July 7, 2013, ET Catholic

This issue

He dwells among us.................. 2 Diocesan calendar................... 10 Deanery news.......................... 11 La Cosecha............ center pullout

The East Tennessee

Catholic schools...................... 15 Columns............................. 18-22 Virtus workshops..................... 21

July 7, 2013 Volume 22 Number 11 Bishop Richard F. Stika

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

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Making music Fairfield Glade parishioners play Carnegie Hall

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Eucharistic Congress Learn what this historic event is all about

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Ordinations abound 4 seminarians join diaconate in cathedral Mass

Father Manning, 4 seminarians celebrate ordinations Bishop Stika ordains 41st priest and transitional deacons in June for Diocese of Knoxville

Ordination continued on page 8

DAN MCWILLIAMS

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ather Christopher Manning called it a “very humbling experience” as he became the 41st priest ordained for service in the Diocese of Knoxville on June 1.

Father Manning’s Mass, the sixth priestly ordination for Bishop Richard F. Stika, took place at the ordinand’s home church, Sacred Heart Cathedral, and was the first of two June ordination Masses held for five young seminarians taking key steps to enter the priesthood.

“I’ve spent six years in seminary preparing for this day and many years ahead of that in prayer and discernment of God’s calling, both before and after entering the seminary,” Father Manning said. “So to have the experience of today with Bishop Stika ordaining me to be a priest of Jesus Christ for the Diocese of Knoxville to serve the good people in East Tennessee is a true joy and very humbling experience.”

Bishop Stika was joined at the Mass by concelebrants Father David Boettner, vicar general and cathedral rector; Monsignor Xavier Mankel, vic-

By Dan McWilliams

Celebrating the priesthood Bishop Richard F. Stika and priests from across the diocese celebrate at the altar with Father Christopher Manning during the ordination Mass for Father Manning on June 1 at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Father Manning became the 41st priest ordained in the Diocese of Knoxville.

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

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He dwells among us

by Bishop Richard F. Stika

Bishop’s schedule

Truth and freedom

These are some of Bishop Stika’s public appointments:

The liberty we celebrate also is a summons to protect and defend ‘self-evident truths’

reedom isn’t free.

We are particularly reminded of this during our solemn observance of Memorial Day as well as with Independence and Veterans days. For it is all too easy to take for granted our freedoms that have been secured and defended by the sacrifices of so many.

And the very first and most precious of our constitutional freedoms is that of religious liberty, the freedom upon which all our other freedoms depend.

This is the reason why the bishops of the United States called for another “Fortnight for Freedom” to be observed from June 21 through July 4—to remind us that our religious liberty can no longer be taken for granted.

Indeed, freedom of religion isn’t free.

We are called to be witnesses of the truths of our Catholic faith, truths that no human law can redefine, restrict or strike down.

We have two citizenships in life, the more apparent one as citizens of our great country; the other

Diocesan policy for reporting sexual abuse

Follow Bishop Richard Stika on Twitter @bishopstika and his blog for news and events from the diocese. a citizenship we know by faith through our baptism and professed in the Creed.

We are Americans and we are Catholics, and the citizenship that defines the two need not conflict.

We must give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God (Luke 20:25). But we must never give to Caesar what belongs only to God—our conscience.

When we are forced to make a choice between them, to give to Caesar what belongs only to God, we must then choose the citizenship that is of heaven.

Our freedoms are a great gift, but they also are a summons to us to be vigilant to protect them.

We celebrate as a nation now one such man—Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.—for standing up to defend the “truths, rights, and freedoms” that our Founding

July 2: 9:30 a.m., Leadership meeting at the Chancery

Fathers recognized as coming “from above” and not from man.

That it took 100 years after the Civil War for racial bigotry to begin to give way to civil rights and to be respected by laws tells of the struggle and slowness of the human heart to respect the “self-evident truths,” and how easily they can be undone.

So today, particularly, when our religious freedom and rights of conscience are threatened, and with attacks against the Catholic Church only becoming bolder and more vile, we must have the courage to stand up and defend the fullness of the truth that comes from God, and the Church he has entrusted it with.

Why this Fortnight for Freedom?

To bring our nation before Christ and to ask His blessing upon it, and in His great mercy and love, to mend its every flaw.

May your celebration of our nation’s birth be blessed, and may God grant you the courage to defend and protect the “Truths, Rights, and Freedoms” that we celebrate. n

The East Tennessee

July 4: Happy Independence Day July 16: 10 a.m., planning workshop for December Province Meeting hosted by the Diocese of Knoxville July 17: 9:30 a.m., Leadership Meeting at the Chancery July 21: 9 a.m., Mass at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus July 21: 5 p.m., St. Mary’s Night picnic and baseball game at Johnson City baseball park July 24: 9:30 a.m., Leadership meeting at the Chancery n

Bishop Richard F. Stika Publisher

Dan McWilliams Assistant editor

Bill Brewer

Margaret Hunt

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

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July 7, 2013 3

Fairfield Glade parish spreads Word in NYC via music

The big stage Members of the choir at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Fairfield Glade drew applause at Carnegie Hall.

Bacon has formed the Festival Chorale, a 60-voice ecumenical church choir based in Cumberland County representing 13 churches.

“It is a ministry of St. Francis of Assisi. We present two major sacred choral works a year,” Mr. Bacon said.

To complement the Festival Chorale at Carnegie Hall, Mr. Bacon invited the Roane State Community College concert choir, which created a 200-voice body singing as a massed choir.

Rehearsals began in January, and

DAN MCWILLIAMS

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oices from the mountains of East Tennessee have been filling New York’s Carnegie Hall, and the experience is divine inspiration for the director of music and liturgy at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Fairfield Glade.

Brian Bacon, who joined St. Francis of Assisi in February 2010, has spent much of this year organizing a Cumberland County chorale to perform in New York as part of MidAmerica Productions’ concert series at the famed music hall.

The production company has been staging musical performances at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center since 1983, presenting conductors, soloists, and choral and instrumental ensembles from across the United States and abroad.

MidAmerica contacted Mr. Bacon in summer 2012 and invited him to conduct his own concert as part of the MidAmerica series at Carnegie Hall.

After quickly saying yes, Mr. Bacon began putting together a chorus worthy of Carnegie Hall.

Led by St. Francis of Assisi Church,

Leader of the choir Brian Bacon’s music ministry has led him and his St. Francis

of Assisi Church-based choir to Carnegie Hall. He and the members of Cumberland County’s Festival Chorale hope for a repeat performance.

4 July 7, 2013

By Bill Brewer

COURTESY OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI CHURCH

St. Francis of Assisi choir members anchor Festival Chorale of Cumberland County, perform at Carnegie Hall

the first performance was held May 5 at First Baptist Church of Fairfield Glade, which was large enough to accommodate the ensemble.

The ensemble then left for New York in late May for its 2013 choir tour, with an early tour stop at St. John Bosco Catholic Church in Woodstock, Va. The two-hour Carnegie Hall performance was held May 26 in front of about 2,000 concert-goers. The New England Symphonic Ensemble, the house orchestra for the concert series, accompanied the Festival Chorale.

It was Mr. Bacon’s fifth time performing at Carnegie Hall, but it was his first time as a conductor. He performed at the famed music hall as a member of Roane State’s choir when he was a student there.

“While at Roane State I had my calling to serve in a church in music ministry,” he said, adding that he earned a degree in music from Maryville College and then brought another church choir to Carnegie Hall in 2003.

He converted to Catholicism in 2006 and moved back to East Tennessee from Missouri in 2010, when he and his family joined St. Francis of Assisi Church in Fairfield Glade.

His previous New York performances left him wanting to repeat the experience as a conductor.

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

“To perform in Carnegie Hall is a performer’s dream. It’s more exciting as a conductor to put it all together.

There is an overwhelming amount of talent on the Cumberland Plateau,” Mr. Bacon said, noting that the singers held fundraisers to raise money for the trip and they paid much of their own way.

He also said the group rode a bus to New York instead of flying.

“It was absolutely amazing. It went beautifully,” Mr. Bacon said, adding that the one-hour performance drew much applause.

“We received a standing ovation, which is very humbling,” Mr. Bacon said.

The East Tennessee performers peaked at Carnegie Hall, according to the conductor, who said the performance was almost flawless.

“I wouldn’t have changed a thing, well except for the cell phone that went off in the sixth movement. I heard Maroon 5 in the background,” he lamented.

Although the performers peaked in New York, Mr. Bacon said the performers have even more to offer as a group.

“This ensemble grew for the first time. Now, it’s what can we accomplish together,” he said. “It’s not where do we go from here. It’s what can we accomplish.” n dioknox.org

Understanding the Eucharistic Congress as historic event nears More than 5,000 people expected to attend Diocese of Knoxville’s September jubilee anniversary kickoff

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Eucharistic Congress is a gathering of Catholic clergy, religious, and laity to bear witness to the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. Congresses bring people together from a wide area, and typically involve the celebration of Mass, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, and inspirational and catechetical presentations delivered by highly respected theologians and evangelists.

Congresses occur on an international, national and diocesan level. The most recent international Eucharistic Congress was held in Dublin, Ireland, in 2012 and gthe next international congress is scheduled in Cebu, Philippine Islands, in 2016. Some dioceses in the United States have held Eucharistic Congresses at significant moments in their history and some, like the Archdiocese of Atlanta, hold a Eucharistic Congress every year.

Eucharistic Congresses began during the second half of the 19th century in France. Emilie Tamisier (1834-1910), a laywoman, organized the first international Eucharistic Congress at Lille, France, under the inspiration of St. Peter Julian Eymard (18111868), who is called the “Apostle

of the Eucharist.” This undertaking, in which she was assisted by other laypeople, priests and bishops, received the blessing of Pope Leo XIII. The theme of this first Eucharistic Congress was: “The Eucharist Saves the World.”

It was believed that a renewal of faith in the presence of Christ in the Eucharist would provide the remedy for ignorance and religious indifference.

In more recent times, Eucharistic Congresses have propelled Catholic evangelization. Blessed

John Paul II said in his Message for World Mission Day on April 19, 2004: “In order to evangelize the world, we need experts in celebration, adoration and contemplation of the Holy Eucharist.

The Church needs deeply Eucharistic souls to enter into the inner sanctuary of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus and to draw from that infinite source of divine grace, the power to go out and to pierce the darkness of our world with a proclamation of the luminous truth of the Gospel. Only in and through the Eucharistic Mystery will we find the light that will transfigure us.”

And Pope Francis recently stated in a message to the Archbishop of Cologne on the occasion of the National Eucharistic Congress in Cologne, Germany: “Encountering Christ, giving ourselves to Christ, proclaiming Christ—these are the pillars of our faith, which are concentrated in the focal point of the Eucharist.”

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mit of the whole Christian life is the center of every Eucharistic Congress. The celebration of the Word of God and the inspirational and catechetical talks that precede the Mass can contribute to examining the various aspects of the Eucharistic Mystery – aspects that are suggested by the theme of the Congress. Praying in common and adoring the Blessed Sacrament contributes to interiorizing these themes.

Eucharistic Congresses generally offer ample opportunities for the faithful to participate in the healing sacrament of reconciliation, as well as time to enjoy fellowship with other Catholics in an inspirational and joy-filled setting.

