‘A day of great blessing’ Bishop Beckman ordains Renzo Alvarado, A.J. Houston to
By Dan McWilliams
The presbyterate in East Tennessee grew by two on June 7 after Bishop Mark Beckman ordained Deacons A.J. Houston and Renzo Alvarado Suarez to the priesthood at a packed-tooverflowing Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Bishop Beckman was the principal celebrant and concelebrated the Mass with Bishop Joseph L. Coffey, an auxiliary bishop from the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, which co-sponsors Father Houston.
“Brothers and sisters, what a day of great blessing that we gather in this cathedral church to ordain two men to the priesthood,” Bishop Beckman said in his opening remarks. “It is truly a gift from the Lord that we are here together with you, Deacon Renzo and Deacon A.J., and with your families.”
Diocese of Knoxville priests turned out strong to welcome their newest members as more than 45 took part in the Mass, including cathedral rector Father David Boettner, Father Peter Iorio, Father Mike Nolan, Father David Carter, and Father Mark Schuster.
Bishop Beckman also welcomed Bishop Coffey to co-consecrate
the priesthood
“It is good that we are together as a presbyterate on this beautiful day that we celebrate the addition to this Diocese of Knoxville and the many gifts that the Lord has given
Ordained continued on page A19
Centenarian Mary Harris has super faith
Alexian Village resident is oldest in state and second oldest in United States
By Bill Brewer
Mary Harris stands out at Alexian Village, where she is a popular resident with many well-wishers at the Signal Mountain retirement community.
You could even say she stands out in Tennessee, the United States, and the world.
You see, Mrs. Harris is a supercentenarian, which is a rare achievement to be celebrated anywhere, including in the Diocese of Knoxville. She was born on May 13, 1911, and celebrated her 114th birthday last month.
Mrs. Harris is the oldest known living person in Tennessee; she is the second oldest known living person in the United States; and, according to the Gerontology Research Group, she is the eighth oldest living person in the world.
The Gerontology Research Group is a nonprofit global scientific institution that verifies and records human longevity. The research organization is considered a foremost authority on the world’s oldest humans.
And to illustrate the significance of her age and lifetime, Pope Francis issued to her papal recognition in 2021 commemorating her 110th birthday.
A lot in a lifetime
To put Mrs. Harris’ lifetime in perspective:
n The year she was born, the word radio was first used to describe wireless broadcast transmissions.
n She was 11 months old when the Titanic passenger ship sank in the North Atlantic
1912.
n
n
n
Super continued on page A18
Deacon Houston as well as welcoming the diocesan and visiting priests gathered.
Ocean in
n She was 1 year old when Woodrow Wilson was inaugurated as the 28th U.S. president in 1913.
She was 2 years old when the Ford Motor Co. introduced the first moving assembly line to manufacture the Model T automobile in 1913.
She was 3 years old when Benedict XV became pope in 1914.
n She was 3 years old when World War I began in 1914.
She wasn’t yet 4 years old when the first longdistance telephone service between New York and San Francisco was demonstrated in 1915.
n She was 10 years old when Pius XI became pope in 1922.
n She was 14 years old when the Grand Ole
BILL BREWER
Sharing life's moments Mary Harris is engaged in conversation with Bishop Mark Beckman during a March visit in Mrs. Harris' apartment at the Alexian Village retirement community in Signal Mountain. Mrs. Harris is the second-oldest person in the United States and eighth oldest in the world
Called to serve Bishop Mark Beckman presides at the ordination Mass for the Diocese of Knoxville's newest priests, Father Renzo Alvarado Suarez, kneeling left, and Father A.J. Houston, kneeling right. Bishop Beckman is surrounded by priests of the diocese, and he is being assisted by Deacon Hicks Armor, right, and Deacon Sean Smith, left. Auxiliary Bishop Joseph L. Coffey of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, is standing right.
DAN MCWILLIAMS
Africa is now the epicenter for Christianity in the world
Pew: Sub-Saharan region experiencing higher birth rates;
By Gina Christian OSV News
Sub-Saharan Africa has replaced Europe as the locus for the world’s Christians, due to both higher birthrates and Western Europe’s “widespread Christian disaffi liation” with Christians declining as a share of the world’s population due to adherents leaving the faith, according to new research by the Pew Research Center.
Christians, tallied across denominations, remain the world’s largest religious group a majority in all regions except the Asia-Pacifi c, Middle East, and North Africa areas but “they are shrinking as a share of the global population, as large numbers of Christians around the world ‘switch’ out of religion to become religiously unaffi liated,” according to Pew.
On June 9, the center released “How the Global Religious Landscape Changed from 2010 to 2020,” surveying the religious
The joy of faith A girl smiles while embracing a palm-frond cross during Palm Sunday Mass at the Regina Mundi Catholic Church in Lagos, Nigeria, on April 13 Sub-Saharan Africa is now the center of
in the world, replacing Europe, according to the Pew Research Center.
makeup of 99.98 percent of the world’s population of just under 8 billion. The data drawn from
than three-quarters
a
year
of
To receive weekly cartoons and short reflections and news from the Handmaids of the Precious Blood, visit their website, nunsforpriests.org, and sign up for the FIAT newsletter.
A June prayer intention that the
world might grow in compassion
“Let us pray that each one of us might find consolation in a personal relationship with Jesus, and from His Heart, learn to have compassion on the world.”
Pope Leo XIV
more than 2,700 sources, including national censuses, large-scale demographic and population sur-
veys as well as population registers represents 201 countries and territories with populations of at least 100,000.
The report is the most recent in a series on global religious change, produced by Pew in collaboration with the John Templeton Foundation.
The data relies on self-identifi cation with a religion and does not indicate any level of belief or practice, or lack thereof.
Seven broad categories are named in the report: Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Jews, other religions which include, among others, Baha’is, Sikhs, Zoroastrians, and Wiccans and those who are religiously unaffi liated.
While the total number of Christians in the world increased from 2.1 billion to 2.3 billion during the decade from 2010-2020, the total population of non-Christians concurrently grew by 15 percent to 5.6 billion.
How to sign up and qualify for Diocese of Knoxville’s safe-environment program
The Diocese of Knoxville has implemented the CMG Connect platform to administer the Safe Environment Program, which replaces the former Safe Environment Program (VIRTUS “Protecting God’s Children”).
CMG Connect is a web-based platform that will assist in ensuring that all employees and volunteers who are in a position of trust with children and vulnerable adults within Diocese of Knoxville schools and parishes are trained to recognize behavior patterns of potential abusers and provide pro-active measures for preventing abuse in any context.
“Safe Haven-It’s Up to You” is a three-part video that provides vignettes of real-life situations to educate the viewer about methods of grooming, desensitization, bullying, and neglect, all of which can lead to abuse.
Each part of the video is immediately followed by a brief questionnaire to further develop understanding.
Education is a key
element of the Safe Environment Program
All clergy, employees, contracted school personnel, volunteers, members of groups and organizations over the age of 18 who work, volunteer, or participate in any capacity are required to complete the diocesan Safe Environment training and a criminal-background check before they can begin employment, volunteer, or participate with ministries, groups, and organizations affiliated with the Diocese of Knoxville.
In addition, the mandatory renewal training must be completed every five years and a new background check submitted before the five-year expiration of prior training.
The Diocese of Knoxville Safe Environment compliance training and renewal training is a condition of employment and for volunteer ministry in the Diocese of Knoxville.
The CMG Connect
platform contains all three elements of the Diocese of Knoxville’s Safe Environment Program: n Annual review of the Diocese of Knoxville’s Policy and Procedures Relating to Sexual Misconduct; n CMG Connect Safe Haven training program to be completed every five years; n Criminal background check to be completed every five years.
In compliance with the Diocese of Knoxville’s Safe Environment Program, all affiliates require that volunteers and employees complete the requirements prior to working and/or volunteering in a parish, school, or through Catholic Charities of East Tennessee and/ or St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic Go to https:// dioknox.org/safeenvironment on the Diocese of Knoxville website for more information ■
Sr. Regina
Handmaids of the Precious Blood
The Handmaids of the Precious Blood this year celebrate the 78th
since their founding in 1947; more
of
century
prayer and sacrifice for priests.
OSV NEWS
PHOTO/SODIQ ADELAKUN, REUTERS
ISummer ’s rest
Imagine when life was simpler and being together was divine
magine a time when life was uncluttered and we rested with the Lord awhile.
In our busy, fast-paced world, we all need a chance to find some genuine rest at times. Even Jesus recognized this fundamental human need. After the Apostles had been busily proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, Jesus says, “Come by yourselves to an outof-the-way place and rest a little” (Mark 6:31).
Summer is a great time of year to do just that. Remember bursting forth from the doors of school on the last day of the year? Freedom! As a child, summer always signaled freedom.
After months of desk-sitting and chalkboards, the open-ended days of summer came just in time. They seemed to last forever (Fall, with the start of the new school year, seemed infinitely distant).
This was before the days of the “super-structured childhood” when it seems every day (if not minute) of a child’s life is preplanned. In those days, we children had to invent play.
We were lucky to grow up in a relatively safe suburb of a small southern town where we were surrounded by the mysteries of cow pastures, pine woods, creeks, and overgrown fence rows.
That was when most homes were still unlocked, keys left in the ignition of the car in the driveway, and three or four channels graced the television sets without a re-
Maybe television, computer games, cellphones, and all of the distractions of the modern world could be turned off a bit more. Maybe we adults and children could all use a bit more imagination and free time in life simply to be together.
mote. And though our house only had one window-unit air conditioner, it was the outside that drew us.
Free time and imagination, what a wonder for a child! Ditches turned into cities and roads for Matchbox cars. Little green plastic Army men (they were all men in those days) were set up in preparation for the “big battle” and tomato-fence wires were transformed into forts in the pine woods.
We became Lewis and Clark following the creek to its “source”
and found whole new worlds hidden in the underbrush of fence rows.
(It’s true that not all of our fun was innocent. One day, the neighbor rang the doorbell and told our mother that we had been throwing rocks at his truck sad to say it was true. Waiting for Dad to get home was the worst part. But we even learned from those experiences.)
Bicycling the neighborhood, picking blackberries, and riding the wagon down a dangerous hill
(we didn’t tell Mom until much later, although she wondered how it got “banged up”) were par for the course.
Dad’s whistle brought us back home for dinner, and afterward, as darkness fell, a whole new world of fun began (spotlight and catching fireflies we called them lightning bugs were included). Adults gladly joined in these games, and everyone took responsibility for the children of the neighborhood
We didn’t spend hours alone with the newest computer games (Pong was just being invented), and perhaps we were better for it.
Maybe this summer, instead of having the family “super-scheduled,” we might find some time simply to “waste” with our children. Maybe take them outside to see the Milky Way at night if you can find a place without city lights. Or maybe try sitting on lawn chairs while visiting with neighbors as dusk falls and children are forced to “invent play” once again
Maybe television, computer games, cellphones, and all of the distractions of the modern world could be turned off a bit more. Maybe we adults and children could all use a bit more imagination and free time in life simply to be together.
Maybe that’s what summer is really all about. Maybe we might just find time to “come and away” and rest with the Lord awhile! ■
10 real quotes that Pope Leo XIV has actually said
Fake comments are easy to tweet, but truth is harder to live
By Our Sunday Visitor staff, OSV News
Fake quotes are easy to tweet. Truth is harder to live.” That’s not something Pope Leo XIV actually said, but you might believe it given how many false attributions have gone viral since his election to the See of Peter.
It’s ironic, or maybe prophetic, since the revolutionary moment we’re living through (which includes the rapid development of artificial intelligence) helped inspire his choice of name.
Get to know Pope Leo through this list of 10 things he’s actually said in the first days of his pontificate:
1. “God loves us, God loves you all, and evil will not prevail” Apostolic Blessing Urbi et Orbi on May 8.
In a world marked by loneliness, division, and spiritual confusion, this quote from Leo’s first-ever speech as pope is meant to comfort, assure, and invite every listener into a relationship with God.
2. “Even today, there are many settings in which the Christian faith is considered absurd, meant for the weak and unintelligent. Settings where other securities are preferred, like technology, money, success, power, or pleasure” Homily for the Mass Pro Ecclesia on May 9.
Pope Leo is naming a common cultural attitude: that faith especially Christian belief in God, grace, and salvation is outdated, irrational, or even foolish. In many secularized societies, religious belief is dismissed as superstition or as something for the emotionally fragile or intellectually inferior.
3. “Peace is built in the heart and from the heart by eliminating pride and vindictiveness and carefully choosing our words” Address to members of the diplomatic corps on May 16.
Pope Leo emphasizes that peace is not merely the absence of war but a personal and interior effort.
True peace begins with humility, forgiveness, and mindful communication not just political treaties.
4. “Religious experience is an essential dimension of the human person. Without it, it is difficult, if not impossible, to bring about the purification of the heart necessary for building peaceful relationships”
Address to members of the diplomatic corps on May 16.
Pope Leo defends the spiritual dimension of the human person as central both to personal growth and societal peace. He argues against secularism’s marginalization of faith from public life.
5. “Many of our Eastern brothers and sisters, including some of you, have been forced to flee their homelands because of war and persecution, instability, and poverty, and risk losing not only their native lands but also, when they reach the West, their religious identity. As a result, with the passing of generations, the priceless heritage of the Eastern Churches is being lost” Address to participants in the Jubilee of Oriental Churches on May 14.
The pope highlights the tragic reality that many Eastern Christians have been driven from their homes
by conflict, violence, and economic hardship. He’s speaking especially to those from regions like Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Ukraine, and other places where Eastern Churches have long histories. These are not voluntary migrations but displacements due to war, persecution, instability, and poverty. Leaving one’s homeland is traumatic in itself. But the pope points out that migrants and refugees also risk losing something deeper: their religious identity and traditions.
6. “Our neighbors are not first our enemies … but other men and women with whom we can speak” Address to participants in the Jubilee of Oriental Churches on May 14.
This sentence challenges the binary mindset of good versus evil that often dominates political and military rhetoric. Pope Leo calls for humanization of the other and engagement through relationship and dialogue, echoing the Gospel imperative to love one’s neighbor.
7. “Let us disarm words and we will help to disarm the world” Address to representatives of the media on May 12.
Pope Leo XIV is urging us to recognize the power of language.
Words can escalate conflict or foster peace. By removing aggression, prejudice, and hatred from our communication, we help dismantle the foundations of broader social and political violence. Peace begins with what we say and how we say it.
8. “Communication is not only the transmission of information, but it is also the creation of a culture” Address to representatives of the media on May 12.
This profound insight elevates the role of journalists and communicators. Media doesn’t just report on reality it shapes how we understand and inhabit the world. Pope Leo reminds us that every article, post, and broadcast contributes to a broader human environment and must therefore be treated with ethical care and creative responsibility.
9. “Beginning with St. Peter and up to myself, his unworthy successor, the pope has been a humble servant of God and of his brothers and sisters, and nothing more than this” Address to the College of Cardinals on May 10.
This statement is a powerful expression of papal humility and continuity. Pope Leo is placing himself within the long line of successors to St. Peter, the first pope, affirming that the role of the pope is not about power, prestige, or personal greatness, but about service.
10. “Do not be afraid! Accept the invitation of the Church and of Christ the Lord!” Regina Caeli on May 11.
These words echo the words of Jesus throughout the Gospels and have been used by popes before, especially St. John Paul II, who began his pontificate with the call, “Be not afraid!” Pope Leo reassures those discerning a vocation especially priesthood or religious life that following Christ is not something to fear, even if it feels demanding or countercultural. ■
Words matter Pope Leo XIV leads the recitation of the Regina Caeli at the conclusion of his Pentecost Mass in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on June 8, concluding the Jubilee of Ecclesial Movements, Associations, and New Communities.
The way we were Catholic children play together during the summer, when having fun is at a premium, and so is the opportunity to spend quality time with family and our Lord.
May Crowning highlights St. Mary School ju bilee
By Gabrielle Nolan
Astatue of the Blessed Virgin Mary was adorned with a crown of flowers at a special all-school Mass on May 2 at St. Mary Parish in Oak Ridge.
