Sister Mary Yvette Gillen RSM and Father Julius Abuh are shown at a recent reception for Sister Yvette

St. Therese Church in Clinton has grown from a small mission to an established parish since its founding in 1971; and for the past 38 years, Sister Mary Yvette Gillen, RSM, has faithfully served the parishioners and priests of St. Therese as the church has expanded.

May 2013 marks the end of an era for St. Therese and Sister Mary Yvette, who resigned as pastoral assistant after nearly four decades of service to the Anderson County parish. “She brought a sense of continuity through the growth of St. Therese from a small mission to the established parish it is today, and through many pastor changes,” said Father Julius Abuh, pastor of St. Therese.

Sister Yvette’s service to the parish began in 1974 when she was in Nashville teaching school and in Knoxville during the summer working on her master’s degree. Father Bill Gahagan approached her about teaching vacation Bible school during the summer when she was in Knoxville. She taught VBS for two years and in 1976 transferred to St. Mary’s Medical Center as chaplain. Father Gahagan then asked her to help with adult education and youth programs while still serving as St. Mary’s chaplain.

In 1985, she was assigned as a full-time pastoral assistant, which included duties as director of religious education. Her title was later changed to coordinator of religious education. Under this umbrella, she improved existing programs in adult education, expanded youth education to include pre-kindergarten through high school, and initiated a Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults program. She also chaired a liturgy program and coordinated a program for liturgical ministers—servers, lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion—as well as planning and organizing prayer, penance and communion services and assisting pastors and families in planning funeral services.

Sister Yvette also coordinated an art and environment committee that decorated the church for the different seasons of the church year, served as coordinator of the visitation of the sick, which included bringing Holy Communion to the homebound, the hospital, and nursing homes.

She was instrumental in the formation of the Fun Fair, a key fundraising event for St. Therese since Father Michael Sweeney was pastor. Until February, Sister Yvette served as spiritual moderator of the St. Therese Council of Catholic Women and served on the Ministerial Committee in Clinton, which consists of representatives of the different churches in Clinton.

Sister Yvette has served with nine priests at St. Therese over her 38-year tenure: Father Bill Gahagan (3 times), Father Andrew Anderson, Father Brendan Miller, Father Michael Sweeney, Father Dan Whitman, Father Gerard Finucane, Father Bill McKenzie, Father John Orr, and current pastor, Father Abuh.

Sister Yvette, who has been on sabbatical since February, has been visiting family in Houston, joined her fellow Sisters of Mercy at a conference in Belmont, N.C., and returned to Texas to complete some classes. She will be in Jamaica May 14-July 9 to help her community with ministry, and will then return to Knoxville.

Upon her return to Knoxville, she plans to be certified as a spiritual director. Next year, she is planning a 30-day retreat. She also would like to volunteer at Tennova hospitals, and has been asked by Father McKenzie to help with special projects at Our Lady of Fatima Church in Alcoa.

Father Abuh and the parishioners of St. Therese honored Sister Yvette with a reception held in the St. Therese’s Family Center. “Sister Yvette is a member of our faith community. She will be missed by all, especially myself,” said Father Abuh, who noted that her presence and guidance will be missed by her Catholic family and others in Clinton.

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Doug Kennedy, chair of the Emerald Youth Foundation board of trustees, honored the Sisters of Mercy: from left Sister Margaret Turk, Sister Marie Moore, Sister Janice Brink, and Sister Martha Naber, all longtime supporters of Emerald Youth Foundation. Courtesy of Emerald Youth Foundation

The 20th annual Emerald Youth breakfast that benefits the Emerald Youth Foundation and its efforts to help inner-city youth honored the Sisters of Mercy on May 3 during the event that attracted about 1,000 guests at the Knoxville Expo Center.

One of the highlights of the breakfast event was to honor the Sisters of Mercy, longtime supporters of Emerald Youth Foundation.
Other highlights were worship music by a 70-member youth choir and a dialogue between Rick Dunn, lead pastor of Fellowship Church, and Emerald Youth participants.

The event raised key support for Emerald Youth Foundation, a 22-year-old youth ministry that serves more than 1,350 children, teens and young adults who live in Knoxville’s urban neighborhoods.

