“The danger, here, is not so much that a person may believe they are communicating with another person, but rather that they may gradually lose the very desire to form genuine human connections”. - Pope Leo WEEKLY MASS TIMES
Sundays - 10:30 am (Rosary 10:10 am)
Wednesdays - 7:05 pm
Fridays - 8:30 am
WEEKLY CONFESSION TIMES
Sundays -9:30 am
By appointment
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
Wednesdays- 6:00 pm-7
:00pm
HISTORY of ST. THERESA PARISH
The town of Perryville, which is now called Perry, was surveyed and plotted by the Kansas Pacific Railroad Company in 1865. Catholic activities did not begin in Perry until 1880 when Father Francis Kraus came from Newman on a railroad hand car to call on the Catholic people of Perry. The first consideration was the question of building a church for the twenty Catholic families in and around Perry. A site was chosen and purchased in the block where the church now stands. This church was dedicated in 1884 under the patronage of St. Cecilia which was later sold in 1933. The wood frame church of St. Cecilia was located on the east edge of the block with a rectory built a few years later next to the church. The first parish house was a six room, one-story building. In 1917 a second story was added to the building. The Presbyterian Church and parsonage stood in this same block. The Catholics bought the entire property, annexing the entire block with the exception of the lot in the northwest corner. These building were converted into a parish school and residence for the teaching sisters. In 1902, the Benedictine Sisters from Atchison came to operate the parish school of about thirty Catholic students, which remained open for six years. From 1918 to 1926, Father Daniel O’Reilly was pastor of St. During these years, plans were made for a new church to be built on the site of the former Presbyterian Church/Catholic School. The cornerstone for the new church was laid in 1925. It is assumed that the new church building and parish community were renamed in honor of St. Theresa because that was the year she was canonized a saint. The cornerstone of the Catholic Church in Newman, the Purification, was placed in the basement wall as a reminder that the community of St. Theresa welcomed their neighbors to the west. Bishop Francis Johannes of the Leavenworth diocese dedicated the new St. Theresa Church on October 3, 1929. The church is made of brick, is Gothic in architecture, seats some 280 people, and cost $33,000 to build. During the war years of the 1940s and up until about the mis60s our Parish community saw little growth. In 1951, the church basement filled with flood water and the rectory sustained flood damage. A new brick ranch-styled rectory was built above flood level at the cost of $20,000 in 1955. The last 1960s and 1970s brought growth and renewal to the St. Theresa parish. Construction of Lake Perry brought an increase in area residents and the Vatican Council II called all Catholics around the world to a renewed identity as the Living Body of Christ. Air condition was installed in 1968, the church was roofed in 1973 and renovation of the church interior began. In 1980, the parish celebrated 100 years of worshipping, learning and serving as God’s people here in this location. The parish hall was remodeled during this year. Archbishop Strecker joined the parish family on November 2, 1980 for the Centennial Mass and festivities that followed. During the early 1990s several improvements were made to the grounds and buildings at St. Theresa. A parking lot was constructed, the interior of the rectory was renovated, a new roof was put on the church and the church basement was redecorated. IN 1996, extensive work was completed to address the deteriorating steps and sidewalk ramps were built to make it handicap accessible. In January 1997 the capital improvement project of extensive renovation to the interior of the church was started and completed in the fall. The architecture of the church and 117 years of treasured memories as a parish community were taken into consideration during the renovation. The church interior was re-plastered, painted, carpeted, and additional lighting was added in the sanctuary. The Stations of the Cross and several statues were repainted. The old confessional was removed and statuary was placed in the area. One of the front pews was removed in order to provide additional space for the musicians and handicap accessibility. The sanctuary façade built in the early 1970s was removed to allow for more space. Four Gothic windows that had not been visible from inside the sanctuary since the church was built in 1925 were opened. New stained glass windows with handcrafted oak frames were installed. Symbols, depicting the history of our community, were incorporated into the design of these four windows. A new altar, ambo, tabernacle stand and statue shelves were build out of oak reflecting the design of the oak communion rail which is in front of the first set of pews. The tabernacle door from the main altar of 1925 has been incorporated into the new tabernacle. The baptismal font, reconciliation kneeler and sanctuary chairs were refinished. A beautiful new organ and piano were purchased. The wood from the 1970s altar and ambo were made into keepsake ornaments, some with the silhouette of the St. Theresa Church and others with the Blessed Virgin Mary and Jesus. 1998 brought the installation of a new boiler furnace and replacement windows in the church basement. In 1999 the capital improvement project of tuck-pointing the outside of the church was started and completed in 2001, ensuring preservation of our historical worship space. The renovation of our worship space was a dream realized through the use of Bazaar profits, interest and principal from the Trant Estate, generous pledges and donations from parishioners, and the treasure and gifts of time, talent, labor and prayers of so many. On Sunday, November 20, 2005, St. Theresa Church celebrated a very important milestone in the history of our parish, our 125th Anniversary. The theme of our Anniversary Celebration was “125 Years of Faith and Friendship”. Archbishop Joseph Naumann presided at the Mass. A celebration was held at the Perry American Legion with a catered dinner and a program that included a historical slide presentation of our parish. On October 9th, 2011 we broke ground for out new Parish Center. Father Tom Aduri was crucial in making our Center a reality. Organizing a major Pledge Campaign and a loan from the archdiocese generated the funds to move forward. Through the generous pledges and donations from parishioners, the gifts of time, talent, labor and prayers we have a Parish Center that we can all be proud of. The building is 7,800 sq. ft and cost $561,000. The Center includes six classroom, large hall, two storage rooms, kitchen, two offices spaces and restrooms. September 9th, 2012 we celebrated the dedication of our new Parish Center. The Knights of Columbus participated and Archbishop Joseph Naumann presided at the Mass.
