Meliora store launched in Georgetown, offering sacred items, books, gifts, and more
By Claire Collins
Anew Catholic bookstore has opened in Georgetown near Chattanooga. Meliora, founded by Sandy Hartert-Forshee and her daughter, Angela Cowan, wants to provide the Diocese of Knoxville with beautiful sacred items, books, gifts, and Catholic goods.
“I own the building. This is why it’s out in the country in this really rural area. And a lot of people’s feedback on that is, ‘Oh, I love the drive. It’s beautiful!’ So, I think no matter where I’m at, people would come because there’s such a need.”
Mrs. Hartert-Forshee felt a stirring in her heart for a Catholic bookstore in her area. She had been working at a Christian bookstore in Cleveland after years of working in the areas of ministry and banking, but the only Catholic items available at the store were a Bible and a rosary.
That’s when she got the idea for a store on her very own property.
“I bought this land in 2002 and at that point, you know, it was a place to live, and it had all these buildings. And so many times I thought, ‘There’s something I should be doing with this.’ I really wasn’t quite sure what it was.”
She continued using the buildings for storage, all the while discerning their potential.
“At one point, I actually thought, maybe a retreat center because I was doing youth ministry at St. Thérèse and, you know, we’d have
to pay so much to go to a retreat center, to go rent places out for the kids to do training, leadership training, stuff like that. So, I had thought about that, but it was about that same time that (the diocese) got the property for Christ Prince of Peace. And so that was kind of like, OK, God’s saying, ‘That’s not what you’re supposed to do,’” Mrs. Hartert-Forshee said, referring to St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish in Cleveland and Christ Prince of Peace Retreat Center in Benton.
Then in January 2024, after much discernment and prayer, Mrs. Hartert-Forshee decided it was time to go for it and open a Catholic bookstore.
“I had my resale license for the store and was just doing a few things here and there for some of the local parishes and catechists,” she recounted. “And we really didn’t know for sure if it was going to happen, but we felt like it was God’s hand in it and that we were supposed to do this. So, I went ahead and got the retail license and everything and started making plans. But it took me until the end of August 2024 to get the zoning.”
“We were proceeding on,” she continued, “except we just didn’t really feel like we could start knocking holes in the walls and making doorways and things like that that we needed to do in these buildings until August. So, from August to October, it was a huge family, you know, ‘let’s get this done’ kind of thing. My kids and
my husband—we’ve all worked on it. The walls are concrete blocks, and we had to put in doors and do all sorts of digging and concretepouring and all sorts of things.”
During many moments, Mrs. Hartert-Forshee could see God’s grace at work. One of those moments came in June 2024.
“In June, I saw on Facebook, and we had no idea this was happening, so I know that God is in this, totally. We saw that The Paraclete was going to be closing.”
The Paraclete Catholic book and gift store operated in Knoxville for 37 years and since 1990 at a build-
ing owned by the diocese at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus before closing on July 3, 2024.
While she had no idea when her dreams for Meliora began that The Paraclete would be closing, Mrs. Hartert-Forshee was able to help give many of the items being sold at The Paraclete a new home in her store.
Her daughter, Angela, who has been instrumental in the efforts toward opening Meliora, saw God’s hand so clearly in this time.
“My mom and I knew there was a need for a Catholic bookstore,” Meliora continued on page B2
‘Fanning the Flame’ of the Eucharistic Congress
St. Jude in Chattanooga hosts a three-weekend revival to celebrate the teachings of the Indy event
By Dan McWilliams
In organizing the Fanning the Flame Eucharistic Revival that took place over three weekends last month at St. Jude Church in Chattanooga, no one at the time realized how appropriate the Gospel reading for the closing Mass on Aug. 17 would turn out to be.
Bishop Mark Beckman celebrated the liturgy to conclude the five-day event that presented the teachings of the 10th National Eucharistic Congress held last summer in Indianapolis and matched its five-day schedule from July 17-21, 2024. The congress was the first held in the United States since 1941.
Fanning the Flame sessions, which presented to those attending several videos recorded at the congress and allowed area Catholics to give personal testimonies, were held Aug. 1-2, Aug. 9, and Aug. 1617. The Gospel reading on the final day came from Luke 12.
“They chose the theme of ‘Fanning the Flame’ before they knew the Gospel this weekend that would close it, in which Jesus was saying how He wished that there would be a fire to spread over the earth. I used the homily to speak about the fire of the Spirit and His love,” Bishop Beckman said after Mass. Rose Lovelace of St. Jude organized the event, and she and her team drew a round of applause when the bishop acknowledged them at the end of Mass.
Concelebrating the closing Mass were three Chattanooga Deanery
Midlife Crisis, based at St. Stephen Parish in Chattanooga, provided music at the closing Mass. Mrs. Lovelace sang with the group. A reception was held in Siener Hall to conclude the evening.
Three deanery deacons hosted Fanning the Flame sessions: Deacon Jim Bello of Holy Spirit in SoddyDaisy and Deacon Dave Waguespack and Deacon Gary Brinkworth of St. Stephen.
“The words of Jesus tonight are powerful: ‘I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish that it were already blazing,’” Bishop Beckman said as he began his homily. “Those of us who have noticed the news about wildfires out west, we know how destructive those fires can be—so when Jesus uses that metaphor, it has power.
“I remember hiking near Bend, Ore., in a forest where a fire had gone through recently, and the earth was scorched with the smell of ashes in the air, the dead trees, nothing green in that part of the trail. I remember the feeling of sadness that came over me, and yet there is something in Jesus that is on fire to have that which needs to be consumed, consumed.”
The bishop added that “there is debris, underbrush that needs to be burned from our hearts, parts of who we are that are not like God, the self-centered parts of our hearts, the parts of us that are yet unmoved by the concerns of our neighbors, the parts of us that are still
and cold when we see the suffering and vulnerable in our Fanning the Flame continued on page B3
parish pastors: host Father Charlie Burton of St. Jude, Father Mike Nolan of St. Thérèse of Lisieux in Cleveland, and Father John Dowling of St. Augustine in Signal Mountain.
Deacon Butch Feldhaus of St. Jude was deacon of the Word, and Deacon Brian Gabor of the host parish was deacon of the altar. Deacon Frank Bosh of St. Jude also assisted.
hard
‘There’s such a need’ Sandy Hartert-Forshee sits in the Meliora Catholic bookstore in Georgetown, surrounded by many of the items the new business has for sale
‘How I wish that it were already blazing’ Deacon Jim Bello hosted the Fanning the Flame opening weekend sessions, themed “From the Four Corners” and “The Greatest Love Story.”
Mrs. Cowan said. “I was really thankful that The Paraclete was willing to help us with their leftover shelving and products. It was amazing to see everything come together!”
Meliora also was able to take over some of the operations previously taken care of by The Paraclete.
Meliora has a little bit of everything, from books and sacramental items to goods, coffee, and children’s items.
Books have been a surprisingly popular item at the store.
“I was told, you know, books are not the main thing, the bookstores are going out of business because you can’t compete with Amazon. But I do sell a lot of books. I just really go for the ones that speak to me, and I’ve always been that way about books. I go and stand in front of a bookshelf and, you know, just, ‘OK, what is it I’m supposed to buy?’ It’s kind of a spiritual thing. I want to be able to do that here and have enough books and feel that people could come and do that here, too,” Mrs. Hartert-Forshee said.
“We’ve got statues, we’ve got crucifixes, candles, medals, necklaces. We’ve got them in sterling silver, and then we’ve got the little oxidized medals. So, we’ve got really a wide variety, plus I’ve really stepped it up on the church-supply end of it, being able to provide candles and liturgical things,” she added.
Mrs. Hartert-Forshee also has access to several companies to be able to provide liturgical and specialty items.
Mrs. Cowan has been excited to see churches coming to them for many commonly used items.
“I’m excited that we have had so many orders for candles, Communion hosts, and palm branches,” she said. “I’m thankful for all of the
churches that have helped support us!” Mrs. Cowan said.
“Service is our passion. That was one of the things that just kind of came out whenever I started,” Mrs. Hartert-Forshee noted. “And I mean, it really is. I want to be here to help people, you know, to get what they want, to get what they need. If there’s something I don’t have, I’ll order it for them or I’ll find a way for them to get it.”
In addition, the store also carries items appropriate for the many occasions experienced in the life of faith, from baptisms and first Communions, weddings and anniversaries, to bereavement.
Mrs. Hartert-Forshee also wants
to provide catechists with needed items for their classrooms and educational programs, inspired by her many years working in religious education.
While there have been many graces for Mrs. Hartert-Forshee in her experience of opening the store, she said one grace really seems to stand out.
“The thing I love the most is the new Catholics who are coming in, the ones who are going through OCIA. They’re so excited and have such a joy about them and excitement about what they’re looking at and what they’re learning, and it’s just such a blessing to be a part of it.”
She also said it has meant so much
for her to be able to manage a small business with her daughter, who has done so much for her, from stocking inventory and setting up buildings to getting the system in place for the store to run.
“I have plenty of room to expand,” Mrs. Hartert- Forshee continued. “To expand in large ways someday, you know, like, all in God’s time and whatever He wants to do. I have that room. I have the space to do that. And so, I’m really excited about whatever possibilities God has for us.”
You can visit the Meliora store at 3580 Brittsville Road in Georgetown, TN 37336, or visit the website at Melioracatholic.com ■
Available for purchase The Meliora store has rosaries and religious medals among its items for sale.
Greetings from Meliora The new Catholic bookstore has a number of greeting cards for all occasions at its building in Georgetown.
BILL BREWER
DAN MCWILLIAMS (2)
Special delivery Sandy Hartert-Forshee and her daughter, Angela Cowan, make a delivery of Catholic supplies to a Diocese of Knoxville parish.
BILL BREWER
In conversation Sandy Hartert-Forshee talks about her new Meliora store in Georgetown.
Pointing the way A sign in the front entrance area of Meliora indicates the room with the Catholic store.
