About Mother Teresa Catholic Church · Nolensville, Tennessee
Mother Teresa Catholic Church is a parish of the Diocese of Nashville located in Nolensville, Tennessee, in the fast-growing eastern Williamson County area south of Nashville. Founded in 2021 and named after Saint Teresa of Calcutta, the parish was established to serve the Catholic families of Nolensville, Arrington, and College Grove with the mission of 'changing lives and making disciples.' As a still-young mission parish, Mother Teresa currently celebrates weekend Masses at St. Michael Academy and daily Mass in the Parish Chapel on Nolensville Road while planning its own church building on the 166-acre site the diocese purchased in 2020.
- Established
- 2021
- Patron
- Saint Teresa of Calcutta (St. Teresa of Kolkata)
- Rector
- Fr. Mark Simpson
- Diocese
- Diocese of Nashville
Why belong here
Mother Teresa is a young, mission-driven parish where newcomers are welcomed with open arms and the Eucharist is placed at the center of parish life. With daily Mass in the Parish Chapel, weekend Mass at St. Michael Academy, regular Adoration and Confession, a growing youth ministry (middle school and high school), a Family of Faith religious education program, OCIA for adults becoming Catholic, and service outreach like Loaves and Fishes through Catholic Charities, the parish offers real ways to worship, form, and serve — all within a community named for and inspired by Saint Teresa of Calcutta.
Mass times at Mother Teresa Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
- Friday 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Noon)
- By appointment with Fr. Simpson (contact the parish office at 615.283.3119)
Adoration times
- Tuesday 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
- Friday 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Noon)
About Mother Teresa Catholic Church
Founded in 2021 and named after Saint Teresa of Calcutta, Mother Teresa Catholic Church is a faith-filled Catholic community in Nolensville, Tennessee, belonging to the Diocese of Nashville. The parish's stated mission is 'changing lives and making disciples,' inspired by the selfless love, service, and compassion of its patron. As a still-developing parish, it currently celebrates weekend Masses at St. Michael Academy and daily Mass in the Parish Chapel, while the diocese prepares a permanent church building on the 166-acre Nolensville Road property.
- Patron: Saint Teresa of Calcutta (Kolkata)
- Feast day celebrated: September 5
- Diocese: Nashville — established June 28, 2021
- Service area: Nolensville, Arrington, and College Grove in eastern Williamson County
History
Mother Teresa traces its beginning to January 2020, when the Diocese of Nashville purchased 166 acres in Nolensville for a new parish and school. A feasibility study identified about 500 Catholic families in eastern Williamson County. Bishop Mark Spalding issued the parish proclamation on June 11, 2021 (Feast of the Sacred Heart), formally establishing the parish on June 28, 2021, and appointed Father Anthony Stewart as its first pastor. The parish held its first Masses on Sept. 5, 2021, at Nolensville Elementary School, drawing about 600 people. With no permanent church yet built, the parish has worshipped first at Nolensville Elementary and now at St. Michael Academy (weekends) and the Parish Chapel at 7668 Nolensville Road (weekdays).
- Father Anthony Stewart — first pastor (2021–June 2023)
- Fr. Mark Simpson installed as pastor June 2023
- Territory carved from Holy Family (Brentwood), St. Philip (Franklin), and Church of the Nativity
Pastoral Leadership
Mother Teresa is led by Pastor Fr. Mark Simpson, a Nashville native and Montgomery Bell Academy graduate who was ordained in 2019 after attending the Pontifical College Josephinum. He is assisted by Associate Pastor Fr. Sony Mathew, C.M.I. Parish governance is supported by the Parish Council (which meets the second Tuesday of each month) and the Finance Council.
- Fr. Mark Simpson — Pastor (since June 2023)
- Fr. Sony Mathew, C.M.I. — Associate Pastor
- Parish Council — meets second Tuesday of each month
- Finance Council — supports stewardship of parish resources
Parish Staff
A full staff supports the parish's mission of worship, formation, communication, and administration.
