Early History

Bishop Gerald Frey established St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church and parish on September 3, 1968. The first Mass was celebrated on September 29, 1968, in a house located at 3327 Crane Ferry Road, about two blocks from the present Church. In addition to being the place of worship for Catholics residing on the west side of Richmond County and in Martinez, this house also served as the parish office, the parish hall, and the residence for the first pastor (Fr. Roy Cox). It’s hard to imagine when you consider that about seventy families were in the membership of St. Teresa’s at that time!

Parishioners worshipped in the house until December 14, 1969, when the first Mass was celebrated in the T-shaped multi-purpose building located on Pleasant Home Road. The main area of the multi-purpose building was used as the Church and Social Hall, and the wing contained a kitchen and seven small Sunday school rooms. Bishop Frey dedicated the new Worship Center in January 1970.

On September 4, 1970, Fr. Thomas Payne became pastor of St. Teresa of Avila; Msgr. Felix Donnelly succeeded Fr. Payne on July 8, 1972. During their pastorates, the parish grew in numbers; and these priests began working on plans for a new Church and established a building fund.

Fr. Walter DiFrancesco became pastor on July 14, 1976. Many of the parishioners desired a new Church building; however, Fr. DiFrancesco convinced the Parish Council that an overall plan for physical expansion should be drawn up before any building was started. With time, it was determined that the parish’s greatest need was more Sunday school space. Even though Msgr. Donnelly had acquired a surplus Army building, it could accommodate only three Sunday school classes. Enrollment had continued to grow each year, and three classes were being held in the worship area each weekend.

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