Meet our Pastor, Father Robert J. Hofstetter!

Fr. Bob is a native Tennessean, born and raised in Nashville. He attended the University of Notre Dame, and Catholic University in Washington, D.C. Ordained in 1954, he worked in Nashville, where he was involved in education for seventeen years. In 1970 he became pastor of St. Joseph's in Nashville, and subsequently was pastor of St. Mary's in Oak Ridge, Sacred Heart in Knoxville, and St. Augustine's and St. Jude's in Chattanooga. We welcomed him as our pastor on August 1, 2005.

Deacon Otto Preske

Deacon Otto moved to Gatlinburg from Evansville, IN, with his wife Jo Ann and son, Erik, in 1976. Otto was a commercial artist in Evansville and wanted to do more wood carving, so he moved to open his own wood carving/sculpture studio/store. Little did he know that the Lord had other plans for him. He entered the Diaconate formation program in 1981 and was ordained with 11 other candidates for the Nashville Diocese at Sacred Heart on November 30, 1985. Fr. Bob Hofsetter was the Diaconate Coordinator at the time. While on a scouting trip at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico he discerned his diaconate ministry to be in scouting. Upon his return to Gatlinburg he sent his credentials as an Eagle Scout, Woodbadge trained Scoutmaster and a desire to have Scouting as his Diaconate ministry in a letter to the new Bishop, Anthony O’Connell, asking to be appointed Scout Chaplain, his ministry since 1988. Deacon Otto has served at St. Mary’s in Gatlinburg since ordination and was recently transferred to Good Shepherd. On November 25th, Otto and Jo Ann will celebrate 45 years of marriage. Their son, Erik, a firefighter and paramedic, is married to Julie and they have 2 children, Andrew, 3, and Hannah 7 months old. They attend Holy Cross in Pigeon Forge.

---

Former Pastors

Home

---