About St. John Paul II Catholic Mission · Rutledge, Tennessee
St. John Paul II Catholic Mission is a multicultural Catholic mission church serving Rutledge in Grainger County, Tennessee, and the surrounding hill communities of East Tennessee. Founded in 2011 by the Glenmary Home Missioners and entrusted to their priests, the mission celebrates Mass in both English and Spanish and serves a largely immigrant, faithful community that gathers around weekly Eucharist, OCIA (catechumenate), and lively parish ministries. A new 5,500-square-foot church building at 161 Bryan Road, dedicated by Bishop Richard F. Stika of the Diocese of Knoxville on May 29, 2022, is debt-free and was largely built by parishioners themselves. The mission is currently pastored by Father Samuel Mungai, GHM, who succeeded Father Neil Pezzulo, GHM, in 2024, following the earlier ministry of Father Steve Pawelk, GHM, who first established the community.
- Established
- 2011
- Patron
- St. John Paul II (Pope)
- Rector
- Father Samuel Mungai, GHM (parochial administrator, appointed May 2024)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Knoxville
Why belong here
St. John Paul II is a small, multicultural mission where English- and Spanish-speaking Catholics, immigrants, returning Catholics, and those exploring the faith for the first time all worship together — described on the parish site as 'a family' that 'greets many dear friends and visitors from all denominations, and of no denomination.' The mission offers daily and weekend Mass in two languages, OCIA for adults exploring Catholicism, an ecumenical Bible study open to neighbors of any denomination, a Tuesday-evening Youth Connect, monthly Mercy House outreach in Bean Station, and a Prayer Blanket/Lapghan ministry. A 5,500-square-foot debt-free church, built largely by parishioners themselves, anchors a community that openly serves the wider town of Rutledge — hosting ecumenical prayer services, welcoming St. Mary's Legacy Clinic, and partnering with local Baptist, Methodist, and other Protestant neighbors.
Mass times at St. John Paul II Catholic Mission
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Available at the church — the parish encourages the faithful to take advantage of this opportunity for God's mercy and forgiveness (call the parish office at 865-992-7222 for a time)
About St. John Paul II Catholic Mission
St. John Paul II Catholic Mission is a faith-filled, multicultural parish serving the Rutledge community and surrounding areas. The mission describes itself as a family in which cradle Catholics, returning Catholics, the newly initiated, and those exploring the Catholic faith for the first time all worship together. Mass is celebrated in both English and Spanish, and the parish welcomes visitors and friends from every denomination — and none. Parish life extends beyond weekly Mass into ministries, outreach, study, prayer, and fellowship, with the goal of living the Gospel in practical and loving ways. The church invites anyone interested in OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) to reach out.
History & Founding
St. John Paul II was founded in 2011 by the Glenmary Home Missioners alongside its sister mission St. Teresa of Kolkata in Maynardville. Early Masses were celebrated in private homes across Grainger, Union, and Unicoi counties until regular weekly congregations grew. A new, debt-free church at 161 Bryan Road was dedicated by Bishop Richard F. Stika on May 29, 2022, the result of a building project largely completed by the parishioners themselves. In May 2024 Bishop Beckman announced new leadership, naming Father Samuel Mungai, GHM, as parochial administrator.
- Founded 2011 by the Glenmary Home Missioners
- First pastor: Father Steve Pawelk, GHM (through January 2020)
- Father Neil Pezzulo, GHM (January 2020 – May 2024)
- Father Samuel Mungai, GHM (parochial administrator, May 2024 – present)
- New church dedicated May 29, 2022, by Bishop Richard F. Stika
- Building roughly 5,500 sq ft on nine acres at 161 Bryan Road; debt-free
Architecture & Facilities
The current church is a 5,500-square-foot purpose-built worship center on approximately nine acres at the corner of Bryan Road and Rutledge Pike — 'one of the prettiest pieces of property in the town,' according to Father Pezzulo. The design flows from the sanctuary out onto a patio, which Father Pezzulo calls his favorite feature because it lends itself to hospitality. The building is officially seated for just under 150 with capacity to add chairs; rear doors can open onto the pavilion patio so overflow crowds can be accommodated outdoors — adding perhaps another 100 seats in a pinch. Furniture can be rearranged for different gatherings, and private rooms are available for ministries such as the visiting St. Mary's Legacy Clinic. Glenmary Brother Joe Steen, an accomplished woodworker, designed the building and built the walls and many altar furnishings.
