October 2025 | East Tennessee Catholic
St. Mary Parish in Johnson City receives Haiti foundation honor| East Tennessee Catholic
St. Mary Parish in Johnson City receives Haiti foundation honor| East Tennessee Catholic
Don and Cynthia Davis of St. Mary in Johnson City, coordinators of the parish Haiti Twinning Ministry, traveled to Christ the King Church in Nashville to accept the Fiat of Ecclesial Magnanimity Award on behalf of the parish. The award, presented on Sept. 20 by the Visitation Hospital Foundation, is ...| East Tennessee Catholic
In advance of next year’s celebration of the 100th anniversary of its current church building, Holy Ghost Parish in Knoxville is creating volumes of “Our Dearly Departed” to be placed permanently near the St. Joseph altar. The parish would like to devote one page to each of its deceased members ...| East Tennessee Catholic
The first meeting of the 2025-27 Knoxville Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (KDCCW) board was held Sept. 6 in the Shea Room at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. A rosary, prepared by Spirituality Commission chair Mary Wilson, was said before the meeting. The board consists of ...| East Tennessee Catholic
And missing the mentor who loved it and the family life it reminds me to cherish By George Valadie It’s my new favorite song. I’ve always felt like a bit of a music oddball when compared with my friends, but it was especially true when I was growing up. While ...| East Tennessee Catholic
Diaconate candidates entrusted as lectors, permanent deacons renew their promises By Bill Brewer The Diocese of Knoxville has the distinction of ranking third in the United States, and possibly the world, in the number of ordained men serving as permanent deacons. “We are per Catholic capita No. 3 in the ...| East Tennessee Catholic
Jane Fraker Fisk, age 82, of Knoxville, went to be with the Lord on Sept. 20. Mrs. Fisk was a member of St. John Neumann Parish in Farragut. She was the former vice president of Fraker Sales Company Inc. and a former personal shopper for Proffitt’s department store. Mrs. Fisk ...| East Tennessee Catholic
St. Alphonsus Community Services provides assistance to those in need By St. Alphonsus Community Service Volunteers “Of all devotions, that of adoring Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is the greatest after the sacraments, the one dearest to God, and the one most helpful to us.”— St. Alphonsus Liguori In 1986, ...| East Tennessee Catholic
We are all invited to do an examination of conscience and a conversion from the culture of death By Bishop Mark Beckman On Thursday, Sept. 11, I celebrated Mass for the students at Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga on the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. The day before, ...| East Tennessee Catholic
St. Dominic looks to the future as it commemorates 8 decades By Dan McWilliams Rosie Henderson LaMont, a student at St. Dominic School in Kingsport in the 1950s and ’60s, certainly learned many right things to do in her classes but also realized one thing not to do, at least ...| East Tennessee Catholic
Harold “Hal” Goans died peacefully at his home in Oak Ridge on Sept. 4. Mr. Goans was born on May 25, 1936, in Clinton to the late Charles and Lillian Goans. He served in the U.S. Air Force for fou…| East Tennessee Catholic
Bishop Beckman rededicates worship space at Chattanooga church By Bill Brewer Renewal—physical and spiritual—was the message of the day on Aug. 16 as members of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in…| East Tennessee Catholic
We are asked to nurture gentle servants of the Gospel By Bishop Mark Beckman The Second Vatican Council speaks of conscience as the “most secret core” and “sanctuary” of the person, where we are al…| East Tennessee Catholic
Catholic Heart Workcamp returns to diocese to celebrate community and service By Maggie Parsons More than 250 campers attended the 15th annual Catholic Heart Workcamp hosted by the Diocese of Knoxv…| East Tennessee Catholic
