Mission Statement St. Therese Parish, joined together by the love of Christ, St. Therese desiring to further the understanding of prayer and religious commitment, Catholic Church pledge ourselves to continue and improve our mission to Jesus, which is loving and serving the Lord and our neighbor. Bishop of Knoxville: Fr. Julius’ Desk Most Rev. Bishop Richard Stika Pastor: Brothers and sisters in Christ, Father Julius Abuh It was with great joy that many of you could attend my Silver Jubilee of Priestly Ordination yesterday! I was humbled and stirred by your kind trib- Office: 865-457-4073 utes, prayers, gifts, and cards. Your families and loved ones are remembered Rectory: 865-457-1317 closely in my prayers, and I continue to be grateful to serve as a priest of E-mail: [email protected] God. Coming up next weekend, I will be traveling home for my annual va- cation. Please remember to keep me and other travelers in your prayers. [email protected] Secretary: Virginia Knowles In today’s readings, the liturgy offers the image of the all-loving, patient, Bookkeeper: Christiana Seay compassionate God who is confident that the so-called “weeds” among us Church Office: 865-457-4073 will be converted. We notice the thread from last Sunday’s Gospel readings Office Hours: 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. (M-Th.) E-mail: [email protected] of seeds into today’s seeds and weeds. The readings warn us not to be in a hurry to eliminate or cut off such elements from our Church, the society or Website: www.saintthereseclinton.org from our family especially because of unwarranted and hasty judgments. Twitter: SThereseClinton Facebook: St Therese Catholic Church Our First Readings presents a good model of the Church’s merciful and pa- Deadline for bulletin submissions: tient God, unlike the formerly disciplining and punishing God presented in Wednesday afternoons by 1:30 p.m. the book of Genesis. In the Second Reading, St. Paul writes to both the early Christians in Rome and to us today, reminding us that the Spirit of God goes St. Therese Weekly Mass Schedule: on empowering us in both our prayers and even in our vulnerabilities. How Saturday: Confessions 4:15-4:45 p.m. essential that we be patient with both ourselves and others! Mass 5 p.m. Sunday: 11:00 a.m. Tuesday : 9 a.m. at St. Joseph, Norris Our Gospel reading contains one of my favorite parables. At first glance, Wednesday & Thursday: 9 a.m. you would think the slaves were right suggesting let us go and pull down the Friday: 9 a.m. (9:30-10:30 a.m. Adoration) weeds; but on second thought, you could grasp the wisdom of the farmer who says, let the seed and the darnel grow together till the harvest time. Parish Pastoral Council: Here we see Jesus presenting a wise and patient God who allows the good Stan Bieleski, Chair and the evil to coexist in the world to bless the evil ones and lead them to Olivia Kuhens, Secretary Maureen McMyler conversion before the end of time. John Meersman George Paynter Does this help us with the question of “WHY”? I believe the good and infi- Sue Thais nite God in his wisdom awaits repentant sinners, giving them the strength to Fr. Julius Abuh (ex-officio) acknowledge their weakness. On a more personal level, we know that both Finance Board: sin and good dwell within our own inward being; how fortunate it is that our Don McCarthy, Chair patient Lord allows for that interior elimination of weeds. Dave McCune Monica Spurlock Fr. Julius Abuh (ex-officio) In x-raying this parable of the wheat and the weeds, Jesus calls us to be pa- tient with those who sometimes fail to meet our own expectations; we ask ourselves if they are maintaining the high ethical standards expected of a Committee Chairpersons: Christian. Let us be easy going and show mercy as we patiently and loving- Communications: Olivia Kuhens ly treat the “weeds” in our families, in our Churches, in our societies, and Hospitality: Fran Pisano, Maria Gee within ourselves. We can accomplish this by good example and our fervent Music Director: Mary Tuskan (865) 254-8346 Parish/Family Life: Dials Family prayer for conversion. Joyous Sunday! Parish Plant: Dave McCune RCIA: Dave McCune (865) 457-5015 Sacraments Religious Ed: Amanda Dials, Julie Keller Social Action: Connie Mikeal Baptism: By appoint- Reconciliation: Matrimony: A four-month Spiritual Life/Liturgy: Jim Ferguson, Chantal ment. Please call the Saturdays from preparation period in the Milne church office at least 4:15-4:45 p.m. Knoxville Diocese 4 weeks prior to desired baptism date. In the Parish FEASTS OF THE WEEK: Mon., Jul.24: