DMI survey findings assess the Church in East Tennessee
This past Lent, parishioners across the Diocese of Knoxville opened their hearts through the Disciple Maker Index— the largest survey in the diocese ’ s history.
This survey, through its 75-plus questions, invited thousands of East Tennessee Catholics to reflect on their faith, community, and spiritual growth.
Your honest responses paint a
picture of who we are as a faith community and illuminate a path forward.
The survey results reveal both inspiring strengths and exciting opportunities as we grow together in Christ.
Inside this section on pages A6-7 , discover what your fellow parishioners shared about their spiritual journey and our collective mission in serving Christ. ■
Healing in multiple ways
St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic introduces directors and new medical van
By Dan McWilliams
AMass and volunteer luncheon on Oct. 29 at All Saints Church in Knoxville allowed the community to meet the St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic’s new leaders and see the ministry’s new mobile clinic van.
Bishop Mark Beckman celebrated Mass, cut the ribbon on the new van, and blessed the vehicle following the luncheon.
“The healing power of Christ touches us all—the body, mind, soul, and spirit. The beautiful dimension of what you’re doing here, I believe, also touches the whole person,” the bishop told those gathered for the ribbon-cutting. “Those who come to you who are in need of healing are healed in multiple ways. Let’s just simply thank the Lord for that.”
This summer, the Legacy Clinic welcomed a new medical director in Sister Gianna Marie Savidge of the Sisters of Mercy of Alma, Mich.; a new executive director in Jessica Wenzlaff; and a new pediatric nurse practitioner and patient navigator in Sister Claudia Marie Murray, RSM.
Clinic continued on page A26
and volunteers.
Bishop Beckman leads SMLC Mass
By Dan McWilliams
Bishop Mark Beckman said he wanted his listeners at All Saints Church in Knoxville on Oct. 29 “to know how grateful I am for the work that you do for our St. Mary’s mobile Legacy Clinic and the great work of reaching out with the healing help of Jesus by your presence and your work with that clinic.”
The bishop cut the ribbon and blessed the new Legacy Clinic van after Mass, then joined the ministry’s staff and volunteers for its annual volunteer luncheon in the parish hall.
Deacon Hicks Armor assisted Bishop Beckman at Mass and at the blessing. The new van “will be a joy to see—great to see the outside and the inside as well,” the bishop said
before the liturgy.
In his homily at Mass, the bishop referred to the day’s Gospel reading from Luke 13, where Jesus was asked, “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” Jesus replied, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough.”
“The question addressed to Jesus today, ‘Lord, are there only a few who will be saved?’ It’s an interesting way that Jesus replies to that question,” Bishop Beckman said. “Sometimes I’ve wondered when a question like that is asked, is the person thinking . . . ‘are there going to be a few people who are with me or many?’ Because the reply of Jesus is very interesting—He doesn’t begin by saying ‘many or few,’ He begins by saying, ‘strive to enter Mass continued on page A22
DAN MCWILLIAMS
Team health Bishop Mark Beckman is accompanied by the new medical director (Sister Gianna Marie Savidge, RSM) and executive director (Jessica Wenzlaff) of the St. Mary's Legacy Clinic in front of the new Legacy Clinic van on Oct. 29 at All Saints Church in Knoxville. Joining them for the Mass and van ribbon-cutting are Legacy Clinic staff
Bless this clinic Bishop Mark Beckman gives a blessing and prepares to sprinkle holy water on the new St. Mary's Legacy Clinic van on Oct. 29 at All Saints Church. Among those present are, from left, Jessica Wenzlaff, Sister Gianna Marie Savidge, RSM, Sarah Grimes, Sister Claudia Marie Murray, RSM, and Deacon Hicks Armor
Remembering ‘a bearer of hope’
Sr. Jean, beloved Loyola
icon and chaplain of men's basketball team , dies at 106
Let perpetual light shine upon her
By John Knebels OSV News
She prayed with college basketball players before games, counseled them after losses, and reminded them that faith, not fame, was the real victory.
Now, Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, the spirited chaplain who became a national symbol of joy, devotion, and perseverance, has completed her earthly journey.
Sister Jean, a Sister of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and longtime chaplain of the Loyola University Chicago men’s basketball team, died Oct. 9. She was 106.
For many Americans, Sister Jean became a household name during Loyola’s stunning run to the 2018 NCAA Final Four, when she was 98 years old. Sitting courtside in her maroon-
The Handmaids of the Precious Blood this year celebrate the 78th year since their founding in 1947; more than three-quarters of a century of prayer and sacrifice for priests. To receive weekly cartoons and short reflections and news from the Handmaids of the Precious Blood, visit their website, nunsforpriests.org, and sign up for the FIAT newsletter.
A November prayer intention for the prevention of suicide
“Let us pray that those who are struggling with suicidal thoughts might find the support, care, and love they need in their community, and be open to the beauty of life.”
and-gold scarf, she offered pregame prayers, postgame analysis, and the occasional strategic suggestion earning the affection of fans, players, and coaches nationwide.
Yet long before “March Madness” made her famous, she had already spent decades forming minds, shaping hearts, and witnessing to Christ’s love through education and service.
“While we feel grief and a sense of loss, there is great joy in her legacy,” said Loyola president Mark C. Reed. “Her presence was a profound blessing for our entire community, and her spirit abides in thou-
Sister LaDonna Manternach, president of the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
sands of lives.”
A month prior to her death, Loyola had confirmed Sister Jean had officially retired from on-campus work amid growing health concerns, according to The Loyola Phoenix, the student newspaper.
Born Dolores Bertha Schmidt in San Francisco on Aug. 21, 1919, she entered the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1937 and took the name Sister Jean Dolores. She began teaching at Catholic schools in California and Chicago before arriving at Mundelein College in 1961,
How to sign up and qualify for Diocese of Knoxville’s safe-environment program
The Diocese of Knoxville has implemented the CMG Connect platform to administer the Safe Environment Program, which replaces the former Safe Environment Program (VIRTUS “Protecting God’s Children”).
CMG Connect is a web-based platform that will assist in ensuring that all employees and volunteers who are in a position of trust with children and vulnerable adults within Diocese of Knoxville schools and parishes are trained to recognize behavior patterns of potential abusers and provide pro-active measures for preventing abuse in any context.
“Safe Haven-It’s Up to You” is a three-part video that provides vignettes of real-life situations to educate the viewer about methods of grooming, desensitization, bullying, and neglect, all of which can lead to abuse.
Each part of the video is immediately followed by a brief questionnaire to further develop understanding.
Education is a key
element of the Safe Environment Program
All clergy, employees, contracted school personnel, volunteers, members of groups and organizations over the age of 18 who work, volunteer, or participate in any capacity are required to complete the diocesan Safe Environment training and a criminal-background check before they can begin employment, volunteer, or participate with ministries, groups, and organizations affiliated with the Diocese of Knoxville.
In addition, the mandatory renewal training must be completed every five years and a new background check submitted before the five-year expiration of prior training.
The Diocese of Knoxville Safe Environment compliance training and renewal training is a condition of employment and for volunteer ministry in the Diocese of Knoxville.
The CMG Connect
platform contains all three elements of the Diocese of Knoxville’s Safe Environment Program: n Annual review of the Diocese of Knoxville’s Policy and Procedures Relating to Sexual Misconduct; n CMG Connect Safe Haven training program to be completed every five years; n Criminal background check to be completed every five years.
In compliance with the Diocese of Knoxville’s Safe Environment Program, all affiliates require that volunteers and employees complete the requirements prior to working and/or volunteering in a parish, school, or through Catholic Charities of East Tennessee and/ or St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic Go to https:// dioknox.org/safeenvironment on the Diocese of Knoxville website for more information ■
Pope Leo XIV
Sr. Regina
2025 Handmaids of the Precious Blood
Sister Jean continued on page A25
Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, longtime chaplain of the Loyola University Chicago men's basketball team and campus icon, gives a thumbs up after the team defeated the Nevada Wolf Pack in the semifinals of the South regional of the 2018 NCAA Tournament in Atlanta. Sister Jean died at age 106 on Oct. 9.
DA Word from the Bishop by Bishop Mark Beckman Lessons of autumn
In this season of transition, we are thankful to God for His blessings
uring these days of autumn, the light has begun to shorten, the evenings and mornings are crisp and cool, and the colors of East Tennessee are on full display.
This time of transition each fall is an opportunity to reflect on lessons of wisdom this season offers. The great harvest feasts of All Saints and All Souls point us toward the great mystery of that final transition in life toward which we are all journeying. We know this precious life that God has bestowed on us in this mortal world of time will someday be a transition into eternity.
The fading of earthly light is preparing us for the endless day of God’s own brilliant light. These festivals are a reminder that we are still in a living communion with those who have gone before us, and we are now journeying toward the Kingdom in purgation, and with those who already share fully in the life of God in heaven. One day we hope to join them.
This reminder orients the whole of our life to a generous response to God’s infinite love for each of us. We are reminded to keep in prayer those who are experiencing purification as they are prepared for their eternal home with God.
In this country, we are also blessed to mark toward the end of
this month a day of Thanksgiving. The narrative of a common shared banquet with the Native Americans who dwelt here before the arrival of European immigrants and those newcomers are a vivid symbol of the communion of love that will find its fulfillment at the banquet in the Kingdom of God for all eternity.
That story, a living memory of our nation, is also an urgent call that invites all of us to move toward that communion of love that respects the dignity of each human person.
The prayers for the Mass of Thanksgiving in our current Roman Missal speak powerfully of this.
In the opening Collect: “Father all powerful, your gifts and love are
countless; as we come before you on Thanksgiving Day with gratitude for your kindness, open our hearts to have concern for every man, woman, and child, so that we may share your gifts in loving service.”
The Prayer Over the Offerings reminds us that we have received from God “generous gifts so that we might learn to share your blessings in gratitude...and let the perfect sacrifice of Jesus draw us closer to all our brothers and sisters in the human family…”
And finally in the Prayer after Communion we are reminded: “In this celebration, O Lord our God you have shown us the depths of your love for all your children; help
us, we pray, to reach out in love to all your people, so that we may share with them the good things of time and eternity.”
Powerful reminders and calls to respond in generosity to the goodness of God.
A final note on gratitude and thanksgiving as a daily way of life. One of the cornerstones of a healthy Christian life is a deep sense of gratitude. It is so helpful to remember daily the blessings of God in our own lives.
I recall a vivid day years ago when I was carrying the burdens of life and feeling anything but gratitude. I took a walk in the park and began my prayer by bringing each of these items that were causing me pain and difficulty directly to God. It began as a prayer of complaint
As I walked, God began to show me how each of those things that seemed liked burdens were actually blessings in disguise. Humility, tears, and gratitude ended my walk that day.
God is infinitely generous to us, and once we know that, we can’t help but be filled with gratitude! That gratitude always flows outward in generous love to all those around us.
May the lessons of autumn deepen within each of us during this season of transition ■
How many vocations are there?
‘A calling’ can be a variety of ministries but is closely tied to the priesthood
By Jenna Marie Cooper OSV News
Q: At my parish, we pray “for vocations to the priesthood and religious life.” But at the other parish in town, they pray for “vocations to the priesthood, the diaconate, marriage, and religious life.”
How many vocations are there actually?
A: This is a tricky question to answer because in our Catholic tradition the word “vocation” can mean different things in different contexts.
The word “vocation” comes from the Latin word vocare, or “to call.” A vocation is literally “a calling,” which in a Catholic sense typically means a calling from God.
The first and most foundational vocation for any Christian is our baptismal vocation, which the Catechism of the Catholic Church describes as “a vocation to holiness and to the mission of evangelizing the world” (CCC, No. 1533).
However, often the term “vocation” is used to describe a Catholic’s state in life, or a permanent life commitment that involves a certain role within the Church. But even here, there are a few different ways to categorize the various states in life.
One way is to divide Catholics between ordained clergy that is, bishops, priests, and deacons and non-ordained laity (See Canon 207 of the Code of Canon Law). By this standard, anyone who has not received the sacrament of holy orders would be considered “lay.”
We can also categorize states in life according to a three-fold division of: the ordained clergy, those in consecrated life, and the laity who are neither ordained nor living in a public state of consecrated life. In this latter, more robust sense of the word “laity,” the Vatican II document Lumen Gentium describes the lay faithful as having a distinct vocational mission of their own: “They are called there (i.e., in the ordinary circumstances of secular life) by God that by exercising their
Question Corner
Question Corner is a regular column by OSV News that answers some of the most common questions from people in the pews that arise concerning the Catholic faith.
proper function and led by the spirit of the Gospel they may work for the sanctification of the world from within as a leaven.”
Laypeople may also be called to marriage and family life, which naturally comes with its own joys, responsibilities, and potential for bearing a Christian witness to the world.
“Consecrated life” is an umbrella category that encompasses a variety of specific forms, from religious Brothers and Sisters engaged in active apostolates like teaching or serving the poor, to monks and nuns dedicated entirely to prayer,
to lesserknown forms like secular institutes, consecrated virgins, and hermits.
However, members of the faithful in all forms of consecrated life have the special vocation of imitating Christ’s own way of life more radically and being “witnesses to the fact of a new and eternal life acquired by the redemption of Christ,” and foretelling “the future resurrection and the glory of the heavenly Kingdom.”
Yet even when speaking specifically about “state in life” vocations, it’s difficult to give an exact number for this since there are some instances when the various states of life can overlap.
For example, some clergy, such as permanent deacons or priests from Eastern Catholic Churches, might
also be married. (Though while an already-married man might receive holy orders in some circumstances, it’s worth noting that once ordained, clergy cannot marry or remarry if their spouse dies.) Priests can also be members of institutes of consecrated life, giving them a dual vocation to the priesthood and consecrated life in their community.
But it’s important to keep in mind that the concept of “vocation” is ultimately not about sorting ourselves or others into boxes, but rather is about discerning and embracing God’s will for us in our own unique life situation whether or not that fits tidily into one of the above-mentioned categories.
In fact, many of our greatest saints “broke the mold” in their vocation stories. Some of them responded to a call to pioneer new forms of Christian life, while others obeyed God’s call to a radical Christian life amid difficult, unusual, or novel circumstances. ■
CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE PHOTO/DANISH ISMAIL, REUTERS
Answering the call Thirteen men being ordained to the priesthood during a May 2024 Mass at the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul, Minn., lie prostrate during the Litany of Saints.
OSV NEWS PHOTO/DAVE HRBACEK, THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
Ms. Cooper
The return of Thriveanooga
Chattanooga again hosts national conference for youth-ministry leaders
By Bee Goodman
Think about a conference. Some you remember may have been inspirational, but others may have been, well, boring. Now think about summer camp. Pretty great, right?
What if you could attend summer camp as an adult but still get all the important resources from a conference? Now we’re talking. Finally, pack a bag for four days of a fun “conference” at Thriveanooga.
Hosted at Hotel Clemons in downtown Chattanooga Sept. 22-25, ProjectYM invited Catholic youth-ministry leaders from across more than 60 U.S. dioceses to a funpacked and educational event for those leading ministry for children of middle- and high-school age.
Thriveanooga strives to create a fun environment but still allows the youth ministers attending to bring back things they learn to integrate into their home parishes.
To begin the event, Bishop Mark Beckman celebrated Mass with the colorfully “tribed” group. The bishop thanked the group for its great work, sharing that while serving in the Diocese of Nashville, he worked with youth ministry there and attended several youth conferences, making multiple trips with groups of teens.
Bishop Beckman began his homily with a sentiment of regrowth: “Only those who lived through the experience of the house being torn down and going into exile can appreciate the beauty of the rebuilding of the house of God, and the joy and hard work that it took to do that.”
The Diocese of Knoxville’s shep-
“And yet those of you have discovered that even if it's just for a small window of their life, you will make a lasting impact on young people who so desperately need a living stone to remind them who God is. Let the Holy Spirit build in your own heart the emphasis of this love. It is a day-by-day work in progress to rebuild...”
herd then noted how we are living in strange times, explaining, “There is a lot in our culture that is not of the Gospel today: the tolerance of violence, the way people treat one another through social media. But we are all influenced by those painful and destructive winds.”
“They create alienation, separation among human beings, and don’t help us to build community. And yet, in the midst of all of that, the Holy Spirit is at work. The Holy Spirit of God desires us to build
Catholic hospitals in the Chattanooga area to receive name changes
CommonSpirit will be part of branding
The East Tennessee Catholic
CHI Memorial in Chattanooga, the only Catholic hospital in East Tennessee, and its sister facilities in the region are undergoing a name change.
CHI Memorial has announced that its hospitals and care sites throughout Southeast Tennessee and North Georgia will begin using the CommonSpirit Health name in January.
This brand update will coincide with the opening of the organization’s new hospital in Catoosa County, Ga.
CHI Memorial said it is important for patients to know that this change will not affect their care, their physicians, their nurses, or the services received at any of the locations where it provides services
CHI Memorial said its three local hospitals will adopt the CommonSpirit brand while maintaining the “Memorial” name “that the com-
munity has embraced for generations, as CommonSpirit-Memorial Hospital-Chattanooga, CommonSpirit-Memorial Hospital-Hixson, and the new CommonSpirit-Memorial Hospital-North Georgia.”
“By formally adopting the CommonSpirit brand, CHI Memorial’s more than 5,000 local team members, nurses, and physicians across three hospitals and 65 care sites will visually align with their parent organization,” the health-care provider said in a statement.
CommonSpirit Health is one of the nation’s largest faith-based health-care organizations, with more than 2,300 care sites and 138 hospitals across 24 states.
“As we formally adopt the CommonSpirit name, we also recognize and respect the deep local connections and community trust that have been built over time through generations of interactions and experiences,” said Janelle Reilly,
CommonSpirit continued on page A13
once more a house worthy of the Lord, in our own culture, in our own time, and in our own place. And that begins in the human heart,” the bishop said.