The May Crowning Mass kicked off the weekend’s events celebrating the parish school’s 75th jubilee.
Bishop Mark Beckman was the main celebrant of the morning Mass, with three concelebrants assisting: Father Ray Powell, pastor of St. Mary Parish; Father Neil Blatchford, associate pastor of St. Mary; and Father Michael Woods, pastor of St. Francis of Assisi in Fairfield Glade, who previously served at St. Mary Parish for several years.
Deacon John DeClue served as deacon of the altar.
“Having the 75th jubilee weekend begin with a May Crowning was a desire of mine to give honor to Mary, patroness of our school, and who really has been with the school from the beginning with the Sisters and the church and the whole parish who started St. Mary’s School,” said Sister Mary John Slonkosky, OP, principal of St. Mary School. “So, honoring Mary with the May Crowning and Bishop was a dream of mine, and I’m just so happy we were able to have it all come together.”
During his homily, Bishop Beckman discussed Mary as the “Morning Star.”
“A word from the prophet Isaiah: people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. Those words that we heard this morning are also proclaimed at Christmas, the dawn of grace from on high, symbolizes the Lord Jesus Christ, who became human to set us free from sin and death,” the bishop began.
“But before the sun rises, if you ever get up early in the morning at certain times in the year, there is in the eastern sky what we call the morning star. It’s really the
planet Venus, brilliantly bright in the morning sky,” he continued. “As dawn approaches, it prepares us for the light of day. And Mary has been called the Morning Star. She is the one the Father sent as the one who would say yes to giving birth to our Savior. And in the Gospel today we heard of that miracle in Luke’s Gospel when the angel Gabriel was sent to Mary, and Mary’s response, though initially fearful, was ‘yes, be it done
to me according to Your Word.’”
Bishop Beckman recalled that as a young child, he also participated in May Crownings at his Catholic school in Lawrenceburg, Tenn.
“I remember my mom helping me find flowers that grew wild in our area,” he said. “So, there’s something special about this time of year. Everything is new, green, growing. It’s a sign that God wants to bring new life in our hearts, our souls, and our spirits.”
Following the Mass, there was a reception of drinks and desserts in the courtyard, which featured another smaller statue of Mary with flower vases surrounding her.
Sister Mary John said that when she thinks about the Blessed Virgin Mary within the Holy Family, “she is as all mothers and fathers are, the first teachers of their children.”
“So, having Mary as the patroness of this school is giving honor to her and to mothers and fathers, the parents who educate their children first, and we help them,” she continued. “And having Mary as our patron, she’s helping us teach the children and bringing them to her Son, our Lord Jesus. The special connection with Mary as patroness of the school goes perfectly well with the whole mission of Catholic education and bringing children to the Lord and faith and education and all aspects of creation.”
Several third-grade students attended the reception after the Mass.
Fernanda Lopez said the Mass was “amazing” and that she does have a relationship with Mary.
“She’s wonderful. She did all this stuff for us,” Fernanda said. “She even saw her own Son die on the cross, which must have been really painful. That must have been sad.”
Emma Johnson remarked that the Mass was “cool because the bishop was there and Mary had her crown on her head.”
When asked what she enjoys most about school, Emma shared that she likes it because “we learn about God, and we get to have amazing friends that know stuff from God.”
Natalie Carmona enjoyed the May Crowning and said that her relationship with Mary is “praying to her Son.”
“I feel like her Son is relating to Mary, telling her my prayers,” she said.
Crowning continued on page A16
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or
Ave Maria Two eighth-grade students from St. Mary School in Oak Ridge participate in the May Crowning Mass on May 2 at St. Mary Church. Each eighth-grade student presented a rose to the Marian statue. Bishop Mark Beckman celebrated the all-school Mass.
GABRIELLE NOLAN
A diamond in the faith community
St. Mary gala is a testament
By Dan McWilliams
The community of St. Mary School in Oak Ridge turned out in full May 3 for a Diamond Anniversary Gala.
The 75th-anniversary event in the school gym, attended by 160, paid a well-deserved tribute to the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia Congregation whose teachers have staffed the school since its founding in 1950. The evening included a catered dinner; silent and live auctions; talks by principal Sister Mary John Slonkosky, OP; alumnus and former St. Mary pastor Father Chris Michelson; former pastor Father Michael Woods; and the presentation of a state Senate joint resolution from Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, another St. Mary alum. John Deinhart emceed the gala, which was capped with dancing to the music of the Love, Peace & Happiness Band from Chattanooga.
Father Michelson graduated from St. Mary School in 1968, having completed all eight grades there. He has been a priest for 45 years, including six from 1988 to 1994 as pastor of St. Mary. Now retired from parish work and serving St. Joseph School in Knoxville and Knoxville Catholic High School, he said he well remembers his St. Mary School days and walking to school.
“I grew up less than a block from here. Our property adjoined the church property,” he said. “There’s a great legacy here. I have great, fond memories of St. Mary’s.”
Father Michelson says he owes his priestly vocation to his faith-filled family and to the Dominican Sisters at St. Mary. The Sisters “absolutely” led him to the priesthood, including Sister Mary Grace, OP, who never taught the future priest but made an early prediction about him.
“She was always very close with our family. She took a special inter-
to Oak Ridge school's legacy and future
est in me. I think starting in fifth or sixth grade, whenever she was here, she kept saying, ‘You’re going to be a priest someday,’ and I said, ‘Sister, no, I’m not going to be a priest,’ so she knew more than I knew,” Father Michelson recalled.
In his talk at the gala, Father
Michelson mentioned the Chapel on the Hill, the nondenominational church that originally hosted services for all faith traditions when Oak Ridge was founded in 1943, the same year St. Mary Parish began. Founding pastor and future Monsignor Joseph Siener picked an early Mass
Blessings in a box Ministry at
By Allison DiGennaro
Otime for Catholics at the chapel.
“Monsignor Siener chose 5:30 a.m. Sunday for Mass because the Catholics were the only ones who would get up that early to go to Mass,” Father Michelson said.
The priest’s first-grade classroom—and its nearly five dozen desks—is pictured in a hallway at St. Mary School.
“If you count how many desks were in that room, believe it or not there were 55 of us in my first-grade class. Fifty-five—and one teacher, one Sister,” Father Michelson said.
Sister Mary Grace continued her gentle nudging even when Father Michelson attended Oak Ridge High School.
“She was still here. ‘When are you going to tell everybody you’re going to seminary?’ I said, ‘I’m not going to the seminary.’ But I do have great memories of St. Mary’s and Sister Mary Grace in particular, all the Dominican Sisters I had through the years,” the alumnus said.
Father Michelson asked his audience to “go figure the long-term effects of what we’re doing” in Catholic education.
“Long-term effects: that’s what we are about in our Catholic schools,” he said. “We’re putting and planting seeds, and for many of us those seeds take a long time to germinate, while for others it happens almost instantaneously. We are the sowers. Our Catholic schools are the sowers of what it is we believe and in how we live our faith. I’m certainly proud to be an alumnus of St. Mary’s School. There are great years, great memories, but I’m most especially thankful for those seeds that were planted ... the seeds that we continue to plant now and in the years to come.”
Father Woods served as pastor of St. Mary from 1996 to 2006, tied
St. Mary continued on page A25
Our Lady of Fatima serves up food and community spirit
ur Lady of Fatima Parish in Alcoa established a Blessing Box ministry in 2022 as a way to extend a helping hand to the local community by offering free food items to those in need.
The ministry has been able to help countless individuals and families over the past three years in a way that seeks to build community and to recognize the dignity of the human person by sharing and helping in a discreet way.
With the rising cost of food and inflation in daily living expenses, there is an increasing demand to help supply food to those in need.
The ministry is a free community service that provides basic food essentials. It provides food security to a variety of patrons, ranging from a single meal to get a family through to the next payday to helping a homeless person who lives outside.
The Blessing Box is a box of hope for many people. At Our Lady of Fatima, it is a simple pantry box erected on four legs with a hinged door and a top to protect the food items from outside elements. The door has clear, non-breakable windowpanes. The inside has two shelves for stocked, nonperishable food items.
An Our Lady of Fatima parishioner donated time and materials to help construct the Blessing Box, and the parish ministry members volunteer to supply and perform general maintenance on the box on specific days of the week, Sunday through Saturday. Other Blessing Box ministry members volunteer to do random supply checks and replenish the pantry box as needed.
The parish ministry resupplies
this pantry daily, as well as cleans the shelves, checks for expiration dates on items, organizes the food for easy access, and shops for food supplies.
Funds received through donations and a once-a-year fundraiser assist in keeping the ministry going each year. Support also is given through the Pope Francis Charitable Trust Fund, which is a matching-grant opportunity available to parishes throughout the Diocese of Knoxville.
“The grant plays a big part of what we can do in filling the Blessing Box,” said Nancy Blachowski, a parish ministry volunteer who works closely with the Blessing Box.
In addition to their monetary funding, a large portion of Our Lady of Fatima parishioners do-
nate food items to keep the pantry box filled. Parishioners simply put those nonperishable food items into the Blessing Box.
The parish volunteer effort is very much alive at Our Lady of Fatima and often includes the motto of “take what you need, leave what you can.”
All the money raised through the ministry is used to purchase food for the pantry.
For information about the Blessing Box ministry, contact: Blessing Box Ministry, Our Lady of Fatima Parish 858 Louisville Road, Alcoa, TN 37701 865-982-3672
Also, for questions about the Blessing Box ministry, reach out through the Our Lady of Fatima website at: ourladyoffatima.org/ministries ■
Celebrating St. Mary School Above: Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia Congregation were present to celebrate St. Mary School on its 75th anniversary. A gala in the school gym on May 3 was attended by 160 people. Below: Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, a St. Mary School alum, reads a resolution from the state legislature honoring St. Mary School on its diamond anniversary. School principal Sister Mary John Slonkosky, OP, is holding the framed resolution.
DAN MCWILLIAMS
(2)
Good things come in a box Our Lady of Fatima Parish's Blessing Box ministry serves the Blount County community by providing food to those in need.
COURTESY OF OUR LADY OF FATIMA PARISH
TOP 10 PARISHES – HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF PARTICIPATION
• Our Lady of Lourdes, South Pittsburg
• St. Christopher, Jamestown
• St. Francis of Assisi, Fairfield Glade
• St. Francis of Assisi, Townsend
• St. Henry, Rogersville
• St. James the Apostle, Sneedville
• St. Jude, Helenwood
• St. Mary, Athens
• St. Michael the Archangel, Erwin
• St. Thomas the Apostle, Lenoir City
HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF RECURRING DONORS*
• Holy Spirit, Soddy-Daisy
• St. Albert the Great, Knoxville
• St. Alphonsus, Crossville
• St. Catherine Laboure, Copperhill
• St. Elizabeth, Elizabethton
• St. Francis of Assisi, Fairfield Glade
• St. Francis of Assisi, Townsend
• St. Jude, Helenwood
• St. Mary, Athens
• St. Thomas the Apostle, Lenoir City
Thank you for being par t of the 2024 Bishop’s Appeal for Ministries! With the par ticipation of more than 6,500 households, over $3 million was raised to sustain the ministries across East Tennessee. Through your prayers and acts of generosity, you embrace Jesus’ call to charity and embody the essence of our faith. Your kindness proves that charity is just another word for love and continues to strengthen our local Church each day. We are grateful for you!
GREATEST NUMBER OF NEW BA24 DONORS
• All Saints, Knoxville
• Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul, Chattanooga
• Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Knoxville
• Holy Ghost, Knoxville
• St. John Neumann, Knoxville
• St. Jude, Chattanooga
• St. Mary, Johnson City
• St. Stephen, Chattanooga
• St. Therese of Lisieux, Cleveland
• St. Thomas the Apostle, Lenoir City
*Recurring donors maximize the impact of their gifts by providing consistent, ongoing support each month to serve the ministries and mission of the Catholic Church in East Tennessee.
Scan here to learn more about the Bishop’s Appeal for Ministries
TOP 10 PARISHES – HIGHEST TOTAL GIFTS RECEIVED
• All Saints, Knoxville
• Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Knoxville
• Our Lady of Fatima, Alcoa
• St. Dominic, Kingsport
• St. John Neumann, Knoxville
• St. Jude, Chattanooga
• St. Mary, Johnson City
• St. Mary, Oak Ridge
• St. Stephen, Chattanooga
• St. Thomas the Apostle, Lenoir City
GREATEST INCREASE IN AVERAGE CONTRIBUTION FROM BA23 TO BA24
• Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Knoxville
• Christ the King, Tazewell
• Holy Cross, Pigeon Forge
• Holy Spirit, Soddy-Daisy
• Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Chattanooga
• St. Ann, Lancing
• St. Bridget, Dayton
• St. John Paul II Mission, Rutledge
• St. Joseph the Worker, Madisonville
• St. Mary, Oak Ridge
GREATEST PERCENTAGE GROWTH OVER THE LAST 5 YEARS (BA20-BA24)
• Christ the King, Tazewell
• Holy Trinity, Jefferson City
• Notre Dame, Greeneville
• Our Lady of Lourdes, South Pittsburg
• St. Anthony of Padua, Mountain City
• St. John Paul II Mission, Rutledge
• St. Joseph the Worker, Madisonville
• St. Mary, Johnson City
• St. Michael the Archangel, Erwin
• St. Stephen, Chattanooga
Clergy and Seminarian Formation
Christian Formation | St. Mary’s Legacy Mobile Medical Clinic Justice and Peace | Youth, Young Adult, and Campus Ministries | Catholic Charities
Pilgrims of hope
Jubilee Year is focus of KDCCW Convention at St. Mary-Johnson City
By Emily Booker
Women from across East Tennessee made a pilgrimage to the northeast corner of the state for the biennial Knoxville Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (KDCCW) Convention April 24-26 at St. Mary Church in Johnson City, hosted by the Five Rivers Deanery.
Inspired by the Jubilee Year, the convention theme was “Jubilee Pilgrimage of Hope: Where Meaning Meets Purpose.” Around 140 women from all four deaneries and even Virginia gathered for reflection, illumination, and fellowship focused on finding purpose and hope.
“When we started planning on the convention, we knew 2025 was going to be a Jubilee Year, and we honed in on the ‘pilgrimage of hope’ [theme] that Pope Francis chose,” said convention co-chair Susan Collins.
“With St. Mary Parish located at the farthest edge of our diocese, the journey to East Tennessee truly became a pilgrimage,” said convention co-chair Pam Morgan. “It was heartwarming to see so many of our council ladies make the trip to this beautiful part of our state, embracing both the spiritual and scenic journey.”
The convention began on April 24 with a rosary praying for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis, who died just days before the convention. Following the rosary was the Mass of Remembrance for women in the diocese who died in the previous year.
The names of the women were read out by priests as the presidents of each deanery CCW held a candle.
Father Dustin Collins, pastor of St. Mary, celebrated the Mass. Father Dan Whitman, chaplain of the KDCCW; Father Zach Griffith, associate pastor of St. Mary; Father Joseph Kuzhupil, MSFS, pastor of Notre Dame Parish in Greeneville; Father Emmanuel Massawe, AJ, associate pastor at Church of the Good Shepherd in Newport; and Father Anselm Edu, who has served as chaplain and resident student at St. Mary and chaplain at Johnson City Medical Center, concelebrated. Father Edu will begin serving as associate pastor of St. Dominic Parish in Kingsport at the end of June.
Deacons Don Griffith, Jim Haselsteiner, Wil Johnson, and Otto Preske assisted at the Mass.
“It is wonderful to be with you this evening. Welcome, all of you, to our parish,” Father Collins said.
In his homily, Father Collins addressed the theme of the convention.
“The theme of this convention is most timely, seeing as we are in this Jubilee Year—it’s the pilgrimage of hope. In this Easter season especially, we begin to realize this pilgrimage of hope that we find ourselves to be on, to fathom where we’ve been these last few days.”
He spoke about how Jesus met with the Apostles after the resurrection and offered words of peace and consolation.
