On Dec. 31, the doors to the St. Theresa Chapel, known as Capilla de Santa Teresita, on 65th Street in Little Rock closed and on Jan. 3 the doors of St. Theresa Church on Baseline Road in Little Rock opened wide for the Hispanic community.
About 80 people attended the first weekday Mass in Spanish at St. Theresa Church, and three days later, 450 attended the first Sunday Mass in Spanish.
Since then, attendance remains high, and many Hispanic families in Little Rock are finding a new parish home at St. Theresa.
Kristy Dunn, a fourth-grade teacher at St. Theresa School, was in attendance at the Mass Jan. 6 and said, “I have already witnessed our Hispanic students breathe new life into our school; now their entire families are finding a home in this parish.”
The capilla was opened four years ago thanks to money provided from grants. Its purpose was to help Hispanic immigrants make an easier transition into the Anglo community in southwest Little Rock. The capilla provided Bible studies, classes in English, tutoring for children, catechism classes and Masses in Spanish on Thursday evenings. Deacon Marcelino Luna, Hispanic Ministry director for the diocese, said that because the capilla had a limited amount of funding, it was never meant to remain open for more than two years.
In the summer of 2007, funding for the capilla ran out. At that time, Father John Connell, pastor of St. Theresa, said he had been witnessing an increasing number of Hispanics in southwest Little Rock and thought St. Theresa should include an Hispanic ministry.
With the closing of the capilla and the growing attendance at Spanish Masses at St. Edward Church in downtown Little Rock, 2008 seemed like the perfect time for St. Theresa to add Hispanic ministry and continue the mission of the capilla.
“This parish is more than ready to welcome our Hispanic brothers and sisters by not just providing space but letting them know they’re a part of our parish family by supporting their various needs,” Father Connell said.
Already, small groups, baptism classes and catechism classes have started. A choir has formed to lead music during Masses on Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 1 p.m. Soon a classroom at St. Theresa will be set up for Hispanic ministry. Also, the church office added a new staff member, secretary Beatriz Prito, to assist Father Connell and the current staff with Spanish-speaking families in the church.
Currently, Father Connell is learning Spanish but receives help in celebrating Mass from Msgr. Scott Friend, diocesan vocations director, and the Vincentian priests, Father Juan Carlos Lozada Olarte, Father James Ward and Father Tom Stehlik. Deacons Arnold Hernandez, CM, and Luna have assisted at the Masses.
“My prayer is to learn Spanish because I want to let them (Hispanic parishioners) know that as their pastor, I can communicate with them,” Father Connell said.
The pastor’s Spanish is improving, but he added, “In the meantime, we have one common language, and that is the Eucharist.”
Luna said eventually a priest from Columbia is expected to come support the Spanish-speaking ministries at both St. Theresa and St. Edward. About the transition from the capilla to St. Theresa, Luna said, “It was time to do it, and I’m very pleased with the response from the St. Theresa community and the Hispanic community.”