And of special note this year was the 20th anniversary of the first Emerald Youth breakfast, which took place in 1993 at St. Mary’s Medical Center, now Physicians Regional Medical Center owned by Tennova Healthcare. St. Mary’s provided pivotal support in the formation of Emerald Youth, including financial support, volunteers and even a building.

Steve Diggs, Emerald Youth executive director, used the 20-year anniversary to give special recognition to the Sisters of Mercy, who have committed themselves to serving God’s people—especially those who are sick, poor, and uneducated.

“The Sisters of Mercy have been constant through all the years, leading the way. Their blessing and advocacy for Emerald Youth and children in our city led to the means provided by the hospital,” Mr. Diggs said.

Influential in the formation of St. Mary’s Medical Center in 1930, the Sisters of Mercy served for decades at the hospital. They continue their ministry today through the Diocese of Knoxville and as mission representatives with Tennova Healthcare.

Begun in 1988 as a summer outreach program for neighborhood children at Emerald Avenue United Methodist Church, the youth ministry offered children Christian faith, safe relationships with adults, academic help and sports. It was so successful that in 1991 it became a separate nonprofit called Emerald Youth Foundation.

Emerald Youth now offers its programs through a network of 21 churches and faith-based organizations. Programs include: JustLead, neighborhood-based ministry offered through urban churches to provide after-school, summer, discipleship and mentoring experiences; Emerald Youth Sports, a community and campus-based sports outreach which teams with Fellowship of Christian Athletes to provide fun, skills, and competitive sport opportunities; and Emerald Youth Fellows, a Christian leadership training program for young adults.

Graham Corp., Home Federal Bank and Tennova Healthcare sponsored this year’s event, with breakfast provided by All Occasion Catering.

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By Kara Lockmiller

Alex Notte and Belen Mozo share a passion for golf. Now, the Bearden High School student who is a member of All Saints Church and the international golf pro have something else in common—a date to remember to Bearden’s senior prom.

Alex has become an overnight sensation after being featured in newspaper and television reports for his YouTube video inviting Miss Mozo, a rising star on the Ladies Professional Golf Association tour, to the prom. The video, which was shot by Alex’s sister, Arielle, has nearly 10,000 hits and the number has risen every day.

Father Michael Woods, pastor of All Saints Church poses with Alex Notte and Belen Mozo at Gettysvue Country Club on May 11 in Knoxville.
Photo by Stephanie Richer

And it had an impact on Miss Mozo, who was wowed by Alex asking her to Bearden’s prom to the hit song, “Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepsen. Arielle shot the video as Alex played golf in January.

“I was really moved when I saw the video. I knew immediately that I wanted to say ‘yes’,” said Miss Mozo, 24, who is from Cadiz, Spain.

Alex’s dream of taking Miss Mozo to prom came true on May 11 with a little help from his family and friends. Alex’s entourage at his home included his parents, grandparents, other family members and friends.

Alex, 19, was decked out in a traditional black tuxedo with black and white striped vest and matching bow tie. He also sported custom navy socks with multicolored polka dots—his personal choice. To complete Alex’s attire, he wore a white lily boutonniere adorned with two golf tees.

Miss Mozo was dressed in a fitted, full-length light green chiffon gown with a bangled bodice. Her hair was done in a loose French knot.

The couple rode to dinner at Gettysvue Country Club and then to the prom at the Clayton Performing Arts Center in Maryville in a chauffer-driven 1959 vintage Rolls Royce.

He and Miss Mozo were joined on the date by Alex’s close friends Sydney Mills and Joshua Dawes.

Alex is more than just a high school kid who took a celebrity to prom. He is a devout Catholic and a compassionate special needs teenager with a contagious positive attitude.

Alex and his family, parents Richard and Kristine and Arielle, are originally from Canada and have been parishioners at All Saints in Knoxville for 12 years.

“All Saints priests and community have been wonderful. Alex wanted to be an alter server. … Father Chris (Michelson) knew it wasn’t going to be conventional” but he allowed it anyway, Mrs. Notte said.

She noted that the church has fully embraced Alex and the special care he requires. “There have been a few homilies that have included Alex,” she said.

Alex’s home is adorned with some of his favorite items, which are commonplace for a faithful Catholic. His holy water font marks a room in his home, where inside are photos of his visit to Rome. One photo in particular appears to show Alex receiving a blessing from Benedict XVI when he was pope.

