Sept. 2, 2012, ET Catholic

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

This issue

The East Tennessee

Catholic youth......................... 15 High school news............... 15-16 Columns............................. 18-22

dioknox.org Sept. 2, 2012 Volume 22 Number 1

Bishop Richard F. Stika

News from The Diocese of Knoxville

3

Holy orders Christopher Manning ordained a deacon

4

Out of business Abortion clinic closes Knox operation

6

Dress code Students, faculty get updated guidelines

Donors give diocese 50-acre retreat center

Christ Prince of Peace facility to serve as gathering place for parishioners to learn about faith By Dan McWilliams

A

nonymous donors have given the Diocese of Knoxville a retreat center located between Benton and Etowah, developed over the past 40 years as the Priory of St. John the Apostle, and 50 acres of protected land surrounding it.

The retreat center, given by a Catholic couple active in the diocese, is nestled between the Hiwassee River and the Cherokee National Forest, just east of Highway 411 in Polk County. Bordering the Hiwassee, which is designated a scenic river on which no commercial development can take place, the property backs up to an area of the national forest designated “primitive” so that it also can’t be ‘Since day one when I arrived in Knoxville, so many developed.

Bishop Richard F. Stika signed papers Aug. 1 to make the property transfer official. He announced the same day that the new name of the facility would be Christ Prince of Peace Retreat Center. It is considered one of the largest gifts ever made to the diocese.

“Since day one when I arrived in Knoxville, so many people have said we need a retreat center,” the bishop said. “We need a place where we can come together and learn about the faith and to pray. So often we use other properties. Some have been extremely easy to work with;

Retreat center continued on page 5

DAN MCWILLIAMS

people said we need a retreat center.’ — Bishop Stika

‘A place where we can come together’ The 50-acre property of the Priory of St. John the Apostle, now renamed Christ Prince of Peace Retreat Center, includes the chapel, library and refectory (above). The first event held at the retreat center after the diocese acquired it was a gathering of seminarians with Bishop Richard F. Stika.

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

W

He dwells among us

by Bishop Richard F. Stika

Bishop’s schedule

Doing more

These are some of Bishop Stika’s public appointments:

We mustn’t be satisfied with our charitable efforts, but like St. Vincent de Paul, always strive to do more

hen I think back upon the many people who made a lasting impression upon me growing up in St. Louis, there is one in particular who stands out in his “testimony of charity.” Such was his influence upon me that I credit the very awakening and answering of my calling to the priesthood to him.

What makes this individual especially unique in my life is that I never met him in person, though I did many times through those in his very large family. In fact, I began my seminary formation 400 years after he was born.

The person I’m speaking of is St. Vincent de Paul, and his family members are those we call Vincentians—a family whose presence I hope can be a part of our parish communities.

That St. Louis would become the U.S. headquarters for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP), which is represented in over 140 countries worldwide, owes in good part to St. Louis’ first bishop—Bishop Joseph Rosati.

He was of the Congregation of the Mission (CM), an order of priests and religious brothers founded by St. Vincent of which my dear friend, Father Jim Swift, is a priest. Other Vincentians include the order of the Daugh-

Diocesan policy for reporting sexual abuse

Follow Bishop Richard Stika on Twitter @bishopstika as he tweets about news and events from the diocese. ters of Charity, as well as the Ladies of Charity, and the many parish SVdP conferences made up of men and women volunteers. And what has so deeply impressed me is how all of them, like St. Vincent, aspire to holiness through their person-to-person contact with the poor—with the “least of these” (Matthew 25:40).

As a youth, I was especially inspired by the stories of the Sisters/ Daughters of Charity, whose heroic work during the terrible cholera epidemics of the early 1800s is legendary.

In a time when tens of thousands died, including many of their own, the sisters remained steadfast in their tender care of the sick and dying. The distinct religious habits of the sisters that were often the object of ridicule because of strong anti-Catholic prejudices instead soon became the revered symbols of heroic and selfless love, a great lesson for us to remember today.

As St. Vincent is one of the few

saints that the Church gives the title “Apostle of Charity” to, I am reminded of a quote of his that I learned in Catholic grade school that speaks to the Vincentian spirituality: “Let us love God, but let it be with the strength of our arms and the sweat of our brow.”

With our 25th Jubilee as a diocese a year away, it is my hope that we can celebrate by growing the presence of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in our diocese. Mindful that this would not represent a duplication of existing charitable activities, much less that of Catholic Charities’ important work, I have asked Father Jim Vick, pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Chattanooga, and assisted by diocesan Office of Justice and Peace Director Paul Simoneau, to work with our priests to see how we might best accomplish this.

In the 1947 movie, “Monsieur Vincent,” there is a scene where St. Vincent is speaking with the Queen of France. She is shocked when he says that he has done nothing for the poor. “What, could you have done for them then?” she asks. And his simple answer is that which must be ours: “More.” We need to do more. n

The East Tennessee

Sept. 6: 1 p.m., Committee on the Protection of Children and Young People Sept. 8: 5 p.m., Diocesan Youth Mass and Evening Extravaganza at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Sept. 9: 9 a.m., Mass at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Sept. 15: 5 p.m., dinner in Chattanooga with Chattigras Auction winners Sept. 16: 4 p.m., confirmation and anointing of the altar at Blessed John Paul II Catholic Mission Sept. 17: 6 p.m., Mass and picnic with Chattanooga Serrans at Camp Columbus Sept. 18: 11 a.m., Presbyteral Council Meeting at the Chancery Sept. 22: 11 a.m., Mass with permanent deacons and wives at Carson Springs conference center Sept. 23-26: Catholic Extension Mission Bishops Conference in Illinois Sept. 27: 9 a.m., Mass for diocesan teacher’s in-service at All Saints Church Sept. 30: 11 a.m., Mass at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus n

Bishop Richard F. Stika Publisher

Dan McWilliams Assistant editor

Bill Brewer

Margaret Hunt

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

2 September 2, 2012

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

dioknox.org

Christopher Manning ordained to diaconate Knoxville Catholic High School grad one step closer to priesthood

C

‘It’s been an amazing experience’ Bishop Richard F. Stika lays his hands on the head of Christopher Manning during the latter’s diaconate ordination Mass.

Assisting are seminarians (from left) Adam Royal and Scott Russell.

DAN MCWILLIAMS (2)

hristopher Manning moved one step closer to the priesthood as Bishop Richard F. Stika ordained him to the transitional diaconate Aug. 4 at Sacred Heart Cathedral.

Deacon Manning recently completed a summer Clinical Pastoral Education assignment as a chaplain at the James H. Quillen VA Medical Center in Mountain Home before returning to Mundelein Seminary in Illinois, where he will finish his fourth and final year of theology.

“It’s been an amazing experience,” said Deacon Manning. “I started up at Mundelein five years ago, and to know that through the prayer and support of the people in the Diocese of Knoxville I’ve reached this point to be able to become a deacon for the diocese, it’s been an amazing feeling—something I’m really looking forward to continuing.”

About 20 priests concelebrated Deacon Manning’s ordination Mass, including vicar general Monsignor Xavier Mankel, director of vocations Father Michael Cummins, and Father Marty Zielinski of Mundelein.

Cardinal Justin Rigali attended the Mass in choir. Seminarians of the

By Dan McWilliams

diocese served at the altar.

Family attending the ordination included Deacon Manning’s parents, James Manning and Dr. Marlyn Leisy, and his sister, Whitney Manning.

“My dad’s side of the family and my mom’s side of the family were here as well,” said Deacon Manning.

“Father Zielinski was able to come down as the Mundelein representative. That meant a lot. I also had two deacons—fellow classmates—come up, Chuck Schwartz and Dennis

Dorner. So it was nice to have classmates show that support—being so far south, it can be very difficult for people to travel. Mundelein has shown a lot of support for my vocation and for the Diocese of Knoxville.”

The Church of East Tennessee “rejoices to almighty God” as its members gathered for the ordination, Bishop Stika said in his greeting.

“As we celebrate this ordination

Ordained continued on page 7

Deacon Christopher Manning offers the Blood of Christ to his mother, Dr. Marlyn Leisy. The deacon’s father, James Manning, is next in line.

The East Tennessee Catholic

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

Bishop welcomes new priests, appoints staff Bishop Richard F. Stika has announced that two priests will be joining the Diocese of Knoxville for positions in Union and Grainger counties and in Chattanooga.

Father Aaron Wessman has been assigned by the Glenmary Home Missioners to assist Father Steve Pawelk in ministering to the faithful in Union and Grainger counties.

Father Wessman will be serving as an associate pastor at Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Catholic Mission in Maynardville and Blessed John Paul II Catholic Mission in Rutledge.

Father Bartholomew Okere has joined Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga as a chaplain, with faculties approved by Bishop Stika to celebrate the Eucharist at Memorial Hospital Chapel, administer the sacrament of reconciliation to patients and family members within the hospital, and administer the sacrament of anointing of the sick within Memorial.

Al Forsythe, director of the diocesan Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry will direct the new Christ Prince of Peace Retreat Center.

Eddie Cabrera has been named associate coordinator and Hispanic youth and young adult lay minister with the Office of Hispanic Ministry and Youth and Young Adult Ministry.

He began Aug. 27.

In addition, Bishop Stika announced two diocesan appointments to fill existing positions recently vacated.

Chris Kite joined the diocesan staff as an administrative assistant for the offices of Christian Formation and the Diaconate on Aug. 28. She previously was a teacher at Sacred Heart Cathedral Preschool. She and husband Charlie Kite are parishioners at All Saints Church.

Marie Garvey will join the diocese on Sept. 4 as an administrative assistant with the diocesan Schools Office and the Office of Worship and Liturgy. She formerly was with the Pasco County School Board in Land O’ Lakes, Fla. n September 2, 2012 3

Knoxville abortion clinic closes doors, cites new state law Pro-life advocates credit legislation, 38 years of prayers, vigils for ‘moment of grace’

W

hen Lisa Morris saw a moving van outside a Knoxville abortion clinic, signaling the facility’s closure after nearly four full decades in business, she called it “almost a surreal moment.”

“I just stopped. I pulled in and got out and said a Hail Mary,” said Mrs. Morris, a Sacred Heart Cathedral parishioner and longtime pro-life advocate. “It was an unbelievable moment of grace, of God’s faithfulness, of years and years of people’s prayers and sacrifices—just perseverance of the people and God’s faithfulness, and it was Mother Mary’s intercession. It was just so evident to me.”

The Volunteer Women’s Medical Clinic at 313 Concord St. began packing Aug. 14 and shuttered its doors. A real estate sign in front of the complex advertising space available went up one day later, on the solemnity of the Assumption. The clinic, which opened in 1974, had been the site of peaceful protests and weekly rosaries for years, as well as 40 Days for Life observances in more recent years.

“It’s amazing the number of people who have offered their prayers and spent time in prayer and sacrifice for the unborn,” said Paul Simoneau, director of the diocesan Office of Justice and Peace.

Deb Walsh, owner of the clinic, explained in an online posting the reason for the closure.

“A law that went into effect July 1, 2012, called The Life Defense Act, made it illegal for our local boardcertified OB-GYN physician to perform abortions in our fully licensed ambulatory surgical treatment center.

The law requires doctors who perform abortions to have local hospital admitting privileges.”

Stacy Dunn, executive director of the Knox County chapter of Tennessee Right to Life, said “we were very glad to see that the legislation, the Life

4 September 2, 2012

Defense Act of 2012, is working as it was intended to, by ensuring that if an abortion provider does not have admitting privileges in a local hospital, that he or she cannot perform abortions in Tennessee.

“For Tennessee Right to Life, that was our major piece of legislation for the 2012 session, and so we’re glad to see that it’s working as we intended.”

Mr. Simoneau tried to put a figure on the number of abortions performed in the clinic’s 38 years.

“I think it would be safe to say that there have been an average of up to 2,000 abortions a year at that one clinic site, and so you do the math and it’s no exaggeration to say that at least 70,000, maybe 80,000 or more unborn had their blood spilled in that building,” he said. “That’s just an incredible loss of life. One life is one too many, but as many or more than 80,000? I mean, that’s truly the Holocaust of our time.”

Paul Dunn and wife Mary of Holy Ghost Parish in Knoxville are longtime veterans of the Saturday morning rosaries at the clinic. The Dunns prayed at the clinic in the 1970s but more so after Mr. Dunn’s retirement in 1986, he said.

“It was a couple of years after that when we started full time, most every Saturday.”

Mr. Dunn said he is “very happy” that the clinic has closed.

“I think that people praying the rosary down there on Saturday morning for many years closed the clinic,” he said. “I think right now of people like Bob McMillan and Andy Smith, both of whom are now deceased.

They were faithful down there for many years.

“There was also the 40 Days for Life and other events down there, which priests and the bishop participated in—that brought a lot of people down there. There were a lot of people not Catholic who came down there and prayed their own prayers.”

By Dan McWilliams

‘Mother Mary’s intercession’ The Knoxville pro-life community is rejoicing over the closure of the Volunteer Women’s Medical Clinic at 313 Concord St. A new state law requiring doctors who perform abortions to have hospital admitting privileges was cited by the clinic’s owner as the reason for the closure.

