About St. Albert the Great · Knoxville, Tennessee
Saint Albert the Great Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the Halls community of north Knoxville, Tennessee, belonging to the Diocese of Knoxville. Founded on July 1, 2007, it serves Catholic families in the Brickey Lane corridor of Knoxville's 37918 ZIP code. The parish community describes itself as 'an open and transparent community where all are welcome' that grows in holiness through prayer, study, worship, and service, and reaches out beyond itself through the Corporal Works of Mercy Committee. Daily Mass, a robust Faith Formation program for grades 1–12, a music ministry with choirs for all ages, and an active homebound and parish-life program are at the center of parish life.
- Established
- 2007
- Patron
- St. Albert the Great
- Rector
- Fr. Christopher Floersh
- Diocese
- Diocese of Knoxville
Why belong here
St. Albert the Great is a relatively young, family-oriented parish in north Knoxville's Halls community with the energy and accessibility of a newer church and a tight-knit Catholic school and Faith Formation culture. Daily 9am Mass, a Saturday Vigil, two Sunday Masses, and twice-weekly confessions make it easy to fit prayer into a busy week. The parish invests heavily in forming children and teens (grades 1–12, plus VBS and RCIA) and in the Corporal Works of Mercy Committee's outreach through the Mountain Arts Project to children and families in nearby Newcombe — so members find real ways to serve their neighbors in East Tennessee.
Mass times at St. Albert the Great
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM (in the Church)
History of Saint Albert the Great Parish
Saint Albert the Great Parish was established on July 1, 2007 as a new parish in the Diocese of Knoxville to serve the growing Catholic community in north Knoxville and the surrounding Halls area. Its founding pastor was Father Chris Michelson, a 44-year diocesan priest who had previously founded All Saints Parish in Knoxville in 1994 and helped relocate Knoxville Catholic High School to its current Cedar Bluff campus in January 2000. The parish's first Masses were celebrated on its founding day in the Sister Elizabeth Assembly Center at St. Mary's North Hospital (now Tennova North). Ground was broken for the permanent church on November 15, 2008, and the new St. Albert the Great Church was dedicated on August 29, 2009. Father Michelson led the parish until his retirement from active ministry on July 1, 2024, when Father Christopher Floersh was named parochial administrator.
- Established: July 1, 2007
- First Mass location: Sister Elizabeth Assembly Center, St. Mary's North Hospital (now Tennova North)
- Groundbreaking: November 15, 2008
- Church dedicated: August 29, 2009
- Founding pastor: Father Chris Michelson (2007–2024)
- Current pastor: Father Christopher Floersh (since July 1, 2024)
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by Father Christopher Floersh as pastor and is supported by Msgr. Pat Garrity (retired) as Sacramental Associate, three permanent deacons, and a small lay staff.
- Fr. Christopher Floersh — Pastor
- Msgr. Pat Garrity — Sacramental Associate (Retired)
- Deacon Mike Eiffe — Deacon; coordinates EMHC Homebound Ministry and RCIA/Adult Education; point of contact for Baptism Preparation
- Deacon John Elshaw — Deacon
- Deacon Mike Duncan — Deacon
- Maria Armento — Parish Manager; Director of Music; also supports Faith Formation
- Karyn Teno — Parish Secretary
- Peter Waraksa — Facilities Manager
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation at St. Albert the Great is open to all registered parishioners and spans preschool through adulthood. The program is coordinated by the DRE, Maria Armento, with grade-level leads and is supported by Deacon Mike Eiffe for RCIA and Adult Education.
- Grades 1–8: Wednesday evenings 6:00–7:00 PM during the Knox County school year (starting September 17, 2025) — coordinator: Robyn Wilson
- Grades 9–12 (High School Youth Group): meeting times TBA — coordinator: Joseph Cruz
- RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults): Thursdays 7:00–8:30 PM, September through Easter — coordinator: Deacon Mike Eiffe
- Adult Faith Formation: most Thursdays at 9:30 AM; no registration required
- Vacation Bible School (VBS): one week in summer, 9:30 AM–12:00 PM — coordinator: Robyn Wilson
Liturgical & Spiritual Life Ministries
With mind and heart centered on Christ, the parish's liturgical ministers serve the worshipping community at every Mass. Each ministry has a designated coordinator and offers training either in group sessions or one-on-one.