Ruth Lynn (Baird) Prados passed into eternal life peacefully at her Knoxville home surrounded by family. She had celebrated her 95th birthday on March 7 and was able to participate in family vacati…| East Tennessee Catholic
Peggy Ann Sugden of Crossville passed away on May 31 at the age of 78. She was born on Dec. 3, 1946, in North Tonawanda, N.Y. Ms. Sugden lived a life filled with love, compassion, and dedication to…| East Tennessee Catholic
The council 1,700 years ago used the word ‘consubstantial’ that remains in the creed By Deacon Bob Hunt The Catholic Church in Alexandria, Egypt, was abuzz in the year 318. A priest of the diocese …| East Tennessee Catholic
Liturgical leadership conference is fulfilling a need for this world By Maggie Parsons More than 275 participants were excited and eager to return to the annual One Bread One Cup summer liturgical …| East Tennessee Catholic
The faith-based event offers fun for about 60 special-needs individuals and family members By Bee Goodman On Aug. 2, St. John Neumann Parish in Farragut hosted A Very Special Day with the Bishop. T…| East Tennessee Catholic
Fr. John O’Neill retires from active diocesan ministry, accepts Conception assignment By Bill Brewer Father John O’Neill, a longtime priest of the dioceses of Knoxville and Nashville, has ret…| East Tennessee Catholic
St. Joseph School establishing endowment to honor beloved educator By Bill Brewer Sister Jolita still has a powerful presence within the St. Joseph School community even as the Knoxville elementary…| East Tennessee Catholic
It is with deep sorrow and much love that we mourn the passing of Joan Lee Gorski (Schelly), who passed away on June 3 at the age of 79. Mrs. Gorski was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister,…| East Tennessee Catholic
By Bill Brewer Diocese of Knoxville schools are feeling the impact of state-funded, school-choice scholarships, which are affecting all 10 campuses from Chattanooga to the Tri-Cities. Diocesan scho…| East Tennessee Catholic
Dorothy Elizabeth Byrd Berry, known to many as Dottie or “Dot Dot,” passed away on July 10 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Mrs. Berry was preceded in death by her husband of over 60 years, K…| East Tennessee Catholic
Dana Ray Martin, DMD, MS, of Knoxville, passed away peacefully on the morning of July 17 at the age of 73. Born on April 5, 1952, in Fort Knox, Ky., Dr. Martin lived a life defined by devotion—to h…| East Tennessee Catholic
Bill Dunn works within the system to give students education freedom By Bill Brewer Bill Dunn was convinced that school choice was right for Tennessee education in the 1980s when he was a 4-H repre…| East Tennessee Catholic
Students, faculty report back to diocesan schools By Bee Goodman Just as quickly as summer arrived, we are finding autumn leaves falling into place, Tennessee football not-so-subtly creeping back i…| East Tennessee Catholic
The East Tennessee Catholic, Office of Communications receive awards for coverage The East Tennessee Catholic The Diocese of Knoxville Office of Communications and The East Tennessee Catholic dioce…| East Tennessee Catholic
Stephen Jackson was named the new head coach for the boys and girls wrestling programs at Knoxville Catholic High School, it was announced May 6. Mr. Jackson, who succeeds Jason Hughes in the role,…| East Tennessee Catholic
Each year a new theme comes alive at Notre Dame Church in Greeneville for the annual vacation Bible school. This year the theme was “True North—Trusting Jesus in a Wild World.” Participants gathere…| East Tennessee Catholic
Men’s Discernment Group contributes to Diocese of Knoxville vocations By Bill Brewer Every fourth Saturday of each month a group of men gather in the Diocese of Knoxville Chancery for fellows…| East Tennessee Catholic
Diocesan seminarians share their summer experiences By Gabrielle Nolan During the fall and spring semesters of the academic year, diocesan seminarians are poring over philosophy and theology textbo…| East Tennessee Catholic
Joyce Marietta (Ferry) Fazio, age 87, passed away peacefully on May 6. She was born and raised in Staten Island, N.Y., where she lived until moving to Howell Township, N.J., in 1969 with her husban…| East Tennessee Catholic