Mary Dunn is “elated” over the clinic’s closing, said her husband.

“She mentions it was open 38 years, and it took St. Monica 40 years for her prayers to be answered,” he said.

When 40 Days for Life went nationwide in 2007, that was a turning point in the prayers for the clinic’s closure, said Mr. Simoneau.

“We were very excited about the new cadre of the pro-life army— people who had never thought about coming out to the clinic and praying,” he said.

Mrs. Morris said the 40 Days movement ushered in “a new era, a new phase of people who had never witnessed publicly.”

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

Health violations were uncovered last spring at the Concord Street clinic and the Knoxville Center for Reproductive Health at 1547 Clinch Ave. [June 3 ETC], but “the straw that broke the camel’s back” in the Concord Street clinic’s closing was the state’s Life Defense Act, Mrs. Morris said.

“Dr. Richard Manning, who was at the Concord clinic, had let his admitting privileges lapse, and he opted not to try and renew them and just decided he was done, so having said that, they were struggling to find another doctor to come in and do it,” said Mrs. Morris.

Tennessee Right to Life, “with their dioknox.org

Ministries Day Oct. 20 at St. John Neumann Retreat center continued from page 1

others are more distant in terms of the route to take, so this will give us the capacity to have a place that’s Catholic, and we can teach the faith—we can come together to pray.

“It can be used for the youth because there’s space there for that all the way to retreats for married couples and others. Rachel’s Vineyard has already used it, so there’s going to be a variety of different activities—quiet retreats for individuals.”

Bishop Stika said he is excited about the donation of the tranquil, meditative Christian retreat.

“This has been in the works for a couple of years—really longer than that—since the 1970s when the [previous owners] developed this property for the glory of God and to allow folks to get together and pray and build their faith,” he said. “This is a continuation of something they started a number of years ago, and now at this stage we’ll bring it into the future as the diocese continues to grow and because now more than ever, the faith needs to be shared with others.”

Bishop Stika visited the center the same day he signed the papers.

“I’m going there today,” he said.

“Our first event under the diocesan

flag is our seminarians gathering together for three days for retreat before they go back to school.”

The facility sits in a bucolic area with the Hiwassee and the national forest as natural boundaries. “It’s a beautiful setting,” the bishop said.

“It’s a gift from the [previous owners], but in reality it’s a gift from God.” Described by one of the previous owners as “an ideal place for a Christian retreat,” the retreat center was built from scratch. When the dedicated couple acquired it nearly 40 years ago it was abandoned land, but since then they’ve cleared large areas, developed roads and building sites, and gradually built the structures that now compose the priory.

Development of the complex was done almost entirely at their expense.

“There are seven buildings there, plus two storage buildings,” the previous owner said. “When we got it originally there was nothing there— just some scrub pines and farmland, so everything had to be developed.”

The retreat center includes the Church of the Crucifixion that seats up to 150; Holy Trinity Chapel, a reliquary chapel for meditation and adoration that seats up to 24; St. Anthony’s Retreat House; St.

John’s Residence, which is a twostory duplex for religious or guests; Madonna Library, a Catholic library with 15,000 volumes; a social room for dinners or lectures with a kitchen and seating for 40; a large equipment building with a carpentry shop; a building with two efficiency apartments; the prior’s residence; an adjacent two-story office building; campgrounds; three large picnic shelters, and a cemetery. The wellfurnished, well-landscaped retreat center also features altars, statues, Stations of the Cross, and art work.

The Knights of Columbus will assist with the retreat center in an important way, Bishop Stika said.

“The councils are going to take it upon themselves to take care of the landscaping and the mowing,” he said. “I’m going to create a board at some point to govern the retreat center. We’re grateful that we’re going to have caretakers on the property and that the property is safe as well.”

The previous owner said of the donation, “We are dedicated Catholics, and we know that whatever we have, we only have custody of it. We are entrusted with it for a time, because in reality everything belongs to God.” n

legislative action and working with legislators to see common-sense laws put into place,” is also to be credited for the clinic’s closure, said Mr. Simoneau.

Knoxville still has the abortion clinic on Clinch Avenue near the University of Tennessee campus as well as a Planned Parenthood facility in East Knoxville.

“I think the real danger of Planned Parenthood is that their whole agenda is to have our kids reshape their thinking, to go down that road from kindergarten on,” Mrs. Morris said.

“They have an agenda to get their message out to young people, and they know in a generation or two they will change the culture, and so that’s

really to me the insidious danger of Planned Parenthood.

“It’s not only that they’re the largest abortion provider in the country, which they are, but also that they are targeting our children to make sure that that ideology grows.”

The pro-life army has one victory to its credit with the clinic’s closing.

“There’s still a lot of work to be done before we can rid the nation of this abortion scourge,” said Mr. Dunn. “[The clinic’s closing] is a battle won, but the war’s still on.”

Mrs. Morris agreed.

“It’s an awesome victory, a Godgiven victory, but there’s still a lot more work to do,” she said.

Mr. Simoneau said “we continue to

pray for the clinic workers past and present, that they’ll have a real conversion of heart and that they’ll see what the culture of death really is.”

Until Knoxville becomes like Chattanooga, which has no abortion clinic, “we still need to have a witness,” said Mr. Simoneau. “We’re so close to seeing our city become like Chattanooga, a city of life, and so we can’t even really say it’s a celebration in the sense that abortion is completely eradicated from our city—it’s still a presence.”

Legislation and prayers “came together for the same end,” said Stacy Dunn. “It worked together to see that—as we know it right now—babies won’t die at 313 Concord for the foreseeable future,” she said. n

The East Tennessee Catholic

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

The Diocese of Knoxville’s Office of Christian Formation is sponsoring a Ministries Day on Oct. 20 at St. John Neumann School in Farragut.

This year’s theme is “The New Evangelization: Forming Disciples of Jesus Christ.” The event is open to all who share the Catholic Faith ... parents, student youth leaders, youth ministers and core teams, RCIA teams, adult educators, liturgy and ministry teams, directors of religious education, catechists and assistants, etc.

More than 15 individual workshops will be offered, including a Spanish tract—there will be something for everyone. The cost is $20 before Oct. 15. After Oct. 15, the price remains $20, but lunch is not guaranteed. Sessions are first come, first served. Class sizes are limited, so register early to get your first choice.

Registration forms are available at each parish or online on the diocesan website under “Ministries Day 2012” on the Christian Formation webpage. For more information, contact Father Richard Armstrong, assistant director of Christian Formation at 865-584-3307 or by e-mail at rarmstrong@dioknox.org.

You also can contact Susan Collins, director of religious education and youth minister at Notre Dame Church in Greeneville, at 423-6399381 or 423-329-9173 or by e-mail at scollins51@hotmail.com. n

Want to try online delivery?

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

September 2, 2012 5

In praise of modesty: Diocesan schools update dress code Students, faculty get revised rules on appropriate attire; all eighth-graders to wear gowns at graduation

A

s students and staff at Diocese of Knoxville schools settle into a new school year, they’re adjusting to a renewed emphasis on modesty when it comes to attire.

Over the summer, Bishop Richard F. Stika and Sister Mary Marta Abbott RSM, diocesan schools superintendent, issued a letter to all parents and guardians of diocesan school students advising them that an updated policy is taking effect regarding blouses, shirts, skirts, skorts, and shorts.

Beginning with the 2012-13 school year, all girls and boys blouses and shirts must be buttoned, with the exception of the top button. All skirts, skorts and shorts should be no shorter than the width of a dollar bill (2 ¾ inches) above the knee. Some schools already require uniforms to be knee-length.

Sister Mary Marta acknowledges that many students already comply with the school uniform requirement but points out that the only way to keep school uniforms, well, uniform so that hemlines, tops, shoes, and accessories comply is to reinforce the policy.

“After observing students throughout this past school year, especially middle and high school students, it became obvious that a review of the current diocesan policy was needed,” according to the letter issued June 11 by Bishop Stika and the superintendent.

The updated diocesan policy is included in the Parent/Student Handbook given out at the begin-

6 September 2, 2012

COURTESY OF GAYLE SCHOENBORN

“Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” — 1 Peter 3:3-4

Dress for success Notre Dame High School student Jay Nguyen reads to students at Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in Chattanooga during Catholic Schools Week 2012. Diocesan students and school faculty and staff will be following an updated dress code policy for the 2012-13 school year. Many students already are in compliance with the policy. Also, most all faculty and staff, not just religion teachers, will be trained in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which is a new diocesan requirement.

ning of the school year. The advisory letter was issued in June to give parents and guardians ample time to acquire uniforms in compliance with the policy.

“Modesty is part of our faith and faith is the primary reason for students to attend our Catholic schools,” Sister Mary Marta said. “We want to make it a positive thing. It’s important that our students be a public witness in schools.”

The updated dress code also will apply to graduation ceremonies.

All students graduating from diocesan middle and high schools next spring will wear graduation gowns. While high school seniors already wear caps and gowns during commencement and some middle schools also have adopted the practice, all graduating eighthgraders will wear gowns.

“It gives a real sense of conti-

nuity. I was able to attend all the graduations of eighth grades and seniors. With the eighth-graders, some wear gowns and some don’t,”

“Modesty is part of our faith and faith is the primary reason for students to attend our Catholic schools. ... It’s important that our students be a public witness in schools.”

Sister Mary Marta said.

She said eighth-grade graduations where gowns weren’t required had wide variations of dress, some bordering on inappropriate, which pointed to the need for graduation gowns that offer a uniform appearance.

Students aren’t the only ones facing a dress-code update.

Sister Mary Marta said diocesan

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

By Bill Brewer

T

schools faculty and staff are role models for students and should dress accordingly, which prompted t updated guidelines for dress begin- e ning with the school year. t According to the adult dress w code, women faculty and staff t should wear neat and tailored g blouses and shirts that aren’t tight and should not show cleavage or P have gaping armholes. No under- P garments should be visible. e Also, pants should be neat and d professional in appearance and t jeans should not be worn. Shorts aren’t considered appropriate professional attire either.

Similar to the student dress code, dresses and skirts worn by faculty and staff should be of modest and conservative cut with a length no shorter than the width of a dollar bill (2 ¾ inches) above the knee. Individual schools have discretion to have knee-length requirements.

Faculty and staff can no longer wear backless shoes, including sandals and flip-flops. They also can no longer wear tennis shoes except for physical education teachers and coaches.

No more than one pair of earrings may be worn and no tattoos can be visible under any circumstances.

Dress-code updates specific to male faculty and staff include shirts like dress shirts, oxfords and polos that must be neat and professional in appearance and tucked in.

Men must follow the same rules as women regarding pants and shorts, shoes, and tattoos. Men aren’t allowed to wear any pierced jewelry.

“Faculty may ‘dress down’ on days when students have out-ofuniform privileges and on other designated days, but the guidelines for modesty still apply,” the superintendent said.

Dress code continued on page 8 dioknox.org

Diocese Child Protection policy undergoing annual audit All diocesan employees, volunteers must comply with guidelines, including background check

T

he Diocese of Knoxville, which currently is going through an annual audit of its Child Protection policies and procedures, is emphasizing the need for everyone in the Church who may come in contact with minors and vulnerable adults to be in compliance with established guidelines.

As part of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, adopted by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2002, dioceses across the country agreed to follow rules for protecting youth

and vulnerable adults from abuse.

To accurately monitor compliance, participating dioceses undergo regular audits. Diocesan policy requires background checks for all employees and volunteers who will be in contact with children and vulnerable adults.

Diocese of Knoxville Chancellor Sean Smith said all diocesan employees and volunteers must comply with the program for providing a safe environment.

Specifically, Deacon Smith said volunteers are defined as those who have the opportunity to be alone

with or in proximity to either a minor under the age of 18 or a vulnerable adult.

Volunteers would include catechists, members of choirs where minors are present, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion if they serve vulnerable adults, ushers if they may come in contact with minors, youth ministers and coordinators, interns and students 18 and over, teachers, chaperones, scout leaders and volunteers, coaches, drivers, and others who may be in contact with or proximity to minors or vul-

today, we pray that our brother might always be the face of Jesus, speak his words, and embrace others with his love,” he said.

In his homily the bishop said he wished to “thank Christopher’s parents and family for the gift of life that they’ve conveyed to him.”

“But I also wish to thank them for naming our brother Christopher: a name that translates ‘Christ bearer.’

For as we move forward on this special day in this special way, my brother Christopher, we indeed will entrust to your care the message of Christ, the anointed one.

“Christopher, in a particular way, the Church, through the imposition of my hands this morning, invites you to become just what your name implies: a Christ bearer.”

As a deacon, the bishop told the ordinand, “you will proclaim the Gospel and live it out. You will prepare the eucharistic sacrifice, the Mass. You will set the table for the community of faith that gathers together with you. You will be privileged to distribute the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, but also you will be challenged to exhort believers and nonbelievers, to teach the doctrine of the Church, to preside over public prayer, to baptize and to bless marriages, to bring viThe East Tennessee Catholic

DAN MCWILLIAMS

Ordained continued from page 3

Newly ordained Deacon Christopher Manning assists Bishop Richard F. Stika during the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

aticum to the dying, and to conduct funeral services, to bear Christ with you wherever his invitation might lead you at any given moment of any day.”