Alex’s parents said as a child he enjoyed donning vestments that were handmade for him by his grandmother.

“He used to play priest for hours on end,” said Alex’s father, Richard, as he proudly displayed the green and gold handmade vestments.

Alex so loves the Catholic faith that he invited Father Michael Woods of All Saints to Gettysvue Country Club to bless the prom dinner with Miss Mozo. Alex’s parents admitted that the days leading up to his prom were hectic but it brought them great joy to see their son so happy.

“Both sets of grandparents came from Canada for the event,” Mr. Notte said.

For those who know Alex, the recent events surrounding his prom came as no surprise.

“He’s provided us with a lot of powerful moments in our lives,” Mrs. Notte said.

Alex’s parents freely admit that raising a special needs child has not been easy but they say Alex’s challenges have provided the family a way to learn about themselves and others in a way that would never have been possible otherwise. Alex’s developmental challenges involve neurological, vision and hearing function, and he has taken up golf to help him overcome those obstacles.

“He really connects with people and he’s very compassionate,” Mrs. Notte said. Though his parents say a few doors have been closed to Alex due to his special needs, many people have been more than welcoming to him. Whittington Creek Swim Club and Bearden High School’s JROTC program are just two of those welcoming programs.

“Alex is also very involved in Young Life,” Mrs. Notte said. Young Life is a nondenominational program where children are introduced to Jesus Christ and encouraged to follow his teachings. Alex attempts to teach all about the love of Jesus, regardless of whether they are Catholic or other faiths.

“What impressed me was how Alex was so determined to follow his dreams, whether it be golf or finding a prom date, and that he refuses to be defined by the challenges standing in his way,” said Miss Mozo. “He’s an inspiration to me, and hopefully his story will encourage kids everywhere with special needs to feel great about themselves and all they can accomplish.”

Alex and Miss Mozo teamed up the morning of the prom at Gettysvue for a charity exhibition to benefit Special Olympics golf. Alex represented Tennessee in the event and Miss Mozo was the guest speaker.

Their prom date has generated a media buzz around the country as well as locally. Sports Illustrated, the Los Angeles Times and Fox Sports South are some of the media outlets who have covered Alex and Miss Mozo’s prom experience.

Family and friends of Alex in the Diocese of Knoxville say the diocese is fortunate to have a youth who is so strong in his faith and willing to teach others. Alex has been visible in Knoxville’s Catholic community since his arrival 12 years ago. From his appearance in All Saints’ Nativity Pageant as a child, his uninhibited cheering on the sidelines of Knoxville Catholic High School’s football field, to his achievements in the Boy Scouts for the diocese, Alex’s enthusiasm for his faith is contagious as is his winning personality.

Just ask the LPGA’s rising international star, who was Alex’s special date to Bearden’s 2013 senior prom.

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SHARING THE FAITH Over 20 people met at St. Michael the Archangel Mission to learn more about proclaiming Christ’s gospel message in the world. Courtesy of Kathy O’Brien

Sharing the gospel in Unicoi County has borne much fruit for the Glenmary Missioners serving in Erwin, Tenn. St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Mission sponsored “Gossiping the Gospel” recently as a means of demonstrating how Catholics  can share their faith stories as an evangelization tool. Kathy O’Brien, a parishioner of St. Michael the Archangel Mission, gave a presentation on the Acts of the Apostles discussing how the early followers of Christ went forth to proclaim the gospel. Following the presentation, participants talked about how they had used opportunities to share their faith and how they had invited people to join them for Sunday Mass. Ms. Elizabeth Dudas, a member of the Glenmary Home Missioners Commission on Evangelization, reflected on other tools of evangelization and encouraged the workshop attendees to continue to look for opportunities to educate people about the Catholic faith.

The efforts of the congregation have paid off because Mass attendance has increased from 37 people to over 100 on some Sundays according to Father Tom Charters, GHM, pastor of the mission. The community celebrated their first Mass in their new church building located at 1700 Jackson Love Road in Erwin this past Sunday, May 5.

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Bishop Stika at St. Albert the Great on May 1

Bishop Richard F. Stika celebrated the Sacrament of Confirmation May 1 at St. Albert the Great Church in Knoxville.

Confirmation season began in April, as Bishop Stika confirmed youth at 10 different churches during the month. The bishop has 12 confirmations scheduled for May around the diocese.

