Saint Henry Catholic Church stands on a hilltop along Harding Pike in the Belle Meade area of Nashville, where it has been the spiritual home of a Roman Catholic community since the church was dedicated in 1958. Today the parish serves more than 2,000 families through its K-8 school, daily and Sunday Mass, the seven sacraments, faith formation for every age, the new Garden of the Good Shepherd Columbarium, and a Social Action Committee that partners with more than a dozen Nashville-area charities.
From a Horseback Ride to a Hillside Parish
The parish's story begins on a January afternoon in 1953, when Henry Neuhoff and seven other men met with Bishop William Adrian at the Chancery Building on Charlotte Avenue to ask for a church in the area known then as Belle Meade. The bishop told the men he was not interested in a chapel for a few; he wanted a school. They asked, if they could secure the property and call Father Joe Siener as pastor, could they build the parish? On December 29, 1954, Neuhoff deeded sixteen acres of land to the bishop and the Diocese of Nashville. Bishop Adrian named the parish for St. Henry, the German king and Holy Roman Emperor (973-1024) who was a builder of churches and monasteries, in honor of the layman who had made the gift possible. Monsignor Joseph Siener was named pastor on June 10, 1955, ground was broken on April 4, 1956, and the new church and school were dedicated on April 21, 1958.
A group of young priests who taught at Father Ryan High School designed the stained glass windows in the school gymnasium, the only space large enough to lay out the patterns. Bishop James D. Niederauer chose the biblical texts, Father Leo Siener suggested the theme of the seven virtues and vices with a rose window of the Good Shepherd, and the craftsmen selected the historical and biblical characters who practiced the virtues and struggled with the vices. Mr. Rudolph Buenz of Newton, New Jersey, crafted the windows. What started as a parish of 200 families and 225 students grew through the decades: the school reached 400 students in the 1970s, the parish center was built in 1972-73 at a cost of $400,000, and a 1994-95 school addition expanded Saint Henry School to capacity for about 600 students. By the time a new church, chapel, and fellowship hall were dedicated in November 2006, the parish family had grown past 2,000 households. Saint Henry has been served by six pastors: Monsignor Joe Siener (1955), Monsignor George Rohling (1970), Fr. William Bevington (1982), Fr. Charley Giacosa (1989), Fr. Michael Johnston (1991), Fr. Mark Beckman (2015), and, since July 2024, Fr. Eric Fowlkes.
Mass Times, Reconciliation, and Adoration
The weekend Mass schedule at Saint Henry offers four Sunday liturgies in addition to the Saturday vigil. Saturday Mass is celebrated at 5 p.m. and is livestreamed on the parish YouTube channel; Sunday Masses are at 7:30 a.m., 9 a.m., and 11 a.m., with the 9 a.m. Mass also livestreamed. The 7:30 a.m. Mass on the first Sunday of each month includes an ASL interpreter. A monthly Sunday evening Mass at 6 p.m. is celebrated with contemporary music and a come-as-you-are atmosphere, with young people serving as lectors, ushers, Eucharistic ministers, and choir members.
Daily Mass is celebrated in the chapel Monday through Saturday: Monday at 11 a.m., Tuesday through Thursday at 6:30 a.m. and 8 a.m., Friday at 8 a.m., and Saturday morning at 8 a.m. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered in the chapel on Saturdays from 3:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. Eucharistic Adoration fills the first Friday of each month, beginning in the church after the 8 a.m. Mass, transitioning to the chapel at 2:30 p.m. during the school year, and continuing through the day. Every Thursday afternoon, Deacon CJ Donarski leads a Holy Hour in the chapel beginning at 5 p.m., open to anyone for any length of time. A Daily Rosary group gathers after each morning Mass to pray together.
Sacraments at Every Stage of Life
The seven sacraments shape parish life at Saint Henry. The Rite of Baptism for Children is for newborns and young children not yet at catechetical age, with parents asked to attend a monthly Baptism preparation class, generally before the child's birth. First Communion and Confirmation are typically received through Saint Henry School, where second graders prepare for First Holy Communion and eighth graders prepare for Confirmation. Children who do not attend the parish school prepare through the Sunday Religious Education program, while adults prepare through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults. Couples planning to marry are asked to give a priest at least four months' notice; weddings are discouraged during Advent and Lent. The Anointing of the Sick is available by calling the parish office. A funeral planning booklet and the parish's funeral support ministry help families set up visitations, arrange receptions, and carry out other details in the days around a loved one's passing.
Mass Intentions may be requested for the repose of a soul, in thanksgiving, or for the intentions of another person, and the parish quotes Pope Leo XIII on the communion of saints that flows from the sacrifice of the Mass. The Serra Club gathers at the parish to pray for vocations to the priesthood and diaconate.
