St. Theresa Church (Trumbull, Connecticut)

St. Theresa Church is a Roman Catholic church in Trumbull, Connecticut, a part of the Diocese of Bridgeport. The parish is considered the Mother Church of Trumbull and is the largest in town with over 3,100 parishioner families.

St. Theresa Church
St. Theresa Church, Trumbull Connecticut
Location5301 Main St
Trumbull, Connecticut
CountryUnited States
DenominationRoman Catholic
Membership3100+ households
Websitewww.sttheresatrumbull.org
History
FoundedOctober 4, 1934
Founder(s)Bishop Maurice F. McAuliffe
DedicatedSeptember 22, 1935 (original structure),
April 1, 1962 (current structure)
Architecture
Architect(s)William Schmidt (original structure)
J. Gerald Phelan
Administration
ParishSaint Theresa Parish
DioceseBridgeport
ProvinceHartford
Clergy
Bishop(s)Most Rev. Frank J. Caggiano
Priest(s)Rev. Flavian Bejan, Rev. Carl McIntosh
Pastor(s)Rev. Brian Gannon
Deacon(s)Mr. Salvatore M. Clarizio, Ph.D
Laity
Director of musicDr. Carolina Flores

History

The Saint Theresa Parish was originally created on October 4, 1934 by Bishop Maurice F. McAuliffe of Hartford. Aware of the spiritual needs of the people of Trumbull, the Bishop made Saint Theresa's the first Catholic Church in town, and dedicated it in honor of Thérèse of Lisieux, the Little Flower of Jesus. Bishop McAuliffe dedicated the original small white frame church on September 22, 1935 so that Saint Theresa's functioned as a true parish. The original church was a classic New England colonial design that could seat some four hundred people, and the neighboring McLevy homestead became the parish rectory.

In 1960, Bishop Lawrence J. Shehan gave permission to construct the present cathedral-like granite and limestone church building, which was dedicated by Bishop Walter W. Curtis on April 1, 1962. The parish celebrated its Diamond Jubilee in 2009 and received a letter of congratulations from Bishop Lori.[1]

On October 1, 2017 the parish dedicated Our Lady of Fátima Chapel for perpetual Eucharistic adoration. The chapel is open twenty-four hours per day, seven days a week.

Music

The parish has an established traditional church music program. The choir is composed of approximately 35 singers, including four professional section leaders (SATB). The choir sings high quality literature ranging from Gregorian chant and polyphony through 21st century repertoire.

Instruments include a three-manual 38 rank Peragallo pipe organ with 7 additional Walker electronic stops, mainly in the Pedal division. Adjacent to the organ is a Yamaha concert grand piano.[2] The organ is frequently used as a concert instrument and is featured in a 1999 compact disk of French organ works performed by internationally famous organist Stephen Tharp.[3] It was also a feature instrument in the 2010 Pipe Organ Encounter program of the Bridgeport Chapter of the American Guild of Organists.[4] Saint Theresa's Church has been a regular site for Connecticut Chamber Choir concerts.[5][6]

Parish life

Saint Theresa is home to over thirty social and religious ministries, including Boy Scouts of America Troop 68,[7] Knights of Columbus Council 8013,[8] and charitable outreaches such as the Thomas Merton Center.[9]

Sons of Saint Joseph

Founded in the Parish in 2011, this men's ministry of approximately one hundred twenty members[10] attracted national attention on EWTN.[11] Father Brian Gannon was interviews on the At Home with Jim and Joy program, first broadcast on December 1, 2016. The group is dedicated to helping men become better husbands, fathers, friends and neighbors. It steers a man towards his God ordained and natural roles as exemplified by Jesus Christ. It focuses a man on the true and ultimate goals of his life, which are his salvation, the salvation of his loved ones and the salvation of the world.[12]

School

Saint Theresa School is one of two Catholic K-8 schools in Trumbull,[13] founded in 1955. It is accredited with the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.[14] It is registered as school 2114403 with the State of Connecticut Department of Education.[15] The school celebrated its 60th anniversary in April 2016.[16]

References
  1. http://216.47.165.199/homily.10.3.09.shtml
  2. "Pipe Organs - Trumbull, CT - St. Theresa Church".
  3. http://www.stephentharp.com/html/showcase.php?showcase=1&page=2 Stephen Tharp recording at St. Theresa Church, Trumbull CT
  4. http://www.agoevents.org/assets/files/downloads/PIPE%20ORGAN%20ENCOUNTER%202010.pdf Pipe Organ Encounters
  5. "Connecticut Chamber Choir post-holiday concert set for Jan. 9".
  6. "'Long Time Ago' choral concert to present old texts set to modern music".
  7. "Troop 68, BSA". www.troop68bsa.org.
  8. "Home". www.sttheresakofc.org.
  9. "The Thomas Merton Center – "We do not exist for ourselves."". www.themertoncenter.org.
  10. "Sons of Saint Joseph - Catholic Men's Group of St. Theresa's Parish". www.sonsofsaintjoseph.org.
  11. "Strong Catholic Men Make Strong Catholic Parishes". National Catholic Register.
  12. "About Our Group - Sons of Saint Joseph". www.sonsofsaintjoseph.org.
  13. "Catholicschoolsfairfieldcounty.com".
  14. "About Our School".
  15. "SDE-Redirect". CT.gov - Connecticut's Official State Website.
  16. Miller, Julie (18 April 2016). "St. Theresa School 60th anniversary celebration and silent auction to benefit St. Theresa School".

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