On the occasion of the Diocese of Knoxville’s Silver Jubilee Anniversary, we will celebrate the region’s very first Eucharistic Congress Sept. 13-14 at the Sevierville Convention Center in Sevier County, a major gateway to the Great12:15 SmokyPM Mountains.

3/26/13 Page 1 Congress continued on page 24

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July 7, 2013 5

North American Forum brings faithful together one last time

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By Bill Brewer he Diocese of Knoxville was the site of the North American Forum on the Catechumenate’s last Beginnings Institute before the Forum dissolves.

The diocese co-sponsored a threeday conference with the North American Forum June 13-15 at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Lenoir City. Sister Mary Timothea Elliott, RSM, director of the diocese’s Office of Christian Formation, said attendance at the Lenoir City conference topped capacity, with 92 attendees.

“The overall response was enthusiastic. Many commented on how much they learned, how helpful the conference was for setting specific goals for the coming year, and how inspired they were in their call to evangelize,” said Sister Timothea,

who led the conference.

The North American Forum was founded 30 years ago to educate the laity who are engaged in full implementation of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, re-established by Vatican II. During the 30 years, the Forum has sponsored conferences on every phase of RCIA in dioceses throughout the country. It also has published Catechumenate, a professional journal, and sponsored many webinars for those involved in this parish ministry.

Participants in the June North American Forum conference represented 16 dioceses—from Los Angeles to Richmond, Va., and Chicago to Houston-Galveston.

“Such an opportunity to be with

Forum continued on page 17

JIMMY DEE

St. Thomas the Apostle Parish hosted three-day conference

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Supreme Court strikes down Defense of Marriage Act WASHINGTON—The federal Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA, defining marriage as between one man and one woman, is unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause, the Supreme Court ruled June 26 in a 5-4 opinion.

In a separate case, the court sent back to lower courts a challenge to California’s Proposition 8, the voterapproved initiative barring same-sex marriage. The apparent result is that same-sex marriage will again be legal in California as soon as the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals formally dismisses the case, as the high court instructed it.

In this second 5-4 ruling, with a different lineup of justices, the court remanded the case on the grounds that the individuals who defended the law in court lacked legal standing to do so.

U.S. Catholic bishops said the Supreme Court’s rulings on same-sex marriage were a “tragic day for marriage and our nation.”

The “future of our democracy” is “very, very worrisome,” U.S. Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone said in reaction to the Supreme Court’s rulings. Archbishop Cordileone chairs the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage.

“The court got it wrong. The federal government ought to respect the truth that marriage is the union of one man and one woman, even where states fail to do so. The preservation of liberty and justice requires that all laws, federal and state, respect the truth, including the truth about marriage,” according to a statement released

by Archbishop Cordileone and Cardinal Timothy Dolan, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Neither Supreme Court decision The East Tennessee Catholic

CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

U.S. bishops: Justices’ rulings on same-sex marriage are ‘tragic day for marriage in our country’

Defending marriage People demonstrate outside the Supreme Court in Washington in March, when the court heard oral arguments in two same-sex marriage cases.

will have the effect of requiring states to honor same-sex marriages from other jurisdictions, but the DOMA case likely will affect how the federal government must treat same-sex marriages for purposes ranging from Social Security benefits to taxation, immigration and benefits for military spouses.

The opinion by Justice Anthony Kennedy blasted the law as having “the avowed purpose and practical effect ... to impose a disadvantage, a separate status, and so a stigma upon all who enter into same-sex marriages made lawful by the unquestioned authority of the states.

“The act’s demonstrated purpose is to ensure that if any state decides to recognize same-sex marriages, those unions will be treated as second-class marriages for purposes of federal law,” Kennedy wrote.

“This raises a most serious question under the Constitution’s Fifth Amendment.”

Kennedy was joined in the ruling

by Justices Stephen Breyer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan. Chief Justice John

Roberts wrote a dissent, arguing that the court should not have jurisdiction to rule in the case and that DOMA was constitutional. Justices Antonin Scalia and Samuel Alito also wrote dissents. Justice Clarence Thomas joined Alito’s dissent and Roberts joined part of Scalia’s.

The California case was brought by two couples who were denied marriage licenses after the state’s voters in 2008 approved a constitutional amendment limiting marriage to heterosexual couples. The law was passed after the state Supreme Court ruled earlier that year that statutes banning same-sex marriage were unconstitutional.

After a federal District Court found that Prop 8 served no legitimate purpose and violates due process and the equal protection rights of same-sex couples to marry, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld that conclusion, although on a narrower legal finding. While litigation proceeded, Prop 8’s ban on same-sex marriages was allowed to stand.

The state of California declined to defend Prop 8 when two couples

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

By Catholic News Service

sued to block it, so individuals who supported the law took up its defense.

In an opinion written by Roberts, the Supreme Court ruled that those individuals lacked the legal standing to defend the law in federal court.

The effect of the decision appears to be that the California trial court’s ruling that Prop 8 is unconstitutional will stand, at least initially. That would allow same-sex marriages to resume in California.

California Gov. Jerry Brown directed his state Department of Public Health, which oversees marriage licenses, to tell local authorities to begin issuing them for same-sex couples as soon as the 9th Circuit lifts its temporary stay in place while the court case proceeded. It was unclear how long that might take, but California legal observers suggested it would be a matter of perhaps a few weeks.

In his opinion, Roberts wrote: “It is not enough that the party invoking the power of the court have a keen interest in the issue. That party must also have ‘standing,’ which requires, among other things, that it have suffered a concrete and particularized injury. Because we find that petitioners do not have standing, we have no authority to decide this case on the merits, and neither did the 9th Circuit.”

Roberts was joined in that ruling

by Scalia, Breyer, Sotomayor and Kagan. Neither the opinion of the court nor the dissent by Kennedy addressed the issue of same-sex marriage. Both dealt only with whether the parties to the lawsuit had the right to bring the court case, challenging a law instituted through the voter initiative process.

The New York case over DOMA arose when Edith Windsor inherited the estate of Thea Spyer, her partner

DOMA continued on page 23 July 7, 2013 7

Ordination continued from page 1

8 July 7, 2013

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SCOTT MAENTZ

ar general; Monsignor Bob Hofstetter, dean of the Five Rivers Deanery; and Monsignor Pat Garrity, vicar for priests and dean of the Cumberland Mountain Deanery. Cardinal Justin Rigali also attended—on the feast day of St. Justin—along with about 30 additional priests and 16 deacons.

Deacon Sean Smith and Deacon Arthur Torres Barona assisted at Mass, and diocesan seminarians served at the altar.

The bishop said “today in this cathedral of Sacred Heart, in this cathedral of Knoxville, we again celebrate this moment of grace when a man responds to the call of Christ, just as Pope Francis did, to come and to follow in a particular ministry of the Church. You too, Christopher, have been chosen by the Lord himself through the call of the Church to act in his name as you celebrate the sacraments and proclaim the Word. You have been called to be Christ-bearer in East Tennessee.”

Bishop Stika mentioned that he also dwelt on the meaning of Christopher—“Christ-bearer”—when Father Manning was ordained a deacon.

“You may all remember last year when I thanked the parents of Christopher for the name that they gave him, Christ-bearer. So I do the same again today. I also thank you for the gift of his life, not only his name but his life—in a particular way the life he now gives to the people of God in the Catholic Church.”

Keeping in mind that Father Manning would be another “Christ in our midst,” Bishop Stika said, “I offer congratulations to so many of my brother deacons and priests who are celebrating their anniversaries of ordination to the diaconate and to the priesthood, for as we begin to prepare this celebration of our silver jubilee as a diocese, it is obvious that this growing and vibrant church of East Tennessee would not be so blessed without your commitment.”

The bishop noted that much of the

Rite of ordination Bishop Richard F. Stika lays his hands on the head of Christopher Manning during the latter’s priestly ordination Mass. Also pictured are (from left) Deacon Arthur Torres Barona, Deacon Sean Smith, and master of ceremonies Father David Carter.

Father Manning was ordained in his home church, the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. His was the first of two ordination Masses in June for the diocese.

direction for a priest’s life and ministry comes from the ordination ritual itself.

“In a few moments, I will ask Christopher to again make certain commitments as he makes this particular journey in his life of faith and in his life of service to the good people God calls him to serve,” Bishop Stika said. “I will ask him if he is willing to preach the gospel always and teach the faith, being mindful that the word of God and the teachings of the Church are not his, but they belong to the Church. Even more than that, they belong to Jesus Christ.

“I will ask him if he is willing to celebrate faithfully and reverently the mysteries of Christ, especially the Eucharist and the sacrament of reconciliation, so that the people of God might

be nourished with the abundant mercy of God.” And there is the challenge to be a man of prayer, Bishop Stika pointed out.

“For me this question is so closely connected with the promise of celibacy. The Catholic priesthood of the Latin Church invites us to live a life of celibacy, which is so often misunderstood by the people of God and by priests themselves, for we live this celibacy for the sake of the kingdom of God. It is a moment-to-moment commitment to live a life that’s given to the Church and given to the people of God.” The bishop said that someone once asked Archbishop John L. May, archbishop of St. Louis from 1980 to 1992, what his understanding was of

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

o d C

J r

p l t B l a i o

d c a t e d

a priest’s respect and obedience to the bishop. r “His simple answer was, ‘Just do T what I tell you,’” Bishop Stika said. G “My answer is a little different: let’s w together do what He tells us to do. K Let’s show mercy and compassion to l those who need mercy and compas- o sion, to give ourselves totally for the w sake of the kingdom of God, to see a Christ present in those we love and r even more in those we disagree with, r those we would rather not have to a deal with at all, to see Christ present in them, to act in the person of Christ B and to be another Christ to others.” w The bishop concluded his homw ily by telling the ordinand to “be a k holy priest, be a loving and forgiving priest, be a priest filled with rever‘

Ordination continued on page 17 dioknox.org

Four seminarians ordained deacons at Cathedral Mass Colin Blatchford, Tony Budnick, Julian Cardona, Adam Kane enter transitional diaconate

The East Tennessee Catholic

STEPHANIE RICHER

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alling it “a great and historic day for the Diocese of Knoxville,” Bishop Richard F. Stika ordained four men to the transitional diaconate June 22 at Sacred Heart Cathedral.

Colin Blatchford, Tony Budnick, Julian Cardona, and Adam Kane all received holy orders in the Mass.

It was the diocese’s second fourperson ordination and first in nearly 20 years. On Nov. 27, 1993, future priests David Boettner, Patrick Brownell, Tom Moser, and Sean Poland were ordained to the diaconate at St. Thérèse of Lisieux Church in Cleveland. Twice the diocese has ordained three priests on one day.

Father Boettner, now the cathedral rector and a vicar general, concelebrated the ordination Mass along with Monsignor Bob Hofstetter, dean of the Five Rivers Deanery, and Father Ron Franco, CSP, dean of the Smoky Mountain Deanery. Assisting were Deacons Sean Smith and Arthur Torres Barona, with diocesan seminarians serving at the altar. More than 30 additional priests and 21 deacons attended.

