Meet Our Clergy

He is the oldest of four. His father and two brothers and their families live in the Chattanooga area. His mother died in 2017. His sister and her family live in Nashville.

Fr. Pete was ordained at his home parish on the Feast of the Transfiguration, August 6, 1993. He served at St. Dominic’s in Kingsport; Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga as well as being diocesan coordinator of youth ministry; on the formation faculty of Mundelein Seminary in the Archdiocese of Chicago; Sacred Heart Cathedral in Knoxville as well as being vocation director and director of ongoing formation for priests; pastor of his home parish, St. Augustine, Signal Mountain; pastor of St. Joseph the Worker in Madisonville; pastor of St. Therese of Lisieux in Cleveland, TN; (on sabbatical in Italy) and pastor of St. Mary’s in Johnson City for 8 years before coming to Our Lady of Fatima.

Fr. Pete is a member of an ecclesial movement (like Cursillo and the Charismatic Movement) called Focolare/Work of Mary. The spiritual charism is unity. See John 17:21. He tries to live the Gospel by what is called the Art of Loving.

Fr. Pete speaks Spanish, French, and some Italian, and loves words and phrases of other languages. He loves people and cultures and traveling. He also enjoys hiking, gardening, yardwork, history, and visiting family and friends. Fr. Pete enjoys cooking/grilling but is by no means a gourmet. He enjoys theatre both professional and amateur.

Fr. Pete is delighted to be at Our Lady of Fatima and is eager to meet the parishioners and to serve them as Jesus called us to serve.

He completed his major seminary formation at Dharmaram College in Bangalore, India.

In the Diocese of Kalyan in Mumbai, India, Father 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. During his ministry there, he established eight Syro-Malabar parish communities throughout New Zealand, supporting each community by celebrating mass for them monthly.

Father Joseph then returned to India, where he served for five years as a parish priest in the Jalgaon District. During that time, he also served as director of an orphanage and built a parish church for the local Catholic community.

Father Joseph arrived in the United States in November 2024 and was appointed parochial administrator of Mary Queen of Peace Parish in the Archdiocese of Louisville on December 16, 2024.

On May 8, 2026, Bishop Mark Beckman announced that Father Joseph Akkara, CMI, had been appointed associate pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Alcoa, effective July 1, 2026. We are grateful to welcome Father Joseph to our parish community.

I am the fourth of six siblings, son of Laureano Rafael Alvarado Puerta and Abigail Margarita Suárez, who taught me from a young age to walk with faith, to trust in God's providence, and to live with a sense of service.

My life of service in the Church began after my First Communion, when my mother took me to a youth prayer group. From that moment, I knew that my life had a different direction: God was calling me. At the age of 14, I worked in my first youth prayer group in the parish, and since then, I have continued walking in faith, especially with the Charismatic Renewal movement, which deeply shaped my spirituality.

I studied Psychology at the Metropolitan University of Barranquilla, a degree I completed in two stages, with effort, sacrifice, and the certainty that God was calling me to understand the human heart in order to serve better. Later, I also studied Philosophy and Theology, convinced that serving God requires a passionate heart, but also a well-formed  mind.

My vocational discernment led me to the Order of the Servants of Mary, and later, in 2010, to the Missionaries of Christ the Teacher, where I made temporary vows and served in vulnerable communities, with at-risk children and people with HIV/AIDS. There I learned that the Gospel is preached above all with hands, feet, and heart. During this stage, I also studied theology while giving myself passionately to pastoral service.

In 2015, I was sent to the United States, to the Diocese of Baton Rouge, where I supported the Hispanic Ministry, especially people who left so much behind for a better future.

In 2020, with a renewed heart, I entered the Diocese of Knoxville, where I was welcomed with affection and trust. I completed my theology studies at the Hispanic Seminary of Santa María de Guadalupe, in Mexico City. During my fourth year of Theology, I received the Order of the Diaconate by the laying on of hands and prayer of Bishop Richard F. Stika, in the year 2023.

In July 2023, I returned to the United States to fully join my beloved Diocese of Knoxville. I have had the grace to serve in the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Chattanooga, then I was assigned to Saint Patrick Parish in Morristown, and finally I arrived at this parish. On Saturday, June 7, 2025, I was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Mark Beckman at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in Knoxville. That same evening, I celebrated my first mass at Our Lady of Fatima, a mass of thanksgiving.

Beyond ministry, I am a human being who really enjoys simple things: I love singing (especially praise with soul and flavor), cooking with creativity, and going to the movies with friends to enjoy a good story. And, as a good costeño, I am a big fan of Junior de Barranquilla! I follow their matches, suffer with the losses, and celebrate every victory with passion, no matter where I am in the world. That love for my team is also a way to stay connected with my roots, my land, and my people.

Today, looking back, I can only give thanks. Thanks to God for His infinite patience and unconditional love. Thanks to the Diocese of Knoxville for trusting me, welcoming me like a son, and letting me serve the People of God who walk in this land. This local Church is now part of my story, my identity, and my vocation. Here I have found not only a place to serve, but also a family, a project, and a home where I continue to say: “Here I am, Lord, to do your will.”

He and his wife Toni have three grown sons and two grandchildren.

Deacon Bill is a retired physician. He also helps lead missions for the Sacred Heart Apostolate, and serves as the Spiritual Advisor for the Diocese of Knoxville Cursillo.

After some college, Deacon Leon decided to go into the United States Air Force. He completed both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Texas A& M-Commerce in East Texas.

Deacon Leon spent 45 years in his career field in Aviation. While in Texas, he met and married his wife Ellen, and they have one son who is currently working in the aviation field also.

Deacon Leon & Ellen have been members of OLOF since 2001.