“There is so much that troubles us in this life—fear of tomorrow, fear of one’s health, the health of another, a struggle with a certain temptation. It becomes our pilgrimage of life, these things we must bear. How depressing would it be if we would just sit out and encounter these things all alone? We must remember that with the risen Lord, by joining ourselves unto Him, that hope always springs forth for us in the midst of every cross, no matter what that cross may be.”
An encounter with Christ will produce hope able to withstand any hardship, Father Collins said.
“Throughout this pilgrimage of life, we also come to bear wounds [like Christ]. Despite these wounds, we cannot just simply give up, lose hope in the midst of our suffering. Instead, let us continue to come to Him with the confidence of faith as He embraces us in His mercy. He comes to exclaim those great words
Pilgrims of Hope Above: The KDCCW convention adopted the theme of the Jubilee Year, "Pilgrims of Hope." Speakers like Dr. Anne DeSantis (pictured right with KDCCW convention co-chair Pam Morgan) encouraged the women to approach life as a pilgrimage that is focused on God. Below: Father Dan Whitman, chaplain of the KDCCW, reads the names of women in the diocese who have passed away in the last year. Holding a candle for the faithful departed is Smoky Mountain Deanery president Patricia Forde
of consolation unto us: ‘Peace be with you.’”
The collection taken at the Mass of Remembrance went to the East Tennessee State University Catholic Center, which serves college students in Johnson City. The collection raised more than $1,300 for much-needed renovations.
Honoring young leaders
Following Mass, there was an opening dinner in which KDCCW president Michelle Peckham welcomed the women and discussed the convention in the context of a pilgrimage.
“Our theme this year is Jubilee Pilgrimage of Hope: Where Meaning Meets Purpose. What is the difference between pilgrimage and just being a tourist? A pilgrimage is a religious journey to a sacred place. It can involve physical travel to a specific site, or it can represent a spiritual journey of personal growth and reflection. A tourist visits, takes pictures, sends postcards home. Tomorrow morning, we will begin our pilgrimage.”
She also discussed the Jubilee Year and the significance of the Holy Door in Rome, how people make pilgrimages to Holy Doors and receive an indulgence for entering through the Holy Door. She also talked about the requirements for an indulgence.
“You must be free from all sin, even venial sin, and have a sincere desire for conversion. You must receive the sacrament of reconciliation. Receive the Eucharist on the same day as the act to obtain the indulgence and offer prayer for the pope’s intention, such as in the Our Father, a Hail Mary, and then, of course, you have to make a pilgrimage to one of the four major basilicas, or visit a designated church, perform corporal works of mercy, or participate in official Jubilee events.”
She encouraged the women to approach the convention as a pilgrimage and a spiritual journey. “This weekend, we will pray for the pope’s intention. We will have the opportunity for confession. We will have the opportunity to pilgrimage to several sites on the grounds here at St. Mary. We have a service project to help those affected by Hurricane Helene.
Ms. Peckham then introduced the inaugural Golden Rose Award. The award recognizes young women in the diocese who display leadership, spirituality, and service in their parish and community.
Ms. Peckham acknowledged each of the three finalists: Cumberland Mountain Deanery winner Beth Ohmes from All Saints Parish in Knoxville; Five Rivers Deanery winner Laura Thomas from St. Mary Parish in Johnson City; and Smoky Mountain Deanery winner Karen Amayo Castro from Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Alcoa.
A video was shown introducing each finalist and her activities as well as a message from Bishop Mark Beckman.
Then Amelia Sweeney, Louisville Province CCW director, announced Miss Thomas as the winner.
As part of the award, Miss Thomas received $500 from the KDCCW, a symbolic “Golden Rose,” and a gift certificate for six months of professional life coaching from Floyd Consulting. She will go on to represent the Diocese of Knoxville in the National Council of Catholic Women Golden Rose competition.
“We are extremely glad to have her representing us at the national award,” Ms. Peckham said.
‘We’re on a pilgrimage’
On Friday, April 25, the women heard from three different speakers about pilgrimage and how to move through the pilgrimage of life with intention and hope.
The first speaker was Evelyn Garcia, pilgrimage coordinator for Dynamic Catholic.
I encourage you to be a pilgrim this weekend and not a tourist.”
She spoke about leading pilgrimages to places like Rome and the Holy Land, sharing amusing anecdotes, especially how trusting the Lord and receiving His blessings
And we will have the opportunity to receive the Eucharist.
KDCCW continued on page A14
Celebrating 75 Years!
Join us as we commemorate the Year of Jubilee, the 25th anniversary of the Our Lady of Fatima church building, and the 75th anniversary of the Our Lady of Fatima parish.
Mark Your Calendar
Tuesday, March 11
Special Bilingual Mass at 6 PM celebrating the 25th anniversary of our church building, followed by a light reception.
Tuesday, May 13
Pilgrimage and Pentecost
Wednesday, August 13
Pilgrimage and Pedagogy
Saturday, September 13
Pilgrimage and Prosperidad
Monday, October 13
Pilgrimage and Prayers
Saturday, November 22
Friday, June 13
Pilgrimage and Picnic
Sunday, July 13
Pilgrimage and Praise
75th Anniversary Mass at Our Lady of Fatima and Reception after at the Airport Hilton.
Come celebrate with us as we give thanks for the past and look forward with hope to the future!
For the beauty of our earth
Bishop Beckman celebrates the 10th anniversary of Laudato
By Emily Booker
One of Pope Francis’ enduring legacies will be his focus on care for creation, wise stewardship of resources, and upholding human dignity.
This year marks a decade since the release of his encyclical Laudato Si’ or “Praise Be to You.” Laudato Si’ is a reminder of how people of faith should not only respect the earth but also praise and honor God through their engagement with creation.
In the Diocese of Knoxville, Laudato Si’ has inspired several care-for-creation ministries.
Faithful from all over the diocese joined Bishop Mark Beckman on May 27 to celebrate the anniversary of Laudato Si’ with a Mass and reception at Our Lady of Fatima (OLOF) Church in Alcoa.
“This beautiful world that God has given us, as Pope Francis has pointed out, has been dramatically affected by the things we have done to it. That’s why he wrote the encyclical Laudato Si’,’’ Bishop Beckman said.
“I believe it begins, our care for this common home, with the act of noticing and the act of wonder.”
The Mass took place during Laudato Si’ Week, May 24-31, which focused on prayer and action to share the message of Pope Francis’ encyclical.
“Laudato Si’ Week is observed in May every year to celebrate our Christian unity with our brothers and sisters and all of creation and our desire to take care of God’s earth, all of His creatures, and especially our poor brothers and sisters,” Liz McCachren, a member of the OLOF Care for Creation Ministry, said.
The readings, prayers, and music were specifically selected to highlight praise for God’s creation. OLOF’s music ministry lent its talents to the bilingual Mass.
Non-perishable food items were collected at the Mass for the Community Food Connection, a Blount County food pantry.
for creation
" This beautiful world that God has given us, as Pope Francis has pointed out, has been dramatically affected by the things we have done to it. That's why he wrote the encyclical Laudato Si'. I believe it begins, our care for this common home, with the act of noticing and the act of wonder."
Pennsylvania Catholic students win participation lawsuit
Public-school district must include them in extracurricular activities
By Daniel Payne Catholic News Agency
Catholic families in Pennsylvania won a victory at federal court last month when a local school district agreed to allow students of parochial schools to participate in district sporting events and other activities.
The Thomas More Society, a public interest law firm based in Chicago, said in a press release that multiple Catholic families had won the “major victory” in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania after bringing the suit in July 2023.
The State College Area School District had originally said that parochial school students were not allowed to participate in district extracurricular activities, though it allowed homeschooled and charter-school students to take part in those events.
The Catholic school families had sued the district arguing that the policy violated their constitutional rights to freedom of religion and equal protection.
In December 2023, U.S. District Judge Matthew Brann allowed the challenge to proceed, agreeing that the rule appeared to violate the defendants’ constitutional rights.
In a filing on June 10, the Catholic families and the school district agreed to a consent order stipulating that the Catholic students “are gener-
Kingsport; Father John Orr, pastor of Holy Ghost Parish in Knoxville, Father Adam Royal, pastor of St. Alphonsus Parish in Crossville; Father Joseph Austin, associate pastor of OLOF Parish; and Father Valentin Iurochkin, associate pastor of Holy Ghost Parish. Deacon Renzo Alvarado Suarez, Deacon Leon Dodd, Deacon Bill Jacobs, all of OLOF Parish, and Deacon Chad Shields of Christ the King Parish in Tazewell also served.
In his homily, Bishop Beckman spoke on the beauty of God’s creation and our call to care for it for future generations.
The bishop shared that in his second year of priesthood, during Holy Week, he went to a park and wound up walking a path full of spring flowers.
“The beauty of the April flowers were so splendid that I have never stopped walking in God’s creation,” he said. “Since then, I have been to national parks all over our country and beyond. I’ve noticed the great beauty of God’s creation, and it has moved me over these decades to want to care well for it so that many generations from now, our great-grandchildren will enjoy the same beautiful world that we’ve been privileged to experience.”
Bishop Beckman pointed out that in the Gospel reading, Jesus observed the beauty of creation.
“Jesus also noticed creation: ‘Look at the birds of the air, the ravens. Look at the flowers of the field.’ He noticed the farmers spreading the seed into the soil. He was attentive to creation. The beginnings of wonder.”
This admiration for God’s creation also comes with a duty to be good stewards.
“There are many things that we can do to care for this beautiful creation that God has given us,” he said. “My one suggestion tonight would be to invite people, invite friends and others that you meet along the way, to experience the beauty of creation, to notice
Concelebrating the Mass were Father Peter Iorio, pastor of OLOF
Parish; Father Michael Cummins, pastor of St. Dominic Parish in
Caring
Above: Bishop Mark Beckman celebrates Mass to mark the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis' encyclical Laudato Si' at Our Lady of Fatima Church in Alcoa. Concelebrating the Mass are Father Peter Iorio, Father Michael Cummins, Father John Orr, Father Adam Royal, Father Valentin Iurochkin, and Father Joseph Austin. Assisting were Deacons Chad Shields, Leon Dodd, Renzo Alvarado Suarez, and Bill Jacobs. Below: Bishop Beckman blesses symbols of creation brought forth by people attending the Mass. He is assisted by Deacon Chad Shields of Christ the King Parish. BILL BREWER
Bishop Mark Beckman
Creation
Graduates put an exclamation point on highschool careers
The Diocese of Knoxville’ s two high schools, Notre Dame in Chattanooga and Knoxville Catholic High School, bid congratulations and farewell to the class of 2025 last month, with commencement ceremonies held in Blaine Stadium at KCHS on May 16 and at the Chattanooga Convention Center on May 17. During the KCHS ceremony, 168 diplomas were awarded to the graduating seniors, and NDHS awarded 91 diplomas to its graduating seniors.
Bishop Mark Beckman delivered remarks at both graduations, and he was joined by diocesan schools superintendent George Valadie. Notre Dame head of school Eric Schexnaildre presided at the Chattanooga commencement exercise, and Dickie Sompayrac, president of KCHS, presided at the Knoxville ceremony.
Father David Carter, Father Randy Stice, and Father Chris Michelson were diocesan priests who took part.
by Dan McWilliams and Bill Brewer
Photos
KDCCW introduces program to recognize young women
Golden Rose Award promotes leadership, spirituality, and service to community
By Emily Booker
The Knoxville Diocesan Council of Catholic Women has introduced a new program in the diocese to recognize young women who display leadership, spirituality, and service in their parish and community.
The National Council of Catholic Women’s Golden Rose Award began in 2023 to recognize “young women between the ages of 14 and 21 who exemplify the mission of the NCCW through their spirituality, leadership ability, and acts of service.”
Parishes throughout the Diocese of Knoxville nominated their candidates for the deanery Golden Rose Award last fall. Three deaneries named a deanery Golden Rose winner; those three young ladies attended the opening dinner of the KDCCW convention at St. Mary Church in Johnson City on April 24.
Laura Thomas of the Five Rivers Deanery was named the inaugural Diocese of Knoxville Golden Rose Award winner.
Miss Thomas is a student at East Tennessee State University, where she studies accounting and performs in the university marching band and wind ensemble.
She has been highly involved in both the ETSU Catholic Center and St. Mary Parish in Johnson City. She volunteers with the parish youth group and chaperones retreats. She helps with parish clean-up days and decoration days for special liturgical events. She also gives rides to parishioners who need transportation to Mass.
In addition, she is the anchoress for the Seven Sisters Apostolate at St. Mary Parish. The apostolate ensures that a holy hour is prayed every day of the week for the sole intention of a specific priest or bishop, usually by a team of seven women taking one day a week.
When asked how it felt to be named the winner of the inaugural Golden Rose Award, she replied, “I’m shocked. I’m surprised because the other two finalists were really good.”
Mary Wilson, KDCCW education commission chair, who oversaw establishment of the Golden Rose Award in the Diocese of Knoxville, believes Miss Thomas is a great role model for young people of someone with a strong faith in her college years.
“A lot of students fall away from the Church when they go to college, so she’s a great example,” Mrs. Wilson said.
“It was so special that Laura was honored at her home parish of St. Mary with her family present during the evening ceremony,” said convention cochair Pam Morgan. “Laura’s gentle spirit and humble presence was extra endearing as she accepted the award.”
As part of the award, Miss Thomas received $500 from the KDCCW, a symbolic “Golden Rose,” and a gift certificate for six months of professional life coaching courtesy of Floyd Consulting. She will go on to represent the Diocese of Knoxville in the National Council of Catholic Women Golden Rose competition, where the winner will be announced at the NCCW convention in Orlando, Fla., in August.
“We celebrate Laura not only as a remarkable young woman of our council but as a beacon of hope and promise for the future of our organization. Let us keep her in our prayers as she now moves forward as a candidate for the national NCCW Golden Rose Award,” Ms. Morgan said.
Several members of the KDCCW board acknowledged that it was a tough decision to name the Golden Rose Award winner, as all the finalists displayed a strong faith and admirable acts of service.
“We are lucky to have such an amazing group of
continued from page A8
helped her over the years.
“I'm a pilgrimage person because I like to travel, but I don't want to miss daily Mass. So, if you travel, you get on a pilgrimage to get to go to Mass. The fact that it’s my job now is, like, completely miraculous,” she said.
But Ms. Garcia reminded the women that a pilgrimage is not just an international trip to a holy site—it can be as simple as visiting your local church, and in fact, she said, we are all on a pilgrimage, traveling through life toward God. And part of being on that pilgrimage is helping others along the way.
“We’re all on a pilgrimage from the womb till we get to heaven. We are on a pilgrimage right now. Whether you’re traveling somewhere or doing nothing—sitting at home, going to Mass. We’re on a pilgrimage,” she said.
“You can do local pilgrimages to Mass. We were sitting behind these darling families at Mass this morning, and I thought, God bless them, they had the cutest little kids. They probably make this pilgrimage every single day,”she added. “Every single day these beautiful parents are taking
young women. It was very difficult for us to choose someone,” KDCCW president Michelle Peckham said.
Karen Amayo Castro was the Smoky Mountain Deanery Golden Rose winner. A member of Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Alcoa, Miss Amayo has been involved in the youth group, given talks to the middle-school confirmation class, and served as a Spanish-language lector.
In school, she participates in track, soccer, and model United Nations.
She said she is driven to help other young people put God in every aspect of their busy lives.
“I love just getting to share my faith with anybody and everybody,” she said. She also recently spoke in front of tens of thousands of people at the National Catholic Youth Conference.
“It was truly extraordinary, but I really just feel grateful that I’ve been given these amazing opportunities to be able to share my faith,” she said. She said she was honored to be the first Smoky Mountain Deanery Golden Rose Award recipient. “It really makes me want to do more for the Church,” she shared.
Beth Ohmes was the Cumberland Mountain Deanery Golden Rose winner. A member of All Saints Parish in Knoxville, Miss Ohmes works in the All Saints nursery.
“I love helping children,” she said. “I love reading with them, playing with them, and comforting them when they need it the most.”
She also is involved at All Saints as a lector and extraordinary minister of the Eucharist.