The new deacon might be called upon to work a fish fry or sit in a dunking booth, or to preach and teach from the pulpit, a Mundelein classroom, a shopping mall, or a restaurant, Bishop Stika said.

“In your preaching and in your works of charity, I pray that you will follow the example of St. Francis of Assisi, who challenged his friars to

preach the Gospel always and to at times even use words,” the bishop said. “You, by virtue of your name and the gift of the Holy Spirit, will indeed be a Christ-bearer to all whom you seek.”

The one who bears the name of “Christ bearer” as a deacon should “believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach,” said Bishop Stika. “And as Blessed John Paul reminds us, ‘Don’t be afraid of what you teach, of what you believe, and what you read, for it will free you to be Christ

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

By Bill Brewer

nerable adults.

Marcy Meldahl, director of the diocese’s Employment Services and Benefits Office, said there are three key components to being approved for employment or volunteer positions: n Individuals must agree to a background check. n They must read the policies and procedures on sexual misconduct. n They must attend a regularly scheduled session called Protecting God’s Children held in parishes throughout the diocese.

Audit continued on page 17

to others.’”

After the homily, the rite of ordination proceeded and included the candidate’s promise of respect and obedience to Bishop Stika and his successors, the Litany of the Saints, and the laying on of hands and prayer of ordination.

Father Randy Stice, diocesan director of Worship and Liturgy, vested Deacon Manning. The bishop handed the ordinand the Book of the Gospels. After a greeting of peace for Deacon Manning by the bishop and the other deacons present, the newly ordained deacon assisted Bishop Stika during the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

Deacon Manning is a Knoxville native who attended Sacred Heart Cathedral School, graduated from Knoxville Catholic High School in 2000, Maryville College in 2004 and received a graduate degree from the University of Tennessee.

Deacon Manning described his ordination ceremony as “beautiful.”

“It was very moving and very meaningful for me to see everyone involved, and to know that people who have played such an important part in my vocation and my formation and discernment were able to be there was very meaningful,”the newly ordained deacon said. n September 2, 2012 7

World’s Longest Yard Sale a Haiti mission for St. Augustine parishioners

Dress code continued from page 6

She said all diocesan principals approved the faculty/staff dress code update.

“It’s about being professional and being a role model,” Sister Mary Marta said.

In addition, she said almost all faculty and staff, Catholic and non-Catholic, must go through training on the catechesis, with two in-service days being devoted to catechetical instruction.

The instruction will be part of an Aquinas College program, according to Sister Mary Marta.

“All of our religion teachers have gone through it. We can integrate our

8 September 2, 2012

STEPHANIE RICHER

P

By Stephanie Richer arishioners at St. Augustine Church in Signal Mountain aren’t letting the World’s Longest Yard Sale pass them by.

They’re taking part as a way to benefit the American Haitian Foundation, a charity that originated at St. Augustine.

St. Augustine members in early August set up a tent and sold the wares they had collected, with the proceeds going to the American Haitian Foundation.

The foundation supports the Complexe Educatif de St. Antoine (CESA), a primary school in the impoverished rural town of Petite Riviere de Nippes in Haiti.

Since 1997, the St. Augustine group has hosted a rummage sale during the 127 Sale, billed as the World’s Longest Yard Sale that stretches from Michigan to Alabama and occurs annually during the first weekend of August.

About a month before the yard sale, volunteers from AHF begin collecting donations of goods from the parishioners of St. Augustine Church, sorting them, pricing them, and tagging them. On the weekend before the sale, they advertise and hold a pre-sale at the church. This

Helping Haiti St. Augustine Church members assist customers at the parish’s tent during the World’s Longest Yard Sale during the first weekend of August. St. Augustine collects donated items for sale during the annual event, with proceeds going to a Haiti mission.

year, the pre-sale brought in $9,600.

Additional sales took place at weekend Masses during the month prior to the sale. The foundation began this year’s yard sale with $16,000 already collected. In 2011, the yard sale brought in $38,000.

The sale is held in the parking lot

of Price Rite Marking Systems, also in Signal Mountain. An owner of the family business is Jack Davidson, who donates the space to the foundation for the sale, and who was also one of the founders of the foundation and has taken trips to Haiti.

Mr. Davidson regularly speaks to

faith throughout the day with this instruction,” she added. “As we evangelize our students, we need to share our faith and grow in our faith.”

Faculty/staff catechetical training is scheduled for Oct. 15 in Chattanooga and Oct. 26 in Knoxville for the Knoxville and Tri-Cities school employees.

Sister Mary Marta said diocesan schools are complying with Common Core State Standards, which have been adopted in 45 states including Tennessee.

The curriculum standards emphasize core subjects, and were developed in collaboration with teachers, school administrators,

groups about CESA and the work done there. He said on the Tuesday before the yard sale, a number of volunteers show up at St. Augustine Church with trucks to move the donated items to a rented tent in front of Price Rite. And 100 to 150 families from the parish take part in the sale.

All items that remain unsold are donated to charities such as Goodwill and the Ladies of Charity.

CESA began as the dream of Monsignor Herve Granjean, a Haitian priest, to build a school in Petite Riviere de Nippes.

In 1992, Father Granjean gathered children in the church to pray for a miracle because there was no money for a school. The next week, an unexpected donation of $600 from St. Augustine Church arrived.

Father Granjean traveled to St. Augustine to thank the parish and tell parishioners what he hoped to build.

In June 1993, the first group of parishioners visited the town. On their return, they asked the then pastor, Father Paul Valleroy, if they could start a project to build the school.

He said he would approve the project if at least 150 families agreed to participate actively; the group got

Sale continued on page 20

and experts, to provide a framework to prepare students for college and the work force.

“We meet all the standards but we’re making sure we go beyond that,” the superintendent said.

“My hope is to have a curriculum where we’re all on the same pace.

That will take time,” she noted. n

RESERVE THE DATE! Diocese of Knoxville’s 25th Anniversary Jubilee Kickoff Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013 Eucharistic Congress Keynote speaker: Timothy Cardinal Dolan

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

dioknox.org

BILL BREWER

Trips to Scotland, France, Ireland, Shrines of Europe and much more… ranging from $3,599—$4,699 for 2012.

Welcome to Knoxville Bishop Richard F. Stika recently hosted the Rev. Dr. Joseph Mar Thomas, left, bishop of Bathery, India, and the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, which is a Major Archepiscopal Church, and Father Mathew Perumbillikunnel of St. Mary’s Malankara Catholic Church in Evanston, Ill. Bishop Thomas and Father Perumbillikunnel met with Bishop Stika on Aug. 15 while visiting the Knoxville area.

Deacon to lead ‘Faith and Reason’ course

D

By Bill Brewer eacon Mike Gouge is no stranger to scientific theory. In fact, the Ph.D. and recent retiree from Oak Ridge National Laboratory has thrived on research about the beginnings of the universe.

Now, Deacon Gouge wants to preach what he has practiced by leading an adult faith formation class called “Faith and Reason,” which explores the intersection of faith and reason, with science and technology thrown into the mix.

Deacon Gouge, who serves at St. John Neumann Church, wants to show that the study of the cosmos is in line with creation beliefs. “We can learn something from God just from natural reason, particularly God as creator and sustainer,” he said. “To know more about God, we have to go to Revelation, the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

The course Deacon Gouge will lead is five hours and will be broken into two sessions. The first session is an introduction to faith and the physical sciences.

The second session will explore the intersection of faith and the life sciences, such as biology.

Sessions are planned for Knoxville on Oct. 13 and 27 from 9-11:30 a.m. at St. The East Tennessee Catholic

John Neumann Parish in the Elizabeth Ann Seton Community Room, and in Chattanooga on Nov. 3 and 10 from 9-11:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church’s parish life center. The registration fee is $10.

“We’ll conclude with how the Catholic Church over the last two millennia has fostered science through its belief that creation is intelligible. You can look at the universe as created by God. “Just as we expect adult Catholics to grow in their faith, that includes an awareness of how faith and reason, or science, cannot contradict each other, they can actually reinforce each other,” he said.

The course, targeted at all adults, will be presented at a level for participants to understand the science.

Deacon Gouge retired from ORNL in December as a group leader running the lab’s superconductivity program.

He graduates in December with a master’s degree in theological studies.

“It is my hope that the beauty of the created order and the fact good science cannot contradict our faith will resonate with participants and give them a foundation to grow in faith in this Year of Faith,” he said. n

Prices are ALL-INCLUSIVE W/ Airfare from anywhere in the continental USA

Italy/Switzerland: Oct. 6-18, Oct. 13-25, Oct. 20Nov. 1, Nov. 3-15 2013: April 6-18, April 13-25, April 20-May 2, April 27-May 9, May 4-16, May 11-23 …

Italy Regular: Oct. 6-14, Oct. 13-21, Oct. 20-28, Nov. 3-11 2013: April 6-14, April 13-21, April 20-28 …

Holy Land: Oct. 2-12, Oct. 8-18, Oct. 15-25, Oct. 22Nov. 1, Oct. 29-Nov. 8, Nov. 5-15 2013: April 1-11, April 8-18, April 15-25, April 22-May 2 …

Holy Land/Italy: Oct. 1-14, Oct. 8-21, Oct. 15-28, Oct. 29-Nov. 11 2013: April 1-14, April 8-21, April 1528, April 22-May 5, April 29-May 12, May 6-19 …

Italy South: Oct. 6-18, Oct. 13-25, Nov. 3-15 2013: April 27-May 9, May 4-16, May 11-23, May 18-30 …

France: Oct. 9-21, Oct. 23-Nov. 4 2013: April 27May 9, May 4-16, May 11-23, May 18-30 …

France/Portugal/Spain: Oct. 6-18, Oct. 20-Nov. 1 2013: April 27-May 9, May 4-16, May 11-23 …

Ireland/Scotland: 2013: April 27-May 9, May 4-16, May 11-23, may 18-30, May 25-June 6, June 1-13 …

Tuscany/Assisi/Cinque Terre: 2013: April 27-May 8, May 4-15, May 11-22, May 18-29, Sept. 7-18 …

Italy/Lourdes/Fatima: Oct. 6-18 2013: April 20-May 2, April 27-May 9, May 4-16, May 11-23, May 18-30…

Medjugorje/Lourdes/Fatima: 2013: April 22-May 3...

Greece/Turkey: 2013: May 4-16, Sept. 21-Oct. 3 www.proximotravel.com email: anthony@proximotravel.com

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

855-842-8001 | 508-340-9370 Carmela A. Dupuis, Executive Director

September 2, 2012 9

Diocesan calendar

by Margaret Hunt The 2012 Celebrate Life Fundraising Banquet sponsored by the Knox County chapter of Tennessee Right to Life will be held Thursday, Oct. 11, at the Knoxville Convention Center. The keynote speaker will be Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey. Seating will begin at 6 p.m. with dinner starting at 6:30. Tickets are $50. Contact the TRL office for tickets or more information at 865-689-1339 or trlknox@knology.net.

The diocesan Office of Christian Formation is hosting an RCIA Fall Conference from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15. Father Christian Mathis will present a keynote address on the topic of “The Use of Social Media in the RCIA.” Registration is available online at bit.ly/Mjbcje. Lunch will be served. For more details, contact Sister Timothea Elliott, RSM, at srmarytimothea@dioknox. org or Jennifer Perkins at jperkins@ dioknox.org, or call 865-584-3307.

The Office of Christian Formation and Aquinas College are sponsoring a free catechist orientation from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 22, in the Shea Room at Sacred Heart Cathedral. This session is required for all new catechists, RCIA directors, and directors of religious education. Those seeking a greater understanding of Church teaching and the Scriptures are also welcome. Register online at bit.ly/Pu4nil or contact Father Richard Armstrong at 865-584-3307 for more information.

The Office of Christian Formation and Aquinas College are sponsoring the third course of their catechetical formation program for catechists, directors of religious education, RCIA directors, and those interested in broadening their understanding of Church teachings and Scripture. The class will be offered on Saturday, Oct. 13, at St. Thérèse of Lisieux Church in Cleveland and Saturday, Oct. 27, at the Chancery office, 805 Northshore Drive in Knoxville.

Both sessions will meet from 9 a.m.

10 September 2, 2012

to 3:30 p.m. There is no charge for the class. Register online at dioknox. org/events/event-calendar/ or contact Father Richard Armstrong at 865-5843307 or rarmstrong@dioknox.org.

Father David Carter will present an overview of the annulment process at the Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish life center in Chattanooga from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 9, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 23, in the Shea Room at Sacred Heart Cathedral, and from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 28, in the parish life center at St. Dominic Church in Kingsport. The sessions will be simultaneously translated in Spanish.

For more details, contact Marian Christiana, coordinator of Marriage Preparation and Enrichment, at 423-892-2310 or mchristiana@dioknox.org.

Knoxville Catholic High School is hosting an in-service for teachers in Catholic schools from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 27. Contact Pam Dietz, administrative assistant for the diocesan Schools Office, at 865-584-3307 or pdietz@dioknox.org.