- 5,500 sq ft worship space on ~9 acres
- Patio flowing from sanctuary for hospitality
- Repurposeable furniture and private meeting rooms
- Rear doors open onto pavilion patio for outdoor overflow (~100 additional seats)
Parish Ministries & Community Life
St. John Paul II runs a wide-ranging set of ministries for a mission its size, rooted in hospitality, outreach to the surrounding community, and intergenerational formation. Two of the most distinctive are the Mercy House outreach in Bean Station (fourth Friday each month) and the Prayer Blanket / Lapghan Ministry, which lovingly creates prayer-filled blankets for local hospitals and those in need. The church building itself doubles as a community hub: St. Mary's Legacy Clinic uses private rooms on the second Thursday of every month to provide medical care to neighbors of any faith.
- Mercy House Outreach — fourth Friday, 9 AM–noon, 659 Main St, Bean Station (315-657-8160)
- Youth Connect — Tuesdays, 6:00 PM (after 5:30 PM Mass)
- Welcome to the Table
- Prayer Blanket / Lapghan Ministry — Susan (865-927-6826), Dawn (865-828-4854)
- Ecumenical Bible Study — Tuesdays 4:00 PM
- Monthly Parish Potluck — second Saturday after the 4 PM Mass
OCIA & Faith Formation
The mission actively welcomes those exploring the Catholic faith through OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults), the modern name for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. Past formation seasons at St. John Paul II have prepared large groups for the sacraments of initiation — including 28 Hispanic catechumens at the 2023 Easter Vigil, taught by Clarisa Chavarría, who works alongside the pastor as a pastoral associate. Children and teens gather through St. John Paul II Youth Connect on Tuesday evenings after Mass.
- OCIA for adults exploring Catholicism
- Catechesis for children and youth
- St. John Paul II Youth Connect — Tuesdays 6:00 PM
- 28 Hispanic sacraments at the 2023 Easter Vigil
What We Believe
The parish walks its members through the foundations of Catholic faith in its 'What We Believe' page, beginning with the Nicene Creed — described as 'one of the most beloved summaries of what Catholics believe,' recited each Sunday at Mass. The site explains Catholic faith as resting on four pillars: Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition, the seven Sacraments, and life in the Church. It frames Christian faith as a lived relationship with God — 'not just something we profess, but a relationship we live, a hope we carry, and a life we are invited to share.'
- Nicene Creed recited at Mass each Sunday
- Four pillars of Catholic faith: Scripture, Tradition, Sacraments, life in the Church
- Seven sacraments celebrated (initiation, healing, service)
Sacraments
St. John Paul II celebrates all seven sacraments of the Catholic Church — the 'sacred signs given to us by Jesus Christ to share God's grace and draw us into deeper relationship with him.' The parish's Sacraments page groups them under Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist), Sacraments of Healing (Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick), and Sacraments at the Service of Communion (Holy Orders, Matrimony), and invites parishioners to contact the church to prepare for any of them. Reconciliation is highlighted as readily available at the church.
- Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist
- Sacraments of Healing: Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick
- Sacraments at the Service of Communion: Holy Orders, Matrimony
- Reconciliation readily available at the church
Outreach & Ecumenical Life in Rutledge
Because Grainger County is a small, predominantly non-Catholic area, St. John Paul II makes a point of serving the whole town. The parish supports Mercy House food outreach in nearby Bean Station, hosts the St. Mary's Legacy Clinic monthly at the church, and opens Ecumenical Bible Study to Baptists, Methodists, Quakers, and anyone else interested. Father Pezzulo has described inviting the whole town to ecumenical Lenten prayer services, and members of neighboring Protestant congregations — including a Baptist choir member from Buffalo Baptist Church — sing in the parish choir. The Diocese of Knoxville has signaled the community may be elevated to parish status once finances and a formal petition are in order.
- St. Mary's Legacy Clinic — second Thursday, 10 AM–2 PM
- Mercy House outreach — fourth Friday, Bean Station
- Ecumenical Bible Study open to all denominations
- Partners with local Methodist, Baptist, and other Protestant churches
- On the path toward elevation to parish status in the Diocese of Knoxville
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Steve Pawelk, GHMc. 2011 – January 2020
Glenmary priest who founded and established the St. John Paul II Catholic community in Rutledge; oversaw the beginnings of the new church construction before receiving a new Glenmary assignment.
- Father Neil Pezzulo, GHMJanuary 2020 – May 2024
Succeeded Father Pawelk; worked with Father David Boettner, VG, to complete the new church building, which was dedicated debt-free by Bishop Stika on May 29, 2022. Pastor during the 2023 Easter Vigil when 28 Hispanic catechumens received the sacraments of initiation. In May 2024 reassigned as Sacramental Minister and Canonical Moderator for Holy Family (Blakely, Ga.) and St. Luke (Cuthbert, Ga.) and Glenmary Outreach Minister for Stewart and Quitman County, Georgia.
- Father Samuel Mungai, GHMMay 2024 – present
Named parochial administrator of St. Teresa of Kolkata Parish (Maynardville) and St. John Paul II Mission (Rutledge) by Bishop Beckman.