Pastor's Column

Many Thanks!
May 11, 2008

There have been many special moments during my eight years in Knoxville, but only a few come close to our Paulist 150th Celebration last weekend at World’s Fair Park! The outpouring of the Holy Spirit was palpable by all who came. What a wonderful warm up for the feast of Pentecost which we celebrate today!

Paulist Fathers President John Duffy along with the other Paulists who traveled to be with us was honored to be a part of our celebration. Special thanks go to so many people! I am very proud of our youth who came out in huge numbers early Sunday morning to help get the place ready. That indicated to me we were going to have a good day and I could relax. DeAnna Croisdale, Michael Donovan helped keep them all together and motivated. Ruth and George Smith donated their R.V. for the weekend harkening back to the Paulist Trailer Missions that started in Tennessee. The music was exquisite and Nancy Brennan Strange and Mary Beth Bowman are to be commended for taking a lead role in making it so. Two special moments of the Mass are all thanks to Ruth Queen Smith the multicultural prayer of the faithful, as well as the Hecker Reading she did with Jason Steinle. How about our two new altar servers Darren and Gregory? They kept up pretty good with their peers from I.C.

I could go on and on… Thanks to all those who assisted in many other ways with the liturgy and the rest of the event. You know who you are and know how thankful we Paulists are! The question arises: “Can we do this again?” I am sure in the next couple of years a worthy occasion will come to do that.

Now I think it is time to kick back and begin to enjoy the summer season! Anyone want to join me in doing just that?

Welcome Fellow Missionaries!
May 4, 2008

To those of you who are reading this while you wait for the 150th Mass to begin, welcome! We are glad you are here to celebrate our anniversary year. Much time and preparation has gone into making this a very special occasion.

Today, we are continuing the missionary tradition of those first Paulists who came to Winchester, Tennessee in 1901. Those mission preachers would use a mobile chapel to say Mass in all kinds of places, mostly farm pastures. They would open the back of the trailer to reveal an altar so all might worship. The same trailer had a loud speaker system and a movie projector, showing the movie King of Kings to large crowds—the first Tennessee Drive-In? Through their tireless efforts, many parish communities were founded in Middle Tennessee.

God willing, our public witness today at World’s Fair Park will display to our local community the great joy of the Lord found in our Catholic Faith. Immaculate Conception and John XXIII Parishes are two shining beacons on Summit Hill and the Hill of UT, coming together as one, to give thanks to God and to hear and respond to His Word: to go out and spread the Good News.

There are so many people to thank who have helped to make this day so special. To the committee who has worked tirelessly planning every aspect of this event, to the those Paulists who have come back to Knoxville to share this celebration, to all of you who have come to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of our community, and all who couldn’t make it today but support us in so many ways, we four Knoxville Paulists are very grateful.

John XXIII Goes to See the Pope

John XXIII students on the steps of St. Paul the Apostle, mother Church of the Paulist Fathers, just before departing for the Mass at Yankee Stadium

Students Will Brewer & Heather Bayko score awesome seats... Over their shoulder in the left field bleachers are their fellow students

Fr Eric & Fr. Mike Nolan, Pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Chattanooga, at Papal Mass for Clergy & Religious at St. Patrick's Cathedral

The Holy Father comes by our pew to say hello to us.... and 2,000 other of his favorite priests!

GO LADY VOLS!!

From the AP NEWSWIRE:

Apr 8, 11:38 PM EDT

Fans in Knoxville cheer on Lady Vols in national championship

By BETH RUCKER
Associated Press Writer
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- The students and priests at Tennessee's John XXIII University Parish like to do their part for the Lady Volunteers.

A dedicated group of about a half-dozen parish members gather to watch all Tennessee sporting events on the large-screen television in the church's lounge.

"Every game: men's (basketball), women, baseball if it's on TV," said Kim Lovin, 25. "Our priest actually blessed the TV."

"Evangelization tool," joked the Rev. Eric Andrews, the parish pastor.

Their dedication paid off. The Lady Vols won their eighth national championship with a 64-48 victory over Stanford on Tuesday night.

Several students who said they've either watched or attended nearly every Tennessee game this season said they knew the Lady Vols had a potential for a repeat title but worried a bit after they struggled in a 47-46 win over LSU in the semifinal game.

"I was so worried at the end of that LSU game, being so ugly, but when you win a game like that, it makes you a lot tougher," said James Jones, a 20-year-old senior from Toledo, Ohio.

With seven national championship banners already hanging from the rafters of Thompson-Boling Arena, fans have gotten kind of used to having the Lady Vols playing at the highest level.

There were few organized celebrations around town. Most fans opted to watch the game at home or with friends at area bars.

But athletic department officials announced a ceremony scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the arena to honor the Lady Vols when they arrive home from Tampa.

The fans at John XXIII were cheering fellow parishioner Sydney Smallbone, exploding into cheers when the freshman guard hit a free throw in the final minute of the game.

"It's been a fun season knowing there's a parishioner on the team," Andrews said.

Greg Duthey, a Tennessee alumnus and John XXIII parishioner, said he earned tremendous respect for coach Pat Summitt after teaching a few of her players as a graduate student.

"I love that lady, I have a lot of respect both on the court and in the classroom," he said.

The Rev. Eric Andrews, wearing his orange clerical collar, reacts to a call as he watches the broadcast of Tennessee playing Stanford in the championship game at the Final Four of the women's NCAA basketball tournament, Tuesday, April 8, 2008, at the John XXIII University Parish on the campus of the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tenn. Tennessee defeated Stanford 64-48. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

From left at rear, Greg Duthey, the Rev. Eric Andrews, and Wes Stallings cheer along with, seated from left, James Jones, Kim Lovin and Matt Blair as they watch the broadcast of Tennessee playing Stanford in the championship game of the women's NCAA basketball tournament Tuesday, April 8, 2008, at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

Matt Blair holds his orange and white rosary as he watches the Lady Vols play Stanford in the championship game of the Women's NCAA tournament Tuesday, April 8, 2008 at the John 23 Catholic Center on the campus of the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tenn.
(AP Photo/Wade Payne)

Come to the Mission!
April 6, 2008

Has life returned to normal yet for you? Between the Easter holiday and the various spring breaks, folks have been scattered to the winds. Hope the last few weeks have been restorative and have gotten you ready for the finally stretch run of the academic year.

I want to call your attention to a very special parish mission that will be held Monday-Wednesday, April 14-16, led by Paulist mission preacher Father John E. Collins, C.S.P. Fr. Jack is the most sought after Paulist mission preacher we have. He’s energetic, funny, and engaging. He talks to you right where you are at with topics like: “What Good is God?” “Why Prayers Don’t Work” and “10 Kinds of People We Don’t Have to Love.” The aim of the mission is to help us get to know our own personal story of faith so we can share it with others. Invite your non-Catholic friends to join you! Father will be preaching at all the Masses next weekend so you can get to meet him before the Mission begins. Please welcome Jack to East Tennessee. This is the first time he’s preached in this part of the country… so make him feel at home!

God willing, Fr. Jack’s mission will help us see ourselves as missionaries; people called to bring the Good News to others through our witness of faith. The mission will also give you another aspect of the work of the Paulist Fathers as we celebrate our 150th Anniversary. Since our founding, the Paulists have been preaching missions to all corners of the United States and Canada, reaching out to Catholics and non-Catholics alike. That’s why people joke that C.S.P. also stands for Can’t Stop Preaching!

Hope you can be a part of this great mission!

WELCOME NEW CATHOLICS!
March 30

It was with great joy on Saturday evening that we welcomed 12 new members into the Catholic Church. For the first time at John XXIII, we baptized adults by full emersion in a pool borrowed from the American Orthodox Church in Oak Ridge. Among those baptized included Daniel Bradley, Christopher Marshburn, Josh Kennedy, Diane Roberts, Ricky Buck, Meagan Tidwell, and Jessica Williams. The water was a bit too hot, so three pots of ice cooled it down. Those who were baptized in another Christian Church and made a profession of faith in the Catholic Church included Renee Bacon, Lynsay Caylor, Janie Beswick, Adam Foster, and Ashley Wyrick. A few moments from the Vigil are available on You Tube. Search “JohnXXIII” & “Baptism,” and you can get a glimpse.

These new Catholics will enrich us with their enthusiasm and energy. One student in the group labeled themselves “Team Awesome.” I have to say walking with those who are seeking to join the church has always been an awesome experience. There are so many questions and so much to consider as an adult becoming Catholic. I often worry that it is too much to take in, that these inquirers won’t catch on. Then every year around Ash Wednesday it all starts to click. Almost mysteriously when we aren’t looking, the Holy Spirit comes and catechumens and candidates begin to truly hunger for the Eucharist.

There are still a few more Easter moments left to experience. One of the elect, Eli Kennedy, Josh’s brother, was not able to be at the Vigil because of a family emergency. He will be baptized in the next week or two. Finally, it gives me great joy to announce that Ann Johnson, who has been attending Mass for over 40 years with her husband John, will be welcomed into full communion this Saturday at the 5:30 p.m. Ann has been an active member of John XXIII for many years, and I am so happy she will finally join us at the table of our Lord!

Congratulations and welcome to all our newest members!

Paulist Capital Campaign, Part III
March 9, 2008

In last week’s column I wrote about the urgency for this campaign at this point in the life of the Paulist Fathers. If you didn’t get a chance to read it, it is posted on the website. As I noted, along with stabilizing our financial position, this campaign will go to support a bold, new recruiting effort for new members, fund seminary education, underwrite important Paulist national outreaches in the areas of evangelization, reconciliation, and interfaith dialogue, and assist the needs of our aging Paulists.

This is the first time in 20 years we have asked in such a direct way for your help. In thinking about the impact of the Paulists locally, many folks have pointed out that the Paulists help give John XXIII its unique spirit and character. Matter of fact, it was your fellow parishioners who selected the Paulists to staff John XXIII in 1973. At the same time, we came to Immaculate Conception Parish, helping to save it from closure.

John XXIII’s goal, set at $500,000, roughly 1.7 times our regular offertory giving, has been established by the Paulist Fathers in consultation with the fundraising consultants they selected. Three important facts I want you to know: this is a five year campaign, as opposed to the GIFT Campaign which was three years. You may begin to pay your pledge when you are able. Secondly, John XXIII will receive 20% of all gifts up to the goal and then 50% afterwards. If we make our goal, that means at least $100,000 will go to the education and ministry endowment fund established by the Gift Campaign to increase our outreach to the parish community and beyond. Finally, This campaign replaces the Paulist Appeal. At the very least, I invite you to consider making a 5 year pledge in slightly higher value to what you give each year to the Paulist Appeal.

I have been heartened by the immediate response of parishioners who are eager to help in any way they can: prayer, volunteering, financial support, and so on. In the first two weeks of the campaign, we have already received pledges totaling $125,000. In these uncertain economic times, I doubly appreciate the care many of you are expressing towards us Paulists. I hope this information gives you a better picture of what this effort is about! If you have any questions, concerns, complaints, or comments, please don’t hesitate to hunt me down.

Again, thanks for taking the time to learn more about this!

