Very Reverend Michael Cummins, Rector
Fr. Michael Cummins is a priest in the Diocese of Knoxville. In addition to being assigned as the Rector at Sacred Heart, he also serves as Vicar of Priests for the diocese. Ordained in 1995, Fr. Michael holds a Licentiate in Sacred Theology and has fulfilled various roles within the Diocese throughout his priesthood. In 2026, he was appointed to serve as rector of the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Born and raised in Johnson City, he feels at home in this part of the Diocese. Fr. Michael enjoys experiencing the beauty of nature. For ten years, he volunteered at the wolf habitat at Bays Mountain Park. This experience led him to an ongoing love for Yellowstone National Park and a desire to visit all the national parks across the country. To date, he has visited forty national parks. Fr. Michael also enjoys spending time with his dogs, Lucy and Aggie. mcummins@shcknox.org
Reverend 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. drivera@shcknox.org
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. dherman@shcknox.org
Reverend Vinod Joseph Kanattu, MSFS, Associate Pastor
We are delighted to welcome Fr. Vinod Joseph Kanattu, MSFS, to the Sacred Heart Community! A dedicated and compassionate member of the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales, Fr. Vinod brings with him a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to serving others. In his new role with us, Fr. Vinod aims to foster a welcoming environment where everyone feels valued and empowered in their spiritual journey. His enthusiasm for engaging with parishioners of all ages is matched only by his desire to spread the message of love, compassion, and hope.
Valerie Hanks, Principal
Mrs. Valerie Hanks serves as Principal of Sacred Heart Cathedral School. With 27 years in education, including the past 15 years at Sacred Heart, she is deeply committed to fostering a Catholic, Christ-centered environment where students are challenged academically, nurtured spiritually, and encouraged to grow as compassionate leaders and lifelong learners.
Mrs. Hanks holds a Master’s degree in Education from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, as well as a certification in Catholic School Administration and Leadership from Loyola Marymount University. Throughout her career, she has remained passionate about partnering with families, supporting faculty, and helping students discover and develop the unique gifts God has given them.
As principal, Mrs. Hanks is dedicated to continuing the strong tradition of excellence at Sacred Heart Cathedral School while leading with faith, service, collaboration, and a commitment to the school’s mission and vision.
Mrs. Hanks and her husband, Wayne, have one daughter who is a graduate of Sacred Heart Cathedral School and Knoxville Catholic High School and now attends the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Their family also includes two beloved dogs — one who is 100 lbs but still believes she is a lap dog and a younger pup who keeps everyone on their toes with her endless energy.
Kendall Doogan, Assistant Principal of Academics
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 kdoogan@shcknox.org
Mark Amrein, Assistant Principal of Student Affairs
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. mamrein@shcknox.org
Natalie Fei, Director of Admissions
Natalie is a Knoxville native and a graduate of Sacred Heart Cathedral School and Knoxville Catholic High School. She has a B.S. from Wake Forest University and an M.S. in Counselor Education from The Ohio State University. Natalie worked as a school counselor in Ohio for 9 years, then worked locally as a project manager and business support analyst for the past couple of years. Natalie and her husband, Yuan, have two kids at Sacred Heart, and she is excited to be back at Sacred Heart in her new role. nfei@shcknox.org.
Taylor Castillejo, Director of Development