2, 1952, in Harriman to the late Paul and Josephine (James) Dickey. She graduated from Harriman High School, Fort Sanders Nursing School, and the University of Tennessee.
In 1984, Mrs. Antunes married Ken Antunes, and together they built a loving home filled with laughter and joy. She is survived by her husband of 41 years; their children, Drew (Cassie) Antunes and Shea (Mary Beth) Antunes; her five grandchildren, Nathaniel, Gregory, Bette, Gwendoline, and Luke; and her sister, Shorty. She was preceded in death by her parents.
Mrs. Antunes was a nurse in the U.S. Air Force for several years and also worked as a civilian nurse, totaling more than 45 years of nursing experience. She touched the lives of so many people during her career.
She loved attending all of her
Faithful Departed
children’s and grandchildren’s events, cooking large dinners for her family, and cheering for the Tennessee Vols and Lady Vols.
Mrs. Antunes will be remembered for her generous spirit, her love for her family, and her unwavering strength.
A funeral Mass for Mrs. Antunes was held on Nov. 11 at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Donations in Mrs. Antunes’ memory may be made to Sacred Ground Hospice House.
She will be deeply missed by all who knew her. Her life was a blessing, and she is now home for eternity.
Kathryn D. Kuerschen
Mary Kathryn Dohoney Kuerschen has taken her boundless energy and love to heaven, where she will undoubtedly become the new activities director.
Mrs. Kuerschen was born on July 20, 1967, in Knoxville. She succumbed to glioblastoma on Nov. 6 after a valiant battle that lasted over 18 months.
Mrs. Kuerschen played many roles during her life, including daughter, wife, mother, aunt, and very recently Moomsie to Greyson and Palmer.
Her professional career was working as a certified registered nurse anesthetist for 30 years, and she worked at both East Tennessee Children’s Hospital and Gastrointestinal Associates. She also was an accomplished baker, bargain-hunter, gift-giver, and organizer of all things “household.” Her children recall the homemade lunches and home-cooked meals she prepared while working full time.
Mrs. Kuerschen and her husband, Ted, started dating in high school 13 years before marrying in 1994. Their journey has never seen a dull moment. While they traveled for pleasure, they also traveled thousands of miles for sporting events, from their kids’ childhood including at Knoxville Catholic High School through college…seldom missing a game. In her son Connor’s words, she was supermom.
Mrs. Kuerschen faced everything life threw at her from alopecia to brain cancer with joy, grace, and grit. She lived with a true servant’s heart, constantly thinking of others before herself. She had a smile that lit a room and a way of making everyone she came across feel seen, valued, and cared for, not through grand gestures but through a lifetime of small, selfless ones. Even in her hardest days, she found reasons to smile and ways to make others feel loved.
Mrs. Kuerschen was preceded in death by her beloved mother, Kese, her father, David, and brother, Mike. She leaves a host of family, friends, and co-workers to cherish her memory, including her husband; her children, Cassie, Connor, Chase and wife Tehya, and Cameron and wife Gracie; her grandchildren, Greyson and Palmer; her sister, Paula and friend Nan; her brother, Bob and wife Mary Ann; her niece, Paige and husband Stephen and their children Watts, Lucy, and Jake; and her sister-inlaw, Camby and husband Randy.
Mr. Kuerschen and his family extend a heartfelt thanks to grandmother Tommie Smith, Rocky, Mary, Tom, Beverly, their cousins, and friends whose prayers, support, meals, and visits made this time less difficult
A funeral service for Mrs. Kuerschen was held on Nov. 8. The burial service was at New Gray Cemetery in Knoxville. Pallbearers included her children, Cameron, Chase, Connor, and Cassie, her sis-
ter, Paula, and her niece, Paige; and an honorary pallbearer was her brother, Bob.
Donations in Mrs. Kuerschen’s memory may be made to Holston Home for Children, holstonhome. org; Restoration House, therestorationhouse.net; or the National Alopecia Areata Foundation, naaf.org
John DeBakker
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our brother, uncle, and friend, John Charles DeBakker.
He passed away on Nov. 3 while visiting his brother, Bob, in West Linn, Ore.
He was commonly known as “Johnny” or “Coach” and left an unforgettable mark on all those who knew him.
Coach DeBakker was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa, on June 29, 1947, to the late Robert and Ruth DeBakker. He is survived by Cathy DeBakker, Diana Ridlehoover (Jerry), Debra DeBakker, Bob DeBakker (Catherine), and Mary Ann Borum (Albert).
He will be dearly missed by his nieces and nephews, Jonathan Godwin, Jennifer Godwin, Nicholas DeBakker (Lucia), Madeline Lea (Erik), Carsten DeBakker (Eleanor), Taylor Martin (Steven), and Bret Borum (Annie).
He is also survived by his beloved Aunt Lorraine DeBakker in Norway, Mich., who he visited frequently.
Coach DeBakker attended Knoxville Catholic High School. After graduating, he received a scholarship to Northern Michigan University to play football.
In 1972, he attended St. Meinrad Seminary in Indiana and received his bachelor’s degree in history and
philosophy. He was elected to the board of student advisers and lettered in golf.
Coach DeBakker returned to Knoxville Catholic High School to teach history and serve as head coach for the Fighting Irish football team.
