About St. Luke · Smyrna, Tennessee
St. Luke Catholic Church is a multicultural Roman Catholic parish located at 10682 Old Nashville Highway in Smyrna, Tennessee, within the Diocese of Nashville. Founded by Father John Kirk and dedicated in its current sanctuary in December 2016, the parish serves Smyrna and the surrounding North Rutherford County communities with Masses celebrated in English, Spanish, and bilingual formats. A wide range of ministries — from the Knights of Columbus and Women of Faith to a food pantry, Respect Life committee, music ministry, and religious education programs — support its mission of nurturing families, assisting the poor, protecting life, and welcoming all to join.
- Patron
- St. Luke
- Rector
- Rev. Phillip A. Halladay
- Diocese
- Diocese of Nashville
Why belong here
St. Luke welcomes Catholics of every background into a vibrant, multicultural community where English, Spanish, and bilingual liturgies are celebrated every day of the week. The parish feeds neighbors through its Food Pantry and Last Resource utility-assistance ministry (founded in 1992), accompanies the grieving through the Lazarus Ministry, defends life through the Respect Life committee, and serves the larger community through the Knights of Columbus Council 9168, Women of Faith, Music Ministry, and a robust religious education program for children, youth, and adults in RCIA. With a brand-new sanctuary completed in 2016 and seating for 600 (with room to grow), it is a parish where families, the poor, the sick, and the newcomer are explicitly welcomed and supported.
Mass times at St. Luke
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday: After the 8:30 a.m. Mass (approx. 9:00 a.m.) or by appointment
- Thursday: 5:30 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. (Spanish)
- Saturday: 3:10 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. (English)
- Saturday: 6:00 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. (Bilingual)
- Or by appointment — call the parish office at 615-459-9672
Adoration times
- Thursday: 9:00 a.m. – 11:55 p.m. (24-hour Adoration continues overnight Thursday into Friday)
- Friday: 12:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. (conclusion of Thursday's 24-hour Adoration)
About St. Luke — Mission & Parish Life
St. Luke describes itself as a multicultural Catholic community called to use its strengths, gifts, and talents to spread the Good News, nurture families, assist the materially and spiritually poor, protect the weak, and comfort the sick and dying. Its published mission statement and About Us page emphasize being a Eucharistic people united in the one perfect sacrifice of the Lord, with a particular commitment to the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death.
- Multi-cultural heritage is highlighted as a defining gift of the parish.
- Parish promotes spiritual growth, teaching of the Good News, community development, family support, and care for the weak, sick, and dying.
- Strong public commitment to the sanctity of human life and the dignity of every child of God.
Our History & Building
The parish was founded under Father John Kirk and grew steadily through the 2010s. In 2013, parish leaders and Centric Architecture began a master plan that led to a new 600-seat sanctuary connected to the existing social-hall building. The new church was dedicated by Bishop David Choby on December 11, 2016, with Father Jacob Dio serving as pastor at that time. The design — featuring wood glulam arches and a wood-decked ceiling — was planned to accommodate future growth of 200–400 additional seats and a future chapel.
- Founded under Rev. John Kirk (who also founded Church of the Nativity in Spring Hill and St. Mark in Manchester).
- Master plan began 2013 with Centric Architecture.
- New sanctuary dedicated December 11, 2016 by Bishop David Choby.
- Designed to seat 600, with capacity for 200–400 more in the future.
Clergy & Parish Staff
St. Luke is led by a pastor, an associate pastor, and three deacons, with a lay staff supporting faith formation, liturgy, finance, facilities, and parish engagement. Each staff member has a dedicated phone extension and email listed in the weekly bulletin.
- Pastor: Rev. Phillip A. Halladay (ext. 103, [email protected])
- Associate Pastor: Rev. Diuver Martinez (ext. 110)
- Deacon Ernie Gartung — 615-405-4189
- Deacon José Pineda — Director of Religious Education & Latino Ministry (ext. 102)
- Deacon Chris Simpson — 615-598-0886
- Ronnie Francescon — Business Administrator / Minister of Finance (ext. 101)
- Laura Nota — Assistant Minister of Finance & Liturgical Coordinator (ext. 107, [email protected])
- Cristina Gilley — Assistant to the Director of Religious Education (ext. 104)
- Donita Bauer — Minister of Parish Engagement (ext. 100, [email protected])
- Daniel Vivas Noriega — Minister of Parish Engagement (ext. 100, [email protected])
- Bill Gartung — Facilities / Scheduling ([email protected])
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious Education at St. Luke runs Sunday-morning classes for children ages 4 through 6th grade, with Pre-Confirmation for incoming 7th graders up to age 14 and a separate Confirmation track for older youth. RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) is offered for adults seeking to enter the Church.
- Sunday-morning classes for ages 4 – 6th grade (registrations accepted July & August; fee $75/student, $150/family max).
- Pre-Confirmation: incoming 7th graders up to 14 years old; first meeting typically a Wednesday evening in the Social Hall.
- Confirmation: celebrated annually each October.
- First Communion: rehearsal and celebration each spring.
- RCIA for adult initiation into the Catholic Church.
Liturgy & Music
Music is central to St. Luke's liturgical life: a choir leads song at every weekend Mass, and a Teen choir/band provides music for special liturgies such as All Saints Day and Christmas Eve. Rehearsals are held approximately one hour before each Mass and on Thursday evening.
- Choir at every weekend Mass — new members always welcome.
- Rehearsals ~1 hour before each Mass and Thursday night at 6:00 p.m. in Classroom 8.
- Teen choir/band for special Masses (All Saints Day, Christmas Eve).
