June | 2025 VOL 34 NO 10
IN THIS ISSUE
OF HOPE A8 PILGRIMS KDCCW holds
convention at St. Mary in Johnson City
A B1 CELEBRATING MILESTONE
Notre Dame Parish marks 70th anniversary
NEWS B1 PRIESTLY Bishop Beckman
makes presbyterate appointments
Catholic commentary ....................... A3 Parish news .................................. B8,12 Diocesan calendar ....................... B9,12 Columns ......................................B10-11 Catholic youth ............................B13-14 La Cosecha ............................Section C
‘A day of great blessing’ Bishop Beckman ordains Renzo Alvarado, A.J. Houston to the priesthood By Dan McWilliams
DAN MCWILLIAMS
T
he presbyterate in East Tennessee grew by two on June 7 after Bishop Mark Beckman ordained Deacons A.J. Houston and Renzo Alvarado Suarez to the priesthood at a packed-tooverflowing Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Bishop Beckman was the principal celebrant and concelebrated the Mass with Bishop Joseph L. Coffey, an auxiliary bishop from the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, which co-sponsors Father Houston. “Brothers and sisters, what a day of great blessing that we gather in this cathedral church to ordain two men to the priesthood,” Bishop Beckman said in his opening remarks. “It is truly a gift from the Lord that we are here together with you, Deacon Renzo and Deacon A.J., and with your families.” Diocese of Knoxville priests turned out strong to welcome their newest members as more than 45 took part in the Mass, including cathedral rector Father David Boettner, Father Peter Iorio, Father Mike Nolan, Father David Carter, and Father Mark Schuster. Bishop Beckman also welcomed Bishop Coffey to co-consecrate
Called to serve Bishop Mark Beckman presides at the ordination Mass for the Diocese of Knoxville's newest priests, Father Renzo Alvarado Suarez, kneeling left, and Father A.J. Houston, kneeling right. Bishop Beckman is surrounded by priests of the diocese, and he is being assisted by Deacon Hicks Armor, right, and Deacon Sean Smith, left. Auxiliary Bishop Joseph L. Coffey of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, is standing right. Deacon Houston as well as welcoming the diocesan and visiting priests gathered.
“It is good that we are together as a presbyterate on this beautiful day that we celebrate the addition
to this Diocese of Knoxville and the many gifts that the Lord has given Ordained continued on page A19
Centenarian Mary Harris has super faith Alexian Village resident is oldest in state and second oldest in United States By Bill Brewer
A lot in a lifetime
To put Mrs. Harris’ lifetime in perspective: n The year she was born, the word radio was first used to describe wireless broadcast transmissions. n She was 11 months old when the Titanic passenger ship sank in the North Atlantic Ocean in 1912.
BILL BREWER
M
ary Harris stands out at Alexian Village, where she is a popular resident with many well-wishers at the Signal Mountain retirement community. You could even say she stands out in Tennessee, the United States, and the world. You see, Mrs. Harris is a supercentenarian, which is a rare achievement to be celebrated anywhere, including in the Diocese of Knoxville. She was born on May 13, 1911, and celebrated her 114th birthday last month. Mrs. Harris is the oldest known living person in Tennessee; she is the second oldest known living person in the United States; and, according to the Gerontology Research Group, she is the eighth oldest living person in the world. The Gerontology Research Group is a nonprofit global scientific institution that verifies and records human longevity. The research organization is considered a foremost authority on the world’s oldest humans. And to illustrate the significance of her age and lifetime, Pope Francis issued to her papal recognition in 2021 commemorating her 110th birthday.
Sharing life's moments Mary Harris is engaged in conversation with Bishop Mark Beckman during a March visit in Mrs. Harris' apartment at the Alexian Village retirement community in Signal Mountain. Mrs. Harris is the second-oldest person in the United States and eighth oldest in the world. n She was 1 year old when Woodrow Wilson was inaugurated as the 28th U.S. president in 1913. n She was 2 years old when the Ford Motor Co. introduced the first moving assembly line to manufacture the Model T automobile in 1913. n She was 3 years old when Benedict XV became pope in 1914.
n She was 3 years old when World War I began in 1914. n She wasn’t yet 4 years old when the first longdistance telephone service between New York and San Francisco was demonstrated in 1915. n She was 10 years old when Pius XI became pope in 1922. n She was 14 years old when the Grand Ole Super continued on page A18