St. Sharbel KITCHEN REMODELING: As construction on the kitch- Makhluf en progresses and the new fiscal year begins, we continue to Tue., Jul. 25: St. James look for ways to help cover expenses. The Parish Pastoral Wed., Jul. 26: Sts. Joachim & Anne Council approved a “Kitchen Campaign” to provide parish- Sat., Jul. 29: St. Martha ioners the opportunity to make a pledge toward remodeling costs. On two weekends (July 29/30 and August 5/6), parish- ioners will receive a pledge card for that purpose. Please MINISTRIES SCHEDULE: July 29-30, 2017 prayerfully consider what your family can contribute toward this room that serves so many groups for so Extraordinary Ministers many events within our faith community. of Holy Communion: Saturday: S. Bieleski HELP NEEDED P. Chase K. Burns The Family & Parish Life Committee needs help. We Sunday: B. Hunt are in need of new coordinators for several events, O. Kuhens L. McCune such as the Trunk or Treat; the Easter Egg Hunt; and the Parish Picnic. If no parishioner steps up to coordinate these Lectors: events, they will not occur. Contact Fran Pisano or John Saturday: M. Haka Meersman for more information. Sunday: J. Paynter G. Paynter Those who attended the Seder Dinner in April at St. Altar Servers: Joseph’s and brought home their box of loaned items. It Saturday: H. Bentz seems 5 wine carafes were put in the boxes in error and Sunday: J. Palacios went home with members of St. Therese. Please look in I. Palacios your boxes and call Judy Donovan at 865-494-5921 if you T. Gudino find the misplaced carafes! Thank you for all your help. Ushers: Saturday: M. Spurlock CCD REGISTRATION: CCD will be having a registration R. Spurlock & parent meeting on Wed., Aug. 9th at 6 p.m. in the parish Sunday: D. McCune hall. Pizza & drinks provided, so bring the kids along. We P. Chiaro will be discussing this year’s curriculum and event sched- Cantor: ule. If you cannot make the meeting, registration forms will Saturday: T. Ferguson be in the back of the church starting the week of August Sunday: B. Job 1st. Thank you. Music: WE THANK EVERYONE WHO GIVES SO GENEROUSLY Saturday: J. Bentz Sunday: M. Tuskan Offertory Offertory Offertory Offertory Monthly Collection Collection Collection Collection Budget MASS INTENTIONS: Last Week Last Year for for Fiscal Year 07/16/17 07/17/16 June 17 May 17 2016-17 Wed., Jul. 26: +Robert McIntyre by Pat Gambrell $2,419.00 $2,612.00 $12,414.00 $11,311.00 $15,000.00 Thu., Jul. 27: Katie Schreiber by Leonard .00 Nugent BUILDING FUND/LOAN Fri., Jul. 28: Velma Her- Loan Loan bulock by Don & Janice Wat- May 2017 Budget +/- Month May 2017 May 2016 kins $1,873.00 $1,707.00 +$166.00 $134,555.61 $150,142.25 Announcements and Information IN YOUR PRAYERS: Kathy Baker, Paul Burkhardt, GOD BLESS YOU ALL! Ralph Collins, Ray Converse, Hel- en Davis, George Elliott, Barbara Thank you for joining me in celebrat- Gregory, Lydia Hatmaker, Tiara ing the 25th Anniversary of my ordi- Householder, Cathy Long, Mo- nation as a priest. It was wonderful hamed Massaquoi, Vicky McCar- to see so many of my family, friends, thy, Alene Morris, Dora Qualiano, parishioners, and neighbors who Ellen Saganich, Ron and Flo turned out for my Mass and the re- Schramm, Carol Stanley, Alyssa ception that followed and for the best Stimmler, Patrice Thompson. wishes and cards of those who were unable to attend in person but still DEATH IN THE FAMILY: wanted to congratulate me. I look for- If you would like St. Therese to ward to the next 25 years as a priest and await the direc- share in your grief in the event of tion that God has planned for me in the future. Again, my a family member’s death, please heartfelt thanks to everyone. officially notify Father or the par- ish office. A Mass will be offered for the deceased at a date conven- RCIA ient to the family. RCIA: Would you like to join the Catholic faith? Or would you just like to learn more about it? Consider joining the REMEMBER OUR latest RCIA classes starting this fall. Please contact Dave MILITARY: McCune ([email protected]) for more information about the Andrew Adkins, Bradley Adkins, program. Adrian Agbanlog, Jesse Baker, Matthew Carroll, Jon-Michael Hatmaker, Brandon MASS INTENTIONS Parker, David Trent, and Lee Welty who are on military assign- Please note, that if you requested to have a Mass inten- ment. tion offered and you have not yet given a stipend or are unable to give a stipend, please check with Virginia in the **Names are added and taken off parish office. Fr. Julius will not deny the offering of a both In Your Prayers and Re- Mass to anyone for lack of stipends.