East Tennessean illustrates book on life, martyrdom of Servant of God Shahbaz Bhatti
By Bill Brewer
Jordan Holt is accustomed to his artistic creations being embraced by youth and young adults. His artwork has been appreciated at comic conventions around the country.
It never occurred to him at first that his most important work to date would have a dangerous undertone and be unwelcome in the country in which it is set.
But that’s the reality of Blood & Water: The Life and Martyrdom of Shahbaz Bhatti, a book that Professor Holt has illustrated detailing the life and assassination of one of Pakistan’s most widely respected and popular figures.
Professor Holt was unfamiliar with Shahbaz Bhatti until a chance encounter introduced the Lee University fine arts instructor to the martyr whose cause for sainthood is in the hands of the Vatican.
His name is now on a new book about Servant of God Shahbaz Bhatti that brings to life the Pakistani’s story of faith and courage in the face of intense religious persecution.
Professor Holt and his wife, Sarah, live in Cleveland and attend St. Thérèse of Lisieux Church with their five children. His professional focus is graphic design and illustration, and he also does professional illustration as a sideline from his home studio.
The 36-year-old artist’s medium of choice is comic illustration, and he covers topics from religion and history to mythology, literature, and games.
In 2020, he began creating graphic novels and self-published some works while also doing projects for publishers. He explained that a graphic novel is to a comic book
what a feature film is to a TV show.
Graphic novels are single stories that are illustrated similarly to a comic book, with panels and word balloons. They are a combined visual and text medium and are especially accessible to youth and young adults. And they’ve grown in popularity in recent years.
Professor Holt’s artwork attracted the attention of writer Matt Yocum while both were attending a comic convention in Charlotte, N.C. That chance meeting among two Christians at a secular convention led to a creative partnership that was consummated in the fall of 2023.
That’s when Blood & Water: The Life and Martyrdom of Shahbaz Bhatti began to take form.
Professor Holt, who has a master’s degree in fine arts and has been teaching full time at Lee University since 2015, agreed to illustrate the book detailing Mr. Bhatti’s influence in Pakistan.
“Shahbaz’s story is one of those that is both tethered to a particular time and a particular political context. But it is one of those that is timeless,” he said.
The Shahbaz Bhatti story is new in the context of world history. The government minister was assassinated on March 2, 2011, in Islamabad, Pakistan, at the age of 42. He was a graduate of the University of Punjab and was a member of the Pakistan Peoples Party. He was born on Sept. 9, 1968, in Lahore, Pakistan, and was Catholic.
He was serving as the Pakistan government’s federal minister of Minorities Affairs when he was shot to death by the Pakistan Taliban while in his car shortly after leaving his mother’s residence.
And on March 2, 2016, on the
Turning the tassels
a
fifth anniversary of his tragic assassination, Mr. Bhatti’s cause for beatification was formally opened by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Islamabad-Rawalpindi.
“It’s pretty recent history. The shaping this story has had on me even makes me look at political context and religious context today with a more sensitive eye, a more sensitive ear,” Professor Holt said.
“Shahbaz, coming from Pakistan, he was a political activist. That is how he is known globally. But the more intimate story, which is covered by the graphic novel, encompasses that period of his life, but he starts off as this young Pakistani Christian. He grows up in a small, Catholic community in a village called Khushpur, Pakistan,” Professor Holt explained.
Khushpur is located in the Punjab region of northern Pakistan.
“It’s somewhat isolated. The majority of Pakistan is Muslim. That
is by far the majority population. In fact, Pakistan is one of the few countries that is founded particularly as a Muslim government, an Islamic government,” Professor Holt observed. “However, there were caveats placed in the nation’s founding documents—its constitution, etc.—that made allowances for religious minorities. But Pakistan has not done a good job in preserving minority religious rights.”
The more research Professor Holt did on Mr. Bhatti, the more the Servant of God has resonated with his East Tennessee illustrator.
“Shahbaz’s situation was really unique because he grew up in this Christian context. He didn’t realize in his earliest years just how separate they were from the rest of Pakistan. This really crystallizes him when he goes off to college. That is when he encounters his first perse-
Shahbaz Bhatti continued on page B2
Knoxville Catholic presents 162 diplomas and Notre Dame awards 109 in commencement ceremonies
By Dan McWilliams
Seniors at Knoxville Catholic High School and Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga have moved into the next part of their lives as they took part in commencement ceremonies in May.
Diplomas were awarded to 162 graduates of Knoxville Catholic in the school’s 94th commencement held on campus on May 15 at Blaine Stadium. On the next day, 109 graduates of Notre Dame—in the school’s 150th-anniversary year—received their diplomas at the Chattanooga Convention Center.
Bishop Mark Beckman presented the diplomas at KCHS and gave a closing prayer and blessing at both ceremonies. New superintendent Martha Mundine attended her first high-school graduations as leader of diocesan schools. Dickie Sompayrac, president of KCHS, and Notre Dame head of school Dr. Eric Schexnaildre gave welcoming remarks at the events.
The graduates from both schools have combined to earn millions of dollars in scholarships to colleges and universities spread across many states. Several graduates as well as faculty received special honors during the commencements. The athletic accomplishments of each school were also noted during
Phifer Award recipients DaLana Brown and Cooper Campbell received the James D. Phifer “Spirit of Notre Dame” Award at the Notre Dame High School commencement on May 16.
the ceremonies.
Baccalaureate Masses were celebrated for the schools the day before graduation, with Bishop Beckman presiding at the KCHS liturgy on May 14 at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. The Notre Dame Baccalaureate Mass took place on May 15 at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul. School chaplain Father A.J. Houston and priests from the basilica and Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Chattanooga concelebrated.
Honorees address the graduation gathering The Sedes Sapientiae (Mary, Seat of Wisdom) Award, the highest honor KCHS confers on graduating seniors, went to Miriam Campfield and Will Howell. Both are pictured above with Knoxville Catholic High School president Dickie Sompayrac at the graduation ceremony on May 15.
‘The world needs this class’
As the KCHS graduation began, Mr. Sompayrac introduced Father Chris Michelson to give the invocation.
“God, our good and loving Father, we thank you this night for the guidance and love you have poured upon these students, our graduating class. May what they have learned here at Knoxville Catholic High over the past four years guide them as they look forward to discovering what you have
in store for each of them in their future,” Father Michelson prayed. “May they continue their journey to become men and women who are noticed because of their concern and their compassion for one another. Lord, please help them to make this world a better place as they follow their call to serve the needs of the poor, the needs of the marginalized, and all those who are suffering. May they see and find you in their experiences of joy as Graduations continued on page B3
DAN MCWILLIAMS
Illustrating
Servant of God Lee University professor Jordan Holt displays his drawings of the cover for the book Blood & Water: The Life and Martyrdom of Shahbaz Bhatti
JACLYN HOLLOWAY
DAN MCWILLIAMS
cution,” Professor Holt said.
The art professor gave examples of this persecution at an early age when young Shahbaz Bhatti was not allowed to use the same tea sets as Muslim students and he was beaten when he tried to establish a Christian group.
“For a lot of people, these would have a tempering effect. For Shahbaz, this just crystallized the mission. He looked at the context he was in and realized this was shared by tons of other Pakistani Christians, again not a huge population but enough of them as well as other religious minorities within Pakistan. So, his life became about creating unity among those groups so they could have a political voice together and work toward social change and political change together,” Professor Holt said.
Mr. Bhatti was most outspoken against Pakistan’s controversial blasphemy laws, relentlessly campaigning against the misuse of these laws and Sharia legislation, which he argued targeted, persecuted, and carried the death penalty for vulnerable religious minorities.
He also was a vocal critic of all human rights violations, hate speech, and violence against these vulnerable groups. Despite repeated death threats from extremist groups like the Taliban, Mr. Bhatti fearlessly led efforts to defend individuals falsely accused of blasphemy and he worked for interfaith harmony.
Mr. Bhatti’s voice and all the voices he represented began to carry throughout Pakistan, enough so that political forces within the country’s ruling party took notice.
“Eventually he becomes so important as a religious minority voice that the president of Pakistan, who was replacing a previous president who had been assassinated who was a friend of Shahbaz, invited him to become a minister in the government. He (Shahbaz) used this position to rally support internationally for Pakistani religious minorities. Ultimately, he became such a potent voice that he attracted a lot of negative attention,” Professor Holt explained.
“If you listened to the way he talked, and there’s even a video on YouTube where he discusses his imminent death at one point just a month before he actually was killed, he knew that this was probably going to end with his martyrdom. But he continued to push through,” the professor continued. “His perspective on it was I’m just following in the footsteps of Jesus. I’m just following Christ. He said these things explicitly. This was his mission.”
Mr. Bhatti’s public expressions were prophetic and led to the silencing of a leading religious-freedom voice in the world. But the assassination also amplified Mr. Bhatti’s cause.
“Ultimately, he was gunned down by essentially the Taliban in Islamabad, right outside his mother’s apartment. We just passed the 15th anniversary. This, of course, was a tragedy in and of itself, but it has had an effect that people like Shahbaz managed to have, even in death, which is to motivate a continuation of their efforts,” Professor Holt said.
Mr. Bhatti’s mission continues, but those who have taken up his mantle have had to flee Pakistan so that these activists won’t fear for their lives.
“Shahbaz’s brother, Peter, has carried the torch since then. He is a character featured within the graphic novel. And also, his nephew, Peter’s son, David, is actually working in Canadian politics now, trying to make ground,” Professor Holt noted.
Peter Bhatti migrated to Canada and became a resource for his brother outside of Pakistan to help get refugees out of that country, according to Professor Holt.
“He (Peter Bhatti) has been very successful in doing that and commands enormous respect among the community of Pakistani, Iraqi, Iranian, and Christian refugees who have been pulled out of the Middle East and West Asia thanks to Peter’s work,” he said.
“The fight continues, and the graphic novel is there to not just be an epitaph for Shahbaz, but rather to create and foster that motivation that has pushed Peter along and
has pushed David Bhatti along, and provide that inspiration that you can work toward peace, and that even when the way is incredibly difficult, even when you know that violence and resistance will be the consequences of your efforts toward peace, there is still value in doing that,” he added.
Peter and David Bhatti are based near Toronto.
Professor Holt detailed how Shahbaz Bhatti had a friend in the U.S. State Department, Knox Thames, and the two communicated frequently. Mr. Thames is part of the narrative in the book. The Servant of God’s allies outside of Pakistan have helped to further his mission.
“Shahbaz actually came to the U.S. just about a month or two prior to his assassination in order to meet with American leaders. He was there for the 2011 International Prayer Breakfast. He met with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. He had meetings all over the place. Knox set those up for him. There is a photo in the back of the book that I did an illustration from of him (Shahbaz Bhatti) meeting with the U.S. Catholic bishops. He is standing in front of their mural, a beautiful green mural of angels,” Professor Holt pointed out.
According to Professor Holt, Mr. Thames has continued to promote his friend’s life and work and even received a grant from Pepperdine University in Los Angeles related to religious persecution. The idea behind the grant was to create content about Mr. Bhatti, and a movie about his life was first discussed but ultimately considered too expensive.
Mandi Hart began working with Mr. Thames on the project. Ms. Hart produced the acclaimed animated short film “The 21” about the brutal murders of the 21 Coptic martyrs in 2015. The film was named to the Academy Awards shortlist in 2024.
Ms. Hart suggested that a graphic novel would be a good option for the Shahbaz Bhatti story because it could be a gateway to other media avenues.
She suggested Matt Yocum as the author for Blood & Water: The Life and Martyrdom of Shahbaz Bhatti. The chance encounter at the Charlotte comic convention would produce creative dividends for Professor Holt and Mr. Yocum. It was during the convention that Professor Holt and Mr. Yocum realized that each practiced the Christian faith.
“My eyes lit up when I realized I was meeting a brother in Christ in a context where you don’t see a lot of them. We struck up a conversation based on that and we exchanged cards and then went our separate ways,” Professor Holt recalled. “I didn’t think about it much more after that because you meet a lot of people at those events.”
A few months later, Mr. Yocum contacted Mr. Holt and told the Lee University faculty member that he was looking for an artist to illustrate the story about Shahbaz Bhatti.
“I had never heard about him (Mr. Bhatti). The story would be set in Pakistan and would be recent history. It was really outside of my typical work. A lot of what I had done up to that point had been young-adult comedy and Greek mythology stuff,” Professor Holt shared. “He (Mr. Yocum) had read my books. I was kind of confused, and I asked him, ‘You know the kind of stuff I’ve drawn. This really isn’t quite within that realm. Are you sure you want me to do it? Shouldn’t you get a Pakistani artist who knows the culture really well?’”
Professor Holt was caught off guard by Mr. Yocum’s response.
“He said for one, a Pakistani artist couldn’t do it because, frankly, it’s just too dangerous for most of them in Pakistan to really do much related to Shahbaz because his name is very controversial there. It could be dangerous, so they decided we won’t take that route,” Professor Holt explained.
“But also, Matt had read my work, and he said, ‘I know that you know how to tell a story well. That is really our biggest concern. Can this story be told well?’” he added.
Professor Holt agreed in the fall of 2023 to illustrate the book, which led to months of research and preparation for the book.
