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St. Therese of the Child Jesus
Altoona
PA
16601
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Who we are
St. Therese of the Child Jesus is a Roman Catholic church in Altoona, Pennsylvania.
We are a fellowship of believers, made in God's image and called as disciples of Christ to share the Good News with everyone through learning, listening, praying and working together actively to reach out to our communities.
We are a place to believe, belong, and become!
We are a fellowship of believers, made in God's image and called as disciples of Christ to share the Good News with everyone through learning, listening, praying and working together actively to reach out to our communities.
We are a place to believe, belong, and become!
Location of worship / Church Address
411 Wopsononock Avenue
Altoona,
PA
16601
United States
Phone: (814) 942-4479
Fax: (814) 942-1873
Download St. Therese of the Child Jesus vCard with Mass Times
Church Pastor
Rev. D. Timothy Grimme
Pastor
411 Wopsononock Avenue
Altoona,
PA
16601
United States
Phone: (814) 942-4479
Fax: (814) 942-1873
Download Pastor Rev. D. Timothy Grimme vCard
Quote of the Day
Psalms 46:10
Be still, and know that I am God...
Be still, and know that I am God...
Denomination
Roman Catholic
Roman Catholic churches in Altoona, Pennsylvania, United States
Roman Catholic churches in Pennsylvania, United States
Roman Catholic churches in United States
All churches in Altoona, PA
Affiliations:
Website:
Social Media
Leadership
Leader Name:
Rev. D. Timothy Grimme
Leader Position:
Pastor
Formal Title:
Leader Address:
Tel:
Fax:
(814) 942-1873
Leader Email:
Leader Bio:
Other Church Leaders:
Deacon Thomas J. McFee
Rev. D. Timothy Grimme on Social Media:
St. Therese of the Child Jesus Leadership Photos
Administration
Admin Name:
Sally
Admin Position:
Parish Secretary
Admin Address:
2301 Fifth Street
Altoona
Pennsylvania
16601-3863
Altoona
Pennsylvania
16601-3863
Telephone:
Fax:
(814) 942-1873
Admin Email:
Mailing Address
Driving Directions to St. Therese of the Child Jesus
Travel/Directions Tips
Parking
St. Therese of the Child Jesus Altoona Mass Times
Mass on the Weekends
Saturday Evening 5:00 PM and Sunday Morning 8:00 AM and 10:30 AM
Mass on the Week Days
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday at 7:45 AM, Wednesday at 9:00 AM (with Holy Trinity Catholic School during school term,) Saturday at 8:00 AM.
Mass on the Holy Days
5:30 PM on the Eve of the Holy Day, 12:05 PM & 6:30 PM on the Holy Day. Please refer to the bulletin for Christmas, New Year’s, and Easter schedules and for any schedule changes.
Reconciliaiton on Saturdays
Saturday from 4:00 to 4:40 PM or by appointment.
Mass Times last updated on the 6th of September, 2022
Saturday Evening 5:00 PM and Sunday Morning 8:00 AM and 10:30 AM
Mass on the Week Days
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday at 7:45 AM, Wednesday at 9:00 AM (with Holy Trinity Catholic School during school term,) Saturday at 8:00 AM.
Mass on the Holy Days
5:30 PM on the Eve of the Holy Day, 12:05 PM & 6:30 PM on the Holy Day. Please refer to the bulletin for Christmas, New Year’s, and Easter schedules and for any schedule changes.
Reconciliaiton on Saturdays
Saturday from 4:00 to 4:40 PM or by appointment.
Mass Times last updated on the 6th of September, 2022
Worship Languages
Dress code:
Children and Youth Activities
Under 12s:
Under 18s:
Local outreach & community activities:
Other activities & ministries
Special Needs/Accessibility:
Prayers and hymns:
Main Bible:
Hymns and Songs:
Other information:
Average Adult Congregation:
Average Youth Congregation:
Additional Info:
St. Therese of the Child Jesus Photo Gallery
St. Therese of the Child Jesus History
Historical Sketch of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus Parish, Altoona, Pennsylvania
On January 10, 1927, ...
Most Rev. Bishop John J. McCort established a parish in the Fairview section of Altoona, with territory from the bordering parishes of St. Mark, Holy Rosary, and the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. The new parish was dedicated under the patronage of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, also known as "the Little Flower." St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus was a Carmelite nun from Lisieux, who was permitted to enter the convent at age 15 and died of tuberculosis at the age of 23. She is acclaimed in liturgical rosters as Virgin, Religious and, because of her "Little Way," Doctor of the Church (one of only three women so designated.)
In 1927, ...
Most Rev. John J. McCort, bishop of the Diocese of Altoona (now Altoona-Johnstown,) named Reverend Thomas W. Kelley as the first pastor. Beginning with a modest 104 families, Fr. Kelley celebrated the first Mass in the new parish on January 16, 1927 in a vacant storeroom at 1903 Fourth Street. When the weather improved Mass was moved into a tent from May through November of 1927. Meanwhile the construction of a stone edifice proceeded until funds were exhausted. With the basement completed, the style was modified to resemble a Spanish Mission style church. An altar was added and the first Mass in the stone structure was celebrated on Christmas Day 1927.