The Schools Office of the Diocese of Knoxville is sponsoring mandatory catechetical training days for teachers and staff employed in diocesan Catholic schools. The training day for Chattanooga-area teachers and staff is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 15, and for Knoxvillearea teachers and staff on Friday, Oct. 26. Both sessions will meet from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Contact Pam Dietz, administrative assistant for the Schools Office, for more information at 865-584-3307 or pdietz@dioknox.org.

The St. Joseph School Golf Tournament will take place on Friday, Oct. 12, at Three Ridges Golf Course in Knoxville. Contact Mollie Krueger at St. Joseph School at 865-689-3424 for more information.

The St. Joseph School Fall Festival will take place at St. Albert the Great Church in Knoxville from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 13. Games, food,

crafts, and more are planned for the annual fundraiser. Call St. Joseph School for more information at 865-689-3424.

The diocesan Office of Worship and Liturgy and Sacred Heart Cathedral are sponsoring “Glory to God: Exploring Music for the Mass,” a workshop for diocesan music ministers, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, in the Sacred Heart Cathedral School gym.

The cost is $15 and includes lunch. For more information, contact Father Randy Stice at 865-584-3307 or frrandy@ dioknox.org.

A Beginning Experience retreat for those who have lost a spouse through death or divorce is scheduled for Oct. 5-7. The event will be held at the Alex Haley Farm in Clinton. More information about the weekend can be found at www.beginningexperience.org. Contact Marian Christiana at 423-892-2310 or mchristiana@dioknox.org to register.

Knights of Columbus Council 3832 is sponsoring its 14th annual Community Golf Outing on Friday, Sept. 7 (rain date Sept. 14), at Lambert Acres Golf Club in Maryville. The event has a 1 p.m. shotgun start and a four-person swat format. Check-in is at 11 a.m. and lunch at 11:30. Entry fee is $75 per person and includes golf cart and fees, driving range, lunch, beverages, door prizes, and goody bags. Mulligan packages are $10. Trophies will be awarded to the top three teams and to the winning corporate team. Proceeds benefit the community activities of Council 3832.

Sponsor options are available. For more information, call Doug Hill at 865-8568907 or 256-0172, Jim Reggio at 9839276, or Pat Flanagan at 388-3409.

The next “Picture of Love” engagedcouples retreat is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, Oct. 12 and 13, in Siener Hall at St. Jude Church in Chattanooga.

The retreat is Friday from 7 to 10 p.m. and then continues on Saturday, going from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mass will be celebrated during the retreat. The cost is $135 and includes a certificate good for

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

a $60 discount on a marriage license.

Couples must attend the entire program to receive a certificate. To register, contact Marian Christiana at 423-892-2310 or mchristiana@dioknox.org.

The Catholic Committee of Appalachia will have its annual meeting on the weekend of Sept. 21-23 at the Pine Mountain Settlement School in Bledsoe, Ky. To learn more or register online, visit www.ccappal.org.

A Retrouvaille weekend is scheduled for Sept. 21-23 in the Diocese of Memphis at the Queen of Peace Retreat Center in Dancyville. Retrouvaille was designed for troubled marriages or for those who are divorced or separated and want to attempt reconciling. The reservation deadline is Friday, Sept. 14, and the registration fee is $150. Contact Jerry or Shelly Copeland at 901-2106532 for more information or visit the website at www.HelpOurMarriage.com.

The next charismatic Mass at Holy Spirit Church in Soddy-Daisy will be celebrated at 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 28. Father Dan Whitman of Holy Trinity Parish in Jefferson City will be the celebrant.

Singers and instrumentalists who would like to participate should arrive at 4:30.

Prayers for healing will follow the Mass.

Call Dee Leigh at 423-842-2305 for more information.

The next Marriage Encounter weekend in the diocese is scheduled for Nov. 2-4 in Kingsport. For more information, contact John or Anne Wharton at 423581-1815 or acw193@bellsouth.net, or visit www.loveinthesmokies.org or wwme.org.

The next Engaged Encounter weekend in the diocese will be held Oct. 1214 in the greater Knoxville area. To register, call Jason or Carmen Jeansonne at 865-377-3077. For more information on Engaged Encounter, contact Jerry or Mary Daugherty at 865-458-4117 or ceeknoxville@gmail.com or visit www. rc.net/knoxville/cee/.

Calendar continued on page 11 dioknox.org

Chattanooga Deanery calendar Knights of Columbus Council 610 in Chattanooga is holding its 70th annual Labor Day Picnic and Family Outing from 9 a m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 3, at Camp Columbus. The day will begin with the White Elephant Yard Sale at 9 a.m. Games and activities will take place all day. Charity bingo will start at 3 p.m., and barbecue plates will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Meal cost is $6 for adults and $3 for children. Contact Scott Louisell at 423-667-6936 or scott​ louisell@gmail.com, or John Chrnalogar at 544-1562, to donate items for the yard sale. Proceeds from the picnic will support the Knights’ charitable activities during the year. For more information on the picnic, call Chris Snellgrove at 892-5695.

Theology on Tap will continue in September in the Chattanooga area for young adults ages 18 through 39. The first presentation of the month will be at Las Margaritas on Hixson Pike from 6-8 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 9. The topic will be “Faithful Citizenship”. The second presentation will be from 6-8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 23, at El

Parish notes: Chattanooga Deanery

Meson Restaurant in the Hamilton Place Mall. A representative from Silent No More, a pro-life organization that supports those affected by abortion, will speak. For details, contact Donna Jones at 423-622-7232.

St. Augustine, Signal Mountain Parishioners of St. Augustine, for the 23rd year, partnered with Signal Mountain Social Services to provide new school supplies, backpacks, and clothing vouchers for 93 needy students in elementary through high school during August.

There will be a Rachel’s Vineyard meeting from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 23, in the Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish life center in Chattanooga. Rachel’s Vineyard assists those who have experienced abortion and are looking for spiritual and emotional healing. Call Natasha Smith at 423-838-1913 for more information.

St. Catherine Labouré, Copperhill The parish will have a Catholicism Study Program from 10:10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. for 10 Sundays beginning Sept. 9. The program will be presented by Father Robert Barron via DVD. Mike McWilliams and Bob Soph will facilitate the sessions.

Cost is $25 per person or couple. Sign up by the door in the back of the church.

The annual parish picnic is set for Sunday, Sept. 30, at Horseshoe Bend Park.

Father Patrick Resen will celebrate Mass at 4:30 p.m. in the park before the picnic. Bring a covered dish, a beverage of choice, and a lawn chair. The parish will supply hamburgers, hot dogs, soft drinks, and water. There will be a whiteelephant exchange; bring a $10 gift to participate. Call Marie Traylor at 706-4929683 for more information.

The Chattanooga-area pro-life banquet will be held from 7-9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 18, at the Pier 2 Banquet Hall next to the Southern Belle riverboat. Featured speakers include New Orleans singer/ songwriter Kara Kline and former New York Giant Chris Godfrey, an attorney who founded Life Athletes to teach young people about abstinence and respect for life. Tickets are $50. Contact Donna Jones at 423-267-9878 or djones6029@ gmail.com for more information. n

St. Mary, Athens Volunteers are needed for the parish fall festival, scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 7, after the 10 a.m. Mass. Planned events include a silent auction, a Chinese auction, games, and more. A variety of ethnic foods will also be available for sale. For more information, call Brian Cook at 423-333-4878. n

COURTESY OF GINNY BISHOP

Calendar continued from page 10 The Community of Sant’Egidio is a Catholic lay ecclesial movement that focuses on prayer and service to the poor. For more information, call Father Michael Cummins at 423-926-7061. Everyone is welcome.

Confirmation at St. Bridget St. Bridget Parish in Dayton celebrated the sacrament of confirmation on July 22.

From left are (front row) Halie Morgan, Hayley Edde, Angelina Marquez, and Olivia Graves, and (back row) Kyle Runyon, Deacon Joe Stackhouse, Filomena Castellon, Bishop Richard F. Stika, Julia Santiago, St. Bridget pastor Father Sam Sturm, and 1Augustina Lopez.

The East Tennessee Catholic

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

The St. Thomas the Apostle Ukrainian Catholic Mission celebrates Divine Liturgy at 10 a.m. Sundays in the chapel at the Chancery office in Knoxville. All services are in English. Call Father Richard Armstrong at 865-584-3307 or visit www.saintthomasknoxville.org for details.

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

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

September 2, 2012 11

Cumberland Mountain Deanery calendar Parish notes: Cumberland Mountain Deanery

Sister Elizabeth Wanyoike, coordinator of adult faith formation at St. John Neumann Parish in Farragut, will present “Family Crisis: A Blessing or a Curse” from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8, in the St. John Neumann School cafeteria. Married couples and widowed or divorced adults are encouraged to attend. The workshop is free, but donations to cover the cost of lunch will be accepted. Child care will be available with advance notice.

Register in the parish office in person or by calling 865-966-4540.

Knights of Columbus Council 8152 in

All Saints, Knoxville All Saints held its annual outdoor Mass and parish picnic Aug. 26.

St. Francis of Assisi, Fairfield Glade The parish will have a blessing of firefighters and EMS personnel at the 10 a.m.

Mass on Sunday, Sept. 9.

The Council of Catholic Women’s first meeting will be held following the 8 a.m.

Mass on Wednesday, Sept. 12.

The annual parish golf outing and dinner will take place at 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept.

16, on the Crag course at Heatherhurst Golf Course. The format will be an 18-hole scramble. Dinner will be served on the patio at 5:30 p.m. Cost is $12 for dinner and prizes. Greens fees are paid directly to the course. Contact the parish office for more information at 931-484-3628.

Crossville will hold its 22nd annual Oktoberfest on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 12 and 13. The festivities will kick off at 11:30 a.m. Friday and run through 9:30 p.m. On Saturday at 11 a.m. another day of German food, music, and dancing will begin and continue until 9:30 p.m. Admission tickets are $7.50 at the gate. Advance tickets are $6 and can be purchased by calling 931-707-7291 or visiting www.crossvilleoktoberfest. com. Admission for children under 14 is free. n

There will be a reception for Mrs. Tom Campbell and Mrs. Robin Campbell after the 10 a.m. Mass on Sunday, Sept. 16. The two women are retiring after many years of service teaching CCD at the parish. Amanda Bacon will be the new director of religious education.

Anniversaries: Charles and Mary Russella (64), Guy and Victoria Bretl (64), Les and Marjorie Cavell (64), Darwin and Margaret Reiley (63), Milton and Regina Jerabek (63), Ralph and Patty Hargraves (61), Lloyd and Ann Tripp (60), Harold and Eileen Metzger (56), Eugene and Elaine Riggleman (55), Nick and Pat Santore (55), Bob and Dorothy Connor (55), Ken and Carol Kaczkowski (54), Robert and Evelyn Tomaszewski (54), Roy and Jackie Richardson (53), Tom and Pauline Higgins (53), Rudy and Denise Difazio (52), Mark and Karin Salsbury (51), Pat and Sara Tripiciano (50)

The St. John Neumann youth group collected school supplies for needy Claiborne County students. The effort was coordinated at St. John Neumann Church by Annalise Osorio. Father Joe Campbell, pastor of Christ the King in Tazewell, distributed the supplies. This is the third year that the parish has participated in the project.

The youth ministry office at St. John Neumann is forming two new groups. The Youth4Life group will meet from 7:30-9 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month in the parish community room and is open to students in grades seven through 12. The group will pray the rosary, spend time in adoration, and meet with others involved with all areas of the pro-life movement from birth through natural death. The In His Service Team is open to high school–age students and will involve performing a variety of service projects in the community such as simple home repairs, yard cleaning, painting, and possibly minor carpentry work on an as-needed basis. Contact Al Forsythe at 865-862-5754 or aforsythe@dioknox.org for more details.

St. Therese, Clinton Bishop Richard F. Stika celebrated Mass in the newly renovated sanctuary of St. Therese Church on Aug. 12. He was assisted by Father Julius Abuh, pastor of St. Therese, and Deacon Patrick Murphy-Racey. After Mass, the women of St. Therese hosted a reception with refreshments for Bishop Stika in the family center, where parishioners had the opportunity to meet, talk and have pictures made with the bishop. n

12 September 2, 2012

SARA CAREY

St. John Neumann, Farragut

St. Alphonsus youth perform in musical The young people of St. Alphonsus Parish in Crossville recently performed in What’s Up, Zak? A Musical Encounter With Jesus, the story of Zacchaeus, Bartimaeus, and Jesus. More than 20 children, from kindergarten to high school, participated. The musical was produced by St. Alphonsus music director Marian Sullivan, with help from the parish community and artists from the Cumberland County Playhouse. This was the third children’s summer musical at St. Alphonsus.

Lintzes celebrate 50th wedding anniversary

M

aryAnn and Jim Lintz of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Fairfield Glade celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary June 30.

The Lintzes were married at Holy Redeemer Church in Flint, Mich.

