About St. Philip · Franklin, Tennessee
St. Philip Catholic Church is a historic, multicultural Roman Catholic parish in the heart of Historic Downtown Franklin, Tennessee, founded on November 6, 1871 as the first Catholic church in Williamson County. Today the parish serves more than 1,600 families with a robust schedule of daily and Sunday Masses in both English and Spanish, a downtown campus that includes an Original Church and a larger Main Church, more than 60 active ministries, and outreach that ranges from a Christmas Basket Program feeding nearly 300 families to mission partnerships in Honduras, Haiti and India. A multicultural community 'filled with love — where no one is a stranger,' it is led today by Father Gervan Menezes (Fr. G) in partnership with Bishop Mark Spalding of the Diocese of Nashville.
- Established
- 1871
- Patron
- St. Philip (the Apostle)
- Rector
- Father Gervan Menezes (Fr. G)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Nashville
Why belong here
St. Philip is a 150-year-old downtown Franklin parish that has grown from 26 founding families to more than 1,600 households while remaining deeply multicultural — daily Mass in two churches (Original Church and Main Church), a full Spanish-language ministry with its own Sunday and Tuesday Masses, and a thriving OCIA process. With more than 60 ministries (from St. Anthony's Closet and Food Pantry to the 49-year-old Christmas Basket Program, Mission Honduras, and a sister parish in Haiti), daily Eucharistic Adoration, a Montessori-based St. Philip Learning Center, and a leadership team led by Fr. G (who, as a native of Brazil, brings Portuguese, English and Spanish to a parish that already worships in two languages), it is built to welcome new Catholics, lifelong parishioners, and visitors to Historic Downtown Franklin alike.
Mass times at St. Philip
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 5:30 PM – 6:50 PM
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 4:45 PM (except the Saturday before Palm Sunday and Holy Saturday)
- Other times by calling one of the Fathers
Adoration times
- Tuesday 7:30 AM – 8:45 AM (Main Church)
- Tuesday 5:30 PM – 6:50 PM (Main Church)
- Thursday 7:30 AM – 8:45 AM (Main Church)
- Monday & Wednesday 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM (Original Church)
- Friday 24-hour Adoration 9:30 AM Friday – 8:00 AM Saturday (Original Church)
- 3rd Saturday: 8:30 PM – 6:45 AM Sunday — Nocturnal Adoration (Original Church)
Parish History
Founded on November 6, 1871 as the first Catholic church in Williamson County, St. Philip grew from 26 original families into a parish of more than 1,600 households. From Father Orengo's bricks 'burnt on the churchyard,' to Father Timothy Abbott saving the building from auction, to Father Nolan's hand-carved altar and Stations of the Cross in 1898, the parish's history is woven into downtown Franklin itself. The site is also where a 2012 church was built in India and where overseas mission work in Honduras (since 2014) and Haiti continues today. In 2021–2022 the community marked its 150th anniversary with Bishop Mark Spalding.
- November 6, 1871 — Parish dedicated; Bishop Feehan preached the sermon and the Cathedral choir sang High Mass.
- Founded by 26 families, mostly Irish railroad workers.
- Father Marron — first pastor; Father Eugene Gazzo — recorded the first baptism.
- Father Timothy Abbott — first Tennessean ordained a priest; saved the parish from auction by paying its debts.
- Father Nolan — broke ground on the rectory March 3, 1898; carved the old altar and the Stations of the Cross decor.
- Father Arnold — led the 1995–97 'Banking on Faith' campaign that built the new worship center (dedicated August 1997).
- Father Bala Showraiah — Pastor from late October 2009; launched CGS, two full-time youth ministers, 5 pm Teen Mass and the St. Philip Learning Center (2012).
- Father Edward Steiner — Pastor July 2020 – June 2025; led the 150th anniversary celebrations Nov. 2021 – Nov. 2022.
- Father Gervan Menezes (Fr. G) — assigned as Pastor July 2025 by Bishop Mark Spalding.
Clergy
St. Philip is currently shepherded by three priests and a deacon, supported by a large lay staff in Faith Formation, Music, Communications, Finance, Administration, Facilities and the St. Philip Learning Center. Father Gervan Menezes (Fr. G) is both the parish's pastor and the Diocese of Nashville's Director of Campus Ministries and UCat Chaplain at Tennessee Tech; he also serves as Episcopal Master of Ceremonies for Bishop Mark Spalding. A native of Brazil, he is fluent in Portuguese, English and Spanish.