He reminded the youth ministers that the role they’ve taken has many challenges, including sleepless and anxiety-filled nights, but it is an important role in the house of the Lord.
“And yet those of you have discovered that even if it’s just for a small window of their life, you will
make a lasting impact on young people who so desperately need a living stone to remind them who God is. Let the Holy Spirit build in your own heart the emphasis of this love.”
“It is a day-by-day work in progress to rebuild. It is your weakness that can be used by God to fulfill His blessings. So, let us go rejoicing in the house of the Lord.”
The goal of ProjectYM is to invest in the adults who invest in the youth. Youth ministry has a high burnout because its leaders often feel stranded and unsupported in a world of chaos. ProjectYM wants to help these leaders find balance and discover ways to improve their parishes’ youth programs, with only the “good kind of chaos” as these are people who choose to spend time with teenagers.
This year, Thriveanooga hosted more than 70 youth leaders from more than 30 dioceses. About half of the attendees had attended before, the other half being new. Regardless of how many times a leader has attended, Thriveanooga keeps the experience fresh.
Mandi Whittaker is ProjectYM’s master of details.
“Even if some of the topics and ‘pain points’ do not change year to year, the expertise and experience in the room does,” she said. “You can learn a lot and try out a lot of different techniques and things over the course of a year. This way, returning people come back with different ideas and questions to work with.”
Springtide Research found that 24 percent of youth feel they lack a trusted adult mentor outside of ProjectYM continued on page A24
Thriveanooga tribe Bishop Mark Beckman, center, is shown with (far right) Mandi Whittaker, ProjectYM's master of details, and ProjectYM president and co-founder Michael Marchand (second from right) as well as other participants in the Thriveanooga youth-ministry leadership conference held in Chattanooga Sept. 22-25.
Identity update CHI Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga and its sister medical centers in the Chattanooga area will see the addition of CommonSpirit to their names beginning in 2026.
COURTESY OF CHI MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
— Bishop Mark Beckman
Grounded Haven is a gathering place for young adults and God A cup of coffee and a cozy place to talk faith
By Bee Goodman
Maria Gonzalez has one goal in mind: “Feed My sheep.”
Using a simple coffee meeting after Mass, Ms. Gonzalez has launched a major connection for young adults within the Diocese of Knoxville.
Ms. Gonzalez, who is 25, is seeking a community around her to be filled with faith, and she felt a special tug from God telling her to create a haven for young adults.
As simple as it seems, a group chat between the young adults has opened communication channels, which have prompted the creation of her young-adult ministry, Grounded Haven.
Ms. Gonzalez said the idea came to her after attending one of Bishop Mark Beckman’s Mystery of Catholicism classes. Bishop Beckman has been teaching the classes for young adults at the Chancery during the fall.
“The ministry itself was kind of inspired through my encouragement with the young-adult groups and events in the past year or so. I’ve been seeking other young adults who are also passionate about their faith like me,” Ms. Gonzalez said about the group’s origins.
If there is one thing that brings people together, it’s a nice cup of coffee. Ms. Gonzalez uses this pastime to bring folks together after Mass for a chance to continue the religious conversation and study Scripture with others.
“One thing that I’ve learned that we love talking about as young adults is coffee. We bond through coffee; we talk about coffee; and we get excited to show each other our favorite drinks,” she shared.
“It feels like there’s not as much pressure there (coffee shops), and we’re able to talk and bond more.
Lattes and laughter Maria Gonzalez, left, shares lattes with young adults during a trip to the Apple Barn restaurant in Sevierville on Nov. 2. The gathering was one of the recent Grounded Haven outings that Ms. Gonzalez organized as a way to enjoy fellowship and faith-filled discussion for the young-adult group.
"It feels like there's not as much pressure there (coffee shops), and we're able to talk and bond more. One day after Bishop Beckman's class, I thought, 'Yeah, I'm going to do this because I heard the Lord's voice say, 'feed My sheep.'"
Maria Gonzalez, founder of young-adult group Grounded Haven
One day after Bishop Beckman’s class, I thought, ‘Yeah, I'm going to do this’ because I heard the Lord’s voice say, ‘feed My sheep.’”
Ms. Gonzalez explained that she is feeding His sheep: feeding them coffee and conversation to be exact.
“I thought, I have no idea how to do this, but I’m doing it. I’m doing it for you, Lord. And that’s how I created Grounded Haven.”
The group came together about a month ago, yet Grounded Haven already has about 70 members.
With no particular meeting place or time, the group can flexibly operate when it chooses. The members don’t all meet at once; it's just a simple meet that happens after someone in the group sends a text, “Hey, want to meet up after Mass?”
Ways to love, serve the poor amid Pope Leo ’s Dilexi Te exhortation
All Catholics can care for and accompany those in need by first encountering them
By Katie Yoder OSV News
Everyday Catholics can love and accompany those in need, according to experts that directly serve or advocate for those struggling with poverty.
“How simple it is to put love into a practical action,” a religious Sister who ministers to those on the streets with the Missionaries of Charity in San Francisco, told OSV News. “I’m always spending my days in practical ways of loving and serving Jesus.”
For World Day of the Poor on Nov. 16, experts from four Catholic groups the Missionaries of Charity, Catholic Charities USA, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul USA, and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops spoke about practical ways to love and care for those in need. Their comments followed the release of Pope Leo XIV’s first apostolic exhortation, Dilexi Te (“I Have Loved You”), addressed “to all Christians on love for the poor.”
“Love for the Lord, then, is one with love for the poor,” Pope Leo writes, adding later, “In the poor, He continues to speak to us.”
In the United States, 35.9 million (10.6 percent) people lived in poverty or fell under the Official Poverty Measure in 2024, according to a report released Sept. 9 by the U.S. Census Bureau.
In Dilexi Te, Pope Leo recognizes many forms of poverty and lists “the poverty of those who lack material
means of subsistence, the poverty of those who are socially marginalized and lack the means to give voice to their dignity and abilities, moral and spiritual poverty, cultural poverty, the poverty of those who find themselves in a condition of personal or social weakness or fragility, the poverty of those who have no rights, no space, no freedom.”
In response, the experts shared their recommendations for loving those in need and living out the message of Dilexi Te. Here are eight:
1. Notice those in need around you.
Drawing from Dilexi Te, Jill Rauh, executive director of the USCCB’s Secretariat of Justice and Peace, said that Catholics must open their ears “to ‘hear the cry’ of the poor in our midst.”
“This requires encounter; it means going outside our comfort zones,” she told OSV News in e-mailed comments. “Encounter the poor face to face at food pantries, with organizations that assist immigrants, at centers for pregnant moms.”
“Take the time to watch or read news stories that share the stories and experiences of those impacted by poverty or other challenging circumstances,” she added. “Pray with these stories and experiences and allow your heart to be moved to truly see the one who suffers as brother or sister.”
2. Start personal encounters with a smile.
The Sister with the Missionaries
Grounded Haven is expanding every day, and Ms. Gonzalez couldn’t be more excited. She hopes she’ll be able to set up smaller sub-groups dedicated to Scripture study, worship practices, and more. Along with impromptu coffee chats, Ms. Gonzalez also plans events to bring the group members together. The first official gathering was on Sept. 27, and Ms. Gonzalez brought them together for a Blooms and Brews event, coinciding with the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) Fall Conference being held by the Diocese of Knoxville Office of Christian Formation. Carolyn Krings, the diocesan director of Marriage and Family Life, describes Ms. Gonzalez's efforts this way: “developing a young-adult
community to go to events and hang out together had been placed on her heart and she took action.”
As a testament to Ms. Gonzalez's kindness, Mrs. Krings shared this encounter: “After the Blooms and Brews event ended, Maria found Deacon Jim (Bello) and I in the parking lot and handed us a hug and a bouquet of three sunflowers. Maria stated that the sunflower was her favorite flower. Maria said that she likes sunflowers because they go seeking after their own happiness.”
“I received the unspoken message from Maria that sunflowers grow toward the warmth of the sun. We should do likewise! Maria is a warm beacon of light, just like the sun we enjoy on a fall day. Maria is petite yet powerful, as she lights up the young-adult spaces with her gifts of hospitality, creativity, and encouragement,” Mrs. Krings said.
For anyone who might be struggling to find a friend in the faith, Grounded Haven can be a wonderful place to start the search. But don’t worry, participants don’t have to be coffee connoisseurs to join. The only requirement is to be 18-35 years old and to be prepared for Ms. Gonzalez’s contagious smile and many gifts.
Ms. Gonzalez describes the ministry as “an open group chat for young adults who are Catholicbased, or someone who is curious about Catholicism or their faith. They can come to us because, after all, it’s supposed to be a safe haven for them.”
Young adults are at a special age where everything becomes a transitional phase. At 18, most are graduating high school and heading out on their own for the first time. Four years later, they are graduating from college and finding their first
Grounded Haven continued on page A25
For over 25 years, Abbey Caskets has handcrafted elegant caskets and urns, supporting the monks of Saint Meinrad Archabbey and the formation of future priests, while helping you plan for your family’s future.
Learn about our handcrafted products, casket prepay option, workshop tours, and more at abbeycaskets.com.
Download A FREE Preplanning Guide
This guide gently walks you through recording your wishes, so your family feels comforted when it matters most.
COURTESY OF MARIA GONZALEZ
Dilexi Te continued on page A19
DIOCESE OF KNOXVILLE
DISCIPLE MAKER INDEX SURVEY RESULTS
This past Lent, parishioners across the Diocese of Knoxville opened their hearts through the Disciple Maker Index. This 75-plus question survey invited thousands of you to reflect on your faith, parish community, and spiritual growth. Your honest responses paint a picture of who we are as a faith community and illuminate a path forward. Here’s what you told us:
93
109
What We Learned
Look, listen, and learn
Diocesan-wide survey guides the diocese's focus for the future
By Emily Booker
The Diocese of Knoxville has just concluded the largest survey of the faithful in its history. With 100 percent participation among the parishes, the survey results paint a detailed sketch of the Catholic Church in East Tennessee and give direction for the diocese’s future goals.
When Bishop Mark Beckman arrived as the fourth bishop of Knoxville in July 2024, he immediately wanted to get to know the area and its people.
“It was important to get a sense of the diocese that first year,” Bishop Beckman said. “I took on the role of looking, listening, and learning. And what became very clear early on was that there was a desire and a need to have a direction for the diocese.”
During Lent (March 5–April 20), parishioners were asked to fill out the Disciple Maker Index (DMI), commenting on parish life, their personal beliefs, and the health of the Catholic community in East Tennessee. Parishioners were asked more than 75 questions, ranging from if their parish was welcoming and if they felt comfortable answering questions about Church teachings to how often they prayed and attended Mass.
The results are helping to shape the direction of both the Diocese of Knoxville and individual parishes in the coming years.
The DMI is part of a multi-year collaboration between the Diocese of Knoxville and the Catholic Leadership Institute, which provides bishops, priests, religious, deacons, and laypeople with leadership formation and consulting services that strengthen their confidence and competence in ministry. It has been serving dioceses and parishes for more than 30 years.
CLI leadership consultant Brendan Menuey, who is the project leader for the Diocese of Knoxville, explained that CLI provides Church leaders with business and leadership skills to support their ministry.
“We provide support when a new bishop is installed, and we do an assessment of the Chancery, which involves interviews and some focus groups, a survey of the Chancery staff, and a survey about the Chancery from the priests. We provide the bishop with findings and recommendations,” Mr. Menuey said.
“We also do a survey of all the priests called the Priest Leadership Inventory in order to help the bishop make good assignments, and we also do the Disciple Maker Index, where every parish has the opportunity for parishioners to participate,” he added.
He noted that Catholic Leadership Institute is completely donorfunded. The diocese does not have to pay anything for the support and guidance it receives.
“Catholic Leadership Institute has experience with many dioceses across the country, and I felt it would be helpful to have an organization of that caliber help us to do that visioning,” Bishop Beckman said.
Diocese of Knoxville priests have walked with Bishop Beckman during the bishop’s “get-acquainted” year in the diocese as he has met with them, visited their parishes, and assessed the diocese’s many ministries. The priests and their parishioners are poised to take the next step in the bishop’s vision for the Church in East Tennessee.
“Bishop Mark is very much a person of dialogue and listening to the voices and the desires of the people,” Father Peter Iorio, vicar general and pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Alcoa, said. “He came in his first year as bishop wanting to look, listen, and learn. And as a new bishop he was offered guidance by the Catholic
Leadership Institute to help him be the best bishop that he can.”
Looking at a picture of the diocese
As of 2024, the Diocese of Knoxville is composed of 78,566 Catholics. There are 50 parishes, one mission, and one public association of the faithful. The diocese has 73 diocesan priests and 20 religiousorder priests serving the needs of the faithful, along with 109 permanent deacons.
This year, 953 people entered into full communion with the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil. As of 2023, the Diocese of Knoxville was one of the top dioceses in the United States for new, non-infant Catholics, relative to total population.
There are 47 religious-education directors in the diocese, providing faith formation at all stages and ages. Sixteen parishes offer the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd atrium program for children. While most parishes offer youth ministries for teens, only a handful have ministries for young adults (18-35).
More than 9,800 people participated in the DMI, about one in eight Catholics in East Tennessee. Of the respondents, 62 percent were women and 38 percent were men.
Respondents tended to be older, with 43 percent over the age of 65, 43 percent between 36-65, and 14 percent being below the age of 36. Seventy-three percent of respondents were currently married, with 14 percent being single, 5 percent being divorced, and 8 percent being widowed.
Eighty percent of respondents identified as Caucasian, while 15 percent identified as Hispanic, 2 percent identified as Asian, and other ethnicities (including Black, Middle-Eastern/North African, and Native American) made up less than 1 percent each.
When asked about parish membership duration, the results showed the recent growth of many parishes, as 39 percent have been members of their parish for less than five years. Sixteen percent have been members of their parish for six-10 years, 19 percent have been members of their parish for 11-20 years, and 26 percent have been members of their parish for more than 20 years.
Listening to the people’s voice “While [results] vary by parish, the diocesan averages are very promising,” Mr. Menuey observed.
The survey results revealed Catholics in East Tennessee have a higher-than-average commitment to core Catholic teachings.
Some 94 percent agreed or strongly agreed on the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.
On the Bible, 95 percent agreed or strongly agreed Scripture is truly the Word of God.
On the role of the Church, 90 percent agreed or strongly agreed it’s critical to their relationship with God.
All of these results trend higher than the national average.
These beliefs were also reflected in Mass attendance. Eighty-three percent reported attending Mass weekly, with another 11 percent attending Mass daily. Eighty-nine percent also reported spending some time in individual prayer every week.
Some 21 percent go to eucharistic adoration weekly, while 26 percent go at least quarterly, another 26 percent go at least annually, and 27 percent never go.
Respondents overwhelmingly reported support for their parish and pastor. Ninety percent reported they would recommend their parish to a friend, and 85 percent reported they would recommend their pastor to a friend.
While confidence in the beliefs of the Church was strong, there was less confidence in living out a
missionary spirit. Only 23 percent strongly agreed that their parish confidently equips them to answer questions about the faith, and 31 percent strongly agreed their parish forms them as a disciple. Some 63 percent reported that they have never received pastoral counseling or spiritual direction.
There was fairly low attendance for regular Bible study or prayer groups, with 34 percent reporting never attending. Sixty-five percent reported never attending a spiritual retreat.
These insights show the need for a renewed focus on religious formation for Catholics of all ages, helping faithful individuals come to know the Lord more deeply, and creating stronger connections in the community of faith.
Still, other results showed how some people do live out the missionary impulse, with 89 percent reporting that they have prayed with someone in the past year, and 74 percent reporting that they have invited someone to Mass in the past year. Some 82 percent have volunteered to serve others in the past year.
Inviting someone to Mass one Sunday feels much easier than inviting someone to consider a call to religious life. Results also showed that few have ever invited a man to consider the priesthood (19 percent) or invited a man or woman to consider religious life (24 percent).
The diocese has already begun a renewed focus on vocations, with the Hundredfold Workshop held in September to support parishes in establishing vocations ministries.
Of parents of school-age children who responded to the DMI survey, 32 percent send them to Catholic school, showing room for potential increased enrollment. There are currently 3,480 students attending the 10 diocesan schools in East Tennessee.
“I like the fact that we’re getting broad input from throughout the diocese. In a sense, this is part of a synodal process where we’re listening to the people of God in all of our parishes who have the opportunity to participate because that gives us a sense of what are the big needs across the diocese and where are we going,” Bishop Beckman said.
Similarly, each parish will be looking at its parish-specific results to assess its parish-level strengths and opportunities.
People identified as parish leaders were asked additional questions. Their results showed a strong desire for more volunteers and more involvement from young people. They also desired more catechesis on Church teachings and more clarity on parish vision.
“Every parish can see their own results and see where their people are strong and see where there may be gaps that need extra support,” the bishop said.
Father Iorio said that CLI provided resources and seminars for parishes on how to present their DMI results and understand the data. They also provided guidance on taking that data and using it to help parishes moving forward.
“They say, look at what your parish can do to set goals and prioritize,” the pastor said.
Learning to turn data into action
So, now that the results are in, what happens next?
“We’re really proud of what we got, and the bishop’s proud of what we got. People shared their perceptions, and now we need to take those perceptions and do something with it that could really help the diocese as a whole,” Mr. Menuey said.
The DMI results are at the heart of a strategic plan for the diocese, laying out priorities and goals for its future.
This summer, Bishop Beckman
formed a strategic-planning committee to study the DMI results and develop a diocesan strategic plan, focusing on a few key priorities.
“We met over the summer along with Russell Crook, a professor from the University of Tennessee, and we worked on looking at the diocesan-level DMI data in addition to our own experiences and discerning what would be appropriate priorities for the diocese,” Mr. Menuey said.