The Paulist Campaign, Part II
March 2, 2008

A few weeks ago, I announced the beginning of the Paulist Capital Campaign at John XXII. I’ve been stressing our need, but not providing you necessary information. So to help in your discernment, I offer former Paulist President Frank DeSiano’s assessment of our need which he presented to our Finance and Pastoral Councils last November.

When the PAULIST FATHERS decided to embark on a campaign in conjunction with their 150th anniversary, it was with the usual emphases: this anniversary was very special to us, and we had not done a campaign in more than 20 years. Similarly, when the PAULIST FATHERS developed their “case” for the campaign, it had three major planks to it: a) fund our outreach ministries which few others in the Church are doing; b) better fund the future training of Paulists; and c) provide more help for the enormous costs of caring for our senior Paulists.

While all those reasons are valid, the more pressing reason for the campaign is this: the Paulists absolutely need financial help at this time. Without an infusion of funds, the Paulists can easily find their savings depleted in five or seven years. The Paulist Fathers annual budget is about 6.5 million in expenses. We expect about 3 million each year in contributions, assessments from Paulist ministry, the Paulist Press, and other bequests. The other 3 million would come from our investment portfolio, which at present is worth 17 million. Those who know what to expect from investments, see the dilemma.

The Campaign is actually allowing us to fund certain initiatives (reconciliation, young adult ministries, etc.) without depleting our savings to the extent we have been doing that. At the end of the campaign, we hope to have over $25 million in savings, and to realize some additional income from sale of land, so that we can keep from depleting our funds beyond 6 or 8 percent a year. Further tightening of the belt can allow us to see ourselves with adequate balances between expenses and income, but this will not happen for five years.

So the Campaign plays a crucial role in the time of shortfalls for the Paulists. It accomplishes the stated goals of the “case” but, as importantly, it gives us breathing room to set a base for the future. As the semester continues, everyone will have the opportunity to learn more about the Campaign and the Paulists, from myself and other parishioners who have offered to go out on a limb to ask your support. Please receive them as you would receive me. If you have any questions, please let me know!

Thanks for your continued support of us Paulists!

What does it mean to be safe?
February 24, 2008

Another tragedy on a university campus! The shocking and terrible events at Northern Illinois University last week once again remind of the fragility of human life and the vexing nature of mental illness. We pray for the dead, that they may be embraced by God in the heavenly kingdom and our hearts go out to their families and the entire university community there who must summon the faith in the Almighty to move forward.

Watching the news coverage of this event, two themes emerged: First were the images of students banding together to comfort one. Second, was a call to arms. Reporters kept asking students if they should be allowed to carry concealed firearms to class. Legislation is pending in a number of state houses permitting this.

Here at U.T. there have been a number of violent incidents reported, including armed robbery and attempted rape both on campus and off. Whether there is an actual upsurge in criminal activity is disputed. In any case, students feel less safe and this incident at NIU heightens fear. Without adequate response from law enforcement, individuals might feel their only choice is to carry a gun in self defense.

This can’t possibly be the best response. If we call Jesus our Savior, the one without sin who willingly suffers for the sin of humanity, then non-violent solutions must be our first response. All of us must educate ourselves on issues of safety. We must be concerned about those around us in need of mental health interventions. We must urge local and university officials to take issues of safety seriously and invest resources to keep university campuses and neighborhoods safe, as best they can. Finally we must accept that while we can reduce the risk, we will never be able to eradicate it, without the help of God. The Bible certainly confirms that.

This might sound Pollyannaish to you, but I’ve lived in cities during times of high crime rates. The key is to do the smart thing: arm yourself with the facts on safety and urge others to do the same. And above all else, trust in God and the promises Christ offers.

Read a great article that appeared about me in the February 16th edition of the Knoxville News Sentinel! Click here

Paulist Fathers Capital Campaign
February 17, 2008

Starting this week, we have begun our efforts to participate in the Paulist Fathers 150th Anniversary Capital Campaign. I have been hinting around at it for a while now, not wanting to divert proper attention to the final stages of our very successful GIFT Campaign.

I appreciate that many of you may feel this effort is placing a burden on you at this point, especially since many of you are finishing a pledge to the GIFT Campaign. However, we Paulists really need your help right now. We find ourselves in a situation, given the rising costs for our retired Fathers, that without this campaign, we could well deplete our savings in six to seven years. We will not be able to fund our national outreach ministries to help the aged members, and would have to make drastic choices on how to allocate monies and personnel. With your help in this extraordinary campaign, we can put ourselves in a sound position for the future: to take care of our retired Fathers, recruit and train future Paulists, and continue to create programming on a national level to reach out to those who are distant from the church, such as alienated Catholics, or forgotten by the church, like young adults.

The goal for John XXIII is $500,000. I know we can do it! Why? Because I know how much many of you appreciate the way we Paulists do ministry. Some of you come from a far distance to worship here. You detect a different Spirit here. In the GIFT Campaign you supported our community and the bricks and mortar. In this Paulist Campaign, you would be supporting the heart and soul of John XXIII. Any pledge you can make would be payable over five years and you can certainly delay the start of your giving as you attend to other needs you may have at this time.

Be on the lookout for folks or myself who want to tell you more about this campaign. We will be looking for more volunteers too! So if you want to join the team, we’d love to have you on board. Just let me know!

Again, thanks to all of you for your support of the Paulists in so many ways. It is a joy to serve you, and we want to keep doing that for years to come in Knoxville!

Early Lent = Early Easter
February 10, 2008

Even now, says the LORD, return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning; Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the LORD, your God.
Joel 2:12-14

These were the words that confronted us on stormy Ash Wednesday. We were certainly washed clean from the very start. Lent is more than just Ash Wednesday, as we know. It is a 40 day retreat with the Lord, and an opportunity for us to know and experience His love more deeply.

We need each other during this time to keep focused. We have a great number of activities planned to do that! Every Friday consider gathering with the community to share our faith and a simple meal with each other. Start with Mass at 5:05pm, continue with a Lenten potluck supper, and then stay for a prayer service focused on the Seven Last Words of Christ before his death on the cross. Each Friday, a different member of the congregation will take a different phrase. This Friday, Susan Speraw will reflect on “Into your hands, Father, I commit my Spirit.”

There are other opportunities for prayer, spiritual enrichment, and service, both near and far. Whatever you chose, the more we engage in this season, seeking to remove the clutter that gets in the way of our relationship with Christ, the more we will find ourselves free to love, without all those crutches or distractions we thought we needed. Plus, Easter will come quicker that way, and be all the more joy-filled. That’s my hope for us all!

May this early season of Lent help us to jump start our spiritual life in 2008!

Live it up--Lent starts Wednesday!
February 3, 2008

Take heed, dear reader, Lent begins this Wednesday. It hasn’t been this early since the Nineteenth century—an unhappy combination of lunar and solar calendars. If we were following the old calendar of the Church, the Christmas season would have concluded this weekend with Candlemas on February 2nd, only to have four days in between.

This weekend I will not fill you in on what you need to do for Lent. I’ll save that for next week. For now, use this opportunity to celebrate Mardi Gras: eat rich foods, celebrate, have fun. There will be plenty of time to fast, abstain from meat and ask forgiveness later. In earlier times, Lenten fasting was tremendously rigorous, almost akin to Islamic season of Ramadan. The Great Fast used to consist of both abstinence and fasting. Christians were expected to abstain not only from flesh meat, but from all things that come from flesh, e.g. milk, cheese, eggs, and butter, except on Sundays. So, you had to eat all of that before Lent began. Thus the name: Fat Tuesday.

Interestingly, even though the Church has become less intense in its Lenten fasting, our need to party beforehand hasn’t diminished. Go figure. This is another topic that will be tabled until next week! In the meantime, thanks to all who made our Mardi Gras celebration so special this weekend. We sure know how to let the good times roll!

By the way, I make it a policy NOT to hear “last minute” confessions before Lent begins (so to have a sinless Lent, the thinking goes). That’s what Lent is for: to reflect and reform our lives so as to live with Christ.

Rev. Isaac T. Hecker, C.S.P.,
Servant of God
January 27, 2008

This Sunday, the beginning of the Paulist Fathers’ 150th Anniversary, Father Isaac Thomas Hecker, founder of the Paulist Fathers, is proclaimed by the Church “Servant of God,” as his cause for canonization is formally opened by Cardinal Archbishop Edward Egan at our Mother Church in New York City. Paulists often drop Fr. Hecker’s name, and as we celebrate this milestone, perhaps you ought to know a little more about him.

Isaac Thomas Hecker was born in New York City on December 18, 1819, to a Methodist family. Ordained a Redemptorist priest in 1849, he founded the Missionary Society of St. Paul the Apostle in New York in 1858. The society was established to evangelize both believers and non-believers in order to convert North America to the Roman Catholic Church. Father Hecker sought to evangelize Americans using the popular means of his day, primarily preaching, the public lecture circuit and the printing press. He founded the monthly publication, The Catholic World, in 1865.

Father Hecker’s spirituality centered on the action of the Holy Spirit upon the soul and the need to remain attentive to the prompting of the Spirit in the great and small moments of life. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, Father Hecker labored to establish a dialogue between faith and culture, which he believed would lead to an American Catholicism whose vitality and optimism would transform the world. In the latter years of his life, Father Hecker suffered with dark nights of the soul that varied in intensity; this was combined with other physical ailments. Despite it all, Father Hecker remained faithful through his sure belief in the Holy Spirit.

”God is now visiting me with the profoundest desolation of spirit. Yet I never knew that God would permit me to come so near to Him and love Him as I have,” Father Hecker wrote. On December 22, 1888, as the Paulist community gathered around his bed in prayer, Father Hecker raised his hand, making the Sign of the Cross in blessing, and died.

It is Hecker’s vision that attracted many of us priests to the Paulists and his Spirit that has attracted many of you to John XXIII. Let us together ask his intercession that the Church may be filled with a Spirit of grace and renewal!

Pro Life Reflection
January 20, 2008

Tuesday, January 22 is the 35th anniversary of Roe v. Wade; Fr. Eric has generously given me an opportunity to address Roe and give you an update on the Pregnancy Help Center where I am a volunteer.

A study of the judicial process that culminated in this landmark ruling gives one a new respect for the dangers of human fallibility, self-deception and unintended consequences. The papers of Justice Harry Blackmun, author of Roe v. Wade, were made available to the public in 2004. We learn from them, astonishingly enough, that neither Chief Justice Burger nor Justice Blackmun ever intended to usher in abortion-on-demand.

I recommend the book Becoming Justice Blackmun by New York Times reporter Linda Greenhouse to anyone interested in the history of Roe v. Wade. The author had first access to the Blackmun papers and though she interprets some events through the lens of 70’s era feminist ideology, she certainly shows us how the sausage was made.

Increasingly, people born since 1973 are repudiating the abortion-on-demand mentality. UT’s Collegians for Life have been very active in making the Pregnancy Center here at John XXIII possible. At the Division Street center, we have seen an increase in the number of women choosing adoption this year. I would like to thank the parish for the generous support they have given this ministry.