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A journey of faith for 318 catechumens and candidates that was celebrated at the Easter Vigil through baptism and confirmation officially began Sunday with The Sending of the Neophytes Mass at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Bishop Richard F. Stika celebrated the Mass and presided at the service, where the newest members of the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Knoxville who participated in faith formation through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults were formally sent into the community to live their faith through their parishes in full communion with the Church.

Bishop Stika welcomed the newest members and congratulated them on their faith formation as they officially enter the Church.

Bishop Richard F. Stika welcomes Angela Zigrossi into the Catholic Church during The Sending of the Neophytes Mass May 5.

“This is where I tell you about the secret handshake and code,” Bishop Stika said, sharing a lighthearted moment with the faithful. “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. I welcome you in the Catholic faith.”

Bishop Stika emphasized to those 318 who are now in full communion with Christ and his Church that what separates Catholics from the world is the body and blood of Christ, the gift from Jesus.

“We believe in God. We believe in the power of the Holy Spirit. We believe in prayer,” Bishop Stika said.

Each parish in the diocese with catechumens and candidates who entered the Church at Easter was represented at The Sending of the Neophytes. Bishop Stika greeted and congratulated each of them as they processed to the front of the cathedral.

Sister Mary Timothea Elliott, RSM, who is director of the Office of Christian Formation for the Diocese of Knoxville, also welcomed the new members and congratulated them.

Bishop Stika and she also thanked the directors of religious education and the RCIA programs in the diocese for their efforts in bringing people into full communion with the Church.

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IN RESPONSE Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz, left, signs a response to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail: at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Birmingham, Ala., on April 15. Photo by Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON—Fifty years ago, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. took a group of white Alabama clergymen to task for suggesting he find ways, other than demonstrations and protests, to seek racial equality.

The civil rights leader did not mince words telling the group that included Protestant pastors, a rabbi and a Catholic bishop—Auxiliary Bishop Joseph A. Durick of what was then the Diocese of Mobile-Birmingham, Ala.—that he was “disappointed with the church.”

In their public letter to Rev. King, published in an April 13, 1963, newspaper, the religious leaders urged him to negotiate and wait for court actions and described the civil rights demonstrations in Birmingham as “unwise and untimely.”

Rev. King, held in solitary confinement for eight days for violating the city’s ban on civil rights demonstrations, began his response to the clergymen April 16, the fourth day of his prison sentence. He used a pencil to write on margins of a newspaper and slips of paper, and he wrote only during the day since his cell had no overhead light.

The letter, addressed to “My Dear Fellow Clergymen” became the famous “Letter from Birmingham Jail.”

Jonathan Bass, history professor at Birmingham’s Samford University and author of the 2002 book Blessed are the Peacemakers: Martin Luther King Jr., Eight White Religious Leaders, and the Letter from Birmingham Jail, said Rev. King’s letter is “without a doubt the most important written document of the civil rights era.”

He told Catholic News Service April 15 that the letter was meant for a much broader audience than just these eight religious leaders but, since he wrote to them as a minister, it has deeply spiritual themes.

For the letter’s 50th anniversary, public readings of the letter are taking place not only in Birmingham, but across the United States and in places around the world.

Religious figures in particular are not just reading the letter but responding to it.

Leaders of U.S. Christian denominations who are part of the ecumenical organization Christian Churches Together gathered in Birmingham April 14-15 to sign a response to the letter and discuss its meaning then and now.

One participant was Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, vice president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and former bishop of the Diocese of Knoxville. In an April 14 address to the gathering, he stressed the importance of responding to Rev. King’s words by asking forgiveness for past wrongs, appreciating efforts that have been made and being “resolved for more action.”

He commended steps made by the Catholic Church including its Aug. 23, 1963, statement “On Racial Harmony,” issued by the administrative board of what was then the National Catholic Welfare Conference, the predecessor of today’s USCCB. It said: “We must insist that the heart of the race question is moral and religious.”

He also quoted the U.S. bishops’ 1979 pastoral letter “Brothers and Sisters to Us,” which said that “racism is a sin: a sin that divides the human family, blots out the image of God among specific members of that family, and violates the fundamental human dignity of those called to be children of the same Father.”