He wasn’t able to visit Pakistan,
Chronicling Shahbaz Bhatti Jordan Holt, a parishioner of St. Thérèse of Lisieux in Cleveland, shows the graphic novel Blood & Water: The Life and Martyrdom of Shahbaz Bhatti, which was written by Matt Yocum and illustrated by Mr. Holt. In the photo, Mr. Holt is shown in his home studio. The book has been published by Ignatius Press and Magnificat.
The mission of Shahbaz Bhatti lives on after his 2011 death
By Susan Korah The Catholic Register
“His voice was silenced but his mission lives on.”
So says a video promoting Blood & Water, a newly released biography of Shahbaz Bhatti, who was gunned down 15 years ago, March 2, 2011, by religious extremists in Islamabad, Pakistan, thus ending a life dedicated to battling for the rights of Christians and other oppressed faith minorities in a country described by human rights experts as “one of
but he studied video of the country in addition to reading about Pakistani culture—past and present—to get a proper feel for his drawings.
“I tried to get as much fidelity to it as possible because there is a real tendency among western media, particularly American, to use west Asia and the Middle East as kind of this one big sepia-toned thing that is mostly made of concrete and dirt. I know that no culture is fully represented by that kind of portrayal. So, I wanted to dig into the artistic culture of Pakistan, try to understand it, and see some of that beauty in it that Shahbaz clearly saw. He spent his life defending this people and this place. This is a place that has culture and depth and history, and it has a broad range of religious representation,” Professor Holt said.
The project took him about a year to illustrate because it is more than 100 pages and he was carrying a full teaching schedule at the same time.
“It was quite time-consuming and stressful. But we produced the book, and it was a great team to work with, very harmonious. We finished it at the end of 2024. We then spent a year getting it prepped for print and set up with Ignatius Press so they could put it out right at the 15th anniversary of his death,” the illustrator shared.
The 15th anniversary was March 2, and the book was released on March 15 by Catholic publishers Magnificat and Ignatius Press.
Professor Holt believes Ignatius Press’ interest in the book was divinely inspired, just as with the handshake between the creative teammates at the Charlotte comic convention.
And the project has provided more inspiration for his Catholicism.
Professor Holt converted to Catholicism with his wife, Sarah, during Easter Vigil 2023 at St. Thérèse of Lisieux, where Father Mike Nolan is pastor. Their five children, ranging in age from 14 to 1, then joined the Church in 2024. The East Tennessee native’s conversion occurred just weeks before he met Mr. Yocum.
Response to the book has been positive, he noted, pointing to reviews in Aleteia Magazine and from a Baptist organization.
Professor Holt is unsure if the book will be released in Pakistan. Regardless, he is intent on keeping alive the mission of Mr. Bhatti, who never married, possibly out of concern for his family’s safety.
“I knew so little about Shahbaz. As I studied his story, one of the things that struck me is how naïve he seemed even though he wasn’t naïve at all. He had this absolute unabashed belief that you could foster harmony within a society where you have a bunch of different people who all believe different things. He
the worst places in the world for religious freedom.”
Mr. Bhatti served as Pakistan’s federal minister of Minorities Affairs from 2008 to 2011 and was the lone Christian member of thenPrime Minister Yusuf Raza Gillani’s cabinet.
Honoring him as a modern-day martyr, Pope Francis declared Mr. Bhatti a Servant of God in 2016. It was the first step on the road to canonization as Pakistan’s first Catholic saint.
Mr. Bhatti’s legacy continues to inspire other human rights champi-
Blood & Water continued on page B3
understood just how impossible that seems, but he continued to push through it,” Professor Holt said.
Professor Holt points to the many struggles Mr. Bhatti faced in his life, not the least of which was the persecution and assassination of friends and colleagues.
“Yet he continued with that utter faith that this was a possible thing to do, to create a society of harmony. I look at that with a little bit of cynicism. I know human nature is what human nature is. But the way he pursued that reality in spite of all the difficulty has genuinely inspired me to rethink my position on this and to have more faith that we can have harmony,” Professor Holt acknowledged.
“His experience has taught me that I am thinking too simply and I’m not having enough faith,” he added.
This book project and the research that went into it has had a profound impact on Professor Holt’s Christian faith, giving life to the stories he has spent a lifetime reading in the Bible and humanizing the works of so many who have given their lives defending the teachings of Jesus Christ.
“As I was working on this, I could not shake the sense that this was like the life of a saint. It has elements that are remarkably similar to the tales of saints that you tell the kids. Like when Shahbaz was a kid, he was already reaching out to the marginalized within his own community. He’s bringing them food and doing these small actions that then build to greater actions. One of the highlights of it is when you work on something like this and then you read the stories of the saints, they seem more real to you because they don’t feel like they’re sequestered to the past. It feels like they’re still happening and that Shahbaz is one of those examples. There are others out there,” Professor Holt said.
He believes Mr. Bhatti’s story will be powerful for a long time regardless of whether he is canonized by the Vatican. The artist has faith that the Catholic Church will make the right determination.
“As to whether or not that happens for Shahbaz, I’m perfectly willing to let that simply happen as it will. Instead, I think this story is just one of those that is good and ought to be promoted either way,” he said, emphasizing that stories in the Gospels mirror moments in Mr. Bhatti’s life. “It’s just a universal Christian story.” Blood & Water: The Life and Martyrdom of Shahbaz Bhatti is available in hardcover at Ignatius Press, ignatius.com, for $17.99 plus shipping. The book also is available at the online Magnificat Bookstore, bookstore.magnificat.net, at the same price. The book is recommended for those age 13 and up. ■
well as in their challenges and hardships. Finally, Lord, help each of our graduates to know they are an important part of your family and the Knoxville Catholic High family.”
The KCHS band, directed by Phil Foster, then played the national anthem.
Mr. Sompayrac welcomed Bishop Beckman, Ms. Mundine, Father Michelson, Father Randy Stice, area priests, religious Sisters, deacons, honored guests, faculty and staff, and family and friends of the graduates.
“Allow me to begin by expressing my sincere gratitude to Bishop Mark and Ms. Mundine. Your presence tonight is evidence of your unwavering commitment to Catholic education and your steadfast support of the remarkable young men and women who make up the class of 2026,” Mr. Sompayrac said.
“While my remarks tonight are directed primarily to our graduates, we would be remiss if we failed to recognize the extraordinary role of parents, grandparents, guardians, mentors, and loved ones. Your sacrifices, encouragement, prayers, and unwavering support have helped shape these students into the people they are today. It is both humbling and inspiring to realize that you entrusted us with what is most precious to you. For that confidence and partnership, we are deeply grateful.”
The class of 2026’s “legacy extends far beyond statistics and accolades,” Mr. Sompayrac added. “You have lived the mission of Knoxville Catholic through your compassion and service to others. You’ve supported ministries and organizations such as the VERB Kind prison ministry, Second Harvest, Ladies of Charity, Backpacks for the Homeless, A Loving Adoption, and the Pregnancy Help Center, and you’ve even raised money for our diocesan seminarians. Through your actions, you’ve demonstrated what it means to live a faith rooted in service and love.” Mr. Sompayrac told the seniors that “when the road ahead feels uncertain, remember the truths that you learned here at Knoxville Catholic: that you are never alone, that grace meets you in every challenge, and that your life has a purpose far greater than titles, accomplishments, or success. The world needs this class of 2026. We’re proud of you. We believe in you, and we send you forth with our deepest prayers and
blessings.”
Knoxville Catholic honors
Before the presentation of diplomas, Mr. Sompayrac announced numerous awards:
n National Merit Commended Scholars: Miriam Campfield, Alexander Denkewalter, Álvaro Pint, and Ben Sinclair; n Irish Parent Network Scholarship Awards: Nick Landa and Rachel Hendon; n Irish Achievement Award: Nadalie Bellinghausen; n Ashe-Bonnyman Scholarship Awards: Hannah Heupel and Gloria Jenkins; n Helen J. Kennedy and Joe Kennedy Memorial Scholarship Award: Mason Marlowe; n Monsignor Francis D. Grady Citizenship Award: Caitlin Brooks; n James McDonald Shea and Blanche and Claire Rita Shea Scholarships: 45 recipients;
n Dr. William Edward McGhee Memorial Scholarship Award: Álvaro Pint; n Skaggs Family Memorial Scholarship Award: Gavin Jones;
n Top 5 percent in academics: Pierce Broussard, Miriam Campfield, Katie Judd, Alexander Medlyn, Carter Muth, Helen Rose O’Reilley, Álvaro Pint, and Alex Subtirelu;
n Top 10 percent in academics: students named above plus Alexander Denkewalter, Maddie Greiner, Rachel Hendon, Hannah Heupel, Will Howell, Kailin McEnery, Karrington Pierce, and Emerion Woldemichael;
n Sedes Sapientiae (Mary, Seat of Wisdom) Award, the highest honor KCHS confers on graduating seniors, voted on by faculty and presented to two seniors who best epitomize loyalty, service, scholarship, and authentic Christian leadership: Miriam Campfield and Will Howell, each of whom gave an address to the gathering following the award presentation; and n Irish Parent Network monetary gift to outstanding teacher of the year, voted on by faculty and staff: John LaForest.
Diploma time
Mr. Sompayrac then asked the graduates to stand, and he certified to Bishop Beckman that they have met all the criteria of different educational bodies, the diocese, and KCHS.
“It is with pride that I present to you the class of 2026,” Mr. Sompayrac said.
Ore Pumariega, vice president of
student affairs, read the names of the graduates as the bishop presented the diplomas, assisted by KCHS vice president of academics Dr. Sedonna Prater.
Bishop Beckman spoke after the last senior’s name was read and mentioned Bishop James D. Niedergeses of Nashville.
“Bishop Niedergeses, who was the first bishop when I became a priest, used to always say, ‘There is nothing better than a good Catholic school.’
Knoxville Catholic High school is not a ‘good’ Catholic high school—it is a great Catholic high school,” Bishop Beckman said. “I want to thank Dickie for your incredible leadership of this community. I want to thank the administrators and priests, the faculty, the staff, and all of the parents who have supported this community in these years. And most of all, class of 2026: you are making me proud as graduates of Knoxville Catholic High School. Congratulations to all of you.”
The bishop then prayed: “Lord God, in the abundance of your mercy and goodness, enrich our graduates and safeguard them. Strengthen them with your blessings as they go forth. May they always be grateful. May they know the joy of your presence, and may your Spirit guide them every step of their way as they journey forth into the future.”
Bishop Beckman introduced newly graduated Luke Mishu, who led his fellow KCHS seniors in the Journey song “Don’t Stop Believin’” before the traditional hat toss.
Notre Dame ‘celebrates this remarkable milestone’
At the Notre Dame ceremony, Father Houston gave the invocation.
“Lord Jesus Christ, you are the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. On this wonderful day, we give you thanks for bring-
ing our graduates to the end of their time at Notre Dame High School,” he prayed. “We give you thanks for the gift of a new beginning to follow in the wonderful plan you have for each and every one of them, and we give you thanks for all of the friends and family who have supported them along the way. Almighty God, pour forth your Holy Spirit upon us abundantly. Bless us, sustain us, and strengthen us. May we feel your love all the days of our life, and may we share it with all that we meet.”
The convention center room was a bit on the warm side, Dr. Schexnaildre noted in his remarks.
“Maybe it’s fitting that we’re celebrating 150 years of our wonderful school existing because they didn’t have air conditioning either 150 years ago, so we do apologize for that,” he said.
The head of school said, “on behalf of the faculty and the class of ’26, it is my honor to welcome to our ceremony so many wonderful people. There are a lot of people to thank. A lot of people put a lot of time and effort into this. I want to give a special welcome to our parents, grandparents, and siblings of our seniors. Thank you for being here to celebrate this remarkable milestone of your student.”
Dr. Schexnaildre recognized Ms. Mundine and outgoing superintendent George Valadie.
“George is a Notre Dame High School graduate—taught, coached, admissions, advancement. He returned to be the president of Notre Dame High school for 10 years. He is Notre Dame High School. I have appreciated all the leadership and guidance that George has given me. Thank you,” Dr. Schexnaildre said.
He congratulated NDHS’s “stellar administrative team” before speaking to the seniors.
Graduations continued on page
ons, still active in the trenches of the ongoing battle against faith-based persecution in Pakistan and beyond.
Peter Bhatti, brother of Shahbaz and a long-time resident in the greater Toronto area, is a prominent advocate for Pakistan’s Christians. He, too, continues to draw inspiration from the life and legacy of his brother. International Christian Voice (ICV), the nonprofit organization that Peter Bhatti founded and leads, advocates for oppressed Christians in Pakistan, supports refugees fleeing religious persecution, and facilitates their integration into Canadian society.
On March 7, ICV hosted a launch of Blood & Water, combined with a fundraising event at Toronto’s Grand Convention Centre. It was a time for some of the slain
Bhatti’s closest friends and associates to share their memories of the martyr and to reflect on his legacy.
Jason Kenney, Canada’s minister of Immigration, Citizenship, and Multiculturalism from 2008 to 2013 in Stephen Harper’s government, was one of the speakers at the event.