The completion of the church ...
would be many long years in the future with plans for a larger structure built upon the foundation which the parish now occupied. In 1960, Fr. Kelley built and opened St. Thérèse School across the street on Wopsononock Avenue. Need for a social hall for the parish and a gym and cafeteria for the school, led to the building of a Hall, ca. 1967, later dedicated to Fr. Thomas W. Kelley.
In 1960, ...
with the parish increasing in size to nearly 600 families, and Fr. Kelley approaching his 70th year of age, St. Thérèse parish received its first in a long line of assistant pastors. Still the completion of the church did not go forward. In 1968, Reverend, later Monsignor, Roy F. Kline was appointed pastor. Msgr. Kline split his time with the Bishop Guilfoyle High School (formerly Altoona Catholic High School) and his duties as Master of Ceremonies for the Bishop.
In 1972, ...
with necessary funds accumulated, Fr. Kline proceeded with the completion of the church. Plans for the larger structure to be built upon the existing foundation were abandoned for a cathedral-style roof of laminated wood arches complete with lighted steeple and other necessary alterations to the interior. Close inspection of the church interior reveal some of these alterations and the sudden change of plans for the structure. Mass of dedication was celebrated on October 1, 1972, the feast of our parish patron.
In 1995, ...
Msgr. Anthony B. Little was appointed the third pastor of St. Thérèse Parish. During his tenure, in 1997, our parish patron was named one of three women to become Doctor of the Church. Her relic (an eight hundred pound casket) made a tour of places in the United States, dedicated to her patronage. The people accompanying the relic from France found it hard to accept that their beloved Little Flower was being referred to as "St. Theresa" (the name of the other Carmelite Doctor of the Church, St. Teresa of Avila.) At this time the familiar "St. Theresa," was correctly altered to "St. Thérèse." Also in 1970, St. Thérèse School closed and St. Thérèse Parish joined as a charter member of the Altoona Central Catholic School. Our school building has served as the initial Middle School of A.C.C.S. then was closed for a couple of years. In 1998, our Pastoral and Finance Councils agreed to twin with the parish of St. Theresa, in Black River, in the Diocese of Mandeville, Jamaica. Through regular donations and some fund-raisers, our parish sends over $4,500 to our sister parish annually. Pastors Francis Dupres and Joseph Brug of St. Theresa, Black River, have visited our parish. Due to both dwindling numbers of parish families and the number of available priests, the last assistant pastor, now called parochial vicar, left in 1998. Preparing for the Diamond Jubilee of our parish, a Narthex or Gathering Space was added to the front of the church. This area is brighlty lit with natural lighting coming through etched windows depicting the life of St. Thérèse. The area enables enhanced liturgical celebrations and space to carry out pre and post Mass activities.
In 2002, ...
the fourth and present pastor was assigned, Fr. D. Timothy Grimme. With rain coming through the thirty year old pre-fabricated steeple (which had not been lit for over ten years,) the decision was made to remove the steeple. The Cross of the steeple was then placed on a smaller steeple-structure on the Narthex roof. In 2004, the Altoona Central Catholic School re-opened our school building as its Elemtary site. The property between Fr. Kelley Hall and the School has been acquired and turned into a playground for A.C.C.S. Two houses on Twenty-Fifth Avenue, beside Fr. Kelley Hall, also belong to the parish. One was removed for auxillary parking. Looking to the future, the development of Altoona Central Catholic School now has land to expand and possibly make one site for the consolidated school. In 2010, Deacon Thomas McFee completed his studies and was ordained a permanent deacon and assigned to St. Thérèse Parish along with duties in correctional facilities of our diocese.
Pastors: 1927 – Present
Reverend Thomas W. Kelley, 1927 – 1968
Msgr. Roy F. Kline, 1968 – 1995
Msgr. Anthony B. Little, 1995 – 2002
Reverend D. Timothy Grimme, 2002 – Present
Parochial Vicars: 1960 – 1998
Rev. John J. Manshall
Rev. John R. Sasway
Rev. J. Joseph Strittmatter
Rev. Raymond Karr
Rev. Donald Boslett
Deacon Thomas Carroll
Rev. David Roesch
Rev. Thomas Carroll
Rev. John G. Durbin
Rev. Mark Begly
Rev. Albert Ledoux
Rev. Allen Zeth
On January 10, 1927, ...
Most Rev. Bishop John J. McCort established a parish in the Fairview section of Altoona, with territory from the bordering parishes of St. Mark, Holy Rosary, and the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. The new parish was dedicated under the patronage of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, also known as "the Little Flower." St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus was a Carmelite nun from Lisieux, who was permitted to enter the convent at age 15 and died of tuberculosis at the age of 23. She is acclaimed in liturgical rosters as Virgin, Religious and, because of her "Little Way," Doctor of the Church (one of only three women so designated.)
