Several of the highest profile Catholics in America are coming to Tennessee next year. The Diocese of Knoxville will host a Eucharistic Congress on September 13 and 14, 2013 at the Sevierville Convention Center. There will be a youth Mass and concert on Friday the 13th. An amazing lineup of speakers will address the faithful on Saturday the 14th, which happens to be the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. There will also be workshops throughout the day.
The event culminates with a vigil Mass on Saturday evening that will replace almost all the vigil Masses throughout the Diocese. A vigil Mass fulfills the obligation for the next day, which will be the Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time. The liturgical music for the Mass is being composed by Dr. Cormac O’Duffy, music minister at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Lenoir City.
By attending the vigil Mass, families attending the Eucharistic Congress will have time on Sunday to enjoy the nearby attractions such as Wilderness at the Smokies. The diocese negotiated a 40 percent discount on room rates at the Wilderness Resort that weekend. Of course, one doesn’t plan anything for a weekend in the Fall around here without looking at the college football schedule. According to the Internet, the Tennessee Volunteers visit the Oregon Ducks that weekend.
Here’s the impressive list of speakers, presenters and performers at the Eucharistic Congress to mark the beginning of the 25th anniversary jubilee of the Diocese of Knoxville:
- Cardinal Timothy Dolan of the Archdiocese of New York, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
- Father Robert Barron, founder and executive director of Word on Fire Catholic Ministries and host of the ten-part television series, “Catholicism.”
- Doctor Scott Hahn, author, speaker and former Presbyterian minister who converted to Catholicism in 1986.
- Father Rafael Capó, heads of the Southeast Pastoral Institute and a regional director for Hispanic Ministry for the USCCB.
- Sister Rosa M. Hernandez, MGSpS of the migrant ministry team in the Diocese of Stockton.
- ValLimar Jansen, university professor and leader of worship and prayer.
- Josh Blakesley, singer songwriter and assistant music director at Our Lady of Prompt Succor Catholic Church in Alexandria, Louisiana.
- Sarah Kroger singer songwriter and worship leader at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Community in Melbourne, Florida.
2 Responses to See You in September