St. Theresa Parish Grows.....

In 1952, the parish purchased five acres of land on North Benton and made plans to build again. In 1954, the school opened with 200 children enrolled, and in 1955, a chapel with seating for 500 opened in the basement of the school. Every Mass was packed with young families who spilled into the aisles and out onto the front steps.

      Father O'Brien undertook the job of raising funds to build the church structure in which we worship today. A convent was built (now Pauline Center) in time. The little church on Wood Street was sold to an Hispanic congregation and is now known as the Mision Juan Diego. The new church on Benton Street was dedicated on Easter Sunday, 1961.

      Father O'Brien died in April, 1965. Father James Dolan arrived in March of 1966 as the new pastor. During his years as pastor, a rectory was built on the church property, the large activities center, which today bears Father Dolan's name, was added, and the school building was expanded for a second time to accommodate a continually growing school enrollment.

      The new pastor, appointed in 1981 after Father Dolan retired in 1980 was Father Robert Festle. Father Festle laid the groundwork for the flourishing lay ministries that exist in the parish today.

      In May, 1987, Father Robert McGlynn was appointed pastor. He immediately expanded and broadened his predecessor's work with the lay ministries. He also undertook major repairs to the aging parish plant. As vocations to religious life decreased, the convent, which had once housed twenty-four nuns, took on new use. The first floor became home to a pre-school and all-day kindergarten. The second floor was developed into offices for the staffs of the School of Religious Education, the Ministry of Care, the Music Ministry and the Adult Education Program.

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