Mr. Bhatti was acutely aware of the likelihood of being assassinated in his own country by Islamist groups determined to silence him, so while on a visit to Canada in 2011, Mr. Kenney offered him refuge.
“But he declined, saying he knew the way of the cross, and he was ready to die for his Lord,” Mr. Kenney said.
Soon after, he would die in a hail of bullets fired by extremists in Pakistan.
“Shahbaz was a tremendous
example of Christian service to others, speaking up for persecuted Christians in Pakistan as well as individuals from different religious backgrounds,” said Knox Thames, the creator of Blood & Water and close friend of Mr. Bhatti who also is a former adviser to the U.S. government on religious freedom.
Mr. Thames spoke at the event.
“Hopefully, our new biography of Shahbaz, authored by Matt Yocum and illustrated by Jordan Holt, will help inspire the next generation and challenge us all to help others,” Mr. Thames said.
Commemorating the witness of Shahbaz Bhatti in 2018, Pope Francis expressed his hope that the Pakistani Catholic’s death would be a source of inspiration and hope for persecuted Christians.
Speaking to members of the “Missione Shahbaz Bhatti” association on Nov. 30, 2018, the pope said the group could help overcome barriers and create “dialogue, understanding, and reconciliation” among different people and different faiths. Mr. Bhatti was assassinated after he said he would seek the reform of blasphemy laws to stop the laws from being misused to persecute innocent Christians. ■
Susan Korah is an Ottawa correspondent for The Catholic Register, which is a weekly newspaper published by the Archdiocese of Toronto. It is the oldest English-language Catholic publication in Canada and was founded in 1893 by Father John R. Teefy, CSB. Junno Arocho Esteves of Catholic News Service contributed to this report.
Blood & Water continued from page B2
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BILL BREWER
JACLYN HOLLOWAY
Making it official Graduating seniors at Notre Dame High School (top) and Knoxville Catholic High School toss their caps at the end of commencement ceremonies.
Diploma from the superintendent Martha Mundine, the diocese’s new leader of Catholic Schools, presented diplomas at the Notre Dame High School graduating ceremony.
DAN MCWILLIAMS
Chattanooga Deanery
St. Bridget, Dayton
The parish will honor all fathers and Father Jim Vick’s ordination anniversary with a Father’s Day Brunch at 11:15 a.m. on Sunday, June 21, between the 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Masses. The Women’s Council will provide doughnuts and beverages with those attending asked to bring a breakfast dish.
The Women’s Council held an afternoon tea on June 6 celebrating members past and present and several special guests. They will celebrate May and June birthdays at the Screen Door Kitchen restaurant in Dayton on Tuesday, June 23. Their popular monthly bingo event is scheduled for 1 to 3 p.m. on Friday, June 26, in the parish hall.
The Knights of Columbus are hosting a Wine & Cheese Social for adults following the 5:30 p.m. Mass on Saturday, June 20.
St. Jude, Chattanooga
The Spiritual Adventurers will watch the movie For Greater Glory at 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 20, in the Holy Family Room.
The parish confirmation Mass will be celebrated at 6 p.m. on Friday, June 26.
The Table at St. Jude, a new community-building ministry that offers coffee after Mass, will have its first gathering at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, June 30, in the Holy Family Room.
Iron and Altar: The Priscilla Project for women, a sister Bible study to the men’s Iron and Altar: The Aquila Project, will begin at 1 p.m. on Mondays starting July 6 in the parish life center library. The study will focus on “Wisdom of the Mothers,” the holy women in the history of the Church.
Kendal Adams, food service manager for the Chatt Foundation, thanked parishioners for their support of a recent Good Samaritan Drive. Another Good Samaritan effort in June benefited Bethel Bible Village in Hixson.
The church, parish life center, and rectory parking lots and driveways were resurfaced in four phases from May 31 to June 13.
St. Stephen, Chattanooga
Anniversaries: John and Lynda DiPrima (62), Mark and Marina Germaine (51), Ray and Hermie Ashcraft (50), Glenn and Mary Pomerance (50), Tommy and Brandy Koory (30)
St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Cleveland
A D-Day barbecue to honor veterans took place after the Saturday-evening Mass on June 6.
William DiGiovanni’s Eagle Scout project was to install six bluebird boxes and plant three pecan trees on the church grounds.
Sts. Peter and Paul, Chattanooga
Rising middle- and high-school students took part in a Lake Picnic Day at Camp Columbus on May 30.
The Gloria Dei Schola performed a concert at the basilica on May 31.
Cumberland Mountain Deanery
Blessed Sacrament, Harriman
The parish recognized its graduating high-school seniors on June 14.
St. Francis of Assisi, Fairfield Glade
A celebration of pastor Father Michael Woods’ 60th anniversary of priestly ordination will take place on Friday, June 19, including Mass at 3 p.m. CDT with Bishop Mark Beckman and an openhouse reception to follow at the Fairfield Glade Center. Father Woods was ordained to the priesthood on June 23, 1966. To contribute a favorite photo of Father Woods for a slide show at the reception, e-mail media@saintfrancis fairfield.org
The parish is an official pilgrimage site for the Franciscan Jubilee, commemorating the 800th anniversary of the Transitus, the passing into eternal life of St. Francis of Assisi in 1226.
As U.S. bishops consecrated the Church to the Sacred Heart of Jesus on June 12, St. Francis of Assisi Parish held a special enthronement Mass that day.
The group 33 Days of Merciful Love is offering a retreat on the “Little Way” of St. Thérèse of Lisieux that began June 4 and ends July 9. The 90-minute sessions are held from 1 to 2:30 p.m. on Thursdays in the parish hall. For more information, call Cherie Trapp at 931-2878296 or Kathy Donley at 707-321-9563.
On May 25, the Cenacle Rosary was prayed in the church.
A pilgrim group from St. Mary Parish in Oak Ridge attended the 10 a.m. Mass on May 26 and a luncheon that followed.
A men’s Bible study was held on May 26-27 and a rosary for the nation on May 28.
The Our Lady of Fatima Chaplet of Adoration and Reparation was prayed on May 27.
The Divine Mercy Chaplet was prayed and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament with Benediction was held on May 29.
A women’s Scripture study took place on May 30 and a rosary for the family on May 31, sponsored by the Knights of Columbus.
Anniversaries: Robert and Genie Gruber (74), Don and Mary Lou Wiskow (66), Shelton and Patty Johnson (63), Joseph and Susanna Bour (62), Edward and Connie Bock (61), Theodore and Joann Bronski (59), Raymond and Jeanne Gervais (59), James and Judy McClure (59), Randy and Cary Moore (59), John and Denise Ranger (58), William and Patricia Nagy (56), Bernard and Stasia LeFrancois (56), Gerald and Donna Thompson (56), Peter and Christine Marino (56), Gerald and Betty Haser (55), Dan and Jo Wind (55), Daniel and Catherine Fugiel (55), John and Mary Kopmeier (55), Michael and Mary Mayes (55), Paul and Joanne Chmielewski (54), John and Rozanne Mulcrone (53), Ronald and Barbara Whynaucht (53), Michael and Glenna Rodts (52), John and Nancy Menchin (51), James and Patricia Tomczyk (50), James and Cecilia Ducey (50), Mark and Mary Sheehan (45), Greg and Kathleen Hietpas (45), Daniel and Kelly Sullivan (35), George and Patti Macken (35), Mark and Nerissa Baniak (30), Ron and Ann Kardosh (5)
St. John Neumann, Farragut
A note-burning ceremony was held at the 8:30 a.m. Mass on May 17 for the Evangelizing Sisters of Mary convent, which the parish paid off recently. Local superior Sister Maureen Ouma, ESM, joined pastor Father Mark Schuster on the altar for the note-burning. The parish in recent years has also paid off debts on the school, parish office, and rectory, with the only remaining loan to pay off being the one for the church.
The Knights of Columbus council, with its fiscal year ending on June 30, announced that the rescued-food ministry delivered perishable food from five retailers to six charities in the past year. The ministry has 27 volunteers who worked 2,080 service hours over that time.
The Knights also announced that they recorded $2,000 in net proceeds from Lenten fish buffets, with $1,000 each going to Catholic Charities of East Tennessee’s Samaritan Place and children’s emergency shelter. The council also gave $3,333 to CCETN’s babybottle drive in March.
The parish hosted a Family Adoration and Potluck Social on June 14.
Neumann Young Adults took part in swimming and hiking during an Out
Parish notes continued on page B10
Ordained in 2001, Father Orr, Father Shelton celebrating 25th jubilees
Two priests ordained for the Diocese of Knoxville in 2001 will celebrate their silver jubilees this month.
Father John Orr and Father Brent Shelton were ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Joseph E. Kurtz on June 16, 2001, at Sacred Heart Cathedral.
Now pastor of Holy Ghost Parish in Knoxville, Father Orr will celebrate his 25th anniversary with a Mass at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 16, at the church. A catered dinner will follow in Henkel Hall.
In lieu of gifts, Father Orr prefers
people to donate to the renovation of the old Holy Ghost Church into a parish center. To donate, visit tinyurl.com/3jvy9m93
Father Shelton is now serving in the Diocese of Tyler, Texas. He is temporary administrator of St. Francis of the Tejas Parish in Crockett, Texas, and will become administrator of St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Atlanta, Texas, on July 1.
St. Francis of the Tejas will celebrate both Father’s Day and Father Shelton’s 25th anniversary at a breakfast on Sunday, June 14. ■
Much to celebrate at St. Augustine
St. Augustine Parish in Signal Mountain had a triple celebration last month. Bishop Mark Beckman brought 12 people ages 4 to 92 into the Church on May 2 (top photo). Eight were baptized, with 11 receiving their first Holy Communion and 11 being confirmed. Also on May 2, the bishop confirmed 13 sixthgraders (middle photo). One day later, the parish celebrated first Communions for eight second-graders (bottom photo). St. Augustine pastor Father John Dowling, Father Henry Makawa, Deacon Hicks Armor, and Deacon Tom Tidwell are also pictured above.
COURTESY OF HEATHER CHAPMAN (3)
COURTESY OF JANET SPRAKER
Parishioner at St. Bridget builds new celebrant chairs
St. Bridget Parish in Dayton recently installed new celebrant chairs in the sanctuary. The chairs were crafted by parishioner Ernesto Santiago, owner of Santiago Custom Woodwork in Dayton. St. Bridget pastor Father Jim Vick and Mr. Santiago are shown flanking the new chairs. Mr. Santiago also built the ambry for the holy oils seen in the background.
The Diocese of Knoxville will begin celebrating a monthly sensory-friendly Mass this summer. The first liturgy is at 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 25, in the chapel at Knoxville Catholic High School. Register by Saturday, July 18. For more information, e-mail Sarah Warner Sperl at ssperl@dioknox.org
Knoxville Catholic High School is hosting its annual Camp Irish summer camps. Remaining camps are for all-sports, June 29-July 3; football, July 6-9; volleyball, July 6-10; Irish Arts Theatre Workshop, July 6-24; soccer, July 20-23; math, July 20-24; and dance, July 22-24; To learn the age groups for each camp, costs, camp meeting times, and how to register, visit knoxvillecatholic.com/camp-irish or e-mail camps@knoxvillecatholic.com
Tennessee Right to Life will celebrate the four-year anniversary of the overturning of Roe v. Wade with two events on Wednesday, June 24. TRL members will pray a rosary for life at 9 a.m. in the prayer garden across from Planned Parenthood on Cherry Street in Knoxville. At 1 p.m. Central Time in Nashville, a new memorial to victims of abortion will be unveiled on Capitol grounds.
The Ulster Project is currently recruiting teens age 15 to host a teen from Northern Ireland in their home for three weeks this summer. The program includes service projects, shared worship services, leadership building, white-water rafting, a Dollywood trip, and more. Dates are June 26 to July 17. Host teen and host parent applications may be found at www.ulster projecteasttennessee.org. For more information, visit the website or e-mail ulstereasttenn@gmail.com
All are invited to a Lunch and Learn at Chesterton Academy of St. Margaret Clitherow, 217 Fox Road in Knoxville, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 27. Join others as guest speaker Mother Gabrielle Marie Breaux of the Benedictine Daughters of the Divine Will speaks about her faith journey. Mother Gabrielle Marie is the mother superior and founder of the Benedictine Daughters of the Divine Will. The religious order, formerly living in Italy, has settled in East Tennessee. Mother Gabrielle Marie has spent time with EWTN and now devotes her life spreading the experience of Servant of God Luisa Piccarreta and living in Divine Will. The talk will be followed by questions and lunch. Bring a lunch, a beverage, paper, and pen, and enjoy a time of learning and fellowship. No RSVP required.
An Enthronement of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Mission is set for Sunday through Tuesday, June 2830, at St. John Neumann Church in Farragut. All are invited to learn more about the love and mercy of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the grace and power of the enthronement.