Among the priests were seminary representatives Father Kristian Teater, dean of men at KenrickGlennon Seminary in St. Louis, where Deacons Blatchford and Kane attend; Father Byron Haaland, SCJ, of Sacred Heart School of Theology in Hales Corners, Wis., where Deacon Budnick is enrolled; and Father Ron Knott of St. Meinrad School of Theology in St. Meinrad, Ind., where Deacon Cardona is a student.

On the morning of the ordination, Bishop Stika began his day with a walk in his neighborhood, during which he ran into a woman who knew him.

“She recognized me and she said, ‘What a beautiful day it is today, 7Bishop.’ And I wanted to say, ‘You

By Dan McWilliams

The diocese’s newest deacons Julian Cardona, Adam Kane, Tony Budnick, and Colin Blatchford prostrate themselves before the altar during the Litany of the Saints in their diaconal ordination Mass on June 22 at Sacred Heart Cathedral. Bishop Richard F. Stika kneels in front of the four and is joined by priests, deacons, and diocesan seminarians, who served at the altar during the Mass.

don’t know the half of it,’” he said.

“I didn’t say that, but as I said earlier, this is a special moment in the life of the Church in Knoxville.

We have 19 men studying for the priesthood and six entering next year, and over the next year or so we’ll have six priests [ordained], which is a true celebration of the faith of the community of the Catholic Church in East Tennessee.”

The bishop said “on this day we celebrate the diaconate, as we celebrate four men who have been involved in formation for a number of years, how they have been analyzed and prodded and reviewed.

How they have been challenged, how they have been supported in

their formation knowing the importance of their work as they respond to the call of Jesus to come and to follow and to build his kingdom.

“They have been told what ministry is about, what it should look like, what you should do in various situations. . . . You’re willing to present your life to our Lord Jesus and to present your life to the Church universal, but even more than that, you present your life to the good and wonderful people of East Tennessee, the Catholic Church which celebrates 25 years of existence beginning in September.”

Bishop Stika said the diaconate reminds us to be ministers of charity, to proclaim the word of God,

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

but not just proclaim the word of God by words but by actions.

By virtue of their ordination, the new deacons will receive abilities to baptize, “stand before the people of God and break open the Word and preach it,” and assist the bishop and priests in the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, the bishop said.

“In each and every activity that you are involved in as ministers of Jesus Christ, I think the invitation of the Lord is a reminder to be of service,” he said, adding that “if you fall into that situation where you have this expectation of having something coming to you and for you, then already you’ve lost a Deacons continued on page 23

July 7, 2013 9

Diocesan calendar

by Margaret Hunt Openings are available in a spiritualdirection group led by Dr. Barbara Haning, an experienced group facilitator and spiritual director. Participants will focus on discerning and articulating God’s presence in their daily lives. The group meets monthly and is intended for those willing to meet the expectations and commitments involved in this process.

Call Dr. Haning at 865-671-0766 for more information.

Knoxville Catholic High School is sponsoring summer volleyball camps July 28-30. The camp for setters will meet from 6-9 p.m. Friday, July 28, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, July 29, and from 2-5 p.m. Sunday, July 30. The cost is $125. A camp for hitters will meet from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 29, only.

The cost is $65. A combination setter/ hitter camp will meet at the same time as the setter camp. The cost will be $125.

Register online at www.knoxvillecatholic. com/news-events/summer-camps. For more information, contact Diannah Miller at dmiller@knoxvillecatholic.com.

The next Cursillo Encuentro will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 13, at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Lenoir City. For more information, contact Lois Schering at schering 4@aol.com.

The next men’s Cursillo in Spanish will be Aug. 8-11. The next women’s Cursillo in Spanish will be Aug. 29-Sept.

1. Both Cursillos will be at the Apison Retreat Center in Apison, Tenn. Applications are available online at www.knoxvillecursillo.org or by contacting Lois Schering at schering4@aol.com.

The 30th annual Mid-South Regional Charismatic Conference will take place Friday and Saturday, July 19 and 20, at St. Ignatius of Antioch Church in Antioch. The sessions begin at 6:30 p.m. Friday with registration and end after the closing session Saturday, which begins at 7 p.m. Speakers include

10 July 7, 2013

Bishop Sam Jacobs, bishop of HoumaThibodaux, La.; Sister Nancy Keller, SC, a well-known speaker in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, and Bishop David Choby, bishop of Nashville. Registration is $35 per person, $55 for married couples, or $65 per family. Registration increases by $10 after Friday, July 12. Register online at www.msrcc.org.

For more information, contact Teresa Seibert at 615-789-4598 or tseibert@ bellsouth.net.

The annual Tennessee Right to Life Rummage Sale will take place from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 20.

Items such as books, movies, kitchen items, toys, and other knick-knacks are welcome. Contact the TRL office at 865-689-1339 or trlknox@trlknox.org to schedule a donation pickup or drop-off time.

The 2013 Celebrate Life Banquet is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17, at the Knoxville Convention Center.

Shari Rigby, the actress who played the birth mother who reconsidered her decision to abort her child in the pro-life film October Baby, will be the keynote speaker. Tickets are $50 per person.

Corporate sponsorships also are available. To learn more or purchase tickets, call the Tennessee Right to Life office at 865-689-1339.

The diocesan Office of Christian Formation will be hosting two catechist-orientation sessions for new catechists, RCIA teams, adult faith formation facilitators, and other ministry leaders Wednesday, Aug. 21, at the Chancery in Knoxville and Thursday, Aug. 22, at St. Stephen Church in Chattanooga.

Both sessions will meet from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Registration for both events can be completed online at www.eventbrite. com/org/3149767104. For more information, contact Father Richard Armstrong at 865-584-3307 or rarmstrong@ dioknox.org.

The Notre Dame Parish youth group in Greeneville is planning a trip to Doe River Gorge Day Quest on Saturday,

Aug. 3. The cost is $26 per person and includes lunch. Space is limited. Visit www.doerivergorge.com for a list of activities. Call Susan Collins at Notre Dame Church for more information at 423-639-9381.

Monsignor Al Humbrecht and Father Michael Nolan will be the spiritual directors of a pilgrimage to Spain and Portugal from Oct. 29 through Nov. 9. Pilgrims will visit important shrines and holy sites in Madrid, Segovia, Avila, León, Santiago, Fatima, and Lisbon. The cost per person is $3,599 from Atlanta.

To obtain a brochure or register, contact Sister Albertine Paulus, RSM, at 865207-4742, 545-8270 or smaevang@ yahoo.com.

The next Picture of Love engagedcouples retreat will take place Nov. 15 and 16 at the Holy Spirit Church parish life center in Soddy-Daisy. The retreat will meet from 7-10 p.m. Friday and continue from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday. The program is designed to help couples gain a better understanding of the joys and challenges of being married in their day-to-day lives. The cost is $135 per couple, which includes a certificate good for a $60 discount on a marriage license. Couples must attend the entire retreat to receive the certificate. For more information, contact Marian Christiana, director of the Office of Marriage Preparation and Enrichment, at 423-892-2310 or mchristiana@ dioknox.org.

Father John Dowling will be the spiritual director for a 10-day pilgrimage to France June 30–July 9, 2014. The group will visit several shrines and holy sites around France, including the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal and Sainte-Chapelle, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Amiens, the tomb of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the American Military Cemetery at Omaha Beach, Chartres Cathedral, the Shrine of the Sacred Heart in Paray-le-Monial, and the basilica in Ars that houses the incorrupt body of St. John Vianney. The

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

final day will feature a drive through the French Alps. Mass will be celebrated daily. The price for the pilgrimage including airfare from either Nashville or Knoxville is $3,945, which includes U.S. government taxes, fees, and airline fuel surcharges up to $665; economy-class round-trip airfare, three- and four-star hotel accommodations (based on double occupancy), eight breakfasts and dinners, a professional tour manager, local English-speaking guides, all scheduled sightseeing and entrance fees, a modern motor coach, and group tips.

Interested pilgrims can also arrange their own airfare and pay $2,849 (if 30 pilgrims register). Register early and make a deposit by Aug. 25, 2013, and receive a $50 discount. For more information, contact Father Dowling at 931-4843628 or frjohndowling@gmail.com.

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

The St. Thomas the Apostle Ukrainian Catholic Mission celebrates Divine Liturgy at 9:30 a.m. Sundays in the lower level of Holy Cross Anglican Church, 515 Herron Road, Knoxville, TN 37934.

Note the time change. All services are in English. Call Father Richard Armstrong at 865-584-3307 or visit www.saint thomas-knoxville.org for details.

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

Chattanooga Deanery calendar Knights of Columbus Council 610 is collecting items for its annual whiteelephant yard sale, which is held in conjunction with the council’s Labor Day picnic. For pickup or drop-off informa-

Parish notes: Chattanooga Deanery

tion, contact Scott Louisell at 423-6676936 or scottlouisell@gmail.com, or John Chrnalogar at 544-1562. Proceeds support the Knights’ charitable activities throughout the year.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Chattanooga Catholic Charities of Chattanooga thanked parishes around the area for supporting their annual dinner. Over $55,000 was raised to support the various ministries sponsored by the charity.

The parish was thanked for its $4,105 contribution to Oklahoma tornado relief.

St. Augustine, Signal Mountain

COURTESY OF JEAN WENN LUCE

The American Haitian Foundation thanked the parish for its support of the White Hot Sock Hop to benefit the parish’s twin school in Haiti. The foundation shipped a container filled with more than 255,000 meals to the school.

First Communion at St. Thérèse of Lisieux St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish in Cleveland recently celebrated the sacrament of first Holy Communion. Adults pictured are Dina Benson (left), Father Tom Moser, and Stacy Dill.

Parish bookkeeper Dolores Coughlin is retiring after 13 years at St. Augustine Church. The parish thanked her for her years of service as both a volunteer and paid employee of the church.

St. Jude, Chattanooga Father Joseph C. DeGuzman, FSSP, son of St. Jude parishioners Jose and Blessie DeGuzman, was ordained a priest of the Order of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter on June 1 at the Cathedral of the Risen Christ in Lincoln, Neb. His first Mass was celebrated at St. Jude Church on June 15.

St. Mary, Athens Power Lab, the parish vacation Bible school, will take place July 21-24. The week will begin with a bilingual Mass at 10 a.m. Sunday, July 21, followed by an afternoon of activities, and then meet from 6-8:30 p.m. on July 22-24. Children ages 5 through 11 are invited to attend. For more information, call Sue Granger at 423506-7836 or Kathy Porterfield at 865-228-3416.

St. Stephen, Chattanooga Anniversaries: Warren and Juanita White (60), Pat and Jack O’Keefe (57) Newcomers: George and DeEtte Vaughan

St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Cleveland

COURTESY OF PAULA REILAND

Deacon Dave and Kathleen Grusek were welcomed to the parish at a reception after the Masses on June 22 and 23.

Three generations serve at altar at St. Stephen Three generations of altar servers served together at a recent Mass at St. Stephen Church in Chattanooga. Pictured from left are Father Gilbert Diaz, grandfather Rusty Phillips, granddaughter Abby Mahoney, son-in-law Jamie Mahoney, and Deacon Dan Alexander.

The East Tennessee Catholic

The military support group meets on second Mondays in the Trinity Room. The group is collecting adult-sized wipes, canned meats, protein bars, and other snacks to ship to members of the Armed Services overseas. Call Muriel for more details at 423-473-8884.

