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Greetings Dear Blessed John XXIII Parishioners!
As so much our our attention is on the events in Boston and Texas, it does my heart good to tell you that the Boston Paulists have been active at the Paulist Center there, being of what help they can at Prayer Services and Vigils. Fr. Rick Walsh, formally of Knoxville at IC and now on staff in Boston at the Paulist Center gave the attached homily at the Patriots’ Day Interfaith Service. I hope you find it as moving as I as we keep those communities in our prayers!
This weekend is not only special because we continue to bask in the Joy of Easter, but also it is the Annual Knights of Columbus Interfaith Food Festival and Softball Tournament! Tonight at 6pm, student groups from different denominations and faith fellowship will be in the Paulus Room getting to know each other better over shared meals and tomorrow morning at 9am on the Rec Fields they’re facilitating many of those same groups in softball. It is a wonderful event and festival and it provides great leadership for our local community in helping one another to grow in Wisdom and Grace!
Our Masses are as usual: Saturday at 5:30pm, Sunday Morning at 9 & 11:15am and 5:30 and 10pm!
Our Parish and Finance Councils discerned and decided to enable electronic/online giving to be made available for all our benefactors! I am happy to tell you that after some diligent work, our business manager Barbara Lockett has established a great process with Vanco Services, one of the quality secured and trusted services for this!
If you’d like to test it or begin making donations to our ministry and your parish this way, please simply follow the prompts on the website here:
www.john23rd.org or on the page directly at:
http://www.john23rd.org/parish-life/donations-giving/ You’ll be asked to create a profile and password, and be invited to manage the transactions securely!
I cannot thank Barbara Lockett, the Finance and pastoral Councils enough for their efforts and advise this past year!
Great peace,
Fr. Charlie
N.B. Sunday April 28, 2013 (next Sunday) at the 11:15am Bishop Richard Stika will celebrate the Mass and offer the Sacrament of Confirmation for many of our students and parishioners who have been preparing for the Sacrament this Spring!
Hello everybody!!!
This week at CSA we will be playing outdoor games to enjoy this beautiful weather we are having!!! Be sure to wear clothes you can move easily in!! We will also be having nominations for next year’s leadership, so please consider running for a position! We have 12 different positions, and each has two co-chairs: Co-directors, Music, Service, PR, Prayer, and Social.
Next week, April 17th, we will be having our 3rd annual CSA TALENT SHOW!!!! I encourage all of you to think about performing – whether it is a musical talent, silly skit with friends, or whatever else you might have hidden up your sleeve!
Hope to see all of your lovely faces at 7pm!
Love,
Jon and Julia
“Stand still and consider the wonderous works of God.” Job 37:14
Hello Parish!
I just wanted to interrupt you beautiful Wednesday to say a special THANK YOU for the prayers and zitti’s, spagettis, casseroles, cookies and brownies for this past weekends Awakening 7 retreat!
Additionally, Father Eric Andrews, our beloved former Pastor will be in Knoxville this Sunday, and will preside at both the 9am and 11:15am Masses! We’ll be concelebrating the 11:15am mass as we are baptizing Jeter McConnell and Gage McMahon.
The Washington Post profiled Fr. Eric last wekend!
Great peace today and always!
Happy Sunday after Easter!
This is our Awakening 7 Retreat Weekend! This is our largest ever and will serve nearly 150 college students not only from UT-K, but small groups from UT-Chattanooga, ETSU, Maryville, Pellissippi, and other schools! God willing, this Fall we’ll help to “plant” Awakening Retreats at Chattanooga and ETSU! We’re all amazingly grateful for the supportive gifts of zitti, lasagna, casserole, brownies, and all that has ben coming in all week! Please keep all involved in your prayers!
Our Masses are of course at 5:30pm Saturday, 9am & 11:15am Sunday and 5:30pm (with Sunday Supper following) & 10pm Sunday!
