Returning to Public Mass

• Everyone in your family over the age of 5 must wear a mask or face covering.
• Social distancing will be maintained in the church and you will be assisted by ushers and volunteers to your assigned seats.
• There are strict guidelines on how you will receive Communion, so please pay attention to your celebrant when they explain the process.
• We will have music, but the congregation is encourage not to sing to reduce the spread of germs.
• There will be no worship aids or books in the pews (you can follow along with readings on myParish App or another Catholic app)
• Everyone in your family must be able to answer the following questions:

1. Have you been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19? NO
2. Have you traveled outside the country in the last month? NO
3. Are you experiencing a cough, shortness of breath or sore throat? NO
4. Have you had a fever of 100.4 or higher in the last 48 hours? NO
5. Have you had a new loss of taste or smell? NO
6. Have you experienced vomiting or diarrhea in the last 24 hours? NO

• If your answer to any of the above 6 questions is YES, please stay home and enjoy our live stream Masses. 

We are looking forward to seeing those parishioners who plan to return to Mass this weekend!  Please be patient with us as we are adjusting to the guidelines to keep everyone safe and healthy!

For more detailed information check our of FAQ's below.

We are working on updating this page in a timely manner as questions arise from our parishioners.  If you have a question that is not answered here please email meghan.forbes@allsaintsknoxville.org.

FAQs about coming back to Mass:

Q – What procedures do we need to complete to enter the church?
A – Ushers, greeters & hosts will be stationed on the walkway to enter the church to assist you. At each step, they will be helping you along to do the following:

1. Answer questions to make sure you & your party are healthy,
2. Check to make sure you & your party are wearing a mask and ready to enter,
3. Seat your party so that we can maximize the space we are able to use while still maintaining a safe distance from one another.

Q – Where can I enter the church?
A – We are asking everyone to enter through the main doors unless they have limited mobility & need to use the handicap entrance. Ushers, greeters, and hosts will be available to assist you in getting inside the church.

Q – Why are hosts seating us instead of choosing our preferred spots?
A – Making sure that we are all safely spaced from one another greatly reduces the capacity of the sanctuary seating. We are asking you to allow a host to seat your party because they have been trained to make the most of the space we have available.

Q – What will the church look like when we return?
A – To help you maintain a safe distance from fellow parishioners, the church will look different than we are used to. Every other row as well as the ends of each pew will be unused & marked off to help us stay six (6) feet apart.

Q – Who has to wear a mask?
A  - Everyone over the age of 5 must wear a mask. It might be a good idea to prepare your children for this as seeing everyone wearing a mask may be alarming to our youngest friends! In the event you do not have a mask on, one will be provided for you.

Q – What if the main sanctuary reaches capacity?
A – We will be seating people in the main sanctuary, day chapel & Narthex with hosts. Once that capacity is reached, there will be overflow space in the parish hall with Mass livestreamed & Communion available.

Q – How can we take Communion?
A – Per diocesan guidelines, the Eucharist will only be distributed in the hand. If you are uncomfortable with this practice, we ask you to simply receive a blessing at that time instead. Once you have exited your pew, you can lower your mask, sanitize your hands and prepare to receive the Eucharist. The Eucharist should be immediately consumed and then move back to your seat after replacing your mask.

Q – What if members of my family are not able to receive Communion?
A – We are asking everyone to step out & come forward to receive even if it is simply a blessing. This will keep everyone moving & eliminate people having to step over others to get out of their pew.

Q – What if I have a young baby/child who cries during Mass?
A – We love children at All Saints!  We are all going to be patient with this new normal. If possible, try to sit on the end of an aisle if you need to exit. Ask your Host to sit you near an aisle if possible. You might also prefer to be seated in the Narthex or Parish Hall to make getting up and out of your seat easier.

Q – What if my child needs to use the bathroom?
A – Please try to make sure all children have used the restroom before mass begins. Of course, even if you do so, a need to go may arise. If possible, try to sit on the end of an aisle if you need to exit. Ask your Host to sit you near an aisle if possible. You might also prefer to be seated in the Narthex or Parish Hall to make getting up and out of your seat easier.

Q – Will there be a collection?
A - Collection baskets will be in a few locations such as the Narthex and the handicap entrance/exit. As usual, you may continue to give online as this is the best and easiest way to give. If you would like to set up online giving, you may go to our website to do so. www.allsaintsknoxville.org

Q – Are there procedures for exiting Mass as well?
A – We will be leaving Mass in an orderly fashion, just as we entered, to allow us to maintain appropriate physical distance throughout the entire Mass from Processional to Recessional.

