April | 2026 VOL 35 NO 8
IN THIS ISSUE
CHURCH OF 2050 AND A9 MOTHERHOOD A4 THE Diocesan leaders planning WORKS OF MERCY for future of Catholics in East Tennessee amid surge
Pathway to holiness found in corporal, spiritual actions
HUNGER B1 FIGHTING Holy Spirit parishioners
join together to relieve food insecurity locally, globally
Catholic commentary ....................... A3 Parish news ....................................... B4 Diocesan calendar ............................ B5 Columns ..........................................B6-7 Catholic schools ..........................B9-10 La Cosecha ............................Section C
Diocese ‘shaking with joy’ amid record numbers entering the Catholic Church Parishes celebrate the Light of Christ during Holy Week, Easter Masses By Olivia Kuhens and Bill Brewer
KATHY RANKIN (2)
C
hurches from South Pittsburg to Mountain City and Copperhill to Crossville were filled with faithful celebrating the risen Lord April 4-5 as Easter illuminated the Diocese of Knoxville. Across the nation and right here in East Tennessee, the Catholic Church is experiencing a record number of newcomers. Parishes throughout the diocese officially welcomed their new members at Easter Vigil on April 4, and it is clear records definitely were set. The Church in East Tennessee saw 851 people enter during Easter Vigil this year, a 39.5 percent increase over last year’s Easter Vigil. Along with new Catholics entering the Church at other times throughout the year, the diocese is on target to see around 1,100 people enter the Catholic Church in East Tennessee this year. Parishes are feeling the effects of this growing number of converts, and the proof is in the pews. One group of parishes where this trend is especially evident is Our Lady of Perpetual Help in LaFollette, St. Jude in Helenwood, and Christ the King in Tazewell, all under the pastorship of Father Sam Sturm. At this year’s Easter Vigil, 24 people from Father Sturm’s parishes received the sacraments of initiation. Because of the size of the group, Father Sturm and Deacon Chad Shields decided to move Holy Week Masses to Our Lady of Perpetual Help, the largest of the three parishes and the most centrally located. That decision turned out to be wise and informed. At Christmas, the number of candidates for the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults had swelled to around 27, and it was at that point that Father Sturm got a little worried. “I said to Deacon Chad that if all of these
The flame of faith Above: Bishop Mark Beckman presents a candle to a young catechumen as she receives the Light of Christ. Left: Bishop Beckman baptizes a catechumen during Easter Vigil Mass at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus on April 4. The cathedral welcomed 108 people into the Church during the Mass.
Easter continued on page A19
‘A tremendous gift’ Bishop Beckman celebrates Chrism Mass, expresses gratitude to priests By Dan McWilliams
Chrism continued on page A17
DAN MCWILLIAMS
W
hen Bishop Mark Beckman asked the faithful in the pews at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus to show their love for their priests during the annual Chrism Mass, the people responded enthusiastically. The bishop celebrated the annual Holy Week liturgy, during which he blesses the oils used during the Church year and diocesan priests renew their ordination promises, on March 31. At the end of Mass, Bishop Beckman said, “I want to express my genuine gratitude to all of my brother priests: you all are a tremendous gift to me and also to this diocese. And one of the things I loved about this presbyterate when I arrived was, there is a beautiful sense of fraternity and community in this presbyterate, so let’s let our priests know how much we appreciate them.” A round of applause quickly turned into a standing ovation A total of 75 priests concelebrated the Mass, and 35 deacons attended along with more than 20 men and women religious and members of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of
A brotherhood of faith Bishop Mark Beckman leads the Chrism Mass on March 31 at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. The Holy Week Mass is the one celebration where the bishop preaches directly to Diocese of Knoxville priests, who are seated around the altar. During the Mass, the priests renew their priestly promises and the bishop consecrates the sacred chrism.