About Our Lady of Perpetual Help · Chattanooga, Tennessee
Our Lady of Perpetual Help (OLPH) is a Roman Catholic parish in the East Ridge neighborhood of Chattanooga, Tennessee, founded in 1937 and a member parish of the Diocese of Knoxville. The parish and its adjoining Pre-K–8 school share a single campus at 501–505 South Moore Road, originally built on the former Anderson farm during the Great Depression. The parish is bilingual, celebrating Mass in English and Spanish, runs a thriving parochial school, and serves a working-class community that recently completed a $1.6 million restoration of its 87-year-old worship space. Its patron is the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, the famous Byzantine icon entrusted to the Redemptorists.
- Established
- 1937
- Patron
- Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Father Arthur Torres
- Diocese
- Diocese of Knoxville
Why belong here
OLPH is a working-class, family-friendly parish with a long-standing Pre-K–8 Catholic school on the same campus, making it a natural choice for Catholic families in East Ridge and the Chattanooga area. It offers bilingual worship in English and Spanish, including a Saturday Vigil and Sunday Mass in Spanish, plus a robust faith-formation program (Parish School of Religion), Confirmation and Youth Ministry, OCIA for adults, and a strong tradition of Catholic education led originally by the Sisters of Charity of the BVM and now by lay teachers. The parish is in a season of renewal — the 87-year-old church was just rededicated in August 2025 after a $1.6 million restoration that returned the building closer to its 1938 appearance — and a new rectory and school upgrades are underway.
Mass times at Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday: 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
- Saturday: 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
- First Friday: 9:15 AM – 12:00 PM (Benediction at 12:00 PM)
Adoration times
- First Friday: 9:15 AM – 12:00 PM (Benediction at 12:00 PM)
History of Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Our Lady of Perpetual Help was established in 1937 when Bishop William L. Adrian of the Diocese of Nashville sent Father J. Harold Shea to find a site for a second Catholic parish in Chattanooga. Shea chose about 40 acres of the former Anderson farm on South Moore Road in East Ridge; the church, completed and blessed September 8, 1938, was built during the Great Depression alongside a parish school opened by four Sisters of Charity of the BVM who arrived August 26, 1937. By the early 1960s OLPH had become one of the largest parishes in Tennessee. The parish marked its 75th anniversary in 2012 with Bishop Richard F. Stika and its 85th in 2022 with Father Arthur Torres as its newly named pastor. In 2025, after an $1.6 million interior restoration under the 'Together as One' capital campaign, Bishop Mark Beckman rededicated the church on August 16.
- Founded 1937; church blessed September 8, 1938
- Located on the former Anderson farm, ~40 acres, South Moore Road, East Ridge
- Second Catholic parish in Chattanooga (after Sts. Peter and Paul)
- 75th anniversary celebrated October 6, 2012
- 85th anniversary celebrated August 28, 2022
- Church rededicated after restoration August 16, 2025
Parish Staff and Clergy
The parish is led by Father Arthur Torres (Pastor) with Father Andrew Crabtree as Associate Pastor. Two deacons — Dennis Meinert and Wade Eckler — assist at Mass and ministries. Lay staff include Ana Giraldo Taylor (Parish Secretary), Robert Jones (Business Manager), Kim Pruett (Bookkeeper), Donna Jones (Director of Youth Ministry), Laura Moore (Director of Hispanic Ministry), Diane Lee (Director of Parish School of Religion), Mary Pat Haywood (OCIA Coordinator), Esteban Salazar (Director of Music & Liturgy), Jesse Reyna (Piano / Choir), and Diego Velasquez (Maintenance Specialist).
- Pastor: Fr. Arthur Torres
- Associate Pastor: Fr. Andrew Crabtree
- Deacons: Dennis Meinert, Wade Eckler
Faith Formation and Religious Education
The Parish School of Religion (PSR), directed by Diane Lee, offers religious education for parish children, with a two-year Confirmation preparation for teens under Donna Jones's Youth Ministry. OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults), coordinated by Mary Pat Haywood, welcomes adults seeking baptism, Eucharist, or Confirmation, or coming into full communion with the Catholic Church. The parish participates in the diocesan 'Keeping Kids Safe' program for youth.
- Parish School of Religion (PSR)
- Confirmation preparation (two-year program)
- Youth Ministry
- OCIA for adults
- Keeping Kids Safe (diocesan)
Our Lady of Perpetual Help School
Adjacent to the church at 505 South Moore Road, the parish school has operated continuously since 1937, beginning with 60 pupils taught by four Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Anderson farmhouse. Today it serves Pre-K through 8th grade with an enrollment of more than 275 students and a student-teacher ratio of about 8:1. It is approved by the Tennessee Department of Education, certified by the Diocese of Knoxville, and accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. School motto and core values: Know, Love, Serve.
