About Diocese of Nashville
The Diocese of Nashville (Latin: Dioecesis Nashvillensis) is a Latin-rite Catholic diocese covering 38 counties in Middle Tennessee, erected on July 28, 1837 by Pope Gregory XVI from the territory of the Diocese of Bardstown. As the oldest and largest diocese in Tennessee by Catholic population, it is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Louisville and is currently led by Bishop J. Mark Spalding, the 12th bishop of Nashville. The see's cathedral is the Cathedral of the Incarnation on West End Avenue in Nashville, and the diocese today serves roughly 110,000 registered Catholics through about 60 parishes and missions, 16 diocesan schools, retreat and healthcare ministries, and an active Office of Vocations.
- Bishop
- J. Mark Spalding
- Established
- 1837
- Cathedral
- Cathedral of the Incarnation (2015 West End Avenue, Nashville, TN)
- Territory
- 38 counties of Middle Tennessee
- Parishes
- 61 churches / approximately 60 parishes and missions
- Province
- Archdiocese of Louisville (since 1937; previously Archdiocese of Baltimore)
About the Diocese of Nashville
The Diocese of Nashville serves Catholics across Middle Tennessee through parishes, schools, ministries, and charitable outreach. Established in 1837, it spans 38 counties and is committed to proclaiming the Gospel, supporting families, educating future generations, and serving those in need. According to the diocese's own 'Diocese at a Glance' figures (2024), there are roughly 126,000 Catholics, 61 churches, 9 religious sisters, 16 diocesan schools enrolling 6,358 students, one college/university, two hospitals, 103 permanent deacons, 11 senior living facilities, 373 (lay ministers/staff), and 1837 as the year of establishment. The diocese covers about 16,302 square miles.
- 38 counties in Middle Tennessee
- Approximately 126,251 Catholics
- 61 churches (parishes and missions)
- 16 diocesan schools; ~6,358 students
- 103 permanent deacons; 9 religious sisters
- 2 hospitals; 11 senior-living facilities
- 1 college/university affiliated
- Headquarters: Catholic Pastoral Center, 2800 McGavock Pike, Nashville, TN 37214
History of the Diocese
Erected on July 28, 1837 by Pope Gregory XVI from the Diocese of Bardstown, Nashville was the first Catholic diocese in Tennessee. Its first bishop, Dominican Richard Pius Miles, found only about 100 Catholic families in the state and traveled on horseback to reach them; he founded Tennessee's first seminary, hospital and orphanage. The see's cathedrals have been Holy Rosary (the first, on the present Capitol site), the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin of the Seven Sorrows (dedicated 1848), and the present Cathedral of the Incarnation on West End Avenue (dedicated 1914). Over time the diocese has been led by 12 ordinaries, including Patrick Feehan (later Archbishop of Chicago) and Joseph Durick (a Civil Rights Movement advocate).
- 1837: Erected from Diocese of Bardstown
- 1848: Cathedral of the Seven Sorrows dedicated
- 1914: Cathedral of the Incarnation dedicated
- 1937: Transferred to the new Louisville province
- 1970: Diocese of Memphis created from western Tennessee counties
- 1988: Diocese of Knoxville created from eastern Tennessee counties
- 2017: Bishop J. Mark Spalding appointed as 12th bishop
Cathedral of the Incarnation
The mother church of the Diocese of Nashville is the Cathedral of the Incarnation at 2015 West End Avenue, near Vanderbilt University. Construction began in 1910 under Bishop Thomas Byrne; the cathedral was designed by Nashville architect Fred Asmus in the style of the Basilica of San Martino ai Monti in Rome (bell tower copied from the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Damaso). It was dedicated on July 26, 1914 and remodeled under Bishop Adrian in 1937 and again in 1987. A major interior renovation began in March 2019.
- Sunday Masses: 7:00 AM, 8:30 AM, 11:00 AM, 5:00 PM (Saturday Vigil 5:00 PM also listed)
- Weekday Masses: Monday–Friday 7:00 AM and 12:10 PM; Saturday 8:30 AM (typical cathedral schedule)
- Confessions: Monday–Friday 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM (and by appointment)
- 2015 West End Avenue, Nashville, TN
Catholic Schools
The diocesan Catholic Schools Office (CSO) oversees 19 Catholic schools across Middle Tennessee (16 diocesan schools plus a few independent and religious-order schools such as St. Cecilia Academy and Overbrook Catholic). Bishop Spalding has identified Catholic education as a diocesan priority; enrollment has risen from about 5,500 in 2019 to 6,467 in 2024, with several schools participating in Tennessee's Education Savings Account (ESA) program. The annual Advancement of Catholic Education (ACE) Dinner raised approximately $275,000–$280,000 in 2024 for the ACE Endowment, which funds tuition assistance.