Father Richard McNally of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts will lead the three-day mission. To learn more, contact Lisa Morris at 865-567-1245 or lccte3@gmail.com or visit www. sacredheartapostolate.com
St. Dominic School in Kingsport has a summer camp for knitting and crocheting on July 13-17 and a Disney camp July 27-31. To register or learn more, visit saintdominiccatholic school.com/summer-camps
A fashion show benefiting the Ladies of Charity of Knoxville will take place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 15, in the St. Gregory the Great Auditorium at Knoxville Catholic High School. Drinks and appetizers will be provided. A $5 donation will be taken at the door. RSVP to ladiesofcharity knox@locktown.org or register at www.ladiesofcharityknox.org/event
Young adults ages 18-35 are invited to a semi-silent Healing Heart Retreat at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Lenoir City from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on
Saturday, July 25. The retreat will be a day to disconnect from the world, silence your mind, and connect to Christ through His Sacred Heart. The oneday retreat will include Mass, prayer, activities, group discussions, time for private reflection, and more. Learn more or RSVP at dioknox.org/events/ healing-heart-retreat
A women’s Cursillo weekend is set for Aug. 6-9 and a men’s weekend for June 10-13, 2027. E-mail laydirector@ knoxvillecursillo.org to learn more.
Immaculate Conception Parish in downtown Knoxville will celebrate Irish heritage with its 17th annual Irish Fest on the Hill, set for 4 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 8. Those attending may enjoy Irish food, drinks, dessert, and music and take part in a silent auction. A Gaelic games demonstration will be held. There will also be tours of IC Church, one of the oldest Catholic churches in the Diocese of Knoxville. The silent-auction wish list includes gift cards and certificates for restaurants, shops, experiences, etc.; services such as simple wills, spa treatments, teeth whitening, or dog grooming; and wine and spirits or jewelry. Music will be performed on two stages and feature Red-Haired Mary, Knoxville Pipe & Drums, Jeff Nelson, Nancy Brennan Strange & Friends, Four Leaf Peat, the Tennessee Irish Dancers, Tim and Cherry on the Strings, The Missing Goats, and Tracy Jenkins & Will MacMorran. Drop off items labeled for the silent auction at the parish office or contact Juliet McVay at cwmcvay@comcast.net
To help set up, clean up, or decorate; sell tickets, food, and beer; or staff the Irish Fest booth, call Beth Wolf at 865679-0535. Many sponsorship opportunities are available; call Becky Birdwell at 865-414-7430.
The diocesan Ministries Day is returning Saturday, Aug. 15, at All Saints Church in Knoxville. Speakers will present on Christian formation, youth and Hispanic ministry, marriage and family, and more. Directors of religious education and OCIA and youth leaders are encouraged to attend. Doors open at 8:30 a.m., with Mass at 9 and activities beginning at 10:15. More details to come soon.
Retrouvaille (“retro-vi”), a Christian program that is Catholic in origin and helps struggling couples restore their marriage and rebuild a loving relationship, will have gatherings on the weekends of Aug. 21-23 in Mount St. Francis, Ind. (held by the Louisville, Ky., community); Sept. 4-6 in Dickson, Tenn. (Nashville community); Sept. 1113 in Atlanta; and Oct. 2-4 in Hickory, N.C. Presenters are not trained marriage counselors but rather couples sharing their personal stories of marital struggles and the tools they used to rediscover their love. For costs and other details, e-mail 3043@helpourmarriage. org, visit helpourmarriage.org, or call 931-820-2115. The address of the weekend facility will be provided when the registration is processed.
Knoxville Catholic High School’s 40th annual Shamrock Open will take place Friday, Sept. 4, at Egwani Farms Golf Course in Rockford. Tee time is at 9 a.m. The event will honor John Wilkerson as an “Irish legend.” The day includes 18 holes of golf, breakfast, lunch, beverages, a golf shirt, and goodie bags. Costs are $175 per player and $700 per team. Register or become a sponsor at knoxville catholic.com/shamrock-open/. Since 1986, the Shamrock Open has raised $1,255,000.
Picture of Love retreats for engaged couples are scheduled for 6:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18, and 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, at St. Albert the Great Church in Knoxville and for 6:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, and 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Chattanooga. Mass will be celebrated at 5 p.m. on Sept. 19 at St. Albert the Great and at 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 3 at OLPH. This marriagepreparation program is a supplement to a couple’s marriage formation with their parish priest or deacon. Picture of
Calendar continued on page B10
St. Dominic, St. Henry Knights assist at Special Olympics event Knights of Columbus from Aldo J. Zazzi Council 6992 at St. Dominic Parish in Kingsport and from St. Henry Parish in Rogersville assisted at the Area 32 Special Olympics track-and-field event on April 6 at Volunteer High School in Church Hill. The meet included a long jump, a javelin throw, and a baseball toss, followed by track races, sprints, and wheelchair competitions (top photo). Students representing 12 schools from Sullivan and Hawkins counties took part. Sixteen teams, including a record-setting 165 athletes, competed during the games. With the inclusion of unified partners and senior student coaches, participation totaled 250 individuals from the 12 schools. St. Henry Knights financial secretary Don Purdy presented a check to Kelly Middleton, executive director of Area 32, with treasurer Ron Campbell and wife Kathy observing. Also attending the presentation were Carl Belcher, warden of Council 6992, and Bill Hewitt, community chair for the council and the Knights’ East Tennessee regional director for evangelization and faith formation. Some 500-600 spectators attended the track event.
Knights give St. Stephen Parish $2,111 from fish-fry proceeds Knights of Columbus Council 6099 conducts six fish fries each Lent for the community and parishioners of St. Stephen in Chattanooga. In return for the parish letting the council use the kitchen and hall facilities, the Knights split the proceeds from the fish fries with St. Stephen. The Knights’ Ladies Auxiliary provided desserts for the six events. Average attendance this past Lent was 135 per week with a high of 175 for the last fish fry. Council volunteer hours totaled 723. Pictured is St. Stephen pastor Father Manuel Pérez with a check for $2,111 from the Knights for St. Stephen’s portion of the proceeds. With him are (from left) Jim Polizzi, Bill Balsis, Steve Horten, Brendan Jennings, and Victor Williams of the Knights.
Legion of Mary Acies ceremony held at Holy Ghost Church
The Legion of Mary of East Tennessee held its annual Acies ceremony on March 21 at Holy Ghost Church in Knoxville. Active and auxiliary members came from parishes all over the diocese to renew their promise to the Blessed Mother. Holy Ghost pastor Father John Orr, the spiritual director for the Legion of Mary in East Tennessee, is pictured with the group.
Vacation Bible schools in the diocese
Vacation Bible schools are coming up at churches around the diocese. Below are three that are taking place: n St. John Neumann, Farragut, 8:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on June 2226, themed “Marvelous Mystery: The Mass Comes Alive.” Adult volunteers are needed; visit forms. gle/523rTM8Dhk8Br1ZW7. Child care is provided for children under 4. Contact Sloane Clapp for
more information at sloane.clapp@ gmail.com n St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Cleveland, June 22-24, themed “Passport to Peace,” for kindergartners through sixth-graders. Stop by the church office to fill out a registration form. n St. Stephen, Chattanooga, July 6-10. Contact Donna Scruggs at 423-892-2957 or cre@ststephen chatt.org ■
COURTESY OF BILL HEWITT (2)
COURTESY OF JOHN VANNUCCI
COURTESY OF ELISSA EDWARDS
Ladies of Charity’s annual golf tourney raises more than $17,000
The annual Joseph E. Fuhr Golf Tournament sponsored by the Ladies of Charity of Knoxville took place on May 7 at Egwani Farms Golf Course in Rockford, and despite rain, the event was a great success.
The tourney drew 24 teams made up of four players each, bringing a total of 96 golfers to the course. The event raised $17,566, and every dollar will go toward fulfilling the Ladies of Charity mission of providing emergency assistance to those in need. The funds will help the Ladies to continue providing food, clothing, rental assistance, and utility as-
sistance to individuals and families throughout the community.
With the school year ending and children home for the summer, the need for assistance often increases for many families. Through the generosity of the golf-tourney supporters, the funds raised will allow the Ladies to purchase enough food to meet the increased demand for the next four months.
The first-place finisher in flight one during the tourney was Team Wright Jr., made up of Jim Wright Jr., Robert Wright, Waldo Broughton, and Brad Hall. The top foursome in flight two was Team Henkel, composed of Jim Henkel, Andrew White, Larry Newman, and Gary Kuhn. Dave Roulier chaired the Ladies of Charity golf committee. ■
Helping the Ladies of Charity Team Wright Jr. (top right photo) was the winner in flight one of the golf tournament. Pictured are Robert Wright, Brad Hall, Waldo Broughton, and Jim Wright Jr. Above, Mr. Broughton (right) accepts the first-place award from golf committee chair Dave Roulier. Team Henkel finished first in flight two. Jim Henkel from the foursome (center photo) accepts his award from Mr. Roulier. The ladies pictured are (from left in front) Patti Levenson, Judy Greiss, and Carol Cullum with Diane Thrash in the back.
Notre Dame Parish begins Traveling Chalice Program for vocations
The Vocation Committee at Notre Dame Parish in Greeneville has started a Traveling Chalice Program to pray for vocations. The Shortridge family on May 3 was the first family to receive the chalice. Notre Dame pastor Father Joseph Kuzhupil, MSFS, blessed the family and presented the chalice. The Shortridges will display the chalice in a prominent place in their home and pray daily for vocations. A binder with prayers accompanies the chalice. On the first Sunday of the month, the chalice will be presented to another family who has signed up to receive it. The handmade case was crafted by Charlie Cronan, a parishioner of Notre Dame.
The stone facing on the south side of the bell tower at Holy Ghost Church in Knoxville sustained damage late last year, with stone
Tyler Williamson and the Immaculata
to repair the damage.
COURTESY OF SUSAN UNBEHAUN (4)
COURTESY OF SUSAN COLLINS (2)
Holy Ghost Church bell tower undergoing repairs
falling on the roof of the church.
Construction Group are working
DAN MCWILLIAMS
Chattanooga Fourth Degree Knights take part in Armed Forces parade Knights of Columbus from Chattanooga Fourth Degree assemblies 1084 and 3250 participated in the Chattanooga Armed Forces Day Parade on May 1. This was the 77th annual parade and the longest-running Armed Forces Day parade in the United States. Pictured from left are Chris Humkey, Thomas Campbell, John Chenkus, Al Salatka, Raleigh Cooper, Victor Williams, Terry Duffy, and Brandon Jennings. Mike Williams is behind Victor Williams.
COURTESY OF RALEIGH COOPER
St. Bridget parishioner, 92, crowns Mary Longtime parishioner Virginia Bishop (right), age 92, recently performed the May Crowning of the Blessed Mother at St. Bridget Church in Dayton. Her daughter Kathleen Hunt assisted her. Mrs. Bishop made the crown still used today more than 30 years ago.
COURTESY OF JANET SPRAKER
Notre Dame youth celebrate ‘Uplift Your Priest’ week
The religious-education students at Notre Dame Parish in Greeneville acknowledged their priests on April 19 during “Uplift Your Priest” week. The students and catechists signed cards for pastor Father Joseph Kuzhupil, MSFS (left), and Father Andres Cano, offering them a spiritual bouquet filled with more than 100 prayers. Class by class, the students signed or drew a picture on a banner for the priests that was put on display in the narthex. The students also decorated the sidewalk in front of the rectory in thanksgiving for their priests answering God’s call.
Fraternus and Fidelis Apostolates participate in Accolade
Ceremony
On April 29, the Knoxville Fraternus and Fidelis Apostolates celebrated their seventh annual Accolade Ceremony, which included knighting the Fraternus men and young men who completed the rigorous challenges and accomplishments in virtue. Similarly, eight Fidelis women and young ladies were coronated, representing their commitment to a life of virtue and the saintly crown that will one day be bestowed upon them in heaven. The Fraternus and Fidelis apostolates are multigenerational groups of men and women inspiring the next generation to be leaders of virtue in their families and communities. Sponsored by Holy Ghost Parish in Knoxville, the programs meet weekly at St. Joseph School, and members include parishioners of Holy Ghost, St. John Neumann in Farragut, St. Albert the Great in Knoxville, the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Holy Cross in Pigeon Forge, St. Therese in Clinton, and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church of the Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter. These national programs include weekly meetings, three yearly local excursions/retreats, and a weeklong summer camp with other chapters across the country. Both programs are open to youth once they are in sixth grade. This seventh Accolade Ceremony marks a significant milestone, as many of the members began in sixth grade and have now been coronated or knighted in their seventh year in the programs. Fraternus and Fidelis thanked Holy Ghost associate pastor Father Valentin Iurochkin for officiating the ceremony and Holy Ghost Parish for its sponsorship.