“There are a few brief announcements…” 
- The Covenant Health / Knoxville Marathon is this Sunday! The traffic for the 9am Mass will be very difficult, but is usually sufficiently clear by 11:15am… Please allow for extra time or please think of attending the Saturday evening Mass or the later mass on Sunday! The Map is here: http://www.knoxvillemarathon.com/Assets/Knoxville+Marathon+Digital+Assets/2013+Marathon+Map.pdf
- As responsible members of both the UT and the Fort Sanders community, we as a parish have been supporters of the Food in the Fort program(http://redeeminghope.com/index.php/food-in-the-fort/) One of our students, Elliot Bertasi, is spearheading a heavy hors d’Oeuvres and wine tasting fundraiser at Club LeConte this Friday, April 5th! If you would like to support this great cause helping our neighbors, please check out: http://redeeminghope.com/index.php/events/details/raise_your_glass_2nd_annual_wine_tasting_silent_auction/
- Graduating senior Brian Conlon has been named a Udall Scholar! This Award is given to 50 students nationwide who are committed to working with issues regarding environmental, Native American healthcare, and tribal related issues. While all UT is proud, our local community is proud to! Kudos, Brian! http://www.utk.edu/tntoday/2013/04/04/senior-wins-udall-scholarship-pursue-environmental-career/
- This Tuesday evening, at 7:30pm at the University Center will be an Interfaith Panel on Religion and Sexuality. A number of the Campus Ministers will be present, including myself. It is an open event, and all are welcome. This is one of many aspects of what is known as “Sex Week” at UT. Please keep all involved in your prayers, as some very important topics are to be discussed in the midst of all of the hoopla.
God bless you all this Easter Week!
N.B. For the Awakening Retreat, one of our students friends, who isn’t Catholic, is traveling with us to Dandridge to drop off the big round tables. He said, and I quote: “everyone I have ever met from that Church has been so kind, how could I not help?” Before the retreat even begins, that kind of Grace is contagious! Thanks for being such a kind and welcoming community!
Hello, and Happy Wednesday-in Easter!
I usually email out on Friday evening, bit this week is a little early as there are three items of note:
First, the Funeral mass for Roy Lester will be this Friday Morning at 10am at Immaculate Conception Church. Roy was a devotee of the Daily Mass at Blessed John XXIII and a vital part of the parish family as both a new comer this year and the husband of Susan MacMillian. Please keep his whole family as they gather in your prayers, or join us Friday Morning!
LESTER, ROY EDWARD – 46, passed away suddenly on March 12, 2013 in New Orleans, LA. He was born on January 10, 1967 in Monterey, CA; and was the only child of his late parents, Cdr. Roy E. Lester, Sr. and Mozelle Tallent Lester. Roy’s greatest love was music. He was the drummer of a punk-rock band he started in high school, though he was just as talented on the guitar. Roy wrote many beautiful melodies with his Alvarez that he played for his wife, Susan McMillan Lester, the last year of his life. Roy’s many achievements include: BA in Journalism & Mass Communication from Drake University, 1990; BSN from LMU- Knoxville & Baylor in 1997; JD & International Legal Studies Certificate from Loyola University New Orleans, 2003. Of all his professions, Roy was most proud of his work in the ICU as an RN. Roy was proud to be the step-father of Allison Allred and Michael Urdiales and father of Emily Octavia Lester; of whom all survive him along with their mother, Monica Alleman, Bill and Sue Lester, Pat Tallent and many cousins. In the last months of his life, Roy found joy and peace in the Sacraments, the Rosary, Adoration, running, burpees and sharing the simple life with Susan, who had waited her whole life for him; he was her dream. Roy’s Funeral Mass will be celebrated Friday, April 5 at 10:00 am at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 414 West Vine Avenue, Knoxville, Tennessee. Father Charlie Donahue will be the celebrant. Interment will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please have a Mass said for Roy.
God bless you all this Easter Week!
