October | 2025 VOL 35 NO 2
IN THIS ISSUE
BIRTHDAY! LOVING OPTION B1 ACatholic A4-5 HAPPY St. Mary, St. Dominic Charities' schools mark major milestones in education
adoption ministry building a track record of success
NEWS B1 SHROUD Dr. Kelly Kearse offers
straight talk about Shroud of Turin claims
Catholic commentary ....................... A3 Parish news ....................................... B4 Diocesan calendar ............................ B5 Columns ..........................................B6-7 Catholic schools ............................. B10 La Cosecha ............................Section C
Teaching them as Jesus taught Bishop leads class for young adults on ‘Mystery of Catholicism’ By Bee Goodman
Teacher continued on page A22
BILL BREWER
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ishop Mark Beckman is taking the solemn vow he made when ordained to be a “true and authentic teacher of the faith” to heart and soul. In addition to his daily ministry as the Diocese of Knoxville’s shepherd, the bishop is teaching a 12-week course tailored to young people called “Mystery of Catholicism.” Starting in September, Bishop Beckman embarked on the journey for knowledge with young adults from around the Diocese of Knoxville. The lecture series is exploring Catholic origins and discipleship. Leaning into their curiosity, the students in attendance are asking questions and seeking advice from the diocese’s ranking theologian. With its early success, Bishop Beckman hopes to continue the lecture series in 2026. On Sept. 9, Bishop Beckman began the educational lecture series at the diocese’s Chancery. The series invites those age 18-35 to indeed explore the mystery of Catholicism. The course had a full audience of about 60 on the first night and is av-
Lessons in faith Bishop Mark Beckman explains the nuances of the Catholic faith to young adults from around the Diocese of Knoxville who are gathering every Tuesday night at the Chancery to learn more about the Church and what it believes. The bishop's classes are proving popular as every session has been averaging between 50 and 60 students.
‘Where hope meets opportunity’ Jeremiah inspires Johnson City cafe to serve employees and customers alike By Bee Goodman
BEE GOODMAN
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he environment in which a student thrives is different from one to another. For some children, like those with physical or mental disabilities, this is especially true. Educational settings are incredibly important for these individuals to build skills, but post-graduation can be a challenge, too. Jennifer and Dr. Kevin Sweet, who are members of St. Mary Parish in Johnson City, were noticing their daughter Kate having an especially challenging time in public school. She is diagnosed with autism, has a genetic disorder, and suffers from seizures. At school, Kate was academically four years behind other students her age, which was overwhelming and caused her to endure panic attacks almost daily. Like any good mother, Mrs. Sweet couldn’t stand to see her child go through this, so she enrolled Kate in Jeremiah School. Jeremiah School is dedicated to providing a safe and comfortable learning environment for kids requiring more attention to thrive. Its mission is to help children with autism reach their full potential. When Kate began classes at Jeremiah School, she immediately relaxed. “For the first time, I was actually seeing her make progress,” Mrs. Sweet shared. “Also, this was the first time she’d been able to make friends.”
A cozy and inviting cafe Jeremiah Café owner Jennifer Sweet, right, enjoys a moment with employees of the Johnson City restaurant that serves its workers and customers alike with dignity, respect, and value. Dr. Kevin and Jennifer Sweet's cafe offers a menu full of food, beverages, and desserts. The Sweets are members of St. Mary Parish. “They’re (Jeremiah School) helping them (students) grow socially, they do volunteer work, they try to help them be a whole human being. And they are,” she added. For the next few years Kate began to learn and grow in a way she’d
never been able to before. But when she reached high school, the family was confronted with the future. The school explained that being an adult with autism could be challenging. “They sat us down and said after you get out of here it’s not going to
be easy. There’s no help for you once you’re an adult. So, whatever help you’re getting now, that’s it,” Mrs. Sweet remembered. “Traditionally what happens is they ‘graduate to the sofa.’ That Jeremiah continued on page A9