Saint Joseph School, Knoxville

Prayers have been requested for the repose of the soul of Jane Chase, great-grandmother of Ziek (8th) and Ayla (2nd) Cate, who passed away yesterday at the age of 89. Please pray for her soul and for the family during this difficult time.

Blessed are those who have died in the Lord;
let them rest from their labors
for their good deeds go with them.

V/. Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord.
R/. And let perpetual light shine upon her.

V/. May she rest in peace.
R/. Amen.

V/. May her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
R/. Amen.

Since the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart falls on a Friday, the necessity to do penance is abrogated.

Prayers have been requested for comfort and peace for Pastor Harold Ellis, father of Mrs. Vickie Ault (SJS Cafeteria Staff) and grandfather of Mrs. Amy Appling (SJS Maintenance Staff), who has entered into hospice care. Please pray for him, for all those caring for him, and for his family during this very difficult time.

Lord Jesus Christ,
Just as You stood by the bed of good Saint Joseph
and gently led him home to heaven,
so shepherd every soul to a paradise of perfect peace.
Let the tears we shed stand witness
to our love for them and the depth
of our thanksgiving for the gift of a life well-lived.

For You are Lord, forever and ever.

Prayers have been requested for the repose of the soul of Ruth Edwards (Montgomery), graduate of SJS and KCHS and mother of SJS alumnae Samantha (Class of 2002), Tabitha (Class of 2011), and Elizabeth (Class of 2012) Edwards, who recently passed away after a long battle with MS. Please pray for her soul and for the family during this very difficult time.

In Your hands, O Lord,
we humbly entrust our sister Ruth.
In this life You embraced her with Your tender love;
deliver her now from every evil
and grant her eternal rest.

The old order has passed away:
welcome her into paradise,
where there will be no sorrow, no weeping or pain,
but fullness of peace and joy
with Your Son and the Holy Spirit
forever and ever.
R/. Amen.

Prayers have been requested for the health and recovery of Dewayne Freeman, close friend of the Ortega Family - Yasmin (6th), Sofia (4th), Arthur (3rd), Itzayanna (1st), and Ketzali (K) - who was recently diagnosed with an agressive form of cancer. Please pray for him during this difficult time.

Lord and Father, almighty and eternal God,
by Your blessing You give us strength and support in our frailty:
turn with kindness toward this Your servant Dewayne.
Free him from all illness and restore him to health,
so that in the sure knowledge of Your goodness
he will gratefully bless Your Holy Name.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.


R. Amen.

God instituted Catholic worship to be the unbloody re-presentation on the altar of the once-and-for-all bloody sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross. Christ is not re-killed. He doesn't go to the Cross again. But as the same Sun rises again each new day, Jesus' single, eternal offering is regifted or presented again to his Father at each new Mass, just as Malachi predicted:
"From the rising of the sun to its setting,
my name is great among the nations;
Incense offerings are made to my name everywhere,
and a pure offering;
For my name is great among the nations,
says the LORD of hosts." Malachi 1:11
At Mass, we are joining with Jesus our high priest, in the power of the Holy Spirit, to offer Christ's perfect, eternal sacrifice as the ultimate thank you to the Father for our redemption.
We also partake of its spiritual benefits by receiving the Lamb's real risen Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity under the appearances of bread and wine.
Mass may seem ordinary on the surface, but its noble simplicity contains within it the extraordinary power of eternity. No projectors, smoke machines, lights, charismatic speakers, and loud music are needed to worship God and encourage us to pray (although these things are fine for religious concerts, youth gatherings, and celebrations). Liturgy properly ordered and reverently offered by a priest standing in persona Christi simply requires our surrender in mind and heart to God's merciful action in his sacrifice. See less

God instituted Catholic worship to be the unbloody re-presentation on the altar of the once-and-for-all bloody sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross. Christ is not re-killed. He doesn't go to the Cross again. But as the same Sun rises again each new day, Jesus' single, total offering of obedience and love is regifted or presented again to his Father at each new Mass, just as Malachi predicted:

"From the rising of the sun to its setting,
my name is great among the nations;
Incense offerings are made to my name everywhere,
and a pure offering;
For my name is great among the nations,
says the LORD of hosts." Malachi 1:11

At Mass, we are joining with Jesus our high priest, in the power of the Holy Spirit, to offer Christ's perfect, eternal sacrifice as the ultimate thank you to the Father for our redemption.

We also partake of its spiritual benefits by receiving the Lamb's real risen Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity under the appearances of bread and wine.

Mass may seem ordinary on the surface, but its noble simplicity contains within it the extraordinary power of eternity, which then blankets the whole world with grace. No projectors, smoke machines, lights, charismatic speakers, and loud music are needed to worship God and encourage us to pray (although these things are fine for religious concerts, youth gatherings, and celebrations). Liturgy properly ordered, like a fine poem or sculpture, and reverently offered by a priest standing in persona Christi simply requires our prayerful surrender and elevation in mind and heart to God's merciful action in his sacrifice.

2026: Thursday, June 4 (Traditional) / Sunday, June 7 (US Observation)

"The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? ...Are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar?" - 1 Cor. 10:16,18.