Titled “Any Further Questions?,” Father Schriver’s talk compared the students’ imminent entry into “real life” with the feeling of anticipation one experiences as a class or lecture is drawing to a close: just as freedom is at hand, someone has “just one more question.”

Citing the nervous anticipation graduates must be feeling at the end of their college experience, Father Schriver suggested that the most significant part of their education was learning how to question. He said he hoped that “the courage that you have developed to question can lead to making the world a better place, a place where we make peace together, where we recognize that we are all sons and daughters of God, and even where our hunger for justice is satisfied.”

Maryville College officials described Father Schriver’s words as “engaging, entertaining, and relevant.”

Photo: Father Ragan Schriver delivers the baccalaureate speech at Maryville College.

May an ardent prayer sustained by the motherly intercession of Mary, rise from every corner of the earth, to the heavenly Father to obtain “labourers for his harvest” (Mt 9,38). May He give zealous and holy priests to every part of his flock. Sustained by this awareness we turn to Christ, the High Priest, and we pray to Him with renewed trust:

Jesus, Son of God, in whom the fullness of the Divinity dwells, You call all the baptized to ” put out into the deep”, taking the path that leads to holiness. Waken in the hearts of young people the desire to be witnesses in the world of today to the power of your love. Fill them with your Spirit of fortitude and prudence, so that they may be able to discover the full truth about themselves and their own vocation.

Our Saviour, sent by the Father to reveal His merciful love, give to your Church the gift of young people who are ready to put out into the deep, to be the sign among their brothers of Your presence which renews and saves.

Holy Virgin, Mother of the Redeemer, sure guide on the way towards God and towards neighbor, You who pondered his word in the depth of your heart, sustain with your motherly intercession our families and our ecclesial communities, so that they may help adolescents and young people to answer generously the call of the Lord. Amen.

(From the Holy Father’s Message for 2005 World Day of Prayer for Vocations)

By Dan McWilliams

Every seat was filled in Sacred Heart Cathedral on April 3 as Bishop Richard F. Stika celebrated his fourth chrism Mass as the Diocese of Knoxville’s shepherd.

“What a wonderful night this is as the Church of East Tennessee gathers from all the different corners together with our priests and deacons and all of us who are family united in the power and glory of God through the gift of his son, Jesus,” said the bishop in his greeting.

Concelebrants included Cardinal Justin F. Rigali; the diocese’s four deans, Father Bob Hofstetter, Father Bill McKenzie, Father Chris Michelson, and Monsignor George Schmidt; vicar general Monsignor Xavier Mankel; and vicar general and cathedral rector Father David Boettner. Transitional Deacon Dustin Collins and diocesan chancellor Deacon Sean Smith assisted.

More than 50 other priests concelebrated, and another 30 deacons attended the Holy Week Mass along with women religious and East Tennessee Catholics from around the diocese.

The Chrism Mass included the priests’ annual renewal of commitment to priestly service. The bishop also blessed the sacred oils used in the Church throughout the year.

In his homily, the bishop said that Jesus “was able to recognize people by their face, by their person, and by their personality.”

“We, too, can recognize Jesus in the faces of the people that you’re with this evening and the people whom you’ll see on the highways, the streets, at work, and at school—people that you love and people that you just don’t understand.”

People looking for Jesus join the Church at the Easter vigil, the bishop said.

“In a few days, the Diocese of Knoxville, along with churches that are scattered throughout the world, will receive new people into our midst. People who wish to receive the sacrament of the Eucharist, people who wish to share with us the faith and trust and the belief in Jesus Christ, whether they belong to another faith community or maybe if they’ve never known God. That’s what the joy of Holy Week reminds me of: people who wish to see Jesus.”

The Chrism Mass is an opportunity to celebrate the priesthood, Bishop Stika said.