Even though the New York Times probably never ran a headline saying “Supreme Court Settles Abortion Issue” as is often repeated this time of year, it isn’t settled. There will be a local March for Life on Sunday, January 20, 2008. It begins with a prayer service at 2:00 PM at Calvary Baptist Church, 3200 Kingston Pike; we will march to Tyson Park from there. All are welcome to attend one or both these events.
Shirley Moore, M.E.V. (Missionaries of the Gospel of Life)

Happy New Year!
January 13, 2008

Welcome back everyone. I hope your Christmas holiday and break was filled with many good things. For those of you who have been away, we had wonderful Christmas celebrations here. The music, pageantry and joy of the feast were certainly present to us. If you missed it you can catch a replay on our website or on YouTube. Thanks to the choir for their hard work, for all who assisted with the decorations and the liturgies, and all the children who performed in our Christmas Eve pageant.

2008 will be a banner year for the Paulist Fathers. All this year, we will be celebrating our 150th Anniversary as a community. It all starts with the Paulist Feast Day on Friday, January 25th the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul. There will be a Mass at Immaculate Conception that evening at 6pm followed by a reception. That weekend Fr. Terry Ryan will be back to give a Spirituality workshop/retreat on Paulist Founder Fr. Isaac Hecker on Saturday and preach that weekend. Mark down in your calendar Sunday, May 4th. That Sunday morning at 11:00 a.m., we will join Immaculate Conception Church for a special anniversary Mass at World’s Fair Park. You don’t want to miss it! We Paulists want to share this special year with you, in thanksgiving for your loving and prayerful support of us.

2008 will also be memorable for a very early Easter on March 23rd. The good news is that we can celebrate Mardi Gras earlier, on February 1st, but it also means that we have to scramble to get there. Make plans to come, our house band is better than ever. Who knows what I might sing or wear! If you can help get some good stuff for the Silent Auction, it would be much appreciated.

May this New Year bring all of us peace and well being.

Trust what is.
December 16, 2007
A reflection by the newly minted
DOCTOR Ruth Queen Smith

”Trust what is”, is from a Zen translation of Psalm 37. It has been my inner refrain for decades, even before I began the doctoral process. Simply, and there is no simple explanation from a Zen perspective, that no matter what happens, God is within and present in all events of our life. The passage actually reads, “Trust what is and do good. Be where you are in truthfulness. Take delight in what is and your hearts desire will be fulfilled. Be committed to life. Trust what is”. My life has not unfolded like I planned it to unfold. It has unfolded the way that God chose for me.
I actually thought that I was coming to the University of Tennessee and that I would live in Knoxville for four. Maybe five years. I told myself that I would take a break from active ministry in the Church. Then my first weekend in Knoxville, I met Paulist priest and the John XXIII community. You know that a spoonful of ministry helps graduate school go down.
Graduate school was wonderful. I was invited into a dual PhD and Ed. D program of industrial and organizational psychology and adult education. I my job as consultant at Levi Strauss Foundation designing one of their most successful anti-racism Project Change programs was great. Then things began to change. Project Change came to an unpleasant end, psychology became crazy and my health, especially my vision, crashed. Trust what is. Through it all, this community was the stability, encouragement, support and grace that carried me through. It was the work of ministry and friendships that empowered me to trust that the “is” that I was involved in was where I was supposed to be. Most importantly, it was the Eucharistic celebration, the preaching of the word, sharing the communion table, all the ministries in scripture and community building processes and all of you that graced me to continue to “do what is good. I came only expecting a doctoral degree. I received much more. I am a Paulist trained teacher of scripture and I am your missionary to parishes and diocese across the country
It takes an entire parish community to nurture and earn a doctoral degree. Congratulations on the award of your doctoral degree in true Christian community and love. Thank you for everything.
Ruth Queen Smith, Ed. D
Pastoral Associate

Advent 2007
December 2, 2007

New Church Year Greetings to one and all! We begin anew celebrating the presence of Christ in our lives and in our community. Advent is that time of joyful expectations for things hoped and longed for. The season calls us to slow down and carve out some time to give reflect on how Christ is coming into our lives and how we ought to make room for him.

Clearly, there will be many forces at work around us to put a halt to this spiritual journey of preparation for the Feast of Christmas: parties, shopping, Christmas card writing, seasonal depression, grief, loneliness, and so forth. I invite you to come to our Advent evening of reflection on Dec. 7th as well as the penance service on Dec. 10th or take off from work or study and catch a 5:05 p.m. Mass during the week. Search for the peace the Lord promises to all who long for him! If all else fails, take a few moments to reflect on this Advent-themed quote from Blessed Pope John XXIII:

Alas! It is already late, I am overcome with sleep and my pen slips from my fingers. Let me sleep a little, O Jesus, while your Mother and Saint Joseph are preparing the room.

I will lie down to rest here, in the fresh night air. As soon as you come the splendor of your light will dazzle my eyes. Your angels will awaken me with sweet hymns of glory and peace and I shall run forward with joy to welcome you and to offer you my own poor gifts, my home, all the little I have. I will worship you and show you all my love, with the other shepherds who have joined me and with the angels of heaven, singing hymns of glory to your Sacred Heart. Come, I am longing for you.

May our observance of Advent restore our strength and revive our Spirit so we may more deeply comprehend and celebrate the true meaning of Christ’s incarnation.

Thanksgiving Reflections
November 16, 2007

It’s great to be back in East Tennessee! While I enjoyed my weekend doing the official Paulist visitation at the Newman Center at The Ohio State University, I did miss you all and was extra thankful to return. The Paulists in Columbus have a great deal going as they seek to serve the largest public university in America. They have plenty of challenges and I was happy to leave them to sort them all out! While I was there I had a chance to visit briefly with two of our teenagers who were at the National Catholic Youth Conference. Anna Long and Kelsey Kinzy were having a great time and were representing our youth well!

While I was gone, we had our first Busy Student Retreat and I am thankful for the work of our four spiritual directors. It was a smash success. Sixteen students dedicated four days to pray, meet with a director, and go to Mass. We hope to offer this again in the spring semester and we will seek ways to offer it to non-students, too. This effort was a great way for students who couldn’t go on Search to take the time to discern where is God calling them and I know many of you would appreciate that opportunity as well.

As Thanksgiving approaches, we give thanks for so many things. However the season it ushers in also brings with it a share of suffering, especially for those dealing with loss and separation. This will also be the fifth holiday season since the war in Iraq began. There are more than a few John XXIII families with loved ones serving there. Let us fervently pray that this will be the last and families will be reunited.

This week the Bishops of the United States released a statement on the war which I urge you to read. The full text is posted on our website in the pastor’s column. In short they state: As pastors and teachers, we are convinced that the current situation in Iraq remains unacceptable and unsustainable. Our country needs a new direction to reduce the war’s deadly toll and to bring our people together to deal with the conflict’s moral and human dimensions. Our nation needs a new bipartisan approach to Iraq policy based on honest and civil dialogue. I hope that this message may reach the hearts and minds of those in positions of key leadership in our country.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your loved ones, near and far! Peace, Fr. Eric.

Complete text of Bishop's Statement on Iraq

Paulist Visitation Report
November 11, 2007

Thanks so much for your hospitality to our Paulist Visitors this past week. Our official visitation went very well. They enjoyed the opportunity to meet you and to see our parish in action. Most importantly, the visitors reaffirmed the Paulist commitment to John XXIII and Immaculate Conception and there was no intention to change the staffing level of Paulist Fathers at either location.

Of course, there is always something to work on. In the past few years, the Paulist Fathers have encouraged us to think more about extending the Paulist mission of evangelization, reconciliation, and ecumenism/interfaith dialogue more regionally in our parishes, campus ministries, and information centers. How can we export the Spirit of our parish and the Paulists more broadly in the East Tennessee area? We are blessed to have Dr. Ruth on our team giving retreats and missions throughout the diocese and beyond. Seekers of Silence, the Notre Dame Lecture Series, and the SEARCH retreats all reach well beyond our parish community. Yet, the visitors would like us to create additional programming to meet the needs of the local church.

What more might we do? The visitation report noted: “The visitors encourage each foundation to think about some limited programming in areas of evangelization, reconciliation and religious dialogue. Being a minority in the midst of a large evangelical world offers two opportunities: 1) helping Catholics verbalize more clearly what their own faith is about and how to be less timid in speaking about it and 2) helping evangelicals get over their own preconceptions about Catholicism. Perhaps this would be in the form of University Lectures more widely publicized throughout the diocese, or parish workshops offered for the diocese as well as the membership of the parish. In view of the diocesan commitment to “Why Catholic” (Renew), some kind of programming like this might be appropriate at the end of each Renew semester.”

The Parish Council will have an opportunity to reflect on this at its next meeting. In the meanwhile, I have been called to go as an official visitor to the Paulist foundation in Columbus, Ohio at Ohio State University. While I will try not to compare them to us, I am confident that Smokey is a better mascot than Brutus. I’ll be back Tuesday night! See you at the Thanksgiving Dinner!

Have a great week! Fr. Eric

Welcome Paulist Visitors
November 4, 2007

Every four years, members of the Paulist leadership team come to town to make sure you are being served in the finest way possible. Please welcome Fathers Frank DeSiano, First Consultor and recent past president, and John Behnke, Director of Novices and Superior of our house in Washington DC. These Paulists will be preaching and meeting with folks both here and at Immaculate Conception through Tuesday. Since the last visitation, there is much to talk about, and they look forward to hearing from you.

Last week, I mentioned that we are seeking to have the founder of the Paulist Fathers Father Isaac T. Hecker, C.S.P. canonized. This week, I received this announcement that Paulist Father’s President John Duffy would like to share with you (the full text is available on line):

October 26, 2007

Dear Paulist Brothers:

Edward Cardinal Egan will open Isaac Hecker’s Cause for Sainthood at the conclusion of the 10 A.M. Mass at the Church of Saint Paul the Apostle, in New York on Sunday, January 27, 2008. During this brief ceremony, the Cardinal will announce the cause open. Interested parties will be invited to come forward with evidence both pro and con. The officers of the archdiocesan inquiry, including the cardinal will take their oaths. This canonical ceremony will occur after the closing prayer of the liturgy.

From this moment our founder will be called, “Servant of God, Isaac Thomas Hecker.” We hope that as this event happens on the opening weekend of the Paulist anniversary, that our local foundations will include the celebration of the cause in their liturgies on this Sunday. The 150th anniversary committee will provide a special Prayer of the Faithful for all Paulist foundations in the Liturgical Guide to be handed out at the Pastors, Superiors meeting next week. I can think of no better way to begin our anniversary then the recognition of Father Hecker as a model of heroic virtue and the publication and dissemination of his writings within the larger church.

I ask all of our Paulist family to join with us not only in this important moment, but in the retelling of the story of Father Hecker and the ongoing challenge that he presents to us to be open to conversion through the action of the Holy Spirit. Hecker cause cards are now available through the office of the Postulator and a reliquary card we hope will be available at the time the cause opens in January.

Let us pray for Father Hecker’s canonization and for the success of our 150th anniversary year, may it enkindle within us a greater passion for Paulist mission.