Other committee members included Father Iorio, Monsignor Al Humbrecht, Father Michael Cummins, Deacon Hicks Armor, Deacon David Duhamel, Tricia Bruce, Barbara Golder, Jim MacDougall, Blanca Primm, and Hailey Schapker.
“The results of the surveys that we took in Lent were presented to us, and from there the bishop appointed members of a strategicplanning committee to work with the representative from CLI, and we came up with goals to put into practice for the diocese,” Father Iorio said.
He noted that the committee intentionally had a diverse background, representing both young and older, clergy and lay, different regions of the diocese, and inclusion of Chancery and school personnel
Along with their own life experiences and visions outlined by Bishop Beckman, the committee members used the results of the DMI survey to identify strengths and areas of opportunity for the Diocese of Knoxville.
They determined five areas of priority: promoting vocations, increasing engagement of youth and young adults in their parishes, reaching out to those in need, increasing engagement in faith formation, and increasing Catholic school enrollment.
The strategic plan will address these priorities and lay out actionable goals.
“I think that the plan that we have is going to be a great plan, and to me it’s great that we have granular detail, specific detail from all of our parishes,” Bishop Beckman said. “We also had our priests fill out their own evaluations, and we also did a survey of the Chancery offices and their service to the Church, so it’s kind of a three-pronged approach. And I feel very good about all three of those levels.”
Bishop Beckman has appointed individuals to oversee the followthrough and development of each priority. Each priority will have measurable, data-driven goals.
Father Iorio also expressed optimism about the process and putting these results into action.
“To me, it’s very exciting because it involves everyone who wanted to participate, and I believe that our return rate for participation for the surveys was excellent. It helps us to be a Church that is listening and a Church that responds to people and their specific needs locally,” he said
He noted that the DMI and strategic plan correlate with the synodal process taking place in the Church across the globe. There are strong efforts being made to have people’s voices heard and have people contribute to decision-making.
Ultimately, it is about building connection, Father Iorio said.
“This [process] will help us build better relationships in different ways: among priests and their people, among the bishop and his priests and his people, and among priests, parishioners, and Chancery staff. And I think that is a reflection of the Holy Trinity, relationshipbuilding. I think it’s got great potential to bear a lot of fruit for our diocese.”
The full strategic plan for the Diocese of Knoxville will be released in January. Disciple Maker Index results and resources can be found at dioknox.org/dmi ■
U.S. Catholics Join the Church in Guatemala to Provide Safe Shelter to the Suffering Poor
Cross Catholic Outreach has launched a major effort to provide safe housing for destitute families in rural Guatemalan villages. It is asking U.S. Catholics to become part of that life-transforming mission of mercy through its “Be Someone’s Miracle” campaign.
The U.S.-based ministry, which has been recognized by the Vatican for its relief and development work in more than 90 countries, has a goal to build 224 storm-resistant homes to benefit 1,164 family members in 15 communities. It also seeks to help needy families with nutritional, educational and health care needs. (See the related story on the opposite page.)
While this appeal has many technical objectives, Cross
Catholic Outreach President Michele Sagarino is focused on the individual families that will be impacted.
“This is really about Santiago and Carmen and families like theirs. The challenges they face every day are heartbreaking. Santiago, Carmen and their five precious daughters live in a flimsy dwelling and fear for their health because rain often floods their house, turning the dirt floor to mud. It’s also easy for vermin like scorpions and rats to crawl through the gaps in its walls,” she said. “It’s a situation that must grieve God — so it should be unacceptable to us too!”
According to Sagarino, Cross Catholic Outreach is working alongside Catholic leaders in
Unique
the dioceses of Santa Rosa de Lima, Sololá-Chimaltenango and Suchitepéquez-Retalhuleu to find solutions for families like Santiago and Carmen’s. The plans they have developed can produce lifetransforming results — if U.S. Catholics will step forward to help support their work.
“Our primary goal is to construct durable, concrete-block houses for the poorest families,” she explained. “The homes will have two bedrooms and a common area that can serve as a dining room and living room. Each will have a concrete foundation and walls, a galvanized metal roof, a sanitary latrine, a secure metal door and shuttered windows, providing a level of comfort and safety these families have never experienced.”
Because the design is simple, the construction of one of these homes costs less than $9,000.
“That is a large sacrificial gift for one donor or family to make, but many have done that and were so happy they got involved. Most had been looking for something specific and significant they could do to bless others,” Sagarino said. “This outreach was exactly what they were looking for because a home does more than offer safe shelter. It gives families a foundation for building a better life.”
Serving the poor through the local Church also has important
spiritual benefits, according to Sagarino.
“When people learn local Church leaders love them and want a better life for them, it strengthens their faith and restores their hope,” she said. “Many have felt isolated and unseen. They need to know we care about them.”
Father Alejandro Garcia, director of the local Caritas ministry in the Diocese of Santa Rosa de Lima, has these words of encouragement for U.S. Catholics: “We pray for you. We pray that you continue to be generous, that you continue to be a valiant hand to those who are so needy among us. As Jesus said, ‘What you have done for the least of these, you have done also for me.’”
Readers interested in supporting Cross Catholic Outreach’s housing programs and other outreaches can contribute through the ministry brochure inserted in this issue or send tax-deductible gifts to: Cross Catholic Outreach, Dept. AC06022, P.O. Box 97168, Washington, DC 20090-7168. Those interested in making gifts on a monthly basis can indicate that on the brochure in order to become a Mission Partner, or write “Monthly Mission Partner” on mailed checks to be contacted about setting up those arrangements.
Christmas Catalog Created To Honor Christ and the World’s Poor
Many readers may remember, as children, browsing through catalogs and circling the presents they wanted for Christmas.
This Advent and Christmas season, Cross Catholic Outreach is offering a catalog too — but theirs is a very different one with a very different purpose. It is designed to bless both givers and receivers by using the holiday giftgiving tradition to help the world’s poorest families.
Rather than displaying toys, neckties and jewelry, the Cross Catholic Outreach Christmas
Catalog offers medicines, seeds for farming and educational scholarships. It gives Catholics an opportunity to share the blessings in their lives with impoverished families by sponsoring practical and urgently needed items. Of course, it also offers blessings for children, including toys and sports equipment, as a way to bring joy to children who might otherwise go without a gift this Christmas.
“Like most Christmas catalogs, ours offers lots of items so donors can choose something specific that resonates with them. In
addition, they can make a general gift to address the poor’s greatest needs,” explained Michele Sagarino, president of Cross Catholic Outreach, the relief and development ministry offering the catalog. “When donors choose to support urgent needs around the world, they provide us and our Catholic ministry partners the ability to help where it is needed most. The priests and religious sisters we support really appreciate that flexibility. It’s an excellent way to empower their work among the poor.”
This unique Christmas catalog is easy to find. Readers can link to it at the ministry’s website (CrossCatholic.org) or reach it directly by entering the following web address: CrossCatholic.org/ Christmas.
“Our hope is that everyone will be blessed by the experience,” Sagarino said. “It’s a fitting way for us to celebrate the birth of our merciful Lord!”
Scan this code to visit Cross Catholic Outreach’s Christmas Catalog webpage.
Father Alejandro Garcia stands with the Ramirez family outside their leaky makeshift home — one of the many in his Diocese of Santa Rosa de Lima that he hopes to replace with the help of Cross Catholic Outreach supporters.
Guatemalan Families Living in Extreme Poverty Look to the Church for Renewed Faith and Hope
In the rural Guatemalan community of Laguna Seca, a cluster of dirt-floor homes with scrap metal roofs sits in a low spot of a valley. Steep hillsides send floods of water that inundate these makeshift shelters during the rainy season, turning floors into mud and soaking families’ belongings.
“Imagine what a powerful testimony of God’s love that would be!”
Brenda and René have raised their daughter, Ana, in one of these unstable dwellings, rebuilding time and again as storms wreak havoc. Inside the house, a wood fire poses an extra health hazard. Looking at the sootblackened sheet metal ceiling, Brenda lamented, “Imagine what our lungs look like!”
Ana is a bright grade-schooler and takes this challenging way of life in stride. But after she put the family’s new chicks into their cage, she sat on the dirt floor next to them and imagined what it would be like to live in a home like her dollhouse with a solid roof and floor. She made her own clay figurines to stand in that toy house and enjoy the security within.
“It’s heartbreaking to meet children like Ana who have never known what it’s like to be protected from the elements. In rural Guatemala, many families are trapped in extreme poverty,
with few opportunities to improve their situation,” explained Michele Sagarino, president of Cross Catholic Outreach, a trusted Catholic relief and development ministry recognized by the Vatican for its effective humanitarian and spiritual programs. “When we witnessed the extreme needs of Ana’s family and so many others, we felt compelled to provide help — and our hope is that compassionate Catholics in the U.S. will want to get involved too.”
Sagarino said that many of the communities Cross Catholic Outreach wants to serve can only be reached by dirt roads. These villages have little or no infrastructure, so parents there are raising their children without running water, suitable sanitation facilities or reliable electricity.
Most of the men and women in these rural areas are subsistence farmers who work long hours planting, tending and harvesting corn and beans, defenseless against unpredictable weather. Their hard work may provide simple meals for their children, but it is rarely enough to fully cover their housing, health and educational expenses.
Families without access to land for farming face even greater challenges. They typically take work as day laborers, earning about $10 a day when work is available. The Church in Guatemala reports that those families typically earn between $125 and $190 a month — far too little to afford adequate housing. Ultimately, these families must
make do with what they have, cobbling together plastic sheets, scrap metal and wood planks to build flimsy, unsafe shacks.
“Our ultimate goal is to improve living conditions in those communities. We want to help families break free from the cycle of poverty that has plagued them for generations,” Sagarino said. “We’ve learned that providing safe housing plays a major part in improving lives, so we are making that our priority. As families move into safer, sturdier homes, their hope is restored and they have a foundation for building a better life.”
Cross Catholic Outreach has been partnering with Guatemalan dioceses since 2013 to help rescue families from the poverty that keeps them malnourished, sick and devoid of hope. With the help of U.S. supporters, the ministry has built more than 800 homes in Guatemala, in addition to providing educational scholarships for children, microenterprise investments for adults, feeding programs for the
How to Help
malnourished and more.
Through its “Be Someone’s Miracle” appeal, Cross Catholic Outreach is asking compassionate U.S. Catholics to serve as God’s instrument of mercy by funding the construction of homes for the poor and by helping struggling families in three Guatemalan dioceses through other important development and spiritual programs. In 2026, it aims to surpass 1,000 homes built since it began work in Guatemala.
“The homes we will build are simple but sturdy, secure and sanitary,” Sagarino said. “They will change the lives of these families in profound ways, and the benefits will be lasting.
Generational poverty has been a major factor in the hardships these families have been facing. Opening this door to generational prosperity will be a major step in the right direction. My prayer is that Catholics in the U.S. will want to play a role in that restoration of hope. Imagine what a powerful testimony of God’s love that would be!”
To fund Cross Catholic Outreach’s effort to help the poor worldwide, use the postage-paid brochure inserted in this newspaper, or mail your gift to Cross Catholic Outreach, Dept. AC06022, P.O. Box 97168, Washington, DC 20090-7168. The brochure also includes instructions on becoming a Mission Partner and making a regular monthly donation to this cause.
Ana’s dollhouse represents her hope for a safe home in the remote village of Laguna Seca, Guatemala.
U.S. Catholic groups expand food aid amid SNAP cuts ‘This is our faith in action’
By Kate Quiñones Catholic News Agency
As federal food benefits have been frozen during the government shutdown, Catholic dioceses and charities around the country are holding emergency food drives and launching fundraising efforts.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will resume once the government passes a bill to fund the federal government. More than a month into the shutdown, there was hope the shutdown would end by mid-November.
Two federal district judges at the end of October moved to compel the Trump administration to pay for SNAP benefits, but because Congress has not yet authorized funding for federal government operations, the Trump administration asked an appeals court to block the orders and continue with partial SNAP payments.
The pause in SNAP benefits was estimated to affect about 42 million Americans.
In St. Louis, food pantries saw an influx of people in need. In response, parishes across the archdiocese are holding emergency food drives for the first two weekends of November.
Nearly 300,000 people in the area could “lose access to vital food benefits,” Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski said in a letter to pastors, whom he asked to “respond with love and generosity to this urgent need.”
“We are called to be people of faith and action,” the archbishop said. “And so, I ask the good people of our archdiocese to come together to help our neighbors who are in danger of going without
distribution in Cedar Creek, Texas, on Nov. 1 as nearly 42 million Americans faced a potential lapse in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a food support program, due to the longest U.S. government shutdown on record.
their ‘daily food.’”
The archdiocese is working with the local Catholic Charities and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul to ensure that food pantries are full.
Julie Komanetsky, a spokesperson for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in St. Louis, said the food drives are “bringing great results for our food pantries.”
“This is our faith in action,” she told CNA. “Like the story of the good Samaritan who sees the victim and cares for him, Catholics see that people need to be fed and they are responding. They are answering God’s call to be good Samaritans rather than indifferent bystanders!”
So far, the parish food drives have been “very successful and will help keep our pantries stocked and able to support the need,” Ms. Komanetsky said.
“Our hope for this effort is to keep all within the boundaries of
our archdiocese from going hungry during this difficult time in our country,” she continued. “This is our united Catholic effort to let all people know that we see them, we hear their needs, and we will help.”
“Pope Leo tells us: Faith cannot be separated from love for the poor,” she continued. “This effort is a testament of our faith and our love.”
St. Louis is not the only archdiocese finding creative solutions to the SNAP crisis. In Connecticut, Hartford Archbishop Christopher Coyne has released $500,000 of emergency funding to food banks.
Archbishop Coyne said the funding is being contributed “in the spirit of Jesus’ command to serve our brothers and sisters in need.”
“The Catholic Church provides relief and hope for God’s children,” Archbishop Coyne said in a statement. “It’s what we have done for
over 2,000 years and what we continue to do today.”
The Archdiocese of GalvestonHouston Catholic Charities is seeing a similar rise in need. Across its three food pantries Catholic Charities is extending hours and increasing distribution.
“Many families across our service area are struggling, worried about missing paychecks or not being able to put food on the table,” Cynthia Nunes Colbert, who heads the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, said.
The group is also offering emergency rental assistance to federal workers and is reaching out to the wider community for support by encouraging food drives, volunteering, and donations, Catholic Charities told CNA.
“Whether it’s through financial donations, food drives, or volunteering, together we can provide hope and stability during these uncertain times,” Ms. Colbert said.
As part of a nationwide effort, Catholic Charities USA launched a fundraising effort in light of the funding cuts. The funds raised will go directly toward buying and sending food to Catholic Charities groups across the country to support ministries such as food pantries and soup kitchens.
For families who rely on food assistance programs, this a “catastrophic moment” said CCUSA president and CEO Kerry Alys Robinson.
The government shutdown “has created incredibly serious, real-life consequences for millions of people, from furloughed federal workers to those living in poverty who will now struggle even more to provide for their families,” Ms. Robinson said in a recent statement ■
The pope’s new knights
Lay tech innovators called on to become guardians of humanity in digital age
By Solène Tadié National Catholic Register
How can a civilization increasingly relying on code and data remain truly human?
From Silicon Valley to Brussels, observers may sense that technology is no longer just transforming tools but redefining Christian civilization and humanity, opening an unprecedented challenge for the Church.
In such context, Catholic entrepreneur Artur Kluz is calling for the creation of a new order of Christian innovators who would unite faith, reason, and technical expertise to guide the Church in this digital age.
A Washington, D.C.-based investor and founder of the Kluz Prize for PeaceTech, Mr. Kluz has spent years building bridges between innovation and ethics. Created in 2022, his prize honors founders, entrepreneurs, and innovators who use technology to prevent conflict, foster peace, save lives, and promote human dignity—offering a concrete expression of his conviction that innovation should serve humanity rather than divide it.
Mr. Kluz envisions a new kind of knighthood: a trusted circle of Christian entrepreneurs, men and women, who would stand as moral sentinels at the frontier of technology, advising the pope and defending human dignity. The knights and dames, he said, would be chosen not for wealth or influence but for expertise, character, and wisdom.
“Their rule would place virtue ahead of fame and moral character ahead of social-media followers,” Mr. Kluz told the Register on the sidelines of the Builders AI Forum, hosted by the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome Nov. 6-7. “Better a few solid knights than millions.”
From crusader orders to tech guardians
Mr. Kluz’s vision may seem bold, but it follows a long tradition of spiritual renewal in times of crisis. He sees the present moment as a continuation of the Church’s long tradition of creative response to cultural upheaval—and as a potential turning point.
“At every point in the Church’s history, new orders have arisen to meet secular challenges,” Mr. Kluz recalled. “The Benedictines saved Western Christendom after the fall of Rome, while the Dominicans and Jesuits confronted heresy and carried the Gospel to new continents. Today, the challenge is to ensure that the world of technology—driven
by ambition and profit—does not destroy our humanity.”
The ancient orders of the Holy Sepulcher and of Malta, born in the era of the Crusades, once defended Christians in the Holy Land and safeguarded sacred sites. Mr. Kluz sees in them a model for the 21st century: an action-oriented faith, adapted to the needs of the time.
“Nowadays, tech founders are shaping the world more than presidents or army generals. They create the systems that will define how people live, think, and even pray. If they are not guided by virtue, they risk building a civilization without a soul.”
A new Rerum Novarum
Mr. Kluz noted that Pope Leo XIV—whose name deliberately echoes Pope Leo XIII and his landmark encyclical Rerum Novarum (1891)—has signaled his intention to offer the Church and the world a new moral compass for the technological age, addressing the ethical and spiritual challenges of artificial intelligence and biotechnology.
Asked how he would contribute to such a reflection, Mr. Kluz said he would urge the Holy Father to frame the coming encyclical around the “Space Revolution.” The conquest of space represents for him the most momentous shift of our time—a spiritual crossroads forcing humanity to reflect on the meaning of creation, its limits, and its destiny.
