May 7 | 2023 VOL 31 NO 9
IN THIS ISSUE SISTERS CHRIST'S A12 SEVEN A4 BUILDING APOSTOLATE KINGDOM Regnum Christi is growing its presence
Diocesan laywomen are praying for priests
FOR OUR B1 CARE COMMON HOME
Creation Care teams celebrate Laudato Si'
He dwells among us ......................... A3 Parish news ....................................... B4 Diocesan calendar ............................ B5 Columns ..........................................B6-7 Catholic schools ..........................B9-10 La Cosecha ............................Section C
Fr. Patrick Ryan comes to life in new documentary Movie focusing on the candidate for sainthood debuts at Notre Dame High School By Gabrielle Nolan
GABRIELLE NOLAN
T
he universal Church is about to become more acquainted with Servant of God Father Patrick Ryan now that a film exists depicting his life story. “Father Ryan: A Higher Call” shares the tale of the Irish priest who settled in Chattanooga at Sts. Peter and Paul Parish and endured the 1878 yellow fever epidemic, ministering to the sick and dying. Father Ryan ultimately succumbed to the disease, which led to locals recognizing the priest as a hero. The documentary/drama premiered on April 15 at Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga, with more than 200 people attending the screening. Father David Carter, rector of the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul
A highly anticipated premiere The cast and crew of “Father Ryan: A Higher Call” are shown at the film's premiere. Kneeling from left: Marc Aramian, Jack Pettigrew, Father David Carter; second row standing from left: Dr. Michael Meehan, Veronica DiPippo, Maureen Pettigrew; back row: Dr. Hal Hill, Deacon Gaspar DeGaetano, and Jonah Coronis. in Chattanooga, spoke about the connection of past and present.
“[Sts. Peter and Paul], it’s the same parish that Father Patrick
Ryan was the pastor of, and that’s my great honor to look back and see this predecessor in faith and in faith leadership and to tell his story, and hopefully to emulate it as best I can. There’s a lot that we can reflect on, and we will, but this movie is going to help situate it emotionally for us,” he said. “I’m so grateful in particular for the gift of providence. Providence has given us a story to tell in such a beautiful way. The story of Father Ryan, who died 145 years ago. You would think that digging up history would not be very pertinent to our own times, but God in his providence allowed us to experience a global pandemic that brings events like the yellow fever epidemic of 1878 closer to us and to our understanding,” Father Carter continued. Documentary continued on page A21
Celebrating the light of Christ
Churches across the diocese welcome Eastertide during Holy Week services By Dan McWilliams
During the annual Tuesday-of-Holy-Week liturgy on April 4, Bishop Stika called it “a great joy for us to gather together as the Diocese of Knoxville to celebrate the Chrism Mass. We gather together with priests of this diocese and deacons, but especially the priests, who will renew their priestly commitments.” The Mass also is the time when the bishop blesses the holy oils used in the Church throughout the year and consecrates the holy Chrism. Principal concelebrants of the Chrism Mass were Cardinal Justin Rigali, cathedral rector and vicar general Father David Boettner, vicar general and moderator of the curia Father Doug Owens, episcopal vicar for priests and dean of Five Rivers Father Michael Cummins,
Joining the faith Above: Bishop Richard F. Stika confirms a young man during Easter Vigil who is entering the Catholic faith. Assisting the bishop is Deacon Fredy Vargas. Below: Bishop Stika is assisted at the altar by Deacon Neil Blatchford during the conclusion of the Eucharistic Prayer at the Chrism Mass, which was celebrated April 4 at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. and Chattanooga dean Father Michael Nolan. Three diocesan seminarians and soon-to-be priests assisted at Mass. Deacon Andrew Crabtree was deacon of the Word, and Deacons Joseph Austin and Neil Blatchford were deacons of the Eucharist. More than 55 priests and more than 40 deacons took part in the Mass. Deacon Walt Otey of the cathedral and Deacon Hicks Armor were masters of ceremonies. This year’s Chrism Mass was a significant one in the life of Bishop Stika. “I was telling the priests earliEaster continued on page A7
DAN MCWILLIAMS
Chrism Mass
DR. KELLY KEARSE
T
he Diocese of Knoxville welcomed nearly 300 people into the Church at Easter Vigil services on April 8, and for those entering at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Bishop Richard F. Stika saluted their enthusiasm for the faith as a model for longtime Catholics to follow. “You know, my sisters and brothers, many times I think people who are coming into the Church could put the rest of us to shame, because as adults they began to dig deeper and deeper into those things that we often take for granted: that there is a God, that there is a God who loves us, but there is a Church also that has been given to us so that we might be nourished and that we might grow,” he said at the cathedral’s vigil Mass. According to the diocesan Office of Christian Formation, some 278 catechumens and candidates entered the Church during Easter Vigil Masses across East Tennessee. The bishop again presided at the liturgies and services of Holy Week as the faithful filled the cathedral from the Palm Sunday Masses and the Chrism Mass to the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday and the Good Friday service, and on to the Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday Masses.