They have two children, Kim Marie

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

Bonomo of Manitou, Mich., and Steven Michael of DeLand, Fla. They also have five grandchildren and are expecting their first great-grandchild in January.

The couple retired from General Motors in Michigan and moved to the Glade in September 1991. n dioknox.org

Five Rivers Deanery calendar Judi Phillips, MS, FCP, will present an introduction to the Creighton Model System of Natural Family Planning in the church basement at St. Mary Church in Johnson City from 1-3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 16. The presentation will include

Parish notes: Five Rivers Deanery

an overview of how the method is used to monitor a couple’s fertility along with Church teachings on NFP. To RSVP or obtain more information, contact Ms. Phillips at 423-892-4668 or jphillips-nfp@ hotmail.com. n

Holy Trinity, Jefferson City Eighteen volunteers from Holy Trinity Parish participated in the Appalachian Outreach program to assist the elderly and indigent with home repairs the week of July 25-29. Another 122 parishioners helped feed the other teams who participated in the weeklong event.

The parish Council of Catholic Women in August collected composition books for its “Bags of Love” project supporting children who have been placed in state custody as a result of their parents’ drug-related crimes.

Jacob Duda attained the rank of Eagle Scout and will be officially recognized at a Court of Honor in February 2013. Jacob is the son of Pat Duda and Tom Duda.

First communicants: Vanessa Alvarenga, Yahir Palacios, Hugo Estrada II, George Rodriguez

JRICH PHOTOGRAPHY

Newcomers: Capt. James and Gail Thompson, Terry and Debbie Watterson

First Communion at St. Dominic More than 30 youth at St. Dominic Parish in Kingsport received their first Holy Communion on May 12. Adults in the picture are (from left) visiting priest Father Leon Alexander; teachers Lisa Clare, Jane Morris, Dr. Chris Morris, and Beverly Stone; and Father Mike Nolan, pastor.

Anniversaries: Emery and Mildred Faulkner (64), Leo and Rita Savard (61), Gerald and Marie Jennings (57), Ed and Peggy Kertis (53), Capt. James and Gail Thompson (40), Bob and Deb Rave (35), Charles and Patty Lutz (30), David and Karen Gaul (25), Matt and Melissa McMurray (5)

Notre Dame, Greeneville A ’50s-themed family night is scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 5. A concession-style dinner of hot dogs, nachos, and chips will be served. Father Jim Harvey will introduce the movie “Rebel Without a Cause.” Participants are encouraged to dress in ’50s-style clothing for a costume contest. Prizes will be awarded for the best-dressed contestant. Call the parish office for more information at 423-639-9381.

The parish Fall Festival of Nations will be held Saturday, Sept. 22. Events planned include an international food tasting from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., a yard sale, a silent auction, and a barbecue dinner after the 5 p.m. Mass with entertainment from the Lonesome Pine bluegrass band. Call the church office to learn more or volunteer at 423-639-9381.

COURTESY OF FATHER PETER IORIO

St. Mary, Johnson City

Mass celebrated for Mexican sisters at St. Mary in Johnson City Father Peter Iorio (right), pastor of St. Mary Parish in Johnson City, and associate pastor Father Manuel Pérez (also pictured) celebrated Mass on June 15 for 15 Mexican sisters who are serving in Illinois, Texas, Kentucky, Georgia, and Tennessee. It was their feast day, and the group had a big feast after Mass.

The East Tennessee Catholic

The St. Mary Church Fall Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29. A barbecue dinner will follow the 5 p.m. Mass. Applications for booths will be available through Sunday, Sept. 23. The booths will rent for $25 with a $5 deposit. The deposit is refundable after the booth is cleaned and in good repair.

Contact Pat Barraclough for more information at 423-257-3746.

The social committee is hosting the Tree Street Yard Sale from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 8, at the ETSU Catholic Center, located at 734 W. Locust St. in Johnson City. Donations of working appliances, computers, exercise equipment, toys, baby items, and much more are being accepted. No books will be accepted at this sale. Sale items may be dropped off from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 7, at the Catholic Center. For details, contact Petra Calvert at 423943-6248 or Maria Whitson at 940-867-6757. n

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

September 2, 2012 13

Smoky Mountain Deanery calendar

Parish notes: Smoky Mountain Deanery

A Seekers of Silence Contemplative Saturday Morning will be held Sept. 29 at John XXIII Catholic Center in Knoxville.

Deacon David Lucheon will speak on the topic “The Eucharist: Its Jewish Roots—A Sacrifice and a Meal.” Coffee and tea will be served at 8:30 a.m.; the workshop will run from 9 a.m. to noon. Bring a bag lunch. RSVP at 865-523-7931.

Blessed John XXIII, Knoxville The Blessed John XXIII Catholic Center Sunday Mass schedule is now 9 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 5:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. through the end of the school year.

Immaculate Conception, Knoxville The women’s group will hold its annual “Kitchen Sale” after Masses on the weekend of Oct. 13 and 14. All household items will be accepted (no clothing). Place donations in the parish hall marked “Kitchen Sale.” Proceeds will help air-condition the parish-hall kitchen.

Judi Phillips, MS, FCP, will present an

introduction to the Creighton Model System of Natural Family Planning in the Shea Room at Sacred Heart Cathedral from 1-3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 9.

The presentation will include an overview of how the method is used to monitor a couple’s fertility along with Church teachings on NFP. To RSVP or obtain more information, contact Ms. Phillips at 423892-4668, or by e-mail, jphillips-nfp@ hotmail.com. n

The Adult Faith Formation Team will be shooting a video during September featuring those who participated in Living the Eucharist, the parish Lenten study, this past spring. The video will be used to encourage participation in the 2013 Lenten program. Call Marian Howard at 865-522-1508 for more details.

Sacred Heart, Knoxville Knights of Columbus Council 5207 and the Haiti Outreach Program hosted a pancake breakfast after the 9 a.m. Mass on Aug. 12 to raise funds for the Haiti Outreach Program.

The parish participated in and hosted the citywide pasta cook-off fundraiser for Family Promise of Knoxville, a local agency that supports homeless families, on Aug. 18.

The corporal works of mercy committee at St. Albert the Great sponsored a school-supply drive during August. Parishioners donated enough supplies to fill 94 backpacks for needy children in the Knoxville area.

St. Francis of Assisi, Townsend Mass in the Extraordinary Form is now being celebrated at 11 a.m. Sundays along with the regular weekend Masses. n

14 September 2, 2012

COURTESY OF BRIGID JOHNSON

St. Albert the Great, Knoxville

Vacation Bible school at the cathedral Totus Tuus returned to Sacred Heart Cathedral for the parish’s vacation Bible school from July 22 through 27. More than 40 children participated each day, learning about their Catholic faith and having fun. Pictured are (from left) Isabel Jones, Ava Jones, and Gracie Sewell showing off their week’s worth of bracelets tied to remind them of their faith.

Father Brando celebrating 40th anniversary

F

ather Joe Brando, pastor of St. Mary Parish in Gatlinburg, will celebrate the 40th anniversary of his priestly ordination with an open house at the American Legion Post 202 at 1222 E. Parkway in Gatlinburg from 7-10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 21.

Father Brando was ordained a The Diocese of Knoxville Living our Roman Catholic faith in East Tennessee

priest June 3, 1972, by Bishop Joseph A. Durick at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Chattanooga.

RSVP for the anniversary celebration by Friday, Aug. 31. For more information, call Mary Williams, the anniversary committee chair, at 865436-4907. n dioknox.org

Catholic youth

Bishop blesses new field at Knoxville Catholic The Fighting Irish now have the largest synthetic turf field in the Knoxville area

DAN MCWILLIAMS

B

ishop Richard F. Stika blessed the new synthetic turf field at Knoxville Catholic High School on Aug. 17 before the Fighting Irish’s game against Knoxville Central.

The Fighting Irish then gave Hollin Field at Blaine Stadium a successful debut by shutting out the Bobcats 35-0.

This past summer, through the support of the Hollin family and others in the school community, KCHS installed the largest synthetic turf field in the Knoxville area. Hollin Field, which was completed July 20, will allow the school to serve many students through football, boys and girls soccer, and lacrosse. n

New turf for KCHS Bishop Richard F. Stika leads the blessing ceremony at Hollin Field as Deacon Sean Smith assists. In back are members of the Hollin family, (from left) Joyce Hollin, Bill Hollin, Beau Hollin, Major Hollin, Kim Hollin, and Tony Hollin, and at far right KCHS athletics director Jason Surlas and principal Dickie Sompayrac.

KCHS senior soccer player Culhane signs with University of Tennessee

K

athryn Culhane, a senior at Knoxville Catholic, has made a verbal commitment to continue her soccer career at the collegiate level with the University of Tennessee.

She credits her decision to become a Lady Vol to the opportunity to play under the team’s new head coach, Bryan Pensky.

“I absolutely love [Pensky],” Kathryn told the Knoxville News Sentinel. “He’s the exact type of person I could see myself playing for. I’m just excited that it all worked out that way, and he’s a great coach and I can’t wait to play for him.”

Kathryn attended a camp at UT in February, and Mr. Pensky scouted her a few weeks later while she was playing for her club team, FC Alliance. Kathryn committed to the Lady Vols before the start of summer, the News Sentinel reported.

She can focus on her senior season The East Tennessee Catholic

Kathryn Culhane

instead of worrying about the recruiting process, the newspaper reported.

“It’s definitely relaxing,” Kathryn told the News Sentinel of making her college decision. “I know that I have to push myself to get better going

into college, but it’s a relief to know where I’m going to go.”

Kathryn plays outside back but was recruited by UT for her versatility in playing defense and midfield.

In her sophomore season with KCHS in 2010, Kathryn had 12 goals and 11 assists and was selected to the PrepXtra first team. That year’s Knoxville Catholic team finished 184-3 and made the Class AAA state finals.

Kathryn was unable to play her junior year because of an ACL tear on April 2, 2011. She was able to resume play with the club season in fall 2011.

Kathryn attributes her quick recovery to physical therapy, training, and her faith.

“This injury was devastating, but I always knew this was part of God’s plan for me,” she said. “I can honestly say that I am stronger player now.” n

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

Scouting awards presented to youth at St. Jude Church William Davis, Gregory Muzyn, Jeffrey Muzyn, and Guy Westhoff of Boy Scout Troop 172 were presented the Ad Altare Dei Catholic Scouting awards recently on Scout Sunday at St. Jude Church in Chattanooga.

The awards involve study of the sacraments and take several months to complete. Committee member Phil Westhoff counseled the Scouts during the program.

Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting chairman George LeCrone presented the awards.

Also present were St. Jude pastor Father Charlie Burton and Bernard Coombes, the Scouting committee’s vice chairman for the Chattanooga Deanery. n

St. Mary-Oak Ridge JV volleyball team wins tournament Several area middle schools were invited to Knoxville Catholic High School on Aug. 18 to participate in the 2012 KCHS Volleyball Feeder Fest Tournament.

The tournament lasted more than eight hours, with some teams playing up to five games each. The JV volleyball team from St. Mary School in Oak Ridge took first place in the overall pool and continued its winning streak through the finals, securing its first-ever Feeder Fest championship.

Coach Rob Halcrow said, “This was the first year they have allowed JV teams to play in this tournament, so it was especially wonderful to bring home the win.

Our girls work so hard and I’m glad it paid off.” n

September 2, 2012 15

The 24th annual diocesan Youth Recognition Mass and Evening Extravaganza will be held from 4 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8, at Sacred Heart Cathedral.

This year’s theme is “Be strong, fear not!” Outstanding youth and adults in the diocese will be recognized at the Mass, and the 2012-13 Diocesan Youth Ministry Advisory Council (DYMAC) will be commissioned.

Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Richard F. Stika beginning at 5 p.m.

Cost is $20 in advance or $30 at the door. T-shirt orders must be in by the morning of Monday, Sept. 3. Registration forms are available at dioknox.org.

For more information, contact Deacon Dan Hosford at djh2@ comcast.net or (865) 603-9682. n

Girl Scouts receive ‘I Live My Faith’ awards at St. Jude Three Girl Scouts from Troop 40835 at St. Jude Church in Chattanooga were presented their I Live My Faith Catholic Scouting awards at the 10:30 a.m. Mass on May 20.

The award, which takes several months to earn, is intended to make girls in grades four through six more aware of God and religion in their daily lives.

The honorees were Kristen Boardman, Ava Bourn, and Catherine Parker.

Also present for the ceremony were Bernard Coombes, vice chairman for the Knoxville Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting, troop leader Shannon Bourn, and St. Jude pastor Father Charlie Burton. n

16 September 2, 2012

Catholic youth

Notre Dame High School honors alumni Monsignor George Schmidt is among those recognized during the annual Alumni Weekend

N

otre Dame High School in Chattanooga held its annual Alumni Weekend festivities

in July.

Monsignor George Schmidt of the class of 1962 received the 2012 Distinguished Alumnus Award from Notre Dame.

In memory of the late Jim Phifer, the Phifer family annually awards members of the Notre Dame community with the Jim Phifer Service Award. Recipients of the annual award embody coach Phifer’s spirit and love for Notre Dame High School. This year the Jim Phifer Service Award was given to the Stolpmann brothers, Mark, Donald, and Ryan.