Peace,
Fr. Charlie
Dear All:
Our entire parish community is spread far and wide the Spring Break Week. While I do treasure the time we come together for Liturgy, this weekend locally is a great symbol of the renewed call by our new Pope Francis to “go to the margins” in kindness and outreach. So wherever you are these next few nights, a hope that you can be missionaries of service, kindness and charity!
We will celebrate the Triduum Liturgies for the next few days.
Holy Thursday the Mass of the Lord’s Supper will be at 7:30pm tonight, Thursday.
Good Friday there will be Outdoor Stations of the Cross at 12 noon, gathering at John XXIII
Good Friday Liturgy will be at 3pm
Holy Saturday Easter Vigil will be at 8:30pm
Easter Sunday Masses will be at 9am, 11:15am, and 8:00pm.* *please remember there is NOT a 5:30pm or 10pm Mass on Easter Sunday, but an 8pm Mass.*
There will be an Easter Egg Hunt for kids on the lawn after both Morning Masses! Adults want to help? Come a little early!
May the Grace and Peace of Easter and the blessed assurance of our God who knows even death, be with you all!
And of course, safe journeys “home.”
Fr. Charlie
On this most beautiful day, during this eventful week for the Universal Church, our local community marks this Fourth Sunday of Lent weekend.
First, I beg your prayers for the repose of the souls of both Roy Lester and Kate Wagner.
Roy was a new parishioner this year, most frequently as a daily Mass attendee. He and his wife, Susan MacMillan, were married recently. Please keep Roy’s soul and Susan’s consolation in your prayers.
Kate has been a parishioner for many years with her husband Harry and their family. After nearly a decade of illness, Kate passed away last evening. Funeral arrangements will be forthcoming. Please also keep the whole Wagner family in your prayers!
Saturday Morning at 8:30am, we host the Seekers of Silence Morning with “United in Prayer with Fr. Thomas Keating.” This is a wonderful group and time of reflection, prayer and discussion.
We look forward to hosting you for worship this weekend! Our Masses are of course, 5:30pm Saturday, 9 & 11:15am Sunday, and 5:30pm and 10pm Sunday.
Monday, 3/18/2013, at 7pm we’ll host the Annual “Pizza and Penance Service.” Pizza served at 7pm, and Penance Service at 7:30pm! All are welcome!
Thirdly, as the Universal Church prepares for Pope Francis’ Mass of Inauguration of Petrine Ministry this Tuesday, please keep him in your prayers as he carries the hopes and seeking of so many in his ministry!
Lastly, NEXT Sunday (3/24) is Palm Sunday and begins Holy Week. This year Holy Week and spring break week co-incide four our parish. So many of those who traditionally help make the Easter Triduum and Holy Week so special for us will not be here. While unfortunate, it is an opportunity. If there are 8-12 people who are willing to pray through and journey together as helpers and ministers to make each of the Palm Sunday and Triduum Liturgies that would be wonderful. Please let me know if you are interested. It would be hoped that each member would commit to being present for each liturgy and one of the Easter Masses.
Great peace this and every week!
Fr. Charlie
N.B. Tuesday March 19, 2013 is the anniversary of the death of student Kevin Davis. Our daily Mass on that day, the Feast of Saint Joseph, will be for the continued repose of his soul and the consolation of his friends and family. All are welcome!
On this most beautiful day, during this eventful week for the Universal Church, our local community marks this Fourth Sunday of Lent weekend.
First, I beg your prayers for the repose of the souls of both Roy Lester and Kate Wagner.
Roy was a new parishioner this year, most frequently as a daily Mass attendee. He and his wife, Susan MacMillan, were married recently. Please keep Roy’s soul and Susan’s consolation in your prayers.
Kate has been a parishioner for many years with her husband Harry and their family. After nearly a decade of illness, Kate passed away last evening. Funeral arrangements will be forthcoming. Please also keep the whole Wagner family in your prayers!