BILL BREWER
DAN MCWILLIAMS
world. There are parts of our hearts that are afflicted by things like greed, gluttony, lust, and pride and all the other deadly sins.”
The Lord is “not satisfied that those things grow in us,” Bishop Beckman said.
“He wants to pour out the fire of His love to purify that landscape of our lives,” he said.
That fire is needed as “we look around our world today and see violence—in Ukraine, the Holy Land, in Africa, in so many places in our world,” the bishop said. “And we see, even here in our own country, the hardening of the heart toward the most vulnerable in our world.”
The first reading at Mass came from Jeremiah 38, which tells of Jeremiah being thrown into a cistern, where he remained until the court official Ebed-melech asked King Zedekiah to have the prophet rescued.
“The fire of God is not content. Jesus, like the prophet Jeremiah, has a burning passion that the goodness and righteousness of God would be part of every human heart,” Bishop Beckman said. “The fire of God does not stop until that happens. That’s why Jeremiah as a prophet said the fire of God ‘is in my bones.’ ... Jeremiah saw clearly that God’s people needed redirecting, and he spoke the truth to them.
“What did they do to Jeremiah? They threw him in a cistern, didn’t they? He got stuck in the mud. I was thinking about that fellow who went to King Zedekiah and said that’s not right—we need to get him out. I’m so grateful that Jeremiah had such a person in his life.”
Fanning the Flame focused “a number of you on the Eucharist, the presence of Christ the Lord with you, with me, with all of us,” the bishop said.
“The fire of His love burns in His eucharistic heart for you and for me, indeed for the whole world,” he added. “As we sit with the Lord in adoration … we’re inviting the fire of His love, the fire of His Spirit, to purify our own hearts so that He can send us into the world as bearers of the light and love of God. The desire of God is the transfiguration of the human heart and of our world.”
Bishop Beckman contrasted the sadness of the Oregon site he mentioned earlier with a more pleasant memory.
“I was blessed a number of years after my hiking event to go to another place where the fire had gone through years earlier. What happened was a miracle: new growth everywhere, flowers blooming, trees
sprouting from the soil,” he said. “It was like a new birth happened as a result of that fire. ...
“The fire of God’s love for us is real. It is present here tonight, the desire of God that we be cleansed and purified in the depths of our own heart so that we become the heart of Jesus for the world. The longing of God, the fire of God, are for the goodness and the wellbeing of every single human being on our planet, and this beautiful world He has given us is where the compassion of God leads us. Brothers and sisters, may that fire burn within us tonight. Come, Holy Spirit, come, and enkindle in us the fire of your love.”
After the homily, Deacon Feldhaus asked in the prayers of the faithful for the intercession of St. Peter Julian Eymard, “The Apostle of the Eucharist,” whose feast day of Aug. 2 coincided with the second day of Fanning the Flame. The saint during his life encouraged the faithful to take part in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
As part of his closing announcements, Deacon Feldhaus thanked “all who organized and all who participated in Fanning the Flame. It has been a beautiful, grace-filled experience that comes to a close this afternoon with our Mass here celebrated by our bishop.”
Bishop Beckman said at the end of
Mass that “it’s always good to be at St. Jude.”
“What a great community. I thank all of you who have come from other parishes, including some of our neighboring priests. It’s great to have all of you. May that fire of love stir in your hearts,” he said.
The bishop was busy greeting Mass-goers afterward in the vestibule at St. Jude. The three-weekend Fanning the Flame event “was a beautiful idea,” Bishop Beckman said, “and I think the idea was that people would be more present on the weekends to really get together than throughout the week. It was great planning.”
Mrs. Lovelace attended the National Eucharistic Congress last July and said her experience in Indianapolis “was incredible.”
“I just knew I had to bring it back to the Chattanooga area,” she said.
She formatted Fanning the Flame to match the length of the congress.
“We did five days because there’s just too much content,” she said.
The three weekends at St. Jude provided time for adoration and prayer and offered praise and worship music as well as Saturday breakout sessions for middle- and high-school students. A rosary and Mass began each Saturday.
Father A.J. Houston, who was ordained a priest this year and is the newly appointed full-time chaplain at Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga, and St. Jude parishioner John Shramko were among those giving testimonies during Fanning the Flame.
The weekend themes for the event were “Encountering Christ” for Aug. 1-2, “Journey of the Passion” for Aug. 9, and “Living the Mission” for Aug. 16-17.
Deacon Bello, also the diocesan director of Christian formation and of the diaconate and deacon formation, hosted the opening weekend’s sessions, themed “From the Four Corners” and “The Greatest Love Story.” A procession of banners from Chattanooga Deanery parishes was part of the first evening Aug. 1. Also featured were a video message from Bishop Andrew H. Cozzens
of the Diocese of Crookston, Minn., who chaired the organizing committee of the National Eucharistic Congress.
Additional videos were shown during the opening evening of Cardinal Christophe Pierre on “True Eucharistic Revival” and Sister Bethany Madonna, SV, on “Invitation to Emmaus.”
The second day, Aug. 2, included video testimonies from the congress and video presentations of Monsignor James Shea on “Satisfaction & Hunger,” Mother Olga of the Sacred Heart on “In the Bread of Christ,” and Father Mike Schmitz on “The Greatest Love Story.”
Deacon Waguespack hosted the second weekend session of Fanning the Flame on Aug. 9, with the theme being “Into the Gethsemane.” The day also included more video testimonies from the congress and video presentations from the Indy event by Dr. Mary Healy on “Jesus the Healer” and Sister Josephine Garrett, CSFN, on “Repentance & Revival.”
The final weekend of Fanning the Flame was hosted by Deacon Brinkworth, with themes of “This Is My Body” for Aug. 16 and “To the Ends of the Earth” on Aug. 17.
The last Saturday presented videos of Dr. Edward Sri on “The Power of the Catholic Community,” Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers on “Becoming a Missional Body of Christ,” Gloria Purvis on “Unity in the Body of Christ,” and Bishop Robert Barron on “Evangelizing as a Body of Christ.”
The closing day, Aug. 17, offered videos of Chris Stefanick on “Go—The Power of the Gospel” and Mother Adela Galindo, founder of the Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary, on “Mary as the Model Eucharistic Missionary.”
Having Bishop Beckman celebrate the closing Mass of Fanning the Flame “was a blessing,” Mrs. Lovelace said.
“The Gospel reading was connected to
the Flame, so I just feel like the Holy Spirit has led everything about the event,” she added. ■
Fanning
DAN MCWILLIAMS (4)
‘May that fire of love stir in your hearts’ Bishop Mark Beckman delivers the homily at the closing Mass for Fanning the Flame. Behind him are Father Mike Nolan and Deacon Frank Bosh.
Music ministry for Fanning the Flame Rose Lovelace (red dress), organizer of the Fanning the Flame event, sings during the closing Mass at St. Jude Church. Also pictured from left are KJ Smith of the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga; Noah Morais of St. Stephen in Chattanooga; Micheline Parkey of Our Lady of Sorrows in Alabama, formerly of St. Stephen; and Ella Porter-Ivey and Tom Smelas of St. Stephen.
Give him five Bishop Mark Beckman greets a youngster after the closing Mass.
The Real Presence Host pastor Father Charlie Burton of St. Jude Parish distributes Communion at the Fanning the Flame closing Mass.
Chattanooga Deanery Holy Spirit, Soddy-Daisy
Monsignor Al Humbrecht’s next book study will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at the church. The book is And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini. To register, call the church at 423-3325300 or e-mail hscc_parish@holy spirittn.com
St. Bridget, Dayton
The annual parish picnic is coming up Saturday, Sept. 20.
The Women’s Council Holiday Bake Sale & Bazaar is set for the weekend of Oct. 11-12. Members are asked to bring baked goodies, craft items, and holiday decor for the event.
Knights of Columbus Council 11424 kicked off its annual pork-roast fundraiser Aug. 30-31. They are accepting donations for the pork roast at the Dayton Walmart on the weekends of Sept. 19-20 and Sept. 26-27.
St. Jude, Chattanooga
The Spiritual Adventurers, a group for people ages 40 and over, got together for bowling on Aug. 22. The group will have a rosary for the souls in purgatory in front of the columbarium on Friday, Sept. 26, followed by a pizza social in the family life center.
The parish’s fall festival is set for 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25.
The 12th annual Craft Fair & Hobby Show will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 22, in the family life center gym. More than 40 local crafters and artisans will be selling handmade items such as stained glass, jewelry, art, pottery, and canned goods. Visit stjudechattanooga.org/news/craftfair to register or learn more. The Knights of Columbus will provide lunch at the show.
In a program running through May 5, supporters of St. Jude School can link their Food City ValuCard at foodcity. com/schoolbucks
Parish youth collected a record $2,000 from their car wash on Aug. 3, and they thanked parishioners for their support.
St. Mary, Athens
Pastor Father Christopher Manning has introduced a newly formed parish council, as St. Mary had not had an active council for the past several years. Father Manning invited Sam Brocato, Gail Buckley, Emily Paul, and Jack Cox to serve on the council, with Deacon Al Forsythe of St. Mary serving as an adviser.
The recent Envelope Challenge raised more than $37,000, allowing St. Mary to completely wipe out its parish deficit. The deficit was $20,000, and the extra $17,000 will go toward parish insurance.
The Ladies Group held a Bunco Night on Aug. 25, during which a collection was taken for water bottles, granola bars, socks, toiletries, and other items for the homeless in the area.
More than 200 people attended the parish picnic on Aug. 9 to conclude a celebration of 20 years in the current St. Mary Church building.
St. Stephen, Chattanooga
A Women’s Welcome Weekend retreat to help participants “discover what’s missing in their lives and what to do about it” is set for Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 20-21, at the church. RSVP by visiting the information table in the vestibule after Masses or by calling formation leader Lindsey Smith at 417415-2177, retreat leader Vanessa Lara at 423-803-7203, or the parish office at 423-892-1261.