- Father Gervan Menezes (Pastor) — [email protected] — 615-550-2832
- Father Mark (Sr. Associate Pastor)
- Father David (Associate Pastor)
- Deacon Paul Brancheau — [email protected]
- John Angotti, Director of Music — [email protected] — 615-550-2834
Faith Formation and Education
Faith formation at St. Philip is built on a Montessori foundation and runs from preschool through adulthood. The St. Philip Learning Center, founded in 2012 in the renovated Father Arnold Education Center, is a Catholic Montessori preschool and homeschool enrichment program, sharing the building with the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) atriums and youth-ministry space.
- St. Philip Learning Center — Catholic Montessori preschool & homeschool enrichment; Director Karen Williams — 615-550-2844.
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) — Montessori approach to Religious Education.
- Edge — middle-school youth ministry.
- Connect — high-school youth ministry.
- Theology on Tap — young adult ministry.
- Adult Faith Studies and Adult Faith Formation (Susan Skinner, Director).
- OCIA (Becoming Catholic) — English and Spanish tracks, Sunday afternoon meetings year round.
Becoming Catholic (OCIA)
The Order of Christian Initiation for Adults at St. Philip is a year-round 'Journey of Faith' for the unbaptized, for baptized Catholics who have not yet received First Communion and/or Confirmation, and for Christians from other traditions seeking full communion with the Catholic Church. The formation program runs August through mid-May, with meetings for inquirers and sponsors on Sunday afternoons from 12:15 to 2:15 PM (lunch provided). A Spanish-language OCIA track is offered through the Hispanic Ministry.
- Susan Skinner — Director of Adult Faith Formation & OCIA — [email protected].
- Irma Torres & Juany Ramirez — Hispanic OCIA leaders — [email protected].
- OCIA Easter Vigil celebration is the high point of the year.
Hispanic Ministry
The Hispanic Ministry at St. Philip exists to serve the spiritual, worship and religious-education needs of the community in its own language. Spanish-language Mass is offered Sunday afternoon and Tuesday evening, with full sacramental preparation (Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, adult education) running September through May. A monthly Baptism preparation class is offered, and baptisms are celebrated by request.
- Spanish Mass — Sunday 1:00 PM and Tuesday 7:00 PM.
- Catequesis, Primera Comunión, Confirmación, educación para adultos (Septiembre–Mayo).
- Platicas pre-bautismales una vez al mes; bautismos por solicitud.
- Contact: Linda Quezada — [email protected] — 615-794-8588.
Outreach and Charity
Outreach is a defining mark of St. Philip: 'We Are a Stewardship Church,' focusing the call to give time, talent and treasure on the individual needs of parishioners and the parish together. St. Anthony's Closet and Food Pantry provides food, gently used clothing and household goods to neighbors in need, while the Christmas Basket Program — now in its 49th year — delivers food and gifts to nearly 300 Williamson County families each Christmas.
- St. Anthony's Closet & Food Pantry — Lisa Markut, [email protected].
- Christmas Basket Program (49th year) — ~300 families served at Christmas.
- Mission Honduras — partnership with Olancho Aid Foundation since 2014 (Juticalpa).
- Sister Parish — St. Charles Borromeo, LeBorgne, Haiti.
- India — a church was built in 2012.
- Meals on Wheels, Prison Ministry, Nursing Home Visitation Ministry.
- Knights of Columbus parish council.
Music and Liturgy
Music ministry at St. Philip is led by John Angotti, Director of Music. The parish's liturgical life centers on two sacred spaces — the historic Original Church (the 1871 building) and the larger Main Church — with daily Mass and Eucharistic Adoration divided between them and Mass Ministers coordinating volunteer liturgical roles.
- Music Director: John Angotti — [email protected] — 615-550-2834.
- Two worship spaces: Original Church and Main Church (dedicated August 1997).
- Mass Ministers — liturgical volunteer program.
- Live-streamed Masses on the parish website.
Stewardship and Parish Life
More than 60 ministries make St. Philip one of the most engaged parishes in the Diocese of Nashville. The community embraces a Stewardship vision — a way of life focused on giving praise and thanks for all that God has given — supported by recurring e-giving online, a parish Bookstore, a Prayer Chain, GriefShare, and even Tai Chi classes open to the wider community.
