October 1 | 2023 VOL 33 NO 2
IN THIS ISSUE GIRLS A4 GOLDEN Religious Sisters of
Mercy of Alma mark 50th anniversary
AND BANJOS IN B1 HARPS B1 CATHOLICS Bluegrass Mass CARTER COUNTY St. Elizabeth recalls 100 years of the faith
performed at Our Lady of Fatima in Alcoa
Catholic commentary ....................... A3 Parish news ....................................... B4 Diocesan calendar ............................ B5 Columns ..........................................B6-7 Catholic schools ..........................B9-10 La Cosecha ............................Section C
Entering the gates of the Lord St. Alphonsus Parish moves into its new church with thanksgiving By Dan McWilliams
A
The wait is over Left: Priests, deacons, altar servers, and St. Alphonsus Parish members process from Liguori Hall to the new St. Alphonsus Church on Sept. 12. Liguori Hall has served for two decades as both worship space and as a parish hall. Below: Participants in the dedication Mass prepare to enter the new St. Alphonsus Church in Crossville.
St. Francis of Assisi in Fairfield Glade; Father Michael Nolan, pastor of St. Thérèse of Lisieux in Cleveland; Father Dominic Nguyen, pastor of Divine Mercy in Knoxville; Father David Carter, rector of the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga; Father Michael Hendershott, associate pastor of Holy Ghost in Knoxville; Father Joseph Austin, parochial vicar of Our Lady of Fatima in Alcoa; and Father Martin Gladysz, St. Alphonsus continued on page A12
BILL BREWER
DAN MCWILLIAMS
rchbishop Shelton J. Fabre extended his hand and said only five words to start his homily in the dedication Mass for the new St. Alphonsus Church in Crossville on Sept. 12, and the assembly erupted in applause. “Well, what do you think?” he asked. The St. Alphonsus faithful waited 20 years for a traditional worship space after attending Mass in Liguori Hall, their parish life center that was dedicated in 2003. Archbishop Fabre, apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Knoxville, dedicated the new church and its altar. He installed relics of the parish namesake, St. Alphonsus Liguori, and Blessed Stanley Rother in the altar. Principal concelebrants were St. Alphonsus pastor Father Mark Schuster and Father Christopher Floersh, parochial vicar of St. John Neumann Parish in Farragut. Seven additional diocesan priests took part, and Deacons Daniel Herman and Peter Minneci, who serves at St. Alphonsus, assisted. Deacons Hicks Armor and Walt Otey were masters of ceremonies. The priests concelebrating were Father Michael Woods, pastor of
‘Heroic. Holy. Humble.’
Life of Fr. Patrick Ryan celebrated at Closing Session of Tribunal in sainthood cause By Gabrielle Nolan
GABRIELLE NOLAN
T
he Diocese of Knoxville is one step closer in the cause for beatification and canonization of Servant of God Father Patrick Ryan. The Closing Session of the Tribunal of the Diocese of Knoxville for the inquiry examining the life, virtues, offering of life, reputation of holiness, and signs of intercessory power of the Servant of God Father Patrick Ryan took place on Sept. 28 at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga. Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz, the second bishop of the Diocese of Knoxville who served in East Tennessee from 1999-2007, was the celebrant of the historic occasion. Clergy in attendance were Father David Carter, episcopal delegate for the cause and rector of the basilica; Deacon Sean Smith, chancellor of the diocese; Deacon Gaspar DeGaetano, vice postulator for the cause; Father John Orr, promoter of justice for the cause; Deacon Hicks Armor, notary; Father Michael Hendershott, associate pastor of Holy Ghost Parish in Knoxville; Monsignor Al Humbrecht, pastor of Holy Spirit in Soddy-Daisy;
Signed, sealed, and ready to be delivered Archbishop Emeritus Joseph E. Kurtz, center, prepares to seal documents in the cause for sainthood for Father Patrick Ryan. Assisting are Father David Carter, left, and Deacon Gaspar DeGaetano. Father Mark Schuster, pastor of St. Alphonsus in Crossville; Father Michael Woods, pastor of St. Francis of Assisi in Fairfield Glade;
Father Michael Nolan, pastor of St. Thérèse of Lisieux in Cleveland; and Father Nick Tran, priest in residence at the basilica. Deacon Wade
Eckler also was present. The Closing Session occurred in the context of Liturgy of the Hours’ Father Ryan continued on page A11