“I have to tell all you folks who are sitting behind the priests that they represent to me the face of Jesus,” he said. “Some faces are younger and some are older. Some are bigger and some are smaller. Some smile more than others, but behind those smiles are people who have said yes to the Lord.”

The bishop asked the faithful to keep the Diocese of Knoxville’s first leader, Bishop Anthony J. O’Connell, in their prayers.

“A few days ago, Cardinal Rigali and I visited the founding bishop of this diocese to see how he was doing, and I ask all of you to pray for him—he has health problems.”

Blessing of the chrism After mixing the balsam and oil, Bishop Stika breathes over the chrism, praying that the Holy Spirit be present in it. He then prayed the consecratory prayer over the chrism. Also seen are (from left) Deacon Sean Smith, Father Randy Stice, and seminarian Scott Russell. Photo by Dan McWilliams

“Following that, we begin the celebration of the anniversary of the Diocese of Knoxville—25 years of existence. We have much to celebrate. We have much to be filled with joy about,” including “the presence of religious, brothers in the priesthood,” and deacons, the bishop said.

The bishop said he was proud of the diocese’s seminarians—several of whom served at the altar during the Chrism Mass—“who have said yes to the Lord” in discerning a vocation. Five more seminarians next fall could join the diocese’s 17 men currently studying for the priesthood, the bishop said.

“In a few months, if Deacon Dustin Collins behaves himself and I’m in a good mood, he’ll be ordained a priest of Jesus Christ,” said Bishop Stika. “Following that we’ll have two more ordinations this year to the transitional diaconate. Again we’re very blessed.”

The bishop urged the faithful to be generous in the special Easter Sunday collection for seminarian education.

During his homily, the bishop also thanked “my brothers who are international priests, true missionaries in spirit from around the world, who have joined us in this presbyterate to teach the faith, to celebrate the sacraments, and to love God’s people.”

After the homily, the priests renewed their commitment to the priesthood, pledging before the bishop to “be more united with the Lord Jesus and more closely conformed to him, denying yourselves and confirming those promises about sacred duties toward Christ’s Church which, prompted by love of him, you willingly and joyfully pledged on the day of your priestly ordination. Priests also promised to “be stewards of the mysteries of God in the Holy Eucharist and other liturgical rites and to discharge faithfully the sacred office of teaching, following Christ the head and shepherd, not seeking any gain but moved only by zeal for souls.”

The assembly promised the bishop to “pray for your priests, that the Lord may pour out his gifts abundantly upon them and keep them faithful as ministers of Christ, the high priest, so that they may lead you to him, who is the source of salvation.” The faithful also promised to pray for the bishop, “that I may be faithful to the apostolic office entrusted to me in my lowliness and that in your midst I may be made day by day a living and more perfect image of Christ, the priest, the good shepherd, the teacher, and the servant of all.”

In the procession of the oils, Monsignor Philip Thoni, the senior active priest of the diocese, brought the balsam for the chrism forward. The oil of catechumens was presented by Matthew and Noah Durham of Holy Ghost Parish in Knoxville. Jay and Sue Smith of Holy Family in Seymour brought forward the oil of the sick. Father Doug Owens, the diocese’s most recently ordained priest, presented the oil for the chrism. Four of the Chancery’s newest employees, Lori Trikones, Angie Connors, Pam Dietz, and ETC editor Bill Brewer, brought forward the gifts.

Bishop Stika then blessed the oils of the sick and the catechumens. He mixed the balsam and oil for the chrism, and then breathed over the chrism, praying that the Holy Spirit be present in it.

“As we gather together to bless the oil of the sick, we pray for those of the diocese who are ill in mind, body, or spirit,” the bishop said. “As I bless the oil of catechumens, it’s a reminder to all of us that by virtue of God’s call and maybe our witness, people will be joining us in our faith.”

In his closing remarks, Bishop Stika thanked the assembly for its presence.