Faith Formation from PreK3 Through Adulthood
Saint Henry's Religious Education program serves children from PreK3 through eighth grade on Sunday mornings during the school year, with a fee of $50 per student and scholarships available for families in need. The curriculum prepares students to know, proclaim, witness, and share the Catholic faith, and parents are recognized as the primary educators of their children. Sacramental preparation includes First Holy Communion in second grade and Confirmation in seventh and eighth grade. A complimentary nursery is provided during the 9 a.m. Mass for children ages 1 and 2, with pre-registration available.
Adult Faith Formation takes many shapes at Saint Henry. The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults meets on Wednesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall from September through April, walking inquirers, candidates, and catechumens through the rites that culminate at the Easter Vigil. The program is also open to Catholics who wish to sponsor a candidate while deepening their own faith. Lectures, Bible studies, retreats, and small groups round out the year:
- Fishers of Men Bible study meets Mondays at 6:30 a.m. in the parish center meeting room, welcoming men of all ages for scripture, group prayer, and reflection.
- Monday Morning Bible Study follows the Bible Timeline with Denise Montagnino, Mondays at 9 a.m. in person and on Zoom.
- Lectio Divina meets Fridays at 1 p.m. in the parish center library for meditative prayer on the upcoming Sunday Gospel.
- Legion of Mary gathers Thursdays at 9 a.m. in the Vespers Room for prayer and parish service under the leadership of Mary Immaculate.
- Centering Prayer meets Sundays at 5 p.m. in the parish library.
- Ask Me Anything with Fr. Thomas offers parishioners a chance to pose questions to the associate pastor, Sundays from 10:10 to 10:55 a.m. in the parish center meeting room.
- Apocrypha Bible Study takes up the Deuterocanonical books on Sundays at 3:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall.
- She Shall Be Called Woman meets Tuesdays at 7 p.m. in the narthex for women of the parish.
- A Pre-Advent Retreat at St. Meinrad Monastery is led by Deacon Mike Catalano each fall.
Cursillo, an international movement of dynamic Christian growth, hosts weekend retreats throughout the year at Camp Marymount, coordinated by Hannah and Will Donnelly. Deacon Mike Catalano directs the OCIA and adult faith formation programs and continues to teach many of the adult classes.
Music, Lectors, and the Liturgical Ministries
Music is a living thread in the parish's worship. Volunteers from the parish lend their voices and talents to weekend Masses and special liturgies, with a love of all types of sacred music as the only prerequisite. The Children's Christmas Choir, directed by Music Director Kathy Quarto, is open to students in grades 4 through 8 who are members of Saint Henry, rehearsing on selected Saturday afternoons and leading the music at the Christmas Eve Mass. High school students are invited to join the adult choir.
Behind every Mass is a team of liturgical volunteers. Altar Servers begin in fifth grade after training. Eucharistic Ministers distribute the Body and Blood of Christ under the forms of bread and wine after spiritual, theological, and practical preparation. Ministers of the Word proclaim the readings at Mass after formation sessions. Liturgical Support volunteers launder altar linens and server vestments, polish chalices, change candles, and refresh holy water. Ministers of Hospitality greet arriving parishioners, collect the offertory gifts, assist with seating and communion, distribute bulletins, and tidy the church afterward. Ministers to the Sick and Homebound visit parishioners in hospitals, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, and private homes, bringing compassion, friendship, and the Eucharist. A Prayer Support Group lifts up requests for healing, and the Prayer Shawl Ministry combines knitting and crocheting with a ministry of care.
Youth, CYO, and Young Adult Life
Saint Henry's Catholic Youth Organization serves two age groups: Junior CYO for middle school students in grades 5 through 8, and Senior CYO for high schoolers, each with social gatherings, service projects, retreats, and trips. Recent activities have included a summer trip to Beech Bend, a CYO Hoops basketball league, the annual ski trip, and a holiday outing to Dollywood. CYO students also serve at the monthly Sunday evening Mass, help with the parish's Room in the Inn ministry, and gather for service projects with Open Arms. Adult volunteers and chaperones are always needed.
The Young Adult Ministry gathers parishioners in their 20s and 30s for trivia nights on the first Monday of the month, Ladies Night on the second Monday for women looking at the coming Sunday's readings, social events on Thursdays, and faith-based activities throughout the year. The group takes part in Catholic sports leagues and hosts a fall kickball league. The H.O.P.E. Ministry (Healing, Optimism, Prayer, and Encouragement) brings together those on a journey through cancer and other life-changing illnesses, along with survivors, caregivers, family members, and friends, for uplifting events and prayerful connection.