“The extension of human life beyond earth will have consequences far greater than AI or biotechnology,” he explained. “It will redefine how we understand creation, responsibility, and the human vocation itself.”
Mr. Kluz summarized his vision in four key themes: forming virtuous tech leaders, defending human dignity against transhumanist illusions, turning technology into a force for peace, and keeping the human person at the center of progress. Innovation, he argued, must be guided not by profit or power but by faith, reason, and virtue working together so that technology serves life instead of
dominating it.
Mr. Kluz moves easily from boardrooms and airports to the silence of monasteries. His professional environment stretches from Silicon Valley to New York and Brussels, but it is above all his missionary conviction that drives him. He noted that most of the entrepreneurs he meets are not explicitly Christian, but many are searching.
“They feel the weight of shaping the future on their shoulders, even if they cannot yet name it in Christian terms,” he said. “If their moral imagination is formed, they could become true pillars of civilization.”
A ‘St. Augustine moment’
The transformation that is currently unfolding, according to him, is nothing less than a “St. Augustine moment.”
As the Roman Empire was collapsing, he said, “Augustine forced society to ask itself the essential questions: Who is man? What is truth? What is time? Today, at the dawn of technological civilization, we face the same questions.”
In Mr. Kluz’s view, Augustine’s Confessions should be on every entrepreneur’s shelf. The book’s insistence on reflection before action, he believes, is precisely what the tech world lacks. “For an entrepreneur, the question is not just ‘Do I see what others do not?’ but also ‘What will I do with it?’ If he uses his insight to serve others, it becomes wisdom; if not, it becomes vanity.”
Through his Prize for PeaceTech, Mr. Kluz seeks to form a new generation of innovators guided by virtue.
“Technologies must strengthen humanity, not weaken it,” he stated, convinced that Western civilization itself is at stake. The Church’s mission, he added, is not only to warn against technologies’ abuse but also to lead—showing how they can serve truth and peace when rooted in faith.
Referencing Pope St. John Paul II—“Do not be afraid of new technologies!”—Mr. Kluz insisted the Church must instill confidence in believers rather than fear. This challenge offers the Church—the greatest expert in humanity—the opportunity to reaffirm, beyond the confusion of algorithms and to the farthest reaches of space, the timelessness of the Gospel. And for this task, a new order of faithful innovators ready to stand alongside the pope could prove useful. ■
OSV NEWS PHOTO/KAYLEE GREENLEE, REUTERS
Emergency response Volunteers Craig and Caroline Harvey place food items in a truck bed during a mobile food
Artur Kluz
St. John Henry Newman had a profound impact on religion Doctor of the Church
By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service and Jonathan Luxmoore OSV News
The lives of St. John Henry Newman and of all the saints teach Christians that “it is possible to live passionately amidst the complexity of the present without neglecting the apostolic mandate to ‘shine like stars in the world,’” Pope Leo XIV said.
Celebrating Mass on Nov. 1, the feast of All Saints, Pope Leo concluded the Jubilee of the World of Education and proclaimed St. Newman the 38th doctor of the Church, including him among the men and women of the Christian East and West who have made decisive contributions to theology and spirituality.
Earlier in the week, Pope Leo had officially recognized St. Newman as co-patron of education along with St. Thomas Aquinas.
St. Newman was born in London on Feb. 21, 1801, was ordained an Anglican priest in 1825, became Catholic in 1845, and was made a cardinal in 1879 by Pope Leo XIII. He died in 1890.
Leading members of the Anglican Church of England and the British government attended the Mass where he was declared a doctor of the Church. The Anglican delegation was led by Archbishop Stephen Cottrell of York, currently the top-ranking prelate of the Church of England. The government delegation was led by David Lammy, deputy prime minister of the United Kingdom and secretary of state for justice.
Greeting Archbishop Cottrell publicly at the end of Mass, Pope Leo prayed that St. Newman would “accompany the journey of Christians toward full unity.”
The banner used during St. Newman’s canonization Mass in 2019 hung from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica during the Mass and his relics were placed on a table near the altar.
While St. Newman’s theology, philosophy, and thoughts about university education were cited in the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints’ presentation at the Mass, Pope Leo chose to quote in his homily from the British saint’s poem, “Lead, Kindly Light,” now a popular hymn.
“In that beautiful prayer” of St.
Nov.
“ Lead, Kindly Light, amidst th’encircling gloom, Lead Thou me on. ... The task of education is precisely to offer this Kindly Light to those who might otherwise remain imprisoned by the particularly insidious shadows of pessimism and fear.”
— Pope Leo XIV, speaking on St. John Henry Newman and educators for the Jubilee of the World of Education
Newman’s, the pope said, “we come to realize that we are far from home, our feet are unsteady, we cannot interpret clearly the way ahead. Yet none of this impedes us, since we have found our guide” in Jesus.
“Lead, Kindly Light, amidst th’encircling gloom, Lead Thou me on,” the pope quoted in English while reading his homily in Italian.
Speaking to the teachers, professors, and other educators gathered for the Mass in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Leo said, “The task of education is precisely to offer this Kindly Light to those who might otherwise remain imprisoned by the particularly insidious shadows of pessimism and fear.”
The pope asked the educators to “reflect upon and point out to others those ‘constellations’ that transmit light and guidance at this present time, which is darkened by so much injustice and uncertainty.”
He also encouraged them “to ensure that schools, universities, and every educational context, even those that are informal or streetbased, are always gateways to a civilization of dialogue and peace.”
Another quote from St. Newman—“God has created me to do Him some definite service; He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another”—expresses “the mystery of the dignity of every human person, and also the variety of gifts distributed by God,” the pope said. Catholic educators, he said, have an obligation not only to transmit information but also to help their students discover how much God loves them and how He has a plan for their lives.
“Life shines brightly not because
we are rich, beautiful, or powerful,” the pope said. “Instead, it shines when we discover within ourselves the truth that we are called by God, have a vocation, have a mission, that our lives serve something greater than ourselves.”
“Every single creature has a role to play,” he said. “The contribution that each person can make is uniquely valuable, and the task of educational communities is to encourage and cherish that contribution.”
“At the heart of the educational journey,” Pope Leo said, “we do not find abstract individuals but real people, especially those who seem to be underperforming according to the parameters of economies that exclude or even kill them. We are called to form people, so that they may shine like stars in their full dignity.”
Mr. Lammy, the British government official, told Catholic News Service that he had the “great honor and privilege” to meet Pope Leo before the Mass.
As a member of the Anglo-Catholic tradition within the Church of England, he said he believes “John Henry Newman really encapsulates the deep connections between our countries and between the Christian communities, across the Christian community.”
The proclamation was “a moment of unity and reflection,” Mr. Lammy said. “It’s not just a religious honor, but a powerful moment of cohesion that shows how engaging in our differences can also unite us.”
St. Newman’s legacy, he said, “reminds us that Britain’s religious story is broader than one tradition. It’s been enriched by Catholic thought, courage, and contribution.”
Preeminent educator A tapestry of St. John Henry Newman hangs from the facade of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican on
1 during the Mass in which Pope Leo XIV declared the 19th-century English cardinal and theologian a doctor of the Church. The liturgy concluded the Jubilee of the World of Education.
CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
PHOTO/LOLA GOMEZ
Doctor continued on page A21
New study examines the priesthood
National
results
By Gina Christian OSV News
Anew study on U.S. priests shows that many report satisfaction with their ministry, but trust in bishops and major superiors is still low, although improving.
In addition, many younger priests are at risk of burnout and loneliness as their responsibilities increase amid a decline in vocations but youth, family ministry, and evangelization are key pastoral priorities.
And while priests in general were somewhat lukewarm on the theoretical concept of synodality, they are in practice rather good at it.
Those are among the results published in “Morale, Leadership, and Pastoral Priorities: Highlights from the 2025 National Study of Catholic Priests” by Brandon Vaidyanathan, Stephen Cranney, Stephen P. White, and Sara Perla.
The study was released on Oct. 14 by The Catholic Project at The Catholic University of America and serves as a follow-up to its landmark 2022 national study.
For the latest report, researchers contacted original survey respondents consisting of both diocesan and religious-order priests with Gallup conducting the poll May 12-June 30. A total of 1,164 priests completed the survey for a response rate of 38 percent.
The new survey sought to “more deeply understand American priests’ experiences of ministry ‘on the ground,’ as well as assess any changes in their morale and confidence in Church leadership,” said the report authors, who also looked at the priests’ “pastoral priorities and needs.”
“Our hope is to better understand American priests the challenges and opportunities they face so that the whole Church can benefit from a stronger presbyterate,” Mr. White told OSV News. “There are a lot of stereotypes about priests and this data helps clear some of those away.”
Flourishing, but burnout looms
On balance, said Mr. White, “American priests are flourishing and their confidence in bishops has slightly improved since 2022.”
As in 2022, respondents averaged 82 out of 100 on the Harvard Flourishing metric, which measures five key areas: “happiness and life satisfaction, physical and mental health, meaning and purpose, character and virtue, and close social rela-
offer insight into morale, leadership, pastoral priorities
Embracing the priesthood
Above: Eleven transitional deacons prostrate themselves before being ordained to the priesthood by Pope Leo XIV during Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican.
Left: A member of a Knights of Columbus honor guard participates in a "Keep Our Priests" rosary rally at St. Mary Church in East Islip, N.Y.
Below: Maryknoll Father John Siyumbu distributes Communion during his ordination to the priesthood at the Maryknoll Society Center, which is located in Maryknoll, N.Y.
tionships,” according to the website of Harvard’s Human Flourishing Program.
Yet respondents’ assessment of how well their respective dioceses or religious orders fared was considerably less positive, according to the report.
Researchers analyzed priests’ morale by presenting three statements, drawn from their previous survey, designed to measure respondents’ negative talk about
priestly ministry, as well as feelings of being emotionally or physically drained due to ministry work.
Most priests (61 percent) did not report any symptoms of burnout, the term coined in 1974 by psychologist Herbert Freudenberger to describe the loss of motivation or incentive among professionals, particularly caregivers.
Yet 39 percent demonstrated at least one symptom, according to the report, with only 5 percent ex-
hibiting all three.
The report found “noticeable differences” between diocesan and religious priests regarding burnout, with 7 percent of the former showing high levels of burnout, compared with only 2 percent of religious order priests.
In addition, said researchers, “44 percent of diocesan priests showed at least one symptom of burnout compared with only 31 percent of religious priests.”
Priests ordained since 2000 were more likely to report feeling overwhelmed, said the report, with “almost half” (45 percent) saying “they are expected to do too many things ‘that go beyond (their) calling as priests.’”
In contrast, that feeling was shared by only 13 percent of priests ordained before 1980, and 38 percent of those ordained from 1980-1999.
The report authors said the “generational difference” in the responses “points to growing concerns about sustainability in ministry, especially as parish demands increase” although despite many priests serving in two (23 percent) or more (17 percent) parishes, “the number of parishes a priest serves is not statistically related to his level of burnout.”
Some of the difference may be due to “generational understandings regarding what a priest’s calling means,” researchers noted.
In addition, said the report, more recently ordained priests reported higher levels of loneliness compared with their older counterparts, with 40 percent of those ordained after 2000 ranking 6 or higher on the UCLA Loneliness Scale.
Overall, the data indicated that while “not universal,” burnout remains “a substantial pastoral challenge,” according to the report.
The data also challenged “anecdotal evidence” that young priests have a high attrition rate, since 81 percent of responding priests indicated their morale was good, with just 3 percent saying they were thinking of leaving the priesthood.
The majority of priests were found to be in good mental health, with only 2 percent experiencing what the Kessler K6 psychological scale would rank as “severe mental illness or severe psychological distress,” the report said.
Stressors for priests may vary among parishes and dioceses and can be compounded by larger issues such as diocesan restructuring and bankruptcy, the report noted.
St. John Neumann to host Maher/Kroger concert
Catholic performers bringing national Cathedrals Tour to Diocese of Knoxville
By Dan McWilliams
Dr. Patrick and wife Barbara O’Brien are excited to bring Catholic musicians Matt Maher and Sarah Kroger to St. John Neumann Church in Farragut on Friday, Dec. 5, for “Cathedrals: An Advent Night of Worship.”
The concert at 7 p.m. is part of the singers’ nationwide Cathedrals Tour, which began last year and is sponsored by the International Justice Mission (IJM). Mr. Maher and Ms. Kroger, both songwriters and worship leaders, performed at the National Eucharistic Congress last year in Indianapolis.
Mr. Maher, who was born in Newfoundland, Canada, is a ninetime Grammy nominee and has won three Gospel Music Association Dove Awards, with three of his nine albums reaching the Top 25 Christian Albums Billboard chart. His singles include “Lord, I Need You,” “Because He Lives (Amen),” “I Will Rise,” “Christ Is Risen,” and “Your Grace Is Enough.” He has performed at major Catholic and evangelical events since 2004 and has been featured in “The Chosen” series’ Christmas theatrical releases.
Ms. Kroger is from Nashville and is a Dove Award-nominated artist, songwriter, and worship leader. Her first album appeared in 2011, with her most recent being “A New Reality” in 2024. She has written a children’s book, My Beloved Child , and a lullaby based on her song “Belovedness.” Her albums also include “Your Time,” “Hallelujah Is Our Song,” “Bloom,” “Light,” and “London Sessions,” and her popular songs include “This Is My Story,” “Pieces,” “Freedom in the Spirt,” and “When I See You.”
“We are going to be blessed by having two amazing artists at one
CommonSpirit Health’s market president, Tennessee and Georgia. “We are simply uniting under one shared name to better reflect a connection to a larger national health system, but the local team and its dedication to this community are constant.”
A combination of the words “Common Good” and “Holy Spirit,” the CommonSpirit name was derived from Scripture (1 Corinthians 12:7): “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.”
“This thoughtful and intentional naming reflects the shared values of the hospitals and health systems that formed CommonSpirit in 2019, including CHI Memorial,” according to the statement.
The new CommonSpirit-Memorial Hospital-North Georgia in Catoosa County will have 64 inpatient beds, including an intensive-care unit as well as a full-service emergency department with 24 beds, five operating rooms, two endoscopy suites, comprehensive imaging services, non-invasive cardiac imaging, and a laboratory.
“In the coming months, the community will begin to see the CommonSpirit name and logo appear throughout their local facilities, but it is the same dedicated team, providing the same high-quality care the community has always trusted,” CommonSpirit said in the statement.
CHI Memorial Hospital was founded by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth and officially opened on Jan. 2, 1952. When it opened, the health-care facility had 200 beds. It now has more than 300 beds and has nearly doubled in size over its 62 years of existence. The Sisters of Charity of Nazareth managed the hospital when it opened and assisted in raising nearly $2 million to build the hospital, which is located at 2525 de Sales Ave. near downtown Chattanooga. Ground was
performance. Besides sharing their individual songs, they share their testimony to enrich us and draw us closer to God during the Advent season,” Mrs. O’Brien said.
The O’Briens heard the performers in Indianapolis in 2024.
“We were inspired by all the music at the National Eucharistic Congress that we attended in Indianapolis last year,” Mrs. O’Brien said. “When we heard about Sarah and Matt performing at dioceses across the U.S. during Advent, we thought, ‘Why can’t we have them in Knoxville?’”
The Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in Knoxville did not have an opening for the December concert, Dr. O’Brien said, going on to thank diocesan chancellor Deacon Sean Smith; Deacon Jim Bello, diocesan director of Christian Formation as well as of Deacons and Deacon Formation; and St. John Neumann pastor Mark Schuster for their help.
“We are parishioners at St. John Neumann, and we brought this idea to the diocese for consideration. We found out that the cathedral was booked in December, so a decision was made to go with St.
broken for the project on April 1, 1949.
When the hospital opened, it employed fewer than 40 physicians. The number grew to 250 in only 10 years. Plans were announced in 1963 to add a seven-story addition on the south side of the hospital, which increased the hospital size by one third. The addition would offer a larger laboratory and delivery room as well as more operating and recovery rooms.
Again in 1969, the hospital was in need of an expansion, and it added 33 beds, which led to the de Sales Harrison building being constructed. Some 15 years ago, Memorial Hospital broke ground for a $320 million expansion project, which added more than a halfmillion square feet of space to the medical center’s campus. This expansion was dedicated in April 2016. During construction in 2015, CHI Memorial recorded nearly 500,000 patient visits for that year.
In 1997, the hospital’s parent system, the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth Health System, consolidated with other Catholic health systems to form Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI). CHI has operated CHI Memorial Hospital in Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., which will become the new CommonSpirit-Memorial HospitalNorth Georgia as well as CHI Memorial Hospital in Hixson and CHI Memorial in Chattanooga.
Then in 2019, CHI merged with Dignity Health to create CommonSpirit Health. CommonSpirit will operate a network of outpatient, therapy, and imaging centers that support the hospitals.
According to CommonSpirit Health, the health-care organization is inspired by faith, driven by innovation, and powered by humankindness.
“CommonSpirit Health is building a healthier future for all through its integrated health services. As one of the nation’s largest nonprofit Catholic health-care or-
John Neumann as the location and to have SJN be the primary sponsor,” Dr. O’Brien said. “Thanks go to Deacon Sean Smith and Deacon Jim Bello at the Chancery for their guidance and to Father Mark Schuster at SJN for taking on this project.”
Dr. O’Brien also expressed gratitude to “generous donors who are helping to defray the cost of general-admission tickets to make attending the concert more affordable. In addition, these donors’ efforts are indirectly allowing us to sponsor up to 70 tickets for the religious of the diocese to attend. Due to these generous donors, excess donations are being directed to St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic and St. Vincent de Paul of St. John Neumann Parish.”
Ticket sales were limited to 700 “so as to give each concertgoer a comfortable experience,” Dr. O’Brien said. “St. John Neumann Catholic Church has a higher capacity, which, if utilized, could feel crowded. Our intent is to evangelize through sacred music and adoration to this select audience.”
