Our Parish History

 In 1963 an anonymous donor made a gift to the Diocese of Austin of four acres of land in Northwest Hills, stipulating that it be used for a church that would be dedicated to St. Theresa of Lisieux.  The Diocese purchased five adjacent acres in the undeveloped, rugged hills and established the parish as St. Theresa Catholic Church in 1968.  
 
In the earliest months, the founding pastor, Msgr. Charles Elmer led Sunday Mass at Gullett Elementary School and later Murchison Middle School where parishioners would put away their own chairs at the end of Mass. Weekday masses were held in a nearby barber shop, and Confessions were heard in a broom closet. Protestant churches also provided facilities for the parish in the late 1960’s including Covenant Presbyterian and Highland Park Baptist.                                                                
 
Groundbreaking for the new church was held October 3, 1969.  Bishop Louis J. Reicher looked around on the day of the groundbreaking and jokingly said, “A goat couldn’t live in this place.” Over the next 16 months, the wilderness was transformed and the first Mass was held in the new church January 10, 1971, with 14-year-old Larry Covington playing the organ. The young organist had no idea he would one day be pastor of the parish.  The church, designed by William Scudder and John Nil, was officially dedicated three weeks later, on January 31^st, with a Mass in honor of St. Theresa of Lisieux and officiated by Bishop Reicher.
 
In a 40^th Anniversary video interview recalling those earliest years, Msgr. Elmer said he worked hard to bring people from nearby parishes to think of St. Theresa as their new home. “I wanted to make saints out of everybody in this parish,” he said. “You’re a special people of God. You are now called St. Theresa Parish.”

“I wanted to make saints out of everybody in this parish.” 

– Msgr. Charles Elmer, First Pastor of St. Theresa

 
Parishioner, now Bishop of the Diocese of Corpus Christi, Michael Mulvey heard the message. He was a young man in the pew at St. Theresa when he says, “I felt a call to the priesthood through one of Fr. Elmer’s sermons.” Fr. Elmer encouraged him to join the choir and teach CCD while discerning whether to enter seminary.
 
Those who were at St. Theresa in the 1970’s, remember the San Saba food and clothing drive, CCD, CYO., an annual art show and the parish zoo that was corralled in 1976 and delighted families with ducks, wild turkey, peacocks, and exotic deer. The Ladies Club was one of the first ministries among many that would follow, committed to service and reaching out to those in the Austin community and beyond who needed help. St. Vincent de Paul of the parish had a medical clinic, and Legion of Mary visited local inmates.
 
St. Theresa Catholic School was established in 1986 with 38 students in pre-kindergarten – 1^st grade. The school grew over the years, adding more students and grade levels, and concluded the expansion in 2005 with the addition of a second section for 8^th grade.
 
The parish grew as well to nearly 600 families in 1978 and to 1400 households in 1990. As the parish grew, so did the number of ministries and need for space. The multipurpose gymnasium was completed in 1999, providing a worship space during the construction of the new sanctuary.  In the early morning of May 23^rd, 2000, paint rags caught fire and destroyed the new church building just weeks before the first Mass was to be celebrated there.  Worship continued for a second year in “Saint Gym” during reconstruction, and the new church was dedicated September 29, 2001, featuring the two stained glass windows of the cross and Saint Theresa which  were spared while the rest of the church burned. 
 
We are immensely grateful to the pastors and priests who led us and ministered to us; to the families who founded the parish and the school for their vision, hard work and dedication; and to those who selflessly served and serve our parish and the community through the various ministries mentioned in this book. Today St. Theresa is a busy campus of buildings older and newer, a school of about 400 students and a parish of nearly 6,000 souls – souls called to be saints.
 
Milestones
1963 – Anonymous donor makes gift for a church
1968 – Diocese establishes St. Theresa Parish
Oct. 3, 1969 – Groundbreaking for the sanctuary, parish hall, and rectory
Jan. 10, 1971 – The first Mass is held in the new church
Jan. 31, 1971 – Dedication of the new church
1978 – Parish grows to nearly 600 families
1985 – Education Building Completed
1986 – St. Theresa Catholic School is established
1990 – Parish grows to 1600 families
1999 – Multipurpose gymnasium is completed
May 23, 2000 – Fire destroys nearly completed sanctuary
Sept. 29, 2001 – Dedication of reconstructed church
August 17, 2008 – 40^th Anniversary Mass and celebration
2013 – Elmer Hall is completed
Sept. 30, 2018 –  50^th Anniversary Mass and celebration
 
Pastors of St. Theresa Catholic Church
Msgr. Charles Elmer 1968 - 1972
Msgr. Edward Matocha 1972 - 1974
Msgr. Richard E. McCabe 1975 - 1987
Msgr. Edward Jordan 1987 - 1999
Rev. Gregory A. Romanski 1999 – 2004
Rev. Rakshaganathan Selvaraj (Raj)
   2004-2005  (Parish Administrator)
Msgr. Bill Brooks 2005 - 2014
Rev. Charles L. (Larry) Covington 2014 – curr.