Parish History

Saint Therese Parish was born more than eighty years ago as a small chapel. In 1921, Pallotine priest Peter Schroeder arrived in Milwaukee to become pastor of Holy Cross Church at 54th Street and Bluemound Road. Two years later he would found Saint Anthony's Mission Church at 76th Street and Bluemound. In 1925, he learned that a rival pastor was building a chapel in order to draw the large Italian community to his chuch. In response, he began construction of a chapel of his own.

When it was completed, the chapel was dubbed the “Little Flower Mission,” after Saint Therese of Lisieux. That year (1925), Saint Therese had just been canonized and was fast becoming a popular figure. Chosen to head the community was Father Joseph De Maria.

Father Schroeder died in 1939 and Father De Maria was appointed pastor of Saint Anthony's Church. As with all newborn institutions, Saint Anthony's and the Little Flower Mission got off to a rocky start. Debt accumulated and attendance wavered. But Father Joe still had a dream of creating a church and school at Saint Therese. In 1955, he got his wish.

Father Joe wanted to expand the Little Flower Mission, but Milwaukee County wanted to use the nearby land for the expressway, which was under construction at the time. He struck a deal: the county could have fifteen acres of the Mission’s land -- today used as the zoo parking lot -- if he could have fifteen acres for a church at the current site. The county agreed, and the foundation was laid for Saint Therese.

“Saint Therese of the Child Jesus” Parish began on May 1st, 1956, with Father Nicholas Wilwers as pastor. Saint Therese School opened two years later. The Milwaukee Archdiocese took care of the church in 1962 after debt accumulated. During the 1960s, the church operated as any other would: there were monthly Communion breakfasts, picnics, even festivals.

However, the world changed quickly. Vatican II changed the liturgy. Debt continued to rise. The school enrollment dropped as well, and in 1970 the school closed.

But as this era ended, a new one began. In May 1970, a new pastor arrive at Saint Therese: Father Roger Heck. He would keep this position for nearly three decades. Father Heck worked to rebuild the Saint Therese community and mold it into its modern form. Among the changes were decisions to place a bigger emphasis on religious education and social concerns.

Activities and events that are still around today emerged at the beginning of the 1980s. Sharing Sunday, where once a month the total offertory collection was given to charity, started in 1978. The first recipient was the House of Peace.

What we now call the Saint Therese Festival began in 1981 as a one-time event in the winter. When it returned a large profit, it was decided to move it to the summer and make it an annual event. Today, the Festival serves as an attraction and funding occasion for Saint Therese.

The Youth Ministry was announced in 1984, organized by Tim Schwaller, Jerry Mueller, and Bob Schobert. It was intended to allow students to engage in activities of social and service value to a Christian. Included in the Youth Ministry were activities (such as basketball) in the gym, field trips, and service projects.

Christcare was organized in 1982 as a support group for the sick, elderly, and disabled, as well as their families.

One of the most celebrated aspects of Saint Therese Parish is our sister parish in El Salvador. Suggested by Barb Searing in May 1990, the sister parish was set up to show solidarity with the people of El Salvador who, for a decade, were embroiled in civil war. A Salvadoran Humanitarian and Education (SHARE) delegation from Saint Therese visited the San Jose de Las Flores Parish in Guarjila in the fall of that year, thus beginning a new friendship.

Father Heck retired in 1998. Among these were several changes within the staff, such as the appointment of a new pastor, Father Marvin Lazarski, and then an interim administrator, Father Luis Pacheco. Father Phillip Reifenberg was appointed as Parish Administrator to fill out the term of Father Lazarski. This ended in 2002, with the appointment of Parish Director, Dr. Alexandra Guliano, with Assisting Priest Rev. Hugh Birdsall, SDS, and Help-out Priest Rev. Norm Oswald.

Beginning as just a small chapel on Bluemound Road, the “little flower” of Saint Therese has blossomed into a lively community of believers. Though there are challenges for the Parish, Saint Therese has always met them under the inspiration of our patron, Saint Therese of Lisieux, following her “Little Way.”