A Brief History of St. Therese Parish Community
Our beautiful campus had very humble beginnings.
St. Therese Parish was founded in 1950, with its first official Mass celebrated on Easter Sunday, April 9, in the chapel of the former Leland Francis Funeral Home in downtown Parkville. Groundbreaking ceremonies were held on February 11, 1951, and the first building was a simple parish center, with a church and school upstairs and nun's quarters downstairs.
Most of the early parishioners were poor but strong in spirit. Stewardship was important to them -- they worked hard and sacrificed so they could sustain their faith life and their children could have a Catholic education.
As Platte County began to grow, the next expansion came in 1965, which included a rectory. Then in 1972 a church seating about 650 persons was dedicated.
Little did anyone realize that in a brief 20 years, this facility would again be outgrown! In 1977 a new wing was added to the school, and 1991 saw the construction of a child Care Center. Pre-school, and Kindergarten.
Our present church was dedicated in 1998, and our new school in December 2002.
From a congregation of 75 people, we have grown to a parish of over 3,000 families! The "little ways" of stewardship that have built our Catholic community are still reflected in our present vision statement.
St. Therese Vision Statement:
We envision a community where all witness the Real Presence of Christ in every "little way."
St. Therese Parish was founded in 1950, with its first official Mass celebrated on Easter Sunday, April 9, in the chapel of the former Leland Francis Funeral Home in downtown Parkville. Groundbreaking ceremonies were held on February 11, 1951, and the first building was a simple parish center, with a church and school upstairs and nun's quarters downstairs.
Most of the early parishioners were poor but strong in spirit. Stewardship was important to them -- they worked hard and sacrificed so they could sustain their faith life and their children could have a Catholic education.
As Platte County began to grow, the next expansion came in 1965, which included a rectory. Then in 1972 a church seating about 650 persons was dedicated.
Little did anyone realize that in a brief 20 years, this facility would again be outgrown! In 1977 a new wing was added to the school, and 1991 saw the construction of a child Care Center. Pre-school, and Kindergarten.
Our present church was dedicated in 1998, and our new school in December 2002.
From a congregation of 75 people, we have grown to a parish of over 3,000 families! The "little ways" of stewardship that have built our Catholic community are still reflected in our present vision statement.
St. Therese Vision Statement:
We envision a community where all witness the Real Presence of Christ in every "little way."