“I pray that you don’t waste this week because it’s a week given to us by Christ himself. I also pray for those people who are separated from the Church. Maybe by your invitation and by your witness, they may come back. Again, pray for vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life. Especially we pray for the gift of peace in the world that so badly needs the peace of Christ.”

One of the many things I love about the Easter Season are the daily Mass readings that take us through one of my favorite books of the Bible—the Acts of the Apostles. During these 50 days between Easter and Pentecost (celebrated on May 27 this year) we are invited to ponder not only the mystery of Christ in His Risen humanity, but also Christ in his Mystical Body, the Church. By doing so, we also come to reflect upon something very precious—motherhood.

I am reminded of a story about Pope St. Pius X (1835–1914) and the lesson that his mother once taught him. Shortly after being ordained a bishop, the future pope visited his mother. Son though he was, she greeted him formally, taking his hand and kissing his new episcopal ring. So the story goes, she then offered him her hand with her wedding ring for him to kiss, reminding him that without her ring his would not have been possible.

I love this story because when we celebrate our Catholic faith we also celebrate motherhood, for the Church too is a mother. This intimate connection is such that when the Church is honored and respected, so too is motherhood.  Whenever we draw close in fidelity to the Church and her teachings, we also necessarily draw close to Mary. She who is the Mother of Christ is no less the Mother of His Body, the Church. Herein lies the full meaning of the words of Christ upon the Cross: “Behold your mother” (John 19:27).

But it is also true that whenever the Church is vilified and attacked for her fidelity to Christ as His Bride, we also find a corresponding assault upon the dignity of motherhood.

We can see this in the new form of chauvinism that has taken root today. The federal government, seeing itself superior to the Church and less than deserving of Constitutional respect, has created a “speak only when spoken to” type of relationship and forces its will upon the Church and her faithful.

For this reason, I find the Acts of the Apostles so refreshing, for it celebrates the Church as Mother in all of her joys and sufferings. It offers us hope. In the inviting words of St. Lydia to St. Paul in response to the Gospel, we hear the invitation of the Church as a loving mother to all of us: “Come to my house and stay” (Acts 16:15).

Without Mary’s “yes” to God (Luke 1:38), our Redemption would not have been possible. And like any good mother, she recognizes our needs and sufferings and does what a mother does best—she makes things better. Take her hand and she will lead you to the Father’s house (Luke 2:49), where you will find your Bridegroom.

In a season of celebration that also includes Mother’s Day, I thank all of you who are mothers for the many sacrifices unique to your exalted vocation. I thank all who are wives who by their fidelity and love share in the mystery of the Church’s love for Christ. I thank all single women who likewise share in the Church’s longing for Christ like the wise bridesmaids who keep the oil lamps of their faith burning bright (Matthew 25:1-13). And I also thank all consecrated women who through their vows of chastity, poverty and obedience help all of us to become more faithful brides of Christ.

May God bless you all.

By Bill Brewer

The Paraclete, a staple for Catholics across the diocese for books and gifts, is now part of the Diocese of Knoxville.

The diocese took ownership of the retail outlet April 1 when Karl and Becky Fillauer, who started the Paraclete in May 1987, made it a gift to the diocese.

The property transfer includes a commercial building on Erin Drive the Fillauer family gave to Sacred Heart Cathedral in December.

Discussions between the Fillauer family, longtime Sacred Heart parishioners, and the diocese on the future of buildings the family owns adjacent to Sacred Heart began about a year ago, according to Father David Boettner, Sacred Heart pastor.

The store, originally located on Broadway near the Fourth and Gill neighborhood, relocated to 417 Erin Drive off Northshore Drive in 1990, shortly after the diocese formed.

“Karl Fillauer’s vision for The Paraclete was as a ministry,” said Father Boettner. “He was participating in a lay leadership program and saw it as a way to enhance faith. Originally, his intention was running the store as a way to reach out to Catholics and those of other faiths.”

In gifting The Paraclete to the diocese, the Fillauer family wanted to ensure that the store would continue to be a resource for Catholics in East Tennessee, Father Boettner said.

