About Our Lady of Lourdes · South Pittsburg, Tennessee
Our Lady of Lourdes is a Roman Catholic parish in South Pittsburg, Tennessee, in the far southwestern corner of the Diocese of Knoxville. The parish was erected in 1899 and serves a rural community along the Tennessee–Alabama border, with a significant share of its parishioners crossing state lines from northeastern Alabama to attend Mass. The parish is also home to the Virgin of the Poor Shrine, a Marian devotion site in nearby New Hope where the 10:30 a.m. Sunday Mass is celebrated each May (and in October) weather permitting.
- Established
- 1899
- Patron
- Our Lady of Lourdes
- Rector
- Father David Boettner (effective July 1, 2026; previously rector of the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in Knoxville)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Knoxville
Why belong here
Our Lady of Lourdes offers a tight-knit rural Catholic community in the southwest corner of the Diocese of Knoxville, where parishioners regularly know one another and visitors are warmly welcomed. The parish operates on Central Time — a quirk Father Scholz has often noted — and draws a sizable cross-section of Catholics from both Tennessee and neighboring northeastern Alabama. The parish maintains a traditional schedule of daily and Sunday Mass, weekly reconciliation, and Eucharistic adoration on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays after the 7:30 a.m. Mass (plus the first Saturday of each month). Each May and October, Sunday Mass moves to the picturesque Virgin of the Poor Shrine in New Hope, a Marian devotion site the parish stewards.
Mass times at Our Lady of Lourdes
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 5:00 p.m. CST
- Saturday 5:00 p.m. CST
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Monday after 7:30 a.m. Mass
- Tuesday after 7:30 a.m. Mass
- Thursday after 7:30 a.m. Mass
- Friday after 7:30 a.m. Mass
- First Saturday of the Month, 4:00 p.m.
About Our Lady of Lourdes Parish
Our Lady of Lourdes is a Roman Catholic parish located in South Pittsburg, Tennessee, in the southwestern corner of the Diocese of Knoxville. The parish was erected in 1899 and continues to serve a rural community that straddles the Tennessee–Alabama border. The parish's mission church, the Virgin of the Poor Shrine, is located in nearby New Hope, Tennessee.
- Founded: 1899
- Diocese: Knoxville
- Patron: Our Lady of Lourdes
- Feast Day: February 11
History of the Parish
Our Lady of Lourdes was established in 1899 during Bishop Thomas S. Byrne's expansion of the Catholic Church across East Tennessee. Its first regular priest was Father John Baltz, based in Decherd, who traveled to South Pittsburg for Mass. In the early 1960s, Benedictines from St. Meinrad Abbey in Indiana — Father Basil Mattingly and Brother Anselm Clark — staffed the parish for years. Later pastors included Father Moser, who retired from active ministry after serving the parish and Shepherd of the Valley, and Father Mark Scholz, who was ordained a priest in 2002 in Knoxville by Bishop Joseph E. Kurtz and was named pastor on August 1, 2005. Father Scholz served the parish for more than two decades, also overseeing the Virgin of the Poor Shrine, before retiring on June 21, 2026.
- 1899 – Parish erected under Bishop Thomas S. Byrne
- Early – Father John Baltz served as first priest from Decherd
- Early 1960s – St. Meinrad Benedictines (Fr. Basil Mattingly, OSB, and Br. Anselm Clark, OSB) served for years
- Prior to 2005 – Father Moser served as pastor; later retired
- Aug 1, 2005 – Father Mark Scholz named pastor
- July 20, 2002 – Father Scholz ordained in Knoxville (27th priest of the diocese)
- June 21, 2026 – Father Scholz retires
- July 1, 2026 – Father David Boettner named pastor
Pastoral Leadership
Father David Boettner became pastor effective July 1, 2026, succeeding Father Mark Scholz. Father Boettner previously served as rector of the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in Knoxville since 2010, and continues as a diocesan vicar. Father Scholz is the long-time pastor-emeritus figure, having served the parish for more than twenty years.
- Current pastor: Father David Boettner (effective July 1, 2026)
- Retired pastor: Father Mark Scholz (2005–2026)
Architecture & Historic Significance
The church building is the only Mission-style (Spanish Mission-influenced) church in South Pittsburg. It is one of five contributing churches in the South Pittsburg Historic District (NPGallery National Register form), built between 1875 and 1930. The other district churches include Christ Episcopal Church and Wesley Methodist Church in the Victorian Gothic style, and two 1920s Gothic-influenced churches.
- Style: Mission / Spanish Mission influence
- Listed as site 57 in the South Pittsburg Historic District
- Contributing church in the National Register of Historic Places district
The Virgin of the Poor Shrine (New Hope)
Each Sunday in May (weather permitting) — and in October — the 10:30 a.m. Sunday Mass is celebrated at the Virgin of the Poor Shrine in New Hope, Tennessee. The shrine sits at the intersection of Burns Island Road and Chapel Road and has long been a Marian devotion site under the pastoral care of Our Lady of Lourdes. Father Scholz oversaw the use and maintenance of the shrine during his pastorate. Saturday evening Mass is held in the parish church.
- Location: Intersection of Burns Island Rd and Chapel Rd, New Hope, TN
- May Sunday Mass: 10:30 a.m. (weather permitting)
- October Sunday Mass: 10:30 a.m.
- Saturday Vigil Mass held at the parish church, not the shrine
Contact the Parish
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone or in person. The parish publishes its contact details and a Google Maps link on the 'Contact/Directions' page of its website.
- Address: 704 Holly Avenue, South Pittsburg, TN 37380
- Phone: (423) 837-7068
- Website: http://ourladyoflourdesparish.org/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father John BaltzEarly (pre-1960s)
First regular priest serving the parish; based in Decherd, traveled to South Pittsburg to celebrate Mass.
- Father Basil Mattingly, OSBEarly 1960s for years
Sent from St. Meinrad Abbey in Indiana along with Brother Anselm Clark; served the parish for years.
- Brother Anselm Clark, OSBEarly 1960s for years
St. Meinrad Benedictine who served alongside Father Mattingly for years.
- Father MoserPrior to Father Scholz
Born in St. Paul, Minn.; ordained 1994 by Bishop O'Connell; served as associate pastor in Chattanooga and Knoxville before being named pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes and Shepherd of the Valley. Retired from active ministry.
- Father Mark ScholzAugust 1, 2005 – June 21, 2026
Ordained July 20, 2002, in Knoxville by Bishop Joseph E. Kurtz (27th priest ordained in the Diocese of Knoxville). Served more than two decades as pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes and Shepherd of the Valley; oversaw the Virgin of the Poor Shrine. Retired from active ministry at age 68.
- Father David BoettnerEffective July 1, 2026
Previously rector of the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Knoxville, since 2010; also continues as a diocesan vicar.