The 1962 class of NDHS was inducted into the Golden Graduates Society on July 28 at the Golden Graduates Brunch sponsored by Alexian Brothers Senior Ministry.

NDHS honored five alumni as Diamond Graduates at the Golden Graduates Brunch.

Diamond Graduates are alumni who have celebrated their 75th

COURTESY OF GAYLE SCHOENBORN (2)

Annual Youth Mass scheduled Sept. 8

NDHS honorees Monsignor George Schmidt holds the Notre Dame Distinguished Alumnus Award. Next to him are the Jim Phifer Service Award honorees, (from left) Donald, Mark, and Ryan Stolpmann.

high school reunion. Present to accept their award were one of Notre Dame’s oldest alumni, Erhardt Barnes ’35, and Elizabeth Graham

Davenport ’36. Additional Diamond Graduates honorees include Ann Hubbuch Morrison ’37, Sister Julia Fontaine ’37, and Don Kohl ’37. n

Notre Dame principal Perry Storey and alumni director Veronica Seaman are pictured with two of the school’s Diamond Graduates, Betty Davenport ’36 and Erhardt Barnes ’35. Diamond Graduates are alumni who have celebrated their 75th high school reunion.

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

dioknox.org

Pope says laypeople share responsibility for Church

By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS)—As Catholics prepare to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council, all Church members need to make a renewed effort to ensure laypeople are aware of their responsibility for the Church and are allowed to exercise it, Pope Benedict XVI said.

“Co-responsibility requires a change of mentality, particularly regarding the role in the Church of the laity, who should not be considered ‘collaborators’ of the clergy, but people who truly are co-responsible for the being and action of the Church,”

the pope wrote in a message to the assembly of the International Forum of Catholic Action.

The Aug. 22-26 assembly in Iasi, Romania, brought together representatives of Catholic Action groups from around the world. The international forum promotes lay involvement in parish and community life, particularly through studying and acting on the principles of Catholic social teaching.

Pope Benedict’s message, released by the Vatican on Aug. 23, said the Church needs a “mature and committed laity, able to make its specific contribution to the mission of the

church” in a way that respects the different roles and ministries of its members.

The Vatican II dogmatic constitution on the Church, Lumen Gentium, described the style of relationships within the Church as “familial,” the pope said. Viewing the church as a family emphasizes shared responsibility, mutual support, and joint action while, at the same time, recognizing the special role of guidance belonging to the Church’s pastors, he said.

The pope asked Catholic Action members to work with and for the Church through their “prayer, study,

active participation in ecclesial life, (and) with an attentive and positive gaze upon the world in a continuous search for the signs of the times.”

He asked the members to help with the new evangelization, proclaiming salvation in Christ “with language and methods understandable in our age.”

In addition, he encouraged them to continue studying and applying Catholic social teaching, particularly with the aim of bringing about a “globalization of solidarity and charity,” which will further the Church’s mission of bringing hope to the world. n

Audit continued from page 7

who could be or have the potential to be alone with a minor or vulnerable adult,” Deacon Smith said. “We look for all criminal activity in our background checks.”

Since the charter was adopted, Deacon Smith said compliance with the guidelines in the diocese has been very good. But he said recently a few potential volunteers have refused to undergo a background check because the process involves providing a Social Security number and they feared identity theft even though the organization providing the background checks has strict protective controls in place.

"Overall, we have excellent cooperation with our priests, deacons, employees and volunteers. But lately because of the identity theft scare, we have had some hesitation and declines by volunteers to do background checks, so we can't let them become volunteers," he said.

Deacon Smith said any decline in volunteers is unfortunate, but the Child Protection policy must be enforced. “At the end of the day, our No. 1 priority is protecting the children. We’re proactively screening every person we believe would be alone with a minor or vulnerable adult to determine their suitability through our screening process," he said.

Mrs. Meldahl said each parish has been reviewing its records to

confirm compliance with the Child Protection Charter. n

“Refusal to do any one of these things prohibits people from working or volunteering within the diocese,” Mrs. Meldahl said.

Background checks look for convictions involving any felony or misdemeanor, a department of motor vehicles check for anyone driving in an official capacity, and a credit check for anyone handling money, according to Deacon Smith, who also is the Child and Youth Protection Officer for the diocese.

Bishop Richard F. Stika is on the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee for the Protection of Children and Young People.

Mrs. Meldahl said every diocese undergoes an audit annually. Sometimes its an on-site audit, and any parish or school is subject to it.

Information from background checks is only seen by Deacon Smith in his position as chancellor.

Deacon Smith said no one is exempt from the background check, child protection (Virtus) training course or from reading and signing the policy and procedure.

“The charter requires we have a policy and procedure for sexual misconduct and it applies to all priests, deacons, men and women religious, employees and volunteers The East Tennessee Catholic

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

September 2, 2012 17

Living the readings

Weekday Readings Sunday, Sept. 2: Deuteronomy 4:12, 6-8; Psalm 15:2-5; James 1:1718, 21-22, 27; Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 Monday, Sept. 3: Corinthians 2:1-5; Psalm 119:97-102; Luke 4:16-30 Tuesday, Sept. 4: 1 Corinthians 2:10-16; Psalm 145:8-14; Luke 4:31-37 Wednesday, Sept. 5: 1 Corinthians 3:1-9; Psalm 33:12-15, 20-21; Luke 4:38-44 Thursday, Sept. 6: 1 Corinthians 3:18-23; Psalm 24:1-6; Luke 5:1-11 Friday, Sept. 7: 1 Corinthians 4:1-5; Psalm 37:3-6, 27-28, 39-40; Luke 5:33-39 Saturday, Sept. 8: Micah 5:1-4, Psalm 13:6; Matthew 1:1-16, 18-23 Sunday, Sept. 9: Isaiah 35:4-7; Psalm 146:7-10; James 2:1-5; Mark 7:31-37 Monday, Sept. 10: 1 Corinthians 5:1-8; Psalm 5:5-7, 12; Luke 6:6-11 Tuesday, Sept. 11: 1 Corinthians 6:1-11; Psalm 149:1-6, 9; Luke 6:12-19 Wednesday, Sept. 12: 1 Corinthians 7:25-31; Psalm 45:11-12, 14-17; Luke 6:20-26 Thursday, Sept. 13: 1 Corinthians 8:1-7, 11-13; Psalm 139:1-3, 13-14, 23-24; Luke 6:27-38 Friday, Sept. 14: Numbers 21:4-9; Psalm 78:1-2, 34-38; Philippians 2:611; John 3:13-17 Saturday, Sept. 15: 1 Corinthians 10:14-22; Psalm 116:12-13, 17-18; John 19:25-27 Sunday, Sept. 16: Isaiah 50:5-9; Psalm 116:1-6, 8-9; James 2:14-18; Mark 8:27-35 Monday, Sept. 17: 1 Corinthians 11:17-26, 33; Psalm 40:7-10, 17; Luke 7:1-10 Tuesday, Sept. 18: 1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 27-31; Psalm 100:1-5; Luke 7:11-17 Wednesday, Sept. 19: 1 Corinthians 12:31–13:13; Psalm 33:2-5, 12, Readings continued on page 19

18 September 2, 2012

by Father Joseph Brando

Getting your hands dirty

T

Divine law supersedes human tradition, motivates from within

he theme of September’s five Sunday Liturgies comes from the opening Gospel. In that passage (Mark 7:1-23), Jesus is asked why his disciples eat their food with dirty hands.

Jewish tradition had a strong emphasis on cleanliness; and the disciples’ apparent disregard for this tradition must have been a result of Jesus’ telling them otherwise. Jesus didn’t refute that theory. Rather, he had a double-barreled response ready for those who noticed the violation of tradition. First, quoting Isaiah, Jesus decried the people’s paying God only lip service by emphasizing external observances over true worship from the heart. Second, the Lord pointed out that they had replaced divine law with human tradition. It is a person’s interior that counts, not what is on the surface.

We’ll see how this theme, emphasizing interior cleanliness over the exterior, develops throughout the month. The Old Testament readings will show that God has consistently revealed that the ideal law motivates a person from within even when it becomes messy and painful on the outside. Then we’ll delve into the Epistle of James, with its thoroughly practical view of faith. All five Sundays feature a passage from James, each of which neatly fits the theme.

Finally, we’ll explore the Gospel passages, which give examples that Jesus’ kingdom can get one dirty—the ultimate example being Jesus’ passion and death.

The first of the Old Testament readings, from the Torah, itself, presents the reason for following the law of God. The law makes individuals wise and unites them into a people noted for their collective wisdom if they interiorize it and put into practice. The next two weeks (the

23rd and 24th Sundays of Ordinary Time) have readings from Isaiah.

However, they refer to events about 200 years apart. In the first, King Hezekiah was seeking to avoid war with the Assyrians by making an alliance with Egypt. Isaiah prophesied against such a plan, telling the king that Judah should trust God and stand up against the Assyrians, who had just routed the northern kingdom of Israel and were now hell-bent to destroy Jerusalem. Judah should depend on the Lord (and not Egypt) to deliver them from their enemies. To do so would mean certain war and the risk of annihilation.

Yet, the king did what God told him through Isaiah; eventually the siege of Jerusalem was lifted as the Assyrians were forced to retreat.

On the 24th Sunday, the scene changes to Babylon, where the people of Judah are suffering in exile. An oracle comes (perhaps from a group of religious Jews who followed in the tradition of Isaiah) that relates to the Jews’ situation. “I gave my back to those who beat me. …

[But] the Lord is my help, therefore I am not disgraced.” We have a major new insight. Suffering can be part of God’s plan for renewal. The law of God includes misery and getting dirty. However, the prophecy also includes, “He is near who upholds my right.” Judah’s deliverance is near if their “faces are set like flint.”

Indeed, what was seemingly impossible happened. Babylon was defeated by the Persians allowing Judah to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple.

On the 25th Sunday, we travel in time to the second century before Christ by means of the Book of Wisdom. The Jews are now in a battle for survival against Greek overlords who were determined to create a

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

unified world in which theirs was the only religion tolerated. “Let us beset the just one. Let us see if his words be true.” Once again, fidelity to the law demanded pain. One must prove his or her relationship with God by undergoing torture or risking one’s life in rebellion. The Jews revolted; their guerilla campaign succeeded. Perhaps Jesus had to remind the Pharisees of their own relatively recent heritage of rugged sacrifice for the sake of keeping God’s law.

For the last Sunday, we return to the Torah. The Book of Numbers tells the story that two men received the spirit of God who were absent from the ritual at which this spirit was to be conferred. Moses’ response to the murky situation was to thank God and hope for even more such men.

It is not the exterior ritual but the action of God within us that makes all the difference. This was one of the principles Jesus wanted to illustrate by having his disciples eat without washing their hands.

The second readings for all of September’s Sundays come from the Letter of James. We not only get an overall synopsis of the entire Letter; but we get a strong reinforcement of the theme for the month: n “Be doers of the word and not hearers only.” n “True religion is to care for orphans and widows.” n “Show no partiality” (That is, do not judge by externals). n “Faith without works is dead.” n “Wisdom is pure…wars and conflicts come from within.” n “You rich: weep and wail over your impending miseries…You have murdered the righteous one; he offers you no resistance.”

In each of these passages, we learn not to base our judgments on externals. One can look into the face of a poor, nasty-looking person and see God. Mother Teresa did every day.

As we come to this month’s Gospels, we revisit the seventh chapter of Mark where Jesus explained why his disciples didn’t wash their dioknox.org

Picnic time Father Patrick Resen (left), Father David Carter, seminarian Michael Poston, and Cardinal Justin Rigali talk at the annual seminarian picnic held Aug. 2 at the pavilion behind Sacred Heart Cathedral School. Seminarians, priests, Chancery staff, and their families joined Bishop Richard F. Stika at the event.

Readings continued from page 18 22; Luke 7:31-35 Thursday, Sept. 20: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11; Psalm 118:1-2, 16-17, 28; Luke 7:36-50 Friday, Sept. 21: Ephesians 4:17, 11-13; Psalm 19:2-5; Matthew 9:9-13 Saturday, Sept. 22: 1 Corinthians 15:33-37, 42-49; Psalm 56:10-14; Luke 8:4-15 Sunday, Sept. 23: Wisdom 2:12, 17-20; Psalm 54:3-6, 8; James 3:16–4:3; Mark 9:30-37 Monday, Sept. 24: Proverbs 3:2734; Psalm 15:2-5; Luke 8:16-18 Tuesday, Sept. 25: Proverbs 21:16, 10-13; Psalm 119:1, 27, 30, 3435, 44; Luke 8:19-21

hands before eating. In the next Sunday’s passage from the same chapter, Mark presents an instance when Jesus got his hands dirty. Jesus took hold of a deaf mute’s tongue and spit in the process of curing him. This incident gives us the idea that Jesus’ cures were not all neat, sterile blessings. At least some were messy struggles. The Lord did not fret about getting his hands soiled or becoming ritually unclean. He was so impelled by compassion that his action in healing others exposed his inner being. The dirtier he got the more he showed he was God. Ultimately, such a progression reached its climax at Calvary.

