About the Diocese of Knoxville

The Diocese of Knoxville was established on Sept. 8, 1988, out of the 36 eastern counties of the Diocese of Nashville. The diocese is comprised of four deaneries: Chattanooga, Cumberland Mountain, Five Rivers, and Smoky Mountain.

Pope Benedict XVI appointed Bishop Richard F. Stika as the third bishop of Knoxville in 2009. On June 27, 2023, Pope Francis appointed Archbishop Shelton Fabre apostolic administrator of the diocese following Bishop Stika's retirement. 

The Catholic population of the diocese is estimated at approximately 70,000 Catholics, which represents about 2.8% of the total population of the area, and the diocese covers about 14,242 square miles. 

Parishes/Missions: 51    
Diocesan Priests: 71
Religious Order Priests: 19
Seminarians: 13
Permanent Deacons: 100
Religious Sisters: 45
Religious Brothers: 11    

The diocese also includes eight foundational schools and two high schools. 

The Catholic Church’s presence in East Tennessee dates back at least 180 years, with the oldest parishes being Immaculate Conception in Knoxville and the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga (both established in 1852).

The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, principal patroness of the Diocese of Knoxville, is celebrated on Sept. 8 and St. John Paul II, secondary patron of the Diocese of Knoxville, is observed as an obligatory memorial on Oct. 22.

Statistics as of June 2022