The former parish church, (now the St. Ignatius Day Chapel) was dedicated on January 30th, 1988. At the time the church was dedicated, there were 310 registered families. Now we have over 2,900 registered families and 800 children and youth in our Faith Formation Programs. We are one of the largest parishes in the Charlotte Diocese.
We are blessed to have active parishioners who share their time and talent in many ways. We currently have 70 active ministries at St. Therese including a number of Outreach programs. We have parishioners who are active at FeedNC (formerly the Mooresville Soup Kitchen) and The Christian Mission. St. Therese supports two backpack Food Ministries serving local school children and their families. Our Christmas Giving Tree program provides gifts to the poor in the Mooresville area. These are just a few of the ways our parishioners give back by participating in programs to benefit those in need in our community.
An increasingly important part of the parish’s apostolic outreach has been its work among the Latino population of the area. Although the number of parishioners who speak Spanish as their first language seems to hover only around 15%, the sacramental work extends far beyond the parish boundaries. The future looks bright because of the increasing numbers of Latinos who are settling in the Charlotte Diocese.
History of Priests at St. Therese
1946 - 1954: Redemptorists from Kannapolis
1954 - 1970: Diocesan Priests served as pastors
1970: Consolata Society Priest served as pastor
1970 - 2017: Society of Jesus (Jesuits) served as pastors
2017 - current: Diocesan Priest serves as pastor
Years |
Pastors |
1946-1947 | Rev. Franics L. Funk and Rev. James Malley |
1948-1950 | Rev. Michael Downing and Rev. Walter Bueche |
1951-1952 | Rev. Michael Downing and Rev. Howard J. Herold |
1953 | Rev. Michael Downing and Rev. Walter Cavanaugh |
1954 | Rev. Paul Laicher and Rev. Stanislaus Morawski |
1954-1956 | Rev. Stephen A. Sullivan |
1956-1959 | Rev. Edward Beatty |
1959-1966 | Rev. Joseph J. Waters |
1966-1970 | Rev. Vincent I. Erb |
1970 | Rev. John Radaelli, I.M.C. |
1970-1974 | Rev. J. Calvert Brown, S.J. |
1974-1977 | Rev. John P. Brown, SJ |
1977-1981 | Rev. Paul J. Gilvary, SJ |
1981-1982 | Rev. Samuel R. Pitts, SJ |
1982-1990 | Rev. William G. Kelly, SJ |
1991-1994 | Rev. Andrew Novotney, SJ |
1994-1999 | Rev. Robert D. Wiesenbaugh, SJ |
1999-2005 | Rev. James McAndrews, SJ |
2005-2017 | Rev. Vincent Curtin, SJ |
2017- | Rev. Mark S. Lawlor |
Visit the Society of the Little Flower website for her life story, words, frequently asked questions and more!
Our Parish Patroness: In Catholic teaching, the Faithful may render veneration to the Saints and humbly request their intercessory prayers. The Saints are those members of the Church Triumphant in the glory of heaven. They are close to the Lord. Their lives are remembered for holiness and virtue. Each year during the preparation for Confirmation and in the R.C.I.A., our candidates reflect on the lives of the saints as they discern a patron saint for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Our candidates will actually be called their saint’s name, when the celebrant will say, ‘Saint’s name’, be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
We should all be mindful of the lives of the saints and we should strive to follow their example. Most parishes are placed under the patronage of a saint. Our parish was placed under the patronage of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus. In the liturgical year, her feast day is October 1. I find it helpful to recall her holy life and our call to follow the lives of the saints.
At a young age, St. Thérèse felt the call to religious life. After several attempts, she was finally accepted into the Carmelite Order at the age of 15. It is all part of providence that a humble nun (who died at the age of twenty-four) would write a journal, The Story of a Soul that would be read throughout the world, be named the co-patroness of France with St. Joan of Arc, and also a co-patroness of foreign missions with St. Francis Xavier. It is permissible for parishes to transfer the Feast of the Parochial Patron to a Sunday either before or after the actual date.