Fraternally,

John F. Duffy CSP

Through the intercession of Fr. Isaac Hecker, may this visitation help us continue to build up the Kingdom of God here at U.T. and beyond!

God Bless, Fr. Eric.

For All the Saints…
October 28, 2007

If you were to list the various things that distinguish Catholics from other Christian denominations, you would probably mention the Communion of Saints. To prove this point, how many times have you been asked why you worship a statue? This might also help explain why this feast day is well attended here. Matter of fact, this year we have added an extra Mass at 9:00 p.m.

Since the fourth century, we have celebrated this tenet of our faith. At first it was for all who were martyred. Since the ninth century, November 1 was designated as the Feast of All Saints to honor the lives of the heroes and heroines of our Church, both named and unnamed. It is difficult these days to be officially recognized as a saint. In the early centuries, the only criterion was public acclaim. Today’s lengthy and expensive process requires proof of one’s extraordinary sanctity. It is a massive undertaking. This feast is a blessing because there are countless people in each of our lives who are saints. This feast gives us an opportunity to celebrate them.

Speaking of the canonization process…. The Paulist Fathers, as part of our 150th Anniversary, are seeking to have our founder, Father Isaac Thomas Hecker, C.S.P. proclaimed a saint. Father Hecker was born in New York City and baptized in the Methodist Church. After an exhaustive spiritual search, he became a Roman Catholic. He was convinced that the Holy Spirit resided in its fullness in the Church and that the ideals of America and the Catholic Church were uniquely suited to one another. He founded the Paulists to be missionaries to North America, preaching the Gospel to all, seeking the conversion of America. Cardinal Egan of New York will officially open his sainthood cause this spring at the Paulist Mother Church in Manhattan, where Fr. Hecker is entombed.

You can help in this canonization process! Pick up one of the prayer cards in the lobby and ask Fr. Hecker in prayer to intercede for you. Isaac was always zealous and I believe he will go to bat for you in heaven!

Retreat Reflections
October 21, 2007

Last week the priests of Knoxville gathered for our annual retreat up in Maggie Valley. It was a great week. The weather was wonderful, the priests seemed to be in a good mood, and the retreat master, Fr. Eugene Hensell, OSB, was terrific.

Fr. Hensell focused on the Gospel of Matthew as an example of Church for us. In Matthew’s community there were Jewish and gentile Christians. The community was polarized. There was a group that wanted to adhere to the Jewish customs and new gentiles who didn’t. Matthew’s preaching was about bringing both groups together while helping them deal with the threats from outside.

This sounds like the Church today! With pronouncements on more permissive use of the Latin Mass, new stringent requirements for saying the Mass of Pope Paul VI, and hard line stands on sexual morality, a number of people are elated. Others are left wondering what happened to the days of Vatican II where there was seemingly more freedom of liturgical expression and religious thought, and attention to social justice and environmental issues. Others, as we know, have just checked out.

What to do? Fr. Hensell recommended focusing on the capital-“T” Traditions of the Church, the level of beliefs found in the Creed, most particularly preaching the death and resurrection of our Lord, while not over-elevating the smaller-“t” traditions of the Church: the way we say Mass, the varieties of devotional life, and so forth. Basically: keeping the big things big and the small things small so we may, in all things, seek communion with God and each other though the person of Christ.

The fact is, we have something to learn from each other and have a unique opportunity to do that here. Our parish community is a dynamic mix. Forty years ago, who would have thought that the elders would be more free-wheeling than the students? As the flower children of the 60s spoke truth to their elders, are we ready to hear what this new generation has to say? And are we all ready to be open to where God chooses to lead us through this conversation?

The answers, my friends, are blowing in wind… the wind of the Holy Spirit, that is!

Renew 2.0- Free Up Grade!
October 7, 2007
by Dr. Ruth Queen Smith

Thank you for your interest in Renew. For some of us, getting Renew started has not been smooth and fulfilling. I apologize for that. However, remember that Renew is a process that only begins this fall. If your group didn’t meet, or you were not informed of the right place or time, or you were not contacted, or you tried to get information concerning Renew and it seemed like nobody knew anything about Renew, or you showed up and nobody else did, or that they didn’t seem to really care! Again, I apologize. We will work out some of the bugs. Please hang in there with us. The process, you and the community are worth it.

Welcome to Renew 2.0, the John XXIII Up Grade. It is not too late to join Renew. The time is always good to form small Christian communities around the core of our faith, The Creed. Join people you know, or perhaps folks you do not know so well, and share, pray and get to know each other around the concept of Why Catholic?

I know that everyone has something that they can fill an hour and a half with, once a week for six weeks. However, I ask you to think of a time that someone spent with you that contributed to your development as a Christian. That person may have had something “better” to do, but they took the time to spend with you. The richness and depth of my faith has been gleaned from precious moments that I was privilege to share with adults, who were willing to listen pray, and share the ordinary richness of life. I know why I am Catholic. You know why you are Catholic. What I do not know is how being Catholic enriches your life, challenges you to grow and experience life differently, how being Catholic informs your view and perspectives of our world, how being Catholic may be a tug of war. All of these things, and more, teach me and are gift to me about the body of Christ. I need the encouragement, the strength, inspiration and the wisdom of your journey. Sunday church does not give us the time, space or the format to make this vital exchange of faith. It is important that we have a John XXIII prism of the diversity of being Catholic in East Tennessee.

If you feel that you are “beyond Renew”, then I challenge you to think of Church and the process of Renew as being a journey rather than a sprint/race. On our journey, it is more important to safely pass on the baton of faith rather than to finish the race first.

Renew is similar to how the early church began. Small groups of people gathered in the homes one another and discussed what their faith meant to them, how their faith challenged them and how they experienced the Trinity in their lives. Building the Church is an ongoing process; Renew can be a vital part of our growth and development as Catholics. Your presence can help us all.

Mid Term Report
September 30, 2007

Fr. Paul reminded me that we are in the sixth week of the semester, nearly at the mid term. This makes no sense to me at all. Perhaps being away for 10 days has something to do with that. Travels were productive and celebratory but to be away for that much of September is not a good idea. I apologize for the absence during prime time. The good news is I returned to find the parish in the full swing. Reminding me once again of the fine quality of our staff and parishioners

I want to commend the RENEW team for coordinating all the small groups in our parish. Since we are not a geographically centered community, it has been a tremendous challenge to find the right fit for everyone, especially the first go around. There are still a few loose ends. So if you are still looking to be placed in a group, please let us know! We can also work you in for Lent, if the Fall was too busy. Luckily with the renovations here, we’ve been able to find more spaces for groups to meet at John XXIII.

This year’s RCIA class has the potential to being one of the largest in a long time. Every week new people keep coming for the inquiry sessions. Clearly they are sensing the presence of the Spirit in our midst and are attracted to it. Please keep all who are seeking to join the Church in your prayers.

Finally, this weekend we have the annual Haiti Appeal. Dan and Susan Speraw will be bringing us up to date on what’s happening with the Children’s Nutrition Project of Haiti and information on upcoming mission trips and how you can help. This appeal will help us to see and respond to the face of poverty in our time as this weekend’s Gospel of Lazarus and Poor Man challenges us to do.

The New Second Floor
September 8, 2007

If you haven’t had a chance yet, check out the NEW second floor of John XXIII. It is ready for business. Matter of fact, the moment we put the sofa in its new location near the giant TV set, students landed on it immediately and made themselves comfortable. In short, the new renovation is an instant hit!

As a result of the renovations, the library needs lots of help to get it up and functioning again. A library parish work day is being planned for late September/early October. We will need folks to help organize books, pare down the collection, set up new shelves, and so forth. Dr. Ruth Queen Smith had an opportunity to purchase the latest in scripture study, ecumenism and interfaith dialogue, theology, and spirituality while she was in Washington, D.C. So, please help us make those resources available.

For now, my old office will be referred to as the “meeting room.” That room will be available for small groups. It has a kitchenette, where you will find the coffee and fixin’s on Sunday morning, and a TV set for AV use. Groups such as the Sant Egidio Community, Catholic Athletes, and Orthodox Christian Students are regularly scheduled to use the space. It will also be an additional classroom for Sunday school. Parishioners are welcome to reserve the room.

We still have some final finishing work to do hanging pictures, getting new window treatments and so forth. Once that is done, we plan on having a blessing of the new space the end of the month. Special thanks to a number of parishioners who worked so diligently on this project. Rocky Smith and his staff, who worked as general contractors on the project, took such great care of our building and were key to keeping the project on track and on budget. Richard Higginbotham renovated our HVAC system and the Wright family of Vineyard Carpets, IC and J23 folks, did a great job on the tile and carpet work. Even the outrageous heat wave didn’t slow them all down. Finally, thanks to all of you who contributed to the GIFT Campaign. Clearly, without your donations we wouldn’t have done any of this. What an amazing gift this will be for years to come!

I will be away next weekend for a Paulist General Council meeting and then on to a wedding of two UT students in a classified location. I’ll be back September 20th for the Notre Dame Lecture entitled: “Can the Three Faiths of the Middle East Peacefully Exist?” Don’t miss it!!

Happy Labor Day!
September 2, 2007

As we celebrate this weekend all who have labored and labor today for the building up of our country, it is also a day to remember all those whose hard work has made our parish so great. Most especially, I want to commend two staff members with whom you might not interact with often but whose contributions behind the scenes are tremendous and worthy of our praise and gratitude.

Barbara Lockett celebrates her 10th year in the business office. She follows a very distinguished group of predecessors including Mary Jo White and Gen Vandeboncoeur. Over those 10 years, Barbara has been instrumental in managing the growth of the parish. No only does she keep the books and track all your contributions (the volume of which doubled with the GIFT campaign) with amazing precision, she creates the bulletin, manages all the supplies, keeps track of Church needs, coordinates building maintenance, handles H.R. issues, and supervises the annual data entry. Did I mention she fields all the phone calls? Beyond that, she is generous, kind, and available to students who drop in to chat. She offers sage advice that only a mom with lots of experience can give. So, if you sometimes have to leave a message or wait to hear back from her, rest assured she is busy about many things. Barbara is ably assisted by a great crew of students including Michael Cain, J.D. Elder, and Amanda Foster.

The other person I would like to raise up is Ben Summers. Ben has been keeping John XXIII neat and clean since the doors opened, nearly 40 years ago. He remembers all the priests who have served here and can tell you stories about all of them. He often recalls the antics of Tom Foley, who loved to parade around in full vestment on the sidewalk to “scare the Baptists.” Ben used to come in at night when he got off his other job. Now, we are delighted to have him around in the daytime. His easy way and Tennessee charm always lifts the spirits of those he is around. Even though he is getting just a bit grayer, he is still on the top of his game, often working off hours to accommodate all the activities that happen here. He also holds the secret for proper chair arrangement in the Paulus Room.

We are so blessed to have these two people on our team. I don’t know what I would do without them. May God bless them, and all who work to make this parish so wonderful, for all their hard work and dedication! Have a great holiday!