- Laura Fagin — Administrative Assistant
- Keith Giger — Finance Manager
- Jennifer Turner — Religious Education Coordinator
- Heather Tabor — Director of Music
- Justin Magaldi — Youth Minister
- Jason Wu — Director of Communications
- Fr. Mark Simpson — Pastor
- Fr. Sony Mathew, C.M.I. — Associate Pastor
Weekend Mass
Saturday Vigil and Sunday Masses are celebrated at St. Michael Academy on the parish's Nolensville Road site.
- Saturday Vigil — 4:30 PM at St. Michael Academy
- Sunday — 8:00 AM at St. Michael Academy
- Sunday — 10:00 AM at St. Michael Academy
Daily Mass
Daily Mass is celebrated in the Parish Chapel at 7668 Nolensville Road (the parish rectory).
- Tuesday — 6:30 PM
- Wednesday — 7:00 AM
- Thursday — 9:00 AM
- Friday — 12:00 PM (Noon)
- Saturday — 9:00 AM (First Saturday of the month only)
Sacraments
Mother Teresa celebrates the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church, with preparation programs for baptism, confirmation, marriage, and the OCIA process for adults entering the Church.
- Baptism — 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month at the parish rectory
- Confirmation — preparation through Jennifer Turner, Religious Education Coordinator
- First Reconciliation & First Holy Communion — prepared within the A Family of Faith program
- Holy Matrimony — Marriage Preparation with a Sponsor Couple; contact Laura Fagin
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) — year-round formation for adults seeking Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist
- Reconciliation — scheduled weekly times and by appointment
Religious Education — A Family of Faith
Mother Teresa's faith formation for children and families centers on 'A Family of Faith,' with separate preparation tracks for First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation. Families whose children are preparing to receive a sacrament participate in this program.
- Program: A Family of Faith
- Coordinator: Jennifer Turner (Religious Education Coordinator)
- Additional prep required for First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation
Youth Ministry
Mother Teresa's youth ministry offers a middle school program for grades 6–8 and a high school program for grades 9–12. Both groups foster fellowship, faith formation, service, and participation in youth conferences.
- Middle School Youth Group (grades 6–8) — lively hub for fellowship and service
- High School Youth Group (grades 9–12) — monthly meetings, conferences, and service
- Youth Minister: Justin Magaldi
Liturgical Ministries
Lay parishioners serve the parish's liturgical life in roles that support every celebration of the Eucharist.
- Music Ministry — Heather Tabor, Director of Music
- Children's Liturgy of the Word (CLOW) — Lisa Zeisloft
- Lectors — Lisa Zeisloft
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion — Kimberly Gray (Safe Environment Training required)
- Sacristans — Sean Fagin
- Altar Servers — Joey Staley
Service Ministries
Mother Teresa's service ministries ensure weekend worship runs smoothly and connect the parish with broader community outreach, including Catholic Charities' Loaves and Fishes meals program in Nashville.
- Audio/Visual — sound and visual aids for Mass (Colin Held and Russ Achzet)
- First Impressions — welcoming atmosphere (Gary Dial)
- Hospitality — coffee and donuts after Mass (Regina Roesser)
- Sunday Operations — transforms St. Michael Academy gym into worship space each weekend (Dave Bolton)
- Loaves and Fishes — volunteering through Catholic Charities at Holy Name Parish (Dave Medley)
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone or email, mail donations to the parish P.O. Box, or register online to become parishioners.
- Phone: (615) 283-3119
- Email: [email protected]
- To schedule with Fr. Simpson: email Laura Fagin at [email protected]
- Mass Intentions: [email protected]
- Donations mail to: P.O. Box 866, Nolensville, TN 37135
- Parish Registration: online form via the parish website
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Anthony Stewart2021 – June 2023
First pastor of Mother Teresa Parish; appointed by Bishop Mark Spalding in March 2021 and celebrated the parish's inaugural Masses on Sept. 5, 2021.
- Fr. Mark SimpsonJune 2023 – present
Nashville native and Montgomery Bell Academy graduate; ordained 2019 after seminary at the Pontifical College Josephinum; previously Assistant Vocations Director, Chaplain at Father Ryan High School, Chaplain at Camp Marymount, and Associate Pastor at Holy Family Parish in the Diocese of Nashville.