About St. Joseph · Norris, Tennessee
St. Joseph Catholic Church is a small Roman Catholic parish in Norris, Tennessee, located at 3425 Andersonville Highway just outside the town founded by the Tennessee Valley Authority in the 1930s. It belongs to the Diocese of Knoxville and currently serves roughly 140 registered families (as of the parish's 75th anniversary in 2024), with summer swell from Norris Lake visitors. Weekday and Sunday Masses are offered in the parish church, which sits high on a hill above Andersonville Highway, and the parish is animated almost entirely by lay volunteers led by a small pastor-led staff.
- Established
- 1949
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Father Dennis Kress
- Diocese
- Diocese of Knoxville
Why belong here
St. Joseph is a small, vibrant, working parish where the Mass schedule and ministries are largely powered by lay volunteers, so newcomers quickly get to know their neighbors. Worship is supported by a full team — choir, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, lectors, altar servers, sacristans, ushers and greeters — and the faith formation program offers CCD from kindergarten through 12th grade plus O.C.I.A. (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) for those entering the Church. The parish also reaches outward through a Council of Catholic Women, Men of St. Joseph, Senior Moments, a Prayer Shawl Ministry, a Community Garden, outreach to the Norris Food Pantry and Clothing Closet, Anderson County Community Action, Catholic Charities' Crazy Quilt Friendship Center, Boxes of Joy, the St. Mary's Legacy Clinic, and Ronald McDonald House.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- By appointment at St. Joseph
- Saturday 4:00 p.m. at St. Therese Catholic Church, Clinton
- Wednesday 6:30 p.m. and Saturday 8:30 a.m. at St. Mary's Church, Oak Ridge
Adoration times
- Thursday 6:00 p.m. at St. Joseph
- Friday 9:30–10:30 a.m. at St. Therese, Clinton
Mass & Worship Schedule
St. Joseph publishes a straightforward weekly schedule: Sunday Mass at 9:00 a.m., with the Rosary recited at 8:35 a.m. before Mass; Tuesday and Thursday Masses at 9:00 a.m. preceded by Liturgy of the Hours at 8:45 a.m.; and Thursday evening Eucharistic Adoration at 6:00 p.m. Reconciliation is available by appointment at the parish, with additional Saturday-evening and midweek opportunities at sister-parishes St. Therese in Clinton (Saturday 4:00 p.m.) and St. Mary's in Oak Ridge (Wednesday 6:30 p.m. and Saturday 8:30 a.m.). The parish also lists Communion Service on Friday mornings at St. Therese in Clinton, followed by Adoration from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., as part of the wider clustered-parish rhythm.
- Sunday 9:00 a.m. — Mass (Rosary 8:35 a.m.)
- Tuesday 9:00 a.m. — Mass (Liturgy of the Hours at 8:45 a.m.)
- Thursday 9:00 a.m. — Mass (Liturgy of the Hours at 8:45 a.m.); Adoration 6:00 p.m.
- Reconciliation: by appointment at St. Joseph; also Saturdays 4:00 p.m. at St. Therese, Clinton; Wednesdays 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays 8:30 a.m. at St. Mary's, Oak Ridge
About St. Joseph
The parish positions itself as a happy, welcoming faith community open to newcomers, longtime members, and seasonal visitors to Norris Lake. Its tagline on the map-and-directions page is "Becoming Disciples of the Gospel," and the parish describes its mission as gathering as "intentional disciples living in His Kingdom on earth." With roughly 125–140 families and a part-time secretary plus office volunteer, the parish is animated by lay volunteers who run nearly every facet of parish life.
- Welcoming tagline: 'Becoming Disciples of the Gospel'
- Encourages registration through ushers, the parish office, phone (865-494-7746), or email ([email protected])
History of the Parish
St. Joseph Parish was founded in 1949 under Bishop William L. Adrian of Nashville. Early members reportedly converted a burned-out house into the original worship space on West Norris Road; the parish moved to its present 3425 Andersonville Highway site in 1991–92. It grew through reinvestment — parish hall (1996), rectory (2002), choir area and moveable wall (2008), religious-education building (2010) — while steadily paying down a Diocesan mortgage that was finally retired in January 2019, about 70 months ahead of schedule. The parish marked its 75th anniversary on April 28, 2024 with an outdoor celebration under a tent and a decade-by-decade history presentation.
