Dear Parishioners, Our Hands of Christ team is calling parishioners to see how everyone is doing. If you have any needs in the meantime, including emotional, spiritual or material needs, please call the office and follow the prompts. Pressing “0” allows you to record a message for our Hands of Christ team, and one of them will call you very …
Pastor’s Message about Eucharistic Adoration [updated 3/18]
Dear Parishioners, Please allow me to share with you our approach to Eucharistic adoration for the remainder of this month. Solemn Exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament will conclude on Thursday evening following the 6 PM EF Mass. (The usual 6 PM Extraordinary Form Mass on Thursday will be the last public Mass at St. Mary’s for the remainder of the month.) …
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. …
COVID-19
Dear Parishioners: As you know, Bishop Stika recently lifted the restrictions on offering the sign of peace and the reception of the Precious Blood – because the incident rate for the flu significantly lowered in our diocese, especially in our Catholic and public schools. However, Bishop Stika has been closely monitoring the developments related to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and he …
Lent Begins Soon!
Ash Wednesday Mass with Blessing and Imposition of Ashes: Wednesday, February 26th at 6:30 am, 8 am, 12.10 pm, 6 pm, and in Spanish at 7 pm. Fasting and abstinence: Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.Abstinence: Lenten Fridays.Fasting: Holy Saturday. Our parish makes the Way of the Cross together on Lenten Fridays at 6 pm in Saint Mary Church. The Via Crucis (“Way of the Cross”) …
Influenza Precautions
Several East Tennessee schools joined a growing list of closures that has kept more than 100,000 kids out of the classroom this week due to the flu. Additionally, the state of Tennessee has reported eight pediatric flu deaths this season. Since February is typically the peak of the flu season, Bishop Stika is issuing a directive today suspending the distribution …
Candlemas!
Sunday, February 2nd is the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord (Candlemas). Please bring to the 8 am Mass any devotional candles you wish to have blessed for use throughout the year. Everyone participating in the 8 am Mass that day should gather in the church foyer before 8 am. The following day, the Memorial of Saint Blaise, the …
Procession of Children @ 4 pm Christmas Eve Mass
St Mary’s is offering all children attending the 4 PM Christmas Eve Mass the opportunity to process into Church as either an angel or shepherd, offering homage to our new-born King. There will be costumes downstairs in the Social Hall for the kids to dress in. Parents are asked to bring the children participating prior to the Mass to get …
Time of Mass Change
In order to accommodate the annual Chamber of Commerce parade, the 5:30 pm Mass on Saturday, December 14th will be moved to 5 pm. The schedule will return to normal the following Saturday.
Mass Schedule: Dec. 24th & 25; Jan. 1
Mass schedule for the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas): Tuesday, December 24th at 4 pm, in Spanish at 6 pm and again in English at 8 pm; Wednesday, December 25th at 12 midnight and 10:30 am. Mass schedule for the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God: Tuesday, December 31st at 6 pm; Wednesday, January 1st …