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Franciscan Jubilee event held at St. Francis-Fairfield Glade St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Fairfield Glade is an official pilgrimage site for the Franciscan Jubilee, commemorating the 800th anniversary of the Transitus, the passing into eternal life of St. Francis of Assisi in 1226. The parish hosted Father David Mary Engo, FFM, on May 16 to speak on the life of “The Little Poor Man” and how his 800-year-old legacy remains vital for modern Catholics. A vigil Mass was celebrated. View Father Engo’s talk and learn more about additional Jubilee events at saintfrancis fairfield.org/franciscan-jubilee-year
St. Bridget youth receive sacraments of confirmation, first Communion St. Bridget Parish in Dayton celebrated both the sacraments of confirmation on April 29 and first Holy Communion on May 2. Bishop Mark Beckman stands in the top photo with the youth he confirmed. With him are (from left, first row) Guadalupe Reyes, Jose Aguilar, Flor Velasquez, and St. Bridget pastor Father Jim Vick; (second row) Sister Maria del Pilar Hinojosa, MAG, instructor, and Yaitza Vásquez, Betzabet Avalos, Karen Marquez, Dominic Sanchez, and Miguel Custodio; (third row) Jenny Young, instructor, and Jesus Aguilar, Damian Alcala, Jeremy Marquez, and Kevin Marquez; and (back row) Steve Thorn, instructor. In the first Communion photo, Father Vick stands with (from left, front) Jany Aguilar, Emily Rodríguez, Magaly Vásquez, and José Aguilar and (back) Zoe López, Arianna Paz, María Alarcon, and Yuridia Lucas.
100th, Henry!
Henry Gluszek, a longtime parishioner of Holy Ghost in Knoxville, turned 100 years old on June 1. At left, he is pictured at a party held for him at Chesapeake West on May 31. The blue-andwhite theme represents the colors of the University of Kentucky, Mr. Gluszek’s alma mater, where he played football for head coach Paul “Bear” Bryant.
COURTESY OF JANET SPRAKER (2)
Happy
COURTESY OF PRISCILLA MCKINNEY (2)
COURTESY OF LENI TALLENT
Praying for Perspective by
George Valadie
“Is he kidding? We get to stay here?!” Memories of summer vacations are never the only thing we take home
We love the beach. It wouldn’t be everybody’s choice for sure. But when we can, we do.
And it goes without saying we’re beyond lucky to get to go a little more than we used to. I loved working in Catholic schools, but there was a tradeoff: it’s never been and will never be one of those professions that allows for a lot of that sort of thing when you’re raising three girls.
Vocations aren’t usually conducive for vacations. Rather, our faith told us the long-term benefits would be unmatched. I’m just not ready to cash those in yet.
Nancy has loved traveling there for as long as she can remember. When she was young, their family of five went to Daytona every summer. And she can recall the tiniest of details as if they had taken one of those trips just last week.
She recounts riding for however many hours between two older sisters who claimed the back-seat windows, the breeze, and the scenery. She can still talk about the anticipation she felt throughout the sleepless night before and the splurges of after-dinner ice cream and nighttime swimming. A rented air mattress allowed her to surf the ocean waves that lapped at her dad’s feet. Each and every thrill feeling like her own 1960s version of Disney World.
Pop wasn’t the sort who was big on reservations, convinced he could find a better deal on his own. So, she remembers the motels where they stayed, driving past those that seemed way too fancy and the occasional joy that each exclaimed when
Ihe’d wave to everyone to come on in. “Is he kidding? You mean we get to stay HERE?!?!”
On my side, I’m not sure where my half of our mutual attraction comes from—our family went there only once. And four of our six nearly drowned in the Gulf.
Still, I do love to go.
In the pre-seat-belt world, two of us made the trip rolling around in the back of a station wagon. The suitcases rode on top, only for us to discover they weren’t made to withstand the rain. Baloney sandwiches for lunch. McDonald’s for dinner. And we loved every minute of it.
How odd is it that we both remember 10-cent ice cream cones and nighttime swimming as our neverforgotten highlights.
These days it’s just Nancy and I most times, but what we really love is when the whole gang gathers.
Those three girls we raised now have families of their own, so ironing out multiple schedules of work, summer practices, rehearsals, and the plans their in-laws make explain why our “one big party” is a one big rare occurrence.
But we pulled it off last week. All 14 under one roof.
I didn’t say it out loud, no need being the downer, but I’m thinking odds are better than good that it might have been our last such trip. No one’s dying or anything; it’s just that it gets ever more expensive and everyone’s schedules get ever more complex.
We’ve made this trip before and should know better, but still, we’re one of those families who only gro-
Thoughts and Prayers for the Faithful by
cery shops after we get there. Stupid? Absolutely. Easier? Absolutely. So, just after everyone arrived, four cars set out in four different directions, no one having talked to anyone.
And yes, that’s stupid, too.
The result was just what you’d expect: lots of this and none of that. Ten bags of chips, no bags for trash. Two mustards, four mayonnaises, and enough Sugar Pops to feed all the troops on the nearby base.
This year we also planned our first sunset family beach photo, complete with semi-matching color themes. “We want to match but we don’t want to be too matchy-matchy, right?” Whatever that means.
It was a Christmas gift from one of the girls. So, no, we didn’t plan groceries but we did plan this.
“What are we gonna wear?” was the predominant theme of our family text thread for the six months in advance. We (and I use the word “we” loosely) settled on khaki, white, and blue.
Six months out, the Farmer’s Almanac was checked for weather and time of sunset. Outfits were bought and returned. And bought and returned again. I packed two bathing suits and a book; one daughter brought five dresses planning to make a game-time decision.
Another daughter said, “I’m gonna PUT my husband in …” which tells you a lot about their house.
Oh, yeah, we also went to the beach we love—once. I guess we’re more of a “love the idea of the beach” family. If there’s no pool, we’re not going.
Deacon Bob Hunt
Nancy and I fully comprehend how blessed we are to have enjoyed this opportunity. Everyone came, everyone survived, no blood was shed. Not all our vacations have been that fortunate. I hope it’s not true, but we may have spent six months planning a photograph that will eventually fade, maybe get misplaced, or end up in a box somewhere. But what won’t fade is all that happened around it.
The meals. The conversations. The late-night laughter. The small acts of patience required when 14 people share the same space for a week.
Maybe that’s one reason Jesus spent so much time around tables. He understood that relationships are where eternity begins to break into ordinary life.
An eternity that will cause us all to exclaim, “Is He kidding? You mean we get to stay HERE?!?!”
But vacations end. Children grow up. Schedules become impossible. But every now and then God gives us a glimpse of what we’re all really longing for: everyone gathered, everyone home, everyone belonging. We love the beach. I can’t wait to see the picture.
But that wasn’t the only gift.
Dear God—Thank you for all you have given us! Not for the stuff (though that is appreciated, too) but for the people with whom we share it. Amen. ■ George Valadie is a parishioner at St. Stephen Church in Chattanooga and author of the book “We Lost Our Fifth Fork … and other moments when we need some perspective.”
We have all we need to live out our true purpose
God created us so that we ‘may come to share in the divine nature’ and return to Him
s there meaning to our lives?
There are some who insist that life comes with no meaning. Any meaning to our lives is only given to our lives by ourselves. Dr. Richard Dawkins, the world’s most famous atheist, wrote in his 1995 book, River Out of Eden: “The universe we observe has precisely the properties we should expect if there is, at bottom, no design, no purpose, no evil, and no good, nothing but blind, pitiless indifference.”
If Dawkins is correct, there is no meaning to our lives. There is no God. There is only the universe, and the universe doesn’t care about us. The universe is a material object. It is a grand, majestic, spectacular material object. But still, a material object, with no will, no emotions, no idea that we exist, much less any concern for our existence. At the very best, the only meaning our life has is the one we create for it. This makes perfect sense for an atheist. Because there is no God, there is no one who created us. Because there is no one who created us, there is no one to assign meaning to our lives, except ourselves. But neither did we create ourselves. After all, I’m not responsible for my being here. Since I didn’t make me, how is it that I’m empowered to give my life its meaning? I am empowered, of course, to give my life a meaning, because I’m a conscious being and I’m free. But the fact that I’m not responsible for my own existence prompts the question: Why am I here? Is there a purpose to my life beyond the meaning that I give it? Is there an intrinsic meaning to my life, one that I possess simply because I exist? Our experience suggests that there is. We seem to be wired for purpose. We desire meaning for our lives,
which is why we try to give our lives meaning. This is supported not only by theology but also by psychology and biology. Dr. Viktor Frankl, author of the classic text Man’s Search for Meaning, claimed that what motivates people more than anything else is not the search for power or for pleasure, for fame or for fortune, but the search for meaning for their lives. But this recommends that there is a meaning to our lives that is beyond the meaning we give it, or why would we be so naturally consumed with the idea of giving our lives meaning? After all, there is an object behind every other natural desire we have: thirst, hunger, sex, breath, etc. It wouldn’t make sense that there is this natural desire for meaning for our lives if there were no object to satisfy that desire. But the object to satisfy the desire for meaning can’t simply be the one we give it, because we didn’t create ourselves. We are not the reason we are here.
Consider: we are thinking creatures. We have minds. Our minds are often employed in the work of making things. We make things for many purposes, but we never make things for no purpose whatsoever. Even if what we make is made simply to occupy our minds for a while, such as whittling a piece wood or doodling with no purpose other than to kill time, even still it has a purpose. We don’t create things for no reason whatsoever. We create things for a purpose.
The same is true in nature. Birds make nests to carry their eggs and their chicks. The great variety of birds make a great variety of nests, but the purpose for each is the same: to carry their eggs and their newborn chicks. No bird ever made
a nest and then flew away, having made the nest for no reason. The same could be said for rabbits and their burrows, spiders and their webs, beavers and their dams. You get the picture. Every mind that creates does so for a purpose. Whatever it creates, it has in mind a purpose for that object to fulfill. If this is true for every mind within the universe, could it be true for the mind of the universe itself? No. Why? Because the universe is a material object, with no more mind than a rock. On that score, Dawkins is right. The universe did not create us, and it cares nothing for us. But if not the universe, and not ourselves, then who or what created us? We must conclude that, because we possess an intrinsic meaning to our lives, there is a mind behind our having been created; a mind that is responsible for our existence, and who created us for a purpose. And that mind, as St. Thomas Aquinas might say, “everyone understands to be God.”
If God created us with a purpose, what is that purpose? What is the meaning of our lives? Here I turn to 2 Peter 1:3-4: “His divine power has bestowed on us everything that makes for life and devotion, through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and power. Through these, He has bestowed on us the precious and very great promises, so that through them you may come to share in the divine nature, after escaping from the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire.”
Let’s break this down: “His divine power has bestowed on us everything that makes for life and devotion…” As baptized members of the body of Christ, all that we
need to live a true life of devotion to God has already been given to us. We need not search anywhere else. How has this been given to us? “… through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and power.” Through knowledge of Christ, we have all we need to live the true purpose of our lives. And what is that purpose? “Through these (Christ’s glory and power), He has bestowed on us the precious and very great promises, so that through them you may come to share in the divine nature.” And there it is!
We came from God, and our purpose is to return to Him, fully realized in our humanity, fully caught up in the nature of God, which is love. Our disobedience separated us from God, introducing sin and death into our world. Christ’s life of perfect obedience even unto death, ends the reign of sin and death, breaks our chains, and empowers us to return to the one who is the fulfillment of all we were meant to be in the first place. God extends His grace to us. If we open our hearts and receive that grace, we are empowered to live a life in union with Him, both now and in the life to come. What is a good pen? A pen that writes. Why? Because the pen that writes fulfills the purpose for which it was made. What is a good person? A person who is in union with God, whose nature is love. Why? Because the person in union with God fulfills the purpose for which he or she was made.
Be Christ for all. Bring Christ to all. See Christ in all. ■
Deacon Bob Hunt is a husband, father, grandfather, and parishioner at All Saints Church in Knoxville.
Encountering God in the Liturgy by Father Randy Stice
The eucharistic piety of St. Thérèse of Lisieux
Jesus ‘gave Himself to me in Holy Communion more frequently than I would have dared hope’
In previous columns, we have looked at the eucharistic devotion and teaching of St. John Chrysostom, the Doctor of the Eucharist, and St. Francis of Assisi. This month, I want to continue with the eucharistic piety of one of the most beloved saints, St. Thérèse of Lisieux (1873-1897), the Little Flower who has taught us the “little way” of spiritual childhood.
St. Thérèse received her first Communion at the age of 11, months after she was freed from a serious and mysterious illness after making a novena to Our Lady of Victories. She described the day of her first Communion as the “beautiful day of days” and later wrote, “Ah! How sweet was that first kiss of Jesus! It was a kiss of love; I felt that I was loved, and I said: ‘I love You, and I give myself to You forever!’…it was a fusion; they were no longer two, Thérèse had vanished as a drop of water is lost in the immensity of the ocean. Jesus alone remained; He was the Master, the King.”1
During St. Thérèse’s life, France was still influenced by the Jansenist heresy that emphasized human sinfulness and our unworthiness to receive Communion, so that most Catholics, including cloistered religious, received Communion only a few times a year. Even after Pope Leo XIII gave confessors the authority to determine the frequency of Communion, St. Thérèse’s confessor, influenced by the superior, kept them infrequent.2 She wrote that she received “the Communions
my confessor permitted, allowing him to regulate the number and not asking.”3
However, Jesus “gave Himself to me in Holy Communion more frequently than I would have dared hope.”4 She observed, “It appeared to be Jesus Himself who desired to give Himself to me, for I went to confession only a few times, and never spoke about my interior sentiments.”5 Pope Francis wrote that “her gaze remained fixed not on herself and her own needs, but on Christ, who loves, seeks, desires, and dwells within.”6
St. Thérèse prepared carefully for each Communion. “I picture my soul as a piece of land and I beg the Blessed Virgin to remove from it any rubbish that would prevent it from being free; then I ask her to set up a huge tent worthy of heaven, adorning it with her own jewelry; finally, I invite all the angels and saints to come and conduct a magnificent concert there. It seems to me that when Jesus descends into my heart He is content to find Himself so well received and I, too, am content.”