In 1927, ...
Most Rev. John J. McCort, bishop of the Diocese of Altoona (now Altoona-Johnstown,) named Reverend Thomas W. Kelley as the first pastor. Beginning with a modest 104 families, Fr. Kelley celebrated the first Mass in the new parish on January 16, 1927 in a vacant storeroom at 1903 Fourth Street. When the weather improved Mass was moved into a tent from May through November of 1927. Meanwhile the construction of a stone edifice proceeded until funds were exhausted. With the basement completed, the style was modified to resemble a Spanish Mission style church. An altar was added and the first Mass in the stone structure was celebrated on Christmas Day 1927.
The completion of the church ...
would be many long years in the future with plans for a larger structure built upon the foundation which the parish now occupied. In 1960, Fr. Kelley built and opened St. Thérèse School across the street on Wopsononock Avenue. Need for a social hall for the parish and a gym and cafeteria for the school, led to the building of a Hall, ca. 1967, later dedicated to Fr. Thomas W. Kelley.
In 1960, ...
with the parish increasing in size to nearly 600 families, and Fr. Kelley approaching his 70th year of age, St. Thérèse parish received its first in a long line of assistant pastors. Still the completion of the church did not go forward. In 1968, Reverend, later Monsignor, Roy F. Kline was appointed pastor. Msgr. Kline split his time with the Bishop Guilfoyle High School (formerly Altoona Catholic High School) and his duties as Master of Ceremonies for the Bishop.
In 1972, ...
with necessary funds accumulated, Fr. Kline proceeded with the completion of the church. Plans for the larger structure to be built upon the existing foundation were abandoned for a cathedral-style roof of laminated wood arches complete with lighted steeple and other necessary alterations to the interior. Close inspection of the church interior reveal some of these alterations and the sudden change of plans for the structure. Mass of dedication was celebrated on October 1, 1972, the feast of our parish patron.
In 1995, ...
Msgr. Anthony B. Little was appointed the third pastor of St. Thérèse Parish. During his tenure, in 1997, our parish patron was named one of three women to become Doctor of the Church. Her relic (an eight hundred pound casket) made a tour of places in the United States, dedicated to her patronage. The people accompanying the relic from France found it hard to accept that their beloved Little Flower was being referred to as "St. Theresa" (the name of the other Carmelite Doctor of the Church, St. Teresa of Avila.) At this time the familiar "St. Theresa," was correctly altered to "St. Thérèse." Also in 1970, St. Thérèse School closed and St. Thérèse Parish joined as a charter member of the Altoona Central Catholic School. Our school building has served as the initial Middle School of A.C.C.S. then was closed for a couple of years. In 1998, our Pastoral and Finance Councils agreed to twin with the parish of St. Theresa, in Black River, in the Diocese of Mandeville, Jamaica. Through regular donations and some fund-raisers, our parish sends over $4,500 to our sister parish annually. Pastors Francis Dupres and Joseph Brug of St. Theresa, Black River, have visited our parish. Due to both dwindling numbers of parish families and the number of available priests, the last assistant pastor, now called parochial vicar, left in 1998. Preparing for the Diamond Jubilee of our parish, a Narthex or Gathering Space was added to the front of the church. This area is brighlty lit with natural lighting coming through etched windows depicting the life of St. Thérèse. The area enables enhanced liturgical celebrations and space to carry out pre and post Mass activities.
In 2002, ...
the fourth and present pastor was assigned, Fr. D. Timothy Grimme. With rain coming through the thirty year old pre-fabricated steeple (which had not been lit for over ten years,) the decision was made to remove the steeple. The Cross of the steeple was then placed on a smaller steeple-structure on the Narthex roof. In 2004, the Altoona Central Catholic School re-opened our school building as its Elemtary site. The property between Fr. Kelley Hall and the School has been acquired and turned into a playground for A.C.C.S. Two houses on Twenty-Fifth Avenue, beside Fr. Kelley Hall, also belong to the parish. One was removed for auxillary parking. Looking to the future, the development of Altoona Central Catholic School now has land to expand and possibly make one site for the consolidated school. In 2010, Deacon Thomas McFee completed his studies and was ordained a permanent deacon and assigned to St. Thérèse Parish along with duties in correctional facilities of our diocese.
Pastors: 1927 – Present
Reverend Thomas W. Kelley, 1927 – 1968
Msgr. Roy F. Kline, 1968 – 1995
Msgr. Anthony B. Little, 1995 – 2002
Reverend D. Timothy Grimme, 2002 – Present
Parochial Vicars: 1960 – 1998
Rev. John J. Manshall
Rev. John R. Sasway
Rev. J. Joseph Strittmatter
Rev. Raymond Karr
Rev. Donald Boslett
Deacon Thomas Carroll
Rev. David Roesch
Rev. Thomas Carroll
Rev. John G. Durbin
Rev. Mark Begly
Rev. Albert Ledoux
Rev. Allen Zeth
St. Therese of the Child Jesus Historical Photos
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