The Social Action Committee and Nashville Outreach
The Social Action Committee of Saint Henry serves as a parish hub for a network of local charitable organizations, raising awareness, recruiting volunteers, coordinating donation drives, and providing financial support. The St. Vincent de Paul Society at Saint Henry provides food, utility, and rent assistance to parishioners and neighbors in need, supported by a monthly collection and once-a-month food collections at the school. From the first Sunday night in November through the last Sunday night in March, Saint Henry hosts a Room in the Inn site, with volunteers serving as innkeepers, drivers, cooks, and morning cleaners. The parish's Open Arms Ministry pairs special-needs young adults with sponsors through the Catholic Church.
Partner organizations supported by the parish include the Family Reconciliation Center, which provides lodging and support for families visiting loved ones in prison; Heart of Mary House, a nonprofit offering a dignified end-of-life setting for underserved individuals with terminal diagnoses; the Ladies of Charity of Nashville, which runs a consignment clothing sale and supports women in need; Matthew 25, a partner agency of the United Way that provides counseling, room and board, and job assistance to men working to leave addiction behind; the McGruder Resource Center of Catholic Charities, which serves North Nashville with home visits, tutoring, and employment help; Mulier Care, which supports pregnant women facing crisis; Preston Taylor Ministries, which builds connectedness for at-risk youth through education, mentoring, and leadership training; Rejoice School of Ballet, which trains dancers from diverse backgrounds; the Renewal House, which keeps mothers and children together through addiction recovery; Room in the Inn's main campus, an interfaith agency for the homeless; Safe Haven, a shelter-to-housing program for families; and Senior Ride Nashville, which connects older adults with volunteer drivers for daily outings.
Parish Fellowship and Community Groups
Fellowship Sunday is held after the 9 a.m. Mass in the fellowship hall, with coffee, donuts, and juice served by volunteer families. The Men's Club, which meets one Thursday a month from August through May, promotes fellowship through social, spiritual, and service activities. The Women's Club gathers women of all ages to support the pastor, the church community, and the wider Nashville community, with a candlelight Mass and dinner to kick off the year. The Primetimers, a group of parishioners 50 and over, enjoys day trips, retreats, and outings across Nashville and Middle Tennessee. Stitch and Share meets on the first Wednesday of each month at 9 a.m. in the parish atrium, sewing and knitting Linus blankets for hospitalized children and producing hats, scarves, and rosaries for the homeless. Holy Family Circle supports mothers of newborns through preschool, providing meals to families with new babies, playdates, and gatherings.
The Knights of Columbus Council 12012 raises and distributes more than $10,000 each year, working with youth, sponsoring events, and supporting individuals and groups. Boy Scout Troop 6 consists of four patrols of boys ages 11 to 18, meeting Mondays from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the school dining hall. Fifteen Girl Scout troops serve the parish from first grade through twelfth grade, with Cadettes working toward their Silver Award and Seniors working toward the Gold Award. Cub Scout Pack 80 is open to boys in first through fifth grade, with weekly den meetings and a full pack meeting on the third Wednesday of each month.
Saint Henry School
Saint Henry School opened for registration on August 29, 1957, and has grown from those early classrooms to a program that today serves approximately 600 students from the parish and the wider Nashville community. The school has been a path to First Holy Communion in second grade and Confirmation in eighth grade for generations of parishioners, and a 1994-95 expansion and renovation gave the building its current shape. The school's annual Senior Luncheon draws more than 150 parishioners each fall, with eighth grade boys serving the meal and PreK4 students providing entertainment.
The Garden of the Good Shepherd Columbarium
Saint Henry's new Garden of the Good Shepherd and Columbarium sits in the courtyard between the narthex and the parish office, an area formerly known as the Walk of Faith. The columbarium offers niches for the cremated remains of current and former members of Saint Henry and their families, with each niche accommodating up to two individuals at a price of $5,000. Inurnments began in summer 2026. The prayer garden features a bronze sculpture of the Good Shepherd with a child and a lamb, designed by artist Teresa Dyer, who took fourteen months from concept to installation in shaping the piece. A columbarium policies and regulations booklet is available for those interested in reserving a niche.
Leadership and Stewardship
Fr. Eric Fowlkes serves as pastor, with Fr. Thomas Kalam as associate pastor. Deacons Mike Catalano, Dan Ott, and Mark Faulkner serve the parish in roles that include OCIA and adult faith formation, marriage preparation, and other ministries. The 2024-2025 annual report, Fr. Eric's first as pastor, celebrated the welcome of more than 220 new families and the celebration of 367 sacraments during the year. The parish's financial support is managed through Pushpay for online giving, with options for one-time gifts, automatic contributions, planned giving through bequests, retirement plans, and life insurance, as well as donations of stock. Saint Henry Church is a parish of the Diocese of Nashville, sharing in the bishop's work of preaching the Gospel and serving those in need across Middle Tennessee.