Parish History
ST. MARY CATHOLIC CHURCH HISTORY
In August of 1967 Bishop Adrian of the Diocese of Nashville purchased 3 ½ acres of land on Congress Parkway in Athens. An existing structure which was the Starlight Restaurant was remodeled for use as a church. Father Paul Hostettler, pastor at St Therese, Cleveland, traveled to Athens to celebrate Mass on Sundays and Holy Days for the Catholics in Meigs, McMinn, and Monroe Counties. In the fall of 1969 Fr. Matthew Noonan of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate became the first resident priest.
A pre-cut cedar chapel, seating over 250 people (see photo), was erected in 1973 and was connected to the original building used for a church, and was used as the social hall. In 1976 an addition to the south side of the church provided 4 classrooms and an office. Father Noonan was reassigned in 1977 and Father Patrick Mangan O.M.I. was appointed St. Mary’s pastor.
In 1983 the Educational Building was built providing 8 classrooms. Father Mangan served St. Mary’s until September 1983 when Father John Leddy, O.M.I. became pastor. He pastored for 3 years and then Father Thomas Scanlon, O.M.I. was appointed and served until July, 1987 and was the last Oblate to serve St. Mary Church.
St. Mary Church welcomed a diocesan priest, Father Paul A. Hostettler in July 1987. He became pastor of St. Mary Church and St. Catherine’s mission in Copperhill. After Father Hostettler’s return, a rectory was built on the church grounds and three staff members were hired. St. Mary parish celebrated its 25th anniversary May 12, 1993.
It was during Father Hostettler’s time as pastor that the Diocese of Knoxville was created and Most Reverend Anthony J. O’Connell D.D. was ordained as the new Diocese’s first bishop on September 8 1988.
Upon Father Hostettler’s retirement in July, 1993, St. Mary Church welcomed Father Joseph Fiedorowicz, a Polish native, as pastor. By 1993 St. Mary Church had grown to 230 families and 110 children in the CCD program. In 2000, after seven years, Father Fiedorowicz, or Father “Joe”, as many called him, was transferred to California to a church near San Francisco.
Father “Joe” was replaced by Father David Boettner. Father David was instrumental in gathering momentum in the acquisition of land and the construction of a new church in Athens, as the old one was getting too small to accommodate the growing congregation. Unfortunately for St. Mary Church Father David was called to Lenoir City, TN after only two years at Athens.
He was replaced by Father Michael Cummins who arrived in 2002 and through his efforts the present church at 1391 East Madison Avenue was dedicated on August 14, 2004. The church is on 17 acres and presently has a rectory, office building and a school building.
In June 2007, Father Michael Cummins was transferred to Johnson City, TN, and he was replaced by Father James L. Vick, or Father “Jim”. Father Jim came from Dayton, TN and is a native Knoxvillean. In August 2009, Fr. Jim was transferred to Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Chattanooga where he will be the pastor.
Fr. Jim has been replaced by Fr. William Oruko, who joins us from St. Mary in Oak Ridge. Originally from Kenya, Fr. William is a priest with the Apostles of Jesus order. We welcome Fr. William to our parish community!
St. Mary recently celebrated the 5th Anniversary of the dedication of our church building. The following pages from the program of the 2004 dedication Mass provide a wealth of information regarding the church architecture, design philosophy and furnishings. It’s a very interesting read. Download this document in English or en español. They are PDF files.