In school, Miss Ohmes has maintained a perfect GPA while participating in seven school clubs and clocking more than 300 service hours. She has participated in Catholic Heart Work Camp, and her Girl Scout Gold Award included a diaper drive, bringing
their little kids and getting them used to the Mass. God bless them, because I know it’s not easy. It’s hardly easy to get me ready in the morning. I can’t imagine getting all those kids ready and making it there to Mass.
“You can make a pilgrimage to a neighbor who needs help. You know, you can make a pilgrimage to a party that you know is for a person who’s not that popular. You really don’t want to go, but you know no one else is going to go. So, you’re going to make the pilgrimage to help that person out and keep them happy, keep them busy.”
It is by embracing God’s love and graces that we can fully embrace who we are meant to be, she said.
“God wants us to be fully alive. He wants us to be everything that we can be. Because the more that you allow yourself to be exactly yourself, exactly the way God made you, the more that you can help other people,” she said.
“He made you with your personality, with your quirks, with everything that you’ve got going. He made you you. So, you being you is the glory of God. And you have to be you, because other people have forgotten
in more than 12,000 diapers to Catholic Charities of East Tennessee’s Pregnancy Help Center
“My faith is at the center of everything I do,” she said. “I believe that faith calls us to serve and to lead. And when teenagers step up to help others, it shows the world our potential.”
For parishes interested in nominating a young woman for the second annual KDCCW Golden Rose Award: a nominee must be between the age of 14-21, have a recommendation letter from her pastor, and be nominated by a parish affiliated with the KDCCW.
“If you have someone who is in an unaffiliated parish, you can propose their name to an affiliated parish,” Mrs. Wilson explained.
Parish nominees are presented to their deanery; each deanery winner then goes on as a finalist for the KDCCW award.
“The student should be active in the community and in parish work, and exemplify the tenets of spirituality, service, and leadership—someone who goes above and beyond and stands out,” Mrs. Wilson said.
Full application information can be found on the KDCCW website, kdccw.org ■
it. And we’re all on the same pilgrimage, and you have to help everybody out. ... Somebody needs your help now. Like Mother Teresa said, if you want to change the world, go home and start with your family. Oh, it’s so much easier to just shut that door and go somewhere else, you know? But start with your family.
“You have somebody who needs a lot of attention. You give them attention. You have somebody who’s kind of lonely? Talk to them. You have somebody who’s got a lot of burdens? Give them an ear, you know, listen to them. Things will change.”
The second speaker was Michele Marquis, executive coach at Floyd Consulting.
She spoke about living life as a pilgrimage and living with intentionality.
“We can start right now really thinking about what matters most to you, and how are you going to be more intentional about living the life that you really want to live.”
She led the women through a condensed study of several chapters from Matthew Kelly’s book The Fourth Quarter. The book breaks life into four quarters: age 1-20 is forma-
tion, age 21-40 is building, age 41-60 is prime, and 61-plus is harvest. It is in this fourth quarter that the values and knowledge formed in your younger years fully blossom and can be put to use with intentionality.
“After all God has given us and put us through, through those ups and downs of life, you finally go, ‘Oh, I get it. I know why I took them right when I wanted to go left.’ You’re going to really think back,” she said.
Ms. Marquis led the women in an inventory that sparked reflection on where they were in life, in their goals, and in their spiritual development.
“Were you able to truly devote yourself to your faith as much as you’d like, or did you learn as much in this past year as you feel you should have? Are you as healthy as you would like to be? If your life were to end tomorrow, do you feel you have left behind a legacy you would be proud of?” These were some of the types of questions the women were asked to consider.
She then spoke about how taking this inventory and understanding where one is at in life helps in setting goals and making choices with the inKDCCW continued on page A15
A new generation of leaders Above: Golden Rose deanery winners, from left, Karen Amayo Castro, Laura Thomas, and Beth Ohmes were honored at the KDCCW convention dinner on April 24. Miss Thomas was awarded the inaugural Diocesan Golden Rose Award. Below: Father Dustin Collins, pastor of St. Mary Church in Johnson City, is shown with Laura Thomas and her father, and Joe Thomas.
KDCCW
tention of reaching certain goals. She also spoke about letting go of regrets and mistakes.
“How you handle your regrets or your mistakes can lead to healing and forgiveness or resentment and multi-generational wounds. It’s up to you. The fourth quarter is a wonderful time to cherish memories from the past and a wonderful time to make new memories. That’s what we’re doing today, right? Are you meeting new people, or spending time with people that you love to spend time with but you don’t have time because we’re busy?” she asked.
By doing this type of personal inventory and assessment, one can be more intentional with actions and goals, she explained, including one’s relationship with God.
“Stay open to the expected and unexpected. Live in the hope that something wonderful is about to happen. Can you do that? Can you stay open? I think that’s what the pilgrimage is all about, right? It’s staying open, connected to God, knowing that He’s got us,” Ms. Marquis advised.
After Ms. Marquis’ talk concluded, the participants broke into roundtables to dive deeper into the ideas she had presented and to share their discoveries.
The final speaker was Dr. Anne DeSantis, executive director of the St. Raymond Nonnatus Foundation, which offers counseling to families and individuals in crisis. She spoke to the women about the virtue of hope, prayer, perseverance, and positivity.
“I have a quote from Pope Francis. He says that hope is not a positive optimism but a firm anchor in God’s love and promises. And I think that’s good for us to know, because it’s the key word. Hope is active. It’s something that we do. It’s something that we desire, and it’s something that we run after, because heaven is our goal.”
Dr. DeSantis spoke about being active in one’s faith journey.
“I think there’s a time in all of our lives when we realize that our faith really is something that’s very important to us, and it’s not something that we do just because we want to go through the motions,” she said.
She shared how experiencing a rare medical condition after the birth of her second child, followed by a miraculous recovery, brought her closer to the Lord and led her to realize the power of prayer and the sacraments.
She recalled a priest offering her the sacrament of the anointing of the sick.
“I didn’t even know that the sacrament of the sick was something that you could get,” she said. “I thought it was something that you’re on your deathbed and you’re ready to die, and then the priest comes and gives you last rites. Which is still true, of course, but the sacrament of the sick is one that you can get if you’re in danger of death. I was afraid. I thought, well, does this mean I’m going to die? And he said, no, it’s going to give you strength for the journey. And that’s what it does. The sacrament gives us strength for the journey.”
Dr. DeSantis also spoke about what it means to have an active, intentional faith. She said that service and compassion are ways we share Christ’s love with others in the world, whatever our situation or stage of life.
“It’s the things that we do, maybe the things that you do in CCW and within the church. But the pilgrimage of hope is also about those every day circumstances of life that present to you to be Christ to other people,” she said.
“God is using you every day in so many ways that you can't even imagine. And that's part of what the Jubilee Pilgrimage of Hope is all about, using our gifts and talents so that we can help other people.”
She shared how her ministry with the Raymond Nonnatus Foundation focuses on reaching people and helping them in moments of crisis or doubt.
“We make free pastoral outreach to individuals and families in crisis…. We help people who have gone through all kinds of things, whether it be in relationship crisis, divorce, separation, trauma, job loss, loss of a
Walking in faith Above: Evelyn Garcia, pilgrimage coordinator for Dynamic Catholic, shares with the women at the KDCCW Convention how we are called to help one another along the pilgrimage of life. Below: A group of women walk the prayer labyrinth at St. Mary Church. The sprawling campus offered several spots for "mini-pilgrimages" within the convention.
loved one, health crisis, you name it. We've helped people. We have priests that connect with people. Mercy is what it's all about,” she shared.
Dr. DeSantis said that Pope Francis’ message around the Pilgrimage of Hope was to be present and actively listen to another’s struggles, accompanying them on their journey.
“Active listening is a gift. We give another person a chance to tell their story without judgment….Active listening is giving someone a chance to speak without interruption and having good eye contact with someone. It's being able to repeat back what they said there. That's a real art. It's something that's not easy to do. We live in a culture that wants to finish people’s sentences. Don't you think? And even us as Catholics, I mean, we're not perfect people. And not everybody wants our help or listening ear. But God will send you the people that that do need our help.
“They need to know we really care. And this offers hope. When we show people that we care in the smallest of ways, it could be a text, a phone call, a little gift, an appreciation, going the extra mile, it makes a difference for others in their journey of faith.”
“Our lineup of speakers brought wisdom, inspiration, and joy,” said Ms. Morgan. “Evelyn Garcia entertained and inspired us with her humorous and magical experiences from her Dynamic Catholic pilgrimages. Michele Marquis energized the group with reflective questions and engaging ideas to help women find renewed purpose during their golden years. Anne DeSantis, our keynote speaker, shared her compelling testimony and offered practical steps for living out missionary discipleship, encouraging us to deepen our connection to parish and community life.
“Together, their stories and messages wove a beautiful tapestry of hope, perfectly aligned with our convention’s theme.”
Spirituality and service
In the afternoon, six different stations across St. Mary’s extensive campus offered mini-pilgrimages within the convention: Lectio divina in the day chapel, outdoor Stations of the Cross, the labyrinth, the Our Lady of Fatima grotto, the Our Lady of Guadalupe shrine, and the perpetual adoration chapel. The light rain did not deter the women from enjoying the outdoor spaces and embracing the time of prayer and reflection.
This was Christina Seaman’s first KDCCW convention. Ms. Seaman,
quintet from the world-renowned East Tennessee State University bluegrass program. The band played a mix of covers and original songs, blending traditional and contemporary bluegrass style to the delight of the audience.
On Saturday morning, the convention attendees joined St. Mary parishioners for a memorial Mass for Pope Francis, whose funeral Mass had been celebrated in Rome earlier that morning.
After Mass and breakfast, Dr. DeSantis gave her final talk. She started by asking who had awakened early to watch the pope’s funeral live.
“It was just beautiful, learning about Pope Francis and his charism. So much of it we already know, that he was focused on missionary discipleship, which is basically living out our baptismal call to holiness, isn’t it? It’s living out that call to love and serve the Lord. There are two great commandments: loving God above all else and also loving our neighbor as ourselves. And all of you are doing that all so well with the work that you are doing. All this work with CCW. So, Pope Francis’ missionary discipleship is living in hope and sharing it with others prayerfully.”
She spoke about missionary discipleship and forming a strong foundation of prayer and the sacraments. From there, we go out and take care of and love others.
“Who in my life needs to experience hope through me?” she asked.
“Sometimes we give hope to others, and sometimes we are the ones in need of it. But working together on the journey of life, we can all find hope.”
a parishioner at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Fairfield Glade, came to the convention at the invitation of a friend.
“It’s been an excellent convention, and I really enjoyed it. Especially the speakers were great,” Ms. Seaman said.
Each attendee was given a “spiritual warfare kit” that included holy salt, holy water, and holy oil, as well as a handmade rosary and a booklet of special prayers.
The rosary featured a special Divine Mercy medallion, Ms. Morgan noted, as “an enduring symbol of guidance and devotion.”
Margarita Audette, a parishioner at Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Alcoa, said she enjoyed the time to step out of her regular routine and get closer to God. She added that she always enjoys getting to know other women of faith at the KDCCW convention.
“I come here because I like to find out about other people who share the same faith as I do and get to know them, and it just kind of reaffirms your faith and gives you courage to continue on with that,” she said.
Along with spirituality, service was at the heart of the convention. The convention’s service project focused on Hurricane Helene relief, supporting families that are rebuilding with the assistance of Catholic Charities of East Tennessee. The women collected around $5,000.
Seventy-seven items were donated for the silent auction, which raised around $4,400, half of which went to National Council of Catholic Women service projects and half to Catholic Relief Services’ work in the Holy Land.
At the KDCCW business meeting, held during the convention, the women voted on two resolutions. The first was acknowledgement of the Jubilee Year, by prayer, outreach, promoting spiritual growth, and by encouraging members to “cultivate hope in their lives through acts of faith, charity, pilgrimage, and prayer.”
The second resolution addressed modern slavery and human trafficking. The resolution called for continued prayer for the victims of human trafficking, for service projects that “will help eradicate the blight of human trafficking on our society,” and a pledge to “protect those most vulnerable in our society through awareness, education, and support of anti-human trafficking programs.”
The second day of the convention ended with a toe-tapping performance from Pythagoras, a bluegrass
“Pope Francis reminds us of this in fact: the three cardinal virtues of faith, hope, and love all work together. Faith reinforces hope and can keep us going. When hope seems dim, hope can increase our faith when we have trouble believing. Love works with both because it is when we love that both faith and hope are renewed,” she said.
“All of these gifts are given to us to share, and it’s when we share them in trusting obedience to God that we can see how they are working in others’ lives, too. This gives us power and strength for good. I know that was a lot to read and digest, but the point being is that he starts out by saying that hope is not in a vacuum, right? Hope is one of those theological virtues: faith, hope, and love. They all go together. But hope is something that helps us to get through life.”
The convention closed with the induction of the new KDCCW officers.
“I have enjoyed being your president, and your support these past two years has been amazing,” outgoing-president Ms. Peckham said. She acknowledged the hard work of the convention co-chairs and thanked the board members for their patience and hard work during her tenure.
New KDCCW officers installed include: Karen Meiring, president; Rose Colasuonno, vice president; Mary Cooper, secretary; and Donna Dunn, treasurer. Each officer was given an icon of a particular saint to ask for intercession in her KDCCW role.
Ms. Morgan was thrilled by the turnout at the convention and was happy to see so many women embracing the pilgrimage theme. She was grateful for the many parishioners of St. Mary who made the convention run smoothly.
“The planning committee had been hard at work for the past year, crafting an experience that would uplift and honor our attendees. The ladies of St. Mary, along with the Knights of Columbus, lovingly prepared and served simple meals and homemade desserts that were both delicious and comforting. Their hospitality made everyone feel warmly welcomed and cared for,” she said.
Mrs. Collins agreed that St. Mary served as a wonderful location for a pilgrimage-themed convention and that the parishioners’ hospitality made the convention special.
“St. Mary’s CCW has only been affiliated for maybe three years. The ladies here are on fire and ready to share their faith and hospitality. They’ve done a great job,” Mrs. Collins said. ■
EMILY BOOKER (2)
Diocese responds to immigration crackdown in Nashville
The Church in capital city clarifies Mass obligations as enforcement empties pews
By Gina Christian OSV News
Amid an immigration enforcement operation in Nashville that has emptied the pews at several Spanish-speaking parishes, the Diocese of Nashville has been reminding faithful that they are not required to attend Sunday Mass if they fear for their well-being according to the Catholic Church’s own teaching and canon law.
That message, disseminated to diocesan parishes, comes amid a joint operation between U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Tennessee Highway Patrol that has so far resulted in 196 arrests in the area.
The sweep is being carried out under ICE's 287(g) program, referencing a section of the Immigration and Nationality Act that authorizes ICE to delegate certain enforcement actions such as identification and arrest to state and local law enforcement that work under ICE oversight. Tennessee Highway Patrol officers
Creation continued from page A10
Enforcement action Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers detain a man stopped by the Tennessee Highway Patrol at a gas station in South Nashville as he reportedly could not produce any alternative identification proof other than his expired driving license during an operation conducted by ICE along with THP to detain noncitizens across Nashville on May 10.
have been conducting traffic stops to identify and detain people in predominantly Latino neighborhoods, with dozens of individuals later transported by ICE to a federal immigration detention center in Louisiana
it, to wonder and to be drawn to care for it. We spread the good news as we share it with each other in person.”
He also noted the local blessing of the beauty of East Tennessee’s geography.
“Here in East Tennessee in particular, are we not blessed with God’s beautiful creation, with the mountains that surround us? We have this call to care for this, our common home.”
He then invited the congregation to a moment of silent prayer, praying for God to “awaken the hearts of humans all over our planet to notice and to care for one another and this beautiful creation God has given us.”
At the end of Mass, several children brought forward handmade symbols of “Care of Creation,” such as live plants, crosses, and painted stones. These artistic expressions were blessed by the bishop.