- 1949: Parish founded by Bishop William L. Adrian; first worship space on West Norris Road
- 1991–92: Relocation to 3425 Andersonville Highway
- 1996: Parish hall addition
- 2002: Rectory acquired on Dairypond Road
- 2008: Choir area, moveable wall, and columbarium / Holy Family Garden added
- 2010: Religious-education/meeting center opened; Holy Family statues blessed by Bishop Stika
- 2019: Mortgage burned 70 months ahead of schedule
- 2024: 75th anniversary celebrated (April 28)
Clergy & Staff
The parish is served by a pastor (who also shepherds St. Therese in Clinton), a parish-administrator deacon, a second deacon, a part-time parish secretary, an office volunteer who doubles as bookkeeper, and a volunteer bookkeeper. The Parish Pastoral Council, which meets quarterly, includes representatives from each ministry committee (Worship & Spiritual Life, Communication, Administration/Stewardship, Faith Formation, Parish & Family Life, and Social Action).
- Father Dennis Kress — Pastor (also serves St. Therese, Clinton)
- Deacon Dan Hosford — Parish Administrator
- Deacon Bill Frere
- Karen Fecco — Parish Secretary
- Sally Jackson — Office Volunteer
- Eric Rauch — Bookkeeper
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation is organized as one of the parish's six standing ministry committees. It coordinates sacramental preparation for Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, and Marriage, runs the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (O.C.I.A.) for adults and older youth seeking entry into the Catholic Church, and offers the parish CCD program for children from kindergarten through 8th grade plus a youth group for grades 9–12. Confirmation preparation is offered in two age-appropriate classes (Grades 5–8 and Grades 9–12). O.C.I.A. sessions run from Labor Day through Easter Sunday.
- Baptism Preparation (parents and godparents; children age 7 or younger)
- First Communion Preparation
- Confirmation Preparation — Grades 5–8 and Grades 9–12
- Marriage Preparation
- O.C.I.A. — Labor Day through Easter Sunday
- Religious Education (CCD): Kindergarten–8th Grade
- Youth Group: 9th–12th Grade
Worship & Spiritual Life
The Worship & Spiritual Life Committee coordinates the many lay roles that make Sunday and weekday liturgies possible. The Choir is open to all ages and supports the Mass with approved hymns and instrumental accompaniment. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion distribute Holy Communion during Mass and bring Communion to the sick and homebound; servers must have received Confirmation and, if married, be in a sacramental marriage. Lectors proclaim the Scriptures, altar servers (including children who have made their First Communion) assist at the altar, sacristans prepare the sanctuary, and ushers and greeters welcome parishioners, encourage seat-filling, ring the tower bell, and tidy up after Mass. The Altar Linens & Decor committee cares for cloths, linens, flowers, plants, and seasonal decorations.
- Music Ministry / Choir
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC)
- Lectors / Readers
- Altar Servers
- Altar Linens & Decor
- Ushers & Greeters
- Sacristans
Parish & Family Life
The Parish & Family Life Committee fosters a sense of community inside the parish and reaches outward to the wider Norris/Andersonville area. It hosts several lay-led groups, including the Council of Catholic Women, Men of St. Joseph, and Senior Moments (a 50+ group that meets twice a month for fellowship, short trips, speakers, and shared meals). It also oversees the parish Garden Maintenance team and the joint columbarium with St. Therese in Clinton. The Hospitality ministry welcomes new families and guests and arranges welcome baskets and special events.
