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St. Theresa Catholic Church - Memorial Park
Just as a building has doors, so to our mind and hearts have 'doors' as well. Open yours as you step within these doors to explore the wonders within.
History
Fr. Ralph Diefenbach and several Sisters of the Incarnate Word gathered on a remote outpost of Camp Logan and imagined a vibrant new community of faith, education, and service. Along with 90 registered families, in January of 1946, Bishop Christopher Byrne and Fr. Ralph Diefenbach established St. Theresa of the Little Flower Parish. The new Parish's first Mass was celebrated in the nearby Memorial School Auditorium
As you enter the Church the first thing that catches your heart is the cross of our Lord reminding us of the sacrifice He paid for our lives and the world. All Catholic Churches have an 'assent' or steps leading up to the altar. This is suggestive of so many elements in sacred history as well as the call to us all to 'ascend' toward heaven by seeking to live holy lives.
Kneeling before the tabernacle, I can think of only one thing to say to our Lord: "My God, you know that I love You." And I feel that my prayer does not weary Jesus; knowing my weakness, He is satisfied with my good will.
Saint Therese of Lisieux
As you can see the Gospels are always present in the Catholic Church.
What a wonderful place of adoration to Our Lord.
When the faithful are nourished by the Eucharist, they are called to share that grace as light to the world.
What a wonderful house of God.
Let us take a few steps closer towards the beautiful images in St. Theresa's.
Holy Baptism holds the first place among the sacraments, because it is the door of the spiritual life; for by it we are made members of Christ and incorporated with the Church. And since through the first man death entered into all, unless we be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, we can not enter into the kingdom of Heaven, as Truth Himself has told us.
St. Theresa of Lisieux (1873-97) -The Little Flower
Therese of the Child Jesus; the Little Flower; the Little Flower of Jesus
Memorial
1 October
Profile
Born to a middle-class French family. Her father, Louis, was a watchmaker, her mother, who died of cancer when Therese was 4, was a lace maker, and both have been declared Venerable by the Church. Cured from an illness at age eight when a statue of the Blessed Virgin smiled at her. Carmelite nun at age 15. Defined her path to God and holiness as "The Little Way," which consisted of love and trust in God. At the direction of her spiritual director, and against her wishes, she dictated her famed autobiography Story of a Soul. Many miracles attributed to her. Declared a Doctor of the Church in 1997 by Pope John Paul II.
"For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy." - Saint Therese of Lisieux
Born
2 January 1873 at Alcon, Normandy, France
Died
7pm Thursday 30 September 1897 at Lisieux, France of tuberculosis
Canonized
17 May 1925 by Pope Pius XI
Patronage
African missions; AIDS sufferers; air crews; aircraft pilots; Australia; aviators; Belgian air crews; black missions; bodily ills; diocese of Cheyenne, Wyoming; diocese of Fairbanks, Alaska; diocese of Fresno, California; diocese of Juneau, Alaska; diocese of Pueblo, Colorado; florists; flower growers; foreign missions; France; illness; diocese of Kisumu, Kenya; loss of parents; missionaries; parish missions; restoration of religious freedom in Russia; Russia; sick people; sickness; Spanish air crews; tuberculosis; diocese of Witbank, South Africa
Icons representing the 14 Stations of the Cross surround the nave. These are a work of art in their simplicity and beauty. As we look upon these works of art our hearts and minds should be drawn to God in prayer.
Some beautiful art work is beheld in the eyes (windows) of the church
Our Lord does not come down from Heaven every day to lie in a golden ciborium. He comes to find another heaven which is infinitely dearer to him - the heaven of our souls, created in His Image, the living temples of the Adorable Trinity.
Saint Therese of Lisieux
Jesus, help me to simplify my life by learning what you want me to be - and becoming that person.
St. Joseph is the patron of fathers of families as he was so to the Holy Family.
The Virgin Mary, Mother of Our Lord and of The Church.
In any of these photos, or in your next visit to a church - stop, look and listen. Ponder the Cross. Pray to hear what the Lord might be saying to you through a Station of the Cross, a picture or statue of His blessed Mother, an angel or saint. What do you see in their eyes? Do you see a look of humility? Are their feet bare or in sandals? Every statue or photo can have an amazing richness of messages. This is why, for centuries, the Church used sacred art to teach the people - especially before reading became common. Today, when the graphic arts have become powerful means of influencing people, isn't it fitting that we look to spiritual art to inspire us to lead lives pleasing to God?
Thank you for taking our tour of St Theresa Catholic Church. Please visit this page again soon to see more photos and downloadable pages with more information about this parish, .
