Chronological History

Saint Therese of the Child Jesus in Midvale began as a mission of Saint Ann's parish in 1917. The Catholic Directories of 1917-1925 list the name of the mission as Saint Joseph Church. The mission's first masses were held in the parlor of a private home on Main Street and later moved to the Woodsmen of America/Odd Fellows Hall located in a local tavern. As time passed Mass was moved to the second story of Goff Mortuary at Center and Main streets. Parishioners traveled from as far away as Riverton traveling in a horse drawn surrey. In the cold months, the two hour round trip was made more comfortable by heated bricks arranged with blankets to keep the adult and children travelers warm.

Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent De Paul taught sunday school in Midvale each week from 1924 to 1926.

Father Patrick McGuire was assigned to say mass and administer sacraments at the Mission from 1925 to 1934. Father purchased property in 1926 to build the church. Both Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Magna and Saint Therese Parish in Midvale were designed and constructed as part of the same project. The churches are designed in Old English Style and constructed of native stone. 

Bishop John J. Mitty dedicated the church on September 3, 1928. Midvale was made a full parish in 1934 by Bishop James E. Kearney and Father Joseph I. Gosselin was named it's first pastor. The name was changed and was listed as Saint Theresa of the Little Flower in the Catholic Directories from 1935 to 1947. Reverend James T. Torsney served as administrator from 1939 through 1942 when Father John A. Finneral became administrator in 1942 serving only one year, passing away in 1943. He died in the rectory, in a chair, beside the telephone.

Following the death of Father Finneral, Bishop Hunt thought of closing Saint Therese Parish. In 1943, however, Father Francis J. Sloan volunteered to become pastor and remained until 1951. The parish grew and in 1957 Father (later Monsignor) Joseph P. Moreton built a Parish Hall on the northwest corner of Church property. He encouraged the parishioners to put a "dime a day" away to later donate to the hall building fund. The new hall served as the place for worship, chairs were moved in for Mass and liturgies and for a Religious Education Center as well as social functions, including bingo.

In the following years pastors were: Father James T. Kenny, 1962-1969, Father Robert C. Pollock, (later Reverend Monsignor) 1969-1972, and Father Glen Shrope, 1972-1982. 

Father Shrope built the new church, the happy parishioners hosted an open house and the church was dedicated and opened for services in 1974. The hall is still in use and with the new church the title "Saint Therese of the Child Jesus" became the permanent name of the parish.

The year 1974 saw the publication of a parish directory, as well as opening of a food bank and thrift store.

The first class of Permanent Deacons in the Diocese of Salt Lake City, ordained on December 26, 1976 provided Saint Therese Parish with our Deacon Stanley Stott and to this day in 2021 he continues to serve.

1984 through 1989 saw Father James Semple as pastor, followed by Father Matthew O. Wixted from 1989 to 1996. Father Stanislaw Herba served as pastor from 1996 to 2003. In the years 2001 and 2002 a Religious Education Center was constructed and continues to be used.

Father Francisco Pires was assigned to and cared for Saint Therese Parish during 2003. Following his ordination for the Diocese of Salt Lake City on May 29, 2003, Father Samuel Dinsdale was assigned parochial vicar at Saint Therese from 2003 to 2006. Father Dinsdale and Father Pires were reassigned in 2006, Father Dinsdale going to Park City and Father Pires to establish the new Saint Andrew's Parish in Riverton, Utah.

In 2004, Father Pires oversaw the remodeling of the main church interior. A renovation of the Hall kitchen took place in 2006.

On August 2, 2006 Father Martin Diaz arrived at Saint Therese Parish. During his seven year assignment he was instrumental in returning the Little Rock Church to its original use as a Church (instead of a social hall) and oversaw the installation of the necessary equipment so that the church could be used as it once was, for Daily Mass. It is recognized as a historic site and now Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Daily Mass and occasional retreats are held there. It was re-dedicated in July 2010 (Intermountain Catholic article on Little Rock Church Dedication ). 

In 1999 construction began on the Religous Education Center which presently serves needs of our English- speaking and Spanish speaking families not only for classes for the children but as a meeting space for many and varied ministries of othe parish

The pastors and parochial vicars assisted by Deacon Stan Stott and Bea Mcbride, Director of religous education at the tme, guided the parish from serving working-class families that immigrated from Latin America: Mexico, Columbia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Peru and the like. The pastors were: Father William M. Mbley, Father James Semple, Father Matthew O. Wixted, Father Stanislaw Herba, and Father Francisco Pires. The parochial vicars were: Father Hernando Diaz, Father Javier Virgen, and Father Samuel Dinsdale.

Sadly, in 2008, the large "new" Church (1974) was greatly damaged by smoke and some fire due to the Church being closed and a candle left burning. After the damage assessment and with the agreement of a large number of parishioners it was decided that to expand and repair the existing Church (Intermountain Catholic article on groundbreaking). With some 500 families, space was becoming scarce. The Parishioners were happy to meet in the old parish Hall and discuss and vote on the plan to recover the church. Mass was held in the Hall for almost two years as the Church was repaired and expanded. 

On September 27, 2009 the new church building was dedicated by Bishop John C. Wester (Salt Lake Tribune article, Intermountain Catholic article). 

Father Diaz had the Hall kitchen remodeled and updated during his tenure at Saint Therese and also oversaw the upgrade of some rooms including a new kitchen in the CCD Center in order to accommodate the Legion of Mary, DCCW Ladies, and Knights of Columbus meetings. It is dedicated to the memory of Father Thomas Culleton, a generous benefactor .Father Denis Reilly, a retired Dominican priest came to Saint Therese on June 22, 2007. He served faithfully through 2013 when in August he moved to Saint John the Baptist Parish, in Draper, Utah to fill a new assignment.

Father Martin Diaz was called to serve at the Cathedral of the Madeleine, and left Saint Therese Parish in August 2013.

2023- Now Fr. Jose Gregorio Rausseo is the current pastor serving Saint Therese Parish during her Centennial year as a parish (2025).

The Little Rock Church Today

The St. Therese of the Child Jesus Chapel or the "little rock church" was built in 1927 as a mission church for St. Ann's Parish in Murray under Msgr. Patrick A. Maguire. It was dedicated by Bishop John Mitty on Sept. 3 1928. In 1934, Bishop James Kearney made St Therese a parish on its own with Fr. Joseph Gosselin as its first proper pastor covering the Sandy and Draper areas.

Once the parish outgrew the church in the 1950's, it was turned into a social hall and a CCD classroom. However, in 2009 it was restored and the new altar dedicated.

Today, the Old Church is still being used for the daily weekday masses. It holds Eucharistic Adoration every Thursday from 9:30 am to 6:30 pm, and confessions every at 5:30 to 6:15 pm. 

Baptism, Wedding and Quincenera are also held here if the Main Church is not available during weekends.

Saint Therese' Main Church 

From 1969 to 1974, the original small stone church could no longer accommodate the increasing number of new parishioners that is why in 1974 Fr. Glen Shrope initiated the construction of the new church of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus. But on January 4, 2008, the church was destroyed from smoke damage caused by an Advent-Christmas candle left burning the night before at the end of the evening Mass. Instead of just rebuilding the church, the diocese decided to expand the church. The renovation was done under the supervision of Fr. Martin Diaz and the church was dedicated by Bishop John Wester on September 27, 2009.

Today, the main church is used for all the weekend Masses, including Baptisms, Quinceneras, Funerals, prayer meetings, retreats and other celebrations where a large crowd is expected.