St. Teresa Catholic Church of Belleville, Illinois

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About the Parish

      St. Teresa’s Parish was founded in 1926 by the Most Reverend Henry Althoff, Bishop of Belleville. The parish was formed out of the existing parishes of the Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Luke, and put under the protection of St. Teresa of the Child Jesus – also know as “The Little Flower.”

      The first pastor, Reverend William Hoff, arrived in Belleville on January 7, 1926, and temporarily took up residence at the Cathedral. Shortly thereafter, that “initial parish family,” which consisted of approximately 120 families of German-American descent, purchased two homes on property located in the 1100 block of Lebanon Avenue. One would be used for the rectory and the other for a convent. They also decided to build a church and a school on the property. The church and school were dedicated on August 29, 1926, and the school opened on September 7th with an enrollment of 135 pupils. The School Sisters of Notre Dame took up residence in the parish on September 21, 1926. To accomplish all of this in one year was quite a feat for such a small number of households.

     By 1950, the parish had grown to nearly 500 families, and there was need for additional educational space. On May 28, 1951, ground was broken for a new school, which was dedicated by the Most Reverend Albert R. Zuroweste on September 7, 1952.

     With the death of Monsignor Hoff on June 1, 1955, Monsignor Joseph Stenger was appointed the second pastor of St. Teresa on August 1, 1955. Perhaps the most significant event under his leadership was the purchase of the Star-Peerless Brewery property for $54,000 in 1958, which ultimately became the site of the present-day church and rectory. Ground was broken for this construction project on January 3, 1965, and dedication ceremonies were held on May 7, 1967.

     Monsignor’s unexpected death occurred in September 1971, and Monsignor Laurence J. O’Connell succeeded him. Even though the pastorate of Monsignor O’Connell was extremely short, having passed away on march 19, 1975, his lifelong interest in education was instrumental in providing a much needed library for the school.

     Monsignor Cletus Cunningham served as the fourth pastor of St. Teresa Parish. He was appointed in 1975 and served until 1982. The responsibility of providing educational and growth opportunities for the whole child was enhanced during his pastorate with the purchase of additional frontage property adjoining the school grounds on Church Street, and the subsequent building of a gymnasium, several classrooms and a fully equipped kitchen.

     Father Robert Dollar followed Monsignor Cunningham as pastor. He continued the implementation of church reform mandated by the Second Vatican Council. The beauty of our parish grounds was enhanced by undertaking a major landscaping project, as well as the erection of an informational sign at the entrance to the church property. Again, property was purchased on Lebanon Avenue for expansion of the school playground area. In July 1991, the parish fully realized the national shortage of religious vocations, when the School Sisters of Notre Dame ceased their presence in the staffing of our parish school.

     Father Louis Peterson became the sixth pastor of St. Teresa’s on June 24, 1991. The parish, now the second largest in the Diocese of Belleville, had a membership of over 1,450 households. The school had an enrollment of 298 children in Kindergarten through Eighth grade, while 192 children were enrolled in the Parish School of Religion. Father Peterson was granted a leave of absence in January of 1994.  

      Several priests served as Administrators from January until the end of June.

     Father Donald W. Eichenseer served as parish administrator from July of 1994 until he was named the seventh pastor of the parish in November 1995. In May of 2000, Father Eichenseer was recommended by Bishop Wilton D. Gregory to be named a “Prelate of Honor of His Holiness” and given the title “monsignor”. Under his leadership a new addition to the school was completed in July of 2000 providing a parish meeting area, eight classrooms, an elevator, handicapped accessibility and additional parking.

     Father John L. Venegoni was appointed the eighth pastor of St. Teresa’s Parish by Bishop Wilton Gregory on September 2, 2003. Fr. Venegoni restructured the the Pastoral Council, greatly reduced the parish debt owed on the new addition, improved the lighting around the grounds, and installed air-conditioning to seven of the original classrooms. Fr. Venegoni was granted a medical leave of absence in July of 2007.

     The current pastor, Fr. David Darin, was appointed the ninth pastor of St. Teresa's by Bishop Edward K. Braxton on July 10, 2007.