The parish picnic will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25.
The Knights of Columbus recently named Tom Lorentz as Knight of the
month and Steve and Karen Underwood as family of the month.
Anniversaries: John and Rosemary Laliberte (63), Laurence and Sandy Schnur (62), Thomas and Nancy Bruno (59), Allan and Darlene Lacy (58), Ron and Myrtle Englert (56), James and Ann Simms (56), Tom and Debbie Dematteo (52), James and Ellen Delaney (50), Kevin and Nancy Iuliano (30)
Cumberland Mountain Deanery
Blessed Sacrament, Harriman
A women’s Bible study will begin with separate studies running at 6 p.m. Tuesdays in the parish center starting Sept. 16 and at noon Thursdays in the church hall starting Sept. 18. Both will continue through Lent with a Christmas break.
St. Francis of Assisi, Fairfield Glade
The parish thanks Father Jhon Mario Garcia and Father John Matejek for celebrating Mass while pastor Father Michael Woods was on vacation.
Chief Kate Self of the Fairfield Glade
Police Department extended her sincere gratitude to the parish for its donation to help the department’s equipment needs.
The Knights of Columbus collected clothing for preschoolers through eighth-graders on the weekend of Aug. 16-17.
Another cornhole tournament is planned for 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 21, in the church parking lot to benefit KIND Charities of Tennessee and Hilltoppers Inc. Cost is $15 for a twomember team.
Muffins with Mary, presented by the Hearts Afire group, had a special guest in speaker and author Rod Bennett at its Aug. 28 meeting in the parish hall after the 8 a.m. Mass.
Spiritual director Father Matejek held a class titled “Riding on the Clouds of Heaven” after the 8 a.m. Mass on Sept. 2, which included a movie and a study of the second coming.
The Council of Catholic Women thanked those who made their bake sale on June 27 a huge success. The CCW held a rummage sale on Sept. 11-13.
The GriefShare recovery support group at St. Francis of Assisi invites and encourages anyone who is grieving the loss of a loved one to register for more information on the program. Sessions for GriefShare will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. Tuesdays through Dec. 16 and will include a video, workbook, and group discussion. Call Larry Helm at 563-940-5201 or Reene Petro at 614352-4997 for details.
The St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic thanked everyone who helped with collections this past year for its patients.
The Parish Life Ministry is sponsoring a pizza-and-bingo night from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, in the parish hall after the 5 p.m. vigil Mass. Cost is $5 per person.
Anniversaries: Roger and Sally Vachon (68), Donald and Patricia Tomek (62), John and Mary Anne Kleck (59), Robert and Marsha Tacak (59), Kenneth and Sharon Tripoli (58), Dale and Sharon Yaeger (58), Gerald and Carol Bonick (57), Roland and Jane Wicker (57), Michael and Cheryl Fries (56), Roger and Marcie Soprych (56), R. William and Judith Sundstrom (56), Michael and Wendy Lebert (54), John and Katherine Upp (53), Raoul and Dory Sabatini (51), Michael and Nancy Barta (51), Rick and Laurie Wright (45), Robert and Vicki McDonald (40), Adam and Lori Guziewicz (40),Thomas and Dorithe Berndt (40), Kent and Jeanne Eckstrom (35)
St. John Neumann, Farragut
An Adoration and Potluck Social was held Aug. 24.
Parish notes continued on page B8
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Scenes from Mexico Parishioners of St. Francis of Assisi in Fairfield Glade led a vacation Bible school for 70 children and organized activities for 80 more during their visit to two Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos homes.
Fairfield Glade parishioners visit Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos homes
Agroup of parishioners from St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Fairfield Glade traveled to Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos homes in Cuernavaca and Miacatlán, Mexico, in June.
The group led a vacation Bible school for 70 children ages 6-11, which included Bible stories, skits, songs, and crafts. They also organized pickleball, a gratitude activity, journal-making, and a Spa Day for approximately 80 high-school students.
One highlight for the travelers was meeting Esmeralda, the child sponsored through the parish. She was initially a bit overwhelmed to
know she has hundreds of “godparents” in Tennessee.
Before returning to Tennessee, the group visited the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City and saw the tilma bearing the image of Our Lady, which has remained unchanged for almost 500 years.
Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos, meaning “our little brothers and sisters,” was founded by Father William Wasson in 1954. It now has nine homes in Latin America and the Caribbean and has transformed the lives of tens of thousands of children by providing a family environment, education, and health care. ■
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RICHARD AND KATHY JORDAN (3)
Bishop Mark Beckman invites young adults ages 18-35 to explore the mystery of Catholicism at meetings from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on selected Tuesdays at the Diocese of Knoxville Chancery. Young adults interested in a systematic exploration of being Catholic are invited to attend. The series began Sept. 9 and continues Sept. 23 and 30 and Oct. 7, 14, and 28, with dates subject to change because of the bishop’s schedule. More dates will follow. Attendees are invited to bring their own beverages and snacks. RSVP for a date to help with planning at dioknox.org/events
The diocesan Office of Vocations is holding a Men’s Discernment Group for men interested in discerning if God is calling them to the priesthood. The group will be hosted by Father Mark Schuster from 9 a.m. to noon on fourth Saturdays in the St. John Paul II Conference Room at the Chancery office in Knoxville, with the next meeting Sept. 27. If you are interested in joining the Men’s Discernment Group, fill out the form at forms.office.com/r/ CmSwudiVnf or e-mail vocations@ dioknox.org. There will be a Zoom option for those not in the Knoxville area.
A Hundredfold Vocation Workshop will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, at All Saints Church in Knoxville. The one-day workshop will provide practical tools and inspiration to help promote vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, consecrated life, marriage, and single life. The event offers a dynamic day of inspiration and practical tools to help promote vocations in a parish or reignite current efforts, with a goal of working together to build up the Church through holy priests, Sisters, and marriages. The day includes Mass with Bishop Mark Beckman and presentations from Vocation Ministry, the team behind the nationally recognized Hundredfold initiative. Lunch is provided. View a flyer or register at dioknox.org/events/ vocation-parish-workshop. Bishop Beckman encourages each parish to send at least one representative to the event to establish or strengthen vocation ministries throughout the diocese. Each parish registering will receive a Hundredfold resource book.
Notre Dame Parish in Greeneville will hold its annual Fall Festival of Nations from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20. Those attending may sample food from around the world, with more than a dozen countries represented in the International Food Court along with a USA Tent and a Mexico Tent. Free entertainment will take place all day, and there will also be a silent auction, a bake sale, a yard sale, vendors and crafters, displays, an art show, a quilt show, a raffle, games, activities, and more. Vendor applications, sponsor forms, and T-shirt order forms can be found at www.notredamechurchtn.org/ festival-of-nations-1
The Community Rummage Sale at St. Jude Church in Chattanooga is set for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20. Spots of 10-by-10 feet are available to rent for $10. To register, use forms available in the outer vestibule or visit stjudechattanooga.org/news/ rummage-sale. Spots are limited. Setup is on Friday, Sept. 19, in Siener Hall. For more information, contact Laura in the parish office at 423-8702386 or info@stjudechattanooga.org
St. Meinrad Archabbey, a Benedictine monastery in southern Indiana, is hosting unstructured retreats for young adults. The cost is $50 and includes a guest room and all meals. Participants can join the monks in prayer, explore the beauty of the campus, and find time for quiet and rest with God. Father Simon Herrmann, OSB, director of young-adult engagement for St. Meinrad, and other monks will be available for one-on-one meetings. The next two retreats are scheduled for Sept. 19-21 and Nov. 7-9. E-mail Father Herrmann at yae@saint meinrad.edu or visit www.saint meinrad.org/retreats/young-adultretreats for more information.
A Thriveanooga event sponsored by ProjectYM for Catholic youth-
ministry leaders who work with middle-school and high-school students will be held from Monday through Thursday, Sept. 22-25, in downtown Chattanooga. The event will begin at 4 p.m. on Sept. 22 and end before lunch on Sept. 25. Early-registration cost is $987 per person and includes meals and lodging with up to three roommates at an apartment-style hotel. Space is limited. To learn more or register, visit www.thrive.rs/ thriveanooga/2025
The 27th annual St. Jude Golf Classic, co-sponsored by St. Jude School in Chattanooga and Knights of Columbus Council 8576, is set for Friday, Sept. 26, at Creeks Bend Golf Club in Hixson. Shotgun starts at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. are planned. Check-ins are at 7 and 11 a.m. for each round. Register, become a sponsor, or make a donation at mysjs.ejoinme.org/ Golf25Registration.
The 16th annual community tailgate at Knoxville Catholic High School is set for 5:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26, before the Fighting Irish’s homecoming football game against Silverdale Academy. The event features tailgate food, games, and more. Alumni, families, friends, and fans are welcome to attend. Advance tickets are $15 per person, which includes a food and game ticket. Purchase tickets or make a donation at knoxvillecatholic.com/ tailgate/
The Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus will hold its ninth annual Fly Fishers of Men retreat on the weekend of Sept. 26-28 at Christ Prince of Peace Retreat Center in Benton, located near the Hiwassee River, one of the premier trout streams in America. Father David Boettner, rector of the cathedral, will lead the retreat. Fly fishermen and those who want to learn about fly fishing are welcome to attend. Participants must be 18 and over. To participate or learn more, contact Robb Morris at robert@morris.net or 865-567-5509.
A SEARCH for Christian Maturity Retreat sponsored by the diocesan Office of Youth, Young Adult, and Pastoral Juvenil Ministry will be held on the weekend of Sept. 26-28 at St. Thérèse of Lisieux Church in Cleveland. The weekends are for any high-school juniors and seniors. The program is both rooted in the Catholic faith and open to young people of any denomination or creed. SEARCH provides an opportunity to think, talk, question, and wonder about life and faith in an accepting and challenging environment. It is an opportunity to experience God and God’s family in a personal and real way. The weekend is youth- and peer-oriented: it is run by youth, to youth, and for youth, all under the guidance of a team of adult mentors. The retreat starts on Friday between 6:30 and 7 p.m. and runs through Sunday at 5:30 p.m. Cost is $100, and scholarships are available if needed. Register at dioknox.org/ events/search-sept-2025. Additional SEARCH weekends are set for Nov. 14-16 and Feb. 27-March 1 at St. Thérèse of Lisieux Church.
