St. Andrew the Apostle

Welcome & Identity

St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church is a parish of the Catholic Diocese of Memphis, located in Lexington, Tennessee. The parish's own site extends a simple welcome: 'We hope you will look around and learn more about us — and please stop by and visit if you're in the area.' It is a small, family-oriented community that places real emphasis on its post-Mass fellowship — Sister Angela once observed, 'People don't hurry away. They stay and socialize.'

History of the Parish

The story begins in the 1960s, when Catholic families transferred into Lexington with Northern factories (Century Electric Co. sent scouts first to confirm Catholics would be accepted). For years they drove 30 miles to St. Mary's in Jackson for Mass. In spring 1974 LaWanda Blowers and Kay Bartel wrote to Bishop Carroll Dozier; he met the families in Memphis and on September 14, 1974 celebrated Mass at the First United Methodist Church followed by a pot-luck supper. A steering committee (Mark Bartel, Ted Thiele, LaWanda Blowers, Mary Brilley) met October 16, 1974 and committed to a mission at St. Regina, religious education for children, and Sunday Mass in Lexington.

• 1974 — Parish officially established; Bishop Dozier celebrates first Lexington Mass at the Methodist Church, September 14, 1974.
• 1977 — Adrian Dominican Sisters arrive; Sister Angela Suzalla, O.P. becomes pastoral associate, hosted at the Pine Lake home of Cliff and Virginia Bullock.
• July 1981 — Parish rents a former store/theater/Salvation Army building at 39 East Church Street for $225/month.
• August 14, 1981 — Father Richard Gantert celebrates the first Mass in the converted store-front.
• September 19, 1981 — Bishop Dozier blesses and names the new Church of St. Andrew the Apostle.
• c. 1989 — Parish history by Sr. Venard Niehaus, OSF appears in a fund-raising cookbook.

Pioneer Spirit & Community Life

From the very first pot-luck suppers and the scrubbing-and-paneling of the store-front, the parish has been shaped by lay initiative and tight bonds. A founding parishioner captured the spirit in verse: 'No stained glass or inspiring steeple / Just a few faithful people / Our place of worship on loan / Though adequate, not a place of our own / A saint named Andrew summoned to assist.' As Common Sense wrote of the early years, 'It is a store-front, but it has a lot of closeness and love and family atmosphere, which is developed through people worshipping together.'

Clergy & Staff

St. Andrew is shepherded by Rev. Anthony Onyekwe, who also serves as pastor of St. Regina Church in Parsons. A small staff and team of lay ministers keep parish life running from the office at 895 N Broad Street.

• Rev. Anthony Onyekwe — Pastor (ordained August 27, 1995; recently celebrated 30th anniversary)
• Carmen McDaniel — Parish Secretary ([email protected])
• Mary Alyce Fiechtl — Financial Secretary ([email protected])
• Lois Freeland — Director of Religious Education
• Sister Angela Suzalla, O.P. — Pastoral Associate (from 1977, historical)

Devotions & Liturgical Life

Beyond Sunday Mass, St. Andrew maintains a rich devotional rhythm. First Fridays feature extended Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament; First Saturdays add Exposition, the Rosary, and Benediction. The parish also celebrates an annual Our Lady of Guadalupe Mass, May Crowning, and a Blue Mass of Thanksgiving in honor of first responders.

• First Friday Eucharistic Adoration (9:00–11:30 AM)
• First Saturday Mass with Exposition, Rosary, and Benediction
• Our Lady of Guadalupe Mass (December)
• May Crowning (May)
• Blue Mass of Thanksgiving

Religious Education (PRE) & Youth

Children's faith formation has been central since 1974, when four seminarians first came to Lexington to teach. The Parish Religious Education (PRE) program continues today under Director of Religious Education Lois Freeland, with seasonal events like the Christmas Nativity play and bell choir (December 15, 2024) and the end-of-year beach party hosted at the Stevens' home. The youth group gathers regularly for meetings, dinners, and outings — including an August 2, 2025 field trip to the Ark Encounter in Williamstown, Kentucky.

• PRE classes with annual Christmas Nativity play and May First Communion
• Youth Ministry meetings, dinners, and field trips (e.g., Ark Encounter 2025)
• Confirmation preparation (e.g., May 24, 2025; August 16, 2020)
• End-of-year PRE Beach Party (a parish tradition)

Becoming Catholic — RCIA

The parish hosts the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), the Vatican-II process by which unbaptized adults, and already-baptized Christians from other traditions, are received into full communion with the Catholic Church. The parish site explains the four stages — Inquiry, Catechumenate, Enlightenment and Purification (Lent), and Mystagogia (Easter to Pentecost) — and notes that RCIA is itself a source of renewal for the whole parish: 'As Catholics see new candidates learning the doctrine, they are encouraged to study their faith.'

• Period of Inquiry (initial welcome and questions)
• Catechumenate (deeper instruction in doctrine and liturgy)
• Rite of Election (First Sunday of Lent) → Enlightenment and Purification (Lent)
• Easter Vigil — Baptism, Confirmation, and First Eucharist
• Mystagogia — post-Easter deepening through Easter to Pentecost

Sacraments

The parish celebrates the seven sacraments in the midst of its small community, with preparation tailored to each. Couples should call six months ahead for marriage; parents of infants should call the office for baptismal preparation; the homebound and hospitalized are visited on request.

• Baptism — Pre-Baptism sessions required; one Catholic sponsor; parents must be active members of St. Andrew or St. Regina
• Marriage — Minimum 6 months notice; Pre-Marriage program required
• Anointing of the Sick — Available by calling the parish office
• First Communion and Confirmation — Annual preparation through PRE
• Communion to the Sick / Shut-Ins — Visit and Communion arranged through the parish office

Women of St. Andrew & Outreach

The Women of St. Andrew (the parish's Ladies Guild) is one of the most active parish groups. The guild regularly supports the Homeless Coalition of Lexington through donations and Thanksgiving baskets, sponsors parish social events (Advent wreath-making, Mother's Tea, end-of-year gatherings), and helps knit the parish together across generations. The parish as a whole has a strong outreach character consistent with its small size — St. Andrew's people take care of their own and their neighbors.

• Women of St. Andrew / Ladies Guild meetings
• Thanksgiving baskets and donations for the Homeless Coalition of Lexington
• Mother's Day Tea honoring Father Anthony
• Advent Christmas-wreath making (e.g., November 12, 2025)
• Donation for the homeless presented to Miles Robert and board members

Parish Activities & Calendar

The 'Activities' page on the parish website is a living photo-journal of parish life — from Christmas programs and May Crownings to Blue Masses, beach parties, and youth field trips. Recent highlights include Father Anthony's 30th Anniversary as a priest, the 2025 Confirmation class, and the youth's Ark Encounter trip.

• Father Anthony Onyekwe's 30th Anniversary as a Priest
• Confirmation — May 24, 2025 at the 4:30 Mass
• May Crowning and First Communion — May 11, 2025
• Youth Meeting — March 9, 2025; Youth Dinner — November 2, 2024
• Our Lady of Guadalupe Mass — December 9, 2023
• Blue Mass of Thanksgiving — June 18, 2020
• PRE Christmas Nativity & Bells — December 15, 2024

Visit, Contact & Office

Parishioners and visitors can reach the office by phone, email, or in person. The parish is located on N Broad Street in Lexington and shares pastoral care with St. Regina in Parsons.

• Address: 895 N Broad St., Lexington, TN 38351
• Phone: (731) 968-6393
• Email: [email protected]
• Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
• Sister parish / shared pastor: St. Regina Church, Parsons, TN