CNS PHOTO/RICK MUSACCHIO
Study looks at ‘new religious’ Sister Lucia Marie Siemering, center, prepares to sign her vows as she enters the St. Cecilia Dominicans in 2010 at the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Nashville. At left is Mother Ann Marie Karlovic, the congregation’s prioress general. page 8
THE EAST TENNESSEE
Volume 20 • Number 11 • February 6, 2011
The
newspaper
of the D iocese of K noxville www.dioknox.org
Diocese’s second Rosary for Life held on Jan. 15
‘It’s up to the parents’ A Planned Parenthood presentation at a Knox school spurs a St. John Neumann family to act. By Dan McWilliams
B Y M A R Y C . WEAVER
A
laynna McCormick of St. John Neumann Parish in Farragut, who was upset over a Planned Parenthood presentation in her high school classroom last fall, said she never dreamed the issue would grow as it has. The sophomore at Hardin Valley Academy in Knoxville and mom Kym McCormick were among the speakers at an information session for parents Jan. 27 at Sacred Heart Cathedral School that drew an audience of nearly 200 and considerable TV and newspaper coverage. The diocesan Office of Justice and Peace hosted the event. Alaynna said the presentation in her lifetime-wellness class at Hardin Valley in October was supposed to be about abstinence, but the subject never came up (Jan. 23 ETC). Later the student and her mother saw graphic material on the “Info for Teens” portion of the Planned Parenthood website, whose address was given to students in the presentation, and Mrs. McCormick launched a campaign to remove Planned Parenthood from the list of approved speakers for Knox County Schools. In the session at Sacred Heart, Mrs. McCormick spoke as her daughter navigated the Planned Parenthood website in a PowerPoint presentation. The younger McCormick said she could not believe how confident she was after she took the microphone at the end of the meeting. “I’m not normally one going out and trumpeting my arrival,” she said. “I’m very shy, and to be all of a sudden on the news and in front of all these people—it’s very new for me. There’s got to be a God because I go in here [to speak], and the words just come out.” Mrs. McCormick told the Sacred Heart audience of her frustration in dealing with school-system officials, Rally continued on page 7
DAN MCWILLIAMS
he turnout at the diocese’s second annual Rosary for Life event was “edifying,” said Bishop Richard F. Stika. About 400 people of all ages came out Jan. 15 to pray across the street from the abortion clinic on Concord Street in Knoxville. But the bishop said he wanted to see even more people stand up for life next year and asked everyone present to “bring another 10 people.” Before the rosary began, the bishop mentioned the upcoming celebration of Martin Luther King Day and noted that “at one time in our nation’s history people thought they could enslave other people because they were not completely human. We know how unjust and horrific that was.” And since the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision, he said, people of faith have been gathering for years to proclaim “that life is sacred from the moment of conception to natural death.” “In some ways I’m gratified to see all of you here this day, but how about all the rest? Maybe next year each and every one of us who is here might bring another 10 people to make a statement of prayer and a statement of belief that we truly believe that life is sacred,” Bishop Stika said. He prayed for all of those wounded by abortion, “especially someone who may be entering a clinic today or these next days to end a life.” “We pray for God’s mercy upon our nation and for God’s peace in our hearts,” he said. Leading the five decades of the rosary were Father William Oruko, AJ, of St. Mary Parish in Athens; Deacon Gordon Lowery of Holy Trinity in Jefferson City; Sister Mary Sarah Macht, RSM, of Knoxville; Alaynna McCormick, 16, of St. John Neumann Parish in Farragut; and Mauricio Candelas of Holy Ghost Parish in Knoxville. View a slide show from the event at dioknox.org/rosary/. n
Alaynna McCormick of St. John Neumann Parish in Farragut addresses the gathering at Sacred Heart Cathedral School at the end of the information session for parents. The 16-year-old sophomore at Hardin Valley Academy and mom Kym McCormick were among several who spoke to nearly 200 at the Jan. 27 meeting. YOUNG CRUSADER
St. John Neumann Knights’ appreciation dinner turns 20 The Farragut council honored 45 priests, deacons, and women religious who attended the annual event. BY DAN MCWILLIAMS
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he 20th annual Clergy and Religious Appreciation Dinner sponsored by Knights of Columbus Council 8781 in Farragut drew quite a few first-time guests among the 45 priests, deacons, and sisters who attended. About 220 people came to the event Jan. 20 at St. John Neumann School. The evening began with a sacredmusic program at St. John Neumann Church, followed by a social hour and dinner in the school gym. Host pastor and council chaplain Father Pat Garrity led the prayer before the dinner, prepared by chef John Bathe of the Farragut Knights. The honorees represented all four deaneries in the diocese. Ten priests, deacons, and sisters came to the annual event for the first time and introduced themDinner continued on page 2
DAN MCWILLIAMS
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Diocesan chancellor Deacon Sean Smith (left) receives two checks for seminarian education from Ron Tasket at the 20th annual Clergy and Religious Appreciation Dinner sponsored by Knights of Columbus Council 8781. SUPPORT FOR SEMINARIANS