January | 2026 VOL 35 NO 5
IN THIS ISSUE
2026 AND UNITY THE BASILICA A5 DEFENDING A4 GRACE B1 SEEK Diocese of Knoxville East Tennessee pilgrims Chattanooga commission denies recall journey to Italy for Jubilee Year of Hope
rezoning for development that threatened Sts. Peter and Paul
youth contingent treks to Columbus for convention
Catholic commentary ....................... A4 Parish news ....................................... B4 Diocesan calendar ............................ B5 Columns ..........................................B6-7 Catholic schools ............................. B10 La Cosecha ............................Section C
Celebrating NDHS Notre Dame High School commemorates 150 years of educating students By Dan McWilliams
NDHS continued on page A16
BILL BREWER
N
otre Dame High School in Chattanooga couldn’t have picked a better day than Jan. 6 to kick off its 150th-anniversary celebration. That was the day in 1876 when four Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia Congregation in Nashville arrived—at the invitation of nowServant of God Father Patrick Ryan, pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish downtown—to begin Notre Dame de Lourdes Academy for girls, the city’s first private school. The Sisters within a couple of years had to close the school because of a yellow-fever epidemic that claimed the life of Father Ryan and thousands of other Chattanoogans, but the school reopened and has remained so now for a century and a half, overcoming challenges that resulted in the
Preparing for the next 150 Notre Dame High School students, from left, Maximo Santiesteban, Lilly Sanchez, Dalana Brown, and Ryan Fillauer were among hundreds of students, faculty, alumni, priests, Sisters, and religious who gathered on Jan. 6 to usher in the historic Chattanooga school's 150th year.
Bishop consecrates new cemetery Opening of Holy Cross gives Diocese of Knoxville third sacred site By Dan McWilliams
DAN MCWILLIAMS (2)
T
he diocese’s new Holy Cross Cemetery went from a construction site to holy ground on Dec. 20 as Bishop Mark Beckman consecrated the 10.9-acre site on Northshore Drive near the KnoxLoudon county line. The property, formerly the site of a tree nursery, was donated in fall 2024 by diocesan benefactors Alan and Sally Sefton and is now the third cemetery for the Church in East Tennessee. The cemetery in the FarragutConcord-Lenoir City area has a potential capacity of 3,500 graves in its four burial gardens. The Seftons additionally contributed $1 million to establish a perpetual-care fund for the land. Mr. and Mrs. Sefton attended the consecration—which began with a ribbon-cutting—along with diocesan chancellor and cemetery superintendent Deacon Sean Smith, priests, a number of the faithful, others who helped with the cemetery project, and men and women religious. “It is such a blessed and beautiful day to be able to bless this new cemetery and to consecrate it for the people of God who will someday have their bodies buried here. It is such a beautiful place,” Bishop Beckman said. “When I first saw this location—it is hard for me to imagine what places will look like in the future—but it is truly a perfect, beautiful location for a cemetery. It is not a long journey from our cathedral, which I am delighted about. It only took about 22 minutes to get here. Also, it’s not far from the interstate, so people can come from all over.” Bishop Beckman noted that the other Catholic cemetery in the Knoxville area, Calvary Cemetery in East Knoxville, which is more than 150 years old, is nearly at capacity.
'A sign of hope that promises resurrection' Above: Bishop Mark Beckman is joined by Sally and Alan Sefton and Deacon Sean Smith in officially cutting the ribbon to open the Diocese of Knoxville's new Holy Cross Cemetery, which is located near the Knox County-Loudon County line at 14301 Northshore Drive. Below: Bishop Beckman prepares to bless a new cross placed at the cemetery and also bless the burial grounds of the 10.9-acre site. “It’s good that we have a brandnew cemetery, which will have many, many, many burials for decades to come,” he said. The bishop also said that interest in Holy Cross by parishioners has been high since the cemetery was announced last year. “A large number of people have already requested to reserve places in the cemetery,” he said. “We are so grateful to the Seftons for this gift.” Deacon Smith and Deacon Hicks Armor assisted the bishop at the consecration. Bishop Beckman recognized Deacon Smith at the event for his efforts of more than a year Cemetery continued on page A22