MOST REVEREND BISHOP MARK BECKMAN
BISHOP, DIOCESE OF KNOXVILLE
Bishop Mark Beckman was born on October 19, 1962, in Lawrenceburg, TN, in the Diocese of Nashville. He attended Sacred Heart School and Lawrence County High School in Lawrenceburg, TN, before pursuing further studies at St. Ambrose College in Davenport, IA, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in History. Bishop Beckman then pursued further studies at the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium, where he studied together with Archbishop Fabre and earned a Master’s Degree in Religious Studies. He was ordained the 4th Bishop of the Diocese of Knoxville on July 26, 2024.
FATHER DAVID BOETTNER
RECTOR, CATHEDRAL OF THE MOST SACRED HEART OF JESUS
Ordained in May 1994, Fr. David has served as an Associate Pastor at Our Lady of Perpetual Help-Chattanooga and Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. He served as Pastor of St. Mary Church-Athens and St. Thomas the Apostle-Lenoir City. He holds a B.A. from St. Meinrad and a Master of Divinity degree from St. Mary of the Lake. [email protected]
FATHER DANNY HERMAN
ASSOCIATE PASTOR
Raised in the small rural town of Mountain City, TN, Fr. Danny grew up a cradle Catholic in the heart of Appalachia’s predominant Baptist community. His upbringing, amidst the natural beauty and tight-knit community of East Tennessee, has profoundly influenced his spiritual life and fostered a unique appreciation for both the Church’s Tradition and the tradition of the South. An outdoors enthusiast, Fr. Danny enjoys staying active through exercise, hiking, and travel, reflecting his belief in the importance of nurturing both body and spirit. As he steps into his role at The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral Parish, he brings with him a vision to nurture faith among parishioners and actively pursue holiness in East Tennessee. [email protected]
FATHER MARTIN GLADYSZ
ASSOCIATE PASTOR
Fr. Martin Gładysz was born in Krakow, Poland. In 2002, he obtained a master’s degree at the Pontifical Academy of Theology (currently the Pontifical University of John Paul II in Krakow). On May 18, 2002, he was ordained a priest at the Cathedral Basilica of the Holy Family in Częstochowa. For eight years, he was a missionary in Papua New Guinea. Fr. Martin works with the Polish community in East Tennessee. [email protected]
FATHER DIEGO RIVERA
ASSOCIATE PASTOR
Fr. Diego was born August 4, 1979, in La Ceja, a town near Medellín, Colombia. He is the second of 5 children; three brothers and one sister. His family currently lives in Colombia. While in seminary, he and Father Arthur Torres met and became friends. Father Diego was ordained a priest on December 7, 2014. After ordination, he worked in Brazil for five years, serving as a parish priest for four of those years. With immense joy, he begins a new experience in the Diocese of Knoxville, where he hopes to offer generous and evangelizing service. In his free time, he likes to read, walk in parks, and visit museums. He loves ice cream and watching movies at the cinema. [email protected]
MARY MAC WILSON
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Mary Mac serves as the primary advisor and assistant to the Pastor on parish administration and ministry matters. This will ensure smooth, coordinated efforts by the parish staff to support parish activities and provide a high level of service by the team to parish members. [email protected]
WALT OTEY
DEACON/CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Deacon Walt brings several decades of experience in corporate business to this role, where he spent much of his time on financial analysis. In his new role, he will oversee the parish’s economic operation, including the roles of the Office Manager/Bookkeeper and the SHCS Business Manager. This position will administer staff payroll and related needs, safeguard assets through financial analyses and internal control procedures, and make recommendations based on those analyses. Walt became a Catholic in 1989 in Greeneville and began formation to the permanent diaconate for the Diocese of Knoxville in August of 2010. [email protected]
FREDY VARGAS
DEACON
Deacon Fredy Vargas serves along with Deacon Walt Otey as a permanent Deacon in our parish and will be available to serve for both English and Spanish Speaking Masses and other Sacraments. [email protected]
MIKE MESCALL
DEACON
CHRISTIAN RATTERMAN
DIRECTOR OF EVANGELIZATION, YOUTH & YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY
Christian, originally from Nashville, TN, grew up in a close-knit Catholic family and attended St. Matthew School and Father Ryan High School. He graduated from the University of Tennessee with a degree in Finance and an Honors Leadership Minor.
His passion for ministry developed through volunteer work at Summit and the St. John XXIII Catholic Center, where he formed meaningful relationships. He also served as President of his Christian fraternity, Beta Upsilon Chi. As an extrovert, he enjoys connecting with people, exploring parks, and driving with the windows down. After moving to Knoxville this summer, he has come to love East Tennessee’s scenic beauty, particularly Lakeshore Park and the mountains. He can be reached at [email protected].
