Cathedral chosen to host Alpha focus group Selected teens offer feedback on a video series that will impact future Alpha releases around the world
T
he Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus was recently selected as the only U.S. location to host a special focus group for Alpha, a program that offers a course of video series to introduce key concepts of Christianity while encouraging participants to reflect on their own beliefs and form bonds with others through small-group conversation. The focus group of teenagers provided feedback on the Alpha Youth series, and that feedback will impact the new videos coming out next year. Rick Grinstead, director of youth and young adult ministry at the cathedral, is an Alpha coach who has
been involved with the program on an international level for several years. When the program was looking for a location for a focus group in the United States, it turned to Mr. Grinstead and the cathedral community. “There are six focus groups in the entire world, only one in the United States, and that was us because we have had a very good relationship with Alpha for the last five years now,” Mr. Grinstead said. He also said that the cathedral fit a lot of the demographics the focus group team was hoping to reach: a variety of young people of different ethnicities, both sexes, and in middle America. “They didn’t want to go to the
COURTESY OF RICK GRINSTEAD
By Emily Booker
Engaged youth Sacred Heart students take part in Alpha Youth, a series designed to get young people thinking and talking about their faith.
Alpha continued on page B2
The gift of art By Bill Brewer
W
Pleasantly surprised Bishop Mark Beckman receives a religious work of art as a gift from the Diocese of Knoxville presbyterate. The gift was painted by Clorinda Galdós Bell (left).
COURTESY OF CLORINDA GALDÓS BELL
hen Bishop Mark Beckman was announced in June as the Diocese of Knoxville’s fourth shepherd, the priests of the diocese agreed that a gift from the presbyterate to its new bishop was in order. And they had just the right present in mind. It would be a permanent keepsake for generations to come; it would be symbolic of the diocese; it would capture something very meaningful to East Tennessee’s soon-to-be-installed ordinary. And even better: it would be “homemade.” That is when Father Michael Cummins, representing his fellow priests, reached out to Clorinda Galdós Bell. Mrs. Bell is a renowned artist who specializes in classic religious paintings. As a practicing Catholic, her inspiration comes from the rich imagery found in Catholicism, and her talent and skill originate from the Cuzco school of religious art she first learned from her father in her native Cuzco, Peru. Mrs. Bell, her husband, and their son are members of St. Mary Parish in Oak Ridge, and they also frequently attend St. John Neumann Church in Farragut. Mrs. Bell was excited at being commissioned by the Diocese of
Knoxville’s priests to create something special for Bishop Beckman. She and Father Cummins put their heads together and arrived at just the right idea for the appropriate image. During his ordination and installation Mass on July 26, Bishop Beckman told the congregation of his special devotion to St. Anne and St. Joachim, who were the Blessed Mother’s parents. In fact, the bishop selected July 26 for his ordination because that is the feast day of Sts. Anne and Joachim. Now, it was up to Mrs. Bell to make the saints and their young daughter, Mary, come alive amid a scenic backdrop reminiscent of the Smoky Mountains with their lush foliage, including dogwood blooms, a flowing river, and a sweeping horizon. The natural imagery is from the Diocese of Knoxville crest, which incorporates mountains, water, and the dogwood bloom as well as a large cross signifying the Catholic Church, three smaller crosses representing Tennessee’s three dioceses, and a railroad trestle in a nod to the Irish railroad workers who brought the Catholic faith to East Tennessee. It took Mrs. Bell two months to transform the presbyterate’s idea into a colorful work of art, a project that couldn’t be completed in time for the ordination or any of the celebrations immediately following
BILL BREWER
Diocese of Knoxville priests, artist Clorinda Bell present Bishop Beckman with a special painting
Patrons of the arts Clorinda Galdós Bell (second from right) and Father Michael Cummins, pastor of St. Dominic Parish in Kingsport, display the painting given to Bishop Mark Beckman. With them are Tucker and Tina Davis.
the installation. But the priests realized they would be gathering for their annual fall convocation, and that would be a fitting time to unveil his gift. So, on Oct. 22 Mrs. Bell joined the priests, who were assembled at the MeadowView Conference Resort & Convention Center in Kingsport. And to the unsuspecting bishop, the painting was presented in the presence of the diocese’s priests. “I was very surprised. I had no idea that it was going to happen. One of the things that I love about it is it reminds me of the medieval art that has been done. When I was studying in seminary in Belgium, the scenes of the life of Christ were often painted with the cities of medieval Europe in the backdrop, the medieval dress, the medieval customs, the medieval cities and backgrounds and landscapes were where the biblical scenes were set,” Bishop Beckman said. “With this particular painting, Clorinda did a beautiful job because the grandparents of Jesus and Mary are depicted in the Smoky Mountains. I think that is such a beautiful thing. In my mind, the whole thing about religious art is to connect where we are today with what’s happening in God’s sacred story,” he added. “An image like that brings the beautiful
gift of the Holy Family to East Tennessee, and I love that.” The bishop noted that the Peruvian Cuzco style of Mrs. Bell is unique. “That is certainly something that adds a different and local touch based on the artist that we have right here. I love that,” Bishop Beckman continued. He then singled out the priests for their considerate and thoughtful gift. “It was such beautiful thoughtfulness on the part of the priests because I was ordained on that feast day of Sts. Joachim and Anne, the grandparents of Jesus. I will have this beautiful, visual reminder of my ordination day all the time I am bishop. So, I love that,” the bishop shared. Mrs. Bell appreciates Bishop Beckman’s sentiments about the painting and expressed gratitude herself at being given the opportunity. “It is an honor for me, and I am very thankful that Father Cummins trusts in my art and asked me to do it,” Mrs. Bell shared. Father Cummins said several ideas were discussed before the priests settled on a painting by Mrs. Bell. Among them was a crosier. However, Diocese of Nashville Painting continued on page B3