NEWS FROM THE DIOCESE OF KNOXVILLE
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‘A joyful celebration’ at Our Lady of Fatima The Alcoa parish holds a 75th-anniversary Mass and dinner to cap a yearlong series of events By Dan McWilliams
DAN MCWILLIAMS
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ur Lady of Fatima Parish in Alcoa completed a Jubilee Year of celebration on Nov. 22 as it marked 75 years from its humble beginnings in 1950 to its thriving community of more than 1,500 families today. Bishop Mark Beckman joined host pastor Father Peter Iorio and a church filled with parishioners, visitors, and Our Lady of Fatima’s fellow Blount County church and community partners for a bilingual anniversary Mass and a dinner and program that followed at the Airport Hilton. The Mass was held on the vigil of the feast of Christ, King of the Universe. “Brothers and sisters, what a beautiful evening to gather to celebrate 75 years in which this community has lifted high the cross of Christ,” Bishop Beckman said in his greeting at the start of Mass. “Jesus Christ is the true King of the Universe.” Father Iorio also welcomed the gathering “for this joyful celebration of our parish’s 75th anniversary. It is also, thanks be to God, the vigil of the solemnity of Christ, the King of the Universe. We warmly welcome our parishioners, guests, community partner agencies and organizations, and all friends of our parish.” Our Lady of Fatima Parish held celebrations from March through October to mark its jubilee year. A Mass on March 11 celebrated the 25th anniversary of its current church building. Events were held
‘A beautiful evening to gather to celebrate 75 years’ Bishop Mark Beckman presides at the anniversary Mass on Nov. 22 at Our Lady of Fatima Church in Alcoa. Host pastor Father Peter Iorio is the priest farthest right. Also pictured are (from left) Deacon Leon Dodd, Father Joseph Austin, Father Jhon Mario Garcia, Father Elijah John Joseph, and Deacon Bill Jacobs. on the 13th of each month from May through October, the particular day being chosen because the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin to the three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal, occurred monthly on the 13th from May to October 1917. A “Fatima Pilgrimage Passport” was given to all parishioners that could be stamped at each monthly
event. Those receiving all six stamps were given a special recognition at the anniversary dinner. “Throughout this jubilee year, we have journeyed together month by month in prayer, remembrance, and renewal. We have honored the generations who have come before us, celebrated the blessings of the present, and embraced with hope the mission that continues to lead
us forward,” Father Iorio said. “All of those moments come together today in this beautiful Mass of thanksgiving. We give thanks for the countless parishioners, families, clergy, neighbors, community partners, and friends who have shaped this community over 75 years and for all who continue to make Our Lady of Fatima Parish a place Fatima continued on page B2
Sam Goodwin shares amazing story at St. Patrick By Dan McWilliams
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n coming to St. Patrick Church in Morristown on Oct. 25, Sam Goodwin continued to fulfill a promise he made to the Lord more than six years ago. Mr. Goodwin, a cradle Catholic from a family of seven in St. Louis and one of few people to visit all 193 United Nations-designated countries in the world, was taken hostage by state police in Syria in 2019 and held in prisons for more than 60 days, including at the infamous Branch 215 that was the site of an untold number of tortures and executions. His release to neighboring Lebanon came only after much prayer, a little assistance from a Maronite saint, and a phone call made by his sister that most directly led to his freedom when the efforts of U.S. and international leaders were seemingly at a stalemate. “On June 14, 2019, I made a promise to God that if He got me out of the situation I was in, I would never pass up an invitation to share this story with others. It’s a privilege to be here in Morristown and to share a little bit of my story with all of you this evening,” Mr. Goodwin said to an audience of 125 in the St. Patrick parish center. Parishioner Renee McGarel emceed the talk, which followed a catered buffet dinner, and the event was among the first facilitated by St. Patrick’s new social-activities coordinator, Kimberly Toby.
Mr. Goodwin, an entrepreneur who has also visited all 50 states and delivered keynote talks around the world, wrote Saving Sam: The True Story of an American’s Disappearance in Syria and His Family’s Extraordinary Fight to Bring Him Home, published by Center Street in September 2024. The author signed copies of his book after his talk at St. Patrick. Accompanying him to the Morristown church, as it has to every country in the world, was Mr. Goodwin’s backpack from his high-school days made by The North Face. Mrs. McGarel welcomed longtime parishioners, newcomers, and guests to Mr. Goodwin’s talk and thanked volunteers for helping set up and clean up. “Your presence breathes life into our parish family,” she said. St. Patrick pastor Father Miguel Vélez and associate pastor Father Hoan Dinh attended the talk, with Father Vélez prefacing the blessing of the meal by saying that the full parish center was a sign “we need a bigger place.” Mr. Goodwin has family in St. Patrick Parish and spoke there two weeks before his wedding. He now lives in Tampa, Fla., with his bride. Mrs. McGarel said Mr. Goodwin’s talk came about after a friend “gave me a book to read ... about a relative of mine.” The friend introduced Mrs. McGarel to Mr. Goodwin’s parents, and she soon heard from the speaker. “We connected, had some conver-
DAN MCWILLIAMS
Catholic traveler, on his way to visit every country, tells of imprisonment in Syria and promise to God
A vow ‘to share this story with others’ Sam Goodwin speaks to an audience of 125 at St. Patrick Church in Morristown on Oct. 25. sations, and set the date, and here he is to share his story,” she said. Mr. Goodwin is a former Division I hockey player at Niagara University and holds a bachelor’s degree from there, a master’s from Washington University in St. Louis, and a doctorate from Johns Hopkins University. He co-founded a tech company and NGO in Singapore, spending six years in that country after starting with the intent to work there only three months. His talk at St. Patrick opened with a video of a newscast announcing his release from captivity in Syria. Mr. Goodwin began his world
travels on weekends and other breaks in his work schedule while in Singapore. “Throughout this time, I traveled as much as I could. I was in my early 20s, in the heart of southeast Asia, had a little bit of flexibility in my work schedule, and had the world’s best airport in my backyard,” he said. “I took advantage of the opportunity to explore as much of the region and beyond as possible. I didn’t like to repeat places, so even if I went somewhere and had a fantastic experience—the next weekend, the next holiday, the next opportunity I had—I would Sam Goodwin continued on page B4