Eucharistic adoration will be
ganizations, CommonSpirit Health delivers more than 20 million patient encounters annually through more than 2,300 clinics, care sites and 138 hospital-based locations, in addition to its home-based services and virtual-care offerings. CommonSpirit has more than 160,000 employees, 45,000 nurses, and 25,000 physicians and advanced practice providers across 24 states and contributes more than $5 bil-
incorporated in the second half of the concert at St. John Neumann, Dr. O’Brien said, adding that “it will draw us closer to Christ in His precious Body. It will be approximately 15 minutes and reminiscent of adoration held at the National Eucharistic Congress in 2024 in a small way.”
The event has proven to be popular among Diocese of Knoxville fans of Mr. Maher and Ms. Kroger. Tickets were sold out a month in advance. VIP tickets that were sold provide access to special seating, heavy hors d’oeuvres, drinks, and to a meet-and-greet with the performers before the concert.
“VIP tickets actually sold out on day one of sales,” Dr. O’Brien said. “We are looking at the possibility of converting any unused religious tickets to VIP tickets in November to allow more people to attend in this category of ticket. The website itickets.com will show availability if we are able to make the conversion of unused tickets.”
Doors open at 6 p.m. at St. John Neumann Church, which is at 633 St. John Court in Farragut.
To learn more about the Cathedrals Tour or IJM, visit www. itickets.com/events/484242 . The IJM’s mission is to “protect people in poverty from violence by rescuing victims, bringing criminals to justice, restoring survivors to safety and strength, and helping local law enforcement build a safe future that lasts.”
The website includes a brief video featuring Mr. Maher and Ms. Kroger talking about their St. John Neumann appearance. The musicians’ websites are mattmaher music.com and sarahkroger.com
“Our hope is that every seat will be filled on the evening of Dec. 5 with people anxious to praise God through sacred music and adoration,” Dr. O’Brien said. ■
lion annually in charity care, community benefits, and unreimbursed government programs. “Together with our patients, physicians, partners, and communities, we are creating a more just, equitable, and innovative health-care delivery system,” the health-care provider said in a statement.
For more information about CommonSpirit Health, visit common spirit.org ■
An Advent night of worship Popular Catholic singers/songwriters Matt Maher and Sarah Kroger are bringing their inspirational songs of faith to St. John Neumann Church on Friday, Dec. 5. Tickets to the talented pair's Cathedrals Tour stop in the Diocese of Knoxville are sold out.
COURTESY OF THE CATHEDRALS TOUR
CommonSpirit continued from page A4
Pope Leo XIV at six months
Panel: Catholic Church, under the pontiff, can help world tackle biggest problems
By Kimberley Heatherington OSV News
They are a trio of challenges and opportunities already stalking the pontifi cate of Pope Leo XIV: the persistence of poverty, the changing nature of work, and the future uses of artifi cial intelligence.
As the pontiff approached the six-month anniversary of his May 8 election, the secular and faithful world are debating how the Church he leads might positively change the trajectory of each.
On Oct. 30, the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life at Georgetown University gathered a panel of experts to examine “Pope Leo XIV’s New Challenge and Moral Leadership on Poverty, Work, and Artifi cial Intelligence.”
“Pope Leo XIV’s pontifi cate began during what Pope Francis often called a ‘change of epoch,’ with major changes transforming our world,” Kim Daniels, director of the Initiative, reminded listeners in her introduction.
“Among them, the rise of AI and the effects it would have on work and the economy something Pope Leo has called ‘another industrial revolution,’” she added.
Yet, as Pope Leo has cautioned, not everyone especially those at the peripheries is included in the discussion of these new things, with their attendant promise and risks.
John Carr, panel moderator and founder of the Initiative, proposed the United States is living in divided times, with a government shutdown, the loss of food and health care for the poor, a practical end to overseas aid, and
a deadlocked Congress.
At the same time, “a new elite is moving forward with new technology, new wealth, and new power some of it related to artifi cial intelligence with its possibilities and dangers for work, the economy, and our society.”
“But,” suggested Mr. Carr, “there is another voice; there is another vision.”
Mr. Carr asked each panelist in turn how both the Catholic Church and Pope Leo are offering the solutions of Catholic social teaching in response to emerging challenges to the defense of human dignity, justice, and labor.
“I think the Holy Father has already indicated how the Church should respond in what he has already done,” said Cardinal Blase J. Cupich of Chicago, a close adviser to both Pope Francis and Pope Leo.
“Namely, to make sure that the inspiration of (Pope Leo XIII’s
1891 encyclical) Rerum Novarum , which is about the defense of human dignity of the worker, but also human dignity at large, should all begin with the preferential option for the poor,” the cardinal continued.
Referring to Pope Leo’s fi rst apostolic exhortation Dilexi Te (“I Have Loved You”), released on Oct. 4, Cardinal Cupich said Pope Leo “makes it very clear, in fact, that it’s not just a teaching among others that we are to accept, but it’s the heart of who we are. And he says something very profound: ‘Don’t claim to be a holy person if you do not have care for the poor.’ Your holiness is, in fact, through the means by which you care for the poor.”
Pope Leo also indicates “the poor are not just objects of our generosity,” added Cardinal Cupich, “they are subjects, they are agents, and they have something to offer us.”
“What I think the Church needs to do continually is to raise the voice of poor people, to speak to the world, about how, in fact, they live their lives in abject poverty sometimes and yet have so many good virtues about them that can enhance who we are. ... We can learn from the poor,” concluded Cardinal Cupich, “and the Church needs to lift up their voice, and make sure that it’s heard.”
Liz Shuler, president of the AFL-CIO, noted the Church and labor have been aligned in their concerns not just for decades, but centuries.
The AFL-CIO, she said, represents “nearly 15 million workers in this country; 63 unions across every sector of the economy. The idea and the value behind the labor movement and the Church are so deeply intertwined this notion of dignity for all; solidarity, and community of those around you; work as more than just a way to make a living. It is about fulfi llment; it is about meaning; and it’s about purpose.”
“I think Pope Leo has taken that on as inspiration,” Ms. Shuler continued. “This notion of those values marching along together has been around since the 1880s, as we know: Leo XIII supporting unions publicly; the 1930s, U.S. priests supporting the CIO, which was before the AFL and the CIO came together, advocating for fair wages during the Depression; in the 1970s, clergy arrested in solidarity with César Chávez,” she reflected.
“So today, this partnership is more important than ever with the total transformation of the economy and AI; income inequality greater than it’s ever been; and
Pope continued on page A17
Changing the trajectory Pope Leo XIV is welcomed with applause to a meeting with members of the Joint Committee of the Council of European Bishops' Conferences and the Conference of European Churches in the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican on Nov. 6
CATHOLIC
Bishop celebrates Mass with Benedictine Sisters
On Aug. 15, Bishop Mark Beckman celebrated Mass with the Benedictine Daughters of Divine Will at their convent in Blount County.
Following Mass, Bishop Beckman and Mother Gabrielle Marie Breaux, the mother superior, presided at the service when postulant Meghan Trettel received her habit and her new name, Sister Maria Philomena.
Mother Gabrielle Marie cut the postulant ’ s hair and clothed her in the holy habit, assisted by the Sister Seamstress, Sister Maria Maddalena.
Sister Maria Philomena is now a novice with t he Benedictine Daughters of Divine Will
On Aug. 22, Sister Maria Faustina took her first vows of obedience, stability, and conversion of morals. She also received the medallion of the
two hearts of Jesus and Mary during the investment ceremony. Mother Gabrielle Marie, as the superior, was present to receive the vows.
The Benedictine Daughters and the Benedictine Monks of Divine Will relocated to the Diocese of Knoxville in 2022. ■
Photos courtesy of Dorothy Curtis and the Benedictine Monks of Divine Will.
Calling all relic hunters
World's first map of sacred icons unveiled by founder of The Relic Project
By Alyssa Murphy National Catholic Register
Nov. 8 marked the feast of the Veneration of the Holy Relics, and to mark the occasion, Anthony Di Mauro, founder of The Relic Project, has unveiled the world’s first map of relics.
Following the example of St. Carlo Acutis, who created a website to chart and catalogue the world’s Eucharistic miracles, Mr. Di Mauro’s latest project is the first interactive digital map of relics, all accessible through an online platform, uniting “faith, technology, and tradition” in a creative way.
Mr. Di Mauro spoke to a crowd gathered at a fundraiser to celebrate the official launch.
“After encountering a hidden relic in my home parish, something in me awakened. I began searching for more throughout my diocese, only to realize how many sacred treasures were hidden or undocumented. That’s when it became clear: The Church needs a comprehensive database of relics, so we can truly know who we have, where they are, and how the faithful can benefit from these treasures in their midst,” he said.
According to Mr. Di Mauro, the seed was planted five years ago when he first encountered relics in a profound way.
“With over 100 relics before me, it wasn’t just an object in a glass case; it was a living reminder that heaven is closer than we think,” Mr. Di Mauro explained. “These small fragments—bone, cloth, a piece of a saint’s habit—were not relics of death, but of life.”
From that experience, The Relic Project was born, “a ministry dedicated to bringing the saints back into the heart of the Church’s life,” Mr. Di Mauro said.
The project seeks to bring Catholicism to the masses “through documentation, authentication, and the sharing of sacred relics” to help “connect the faithful to generations of holiness,” and the project’s patron saints include St. Anthony of Padua and St. Carlo Acutis.
The new interactive database offers a map that users can traverse to explore relics by saint, location, or classification. The extensive research that powers the project reveals little-known hidden facts and treasures unknown to many Catholics. In his hometown of Spokane, Wash., alone, Mr. Di Mauro’s team encountered 600 relics, many completely undocumented.
“Many relics around the world are hidden or misunderstood,” he explained. “Some have no records, some sit in storage, and others risk
being lost entirely. The Church has given us this sacred tradition for 2,000 years, yet we’re in danger of losing track of it.”
And Mr. Di Mauro says the interactive online map is only the first stage.
Collaborating with dioceses and relic hunters across the globe, The Relic Project is also working indefatigably to establish the largest relic chapel on the West Coast, intended to be “a sacred space dedicated to veneration, education, and a future Department of Relic Authentication and Restoration, preserving these treasures of faith for generations to come,” he said.
Many fruits have come from this sharing of relics. At the fundraiser, Mr. Di Mauro recalled stories of conversion and healing: “mothers praying for their children, young
adults returning to the sacraments, priests witnessing hope reborn in their parishes.”
“These are not our works,” Mr. Di Mauro added. “They are the works of grace through the intercession of the saints. The saints are actively bringing people to Christ through their relics.”
Born as a digital apostolate, The Relic Project is engaging with young and old online, but its mission does not end there. The intention is to bring these sacred relics into homes, schools, nursing facilities, and hospitals, in the arenas of life where faith is needed most, to reach the lonely and those feeling forgotten, offering the faithful “a tangible encounter with the Communion of Saints.”
Mr. Di Mauro invites all Catholics to get involved in what he calls the “relic renaissance.”
“We are making history. Never in the history of the world has there been a resource like this. But we can’t do it alone. We need partners, spiritual and financial, who see not just a project, but a movement of conversion in souls. Your support helps souls encounter heaven on earth and rediscover that holiness is real, tangible, and waiting for them.”
Those who wish to become part of this historic work are invited to visit TheRelicProject.org or email contact@therelicproject.org to learn more about volunteering, hosting relic visits, or supporting the mission financially.
If anyone possessing relics he or she would like to donate toward the future Chapel of Relics, they will be reverently incorporated into the ministry’s outreach, traveling with missionaries to bring the presence of the saints into homes, parishes, and communities. To discuss a potential donation, reach out to the team directly. ■
In praise of sacred relics Catholics take part in a eucharistic procession with relics in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.
COURTESY OF NATIONAL CATHOLIC REGISTER
N.J. diocese drops priest visa lawsuit
Legal move is in anticipation of U.S. government action to amend rule
By Madalaine Elhabbal Catholic News Agency
ACatholic diocese in New Jersey has dropped a lawsuit against the U.S. government over a rule change to the religious-worker visa used by foreign-born priests.
Attorneys for the Diocese of Paterson dropped a lawsuit they filed last year against the Biden administration’s State Department, Department of Homeland Security, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, along with their respective heads, after reportedly coming to an agreement regarding a solution with national implications, according to local reports.
The lawsuit was filed Aug. 8, 2024, in the U.S. District Court in Newark, N.J.
Raymond Lahoud, the lawyer representing the diocese, said in an Oct. 31 e-mail that the diocese
Pope continued from page A14
and its five foreign-born priests listed as plaintiffs moved to dismiss the case “to allow for agency action and/or rulemaking that will render moot the relief plaintiffs sought from the court.”
The priests named in the suit include Filipino citizens Father Regin Nico Dela Cruz Quintos, Father Joemin Kharlo Chong Parinas, Father Armando Diaz Vizcara Jr., and Father Joseph Anthony Aguila Mactal, and Colombian national Father Manuel Alejandro Cuellar Ceballos.
Mr. Lahoud also said in the email that his team had “reached a deal that impacts the entire country” and that he would provide more details “as soon as I am permitted.”
Mr. Lahoud did not respond to multiple requests by CNA for comment.
The lawyer later said the diocese “was hoping proposed legislation
attacks on immigrants and vulnerable workers clearly,” Ms. Shuler noted, “this is absolutely the center of both of our movements, and we really appreciate the direction that the pope has taken.”
Paul Almeida, dean and chair of Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business, said he belongs to a technology discussion group on the West Coast, which counts leading AI fi rms among its members.
“It was really overwhelming to listen to people talk about technology as having its own soul, and its own direction, and its own value. There was talk about doppelgangers and AI agents that could slice through bureaucracy. And I realized,” Mr. Almeida continued, “we don't just need guardrails. We need to change the conversation.”
The Church, he suggested, should be the one to do so.
“We are the Church,” Mr. Almeida emphasized. “And I think each of us, in whatever
regarding religious-worker visas would resolve their lawsuit,” citing legislation introduced in both the U.S. House and Senate that would allow religious workers to remain in the country amid the unprecedented backlog in the EB-4 visa category.
Neither piece of legislation has moved forward amid the government shutdown.
Religious workers such as foreign-born priests come to the United States on R-1 visas, which allow them to remain in the country for up to five years.
During this time, religious workers seeking to apply for a green card must do so in the EB-4 visa category. However, due to the backlog, the former 12- to 24-month process has stalled signifi cantly enough that religious workers are faced with the possibility of having to return to their home countries before completing
jobs we have, has to fi gure out how we can unleash AI not just to restrict evil which we should but to unleash it; unleash the power for good, for enhancing human dignity, for reaching out to the margins, for serving the common good. I think that’s our duty.”
Panelist Cecilia Flores, executive director of the Catholic Volunteer Network, had just returned from Rome and the World Meeting of Popular Movements at the Vatican. And she had a correction to issue.
“When we talk about Catholic social teaching ... a lot of people say it’s the best-kept secret of the Catholic Church. And I think that’s categorically untrue,” she said. “I think it is systematically not taught in formation programs because it makes people very uncomfortable.”
Church members need to dispel that notion of it being a secret, she said, and be ready to speak out.
“We have to be comfortable with sharing what our Catholic social teaching actually says, and what it actually tells us about how we
their green card application.
The EB-4 “special immigrant” category can distribute up to 7.1 percent of all available immigration visas, the second-lowest of any category, and contains not only programs for religious workers but also individuals such as former employees of the U.S. government overseas, broadcasters, and, recently under the Biden administration, unaccompanied minors.
Foreign-born priests serving in dioceses around the country have been impacted by the federal policy. A number of priests were required to return to their native country and instructed to reapply for the R-1 and EB-4 visas.
However, the extensive backlog of visa applications meant the priests could have to wait many months in their home countries for their visas to be reviewed and renewed. ■
need to interact as human beings. It’s the social teaching for a reason,” Ms. Flores stressed, “and we’re not able to interact with one another because we’re not really good at what Catholic social teaching says.”
Dilexi Te , said Ms. Flores, “feels like a reminder to the Church of who we are.”
“It’s not teaching anything new, and (Pope Leo) reiterates that multiple times. This is who we are; this is the heart of who we are: is to care for one another as a society,” she concluded. “And yet we have lost our way.”
Mr. Carr also asked Cardinal Cupich what the cardinal electors at the conclave of whom he was one had been looking for in a new pope.
The answer was, a mix of abilities, all of which Pope Leo has: He’s a pastor, a missionary, a skilled administrator. He’s lived on different continents and speaks several languages.
