The Winter Farmers’ Market is open Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m, (or until the farmers sell out!) through March 28. Because of the COVID-19 outbreak, we will be outside in the parking lot of the school. These procedures have been communicated to the Anderson County Health Department. We will SPREAD OUT in the parking lot, keeping our social distance. …
Public Masses Suspended
Effective Friday, March 20th, the public celebration of Masses in the Diocese of Knoxville will cease until concerns over the spread of the coronavirus subside. Bishop Stika has requested that all small adoration chapels in the diocese be closed. All churches remain open for daily adoration, allowing people to spread out. “I do this with great regret but with prudence …
Our Eucharistic Lord Travels through Oak Ridge
Pastoral visitation in nursing homes and hospitals is highly restricted now. So, starting today our clergy are traveling around town with the Most Blessed Sacrament, imparting a Eucharistic Blessing from the parking lots. Many other parishioners are unable to come to Mass or even visit the church at this time, but it’s a comfort to know that the very substance …
Messages from Bishop Stika
On March 13th, Bishop Stika issued the following procedural mandates for Masses in the diocese: The faithful’s obligation to attend Sunday Mass is dispensed if they have an illness or because they are older adults who have serious chronic medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and lung disease; are individuals with severely compromised immune systems; and caretakers of anyone at risk. …
Preparation Status Update
Given growing concerns about the risks of viral infection, our parish is making the following preparations: Our Society of Saint Vincent de Paul conference is meeting today to determine how best to continue food distribution in the event of a local outbreak. Our White Elephant Thrift Store will comply with any relevant directives from local health authorities, if these are …
Text Message Scams
Most people are aware of phishing – or email scams – but they may not realize scammers can also target them with deceptive text messages sent to their smart devices. It’s called “smishing“: a mashup of SMS – for “short message service” – and phishing. Many Saint Mary Parish parishioners report receiving these fraudulent texts purporting to be from parish …
Decree: Theodore McCarrick
On 11 January 2019, the Congresso of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, at the conclusion of a penal process, issued a decree finding Theodore Edgar McCarrick, archbishop emeritus of Washington, D.C., guilty of the following delicts while a cleric: solicitation in the Sacrament of Confession, and sins against the Sixth Commandment with minors and with adults, with …
Final Report: Covington Catholic High School
Last month the Diocese of Covington, which is part of our ecclesiastical province, commissioned an independent investigation into the events that occurred when Covington Catholic High School students waited for their buses for the return trip to Kentucky following the annual March for Life in Washington, DC. The investigation has concluded and the final report is available on the Diocese …
Bishop’s Appeal 2019
Your continued gift to the 2019 Bishop’s Appeal impacts the lives of thousands of people through essential ministries across the Diocese each and every day. Your support helps train priests, deacons, and parish leaders, reveals Jesus Christ to others through religious education and the sacraments, and changes countless lives through the work of Catholic Charities. Click here for more information.
Support Our Parish School: #iGiveCatholic!
#iGiveCatholic Giving Day kicks off the charitable season and brings the Catholic community together to give thanks and give back in support of the schools and organizations that shape our souls. How much money can WE raise for Saint Mary’s School in less than 24 hours? #iGiveCatholic ends at midnight!! Click here to donate now.
Saint Mary Church Passing Bell Will Toll on Sunday at 11 AM
Nationwide Bell-Tolling on November 11th at 11 AM (local time) in communities across the nation, to mark the centennial of the Armistice that brought an end to what Americans fervently hoped had been “The War to End All Wars.” This nationwide program is designed to honor those American men and women who served during the war, and coincides with similar commemorations …