“Karl is a very successful businessman in his own right and this was not one of the ventures he saw as a profit-generating business, but rather as a ministry,” Father Boettner said.

Mr. Fillauer and his family own and operate Fillauer Companies, a leader in the production of orthotic and prosthetic products.

Mr. Fillauer said hard work by those involved in starting and operating the business has contributed to The Paraclete’s success and growth through the years, noting that for many years the store required financial assistance but now enjoys positive cash flow.

“The name of the store was suggested by Father Francis Chaisson to be The Paraclete. The word Paraclete means the Holy Spirit but it also means ‘called to the side of’ and has been translated as ‘counselor,’ ‘comforter,’ and ‘consoler,’ all of which apply to The Paraclete ministry,” Mr. Fillauer said.

“The Fillauer family, including our sons Michael and David, are very pleased with the transfer of ownership to the Diocese of Knoxville, which will ensure continued growth and stability. We are also hopeful that when people have a choice, they will choose to purchase from The Paraclete instead of buying from a catalog or some other source,” he added.

To operate The Paraclete, the diocese has created a nonprofit organization called Diocese of Knoxville Paraclete Christian Books and Gifts. Serving on the new nonprofit’s board are: Mr. Fillauer; Father Boettner; Monsignor Al Humbrecht, pastor of Holy Spirit Church in Soddy-Daisy; Deacon David Lucheon, finance officer for the Diocese of Knoxville; and Paraclete manager Vonnie Spicer.

Father Boettner said The Paraclete will remain in its present location and the current staff will continue to run it. One change under consideration, according to Father Boettner, is giving the store an Internet presence.

“It’s a new venture for us. We’re excited about working with the staff of The Paraclete,” Father Boettner said. “Any profit from the store will be used to support charity.”

Mrs. Spicer said Paraclete customers won’t see any changes initially, but she anticipates the business will continue to expand, noting that it’s the only Catholic books and gifts store in East Tennessee.

She hopes to increase sales with churches in the diocese. “We would like them to think of us before anyone else,” said Mrs. Spicer, who manages the store with daughter Tricia Sellers.

The mother-daughter management team believes it is important for the store to continue its religious mission.

“The store has truly become a ministry and that’s one of the things that will stay. It will remain a ministry and that’s important,” Mrs. Sellers said.

Spicer has worked in The Paraclete since its inception, starting as a volunteer worker, and said the business succeeds because of the ministry and the fact customers have always been the focal point.

“It’s not about the sale. It’s putting customers on the right path, whether we connect the customer with a specific product, a priest or a novena,” Spicer said. “We are often told how unique this store is.”

The appeal yearly provides:

• education for children in Catholic schools and faith formation for those in religious-education programs;
• shelter for more than 300 homeless people;
• meals for almost 10,000 families;
• counseling and support for more than 11,000 people facing unemployment, depression, addiction, divorce, crisis pregnancy, or the death of a loved one;
• preparation for the more than 300 adults who join the Church at the Easter Vigil;
• services for the elderly and people seeking to become American citizens; and more.

Bishop Richard F. Stika urges the faithful to join him in making a sacrificial gift to the Annual Bishop’s Appeal. “I can’t think of a better investment than spreading the Gospel and helping people grow in holiness,” he said.

Donations to the Bishop’s Appeal can be made online at https://donate.dioknox.org. For more information, see “Annual Bishop’s Appeal launches” at bit.ly/AlbkzP.

By Dan McWilliams

Calling it “a great joy to be here today as we celebrate 50 years of this house of God,” Bishop Richard F. Stika presided at the golden anniversary Mass on March 25 for St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish in Cleveland.