During his summers, he worked as a supervisor of the batting cages for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He attended the University of Tennessee and received his master’s degree in education. He worked as an administrative assistant and head resident of Gibbs Hall under University of Tennessee football coach Johnny Majors.
He returned to Knoxville Catholic High School as the athletic director and assistant principal.
Coach DeBakker spent his final years teaching and coaching at York Institute in Jamestown, Tenn. He touched the lives of many with his dedication, experience, and humor.
Coach DeBakker enjoyed a life of abundance. His interests included fishing, sports, hunting, golfing, and spending time with his friends and family. He enjoyed traveling to historic locations across the United States and translated his experiences to the classroom. He was a people person and met many during his excursions. He was a loyal and devoted uncle, brother, friend, and mentor.
Services will be held on Jan. 17 at St. Mary Church in Oak Ridge. The family will receive friends from 10-10:50 a.m., with the funeral Mass beginning at 11 a.m.
Following the Mass, family and friends are invited to a reception to celebrate Coach DeBakker’s life at Calhoun’s, 100 Melton Lake Peninsula in Oak Ridge. Donations in Coach DeBakker ’s memory may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Coach DeBakker will rest near his parents at Oak Ridge Memorial Park in Anderson County. His inscription will read “Spread love wherever you go.” ■
Mr. Kerschner
Mrs. Antunes
Mrs. Kuerschen
Mr. DeBakker
drives for the blankets and toys. It’s a great event, an evangelizing tool,” Mr. Benefield said.
Beyond the Knights, Mr. Benefield shared additional insight into who is volunteering, including those involved in the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (formerly RCIA)
“We have a lot of OCIA folks that come into the parish, and sometimes this is the first time they plug in. We’ve also had folks who are not Catholic but will oftentimes come and volunteer just because they hear about what’s going on. They just come and we find a place for them to volunteer,” Mr. Benefield said.
“It’s amazing. It’s their first experience with the church and the love that all of these volunteers show their community. Before long, we see them coming into OCIA themselves and start doing that sort of thing with us,” he added.
Brian Deloach is a fourth-year volunteer, or as he called himself, “a gopher.” He helped secure Santa’s attendance and even helped find a Ukrainian translator.
“I’ve helped by putting flyers all throughout town as well as helping to up the social media. I help out by getting coffee and putting chairs out. … Pretty much anything the guys in charge, Mike Murphy, Father Mike Nolan, and Brad Benefield need. I really don’t have a specific goal; I’m just a gopher,” he continued.
Just as Jesus always encouraged spreading His good news, word about the event always gets around
“After the word has been spread around town, they (guests) come in and all our volunteers—from the church, our youth group, Women of Faith, Knights of Columbus—get a home-cooked meal ready for them (guests),” Mr. Deloach said.
Father Nolan shared that the event usually sees between 700-900 guests each year, with anywhere from 100-200 volunteers. He noted that no matter how involved a per-
son may be in the church, this is something that pulls them back.
“There are people here that are at the church almost more than I am,” he said, laughing. “And there are people here when this is the only time I see them. This is what keeps them pulled into it. We’re happy to have them. Anybody.”
Taking a moment to stand in the middle of the room with eyes closed, people might be able to transport themselves to another
smell reminds of
The sounds remind of being a kid, laughing with relatives while playing on the floor right by the Christmas tree. It’s a feeling that many will call nostalgia, returning each year when presented with those same familiar senses. No matter what word is used to describe it, it can only be defined with one: love.
That love permeates memories of
childhood, wanting to laugh with cousins, wanting so badly to sit with mom at the adults table rather than at the kids’ table. It can be called joy, but it was really love that is felt when a Master of the Universe action figure or a new Polly Pocket Pool Party set was unwrapped Love is what started it. Parents sacrifice to provide Christmas for their children. It’s also a reminder that Jesus never went Black Friday shopping, and He didn’t have a warm Christmas dinner. He didn’t even have a bed to sleep in on that night the world has come to love as that first Christmas.
God made us in His image, and He made His own Son in ours. So that one day, the same Son would give the ultimate gift that can’t be wrapped under a tree or put in a stocking. Jesus knew what His purpose was, and He knew what it meant for His children. He endured so much for everyone to have a life beyond sin. And what did He ask of us in return? In Matthew 22:37-40, Jesus tells of the greatest commandments:
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind,” and the second commandment under this, “You shall love your neighbor as your friend.”
If there is a great example of loving the Lord and loving neighbors as friends, it is preparing a meal for friends and strangers to gather in fellowship.
Expecting nothing in return, many volunteers from the Cleveland community, St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish, and the Knights of Columbus come together to feed their neighbors as many gather with families at home during the Christmas holiday.
They’ve managed to keep the tradition running for over three decades and each year they are excited to return. Much more than ribbons and bows, they come together to give the ultimate gift of love to their community in Cleveland. ■
place.
The
mom’s kitchen.
The gift of giving Above: Santa Claus makes an appearance at St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish's annual Three Kings Feast on Dec. 6, which delighted children attending the Christmas event. Below: St. Thérèse volunteers show their Christmas spirit while enjoying the Three Kings Feast.
As we celebrate the joy and hope of Christmas, we want to express our gratitude for your generous support of Catholic schools. Your gifts make it possible for our students to learn, grow in their faith, and be all God has called them to be.
We wish you and your families a very blessed Christmas!
To our Ca th o lic sch oo l dono rs, o ossible our rn, grow in l called nd your Christmas! a very