- Christ the King School (Nashville)
- Holy Rosary Academy
- Overbrook Catholic School
- St. Ann School
- St. Bernard Academy
- St. Edward School
- St. Henry School
- St. Joseph School
- St. Pius X Classical Academy
- Father Ryan High School (9–12)
- St. Cecilia Academy (7–12)
- St. Patrick School, McEwen
- Sacred Heart School, Lawrenceburg
- Sacred Heart School, Loretto
- Immaculate Conception School
- St. Rose of Lima School (Rutherford County)
- St. John Vianney School (Sumner County)
- Pope John Paul II Preparatory School (6–12)
- St. Matthew School and St. Michael Academy (Williamson County)
Find a Church / Parishes and Missions
The diocese lists approximately 60 parishes and missions across 38 Middle Tennessee counties, searchable via the 'Find a Church' tool on dioceseofnashville.com. Each parish page provides Mass, confession and adoration schedules, clergy contacts, and online giving. The diocesan Vocations Office also runs regular discernment events and 'Come and See' weekends for men considering the priesthood.
- Search parishes by city, county or zip code
- Filter by Mass schedule, adoration or confession times
- Cathedral Parish: Cathedral of the Incarnation (Nashville)
Office of Vocations
The Office of Vocations (nashvocations.org) promotes priestly and religious vocations from the Diocese of Nashville. It runs 'The Next Generation' discernment retreats, seminarian support, the 'Apply' process, and the diocesan 'Quo Vadis' summer camp for high-school men. The diocese currently has 11 seminarians in formation (per diocesan at-a-glance figures).
- Becoming a Priest (discernment steps)
- The Process (seminary application and formation)
- Contact a Priest for vocation direction
- Quo Vadis Days and 'Come and See' weekends
Faith Formation & Catechesis
Through a partnership with the Catechetical Institute of Franciscan University of Steubenville, the diocese offers free online catechetical courses to its parishes and schools. A new 'Eucharistic Renewal' track has been created in conjunction with the National Eucharistic Revival to deepen parishioners' understanding of the Real Presence.
- Free online courses via Franciscan University partnership
- 'Eucharistic Renewal' track
- RCIA and adult faith formation resources
Offices, Ministries and Outreach
Beyond parishes and schools, the diocese operates a portfolio of ministries out of the Catholic Pastoral Center on McGavock Pike. The 2024 audited financial statement shows program expenditures of roughly $20.3 million across vocations, schools, social services, cemeteries, youth/elderly/ethnic ministries, communications and clergy benefits.
- Catholic Charities of Tennessee — charity and social outreach
- Office of Youth and Campus Ministry (Vanderbilt, Belmont, Tennessee State)
- Office of Vocations
- Catholic Schools Office
- Communications Office and diocesan newspaper
- Cemeteries (diocesan cemetery ministry)
- Office of Hispanic/Latino Ministry and ethnic apostolates
- Family of Faith (diocesan annual appeal)
Safe Environment and Child Protection
The diocese publishes clear contact information for reporting abuse. The Diocesan Safe Environment Administrator can be reached at 615-645-9763. The Tennessee Department of Children's Services operates a 24-hour report line at 877-237-0004, and abuse by a bishop can be reported through ReportBishopAbuse.org or 800-276-1562.
- Diocesan Safe Environment Administrator: 615-645-9763
- TN DCS 24-hour report line: 877-237-0004
- ReportBishopAbuse.org / 800-276-1562
Synod on Synodality
The Diocese of Nashville conducted its Interim Phase of the Synod on Synodality beginning in January 2024, gathering input from across its parishes. A 2024 Synthesis Report from the diocese summarized themes and proposals emerging from those listening sessions, in preparation for the continental and universal phases of Pope Francis's synodal process.
- Interim Phase launched January 2024
- Synthesis Report published 2024
- Bishop J. Mark Spalding presided over listening sessions
Financial Transparency
The diocese publishes audited financial statements and an annual report on its website. The 2024 financial statement (for fiscal year 2024) reports total assets of about $64.9 million, total net assets of $55.4 million, total support and revenues of about $25.5 million (with and without donor restrictions), and total expenses of $24.1 million across program services, management/governance and fundraising.
- Audited financial statements posted on dioceseofnashville.com
- Major expense categories: schools/institutional assistance, pastoral/social/educational services, vocations, ministries
- ACE Endowment and Family of Faith appeal
Contact and Location
The diocesan chancery — the Catholic Pastoral Center — is on McGavock Pike in Nashville, just east of downtown and adjacent to the campus of the Cathedral of the Incarnation.
- Catholic Pastoral Center: 2800 McGavock Pike, Nashville, TN 37214
- Telephone: (615) 383-6393
- Fax: (615) 292-8411
- Website: https://dioceseofnashville.com
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM (typical)