This careful preparation did “not prevent both distractions and sleepiness from visiting me, but at the end of the thanksgiving when I see that I’ve made it so badly I make a resolution to be thankful all through the rest of the day….no doubt this does not displease Jesus since He seems to encourage me on this road.”7
Surprisingly, St. Thérèse did not often receive consolations after Communion. In fact, she wrote,
“perhaps it is the time when I receive the least.”8 This did not discourage her, though: “I find this very understandable since I have offered myself to Jesus not as one desirous of her consolation in His visit but simply to please Him who is giving Himself to me.”9
St. Thérèse’s eucharistic faith was also evident in her relationship with her spiritual brother, Adolphe Roulland, a soon-to-be ordained seminarian belonging to the Foreign Mission Society in Paris whose spiritual interests were entrusted to St. Thérèse by her superior in May of 1896. Following his ordination in June, Father Roulland left for China in August of 1896. Her letters to him reveal her deep faith in petitions made during Mass. She confided to him, “For a long time I wanted an Apostle [priest] who would pronounce my name at the holy altar on the day of his first Mass….The God of Goodness has willed to realize my dream.”10
In another letter, she asked, “promise me…to continue each morning to say at the altar: ‘My God, enkindle my sister with Your love.’”11 He also remembered at the altar her mother, who died in 1877, and her father, who died in 1894: “I am also deeply touched and grateful for your remembrance of my dear parents at Mass.”12
St. Thérèse reminds us of Jesus’ fervent desire to give Himself to us in the Eucharist. In a prayer to Christ she wrote, “Ascending once again to the Inaccessible Light, henceforth
Your abode, You remain still in this ‘valley of tears,’ hidden beneath the appearances of a white host. Eternal Eagle, You desire to nourish me with Your divine substance and yet I am but a poor little thing.”13 To Jesus, we are a far more desirable abode than the most beautiful ciborium: “It is not to remain in a golden ciborium that He comes to us each day from heaven; it’s to find another heaven, infinitely more dear to Him than the first: the heaven of our soul, made to His image, the living temple of the adorable Trinity!”14 ■
1 Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, third edition, translated by John Clarke, OCD (Washington, D.C.: ICS Publications, 1996), 77
2 www.ncregister.com/blog/eucharist-is-big-secret-behind-litle-way (N.B.: “litle” is correct in link)
3 Story of a Soul, 104
4 Ibid, 104
5 Ibid, 105
6 Pope Francis, C’est la Confiance, 22
7 Story of a Soul, 172-173
8 Ibid, 172
9 Ibid, 172
10 Letters of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Vol. II, 956-957
11 Ibid, 1018
12 Ibid, 1094
13 Story of a Soul, 199
14 Ibid, 104
Father Randy Stice is director of the diocesan Office of Worship and Liturgy. He can be reached at frrandy@ dioknox.org.
Notre Dame Club of Chattanooga named No. 1 for first time ever
At the 2026 University of Notre Dame Alumni Leadership Conference, held on the campus in April, the Notre Dame Club of Chattanooga was named the 2026 Outstanding Club of the Year in its size classification.
Though the club was nominated a number of times before, this was the first time it has received this award in its 75-plus years of existence.
In order to qualify for this accomplishment, the group must show that it has excelled above all others both in support of Notre Dame’s mission and in service to its local constituents. In addition, the club must have been named a Program of Excellence, the criteria for which is based on programming in the Alumni Association’s six C’s: camaraderie, career connections, Catholic/Christian spirituality, community service, continuing education, and current students.
The Chattanooga club has social events (game watches), student support events (a summer send-off, gift cards before finals), and spiritual events (a group Mass/Communion breakfast). Regular service days are scheduled with Habitat for Humanity and the Chattanooga Food Bank. In the last few years,
Daily readings
Monday, June 15: 1 Kings 21:1-16; Psalm 5:2-7; Matthew 5:38-42
Tuesday, June 16: 1 Kings 21:1729; Psalm 51:3-6, 11, 16; Matthew 5:43-48
Wednesday, June 17: 2 Kings 2:1, 6-14; Psalm 31:20-21, 24; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
Thursday, June 18: Sirach 48:1-14; Psalm 97:1-7; Matthew 6:7-15 Friday, June 19: 2 Kings 11:1-4, 9-18, 20; Psalm 132:11-14, 17-18; Matthew 6:19-23
Saturday, June 20: 2 Chronicles 24:17-25; Psalm 89:4-5, 29-34; Matthew 6:24-34
Sunday, June 21: Jeremiah 20:10-13; Psalm 69:8-10, 14, 17, 33-35; Romans 5:12-15; Matthew 10:26-33 Monday, June 22: 2 Kings 17:5-8, 1315, 18; Psalm 60:3-5, 12-13; Matthew
the club has sponsored a Christmas drive for gifts and coats for children entering the country through Bridge Refugee Services; in 2025, gift-wrapped packages were delivered to 52 children through the generosity of club members and a
7:1-5
Tuesday, June 23: 2 Kings 19:9-11, 14-21, 31-36; Psalm 48:2-4, 10-11; Matthew 7:6, 12-14; vigil for the Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, Jeremiah 1:4-10; Psalm 71:1-6, 15, 17; 1 Peter 1:8-12; Luke 1:5-17
Wednesday, June 24: Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, Isaiah 49:1-6; Psalm 139:1-3, 13-15; Acts 13:22-26; Luke 1:57-66, 80
Thursday, June 25: 2 Kings 24:8-17; Psalm 79:1-5, 8-9; Matthew 7:21-29
Friday, June 26: 2 Kings 25:1-12; Psalm 137:1-6; Matthew 8:1-4
Saturday, June 27: Lamentations
2:2, 10-14, 18-19; Psalm 74:1-7, 20-21; Matthew 8:5-17
Sunday, June 28: 2 Kings 4:8-11, 1416; Psalm 89:2-3, 16-19; Romans 6:34, 8-11; Matthew 10:37-42; vigil for the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul,
grant from the university. John Poinsatte, club president, and Mary Anne Poinsatte, Notre Dame admissions volunteer and Chattanooga club board member, accepted the Outstanding Club of the Year award on behalf of the
Apostles, Acts 3:1-10; Psalm 19:2-5; Galatians 1:11-20; John 21:15-19
Monday, June 29: Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, Apostles, Acts 12:111; Psalm 34:2-9; 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18; Matthew 16:13-19 Tuesday, June 30: Amos 3:1-8 and 4:11-12; Psalm 5:4-8; Matthew 8:23-27
Wednesday, July 1: Amos 5:14-15, 21-24; Psalm 50:7-13, 16-17; Matthew 8:28-34
Thursday, July 2: Amos 7:10-17; Psalm 19:8-11; Matthew 9:1-8
Friday, July 3: Feast of St. Thomas, Apostle, Ephesians 2:19-22; Psalm 117:1-2; John 20:24-29
Saturday, July 4: Amos 9:11-15; Psalm 85:9-14; Matthew 9:14-17
Sunday, July 5: Zechariah 9:9-10; Psalm 145:1-2, 8-11, 13-14; Romans 8:9, 11-13; Matthew 11:25-30 Monday, July 6: Hosea 2:16-18, 21-
club members. Anyone who supports Notre Dame is welcome to join the group, whether or not you attended the university. Contact John Poinsatte at jpp23@aol.com for more information. ■
22; Psalm 145:2-9; Matthew 9:18-26
Tuesday, July 7: Hosea 8:4-7, 11-13; Psalm 115:3-10; Matthew 9:32-38
Wednesday, July 8: Hosea 10:1-3, 7-8, 12; Psalm 105:2-7; Matthew 10:1-7
Thursday, July 9: Hosea 11:1-4, 8-9; Psalm 80:2-3, 15-16; Matthew 10:7-15
Friday, July 10: Hosea 14:2-10; Psalm 51:3-4, 8-9, 12-14, 17; Matthew 10:16-23
Saturday, July 11: Memorial of St. Benedict, abbot, Isaiah 6:1-8; Psalm 93:1-2, 5; Matthew 10:24-33
Sunday, July 12: Isaiah 55:10-11; Psalm 65:10-14; Romans 8:18-23; Matthew 13:1-23 Monday, July 13: Isaiah 1:10-17; Psalm 50:8-9 16-17, 21, 23; Matthew 10:34–11:1
Tuesday, July 14: Memorial of St. Kateri Tekakwitha, virgin, Isaiah 7:19; Psalm 48:2-8; Matthew 11:20-24 ■
A 75-year first The Notre Dame Club of Chattanooga has existed for more than 75 years but had never before won the Outstanding Club of the Year award until this year.
COURTESY OF MARY ANNE POINSATTE
St. Joseph the Worker gala raises more than $50,000 for new FLC
St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Madisonville, on April 11 at Tellico Village Yacht Club in Loudon, held its first Spring Gala to raise funds to build a family life center.
A total of 154 came to the gala. Bishop Mark Beckman provided a video message for the event, and Deacon Hicks Armor, director of the diocesan Office of Stewardship and Strategic Planning, attended.
The Spring Gala featured a dinner, dancing, and a silent auction. St. Joseph the Worker pastor Father Julius Abuh, director of church operations Mary Beavers, and event co-chairs Eileen Karnes and Kim Ferriter were the evening’s hosts.
Love explores the joys and challenges of living out the sacrament of matrimony with special focus on the importance of inviting Jesus to be the center of marriage and family life. The program will help a couple gain insights into their relationship, as well as give them practical ideas and tools to help smooth their journey and become the “Picture of Love” to one another. Participants who complete the program will receive a certificate to present to their county clerk and receive a $60 discount on their marriage license. The marriage license is valid for 30 days from issuance and is good for ceremonies performed anywhere in Tennessee. Cost is $175 per couple. Registration is available for the St. Albert the Great retreat at dioknox. org/events/picture-of-love-retreatsept-2026 and for the OLPH retreat at dioknox.org/events/picture-of-loveretreat-oct-2026. Registration deadline is Friday, Sept. 4, for the earlier retreat and Friday, Sept. 18, for the later retreat. Late registrations are accepted if space allows (cost is $200). Also at the websites are three exercises: a personality test, a “love language profile for couples,” and a fillable budget worksheet. Couples are asked to complete the exercises in advance and bring them to the retreat—see the websites for more details. Contact Carolyn Krings at 865-584-3307 or ckrings@dioknox. org for more information.
Bishop Mark Beckman will celebrate a Mass with young adults of the diocese at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 20, at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. A dinner will follow Mass. More details to come.
Catholic youth ages 6-20 are invited
’n’ About Quarry Day at Fort Dickerson Park in South Knoxville on June 13.
The group also will hold an XLT (“exalt”) night of adoration and praise music on June 19.
Deacon Greg Larson will lead a pro-life rosary at noon on Wednesday, June 17, outside Planned Parenthood on Cherry Street in Knoxville.
St. Joseph, Norris
The parish council will have two openings effective July 1.
A Father’s Day brunch is planned for Sunday, June 21.
Two days after the feast of Corpus Christi, St. Joseph held an informal session on “The Eucharist and the Real Presence of Christ” on June 9.
The Men of St. Joseph stained the Stations of the Cross and benches this month to keep them preserved.
Five Rivers Deanery
Holy Trinity, Jefferson City
Father Jim Harvey celebrated his 30th anniversary of priestly ordination on June 1.
The Knights of Columbus recognized recipients of the Ken Schroer Memorial Scholarship. Graduating seniors awarded scholarships are Grant Arnold and Caiden Baker from Holy Trinity Parish and Lizbeth Castro Mendez from Good Shepherd Parish in Newport. Grant will be attending Emory & Henry University
The gala raised more than $50,000 for the family life center project.
The parish needs the new building as it has experienced a rapid increase in parishioners, evidenced by crowded Masses and limited meeting space, making it challenging to support essential ministries like OCIA, religious education, Bible studies, and various committees.
The family life center will provide much-needed classrooms, a larger hall, a spacious kitchen, private offices, and storage, ensuring that ministries and parish activities can continue to flourish.
For more information, visit sjtw rcc.wixsite.com/sjtwrcc/familylife-center-updates ■
to a Scouting retreat, a day of faith and fellowship, at the pavilion at Sacred Heart Cathedral School on Saturday, Oct. 10. There will be activities, games, lunch, reconciliation, and Mass. The day begins at 10 a.m., concluding with Mass at 5 p.m. Cost is $10 and includes activities and lunch. For more information, e-mail Kimberly Turnmire at kimberly.turnmire@gmail.com
The Healing Ministry at Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Alcoa offers healing prayers every third weekend of the month for anyone who has a physical, emotional, or spiritual need. Individual healing prayer will be offered in Spanish in the church immediately following the 7 p.m. Saturday Mass in Spanish, and prayer will be offered in English in the chapel immediately following the 11 a.m. Sunday Mass. Call Toni Jacobs at 561-315-5911 if you have any questions.