On the third Sunday of September, we continue to Mark’s eighth chapter and Peter’s profession that Jesus is the Messiah. Immediately after that, Jesus began teaching that the Son of Man will suffer and those who fol-

low him must take up their cross.

The way of Faith is not easy without a true interior life of relationship with our loving Father.

The Gospels for the last two Sundays of the month are both from the ninth chapter of Mark. They each present corollaries to the basic truth that salvation demands some form of suffering. As Jesus traveled through Galilee on his way to Calvary, he taught his disciples about the cross.

Once, they were arguing over who was the greatest. After, perhaps, a deep sigh, Jesus calmly but authoritatively told them that to be great in the kingdom one had to be the servant of all. Then he took a child (who had virtually no rights in contemporary society) and set him up as the ideal Christian. To become childlike involves a long, excruciating fight with one’s ego. But, it’s a price worth paying.

Visit the diocese on Facebook: on.fb.me/ dioceseofknoxville

The East Tennessee Catholic

The last Sunday of the month emphasizes the previous point with the challenging statement of Jesus that it is better for a millstone to be placed around the neck of a man and he be thrown into the sea if he causes a ‘little one’ to sin. It is better to enter the kingdom maimed by cutting off an offending body part than to be thrown into Gehenna whole.

There is the brutal reality.

We must conquer our human tendency to give in to temptation.

Never give up that fight. Battling temptation may lead us to think of ourselves as dirty. Yet, if we are waging the good fight against evil, no matter how frazzled, messy and hurt we may be, there is good news. The good news for this month is that God is with us, closer than ever. n Father Brando is the pastor of St. Mary Parish in Gatlinburg.

Follow the diocese on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ knoxdiocese

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

Wednesday, Sept. 26: Proverbs 30:5-9; Psalm 119:29, 72, 89, 101, 104, 163; Luke 9:1-6 Thursday, Sept. 27: Ecclesiastes 1:2-11; Psalm 90:3-6, 12-14, 17; Luke 9:7-9 Friday, Sept. 28: Ecclesiastes 3:111; Psalm 144:1-4; Luke 9:18-22 Saturday, Sept. 29: Feast, Sts. Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, archangels, Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14; Psalm 138:1-5; John 1:47-51 Sunday, Sept. 30: Numbers 11:2529; Psalm 19:8, 10, 12-14; James 5:1-6; Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48 Monday, Oct. 1: Job 1:6-22; Psalm 17:1-3, 6-7; Luke 9:46-50 Tuesday, Oct. 2: Job 3:1-3, 11-17, 20-23; Psalm 88:2-8; Matthew 18:15, 10 Wednesday, Oct. 3: Job 9:112, 14-16; Psalm 88:10-15; Luke 9:57-62 Thursday, Oct. 4: Job 19:21-27; Psalm 27:7-9, 13-14; Luke 10:1-12 Friday, Oct. 5: Job 38:1, 12-21 and 40:3-5; Psalm 139:1-3, 7-10, 13-14; Luke 10:13-16 Saturday, Oct. 6: Job 42:1-3, 5-6, 12-17; Psalm 119:66, 71, 75, 91, 125, 130; Luke 10:17-24 n

September 2, 2012 19

Know how to assist spouses who grieve

By Marian Christiana In May, a dear friend of ours lost her 15-month battle with cancer.

Eileen and her husband, Paul, had been married for 30 years.

We have been friends with Paul since we were teenagers and we continue to try to support him as much as possible.

Sometimes it is hard to know how to be a comfort to him. All of us have had a friend or family member whose life has been turned upside down by divorce, separation or the death of a spouse. Sometimes, because of the difficulty of such situations, we tend to avoid their pain and gloss over their suffering.

“Marriage, Love and Life in the Divine Plan,” the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ pastoral letter on marriage, reminds us that through our marriages we are called to bring Christ’s love for his Church out into the world. This month let’s consider that when we comfort the grieving. We, as married couples, truly reflect Christ’s love to others.

Here are a few suggestions to consider: 1. Begin by praying for your friend. As Bishop Richard F. Stika stated in his July column “…praying for the living … is no less a work of mercy than giving drink to the thirsty is, or food to the hungry.”

2. Listen to them. Don’t try to fix things, don’t make a lot of suggestions, and don’t start relating your personal situation to theirs; just listen to them.

3. Get them out of their house.

Invite them to share a meal or attend a movie with you. No pressure, no deep discussions, just spend time with them.

4. Don’t rush them through the healing process. Mourning is essential to healing.

From my window

Marriage continued on page 21

20 September 2, 2012

by Lourdes Garza

Being the hands and feet of Christ

I

A lesson on being Christ to each person we meet. But how do we achieve this?

n the Gospels, Jesus tells us how to help the needy, the widow, the orphan, and the poorest.

He demonstrated it by performing miracles and by his teachings. But he addresses it directly in the Gospel of St. Matthew 25: care for the sick, attend to the prisoner, the stranger, clothe the naked, feed the hungry and tend to the thirsty, bury the dead.

He left these tasks for us to do with compassion, love and devotion and in his name. They are not suggestions, but rather, mandates. How have we taken them seriously or how are we practicing them?

And what makes them mandates?

Because that’s what a true Christian ought to do. In response to these needs, it’s like we do it for him (Matthew 25), and he warned of the ramifications of ignoring them.

I’d like to mention an inspirational citation of St. Teresa of Jesus (of Avila): “Christ has no body now, but yours.

“No hands, no feet on earth, but yours.

“Yours are the eyes through which Christ looks with compassion into the world.

“Yours are the hands with which Christ blesses the world.”

Additionally, Bishop Richard F. Stika constantly reminds us to be “the

face of Jesus” to each other. Something that isn’t as easy as it sounds is being Christ to each person we meet.

During my current personal crisis of illness, I want to share with you that when we hear Christ does not abandon us and he attends to our needs ... it is Christ himself who will be there for you through the hands and feet of believers around us who are part of our family of God.

Sale continued from page 8

ti,” Mr. Davidson said. “It’s great to go on a mission, but when you leave, what happens next?”

He pointed out that CESA educates the children and employs local adults. CESA now employs 108 residents, all of whom are Haitian, as cooks, maintenance workers, and teachers. Some of the teachers are former students who have returned to give back to their community.

There are plans to establish a

152 families to volunteer and the project began.

To build the school, a Haitian architect and a Haitian contractor were hired, with the condition that only local labor would be used. So many local residents were given the opportunity to learn building trades in construction of the school, giving them more self-reliance.

“Jobs are the critical thing in Hai-

During my current personal crisis of illness, I want to share with you that ... it is Christ himself who will be there for you through the hands and feet of believers.

First there was my blood family, then friends and acquaintances, clergy and religious, fellow staff members and the people who make up our church communities and medical staff, as in my doctor and nurses.

I have been attended for the last six months by many people who have provided me with their love, affection, care and with their daily prayers; brought me Sunday Communion; offered Masses, novenas and promises; brought me flowers and plants; sent me inspirational cards.

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

Then they provided for my needs such as meals for three people for almost two months, tending to my yard, taking me to the doctor and translating, sitting with me when I have been able to receive visitors.

I’ve been really surprised, wondering where is all this coming from? I am humbled by the faith and compassion they have shown me with no expectation of reward—fully following the teachings of our Lord.

I do not have the right words to thank those who helped me and are now walking with me during my recovery. In particular, I thank my siblings and my children and parents who have been with me in spirit and those who have visited.

I owe a huge debt to my first cousin, “Lolis,” whom I asked to look after me during this time and who has been by my side day and night for almost six months. I am humbled by her demonstrations of affection, care and dedication to my recovery. This has been a great lesson of faith for me to see the hands and feet of Christ come to me in my hour of need.

Thank the Lord for his teachings and for all the believers who practice them. n Lourdes Garza directs the diocesan Hispanic Ministry Office. dental clinic to be staffed by former students who have become health professionals.

And the AHF has been collaborating with Cambridge College in Memphis on technology, and more than 250 students are computer literate at CESA as a result. Each day at the school, approximately 1,200 children are fed complete meals.

A return trip to Haiti is planned for February 2013. n dioknox.org

Understanding the sacraments

by Father Randy Stice

Marriage continued from page 20

How many sacraments?

H

The final number was finally set after a centuries-long discernment process involving many suggestions

ow many sacraments are there? Two? Five? Seven?

Eight? Twelve?

Each of these answers has been proposed at some point by someone. This question was only answered after a long process, as the Catechism affirms: “The Church has discerned over the centuries that among liturgical celebrations there are seven that are, in the strict sense of the term, sacraments instituted by the Lord” (Catechism, 1117). Here we will offer a brief overview of this centuries-long discernment process.

We find support for the seven sacraments in the writings of the earliest Church fathers. Tertullian (Catechism, 200), who made important contributions to the early Church’s understanding of the sacraments, wrote about baptism, confirmartion, the Eucharist, holy orders and marriage.

St. Augustine, who died in 430, listed all of the sacraments except for anointing of the sick. However, one of his contemporaries, Pope Innocent I, wrote about the sacrament of anointing in a letter in 416.

There is, in fact, no record of adulteration, falsification or controversy concerning any of the seven sacraments in the first five centuries.

According to Johann Auer, “This entitles us to trace the Church’s silent tradition on the matter of the seven sacraments back to apostolic times” (A General Doctrine of the Sacraments and the Mystery of the Eucharist, 93).

It was during the Early Middle Ages that theologians such as Master Roland Bandinelli (later Pope Alexander III) and Hugh of St Victor began to affirm seven sacraments, although consensus had not yet been reached. Some medieval considered consecration of a king or queen the eighth sacrament, and St. The East Tennessee Catholic

Peter Damian (died 1072) counted 12 sacraments.

However, from the mid-13th century onward seven sacraments were considered a truth of the faith, a truth that was affirmed by the Council of Lyons in 1274: “The same Holy Roman Church also holds and teaches that there are seven sacraments of the Church.” In 1439 the Council of Florence listed the “seven sacraments of the New Law, namely Baptism, Confirmation, the Eucharist, Penance, Extreme Unction, Order and Matrimony.” The orthodox churches also have affirmed the same seven sacraments since the 13th century.

Once the number of sacraments was set at seven, it was given a From the mid-13th century onward, seven sacraments were considered a truth of the faith, a truth that was affirmed by the Council of Lyons in 1274. variety of interpretations and justifications, including the seven stars of Revelation 1:16, the seven lampstands of Revelation 1:13 and the seven pillars in the temple of wisdom (Proverbs 9:1-3). Others are seven Letters to Churches in Revelation 2-3 or the seven petitions of the Our Father.

Alexander of Hales in the 1220s associated them with the four cardinal virtues and the three theological virtues: Baptism instills faith, confirmation instills fortitude, the Eucharist love, penance justice, marriage temperance, priestly orders wisdom, and anointing of the sick hope. This association was affirmed

by St. Thomas Aquinas, the Common Doctor of the Church.

The number of sacraments was challenged by Reformers. After

some vacillation (from two to five), Luther concluded that only baptism and Eucharist were sacraments.

Later reformers such as Zwingli (died in 1531) and Calvin (died in 1546) accepted only Baptism and the Lord’s Supper “in a highly symbolic sense” (Paul Haffner, The Sacramental Mystery, 11). The Anglicans also traditionally affirmed two, Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

The Council of Trent, the Catholic Church’s response to the Reformation, strongly condemned the teaching of the Reformers regarding the sacraments. In its Decree on the Sacraments in 1547 it stated: “If anyone says that the sacraments of the New Law…are more or fewer than seven that is: baptism, confirmation, the eucharist, penance, extreme unction, Order and matrimony; or that any one of these is not truly and properly a sacrament, he is cut off from the Church.”

The Catechism summarizes the Church’s discernment of the sacraments thus: “As she has done for the canon of Sacred Scripture and for the doctrine of the faith, the Church, by the power of the Spirit who guides her ‘into all truth,’ has gradually recognized this treasure received from Christ and, as the faithful steward of God’s mysteries, has determined its ‘dispensation’” (Catechism, 1117).

The Church’s sacramental teaching is a beautiful and abiding testament to the way God cares for and guides his Church so that she always will be “a sign and instrument of communion with God and of unity among all men” (Lumen Gentium, 1). n

5. One suggestion to consider, though, is giving the person information about a Beginning Experience Weekend. This weekend program is designed to help those that are grieving move steadily into the future with renewed hope. The next Beginning Experience weekend in our diocese is scheduled Oct. 5-7 at the Alex Haley Farm in Clinton.

For more information about the weekend go to: http://dioknox. org/offices-ministries/marriageand-family-life/beginning-experiences-a-spousal-loss-retreat/ n Mrs. Christiana is coordinator of the diocesan Marriage Preparation and Enrichment Office.

Nondiscrimination notice for schools The Diocese of Knoxville Catholic Schools admit students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school.

It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in the administration of educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan program, and athletic and other school-administered programs. n

Father Stice directs the diocesan Office of Worship and Liturgy. He can be reached at frrandy@dioknox.org.

