About St. Paul the Apostle · Tullahoma, Tennessee
St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Tullahoma, Tennessee, situated in the southern Middle Tennessee community known for the nearby Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC). Founded in 1954, it is one of the older parishes in the Diocese of Nashville and serves Catholics across Coffee County and the surrounding South-Central Tennessee area. The parish shares its pastor with nearby St. Mark Church in Manchester, and worship is offered in the Roman (Latin) Rite with daily Mass, a Saturday Vigil, and a Sunday morning Mass.
- Established
- 1954
- Patron
- St. Paul the Apostle
- Rector
- Rev. Stephen A. Klasek
- Diocese
- Diocese of Nashville
Why belong here
St. Paul the Apostle is a warm, mid-sized diocesan parish where parishioners know one another by name and priests celebrate daily Mass. The parish gathers for weekday Mass Monday through Friday, a Wednesday evening Mass, First Friday and First Saturday devotions to the Sacred Heart and Immaculate Heart, an active Knights of Columbus council, and a youth group that meets Wednesday evenings. With confession by appointment and ongoing faith formation, it is a faithful Catholic home for families, retirees, military and civilian families connected to nearby AEDC, and anyone in the Tullahoma area seeking a welcoming community rooted in the Eucharist.
Mass times at St. Paul the Apostle
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- By appointment only — call (931) 461-9652
Adoration times
- First Saturday: 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM (following the 8:00 AM First Saturday Mass)
- First Friday: Adoration follows the 8:00 AM Mass
About St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church
St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish serving Tullahoma, Tennessee, and the surrounding Coffee County area. Founded in 1954 and belonging to the Diocese of Nashville, the parish gathers daily for the Eucharist and is well known for its devotion to the Sacred Heart (First Friday) and the Immaculate Heart of Mary (First Saturday). The church is located in a quiet residential block on West Grizzard Street, just a short drive from the town's center and the campus of Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC).
History of the Parish
St. Paul the Apostle was established in 1954 as one of the parishes serving the South-Central Tennessee corridor alongside St. Mark in Manchester. The Diocese of Nashville recognized the parish's founding in its coverage of the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul in 2024, noting the parish's named connection to St. Paul. Through the decades, the parish has remained a small but faithful community, sharing pastoral leadership with St. Mark Church under Father Stephen Klasek since 2008.
- Founded: 1954
- Diocese: Nashville
- Pastoral link: shares pastor with St. Mark Church, Manchester
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by Father Stephen A. Klasek, who has served as pastor of St. Paul the Apostle since July 1, 2008, while also serving as pastor of St. Mark Church in Manchester. He was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Nashville on July 9, 1983, and previously served as pastor of Holy Rosary Church in Donelson and as director of pastoral planning for the diocese. The parish office is staffed during weekday business hours, with Susan Blackburn serving as parish secretary.
- Pastor: Rev. Stephen A. Klasek
- Parish Secretary: Susan Blackburn
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Mass & Worship Schedule
St. Paul the Apostle offers a robust Mass schedule that makes daily Mass accessible to working parishioners, including an evening Mass on Wednesdays and a Saturday Vigil for those who prefer to keep Sunday free. Mass is celebrated in English in the Roman (Latin) Rite. The parish also keeps the traditional First Friday and First Saturday devotions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, with Mass, Rosary, and Eucharistic Adoration each month.
- Saturday Vigil: 6:00 PM
- Sunday: 8:30 AM
- Monday–Friday: 8:00 AM
- Wednesday Evening: 6:00 PM
- First Friday: 8:00 AM (followed by Rosary and Adoration)
- First Saturday: 8:00 AM (followed by Rosary and Adoration)
Devotions
The parish keeps several traditional monthly devotions. The First Friday Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus includes Mass at 8:00 AM followed by the Rosary and Adoration. The First Saturday Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary also begins with the 8:00 AM Mass and continues with the Rosary and Adoration, fulfilling the Five First Saturdays devotion requested at Fatima.
- First Friday — Sacred Heart of Jesus
- First Saturday — Immaculate Heart of Mary
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish offers Faith Formation (Religious Education) for students in kindergarten through 8th grade, supporting families in handing on the Catholic faith to the next generation. Classes typically meet on parish grounds and are coordinated through the parish office.
- Religious Education for K–8 students
- Contact the parish office at (931) 455-3050 for registration details
Youth Group
The St. Paul Youth Group welcomes all 6th through 12th graders on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM in the Parish Center. Evenings include snacks, fellowship, prayer, games, and devotionals. Youth minister Alyssa Moore can be reached at (931) 434-4966 for more information.
- Meets Wednesdays, 7:00–9:00 PM, Parish Center
- Open to grades 6–12
- Contact: Alyssa Moore, (931) 434-4966
Parish Ministries & Organizations
Beyond faith formation and youth ministry, the parish supports a number of lay-led ministries that sustain its liturgical and community life. Knights of Columbus Council members are a visible presence at Masses and parish events, Eucharistic Ministers assist with distribution of Holy Communion, and the Parish Council meets regularly to guide the life of the parish.
- Knights of Columbus — monthly general meetings; hosts a can drive for aluminum recycling
- Eucharistic Ministers
- Parish Council (monthly meetings)
- Music and liturgical volunteers at Sunday and weekday Masses
Knights of Columbus
The parish's Knights of Columbus council is an active part of parish life, meeting on the third Wednesday of each month at 7:00 PM. The council supports the parish through service projects and charitable drives, including a monthly aluminum and tin can recycling drive whose drop-off point is by the church playground.
- General meetings: 3rd Wednesday of the month, 7:00 PM
- Can Drive: drop off recyclable cans by the church playground
Visiting & Contact
Parishioners and visitors are warmly welcomed at St. Paul the Apostle. The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM and can be reached by phone at (931) 455-3050 or by email at [email protected]. Mass intentions, sacramental needs, and inquiries about joining the parish may be directed to the office during those hours.
- Parish Office: (931) 455-3050
- Confession line: (931) 461-9652
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.stpaulstullahoma.com/
- Facebook: Saint Paul The Apostle Catholic Church – Tullahoma, TN
Diocese of Nashville
St. Paul the Apostle is part of the Diocese of Nashville, which covers the Middle Tennessee region. The parish is listed in the diocese's official Mass schedule and is part of the diocese's pastoral planning under the leadership of Bishop J. Mark Spalding.
- Diocese of Nashville
- Diocesan Mass schedule lists St. Paul the Apostle under the Southeast Deanery
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Stephen A. Klasek2008–present
Appointed pastor on July 1, 2008; also serves as pastor of St. Mark Church in Manchester.
- Rev. Joseph (Monsignor) Kirk
Served as pastor of St. Paul the Apostle and St. Mark in Manchester; helped build the current St. Mark church building. Founding pastor of St. Luke (Smyrna), St. Mark (Manchester), and Nativity (Thompson's Station); retired in 2018.