Saturday Morning at 8:30am, we host the Seekers of Silence Morning with “United in Prayer with Fr. Thomas Keating.” This is a wonderful group and time of reflection, prayer and discussion.
Second, we look forward to hosting you for worship this weekend! Our Masses are of course, 5:30pm Saturday, 9 & 11:15am Sunday, and 5:30pm and 10pm Sunday.
Thirdly, as the Universal Church prepares for Pope Francis’ Mass of Inauguration of Petrine Ministry this Tuesday (Feast of Saint Joseph), please keep him in your prayers as he carries the hopes and seeking of so many in his ministry!
Lastly, NEXT Sunday (3/24) is Palm Sunday and begins Holy Week. This year Holy Week and spring break week co-incide four our parish. So many of those who traditionally help make the Easter Triduum and Holy Week so special for us will not be here. While unfortunate, it is an opportunity. If there are 8-12 people who are willing to pray through and journey together as helpers and ministers to make each of the Palm Sunday and Triduum Liturgies that would be wonderful. Please let me know if you are interested. It would be hoped that each member would commit to being present for each liturgy and one of the Easter Masses.
Great peace this and every week!
Happy Wednesday everyone! Hope your week is going well, not too much longer till spring break! Tonight, we will start as always at 6:45 in the chapel with praise and worship,followed by our meeting at 7 in the Paulus room. We will be doing team building activities tonight, so get excited! Feel free to stay after for a prayer in the chapel.
If you haven’t paid for your CSA tshirt yet, please do so ASAP! The cost is $10. You will not receive a shirt until you pay!!!!
Also, if you have not signed up for the Awakening retreat, it’s not too late! This semester our retreat is from April 5-7th. You can sign up here:http://volawakening.wordpress.com
Hope to see all of you tonight!
Jon and Julia
“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” – Serenity Prayer
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Greetings, dear parishioners!
As Lent progresses I am grateful for this community in so many ways. As we were scripturally with Christ in the desert last weekend, this Sunday’s Masses bring us to the mountaintop and the Transfiguration.
Today (Friday) the Church celebrates and marks the
Feast of the Chair of Peter, which this year has a special character to it, as Pope Benedict prepares to abdicate the Chair of Peter and the College of Cardinals discerns our Church’s next Supreme Pontiff.
Our Church is at once universal and local, and locally here we have a weekend both like and unlike any other:
Saturday:
- Seekers of Silence hosts Shelly Szoka as she presents on “Deepening Your Prayer with Visual Art.” This monthly gathering includes times of prayerful reflection, lecture, discussion and activity. All are welcome! Gathering begins at 8:30am and ends with a brown bag lunch at about 12pm!
- 5:30pm Vigil Mass
Sunday:
- Masses at 9am, 11:15am, 5:30pm and 10pm
- Bible Study and Fellowship at 8am (esp. for families with small children)
- Living the Eucharist Groups gathering between the morning Masses
- Sunday Nursery available during the Masses
- Sunday School at 10:10am
- High School Confirmation at 1:30pm
- Sunday Supper at 6:30pm!
- The OSCARS on the Big TV upstairs!
Next weekend, (3/2-3/3) We’ll have our Annual Paulist Appeal. This year, Dr. Ruth Queen Smith will reflect upon the many ways that the Paulist Charism animates our work, fellowship and ministry here at Blessed John XXIII, Immaculate Conception Parish and all around Knoxville! And there will be Knights PANCAKE BREAKFASTS after both the 9am and 11:15am masses!
You know what a priority the common ecumenical witness is to us as a Paulist and Catholic Parish! Attached please find the
“UTK 31 Day Prayer Guide” from the Campus House of Prayer that we have collaborated on! This was a great idea from the University of Texas – Austin that we campus ministers thought would be a great addition to our efforts here! Please keep all the ministries and members of the Campus Ministers’ Council at UT in your prayers!
Great peace,
Fr. Charlie
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