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St. Theresa's Parish History
1954 - 1999
45 Years of Faith and Still Growing
"Take courage, pray and work hard, for if God wills it many great things could and will develop in Geyer Springs from the start." (Bishop Fletcher, October, 1950 at the groundbreaking for the first St. Theresa Church.
Great things have developed since the original parishioners visioned a church in their own community and a school for their children. On 2.5 acres donated by the late Paul and Lillie DeLeuil a 30' x 60' $12,000 combination church and hall was dedicated April 23, 1951. Approximately 45 families made up the congregation. St. Theresa became a parish September, 1954 with Fr. William L. Burke as first Pastor. Today we are 700 families, 2100 parishioners stong.
PASTORS:
| 1954 - 1958 | Fr. William Burke (deceased) |
| 1958 - 1960 | Fr. James G. Evans (deceased) |
| 1960 - 1975 | Msgr. Rudolph Maus (retired) |
| 1975 - 1981 | Fr. Leo Riedmueller (pastor, St. Mary, Hot Springs) |
| 1981 - 1986 | Fr. Thomas Keller (pastor, Our Lady of Good Council, Little Rock) |
| 1986 - 1989 | Fr. James Savory (retired) |
| 1989 - 1990 | Fr. Robert Torres (retired) |
| 1990 - 1994 | Fr. Jon McDougal (pastor, St. Louis Church, Camden, and Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Magnolia) |
| 1994 - pres. | Fr. John M. Connell |
EARLY HISTORY OF SCHOOL:
1959 - School started, 2 Benedictine sisters teachers, 75 students. Grades 1 - 6, classrooms in hall.1960 - Lay teacher added. 7th grade added. 125 students. Sr. William (Bernice) Siebold, OSB begins Music School.
1961 - Third Sister teacher added. 8th grade added. 150 students. School moved to first 4 classrooms.
1963 - Lay teacher added. Second 4 classrooms in use. Current enrollment of St. Theresa School pre-K through Grade 8: 281 students.
1964 - Fourth Sister teacher added.
SCHOOL PRINCIPALS:
| 1958 - 1965 | Sr. M. DeSales (Louise) Sharum, OSB |
| 1965 - 1968 | Sr. Josella Birkenfeld, OSB |
| 1968 - 1971 | Sr. Bede Eckart, OSB |
| 1971 - 1976 | Sr. DeChantal Hylnd, OSB |
| 1976 - 1979 | Sr. Dismas Mixon, OSB |
| 1979 - 1984 | Dr. Richard Emmel |
| 1984 - 1985 | Mrs. Pauline Jegley |
| 1985 - 2002 | Mrs. Pat Baker |
| 2002 - Present | Mrs. Judy Davidson |
45 YEARS OF GROWTH:
1947 - First planning meeting to establish Mission Churchin Geyer Springs.1951 - First Church dedicated (now destroyed).
1954 - St. Theresa Mission becomes St. Theresa Parish (September).
1958 - Parish Hall (gym) completed.
1960 - Convent completed (now Administration Building).
1961 - First four classrooms completed.
1961 through 1973 - Parish Hall used as "temporary church".
1963 - Second four classrooms completed.
1973 - Present church and rectory completed.
1974 - Library connecting classrooms completed.
1986 - Addition to school built, kindergarten classrooms completed.
1988 - Third and Fouth grade classrooms completed.
1993 - Entire School addition finished and in use.
2001 - New Parish Center completed.
  
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