Fighting Irish alum Patrick Johnson of the Eagles helps 70 youngsters polish their football skills By Dan McWilliams NFL veteran Patrick Johnson, a 2017 graduate of Notre Dame High School in Chatta…| East Tennessee Catholic
Kathy O’Brien retires but is still active By Omar Cabrera Glenmary Home Missioners Kathy O’Brien is wrapping up a 50-year career as a member of the Glenmary Lay Missionaries. More than half a…| East Tennessee Catholic
10th anniversary of Laudato Si’ prompts global events| East Tennessee Catholic
His role as teacher, governor, and symbol of Christian unity dates even to Pentecost By Deacon Bob Hunt Why do we have a pope? The origins of the papacy, of course, are in the words of our Lord to …| East Tennessee Catholic
Bishop Beckman ordains Renzo Alvarado, A.J. Houston to the priesthood By Dan McWilliams The presbyterate in East Tennessee grew by two on June 7 after Bishop Mark Beckman ordained Deacons A.J. Hous…| East Tennessee Catholic
The world bids farewell to Mark Charles Pillon of Knoxville, who passed away on April 19 at the age of 64. Mr. Pillon leaves behind memories cherished by the community. He was predeceased by his pa…| East Tennessee Catholic
Calvin Dexter Lane of Sevierville passed away on May 1 at the age of 88. Mr. Lane was remembered at a memorial Mass celebrated by Father John Arthur Orr and concelebrated by Father John O’Neill at …| East Tennessee Catholic
Windy City native sees town abuzz as new favorite son begins papacy By Deacon Patrick Murphy-Racey My heart is full as well as my belly as I find myself in my boyhood home trying to imagine how Pop…| East Tennessee Catholic
‘The Catholic Church in America is having a moment’ By Gabrielle Nolan Catholics around the world rejoiced and celebrated when white smoke poured out of the Sistine Chapel’s chimney on May 8, signi…| East Tennessee Catholic
By The East Tennessee Catholic The 2025 legislative session has ended in Nashville, but not before key legislation of impact and interest to the Catholic Church in Tennessee was addressed. A signif…| East Tennessee Catholic
Mary Seay, age 98, of Knoxville, passed away on April 30. Mrs. Seay was a member of St. Albert the Great Church and enjoyed swimming and playing tennis. Mrs. Seay is preceded in death by her loving…| East Tennessee Catholic
‘A love for the Eucharist leads to a growing appreciation of the sacrament of reconciliation’ By Father Randy Stice All the sacraments,” said the Second Vatican Council, “are bound up with the Euch…| East Tennessee Catholic
Bishop Beckman presides at memorial Mass for Pope Francis By Bill Brewer Pope Francis was remembered in memorial Masses held in churches throughout the Diocese of Knoxville in the days immediately …| East Tennessee Catholic
Bishop Beckman meets with press to discuss Pope Francis’ enduring papacy By Maggie Parsons Pope Francis, known for being the people’s pope and for his pastoral care of God’s creation, kept to his m…| East Tennessee Catholic
The fight for spiritual growth is harder when the opponent is ourselves By George Valadie I love “March Madness.” Our whole family does. If you’re not familiar, it’s a phrase that originated at the…| East Tennessee Catholic
Practical thoughts on celebrating the Lenten season that is upon us By Bishop Mark Beckman Lent is the time each year when we are immersed more deeply in the mystery of Jesus Christ. During the cou…| East Tennessee Catholic
Ebon Ralph Grubb Jr., a longtime member of St. Stephen Church in Chattanooga, passed away on Oct. 5 at the age of 94. Mr. Grubb was the first male baby born at St. Mary’s Hospital in Knoxville on M…| East Tennessee Catholic
The legislation was backed by Tennessee’s Catholic bishops, parents, and organizations By Bill Brewer School choice will soon be available to students in East Tennessee and across the state as the …| East Tennessee Catholic
They represent the totality of the Christian life, which calls us out of ourselves By Deacon Bob Hunt Lent is a season of transformation. The Church calls us to focus on three aspects of our Christ…| East Tennessee Catholic