“What are all these pieces of paper on my chair?!” Welcome to the Fall Semester at John XXIII… Those who have been around awhile realize that this is the annual rite of passage. Since John XXIII was established in 1968, we have registered and re-registered each and every parishioner every year. This is primarily to keep up with students who come and go. However, given today’s mobile society, it is wise we keep our non-student roster as up to date as possible. I often wonder if this is an exercise all parishes should do. Please take the time to fill out a card. We wouldn’t want you dropped off the list inadvertently!

Even if you have filled out countless cards here before and just written “same”, I ask you to consider where the Lord is calling you to serve this community and the wider community today. Because we don’t always have adequate staffing to call you back, please be pro-active in following up on the interest areas you selected.

Where do we really need your help this year? Our Nursery Program is in urgent need of students and parishioners. We even have a small stipend of $10 a Mass for this work. Our Children’s Liturgy of the Word is always in need of leaders, especially at the 11:15 a.m. Mass. Our Youth Ministry always needs parents and college students to be chaperones. (Remember that all volunteers who work with Youth must take the VIRTUS training on Sept. 9th.) The Interfaith Hospitality Network is always looking for new people to assist homeless families. We always need new lectors and Eucharistic ministers at all Masses and we are looking to upgrade our Usher/Greeter ministry at all masses.

There is also and invitation to join a RENEW: Why Catholic? faith sharing group. We are so excited by the potential impact of this program that we’ve printed extra forms for you to fill out, too!

So grab a pencil and get on the team!

Time to Renew!
August, 19, 2007

Happy New Year and special welcome to all newcomers to U.T. and John XXIII! We are blessed that you are with us. Welcome back to all who have been away for the summer. It is a blessing to have a full house again. By Wednesday, God willing, the second floor will be re-opened for use to accommodate everyone. It will take some time to get everything where we want it, but the TV will be turned on, so that’s a good start.

As wonderful as all this new construction will be for the life of our parish and campus ministry, it is only the start. We are more than bricks, rugs, furniture, and ceilings. We are the People of God! A glorious community chosen by our Lord! We have updated the building so it may facilitate what is most important: the building and renewal of our community of faith! If we have a nice renovated building, yet our Christian lives remain the same, what good would it have been?

Therefore, I call each of us in the parish to personal and communal renewal of the Spirit! This weekend we will formally launch a program entitled RENEW: WHY CATHOLIC? which will assist greatly in that effort. This program was a great success when we did it almost 20 years ago. Many members of the parish participated and friendships and memories still endure. For the uninitiated, RENEW gathers 6-10 folks in the comfort of parishioners’ homes or students’ dorm rooms to share faith, learn more about our Catholic faith, and foster fellowship. Groups will meet for 6 sessions in the fall, starting the week of Sept. 17th, and 6 sessions during Lent.

I know what you might be thinking! Don’t go there! This is an awesome opportunity to feed your faith and build up our parish. For new parishioners and students, this is a great way to get involved. Please consider giving it a try before you rule it out. I realize how busy our schedules get, but when was the last time you set aside some extra time to build your relationship with God, a relationship which promises eternal rewards? When we invest in this ultimate relationship, we are assured that all aspects of our lives will benefit.

Our Renew Parish Team members and I will be available after all Masses the next few weeks to tell you more about this great program.

End of Summer Update
August 12, 2007

Summer’s nearly gone and it is hard to believe! This summer it has hardly been quiet, especially with the renovations here. I am pleased to report that we have made great progress this week.

Soon, the second floor will have many new and exciting features. The new student lounge area will be doubled in size and will accommodate many more students. The space would be perfect for coffee hour and other receptions after Mass. My old office will be turned into an additional meeting room that can be used for Sunday school, small group meetings, additional study space, and a lunch area for the staff and others. We are installing a kitchenette in the space so the coffee pots, refrigerator, and microwave oven are all centrally located. It will be a big help when we have food for finals. The handicapped accessible bathrooms will assist those in wheelchairs. Also, the restroom will have a changing table for our youngest parishioners. The Library will be soundproofed making a great place for quiet study. The large classroom and nursery area has also had a makeover, with better, more efficient lighting.

In the lobby area, we have replaced the doors to the building and are installing a new ceiling that has a layer of insulation on top of it. We all know how cold the lobby can be in the winter time. Both of these efforts will save us a great deal in heating and cooling costs.

God willing, the bulk of the work will be completed before the first day of class. All the contractors have been wonderful to work with and are eager to do a good job for our community. Hopefully, next week I will have more good news! If you’d like a tour, just let me know!

Where are they now?
May 22, 2007

Looking for your favorite Paulist Father? Here's some details on their new assignments, effective July 1, 2008. To get more complete contact information go to the paulist website: www.paulist.org

Fr. Terry Ryan will be moving to Old St. Mary's in San Francisco to continue his work on the preaching and mission apostolate.

Fr. Bob Cary will be doing Regional Evangelization and Reconciliation Outreach out of Old Saint Mary's in Chicago.

Fr. Charlie Brunick will become Director of Paulist Northwest Evangelization and Reconciliation Center in Portland.

Fr. Jim Brucz (formerly of Immaculate Conception) will be an associate pastor at St. Lawrence Parish and Campus Ministry in Minneapolis, MN.

Fr. Jamie Baca (currently at Immaculate Conception, Knoxville) will be associate pastor at St. Paul the Apostle in New York City.

Fr. Rick Walsh (Formerly at I.C.) will move to Toronto to Develop Programming and Outreach at the Catholic Information Centre.

Fr. John Ardis is already hard at work as Pastor at St. Paul the Apostle Church in Los Angeles, California. He started that job in April.

Finally, I have been reappointed for two more years as pastor! Let's hope for two more after that!

Happy Summer!
May 13, 2007

What a wonderful academic year it has been. There were so many activities and special events this year. It all culminated with a week long cramming marathon that ended Tuesday. With many of the students now gone, it is time for some needed rest, peace and tranquility. With that in mind, this will be the last pastor’s column for the summer. I need a break to come up with new material. I hope this weekly missive has been useful and informative to you.

Not to worry, the wheels of progress will continue to turn around here. This summer we will renovate the second floor. The lounge area will be expanded, the library will be remodeled and soundproofed, a handicapped accessible bathroom will be created, and my old office will be transformed into a conference room with a small kitchenette. Along the way, ceilings and lighting will be renovated and the doors to the church, whose locks have worn out, will be replaced. My assumption is this work will be completed by August 17th. Your capital campaign contributions have made all this possible.

Also, I am pleased to announce that the first of new liturgical art work has been installed. Two of Lisa Renz’s reflections of forgiveness and reconciliation have been placed in the chapel and above the stairwell in the lobby. Lisa has just received her Master’s Degree in Art from UT. I was captivated by these two pieces when she showed them two years ago, and am pleased they will find a permanent home here. After renovations are complete, I would love to turn our attention to adding more new art to John XXIII.

In the midst of renovation, there will still be other things to do around here. Students are invited to join the young adults on Wednesday evenings. I will be leading a three part workshop on the Mass starting May 29th. There will be vacation Bible School for kids and adults in June. And there will be picnics and other outings as well.

Happy Mother’s Day to all! And Special Congrats once again to all Graduates! Have a great summer… hope there is time for rest and relaxation for you all.

Congratulations Graduates
May 6, 2007

In the New York Times this past Thursday, there was an article about the resurgence of religious life on campus. According to the article, chaplains, professors and administrators say students are drawn to religion and spirituality with more fervor than at any time they can remember. Some suspect the uncertainties of war or 9/11 have something to do with this. The theory of one chaplain at Lehigh University is “that baby boomers decided they weren’t going to impose their religious life on their children the way their parents imposed it on them. The idea was to let them come to it themselves. They get to college and things happen…they feel they don’t have the resources… and they turn to religion.”

We have experienced this “resurgence.” While we have always been blessed with active student participation, this year has been exceptional. By their own initiative, students organized a hugely successful mission trip to Jamaica. In fact, they made an extraordinary donation in excess of $10,000 from the money they raised for the work of the Sisters of Mercy there. Two groups of young men came to me this spring wanting to start a collegiate Knights of Columbus council. In two months, they gathered almost 30 others (including yours truly). A new K of C council will be established in July. These are just two examples of how we are experiencing the resurgence here. We hope the trend continues for years to come. It might help address the vocation crisis.

As I write this, the building is maxed out. Students are using every inch of the place to study for finals. It will be great when we finish renovations and enlarge the lounge area so we can accommodate student needs. It seems more students prefer to study together with some distraction! I am grateful for all the energy and life these students bring to us.

Congrats to all graduates! May the time you have spent here at U.T. and John XXIII serve you and the communities you join well. We will miss you! Keep in touch and come back to visit often!

And the Nominees Are…
April 29, 2007

Six parishioners presented themselves on Monday evening as candidates for the Parish Council. I would like to present them to you.

David Brace is a graduate of U.T. and currently works for the city of Knoxville in construction and facilities maintenance. He also has a background in community and economic development. He and his wife Gina live in the Island Home neighborhood with their children Wyatt and Gianna. Paul Cutler will be a U.T. Grad student next year in Engineering. He has been active as a student leader in many capacities for six years. He is a member of the choir and of the newly formed student Knights of Columbus chapter. Kevin Letsinger will be enrolling at U.T. this fall. He has grown up at John XXIII and is active in our youth ministry program. He was confirmed last weekend and wishes to be on the council because he “would like to become more involved in my church and would also like to learn more about my faith in the decisions made by this parish.”

Beth Phillips has been a part of our community since 1971 when her family (Ungs) moved to Knoxville. She has been engaged in economic and community development work for over 26 years. She married her husband Patrick at John XXIII. Both their children will be in college next year. John Rebori received both his Bachelor’s and Masters Degree from U.T. and has been attending the parish for over 30 years. He and his wife Nannette have two children 21 and 24. He is an excellent community organizer and hopes to bring new ideas to the council. Gary Sanders is a 2003 UT graduate who will be returning to campus this fall to pursue a graduate degree in Spanish. He is currently a real estate professional. He hopes to bring an international flare to the parish and hopes to build a strong relationship between John XXIII and the International House.

I want to thank these excellent candidates for their willingness to serve the parish. Please assist the Parish Council in discerning the make up of next year’s parish council. If you would like to affirm any of these nominees, please use the comment forms available in the lobby or email the council at John23@utk.edu.

Today, We Are All Hokies
April 22, 2007

There are no words to adequately describe the horror that occurred at Virginia Tech on Monday. Days later, the shock waves continue to roll over all who live, work and minister on a college campus. There is the startling realization that something like this could happen anywhere. As the Spring semester comes to a conclusion, campuses are already places of heightened anxiety, this event certainly doesn’t help.

In the past week, I have heard from my Paulist brothers who serve in different campuses across the country. They report similar reactions on campus to ours: feelings of grief, anxiety, and vulnerability; a need to gather intentionally with other students to talk about what has happened; and a strong connection to the victims. With the immediacy of news and internet, it almost feels as if this event happened on our campus. In fact, given the proximity of Virginia Tech to us, there are many faculty, staff, and students who have direct connections, through their studies or family, friends, and colleagues who are there. In a few very difficult instances, there are those who knew someone who died.