- Recurring e-giving online (safe and secure).
- Parish Bookstore (manager Kim Leisinger — 615-794-4236).
- Prayer Chain (parish-wide).
- GriefShare (community-wide).
- Tai Chi classes (community).
- Couples for Christ.
Transforming Our Sacred Space (2025 Renovation)
In his first year as pastor (2025) Father Gervan Menezes launched 'Transforming our Sacred Space,' a comprehensive renovation of the Main Church. The work also included a full remodel of the parish offices and is paired with the expansion of Eucharistic Adoration to three days a week in the Original Church.
- New altar furniture, tabernacle, tile and baptismal font.
- New lighting and sound system.
- New stained glass windows.
- Cast reproduction of the Pietà.
- Full remodel of parish offices.
- Adoration expanded to Mon, Wed and 24-hour Fridays in the Original Church.
Visit and Contact
St. Philip welcomes visitors of all backgrounds to its Historic Downtown Franklin campus, located at 113 Second Avenue South — close to the square and easily reached from anywhere in Williamson County. Parish office hours are Monday–Friday 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM; other times by appointment. The general parish email is [email protected] and the main line is 615-794-8588 (fax 615-794-3083).
- Address: 113 Second Avenue South, Franklin, TN 37064.
- Phone: 615-794-8588; Fax: 615-794-3083.
- Office Hours: Mon–Fri 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM (other times by appointment).
- Email: [email protected].
- Live-streamed Masses at stphilipfranklin.com.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Marron1871–
Assigned by Bishop Feehan of Nashville as the first pastor; completed the church begun under Father Orengo and oversaw the November 6, 1871 dedication.
- Father Eugene Gazzo1872–
Italian priest who succeeded Father Marron; recorded the first baptism at Saint Philip.
- Father Timothy Abbott
The first Tennessean ordained a priest; saved Saint Philip from being auctioned by paying off the church's debts through thrifty management.
- Father Nolan1898–
Broke ground on the rectory March 3, 1898, served as its architect, carved the old altar, decorated house and church, and ordered prints of the Stations of the Cross from Rome.
- Father Arnold–1997
Personally named the 1995–1997 'Banking on Faith' campaign that funded the purchase of the bank building and dedication of the new worship center in August 1997. The education building is named for him.
- Father John Kirk2003–
Appointed associate pastor in August 2003; later assigned to a new sister parish.
- Father John Sappenfield2008–
Became permanent pastor in 2008; oversaw split to Church of the Nativity in Spring Hill/Thompson's Station.
- Father Bala Showraiah2009–
Late October 2009 named Administrator and then Pastor; launched CGS, two full-time youth ministers and 5 pm Teen Mass; oversaw founding of the St. Philip Learning Center in 2012 and Mission Honduras in 2014.
- Father Tien Tran2009–2015
Joined as Associate Pastor January 2009; later appointed pastor of Holy Trinity, Christ the Redeemer and St. Cecilia churches.
- Father Zack Kiranguin2015–2017
Second Associate Pastor added August 2015; appointed pastor of St. Patrick Parish, McEwen, TN in July 2017.
- Father Ramon Ayala2015–2018
Joined as Associate Pastor October 2015; later assigned to Our Lady of Guadalupe, Nashville in June 2018.
- Father Eric Johansen2017–
Joined as Associate Pastor July 2017.
- Father Gervan Menezes2018–2019 (Associate), 2025– (Pastor)
Returned as Associate Pastor in 2018 after Cathedral assignment; assigned Pastor July 2025 by Bishop Mark Spalding; also Diocesan Director of Campus Ministries, UCat Chaplain at Tennessee Tech, and Episcopal Master of Ceremonies for Bishop Spalding.
- Father Noble Dominic Ambalathuruthel2019–
Joined as Associate Pastor January 2019, replacing Father Eric.
- Father Nick Allen2019–
Joined St. Philip as a second Associate Pastor in August 2019.
- Father Rhodes Bolster2020–
Newly ordained, joined as Associate with Father Edward Steiner in July 2020.
- Father Edward Steiner2020–2025
Assigned pastor July 2020; led the parish through its 150th anniversary celebrations Nov. 2021–Nov. 2022; retired June 2025.
- Father Augustine Mang2025–
Assigned as Associate Pastor alongside Fr. G in July 2025.