Catholic in Recovery is a 12-step recovery ministry that holds meetings each Monday at 7 p.m. at St. Dominic Church in Kingsport and each Sunday at 4 p.m. at All Saints Church in Knoxville. CIR provides hope and healing from addictions, compulsions, and unhealthy attachments. Family members impacted by a loved one’s addiction are also encouraged to attend. Meetings combine the spiritual principles of 12-step recovery and the sacraments of the Catholic Church. Join others in recovery as the meetings overlap Scripture from Sunday Mass readings, liturgical themes, and recovery topics with honest discussion and prayer. Confidentiality is protected. The St. Dominic gatherings are hybrid meetings, in person in the St. Thomas Aquinas Room of the parish life center or online
while Caiden will attend Carson-Newman University and Lizbeth will attend Lincoln Memorial University.
The Council of Catholic Women Father’s Day Bake Sale will take place on the weekend of June 20-21. Drop off items in the parish hall kitchen. Call Cindy Giardiello for details at 201-696-1769.
About 200 attended the parish picnic on May 31. The parish thanked everyone who brought food as well as the Knights of Columbus for grilling.
Deacon David Oatney celebrated his 10th anniversary of ordination on June 11.
Anniversaries: Irvin and Emilia Gaubert (15), Pedro and Maria Moreno (10)
Notre Dame, Greeneville
Parishioners will bid farewell to pastor Father Joseph Kuzhupil, MSFS, at a picnic at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 28.
Father Kuzhupil begins his new assignment as pastor of St. Dominic in Kingsport on July 1.
St. Dominic, Kingsport
Adults in the parish are invited to the annual Italian Night, which begins in the parish life center at 6:30 p.m. following the vigil Mass on Saturday, June 27. The free event features a potluck meal, Italian music, and singing and dancing.
The St. Dominic Seniors are attending the performance of The Savannah Sipping Society on June 30 at the Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Va.
at tinyurl.com/cir-zoom-tricitiestn. For more information, visit www. catholicinrecovery.com. For more details on the meetings at St. Dominic, contact Jena at cir.tricities.tn@gmail. com or call Oscar at 423-213-2434. For the meetings at All Saints, call Martin Ohmes at 865-438-4905 or e-mail CIR AllSaintsKnoxville@gmail.com
Join Glenmary Father Steve Pawelk on a pilgrimage to Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Shrines of Mexico Sept. 22-Oct. 1. The group will visit the Santuario de San Toribio Romo, built in honor of the Mexican martyrs of the 1920s; Cristo Rey, the second largest statue of Christ in the world; and the church of Santa Cruz de Los Milagros, where St. Junipero Serra stayed before his journey to begin the Franciscan Missions, which the group will visit before going on to Mexico City. There the pilgrims will visit the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe; Tepeyac Hill, where Our Lady appeared to St. Juan Diego; and many other holy and sacred sites. For more information, contact Lisa Morris at 865-567-1245 or lisam@select-intl.com
Event raises funds for much-needed space Deacon Walt Stone (left), Deacon Hicks Armor, and St. Joseph the Worker pastor Father Julius Abuh appear at the parish’s first gala for a new family life center. To learn more about the building, visit sjtwrcc.wixsite.com/sjtwrcc/ family-life-center-updates
Dame Cathedral, Église Saint-Sulpice, the Shrine of St. Vincent de Paul, Gallery of the Kings, the Louvre, SaintChapelle, and the Church of St. Mary Magdalene), Nevers (St. Bernadette), Paray-le-Monial (Shrine of the Sacred Heart), and Ars (St. John Vianney). Cost is $5,650 for a double room or $6,649 for a single room. The land-only cost (no flights) is $1,000. For more information, visit www.canterburypilgrimages.com/tour/14046
Father Michael Cummins, pastor of St. Dominic Parish in Kingsport, is leading a retreat to Yellowstone National Park Oct. 11-16. The retreat will consist of daily wildlife watching led by professional wildlife guides, daily Mass and retreat sessions offered by Father Cummins, talks by park naturalists and wildlife experts, and days ending with dinner prepared by a local chef. Retreat cost is $3,100, not including airfare. For more information, call Roberta Somerville in the St. Dominic office at 423-288-8101.
A “Sacred Shrines of France” pilgrimage sponsored by Holy Family Parish in Seymour is set for Sept. 28-Oct. 8. Holy Family pastor Father Bill McNeeley will be the chaplain and spiritual director for the pilgrimage, and Sherri McNeeley will be the group leader. Sites visited and saints focused on include Lourdes, Normandy/ Omaha Beach, Lisieux (Basilica of St. Thérèse), Rouen (St. Joan of Arc), Mont Saint-Michel, Chartres Cathedral, Paris (Shrine of the Miraculous Medal, Sacré-Coeur, Notre
The St. Dominic Veterans Group honored Memorial Day at the 8:15 a.m. Mass on May 25.
Smoky Mountain Deanery
Holy Family, Seymour
Knights of Columbus George S. Kurtz Council 12961 will celebrate its 25th anniversary on June 26. Those interested in a catered Italian dinner to mark the anniversary should visit holyfamily seymour.org/knights-of-columbus-1 to vote on a date for the event.
Julia Driscoll Schriver, a parishioner of the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus who died last Sept. 2, in her will left a sizable donation to Holy Family Parish that will cover much of the cost for a new HVAC unit in the family life center.
Deacon Bob Denne will lead a class on prayer after the 8 a.m. Mass on Sundays beginning June 21 and continuing through the summer.
The Crafty Ladies held their fourth annual Sandwich & Ice Cream Social after the 11 a.m. Mass on May 31.
Immaculate Conception, Knoxville
A list of IC’s graduating students appeared in the May edition of The East Tennessee Catholic. Also graduating was Gavin Ralston from Hardin Valley Academy in Knoxville.
A three-week project to replace the courtyard steps and retaining wall began on June 1.
“A Biblical Walk through the Mass” five-
Father Julian Cardona, pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Lenoir City, and St. Thomas parishioner Jim Gecsei are leading a pilgrimage to the Holy Land Oct. 17-27. Pilgrims will visit the Sea of Galilee, Nazareth, the Mount of Beatitudes, Mount Tabor, Ein Karem, Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and more. Cost is $4,695 for land only and $5,695 for land and group air. A solo room will cost an additional $1,395. For more information, contact Select International Tours at 800-842-4842 or mirela@select-intl. com, or visit selectinternationaltours. com n
session series started on June 1 in the parish hall.
Sacred Heart, Knoxville
The parish honored rector Father David Boettner during his final weekend at the cathedral on June 13-14. Father Boettner celebrated all Masses, and after each a reception was held for him in the Cathedral Hall. Father Boettner, rector of the cathedral since 2010, will become the pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in South Pittsburg and Shepherd of the Valley in Dunlap on July 1.
Sacred Heart will also recognize associate pastor Father Martin Gladysz on his last weekend at the cathedral on June 20–21 with receptions after each Mass. Father Gladysz’s new assignment as pastor of St. Therese Parish in Clinton begins on July 1.
St. John XXIII, Knoxville
The annual parish picnic is set for noon on Saturday, June 27, at St. Albert the Great Church in Knoxville. Sign up on the board in the lobby if you plan to attend or to bring a side dish. The parish will provide burgers, buns, condiments, water, and soft drinks.
St. Joseph the Worker, Madisonville
Dale Weaver is the new president of the parish council.
A recent Family Fun Festival raised $3,220 for the family life center. Father Julius Abuh thanked Tami Clowers, the religious-education team, and volunteers who helped with the event. n
Parish notes continued from page B4
Calendar continued from page B5
COURTESY OF FATHER
JULIUS ABUH
KCHS, Notre Dame athletes excel at Spring Fling
Knoxville Catholic shot put and discus thrower, girls relay team win state titles; NDHS has a trio of No. 2 finishes
By Dan McWilliams
The TSSAA’s annual Spring Fling spring-sports championships saw a quartet of Knoxville Catholic High School track athletes three-peat in the girls 800-meter relay and JR Fowler capture the Irish’s first-ever state titles in shot put and discus, while Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga posted state runner-up finishes in boys soccer and boys tennis singles.
Aidan Redner of Notre Dame received two second-place honors as he played both soccer and tennis. Other individual teams and athletes from each school also stood out in state meets and tournaments.
KCHS track and field
The Lady Irish girls 800 relay team of junior Sarah Salsbery, junior Juliet Biden, freshman Zymie’Rah Givens, and senior Chloe Truss captured the school’s third straight Division II, Class AA state championship in the event on May 20 at Tom Black Track on the University of Tennessee-Knoxville campus. The four girls completed the relay in 1 minute, 40.47 seconds, just .07 seconds ahead of runner-up Harpeth Hall.
Chloe, Sarah, and Juliet have been a part of all three championship relay teams. Senior Payton Sipos rounded out the foursome in 2024-25 but was unable to compete this year because of an injury, and Zymie’Rah took her place.
JR, a senior, fouled in his first three shot-put attempts but made a toss of 57 feet, 2 inches, in his final try and won the state title in the event by 3.4 inches over Dylan Taylor of Brentwood Academy on May 20 at Tom Black Track. On the same day, JR made four successful discus throws, the last covering 181-3 and besting Dylan by more than 35 feet. JR’s sister, Charlotte, also placed in state events for the Lady Irish.
“JR has consistently and method-
“To the class of ’26, you’re probably not going to remember anything I say. You’re just ready to get this thing over, and I understand that, but I wanted to give you maybe a little bit of wisdom,” Dr. Schexnaildre said. “This evening belongs to you. Over the course of years at Notre Dame High School, you have grown into leaders, scholars, athletes, artists, servants, and faithful young men and women of character.
“You have represented Notre Dame with excellence in the classrooms, on stages, on fields and courts, and most importantly in the way you have treated others. You have shown resilience during challenges, humility in success, and compassion in moments when people needed it the most. And now after years of hard work, sacrifice, prayer, and overcoming challenges, you sit before us to take the next step in your world.”
Ronnie Bradford, Notre Dame dean of faculty, introduced the address of remembrance by salutatorian Lila Held and the address of farewell by valedictorian Nathan Jungels.
Remembering Jim Phifer and Bubber Byrne
Laura Goodhard, dean of students, presented the James D. Phifer “Spirit of Notre Dame” Award to DaLana Brown and Cooper Campbell.
Dr. Schexnaildre gave the James Patrick “Bubber” Byrne Award for sportsmanship, character, leadership, participation in varsity sports, and personal accomplishments in athletics to Dylan Hall.
Father Houston presented the Bishop James D. Niedergeses Award for outstanding generosity and service to the community to Lila Held. Melissa Wolff, dean of academics, gave the General Excellence Award, the highest award students can re-
ically worked at getting better year after year,” said Knoxville Catholic track-and-field coach Sean O’Neil.
“Our division has had some amazing throwers for the past four years, and his discipline and persistence finally paid off. His mother, Erin, is our throws coach, and she does a phenomenal job. His sister, Charlotte, finished second in shot put and discus as a freshman, so the future is bright.”
KCHS junior Chandler Thompson finished eighth with 5,920 points in the state decathlon, also held on May 20 at Tom Black Track. The score was the second-best in Irish history. Chandler placed fifth in the pole vault, discus, shot put, 110 hurdles, and 1,500 dash and sixth in the triple jump
ceive, which is voted on by faculty and staff for academic excellence, personal character, and general excellence in all areas of school, service, and spirit, to McKinna Wiles and Josiah Morais.
Mary Jungels, representing the Notre Dame Home and School Association, presented two faculty and staff awards. The Heart of Notre Dame Award, voted on by faculty and staff for one of their own who emulates the qualities of leadership, service, reverence, and personal involvement in the NDHS community, went to band director Marcie Smith. The Heart of the Irish Award, voted on by the senior class for a faculty member who embodies all of the virtues and good qualities they associate with NDHS, was presented to theology department chair Conor Martin.
Becoming graduates
Mr. Bradford announced the seniors’ names, and Ms. Mundine presented them with their diplomas.
Dr. Schexnaildre asked the graduates to stand and move their tassels from right to left.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the Notre Dame High School class of 2026. Congratulations,” he said.
Bishop Beckman followed the head of school to the microphone.
“I want to take a moment to thank you for everything that you all have been part of in your last four years at Notre Dame,” he said.
The bishop had just arrived near the end of the commencement after being delayed on his trip from Knoxville by bridge construction on Interstate 75, but he made good use of his time while stuck in traffic.
“My first thought was: I don’t want to miss this graduation. There was nothing I could do but pray, so I pulled out my rosary, and I began to pray for you all, the graduates of
among the 10 events. He recorded season bests in eight of the events.
“Chandler had a great season. It was his first year competing in hurdles, and he broke our school records in both the 110 and 300 hurdles. His grit really showed through in the decathlon, where in the last event he managed to secure an All-State position with an eighth-place finish,” Mr. O’Neil said.
KCHS senior Radek Molchan placed fourth in the boys high jump with a mark of 6-2. Junior Warren Brown of the Irish took seventh in the event, clearing the bar at 5-10.
Cade Duncanson, a junior at KCHS, placed second in the 3,200 run in a time of 9:20.53, with Baylor’s Marshall McConville taking
first in 9:07.17.
