Clergy and Administration

Very Reverend David A. Boettner, Rector

Fr. David Boettner is the Rector of the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and was ordained in May 1994. He also serves as the Moderator of the Curia at the Diocese of Knoxville. Fr. David has served as Associate Pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Chattanooga, Associate Pastor of Sacred Heart Cathedral, Pastor of St. Mary Church in Athens, and Pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle in Lenoir City. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from St. Meinrad and a Master of Divinity degree from St. Mary of the Lake.
dboettner@shcknox.org

Reverend Jhon Mario Garcia, Associate Pastor

Father Jhon Mario was born in a town called Dosquebrados in Colombia, South America. He is the third of 7 children and entered the seminary of the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentian Fathers) in 2005. He was ordained a priest on August 16, 2014. After his ordination, he was sent to work in Vocational Ministry for his congregation. In 2017, his superiors sent him to work with the Hispanic ministry in California at Saint Mary Magdalen, Camarillo, CA, Archdiocese of Los Angeles, where he worked for two and a half years.
jgarcia@shcknox.org

Reverend Marcin Gladysz, Associate Pastor

Fr. Martin Gładysz was born on October 16, 1976, in Krakow. He grew up there and obtained his elementary and secondary education, as well as completed Gastronomic Technical School. His parents, Mark and Leokadia, still live in Krakow, as does his older sister, Edyta, with her family. In 1995, hearing the call to the priesthood, he began his philosophical and theological studies combined with his seminary formation. 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.
mgladysz@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

 

Mary Sue Kosky, Principal

Mrs. Kosky holds a B.S. in Special Education from the University of South Florida (1988) and an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership and Supervision from Lincoln Memorial University (2012). She has 18 years of teaching experience in both public and Catholic schools, working with students in self-contained special education classrooms, resource rooms, and the regular classroom. Additionally, Mrs. Kosky served as Assistant Principal for seven years at St. John Neumann Catholic School in Knoxville, TN. She earned a certificate in Catholic School Leadership from Loyola Marymount University (2016). Mrs. Kosky has five adult children, including twins, who all graduated from Knoxville Catholic High School. She and her husband are active parishioners of the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. She is committed to the role of Principal of Sacred Heart Cathedral School in answer to God’s call to serve. She loves to travel, spend time with family, and read. mkosky@shcknox.org

Valerie Hanks, Assistant Principal

Mrs. Valerie Hanks serves the Sacred Heart Cathedral School community as our Assistant Principal. With 25 years in education, the last 13 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. Mrs. Hanks looks forward to the new school year and the amazing things our Eagles will accomplish.  vhanks@shcknox.org

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. mamrein@shcknox.org

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, are expecting their first child in October 2023. She enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and doing anything active or outdoors in her free time. ewidmer@shcknox.org

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 which 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! ecrawford@shcknox.org

Mary Mac Wilson, Director of Parish Operations

Mary Mac directs the efforts of the Cathedral Campaign, manages parish strategic initiatives, supervises parish office staff, manages meetings and events, and assists the pastor with correspondence, appointments and travel.
mwilson@shcknox.org