June | 2026 VOL 35 NO 10
IN THIS ISSUE
TO A6 COMMITTING CREATION
Bishop initiates diocesan panel on environment
BEAUTY, AND A7 TRUTH, RELATIONSHIP
Why so many are joining the Catholic Church in East Tennessee
THE TASSEL B1 TURNING NDHS, KCHS seniors receive their diplomas during 2026 graduations
Catholic commentary ....................... A3 Parish news ....................................... B4 Diocesan calendar ............................ B5 Columns ..........................................B8-9 Catholic schools ........................B11-12 La Cosecha ............................Section C
‘Come, follow me’
Father Daniel Cooper ordained a priest by Bishop Mark Beckman By Bill Brewer
The presbyterate welcomes you Left: Bishop Mark Beckman leads the Rite of Ordination for Father Daniel Cooper as Father Cooper kneels before the bishop and places his hands in the bishop's hands. Assisting at right is seminarian Nicholas Hickman. Below: Father Cooper looks to his grandmother, Cindy Cooper, during his ordination Mass celebrated at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus on June 6.
DEACON PATRICK MURPHY-RACEY (2)
T
he solemnity of Corpus Christi was observed with extraordinary sacredness at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus on June 6 as Bishop Mark Beckman ordained Daniel Cooper to the priesthood during a Mass that drew scores of people from across East Tennessee to the cathedral to celebrate the newest member of the Diocese of Knoxville presbyterate. Love and support for Father Cooper were abundant on his ordination day as two busloads and many carloads of parishioners from his first assignment—St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Fairfield Glade—helped fill the cathedral to witness the special occasion as the 65th priest ordained for service in the Diocese of Knoxville since its founding in 1988 said “Yes” when God said “Come, follow me.” And that love and support from the parishes that spiritually nourished him as he converted to Catholicism in 2018 also were apparent. Father Cooper began his faith journey to the Catholic Church and then the priesthood at St. John Neumann in Farragut and then continued it at St. Albert the Great in Knoxville. Contingents from those parishes also were on hand to watch Father Cooper profess his priestly promises. And St. Albert the Great was where Father Cooper celebrated his first Mass—his Mass of Thanksgiving—on June 7.
Bishop Beckman was the celebrant for the ordination Mass, which was concelebrated by nearly 50 priests serving in the diocese, including vicar general and moderator of the curia Father Peter Iorio, judicial vicar and vice chancellor for canonical affairs Father David Carter, vicar for priests Father Michael Cummins, and episcopal vicar for special administration Father David Boettner. Chancellor Deacon Sean Smith and more than 35 deacons and religious also took part. Also concelebrating was Father Guerric DeBona, OSB, director of spiritual formation and an instrucOrdination continued on page A14
A celebration of priesthood Msgr. Garrity marks 50 years of ministry, says vocation is a bit like Dollywood By Bill Brewer
BILL BREWER
M
onsignor Patrick Garrity publicly recognized a number of people vital to his vocation during a Mass celebrating the golden jubilee of his ordination to the priesthood. They included fellow priests, seminarians, some bishops, parishioners past and present—and Dolly Parton. The former have been instrumental in supporting him over 50 years, helping him in the creation and manifestation of his enduring ministry. The latter—Dollywood specifically—has helped him in his recreation and in putting his vocation into perspective. Monsignor Garrity began the jubilee Mass on May 8 at St. Albert the Great Church in Knoxville by thanking those in attendance, especially Bishop Mark Beckman and the more than 20 priests and deacons who participated. The longtime Diocese of Knox-
Celebrating the priesthood Monsignor Patrick Garrity gives the homily during a Mass marking the 50th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood. Listening with interest are Diocese of Knoxville priests and Bishop Mark Beckman. ville priest, who retired from active ministry in 2018 and currently serves as a sacramental associate at St. Albert the Great, considered the jubilee Mass to be “a celebra-
tion of priesthood.” “I want to take a moment before we begin to reflect upon the priests in your life who were important to you growing up and
who helped form you. Pray tonight and give thanks to God for those priests. And I want to offer this Mass for our seminarians of the Diocese of Knoxville. Pray for these seminarians that they will see the will of God at all times and that they will follow God wherever He is calling them,” the monsignor said. Monsignor Garrity served as the Mass celebrant and homilist. Bishop Beckman was in choir, and priests of the diocese concelebrated. Deacon Mike Eiffe, who serves at St. Albert, was the deacon of the Word, and transitional Deacon Daniel Cooper served as deacon of the Eucharist. Deacon Cooper was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Beckman on June 6 at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in an ordination Mass concelebrated by Monsignor Garrity. The first reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah was given by Monsignor continued on page A19