The conclusion of the parish’s observance of Fortnight For Freedom will take place at the 8:30 a.m. Mass on Thursday, July 4.

Parishioners are asked to bring donations during July to help the parish get a head start on its annual Three Kings Feast collections. There will be two boxes in the vestibule, one for blankets (regular, queen, and king) and a smaller box for monetary donations. For more information, call Norma at 423-790-1593. n

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

July 7, 2013 11

Cumberland Mountain Deanery calendar

Parish notes: Cumberland Mountain Deanery

St. John Neumann Parish in Farragut is having an ice cream social at 5:30 p.m.

Saturday, July 13, at the church pavilion. Both ice cream and watermelon will be served. The school playground will be open, and outdoor games are also planned for all ages. Volunteers are needed for before, during, and after the event. Contact Carol Dawson at 865-9667064 or qmscarol@hotmail.com for more information.

Blessed Sacrament, Harriman The parish will have Mass, eucharistic adoration, and Benediction beginning at 6 p.m. on Friday, July 5. Adoration begins at 6:30, followed by Benediction at 7:30 p.m.

Anniversary: Teofilo and Crecencia Vinluan (50)

St. Francis of Assisi, Fairfield Glade The parish book club will meet at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 17, in the library. The book to be discussed will be Destiny of a Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President (Anchor Books, 2012) by Candice Millard.

St. John Neumann Parish is sponsoring “Path Toward Healing Grief Support: Finding Peace and Acceptance After the Death of a Loved One”, an eightweek support group for the bereaved.

The first meeting will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 13. The cost for supplies is $20.

For more details, contact Natalie Tabler at 865-357-1818 or nprender@knology.net.

To register, contact Marilyn Derbyshire at 777-4312 or mderbyshire@sjnknox.org. n

Anniversaries: Guy and Billie LaBorde (65), Joe and Millie Walisinski (63), Al and Kathleen Evans (63), Rick and Sharon Cantrell (61), Bernard and Darlene DeFillipi (59), Mark and Eileen White (58), Victor and Loretta Galdes (58), William and Janette LaRou (58), Larry and Reva Lanzerotti (57), Ken and Norma Guillory (56), Philip and Johanne Ardire (55), Bernard and JoAnne Bunyak (53), John and Sally Price (53), Neil and Barbara Ferency (51), David and Tish Offutt (50), Don and Judith Johnson (50)

St. John Neumann, Farragut

St. Mary, Oak Ridge The parish thanked Sister Augusta Nickel, OP, and Sister Andrea Marie Graham, OP, for their service to St. Mary School. Sister Augusta is transferring to another school, and Sister Andrea Marie, the most recent principal of St. Mary School, will be continuing her education at the University of Tennessee on a full-time basis.

Anniversary: Norma and Gene Spejewski (50)

St. Therese, Clinton Karen Baird, parish secretary and bookkeeper, retired at the end of June. The parish thanked her for her service to St. Therese Parish.

St. Alphonsus youth receive first Holy Communion Students at St. Alphonsus Parish in Crossville recently celebrated the sacrament of first Holy Communion. From left are (front row) Zachary Villaruz and Joshua Gonsalves; (middle row) Morgan Hall, Myriam Paz, MaKayla Vickers, Ryan Jones, Brandon Gomez, Caden Marchuk, and Alaina LaCourt; and (back row) Paola Sanchez and St. Alphonsus pastor Father Antony Punnackal, CMI.

Offutts celebrating 50th anniversary July 6

St. Thomas the Apostle, Lenoir City Seminarians Christopher Floersh and Scott Russell are spending the summer assisting at the parish. Mr. Floersh is studying for the priesthood at St. Meinrad Seminary in St. Meinrad, Ind., and Mr. Russell is studying at Mundelein Seminary in Chicago.

There will be 10 extra hours of eucharistic adoration available on the third Thursday of each month at the parish as part of the Year of Faith observance. Contact Lance Lyons at 865-405-3151 or lancelyons1@gmail.com to register.

The parish is sponsoring a study of the book, The Four Signs of a Dynamic Catholic by Matthew Kelly, beginning at 7 p.m. Monday, July 15, in the parish family life center. The book challenges Catholics to grow in their understanding of the faith by spending a few minutes each day learning about their faith. Call the parish office at 865-986-9885 for more information. n

12 July 7, 2013

COURTESY OF SARA CAREY

Sandi Davidson, director of the Pregnancy Help Center, thanked St. John Neumann parishioners for the $1,500 that was raised through the parish Baby Bottle Drive.

D

avid Allen and Laetitia Annette Offutt of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Fairfield Glade will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary July 6.

They were married at the Newman Chapel in Berkeley, Calif. The late Father Edward V. Warren, SJ, who was the uncle of the bride, officiated at the wedding Mass.

The Offutts’ son, Michael D. Offutt, lives in Fairfield Glade.

The couple retired from the law

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

David and Laetitia Offutt

offices of Offutt, Shepherd & Haven in Yuba City, Calif., and moved to the Glade in May 2004. n dioknox.org

Five Rivers Deanery calendar

The Oktoberfest fundraiser at St. Dominic School in Kingsport will take place at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21.

Events planned include yodeling, a le.derhosen leg contest, dancing, a silent auction, and more. The dinner will feature sauerbraten, grilled bratwurst, apple strudel, and beer and wine. Adults 21 and over are welcome. Tickets are $20 and will be available after Masses starting in August. To donate auction items, e-mail the school at secretary@saintdomschool.com

Parish notes: Five Rivers Deanery

or call 423-245-8491. For more information, contact Joanie Hrivnak at hrivnak@ chartertn.net.

Holy Trinity, Jefferson City The parish blood drive will take place from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 16, in Trinity Hall. Call the parish office at 865-471-0347 for more information.

The Knights of Columbus Yard Sale will take place from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 24, behind St. Patrick Church in Morristown at the picnic pavilion. Proceeds from the sale will benefit charitable works for the church and community. For more information, call the parish at 423586-9174. n

The parish is looking for volunteers to help with cooking and serving meals to participants in the Appalachian Outreach Week July 22-26. Workers come from across the United States to perform home repairs for those who are financially or physically unable to do so. For more information, call the parish office at 865-471-0347.

The family life committee is hosting a rummage sale Sept. 20-21 in the parish life center. Donations can be dropped off starting Sept. 15. Proceeds from the sale will be applied to the parish debt. Call the parish office at 865-471-0347 for more details.

Newcomers: Douglas and Donna Ibbetson Anniversaries: Stan and Virginia Borzick (55), Vinnie and Kay Clossey (55), Jim and Peggy Ray (54), Joe and Betty Jo Lavelle (52), Cedrick and Irene Manalili (15)

KATHLEEN GRUBB

Notre Dame, Greeneville

First Communion celebrated at St. Elizabeth Six students received their first Holy Communion on Mother’s Day, May 12, at St. Elizabeth Church in Elizabethton. From left are Luke Anspaugh, Luke Guimond, Daniel Grubb, Henri Paris, Kevin Smith, and Allison Jordan.

Members of the parish youth group delivered Meals on Wheels to the elderly at Plaza Towers in Greeneville on June 19. The group performs community service on Tuesdays during the summer months.

The Notre Dame youth group has planned two fundraisers for their trip to the National Catholic Youth Conference in November. During July they will prepare tamales for sale for $1 apiece and on Saturday, Aug. 24, after the 5 p.m. Mass, they will have a Pasta Night featuring different pasta dishes, salad, and desserts.

There will also be a silent auction at this event. Tickets will be available soon. Call Susan Collins, youth minister, for more information at 423-639-9381.

Anniversaries: Andy and Rita Chaloux (58), Vandy and Dorothy Nachazel (54), Bob and Maggie May (51), Joseph and Wendy Hankins (35)

St. Dominic, Kingsport The parish thanked Rich Valentino for crafting two new sanctuary tables as a gift to the church.

The parish Italian night will take place Saturday, Aug. 10, in the parish life center.

The evening will include Italian food, music, a sing-along, and dancing. Ticket prices and time are to be determined. For more information, contact Claudio Carlin at 423-247-3405 or claudiocarlintn@gmail.com.

LINDA MURASKI

Seminarian Dan Pacitti will be serving at the parish during the summer months.

St. Elizabeth VBS centers on ‘superheroes’ Vacation Bible school at St. Elizabeth Church in Elizabethton on June 10-12 centered on a “Superheroes in the Bible” theme. Pictured are (front) Bella DeMaria; (second row) Paul DeMaria, Luke Anspaugh, Daniel and Timmy Grubb, Michael Anspaugh, Nino DeMaria, and Joshua Gouge; and (back row) leaders Lawrence Mitra, Brian Sehrer, Katy Sehrer, Nichole Swink, Alex Cruz, and Marisa Sehrer.

The East Tennessee Catholic

Anniversary: Claudio and Maria Carlin (60)

St. Mary, Johnson City The parish donated $2,231.55 towards Oklahoma tornado relief. n

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

July 7, 2013 13

Smoky Mountain Deanery calendar

Parish notes: Smoky Mountain Deanery

A Seekers of Silence Contemplative Saturday Morning will be held July 10 at Blessed John XXIII Catholic Center in Knoxville. The Rev. Kay Reynolds, a retired Episcopal minister, will speak on the topic

Immaculate Conception, Knoxville The parish collected $2,308.85 for the Oklahoma tornado victims.

Baptism: Abel Heredia, son of Carole Heredia

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

Sacred Heart Cathedral Totus Tuus, the annual vacation Bible school at Sacred Heart Cathedral, is scheduled for July 14-19. Activities will include catechesis, skits, crafts, and more.

Grades one through six will meet 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and grades seven through 12 will meet from 7-9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday. Registration is online at shcathedral.org under the Faith Formation tab. Call Dave Wells for more information at 865-588-0249.

The staff at the Pregnancy Help Center thanked the parish for a $2,000 contribution made through the annual Baby Bottle Drive.

Sacred Heart Cathedral will be honoring graduating high school seniors at the 11 a.m. Mass on Sunday, July 14. A reception for graduates and their families will follow the Mass at the parish pavilion behind the school. RSVP to Kathleen Edwards at 865-558-4133 or KEdwards@shcknox.org.

St. Albert the Great, Knoxville The St. Albert the Great Church Adult Social netted more than $5,000 for the planned playground at the parish.

Father Chris Michelson thanked parishioners of St. Albert the Great for their contribution of $2,400 for the Oklahoma Tornado Relief Fund being coordinated by Catholic Charities.

Encounter: Experiencing God in the Everyday will be the Bible study being used by sixth- through 10th-grade students beginning at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 10, at the parish. The program will run for eight sessions during the summer. Register on the bulletin board at the back of the church or contact Melanie Toler at 865-250-2443.

St. Joseph the Worker, Madisonville Beginning July 1, Father Joseph Hammond, CHS, coordinator of pastoral outreach for the Hispanic communities of the Cumberland and Smoky Mountain deaneries, will be celebrating Mass in Spanish at the parish on Sundays. The Mass time will be 12:30 p.m. Confession will be available in Spanish at 11:30 a.m. before the Spanish Mass. n

14 July 7, 2013

ROY EHMAN

Our Lady of Fatima, Alcoa Bishop Richard Stika blessed the new Fatima Family Life Center on June 18. A dinner followed the Mass and dedication.

