Our Patroness - St. Therese of Lisieux 

St. Therese of Lisieux, "The Little Flower" 

Therese Martin was born in Alecon, France in 1873.  She was a brave and deeply spiritual girl who sought early entry into the Carmelite convent at the age of 13.  She was denied entry due to her young age, but was later granted entrance at the age of 15.  For nine years Therese lived a simple, obedient life, practicing her "Little Way" of loving and trusting in God.  Although suffering from tuberculosis, she wrote a short autobiography, The Story of a Soul.

She died at the age of 24 and her simple book was translated into many languages.  It became popular for showing that even without great deeds a person could achieve sanctity.  She was canonized in 1925 by Pope Pius XI, made Patron of Missions in 1927, and declared a Doctor of the Church in 1997.  Her feast day is October 1.

Charism is the unique spiritual gift, or spritual culture, that a saint or community embraces and exudes.  St. Theresa's "Little Way" is her spiritual gift to the world and is embraced by St. Theresa's Catholic School as our charism.  The "Little Way" is a way of life that is centered around doing small things with great love.