“It’s almost like he came out of central casting,” Cardinal Cupich refl ected. “He stepped onto that balcony and he owned the moment and has never looked back.” ■
School Spotlight Our Lady of Perpetual Help Traditions
That Shape Who We Are at OLPH
For nearly ninety years Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School has been a cornerstone of faith and education in the Chattanooga community In September 1937, seven Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary arrived with a singular mission: to open a school Within six days, they accomplished that remarkable goal
Early accounts of their work reveal women of extraordinary dedication educators committed to providing what they called splendid individual attention Their vision was to create a place where each child could flourish intellectually and spiritually That same spirit defines OLPH to this day This is the spirit that calls our faculty and staff strive to ensure that every student is known, supported, and inspired to grow in both faith and knowledge
At OLPH our mission to help our students grow in their relationship with God and become confident life long learners is not merely a statement of intent but a lived reality It is what shapes our decisions, and adhesive for the generations of students, families, and educators who have attended OLPH This essence of our community is best illustrated in the many traditions that define the OLPH experience traditions that celebrate our values to know love and serve
Recently, we held our All Saints Day celebration Each year, 1st through 4th grade students research and dress as their favorite saints processing into Mass as classmates and families look on This tradition teaches young learners that holiness is not abstract but a lived example, demonstrated by ordinary people who choose extraordinary love and inspires them that they, too, can become saints
During Catholic Schools Week, students, faculty, and families come together for themed days, service projects, and celebrations reflecting the core values of Catholic education One day may honor parents, another recognize teachers, and another highlight service to others The week begins and ends with Mass a powerful reminder that our greatest strength lies in our shared faith
As the year winds down and spring turns to summer May Crowning is another time honored tradition Students and families gather to honor the Blessed Mother and our foundresses with prayer, song, and flowers Led by eighth-grade students, who crown Mary in a gesture of devotion and transition, the ceremony serves as a bridge between past and future linking our oldest students with the legacy of those who came before them
Beyond liturgical celebrations, OLPH nurtures community through joyful and formative events The Fall Festival brings together parishioners alumni and families for fellowship and fun Trunk or Treat transforms the school grounds into a creative display of costumes and decorations, while the Christmas Program showcases students’ musical and artistic talents, highlighting the beauty and wonder of the season In spring, Field Day embodies teamwork and school spirit, filling the campus with laughter color and camaraderie
These events are more than dates on a calendar they are the threads that weave together the fabric of our school community They provide moments of connection and reflection reinforcing the shared identity that defines OLPH Alumni often return with their own children to relive these traditions, demonstrating how they celebrate the present while honoring the enduring legacy of the past
s we approach our 90th anniversary, we do so with gratitude for the vision of the sisters who began this journey in 1937 Their dedication laid the foundation for a school rooted in faith, strengthened by community, and committed to excellence Each tradition from All Saints’ Day to May Crowning from Catholic Schools Week to the Christmas Program tells a story of who we are and who we aspire to be
At OLPH tradition is not merely about looking back; it is about carrying forward our mission to help our community grow in relationship with God and become confident, lifelong learners Much like in Pope Leo XVI’s most recent letter on education we strive to use our charisms to respond to the needs of the age, preparing our students to bring light to the world just as the Sisters of Charity did nearly a century ago
of Charity, a religious order dedicated to serving Christ in the poorest of the poor, called one-on-one encounters with those in need “prayer in action.” She spoke about feeding those in dire poverty, cleaning them, and even arranging for a barber to cut their hair.
“When you cut their hair with the right intention or when you listen to them and they say, ‘I want a cup of soup,’ or ‘I want oatmeal,’ and then you give it to them in such a way, with a smile they understand God and His love,” the Sister said.
“Love begins with a smile,” she said, referring to a saying of St. Teresa of Kolkata, founder of the Missionaries of Charity.
3. Don’t be afraid to befriend those in need.
The Missionaries of Charity Sister called gaining the friendship and trust of people in need key to getting them the practical help they need. She told the story of a 70-year-old man from Thailand who had been abused while living on the streets. She has known him since 2018. While he refused help from others, he trusted her and is now in the process of securing housing.
“We have to reach out to them first, I would say, even as God reaches out to us where we’re at,” she said at another point.
She gave tips for how to start a conversation with someone in need. If someone has a dog, she recommended starting with that.
“‘What a beautiful dog hello, dog what is your dog’s name?’” she said, giving an example. “An animal is always a quick way into the heart of someone.”
She also recommended asking for help from Jesus’ mother, Mary, and the Holy Spirit.
“Then just take the leap again with a smile and say, “Good morning, my sister,’ or, ‘Good morning, my brother,’” she said. “Like, ‘I was just going into McDonald’s to buy a coffee, would you like one?’”
4. Volunteer with groups that help those in need.
Citing Pope Leo XIV, Scott Hurd, vice president for leadership development at Catholic Charities USA, said that Catholics can serve those in need, among other things. Last year, his own organization served more than 15 million people in need, including older adults, migrants and refugees, pregnant women and new mothers, people with disabilities, and people without homes, employment, or enough food.
“In serving, Leo writes, ‘we are asked to devote time to the poor, to give them loving attention, to listen to them with interest, (and) stand by them in difficult moments,’” Mr. Hurd said in e-mailed comments, citing Dilexi Te, where the pope quotes from the 2007 Aparecida Document. “This might be
done through serving with a parish social-concerns ministry or volunteering with a Catholic Charities agency or other social-service organization.”
At the USCCB, Ms. Rauh agreed that Catholics should accompany those in need by volunteering and by supporting those organizations that help people in need.
Michael Acaldo, CEO of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul USA, a Catholic lay organization that provides more than $1.7 billion in aid to 5 million people in need each year, also invited people to live out their faith and embrace those in need by volunteering with his organization.
5. Share your resources with those in need. Catholics also can minister to those in need by sharing their resources, which Pope Leo calls a “requirement of true worship” in Dilexi Te, Mr. Hurd and the other experts said.
“Catholics can share by assisting parish social ministries ... or supporting a local Catholic Charities agency or other relief organization with financial gifts and donations of food, clothing, and other practical items,” Mr. Hurd mentioned as examples. 6. Advocate for those in need.
Catholics should also speak up for those in need, Mr. Hurd and the other experts encouraged.
“Pope Leo challenges Catholics to fight against ‘the structural causes of poverty and inequality’ and confront the ‘destructive effects of the empire of money,’” Mr. Hurd said, citing Dilexi Te. “This requires ‘speaking up’ engaging in advocacy efforts with ‘local, national, and international governing structures.’”
He listed concrete examples.
“Catholics can petition elected officials, participate in community organizing, endorse the efforts of their local Catholic conference, support organizations funded by the Catholic Campaign for Human
Development, and stay abreast of developments at the national level by subscribing to Washington Weekly from Catholic Charities USA,” Mr. Hurd recommended.
Citing Dilexi Te, Ms. Rauh also called on Catholics to “put two feet of love in action” by “helping to meet immediate needs through works of charity and advocating for just policies that can help to address the structural causes of poverty.”
She also recommended joining organizations funded by the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, the USCCB’s national anti-poverty program, and advocating with the USCCB or its state Catholic conference for policies that ensure access to food, health care, and other essentials for families with low incomes.
7. Pray with those in need.
The Missionaries of Charity Sister said her order cares for those in need “for the purpose of their soul.”
“God doesn’t need us, but He chooses to use us in order to accomplish His loving plan for our people in the here and now, with the goal of eternal life,” she said.
The Sister said she offers people in need holy cards and Miraculous Medals (a devotion rooted in a Marian vision given to St. Catherine Labouré in 1830). If she senses people are open to prayer, then she reminds them that “their heart is a temple of God and that God made them so that He could live in their hearts.”
The Sister said she repeats two of Mother Teresa’s short prayers with them: “Jesus, in my heart, I believe in your tender love for me. I love you,” and “Mary, mother of Jesus, be a mother to me now.”
8. Remember to see Christ in the poor and be Christ to the poor.
St. Vincent de Paul’s Mr. Acaldo highlighted Pope Leo’s message that God continues to speak through those in need.
“We’re called to see the face of Christ in those in need,” he said. “I believe, when we do a really great job ... they see the face of Christ in us.”
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul encounters those in need in many ways, through thrift stores and food pantries to emergency financial assistance and home visits.
“The most important thing we do is to bring Christ’s love to them and listen to them,” Mr. Acaldo said. “To let them know that hope through Christ exists throughout the world.” ■
Editor’s note: OSV News is not identifying the Missionaries of Charity Sister in response to a request from her superior asking for anonymity for the sake of the order’s mission in San Francisco.
Celebrating 75 Years!
Join us as we commemorate the Year of Jubilee, the 25th anniversary of the Our Lady of Fatima church building, and the 75th anniversary of the Our Lady of Fatima parish.
Mark Your Calendar
Tuesday, March 11
Special Bilingual Mass at 6 PM celebrating the 25th anniversary of our church building, followed by a light reception.
Tuesday, May 13
Pilgrimage and Pentecost
Wednesday, August 13
Pilgrimage and Pedagogy
Saturday, September 13
Pilgrimage and Prosperidad
Monday, October 13
Pilgrimage and Prayers
Saturday, November 22
Friday, June 13
Pilgrimage and Picnic
Sunday, July 13
Pilgrimage and Praise
75th Anniversary Mass at Our Lady of Fatima and Reception after at the Airport Hilton.
Come celebrate with us as we give thanks for the past and look forward with hope to the future!
How are doctors of the Church chosen?
A look at the process involved in the St. John Henry Newman declaration
By Father John Flader The Catholic Weekly/OSV News
With Pope Leo XIV proclaiming St. John Henry Newman a doctor of the Church on Nov. 1, let’s consider what criterion is used to make this decision, whether a layperson could be named a doctor, and what sort of writings Church doctors must have produced to be given this title.
First of all, the word “doctor” in this sense does not refer to the medical professional who treats your influenza. Nor to someone who fixes the ailments of the Catholic Church. The word comes from the Latin verb docere, meaning “to teach,” and so a “doctor” in Latin is a teacher.
This meaning is preserved in the academic world, where the highest degree awarded is a doctorate. In order for someone to receive the title doctor of the Church, there are three requirements.
The first is that the person must be eminent in doctrine, and naturally their writings must be faithful to Church teaching.
If, like St. Newman, they had been a non-Catholic for a time and had written something that was not orthodox, those writings would be ignored in favor of their writings as a Catholic.
Similarly, ecclesiastical writers who embraced certain heresies of their day, like Origen and Tertullian, cannot be doctors of the Church, even though their other writings are frequently quoted.
While a doctor’s writings must be eminent, of importance for the Church, it is not required that they be numerous.
For example, while St. Augustine
continued from page A11
and St. Thomas Aquinas left copious writings, others like St. Catherine of Siena and St. Thérèse of Lisieux wrote comparatively little.
The second requirement is that the doctors themselves must have a high degree of holiness and be canonized saints.
Thus, an eminent theologian such as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger Pope Benedict XVI could not be named a doctor of the Church, unless he were first canonized.
And third, it must be the pope himself who names someone a doctor of the Church. The first pope to do so was Pope Boniface VIII, who in 1298 proclaimed as doctors the four great Western Fathers of the Church, Sts. Ambrose, Augustine, Jerome, and Gregory the Great.
Corresponding to these were four great Eastern Fathers of the same period, Sts. John Chrysostom, Basil the Great, Gregory of Nazianzus, and Athanasius.
Although they had been considered as doctors early on, it was Pope Pius V who officially recognized them as such in 1568. Pope Pius V also declared his fellow
In addition, the deputy prime minister said, “I think his life and his writings show how belief and reason together can guide moral leadership, diplomacy, compassion, and I think in an age of polarization, Newman’s insistence on moral reflection calls us back to what truly matters, which is leadership in the cause of what is right and just, which is a principle that should shape our politics.”
Academic reaction
When St. John Henry Newman was proclaimed a doctor of the Church on Nov. 1, staff and students at his old university were counting on a boost of confidence for Oxford’s onceexcluded Catholics.
“Newman had a huge influence during his lifetime and drew a lot of people into the Church,” explained Alvea Fernandez, from Oxford University’s Catholic chaplaincy.
“Seeing a relatively recent Oxford figure elevated this way now has encouraged people to talk more openly about their faith,” the lay chaplain said.
She spoke with OSV News as members of the ancient university were preparing to travel to Rome for the All Saints’ Day ceremony, which saw the one-time Protestant declared the Catholic Church’s 38th doctor.
She said 2025 had seen an upturn in people wishing to become Catholic or renew their faith as Catholics, as well as a keen interest in local sites associated with Cardinal Newman’s conversion and witness.
Meanwhile, a prominent Catholic student told OSV News that St. Newman’s recognition had raised the profile of Church members at the university, with a record number of Catholic firstyear students admitted in October.
“Oxford University hasn’t been the most accepting of places for Catholics,” said Adam Gardner, president of the university’s Newman Society, founded as a Catholic club in 1878.
“But it feels as if Oxford is becoming more Catholic, and I think this will provide another catalyst for awareness-raising,” Mr. Gardner noted.
Born in London, St. Newman (1801-1890) studied at Oxford’s Trinity College in 1816-1822, later co-founding the reformist Oxford Movement while serving as vicar of University Church of St. Mary the Virgin.
After quitting his posts to become a Catholic in 1845, he founded a church and community at nearby Littlemore, creating a vast output of works that have made him one of the Christian world’s most studied figures.
Made a cardinal in 1879 by Pope Leo XIII, St.
Dominican St. Thomas Aquinas a doctor, and Pope Sixtus V added St. Bonaventure in 1588.
The number of doctors remained at 10 until the 18th century, when the number gradually increased up to our own time.
At present, counting St. John Henry Newman, there are 38 doctors of the Church. Four of these are women: Sts. Teresa of Avila, Catherine of Siena, Thérèse of Lisieux, and Hildegard of Bingen.
As regards whether a layperson can be named a doctor of the Church, St. Catherine of Siena was a laywoman, a member of what would later become the Third Order of St. Dominic.
The most recent saints to be declared doctors were St. Thérèse of Lisieux by St. John Paul II in 1997, Sts. John of Avila and Hildegard of Bingen by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012, Sts. Gregory of Narek and Irenaeus of Lyon by Pope Francis in 2022, and St. John Henry Newman by Pope Leo XIV in 2025, on the feast of All Saints.
In recent times, there have been a number of recommendations to be named doctors of the Church.
Newman became the first English non-martyr saint for six centuries when canonized in October 2019 and has given his name to numerous schools and colleges as well as an oratory and university in the British city of Birmingham, where he lived in later life.
Lord Neil Mendoza, provost of Oriel College, where the saint served as a fellow and became an Anglican priest, said he had been “reminded many times” of St. Newman’s “profound impact” on university life, while St. Mary the Virgin’s current vicar, Father William Lamb, said many pilgrims were now coming to see the pulpit from which St. Newman preached his famous sermons.
“While people will want to celebrate Cardinal Newman’s theological views about conscience, the role of laity, and the development of doctrine, he's also an important figure for the field of education,” Father Lamb said.
“His writings will stimulate sustained reflection about what a university education can contribute to human flourishing,” Father Lamb added.
Catholics were excluded from Oxford University after the 16th-century Reformation, and while their access to higher education was made possible under an 1829 Relief Act, restrictions remained in place until recusancy laws were repealed in 1888.
The university numbers 57 beatified Catholic martyrs among alumni, commemorated annually on Dec. 1, while its 15 saints include St. Thomas More (1478-1535), who was university chancellor, and St. Edmund Campion (15401581), a Jesuit and a fellow of St. John’s College, who was hanged and dismembered at Tyburn in London alongside a younger Oxford graduate, St. Ralph Sherwin.
A small chapel, built by Jesuit priests, became the city’s first legal Catholic place of worship in 1793, while a discreetly located Oratory Church of St. Aloysius opened in 1875.
However, Catholics were not allowed to enroll at the university until the 1890s with the foundation of a Catholic chaplaincy and two private Catholic study centers.
Father William Pearsall, a priest at the Jesuit-run Campion Hall, said St. Newman had “turned himself into an outcast” with his Catholic conversion but had later helped Catholicism gain acceptance as “truly English” through his “scholarship and Christian character.”
Later, wartime heroism by local Catholics had improved the community’s profile, according to Father Pearsall. The university is now home to many Catholic lecturers and professors, while Masses are celebrated routinely in most college chapels.
An obvious one is St. John Paul II. In October 2019, the Polish bishops’ conference formally petitioned Pope Francis to consider making him a doctor of the Church in recognition of his contributions to theology, philosophy, and Catholic literature, as well as the numerous formal documents of his papacy. Another one is St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, a Discalced Carmelite, who was born Edith Stein (1891-1942).
She had studied philosophy under the phenomenologist Edmund Husserl and wrote several books on philosophy, striving to combine phenomenology with the philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas. She was murdered in the gas chamber at the concentration camp Auschwitz II-Birkenau on Aug. 9, 1942. She came from a German Jewish family and converted to Catholicism in 1922.
In April 2024 during a private audience, the superior general of the Discalced Carmelites, Father Miguel Márquez Calle, made a formal request to Pope Francis to declare her a doctor of the Catholic Church. ■
Not everyone shares the enthusiasm at Oxford of St. Newman becoming a doctor of the Church. Oxford was named the world’s No. 1 university for the eighth year running in a recent survey. The university’s main website makes no mention of St. Newman’s elevation, while Trinity College, which the saint remembered warmly from his undergraduate studies, records that the saint will receive “one of the Catholic Church’s highest honors.”
Prominent Oxford Anglicans have also been wary of St. Newman’s new lofty status, aware that the saint, after deep reflection, repudiated their church’s much-vaunted via media, or middle way.
Diarmaid MacCulloch, one of Britain’s bestknown Anglican church historians, now a fellow and archivist at the Catholic Campion Hall, said some colleagues have questioned the saint’s historic importance.
“Newman was a remarkably accomplished writer, with a beautiful literary style, who cleverly developed an idea of development which justified Roman Catholic doctrines not immediately obvious from early Church history,” said Mr. MacCulloch, who was Oxford’s church history professor from 1997-2019.
“While his conversion to Rome was a sensation at the time, however, I’ve never felt he said anything of particular interest or originality,” Mr. MacCulloch noted.
Back among the cobbled alleyways and cloisters where the Church’s latest doctor once taught and ministered, the St. Peter’s Square ceremony, led by Pope Leo XIV, remained a topic of conversation.
Mr. Gardner, the Newman Society president, said attendance at Mass and Catholic events in Oxford has grown steadily over the past decade, in an officially Protestant country where practicing Catholics are now thought to outnumber Anglicans by a ratio of 2-to-1.
He’s enthusiastic about the increasing Catholic presence in the university’s teaching and administrative structures, and he hopes many more people will be brought to the faith by St. Newman’s example.
For all his skepticism, Mr. MacCulloch conceded the new prominence given to Catholicism by St. Newman’s elevation underlines an “essential aspect of Oxford past and present.”