- Grades: Pre-K3 through 8th grade
- Enrollment: ~275 students; 8:1 student-teacher ratio
- Mascot: Rams
- Founded 1937 by Sisters of Charity of the BVM
- Core values: Know · Love · Serve
Hispanic Ministry
The parish hosts an active Hispanic Ministry directed by Laura Moore. Spanish-speaking Catholics are served by two weekly Spanish Masses — the Saturday Vigil at 6:30 PM and Sunday at 2:00 PM (the latter live-streamed) — and by ongoing formation and outreach to the area's Latino community.
- Spanish Mass: Saturday 6:30 PM
- Spanish Mass: Sunday 2:00 PM (livestreamed)
- Director of Hispanic Ministry: Laura Moore
Together as One — Capital Campaign and 2025 Renovation
In 2024 the parish launched the 'Together as One' capital campaign. By 2025 it had raised $1.6 million against a $1.2 million goal. The project included a new church roof, a new vesting sacristy, and a full interior renovation of the 87-year-old church (removing carpet to expose original brick walls and restore the original terrazzo marble floor, returning side chapels to the worship space, and modernizing audio). Daily Mass moved to the Parish Life Center and weekend Masses to the OLPH School gym during construction. The rededication Mass was celebrated by Bishop Mark Beckman on August 16, 2025. A planned fourth phase will replace an adjoining house with a new rectory for three priests and a seminarian, while the school's upper level is being converted from storage into classrooms.
- Capital Campaign 'Together as One'
- $1.6 million raised (goal $1.2 million)
- Phases 1–3: roof, vesting sacristy, interior restoration
- Phase 4: new rectory
- Bishop Mark Beckman rededicated the church on August 16, 2025
- Concurrent school renovation: storage-to-classroom conversion and roof/window repairs
Sacraments at OLPH
OLPH prepares parishioners for and celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments. Infant baptism, First Communion and First Reconciliation, Confirmation (for teens after two years of preparation), Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, and adult initiation through OCIA are all available. Reconciliation is offered weekly (Wed evenings and Sat mornings) with extended hours on First Friday.
- Baptism (infant & adult via OCIA)
- First Eucharist / First Reconciliation (PSR)
- Confirmation
- Matrimony (contact parish office)
- Anointing of the Sick
- Reconciliation: Wed 5:30–6:30 PM; Sat 9:00–10:00 AM; First Friday 9:15 AM–12:00 PM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father J. Harold Shea1937–c. 1940s
Sent by Bishop William L. Adrian of Nashville to select the site for the new parish; chose the 40-acre Anderson farm on South Moore Road in East Ridge. Founding pastor who oversaw construction of the church (blessed Sept. 8, 1938) and the arrival of the Sisters of Charity of the BVM.
- Father James D. Niedergeses1962–1973
Later became the ninth Bishop of Nashville in 1975; during his tenure OLPH grew into one of the largest parishes in Tennessee. Helped secure land and funding for Notre Dame High School's Chattanooga campus. Reassigned to Sts. Peter and Paul in 1973. The parish's Parish Life Center is named Bishop James D. Niedergeses Parish Life Center in his honor.
- Father Joe BrandoServed 1970s–1980s (approximate)
Ordained at Sts. Peter and Paul in 1972; later diocesan director of Marriage Encounter and director of Family Life Services for the Diocese of Nashville; long-time columnist 'Living the Readings' for East Tennessee Catholic; U.S. Army chaplain (retired Lt. Col.); died Dec. 9, 2021 at age 78.
- Monsignor Al HumbrechtServed (dates not specified)
Named by Father Torres in his 85th-anniversary recitation of former pastors.
- Father Mike NolanServed (dates not specified)
Named by Father Torres in his 85th-anniversary recitation. (A Father Michael Nolan is currently pastor of St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish in Cleveland, Tenn.)
- Father Jim VickPastor as of 2012 (75th anniversary)
Celebrated the parish's 75th anniversary Mass on Oct. 6, 2012 with Bishop Stika. Named by Father Torres among former pastors.
- Father Michael CresonAssociate pastor in 2012
Served as associate pastor at the time of the 75th anniversary.
- Father Alex WaraksaFormer associate pastor
Concelebrated the 75th anniversary Mass in 2012 as associate pastor of St. Patrick in Morristown and former associate at OLPH.
- Father Zach GriffithAssociate pastor 2022–2025
Served as associate under Father Torres during the 2022 anniversary and 2025 renovation; now chaplain of the Catholic Center at East Tennessee State University.
- Father Arthur TorresParochial administrator 2020; Pastor 2022–present
Currently pastor; led the 'Together as One' capital campaign, the 2025 interior restoration, and the August 16, 2025 rededication Mass with Bishop Beckman.
- Father Andrew CrabtreeAssociate pastor from 2025
Ordained June 2023 at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus; first assignment parochial vicar at St. Dominic Parish; named associate at OLPH in 2025 priest assignments.