Since its founding in 1925, St. Theresa of the Child Jesus, Hellertown has served as a spiritual home for countless souls. To mark the parish’s 100 years as a vibrant family of faith, Bishop Alfred Schlert celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving at St. Theresa Church on Nov. 16.
“This centennial is more than a parish milestone,” said Father John Hutta, Parochial Administrator. “It is a testimony to the enduring mission of the Church in the Diocese of Allentown.”
Indeed, Bishop Schlert asserted in his homily that “a parish is not defined merely by its buildings or its programs. It is the living body of Christ in a particular place, a community gathered for the Word, the Sacraments, and the mission of the Church within its walls.”
Concelebrating the Mass of Thanksgiving were Father Hutta; Father Jerome Tauber, former Pastor; Father Dominic Pham, former Assistant Pastor; and Father Anthony Mongiello, Pastor of St. Rocco, Martins Creek and Vicar Forane of the Northampton Deanery.
The verses of the Offertory hymn, “A Rose for Ste. Therese,” were written especially for the occasion. The rose is a symbol of St. Theresa, the “Little Flower,” who promised to “let fall a shower of roses” from heaven upon those who would seek her intercession.
Fittingly, the image of a rose embellished the chasuble worn by Bishop Schlert during the celebration of the Mass. The unique vestment, hand-designed by Trappist monks, was a gift from the parish to Bishop Schlert, whose first pastorate was St. Theresa. The rose represented both the fragrance of Christ and the mission of the faithful to be the blossoming of Christ to others.
St. Theresa herself “had a missionary heart, though she never left her Carmelite convent,” Bishop Schlert told the congregation.
“She longed to bring souls to Christ. We too must be missionary disciples. The world around us often grows indifferent, even hostile to the faith, yet we are called, just as our forebears were in 1925, to make Christ known and loved in our families, schools, and communities.”
A highlight of the Mass was the consecration by the Bishop of a new chalice and ciborium set, a centennial gift from Father Hutta to the parish. Raised images on the two-tone vessels depict the life, death, and resurrection of Our Lord. The design serves to remind the faithful that, in the reception of the Eucharist, they are entering into the very mysteries of Christ.
“I wanted St. Theresa’s to have something to mark this anniversary,” said Father Hutta, whose gift was also meant to be an expression of gratitude for “a beautiful parish.”
Both Father Hutta and Bishop Schlert articulated a desire for the members of the parish to pray for vocations.
“My final word is, as always, an encouragement to continue to pray for vocations to the priesthood and the religious life,” said the Bishop. He added that St. Theresa is “an ideal kind of parish in which vocations can grow and be nurtured.”
St. Theresa began as a mission church of SS. Cyril and Methodius (now Incarnation of Our Lord) on Bethlehem’s Southside. Established on Whitaker Street in Hellertown, the church was initially named after the 5th-century martyrs SS. Nereus and Achilleus.
In 1923, Father George Check purchased the land on which St. Theresa Church now stands, and on which a temporary church was dedicated on May 30, 1925. At that time, the name of the church was changed from SS. Nereus and Achilleus to St. Theresa of the Child Jesus, after the saint who had been canonized on May 17, just two weeks prior to the dedication.
By Celeste Behe
Photo by Norm Steinruck.