“Newman made a genuine career sacrifice by moving to Rome, which was remedied by his canonization. It’s appropriate and good that Oxford’s Catholic traditions are being evoked this way,” the veteran historian said. “Newman himself would no doubt have professed himself overwhelmed and humbled but I’m sure a bit of him would have been rather pleased.” ■
Learned Catholic leaders Sts. Thomas Aquinas, John Henry Newman, Thérèse of Lisieux, and Augustine of Hippo are pictured in a combination photo. Pope Leo XIV proclaimed St. Newman a doctor of the Church on Nov. 1.
Doctor
OSV NEWS FILES/NANCY WIECHEC, CROSIERS, CARMEL DE LISIEUX
through the narrow gate,’ so a direct challenge back to the questioner: you try to get in through the narrow gate.”
The Gospel reading reminded the bishop of his seminarian days studying in Belgium, where he learned of another seminarian “who went to be a chaplain with the U.S. Navy for his summer pastoral assignment, and he showed up to board a submarine at one point, and he had this very large suitcase. He couldn’t get it through the opening to get onto that submarine,” Bishop Beckman recalled.
“The person who was there said, ‘You’re going to have to have less if you’re going to get through this doorway.’ And it reminded me of these words, ‘striving to enter through the narrow gate,’ because sometimes we have so much clutter. I’m speaking now of interior clutter that prevents us from entering into the life that the Lord so wills for us,” the bishop continued.
That interior clutter can include the deadly sins, he said.
“Christ Himself is the narrow gate, the doorway into life. And all the things in us that hold us back from that are what we have to let go of,” Bishop Beckman said. “We know the deadly sins. The last parish I was pastor in had them in stained-glass windows in case we missed them. You’d go out, and the virtues were on the left-hand side and the vices on the right-hand side. All those deadly things: our gluttony, our pride, our sloth—we could name all those things, but if you’re underneath them, these are the things that we have to let go of in order to say yes to God’s kingdom.”
Sister Claudia Marie Murray,
RSM, the clinic’s new pediatric nurse practitioner and patient navigator, delivered the prayers of the faithful at Mass. They included “for Bishop Mark Beckman and the priests and deacons of the Diocese of Knoxville, we pray especially in gratitude for their continued support of the mission of St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic and for blessings upon each of them in their ministry of the Church” and “for the patients of the St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic whom we serve, that through the healing ministry of Christ, the Divine Physician, they may find consolation amidst their sufferings and sorrows of mind, body, and spirit.”
The prayers also asked that “for each of the St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic volunteers, that they may be strengthened to continue their works of service to Christ Jesus in the poor and sick of rural East Tennessee. We pray in gratitude for the generosity
of time, talent, and treasure given by each volunteer and ask that the Lord bestow abundant graces and blessings upon them and their families” and “for the repose of the souls of the deceased patients, volunteers, and benefactors of the St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic, may they be brought into the joy of the heavenly Kingdom.”
The Mass was celebrated “for the intention of all of the St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic patients, staff, and volunteers,” Sister Claudia Marie said.
New Legacy Clinic medical director Sister Gianna Marie Savidge, RSM, new executive director Jessica Wenzlaff, and Bri Vinyard, the clinic’s volunteer coordinator, spoke at the volunteer luncheon. Sister Gianna Marie and Sister Marie de Paul Stokes, RSM, the clinic’s former patient navigator and now interim executive secretary to Bishop Beckman, told the luncheon gathering of
Sister Catherine McAuley’s founding of the Sisters of Mercy and the institute’s history through the Civil War and the founding of St. Mary’s Hospital in Knoxville in 1930 and the Legacy Clinic in 2013.
“This mission has its roots in the original Sisters of Mercy order that came here many years ago, and we’re so grateful to be able to continue that mission,” Sister Gianna Marie said.
Ms. Vinyard gave volunteer-ofthe-year awards to John Bradley and Diann Simonis and presented the Judy Award to Beth Williamson. The latter honor goes to “someone who embodies the kind, compassionate spirit of SMLC’s first volunteer, Judy Schmidt,” Ms. Vinyard said.
She also handed out five- and 10-year service pins to volunteers. Susan Lawlor, Donna Syler, Carolyn Hall, Patti Pemberton, Ed Zawacki, Elizabeth Jones, Lynn Venafro, Donna Turchi, Bob Nevil, and Mrs. Williamson received 10-year pins, and Toni Wolff received a five-year pin.
After the luncheon, Bishop Beckman said “there is so much to celebrate” as the Legacy Clinic’s new van debuts and its new leaders begin their service. “It’s a really exciting time in the life of our mobile medical clinic. The Sisters do a beautiful job—our new Sister directing it and our new clinic executive director are fantastic.”
“Just seeing all the volunteers and the joy that they have in what they’re doing and to know the difference they’re making” was also a blessing, he added.
Hearing at the luncheon the history of the Sisters of Mercy “was very deeply moving for me,” Bishop Beckman said. ■
Directorial debuts Sister Gianna Marie Savidge, RSM, new medical director, and Jessica Wenzlaff, new executive director, are now managing the growing St. Mary's Legacy Clinic, which serves 10 sites in East Tennessee.
DAN MCWILLIAMS
Mending trust with bishops
Mr. Vaidyanathan told OSV News that along with “modest improvements on indicators of burnout,” the new report data showed a slight gain in priests’ levels of trust in the U.S. bishops something that had plunged in the 2022 survey from levels in the 1990s and early 2000s.
Now, 52 percent of diocesan priests say they have confidence in their bishops, up from 49 percent in 2022, and 27 percent of all priests expressed confidence in the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops as a body, compared with 22 percent in the previous survey.
Some of that gain may be due to the 30 bishops who have been appointed in the three years between the first and second survey, researchers said.
The latest results also showed that in contrast to the 2022 survey priests tend to believe they are theologically (61 percent) and politically (48 percent) aligned with their bishops, with a fairly even spread as to whether priests believe their bishops are more conservative or liberal.
“Overall, there is no consistent perception among priests that bishops lean systematically more conservative or liberal relative to their own views,” according to the report.
The new data shows that “a far greater predictor of a priest’s confidence in his bishop is whether the priest agrees with the statement, ‘I feel that my bishop cares about me,’” the report said.
Researchers found that 72 percent of diocesan priests who indicated their bishops care about them expressed confidence in their prelate, while confidence levels dropped to 10 percent among counterparts who did not say their bishop cares about them.
Yet, the report said, “Care alone is not enough to produce confidence.”
“Although more than 70 percent of priests believe their bishop cares for them, only about half actually had
confidence in him,” said the report.
Political, theological outlooks and concerns
For their part, priests polled for the current survey continued to demonstrate, both politically and theologically, a “clear generational shift away from liberal selfidentification, with moderates now making up a large share across most recent cohorts,” the survey reported.
Theologically, the report found “an even sharper decline in progressivism and a stronger consolidation on the conservative side.”
However, in response to a direct question as to whether they were “concerned about the policies of the current political administration in the U.S.,” the report found that “even among those priests who identify as ‘very conservative,’ 66 percent are at least somewhat concerned about the current administration’s policies, with 83 percent of self-described ‘conservative’ priests at least somewhat concerned.”
Pastoral priorities: Youth, family, and evangelization
The overwhelming majority of survey respondents (94 percent) ranked youth and young-adult ministry, family formation, marriage preparation, and evangelization as the top pastoral priorities for the Catholic Church in the United States.
Other top pastoral priorities included:
n Poverty, homelessness, and food insecurity (88 percent)
n Pro-life issues at the beginning or end of life (87 percent)
n Immigration and refugee assistance (81 percent)
“Our data show that immigration is a priority issue for most priests; however, we don’t know from our data exactly what aspects of the current administration’s policies priests are most concerned about,” Mr. Vaidyanathan said.
Hispanic ministry (79 percent), social justice (79 percent), eucharis-
tic devotion (73 percent), racism (68 percent), and artificial intelligence (68 percent) also were high on the priority list, with climate change (54 percent), synodality (50 percent), and ministry to the LGBTQ community (48 percent) named by around half of the respondents.
Well over half (59 percent) said that access to the Mass in Latin according to the 1962 Roman Missal commonly called the “traditional Latin Mass,” or TLM should not be a priority.
Yet variations emerged according to the ordination cohort, according to the report, with older priests (those ordained between 1980-1999, or before 1980) tending to place much greater emphasis on climate change, immigration, LGBTQ issues, poverty, racism, social justice, and synodality.
Younger priests (those ordained after 2000) are more likely than their older counterparts to stress eucharistic devotion and access to the traditional Latin Mass.
Regardless of their pastoral prioritization, the actual number of parish-level ministries for priority areas “is always lower than the priests’ perception that the issue should be a priority,” the report said. The gap could be due to existing diocesan ministries that address the need and a lack of resources or parishioner interest.
Reluctantly, but effectively, synodal?
Priests were “quite divided in their perception” of the Synod on Synodality, with 37 percent indicating the synod was “a waste of time,” the report said. Another 28 percent felt “fully included” in the synod, but only 25 percent found the synod helpful in their ministry, while 43 percent did not.
Yet, Mr. White said, while priests are “tepid” and “a bit skeptical of the usefulness of the Synod on Synodality,” at least “in theory,” they are “quite adept at it in practice.”
At the parish level, 85 percent reported they have a pastoral coun-
cil or similar body that plays an important role in decision-making, with 75 percent of respondents involving parishioners in prayer and reflection ahead of significant parish decisions.
Another 69 percent said their parishes offer training or support for laypeople to actively participate in the Church’s mission beyond the parish, and 65 percent said they had changed a parish practice or made a decision based on lay input with 64 percent intentionally seeking out the perspectives of those less involved in parish life.
A desire for ongoing formation
Among the priests surveyed, “the appetite for continuing formation remains high,” according to the “Morale, Leadership, and Pastoral Priorities” report.
In particular, priests expressed a desire for spiritual formation (61 percent), convocations and retreats (55 percent), and priestly fellowship and fraternity groups (48 percent), according to the report.
Just under half indicated they would like doctrinal and theological continuing education (48 percent), while 36 percent named leadership training, and 34 percent called for mental health and wellbeing training.
Other formation included business and administrative training (24 percent) and intercultural ministry training (21 percent).
“Our hope is that this report contributes to an increased understanding of our priests and their needs, and, in turn, encourages Church leaders to seek to meet those needs creatively,” the report concluded.
That process has already begun, Mr. Vaidyanathan noted.
“Some bishops have used our data to go beyond simple discussion and have implemented changes such as additional in-house research and initiatives to address priests’ wellness and deficiencies in diocesan organizational structures,” he said. ■
The Assurance of Peace, Quiet Reflection & Prayer The Columbarium
home or felt their life had no purpose. Suicide is a leading cause of death for teens. Rates for people ages 10 to 24 increased by 62 percent between 2007 and 2021 and continue to climb today. Springtide also found that when youth have just one adult who cares for them outside of home, that 24 percent drops to 6 percent. This led ProjectYM to the idea that 24 plus one equals six. While the math isn’t correct in a technical sense, it’s a step in the right direction for youth ministers. They can be the ones to change, and save, a person’s life.
While it seems that youth ministry offers fun games and retreats for kids, it has a large influence on how kids communicate with each other, their family, and ministry leaders. It helps to build an important foundation of faith that they will later need to rely on. It introduces God as a person they can always trust and someone who cares for them. It’s a lot of serious stuff for a youth leader to carry. Even if a parish is large and has a well-established youth ministry, having many kids can make it harder to reach a single child on a more personal and individual level. Or the opposite: if a parish has a small youth group, it probably struggles to find resources. This is where Thriveanooga invites youth leaders to play the games just like the kids and see how they can make a difference for each kid they encounter in their parish. Thriveanooga also helps leaders plan to make improvements.
Mrs. Whittaker shared, “We talk about pretty much everything in the youth-ministry field: how to recruit, train, and support volunteers, serving the whole family and getting parents involved in the ministry.” She also remarked how leaders want to help their ministries work with other activities for young people so “they don't feel that they have to choose.”
Whether a person is involved with sports, community groups, or anything else, the youth leaders want the person to feel the youth can do both, and both leaders and youth can use it as an opportunity to serve. This is also a lesson transferable with the young person’s family, so the families don’t have to sacrifice time because of calendar issues. Thriveanooga also focuses on topics like serving special needs of the leaders’ community, how to start a program, creating and adjusting processes and procedures, how to start small groups, and “whatever anyone else feels passionate about,” Mrs. Whittaker said.
President and ProjectYM cofounder Michael Marchand reflected on the goal of Thriveanooga.
“Thriveanooga is ProjectYM’s mission in action. We don’t just hand youth ministers tools— we surround them with a team. By keeping it intentionally small and deeply collaborative, we give leaders space to connect, co-create, and breathe again. When youth ministers leave Thriveanooga healthier and more equipped, the ripple effect reaches dozens of teens and families back home.”
ProjectYM created a four-day experience for its attendees to have fun while addressing the weak spot in their parish’s program or themselves. While Thriveanooga may seem cramped into downtown Chattanooga, it chooses to have a limited space and attendance so each person can get the full benefits of the event. But the moderate size spares no lack of chaos.
Commentator Beth Drew of the Diocese of Indianapolis relates how Thriveanooga is “infused with energy, love, and positivity.” Many attendees have shared their joy online about Thriveanooga and how it helped their parish program grow tremendously. Some leaders have come fresh to the youth-ministry scene and are left with wisdom given by leaders who have been in youth ministry for 20 or more years. And those with experience said that they’ve been able to pack lots of new and fresh strategies in their suitcases, so they take new tools to keep their programs growing in size and strength.
Spiritual outreach Above: Bishop Mark Beckman celebrates Mass at downtown Chattanooga's Hotel Clemons on Sept. 22 as part of Project YM's Thriveanooga youth-ministry leadership conference Sept. 22-25 Below: Participants from around the country take part in the Thriveanooga conference, which offered an entertaining approach to learning new ways to reach Catholic youth. The participants represented more than 60 dioceses from across the United States.
to
Priestly dialogue Bishop
Youth leaders from several different dioceses are split into colorcoded “tribes” at Thriveanooga. Because it can be hard to get to know a large group, all attendees are split so they can coordinate in a smaller and more personal team. Teams go all out in the spirit of the “survivor” theme. So, it’s normal to see an adult sporting a Teletubby onesie, ghillie suits, tutus, or some crazy color-coordinated combo. In the spirit of the event, Bishop Beckman was given a shirt that caused exciting yells from the blue team, as the bishop was officially marked with his new blue tee.
ProjectYM isn’t a possibility without the people that water its roots every day. Back in 2013, Mr. Marchand saw a dire need for youth-
ple and journeying and accompanying them. The model we teach is the ‘reach, feed, send model.’”
“Our youth ministries need to have entry-point programs that can reach everyone—the churched and the unchurched. Then we use smallgroup programming to feed our young people, introduce them to Jesus, and ‘do life together.’ Then after they have a relationship with Jesus, we send them out to disciple others and evangelize,” Mrs. Whittaker continued.
ProjectYM now has 12 years of service focused on youth ministry. The staff seeks to lead the leaders and have growth within growth. But it’s not a cheap task. ProjectYM is a nonprofit. “As far as funding goes, ProjectYM is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization,” Mrs. Whittaker said.
“We are able to do what we do thanks to the support of donors and sponsoring organizations. Some of the sponsoring organizations this year are TENx10, Catholic Heart Workcamp, and the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry. Participants also pay a registration fee.”
While Thriveanooga is a big event for ministry leaders, ProjectYM provides support 24/7—not just during the four-day conference. Mrs. Whittaker said, “ProjectYM is at its core all about community and about supporting youth ministers. We know the No. 1 reason that youth ministers leave ministries is because they feel alone and isolated, and so it is the goal of ProjectYM to make sure that’s not their reality. We run the largest community for Catholic youth-ministry leaders, called Thrive.”
In the Thrive community, leaders can access other Catholic ministries on both national and international levels, bridging large gaps in communication. Leaders also gain access to the Thrive resource library, including “member-created resources like youth nights, activities, games, and forms, over 25 hours of videotraining content, and multiple livestreamed events where people can join to learn, chat, or even showcase their own expertise and passions.” In addition, the ProjectYM site has additional resources to help leaders plan fundraisers. A trivia fundraiser has been incredibly successful, allowing one group to raise $20,000 in just one night.
ProjectYM also hosted numerous in-person trainings in Chattanooga at its ProjectYM Mission Base. It also offers Thrive Pro Groups, which meet weekly for 12 weeks to dwell on specific topics or problems and work together to form a plan “geared toward implementation, quick wins, and long-term success, an example of how we live out our core values of community and collaboration,” Mrs. Whittaker said.
While ProjectYM is a dedicated resource to youth ministries and its leaders, there are ways other Catholics can be of help as well.
Mrs. Whittaker said people can express gratitude for the work these ministries do, volunteer to help, be encouraging, help them connect to resources like ProjectYM, and more.
She specifically said that anyone wanting to help can “celebrate their wins and advocate for their ministries, for budgets, and for salaries.” She added that a great way to be involved can be paying subscriptions for a parish’s youth ministers or helping them pay to attend a training event so they can continue to grow and connect. All of these can be specific to one parish.
ministry growth. Having worked in youth ministry himself, he saw exactly what kinds of challenges are faced and he felt the weight that comes with having a leading role in young people’s lives. He sought to offer something to youth ministry that isn’t for the youth but for those who lead them.
Eleven years later, he still puts his heart into youth ministry by leading ProjectYM and attending Thriveanooga.
Thriveanooga looks at the needs of youth ministry and the current trends happening within. Mrs. Whittaker said that “the field is shifting to small group-based programming and events and activities that are geared toward reaching young peo-
ProjectYM has a host of solutions to help parish youth ministries survive and thrive. Catholics can invest in their cause by donating or helping ProjectYM connect to granting organizations, ministry leaders, and people involved with their donor base, perhaps by hosting a meal, coffee, or just a space for them to build connections and network.
Thriveanooga is a one-of-a-kind conference that allows youth leaders to think and act like a kid while gaining the wisdom of experienced leaders and thinkers. Thriveanooga will return to Chattanooga in September 2026.