The parish raised over $3,200 for Oklahoma tornado relief.

Knights of Columbus Council 3832 congratulated Phylicia Tran and Katherine Pepperman, the winners of the 2013 Essay Contest. Each winner received a $500 scholarship for her essay. Both young ladies are active members of the parish.

Confirmation project Our Lady of Fatima Parish confirmandi Allison Gentry and A. J. Palermo ask Bishop Richard F. Stika’s blessing on their class’ service project, a prayer shawl to be donated to the diocesan Rachel’s Vineyard ministry.

Alcoa parish confirmandi create prayer shawl

E

arlier this CCD year, a group of dedicated parish volunteers armed with 27 crochet hooks and several skeins of yarn descended on Our Lady of Fatima’s eighthgrade confirmation prep class.

Their mission: to talk with the students about the work of Rachel’s Vineyard, then teach them enough basic crochet skills to have each of them create a crocheted square.

These would be joined together to make a prayer shawl for the ministry. The volunteers decided that the squares’ best use would be as embellishment. They crocheted a shawl, then used the squares to spell the word “LOVE” across it.

Martha Greene, who organized the volunteers, was very pleased with the results: “For most students, this project was one of many ‘firsts.’

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

It was their first time crocheting, first time to learn about this important ministry, as well as their first experience completing a service project for someone they would never meet. We are very proud as well that our students made the first prayer shawl donated to our diocesan Rachel’s Vineyard ministry.”

Esther Golightly, who spoke to the students that night about Rachel’s Vineyard, was very encouraged by their response. “It’s so important for people to understand the healing that God, working through Rachel’s Vineyard, makes possible for hurting post-abortive men and women.

Prayer shawls are a symbol of that healing. By reaching these children now, we can increase their awareness and help equip them to invest themselves in the culture of life.” n dioknox.org

Catholic schools

Knights award two scholarships to OLPH students

COURTESY OF GAYLE SCHOENBORN

Mr. and Miss Notre Dame crowned During a brief ceremony at the 2013 prom, Michael Labbe and Mariana Esparza were crowned Mr. and Miss Notre Dame. This year’s candidates for Mr. and Miss Notre Dame were (from left, front row) Tess Brock, Katie Ward, Mariana Esparza, Laura Champion, and Ellie Newell and (back row) John Jancewicz, Tony Marini, Rick Prochazka, Tim Barnes, and Michael Labbe. Candidates are nominated by the senior class and must be in the top 50 percent academically. The entire student body votes for the candidates to determine the winners.

News from Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in Chattanooga: n Knights of Columbus Council 6099 awarded two Notre Dame High School scholarships to OLPH School students this year. Margaret Coles and James West were each awarded $4,000 in recognition of their academic achievements. n The winners of the BVM Awards at OLPH School were Sarah Beggs, Will Menham, Denise Palacios, Madison Thorp, Cal Price, Cole LeSar, Julia Raabe, Emily Roach, and Alexis Harris. The award is given to students who exemplify the mission and core values of the Sisters of Charity by demonstrating their love and faithfulness to the school and community. n Four OLPH students participated in the Duke University Talent Identification Program: Bentley Burgess, Nolan Corbitt, Kersten Hicks, and Renee Hutton. In addition, both Bentley and Nolan qualified for state recognition. n

COURTESY OF MEGAN LOCKE

Justin Brown triumphs at TRL’s oratory contest

e

KCHS class visits judge, jail On Wednesday, April 24, the Knoxville Catholic High School Street Law students visited the Juvenile Court and Detention Center and the Knox County downtown jail. At the Juvenile Court, Judge Tim Irwin, a Sacred Heart Cathedral parishioner, detailed his daily duties, explained how juvenile court functions, and answered student questions. The students toured the detention facility and were given access to detainee housing. While at the Knox County jail, they toured the initial holding cells and minimum security “tanks” and got an all-inclusive tour of the facility from the control room where the entire facility is monitored 24 hours per day. Pictured are (from left, front row) Amy Pham, Cole Lombardo, and Mason Sawicki and (back row) Gabe Saavedra, Guss Mynatt, Noah Keener, Cady Sliger, Judge Irwin, Abby Kline, Liam Winters, and Nick Giecek.

The East Tennessee Catholic

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

Justin Brown, winner of the Knox County Tennessee Right to Life Oratory Contest, recently won the state competition and won the right to compete in the National Right to Life Convention in Dallas.

Justin is a rising senior in the independent study program at Berean Christian School in Knoxville. n

July 7, 2013 15

16 July 7, 2013

COURTESY OF PATRICE STALEY

Nearly 300 high school and college students will be descending upon Knoxville to participate in a Catholic HEART (Helping Everyone Attain Relief Today) Workcamp on June 30–July 6.

Teens will be performing community-service projects in the East Tennessee region by day. At night, they will be laughing, sharing, praying, singing, and spending time together in high-energy, faithfilled programs including music, testimonies, drama, videos, and more. This year marks the sixth time that Knoxville has hosted this event. Groups will be traveling from Texas, Florida, Minnesota, Delaware, Michigan, Virginia, and Indiana to serve Knoxville.

The participating youth have fundraised all year in order to travel to Knoxville to participate in this experience. The teens will be based at Knoxville Catholic High School and All Saints Church, where they will eat, sleep, and shower. The teens sacrifice the comforts of home to come to camp. Participants will sleep on air mattresses in classrooms, shower in locker rooms, and eat cafeteria food.

Catholic HEART Workcamp (CHWC) is partnering with local agencies to set up the work projects, which will include painting, yard work, home repair, light construction, working with children and the elderly, and more.

“It is a truly life-changing experience both for the teens and those who they serve,” said Annie Nassis, manager for the Knoxville CHWC. “It transforms how these teens see the world around them.

Our volunteers give up a week of vacation to sweat and sleep on the floor to serve strangers. It is inspiring to see how their small actions can truly change the lives of others.” n

COURTESY OF JOELLEN NORVILLE

Catholic youth

Catholic HEART Workcamp draws students to Knox

Thomas Norville

Class of 2017 at USMA Col. Rick Kuhlman presented Reese Staley with his appointment to West Point.

KCHS student receives West Point appointment

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eese Staley, son of Jim and Patrice Staley, has received an appointment for the class of 2017 at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. Reese on May 18 graduated from Knoxville Catholic High School, where he was a senior captain and a member of the Fighting Irish football team for four years, editor of

the school newspaper (The Blarney Stone), vice president of his class, and a member of the National Junior Honor Society. He is also a parishioner of Sacred Heart Cathedral.

The prospective members of the class of 2017 will report to West Point for the first time on July 1.

Reese also will be playing sprint football for West Point. n

Simpson of NDHS signs rowing scholarship

L

auren Simpson recently signed a national letter of intent in the John Varallo Athletic Center on the campus of Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga to become a new member of the University of Tulsa Golden Hurricanes rowing team. Because of her hard work both in the classroom and on the water, she will be receiv-

ing a combination academic and rowing scholarship.

Attending the signing were parents Mark and Lois Simpson, brother Connor Simpson, Father Mike Creson, Notre Dame athletics director Howie Sompayrac, coach Jack Fish of Chattanooga Junior Rowing, and Notre Dame principal Perry Storey. n

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

Alcoa youth, KCHS student receives Eagle Scouting award

T

homas G. Norville, 15, recently received Scouting’s highest honor, the Eagle award, from the Boy Scouts of America.

Thomas is currently a member of BSA Troop 20, which meets at First Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Knoxville.

His Eagle project benefits the students and staff of Eagleton Middle School in Maryville. He designed and constructed an outdoor classroom/meeting area complete with picnic tables, benches, planters, swings, walkways, birdhouses, bird feeders, and landscaping highlights.

His goal was to create a peaceful environment for outdoor instruction and relaxation.

Thomas is the son of Richard and JoEllen Norville of Alcoa. He is a rising sophomore at Knoxville Catholic High School, where he is a member of the wrestling, swimming, and lacrosse teams. He attends Our Lady of Fatima Church in Alcoa. n dioknox.org

Forum continued from page 6

and establish relationships with so many engaged in RCIA and the beautiful setting of the St. Thomas campus and warm hospitality were greatly appreciated,” Sister Timothea said.

The Beginnings Institute was a learning opportunity for RCIA teams, liturgists, pastoral musicians, pastors and associates, catechists, sponsors, and social outreach committees.

The intensive conference was an initiation that invited participants to experience the conversion process of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults through presentations, reflection, faith sharing, and celebration of adapted liturgies of initiation.

Participants learned skills and techniques critical to the implementation of the rite.

The institute invited participants Ordination continued from page 8

ence and faithfulness to the teachings of the Church and in the celebrations of the sacraments you will be honored to celebrate.

“Be not afraid to be another Christ, to be a Christ-bearer in our midst, and may you always be courageous enough to actually practice what you preach, for Christopher, this day I say to you, ‘May God, who has begun his good work in you, throughout the rest of your life bring it to fulfillment.’”

Father Manning is the son of James Manning and Dr. Marlyn Leisy of Sacred Heart Parish.

“The ceremony was beautiful, and we were so pleased that there was such a good turnout for people to support Christopher,” said Dr. Leisy. “The other thing to remember is that he is a gift to the Church, and it’s not about -him—it’s about Jesus, and we’re just cvery proud of Christopher, and I think he will make a great priest.”

Father Manning said he enjoyed having his family attend his ordination.

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to deepen their own faith in Jesus Christ and challenged them to explore the connection between good liturgy and catechesis.

Another focus of the conference was to assist participants in gaining a deeper understanding of the faith conversion journey.

Daily evaluations allowed Forum team members to know how well their presentations were understood and to glean questions from those present.

“The Knoxville conference was the last that North American Forum will ever give. They closed their operations effective June 30. Other programs for RCIA have been initiated and now draw from the base that they (Forum) had to support their apostolate,” Sister Timothea said.

“We were privileged to have them, and to be their last highly successful conference.” n “My family is very important to me.

We’re a very close group, so to have them as part of the ordination was very special.”

Three classmates of Father Manning attended his ordination: Father Mark Augustine and Father Matt Bozocskay of the Archdiocese of Chicago and Father Hyland Smith of the Diocese of Springfield, Ill. All were ordained within the previous two weeks before Father Manning’s ordination.

“I also had Father Marty Zielenski [attending the ordination],” Father Manning said. “He’s been my spiritual director for six years and teaches at Mundelein Seminary, and he was able to come down as the official representative of the seminary.”

Father Manning said he is eagerly anticipating his first assignment, to serve as an associate pastor at St. John Neumann in Farragut.

