Mercedes Sandoval, a kindergarten student at St. John Vianney School in Gallatin, works on a computer during a recent school day. The Catholic schools in the Diocese of Nashville have finished the first quarter of the school year amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The schools have taken precautions against the spread of the coronavirus, such as wearing masks, so they can continue in-person learning.

Bishop J. Mark Spalding, Chancellor Brian Cooper, and Ashley Linville, director of development for the Diocese of Nashville, toured Room In The Inn’s downtown Nashville campus in September and presented a check for $50,000 to support the nonprofit’s ministry to the homeless. During the visit, Bishop Spalding blessed the memorial wall in Room In The Inn’s lobby, and prayed for those who have died on the streets of Nashville. Many congregations are unable to host winter shelter guests this season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so the diocese is supporting Room In The Inn, St. Vincent de Paul Parish, and St. Mary Child Development Center to establish a central hosting site at St. Vincent.

The Diocese of Nashville is offering a helping hand to Musically Fed, World Central Kitchen and Dega Catering in an effort to provide meals, produce, and dry goods to entertainment touring professionals who have lost their jobs because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The diocese arranged for Dega chefs to use the commercial kitchen at the Catholic Pastoral Center. Dega chef Paul Turek prepares chicken for the 600 meals the team prepared.