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

September 2, 2012 21

Most Catholics share bishops’ liberty concerns WASHINGTON (CNS)—A majority of Catholics say they share the U.S. bishops’ concerns about the federal contraceptive mandate and other government restrictions on religious liberty, and the percentage of Catholics who say they are satisfied with the bishops’ leadership has increased sharply in the past 10 years.

Catholics who attend Mass more frequently are more likely to agree with bishops’ concerns on social issues, and those who attend less frequently show less support for their views on issues such as abortion and same-sex marriage.

Those opinions, made public Aug. 1, were among the results in a new survey conducted by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life and the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press.

The survey showed that 64 percent of Catholics have heard about the bishops’ objections to the Department of Health and Human Services’ contraceptive mandate. Twenty-two percent say they have heard a lot about it, and 32 percent of Catholic churchgoers say their priest has spoken about the issue at Mass.

Among Catholics who are aware of the bishops’ concerns on this issue, 56 percent agree with the bishops and 36 percent disagree. In the American population at large, 41 percent agree with the bishops and 47 percent disagree.

Although the survey showed that most Catholics aware of the bishops’ concerns also agree with them, about half (51 percent) of Catholic voters said President Barack Obama best reflects their views on social issues such as abortion and same-sex marriage, while 34 percent said the Survey continued on page 23

22 September 2, 2012

Once upon a time

by Monsignor Xavier Mankel

Women religious and school days gone by

M

One young student recalls the influential role sisters played in local Catholic education

any times people ask me when we’re talking about history just how deacons, brothers, sisters, third orders and associates fit into the picture of the growth and vitality of our Church.

We look at all these things through three windows—the window of our Church from her English-speaking U.S. beginnings in 1790; from the beginning of the diocese of Nashville in 1837; and from the beginning of our own diocese on Sept 8, 1988, the silver jubilee of which we shall begin to celebrate big time in 2013 and 2014!

My window for this column is a much smaller one—the day-to-day adventures I encountered with the religious Sisters of Mercy of Cincinnati from first grade (we had no Catholic kindergartens in Knoxville then) at St Mary’s School, 414 W. Vine Ave. in downtown Knoxville.

Immaculate Conception Church was just a few feet west of the venerable school building that had a four-story convent facing Vine and a three-story school building attached to its rear side, complete with (only) six classrooms, five of which were used for classes and one reserved for the fine arts, especially music with violin and piano. If one wished proficiency at the pipe organ, it was available in the choir loft of the parish church. Sister Loretta Gresham, RSM, a native of Knoxville and Chattanooga, whose brother Joe, became one of our priests of the Nashville diocese in summer 1942, comes to mind during this time.

My wonderful experience began (I think) the day after Labor Day in September 1941. The principal was Sister Loretta and she ran the school from the eighth-grade classroom, which was the only other classroom on the first floor. The first and sec-

ond grade (one room) classroom was to the west of the other one and we could look out one of the three large windows on our left (as we faced sister’s desk) to see the east side of the church about 20 feet away.

There were five rows of desks with 14 or 15 in each row. The second grade was lined up in the two and one-half rows along the black boards (real slate) and we first-graders occupied the other two and onehalf rows. We were seated according to height so I was next to the last one in front of very tall, for his age of six years, Edmund Fitzgerald Jr. Bernard Hartman was as tall as I but he was assigned to the desk in front of me.

There was a second-grader to the right whose name I suppose I never knew because they had a completely different schedule. But to our left were people whom I grew to know and love over the years.

One was Joe Ann Hughes, who became Sister Mary Jolita, now long gone to God but so well known for her ministry as a teacher and principal at “Mercy” schools in Tennessee.

Another was Sara Jean Elder, the oldest of four girls, who married Gordon Clem from Holy Ghost parish in 1955. The teacher of both grades was Sister JoAnne Marie, RSM. Standing about five feet tall, Sister JoAnne Marie was an excellent disciplinarian and our spiritual leader too. For it was she who prepared us for first Holy Communion in the first grade and for confirmation in grade two.

Those were the days when the teachers figured more prominently in sacramental prep than parents—a decided flaw in the system but with teachers like Sister JoAnne Marie it

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

worked out well. Father Christopher P. Murray was our eccentric but beloved and respected pastor and he saw to it that basic improvements were made in our classrooms.

Over the years the desks that had been screwed to the tongueand-groove hard pine floors were placed on runners (the great granddaddy of flexible seating); the three ivory-globed lights that hung from the ceiling in each classroom were replaced with six new fixtures with larger bulbs and globes that helped with the illumination, especially on cloudy days.

In the third grade we moved upstairs to the classroom above our former room. We began the year with Sister Mary Josephine, RSM, whose kindness and skills were already well known. She was an innovator; she introduced us to supplemental reading. Our textbooks were still our bibles, some costing as much as a dollar, but Sister Josephine added the weekly issue of Timeless Topix, which had lives of saints, facts about World War II (this was the 1943-44 school year), games, puzzles, etc.

Sister became ill during the school year and we were fortunate to have her replacement, a non-sister lay teacher, Mrs. Nora Winstead, who stayed on and became a permanent part of the faculty for several years.

I was apprehensive about beginning grade four. The smallest sister, yet the strictest I had ever known, was Sister Mary Athanasius, RSM. She ruled from the dais at the front of the room. Love had been the catalyst for law and order since first grade. Now it became fear. A merciful God took Sister to some other assignment during that year and she was replaced by the smiling and energetic Sister Mary Ethelbert Hobbs, RSM. dioknox.org

Virtus training Then came a much younger sister for the rest of the year, Sister Mary Ethelbert Hobbs. She had two other sisters who taught in our schools, Sister Mary Alphonsa, RSM, and Sister Mary Rita, RSM. Ballpoint pens had come into the world as the messiest writing instrument ever invented and I became a victim. It was Sister Ethelbert who came to my desk and practically smothered me with her veil. As an asthmatic, I could hardly breathe the regular air on smoke-filled Summit Hill with the coal-fired trains in the Southern Railroad yards below Vine Avenue that gave us smog on days when others breathed much cleaner air.

I’ll never forget the sentence of condemnation Sister issued, “You are the messiest boy I have ever tried to teach. In the future you will use a pencil.” I remember Sister also as the first sister I ever saw teach physical education to first- through fourthgrade boys. Other sisters who came during those years were Sisters Mary Noreen, RSM (honey came from her mouth), and Sister Mary Martinez, RSM. We had an unusual set-up in the sixth grade: the girls were taught

by Sister Martinez along with the fifth-grade girls on the top floor, still the same side of the building, and we boys were taught by Sister Mary Jude, RSM. Also in our classroom on the other side of the building, which

faced a tenement apartment building, much closer than the Church was for grades one through five, was the entire seventh grade. I always have loved double grades, with not only more people but also more learning and reviewing.

The seventh grade was as close to heaven as I’ll ever get in this life.

Our teacher was Sister Mary Francis Gleason, RSM. She had two blood sisters in the Mercy order. One of them, Sister Mary Denis, already was a legend among master teachers. Sister Francis was not far behind.

Indeed, she was the very best teacher I was ever privileged to have. She told us altar servers, “Never utter a response in Latin that you do not already understand in English.” That is good advice to this day when we still grapple with the formulae of the extraordinary form of holy Mass.

Sister Mary Francis used to tell me after I was ordained, “You were the second best student I ever taught.”

“Thank you, Sister, and who was the best?” I would ask. “Francis Shea,” she would say with enthusiasm and reverence. Francis Shea was a student at Holy Ghost School when she taught him in the 1920s. He later became pastor of Knoxville’s Immaculate Conception Parish in 1955 until he was made the third bishop of Evansville, Ind., on Dec. 10, 1969.

Our eighth-grade teacher was Sis-

ter Mary Celestine, who managed all of us as well as being principal in the first-floor classroom a floor beneath our seventh grade placement.

We indeed were all “one big happy family.”

Going to lunch in the cafeteria, which was in the church basement, was another adventure every school day. Although a distance of a few feet from the school, it’s simply amazing how wet or cold we could get making the journey over and back each day.

The school day began with holy Mass in the church, usually much too warm from the steam pipes beneath all the pews! We traveled back to the sacred space for Stations of the Cross every school day during Lent and for the special practices required in receiving new sacraments, the May procession, and graduation.

There was a sister everywhere, “one at every corner” as one of my classmates quipped. It was wonderful and they were wonderful.

In my opinion, the very greatest thing that Bishop Richard F. Stika has done for our diocese is to increase the numbers of women religious in our diocese. Next time: secondary school sisters. n Monsignor Mankel is a vicar general of the diocese and the pastor of Holy Ghost Parish in Knoxville.

Advertise in The East Tennessee Catholic ••• Contact us at 865-584-3307 or bbrewer@dioknox.org Find us at dioknox.org

The East Tennessee Catholic

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

The Diocese of Knoxville’s program for the protection of children and youth–a threehour seminar called “Protecting God’s Children”–is offered throughout the diocese. The seminars are required for parish and school employees and regular volunteers in contact with children or vulnerable adults.

The following training sessions have been scheduled: n St.

Mary Church, Johnson City, Tues., Sept. 11; Wed., Oct. 22., 6:30 p.m. n Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, 7 p.m., Tues., Sept. 18; 7 p.m., Tues. Oct. 23. n St. Jude Church, Chattanooga, noon, Thurs., Sept. 6. n Holy Cross Church, Pigeon Forge, 9 a.m. Sat., Sept. 8. n Survey continued from page 22

presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney best reflects their views on these issues.

The survey results also gave high marks to Catholic leadership.

Eighty-three percent of Catholics expressed satisfaction with women religious; 82 percent, with their own parish priests; 74 percent, with their diocesan bishop and the pope; and 70 percent, with U.S. bishops in general— a significantly higher figure than a decade ago when the satisfaction rate for bishops was 51 percent at the height of the abuse scandal.

White Catholics who attend Mass frequently are more satisfied with the leadership provided by the pope, bishops, and parish priests than are those who attend less frequently.

Those surveyed who said they were former Catholics are much less satisfied with Catholic leadership, rating their satisfaction level at 31 percent for U.S. bishops; 38 percent for the pope; and 55 percent for women religious. n

September 2, 2012 23

Catholic Charities of ET launches phone counseling center

24 September 2, 2012

BILL BREWER

R

By Bill Brewer esearch showing that the effectiveness of counseling via telephone equals face-to-face counseling sessions has led Catholic Charities of East Tennessee to start a phone-based counseling service.

The service, which began Aug. 1, is targeted to a large, underserved clientele, according to Sister Mary Christine Cremin, RSM, of Catholic Charities, who said many of the East Tennesseans who will benefit are residents with limited access to professional counselors.

Sister Mary Christine, who is a licensed clinical social worker, said Catholic Charities has been getting calls from East Tennesseans seeking counselors affiliated with a faithbased agency.

“I think it’s going to be a benefit to a lot of people,” she said. “The studies show that it’s equally effective — face-to-face and phone counseling.

A phone call away Catholic Charities’ team of counselors include from left Alison Jones, Sister Mary Christine Cremin, Stacy Robertson, and Jessica Cathey.

It might be easier for people who would be uncomfortable doing faceto-face counseling.”

The center, staffed by three licensed counselors and graduate students in counseling studies, is based out of Catholic Charities’ Division Street facility in Knoxville.

Sister Mary Christine has seen an increase in the number of people

seeking counseling.

“At least 50 percent of our clients are non-Catholic if not more. A number of them are Christian and want a faith-based counselor,” Sister Mary Christine said. She noted that callers with substance abuse problems or who have psychological issues such as depression, suicidal tendencies or psychosis are referred to specialists

in those fields and a mobile crisis unit in the community set up to respond to emergency cases.

Stacy Robertson, a licensed master social worker and director of Catholic Charities’ Counseling & Children’s Services, said East Tennessee’s large geographic area led Catholic Charities to reach out to rural areas that may not have access to professional counselors. “I think we can definitely fill an unmet need with this service,” she said. “We’re not going to turn anyone away.”

She said there is a charge for the service based on income level, a sliding fee from $5 to $90 per session.

The first call is free. The counseling sessions are confidential and offered 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Callers leave a message and a counselor returns their call within 24 hours. Anyone seeking counseling or more information on the program can call 1-877790-6369 or go to www.ccetn.org. n

Call Today!!!!

Promotional offer ends September 30, 2012 Alexian Village of Tennessee (423) 886-0542

The Alexian Village Rental Select Plan requires no large up front investment.

It only requires a small community fee that is currently being waived through September 30, 2012 and an affordable monthly rental fee.

Alexian Brothers Live At Home (423) 886-0552

The Alexian Brothers Live At Home program is designed to keep you living independently at home longer, protect your assets and is shown to reduce healthcare costs.

Alexian Grove (423) 825-5557

This idyllic, tranquil residence at the base of Lookout Mountain provides a safe and comfortable environment. We offer retirement apartments with support services on an affordable, monthly rental basis.

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

Move in by September 30, 2012 and we will waive the community fee valued at $3,500!

Become a member by September 30, 2012 and receive up to $5,000 off your membership fee.

Move in by September 30, 2012 and receive up to $2,500 in customized apartment upgrades. dioknox.org