“I am looking forward to serving the whole people of East Tennessee, specifically the good people of St. John Neumann,” he said. n

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Carmela A. Dupuis, Executive Director 855-842-8001 | 508-340-9370 July 7, 2013 17

Living the readings

Weekday readings Sunday, July 7: Isaiah 66:10-14; Psalm 66:1-7, 16, 20; Galatians 6:14-18; Luke 10:1-12, 17-20 Monday, July 8: Genesis 28:10-22; Psalm 91:1-4, 1415; Matthew 9:18-26 Tuesday, July 9: Genesis 32:23-33; Psalm 17:1-3, 6-8, 15; Matthew 9:32-38 Wednesday, July 10: Genesis 41:55-57 and 42:5-7, 17-24; Psalm 33:2-3, 10-11, 18-19; Matthew 10:1-7 Thursday, July 11: Memorial, St. Benedict, abbot, Genesis 44:18-21, 23-29 and 45:1-5; Psalm 105:16-21; Matthew 10:7-15 Friday, July 12: Genesis 46:1-7, 28-30; Psalm 37:3-4, 18-19, 27-28, 39-40; Matthew 10:16-23 Saturday, July 13: Genesis 49:29-32 and 50:15-26; Psalm 105:1-4, 6-7; Matthew 10:24-33 Sunday, July 14: Deuteronomy 30:10-14; Psalm 69:14, 17, 30-31, 33-34, 36-37; Colossians 1:15-20; Luke 10:25-37 Monday, July 15: Memorial, St. Bonaventure, bishop, doctor of the Church, Exodus 1:8-14, 22; Psalm 124:1-8; Matthew 10:34–11:1 Tuesday, July 16: Exodus 2:1-15; Psalm 69:3, 14, 3031, 33-34; Matthew 11:20-24 Wednesday, July 17: Exodus 3:1-6, 9-12; Psalm 103:1-4, 6-7; Matthew 11:25-27 Thursday, July 18: Exodus 3:13-20; Psalm 105:1, 5, 8-9, 24-27; Matthew 11:28-30 Friday, July 19: Exodus 11:10–12:14; Psalm 116:1213, 15-18; Matthew 12:1-8 Saturday, July 20: Exodus 12:37-42; Psalm 136:1, 2324, 10-15; Matthew 12:14-21 Sunday, July 21: Genesis 18:1-10; Psalm 15:2-5; Colossians 1:24-28; Luke 10:38-42 Readings continued on page 19

18 July 7, 2013

by Father Joseph Brando

A month of virtue

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Great things are happening to us as power of God goes to work

ome may be led to think that holiness is boring. They may claim that it is monotonous in that holy people do nothing but good. They define being good as avoiding evil. To reduce goodness to doing nothing is a fallacy that the Scripture readings for this month totally debunk. In fact, this month the liturgical readings present us with an energetic four week course in spirituality.

Each of the 12 readings for the four Sundays of July highlights a step in our development in the spiritual life. As Christ comes to life within us, all sorts of exciting events take place in us that make life well worth living. We’ll stop after each of the four Sundays to see what we’ve learned each week.

We begin with the 14th Sunday of Ordinary Time. The Old Testament reading is from the prophet Isaiah. He is comforting the Jewish exiles in Babylon with the memory of Jerusalem. Thinking about their native city is an invitation to rejoice and be glad instead of wallowing in sadness as they were doing for years. The call to holiness is a call to experience delight. Isaiah describes the joy as the pleasure of a baby having been fed by its mother and playing on her lap. You can almost hear the child’s giggles. For more hardened hearts, Isaiah also conjures up a river of money flooding Jerusalem. You can almost hear the clinking sound of gold and silver coins getting ever closer. No matter which image relates better to you, the message is thinking of what God has in store for you is joyful, comforting and exciting.

The New Testament reading for the day comes from Paul’s letter to the Galatians. It is a message of peace and mercy. They are results of

Christ’s cross, which has brought us salvation. Great things are happening in us of which we must become aware. The power of the Lord is within us clearing whatever might cause us trouble. That dynamic is alive in our souls. And, to experience it is exciting.

The Gospel for this Sunday is Luke’s telling of Jesus’ sending the 72 disciples. They left with virtually nothing but a message of the coming of the kingdom of God. They returned to Jesus rejoicing. Jesus said he saw Satan falling from the sky. Then, he tells them that the true cause for their rejoicing is “not because the spirits are subject to you but that your names are written in heaven.” That is to say our joy does not depend on factors outside us, but on our relationship with the Lord and the future to which he leads us.

Looking back at our first three lessons in the spiritual life we begin recognizing that we are responding to a call from God. Then, we free ourselves from negative thoughts as we breathe in God’s mercy and love. And, thirdly, we dismiss the devil completely as we proceed to concentrate on the things of heaven.

The 15th Sunday starts with a reading from Deuteronomy. It tells us to heed the Lord. The basic message is that we are not on an impossible mission. We can communicate with God. If it would be exciting for you to have daily contact with the pope or the president or any person you value, how much more fulfilling would it be to be in contact with God, hearing the very voice of God speak to us. Moses is telling us that can happen to us right now.

The second reading is the first of three passages this month’s liturgy offers us from Paul’s Epistle to the

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Colossians. Here, Paul describes the result we may expect of our talking with God. We’ll experience the power that created all things and that pre-existed all things. He is the point where everything comes together. That is, we can come to understand how everything comes together in the universe. This is a desire Einstein had but never attained. With God in us we can come to the serene realization of the essential harmony of all reality. Such a state comes not from our genius but through a divine intuition that, though wordless, provides complete satisfaction.

The Gospel from Luke is the dialogue between Jesus and the scholar who wanted to know what needs to be done to enter eternal life. Jesus asked him to give his answer first. He correctly responded it is to love God and neighbor. Jesus agreed. The man was not satisfied.

He hadn’t learned anything new so far. So, he asked, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus told the story of the Good Samaritan and asked him who was neighbor to the victim.

He wisely answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus concluded the discourse saying, “Go and do likewise.” And so, we learn the secret to eternal life: treat everyone with mercy. It is that simple and so profound.

Putting together the lessons this Sunday teaches us about the spiritual life. Our fourth lesson was to communicate daily with the supreme being. The fifth step is to open ourselves to an intuition of the harmony of God’s universe. After developing such a desire, the sixth lesson guides us to develop a mercy that reaches out to help all in need.

Notice the three outward movements: one towards God, another to the universe, and the third to the people around us.

The 16th Sunday’s first reading is from Genesis. It is the story of Abraham’s hospitality to three strangers. By the end of the encounter, in dioknox.org

which Abraham treats them royally, they give him the gift he was wanting for decades. Sarah, his wife, would have a son. Hospitality, a virtue of a good man, brings rewards.

Our second reading from Colossians contains a phrase that astounds many people, “I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, the Church…” You would think that Jesus suffering was more than sufficient to do the job of reconciling us with the Father. But, there is good news here. Jesus has made it possible for us to share in his saving passion and death. Our sufferings are the sufferings of Christ because we are part of the Body of Christ. How good is that? It is good enough to make each and every ache and pain important for the salvation of the world and for each individual who is asking God for help. It also makes our entire life and death meaningful. God is with us, and nothing can be better than that.

The Gospel for the 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time is the classic story of Martha and Mary. Jesus visits them and their brother, Lazarus.

Martha is working hard and Mary is just sitting beside the Lord listening to him. Martha wants Jesus to send Mary to help with the work of hospitality. Jesus sides with Mary, declaring that listening to him is the better part. The message to us is that it is better for us to be in conversation with Jesus than to worry and strain ourselves with busy work.

The real fun of the spiritual life is to get to know Jesus better. The work will get done in due time. Jesus comes first.

Now, as we add all the ingredients of this Sunday together,

we rise three steps farther in our spiritual development. In the first reading, we are taught to expect messages from God through others.

We should listen carefully to good people and read inspiring spiritual literature. The reading from Colossians shows us that even our pains and problems are potential gifts we can offer to God the Father in the name of Christ. And, the ninth step is to be like Mary and contemplate in the presence of the Lord.

We now come to the fourth and last Sunday in July, the 17th Sunday of Ordinary Time, where we find another Abraham story from Genesis as the first reading. Here, he is bargaining with God that he spare the notoriously sinful cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. His reason is to save his nephew Lot. We get many lessons from the story. God can be bargained with by those who are in relationship with him. God will spare evil people for the sake of the good. Our lesson is that people who are close to God enjoy the ability to provide input to God’s mind. Prayer does make a difference. Of course, God’s will and providence will always win out, yet God does involve us. That’s a powerful thought for those in such a position. God is a great friend to have.

Next, we have our third passage from Colossians. Paul reminds us that through baptism we were brought to life. The “life” he means is the eternal life that Christ enjoys.

It is a “life” that knows no death.

Taking cognizance of that is to experience a joy that never ends. All the negatives have been “nailed to the cross.”

The last Gospel of the month has Jesus teaching us how to pray. After

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teaching them the Lord’s Prayer, the Lord comments on it. When we pray we need to be both insistent and patient. We need to expect an answer knowing that God only does good.

Then, he tells us an important secret about God. He tells us to ask for the greatest gift the Father can give and will give if we ask. That gift is none other than the Holy Spirit. What an advantage that makes in our prayer life.

So, we can now consider the last three steps to a dynamic spiritual life. We enter the inner life of the Holy Trinity. We were invited to speak to God, the Father, with our prayer requests. We were reminded

by Paul to contemplate our baptismal relationship with the Son. And, finally, we are invited into the fullness of the Trinity by asking for the Holy Spirit to grow in our souls.

We have reached the point beyond which there is nothing. We are at the pinnacle of the spiritual life. We have gone on a journey developing ever increasing insights from God that has led us inevitably to the infinite glory of life in the Blessed Trinity.

So, July has proven to be quite an important month spiritually. Look what God has done for us using the 12 Sunday Scripture readings. Those readings were, in a sense, a trail of delights laid out for us by God. In the beginning they were enticing and exciting. We soon became deeply engaged on the spiritual journey to unity with God. By the end of the month we found ourselves happily enraptured in the loving mystery of Father, Son and Spirit. n Father Joseph Brando is the pastor of St. Mary Parish in Gatlinburg.

Readings continued from page 18 Monday, July 22: Memorial, St. Mary Magdalene, Exodus 14:5-18; Exodus 15:1-6; John 20:1-2, 11-18 Tuesday, July 23: Exodus 14:21–15:1; Exodus 15:8-10, 12, 17; Matthew 12:46-50 Wednesday, July 24: Exodus 16:1-5, 9-15; Psalm 78:1819, 23-28; Matthew 13:1-9 Thursday, July 25: Feast, St. James, apostle, 2 Corinthians 4:7-15; Psalm 126:16; Matthew 20:20-28 Friday, July 26: Memorial, Sts. Joachim and Anne, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Exodus 20:1-17; Psalm 19:8-11; Matthew 13:18-23 Saturday, July 27: Exodus 24:3-8; Psalm 50:1-2, 5-6, 14-15; Matthew 13:24-30 Sunday, July 28: Genesis 18:20-32; Psalm 138:1-3, 6-8; Colossians 2:12-14; Luke 11:1-13 Monday, July 29: Memorial, St. Martha, Exodus 32:1524, 30-34; Psalm 106:19-23; John 11:19-27 Tuesday, July 30: Exodus 33:7-11 and 34:5-9, 28; Psalm 103:6-13; Matthew 13:36-43 Wednesday, July 31: Memorial, St. Ignatius of Loyola, priest, Exodus 34:29-35; Psalm 99:5-7, 9; Matthew 13:44-46 Thursday, Aug. 1: Memorial, St. Alphonsus Liguori, bishop, doctor of the Church, Exodus 40:16-21, 34-38; Psalm 84:3-6, 8, 11; Matthew 13:47-53 Friday, Aug. 2: Leviticus 23:1, 4-11, 15-16, 27, 34-37; Psalm 81:3-6, 10-11; Matthew 13:54-58 Saturday, Aug. 3: Leviticus 25:1, 8-17; Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 7-8; Matthew 14:1-12 n

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

July 7, 2013 19

Marriage enrichment

Second Fortnight for Freedom held June 21-July 4 WASHINGTON—The second annual Fortnight for Freedom will take place from June 21 to July 4, and will consist of national and local efforts to educate Americans on challenges to religious liberty both at home and abroad. As with last year’s Fortnight, the event will begin and end with a special Mass.

Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore, chairman of the USCCB Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty, will open the 2013 Fortnight for Freedom by celebrating Mass at Baltimore’s historic Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, scheduled for June 21 at 7 p.m. EDT. Cardinal Donald Wuerl of Washington will celebrate the closing Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington on July 4 at noon EDT. “The need for prayer, education, and action in defense of religious liberty has never been greater,” Archbishop Lori said.

“The Fortnight for Freedom exists to meet that need. This year’s Fortnight occurs just weeks before Aug. 1, when the administration’s mandate coercing us to violate our deeply held beliefs will be enforced against most religious non-profits. During the Fortnight, the Supreme Court’s decisions on the definition of marriage will likely be handed down as well. Those decisions could have a profound impact on religious freedom for generations to come.”

Further details about the Fortnight can be found at www.

Fortnight4Freedom.org/. The site hosts resources such as one-page fact sheets outlining

Fortnight continued on page 21

20 July 7, 2013

by Marian Christiana

Advice on natural family planning

NFP Awareness Week occurs in July to raise awareness, help couples be pro-woman, pro-man, pro-child

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ach year I dedicate my July column to Natural Family Planning Awareness Week.

NFP Awareness Week is sponsored by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and this year the educational campaign that goes along with it runs July 21-27. The USCCB designates this particular week each year to raising awareness of NFP since it coincides with the anniversary of the papal encyclical Humanae Vitae, written by Pope Paul VI and released July 25, 1968.

The encyclical articulates the Catholic Church’s teachings about human sexuality, conjugal love and responsible parenthood. The theme for national NFP Awareness week changes each year. This year’s theme is “Pro-woman, Proman, Pro-child.”

To help me articulate this year’s theme I asked diocesan NFP promoters Chris and Lori Cunningham to share their NFP experience. I appreciate their willingness to help the diocesan Office of Marriage Preparation and Enrichment get the word out about the benefits of natural family planning for marriages and how NFP helps couples be “Pro-woman, Pro-man, Pro-child.”

“My husband and I are strong supporters of natural family planning. We have been married for almost seven years and began practicing the Creighton Model of NFP (charting cervical mucus observations) four years ago after experiencing some negative side effects of oral contraceptives, not the least of which was the moral contradiction to our Catholic faith,” Mrs. Cunningham said.

“NFP was easy to learn and our diocese is very fortunate to have a supportive and very knowl-

edgeable teacher. In a nutshell, the Creighton Model teaches the woman to observe cervical mucus over the course of her cycle and chart her findings daily. This takes less than five minutes per day and becomes part of her normal daily routine. Based on the woman’s observations, the couple decides whether it is a fertile or infertile day, and they can have intimate relations according to whether they would like to achieve or avoid pregnancy,” she said.

“The method teaches couples other means to express their love for one another should they want to avoid pregnancy on a “fertile day.” NFP is completely flexible because each day is taken one at a time. There is no calendar counting; it is not the old “rhythm method.” The Church does not promote NFP as a way for couples to “have as many children as possible.” NFP is scientifically proven to be more than 99 percent effective in preventing pregnancy if the couple is not trying to have a baby. Personally, we have been blessed to have one child while practicing NFP and we are expecting our second child at the end of July.

“NFP has strengthened our marriage because we have more open communication and a shared responsibility for family planning. I feel healthier not taking oral contraceptives that have dangerous side effects. NFP has zero side effects and NFP also is virtually cost free.

“Charting is not just for married couples. We believe so strongly in NFP that we recommend NFP be taught in Catholic high schools as part of the regular health curricula. Young men and women would

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learn about their bodies and sexuality in a morally acceptable way.

Young women would have indepth knowledge of their cycles and therefore an invaluable health tool that can be used to diagnose any underlying health issues, ranging from hormonal imbalances to premenstrual syndrome.

When the young people are ready for marriage they already would be trained in a means of family planning that is in harmony with their faith.

“We have recommended NFP to many other couples, all at various seasons of their marriage and desire for children. In our experience, those who have stopped artificial means of birth control and are practicing natural family planning report stronger marriages, healthier bodies, and even improved self-awareness of underlying health conditions that may have been unknown. We encourage all couples to seek education regarding natural family planning. Here are some resources to get started”: n The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops—http:// www.usccb.org/issues-andaction/marriage-and-family/ natural-family-planning/; n Creighton Model of natural family planning—http://www.creightonmodel.com/; n Pope Paul VI Institute—http:// www.popepaulvi.com/; n Diocese of Knoxville NFP resources—http://www. dioknox.org/marriage-preparation-and-enrichment/ natural-family-planning-nfp/. n Mrs. Christiana is coordinator of the diocesan Marriage Preparation and Enrichment Office. dioknox.org

Understanding the sacraments

Fortnight continued from page 20

by Father Randy Stice

Christ is always present

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The Second Vatican Council and the liturgy

he Year of Faith, which began on Oct. 11, 2011, and concludes on Nov. 24, celebrates the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council as well as the 20th anniversary of the publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. It also coincides with the General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops that was held in October 2012 to consider the theme of “The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith.”

One of the recommendations for the Year of Faith is to study and reflect on the documents of the Second Vatican Council. The first document promulgated by the Council was the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, often referred to as Sacrosanctum Concilium, which are the first two words of the Latin text.

Why did the council begin with the liturgy? In its introduction, the Constitution lists the council’s four aims: “(1) to impart an ever-increasing vigor to the Christian life of the faithful; (2) to adapt more closely to the needs of our age those institutions that are subject to change; (3) to foster whatever can promote union among all who believe in Christ; (4) to strengthen whatever can help to call all mankind into the Church’s fold.” The intent of the council, then, was to address not just Catholics or even Christians, but the entire world.

The Constitution then explained that, in view of these four aims, it was beginning with the liturgy: “Accordingly it sees particularly cogent reasons for undertaking the reform and promotion of the liturgy.” It then listed several reasons. First, it is through the liturgy that we are saved and sanctified: “For it is the liturgy through which, especially in The East Tennessee Catholic

A recommendation for the Year of Faith is to study and reflect on the documents of the Second Vatican Council. The first document promulgated was the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy. the divine sacrifice of the Eucharist, ‘the work of our redemption is accomplished.’” Second, the liturgy manifests the Church in her fullness: “It is through the liturgy, especially, that the faithful are enabled to express in their lives and manifest to others the mystery of Christ and the real nature of the true Church.”

Third, the liturgy equips all of the faithful to proclaim the Gospel, for “it marvelously increases their power to preach Christ and thus show forth the Church…a sign under which the scattered children of God may be gathered together until there is one fold and one shepherd.”

The Constitution also formulated what has become the standard definition of the liturgy: “The liturgy then is rightly seen as an exercise of the priestly office of Jesus Christ. It involves the presentation of man’s sanctification under the guise of signs perceptible by the senses and its accomplishment in ways appropriate to each of these signs. In it full public worship is performed by the Mystical Body of Jesus Christ, that is, by the Head and his members. From this it follows that every liturgical celebration, because it is an action of Christ the priest and of his Body, which is the Church, is a sacred action surpassing all others. No other action of the Church can equal its efficacy by the same title and to the same degree.”

The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy also gives us a good sense of all that the liturgy includes. It is

divided into seven chapters, and the chapter titles offer a good summary of what the Church means when she speaks of the liturgy: n Chapter I: General Principles for the Restoration and Promotion of the Sacred Liturgy; n Chapter II: The Most Sacred Mystery of the Eucharist; n Chapter III: The Other Sacraments and the Sacramentals; n Chapter IV: The Divine Office; n Chapter V: The Liturgical Year; n Chapter VI: Sacred Music; n Chapter VII: Sacred Art and Sacred Furnishings.

In subsequent columns we will look at each of these chapters in some detail.

Before his ascension, Christ promised his disciples that he would be with them always (Matthew 28:20).

This promise is fulfilled pre-eminently in the liturgy, as the Second Vatican Council taught: “Christ is always present in his Church, especially in her liturgical celebrations.” He is present in the Mass in four ways: the assembly, the minister, the Word, and especially in the eucharistic species. Therefore, the liturgy, says the Constitution, “is the summit toward which the activity of the Church is directed; it is also the fount from which all her power flows.” It is no surprise, then, that the first document promulgated by the council was the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy.

The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy is available online at: http://www.vatican.va/archive/ hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/ documents/vat-ii_const_19631204_ sacrosanctum-concilium_en.html. n Father Stice directs the diocesan Office of Worship and Liturgy. He can be reached at frrandy@dioknox.org.

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

current threats to religious freedom both in the United States and abroad; frequently asked questions about religious liberty, including quotes from the Founding Fathers, the Second Vatican Council and Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI; and a study guide on Dignitatis Humanae, Vatican II’s document on religious liberty. The website also lists sample activities already planned in several dioceses, an image gallery of photos from last year’s Fortnight celebrations, as well as resources and recommendations for other local efforts, such as prayers for use in special liturgies. n

Upcoming Virtus sessions The Diocese of Knoxville’s program for the protection of children, youth and vulnerable adults is offered throughout the diocese. The seminars are required for parish and school employees and regular volunteers in contact with children and vulnerable adults. The following training sessions are scheduled: n St.

Jude Church, Chattanooga, noon, Tuesday, July 23. n St.

Dominic, Kingsport, 1 p.m.

Saturday, June 8; 9:30 a.m.

Wednesday July 17. n Diocese of Knoxville Chancery, 1:30 p.m. Monday, July 15. n

Want to try online delivery?

The East Tennessee Catholic offers online delivery for those who wish to receive a digital copy and discontinue the print edition. Sign up for online delivery at bit.ly/subscribe-online. If you decide online delivery isn’t for you, you can return to a print subscription at any time. If you have questions, e-mail mhunt@ dioknox.org. n July 7, 2013 21

Once upon a time

Notre Dame High School job posting Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga is seeking a fulltime library media specialist for the 2013-14 school year.

The library media specialist will oversee the day-to-day operations of the Erickson Library Media Center as well as other activities that support the technical needs of the school.

Candidates must be state certified or able to obtain certification in Library and Information Science or related fields. Bachelor’s degree required and a Master’s degree preferred. Interested candidates should send cover letter, resume, certifications and unofficial transcripts to Mr. Pat Landry, Academic Dean, landryp@myndhs.com, or mail c/o NDHS 2701 Vermont Ave., Chattanooga, TN 37404 n

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22 July 7, 2013

by Monsignor Xavier Mankel

Following the Catholic Church in real time

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Faithful now have almost instant access to developments as information dirt trail turns into a superhighway

y, how times have changed!” Grandmothers say this to granddaughters as a preface to negative remarks about ladies’ fashion that follow. Fathers may preface some remarks about wonderful improvements in the whole arena of hand tools, especially since the space age dawned.