The St. Joseph School gym in North Knoxville was packed with Christmas cheer and packed with fans eager to watch the annual charity Christmas basketball scrimmage Dec. 13. The stands were filled wi…| East Tennessee Catholic
Glenmary’s mission is to bring Catholic presence to rural areas of U.S. By Charlie Camosy OSV News While the word “mission” often calls to mind service in foreign countries, one group has focused f…| East Tennessee Catholic
St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic hints at new headquarters, mobile van in next year By Dan McWilliams The St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic has expanded its staff in recent months as it seeks to fulfill its mission…| East Tennessee Catholic
Missionary Sisters host closing celebration of 75th anniversary in Mexico By Blanca Primm In early December, seven members of the Diocese of Knoxville traveled to the city of Huamantla in the state…| East Tennessee Catholic
It would be tragic for Catholics to try convincing the world of the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist with unsubstantiated claims By Dr. Stacy Trasancos Crisis Magazine Two new forensic scie…| East Tennessee Catholic
Diocese of Knoxville’s new bishop has firm foundations in faith, love, family By Gabrielle Nolan Jimmy and Lois Beckman first met in the small town of Lawrenceburg, Tenn., on a blind date in 1960, …| East Tennessee Catholic
Source and summit central to Bishop Mark Beckman’s ministry By Bill Staley A Dominican, a Franciscan, a bishop, and a pope go on a hike. Bishop Mark Beckman’s life can be viewed as one large …| East Tennessee Catholic
Vespers serves as beginning of Bishop Beckman’s East Tennessee mission By Bill Brewer Bishop Mark Beckman’s first homily at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus since his appointme…| East Tennessee Catholic
Sacred power is given to the shepherd to build up ‘his flock in truth and holiness’ By Father Randy Stice “The bishop is the chief steward of the mysteries of God and the overseer of all litu…| East Tennessee Catholic
Moved to tears by ‘Les Mis,’ writer has hope in the Lord and Bishop Beckman By Claire Collins If you’ve never seen the 2012 movie adaptation of the musical “Les Misérables,” prepare yourself for a …| East Tennessee Catholic
Bishops give life to the local Church by proclaiming the Gospel, leading ministry By Deacon Bob Hunt Congratulations to newly ordained Bishop Mark Beckman, the fourth bishop of the Diocese of Knoxv…| East Tennessee Catholic
Many people, a lot of hours go into planning an ordination Mass By Emily Booker It takes a diocese to elevate a bishop. When guests stepped into the Knoxville Convention Center on July 26 for the o…| East Tennessee Catholic
Pontificals symbolize the key elements of a bishop’s office By Dan McWilliams With his ordination as the Diocese of Knoxville’s fourth shepherd come several important symbols of his new office for …| East Tennessee Catholic
Bishop Mark Beckman shares stories of his youth, family, and vocation By Gabrielle Nolan In the 1800s, German immigrants fashioned oak high altars and made the clay bricks that stacked to form the …| East Tennessee Catholic
St. Gianna Guild sponsors presentation by Religious Sisters of Mercy physician By Gabrielle Nolan Concerns about transgenderism and gender ideology are at the forefront of social issues within the …| East Tennessee Catholic
Newly ordained Father Bo Beaty celebrates Mass of thanksgiving By Bill Brewer Father Bo Beaty debuted his priesthood in Jamestown a day after his June 8 ordination at the Cathedral of the Most Sacr…| East Tennessee Catholic
It is composed of the preparatory rites, the essential element, and the explanatory rites By Father Randy Stice On July 26, Bishop-elect Mark Beckman will be ordained and installed as the fourth bi…| East Tennessee Catholic
Newly ordained Father Michael Willey celebrates Mass of thanksgiving By Bill Brewer Father Michael Willey, one of the Diocese of Knoxville’s three newest priests, was in good company for his second…| East Tennessee Catholic