- Contact: Deb Thomas Cox — 615-556-0035.
St. Luke Women of Faith
St. Luke Women of Faith is the parish's women's support group dedicated to caring for the sanctuary environment — altar linens, banners, candles, Holy Water fonts, flowers, and Christmas/Easter décor — and to serving other ministries when called upon. The group hosts social events, prepares priest meals for Lent and Advent Penance Services, collects items for the Women's Domestic Violence Shelter, participates in Boxes of Joy, and is affiliated with the Nashville Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (NDCCW) and the National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW).
- Meets the 2nd Thursday of every month at 6:30 p.m.
- Officers: President Ginny Williams (current bulletin) / Lori Kendall (per homepage); VP Stephanie Nordhoff; Treasurer Jenny Banker; Recording Secretary Sue Holland; Correspondence Secretary Lois Bergman.
- Hosts fall social, Lenten soup suppers, Father's Day breakfast, and an annual Christmas party.
Knights of Columbus Council 9168
St. Luke's Knights of Columbus Council 9168 is active in parish life and the wider community. The council was recognized at the 2026 Knights of Columbus Tennessee State Convention in Nashville, where it received the Bishops' Award — the highest honor a council in Tennessee can receive — as well as the Community Award.
- Grand Knight (as of 2026): Josh Ezzell ([email protected], 615-390-4170).
- Ladies Auxiliary contact: Frances Ezzell ([email protected], 404-964-0315).
- State Treasurer and parishioner Alan Stanley also serves the council.
- Won Bishops' Award and Community Award at the 2026 Tennessee State Convention.
Outreach: Food Pantry & Last Resource
St. Luke runs two cornerstone outreach ministries that serve the Smyrna and broader North Rutherford County community — a Food Pantry for direct food assistance, and Last Resource, which helps needy families with utilities. Both flow from the parish's commitment to the Church's 'preferential option for the poor.'
- Food Pantry — provides food assistance; contact Theresa Stepanek at 615-355-1784.
- Last Resource — founded 1992 to assist with utilities in LaVergne and Smyrna; Hot Line 615-459-9196 (Mark Muenich).
- Both ministries reflect the parish's preferential option for the poor.
Respect Life, Lazarus & Pastoral Care
St. Luke maintains a strong pro-life identity and offers pastoral-care ministries to parishioners who are grieving, homebound, ill, or recently bereaved.
- St. Luke Respect Life Committee — contact Jim Fontaine at 615-479-6626.
- Lazarus Ministry — bereavement support.
- Comforting the Sick — contact Cheryle Miller ([email protected]).
- Homebound Ministry — contact Cyndi Gartung at 615-636-3170.
- Funeral Consultants — Cyndi Gartung, 615-636-3170, [email protected].
- Card Ministry — Joann McCabe, 615-400-4647.
- Anointing of the Sick — call the parish office; available for home/hospital visits and before surgery.
Sacraments
Information on how to receive each of the seven sacraments at St. Luke is published in the parish bulletin and on the website, including specific preparation requirements set by the Diocese of Nashville.
- Baptism (infant – age 7) — contact the parish office; baptism class required for first-time parents.
- Reconciliation — see confession schedule above; also by appointment.
- First Communion — for 2nd through 6th graders in Sunday division; celebrated each spring.
- Confirmation — celebrated annually in October for high-school youth.
- Matrimony — Diocese of Nashville requires a four-month minimum preparation period.
- Anointing of the Sick — call the parish office; encouraged before surgery.
Devotions, Prayer Groups & Small Communities
Beyond the Mass schedule, St. Luke supports a wide range of prayer and small-group communities that bring parishioners together for spiritual formation, mutual support, and fellowship.
- 24-hour Eucharistic Adoration: Thursday 9:00 a.m. – Friday 8:00 a.m.
- Prayer Chain — Cyndi Gartung, 615-636-3170, [email protected].
- Legion of Mary — Louis Cuccia, 615-631-7415.
- Couples for Christ — Zaldi Zapanta, 904-434-2117.
- Cursillo — Kris Wynn, [email protected].
- Cor Men's Group — Tom Labrado, 858-735-9562.
- Sacred Heart Enthronement — Joanne Speer, 615-300-8656.
- Quilting Ministry — Suzie Patterson, 615-473-4777.
- Mary's Soul Protection Prayer Group — Cecilia Smith, 615-631-5608.
- St. Luke Homeschool Ministry.
- St. Luke Senior Activities.
Visit, Register & Get Involved
Parishioners and newcomers are warmly welcomed. Coffee and donuts are served Sunday mornings after the 8:00 and 10:00 a.m. Masses. Registration forms, faith-formation forms, baptism forms, and Godparent/Sponsor eligibility forms are available on the website.
- Parish Office: 10682 Old Nashville Hwy, Smyrna, TN 37167 — 615-459-9672 (fax 615-459-3989).
- Office hours: Mon & Tue 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.; Wed 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.; Thu 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.; Fri 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
- Parish Registration Form available on the website.
- Coffee & donuts after the 8:00 and 10:00 a.m. Sunday Masses.
- Mass is livestreamed on Facebook — 'WATCH MASS ON FACEBOOK' from the homepage.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John Kirk
Founding priest of St. Luke; also founded Church of the Nativity in Spring Hill and St. Mark in Manchester according to the Columbia Daily Herald.
- Rev. Jacob Dio
Served as pastor at the December 2016 dedication of the new church building under Bishop David Choby.
- Rev. Phillip A. Halladay
Current pastor (as of May 2026 bulletin); email [email protected].