“Cade had a really gutsy race and executed his plan perfectly in the 3,200,” Mr. O’Neil said. “He was the fifth-fastest guy in the race coming in and managed to catch some people off guard and finish second by pushing the pace from the gun.” Chandler was third in the boys 300 hurdles in a time of 40.61. Sophomore Reid Bannister of Knoxville Catholic took fifth in the 800 run in 1:54.30. Sophomore Quentin Smith came in seventh in the boys 400 dash in 50.03 seconds.
The KCHS boys 1,600 relay team of Chandler, Quentin, junior Dean Hamilton, and Reid recorded a fifth-place finish at the state meet in a time of 3:25.43, breaking an
Notre Dame High School, 2026,” he said. “One of the reasons I wanted to be here with you is because I love Notre Dame High School. I love what it’s doing here in the Chattanooga area. It is such a gift to this community and to the entire diocese.”
Bishop Beckman was on the staff of Notre Dame in his seminarian days.
“I will never forget the wonderful year I spent teaching here, and for me it’s a joy every time I return. But this particular class: when I met with you all earlier this year and we had that wonderful questionand-answer time together, I was so impressed with you all,” the bishop said. “I know the Lord has wonderful plans for each and every one of you, and I want to encourage you simply to say yes to wherever God calls you in life and whatever invitation He gives you. You all, if you cooperate with God’s invitations in your life, will bear God’s light to the
world. I am certain of that.”
He then gave the closing prayer and final blessing.
“Gracious and loving God, in the abundance of your goodness and mercy, pour out your gifts upon these, your servants, the graduating class of Notre Dame High School of 2026. As they journey forth from this place, Lord, safeguard them. Strengthen them with your blessings. May they always carry a deep sense of gratitude and joy. May they be instruments and channels of your light in our world,” he said.
Mr. Bradford then cued the hat toss at the end of the ceremony.
“Let me be the first to welcome you to the ranks of the alumni of Notre Dame High School, whose success is only matched by their service to others. Congratulations, class of 2026 and go Irish!” ■
Maggie Parsons contributed to this article
On the stand Knoxville Catholic’s JR Fowler (left photo) earned state-championship medals in discus and shot put. He stands with discus runner-up Dylan Taylor (left) of Brentwood Academy and third-place finisher Charles Doughtie of Memphis University School. The KCHS girls 800-meter relay team won its third straight state title. In the back row (right photo) are Sarah Salsbery (left) and Zymie’Rah Givens, and in front are Chloe Truss (left) and Juliet Biden.
Spring Fling continued on page B12
COURTESY OF KNOXVILLE CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL (2)
Graduations continued from page B3
‘Enrich our graduates and safeguard them’ Bishop Mark Beckman presented diplomas at the Knoxville Catholic High School graduation on May 15 as Ore Pumariega (right) called the seniors’ names.
Notre Dame High School sets annual Alumni Weekend events
Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga has a number of events planned for its annual Alumni Weekend July 16-18.
The 41st annual Irish Classic Golf Tournament is set for 1 p.m. Thursday, July 16, and 8:30 a.m. Friday, July 17, at WindStone Golf Club in Ringgold, Ga. Because of high demand and golf-course capacity limits, the tourney will have a twoday format. Registration is limited and is open to NDHS alumni, parents, and friends ages 21 and above. Greens fee, range balls, dinner and cocktails on Thursday, lunch on Friday, beverages, and prizes are included.
The annual All Class Bash will be held from 7 to 11 p.m. on July 17 in the Varallo Athletic Center at the high school. Alumni and guests 21 and older are invited to attend. Dress is casual. Light appetizers will be served, and there will be
11-year-old school record.
Knoxville Catholic’s boys earned 52 team points across all events to place seventh in the state out of 14 schools.
Charlotte Fowler of the Lady Irish finished second in shot put with a throw of 39-1 and runner-up in discus with a toss of 120-1. Two Brentwood Academy athletes, Alayna Duhart in shot put (40-10.75) and Jaida Harmon in discus (127-5), won the state titles. Charlotte also placed fifth in the girls long jump with a mark of 17-5.5.
Chloe—a University of Memphis signee—came in second in the 100 dash in a time of 11.91 seconds, trailing only Lacy Young of Knoxville Webb (11.59). Chloe (24.74) and Zymie’Rah (25.83) scored second- and sixth-place finishes in the 200 dash. Chloe (57.78) and Juliet (1:00.05) placed third and sixth in the 400 dash.
Caitlin Daniels, a sophomore, took fifth in the 3,200 run in 10:59.25. Senior Jillian Hurley of KCHS placed eighth in the girls high jump at 4-10.
Three other Lady Irish relay teams also took part in the state meet. The 3,200 relay all-sophomore foursome of Livi Ray, Olivia Garcia, Drew Gerken, and Caitlin placed sixth in a time of 10:01.30. In the 1,600 relay, Juliet, Livi, junior Giselle Zayas, and Zymie’Rah had the sixth-best time of 4:12.46. The 400 relay team of Sarah, Giselle, Jillian, and Zymie’Rah put up a seventh-place time of 50.82. The Lady Irish scored 71 team points to come in fifth overall.
Members of both the Irish and Lady Irish set numerous individual school records this season, and the boys and girls track-and-field teams won or placed high in many events throughout the spring, including the Knoxville Interscholastic League and regional meets. Many athletes earned All-State recognition.
“We had a great mix of experience and youth this year, and the highlight of the season for me was watching everyone come together and work for one another as we progressed through the season,” Mr. O’Neil said. “At the KIL and region championships, we asked a number of people to do combinations of events that they never had before in an effort to maximize our team scores, and the kids never batted an eye. They gave us everything they had every opportunity they got. I couldn’t be prouder of the selfless attitude and warrior mentality that this team grew into.”
NDHS boys soccer
The Fighting Irish posted the first undefeated regular season in school history, going 20-0-1 with only a tie against Dalton, Ga., keeping them from a perfect record before Grace Christian of Knoxville topped Notre Dame 3-1 in the Division II-A state final on May 21 at Richard Siegel Soccer Complex in Murfreesboro. Grace (16-1-1) avenged its only loss, which came in a penalty-kick shootout against the Irish in the
a cash bar. The event is free, but registration is required for a head count.
An All Alumni Mass will be celebrated at 9 a.m. on July 18 in the alumni chapel at Notre Dame.
The Golden Grads Brunch will follow from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the high school. NDHS alumni from 1976 and before, as well as their spouse or guest, may attend. The class of 1976 will be inducted into the Society of Golden Graduates. This event is also free, but registration is needed for a head count.
To learn more about or register for any event, visit www.myndhs.com/ alumni/alumniweekend, call 423-624-4618, or e-mail alumni@ myndhs365.com
Registration deadline for all events is Friday, July 10. ■
region tournament. Notre Dame advanced to the state-championship game with a 1-0 win over Webb School of Bell Buckle in the semifinals on May 20.
Notre Dame head coach Tyler Robertson is proud of his team, which includes multiple collegebound players.
“It was a great season finishing 21-1-1,” Mr. Robertson said. “Luke Rosellini finished with 28 goals and 15 assists. Caleb Salenda finished with 25 goals and 18 assists. Josh Bonk finished with 18 goals and 24 assists. Caleb will be attending East Tennessee State University and Josh will be attending Carson-Newman University to play soccer.”
Aidan, a junior, scored 12 goals and made 10 assists for the Irish this season while also playing tennis. He was the region MVP in soccer. Other standouts included senior Owen Maddox with 11 goals and freshman goalkeeper Gio Segura with 11 shutouts
Notre Dame captured both district and region crowns and outscored its opponents 110-17.
Seven players on this year’s team were also on the 2024 squad that finished second in the state. The Fighting Irish won two state titles in boys soccer in 1996-97 and have now made nine state-tourney appearances.
Josh and Caleb, both seniors, as well as juniors Sam Johnson, Luke, and Aidan, made All-District for Notre Dame. Josh, junior Dax Brown, Luke, Aidan, Caleb, and Gio were named All-Region. Josh, Caleb, and Luke were named to the Chattanooga Times Free Press Best of Preps team.
Aidan, assisted by Caleb, scored the only goal for Notre Dame early in the second half of the semifinal win over Webb, which entered the game 19-0-1. Gio recorded a shutout in goal with seven saves. Luke led the Irish with five shot attempts while Caleb added three.
In the championship game, Notre Dame scored first on a goal by Owen in the 23rd minute of the opening half. But Grace tied the score seven minutes later, scored in the first minute of the second half, and added another tally in the 64th minute. Grace outshot the Irish 33-6 in the final, with Luke and Owen making two shots apiece in the loss.
NDHS boys tennis
Aidan won his singles state quarterfinal and semifinal matches on May 14 before falling in the Division II-A title match the next day, all at the Champions Club Tennis Complex in Chattanooga.
His quarterfinal match was a marathon 5-7, 6-4, 12-10 victory over Zoravar Sandhu of Lausanne. Aidan then swept Erick Brasfield of University School of Jackson 6-2, 6-4 in the semis. Jack Veazey of Jackson Christian defeated Aidan 6-2, 6-3 in the final.
In boys doubles, seniors Jaxson Rogers and James Andreach of
St. Dominic Knights and school board provide funds for new program Knights of Columbus from St. Dominic Parish in Kingsport arrived on the last day of classes with a surprise for St. Dominic School students and staff. Bill Hewitt (second from right), the Knights council’s community chair and a school-board member, attended with board chair Dr. Danyelle Porter (right). Mr. Hewitt said the board had spent the year developing a strategic plan, a key step of which is a STEM/STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics) program. Principal Bonnie Saleh (left) was awarded a $2,000 check from the Knights’ KIND Charities of Tennessee to kick-start the program. Grand Knight-elect Mark Pendley is also pictured.
Notre Dame advanced to the state semifinals. The pair opened play in the quarterfinals with a long match that ended in a 2-6, 6-1, 11-9 win over Will Stearns and Jack Mandrell of Evangelical Christian School on May 14. On the same day, Max Parker and Veer Kodali of University School of Nashville defeated Jaxson and James 6-0, 6-2 in the semifinals and went on to capture the state crown the next morning.
In the boys tennis team competition, eventual champion Lausanne blanked Notre Dame 4-0 in the state semifinals. Aidan, James, Jaxson, and seniors Hayden Marks and Thomas Blalack took part in singles for the Irish.
Aidan was seeking the Irish’s first individual state title since John Dorris won in 2010. J.R. Davis and Charles Jabaley captured Notre Dame’s only doubles title in 2014. The Irish won a pair of team titles in 1963-64.
KCHS softball
The Lady Irish softball team made the program’s first state final four since 1984 and only the third in school history.
Knoxville Catholic, however, lost both of its games in the Division II-AA double-elimination bracket, 9-0 on May 19 to Girls Preparatory School and 11-1 in six innings on May 21 to Baylor.
Juniors Catie Schaad and Hadley Troutt and sophomore Ryleigh McEnery recorded hits for the Lady Irish against GPS at McKnight Park in Murfreesboro. Catie, Ryleigh, and junior Jaylen Drazkowski had the only hits for KCHS vs. Baylor at Cedar Stone Park in Smyrna.
NDHS track and field
The Fighting Irish scored a second-place state finish in the Division II-A coed 1,600 relay on May 20 at
‘It was a great season’ Notre Dame High School’s boys soccer team finished 21-1-1 this spring after putting together the first undefeated regular season in program history. In the photos, the team celebrates its region championship. The Fighting Irish defeated Grace Christian School of Knoxville in a penalty-kick shootout for the region title before the Rams topped Notre Dame in the state-championship game.
Tom Black Track. Senior Ryan Fillauer, sophomores Dryden AndersonSmith and Harmoni Watkins, and freshman Irelynn Ketron completed the event in a time of 3:52.59, just over three seconds behind Concord Christian School.
Junior Audrey Strickland of Notre Dame finished fourth in the girls shot put with a throw of 37-0.25. Sophomore teammate Tianna McGhee took seventh in the girls 400 dash in 1:00.99 and eighth in the 100 dash in 12.81 seconds.
As a team, the Lady Irish finished 24th out of 34 scoring schools.
KCHS tennis
GPS shut out the Lady Irish 4-0 in the state team semifinals played at the Champions Club in Chattanooga on May 12. Baylor defeated GPS 4-0 a day later for the title.
Senior Lauren Murphy, junior Abby Hammontree, sophomore Nalla Webb, freshman Emma Stafford, freshman Harper Barlow, and junior Mary Caroline Ellis played in singles matches for Knoxville Catholic. Doubles teams pairing Abby and Nalla, Lauren and Emma, and Mary Caroline and Harper also saw action.
KCHS boys soccer
The Fighting Irish made the Division II-AA state semifinals, falling 2-0 to Briarcrest on May 20 at the Siegel Complex in Murfreesboro. Knoxville Catholic finished the season 9-7-4. Senior Jack Tucker led the Irish with five shots against Briarcrest. Senior goalkeeper Tate McCarty recorded five saves.
KCHS boys lacrosse Knoxville Catholic reached the state quarterfinals as the fourth seed from the east but lost 20-1 at west top seed Montgomery Bell Academy on May 1. ■
