As 2020 draws to a close and the coronavirus continues to be an important point of concern, Bishop Richard F. Stika has reissued guidance to remind Diocese of Knoxville churches of the proper protocols to remain safe from COVID-19.

Bishop Stika issued a revised decree effective the weekend of Nov. 28-29, the first Masses of Advent, based on directives, recommendations, and guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as state and local health departments to ensure that all diocesan parishes are responding appropriately to the spread of the virus.

According to the bishop’s decree, access to divine worship and to the sacraments “is of high importance for the spiritual good and the overall wellbeing of the faithful” as is acting responsibly to prevent the spread of COVID-19.  
All procedures can be found at List of Procedures 

If you are a high-risk or concerned for you or your loved one's health, and/or are not feeling well, we invite you to take advantage of our livestream Masses offered on our parish YouTube channel (see Home tab).  

Below you will find our LINKS of our special procedures that are in place for our in-person Masses.  At this time, we are keeping our attendance at 50% capacity.  Please contact our office at 735-0484 or send us a email if you have any further questions (see tab Contact Us).

UNICOI COVID-19 CASES TODAY!  Click on link then scroll down and look for Unicoi County.   COVID CASES IN UNICOI

*** CALL 423-979-4689 *** For anyone over 70 years and older or under the plan 1b, the Unicoi Health Dept is now giving the COVID vaccine. To see if you are eligible, please go to this site: https://covid19.tn.gov/covid-19- vaccines/eligibility/. If you do not have internet access and are eligible for this vaccine and wish to register for it, please call 423-979- 4689. Please call as soon as you can. Hours are 8 AM-4:30 PM

***LLAME a 423-979-4689. *** ERWIN: El Departamento de Salud del condado Unicoi ahora ofrece citas por reservación para personas de la Fase 1b del Plan de Vacunación contra el COVID-19 de Tennessee y las personas mayores de 70 años de edad que deseen vacunarse contra el COVID -19. Para determinar si son elegibles para esta fase 1b del plan de vacunación los residentes del condado Unicoi pueden visitar https://covid19.tn.gov/covid-19-vaccines/eligibility/. Los residentes del condado Unicoi que no tienen acceso a internet y que pertenecen a la Fase 1b o son mayores de 75 años de edad y desean inscribirse para la vacuna contra el COVID-19 pueden llamar al 423-979-4689 para obtener ayuda para inscribirse. Horas son de 8 AM-4:30 PM.

USCCB offers guidance on COVID vaccine ethics.   With the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines now underway, the USCCB has issued a detailed memorandum addressing ethical concerns related to three of them.  This news release summarizes the memorandum. Notwithstanding the concerns, and in no way minimizing them, the diocesan Office of Justice and Peace recognize three points that bear emphasizing: 1) Being vaccinated is an act of charity toward one's neighbor.  2) The situation is unclear in terms of what vaccines are going to be available where, and it seems reasonable to expect that there will be little or no consumer choice in the near future (footnote #12).  3) If one were to refuse vaccination, one would have a moral responsibility to undertake all of the precautions necessary to ensure that one does not become a carrier of the disease to others, precautions which may include some form of self-isolation (footnote #13).  Read entire USCCB memorandum here.

orientación sobre la ética de la Vacuna para el COVID.  Con la distribución de las vacunas COVID-19 ahora en marcha, la Conferencia Estadounidense de Obispos Católicos (USCCB) ha emitido un memorando detallado que aborda las preocupaciones éticas relacionadas con tres de ellas.  El comunicado de prensa (https://www.usccb.org/es/news/2020/obispos-presidentes-de-los-comites-de-actividades-pro-vida-y-doctrina-abordan-las) resume el memorando.  Sin perjuicio de las inquietudes, y de ninguna manera minimizándolas, la Oficina Diocesana de Justicia y Paz reconoce tres puntos que cabe destacar:
 
1) La vacunación es un acto de caridad hacia el prójimo.
2) La situación no está clara en términos de qué vacunas estarán disponibles y dónde, y parece razonable esperar que haya poca o ninguna opción para el consumidor en el futuro cercano (nota al pie #12).
3) Si uno rehusara la vacunación, tendría la responsabilidad moral de tomar todas las precauciones necesarias para asegurarse de que no se convierta en portador de la enfermedad para otros, precauciones que pueden incluir alguna forma de autoaislamiento (nota al pie #13).  Lee el memorando completo de la USCCB en https://www.usccb.org/moral-considerations-covid-vaccines.

Counseling Services
Many across East Tennessee are struggling with stress, uncertainty, social isolation, sadness, and worry, as well as spiritual questions. Catholic Charities of East Tennessee currently has openings for adults in need of counseling services. Our licensed counselors are in Knoxville and Chattanooga and can serve remotely through a confidential videoconferencing platform. Anyone in East TN can now access our counseling services. If you, or someone you know, is in need of counseling services, you can contact our counselors through email at counseling@ccetn.org or by calling either one of our counseling offices: Knoxville (865)314-8870 or Chattanooga at (423)322-0057.     
 
Servicios de Consejería
Muchos en el este de Tennessee están luchando con el estrés, la incertidumbre, el aislamiento social, la tristeza y la preocupación, así como con cuestiones espirituales. Caridades Católicas del Este de Tennessee actualmente tiene aberturas para adultos en necesidad de servicios de asesoramiento.   Nuestros consejeros con licencia se encuentran en Knoxville y Chattanooga y pueden servir de forma remota a través de una plataforma de videoconferencia confidencial. Cualquiera en East TN ahora puede acceder a nuestros servicios de asesoramiento. Si usted, o alguien que conoce, necesita servicios de asesoramiento, puede comunicarse con nuestros asesores por correo electrónico a counselling@ccetn.org o llamando a cualquiera de nuestras oficinas de asesoramiento: Knoxville (865)314-8870 o Chattanooga al (423) ) 322-0057.