“Creator God, you formed the earth and called it good. You filled it with color, light, and life and placed it in our hands with responsibility and wonder. Bless these works of art and the young hearts that have made them. May their colors reflect your glory, their themes stir our care for creation, and their joy remind us of the innocence we are called to protect. Bless these young artists, that they may grow as wise and gentle stewards of your gifts. Through their creativity, may they lead us toward beauty, justice, and peace. We ask this through Christ our Lord,” Bishop Beckman prayed.
Following Mass, refreshments were served in the parish hall.
Kim Adamson, the office manager and bookkeeper for OLOF Parish, played the harp during
the prelude to the Mass.
She said she has witnessed OLOF’s Care for Creation Ministry grow and work in the parish.
“We’re always trying to recycle around here. They’re the ones who have been instrumental in getting rid of paper plates; everything is reusable. The recycling is everywhere. We even have a group that takes the grocery bags and recycles them into mats for the homeless.”
Similarly, the Creation Care Team at All Saints Parish in Knoxville does recycling and composting at parish events and leads efforts to inform people about Laudato Si’
Denise Clark, a member of All Saints’ Creation Care Team, said she feels a Christian duty to care for God’s creation and care for one another.
“God gave us a garden, and we cannot leave a desert for our children,” she said.
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Natalie enjoys school at St. Mary because “we get to learn about Jesus.”
Seventh-grade student Alton Antonas said it was “very special” to have the bishop present for the Mass, and “great that all the Fathers were here, too.”
Alton enjoyed the May Crowning and noted that in his relationship with Mary, his patron saint is St. Dominic.
“He’s talked to Mary, so I always thought I had a connection with her and the rosary be -
for processing. The Trump administration has pledged to enforce mass deportations of immigrants living in the United States without legal permission, a policy central to President Donald Trump’s election campaign.
On Jan. 20, President Trump’s first day back in office, his administration rescinded a Department of Homeland Security policy limiting where migrant arrests could happen. Its new policy said field agents using “common sense” and “discretion” can conduct immigration enforcement operations at houses of worship without a supervisor’s approval.
In an e-mail to OSV News, Rick Musacchio, the executive director of the Tennessee Catholic Conference, provided a copy of the diocese’s statement regarding Mass attendance.
“In response to the recent immigration enforcement activities in the Nashville area, many of those in our diocese are concerned about possibly being confronted or detained
Ms. Clark said she found the Mass to be really moving.
“The Mass was absolutely beautiful. I thought it was very sacred, and I had tears in my eyes a good bit of the time. The music was beautiful, and having the bishop there was very meaningful. I’m glad I came,” she said.
Ms. McCachren credited the parish music ministry and the careful planning of the music and prayers for making the Mass a fitting tribute to Laudato Si’ and God’s creation.
“I thought the choir just glorified God with their voices and their instruments and their choice of songs.”
She also expressed gratitude for the bishop coming to celebrate the Mass.
“He’s inspiring. I think Bishop Beckman’s homily showed his humility and his love for the world God entrusted to us. I’m not alone in saying that we deeply appreciate our bishop’s leadership in caring for God’s creation.
“I’m really moved,” she added. “I have a heart full of gratitude. And gratitude to God for giving us this beautiful place to live that we have to take care of….We are called not to dominate the earth, not to exploit its resources, but to nurture and protect our planet and our fellow creatures, especially the poorest among us.”
Connie Brace, a member of the All Saints’ Creation Care Team, was also moved by the beauty of the Mass.
“This Mass was absolutely beautiful. It’s been such a journey to get to this point with so many people, to get people engaged and to believe and to understand that this is really important,” she said. ■
cause of St. Dominic. I thought I’ve always had a connection with her, even if my patron saint wasn’t St. Dominic,” he shared.
When asked what he likes most about his school, Alton noted that “the food is a big thing.”
“But also like the students here are amazing; the teachers help out a lot; it’s great and they have religion class. Religion class is awesome; we talk about God during school,” he said.
Alton, who has been at St. Mary School for nine years starting with pre-kindergarten, had
a special message for his teachers on the 75th jubilee.
“I just want to thank them for all the years they had to put up with us and also all the different students that they helped,” he remarked. “I’ve noticed people in high school are really good because of them. I think we owe most of our religion to them and how much we’ve learned from them.”
More jubilee events will occur at St. Mary School in the fall. For more information, visit school.stmarysoakridge.org ■
Honor thy mother Left: Bishop Mark Beckman incenses and blesses a statue of the Virgin Mary at a May Crowning Mass at St. Mary Church in Oak Ridge on May 2. Pastor Father Ray Powell stands in the background. Above: Following the May Crowning Mass, a reception in the parish courtyard was provided that included desserts, drinks, and a plant sale. St. Mary School is celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2025 with special events set throughout the year.
GABRIELLE NOLAN (2)
REUTERS
Justice and mercy
An OLPH Lenten retreat that touched hearts and changed minds
By Magdiel Argueta
On the fifth Sunday of Lent,
I participated in a very special retreat organized by the young adults group Tras las Huellas de Jesús (In the Footsteps of Jesus) from Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Chattanooga.
This retreat took place about 20 miles from OLPH in Georgia. The setting, surrounded by nature and silence, was the perfect backdrop for God to do His work.
The purpose of the retreat was clear: to help the young people have a real encounter with Jesus through learning about His justice and His mercy. The central message was precisely the topic I shared with them: how Jesus unites both realities, and how we, too, are called to live them together, not separately.
From the beginning, the response from the youth was vibrant. You could tell they were eager to listen, to learn, and to express their thoughts. What struck me most was seeing how, when presented with examples of justice or injustice, they not only shared their opinions but also began to look at things from a different perspective, from the gaze of Jesus.
They themselves expressed it clearly.
Bladimir Alvarado, coordinator of the group, shared this message: “This retreat was planned because Lent is a special time of meditation, refl ection, a time to encounter the Lord. It is a moment to step away from our daily lives.”
And Elder López added, “I was able to go deeper into my spirituality and came to know (more about) loving Jesus more closely.”
And for José Barrera, the retreat “helps us recognize the sacrifi ce He made for us and realize where we stand in each area of our lives.”
They learned that there can be no peace without justice, but also no justice without forgiveness; that truth must be spoken
" Personally, God allowed me in this retreat to understand more deeply how young people see today’s reality. And the most beautiful part is that I saw how open they are to listening, to understanding, to growing. That gives me hope. It makes me continue to believe that we can build a better society if we keep investing in formation that is meaningful, Gospel-rooted, and deeply human "
with love; and that correcting others without mercy is as harmful as forgiving without inviting change.
ally entitled to the same generally available benefits as those provided to home-schooled and charterschool students” in the district.
The district said it agreed to “make available to parochial school students … the same extracurricular and co-curricular activities (including athletics) and educational programs offered to homeschooled students and charter-school students.”
Thomas Breth, special counsel for the Thomas More Society, said in the press release that school districts in Pennsylvania “cannot discriminate against students and exclude them from activities simply because they choose to attend a religiousbased school.”
“Religious discrimination has no place in our society but especially in our public schools,” Breth said.
He argued that the order “strengthens the ability of parents to prioritize their family’s religious beliefs when making educational decisions without being forced to sacrifice educational and athletic opportunities that are offered to other students and paid for with their tax dollars.”
In an interview with CNA, the lawyer said that though the consent order does not apply statewide, it will likely help to ensure that other districts do not exclude parochial students from district activities.
“I fully expect that many, many school districts are going to fall in line and decide not to litigate the issue,” he said.
The district ended up paying $150,000 in legal fees to the plaintiffs, Breth noted. He urged parents of Catholic school students to consider pressing their districts to allow their children access to extracurricular activities.
“I’ve already been in contact with parents in other school districts,” he added. “They’re in similar situations. We’re going to push hard in other districts if they don’t recognize they have a constitutional obligation to let parochial school students participate in the same manner as charter and home-schooled students.”
“Hopefully, it’s not going to take litigation. Hopefully, it will take letters,” he said. “Hopefully, the district will do what’s right for the kids, because ultimately that’s what this is about.” ■
One of the most enriching moments was when we formed small
groups to analyze real-life situations.
The young people got involved, debated, shared perspectives, and managed to offer deep responses, not from human justice that often seeks punishment but from Christian justice that always extends a hand of compassion.
José Damián, one of the participants, said that this kind of experience “fi lls you with every refl ection lived. We come out more motivated and eager to know more about God. These are spiritual moments that we all need to grow.”
My presentation on “The Justice and Mercy of Jesus” played a key role. Sometimes we believe that God’s justice is like human justice: punishment, strict rules, merits. But Jesus goes further. His justice lifts up, restores, heals. Often, we cry out for a justice detached from love, one that seeks only revenge or self-interest, forgetting that we all share the same dignity in the eyes of God.
Bladimir also emphasized that this retreat “provoked joy, perseverance, a desire to continue meditating on Lent, and also sparked interest in drawing closer to the mystery of the Paschal Triduum.”
For José Barrera, the retreat “awakened a calling.”
“The young people discovered how to treat and be treated with justice and mercy, with love and truth,” he said.
A personal joy was seeing the group leaders also allowing themselves to live the retreat. They weren’t focused only on logistics. They immersed themselves in the experience, too. That, to me, is es-
Retreat continued on page A26
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Mary’s “yes” to God was an act of trust, courage, and love— one that changed the world forever. Inspired by her example, you, too, have said “yes” through your prayers and generosity. Thank you for supporting the 2025 Bishop’s Appeal for Ministries and making Christ’s love known throughout East Tennessee.
Your gifts help sustain the ministries that serve our diocese, from forming future priests and supporting our deacons to nurturing children in the faith and providing essential outreach through Catholic Charities and St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic. Because of you, free healthcare reaches those in need, faith formation programs continue to grow, and seminarians can follow the call God has placed on their hearts. Every act of generosity, no matter the size, is a reflection of Mary’s trust in God’s plan. Your “yes” is a gift to the Church and to all those who rely on these ministries. Thank you for your unwavering commitment to the Bishop’s Appeal for Ministries—your faith and generosity are transforming lives!
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Strength in the Lord Above: Those attending the Georgia retreat organized by the young adults group Tras las Huellas de Jesús from Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Chattanooga gather for a group photo at the retreat center. Below: Young men attending the retreat elevate a wooden cross illustrating Christ's sacrifice as part of the Lenten retreat activities. The participants said the retreat experience helped strengthen their faith.
COURTESY OF EVELIN
XILOJ
DIOCESE OF KNOXVILLE
Lawsuit continued from page A10
Mr. Argueta
Magdiel Argueta
Opry began in Nashville in 1925.
n She was 16 years old when Charles Lindbergh made his first solo, nonstop, transatlantic airplane flight in 1927.
n She was 17 years old when bubble gum was invented in 1928.
n She was 18 years old when the Great Depression began in 1929.
n She was 25 years old when the Hindenburg crashed in New Jersey in 1937.
n She was 26 years old when J.R.R. Tolkien published the book “The Hobbit” and Disney released “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” the first feature-length animated movie, in 1937.
n She was 27 years old when Pius XII became pope in 1939.
n She was 28 years old when World War II began in 1939.
n She was 31 years old when the Manhattan Project began in 1942 to make the atomic bomb.
n She was 45 years old when Elvis Presley first appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1956.
n She was 51 years old when the Second Vatican Council convened in 1962.
n She was 52 years old when the Beatles first appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964.
n She was 58 years old when astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first person to step on the moon in 1969.
n She was 67 years old when St. John Paul II became pope in 1978.
n She was 71 years old when Knoxville hosted the 1982 World’s Fair.
n She was 90 years old on Sept. 11, 2001.
n And she was 113 years old in 2025 when Pope Leo XIV became the first pope from the United States.
Mrs. Harris celebrated her birthday with a party at Alexian Village that included her daughter and son-in-law Connie and Rudolph Pitcher of Huntsville, Ala.
Mrs. Pitcher said her mother was the second youngest of 21 children to the same parents. There were 19 boys and two girls, and Mrs. Harris is the surviving sibling.
“She’s a remarkable lady. She’s a wonderful woman, a great mother, and a great wife,” Mrs. Pitcher said about her mother.
Mrs. Pitcher, who is 86, and her sister, Dixie Billingsley, 80, who lives near Atlanta, are the two children of Mary and James Richard Harris.
her birthday cake, she laughed, saying, “Oh, it would burn the place up!”
Bishop Beckman asked her where her family originated, and she proudly explained that her father was from northern Italy and her mother was from southern Italy. She showed him a picture of her and six brothers when they were much younger. She laments that they all have passed away.
The bishop then told her that his mother’s family was from Italy, too. They compared their personal experiences of Italy, including their shared love of making ravioli from scratch.
Mrs. Harris was especially proud to show Bishop Beckman the porcelain figurines and plates she created and had on display in her apartment.
“That is remarkable,” Bishop Beckman told her. “You are an artist.”
“Well, I was,” she replied. “I don’t do it anymore. I enjoyed it, though. I used to teach it.”
“Your entire room is full of your art. I love that,” the bishop remarked. “Just look at the beauty of it. The flowers look so real.”
“I liked it. But I don’t do it anymore. I’m too old,” she said, sharing that her daughters tried to follow in her artistic footsteps.
“You have to have patience,” she explained. As he was leaving, Bishop Beckman gave Mrs. Harris a blessing:
“Mary, may the Lord watch over you and give you His gracious and abundant blessings as you prepare to celebrate your birthday in May. May He watch over you always. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
She then responded with an emphatic “Amen!”
He then asked her to say a prayer for him, and she told him she would.
“Thank you for coming. Come and see me again,” she said as he was leaving.
A lifetime of memories
Following Bishop Beckman’s departure, Mrs. Harris was asked if there is one prayer that she considered her favorite.
“I don’t have a favorite prayer, but I pray all the time,” she shared.
Mrs. Pitcher described her parents as the consummate couple, who loved and complemented each other, and worked hard to build a family business together.
“She has worked hard all of her life,” Mrs. Pitcher said. “She’s wonderful. She really is.”
Mrs. Pitcher credits her mother with encouraging her marriage to Mr. Pitcher. They have been married for 60 years. And Mr. Pitcher is a big fan of his mother-in-law.
He is wowed by what she has accomplished in her lifetime, from helping run the family businesses to being a master seamstress, an artisan, and a piano player.
“She has been a very skilled lady,” said Mr. Pitcher, who also has been enamored with her cooking skills.
Mrs. Harris’ specialty was making Italian dishes, but she also would prepare with love what her husband would bring home after hunting and fishing trips.
Mrs. Pitcher speaks with pride about her mother’s five grandchildren, more than a dozen greatgrandchildren, and a great-great-grandchild that is due this summer.
They’re a legacy to the supercentenarian, her husband, and her parents, who migrated from Europe.
A very special visit
Bishop Mark Beckman met with Mrs. Harris on March 27 as he visited Alexian Village. Joining Bishop Beckman on the visit was Father Adam Kane, who serves as the chaplain for the Hamilton County retirement community.
As he sat with Mrs. Harris in her apartment, Bishop Beckman said, “I’ve been hearing about you,” which prompted her to reply with surprise, “You have?”
When the bishop asked her about her upcoming birthday, she told him that she would be turning 114 in May. She then shared with him some of her family history.
Mrs. Harris was born in Ithaca, N.Y., on May 13, 1911, to Italian immigrants Joseph and Concetta (Delmonte) Petrillose. She married James Richard Harris from North Lexington, N.C., in August 1937. During their 66 years of marriage, they ran a drycleaning business and a dairy farm in New York.
Mr. and Mrs. Harris later retired to Florida, where they resided for several decades before moving to Chattanooga. The couple later moved to Alexian Village in 2000. Her husband died in September 2003 at age 90. She is a faithful Catholic who receives Communion daily through the assistance of priests, deacons, or extraordinary ministers and has an active prayer life.
Mrs. Harris let Bishop Beckman know
that she likes living at Alexian Village and enjoys the community’s accommodations and its people.
“Everyone is so kind to me,” she told the bishop.
When he observed that it is warmer in East Tennessee than it is in New York, she said, “Thank goodness,” which drew laughs from her visitors.
She spoke fondly about the visits she receives from her two daughters and their families.