SCOTT BARRON
DIRECTOR OF PARISH MINISTRIES
Scott works closely with event organizers to identify the needs of the parish, ensuring the success of various events, and serves as a hospitality ambassador for the Cathedral. In this new role, he coordinates the parish’s efforts in youth ministry and programs for Cathedral Kids, Children’s Liturgy of the Word, and the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA). He also collaborates with the Director of Evangelization, Youth, and Young Adult Ministry to plan an annual parish retreat. For more information, he can be reached at [email protected].
GLENN KAHLER
DIRECTOR OF MUSIC AND LITURGY
Glenn oversees our liturgical celebrations, weekly Masses, special feasts, and diocesan celebrations. He manages cantors and music ministers and also directs the 9:00 am Mass and the Sacred Heart Youth Choir. Glenn is an accomplished arranger and composer in television and film. [email protected]
KATIE HARKNESS
ECHO APPRENTICE
Through Echo, I look forward to being part of a vibrant faith community, engaging in meaningful dialogue, and embracing various opportunities to grow spiritually, professionally, intellectually, and personally. I am excited to gain valuable insights on how to enhance my service as a catechetical leader. I hope to bring my passion for sharing the faith and building community, along with my dedication to serving others, into the program. My background in parish ministry has provided me with hands-on experience in leadership and navigating the challenges of modern ministry.
BYONG-SUK MOON
ORGANIST
Suk Moon (organist) graduated with a degree in organ performance from the Department of Instrumental Music at Yonsei University in Korea. He continued his study in organ at Detmolt National University for Music in Germany, obtaining a master’s degree and the prestigious Soloist Diploma in Organ (equivalent to a doctorate in the U.S.) Byong-Suk also completed the coursework in Catholic Church Music and won multiple International Organ Competitions in Germany such as Dom Zu Speyer International Organ Competition (2nd place), Wiesbaden Bach Preis International Organ Competition (2nd place), and Magdeburg International Organ Competition Diploma. [email protected]
RYAN SEAVER
ASSOCIATE ORGANIST
Ryan Seaver serves as the Associate Organist at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. A recent graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville, he double-majored, earning degrees in both Theology and Catechetics with double-minors in Sacred Music and Music Ministry.
A proud alumnus of both the Cathedral School and Knoxville Catholic High School, Ryan first discovered his love for the organ during his formative years. As a middle school student, he regularly accompanied school Masses, and by high school, he was faithfully serving as organist for the 7:30 AM Sunday Mass. During this time, he studied under Dr. Edie Johnson and also held the position of organist at Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Knoxville.
While pursuing his undergraduate studies, Ryan was named an organ fellow at the Pittsburgh Oratory of St. Philip Neri and studied with Professor Nicholas Will.
In his role at the Cathedral, Ryan’s responsibilities include accompanying liturgies and providing musical support across parish events, as well as serving in a teaching and mentoring role within the Cathedral Academy of Music.
Deeply rooted in his faith and musical vocation, Ryan is profoundly grateful to God for the opportunity to serve the Church through the sacred music of the Liturgy and to give back to his alma mater and faith community. [email protected]
HILDA CARRERA-RODAS
PARISH SECRETARY
Hilda Carrera joined our staff in 2015 and now moves to her new position as parish secretary. Hilda is directly responsible for the daily operation of the parish office in support of the Pastor and Chief Operating Officer. She now assists in organizing and maintaining parish records and correspondence. She will also help in the scheduling of appointments for the pastor and coordination of sacramental ministry. Hilda can be reached at [email protected] or 865-588-0249.
STEVE COY
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS
Steve has been with the Cathedral since September 2016 after over 20 years in radio and television broadcasting. He oversees social media, web page content, and the church bulletin. He also leads our Video Production Ministry team, which manages our Mass Streaming online. For stories ideas or suggestions, please email Steve at [email protected]
MICHELLE HORTON
OFFICE MANAGER
Michelle comes to us most recently from Blaine Construction as their accounts payable manager for 13 years. She and her husband Alan are long-term parishioners of the Cathedral parish and have 3 wonderful boys – Riley, Sebastian, and Titus. Riley is a 6th grader at SHCS, Sebastian is a kindergartener at SHCS, and Titus is in the baby room at our preschool. [email protected]
SANDRA PORTOCARRERO CUBAS
RECEPTIONIST
Sandra is originally from Peru and has been a parishioner at the Cathedral since 2017. Her daughter Maia is an 8th grader at Sacred Heart Cathedral School. She is fluent in Spanish, loves to help others feel welcome, and is excited about her new role as an office receptionist. Sandra can be reached at [email protected] or by calling 865-588-0249.