For more information on ProjectYM and its many programs, go to projectym.com ■
ELIZABETH BUEGLER
(5)
Welcome
Thriveanooga Above left: ProjectYM co-founder and president Michael Marchand greets youth-ministry leaders at Thriveanooga on Sept. 22 at the Hotel Clemons in downtown Chattanooga. Above right: Bishop Beckman opens the youth-ministry leadership conference with Mass.
Mark Beckman enjoys a moment with priests before Mass. The priests were from outside the Diocese of Knoxville who concelebrated Mass during the Thriveanooga youth-ministry leadership conference.
Historic land returned to Native American tribe
By Daniel Payne Catholic News Agency
AWisconsin religious community says it has completed the first known instance of a Catholic group returning land to a Native American tribe, hailing it as a move made in the “spirit of relationship and healing.”
The Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration announced the transfer in an Oct. 31 news release on its website. The community is located in La Crosse, Wis., near the state’s border with Minnesota.
The Sisters purchased the land
Sister Jean continued from page A2
from the Lac du Flambeau Band of the Lake Superior Chippewa tribe in 1966 and used it for its Marywood Franciscan Spirituality Center.
The Sisters said they sold the property to the tribe for $30,000, the exact amount for which they paid for the land six decades ago. The modern sale price represented “just over 1 percent of [the land’s] current market value,” the Sisters said.
The bargain sale represents “the first known return of Catholicowned land to a tribal nation as an act of repair for colonization and residential boarding schools,” the Sisters said.
which later affiliated with Loyola. By 1994, she had joined Loyola’s men’s basketball program as an academic adviser and later team chaplain a position she held for three decades. Her spiritual encouragement often blended faith with practical wisdom. During her 106th birthday in August, she urged Loyola students to “make new friends, talk to your old friends,” and to “become the people that God has decided you will be.” Her signature message “Worship, Work, Win” became both her personal motto and the slogan that adorns a banner inside Loyola’s Gentile Arena.
“Sister Jean Dolores was a woman of prayer, a dedicated educator, and a bearer of hope,” said Sister LaDonna Manternach, president of her religious order. “She saw God present in all that surrounded her and trusted in His goodness.” Beyond basketball, Sister Jean led weekly student prayer groups and founded SMILE (Students Moving Into the Lives of the Elderly), pairing Loyola students with residents of The Clare, the assisted-living community she called home. Her
Grounded Haven continued from page A5
job within their career as well as getting their first place to live. There are dating, marriage, and starting a family, a quick-paced part of life that can really put a strain on a young adult’s faith.
Ms. Gonzalez acknowledges that during her time in beauty school, she, too, fell short on following her faith.
“I was always deep in my faith, but because of beauty school and life, I kind of took a break from church unintentionally. And one day I felt a call to come back to church, and I reluctantly went to Mass. I felt ashamed. I was worried about the people who would say ‘why is she here?’ But really, they were excited and said, ‘I’m so happy you’re here,’” she recalls.
She shared her concerns about leading in faith. “I am far from knowing everything about the faith, about guidance, about anything. I don’t feel qualified for any of this. I was wondering, I was asking, ‘What are you doing, Lord? You want me to do this?’” she said.
Ms. Gonzalez shared one of her favorite stories in the Bible, explaining that she felt a connection to John 21 when Jesus is speaking to Peter after finding him ashore fishing. Jesus speaks privately with Peter, asking three times, “Do you love me?” Each time Peter affirms his love, and Jesus tells him to “Feed My lambs... Tend My sheep... Feed My sheep.” This dialogue both forgives Peter’s three times of denial prior to Christ’s death and commissions him as the chief shepherd of Christ’s flock, affirming his pastoral leadership.
This moment is shared between the Apostle Peter and Jesus, where Jesus gives his instructions for Peter to care for and lead His followers. Ms. Gonzalez takes this to heart to share her love for Jesus by illustrating how He makes disciples of his followers and cares for them.
Ms. Gonzalez briefly shared times where her faith has spoken to her. She recalled the time when she had eerie feelings about going out on a boat with friends. She went on the boat anyway despite her worries. Ms. Gonzalez noted that she doesn’t know how to swim. So, when the vessel she was on and another boat collided, hers capsized. A few of her friends were thrown off the boat several feet into the water in front of them. Ms. Gonzalez and all her friends made it out alive, but she lives with a scarred shoulder that reminds her to listen to God’s voice.
So, when she recently heard God pushing her to start Grounded Haven, she worried she wouldn’t have enough resources make it work. She explained that God took control and has taken care of her every step of the way. She was just the vessel that God is using to make the evangelization project a success.
Ms. Gonzalez continually shows how much she wants to reach out to new people and how it's always a great joy when someone new seeks interest in Jesus for the first time.
She is based in Lenoir City but chooses to travel to other parishes for celebration of Mass because it allows her to connect and reach out to more young adults. She has noticed that many times when she approaches someone about Grounded Haven, they have a favorite spot in mind for an
“Today, the tribe’s reservation represents only a fraction of [its] traditional territories,” according to the news release. “Rebuilding and protecting tribal land bases is vital to sustaining sovereignty—it restores the ability for self-determination, cultural preservation, and community development.”
“A strong land base supports essential services, creates employment opportunities, and provides a foundation for long-term economic and social resilience,” the Sisters said.
Tribal President John Johnson hailed the sale as “an example of what true healing and partnership
influence reached far beyond campus, touching thousands who encountered her through interviews, speaking events, and her bestselling memoir, Wake Up With Purpose!: What I’ve Learned in My First Hundred Years (2023)
Over the years, she received numerous honors: induction into the Loyola Athletics Hall of Fame in 2017, the Sword of Loyola in 2018, proclamations from Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, and even an apostolic blessing from Pope Francis on her 100th birthday. On her 105th birthday, President Joe Biden recognized her for a lifetime of faith-filled service.
When the news of her passing spread, tributes poured in across social media.
“Sister Jean, our beloved friend and inspiration, went home to the Lord today,” Cardinal Blase J. Cupich said in a statement posted on X. “She nurtured the mind and spirit of her students and all who came to know her with dedication, a firm belief in our faith, and a sharp sense of humor. May she rest in the peace she so richly deserves.”
For Loyola fans, her memory will forever be entwined with that magical 2018 season when
can look like.”
“We are proud to welcome Marywood home, to ensure it continues to serve future generations of the Lac du Flambeau people,” he said.
The Sisters said the retreat center was “facing challenges to its viability,” leading the community to “discern a future for the land” in line with its institutional priorities.
In their press release, the Sisters said they have also been in “a process of reckoning” with the history of St. Mary’s Catholic Indian Boarding School. The Sisters administered the school in Odanah, Wis., from 1883 to 1969. ■
the underdog Ramblers captured the nation’s imagination and, in the eyes of many, proved that prayer and perseverance could move mountains.
Among the teams her beloved Loyola-Chicago defeated was the Tennessee Volunteers in the NCAA tournament, a thrilling 63-62 victory for the Ramblers, which finished that remarkable season with a 32-6 record and an improbable trip to the Final Four, where the team lost to Michigan in the national semifinal.
But for Sister Jean, the real victory was always deeper.
“Don’t let anybody stop you,” she told students on her last birthday. “You are the future leaders of our churches, our schools, our country, and our world.”
A celebration of her life and ministry will be held at Loyola University Chicago at a date to be announced.
Loyola-Chicago men’s basketball players will wear a patch on their jerseys this season to honor Sister Jean. Loyola announced its plans on Oct. 28 in a social media post that included the caption, “Our biggest fan will be with us all season long.” ■
after-Mass coffee talk.
Ms. Gonzalez makes it a point to remember these places so she can return with the group or individuals at another time.
Though a quick coffee date may seem simple, it’s a historical social ritual.
The tradition of it has changed over time. Providing meals for those suffering a loss is an example. When someone dies, their family is left with sorrow and often is too stressed to bother with preparing meals. That is when their faith community steps in. Different cultures have similar rituals that do this under many names. There are dignity dishes, shiva (a seven-day Jewish tradition), repast meals, and mercy meals among many others. Community members and friends often pass dishes onto the family, so they don’t have to worry about cooking.
But the tradition of funeral meals started as a larger and more social ritual. Presented in the past through many cultures, members of a community would arrive at a new widow’s home
fellowship and faith-filled discussion.
Below: For more information on Grounded Haven or to join the young-adult group, use the coffee talk QR code
with meals in hand. They would not only stay to serve the meal but create a natural and more comforting space for the grieving family members. This typically would result in the participants engaging socially. Sometimes the group would also take care of housework and tend to children to comfort the grieving spouse. It was all a way to care for people at a very difficult time and offer them the faith to move forward through the pain and become social again.
A person likely would open a discussion of their loved one’s passing, a difficult topic. Though Grounded Haven is not serving funeral meals, the gathering around food can allow people to open conversations about faith in a way they may have had difficulty doing before. It’s not about pastries or special brews; it’s about the conversation and the invitation to the table.
The Grounded Haven group doesn’t always meet for coffee; they often plan fun outings to join in. On Nov. 2, several members gathered for a trip to Sevierville’s Apple Barn. And they make plans to serve the community together. Recently, they convened at Holy Ghost Church in Knoxville to feed the homeless, meeting for coffee before praying the rosary.
The group’s flexible schedule allows the members to serve and worship around different schedules and be present in the moment. Assembling a few participants is easier than planning a gathering for 70 or more. Smaller groups allow for more opportunities to serve.
Within Grounded Haven, coffee is just an appetizer to the real fulfilling soul food: faith. Regardless of whether someone is a long-devoted disciple or a new face to faith, Grounded Haven sets the table for all. While the open coffee house atmosphere creates a cozy place to converse, it becomes a bonded experience for young adults and their faith. It allows the busy moms to meet during the week for a coffee break and social hour about faith, and it allows the groups of friends to continue a Scripture lesson after the celebration of Mass
And according to Ms. Gonzalez, you can order your matcha soy latte, serve at a homeless shelter, or just have a fun outing. All invited. ■
COURTESY
OF MARIA GONZALEZ
Espresso and evangelization
Left: Maria Gonzalez, left front, is joined by other members of Grounded Haven outside of a North Knoxville coffee shop, where they enjoyed
Sister Gianna Marie is a boardcertified physician in family medicine. She succeeds Sister Mary Lisa Renfer, RSM, as medical director. Mercy Sister Mariana Koonce was the clinic’s original medical director when its first van was dedicated in September 2013 and when the first patients were seen there in January 2014.
Sister Gianna Marie last served in Oklahoma, where she saw patients in need through a primary-care clinic in Muskogee and the Marian Medical Clinic, whose mission includes helping women achieve their health and fertility goals.
She began serving in East Tennessee in early August.
“It’s a joy to take over the work of the previous Sisters, Sister Marianna and Sister Mary Lisa, who have been assigned in this role beforehand,”
Sister Gianna Marie said. “As Sisters, we are assigned to different works in obedience as part of our vow of service. It’s a great joy and a great gift to be assigned to this particular work, which involves collaboration with the diocese and with so many volunteers and our wonderful staff as well. It’s so far been a big learning curve but also a source of energy and a source of renewal as a physician to see another aspect of medicine on wheels.”
The mobile medical clinic van now sees patients at 10 sites around the Diocese of Knoxville.
“The mission has expanded over the last couple of years with an increase in the number of sites. I think our goal is simply to go deeper in the mission, to bring awareness of the heritage that we’ve received and also to impart to patients and volunteers and staff a spiritual depth to this mission,” Sister Gianna Marie said.
At the luncheon, Sister Gianna Marie told the audience of volunteers about the history of the Sisters of Mercy, from Sister Catherine McAuley, who founded the community in 1831, through the founding of St. Mary’s Hospital in Knoxville in 1930, and on to the present day.
“Mother Catherine’s charism of mercy and of union and charity is what we as Sisters of Mercy all participate in as members of our institute,” Sister Gianna Marie said. “Each of the volunteers and staff who work in this mission collaborates in that work. Mother Catherine had a very similar approach of inviting people into her work and the work of the Sisters, to be able to be of service to those who are sick and those who are in need of instruction in being able to care especially for children and for women in distress.”
Sister Gianna Marie professed final vows in 2024 and has been a Sister for nine years.
Mrs. Wenzlaff follows Martin Vargas, who retired last spring, as executive director.
“I am very honored to have this position. The work that the clinic does is incredible and kind of speaks for itself, and so being welcomed into this community and being a part of this mission is really an honor,” she said.
Mrs. Wenzlaff comes to the diocese from Winona, Minn., where she owned a private-practice outpatient physical-therapy clinic. She expressed her goals for the Legacy Clinic.
“I think right now we are just kind of getting to our roots and being super mission-focused and making sure the mission and the charism of mercy through which this mission flows is just embodied through all that we do,” she said. “We’ve had a lot of growth in terms of expansion of clinic sites over the past couple of years, and I think right now for this next year and maybe the next couple of years what we’re looking to do is just grow deeper, and that looks like growing our partnerships and referral sources so that we can give better care to patients whether that’s through dentistry partnerships or X-ray partnerships and imaging services.”
The clinic doesn’t currently provide those last three services but hopes to “make connections with referral partners and people who would be able to provide these services at low to no cost to our patients,” Mrs. Wenzlaff said.
The new executive director said “first and foremost, we are really grateful to St. Mary’s Legacy Founda-
Ready for patients Above: Bishop Mark Beckman blesses the new St. Mary's Legacy Clinic van with holy water outside of All Saints Church on Oct. 29. The new van replaces the original mobile clinic that went into service in 2013. Below: St. Mary's Legacy Clinic staff include, from left, LaShay Connor, Sam Souza, Sarah Grimes, Bri Vinyard, Sister Claudia Marie Murray, RSM, Sister Gianna Marie Savidge, RSM, Jessica Wenzlaff, Jackie Benton, Maria Arredondo-Hermon, and Maria Richardson. The staff organizes the van's monthly visits to 10 East Tennessee sites.
tion, which provided the funds for both the original clinic and this new vehicle.”
The new clinic van is 45 feet long, 5 feet longer than its predecessor.
“The old clinic served us really well for 12 years, but it just started, as vehicles get older, having maintenance issues and things like that,” Mrs. Wenzlaff said. “This new replacement clinic is much nicer and upgraded and will have fewer maintenance issues and safety concerns. We log a lot of miles throughout each month. Just being able to have a trustworthy and dependable way of getting the clinic to each clinic site is important.”
Mrs. Wenzlaff lives in Knoxville with her husband, Sam. The couple is expecting baby No. 3 this month, who will join their 3 1/2-year-old son and a 2-year-old daughter.
Sister Claudia Marie succeeds Sister Marie de Paul Stokes, RSM, as patient navigator. Sister Marie de Paul became interim executive secretary to Bishop Beckman last summer. The clinic has had pediatric volunteers in the past, but Sister Claudia Marie is its first pediatric nurse practitioner on staff.
As patient navigator, “I help connect our patients to resources beyond what we can meet at the clinic medically, if they need food or housing or they need assistance with utility bills,” Sister Claudia Marie said. “I’m also there just to be a spiritual companion with them. Sometimes they just need someone to talk to about the problems that are going on with their family, or they need someone to pray with them or pray for them. A lot of times that’s my role as patient navigator, to walk with them and to meet the need wherever it is.”
More young people are coming with their families to the Legacy Clinic.
“As a pediatric nurse practitioner, I’m able to see patients for primary care who are under the age of 21. We’re seeing more children come into the clinic needing medical care,” Sister Claudia Marie said. “As more and more children in the area are uninsured because of financial reasons for the family or their immigration status and different things like that, we’re starting to see an influx of pediatric patients. I think also having a dedicated pediatric provider makes them more comfortable that there’s someone there who can see the child and know what’s best for them and how to take care of them.”
Sister Claudia Marie graduated from Vanderbilt University’s nurse practitioner program in 2016.
“I was in private practice, pediatric
her first year in this new ministry. It’s a gift to have you here. Also Jessica, who is our new executive director this year as well—two new key leaders in our community. I’m deeply grateful for what you all are doing for the clinic as well as the many employees and the great volunteers.”
In a little more than a year since his ordination as shepherd of the Church in East Tennessee, Bishop Beckman said that as he “travels around the diocese, everywhere I’ve gone I hear about the good work of the mobile medical clinic, so know that you are making a real impact in the lives of the community. People witness the experience of your presence, of your care, and of your response, and in our world today this is a much-needed ministry here in East Tennessee. I’m very, very grateful for what you all are doing right here for our own folks in East Tennessee. Know that: my gratitude for you.”
primary care, for about seven years before I took a break from work because I entered religious life,” she said.
Sister Claudia Marie is a secondyear novice.
“God willing, I will profess first vows in August of 2026,” she said.
In his final remarks at Mass, Bishop Beckman said he wanted to “thank Sister Gianna Marie for the great work of being our medical director now,
The St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic has expanded over the years to where it sees patients at 10 sites, including its headquarters at Divine Mercy Church in Knoxville. The clinic also makes monthly visits to St. Mary Church in Athens, the Crab Orchard Care Center in Cumberland County, St. Alphonsus Church in Crossville, Decatur United Methodist Church in Meigs County, St. Mary Church in Gatlinburg, Holy Cross Church in Pigeon Forge, St. John Paul II Catholic Mission in Rutledge, Catholic Charities of East Tennessee’s Pregnancy Help Center in Helenwood, and Northside Community Center in Washburn. St. Mary’s Hospital in Knoxville operated from 1930 until its owner, Tennova Healthcare, closed it on Dec. 28, 2018. Funds received by the Diocese of Knoxville when St. Mary’s was sold to Tennova by Mercy Health Partners in 2011 helped fund the St. Mary’s Legacy Foundation, which has contributed several million dollars to benefit health care, education, and charity through grants distributed by the diocese.
The foundation provided funds for the purchase of the St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic to extend the healing ministry of Jesus to East Tennessee. ■