Q – Will there be coffee & doughnuts after Mass?
A – We will not be resuming coffee & doughnuts at this time. Trust us, Tripp is just as sad as you are about this!

Q – Can we stand around in the Narthex before or after Mass & catch up with friends?
A – We have been asked by the Diocese to maintain safe distances for all parishioners at all times. Because of this, we are asking you to refrain from congregating with others outside your own family/party throughout the queue outside, the Narthex, and sanctuary. We agree that it is sad to remain distant from our fellow parishioners, but we are asking you to put the needs of others ahead of your own and maintain distance from other parties.

Q – How is the mass being cleaned between Masses?
A – All touched surfaced will be sanitized between each Mass by staff & volunteers. Items such as hymnals, missals, and worship aides have been removed for a limited time to decrease touched surfaces.

Q – What if I am not comfortable returning to Mass at this time?
A - Until further notice, the faithful are under no obligation to attend Sunday Mass as the Bishop dispensed the Sunday obligation and therefore, those who are vulnerable, elderly or just not comfortable going to a public Mass should continue to participate in the many live-streamed Masses our parish offers and may make a spiritual communion.
 

Q - Have Mass times changed? 
A - No, weekend Mass times have remained the same as always.  Saturday English Vigil Mass at 5 pm, Spanish Vigil Mass at 7 pm.  Sunday morning Masses continue to be celebrated at 8 am, 10 am and 11:30 am.

Q - Is attendance at Mass required when church reopens?
A - According to the Bishop's Decree (under public Mass guidelines) Pastors must routinely remind the faithful that currently their obligation to attend Sunday Mass has been dispensed and therefore, those who are vunerable, elderly or just not comfortable going to a public Mass at this point and time should continue to participate in the many live streamed Masses our parishes have to offer and make a "spiritual communion."  Pastors should remind their parishioners that if they have traveled out of the country, currently have or recently had a fever or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, they shall not attend public Mass at this time.

Q - Will you continue to live stream Mass? 
A - As of right now, we will continue to live stream the following Masses: Monday - Friday: 6:30 am, 9 am & 12:10 pm. Saturday: 9 am, 7 pm Spanish Mass. Sunday: 8 am & 10 am.  You may watch these Masses here.

Q -  Will Holy Water be available in the church? 
A - At this time, Holy water fonts will remain completely dry.

Q - Will hymnals or printed worship aids be available in church?
A -  We will have no printed materials available for our parishioners but we encourage our parishioners to download myParish App (Text App to 88202) where you can follow along with the readings.  

Q - How can I give my weekly offering? 
There will be a collection basket in church narthex where you may drop in your offering when you enter before Mass. We highly encourage you to offer your stewardship online by clicking HERE . Donations may also be mailed to the parish office at 620 N Cedar Bluff Rd, Knoxville, TN  37923.

Q - How can I get my weekly bulletin? We will not be printing bulletins at this time, but we will continue to email an electronic version of the bulletin to you every week. You can also find our weekly bulletin online HERE and on myParish App.  If you are not receiving a bulletin via email and would like to, please email bulletin@allsaintsknoxville.org and request that a bulletin be sent to you.

Q - Will there be choirs at each Mass?
A - There will be a small number of musicians at each Mass.  According to the Bishop's Decree on May 6th, "Although each public Mass can include music (cantor/organist), individual parishioner singing is discouraged as it is thought to be an activity that expels significantly more aerosolized droplets of virus."

Q - When can I receive the sacrament of Reconciliation?
A - Our priests are now available to hear confessions each Saturday after the 9 am Mass.  All priests will be wearing a mask and be behind a plexiglass shield.  Parishioners are strongly encouraged to wear masks and are required to maintain social distancing in the church. Priests are also available to hear confessions by appointment.  Please contact the parish office at 865-531-0770 or contact your preferred Clergy member directly.

Q - Are Baptisms currently being offered? 
A - Baptisms will resume at the beginning of June.  Baptisms that were cancelled will be rescheduled before we schedule any new baptisms.  For more information, please contact Deacon Robert Rust at robert.rust@allsaintsknoxville.com or Montse Gomez at admin@allsaintsknoxville.com

Q - Have First Communion and Confirmation been rescheduled? 
A - Not yet, but we are working to get both sacraments rescheduled and will have those dates out to you as soon as possible.