History:

Father Patrick Lyons, appointed by Bishop Robert Armstrong as the first pastor of Saint Theresa Parish, came to the mountain community of South Lake Tahoe in 1951. Less than twenty Catholic families were permanent residents at the time the parish was established. Sunday Mass was celebrated at the American Legion Hall until the church was completed in 1953. Father Lyons passed away at the age of 38 after a lingering illness. The street on which the parish is located, Lyons Avenue, was named after him in 1958.On April 18, 1956, Father John Grace became the second pastor of Saint Theresa Parish. Under his leadership, the parish flourished. As the community of South Lake Tahoe grew (incorporating in 1965), so did the parish. The parish hall, rectory, school and convent were built, as well as expansions to the church. In order to accommodate the thousands of visitors each summer, Saint Theresa assumed responsibility for Our Lady of the Sierra Mission at Camp Sacramento from the Franciscans, and established Saint Mary in the Pines, an outdoor chapel located at Stateline.Construction of Saint Theresa Catholic School began in the spring of 1960 and the school was ready for operation in September of that year. Immaculate Heart Sisters staffed the school until its unexpected closure in 1969. During its closure, the school was used as an annex for the public school district, as well as for religious education classes.

In May of 1993, Father John Grace retired and Monsignor Murrough Wallace was appointed by Bishop Francis Quinn as Saint Theresa’s third pastor. Almost immediately, parishioners began to push for the reopening of the parish school, and with his support, they were successful. The school reopened its doors in September 1994 and now has classes for kindergarten through eighth grade. Little Flower Pre-School opened in 2003.

During Monsignor Wallace’s tenure, the parish continued its growth. An influx of Hispanic and Filipino workers to the Lake Tahoe region, many of whom were Catholic, combined with an ever increasing number of visitors, made it apparent that the parish would soon outgrow its home. As the structural integrity of the church was examined, it also became evident that a simple re-model would not do. Finally, when Saint Mary in the Pines closed due to the owner’s need to use the land, Monsignor Wallace recognized the need and made the bold decision to build a new church.