How do we cope with catastrophic events like this that hit so close to home? The university community has come together for prayer and fellowship with the folks at V.T. in large and small ways. Students have been coming together for prayer, at weekday Masses, in small groups, and as a student body Thursday night. Like many other campus ministries, we are providing a condolence book which we will send to our friends at the Newman Center in Blacksburg. On Facebook, the on line college social network, many students have replaced their photos with an icon that says “Today, we are all Hokies.”

Through this event, for a brief moment in time, we have become a community of one heart and mind, like the early disciples in the Acts of the Apostles. In the midst of tragedy, we draw close to one another not only to know the comfort of the Lord, but to be people of hope, seeking to overcome evil with love. Let us pray that in the aftermath of this event that, in Christ’s name, we may be more intentional about looking out for one another in our love of neighbor, especially those individuals who are isolated or in particular need of intervention and professional care.

Photo Directory
April 15, 2007

Starting this weekend, at long last, we will begin work on a new photo directory for the parish. Being the cutting edge parish that we are, the parish council has been considering how to do this in a new way. We wanted to create a photo directory that could be accessed on one’s computer and could be updated easily. No one was really thrilled with the prospect of working with a photo company. It can be a scheduling nightmare, and then there is the hard sell to purchase photos. So, we are going to do it ourselves!

Come on up to the library to have your family photo taken! It will take a moment or two. This weekend we will be taking photos after all Masses. We will also be taking photos after the Saturday night Mass next weekend, and the Sunday Masses on Sunday, April 29th. We will also take photos on Wednesday, May 9th from 5pm to 9pm. Our in house photographers will include Dan Speraw and Nina Fortunato. Alison Darken and Susan Speraw will also be on hand to help organize the data collection. If you prefer to have us print a photo you already have just send it or email it to us.

When all is said and done you will be able to get the directory in a number of different formats. A pdf computer file will be emailed to all registered members of the parish who wish one. A black and white hard copy will be available for a modest suggested donation. A full color version would be available as well but would be sold at cost. Of course parishioners can ask their friends to print one out for them, too! Special thanks to Linda Whitney for her willingness to provide layout for the directory. Of course, Ullrich Printing will be creating the hard copies. We hope to have a directory ready for distribution by August.

We hope this new directory will be a great resource for the parish!

Happy Easter!
April 8, 2007

From all of us on staff at John XXIII, Happy Easter! We hope this season will be filled with great joy!

The Easter Season is all about new life in the Lord. At the Easter Vigil, we welcomed four new members, who participated in our R.C.I.A. program, into the Church, a clear sign of new life! I am honored to introduce them to you. Marion “Skip” Lackey originally from Pennsylvania found our RCIA program via the web. He’s customer care representative at Caremark where he met Catholics who encouraged his inquiry into the faith. His journey of faith has inspired many of his co-workers in return. Skip is a writer and is currently working on a novel. Lisa Christian is a graduate student in English. She is originally from Abingdon, VA. Her investigation began while she was a teenager. Lynda Mae Throne, an undergraduate in social work, was baptized a Catholic in Vienna, Virginia and was raised in the Methodist Church. Finally, there is Jessica Shafer, a second year law student at U.T. She is originally from West Tennessee, and I had the honor of officiating her marriage to Andrew Shafer this summer in Paris, Tennessee.

These four people have been a joy to walk with this year. They are enthusiastic, inquisitive, and most of all faith filled. They will surely enhance our community and bring many gifts to us! Special thanks to our RCIA team members Ruth Queen Smith, John Long, George & Ruth Smith, Brad Croisdale, Mark Collins, Barbara Haning, Vin McCormick, Fr. Paul and myself who do such a great job forming these and others in the faith through their presentations, prayers, and gentle guidance. Each person entering the church also has a sponsor who offers one-on-one support. This year sponsors were Paul McGinley, Sandra McEntire, Katie Hodge, and Mindy Coulter. I appreciate their willingness to accompany these new Catholics on their journey of faith!

Every member of the parish is welcomed to be a part of RCIA! You are always welcome to sit in and learn more about our faith. We are always looking for sponsors and teachers, too. Most of all, you can be a part of this program by sharing your faith with others and inviting them to experience the Catholic faith by coming to Church with you!

HAPPY EASTER! Fr. Eric

The New Parish Up North
Palm Sunday, April 1, 2007

Knoxville is growing! Matter of fact, a conference was held recently to address issues of sprawl in the greater Knox County area. I suppose some of this is the result of Yankees like me who love it here and want to stay. With a lot of Northerners comes a number of Catholics! Now, the explosive growth of Catholics in West Knoxville is beginning to emerge on the North side of Knox County, as many new sub- divisions are being built.

In anticipation of the need, the Diocese of Knoxville purchased land on Brickey Lane in Halls for a new North Knoxville parish. Now that the GIFT Campaign is coming to a conclusion, this new parish is about to form. Those of you who live in zip codes which are in the new parish’s boundaries were sent letters inquiring if you might want to become members of the new parish.

This may bring up some awkward feelings for some of you. The thoughts of ample parking are enticing. A full service parish might be helpful for families, especially those who would like to send their kids to Catholic Schools. Being “charter members” of a new parish is wonderful and exciting. Yet, it means saying good bye to this small tight-knit parish with all it has to offer as a dynamic University Parish. Are there 50 ways to leave your parish? Slip out the back, jack? Make a new plan, Stan?

No need to be coy, Roy, just listen to me…. There is no obligation or pressure for you to join the new parish. I want you to stay here! However, what is most important is that the spiritual needs of you and your family are being met, and you participate fully in the Mass at least on Sunday and Holy Days. Moving to a parish close by your home may be best for you. Should you choose to relocate, just let us know. We want to give you a blessing and remind you that you will always be part of our family and you are welcome to come back and visit as often as you like!

Hope that is helpful! Please make plans to celebrate Holy Week with us! Attending Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil services is a wonderful opportunity to walk with Christ. Don’t miss out!

Spring Break Journeys
March 11, 2007

As is evidenced by easy parking, the University is on break this week. Students were heading in a variety of directions on Friday. Some are seeking the sun; others are heading to family; and a few going out on mission. Early Sunday morning, the 12 students on the Jamaica Mission Team embarked on their week long mission trip.

Fr. Paul and I have been so impressed by these students and their efforts. For the past year, they have been meeting to form community, pray for those they will be serving, learn about poverty issues in Jamaica and elsewhere, and get things done. They have gone out to a number of local churches to ask for support. At first raising $10,000 seemed like an uphill battle, but with prayer and perseverance their efforts have paid off. They received over $20,000 in donations, which will enable them to endow future mission efforts.

Certainly, their commitment to serving the poor in this way captivated those they invited to support their efforts. Tom Holcolm and Lisa Herman have been amazing leaders for the team. Please pray for them and the members of the team this week: Jordan Lefebvre, Jennifer Clancy, David Whitehead, Brad Dietz, Caleb Scroback, Tom Holcomb, Joe Angelini, Madeline Bertasi, Stephanie Dueber, Wes Stallings. This will be a life changing experience for them. When they return, I hope their witness will inspire others to take such a plunge.

Perhaps you are already interested in doing something similar. Our parish will be participating in a mission trip to Haiti in mid June. As you pray for these students this week, pray also to discern where the Lord is calling you to minister!

Thanks, Dane!
March 4, 2007

On Tuesday night at Thompson-Boling Arena, one of our student parishioners was honored in a very special way. Dane Bradshaw, the lone senior on the Men’s Basketball Team, was honored for his many accomplishments on and off the court at senior night. It was a very moving moment.

While Dane is not the star shooter on the team, he has been the team’s leader and the glue that held them all together. Dane’s impact was so profound that Coach Pearl and his wife endowed a scholarship in his name in the amount of $100,000.00 for future student athletes who exhibit his or her commitment to academic achievement, athletic excellence, hard work, team leadership and personal faith.

Over the four years Dane has been at UT, I’ve been impressed by his faithfulness. He is at church Sunday after Sunday, in good times and in bad. He joked once that he was a one hour a week Catholic, but that is far from the truth. It is clear to me that he is always witnessing to his faith in his actions. Coach Pearl has commented on how moved he was while praying with Dane. In a sport where players can sometimes feel they are above it all, Dane has his feet set surely on solid ground. He is the ultimate team player who certainly understands and lives St. Paul’s theology of the Body of Christ. He understands that every person has a gift that contributes to the good of the whole.

Dane takes his place among other fine John XXIII student athletes like Tim Irwin, Kara Lawson, Chris Burke, and David Ligon whose discipline, faith, and hard work have made a tremendous difference in their lives and the lives of those around them. In big time college athletics and pro sports where evangelical Christians rule the roost, these athletes have certainly shown in a uniquely Catholic way that there is no “I” in team.

Congratulations and thanks Dane for your witness to us! Continued prayers and good wishes in the post season!

It’s Lent!
February 25, 2007

On this first weekend of Lent, I hope that your Lenten observances are serving you and the Lord well! Sometimes, it is even good news when we fail in what we set out to accomplish for it is a reminder of how much we need the Savior in our lives.

As you experienced already today, we are doing something new this Lent, namely getting on our knees for the penitential rite. This is a practice that other parishes have adopted. To humble ourselves in this way before the Lord might feel uncomfortable but it gets us in touch with our sins and faults and reminds of us God’s great gift of forgiveness through Jesus Christ. If you are not able to kneel, it’s okay to be seated. I realize there are some very tight spaces in the Paulus Room, so do the best you can.

Throughout this season there are many opportunities large and small to renew and deepen our relationship with Jesus. A first step is to adopt a new attitude towards the world: slow down, seek peace with all people, cherish silence, consume less, become aware of the needs of others, pray that you may be more like Christ, and so forth. Then, with the extra energy and space in your life you have freed up, do something to build up the Kingdom of God. There are tons of opportunities, be creative!

Not creative? Then I have a suggestion. We are having a parish clean up day Saturday, March 10th from 10 am to 2 pm. We have many projects, something for every age group and interest. I am entitling it a Communal Day of Penance, because no one really likes doing this type of thing… yet there is tremendous satisfaction when the work is finished! Hopefully, just like Lent.

Capital Campaigns Abound!
February 18, 2007

As the GIFT Capital Campaign moves past its halfway point, other Capital Campaigns from the Diocese and the Paulist Fathers are waiting in the wings or are under consideration. There are a number of positive reasons: true need, the opportunity for new initiatives in the Church, and the overwhelming positive response to the GIFT Campaign. We give thanks for the good an extraordinary campaign can accomplish. This weekend, we bless another terrific addition to John XXIII: the new office wing. While this new space will provide the pastoral staff the room we need to work more effectively, better still, it will allow us to open up new space for students and parishioners upstairs.

In a few weeks, you will receive a mailing from Knoxville Catholic High School inviting you to participate in their new Capital Campaign to raise over 3 million dollars for new space, so they may accommodate their growing student body. While I was hesitant to allow our mailing list to be used for this one time mailing, I also realize how many of our parishioners have attended KCHS, or have enrolled their children there. Along those same lines, St. Joseph’s School in North Knoxville is conducting a feasibility study for a capital campaign. If you have any connection with this wonderful elementary school, you may be contacted by a fundraising consultant.