The archbishop told CNS that when he reread Rev. King’s letter he “recognized not just what a classic it is, but how touching it is to uncover the soul of someone seriously trying to follow Christ” and trying to move people to action.

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AWARD-WINNING GROUP Students from St. Mary School in Oak Ridge who won science-fair awards gather for a photo. Daniel Mountain (far left, third row) was the fair’s grand champion. Courtesy of Kathryn Chou

St. Mary School in Oak Ridge has a long tradition of success at the Southern Appalachian Science and Engineering Fair, and the winning string continued this spring as a St. Mary student earned grand-champion honors for the sixth year in a row.

Daniel Mountain won the top prize—a trophy and $200—with his project, “In a Fog.” The fair was held in early April at Thompson-Boling Arena on the University of Tennessee at Knoxville campus.

Daniel came up with the idea for his project one day when he was riding in a car with his mother.

“It was foggy and he was looking out at what he could see and couldn’t see and he got to wondering about what was a certain color that was easier to see in the fog,” said St. Mary science teacher Marsha Sega.

“So he built a long cylinder thing, and they got a fog-making machine and they filled it up with fog and they put different colored objects in it, shone the car headlights on it, and moved the object back until they couldn’t see it anymore. Then he recorded the distance and what color was the best for what he could see best.”

As is usually the case with students’ science-fair projects, Daniel’s “was completely his idea,” said Mrs. Sega.

“In this instance it was his idea based on something that happened to him,” she said. “Some of the kids get ideas from the Internet. Some of them get ideas from another project they saw at a science fair, and they just take the idea and base their own project around it. Sometimes parents will suggest a question; sometimes if I come up with something, I’ll throw it out to the whole class and one of them might pick up on it and say, ‘Yeah, that sounds interesting; I’ll do it.’”

The winning projects all have something in common, Mrs. Sega said.

“The kids who won prizes put a lot of work into their projects.”

Knoxville-area Catholic school students accounted for numerous other honors in the science fair. Marcela Miller of Sacred Heart Cathedral School was an overall fourth-place medalist, earning $50. Alexandra Z. Peterson of St. John Neumann School in Farragut and Jacqueline Morgan Zuraf of St. Mary School each won a fifth-place medal and $30. All three students also received a Certificate of Excellence and a $25 prize.

Others winning a Certificate of Excellence were Daniel Mountain, Stephanie Marie Romanoski, Elena Jane Martin, Shannon Erica Rearden, Sierra Nicole Mushett, Andrea N. Wilkerson, Natalia Krystine Sychtysz, Olivia Rachel Milloway, Charlotte A. Daigle, and Mary Angela Miller of St. Mary School; Thomas Kollie and Jake Timothy Renfree of St. John Neumann; Nicholas Martin and Anna Ward of Sacred Heart; and Sophia Grace Wilson of St. Joseph School in Knoxville.

Winners of locally sponsored special awards at the science fair included Grace Elizabeth Santodonato of St. Mary, who received a $50 prize and certificate from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. The Smoky Mountain chapter of the American Meteorological Society awarded $100 and a plaque to Walker Smith of Sacred Heart and the same prizes to Jacqueline Zuraf of St. Mary.

The Association of Women in Science, University of Tennessee at Knoxville chapter, awarded $25 to Sophia Wilson of St. Joseph. The College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources at UT presented a $200 award both to Jacqueline Zuraf and Mrs. Sega of St. Mary.

The East Tennessee section of the Institute for Electrical and Electronic Engineers awarded $50 each to Katherine E. Wade of St. Joseph and Natalia Sychtysz of St. Mary. The Knoxville Gem and Mineral Society awarded first-place prizes to Anna Ward of Sacred Heart.

The Science Application International Corp. presented a plaque and $75 award to Meredith Olivia Allen of St. Mary. Samantha Peck of St. John Neumann received a Sigma Xi award, and Laura Daffron of St. John Neumann won a $50 award from the Society for Women Engineers, Smoky Mountain section. Walker Smith of Sacred Heart received $50 and a certificate from the Tennessee Science Teachers Association.

Nationally sponsored awards went to Natalia Sychtysz of St. Mary from the American Meteorological Society, Elena Martin of St. Mary from the American Psychological Association, Sophia Wilson of St. Joseph from the Association for Women Geoscientists, Shannon Rearden of St. Mary from Mu Alpha Theta, Sierra Mushett of St. Mary from the U.S. Air Force, Olivia Milloway of St. Mary from the U.S. Public Health Service, and Thomas Stucke of Sacred Heart from the U.S. Navy Office of Naval Research.