- Council of Catholic Women (CCW)
- Men of St. Joseph
- Senior Moments (parishioners age 50+)
- Garden Maintenance
- Columbarium (joint with St. Therese, Clinton)
- Hospitality
Columbarium & Holy Family Garden
St. Joseph and St. Therese in Clinton together operate two columbariums with available niches on the St. Joseph property in Norris. The columbarium — added in 2008 alongside a Holy Family Garden blessed by Bishop Stika in 2010 — is overseen by a joint board that handles sales, inurnments, and maintenance. Inquiries are directed to the board members listed on the parish website.
- Joint columbarium project with St. Therese, Clinton
- Holy Family Garden and Holy Family statues blessed in 2010
- Outdoor Stations of the Cross on the campus
- Contacts: Maureen Bounds, Jim Ferguson, Stan Bieleski, Eric Rauch
Social Action & Outreach
Rooted in the corporal works of mercy, St. Joseph's Social Action ministry reaches beyond the parish into Anderson County and the wider East Tennessee community. The Prayer Shawl Ministry knits comfort shawls for those in need, and a Community Garden produces food for local outreach. Parish-wide, the community supports the Norris Food Pantry and Clothing Closet, Anderson County Community Action, Catholic Charities' Crazy Quilt Friendship Center, Boxes of Joy, the St. Mary's Legacy Clinic, and the Ronald McDonald House.
- Prayer Shawl Ministry
- Community Garden
- Men of St. Joseph & Council of Catholic Women service efforts
- Outreach partners: Norris Food Pantry & Clothing Closet, Anderson County Community Action, Catholic Charities' Crazy Quilt Friendship Center, Boxes of Joy, St. Mary's Legacy Clinic, Ronald McDonald House
Administration, Stewardship & Communication
An Administration/Stewardship Committee handles the practical, financial, and physical needs of the parish: registrations, finance, bookkeeping, stewardship support, long-range planning, and building maintenance. The Communication Committee looks after the parish bulletin (with submissions due by Wednesday at 1:00 p.m.), the church sound system, audio/visual systems, and webpage maintenance. The parish has been mortgage-free since January 2019, a fact it credits to volunteer labor, careful reinvestment, and generous contributions.
- Registrations, Finance, Stewardship Support, Bookkeeping
- Long Range Planning, Building Maintenance
- Bulletin (requests due by Wednesday 1:00 p.m.)
- Audio / Visual Systems
- Webpage Maintenance
Parish Pastoral Council
The Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) 'assists in fostering pastoral activity' by establishing and supporting parish committees that advance both the spiritual and physical growth of St. Joseph. It typically meets quarterly. Members chair or represent each ministry area.
- Karen Thompson — Chairperson and Social Action
- Karen Meiring — Vice Chair and Communications
- Kyle Garcia — Spiritual Life
- Kelly Drake — Parish and Family Life
- Randy Garver — Administration
- Kathy Morin — Faith Formation
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Dan Richardson
Served St. Joseph from the Harriman Missions when the original 1949 worship space was dedicated.
- Father William Nolan
First resident priest assigned to St. Joseph, serving when the parish became part of the Norris-LaFollette circuit.
- Father John Walsh
Served in the parish's early years.
- Father Albert Henkel1950–1957
Early pastor.
- Father John Seola1960s
Served during the 1960s.
- Father Patrick Gavigan1960s
Served during the 1960s.
- Father John McMurray1960s
Served during the 1960s.
- Monsignor Bill Gahagan
Late beloved former pastor who served three separate assignments at St. Joseph; well remembered at the 75th anniversary.
- Father Frank Brett1996–2001
- Father Gerard Finucane2001–2004
- Father William McKenzie2004–2005
- Father Mike Creson
Returned for the 75th anniversary celebration.
- Father Julius Abuh
Returned for the 75th anniversary celebration.
- Father Richard Armstrong
Pastor at the time of the January 26, 2019 mortgage-burning with Bishop Richard F. Stika.
- Father Jim Haley, CSP
Brief assignment in 2023 prior to Father Kress's arrival.
- Father Dennis Kress2023–present
Current pastor; also serves St. Therese in Clinton.