Rev. Joseph Mundakal, CMI

Pastor

Father Joseph Mundakal grew up in Kerala, India and discerned the priesthood at a young age. He was ordained a priest on May 12, 1983, he joined the Congregation of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI). He came to the United States to help the Diocese of Joliet in Illinois from 1991-1999. In 1999, he came the Diocese of Nashville and served as associate pastor of St. Joseph in Madison, TN. He served at many churches in the Diocese of Nashville including, Sacred Heart in Loretto, TN, Sacred Heart in Lawrenceburg, TN, St.

Francis of Assisi in Dover, TN, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Tennessee Ridge, TN, and finally has landed at St. Frances Cabrini Church in Lebanon, TN.  He's gifted in music and is devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary, taking many pilgrimages to Medjugorje.

Deacon Luis A. Ascencio

Deacon

Deacon Luis A. Ascencio was born in El Salvador C.A. to a family of ten, five sisters and four brothers. Deacon Luis came to the U.S as a 17-year-old in 1977.

Dalia Ascencio is from Mexico. She and Deacon Luis have been married for 35 years. They have a son, a daughter, and five grandchildren.

Their family lived in southern California for 28 years, until their move to Nashville TN in 2001. Recently, Deacon Luis and Dalia moved to the Lebanon area.



Deacon Luis was ordained for the Diocese of Nashville in 2012. He served for 8 years at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church prior to his assignment to St. Frances Cabrini Church in December of 2021.

Deacon Thomas Higgins

Deacon

Deacon Thomas Higgins was born in Queens, New York, as the eldest son of Pauline and Thomas Higgins, Sr.  He grew up on Long Island with two brothers and two sisters, before heading upstate to attend the US Military Academy at West Point at the age of 17.  He was commissioned as an Army Officer in 1983, spending most of his commissioned life in Georgia, Kansas and Colorado.  After the Army, Deacon Tom entered the banking industry, and enjoyed a 30+ year career, with Citibank, HSBC and eventually retired from M&T Bank in Washington DC, as a commercial banker specializing in the nonprofit industry. 

Deacon Tom met his wife Jane in Maryland in 1993, and were married in 1995.  They have one daughter, Elizabeth, who currently lives in California, and have had numerous grand-dogs over the years, courtesy of Elizabeth’s big heart.

Deacon Tom was ordained on May 21, 2022 in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, and served the pastorate of Saint Lawrence Martyr, Hanover and Resurrection of Our Lord, Laurel.  During this period, his wife Jane completed her Masters in Theology, and served as a Director of Religious Education in addition to other roles. She is currently pursuing a Certificate of Advanced Studies at the Ecumenical Institute at St. Mary’s Seminary in Maryland.  Deacon Tom hopes to continue his studies in retirement (“if only to try to keep pace with my wife!”). 

Deacon Tom recently requested a transfer to the Diocese of Nashville so that he and his wife could relocate to assist in caring for his elderly parents, both of whom have some health issues.  He has just recently been assigned to the St. Frances Cabrini parish, and is excited at the prospect of joining and serving this community. 

Staff

Agata Jimenez
Parish Secretary

Phone: 615-444-0524
Email: sec@sfctn.org

Beverly Haley
Bookkeeper

Phone: 615-444-0524
Email: books@sfctn.org

Rosa Mizzoni
Director of Religious Education

Phone: 615-444-0524
Email: dre@sfctn.org

Maria Elena Hernandez
Asst. Director of Religious Education

Phone: 615-444-0524
Email:are@sfctn.org