And when Bishop Beckman kiddingly suggested that her daughters place 114 candles on
Her Alexian Village apartment is decorated with her artwork and pictures of her family, from her parents and siblings to her children, grandchildren, and greatgrandchildren. Her eyes light up when she points them out by name.
Kristy Baggett, Mrs. Harris’ caretaker, reminded Mrs. Harris that the supercentenarian’s daughter, Mrs. Pitcher, celebrated her 86th birthday in March, and her youngest daughter, Dixie, celebrated her 80th birthday in December.
Mrs. Harris recalled with continued amazement that when her father arrived in the United States from Italy, he had planned to locate in Utica, N.Y. However, his broken English made his pronunciation of Utica sound like Ithaca, so he was directed to Ithaca, which is where he settled. She has visited Italy and saw the church where her father attended as a child.
When asked what her secret to a long, healthy life is, she responded, “I wish I knew.”
And when it was suggested that good, clean living might be responsible, she said laughing, “I don’t know about that! But I was a pretty good girl. I take care of myself.”
“Sometimes people will say, ‘What is He (God) keeping you here for?’ And I say, ‘I don’t know. But He knows what He wants,’” she reasoned.
Mrs. Harris spoke repeatedly and lovingly of her husband and their more than six decades of marriage. She recalled that they met at her father’s dry-cleaning business. Her husband also was in the dry-cleaning business at the time.
“My husband was very good to me. Very good,” she was happy to say.
As she summoned her memories, she noted that her family had a restaurant in Ithaca, which was operated by her brothers.
Ms. Baggett was glad to assist with the recollections. She has been Mrs. Harris’ caretaker for two years.
“Mary is absolutely amazing. She has taught me so much about history. She has talked to me about presidents that she was interested in, the pandemics she lived through, and what she went through as a child,” Ms. Baggett said.
In addition to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mrs. Harris has witnessed influenza outbreaks, yellow fever, tuberculosis, smallpox, and polio.
“She has accumulated a lot of knowledge. We even talked about how she was 1 year old when the Titanic went down,” Ms. Baggett said. “She is great. She is wonderful to work for.”
Among the presidents Mrs. Harris remembers are Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Harry Truman, and John F. Kennedy, who was the first Catholic to serve as the nation’s Commander-in-Chief.
Mrs. Harris is very fond of Alexian Village and the people who staff the Signal Mountain retirement community. And the feeling is mutual.
One of those supporters is Melissa Rief, executive director of Ascension Living-
Super continued on page A19
The body of Christ Curt and Kay Sheldon, who are neighbors of Mary Harris at Alexian Village and serve as extraordinary ministers at the retirement community, distribute Communion to Mrs. Harris in her apartment.
COURTESY OF KRISTY
Frequently in prayer Mary Harris prays the Hail Mary in her apartment at Alexian Village as her caretaker, Kristy Baggett, sits with her.
'You are an artist' Above: Mary Harris describes her artistic works to Bishop Mark Beckman and Father Adam Kane during a visit to her apartment on March 27. Below: Mrs. Harris and her caretaker, Kristy Baggett, are shown in Mrs. Harris' Alexian Village apartment. The Gerontology Research Group lists Mrs. Harris as one of the oldest people in the world.
Alexian Village Tennessee.
“Mary Harris is a longtime resident who still does a lot of things. She is very involved. We are grateful to have her here at Alexian Village. She does still go out. She goes to the grocery store and buys things. Recently, she was at one of our spirit sales,” Ms. Rief said, explaining that a spirit sale occurs when a resident leaves or transitions to a different level of care, they often leave behind some of their items in their apartment to sell.
Ms. Rief said Mrs. Harris’ distinction is unmistakable.
“Everybody knows her. And I think it’s because everybody is trying to figure out what her secret is,” the executive director said.
When asked if she knows what that secret to longevity is, Ms. Rief said, “I don’t. I wish that I did, but I don’t. I don’t think she has a secret. She’s just extraordinary. For me, I often think about aging. Today (March 27) is my birthday, and so I think about aging, and if I live to be 114, I hope I am like Mary.”
It didn’t take Alexian Village resident Veronica Nacchio long to get to know who Mary Harris was a dozen years ago when Ms. Nacchio first moved there.
Ms. Nacchio, who takes an active role in community activities, said at that time 12 years ago Mrs. Harris had recently passed 100 years of age.
“We used to talk about her paintings. At that time, she was going out at least once a week with her kids or her grandkids because she liked to go out to lunch. And now, as I have just found out, she still insists on going to Walmart at least once a week with her caretaker. She uses a mobile scooter, and she goes on the Alexian bus. I can’t believe it,” Ms. Nacchio said.
Although Mrs. Harris has attracted attention because of her life span, Ms. Nacchio said there is no air of renown about her neighbor and friend.
“She’s normal. There is no celebrity at all. She’s just one of the crowd. She’ll sit down to eat with anybody. But everybody knows her,” Ms. Nacchio said.
Ms. Nacchio relishes her residency in Signal Mountain, and she serves as a kind of volunteer cruise director on the ship that is Alexian
continued from page A1
us,” he said.
Diocesan chancellor Deacon Sean Smith was deacon of the Word, and Deacon Fredy Vargas was deacon of the altar. Deacon Hicks Armor and Deacon Walt Otey served as masters of ceremonies. More than 10 additional deacons attended the Mass. Readings were proclaimed by Walt Hanson and Monica Tobon.
Cathedral director of music and liturgy Glenn Kahler conducted a choir of 12 and three instrumentalists, including organist Byongsuk Moon. Sarah-Clementine Mire was the cantor, and Dylan Fink and Michelle Pokelwaldt were the soloists during the Litany of the Saints.
Family and friends of the ordinands, some 20 women and men religious, Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus who provided an honor guard, and Knights and Ladies of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem also were present. Supporters of Father Alvarado were most numerous and contributed to the standing-room-only event.
Father Houston and Father Alvarado are the 63rd and 64th priests ordained for service in the diocese since its 1988 founding.
Answering the call
Before the homily, Deacon Smith called forth the ordinands.
“Let those to be ordained priests come forward,” he said.
As each man’s name was called, he answered “present.”
Father Mark Schuster, diocesan director of vocations, then addressed Bishop Beckman.
“Most Reverend Father, Holy Mother Church asks you to ordain
Village.
“I just live here, and I like to talk to people. And I love this place. And I like to show it off,” said Ms. Nacchio, who has been a widow for 20 years and formerly lived in Knoxville.
Ms. Rief said the retirement community has nearly 600 residents spread out in independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing.
“We have all levels of care, which is what makes living here so nice. You can move here as an independent individual and live in the independent-living apartments. As
you begin to need more assistance, then you can transition into assisted living, or maybe you need memory care,” Ms. Rief said.
“Or if you need a higher level of care, we have skilled nursing. We also have rehabilitation, where people can come here for a short stay if, say, they have a total hip replacement and they need to come here for a few weeks to recover. We also have outpatient therapy. We have our own live-at-home program and home-care program, which helps people stay in their own home and maybe not live here on campus. As they begin to need care in their own
these men, our brothers, to the responsibility of the priesthood,” he said.
Bishop Beckman asked, “Do you know them to be worthy?” and Father Schuster replied, “After inquiry among the Christian people and upon the recommendation of those concerned with their formation, I testify that they have been found worthy.”
“Relying on the help of our Lord God and our savior, Jesus Christ, we choose these, our brothers, for the order of the priesthood,” the bishop said, and the assembly responded, “Thanks be to God.”
Bishop Beckman began his homily by stating that the ordinands “selected an appropriate Gospel”: the Last Supper narrative from Luke 22, specifically focusing on verse 19 and the four verbs used there.
“When the Lord Jesus, on the night before He would give His life for us, sat at a table with the
Apostles in the Upper Room, He took bread, He said the blessing over it, He broke it, and He gave it to them,” the bishop said. “Those four words that He took the bread, that He blessed it, that He broke it, and that He gave it to them are words that Henri Nouwen reflected on many years ago in a beautiful little book, and in reflecting on those verbs, He compared what the Lord does with each of us with those verbs.”
The first action of the Lord was to “take.”
“First and foremost, we are taken by the Lord, chosen by Him, when we are baptized. So today, our two candidates for orders, I want you to remember that Christ Himself claimed you in great goodness and mercy when you were brought to the waters of baptism by your parents and godparents,” Bishop Beckman said. “That was the moment when the Lord claimed you
Above: Bishop Mark Beckman blesses Alexian Village's Catholic residents in the retirement community’s chapel on March 27. Assisting him is Father Adam Kane, who serves as a chaplain at Alexian Village. Left: Bishop Beckman and Father Kane meet with Catholic residents at Alexian Village in Signal Mountain during a March 27 reception at the retirement community. Included in the group is resident Virginia Nacchio, left, and Melissa Rief, executive director of Ascension Living-Alexian Village Tennessee, second from left.
home, we can provide that care as well,” she explained.
Ms. Rief said Alexian Village is glad to be a destination for residents in the Diocese of Knoxville who are looking for a full-service retirement community.
She pointed out that Alexian Village welcomes all individuals regardless of faith practice, but she noted that Alexian Village has a strong Catholic community and a priest who ministers to the Catholic residents and celebrates Mass in the retirement community’s chapel.
“A lot of people choose to live here because of that,” she said. ■
as beloved sons. That taking of the Lord to Himself, that choosing of you by the Lord, will be in the foundation of everything that you will do as priests. Never forget that you were first claimed by Christ in that beautiful sacrament of water when the Lord made you His own.
“That foundation is so important for everything else that you will do. Daily, it will be important for you to sit with the Lord in prayer and to speak to God as Father, as a beloved son, asking for the grace that you need daily to live out well His will for you. You do this in solidarity with the entire people of God. All of us who are consecrated in baptism have been claimed by Christ, and the Lord wants us to remember that we belong to Him. Just as He took the bread to Himself, so He takes all of us to Himself for some particular purpose in this world.”
The new priests will be claimed and chosen by the Lord “in a deeper way,” the bishop added.
“You will be privileged today to share in the very priesthood of Jesus Christ as ordained priests, so that when you celebrate the Eucharist and take bread as the Lord took bread, you will be doing so in a new way, a deeper grace the Lord has called you to this day,” he said.
Christ then blessed the bread.
“The second word is the word of blessing. He not only claims the bread and claims each one of us, but the Lord blesses you,” Bishop Beckman said. “He has blessed you abundantly with His gifts, and those blessings if you look back over your life include every dimension of your life, from your parents and families to the communities in
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Visiting Alexian Village
Introducing our newest priests Newly ordained priests Fathers Renzo Alvarado Suarez, left, and Father A.J. Houston are introduced during Mass.
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Ordained
while attending Mass or other parish events,” the statement said. “Our churches remain open to welcome and serve our parish communities, but no Catholic is obligated to attend Mass on Sunday if doing so puts their safety at risk.”
Speaking on behalf of the Nashville Diocese, Mr. Musacchio said that so far, he is aware of “one member of one of our parishes being detained.”
But he added, “One of the issues is it’s been very difficult to determine actually who has been arrested or detained.”
“Sunday Mass attendance at both of our major, primarily Spanish-speaking parishes was down about 50 percent” due to ICE’s operation, he said.
The pastor of one of the affected parishes “told me the half that was here” in church was “very, very sad,” Mr. Musacchio said.
Typically, those two largely Spanishlanguage parishes are “packed to the gills,” he said, not only for Sunday Mass, but “on many evenings of the week.”
The ICE operation has drawn a public outcry, including from Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell, who has called on the agency to disclose a full list of names and charges for the 196 arrested. Mayor O’Connell stressed that municipal law enforcement has not been involved in the operation.
In a media release, the Department of Homeland Security, which denounced Mayor O’Connell as “a pro-open borders politician,” claimed that of the 196 detainees, “95 had prior criminal convictions and pending criminal charges, and 31 were previously removed individuals who re-entered the U.S. illegally, a felony offense under federal law.”
DHS provided the names of only five individuals arrested during the operation.
Mr. Musacchio said that Mass attendance at the Spanish parishes declined as ICE and the state Highway Patrol operation ramped up.
He noted that while most of the traffic stops have occurred at night, “people are aware that they can happen at any time.”
“They’re not directly targeting our parishes,” Mr. Musacchio said. “But there is very heavy, unusually heavy police activity in the areas around our parishes.”
The Spanish-speaking community in the diocese has grown over the past decade, thanks to thriving construction, agriculture, and hospitality sectors, he said.
“We have Spanish-language Masses in 26 of our 60 parishes,” Mr. Musacchio said.
The Nashville Diocese’s message to parishes is not a dispensation from the Sunday Mass obligation, but reflects the Church’s own teaching and canon law about the impact of serious circumstances on a person’s ability to attend Mass.
“That point exists in canon law and the catechism, and any Catholic can always make the individual determination that local conditions create the dangers,” Mr. Musacchio told OSV News, emphasizing that the Chancery’s canonists carefully worked on the message.
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “The Sunday Eucharist is the foundation and confirmation of all Christian practice. For this reason, the faithful are obliged to participate in the Eucharist on days of obligation, unless excused for a serious reason (for example, illness, the care of infants) or dispensed by their own pastor. Those who deliberately fail in this obligation commit a grave sin.”
The catechism specifies that when one’s participation in the Eucharist is made impossible, the Church recommends the faithful “engage in prayer for an appropriate amount of time personally or in a family or, as occasion offers, in groups of families.”
The catechism’s teaching is reinforced by Canon 1248, which notes that “participation in the eucharistic celebration” can become “impossible because of the absence of a sacred minister or for another grave cause.” That canon likewise states the faithful are “strongly recommended” to take part in a celebration of the Liturgy of the Word at a parish church or other sacred place, if possible, or devote
themselves to prayer alone, in families, or with a group.
With its message, the Nashville Diocese aims to help pastors “counsel our flock ... that any individual Catholic can determine it’s too dangerous to go to Mass for any reason and should not feel obligated to go to Mass because of the Sunday obligation” under such conditions, Mr. Musacchio said.
“We don’t object to reasonable enforcement of (prosecuting) criminal activities or even cooperating with the immigration process,” Mr. Musacchio said. “But it really must be done in a humane and just manner. And what we have seen here in Nashville has created a tremendous amount of fear within our community even among Latinos who are citizens.”
Citing a “climate of fear and the call for due process,” on June 6 the three bishops of Tennessee along with the Tennessee Catholic Conference released a joint statement in regard to immigration enforcement and the dignity of migrants in light of the recent ICE operations in Tennessee. According to the statement:
“The recent immigration enforcement action conducted by the Tennessee Highway Patrol and several federal agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Nashville has spread fear throughout the city’s immigrant community. While the initial period of intensive enforcement has subsided, continued public attention suggests that immigration enforcement may remain a focus, potentially affecting communities across all parts of Tennessee.
“Efforts by government officials and law enforcement to address migrants involved with criminal gangs, human trafficking, and drug dealing are greatly appreciated. People involved in these illegal enterprises prey on both the larger immigrant community and all of society. Everyone, no matter their immigration status, should be protected from these bad actors.
“A press release issued by ICE following the enforcement activity in Nashville spotlighted seven individuals with significant charges or convictions. The release noted that of the 196 individuals arrested, 95 had prior criminal convictions and pending criminal charges, and that 31 previously removed individuals had re-entered the United States illegally.
“Doing the math on the numbers presented in the ICE release, perhaps as many as 100 of those detained, while undocumented, apparently had no previous criminal issues. That brings into question whether the enforcement activity was principally targeted at those who should have no place in our communities because of their own illegal activity.
“The fact that so many people without documentation could quietly live under the radar, often for decades, clearly points to the need for broad reform of the immigration system.
“As we expressed in our statement released on Dec. 28, 2024, the feast of the Holy Family, when we joined the Catholic bishops of Kentucky—united as the Metropolitan Province of Louisville—we reaffirm our prayerful support and unwavering solidarity with our immigrant sisters and brothers. Immigrants and their families are a cherished gift to our world.
