Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Happy Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus! The 1983 Code of Canon Law—building on what Paul VI called “the grave and urgent problem” of reminding Catholics about “the significance and importance of the divine precept of penitence”—states that “abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the episcopal conference, …
Use of the Johnson and Johnson Covid-19 Vaccine
WASHINGTON– On March 2, Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Doctrine, and Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City in Kansas, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Pro-Life Activities, issued a statement on the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine recently approved for use in the United States. “The …
Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, For American Catholics, January 22nd is a day of reparation for unborn children whose lives have no legal protection. It is a day of prayer for the restoration of the legal right to life, and of penance for violations to human dignity committed through acts of abortion. The tens of millions of lives lost …
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
The parish office is closed today (January 18th) for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. PRAYER FOR THE PROGRESS OF PEOPLES O God, who gave one origin to all peoples and willed to gather from them one family for yourself, fill all hearts, we pray, with the fire of your love and kindle in them a desire for the just …
Liberalism, Integralism and Evangelization: A Pastor Reflects Upon Christ the King
“Nations will be reminded by the annual celebration of this feast that not only private individuals but also rulers and princes are bound to give public honor and obedience to Christ. It will call to their minds the thought of the last judgment, wherein Christ, who has been cast out of public life, despised, neglected and ignored, will most severely …
Race Relations: An Oak Ridge Experiment in Social Concern
The five week period from November 10th through December 8th marks the fiftieth anniversary of the Oak Ridge public forums on race relations, hosted by Saint Mary’s. The series of forums, called “An Experiment in Social Concern”, followed the Holy Week Uprising against the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. earlier that year in the western end of our …
60th Anniversary of the Dedication of Our Peace Statue
Bishop Adrian of Nashville dedicated our peace statue under the very special title “Our Lady of Oak Ridge” on October 12th, 1958 as a peaceful symbol of hope during both the international Cold War and the national movement against Jim Crow segregation. Next week on Wednesday evening (October 17th) we will gather together to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the …
Saint Mary’s and Community Relations
Fellow Parishioners, Following all the masses on the weekend of April 14 & 15, there will be information sessions in the Board Room about St. Mary’s participation in the Alliance for Community Transformation-East Tennessee (ACT-East TN)/Strong United. Funded by the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, ACT-East TN/Strong United is a multi-cultural, multi-racial multi-denominational group coming together to create community, transform …
Catholic Social Justice in the Here and Now
3-5 PM, October 8, 2017 Saint Mary Parish, Columbus Hall (317 Vermont Ave.) Order of Program Welcome to St. Mary’s – Fr. Shelton St. Mary’s should be engaged in our broader community, addressing the important social justice issues of our day. Tom and Joan Burns reforming “Community Relations” committee to promote parish engagement with our broader community. General …
Message from Rev. Derrick Hammond of Oak Valley Baptist Church
COMMUNITY LEADERS CONVENE “COMMUNITY MATTERS” FORUMS Last November, a grand jury in Ferguson, Missouri decided not to indict Officer Darren Wilson for the death of Michael Brown. Given the many strong feelings all over the country, several clergy in Oak Ridge decided to address our community. In our public statement, we called for “inspiration, perspiration, and collaboration” in our shared …