About Holy Family · Seymour, Tennessee
Holy Family Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Seymour, Tennessee, serving the south side of the greater Knoxville area and Sevier County under the Diocese of Knoxville. The parish offers weekend Masses on Saturday evening and Sunday morning, daily weekday Masses Monday through Friday, weekly Confessions, monthly First Friday Eucharistic Adoration, and faith formation for children and adults. The community also supports a Knights of Columbus council, a youth group, OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults), a Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program, and a prayer chain for the sick.
- Patron
- Holy Family (Jesus, Mary, and Joseph)
- Rector
- Father Bill McNeeley (elevated from parochial administrator to pastor effective July 1, 2025)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Knoxville
Why belong here
Holy Family is a welcoming East Tennessee parish that combines traditional Catholic worship with active parish life — including daily and weekend Masses, monthly First Friday Eucharistic Adoration with Benediction, weekly Confessions, faith formation for children through Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and CCD, a youth group, and OCIA for adults discerning Catholicism. The parish also fosters fellowship through its Knights of Columbus council and pastoral outreach such as a prayer chain for the sick and Communion visits to the homebound. Newcomers find a community rooted in the Eucharist and ready to walk with them through every stage of Catholic life.
Mass times at Holy Family
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM (before 5:30 PM Vigil Mass)
- Sunday 9:15 AM – 10:30 AM (between 8:00 AM and 11:00 AM Masses)
- Or by appointment — call the office at 865-573-1203
Adoration times
- First Friday of the month (September through May): Adoration 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM, with Mass at 12:00 Noon and Benediction at 4:00 PM
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Holy Family provides catechesis for children and youth through both a traditional CCD program and the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd atrium. CCD (PreK through 5th grade) meets on Sunday mornings, and Confirmation preparation is offered for older students. The parish also maintains a Youth Group for teens. The full faith formation schedule is posted on the parish website and is updated each year.
- CCD (PreK–5th Grade)
- Confirmation Class
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
- Youth Group
- See parish website for current schedule
OCIA — Becoming Catholic
For adults interested in learning about the Catholic faith or seeking full initiation through Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist, Holy Family offers the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA, formerly known as RCIA). The parish website notes that a new OCIA class will begin in August 2026. Inquiries may be directed to the parish office.
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Next class begins August 2026
- Contact: parish office 865-573-1203
Parish Life & Community
Parish life at Holy Family is shaped by several standing committees and groups. The Parish Council, Finance Committee, and Liturgy Committee help guide the mission and worship of the community. The Knights of Columbus council is active, with regular council meetings and officers' meetings listed on the parish calendar. A Young Adult Ministry also gathers parishioners in their 20s and 30s for fellowship and faith formation.
- Parish Council
- Finance Committee
- Liturgy Committee
- Knights of Columbus
- Young Adult Ministry
Pastoral Care for the Sick & Homebound
Holy Family maintains an active pastoral care network for parishioners who are sick, hospitalized, or homebound. Family members may contact the parish office to add a loved one to the prayer chain, to request a hospital visit from a priest, or to arrange for Holy Communion to be brought to those unable to attend Mass. In keeping with HIPAA regulations, only immediate family members may request these services on behalf of the sick.
- Prayer Chain for the sick
- Hospital visits by a priest
- Communion brought to the homebound
- HIPAA: requests only by immediate family members
Giving & Parish Support
The parish provides online giving through Abundant (abundant.co/holyfamilyseymour/give) and is a participating organization in the Kroger Community Rewards Program. By linking a Kroger Shoppers PLUS Card to Holy Family (NPO# SG551), a portion of qualifying purchases is donated back to the parish — up to four checks per year — at no additional cost to the shopper. Inquiries may be directed to Todd in the parish office.
- Online Giving via Abundant: abundant.co/holyfamilyseymour/give
- Kroger Community Rewards: NPO# SG551
- Contact Todd in the parish office for help linking a PLUS Card
Clergy & Leadership
Holy Family is led by Father Bill McNeeley, who was appointed parochial administrator effective June 1, 2024, following the retirement of Father Gilbert Diaz. In June 2025, Bishop Mark Beckman announced Father McNeeley's elevation to pastor effective July 1, 2025. Father McNeeley was ordained to the priesthood in June 2007 and is the first priest ordained in the Diocese of Knoxville under the Pastoral Provision established by Pope St. John Paul II in 1982 for former Anglican clergy seeking ordination in the Catholic Church.
- Father Bill McNeeley — Pastor (since July 1, 2025; parochial administrator from June 2024)
- Father Gilbert Diaz — Pastor from July 2014 until retirement May 1, 2024
- Diocese of Knoxville
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Gilbert DiazJuly 2014 – May 1, 2024 (retired)
Ordained January 1994 at St. Mary Church in Oak Ridge. Prior assignments included St. Jude (Chattanooga), St. Mary (Oak Ridge), St. Bridget (Dayton), and St. Stephen (Chattanooga). Retired after nearly 10 years at Holy Family.
- Father Bill McNeeleyJune 2024 – present (Pastor from July 1, 2025)
Ordained June 2007. First man in Diocese of Knoxville history ordained under the Pastoral Provision. Served as parochial administrator beginning June 2024, then named pastor effective July 1, 2025.