The Council of Catholic Women at Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Alcoa is having a rummage sale from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 27, to support scholarships.
The annual Blue Mass to honor and pray for first responders and their safety will be celebrated at 9 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 28, at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.
The Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus will feature “The Scruffy City Orchestra: Visions and Virtuosos” at 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28, part of the Cathedral Concert Series. Dr. Ace Edewards will direct a program that features solo performances by Concerto Competition winners: Caroline Ning, who won in the youth category, and Rebecca Deal, who won in the young-adult category. The evening will feature symphonic works including Franz Lehár’s Eine Vision, Pedro Iturralde’s Pequeña Czarda, Jacques Ibert’s Flute Concerto and Carl Reinecke’s Symphony No.
Calendar continued on page B8
More than 100 take part in Trivia Night at
The Council of Catholic Women at St. John Neumann Parish in Farragut hosted its annual Trivia
COURTESY OF BILL HEWITT
St. John Neumann
Night Adult Social with potluck on Aug. 23 in the school gym. Several teams of eight took part, with more than 100 attending overall. Pictured at top are pastor Father Mark Schuster and members of the winning team: Lydia Donahue, Sloane Clapp, Rand Clapp, Jenny Martinez, Sue Melhorn, Filipina Phan, and Natalie Patton. The middle photo shows Megan Vanderhoofven (left), the master of ceremonies for the evening, along with Daniel Iverson and Lisa Beldyk. In the bottom photo are Lisa and Kirk Gaertner, Bunny Stewart, Terri Allen, and Leslie Hardt.
COURTESY OF ST. JOHN NEUMANN PARISH (3)
St. Dominic School board hosts breakfast with faculty and staff
The board of St. Dominic School in Kingsport hosted a breakfast on Aug. 1 with faculty and staff, including principal Bonnie Saleh. Before the meal, attendees observed a blessing led by board member Dr. Bill Hewitt, followed by welcoming remarks from school-board chair Dr. Danyelle Porter.
Praying for Perspective by George
Valadie
Report cards can be stressful for all concerned
But if we can’t be good at all things, we can surely be good at some things, right?
Idon’t know how it’s possible, but it won’t be long before schools will arrive at report-card time. There are quarter versions and six-weeks versions, not to mention the weekly sort or possibly the daily kind you can now see, though you may not want to. I didn’t.
There aren’t many handwritten ones anymore, and I’m not sure if that’s good or bad. Having done them, it felt like a chore. But having received a slew of those click-a-box computer-generated phrases about our kids, I miss the insight that comes with original thought.
Though there’s a risk. When I was a young high-school teacher, we were required to send “progress reports” halfway through each grading period. Student name—teacher name— current grade, and a comment. We weren’t asked to write a thesis but something. One of our veteran teachers found herself commenting on the less-than-stellar progress of a child of a former student. “Genetics!” is all she wrote. It may have said it all. As a teacher, then principal, and now in the role of superintendent, I have had and continue to have a lifelong running battle with these things. The pros and the cons—and there are plenty of both.
What do these numbers and letters really mean? What do they measure? Is Mrs. Jones doing hers the same way as Mrs. Smith? Are they supposed to? And if you’re a mom or dad, what do they really tell us about our children?
Eons ago, when I was a student in Catholic grade school, the tradition
Twas for our pastor to come by and hand them out. I was lucky—mine were usually good, so it’s not that I worried all that much, but I think back now and again to my friends who may not have found school as much fun as I did.
And those were the days before teachers knew of ADD, dyslexia, or the learning disabilities kids had to battle while trying to master grammar and geography facts about places our brains couldn’t even imagine. Thankfully, we now know more than we did then.
Before technology took over, I experienced an up-close and personal appreciation of what my pastor’s task had been when I stepped into my first principal’s role at that same school. Most schools, including ours, had moved away from Father dropping by.
But I came face-to-face with those memories when one of our secondgrade teachers asked if I would come into her class and hand out her report cards.
Sounded like fun.
The first little girl’s was awesome. “Way to go, this is tremendous!” I exclaimed. But it was no sooner out of my mouth than I remembered I had 24 more to go. I better tone it down, I’m gonna need a lot more compliments. How many synonyms for “awesome” do I actually know? You want it to be special, right?
And then the inevitable happened—I held one that wasn’t awesome. Wasn’t even good. It was in fact—terrible. And if these kids were all as aware as we had been, even in
Thoughts and Prayers for the Faithful by
second grade, they all knew who the star students were and who were not.
So, I couldn’t lie. Nor could I call them out—not in front of everyone. What would that accomplish?
These are the little ones who could barely stay in their seats, much less master the standards. The last thing they needed from their principal was a monster dose of “you should do better” that would only confirm what classmates were thinking and what they likely were already thinking about themselves.
I wish I could tell you I was brilliant, but honestly, I have no memory of what I said to the few who were struggling. I did the best I could while watching hopeful faces inevitably turn sad when they saw the grades they had earned.
All report cards had been handed out when, before I left, I was hit with a last-minute stroke of genius.
“Some of us are good at math,” I said. “And some of us are good at reading. Right?
“God made all of us, but He made all of us different. He must think the world is better that way, and God’s pretty smart, right?” I was on a roll.
“But,” and I paused for dramatic effect (like a second-grader appreciated such), “there is one thing that ALL of us CAN DO.
“On everyone’s report card, you have a grade in conduct and another in effort. No matter what else you are good at or not so good at, we can all improve in effort. Right?
“So, when I come back next time, I want to everyone to show me your improved grade in effort. What do
Deacon Bob Hunt
you say? Can we do that?”
“Yes sir, we can!!!” they chimed in together. Enthusiastically. Energetically. The way second-graders respond to most everything in life. And I walked out the door, pretty proud of myself for having offered praise for the successful and hope for the not-so-much. They CAN ALL DO that, right?
Fast forward six weeks and I was back. Same room, same kids, same need to emphasize the positive.
“OK, do y’all remember what we talked about last time?” Lots of heads nodding.
“Do y’all remember how we talked about some kids being good at math and others at reading? But that we could all be good at effort? Who remembers that?”
More heads nodding.
And then, from wherever enlightenment comes, I felt compelled to ask. “How many know what ‘effort’ means?”
None. Nada. Not a single child. What is this man talking about?! My grade: F. And it should have been lower.
I’m glad Father wasn’t there to see that one.
Dear God—Keep us ever mindful that children—theirs, ours, yours—are all a “work in progress.” Please send patience. And please have patience … because we are, too. Amen. ■
George Valadie is a parishioner at St. Stephen Church in Chattanooga and author of the book “We Lost Our Fifth Fork … and other moments when we need some perspective.”
What the Church teaches on organ donation
This columnist is in need of a kidney transplant and asks for prayers from his readers
his is going to be a more personal column. People have been asking about my health. I am in need of a kidney transplant. People who love me have been telling me that I am doing too much. That’s likely true, though I am mostly doing well. I do get a bit wobbly some days, feeling like I am going to topple over at any moment, and sometimes I get very weak. At a recent Saturday vigil, when I was assisting at Mass, I was overcome by weakness. It seemed to start at the top of my head and quickly move like a wave down to my feet. After I proclaimed the Gospel, I was done. Happily, we had a seminarian to assist at Mass who was so gracious to take over my duties while I sat there like a lump in the sanctuary. The seminarian also escorted me back to the sacristy, where a man came to check on me. He said he was a doctor visiting from Michigan. He asked if I was diabetic. I explained to him that I was not, but that I was a dialysis patient hoping to receive a kidney. Now get this: he told me that he was a former dialysis patient and that he had received a transplant. He told me that he understood exactly the weakness I was experiencing, and that I am going to feel so much better when I get a kidney. Is that not the providence of God, that a doctor from Michigan who had been a dialysis patient and had received a kidney would be there on a Saturday vigil in Knoxville when I was feeling so weak I had to take my leave early?
There are about 100,000 people in the United States awaiting an organ transplant, with 85,000 of them awaiting a kidney transplant. Every eight minutes, someone is added to an organ-transplant list, and there were over 48,000 transplant surgeries in the United States last year. I’m
listed on the University of Tennessee Medical Center transplant list, and I’m going down to Erlanger this week to get tested and have interviews in hopes of getting on the transplant list at Erlanger.
People have lots of questions about transplants, from the perspective of the donor and the perspective of the recipient. Is there a financial cost to the donor? What organs can be transplanted? I am 80 years old, surely too old to be a donor, right? Will my medical care be compromised if I become a donor? To answer these and most of the big questions about becoming a donor, whether that be a living donor or an organ donor at death, you can visit the website giftofhope.org and find your way to the Frequently Asked Questions section.
Of course, for Catholics, a big question in becoming an organ donor is: What does the Church teach about Catholics becoming organ donors? In his encyclical Evangelium Vitae paragraph 86, Pope St. John Paul the Great wrote of “an everyday heroism, made up of gestures of sharing, big or small, which build up an authentic culture of life. A particularly praiseworthy example of such gestures is the donation of organs, performed in an ethically acceptable manner, with a view to offering a chance of health and even of life itself to the sick who sometimes have no other hope.” The Catechism of the Catholic Church states in paragraph 2296: “Organ donation after death is a noble and meritorious act and is to be encouraged as an expression of generous solidarity.” Pope Benedict XVI was a strong advocate for organ donation, and he carried his organ donation card with him every day from the 1970s onward. (Once he became pope, Benedict had to renounce his status as an organ donor, as Church law requires all popes be
buried intact). Pope Francis endorsed organ donation as an act of charity. There are, of course, certain principles that must be kept for an organ donation to be judged by the Church as ethical:
1. Free and informed consent must be obtained from the donor or his or her proxy.
2. Vital organs, of course, should be removed only after death. The Church accepts the medical profession’s criteria for determining death, including brain death. There has been some concern regarding people diagnosed as brain dead who awoke from their stupor and lived. I fear that much of this is a failure in communication between the doctor and the family.