Finally, in 2008, We Paulist Fathers will be celebrating our 150th Anniversary. There will be many special events held nationally and locally here in Knoxville. As part of the observance of our anniversary, a Capital Campaign has already been launched to support Paulist missionary efforts in North America. The goal is to raise 15 million dollars nationally. By the end of this calendar year, we will begin to hear more about this endeavor

I bring all these efforts to your attention not to weary you, but to give you a head’s up. There are many needs in our Church and beyond. Hopefully this information will assist your future charitable donation planning. The best advice is to prayerfully consider all these needs and how you may be called to respond. If you have any questions, concerns, and/or complaints, I’ll do my best to address them all!

Happy Mardi Gras! Fr. Eric

Can you help me…?
February 11, 2007

“Can you help with the light bill?” Anyone who has answered a church telephone in Knoxville can tell you that this is one of the top 5 phone inquiries. There are so many people living on the poverty line around us, living paycheck to paycheck. In extreme cases, families find themselves homeless and unable to turn the situation around.

When this happens, it takes a whole community to help a family back on its feet. That’s where the Interfaith Hospitality Network comes in. Through the goodness of local churches, IHN provides temporary housing so families might remain together during those difficult moments. IHN also provides the social work resources so families can get back on their feet. John XXIII has been involved in this project since it began in Knoxville last year, partnering with Ball Camp Baptist Church. Fr. Bob Cary was instrumental in getting us involved and Kathy McGinnis-Craft has done a wonderful job leading our involvement at John XXIII.

After each Mass this weekend, Kathy and other parishioners will invite us to renew our parish’s commitment to this ministry. We are looking for volunteers to step up in a variety of roles to serve the homeless in our midst. With the weather turning so cold, now is when the need is even greater for this vital ministry. Also, getting involved raises our awareness to the great challenges placed on the shoulders of the poor. It is also presents us with an opportunity to work for Christian Unity as we labor with our Protestant brothers and sisters to answer the Lord’s call to reach out to the neediest among us.

So, please open your ears and hearts to this valuable ministry. And if you need any further challenge and encouragement read this passage in Scripture: James 2:14.

Have a great week, Fr. Eric

Renovations: Chapter 3
February 4, 2007

I am pleased to announce that our open house and dedication of our new offices wing at John XXIII will be the weekend of February 17th & 18th. While there still might be some decorating touch ups, best to have a party before Lent starts to celebrate the continued good works that flow from the Capital Campaign!

With the downstairs complete, we now fix our gaze on the second floor. The plans include creating a handicapped accessible bathroom, enlarging the lounge area, set up new classroom space, and making a new library space that can also be used for quiet study. The most cost effective means of reaching these goals is to relocate the partition that divides the library and the existing tiny lounge space. The wall can be moved 6, 11, or 15 feet into the library, potentially creating a much larger lounge area that could accommodate a TV area, parish receptions, and leisurely study. This would preserve the old pastor’s office for meeting space/Sunday school/additional quiet study. By the way, Fr. Paul’s office is the new location for the nursery.

While the library would seem smaller, we will use the conference room for our collection as well, in effect, turning the library sideways. These two spaces would be sound proofed. Our experience has been that most students use the lounge areas for study. The walls in the library have been marked in three places showing where a new wall could be located. There will be a place to list your preference, if you want your opinion noted.

With all new things, it will take some time to adjust to these new changes. Once we do, many new and exciting possibilities will emerge! Thanks for your continued support of our capital campaign which has allowed us to do so many wonderful things.

Parish Council Update
January 27, 2007

Last Monday, the parish council met and I wanted to get an update on what’s going on. The Parish Council is very helpful to the parish and me in offering insights and wise council. There are a number of initiatives that we are working on and you will be hearing about in the upcoming months.

Photo Directory. Many of you have been asking when we are going to have an updated photo directory. Fr. Terry had one done in his first few years as pastor. Working with photo directory companies in the past has been problematic. With the prevalence of digital photography and the use of the web by many, we have decided to take a different course. Our new photo directory will be located on a password-protected page on our website. Parishioners may opt to submit their own photographs (digital or hard copy) or have their photograph taken by seasoned amateur photographers in our parish. A hard copy of the directory will be available at minimal cost. Photos may be updated at any time. Parish Council members will be organizing the photo collection shortly and will be looking for photographers!

Parish Family Retreat. Results of a poll taken at last spring’s Parish Appreciation Dinner revealed that many parishioners would like to have a parish retreat. We have begun a search for adequate facilities that might accommodate us and would have adequate facilities for retreat programming so that adults, youth and children might all have a positive, growth-filled experience. Our first choice is to have the retreat the first weekend in June at a location no more than an hour’s drive. If you would like to be involved in the planning, please talk to DeAnna Croisdale.

Parking Survey. As I have announced, the University has plans to eliminate some surface parking in the immediate vicinity of John XXIII. At all the Masses on the last Sunday of February, a survey will be conducted so that we might have a snapshot of where everyone parks for Mass. This data will assist us in petitioning either the University or the City of Knoxville for additional Sunday morning parking within easy walking distance. If you would like to assist in this effort, get in touch with Kevin Kit.

These are some of the projects that our council is working on. In a few months, we will open up a nomination process for those who would like to be a part of this group. If you would like to know more about the parish council or would like to be a part of the team, I would be happy to direct you to a member of the council in your midst!

Paulist Appeal Weekend
January 20, 2007

This weekend I am pleased to introduce to you Paulist Deacon Barth Landry who will be preaching the annual Paulist Appeal. Barth is completing his studies at our Seminary in Washington, D.C. and will be ordained a priest this May. Deacon Landry is a native of Church Point, Louisiana and was ordained a Deacon this past September at the National Shrine on the campus of Catholic University. He joined the Paulists because he was attracted to their mission and charism of evangelization, reconciliation and unity.

I hope as a parishioner here at John XXIII University Parish you have been captivated by the core mission of the Paulist Community. All of us are called to be missionaries, to be bearers of Good News to those we encounter. Your support of our annual appeal helps support people like Barth who are committing their lives to service to God and His people as well as priests like retired pastor Stan MacNevin who served here as Pastor from 1992-1996. It will also help us sustain programs that reach out to alienated Catholics, Young Adults, and those searching for a faith home.

Next year the Paulist Fathers will be celebrating 150 years as a religious community and we hope to use the anniversary year as an opportunity to raise awareness of who the Paulists are and what our mission is. We are also using it as an opportunity to raise cash as well, but more on that at a later time. Look for handouts in the lobby about the Paulists and Paulist Founder Fr. Isaac Hecker, whose sainthood cause has just begun. If you want to know even more, I invite you to visit our new and improved website. The address is: www.paulist.org.

Thanks, in advance, for considering this year’s Paulist Appeal!

Look for us Downstairs!
January 14, 2007

Welcome Back Everybody! The new semester begins with great new changes! Starting next week, we will be moving our parish offices to their new location, which is located below the library and was originally part of the priests’ residence. There are a few final touches to be done, but Fr. Paul, Ruth Queen Smith, Barbara Lockett and I will all move down there in time for a formal dedication and open house the weekend of January 27/28.

This new renovated space will have many benefits. The lobby area will provide a central area for parishioners to meet staff members. We have added a reception window (much like in a doctor’s office) to provide added security for our business office staff. The lobby area has ample room for Bible Study and other small group meetings in the evenings and Sunday mornings. All the offices are brightly lit and welcoming. While we won’t start renovating the second floor until the Spring Semester ends, we will immediately have three rooms available for study, fellowship, and relaxation.

We are very excited by these renovations because they will allow us to expand our programming and outreach, and they will help us serve you better. Special thanks to Rocky Smith and his team who did all the renovation work downstairs and in the backyard, their professionalism and care for John XXIII were exceptional. Additional thanks goes to Barbara Lockett, our business manager, who kept on top of all the details, to Mark & Jenny Buckingham who live downstairs and were very patient during the work, and finally to all of you who have contributed to our Capital Campaign. Without your amazing support, none of this would be happening.

There’s more good news to share regarding our Capital Campaign. But I’ll save that for next week!

Happy Little Christmas!
January 7, 2007

While the rest of town is “de-Christmasing,” we Catholics continue to celebrate this weekend with the Feast of the Epiphany. It is also known as Little Christmas and the Feast of the Three Kings. Today, we hear from Matthew’s Gospel the story of the wise men from the East who presented the Christ child with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh—symbols of Christ’s threefold role as priest, prophet, and king. This is the big gift giving holiday in much of Latin America. So, to our parishioners with Latin Roots: ¡Feliz Fiesta De Los Tres Reyes!

There have been so many wonderful gifts that have come to us this Christmas Season at John XXIII. Thanks to all of you who made it so wonderful. Thanks to all who helped out two weekends in a row decorating the Church and who made memorial flower donations. For those who missed it, our children did an amazing job with the Christmas pageant. This year’s pageant was among the best ever! It may also have been the largest cast. Donna Dudek, Lisa and Jessica Powers, Moira Kaye, and Nancy Strange are to be commended for their astute and patient direction of the theatrical masterpiece. Thanks to all the parents who gave them a hand pulling it together and especially the Widmer Family for coordinating the reception afterwards. Our Musicians were exceptional not only for the superb quality of music but also their stamina, given that Christmas fell on a Monday after a full schedule of Sunday Masses.

All this makes me a very pleased and joy filled pastor. I don’t think I can say it too often how much I appreciate all of you. You are truly a gift. Thanks to all of you for your many different expressions of support & care of John XXIII, our staff, Fr. Paul, and myself this Christmas Season and throughout 2006. It was a very challenging year in many respects, especially in dealing with the Paulist Fathers Strategic Plan. Yet, together, with the grace of the Holy Spirit, never losing hope, God has blessed us and helped us overcome seemingly huge obstacles.

As we continue to celebrate on this Epiphany Sunday that, in Jesus Christ, the light has come, let us pray together that the light of Christ will continue to radiate from within us to change our lives and radiate out to change the world!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year
to all from Fr. Paul, the Staff at John XXIII, and myself!

Holiday Double Header!
December 17, 2006

As Advent comes to a joyous conclusion, I hope this season of spiritual preparation has been fruitful for you. If not, I hope in the week ahead you may have time to rest, reflect, and rejoice. Opportunities will always arise if we are pro-active in seeking them out. This past week I was up in New York City for a Paulist General Council meeting. At first it was an unwelcome break, but it did provide some time to stop and reflect—a nice surprise.

This year with Christmas falling on a Monday presents us with additional opportunities to worship together. Some of you may be planning to come to the Sunday 5:30 Christmas Eve Mass to cover the 4th Sunday of Advent and the Christmas holy day obligations all at once. What a clever idea, one that appeals to me… Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way.

We are called to reflect on Mary’s visitation to Elizabeth on the 4th Sunday of Advent and reflect as the Body of Christ on how our Lord seeks to encounter us at the feast of Christmas. This is my positive spin on the matter! Is there any good news for the pragmatists among us? This year, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God on Monday, January 1 is not a holy day of obligation. Even so I encourage you to come to the 10 a.m. Mass to start the New Year in a wonderful way. You’ll be home in time for kick off.