Concelebrants included Father David Boettner, a diocesan vicar general and a son of St. Thérèse Parish; Father P. J. McGinnity, a former pastor; Abbot Cletus Meagher of St. Bernard Abbey in Cullman, Ala., a Cleveland native; and Father Alberto Sescon, the current St. Thérèse pastor. Deacons Charles Lee of St. Stephen in Chattanooga and Gary Brinkworth of St. Thérèse assisted.

Also present were founding pastor Father Paul Hostettler and former pastors or associates, including Fathers Mike Nolan, Alex Waraksa, Joe Brando, Antonio Giraldo, Antony Punnackal, and Peter Iorio. Twenty-three of the parish’s 109 founding families attended the anniversary dinner after Mass.

Cleveland’s Catholic church began as the Church of the Resurrection in 1914, with a building located at the current First and Worth streets. In 1956, with a membership of 300 parishioners and counting, the parish started planning for a larger church. Property on Clingan Ridge Road totaling 6.8 acres was purchased in September 1960 for $18,000.

The new name for the church, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, was announced in March 1961. Ground was broken on the new church and rectory two months later. The first Mass was celebrated in the new building in December 1961, and Father Hostettler moved into the new rectory the same month. The altar was consecrated in honor of St. Thérèse of Lisieux in February 1962, and relics from the bones of St. Clement and St. Laetus were placed in the sepulcher. Bishop William L. Adrian of Nashville dedicated the church April 30, 1962.

Today the church has grown to 897 families with 2,490 members.

In his homily at the 50th-anniversary Mass, Bishop Stika referred to the day’s Gospel reading from John 12, in which some Greeks asked Philip, “Sir, we would like to see Jesus.”

“For 50 years, since 1962, people have come into this church looking for Jesus in a variety of ways,” he said, citing the sacraments of baptism, reconciliation, the Eucharist, confirmation, marriage, and holy orders.

“Ordinations happened in this church. Someone who listened to the call of Jesus and was looking for him gave their life for service. In fact, if you look at any of the sacraments, but especially the Eucharist—the summit, the high point of who we are as Catholics and as Christians—there is a moment when we see Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament after those words have been pronounced: ‘take and eat’ and ‘take and drink.’”

That is why “this is more than just a building,” Bishop Stika added. “It is a place where people gather together around the sacraments looking for Jesus.”

St. Thérèse “never left the confines of her cloistered convent in France, and yet she’s the patroness of missionaries throughout the world,” the bishop said.

“What does that say to all of us today?” he asked. “Through the intercession of St. Thérèse, whose patronage is guiding this parish, it’s the Lord who invites us to go out from this church building to be missionaries with her protection. As we confront another person, or as we bump into another person along our journey of life and faith, as we go to the workplace or school, we carry with us that missionary zeal.”

The beauty of St. Thérèse Parish “is not just the walls, or the windows, or the Stations,” Bishop Stika said. “The beauty of this parish is you who gather together to celebrate parish life.”

The bishop also announced during the homily that he had officially made Father Sescon the pastor of St. Thérèse, news that drew a round of applause. Father Sescon had been parochial administrator of the parish since July.

During the dinner, a DVD played that featured Father Hostettler’s reminiscences about St. Thérèse Parish’s early days. Also seen in the DVD were former pastors and associates, whose appearance on the screen drew hearty applause from the St. Thérèse faithful. Founding families were each presented with a small statue of St. Thérèse at the dinner.

Father Hostettler enjoyed his visit to his old parish.

“This was very wonderful, to see all the people and how enthusiastic they are about the parish and how it’s expanded, so I was happy to be here,” he said. “And to think after all these years, I’d be alive to experience it.”

Father Hostettler made the decision to change the name of the parish when the Church of the Resurrection moved to a new location.

“When I came here, I couldn’t find the old church because people didn’t know it was a Catholic church,” he said. “I just thought we needed to do something to make it more identifiable, and the bishop told us to give him three names.

“I found out if you put your favorite on the top of the list, he’ll give it to you if he can. St. Thérèse is my favorite saint, and I put that on the top of the list, and he named it that.”