As a nurse, I experienced this as a regular problem. While doctors think they have communicated adequately to the family, family members may still walk away with a lack of understanding, thinking their loved one is “brain dead” when he or she is not. Their loved one awakens, the family is beside themselves, and someone calls the press and reports that a “brain dead” patient woke up! This is where communication between the doctor and the family is crucial. Brain dead is dead. Also, the dead who are on mechanical instruments that infuse the body with blood are not being “kept alive.” The mechanical instruments continue to infuse their vital organs with blood to keep them healthy until those organs can be harvested for donation.
3. The dignity of the donor’s body must be respected. After harvesting the organs, the decedent may and should receive a funeral Mass and burial according to the rites of the Church.
4. Organs should be distributed justly, not based on a potential recipient’s wealth or status.
5. Buying and selling organs is unethical, as well as illegal. You may have heard of the horror of organ selling in China. China’s human rights record is monstrous, and the Chinese Communist Party is deeply involved in the international black market for organs. Organ transplant hospitals and organizations that support organ donation in the United States are not involved in this illegal and unethical practice in any way. So, no one is participating in the evil of organ selling or buying when working with legitimate and reputable organ-transplant hospitals and the organizations that support them. Catholics who are organ donors may be interested in developing a devotion to St. Maximilian Kolbe, the patron saint of organ donors. Father Kolbe was a prisoner in the infamous Auschwitz concentration camp. He offered his life that another man might live. Organ donors give a part of their life to save or improve the lives of others. So, if anybody has an extra kidney lying around, maybe in the junk drawer in your kitchen, and every time you open the drawer and see it you think, “What am I going to do with that?” Just call Deacon Bob, and I’ll take that off your hands. I won’t even ask where you got it. That’ll be between you and God. Seriously, UT Medical Center handles transplants in the Knoxville area. You can call the hospital and ask for the transplant coordinator, and they’ll be happy to help you. God bless you all, and I appreciate your prayers that I get a kidney soon. Be Christ for all. Bring Christ to all. See Christ in all. ■
Deacon
is
Bob Hunt
a husband, father, grandfather, and parishioner at All Saints Church in Knoxville.
Iby Father Randy Stice
The Eucharist and the anointing of the sick
All that Christ did during His earthly ministry, He now does in the sacraments
n the Eucharist, we encounter “the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ Himself.” This is why the Eucharist is “the source and summit of the Christian life” and why the other sacraments “are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented toward it.”1 In previous columns, I have explored the relationship between the Eucharist and penance, holy orders, and matrimony. This month I want to consider the Eucharist and the anointing of the sick. During Jesus’ earthly ministry, the disciples shared in His healing ministry: “So they went out and preached that men should repent. And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many that were sick and healed them” (Mark 6:12-13). The Letter of James describes the practice of this sacrament in the early Church: “Is anyone among you sick?” asks James. “He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint [him] with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven” (James 5:14-15). “Since then, the Church has never ceased to celebrate this sacrament for its members by the anointing and the prayer of its priests, commending those who are ill to the suffering and glorified Lord, that He may raise them up and save them.”2 The anointing of the sick may be unfamiliar to many readers, so a brief introduction may be helpful.
It can be celebrated only by a priest and is composed of three principal elements: the priest silently lays hands on the sick, then he prays over them, and finally he anoints them with blessed oil. The priest usually anoints the forehead and the hands of the sick, but other parts of the body, such as the area of injury or pain, can be anointed, “depending upon the culture and traditions of the place, as well as the condition of the sick person.”3 While anointing the forehead, the priest says, “Through this holy anointing may the Lord in his love and mercy help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit.”4 Then while anointing the hands he says, “May the Lord who frees you from sin save you and raise you up.”5
Depending on the circumstances, the sacrament can be celebrated outside of Mass, including in a hospital or institution. When it is celebrated within Mass, it follows the homily.
The prayers for this Mass indicate the relationship of this sacrament to the Eucharist. The sick person is welcomed with these words, “Through this Eucharist and anointing we invoke His healing power.”6 The opening prayer asks, “May all who share in His suffering find in these sacraments a source of fresh courage and healing.”7 The prayer over the gifts asks that the gifts of bread and wine “become the health-giving body and blood of Your Son. In His name heal the ills which afflict us and restore to us the joy of life renewed.”8 Finally, the prayer after Communion says that
“through these sacraments you offer us the gift of healing.”9
While “the Eucharist shows how Christ’s sufferings and death have been transformed into love, the anointing of the sick, for its part, unites the sick with Christ’s selfoffering for the salvation of all, so that they, too, within the mystery of the communion of saints, can participate in the redemption of the world.”10 A prayer from the Mass for the sick affirms that the sick “are united in His suffering for the salvation of the world.”11 Another prayer asks that “as these simple gifts of bread and wine will be transformed into the risen Lord, so may He unite our sufferings with His and cause us to rise to new life.”12
“In addition to the anointing of the sick,” wrote Pope Benedict XVI, “the Church offers those who are about to leave this life the Eucharist as viaticum (from the Latin meaning ‘provision for a journey’).”13 While the anointing of the sick “should be celebrated at the beginning of a serious illness,” viaticum is “celebrated when death is close… understood as the last sacrament of Christian life.” The Christian’s final reception of Communion then “appears as the seed of eternal life and the power of resurrection: ‘Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day’ (John 6:54).”14 When viaticum is received within Mass, the dying “shares fully, during the final moments of this life, in the eucharistic sacrifice, which proclaims the
Daily readings
Monday, Sept. 15: Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows, 1 Timothy 2:1-8; Psalm 28:2, 7-9; John 19:25-27
Tuesday, Sept. 16: Memorial of Sts. Cornelius, pope, and Cyprian, bishop, martyrs, 1 Timothy 3:1-13; Psalm 101:1-3, 5-6; Luke 7:11-17
Wednesday, Sept. 17: 1 Timothy 3:14-16; Psalm 111:1-6; Luke 7:31-35
Thursday, Sept. 18: 1 Timothy 4:1216; Psalm 111:7-10; Luke 7:36-50
Saturday, Sept. 20: Memorial of St. Andrew Kim Tae-gon, priest, and Paul Chong Ha-sang, and companions, martyrs, 1 Timothy 6:13-16; Psalm 100:1-5; Luke 8:4-15
Monday, Sept. 29: Feast of Sts. Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, arch-
Lord’s own passing through death to life.”15 Viaticum “is the completion and crown of the Christian life on this earth, signifying that the Christian follows the Lord to eternal glory and the banquet of the heavenly kingdom.”16
St. Leo the Great taught that all that Christ did during His earthly ministry, He now does in the sacraments. Through the Eucharist, the anointing of the sick, and viaticum, Christ continues to comfort and heal us, to unite our sufferings to His for the salvation of the world, and to strengthen us for our final journey to the Trinity. ■
1 Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1324
2 Pastoral Care of the Sick (PCS), 5
3 PCS, 124
4 PCS, 124
5 PCS, 124
6 PCS, 135B
7 PCS, 136A
8 PCS, 144B
9 PCS, 146
10 The Sacrament of Charity, 22
11 Collect, Masses and Prayers for Various Needs and Occasions, no.
45 For the Sick, Roman Missal
12 PCS, 144A
13 The Sacrament of Charity, 22
14 The Sacrament of Charity, 22
15 PCS, 177
16 PCS, 175
Father Randy Stice is director of the diocesan Office of Worship and Liturgy. He can be reached at frrandy@dioknox. org.
Record amount raised at 16th annual Irish Fest on the Hill at Immaculate Conception More than 1,500 attended the 16th annual Irish Fest on the Hill, hosted by Immaculate Conception Parish in downtown Knoxville, on Aug. 9. The event raised a record $37,000. Proceeds will be used to rebuild the steps to the parish hall. The fest featured Irish food, drinks, dessert, and music along with a silent auction and a Gaelic games demonstration. Music performed on two stages included Red-Haired Mary, Knoxville Pipes & Drums, Jeff Nelson, Nancy Brennan Strange’s Friends, Four Leaf Peat, the Tennessee Irish Dancers, Tim and Cherry on the Strings, The Missing Goats, and Tracy Jenkins & Will MacMorran. Tours of IC Church also took place.
