NEWS FROM THE DIOCESE OF KNOXVILLE
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‘The gift of Father Michael’s priesthood’ Bishop Beckman helps Father Cummins celebrate his 30th ordination anniversary on Pentecost Sunday By Dan McWilliams
Vocations: Strengthening the Call
DAN MCWILLIAMS
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he St. Dominic community and friends and family of Father Michael Cummins filled the Kingsport church June 8 for a celebration of the pastor’s 30th anniversary of priestly ordination. Bishop Mark Beckman presided at the Pentecost Sunday Mass. Both the Mass in the church and the dinner that followed in the parish life center were standing-room only. The honoree’s humble, quiet personality and his love of nature were evidenced in the speakers’ comments at each event. “It is good to be together and celebrate the great feast of Pentecost, the day on which the gift of the Holy Spirit gave birth to the Church. Today, I know we’ve gathered folks from all over the diocese to in a special way celebrate the gift of Father Michael’s priesthood, for which we are so grateful,” the bishop said in his opening remarks at Mass. “We have many reasons this evening to be full of joy.” The 30th-anniversary celebration was delayed five years, as the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 canceled Father Cummins’ silver-jubilee events. Father Cummins delivered the homily at Mass. Twelve priests and 12 deacons also took part, including St. Dominic associate pastor Father Andrew Crabtree; Father Mike Creson, who as chaplain of the East Tennessee State University Catholic Center helped influence a young
Three decades in the priesthood Bishop Mark Beckman and Father Michael Cummins share a laugh at the latter’s 30th-anniversary Mass held on Pentecost Sunday, June 8, at St. Dominic Church in Kingsport. Michael Cummins’ vocation; and Glenmary Father Francois Pellissier of Kingsport. Deacon Steve Helmbrecht was deacon of the Word, and Deacon Frank Fischer was deacon of the Eucharist. A native of Johnson City, Father
Cummins has been pastor of St. Dominic Parish and its 1,300 families since 2014. He says he is a little partial to the Tri-Cities area, where he went to school at St. Mary in Johnson City and grew up in St. Mary Parish. Father Cummins is
the third of four boys, born to the late Jack and Betty Cummins, and his brother John was among the family present for his anniversary Mass. “I love this area. I’m a little biFather Cummins continued on page B2
NFL vet gives back to Notre Dame with free camp Fighting Irish alum Patrick Johnson of the Eagles helps 70 youngsters polish their football skills By Dan McWilliams
DAN MCWILLIAMS
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FL veteran Patrick Johnson, a 2017 graduate of Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga, gave back to his alma mater June 20 by hosting a free football camp attended by 70 boys and girls from around the city. Mr. Johnson, also an alum of St. Jude School in Chattanooga, is a 6-foot-3, 248-pound outside linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles, who drafted him in the seventh round out of Tulane University in 2021. He played for the Eagles through September 2024, then appeared in 12 games for the New York Giants for the remainder of the season. On March 14, he signed a one-year contract with the Eagles, who are the defending Super Bowl champions. He was enthusiastic about his first youth camp at Notre Dame, held on the school’s Hunter Field and Jim Eberle Field. “It’s been so much fun. We have kids from all around the city coming, kids who we weren’t expecting to show up, which I just love even more, that they feel comfortable enough and their parents feel comfortable enough to bring them out here and trusting me with the kids,” Mr. Johnson said. “It’s huge—I can finally give back to the teachers, the coaches, the kids who helped build me and made me throughout my life. The chance to come out here has just been great.” He said he “expects to do more camps in the years to come.” Campers at Notre Dame during a break gathered around Mr. Johnson
Hands raised Patrick Johnson (standing, left) calls on a camper during a question-and-answer session at the camp the NFL player held at Notre Dame High School on June 20. and asked him a number of questions, including how long he has played football (since age 6), how he handles distractions, who he found most challenging to defend in the NFL (Tom Brady), how much he bench-presses (365 pounds), who his least-favorite NFL team is (Dallas), and which was the best high-school team he faced while at Notre Dame (Alcoa). He was also asked about NFL standout running back Saquon Barkley and the toughest teams he played against in college, which included Oklahoma with Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Baker Mayfield in 2017, Ohio State in 2018, and Auburn in 2019.
Mr. Johnson, 27, is the fourth Notre Dame graduate to play in the NFL. Pat McHugh played for the Eagles from 1947-51. Reggie Mathis played for the New Orleans Saints from 1979-81 before going to the New Jersey Generals (1983) and the San Antonio Gunslingers (1985), both of the USFL. He later played in the Canadian Football League with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (1985) before finishing his career in the Arena Football League with the Detroit Drive (1988-90). Kareem Orr of Notre Dame played for the Tennessee Titans from 2019-20 and the Los Angeles Rams in 2021, winning a Super Bowl ring with the latter team. He was briefly
a member of the XFL’s Seattle Sea Dragons in 2023. Notre Dame alum Adarius Bowman played in the CFL from 2008-18 and again in 2022, winning a Grey Cup with the Edmonton Eskimos in 2015. Mr. Johnson said he remembered “every single teacher who I’ve had here at Notre Dame and St. Jude,” including his high school head coach, Charles Fant, who led the Fighting Irish from 2012-23 and was an assistant at Mr. Johnson’s camp last month. He also mentioned camp helpers Bo Campbell, a Notre Dame football assistant coach, and Jason Campbell. “The list can go on and on and Football camp continued on page B3