NEWS FROM THE DIOCESE OF KNOXVILLE
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‘The most caring, faithful community’ Notre Dame Parish in Greeneville celebrates its 70th anniversary as an overflow crowd attends By Dan McWilliams
DAN MCWILLIAMS
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ounding parishioner Judy Miniat Collins has served in many leadership roles at Notre Dame in Greeneville, and upon the community’s 70th-anniversary celebration on April 27 she reflected on a recent occasion when the parish she has given so much to gave back to her. “It’s the most caring, faithful, giving community I’ve witnessed,” said the 81-year-old, the lone remaining member from Notre Dame’s founding in 1955. “I was part of the giving part for many, many years. And this past year, my son became totally bedridden, and when we came home from the hospital after three years, for one month the church community came to our house and fed us, and I got to be the receiver. That was very humbling, but I understood from what I had done in the past where they were coming from because I had been on the other side.” Bishop Mark Beckman joined Notre Dame pastor Father Joseph Kuzhupil, MSFS, and former pastor Father Dan Whitman for a 70th-anniversary Mass on Divine Mercy Sunday that was attended by some 235 of the faithful. All 160 seats in the nave were filled along with about 75 more in an overflow area. The celebration continued after Mass with a dinner and dance at the Eastview Recreation Center near the church. Father Kuzhupil welcomed the
Seventy years a parishioner Notre Dame pastor Father Joseph Kuzhupil, MSFS, gives Communion to Judy Miniat Collins, an original parishioner and the only one remaining from the parish’s 1955 founding. Bishop Mark Beckman also distributes Communion above. large gathering to the anniversary Mass. “It marks a joy to celebrate this 70th anniversary of the dedication of this church, where we experience the Lord of Divine Mercy through the Eucharist, through the sacrament of reconciliation, all the sacraments that are celebrated here that
offer God’s mercy to us,” he said. “It enhances our joy to welcome our Bishop Beckman, and he is making his first visit to Notre Dame and Greeneville,” a remark that drew a round of applause. Father Kuzhupil also welcomed Father Whitman, pastor from 2014 to 2019, and master of ceremonies
Deacon Hicks Armor. The bishop then expressed his gratitude to the pastor. “Father Joseph, thank you for that very warm and gracious welcome, and it is a great joy to be with you today,” Bishop Beckman said. “One of my great joys so far Notre Dame continued on page B2
Bishop announces new priest assignments The moves affect leadership positions in the diocese and elevate many priests to pastor of their parishes The East Tennessee Catholic
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ore than 30 priests have received appointments from Bishop Mark Beckman in an administrative move that will impact over 25 parishes in the Diocese of Knoxville. Bishop Beckman announced the assignments on May 16, and they are effective on July 1, if not before. Many of the appointments elevate the role of priests who already are in place in their parishes. And several are leadership positions within the diocese. In the diocesan curia, Father Peter Iorio, pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Alcoa, has been named vicar general and moderator of the curia. In those positions, Father Iorio will serve as Bishop Beckman’s top adjutant in administering the diocese and its Chancery. Father Iorio was ordained in 1993 at St. Augustine Church in Signal Mountain, his home parish, and has served as pastor or associate pastor at St. Mary Parish in Johnson City, St. Dominic Parish in Kingsport, St. Augustine, Sacred Heart Cathedral, St. Joseph the Worker in Madisonville, and St. Thérèse of Lisieux in Cleveland and as dean of the Five Rivers Deanery. Also, he has served as spiritual director at Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga, where he graduated in the class of 1982, as the Diocese of Knoxville’s youth ministry coordinator, as diocesan vocations director and director of priestly life and ministry, and as associate dean of formation at Mundelein Semi-
Father Peter Iorio
Father David Carter
Father Michael Cummins
Father David Boettner
nary, where he attended. Father David Carter, rector of the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga, has been named judicial vicar and vice chancellor for canonical affairs. In those positions, Father Carter is an officer of the diocese who has authority to judge
cases in the diocesan ecclesiastical court, or Tribunal, as well as being secretary of the curia and a notary. Father Carter, who received his License in Canon Law (JCL) in 2010 from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, was ordained in July 2005 at Sacred Heart Cathedral
after completing studies at Conception Seminary College in Conception, Mo., and the Pontifical North American College in Rome. After his ordination, he was assigned to St. Jude Parish in Chattanooga. He also has served as associate vocations director and associate master of ceremonies for the diocese. In addition, Father Carter served as parochial vicar at All Saints Parish in Knoxville from 2010-13 and chaplain at Knoxville Catholic High School also from 2010-13. He was assigned to the basilica in 2013. In his roles as judicial vicar and vice chancellor for canonical affairs, Father Carter will continue to lead the Diocese of Knoxville Tribunal, whose ministry is justice in the Catholic Church through canon law. The Tribunal is based in Chattanooga. Father Carter previously has served as parochial administrator of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in LaFollette and Christ the King Parish in Tazewell. Father Michael Cummins, pastor of St. Dominic Parish in Kingsport since 2014, also will serve as vicar for priests for the diocese. In this additional role, Father Cummins will assist Bishop Beckman in matters pertaining to all priests, diocesan and religiousorder, and will represent the bishop in support and guidance for priests. He will assist with communications and requests from other dioceses pertaining to priests, too. Father Cummins was ordained in 1995 at Sacred Heart Cathedral after completing studies at MunAssignments continued on page B4