angels, Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14; Psalm 138:1-5; John 1:47-51
Tuesday, Sept. 30: Memorial of St. Jerome, priest and doctor of the Church, Zechariah 8:20-23; Psalm 87:1-7; Luke 9:51-56
Wednesday, Oct. 1: Memorial of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, virgin and doctor of the Church, Nehemiah 2:1-8; Psalm 137:1-6; Luke 9:57-62
Thursday, Oct. 2: Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels, Nehemiah 8:1-12; Psalm 19:8-11; Matthew 18:15, 10
Friday, Oct. 3: Baruch 1:15-22; Psalm 79:1-5, 8-9; Luke 10:13-16
Saturday, Oct. 4: Memorial of St. Francis of Assisi, Baruch 4:5-12, 2729; Psalm 69:33-37; Luke 10:17-24
Sunday, Oct. 5: Habakkuk 1:2-3 and 2:2-4; Psalm 95:1-2, 6-9; 2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14; Luke 17:5-10
Monday, Oct. 6: Jonah 1:1–2:2 and 2:11; Jonah 2:3-5, 8; Luke 10:25-37
Tuesday, Oct. 7: Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary, Jonah 3:1-10; Psalm 130:1-4, 7-8; Luke 10:38-42 Wednesday, Oct. 8: Jonah 4:1-11; Psalm 86:3-6, 9-10; Luke 11:1-4
Thursday, Oct. 9: Malachi 3:13-20; Psalm 1:1-4, 6; Luke 11:5-13 Friday, Oct. 10: Joel 1:13-15 and 2:1-2; Psalm 9:2-3, 6, 16, 8-9; Luke 11:15-26
Saturday, Oct. 11: Joel 4:12-21; Psalm 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12; Luke 11:27-28
Tuesday, Oct. 14: Romans 1:16-25; Psalm 19:2-5; Luke 11:37-41 ■
3 in G minor, Opus 227. Admission is free, but seating is limited. Doors open one hour before the concert. Tickets are available online via the Eventbrite link at shcathedral.org/cathedral-concertseries. Donations are welcome and will support the Cathedral Concert Series. For more information about the Scruffy City Orchestra, visit www.scruffy cityorchestracom. The event will be livestreamed and recorded with archived access available at m.youtube.com/c/ SacredHeartCathedralKnoxvilleTN
The Knox County chapter of Tennessee Right to Life will hold its annual Celebrate Life Banquet from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30, at Bridgewater Place event center, 205 Bridgewater Road in Knoxville. Tomi Robb, a pro-life attorney, will speak on the topic “Endowed by Our Creator—The Worldview of Life.” The banquet is the chapter’s biggest fundraiser of the year and also provides updates on life issues in the state. Reservations are required, and sponsorship opportunities are available. Cost is $50. Download a sponsorship form or learn more at www.prolife knox.org/2025_celebrate_life_ banquet_rsvp or contact the Knox County TRL chapter at trlknox@ prolifeknox.com or 865-689-1339.
St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Fairfield Glade is hosting “Discover the Power of Faith: A Morning with Allen,” featuring speaker and author Dr. Allen Hunt, from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4. Mr. Allen has written 12 books, including Confessions of a Mega Church Pastor: How I Discovered the Hidden Treasures of the Catholic Church; Everybody Needs to Forgive Somebody; No Regrets: A Fable About Living Intentionally in Your Fourth Quarter; and 12 Ways Forgiveness Changes Everything. On Jan. 6, 2008, Mr. Allen entered the Catholic Church, a culmination of a 15-year journey, which was effected by the prayers of a group of Dominican Sisters who had been praying for him since 1992. Mr. Allen and his wife, Anita, live in Georgia, and have two married daughters and seven grandchildren. His talk
St. Joseph, Norris
The Men of St. Joseph are sponsoring a spaghetti-and-meatballs supper at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 21, in the social hall. Tickets may be purchased before and after Sunday Mass.
St. Joseph has a ministry that offers prayer squares, prayer shawls, and comfort blankets for babies, youths, and adults. For more information, call Bev Froning at 865-607-3627.
Five Rivers Deanery
Holy Trinity, Jefferson City
A Knights of Columbus Widows and Wives Dinner will be held after Mass at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, at Perkins Restaurant on Highway 92 at Interstate 40. Only Knights and their wives and widows are invited. Meals for the women will be paid for by the council. Sign up in the narthex.
The Council of Catholic Women will serve coffee, cake, and bagels after Mass on Sunday, Sept. 21.
The parish’s annual Flags on the Hill were displayed for Patriot Day, Sept. 11.
Knights of Columbus Council 12838 will hold a benefit drawing at its Italian Night dinner on Saturday, Oct. 11. Three prizes will be awarded, with the top prize being a three-night stay at a Great Smoky Mountains retreat guest cabin. Tickets are $50 and may be purchased at the table in the narthex or from any Knight.
The Knights elected and on July 16 installed their new officers for the fraternal year. The officers are Randy LaBauve, Grand Knight; Matt Giardiello, deputy Grand Knight; James Fernandez, chancellor; Timothy Kafel, financial secretary, Erik Perry, treasurer; Jim Pickering, recorder; Jack Fletcher, warden; Michael Cammick, advocate; Frank Ginnie, Tomas Wissemann, and Martin Witberg, board of trustees; Ed
at St. Francis of Assisi will be broken into three sessions. A light breakfast and lunch will be served. Registration is free; RSVP at saintfrancisfairfield. org/a-morning-with-allen
Those experiencing emotional or spiritual difficulties from a past abortion are invited to attend a Catholic Charities Rachel’s Vineyard healing and recovery retreat on the weekend of Oct. 17-19 at Christ Prince of Peace Retreat Center in Benton. Complete confidentiality is honored at all times. The deadline for registration is Friday, Oct. 10. For more information, contact Sandi Davidson at 865-776-4510 or sandi@ccetn.org
St. Mary Parish in Oak Ridge will celebrate its 75th annual Fall Festival on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 17-18. The festivities begin Friday with a spaghetti dinner hosted by the Knights of Columbus that also features a live auction. On Saturday, the festival will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. rain or shine with live entertainment all day; a hayride to a pumpkin patch; regional vendors offering handmade goods, crafts, and seasonal treats; the White Elephant Sale; tamales and more at the Cantina Booth; classic carnival games, inflatable attractions, and more; face painting; and a silent auction. For more information, contact the parish office at 865-4822875 or follow St. Mary on Facebook at SaintMaryOakRidge and on Instagram. Visit stmarysoakridge.org/ourparish-life/2025-fall-festival/ for more information, including presales, vendor registration, and auction previews.
The One Heart Columbia Mission is celebrating its 20th anniversary with an event set for 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19, at St. Thérèse of Lisieux Church in Cleveland. Esteban Salazar will perform a free concert, and refreshments will be served. The mission was founded in 2005 and is supported by several parishes in the diocese. One Heart Columbia assists the village of Marsella, Colombia. The mission is led by Father Antonio Giraldo, pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Townsend. Women of the diocese are invited to
Krasinski, inside guard; Bill Jurkonie, outside guard; pastor Father Jim Harvey, chaplain; and Deacon Jim Prosak, assistant chaplain.
The Knights recently named Matt and Cindy Giardiello as family of the quarter for the second quarter.
Anniversaries: Lynn and Maureen Roddy (45), David and Terry Eckert (5) Notre Dame, Greeneville
The Council of Catholic Women will host its annual Meet & Greet at 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 21.
Anniversaries: Larry and Donna Coughlin (62), Robert and Cynthia Straub (57), John and Connie Seehoffer (56), Tom and Elizabeth Girton (55), Jerry and Linda Davis (54), Gary and Roberta Greenway (53), Ronnie and Tess Villarta (40)
St. Patrick, Morristown
Knights of Columbus Council 6730 is again the beneficiary of a fundraiser through Ultimate Shine Car Wash locations in Morristown and elsewhere through Tuesday, Sept. 30. To take part, choose a wash and any additional services, hit the orange “enter fundraiser” code button, enter code 3163 before paying, then insert cash or a credit/debit card, and 30 percent of the sale will go to Council 6730.
The Knights are holding their annual winter-clothing drive for veterans through Tuesday, Sept. 30. Items needed are jackets, sweatpants, sweatshirts, socks, underwear, and hygiene items such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, and shaving equipment. Drop boxes are at the church. Items will be delivered to the VA hospital in Johnson City within the first two weeks of October.
Author, entrepreneur, and speaker Sam Goodwin, who was taken hostage and imprisoned for 63 days in Syria, will tell his story of faith at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25, in the parish center.
an evening of inspiration and prayer at St. John Neumann Church in Farragut at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 21, hosted by Regnum Christi of Knoxville. Guest speaker Jackie Angel will present a talk on “Addressing Our Wounds.”
Mrs. Angel is a full-time worship leader, vlogger, author, singer-songwriter, and homeschooling mom of four. Together with her husband, Bobby Angel, she has written Pray, Decide, and Don’t Worry: 5 Steps to Discerning God’s Will and Forever: A Catholic Devotional for Your Marriage. She is also a regular presenter on the Ascension Presents channel on YouTube. Mr. and Mrs. Angel have a podcast, “Conversations with Jackie and Bobby,” and Mrs. Angel recently launched the “Memorize Scripture” podcast. The talk will begin at 7 p.m. with worship music and adoration at 8. Cost is $15. Register at dioknox.org/events/ womens-talk-addressing-ourwounds. For more information, visit jackieandbobby.com
The inaugural Southeast Tennessee Men’s Conference, themed “A Pilgrimage to Christian Masculinity,” is set for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on All Saints Day, Saturday, Nov. 1, at St. Thérèse of Lisieux Church in Cleveland. Speakers are Father John Orr, pastor of Holy Ghost Parish in Knoxville; Jimmy Dee, director of evangelization and faith formation for the Tennessee state Knights of Columbus; and Deacon Vic Landa of Blessed Sacrament Parish in Harriman. The conference is designed to “deepen your relationship with Christ, renew your spirit to persevere with inspirational speakers, and enjoy fellowship with area Christian men.” The office of readings and morning prayer will begin at 7:30 a.m., followed by Mass at 8:30 a.m. and the conference afterward. Conference admission is $20 and includes meals and beverages. Deepen your relationship with Christ, renew your spirit to persevere with inspirational speakers, and enjoy fellowship with area Christian men for this special All Saints Day event. Register at dioknox.org/events/ southeast-tennessee-mensconference-2025
Knights Council 6730 will celebrate its 50th anniversary on Saturday, Nov. 1. Bishop Mark Beckman will preside at a Mass at 4 p.m., followed by a dinner at the Morristown Landing recreation center, 4355 Durham Landing in Morristown. A cash bar will start at 5:30 p.m. followed by a buffet dinner, program, and awards from 6 to 9. Attire is formal. Cost is $50 per person, and tickets (available in the narthex after Sunday Masses) must be purchased by Wednesday, Oct. 1.
Anniversaries: Gordon and Elizabeth Cooley (40), Juan and Aurora Ignacio (10), Marco Mijangos-Sosa and Arely Lara-Facundo (10)
Smoky Mountain Deanery
Holy Ghost, Knoxville
The parish picnic, postponed from Pentecost weekend because of weather, has been rescheduled for 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20. The event will feature pony rides, a splash pad, games, ice cream, balloon animals, and more. Contact Sarah Bryant at jsbry412@ gmail.com to volunteer.