Charter parishioner Barry Boettner, who is Father Boettner’s father, said he thought the anniversary event “was a great celebration of our 50 years as a parish” and praised those who put together the DVD. He said the parish has grown considerably since its Church of the Resurrection days.

“It sure has. Some of the churches we had before were so small that people would stand outside and look in through the windows to attend Mass because you couldn’t fit inside,” Mr. Boettner said. “For a small group like that to take on the task of building a church this size—it was quite a commitment.”

Mr. Boettner first came to the Church of the Resurrection in June 1960. “My oldest son was baptized in the old church, and my other four children were baptized in this church,” he said.

Sally Owens is another charter parishioner who attended the Mass and dinner. She said the parish “surely has come a long way” since 1962. She added that “there was a lot of closeness” in the parish in its early days.

“We were a small parish and we didn’t have a whole lot, so the women worked together in groups, and they had bazaars and suppers and such to raise money for the church.”

By Kevin Hosey

A group of parishioners from Immaculate Conception Parish in Knoxville recently returned from Haiti in its first trip there since the devastating earthquake that rocked Port-au-Prince.

The group, which included a medical team, visited IC’s sister parish, St. Francis Xavier, in Fond des Blancs. They then worked for several days, volunteering at the Visitation Hospital two hours south of Port-au-Prince.

The trip was organized by IC’s Haiti committee and was partially supported by a fundraising dinner featuring Visitation Hospital Foundation’s U.S. director, Art Judy, along with special collections. Immaculate Conception has been twinned with St. Francis Xavier for about 17 years, and groups have gone down to visit six or seven times during that period. The main focus of fundraising for the sister church is to support the schools in Fond des Blancs, including St. Francis Xavier, and the church’s numerous chapels. IC also supports day-to-day needs of the parish, which like most in Haiti has very limited resources.

Port-au-Prince was devastated by the massive earthquake that hit in January 2009. The Palace (Haiti’s White House) was destroyed and remains in a heap, as was the cathedral, where the bishop of Port-au-Prince was killed as he stood on the balcony of the ancient church when the quake hit. Tent cities throughout the area house more than 200,000 people in Port-au-Prince. The IC group was saddened to learn of the death of Janvier Frischner, the translator for IC’s previous trip to Haiti. He died attempting to rescue his young daughter as the quake hit his home.

The pastor of St. Francis Xavier, Père Charles Marquis, and his assistant, Père Innocent, are responsible for the main center in Fond des Blancs as well as 20 outlying chapels that are an hour or more away by car and three to four hours by foot. In all, there are more than 60,000 Catholics in the parish.

Members of IC’s medical team were Dr. Caleb Warren, Dr. David Rueff, Dani Bernard, and Teresa Kiser. The nonmedical portion of the group included Teresa’s daughter, Emily Kiser, 16; Ralph Herbert, a member of the IC pastoral council; Kevin Hosey and his daughter, Olivia Hosey, 16. The group attended Mass at St. Francis Xavier and visited St. Francis Xavier School, which has more than 600 students. It is the only Catholic secondary school in the region, and some students walk an hour or more each way to attend.

The IC group distributed soccer balls and jump ropes supplied by the IC youth group as well as school supplies donated by St. Joseph School in Knoxville and CCD classes..

The next few days were spent at Visitation Clinic in Petite Rivière de Nippes. With the help of two translators, IC’s medical team worked alongside the Haitian interns at the clinic, dealing with a vast array of cases. They brought a large supply of medicines donated by IC parishioners, which were given to St. Boniface Hospital in Fond des Blancs and Visitation Clinic. The clinic’s administrator arranged for the two IC teens to teach an English class at a local middle school. For more information, contact Visitation Hospital Foundation at visitationhf@aol.com, visit the Parish Twining Program of the Americas at www.parishprogram.org, or contact the Matthew 25 Guest House at Matthew25house@yahoo.com or the IC Haiti committee.