March | 2026 VOL 35 NO 7
IN THIS ISSUE
FOR MORE STUFF A15 KID A11 MADE Notre Dame High School Kairos Kids page is a fun hosts popular Theology of the Body program
activity for younger readers of The East Tennessee Catholic
B1 FATHER-TO-FATHER CAMINO DO-OVER
Priest, Deacon make good on pilgrimage vow
Catholic commentary ....................... A3 Parish news ....................................... B4 Diocesan calendar ............................ B5 Columns ..........................................B6-7 Catholic schools ..........................B9-10 La Cosecha ............................Section C
Building the kingdom before our eyes By Dan McWilliams
A
standing-room-only gathering at the diocese’s cathedral for the annual Rite of Election was evidence that the Church in East Tennessee is growing at a record rate, reflecting a trend that is being seen nationwide. The Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus was packed to the gills on Feb. 21 as Bishop Mark Beckman presided at the firstweekend-of-Lent ceremony, known in full as the Rite of Election of Catechumens and the Call to Continu-
ing Conversion of Candidates. An all-time high of 956 entered the Church in East Tennessee in 2025, and the Diocese of Knoxville is expected to “meet and exceed” that number this year as it experiences “unprecedented growth,” said Deacon Jim Bello, diocesan director of Christian Formation. Those arriving late to the Rite of Election were forced to park two or three buildings away from the cathedral as the parking lots for the church, its parish school, and the Chancery next door filled fast. Elect continued on page A13
DAN MCWILLIAMS
Diocese is poised to set a record for new Catholics at Easter Vigil
Making it official Bishop Mark Beckman signs the Book of the Elect from St. Alphonsus Parish in Crossville for its director of religious education Sara Carey. Observing are Deacons Vic Landa, right, and Walt Otey.
Funeral Mass held for Bishop Stika
Diocese of Knoxville’s third shepherd laid to rest at Sacred Heart Cathedral By Dan McWilliams
BEE GOODMAN (2)
O
n an overcast afternoon nearly 17 years to the day he was ordained as the Diocese of Knoxville’s third shepherd, Bishop Richard F. Stika was laid to rest in the columbarium of the cathedral whose construction was a milestone of his 14-year episcopate. Bishop Mark Beckman presided at the funeral Mass for Bishop Stika on March 10 at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Bishop Stika, who died at age 68 on Feb. 17 in his native St. Louis, frequently said in homilies after the new cathedral was dedicated in 2018 that he would be buried there. Two of Bishop Stika’s longtime friends, Cardinal Justin Rigali and fellow St. Louisan Cardinal Timothy Dolan, concelebrated the funeral Mass along with Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz—second bishop of Knoxville and archbishop emeritus of Louisville, Ky.—Bishop John Stowe, OFM Conv, of the Diocese of Lexington, Ky.; Bishop J. Terry Steib, SVD, bishop emeritus of Memphis; Bishop David P. Talley of Memphis; Bishop Roger J. Foys, bishop emeritus of Covington, Ky.; and Bishop Steven J. Raica and Bishop Emeritus Robert J. Baker, both of Birmingham, Ala. They were joined by more than 50 priests and some 25 deacons. “I want to take a moment to welcome all of you to our cathedral church as we celebrate this funeral liturgy for Bishop Stika. A warm welcome to our cardinals, Archbishop Kurtz, our bishops, our priests and deacons, our seminarians, so many of the religious Sisters and Brothers whom Bishop Stika invited to the diocese as well as so many men and women faithful here gathered in our cathedral church, and in a particular way to the family of Bishop Stika here present,” Bishop Beckman said in his greeting at
From death to life Above: Bishop Mark Beckman presides at the funeral Mass for Bishop Richard F. Stika on March 10 at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus as Father Mike Nolan sings the "Celtic Song of Farewell." Left: Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop emeritus of New York, delivers the homily for the funeral Mass of Bishop Stika.
Funeral continued on page A7
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