Immaculate Conception, Knoxville
A parish potluck picnic is set for 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5, at Strong Stock Farm, 8220 Rutledge Pike in Knoxville. Families with last names starting with A-O should bring a side dish and P-Z a dessert dish. RSVP to the parish office at 865-522-1508 or icknoxoffice@ gmail.com
The Women’s Group’s annual Craft Fair will be held in the parish hall on the weekend of Nov. 8-9. Those interested in a booth should contact Beth Meyer at meyer.beth73@gmail.com or 865456-8857. The fee is $20 and must be paid in advance.
Our Lady of Fatima, Alcoa
The Council of Catholic Women held a Welcome Back Gathering on Sept. 8. Marie Dodd, wife of parish Deacon Leon Dodd, spoke about her life as a
A Divine Will Retreat is planned for the weekend of Nov. 7-9 at the Chesterton Academy of St. Margaret Clitherow, 217 Fox Road in Knoxville. Father B. Thomas Celso, BDV, from Rochester, N.Y., and Mother Gabrielle Marie Breaux from Maryville will speak about Servant of God Luisa Piccaretta and the gift of living in divine will. Registration is $75 and includes meals catered by Gourmet’s Market & Café and coffee, tea, and water. Seating is limited. For or a flyer with a schedule and more information, contact Kristin Schueler at 423-353-7965 or KristinSchuelerFFL@ gmail.com for more information.
Crafters and artisans are invited to take part in the fifth annual Christmas Market, set for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, at the Hardin Valley Event Center pavilion in Knoxville. Market proceeds will support American Heritage Girls Troop 0413 and Trail Life Troop 1413 from St. John Neumann Parish in Farragut. Registration is open for new vendors. Contact Sarah Bryant at jsbry412@gmail.com to learn more or register. Space is limited and will fill up fast.
The National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) is set for Thursday through Saturday, Nov. 20-22, at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. There will be two to three buses heading to NCYC from different points around the Diocese of Knoxville. The group will be staying at a hotel in downtown Indianapolis within walking distance from the convention center. NCYC is a powerfully unique threeday experience of prayer, community, evangelization, catechesis, service, and empowerment for Catholic teenagers (of high-school age) and their adult chaperones. NCYC is the premiere Catholic youth event on a national scale that gathers people from all across America for a life-changing encounter with Christ. The theme is “I AM.” Register a child or group at dioknox.org/ events/2025-national-catholic-youthconference
Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Alcoa
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deacon’s wife.
Sacred Heart, Knoxville
Christian Ratterman on Sept. 24 will become the cathedral’s new director of evangelization. “Christian brings a deep love for the Church, a vibrant spirit, and a passion for building community rooted in faith. Originally from Nashville, Christian grew up in a close-knit Catholic family and attended Catholic schools throughout his formative years: St. Matthew School and Father Ryan High School. He is a proud graduate of the University of Tennessee, where he earned a degree in finance and an honors leadership minor,” said cathedral rector Father David Boettner. Mr. Ratterman also attended St. John XXIII Catholic Center while at UT.
Rick Grinstead, who became the cathedral’s director of evangelization, youth, and young-adult ministry in 2020, recently accepted a new position as the national associate director for Alpha Catholic. “Rick has generously shared his gifts, his love for the Lord, and his deep commitment to helping others encounter Christ. His leadership in evangelization, as well as his care for our youth and young adults, has left a lasting impact on our parish community,” Father Boettner said.
The St. Thérèse Women’s Ministry held its Semi-Annual Baby Shower on Sept. 14 in Cathedral Hall. Items were collected to support Catholic Charities of East Tennessee’s Walking with Moms program.
St. John XXIII, Knoxville
A listening session was held after Mass on Aug. 30 to seek insights on mission priorities for the Paulist Fathers, who are holding gatherings in October ahead of their General Assembly next June.
The parish received $102.62 as part of the Kroger Community Rewards program from April to July. Register a Kroger card online at www.kroger
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Deacon Hicks Armor invested at Order of the Fleur de Lis ceremony
Deacon Hicks Armor was invested with the Knight Commander Cross of the Order of the Fleur de Lis on Aug. 23 at St. Mary of the Springs Church in Hot Springs, Ark.
Deacon Armor was joined with three clergy and nine lay commanders being invested. The deacon and wife Vicki live in Chattanooga. Deacon Armor was ordained to the permanent diaconate on June 11, 2016. He is assigned to the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul and also serves as the diocesan director of Stewardship and Strategic Planning.
Deacon Armor has served on boards including for the Rotary Club of Chattanooga, Chattanooga Convention and Trade Center, Chattanooga Sports Authority, Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce, United Way, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga College of Business Advisory, CHI Memorial Hospital Foundation, and Tennessee Council of Developmental Disabilities.
Before his retirement, Deacon Armor had a successful career in the insurance industry. He continues memberships with the Serra Club of Chattanooga, the Knights of Columbus, the Catholic Foundation of East Tennessee, and the International Catholic Stewardship Council.
The Order of the Fleur de Lis is an organization of Catholic men incorporated under the laws of Louisiana as a not-for-profit orga-
nization. The order’s domain is a five-state region consisting of Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee.
The objectives of the order include supporting and defending the Catholic Church and its teachings; promoting patriotism and good citizenship; encouraging public morality and unselfish service to God and country; assisting and publicizing the activities of other organizations that also promote the above; and memorializing and popularizing the memories and achievements of Catholic leaders in religion, the arts and sciences, philanthropy education, exploration and archeology, government and international relations, medicine and jurisprudence, and other established professions.
The Order of the Fleur de Lis encourages and recognizes leadership in living the values and principles of the Catholic faith by presenting the Monsignor Joseph Susi Award of Honor to an individual who has excelled as a Catholic leader in any one of the following: religion, family values, youth, aging, politics, patriotism, the arts and sciences, education, philanthropy, public morality, managementlabor, the media, or medicine and jurisprudence.
Other Knight Commanders of the Order of the Fleur de Lis in the Diocese of Knoxville include Father John Orr, Deacon Sean Smith, Deacon Paul Nelson, Deacon David Duhamel, Raleigh E.
St. Henry Knight honored for his work with county Imagination Library James Egbert, a Knight of Columbus from Council 8860 at St. Henry Parish in Rogersville, was recently recognized for his 20 years of work with the Hawkins County Imagination Library. The library held a 20th-birthday celebration on Aug. 11 at Hale Springs Inn in Rogersville, with Hawkins County Mayor Mark DeWitte and wife Anne and Rogersville City Mayor John Metz and wife Beth attending a commemorative dinner. The event commenced with opening remarks from Nedra Jackson, president of the Hawkins County Imagination Library. Mr. Egbert, a member of St. Henry and its Knights Council 8860, received special recognition for his pivotal role in establishing the Imagination Library in Hawkins County two decades ago. Thanks to his vision, the program has grown significantly, delivering more than 436,743 books throughout the county. Currently, 92.5 percent of preschool-aged children receive books, with 2,376 books distributed monthly to 8,317 5-year-old preschoolers. Missy Testerman of Rogersville, named national teacher of the year in 2024-25, served as the guest speaker. Heather Logan, regional program manager for the Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation, presented Mr. Egbert with a plaque inscribed: “Presented to Jim Egbert in Recognition and Appreciation of Your Dedication and Valued Contributions and Your Continued Support and Unmatched Commitment to the Hawkins County Imagination Library.”
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St. Joseph the
community members who stepped forward to support the cause.
Joseph
Worker,
The Women’s Group will show the movie Fatima at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19, in the
Those
may bring their own refreshments. The Knights of Columbus are holding monthly horseshoe tournaments on third Sundays starting Sept. 21. Registration will begin at 1 p.m. in the pavilion behind the church. Cost is $20. Team selection and the double-elimination tournament will start at 2 p.m. For more information, call Bill Schlueter at 513-295-2841. Mike McGrath and Jim Hull sold handmade rosaries after Mass on the
Worker parishioners give blood at Red Cross drive
St. Joseph the Worker in Madisonville hosted an American Red Cross blood drive on Aug. 21 in the parish hall. Each unit of blood collected has the potential to save up to three lives, and the parish expressed thanks for the generosity of parishioners and
JENNIFER NEWMAN (2)
COURTESY OF BILL HEWITT
Cooper III, Ronnie Holmes, Mike Horten, Eric J. Pelton, Paul Simoneau, Victor Williams, and Michael Wills. ■
Living the values of the faith Mike Horten (right), as master of the sword, knights Deacon Hicks Armor into the Order of the Fleur de Lis.
COURTESY OF RALEIGH COOPER
Catholic schools
Four parishioners honored at HOF ceremony
Keegan Smith, Lillie Murphy, Dr. Jerry Punch, and Judge Tim Irwin recognized at Boys & Girls Club event
The East Tennessee Catholic
The Diocese of Knoxville was well represented at the Greater Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Aug. 21 as four parishioners who are standouts in athletics and beyond in East Tennessee received special recognition. The annual ceremony—the 44th one that has been held—was sponsored by the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley.
Those honored—Keegan Smith, Lillie Murphy, Dr. Jerry Punch, and Judge Tim Irwin—join a list of current and former diocesan parishioners who have excelled in a variety of sports and have been recognized by the Greater Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame for their efforts.
Dr. Jerry Punch was inducted into the Hall of Fame’s class of 2025 for his excellence in sports media. Dr. Punch has distinguished himself as an ESPN commentator on auto racing and college football and is a fixture in East Tennessee media who appears on radio and television. He has worked as a reporter for ESPN, TBS, and ABC broadcasts of NASCAR and IndyCar races. And as a trauma physician, he has treated and even saved the lives of drivers and others who needed immediate medical care where he was working. He began his broadcasting career in high school in Newton, N.C., where he was a reporter for radio station WNNC. He played football in college for North Carolina State University, where he was a backup quarterback under coach Lou Holtz. He received his medical degree from Wake Forest University School of Medicine in 1979. During his college years, Dr. Punch raced cars on short tracks in North Carolina. He also worked as an emergency-medicine physician in Florida, and for a time his medical and broadcasting careers overlapped.