And all of us can echo grandmother’s remark when we look at the post-World War II Church and compare it with today. As a newly ordained priest (May 27, 1961), I maintained more than a passing interest in the happenings at Vatican II (Oct.11, 1962-1965).

I was especially interested in the shape of a new and improved liturgy: Would the vernacular be adopted, at least for the Liturgy of the Word? Would altars be “turned around” to face the people? What new postures would be employed by a Church that had maintained basically the same worship modes for at least a millennium, especially since the Council of Trent (1545-1563)?

And what about the Divine Office, the Liturgy of the Hours? Would bishops, priests, and deacons be taught music, especially how to sing God’s praises? Would priests in the United States face economic improvement?

When I was ordained, as an assistant pastor I received room and board and $55 per month in salary plus Mass stipends. There was no health insurance, no retirement.

Paying into Social Security was an option, but in the early 1960s the earnings on a Knights of Columbus insurance policy were at least as good if not better.

Because I taught school, our raise on July 1, 1962, was $10 per

month (non-teachers were raised only $5 per month). In theory the additional $60 per year would cover our professional books and other needs, and granted that regular gasoline was in the low 20 cents-per-gallon range, the insecurity of having few if any of the other benefits that we take for granted was considerable.

The Fathers who gathered at Trent for that 18-year-long ecumenical council surely had their hands full. All in all great good came from their work. The celebration of the Mass was given protectivity; the sacraments were better defined; and rituals of blessings and customs were defined. Trent issued a Catechism; not the question-and-answer format, but very similar to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which flowed from Vatican II in the 20th century.

While the man or woman in the pew practically had no access to deliberations at Vatican II, those who were interested had easy access to the happenings in Rome for each session from 1962-65.

My question for this time is: What did American Catholics know about the first Vatican Council (Dec. 8, 1869-Oct 20, 1870) and how were they so informed? About 800 cardinals, patriarchs, archbishops, bishops, and religious superior generals participated. Only two doctrinal constitutions were promulgated: Dei Filius (April 24, 1870) on the interaction of faith and reason; and Pastor aeternus (July 18, 1870), which defined the jurisdictional primacy and the infallibility of the pope.

Actually there was no sort of pipeline to the “outside world.”

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Reports were gradually issued but in rather archival fashion. Granted that the definition of papal infallibility was the only real issue of consequence, and yes, we finally did get the work, Pastor aeternus; but the entire manner and method with which the post-World War II world share news is a whole new ball game in our modern world of communication. When the Code of Canon Law was issued in 1917 (Pentecost), the Church was given one whole year to implement its statutes (until Pentecost, 1918).

So, I think a fair answer to our question about news from Vatican I is that there was none (at least of the type you and I expect today.)

I’ll close with this little tidbit from Vatican I. When the final vote was taken about the propriety of defining papal infallibility as an article of faith, only two bishops of the 435 who voted on the issue voted negatively. They were Bishop Luigi Riccio of Caiazza, Italy, and Bishop Edward Fitzgerald of Little Rock, Ark. They eventually gave their adherence. When the bishops lined up to congratulate Pope Pius IX upon the definition, Bishop Fitzgerald is said to have quipped, “Well, Holy Father, Little Rock gives in to Big Rock!”

If you haven’t registered for the Eucharistic Congress in Sevierville Sept. 13-14, there still is time.

Go to the Diocese of Knoxville website, www.dioknox.org/ec/.

The congress will be held at the Sevierville Convention Center, 202 Gists Creek Road in Sevierville, just off Highway 66. n

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

DOMA continued from page 7

Entering the diaconate

Deacons Julian Cardona (front left), Adam Kane (front right), Tony Budnick (back right), and Colin Blatchford (back left) enter the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in procession for their ordination Mass as they join the transitional diaconate on June 22.

STEPHANIE RICHER

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Deacons continued from page 9

sense of what it means to be a celibate man in the world in which we live today.”

Bishop Stika said the ordination Mass was more than just a journey toward the office of presbyter, or priest.

“Also it’s a reminder of God’s goodness and his love for you and for all of us as he provides for us through the sacraments, through nourishment of our faith, both in the sacrament of the Eucharist and the proclamation of God’s Word,” he said. “Don’t take it for granted. Don’t take it lightly, because it’s a gift from God.” The new deacons “make a ecommitment today to pray the Liturgy of the Hours for the Church,” the bishop said. “They make a commitment to you. But you too must make a commitment to them, to pray for them, to give them guidance, to give them the support, to give them the gift of 2who you are as they give themselves to you.”

The bishop ended his homily with a promise for the four dealcons to “pray that your ministry might be fruitful, that your ongoing formation will never end, and The East Tennessee Catholic

that you will know that you are a servant of the Gospel, a minister of charity, and a brother of faith to us all.”

Bishop Stika closed the Mass with a special word of thanks to the parents of the newly ordained.

“I thank them for life and faith and for your guidance. They always say that the first seminary is actually the home, so we pray that you might continually be blessed in the work that they do in a special way. As family members, you are an extension of their hands as they reach out as the hands of Jesus Christ.”

Home parishes for the newly ordained men are St. Jude in Chattanooga for Deacon Blatchford and Deacon Cardona, St. Albert the Great for Deacon Budnick, and St. Mary in Johnson City for Deacon Kane.

Deacon Blatchford spoke of the diaconate ordination as one of the last steps before priestly ordination.

“This is conforming me to be a servant to the faithful of God, so that I can understand how to be conformed to Christ next year, so it’s unreal,” he said. “Nothing in my wildest dreams could have

prepared me for this.”

Deacon Budnick received the honor of assisting Bishop Stika during the Liturgy of the Eucharist after the rite of ordination.

His voice broke with emotion as he described the day.

“I was just honored and blessed and still so privileged to be serving the people of this diocese, and it was wonderful to have so many friends and family here in attendance,” he said. “It’s going to be a real honor for me to be a member of the presbyterate here, but first a member of the deacons here in the diocese.”

Deacon Cardona said “finally this day comes.”

“I’m so grateful and pleased with God, and I am excited, and this is the best day in my life so far,” he said.

Ordination day also was a feast day for two saints important to Deacon Kane.

“I’m emotionally very happy that it happened on this date, on the 22nd, because I have a great devotion to St. Thomas More and St. John Fisher, so for me to have it on that day was a very, very good thing for me,” Deacon Kane said. n

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

of more than 40 years. The two had married in Canada in 2007. Windsor was held liable for $363,000 in federal estate and income taxes, which would not have applied to her had her spouse been a man.

Under the 1996 DOMA, marriage is defined as between one man and one woman for federal government purposes such as Social Security benefits, federal programs, immigration and federal estate and income taxes.

It also said no political jurisdiction is required to recognize a same-sex marriage from another jurisdiction.

The June 26 ruling did not address that provision of the law.

Lower courts had upheld Windsor’s argument that the law is unconstitutional. DOMA had the support of the administrations of Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush and at first of President Barack Obama. But in 2011, the Justice Department announced that the attorney general had determined that Section 3 is unconstitutional as applied to legally married same-sex spouses. The administration said federal agencies should continue to enforce the law, but that the government would no longer defend it in court.

The case to uphold DOMA was taken up by a group of members of Congress, known as the Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group of the U.S. House of Representatives.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, other religious groups and various organizations opposed to same-sex marriage had urged the court to issue rulings that upheld the traditional definition of marriage.

In 32 states, constitutional amendments ban same-sex marriage, while 12 states and the District of Columbia recognize such marriages. Another eight states recognize civil unions or domestic partnerships, with some having overlapping bans on same-sex marriage. n July 7, 2013 23

Congress continued from page 5

The Eucharistic Congress will mark the beginning of a yearlong celebration of our diocese’s 25th anniversary and will represent an extraordinary opportunity to offer our gratitude to Christ for the growth of the Catholic faith in East Tennessee.

The theme of our Eucharistic Congress is “His Presence + Our Faith + Families Together In Christ.” Joining us in celebrating this special occasion are some of the most influential personalities in the U.S. Catholic Church—a lineup called “almost miraculous.” The keynote speaker will be Cardinal Timothy Dolan,

24 July 7, 2013

archbishop of New York. He will be joined by Cardinal Justin Rigali, archbishop emeritus of Philadelphia, as well as popular speakers and authors Father Robert Barron and Dr. Scott Hahn.

Cardinal Rigali and Bishop Richard F. Stika will lead an “Evening Chat” about the Catholic Church and the popes Cardinal Rigali has served over a 30year period as well as Cardinal Rigali’s time serving in the Secretariat of State of the Vatican.

Additional breakout sessions for the youth will include the talents of ValLimar Jansen, Paul George, and the musical tal-

Joining us in celebrating this special occasion are some of the most influential personalities in the U.S. Catholic Church—a lineup called “almost miraculous”—Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Cardinal Justin Rigali, Father Robert Barron and Dr. Scott Hahn. ents of Josh Blakesley and Sarah Kroger.

A Hispanic program for the youth will feature the inspirational music of Johann Alvarez and an adult program led by Father Rafael Capó, executive director of the Southeast Pastoral Institute (SEPI), and Sister Rosa Hernández, MGSpS of the Dio-

cese of Stockton.

As Catholics, we do not often have the opportunity to come together to celebrate the greatest gift of our Church, the Holy Eucharist, shoulder-to-shoulder with thousands of Catholics rejoicing in His presence with “unique intensity.” This Eucharistic Congress will be an opportunity to be thankful (the very meaning of the word Eucharist) for all our blessings and to deepen our relationship with God. We will have great speakers, good music and lots of joy as we celebrate and adore the source and summit of the whole Christian life. n

Bishop Richard F. Stika & The Diocese of Knoxville Invite You

25th AnniversAry Jubilee CelebrAtion And euChAristiC Congress september 13-14, 2013

A Faith-Filled Family Weekend

Sevierville Convention Center / Wilderness at the Smokies Waterpark Resort

Keynote Speaker TimoThy Cardinal dolan

One of Time’s “100 Most Influential People in the World,” His Eminence was also appointed to the College of Cardinals.

JoSh blaKeSley & Sarah Kroger

Dedicated to contemporary Catholic music, Josh and Sarah have led teen conferences across the nation.

JuSTin Cardinal rigali

His Eminence serves in the College of Cardinals and is a papal elector.

He is Archbishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

Vallimar JanSen

ValLimar has toured the world as both a singer and speaker and currently works as a university professor.

register online

biShoP riChard F. STiKa

FaTher roberT barron

Bishop of the Diocese of Knoxville, one of the fastest growing dioceses in the country. He also serves in the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

FaTher raFael CaPó

As an educator and priest, Father Capo leads the Hispanic Catholic Southeast Pastoral Institute in Miami, Fla.

“One of the church’s best messengers,” he is the Founder and Executive Director of Word on Fire Ministries.

Johann ÁlVarez

Award-winning singer-songwriter who loves to share the Gospel through song and powerful reflections.

dr. SCoTT hahn

Bestselling author of the The Lamb’s Supper and founder and president of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology.

SiSTer roSa hernandez

She is a member of the Migrant Ministry team in the Diocese of Stockton and led migrant ministry in Ala.

dioKnoX.org/ec/

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

dioknox.org