2026 OLOF Priest Assignments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2026 - 3:00 PM

The Diocese of Knoxville has announced priest assignments for the coming year.

These assignments will take effect on July 1, 2026.

At Our Lady of Fatima, Fr. Peter Iorio will remain as Pastor and will continue serving the Diocese of Knoxville as Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia. Fr. Renzo Alvarado will also remain at Our Lady of Fatima as Parochial Vicar.

We also share with gratitude and prayer that Fr. Joseph Austin will be moving to a new assignment. Fr. Joe has been assigned to serve as Chaplain at East Tennessee State University and Parochial Vicar at St. Elizabeth Parish in Elizabethton, TN. Fr. Joe was ordained in 2023, and Our Lady of Fatima has been blessed to be his first parish assignment. We are grateful for his priestly ministry, his presence among our parish family, and the many ways he has served our community.

We also welcome Rev. Joseph Akkara, CMI, who has been assigned as Parochial Vicar at Our Lady of Fatima.

Fr. Joseph was born in Trichur, Kerala, India, and was ordained a priest on January 2, 1994, as a member of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate. He attended major seminary at Dharmaram College in Bangalore, India.

In the Kalyan Diocese in Mumbai, India, Fr. Joseph served as a parish priest, school headmaster, and Director of an orphanage. He later served for 11 years in New Zealand as an English-speaking parish priest and helped establish eight Syro-Malabar parish communities throughout New Zealand, celebrating Mass for each community monthly during his time there. He then returned to India, where he served in the Jalgaon District as a parish priest and Director of an orphanage.

Fr. Joseph arrived in the United States in November 2024 and became Administrator of Mary Queen of Peace Parish on December 16, 2024 and became administrator of St. Mary’s Queen of Peace Parish in Louisville, KY.

A thank-you and farewell reception for Fr. Joseph Austin will be announced at a later date in June. A welcome reception for Fr. Joseph Akkara will take place later in July.

Please keep Fr. Pete, Fr. Renzo, Fr. Joe Austin, Fr. Joseph Akkara, Bishop Mark, and all priests of the Diocese of Knoxville in your prayers during this time of transition.

The full list of assignments and more information can be found on the Diocese of Knoxville website at www.dioknox.org.

Our Lady of Fatima, Pray for Us!