“In accordance with Catholic social teaching, the Church will continue to advocate for the dignity and just treatment of all migrants. We affirm both the right of individuals to migrate in order to support themselves and their families, and the right of nations to regulate their borders and establish migration policies. These rights, however, must be exercised in ways that uphold the dignity of every human being and serve the common good.
“For decades, the Catholic Church in the United States and in Tennessee has called for comprehensive immigration reform—reform that includes:
n A strong border with immigration policies that allow for controlled migration enforced in a humane and just manner;
n Support for family reunification;
n Protections for those fleeing violence or persecution;
n Access to legal representation and due process;
n Pathways to legal status and citizenship.
“We recognize that fundamental
human rights stem from the inherent dignity of being created in the image and likeness of God. We invite members of the Catholic community to deepen their understanding of immigration issues through the lens of the faith, and to advocate for humane and just immigration laws and policies.
“We are particularly concerned by reports that recent enforcement efforts in the Nashville area have extended beyond individuals charged with serious crimes or those subject to final deportation orders. In the current climate, many individuals face a lack of due process, which contributes to widespread fear, especially the fear of being detained while simply attending Mass or participating in parish life.
“As of June 2025, immigration policy at the southern U.S. border has seen significant changes under the Trump administration. Border security has been strengthened and attempted undocumented crossings are at historic lows. However, it is essential that efforts to address decades-long shortcomings in immigration enforcement respect due process and the dignity of every person.
“The Church stands ready to continue working with communities, legislators, and leaders to pursue immigration reform that reflects the values of justice, compassion, and human dignity. We invite all people of goodwill to join us in this vital mission.”
DThe letter was signed by Bishop Mark Beckman of the Diocese of Knoxville, Bishop J. Mark Spalding of the Diocese of Nashville, Bishop David P. Talley of the Diocese of Memphis, and Mr. Musacchio of the Tennessee Catholic Conference.
The action in Nashville just preceded similar immigration enforcement activity in Los Angeles and other cities across the country.
Rioting erupted in Los Angeles when people protesting the ICE crackdown there clashed with police and National Guard troops.
The street violence prompted the Archdiocese of Los Angeles’ Archbishop José H. Gomez to appeal for peace.
Amid the ongoing unrest in Los Angeles over immigration raids by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, “we bring our cares and anxieties to Jesus today, and to His Mother, Our Lady of the Angels,” Archbishop Gomez said on June 11. “Today we are united with parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in praying for peace in our streets and in our city.”
The archbishop added, “We are facing a challenging moment in our city, and many of our neighbors are frightened. There is too much tension, too much uncertainty and violence. So, we bring our cares and anxieties to Jesus today, and to his Mother, Our Lady of the Angels.” ■
Notice of nondiscriminatory policy as to students
iocese of Knoxville Catholic schools admit students of any race, color, national, and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the schools. They do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national, and ethnic origin in administration of educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. ■
which you grew up, to your families and friends, all through the moments of formation and diaconate that have brought you to this moment in your life.
“The Lord has blessed each one of you with great gifts. The people of God in this diocese have been able to witness those gifts in active ministry as deacons in our Church. Thank you for saying yes to the call of God and to allowing God to bless the gifts that He has given to each one of you, both natural and spiritual. A blessing brings things to their good fruition. When the Lord blesses something, it becomes more and more of what the Lord intends for it to be. You have been blessed, and you are blessed today.”
The bishop went on to the next verb in Luke 22:19 and mentioned the diocese’s senior active priest as he did so.
“The third verb, to be broken, is also very important. As the Lord breaks the bread, it points us forward to the mystery of Good Friday, when His own body will be broken for us on the cross,” Bishop Beckman said. “Renzo and A.J., our brokenness is paradoxically an important part of what the Lord is inviting us to use in our ministry as priests.
“This past week, we had our priest study days together, and Father Michael Woods reminded us of a beautiful article that was written several years ago, I think by someone in seminary work, and the article was something along the lines of ‘it’s not that we are competent enough or strong enough to be
a priest used by the Lord, but the real question is are we weak enough to allow the Lord to use us?’ The weakness that we struggle with and wish we didn’t have, our own brokenness and woundedness, through which the wounds of Christ touch us and heal us, will be one of the most important ways that you will be able to serve the people of God, oddly enough.
“Why? Because the whole people of God experiences weakness and sufferings and wounds in the world, and when you are aware of your own deep suffering, you will be men of compassion for those who struggle and suffer. The moments of your greatest failures may give you a wisdom of the heart that you would otherwise not have.
I’m reminded of the words of Paul about the thorn in his flesh that he begged the Lord to remove, and the Lord ended up by saying, ‘Paul, my grace is enough for you.’”
The final verb used in verse 19 is “given.”
“Most important, the Lord did not create us for ourselves but to live for Him alone and to love God above all else and all things, and to love one another even as He has loved us,” the bishop said. “It is the call of every Christian to be loved, but Renzo and A.J., you will be loving God’s people in a unique and particular way as ordained priests. Your very lives are to become a gift to your people so that as you celebrate the Eucharist and say the words of the Lord, ‘This is My body
given for you,’ that you become also a body given for others in love, your life poured out for them.
“That mystery of love is the heart of priesthood. It is the love of the Lord Jesus flowing from His Sacred Heart to you that will enable you to love others well and to be to them and for them a generous gift. You are taken by the Lord. You are blessed by the Lord. You are broken by the Lord, and you are given by the Lord. These sacred words of the Eucharist are now yours in a deeper way.”
‘I do, with the help of God’
After the homily, the rites of ordination continued as the two men made the promises of the elect to Bishop Beckman. Deacon Houston and Deacon Alvarado promised “to discharge unfailingly, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the office of priesthood in the presbyteral rank, as trusty co-workers with the order of bishops in feeding the Lord’s flock”; “to carry out the ministry of the Word worthily and wisely in the preaching of the Gospel and the teaching of the Catholic faith”; “to celebrate the mysteries of Christ reverently and faithfully according to the tradition of the Church, especially in the sacrifice of the Eucharist and the sacrament of reconciliation, for the praise of God and the sanctification of the Christian people”; “to implore with us the mercy of God for the people entrusted to you, with zeal for the commandment to pray without ceasing”; and “to be united more closely each day to Christ the high
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Order of the Priesthood Bishop Mark Beckman leads the Rite of Ordination at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus on June 7 as the ordinands, Fathers Renzo Alvarado Suarez and A.J. Houston, kneel.
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priest, who offered Himself for us to the Father as a pure sacrifice, and with Him to consecrate yourselves to God for the salvation of all.”
They answered “I do” to the first four questions from the bishop, then “I do, with the help of God,” to the final one. The pair also promised “respect and obedience” to Bishop Beckman and his successors.
The two men then prostrated themselves before the altar for the Litany of the Saints as the choir sang the invocations and the faithful responded.
The ordinands then knelt before the bishop, who laid his hands on them and prayed the prayer of ordination for each. Bishop Coffey and all the priests attending also laid their hands on the heads of Father Houston and Father Alvarado.
Father Houston was invested with his stole and chasuble by Father Arthur Torres and Father Alvarado by Father Miguel Vélez. Bishop Beckman anointed the hands of each new priest with holy chrism.
“May the Lord Jesus Christ, whom the Father anointed with the Holy Spirit and power, guard and preserve you, that you may sanctify the Christian people and offer sacrifice to God,” the bishop said. He placed the bread and a chalice in the hands of Fathers Houston and Alvarado as they knelt before him
“Receive the oblation of the holy people, to be offered to God,” Bishop Beckman said. “Understand what you will do, imitate what you will celebrate, and conform your life to the mystery of the Lord’s cross.”
The bishop gave a greeting of peace to the new priests, as did Bishop Coffey and the other priests.
Father Houston and Father Alvarado then assisted Bishop Beckman and Bishop Coffey in the Liturgy of
the Eucharist.
After Communion, Bishop Beckman said he wanted to “express my gratitude to the families of Father A.J. and Father Renzo for the gift of your sons to the Church as priests and for all the ways that you shaped and formed them and brought them to this moment, so thank you for that gift to the Church,” which was followed by a round of applause.
Knoxville’s shepherd then expressed a desire that others might heed the Lord’s call to a priestly, diaconate, or religious vocation.
“It really takes the entire people of God to be a Church that bears fruit and many beautiful vocations, and those vocations are richly present here in this community today, both our presbyterate in great numbers and priests from other places,” Bishop Beckman said. “Many priests and others involved in the formation of these new priests through the years have also been part of this wonderful day, our permanent deacons who are with us, all of our seminarians, those consecrated to religious life, and so many others, the people of God so beautifully represented here in our church in Knoxville and all of its beautiful diversity.
“I’m so grateful to the Lord for calling forth from this community so many rich vocations. The Lord is still calling. I hope that many of you will listen with an open and attentive heart to the call of God in your life.”
Bishop Beckman again thanked Bishop Coffey and then made a statement that produced a long ovation.
“Last but not least, I think we should express to our new priests, Father A.J. and Father Renzo, congratulations on your ordination,” Bishop Beckman said.
‘So full of grace’
The celebration continued next door in Cathedral Hall as the new priests offered first blessings to dozens of the faithful. But before that took place, Bishop Beckman made a special request at the end of Mass.
“I am going to claim the privilege as their bishop of asking for the first blessing with Bishop Coffey,” he said.
That was followed by another round of applause, and the new priests gave blessings to their families, too.
Bishop Coffey attended the Mass as a representative of Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, fourth archbishop of the Military Archdiocese who also currently serves as the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Father Houston will serve in the Diocese of Knoxville for three years before becoming an Army chaplain for the Military Archdiocese.
“We’re extremely excited to have him in a couple of years after he serves the people of this diocese first,” Bishop Coffey said. “We’re excited to have him.”
Father Houston will serve his first assignments as a priest as a parttime associate pastor at St. Stephen Parish and as chaplain at Notre Dame High School, both in Chattanooga. Father Alvarado’s first assignment is as an associate pastor at Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Alcoa.
Father Houston, who was born in Jacksonville, Fla., served in the U.S. Army in El Paso, Texas, leaving as a sergeant E-5 but holding the rank now of first lieutenant in the Army Reserve. Father Alvarado is a native of Barranquilla Atlantico, Colombia.
The title of “Father” is “amazing,” Father Houston said, calling his journey to the priesthood “a very holy blur.”
“God is at work. So many people support me, I just can’t thank them all enough,” he said. “Throughout the years and in prayer, I realize that every step of the way God was working in my life to bring me to this point.”
When he received his call to a priestly vocation, he was in one kind of service before realizing the Lord had service of a different type in His plans.
“It was a little later than a lot of people. I think I was about 24 years old when I was living in El Paso, Texas, serving in the Army,” Father Houston said. “God was calling me to a different kind of service than what I was doing.”
He said he was grateful for Bishop Coffey’s presence at the ordination Mass.
“When I think about it, my vocation was specifically born while I was part of the Military Archdiocese,” Father Houston said. “I’ll be here for three years serving as a priest while still in the Army Reserve, and after that I’ll return to active duty for a commitment of five years.”
He said he is “super excited” to serve at St. Stephen and Notre Dame High School. He added that the most meaningful parts of the ordination were the prostration before the altar during the Litany of the Saints, “but also giving the first blessings, when it just felt very real, especially [the blessings] to my family. You probably got the tears on tape.”
Were there tears from both sides, the new priest and the family?
“Yes, absolutely,” Father Houston said.
Father Houston’s parents, Butch and Heide Houston of Farragut, attended their son’s ordination.
“I’m a little overwhelmed. I’m
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very proud of him,” Mr. Houston said, adding that he could “see this day coming.”
The day was an emotional one.
“I don’t cry often, but I cried today,” he said.
Father Houston’s eventual home in the Army chaplaincy is appropriate, Mr. Houston said.
“I think that’s where he belongs. He seems happiest when he’s around the military and being a preacher at the same time,” he said.
August Houston, Father Houston’s younger brother by three years, said he is “immensely proud of him, honestly” and that he watched his brother’s formation happen “in real time.”
The younger sibling disagreed with his brother’s calling at one point, “but I’m assured in his decision now,” August said.
He also agreed with his father about Father Houston’s service as a chaplain.
“Like my dad said, it’s the most appropriate thing for him,” going on to say that “I don’t think a lot of people are” suited to be chaplains, “but he definitely is.”
Heide Houston said the ordination was “very, very fulfilling, and we are extremely proud of” Father Houston.
At first, she said, “we couldn’t believe” his calling to the priesthood “and then all of a sudden (realized) maybe it’s a calling from higher up ”
Receiving their son’s first blessings at the end of Mass was “very emotional” for Mr. Houston and a “very happy” moment for Mrs. Houston.
“We were telling him this is just the start. This is just the beginning. Be ready for the ups and downs,” she said.
Father Alvarado said after the ordination that he felt “very happy for the blessing of God.”
“I feel very excited with the whole Church, with my bishop and all of the clergy. God bless this diocese,” he said.
The Colombia native had friends attending his ordination from his home country as well as Louisiana, Spain, and France.
Itala Caiafa, a close friend of Father Alvarado, has known him “almost like a sister.” She came to the ordination from Barranquilla.
“To have known him since the beginning. When he was very, very young, he wanted to become a priest,” she said.
Ms. Caiafa said Father Alvarado’s family and she “have seen his struggles, his triumphs. We have laughed and cried together. We have always
strived for this moment, for the priesthood, so we had to be here.”
Father Waldir Consuegra has known Father Alvarado for more than 22 years. He said he did not know how much he influenced the new priest’s vocation.
“I cannot say I was instrumental; however, I have accompanied him throughout all this process, even in times where there were some doubts or weaknesses or struggles, but we have been with him, and we have accompanied him,” he said. “I am from Barranquilla, but I live in Spain. I came from Spain especially for the ordination.”
Father Alvarado’s parents, Laureano Rafael Alvarado Puerta and Abigail Suarez de Alvarado, also attended their son’s ordination from Barranquilla.
“It’s a great blessing and a great gift of God,” Mr. Alvarado said, adding that his son has prepared for that day “almost all his life, because Renzo wanted to be a priest all his life.”
The new priests celebrated their Masses of thanksgiving on the weekend they were ordained. Father Alvarado celebrated Masses at Our Lady of Fatima on June 7 and at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga and St. Patrick Church in Morristown on June 8.
Father Houston celebrated Mass at
Bishop Beckman loved seeing the full cathedral for the ordination Mass.
“What a joy to have the church so full of people and to have people from all over the diocese, so representative of the great diversity of our diocese. That’s one of the things that I found deeply touching,” he said. “These two new priests are gems. They are going to be a real gift to our Church.”
The diocese recently incardinated Father Jhon Mario García, “so our numbers are growing. He was at this ordination,” the bishop said.
Bishop Beckman has almost completed a full year as bishop of Knoxville and has presided over all of the events his office requires, from confirmations to the liturgies of Holy Week and more. He was present for the diocese’s ordination Mass last year as bishop-elect when Archbishop Shelton J. Fabre presided, the liturgy including the transitional-diaconate ordination of now-Father Houston.
And now Bishop Beckman has presided at his first priestly ordination.
“Oh, my, it was so full of grace, so full of peace and joy. I’m delighted,” he said. ■
St. John Neumann Church in Farragut on June 8.
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COURTESY OF CHRIS OSORNIO
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“As a result, Christians shrank as a percentage of the global population, with their share falling from 31 percent to 29 percent,” according to Pew.
A number of factors infl uence religious demographics, such as fertility, mortality, migration, and religious switching, which Pew defi nes as changing in adulthood from a childhood religious group to another, or disaffi liating from religion altogether.
Ultimately, fertility and religious switching have proven decisive in shaping global religious demographics, Pew said, noting that migration cannot change the size of the global population of a given religious group, and that migrants tend to settle in nations where their religious identity is prevalent.
In sub-Saharan Africa, the overall population grew 31 percent to 1.1 billion from 2010-2020, with most people (62 percent) in the region identifying as Christians, according to Pew.
The report also noted that the region’s younger demographics and higher fertility rates drove religious growth among all groups except for Jews, with the entire region accounting for “most of the increase in Christian numbers globally.”