Honorable-mention winners at the science fair were Nathan Michael Kidder, Katherin Lynn Cacopardo, Erin Marika Van Berkel, John Paul Kaffer, Garrett Thomas Mesmer, Meredith Allen, and Madelyn Rose Fahhoum of St. Mary; Haley Cionfolo, Margaret M. Keener, and Laura Daffron of St. John Neumann; Libby Smith, Mary Grace Coakley, Walker Smith, Natalie Eilerman, and Thomas Stucke of Sacred Heart; and Ashlyn Man, Breanna Jeffries, Mary Katherine Kidwell, and Jason Houbre of St. Joseph.

Other teachers of winning students were Amy Gilliland at Sacred Heart, Rosemary Calvert at St. Joseph, and Pam Preskenis and Brett Shaffer at St. John Neumann.

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Bishop Stika delivers best wishes, invitation, gift to Pope Francis on weeklong Papal Foundation visit

A GIFT FOR THE HOLY FATHER Pope Francis receives a framed print of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne from Bishop Richard F. Stika during a papal audience in April. Courtesy of the Vatican

The Diocese of Knoxville is making quite an impression on Pope Francis so early in his pontificate.

Bishop Richard F. Stika, who serves on the Papal Foundation’s board of trustees, met with the pope in Rome in April, even concelebrating Mass with the Holy Father, and extended an invitation to him to attend the diocese’s 25th jubilee and Eucharistic Congress in September.

Bishop Stika’s position on the foundation’s board of trustees paved the way for him to meet Pope Francis three times during the trip April 8-15.

Bishop Stika said he found Pope Francis to be “very engaging.”

“He has a very quick and beautiful smile,” the bishop said. “He does speak English. I haven’t had extensive conversations with him, but his English was clear. I saw him interact with young folks and older folks, and I think what you see is what you get. He’s very authentic.

“It’s amazing. So often when I travel, people who aren’t Catholic will approach me to share how much they like the pope. Cardinal [Justin] Rigali also encounters the same thing. People will say, ‘I’m not Catholic, but I really like your new pope.’ I’ve had that happen here in Knoxville as well as in Rome and at the airport in Atlanta, so I think he’s captured the attention of the world.”

The first time Bishop Stika met Pope Francis was at the Holy Father’s weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square.

“As the bishop, one of the perks is that I get to sit on the platform with the pope, and then you’re presented to the pope afterwards,” Bishop Stika said. “On that particular day, I think there were perhaps 30 bishops or so, so I was able to greet the Holy Father and extend the greetings of the people of East Tennessee.”

The next day, the Papal Foundation members had their audience with Pope Francis, and Bishop Stika used that opportunity to give the Holy Father a gift.

“It was at that time that I presented him a print of a stained-glass window that’s in the chapel of the residence of the archbishop of St. Louis,” Bishop Stika said. “It’s a stained-glass window of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne, who is a saint associated with St. Louis. She served there at the beginning of the 19th century. She’s buried there, and the pope has a special devotion to her, so I had a print made from one of the windows and presented it to him along with a letter extending to him an invitation to the [diocese’s upcoming] Eucharistic Congress, almost knowing that he would not be able to attend, but that we ask for his blessing for that.”

On the following Saturday, the pope celebrated daily Mass in the chapel, “as John Paul used to do,” Bishop Stika said.

“The pope’s secretary invites groups of individuals in for the Mass, and as I was the only bishop, I was the principal concelebrant, so I sat next to the pope for Mass, spoke to him, and even got a big hug at the sign of peace,” he said. “A real special moment was when we were getting vested for the Mass. We had a nice conversation in the sacristy.”

The Diocese of Knoxville was first introduced to Pope Francis in March by Cardinal Rigali, shortly after the pontiff was elected by the papal conclave.

As a member of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Rigali was in the conclave. Pope Francis and Cardinal Rigali met several times in the first hours of Pope Francis’ pontificate, with the cardinal extending the diocese’s congratulations and prayers and Pope Francis issuing a special blessing personally signed by the pope to the diocese and Bishop Stika.