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC) — coordinator: Vicki McLean; training twice a year and by appointment
- EMHC Homebound Ministry — coordinator: Deacon Mike Eiffe
- Readers — coordinator: Vic Chargualaf; group training twice a year plus individual training available
- Ushers — coordinator: Jessica Motto
- Altar Servers — open to grade 4 and up; coordinator: Sarah McLean
- Altar Linens — coordinator: JoAnn Rudy
- Decorating the Church — coordinators: Joan Eiffe and JoAnn Rudy
Music Ministry
Music at St. Albert the Great is led by Maria Armento (Director of Music) and offers choirs and ensembles for every age. The Adult Choir is the foundation of the program, leading music at Sunday Mass, funerals, and special events.
- Adult Choir (age 21 and up) — leads Sunday Mass, funerals, special events
- Children's Choir (grades 1–6) — leads music at fall Masses, Christmas Eve, and special events
- Youth Choir (grades 6–12) — mentors children's choir; recorder and handbells
- Instrumental Ensemble (youth + adult) — rehearsed ensemble for proficient players; plays at seasonal occasions
Outreach: Corporal Works of Mercy
The parish lives its mission of serving the needs of its community and the world through the Corporal Works of Mercy Committee (CWOM), which runs several year-round programs — many in partnership with the Mountain Arts Project (MAP) in Newcombe, Tennessee. The committee is chaired by Erin Wessel (Programs).
- MAP Back-to-School — late-summer collection of school supplies and clothing for area schools and children in Newcombe
- MAP Christmas Bazaar — parishioners 'buy' Christmas gifts for sponsored MAP children and community families in need after weekend Masses in December; gifts wrapped and delivered to Newcombe
- MAP Easter Baskets — Lenten collection of baskets, books, supplies, and food for children in Newcombe
- Homebound Ministry — visits and outreach to parishioners who are homebound
- Blankets for the Homebound — handmade blankets ministry
- Souper Bowl Sunday — annual food collection
Parish Life & Fellowship
St. Albert the Great maintains a busy calendar of parish-life events that build community across the year, alongside men's and women's fellowship groups and a men's service / buildings-and-grounds group that keeps the parish property maintained.
- Fall Festival / Chili Cook-off
- Trunk or Treat
- Advent by Candlelight
- Christmas Cookie Exchange
- Lenten Meal
- Easter Egg Hunt
- Adult Social Trivia Night
- Coffee and Donuts
- Summer 'Welcome Back!' gathering
- Men's Fellowship
- Women's Fellowship
- Men's Service Group / Buildings and Grounds (mowing, landscaping, work days, set-up/clean-up)
Sacraments
Information and registration for all sacraments is handled through the parish office (865-689-7011). Sacramental preparation is tailored to each sacrament, and parishioners are encouraged to contact the office early in their planning.
- Baptism — Baptism Online Form; Baptism Preparation class for expectant and new parents and godparents; coordinated by Deacon Mike Eiffe
- First Reconciliation and First Eucharist — for children age 7 and older; contact the parish office
- Confirmation — contact the parish office
- Marriage — contact the Church Office
- Anointing of the Sick — contact the parish office; date and time arranged as needed
- RCIA — Thursdays 7:00–8:30 PM, September through Easter
Visit, Contact & Office Information
The parish office is open Monday through Thursday. Messages can be left by phone or sent through the website's contact form to the General Office, Fr. Christopher Floersh, Maria Armento, Karyn Teno, or Peter Waraksa. The parish posts a weekly video Mass on its YouTube channel ('St Albert The Great Catholic Church Knoxville') for those unable to attend in person.
- Address: 7200 Brickey Lane, Knoxville, TN 37918
- Phone: (865) 689-7011
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Monday–Thursday, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- Parish Website: http://www.satgknox.org/
- Facebook: parish page linked from satgknox.org
- YouTube: weekly video Mass — 'St Albert The Great Catholic Church Knoxville'
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Chris Michelson2007 – July 1, 2024
Founding pastor of the parish; oversaw the building and 2009 dedication of the Halls church; previously founding pastor of All Saints Parish (Knoxville, 1994) and a key figure in relocating Knoxville Catholic High School. Retired from active parish ministry on July 1, 2024; continues as president of St. Joseph School and adviser to the president of Knoxville Catholic High School.
- Fr. Christopher FloershJuly 1, 2024 – present
Appointed parochial administrator of St. Albert the Great effective July 1, 2024; previously served as diocesan director of vocations, chaplain at Knoxville Catholic High School, and part-time associate pastor at St. John Neumann.