Pope Francis Charitable Trust Fund extended during pandemic Bishop Richard F. Stika has announced extended distributions of the Pope Francis Charitable Trust Fund to assist parishes in the Diocese of Knoxville with charitable community outreach during the coronavirus pandemic. Under the Pope Francis Charitable Trust Fund, parishes are offered matching grants to support charitable programs through a single annual distribution. …
Bishop Stika announces new priest assignments
Bishop Richard F. Stika has announced the following priest assignments with their effective dates: Father Colin Blatchford – Associate Director of Courage International, Trumbull, Conn. for a 5-year term (Sept. 8, 2020) Father Andrés Cano – Appointed Coordinator of Hispanic Ministry in the Five Rivers Deanery and sacramental minister to the Handmaids of the Precious Blood (Sept. 9, 2020) Father …
Bishop Stika reflects on personal, spiritual connection following Beirut explosion
Bishop Richard F. Stika joins with all bishops of the United States in a stand of solidarity with the people of Lebanon following the devastating explosion in Beirut this week that killed more than one hundred people and injured thousands more. The tragedy is even more personal for Bishop Stika, who possesses bi-ritual faculties of the Maronite Church, an Eastern …
Father Colin Blatchford appointed associate director of Courage International
Father Colin Blatchford, a priest of the Diocese of Knoxville, has been appointed the new associate director of Courage International, an apostolate of the Catholic Church based in Trumbull, Conn. “I’m honored and humbled to have been asked to serve the Courage apostolate as the new associate director,” said Father Blatchford. Prior to receiving the appointment, Father Blatchford, 36, had …
La diócesis anuncia el calendario académico 2020-21
El obispo Richard F. Stika y la Dra. Sedonna Prater, superintendente de escuelas de la Diócesis de Knoxville, han anunciado un regreso al aprendizaje en sito en las 10 escuelas católicas de la diócesis para el año académico 2020-21, que comenzará el lunes 3 de agosto. “Estamos entusiasmados por comenzar nuestro año escolar y abrir nuestros salones a estudiantes y profesores”, …
East Tennessee Catholic wins award for immigration coverage
The East Tennessee Catholic Magazine has been recognized by the Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada with a first-place award for its coverage of immigration in the Diocese of Knoxville. The September 2019 issue of the magazine, with its cover story “Understanding the Exodus,” was named Best Special Issue for 2019 by the Catholic Press Association. In …
Diocese of Knoxville Schools announce Fall 2020 plans
Bishop Richard F. Stika and Dr. Sedonna Prater, superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Knoxville, have announced a return to on-site learning at all 10 Catholic schools in the diocese for the 2020-21 academic year, which will begin on Monday, Aug. 3. “We’re excited to begin our school year and open our classrooms to students and faculty,” Bishop Stika …
Ordination Mass postponed as Bishop awaits test results
The Mass of Ordination for seminarian Matthew Donahue to the Transitional Diaconate on Monday, June 19, at St. John Neumann Catholic Church has been postponed until further notice. This decision was made by Bishop Richard F. Stika following his announcement that he will self-quarantine for fourteen days after the possibility that he may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19. …
Bishop Stika statement on DACA ruling
I was pleased to see the U.S. Supreme Court make a ruling this week which protected, for now, the status of young immigrants who are living, learning, and working in this country under the program we know as DACA—Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. This program has given families who have been living with uncertainty, an opportunity for peace of mind, …
Recursos
Recursos En Línea para COVID-19 Para más información en español del estado de Tennessee https://www.tn.gov/health/cedep/ncov/covid-19-resources-information-in-spanish.html Videos sobre COVID-19 en español del Departamento de Salud del estado de Tennessee ¿Que esperar después de la diagnosis? https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/documents/cedep/novel-coronavirus/What-to-Expect-After-Diagnosis-Guidance-Spanish.pdf ¿Que esperar si es posible que haya estado expuesto? https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/documents/cedep/novel-coronavirus/What-to-Expect-If-Exposed-Spanish.pdf ¿Que esperar después de hacerse la prueba? https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/documents/cedep/novel-coronavirus/What-to-Expect-After-Being-Tested_Spanish.pdf ¿Qué hacer si el resultado de la …
Diocese adjusts new meeting procedures in connection with COVID-19
Bishop Richard F. Stika has issued new directives regarding meetings and gatherings on diocesan and parish property. The new procedures take effect immediately and come as federal, state, and local health authorities continue to monitor the coronavirus pandemic. The new procedures allow for meetings to now include a maximum of 50 participants with the stipulation that safe distancing remains in …
Bishop Stika address racial issues; offers guidance and resources
I pray that the events of the last couple of weeks will force all of us to reflect on how God can guide us through injustice, tragedy, turmoil, and anger if we listen to Him. The horrific images of the death of George Floyd on May 25 were repulsive. The indifference and lack of respect on display around Mr. Floyd …
Bishop authorizes new Spanish and Latin Masses for Basilica
Bishop Richard F. Stika, working with Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul rector Father David Carter, has authorized the addition of a Traditional Latin Mass to the Basilica’s regular Sunday Mass schedule on a weekly basis. This Extraordinary Form Mass will be offered at 11:30 a.m. each Sunday. A monthly Latin Mass was introduced at the Basilica five years ago. …
Bishop issues new directives for sacraments in response to COVID-19
In response to the continued monitoring of the coronavirus pandemic, Bishop Richard F. Stika has authorized updates to the way parishes can now administer the sacraments of the Catholic Church. The new directives cover the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, reconciliation, RCIA, weddings, and funerals. The decree is to take effect May 30-31 when public Masses resume in the Diocese of …