Dr. Punch began radio broadcasting for Motor Racing Network in 1980, and in 1984 he began working for ESPN as a pit reporter for NASCAR races. He served as a pit reporter for the Indy 500 a broadcast-record 27 times. He is the only multiple winner of the RACER Magazine Pit Reporter of the Year award. He also has been named NASCAR Man of the Year and won an ACE Award in 1988 and an Emmy Award in 1989. He also won the Lindsey Nelson Award for contributions to college football.
Dr. Punch appeared as himself, serving as an ESPN commentator in the film “Days of Thunder,” and he ran the Olympic Torch in Salt Lake City in 2001. Dr. Punch’s wife, Joni Punch, serves as vice president of institutional advancement for Knoxville Catholic High School. Others inducted into the Greater Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame with Dr. Punch were Ken Johnson, pro football player who played for Knoxville College; Conchita Owenby, the
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will celebrate its 75th anniversary on Saturday, Nov. 22. Bishop Mark Beckman will celebrate a bilingual Mass, followed by a dinner celebration at the Hilton Knoxville Airport hotel in Alcoa. More details to come.
Catholic in Recovery is a 12-step recovery ministry that holds meetings each Monday at 7 p.m. at St. Dominic Church in Kingsport and Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Chattanooga and each Sunday at 6 p.m. at All Saints Church in Knoxville. CIR provides hope and healing from addictions, compulsions, and unhealthy attachments. Family members impacted by a loved one’s addiction are also encouraged to attend. Meetings combine the spiritual principles of 12-step recovery and the sacraments of the Catholic Church. Join others in recovery as the meetings overlap Scripture from Sunday Mass readings, liturgical themes, and
first woman to receive a full athletic scholarship at Carson-Newman University who also served as a girls basketball coach at Pigeon Forge High School and athletic director at Gatlinburg-Pittman High School; Frankie Randall, who held the WBC light welterweight title in 1994 and 1996; Gary Toulson, former head golf pro at Cherokee Country Club who was named Tennessee Teaching Pro of the Year and Tennessee PGA Player of the Year; Nicky Anosike, former Lady Vols and WNBA basketball player; Adam Brock, a former highly ranked junior tennis player who experienced success as a professional player and is an organizer of the Knoxville Challenger tennis tournament; Bryan Brown, a Hardin Valley Academy coach who has coached football, track, and basketball, winning 13 state titles and multiple Coach of the Year and KIL championships; and Charles Fondren, who excelled in track, football, and basketball at Tennessee School for the Deaf and won gold and silver medals in track at national competitions.
Judge Tim Irwin received the Greater Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame’s Buck Vaughn Legacy Award for his many years of service to the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley. Judge Irwin is a parishioner at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Judge Irwin was a standout football player at Central High School in Knoxville, at the University of Tennessee, and in the NFL for the Minnesota Vikings. Following a 13-year career in the NFL, he has served as judge of Knox County Juvenile Court. He earned his law degree while playing for the Vikings.
The Buck Vaughn Legacy Award was presented to Judge Irwin for his many years of service to the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley, for founding a fishing tournament in 1987 that has raised nearly $2.2 million, and for serving with the Greater Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame. Judge Irwin has been inducted into the Tennessee Boys & Girls Clubs Hall of Fame for lifetime achievement and Boys & Girls Clubs of America Alumni Hall of Fame.
Two Knoxville Catholic High School students, Lillie Murphy and Keegan Smith, also received special recognition at the ceremony.
Keegan was named the Larry Cox Memorial Male High School Athlete of the Year for competing in track and cross country. Lillie was named the Larry Cox Memorial Female High School Athlete of the Year for competing in tennis.
Keegan was one of the premier high-school distance runners in the nation and was named Gatorade Player of the Year in track three times. He won 11 state championships in cross country and track and is an 11-time all-state selection and four-time All American. He holds the national high-school freshman record in the 3,000-meter outdoor, the two-mile outdoor, the
recovery topics with honest discussion and prayer. Confidentiality is protected. The St. Dominic gatherings are hybrid meetings, in person in the St. Thomas Aquinas Room of the parish life center or online at tinyurl.com/ cir-zoom-tricities-tn. For more information, visit www.catholicinrecovery. com. For more details on the meetings at St. Dominic, contact Jena at cir. tricities.tn@gmail.com or call Oscar at 423-213-2434. For the meetings at All Saints, call Martin Ohmes at 865-4384905 or e-mail CIRAllSaintsKnoxville@ gmail.com. Contact Deacon Wade Eckler about the meetings at OLPH at 423-322-3493 or weckler@myolph. com
The Healing Ministry at Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Alcoa offers healing prayers every third weekend of the month for anyone who has a physical, emotional, or spiritual need. Individual healing prayer will be offered in Span-
1,500 indoor, and the mile indoor. He had the fastest 5K time in the United States in 2024 and owns four Tennessee state records in distance events.
Keegan, a senior who graduated from KCHS in May with a 4.46 grade-point average, received a track scholarship at the University of Colorado. Accepting the award for Keegan were his parents, Deacon Sean and Melissa Smith.
Lillie, also a senior who graduated in May, was pivotal in KCHS winning three consecutive state championships in Division II-AA with victories in individual and team play. She was a two-time singles champion (2024 and 2025) and won doubles championships in 2022 and 2023 with partner Eleni Liakonis. Lillie was ranked as a fivestar recruit by TennisRecruiting.net and was rated as the No. 1 player in Tennessee, No. 17 in the Southeast, and No. 48 in the country. She received a scholarship to play tennis for Furman University. Accepting the award for Lillie was her coach in high school, Rusty Morris.
Dr. Punch spoke to the event attendees on behalf of the Hall of Fame class of 2025. In his remarks, Dr. Punch said none of the honorees would have accomplished what they did without help from “you”—their families, friends and loved ones, and their communities.
“The ‘you’ I’m referring to are you who were there for each of us, you who refused to let us quit, you who refused to let us walk away, you who were there in our darkest moments, you who lifted us up with your love and your amazing faith, and you who took care of our families so we could chase our dreams,” Dr. Punch said.
“Look at us,” Dr. Punch added, referring to the Hall of Fame class. “This is what happens when people love you, believe in you, and refuse to let you stop believing in yourself.”
And Dr. Punch left those attending the ceremony with these parting words attributed to champion boxer Muhammad Ali, whom he
ish in the church immediately following the 7 p.m. Saturday Mass in Spanish, and prayer will be offered in English in the chapel immediately following the 11 a.m. Sunday Mass. Call Toni Jacobs at 561-315-5911 if you have any questions.
Join Father Mike Nolan on a pilgrimage April 13-23, 2026, to France and Spain. The group will visit Lourdes, exploring the birthplace of St. Bernadette and experience the healing waters from the springs of Lourdes, Stations of the Cross, a candlelight rosary procession, and a blessing of the sick. Pilgrims will visit the tomb of St. Thomas Aquinas at the Jacobins Church as well as Pamplona, the birthplace and childhood home of St. Francis Xavier, the 16th-century evangelist, and will visit Xavier (Navarre), where they will tour the castle where St. Francis Xavier was born. The group will go on to Zaragoza, home to the Cathedral-
had interviewed: “If you do not quit, you cannot lose.”
Bart McFadden, president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley, also emphasized the important role of supporters in helping young athletes pursue their dreams, including the Boys & Girls Clubs in East Tennessee.
“When you look at a room like this, filled with champions and fans, it’s easy to think about the big wins, the records, the trophies—to think about these individuals who have become legends. But every athlete here knows that behind every highlight there was something else: a coach who pushed you, a parent who drove you to practice, a teammate who wouldn’t let you quit. These legends we celebrate tonight didn’t get here on their own,” Mr. McFadden said. “That’s why the mission of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley matters so much. Every day, we provide that same support for thousands of kids. We give them a place to belong, mentors who believe in them, and opportunities to discover their gifts and become legends in their own right. For some, that starts on a court or a ballfield. But it doesn’t end there. At the club, we’re not shaping athletes, we’re shaping whole lives.
Mr. McFadden introduced the ceremony’s featured speaker, former Tennessee basketball player Ron Slay, who played for the Vols from 1999-2003 and now is a broadcaster for ESPN and the SEC Network.
The Greater Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame has recognized other Diocese of Knoxville athletes and sports figures since its inception in 1982. They include University of Tennessee athletics administrator Gus Manning, UT swimming coach Joe Hendee, track athlete Christy Baird, football standouts Ian O’Connor and Harrison Smith, basketball standout Luke Smith, football and basketball standout Jack Sompayrac, track athletes Jake Renfree and Callie Grace Tucker, volleyball standout Cassie Kuerschen, and basketball standouts B.J. Edwards and Sydney Mains. n
Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar, and Montserrat, site of the Benedictine monastery and the Black Madonna. Pilgrims will visit the small town of Verdu, the birthplace of St. Peter Claver, and go on to Barcelona, visiting the Cathedral of Barcelona, the Basilica of the Holy Family, La Sagrada Familia, the almost-finished masterpiece by Antoni Gaudi, and the Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar, the Cathedral by the Sea. For more information, contact Lisa Morris at lisam@select-intl.com or 865-567-1245.
Mass in the extraordinary form (“traditional Latin”) is celebrated at noon each Sunday at Holy Ghost Church in Knoxville, at 2 p.m. each Sunday and at 6 p.m. most Mondays at St. Mary Church in Johnson City, and at 11:30 a.m. every Sunday at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga. For more information, visit www.Knox LatinMass.net n
Recognizing excellence At the Greater Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony are honorees and others including Father Randy Stice, Dr. Jerry and wife Joni Punch, Father Chris Michelson, Melissa and husband Deacon Sean Smith, and Rusty Morris.
