Items

• 
  2022-04-29

  Religion and COVID-19: Effects on Public Life

  At the start of the pandemic, I became hyper-aware of the changes happening around me, specifically regarding religion. Unfortunately, many of the changes I witnessed were regarding death. Death is a concept most often associated religiously, for example, someone's soul or spirit going to some otherworldy peaceful place, or reincarnation. On a personal level, there is a catholic church across the street from my house. I had a front-row seat to the trauma and sadness the pandemic brought forth. In recent years, the church was fairly lonely, with only large crowds during big holidays or religious events. During the pandemic, not once did I see the church unoccupied. Whether for a funeral service, blessed sacrament adoration, prayer, liturgy, or confession. The image of the coffin and funeral service serves the purpose of relating to this specific effect on a personal level. When my family lost a child during the pandemic, I experienced how even my non-religious family members or friends offered to join in prayer with my family. Not only the catholic community, as well as other religious communities sought to spread the importance of prayer to the public during the difficult times. With services becoming more widely accessible such as live-streamed on TV for the public. Overall I realized how the pandemic may have affected the public sphere by connecting more identities together, no matter race, religion, or gender.
• 
  2020-12-07

  Bishop Stika re-emphasizes COVID precautions

  As the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, Catholics continue to practice pandemic protocols. From late November through December, East Tennessee was the epicenter of the United States for Coronavirus transmissions. As a result, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Knoxville issued renewed guidelines for parishes within the diocese. The declaration makes it clear the practicing Catholics must continue to participate in the Mass. However, the Bishop was also transparent that the Church and its parishioners must practice participation in the Mass safely. This article outlines the precautions the Diocese of Knoxville has taken to continue practicing their faith while protecting one another.
• 
  2020-08-11

  Holy Saturday

  This is a story about the quarantine separating me, and most importantly others in my community, from participating not only in the sacrifice of the mass but also catechumens from receiving the sacraments of initiation during Holy Week. It's the most sacred time of the year for Catholics. It marks not only the anniversary of a deeply changing experience for me, but it's the time when I can see candidates enter the body of the church fully, and for that body to either be baptized or renew their baptismal vows.
• 
  04/01/2020

  Anonymous Oral History, 2020/04/01

  Jessica Interviews an anonymous interviewee about how their church service has changed.
• 
  2020-05-24

  A stronger conversion to faith

  Today I curled my hair and wore earrings. A first in many weeks! Sunday worship is a huge part of our family life. We practice our faith daily and gather weekly with The Church of Jesus of Christ of Latter Day Saints. Of course with quarantine, like everyone else, we can not gather. But it hasn’t stopped us from our worship. In our home, we continue to dress weekly for the Sabbath, mostly because my husband and oldest son are able to administer the sacrament for us, which we hold very sacred. After a short intimate family worship service we have an opportunity to hear uplifting words recorded and shared online from members of our local congregations. With days that mesh together, having a defining Sunday is refreshing and keeps my soul uplifted. I grew up in the LDS faith however, I had to come to decide on my own and gain my own testimony in it’s teachings. We honor the Bible and have a deep testimony in Jesus Christ as our Lord, Savior, and Redeemer. We also believe The Book of Mormon to be the word of God and goes hand in hand with our beloved Bible giving added testimony of the glories of Christ. I don’t recall one moment in my life that I can define as my conversion moment, as others may. I do remember moments where I had to question myself and my beliefs and decide who and what I wanted to follow and believe. My conversion has been a lifelong journey and process and everyday I draw closer to God is a day my testimony is strengthened. I have enjoyed this time of intimate worship with my family. As we slowly emerge from our cocoons I have heard others are rejoining their faiths of worship. It will be a little slower here in Belgium before we can return to our church family because of government safety measures. I do look forward to that day when we can meet and embrace again. But this time with my children has been one of the best faith building times in my life. (With a stubborn 6 year old and teenage attitudes one can’t help but question their why😉) And for that, I am completely grateful. The virus hasn’t been all that bad. ❤️
• 
  2020-04

  “Affected? Umm... well I guess it's affected my faith or beliefs..."

  “Affected? Umm... well I guess it's affected my faith or beliefs um because my religious practice has been affected so... I'm a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and we have our biggest bi-yearly conference in May and April and that conference was canceled and it was done all remotely.”