For five years, I served as the diocesan director of the Pontifical Mission Societies. Eight years ago, I participated in a Mission Dinner in Manhattan on the feast of St. Thérèse, an event that raised more than $200,000 for the missions. The national director was able to coordinate a tour that included the writing desk of the good saint and it was present at the dinner, a true relic. That small wooden lap desk was one of the few possessions that the sisters were permitted to have. That small box became an instrument that opened a window to her heart and her teachings to the world. Through her writings, she revealed her joys, her sufferings and how she had a desire to serve as a missionary to bring souls closer to Christ. Without ever leaving her monastery in Lisieux, she reached the ends of the earth through her prayers, correspondence and support for missions throughout the Church. She saw her vocation as “to love’’ and desired “to save souls and pray for priests.” Prior to her death at such a young age, she wrote, “I want to spend my heaven doing good on earth.” The Story of a Soul is a Catholic classic and may found online electronically for free or as a book to buy. There is a copy here in the Carolina Catholic Corner beside the St. Ignatius Day Chapel. St. John Paul II named her a Doctor of the Church in 1997 meaning that her teachings are sound and worthy of our study and reflection.
I have an excellent DVD on the life of St. Therese. I have decided to make this available for our parishioners. You may sign this video out at the parish office for a maximum time of two weeks.
St. Thérèse, please pray for us.
In Peace,
Fr. Mark Lawlor
Nuestra Patrona Parroquial: En la enseñanza católica, los fieles pueden rendir veneración a los santos y pedir humildemente sus oraciones intercesoras. Los santos son aquellos miembros de la Iglesia triunfantes en la gloria del cielo. Están cerca del Señor. Sus vidas son recordadas por santidad y virtud. Cada año durante la preparación para la Confirmación y en el R.C.I.A., nuestros candidatos reflexionan sobre la vida de los santos al discernir a un santo patrón para el Sacramento de la Confirmación. Nuestros candidatos en realidad serán llamados el nombre de su santo, cuando el celebrante diga: "Nombre, Recibe por esta señal el don del Espíritu Santo".
Todos debemos tener en cuenta la vida de los santos y debemos esforzarnos por seguir su ejemplo. La mayoría de las parroquias se colocan bajo el patrocinio de un santo. Nuestra parroquia fue puesta bajo el patrocinio de Santa Teresa del Niño Jesús. En el año litúrgico, su día de fiesta es el 1º de octubre. Me parece útil recordar su vida y nuestro llamado a seguir la vida de los santos.
A una edad temprana, Santa Teresa sintió el llamado a la vida religiosa. Después de varios intentos, finalmente fue aceptada en la Orden Carmelita a la edad de 15 años. Todo es parte de la divina providencia que una monja humilde, que moriría a la edad de veinticuatro años, escribiera un diario (La Historia de un Alma) que sería leído en todo el mundo, fuera nombrada la co-patrona de Francia con Santa Juana de Arco, y co-patrona de las misiones de la iglesia con San Francisco Javier. San Juan Pablo II la nombró Doctora de la Iglesia en 1997, lo que significa que sus enseñanzas son excelentes y dignas de nuestro estudio y reflexión. Durante cinco años fui director diocesano de las Obras Misionales Pontificias. Hace ocho años, participé en una Cena Misionera en Manhattan en la fiesta de Santa Teresita, un evento que recaudó más de $200,000. para las misiones. El director nacional pudo coordinar una gira que incluyó el escritorio de la buena santa, una verdadera reliquia que estuvo presente en la cena. Ese pequeño escritorio de madera era una de las pocas pertenencias que las hermanas podían tener. Esa pequeña caja se convirtió en un instrumento que abrió una ventana a su corazón y sus enseñanzas al mundo. A través de sus escritos, reveló sus alegrías, sus sufrimientos y su ferviente deseo de servir como misionera para acercar las almas a Cristo. Sin salir nunca de su convento en Lisieux, Santa Teresa llegó a los confines de la tierra a través de sus oraciones, correspondencia y apoyo a las misiones en toda la Iglesia. Ella veía su vocación como "amar" y deseaba "salvar almas y orar por los sacerdotes". Antes de su muerte a tan temprana edad, escribió: "Quiero pasar mi cielo haciendo el bien en la tierra". La Historia de un Alma es un clásico católico y se puede encontrar forma gratuita en formato digital en línea, o se puede comprar como un libro.
Tengo un excelente DVD sobre la vida de Santa Teresa. He decidido poner esto a disposición de nuestros feligreses. Pueden solicitar este video en la oficina de la parroquia y pedirlo prestado por un tiempo máximo de dos semanas.
Santa Teresita, ruega por nosotros.
En paz,
Padre Marcos