About St. Therese of Lisieux · Cleveland, Tennessee
St. Therese of Lisieux Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Cleveland, Tennessee, the only Catholic parish serving Bradley County. It belongs to the Diocese of Knoxville and is currently pastored by Father Mike Nolan, with Father Mike Creson assisting on weekends. The parish offers Mass in both English and Spanish, with a weekly Spanish Mass on Sunday mornings, and serves approximately 800 registered families drawn from the Cleveland-Bradley County area. It is also home to a perpetual Adoration Chapel, an active Knights of Columbus council, and a vibrant Hispanic ministry alongside longstanding parish organizations such as the Women of Faith and the John XXIII group.
- Patron
- St. Therese of Lisieux (St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face, 'The Little Flower')
- Rector
- Father Mike Nolan
- Diocese
- Diocese of Knoxville
Why belong here
St. Therese of Lisieux is the only Catholic parish in Bradley County and offers an unusually full schedule for a mid-sized parish: a perpetual Adoration Chapel, daily Mass, a weekly Spanish Mass, an active religious education program (K–12), and signature community events like the December Three Kings Feast and the fall homecoming. Father Mike Nolan's warm homilies and the parish's track record of generosity — reducing parish debt by more than 60% in his second tenure — point to a community that knows how to roll up its sleeves. With ministries for men (Knights of Columbus Council 572), women (Women of Faith), youth, Hispanic Catholics, and cradle-to-grave faith formation, newcomers are quickly folded into a parish that explicitly sees itself as a gift to steward, not merely a building to occupy.
Mass times at St. Therese of Lisieux
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:45 PM – 5:45 PM
- Or by request
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration in the Adoration Chapel (sign up through Pat Hilliard at 472-6442)
- 1st Friday 9:00 AM
- Holy Hour for Vocations: Every third Thursday of the month at 7:00 PM in the Adoration Chapel
Welcome to St. Therese of Lisieux Parish
St. Therese of Lisieux is the only Catholic parish in Bradley County, Tennessee, serving roughly 800 registered families from Cleveland and the surrounding communities. The parish is led by Father Mike Nolan, pastor, with Father Mike Creson assisting on weekends and Deacon Steve Ratterman serving the liturgy. Visitors are greeted by the parish's official Welcoming Committee, led by Jim and Jean Ann Cross, who reach out by phone call or email to help newcomers find their footing. As Father Nolan has put it: 'We're the best Catholic Church in Bradley County. It's not bragging. It's just fact, because we're the only one. So what we make of it is up to us.'
- Parish contact: (423) 476-8123 — [email protected]
- Welcoming Committee: Jim & Jean Ann Cross, (309) 696-2461, [email protected]
- Mass in English and Spanish each Sunday
Parish Religious Education (PRE)
The Parish Religious Education (PRE) program teaches children in the faith formation program, grades K–12. Classes meet Sunday mornings from 11:15 to 12:15, with curriculum covering Scripture, the Sacraments, the Catechism, the Mass, and the Liturgical Year. Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation and First Communion is concentrated in second grade, while Confirmation preparation is centered in sixth grade.
- Weekly Sunday classes 11:15 AM – 12:15 PM
- Sacramental preparation in grades 2 (First Reconciliation/Communion) and 6 (Confirmation)
- Director of Religious Education: Fernando Sanchez — religiousedstthereseclevelandtn.org
- Volunteer roles: Catechist, Catechist Aide, Substitute Catechist/Aide, Library Worker, Office Helper, Check-in Volunteer
Knights of Columbus Council 572
The parish's Knights of Columbus council is a visible force in both parish life and local outreach. The council partners with Foundation House Ministries of Cleveland, which provides homes and trauma-informed care for women in crisis pregnancies, and is regularly cited by Father Nolan as one of the parish's vital ministries. The Knights also host social gatherings in Breen Hall — named for a former pastor — and engage the parish in friendly rivalry with the Ladies of Faith.
- Council 572 meets biweekly for social meetings
- Presented a charitable donation to Foundation House Ministries of Cleveland
- Participates in parish Three Kings Feast and other outreach
Women of Faith (Ladies of Faith)
The parish's women's organization plays a central role in both the spiritual and social life of the parish. In March 2025, the Women of Faith co-sponsored (with the Chattanooga Deanery Council of Catholic Women) a Lenten day retreat for women that drew more than 310 attendees representing 34 parishes across four states and five dioceses. Bishop Mark Beckman celebrated the morning Mass, with Father Nolan and Father Creson concelebrating and Deacon Ratterman serving.
- Hosts annual Lenten retreat for women in cooperation with deanery CCW
- Coordinates women's spirituality and fellowship
- Engages in friendly social rivalry with the Knights of Columbus
Hispanic Ministry & Spanish Mass
St. Therese of Lisieux serves the growing Hispanic Catholic community in Cleveland through a weekly Spanish Mass and accompanying ministry. The Spanish Mass is celebrated each Sunday at 8:00 AM, and an additional Spanish Mass is offered on Ash Wednesday (e.g., 7:00 PM in 2024). The parish's Hispanic ministry is regularly noted by diocesan coverage as a significant driver of parish growth.
- Sunday Spanish Mass: 8:00 AM
- Ash Wednesday Spanish Mass offered in addition to the English schedule
- Welcomes Hispanic families into sacramental preparation, faith formation, and parish groups
Devotions & The Holy Rosary
Beyond the Mass schedule, the parish maintains a rich devotional life centered on the Blessed Sacrament and Our Lady. The Rosary is prayed daily after the 8:30 AM Mass in the Adoration Chapel, and special devotions mark the liturgical calendar.
- Daily Rosary immediately following 8:30 AM Mass in the Adoration Chapel
- Rosary / Litany of Loretto Devotion at 5:05 PM before Wednesday evening Mass
- Rosary for the Unborn — 3rd Monday of each month, 6:45 PM in the church
- First Friday Adoration at 9:00 AM
Outreach & Community
The parish reaches well beyond its walls into Bradley County through annual events and partnerships with local nonprofits. Its signature outreach is the December Three Kings Feast, a citywide celebration that distributes toys and blankets and feeds all who attend. Parish groups also support Foundation House Ministries of Cleveland, which provides housing, trauma-informed care, childcare, GED prep, job training, and case management for women in crisis pregnancies.
- Three Kings Feast — December, open to all of Cleveland
- Fall Homecoming weekend celebration
- Foundation House Ministries partnership (council and parish support)
- Council of Catholic Women and deanery-level collaborations
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Joe Pat Breen1969–1974
Pastor of St. Therese of Lisieux in Cleveland; also responsible for the missions in Copperhill and Athens, Tennessee. Later served 30 years as pastor of St. Edward Church in Nashville before retiring in 2014.
- Father Paul Hostettler
Served as pastor of St. Therese of Lisieux; during his tenure he led efforts to build the church. After the Diocese of Knoxville was established in 1988 he became a priest of that diocese.
- Father Mike Nolan1993–1997
First tenure as pastor; later returned in July 2014 and continues to serve. Appointed Dean of the Chattanooga Deanery by Bishop Richard F. Stika effective October 1, 2019.