Bishop Stika brought along his nephew, Joseph, on the Papal Foundation trip as a high school graduation present for the young man. The two stayed at the Domus Santa Marta, also being used as the papal residence by the newly installed Francis.

Cardinal Rigali, a member of the Papal Foundation, also accompanied the bishop on his April trip. The cardinal helped interpret when the bishop presented the print of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne to the pope.

The Papal Foundation was founded in 1988 by Cardinal John Krol, a former archbishop of Philadelphia, to support charities around the world designated by the pope. Foundation members, who are primarily from the United States as well as Canada and Mexico, are known as Stewards of St. Peter. Foundation grants in 2012 totaled $8,575,500 and went to recipients on five continents.

“The foundation works very closely with a representative of the Secretariat of State in Rome at the Vatican—currently Monsignor Peter Wells. The Holy See designates the works of charity that the pope would like to fund, and the results of that are the donations,” Bishop Stika said. “I think in 25 years, the number has been over $80 million that the foundation has given.”

Bishop Stika said the board of trustees is made up of all resident cardinals and a few bishops, including him. They meet twice a year, with a board meeting usually in April or May in Rome attended by all the Stewards of St. Peter. The week includes various tours of different sites in Rome.

The Board of Trustees also meets in December at the Nunciature in Washington, D.C. Cardinal Donald Wuerl of the Archdiocese of Washington is the board chairman, and Bishop Michael J. Bransfield of Wheeling–Charleston, W.Va., is the president.

One of the “special moments” of his Papal Foundation trip, the bishop said, involved a diocesan seminarian who is studying at the Pontifical North American College in Rome.

“I was able to present our seminarian, Michael Hendershott, to the pope twice, so he was able to come to the audience with the Papal Foundation and then I was able to get him invited to the Mass on Saturday,” Bishop Stika said. “On Saturday, as I presented Michael to the pope as his bishop, Michael probably spoke to the pope for a couple of minutes in Italian, and the pope looked at me and pointed at Michael and he said, ‘His Italian is excellent.’ So Michael got a compliment.

“Michael told me the next day on Sunday that when he went back to the North American College, as far as he can tell, he’s the only seminarian to meet the pope, and some of the seminarians were kidding him that since he met the pope twice, his bishop really must take care of him and that they’ll join the Diocese of Knoxville. It’s become a recruiting tool.”

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Catholic Charities’ ‘Kids Helping Kids’ Fun Walk attracts all ages

Diocese of Knoxville parishioners numbering between 2,000 and 3,000 took advantage of beautiful spring weather to participate in the 15th annual “Kids Helping Kids” Fun Walk held by Catholic Charities of East Tennessee.

The event took place at Knoxville Catholic High School on April 21 and was held to raise money for Columbus Home, a residential facility for abused, neglected or at-risk children that is operated by Catholic Charities.

Frank Murphy, one of the morning hosts on the radio station Star 102.1, served as the event’s emcee, keeping the crowd entertained, especially reading aloud the “shout outs” that people could purchase for a dollar to honor—and sometimes joke with—their loved ones. Star 102.1 also provided music for the festivities.

Father Ragan Schriver, director of Catholic Charities of East Tennessee, led the event and was its top fundraiser, bringing in some $2,500 for Columbus Home. Father Schriver and Mr. Murphy worked as a team to interact with the participants, and when a small technical glitch occurred that interrupted Father Schriver’s microphone during his opening blessing, Mr. Murphy lent his own voice, shouting Father Schriver’s blessing to the crowd.

“The real thanks go to you,” Father Schriver told the crowd as they gathered on the 40-yard line for a group picture.

A number of sponsors provided food and drinks, including Shoney’s, Scrumps Bakery, Wendy’s, and Pepsi-Cola, while other sponsors lent a festive air, such as Children’s Hospital of East Tennessee and Regions Bank, which held a drawing for a beach cruiser bicycle.

Before the walk, the football field at Knoxville Catholic High School was an island of fun, featuring inflatable rides, games, a magician, and demonstrations of Irish step dancing from the Drake School of Irish Dance. Visitors also could view artwork from local Catholic grade school students specifically for the event.

The walk began with a lap around the football field, and then spread out across the campus of Knoxville Catholic High School and All Saints Church, finishing back at the football field.

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