NEWS FROM THE DIOCESE OF KNOXVILLE
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Father Orr celebrates 25th anniversary The Holy Ghost pastor presides at a Mass with priests and parishioners from near and far on hand By Dan McWilliams
DAN MCWILLIAMS
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ather John Orr could not ask for more at the celebration of his 25th anniversary in the priesthood: a church full of current and former parishioners, his sister as well as priest friends from his seminary days and former assignments in attendance, and a papal blessing to top it off. The pastor of Holy Ghost Parish in Knoxville marked his silver jubilee on the exact date of the anniversary, June 16, the day in 2001 when then-Bishop Joseph E. Kurtz ordained him and Father Brent Shelton to the priesthood at Sacred Heart Cathedral. An anniversary Mass in the church preceded a catered dinner in Henkel Hall at Holy Ghost. Holy Ghost associate pastor Father Valentin Iurochkin concelebrated along with former pastor Father John Dowling, Father David Carter, Father Michael Raj Joseph, and newly ordained Father Daniel Cooper, who served his clinical pastoral education at Holy Ghost. The homilist was Father Patrick Nwokoye of the Diocese of SpringfieldCape Girardeau, Mo., who attended seminary with Father Orr. “It was so great to celebrate my 25th anniversary at Holy Ghost with so many beloved parishioners from here and St. Mary’s-Athens and from all over,” Father Orr said. “It was just lovely. Father Carter was here, and Father Patrick Nwokoye was our preacher from the Springfield-Cape Diocese. We’ve known each other since the seminary. It was just a lovely thing. Father Dowling, our former pastor, was here.” Father Dowling was pastor for
Silver jubilee Father John Orr celebrates his 25th-anniversary Mass on June 16 at Holy Ghost Church in Knoxville. With him are (from left) Father Daniel Cooper, Father David Carter, Deacon Gordy Lowery, Father John Dowling, Father Patrick Nwokoye, Father Valentin Iurochkin, and Father Michael Raj Joseph. Father Orr during the latter’s previous assignments as an associate pastor at Holy Ghost and at St. John Neumann in Farragut. Father Orr became a pastor for the first time at St. Therese Parish in Clinton in 2006. He later served as pastor of St. Mary in Athens, and his priestly assignments also include six years as chaplain at Knoxville Catholic High School. Father Nwokoye and Father Orr have both earned doctorates. “He was a doctor of philosophy before I was a doctor of philosophy, but I was a priest before he was a
priest,” Father Orr said of his seminary friend at the dinner. Now-Archbishop Kurtz and Bishop James V. Johnston Jr. of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, Mo.—a son of Holy Ghost Parish— sent their congratulations to Father Orr, which he read to the capacity gathering of 152 in Henkel Hall. Deacon Bob Hunt was deacon of the Word and Deacon Gordy Lowery of the host parish was deacon of the altar. Deacon Hicks Armor was master of ceremonies and attended along with Deacon Vic Landa. Seminarian Eli Holt proclaimed the first
reading. The Holy Ghost Latin Mass Choir directed by Mary C. Weaver sang at the Mass. The first reading was from Isaiah 61, which begins with “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me” and continues, saying, “priests of the Lord” shall be acknowledged as “blessed.” “My dear brother priests, brothers and sisters in Christ, your presence here this evening is a blessing and a testament to the enduring love of God, and your personal care for Father John Orr,” Father Nwokoye said as he began his homily. “FaFather Orr continued on page B2
Cathedral hosts special Mass for Venezuela The devastating earthquakes in June impacted the family of diocesan seminarian Abrahan Da Silva By Bill Brewer
BILL BREWER
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special Mass for Venezuela celebrated on July 8 at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus was especially poignant for Antonio Da Silva and his wife, Yazmin Vidao, who are natives of the South American country that was devastated by earthquakes on June 24. The couple, who live in Knoxville and whose son, Abrahan Da Silva, is preparing for ordination to the transitional diaconate for the Diocese of Knoxville and is to be ordained a priest next year, have family in harm’s way. Mr. Da Silva and Mrs. Vidao said after the Mass that family members were killed while either rescuing victims or trying to escape following the 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes that struck the Venezuelan coastal area surrounding the capital of Caracas. And many of their relatives lost their homes and all their personal possessions. The devastation compounds the distress of a country already in crisis, beset by economic struggles, an infrastructure that continues to be overwhelmed, and an ongoing political and human rights state of emergency. The cathedral Mass was held in solidarity and support for the people of Venezuela and those from
In solidarity Antonio Da Silva and his wife, Yazmin Vidao, are pictured with Antonella Da Silva and children in the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus parish hall following a Mass for Venezuela on July 8. that country who are now in the Diocese of Knoxville. Father Diego Rivera, an associate pastor at the cathedral, was the principal celebrant, with cathedral rector Father Michael Cummins and associate pastor Father Danny Herman concelebrating.
Deacon Fredy Vargas served as deacon of the Word and altar. And Mr. Da Silva, who currently is in formation to be a permanent deacon for the diocese, was an altar server for the Mass, which was attended by many parishioners of the
diocese. The Diocese of Knoxville’s Office of Hispanic Ministry helped to organize the Mass and with the cathedral co-sponsored a reception afterward, where those attending Venezuela Mass continued on page B3