FACILITIES
TOM GREER
DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES
Tom is responsible for the comprehensive maintenance and operations of the parish office, Cathedral, school, rectory, plus the Chancery and several convents. In addition to maintaining facilities, he works closely with subcontractors on the construction of the new Cathedral. [email protected]
BRENDAN SUTER
FACILITIES COORDINATOR
Brendan was born and raised in Bergen County, New Jersey, where he lived until November 1st. He has been married to his wife, Kelly, for 35 years, and they have three grown children. Brendan has worked as a general contractor, kitchen designer, and cabinetmaker. For the past 12 years, he has been employed by the Catholic Church, where his children were baptized and attended school and where he has been an active parishioner. [email protected]
ANTONIO DASILVA
MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN
We are excited to introduce our new Maintenance Technician, Antonio DaSilva! Please join us in welcoming him to the team. Antonio brings a wealth of experience and a commitment to excellence that will undoubtedly benefit our community. Antonio was born in 1960 and has been happily married to Yazmin Vidao since 1985. They are proud parents of two adult children: their daughter, who is 33 years old, and their son, who is 29 years old. Originally from Venezuela, he has Portuguese roots.
Currently, his son is studying at the seminary at St. Augustine in Montreal, Canada, with the hope of becoming a priest in our diocese of Knoxville, TN. He has always been dedicated to serving the neediest communities in Venezuela, particularly through his work with Caritas. We look forward to a great future together with Antonio! [email protected]
COREY MIDDLETON
PORTER
Corey Middleton is a native of Greenville, South Carolina, and a proud son of the Palmetto State. After high school, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, serving four years on active duty and four more in the reserves. Following his military service, he attended Clemson University, where he earned a B.A. in History and Political Science. His diverse background—from corporate sales to construction and agricultural work—has shaped his character, versatility, and strong work ethic.
As Cathedral Porter, Corey assists with hospitality, building access, campus safety, and the daily operations that support the liturgical and communal life of the Cathedral. He considers it a profound blessing to serve in this sacred space and strives to carry out his duties with humility, reverence, and a spirit of Christian hospitality. [email protected]
CATHEDRAL SCHOOL
VALERIE HANKS
PRINCIPAL
Mrs. Valerie Hanks serves the Sacred Heart Cathedral School community as our new Principal. With 26 years in education, the last 14 at Sacred Heart, and the desire to provide all students with an excellent education, while collaborating with families and colleagues, she is confident that our school will continue to grow and develop in not only our academics but also our charism, mission, and vision. Mrs. Hanks has a Master’s degree in Education from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and her Catholic School Administration and Leadership certification from Loyola Marymount University. Valerie and her husband, Wayne, have one daughter, Sophia, who is a graduate of SHCS and KCHS. They also have a 95 lb rescue dog who thinks she is a lap puppy and a 4 month old puppy who is full of energy. Mrs. Hanks looks forward to the new school year and the amazing things our Eagles will accomplish. vhanks@shcknox.
KENDALL DOOGAN
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL
Mrs. Kendall Doogan serves the Sacred Heart Cathedral School community as our new Assistant Principal of Academics. With over 20 years in education, both in public and Catholic schools, as an administrator, general education teacher, and special area teacher, she brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the Sacred Heart Community. Mrs. Doogan has a Master’s degree in Education from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and a Master’s degree in School Leadership and Administration from Trevecca University, Nashville. Kendall and her husband, John, have one son, JR, who is a student at SHCS. Mrs. Doogan is excited to have SHCS be a part of her story; “God has written a unique and unrepeatable story for each of us, but He lets us write the ending.”–Blessed Carlo Acutis [email protected]
ELISA CRAWFORD
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
Elisa was born and raised in Knoxville and graduated from St. Joseph’s and Knoxville Catholic High School. She has a B.A. in Communication from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where she was a UT majorette for four years. Elisa has 10+ years of experience in development and community relations. She is excited to join the Sacred Heart family as the Director of Development, where her passion for building relationships within the community can thrive. Elisa and her husband, Matt, have three daughters, two of whom attend Sacred Heart Cathedral School as a Little Eagle and Kindergartener. She enjoys spending quality time with her family & friends, traveling to new places, and any UT sporting event! [email protected]
MARK AMREIN
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL
Mark Amrein. Before a 17-year career as a higher-education administrator, Mark wore many hats at Ville de Marie Academy, a Catholic K-12 school in Scottsdale, AZ, for six years. There he taught math and history to grades 5-10, established that school’s athletic department acting as Athletic Director, coached many different sports, and served as Dean of Discipline. He very much looks forward to working in such an environment again. Mark and his family moved to Knoxville in 2011 and have been members of the Cathedral parish since. Mark’s two daughters attended SHCS, and his wife of 30 years, Maria, previously served as a substitute teacher here. Mark also has two older boys, both married, one of whom resides in Knoxville and recently graced their family with their first grandchild. If you don’t know Mark already, he may at least be a familiar face. He has been an adult altar server ever since the new Cathedral opened in 2018. [email protected]
EMILY WIDMER
Director of Admissions
Emily is a Knoxville native and a graduate of Sacred Heart Cathedral School and Knoxville Catholic High School. She has a B.A. from Maryville College and obtained her M.S. from the University of Tennessee in Educational Administration. Emily worked as a middle and high school history teacher for Knox County Schools before “coming home” to SHCS in 2021. Emily and her husband, Nick, have two children at the SHC Preschool. She enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and doing anything active or outdoors in her free time. [email protected]