About St. Therese · Clinton, Tennessee
St. Therese Catholic Church is a small Roman Catholic parish located at 701 S. Charles G. Seivers Blvd. in Clinton, Tennessee, a community in Anderson County in the Diocese of Knoxville. The parish describes itself as a welcoming family 'joined together by the love of Christ' that exists to further the understanding of prayer and religious commitment, loving and serving the Lord and its neighbors. St. Therese is administered in tandem with nearby St. Joseph Parish in Norris, sharing a pastor and running joint ministries such as the columbarium and faith-formation programs.
- Patron
- St. Thérèse of Lisieux
- Rector
- Father Dennis Kress
- Diocese
- Diocese of Knoxville
Why belong here
St. Therese is a small parish with a big heart, where every parishioner's gift of time is needed — the parish itself is actively recruiting lectors, ushers, Eucharistic ministers, and people to help with liturgical decoration and garden maintenance. Newcomers are warmly welcomed to register through the parish office, and the community offers a full sacramental life (Mass, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Baptism, Marriage, Confirmation), weekday Communion Service with Adoration, CCD and youth programs, a Council of Catholic Women, a Little Way Ministry supporting pregnant women and families with infants, a Blessing Box for those in need, and a coat drive each winter — all reasons that make belonging to St. Therese a tangible way to love and serve both Lord and neighbor.
Mass times at St. Therese
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday evening 4:00 p.m. (before the 5:00 p.m. Vigil Mass)
Adoration times
- Friday 9:30–10:00 a.m. (Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament immediately following the 9:00 a.m. Communion Service)
Welcome & Parish Identity
St. Therese Catholic Church identifies itself as 'Your Roman Catholic Parish in Clinton, TN' and describes its community as one 'joined together by the love of Christ, desiring to further the understanding of prayer and religious commitment.' The parish pledges to continue and improve its mission to Jesus by 'loving and serving the Lord and our neighbor,' and it explicitly welcomes both newcomers and longtime registered parishioners to celebrate the gift of faith together.
- Welcoming message to newcomers and longtime parishioners
- Parish registration available through the parish office
- Parish news and events page with current announcements
Parish Staff & Contact
The parish office is staffed by Father Dennis Kress (Pastor), Deacon Peter Chiaro, and Lisa Bauer (Secretary and Bookkeeper). Office hours are 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Inquiries about the Little Way Ministry can be directed to Deacon Peter Chiaro or Maria Garafalo.
- Father Dennis Kress — Pastor ([email protected])
- Deacon Peter Chiaro — [email protected] / cell 865-314-1214
- Lisa Bauer — Secretary and Bookkeeper ([email protected])
- Parish Office Hours: Mon–Thu 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Sacraments
St. Therese celebrates all seven sacraments of the Catholic Church and explains each on its Sacraments page with quotes from the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The parish provides Baptism preparation classes, Marriage preparation (with required counseling sessions and an Encounter Weekend, scheduled at least four months in advance), Anointing of the Sick upon request to the office, and Reconciliation every Saturday before the Vigil Mass. First Communion and Confirmation are prepared through the parish's CCD program.
- Baptism — preparation class required for first child
- Confirmation — completion of baptismal grace with the gifts of the Holy Spirit
- Eucharist — received at every Mass by Catholics in a state of grace
- Reconciliation (Confession) — Saturdays 4:00 p.m.
- Anointing of the Sick — for serious illness or pre-surgery
- Marriage — at least four months' notice, prep and Encounter Weekend required
- Holy Orders — inquiries directed to diocesan vocations office
Parish Ministries & Outreach
The parish lives out its mission to 'love and serve the Lord and our neighbor' through a rich network of ministries. Liturgical ministries (Lectors, Ushers, Eucharistic Ministers, Liturgical Decoration) are essential to every Mass. Outreach efforts include the Little Way Ministry, which supplies baby items, clothing, diapers and food to pregnant women and families with infants up to age two; the Blessing Box in the parking lot, stocked with non-perishable food and personal-care items; and Coats for the Cold, an annual winter coat drive. The Council of Catholic Women unites parish women for spiritual growth, fellowship, fundraising bake sales (Easter and Thanksgiving) and arranging flowers for nursing homes, while Family Life gatherings and gift-card fundraising (with 5% benefit to the parish) round out the social life.
- Liturgical Ministries: Lectors, Ushers, Eucharistic Ministers, Liturgical Decoration
- Little Way Ministry — support for pregnant women and families with children up to age 2
- Blessing Box — community food/personal-care donation station in the parking lot
- Coats for the Cold — annual winter coat drive
- Council of Catholic Women (CCW)
- Family Life
- Gift Card Fundraising
Faith Formation: CCD & Youth Programs
St. Therese maintains a CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) program along with dedicated Middle School and High School youth pages on its website, offering religious education for children and teenagers in the parish. Adult volunteers who work with children and youth must complete CMG Connect Safe Haven ('Protecting God's Children') online training, submit to a background check, and re-certify every five years through the Diocese of Knoxville's CMG Connect portal.
- CCD Schedules and News
- Middle School News and Programs
- High School News and Programs
- Safe Haven / CMG Connect background check required for all youth volunteers
Liturgical Ministries & Live-Streaming
Beyond weekday and Sunday Masses, the parish supports a liturgical ministry program for those called to serve at the altar, in the sanctuary, or in the sanctuary's decoration. The 11:00 a.m. Sunday Mass is live-streamed on the parish's YouTube channel, extending the parish's reach to those unable to attend in person — a practice that began during the COVID-19 pandemic and continues 'until further notice.'
- Lectors, Ushers, Eucharistic Ministers
- Liturgical Decoration volunteers
- Live-streamed Sunday Mass on YouTube
Columbarium (Shared with St. Joseph, Norris)
St. Therese shares a columbarium ministry with neighboring St. Joseph Parish in Andersonville / Norris, Tennessee. Two columbariums with available niches are located on the St. Joseph property in Norris, TN. Inquiries about niche availability are handled through a joint Board of Directors with members from both parishes.
- Two columbariums on the St. Joseph / Norris property
- Board of Directors: Maureen Bounds, Jim Ferguson, Stan Bieleski, Eric Rauch
- Contact via the parish office or any board member
Volunteer & Giving Opportunities
Because St. Therese describes itself as 'a small parish, but full of parishioners with big hearts,' it actively recruits volunteers for liturgical roles, garden maintenance, and outreach ministries. The parish also offers Online Giving through its website, and a gift-card program returns 5% of each purchase to the parish. Bake sales, flower-arranging for nursing homes, and other CCW-led fundraisers support both parish life and broader community needs.
- Online Giving through the parish website
- Gift Card program (5% benefit to parish)
- CCW bake sales (Easter, Thanksgiving)
- Volunteer sign-up via the parish office at 865-457-4073
Staying Connected
Parishioners and visitors can stay informed through the parish bulletin, the online Parish Calendar, the 2025 Catholic Liturgical Calendar page, and the parish's official Facebook page. Sunday Masses are live-streamed on the parish's YouTube channel, providing another way to remain connected to the parish community throughout the week.
- Weekly Bulletin (online)
- Parish Calendar page
- 2025 Catholic Liturgical Calendar page
- Facebook: facebook.com/stthereseclinton
- YouTube live-stream of Sunday Mass
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father John Orr
Earlier pastor of St. Therese; celebrated the Latin Mass community that had moved to St. Therese in Clinton.
- Father Dennis Kresscurrent
Currently assigned as pastor of both St. Therese in Clinton and St. Joseph in Norris.