To those who will be out of town during the Christmas season, safe travels! See you in the New Year!

Year End Money Matters
December 10, 2006

Isn’t it timely that Christmas falls at the end of the calendar year so that you may be not only charitable but also mindful of taxable deductions? As your pastor, I find this a joyous combination of the sacred and profane.

At any rate, there are a few money matters that have been brought to my attention that I wanted to pass along. Many new parishioners ask about contribution envelopes at John XXIII. Since this parish was founded, the envelope system has never been used. If you would like to get a receipt for your contributions, using a check is sufficient. Barbara Lockett in our business office does an excellent job tracking your contributions and sending you a year end report. Please make sure you clearly specify on your check where your gift is going (Sunday Offering, Haiti, GIFT, Diocese/ASA, etc.). Starting in 2007, if you put loose cash in the basket, you may not take a tax deduction for that charitable contribution without an acknowledgment from us. Soon, contribution envelopes for cash donations will be available in the lobby.

Did you know that for 2006 and 2007 Congress is allowing folks 70 ½ years of age or older with traditional or Roth IRAs to make tax-free gifts directly to qualified charities, like John XXIII? Donors may choose to make charitable deductions in any amount up to $100,000 per year, if so desired. Gifts may be deducted from income that would have otherwise been subject to tax under federal law. Of course, some restrictions may apply, so ask your bank or financial planner about this.

Two final small items, if you are making year end contributions, make sure they get to us before the stroke of midnight, Jan 1. Also, remember that half of the collection taken up for the Christmas Masses goes to the Diocese, so plan accordingly. Sorry for taking up this space for housekeeping items… Please know how grateful I am for all the many ways this parish community responds to the needs of John XXIII, the Knoxville area, and beyond.

Advent 2007
Dec. 3, 2006

Happy New Year! The weekend we begin the season of Advent, to prepare ourselves spiritually for the Feast of Christmas. I certainly realize that these next few weeks can be very stressful for a variety of reasons from the practical to the profound. Every year Advent gives us the opportunity to take a step back and wait for the coming of the Lord. The readings this week urge us to be watchful for the Lord’s return in glory. As we take on a spirit of joyful anticipation of Christmas, we begin to prepare ourselves for God’s ultimate return.

Waiting and preparation seem impossible while the rest of Knoxville is already knee-deep in Christmas? Certainly we don’t live our lives in a vacuum, but perhaps in living the spirit of Advent, we can find time to reflect on the coming of Christ, so to keep a sense of perspective through this month of shopping, Christmas parties, and other activities. Taking a few minutes to reflect on the readings for Mass each day during Advent is a great way to get a sense of the season while waiting with the Church.

We have a number of events and activities to help you prepare well for Christmas. Our Advent Penance Service will be on December 7th at 7:30pm. A number of priests will be here to assist you in lightening any Spiritual burden. Also, I encourage you to come to an Advent Evening of Reflection that Ruth is leading on Friday, December 15th. It will focus on “Christ, the Light that overcomes all darkness”. There are a variety of service projects in which we can encounter Christ, including the Interfaith Hospitality Network from Dec. 10-16, the Elf Project, the Advent Giving Tree whose recipients will be with us on Dec. 19th for a party, and our Christmas decorating party following the 11:15 Mass on December 17th.

Let us await the Lord together, with great hope and joyful expectation!

Start Thinking Ahead!
November 19, 2006

Did you know that in 2008, the Paulist Fathers will be turning 150 years old? As I write this, folks from John XXIII and Immaculate Conception are beginning to draw up plans to celebrate the big event.

This past Sunday, a number of parishioners gathered in World’s Fair Park to participate in Buddy’s Race for Cancer with Judy and Frank Rothermel (which was a huge success, by the way). As I was standing in the middle of the park, it struck me that it would be a great place for both parishes to gather for a big Anniversary Mass on or near the Feast of Pentecost in May 2008. Being in the shadow of both parishes, surrounded with flags of many nations, on (as I imagine) a beautiful spring day, close to the Foundry which could have a wonderful brunch waiting for us afterwards… what more could you ask for?

Well, there is more. One of the Paulists’ finest mission preachers, Fr. Jack Collins, will be with us that year to preach a Mission at John XXIII and Immaculate Conception to fire us up for the celebration. A bus trip will be organized to take folks to Winchester, Tennessee to visit 100 Oakes Mansion, the Paulist Fathers’ first mission base in the South. We will attempt to revive the Paulist Trailer Missions for our anniversary, going out around the Diocese to tell the story of the Paulists in Tennessee. (Anyone have a trailer or RV we can borrow?) Finally, an anniversary like this is also a good time for the Paulists to raise some cash for our mission… but I’ll talk to you about that later.

If any of these sounds like a good idea or you have others, now would be a great time for feedback! Let us pray for the intercession of Paulist Founder Fr. Isaac Hecker to assist us in our preparations. His sainthood cause in the church has just begun. If all these plans are accomplished, we can credit him with the miracle!

Haiti Mission Appeal
Nov. 12, 2006

For the past two years, our parish has been supporting the Children’s Nutrition Program of Haiti, part of a parish initiative to reach out to the needy near and far. The mission of this program is to improve the health and development of Haitian Children, particularly those suffering from malnutrition who can in turn raise Haiti from poverty. John XXIII has been very responsive to this charitable organization contributing over $25,000. Parishioners have also made the sacrifice of going to Haiti with CNP on medical missions.

As we know from media reports, Haiti is one of the most desperately poor countries in our hemisphere, and also one of the most politically unstable. Cathy Speraw Dorvil, daughter of parishioners Susan & Dan Speraw, has dedicated many years to developing programs which empower women to properly feed their children using available resources. As you may recall, her husband Joseph gave his life almost two years ago serving his fellow Haitians. Cathy is now in law school so she may enter a new phase in her ministry to the poor and needy around the world.

The work of the organization continues and our help is still urgently needed. At all the masses over the next two weekends, Susan and Dan will be asking us to continue to support this valuable work. Your contributions go a very long way in Haiti, so even a modest gift will be welcome. Additionally, I strongly encourage you (over 21) to go on an upcoming medical mission to Haiti. While I have yet to go, I have heard many stories from those who have gone. In all cases, it was a life changing experience.

In advance of the appeal, I invite you to visit their website www.cnphaiti.org to learn more about this worthy parish endeavor

Pregnancy Help Center Opens
November 5, 2007

This past Monday, a new branch of Catholic Charities Pregnancy Help Center opened upstairs at John XXIII in the former nursery space. If you go around the backside of the building you will see new signage, a repainted dumpster, and an awning over the rear exit of the building. Hopefully this forgotten entrance to the building will become a welcome doorway to students and others who find themselves in need of the free services of the center.

According to the advertisement in the UT Beacon this week, Pregnancy Help Centers “provide unconditional love, support, information, and aid to anyone facing or having faced an unplanned pregnancy. All services are free, confidential and offered without discussion of religion or beliefs.” Services include free pregnancy tests, counseling, 24 hour help line, adoption services, and post abortion counseling. I am very pleased that we are able to host Catholic Charities in this way. The motto of this center is to “Talk to God about the client, and not talk to the client about God.”

Sometimes advocacy in the public square and among the faithful on pro-life issues is so strong that women who are seeking healing and peace following an abortion feel that God and the Church have turned their back on them. I am grateful that there is a resource on campus for students and others who are pregnant or have had an abortion to find unconditional care, healing, and reconciliation with a loving God. This center will serve as a beacon that our God is both merciful and just and offers safe harbor to all seeking Him, no matter what.

John XXIII has a long history of reaching out to those in need within and beyond our parish community. I would like to thank all those parishioners who have donated their time, talent, and treasure to help make this effort a reality. All are welcome to come to an open house this coming Thursday from 11am – 2pm. Bishop Kurtz & Fr. Ragan of Catholic Charities will be here to offering a blessing of this new outreach ministry, along with Center Director Sandi Davidson and parishioner Margo Tate who is on the professional staff. Please join us!

Parking Issues, Part II
October 29, 2006

So, where do you park on Sunday? Talking to a number of people after last week’s column, I discovered just how spread out you all are on a Sunday. Knowing how important it is to have convenient parking in this town, I especially appreciate your commitment to the parish and your willingness to be creative and flexible in securing a regular parking spot when you come to Mass!

As I reported last week, the University has one of the main parking lots we use on the chopping block. One university official I spoke to was surprised that the parking lot across from Hess Hall didn’t meet our needs on Sundays. I suggested to him the two ideas I raised last week in this column (parking on Melrose Ave and/or staff parking on Caledonia), and he promised to look into it.

In order to back up our claim that we would be seriously impacted by this loss of parking, a research project will be initiated to assess where you all park on Sunday so we may have hard data to bring to the planners at the University of Tennessee. Our research methods will include a show of hands on where you parked. Also, scouts will go out and assess parking availability before the Sunday morning Masses in various alternate parking lots.

Perhaps this is a good time to review alternative places to park which might be more convenient. If you don’t want to climb a hill, you can try the Baptist Center parking lots, the driveway between the Student Success Center and the Christian Student Center, or the lot at the Presbyterian Center. If you are coming from West Knoxville or the Alcoa Highway, try Caledonia Ave (the alley in back of John XXIII, third left off Volunteer Ave). If everything is filled up near us, the Wesley Center parking area has about 14 spots. When the students are gone, all the dorm parking on Caledonia is wide open.

Hope that’s of some help! I’ll continue to give you updates as this situation unfolds!

Lord, Grant Us Ample Parking!
October 22, 2006

Fr. Terry always used to say that we’d be a huge parish…if only we had a parking lot! Perhaps that’s true, but not too many of us would like to trade the small community feeling of John XXIII for the likes of other mega-churches in town.

Having said that, I know many of you make the sacrifice to walk from remote places on campus to worship on Sunday. And, in a few years, the University of Tennessee plans on removing many surface parking lots near us to create a more pedestrian friendly campus. Matter of fact, the parking lot where many of you park near the Clarence Brown Theater is scheduled to be transformed into green space in two to three years. This was announced last week with the unveiling of the new master plan for the Knoxville campus.

So that our parish might continue to flourish and sustain itself, we need to be pro-active as a parish community to work with the University and city planners to seek solutions beneficial to all. Some of the initial proposals worth considering include lobbying the city to allow street parking on Melrose Ave. on Sunday mornings and/or lobbying the University to convert the dorm parking spaces on Caledonia Ave. to staff parking. There are other options we have not thought of either.

What do we need at this point? Information, connections, and prayer. In this town, it’s not what you know, but who you know. Certainly, plans have come and gone at UT, but I don’t think this one will. So, if you can help us make a connection with city or University personnel of influence, please let me know. We will be forming an Ad-Hoc committee to address this issue.

We know that when we put our minds and hearts to challenges in our parish life, we can overcome them. So, let’s take the initiative now, so that the future of this parish community and campus ministry might remain secure!

Fall Break!
October 15, 2006

It’s that time in the semester when we take a breather! We need it. Thus far it has been a very busy semester. Perhaps it was the 4 home games followed by SEARCH that made things move so fast.

This coming week Fr. Paul and I will b