A previous Pew study estimated that Muslims had the highest fertility rates, an average of 3.1 children from 2010-2015. The same research found Christians followed, with 2.7 children.
In the new study, Pew said that while “Christians have a high fertility rate … they have been losing adherents as people switch out of Christianity to become religiously unaffi liated.”
Religious switching is generally completed by the end of a person’s young adult years, said Pew, citing various studies.
Religiously unaffi liated people made for the third largest category among the global population, behind Christians and Muslims, Pew reported.
As of 2020, Christians remained a majority in 120 countries and territories, down from 124 in 2010.
Among the nations where Christians represent less than half the population are the United Kingdom (49 percent), Australia (47 percent), France (46 percent), and Uruguay (44 percent) all of which now have 40 percent or more residents identifying themselves as religiously unaffi liated.
Australia saw the greatest drop in its Christian population during the report period, declining by just over 20 points from 67.1 percent to 46.8 percent and counting 2.83 million fewer Christians by 2020.
Also experiencing notable 2010-2020 downturns in their respective self-identifi ed Christians were Chile (86 percent to 68.3 percent), Uruguay (61 percent to 44.5 percent), the United States (78.3 percent to 64 percent), Canada (67.2 percent to 53.3 percent), and the United Kingdom (62.4 percent to 49.4 percent).
While a number of nations worldwide saw drops in their Christian populations, Pew said that “many are in Europe and other Western or English-speaking places where Christian majorities have been shrinking for decades.”
“This change is largely driven by high rates of Christian disaffi liation i.e., by people becoming religiously unaffi liated as adults after having been raised as Christians in childhood,” according to Pew.
Overall, Christians and Buddhists saw the greatest losses due to religious switching, with Christianity experiencing a net loss of 11.6 adults for every 100 adults raised as Christians, due to religious switching.
An outlier was the East African nation of Mozambique, which experienced a substantial increase in its Christian population, up 5 percent to reach 61 percent in 2020. Pew noted that a governmental anti-religious campaign launched by the ruling socialist Frelimo party, which came to power following the country’s independence from Portugal in 1975, had offi cially ended in the 1980s, “and the share of Christians in that country has been increasing since.”
That increase comes amid renewed persecution, with Open Doors, which aids persecuted Christians in more than 70 countries, fi nding that Mozambique’s government is “still repressive,” while Islamic extremists, organized crime networks, and clan leaders also pose threats to the nation’s Christians.
The United States counts more Christian residents than any other country, with more than 217 million or 9.6 percent of the world’s Christians identifying themselves as such.
Following the United States are Brazil (over 168 million), Mexico (over 113 million), the Philippines and Russia (more than 102 million), and Nigeria and the Congo (each with over 92 million).
However, Dmitry Dubrovskiy, a researcher from the Institute for International Studies at Charles University in Prague, recently told OSV News that despite its majority-Orthodox populace and amid a government crackdown on non-Russian Orthodox faith communities Russian society as a whole is not especially religious. Instead, “a substantial amount of Russians
defi nitely consider their Orthodoxy as a cultural identity,” he said, noting that just “approximately 3-7 percent of the Russian population regularly visit a church.”
Pew noted in its new report that “while media stories in the 2010s often suggested that China was on the cusp of having the largest Christian population in the world, surveys indicate that China’s Christian population remains outside the 10 largest in the world.
“Based on religious self-identifi cation meas-
ured in surveys, we estimate there were roughly 25 million Chinese Christians in 2020,” said Pew, citing its 2023 report on “Measuring Religion in China.”
In its new report, Pew noted that for some two dozen countries among them North Korea, which has consistently topped Open Doors’ list as the most dangerous nation for Christians the only source for numbers is Boston University’s World Religion Database.
The database itself notes that “there are a number of areas of religious life where it is impossible to obtain accurate statistics, usually because of state opposition” to faith traditions, and so “reasonable and conservative estimates are made.”
A multiyear decline in Christianity in the United States may have leveled off, according to Pew in its 2023-2024 Religious Landscape Survey, which was released in February.
However, the survey found Catholics are seeing the greatest net losses of believers compared with other religions in the United States.
The data indicated that for every one person received into the Catholic Church, another 8.4 individuals have left the faith, either altogether or for another worship tradition. This increases the trend Pew found in 2014, when 6.5 Catholics left the faith for every person who entered.
That survey also showed just 29 percent of the nation’s Catholics attend religious services weekly or more often. Altogether four in 10 Catholics attend religious services monthly or more
In addition, support among U.S. Catholics for legalized abortion, homosexuality, and other stances at odds with Church teaching has increased over the past decade and a half. ■
Marked with the sign of the cross A woman marked with a cross on her forehead prays during Ash Wednesday Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of the Holy Family in Nairobi, Kenya, on March 5. Sub-Saharan Africa is now the center of Christianity in the world, replacing Europe, according to the Pew Research Center.
OSV NEWS
PHOTO/THOMAS MUKOYA, REUTERS
with the parish’s second shepherd and officiant at the school’s groundbreaking, Father Francis McRedmond (1956-66), for the longest pastorate at St. Mary.
“I’m so, so grateful for St. Mary Parish and St. Mary School. I love you, and I wouldn’t be here without you,” Father Woods said at the gala.
Sister Mary John called the diamond gala “a special time to be here with each of you.”
“On behalf of all the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia, we just say thank you, thank you, thank you,” she said, adding that “the Sisters here tonight represent many more” and named several from the motherhouse in Nashville who sent their best wishes.
“Each of the Sisters knows that we are given the fruits of the labors of the Sisters who came before us and are given the task to carry it forward to the next Sisters and the next generation of students,” Sister Mary John said. “Not only have the Sisters been here 75 years, but many families have been as well, and so it’s a real joy that we get to teach children of children of children who have been a part of this parish from the beginning.”
The principal mentioned a humorous remark a student made about a crucifix but went on to say that “St. Mary’s students learn the true meaning of Jesus’ death, and they grow year by year to love Him more and more. And that’s really what it’s all about. That’s what the Sisters’ connection to St. Mary is all about. It’s about leading children to the love of Jesus Christ.”
Sen. McNally presented the resolution signed by himself, Sen. Ken Yager, Rep. Rick Scarbrough, House Speaker Cameron Sexton, and Gov. Bill Lee.
The state senator graduated from St. Mary in 1958 after starting at the school in its first year, “so it was the first class that went all the way through,” he said.
“It was a great school, a great school. I’m just very proud I went there. I learned a lot, and the teachers were super. There were a lot of good friends I met there,” forming friendships he still has, he said.
Sen. McNally remembers Father McRedmond along with Father John
Scola, associate pastor of St. Mary in 1955-57, “and then Sister Mary Jane Frances, Sister Augusta, Sister Marilyn, and Mrs. Marshall, a lay teacher,” he said.
The senator, who graduated from Oak Ridge High School, said that “it’s great to see St. Mary School still succeeding and the church still vibrant.”
Sister Marie Blanchette Cummings, OP, attended the gala. She served as St. Mary principal from 2013-21.
“It would be great to count up how many Sisters have worked at St. Mary over the 75 years,” she said.
“It’s a beautiful vocation to help form children in their faith and academically and help them to meet Christ and to form who they’re going to be as adults. This is a celebration of thousands of students and hundreds of teachers and decades of priests. It takes a whole community, and for me St. Mary is a community.”
That community is home to a single parish, convent, and school.
“A lot of my time I was teaching in a school owned by our community or a regional school, so it wasn’t one parish. For me it’s just the connection between the convent, the school, and the parish,” Sister Marie Blanchette said. “It was so lively, and everyone was working together with a common vision. The students would host breakfasts with the parishioners, and it takes all of that to help form people to become adults.
“That’s the goal of education in a school. You’re not just teaching reading, writing, and math. You’re teach-
ing what is the adult that God wants you to be, and how can we help you to become that, to discover your gifts, and to give back to your community, and to live your faith.”
She said the number of vocations to the priesthood and religious life inspired by the Dominicans at St. Mary may be unknown.
“Wow, that’s a hard question to answer,” Sister Marie Blanchette said. “But really the goal is for all the students we teach to grow closer to God. If we’ve done that for every child who’s walked through the building, we’re absolutely thrilled.”
St. Mary pastor Father Ray Powell called the gala “an incredible way to celebrate 75 years.”
“I get to stand here and represent all the priests and religious and teachers and faculty and all the wonderful kids who have come through our school,” he said. “It’s a wonderful chance to celebrate that legacy and to look forward to the next 75 years.
“Priests, deacons, and teachers all helped lay that faith and foundation with education and all the incredible gifts shared with the students, and then they go out in the world and share their gifts with others.”
That process begins early, Father Powell said.
“It starts with the devotion and faith growing right from preschool and first grade and that chance to experience the gifts from God at an early age,” he said. “It’s wonderful. That’s what the whole school is all about and our parish is about. It’s a
heart!
wonderful gift that we get to share with others.”
The inspiration to vocations can be not just Sisters influencing future priests, but “the same is likewise the opposite way. I know one Sister shared with me that Father Woods greatly inspired her in her vocation. We’re a team, and we work on it together,” Father Powell said.
The two gala auctions plus an appeal for students raised many thousands of dollars for the school. Bishop Mark Beckman donated for the live auction a dinner with him and up to six guests, which received numerous bids before finally going for $2,900.
A Cumberland Mountain boar hunt with St. Mary associate pastor Father Neil Blatchford was claimed with a $1,700 winning bid. Father Woods, pastor of St. Francis of Assisi in Fairfield Glade, donated a round of golf for four at Stonehenge Golf Club in the Glade “and to sweeten the pot, when you’re done, I’ll cook you dinner,” he said.
Additional auction items included a mixology class, a stay at a lake house, and a tour of and lunch at the Dominican motherhouse in Nashville.
Father Blatchford celebrated the vigil Mass at St. Mary Church before the gala and spoke in his homily of the Gospel reading from John 21, where Jesus tells His disciples to cast their nets from the fishing boat.
“How well this aims us in this weekend of our 75th anniversary, 75 years, all because of no other reason than following Jesus Christ and listening to Him, His Word. The closer we follow Him, the more love we find in Him and turn away from the world, the more successful we are, the more glory we bring to Him in our community in Oak Ridge, telling us when and where to cast our nets. If we do not listen to Him, we will catch nothing,” Father Blatchford said.
“We need to cast our nets everywhere the Lord tells us. That is our legacy. That is how we have stood for 75 years in Oak Ridge with a prayerful and generous faithful, listening attentively to our Lord, standing on the rock of Peter, starting with Christ, our cornerstone, that living stone of Jesus Christ,” he noted. ■
Saluting St. Mary School Father Chris Michelson, a St. Mary School alum and former pastor there, delivers remarks during the 75th-anniversary gala.
DAN MCWILLIAMS
Building bridges, not walls
Pope Leo XIV urges faithful to embrace Jesus amid a world marked by division
By Justin McLellan OSV News
In a world marked by division and ideological conflict, Pope Leo XIV urged Catholics to reject walls of separation and embrace Jesus as “a door that unites,” reminding pilgrims that true Christian hope lies in connecting rather than dividing.
Addressing pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Basilica on June 14 for a special Jubilee audience, the pope said the Holy Year 2025 must be lived as a mission of communion, rooted in the theological virtue of hope.
“To hope is to connect,” he said, stating that the Jubilee is an “open door” to the mystery of God’s connection with humanity, which is rooted in Christ’s incarnation.
The audience continued a series begun by Pope Francis exploring a dimension of hope through the example of a spiritual figure. This time, Pope Leo focused on St. Irenaeus of Lyon, whom he described as a “master of unity” and a bridge
Retreat continued from page A17
between East and West.
Born in 130 in Asia Minor and later serving as bishop in presentday France, St. Irenaeus “carried with him the witness of those who had directly known the Apostles,” the pope said. His life and ministry reflected the way in which cultures, peoples, and churches can mutually enrich one another a dynamic the pope likened to today’s migrant communities, which he said often revitalize faith in their host countries.
Amid early Church divisions, St. Irenaeus did not retreat in despair but instead “learned to think more deeply, always focusing on Jesus,” the pope said. In a world fragmented by doctrinal disputes, political pressures, and persecution, he found unity not by suppressing difference but by recognizing how Christ reconciles opposites in his own person.
“Jesus is not a wall that separates, but a door that unites us,” the pope said. “He is life itself among us. He gathers the opposites, makes communion possible.”
Pope Leo warned against the dangers of ideology and verbal violence,
sential: leaders also need to be touched, to be renewed.
As Bladimir put it, “The rain made things more difficult in terms of logistics, but it showed us that the young people are willing to draw near to God despite the circumstances.”
What fruits do I hope for from this retreat? That the young people understand that each of us has a story that we cannot judge easily without listening, and that every person deserves to be seen with dignity even in their mistakes. I hope this experience helps them become more compassionate, more just from the heart.
To those who couldn’t be there, I want to say this: we live in a world that judges quickly and forgives little, that demands justice without compassion, that accepts everything in the
noting that in the modern world “ideas can go mad and words can kill.” What grounds society, he said, is the shared human condition: “the flesh,” which “binds us to the earth and to other creatures.”
In this, too, Christ is central. “The flesh of Jesus must be welcomed and contemplated in every brother and sister, in every creature,” he said. “Let us hear the cry of the flesh. Let us be called by name through the pain of others."
Hope, the pope said, is not a distant ideal but a daily commitment. It is a call to “move toward communion,” to become builders of bridges, not guards of gates. “Distinguishing is useful,” he said, “but never dividing.”
Echoing a line from the Lord's Prayer, “on earth as it is in heaven,” Pope Leo said the Jubilee Year must inspire Catholics to act as agents of connection in a fragmented world. “Let us open doors,” he said. “Let us connect worlds, and there will be hope.”
As conflict in the Middle East escalated with Israeli airstrikes on nuclear sites in Iran and retaliatory
name of inclusion, even sin. But as Christians, we are called to see differently.
As Pope Benedict XVI once said: “A Christianity of charity without truth can easily be confused with a pool of good sentiments, helpful for social cohesion, but of little relevance” ( Caritas in Veritate , no. 4). True charity always goes hand in hand with truth.
Personally, God allowed me in this retreat to understand more deeply how young people see today’s reality. And the most beautiful part is that I saw how open they are to listening, to understanding, to growing. That gives me hope. It makes me continue to believe that we can build a better society if we keep investing in formation that is meaningful, Gospel-rooted, and deeply human.
At the end, I asked some of the youth to share a message for those who are still hesitant to approach God.
drone attacks on Israel, Pope Leo appealed for restraint and renewed the Church’s calls for nuclear disarmament and peaceful dialogue.
Speaking to pilgrims at the end of the Jubilee audience, the pope expressed deep concern over the “seriously deteriorating” situation in the Middle East, warning of the consequences of further escalation. “I want to strongly renew an appeal to responsibility and reason,” he said.
The pope emphasized that the pursuit of a safer world “free from the nuclear threat” must be rooted in “respectful encounter and sincere dialogue,” laying the foundations for lasting peace “based on justice, fraternity, and the common good.”
“No one should ever threaten the existence of another,” he said. “It is the duty of all nations to support the cause of peace, taking paths of reconciliation and promoting solutions that ensure security and dignity for all.”
The pope’s comments came a day after Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned of stronger responses to the air strikes, fueling fears of wider conflict. ■
Elder López was clear: “Do not forget Jesus; He is the one who helps us and supports us in our weaknesses.”
José Barrera added, “Do not be afraid to say ‘yes’ to Jesus. He leads us on a path that brings peace, security, and much wisdom.”
And with great emotion, José Damián concluded: “He encourages you. He says, ‘Take heart, I am with you.’ He never leaves you alone. He only wants you to be close to Him.”
Finally, I want to sincerely thank the young adults group Tras las Huellas de Jesús for inviting me. I especially thank the team of leaders, and of course, God, who continues to give me experiences like this, which mark my path and the path of many other young people ■ Mr. Argueta serves as coordinator of Pastoral Juvenil for the Diocese of Knoxville Office of Hispanic Ministry.
The Assurance of Peace, Quiet Reflection & Prayer The Columbarium
