Bishop Stika has issued the following statement regarding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program: “Scripture challenges us to see each other through the eyes of God and to never turn our back on the vulnerable and those in need. So it is with great concern that I and my brother bishops react to the news of President Trump’s …
Diocese extends relief effort collections to include Hurricane Irma victims
In response Hurricane Irma, which has claimed lives and resulted in overwhelming destruction in the Caribbean and Florida, Bishop Richard F. Stika has extended his request that parishes in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Knoxville contribute to a fund to assist victims of that storm, and the one that hit Texas in late August. “With Hurricane Irma following on the …
Gov. Haslam appoints SHC’s Mary Mac Wilson to THDA Board of Directors
Governor Bill Haslam has appointed Mary Mac R. Wilson, director of parish operations for Sacred Heart Cathedral in Knoxville, to the Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA) Board of Directors. Ms. Wilson has a long history in lending with the Eastman Credit Union (Kingsport), Bank of Tennessee (Kingsport), and First American National Bank (Knoxville). She is currently involved in fundraising and …
Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz to attend cathedral Dedication Mass in March
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 …