Bishop Richard F. Stika has announced that Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, a longtime Vatican official and the loyal secretary and dear friend to Pope St. John Paul II from 1966 until his death in 2005, has accepted an invitation to attend the Dedication Mass for the Diocese of Knoxville’s Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus on March 3, 2018. …
Diocese distributes nearly $369,000 to assist wildfire victims
Bishop Richard F. Stika today announced that the Diocese of Knoxville has distributed $368,906.79 to victims of the deadly and destructive wildfires that swept through the Gatlinburg area of East Tennessee in November. “Because of the love and generosity of people across East Tennessee and beyond, the Diocese of Knoxville is able to assist families who have been struggling to …
Bishop opposes Bible verse removal at KPD
Always an outspoken defender of religious freedom and the free expression of Christian beliefs, Bishop Richard F. Stika voiced his opposition Wednesday to the forced removal of a biblical passage that has been present inside the headquarters of the Knoxville Police Department since 1969. “Yet again, we have evidence of how our religious freedom is increasingly being eroded in our …
Father Doug Owens named new vicar general for the Diocese of Knoxville
Bishop Richard F. Stika has appointed Father Doug Owens, pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Lenoir City, as the Diocese of Knoxville’s newest vicar general and moderator of the curia. Father Owens succeeds the late Monsignor Xavier Mankel as one of two vicars general serving the diocese, joining Father David Boettner, rector of the Cathedral of the Most …
2017 diocesan Ministries Day is Aug. 19
The Office of Christian Formation is sponsoring a Ministries Day on Saturday, Aug. 19 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at All Saints Church in Knoxville. This event is open to all who share the Catholic Faith, including parents, student youth leaders, coordinators of youth ministry, RCIA Teams, adult educators, liturgy and ministry teams, DREs, and catechists and assistants. More …
SEPI graduates recognized as missionary disciples
On June 25 Cardinal Rigali celebrated Mass at St. Dominic Church in Kingsport and marked the occasion of graduation of SEPI (Southeastern Pastoral Institute) School of Ministries Level II in the Five Rivers Deanery. About 50 parish leaders received graduation certificates from the Diocese of Knoxville and from SEPI for having completed 150 hours of catechetical formation. In his homily, …
Monsignor Francis Xavier Mankel, instrumental in founding of diocese, dies at 81
Bishop Richard F. Stika has announced that Monsignor Francis Xavier Mankel, a priest whose leadership was instrumental in helping establish the Diocese of Knoxville nearly thirty years ago, died early Wednesday morning at the age of 81. Monsignor Mankel had been battling health issues in recent months and passed away at his home in Knoxville. Monsignor Mankel’s service to …
Video tribute of Nashville Bishop David Choby
Video produced by the Diocese of Nashville
Funeral arrangements set for Bishop Choby of Nashville
The Diocese of Nashville has announced the following funeral arrangements for Bishop David Choby, who died Saturday in Nashville at the age of 70. Visitation will be held on Thursday, June 8 at the Cathedral of the Incarnation, 2015 West End Ave, Nashville, TN 37203, from 2:00-5:00 p.m. and 6:30-7:30 p.m. Visitation will conclude with Office of the Dead at 7:30 p.m. Visitation will be held …
Bishop Stika reacts to death of Nashville Bishop David Choby
The Most Reverend David R. Choby, Bishop of the Diocese of Nashville since 2006, has died after battling recent health issues. He was 70. The Diocese of Nashville announced that Bishop Choby passed away at St. Thomas West Hospital in Nashville late Saturday night. He was undergoing treatment for injuries that he suffered in a fall at his home on …
Our Lady of Fatima: 100 years of grace
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the appearance of Mary to three young visionaries in the town of Fatima in Portugal. This report is excerpted from Fatima, 100 years of grace by the World Apostolate of Fatima, U.S.A. – Our Lady’s Blue Army. If you would like to read an in-depth account of the miracle, its history and the …
Faithful departed honored at annual Memorial Day Mass
Diocese of Knoxville parishioners gathered May 29 at Calvary Cemetery in Knoxville for the annual Memorial Day Mass. About 50 faithful attended the Mass, which was celebrated by Father Ron Franco, CSP, pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Knoxville. Deacon Joe Stackhouse served as deacon of the Eucharist. Parishioners from Immaculate Conception and St. John XXIII University Parish led the …
Pope Francis honors Father Bill Gahagan with title of monsignor
Pope Francis has designated Father William Gahagan, who has served in the Diocese of Knoxville since its inception in 1988, with the title of monsignor. The papal honor comes at the recommendation of Bishop Richard F. Stika who made the announcement at a meeting of diocesan priests on May 23. “A lot of the younger priests don’t know this, but …