About Blessed Teresa of Calcutta · Ferguson, Missouri
Blessed Teresa of Calcutta was a Roman Catholic parish at 150 N. Elizabeth Avenue in Ferguson, Missouri, serving a 22-square-mile territory across North County municipalities including Hazelwood, Calverton Park, Berkeley, Kinloch, Cool Valley, Normandy, Ferguson, Dellwood, Jennings, and Florissant. Founded in July 2005 as the synthesis of six parishes (St. Bartholomew, Holy Angels, Holy Ghost, St. Sebastian, Good Shepherd, and Sts. John & James), the parish merged their heritages into a new mission community. As part of the Archdiocese of St. Louis' 'All Things New' restructuring, the parish was closed on August 1, 2023, and its territory was absorbed by Sacred Heart Parish in Florissant, where the Ferguson church now operates as one of three worship sites alongside Sacred Heart Church and St. Rose Philippine Duchesne Church. The parish is home to Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Catholic School and remains an active center for the BTC community under the umbrella of Sacred Heart Parish.
- Established
- 2005
- Patron
- Saint Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa)
- Rector
- Reverend William (Very Reverend William Kempf is listed as Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, which now encompasses BTC)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of St. Louis
Why belong here
Blessed Teresa of Calcutta offers a deeply rooted, multi-cultural North County Catholic community with a school, two food pantries, and more than 50 active ministries and organizations — including St. Vincent de Paul, the Knights of Columbus, Knights of Peter Claver, youth ministry, RCIA/OCIA, Ladies of Teresa, Men's Club, and a robust Athletics Association. Worship continues at the Ferguson site, with the All-School Mass celebrated on Wednesday mornings during the school year, making BTC both a parish and a school-centered hub for Catholic life in Ferguson.
Mass times at Blessed Teresa of Calcutta
Weekly Mass schedule
About Our Parish
Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Parish and School was a synthesis and culmination of six parishes — St. Bartholomew, Holy Angels, Holy Ghost, St. Sebastian, Good Shepherd, and Sts. John & James — whose energy and spirit were fused together in July 2005. The parish's stated mission was to be 'carriers of God's Love to One Another and the Greater Community,' a community deeply rooted in the faith of people who brought rich traditions to the new parish while welcoming diversity and change.
- Founded July 2005
- 22-square-mile territory across North County
- Ten municipalities served: Hazelwood, Calverton Park, Berkeley, Kinloch, Cool Valley, Normandy, Ferguson, Dellwood, Jennings, and Florissant
- Mission: carriers of God's Love to One Another and the Greater Community
Merger into Sacred Heart Parish (2023)
As part of the Archdiocese of St. Louis' 'All Things New' pastoral planning initiative announced by Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski, Blessed Teresa of Calcutta was merged into Sacred Heart Parish in Florissant effective August 1, 2023. The Vatican Dicastery for the Clergy ultimately denied the secondary appeal from BTC parishioners. The Ferguson church now operates as one of three worship sites of Sacred Heart Parish, alongside Sacred Heart Church (Florissant) and St. Rose Philippine Duchesne Church (Florissant).
- Decree published May 27, 2023
- Effective August 1, 2023
- Territory merged into Sacred Heart – Florissant
- Vatican appeal denied by Dicastery for the Clergy
Our Patroness — Saint Teresa of Calcutta
The parish is named for Saint Teresa of Calcutta (1910–1997), the Albanian-Indian Catholic religious sister and founder of the Missionaries of Charity, canonized by Pope Francis on September 4, 2016. She was beatified by Pope John Paul II on October 19, 2003 — and the parish was named in her honor while she was still 'Blessed' Teresa of Calcutta, in 2005. Her optional memorial is celebrated on September 5 throughout the General Roman Calendar following a December 2024 Dicastery decree.
- Feast day: September 5
- Canonized September 4, 2016 by Pope Francis
- Beatified October 19, 2003 by Pope John Paul II
- Nobel Peace Prize laureate (1979)
Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Catholic School
Blessed Teresa of Calcutta School of Sacred Heart Parish offers K-8 Catholic education in North County, focusing on developing the whole child — spiritual, intellectual, physical, social, and emotional talents. The school operates on the Ferguson campus and supports students through programs such as the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), the BTC Angels sponsorship program, and Scrip gift-card fundraising.
- Principal: Dr. Lisa Luna
- School Secretary: Cheryl Morris
- Advancement Director: Erin Lee
- School Phone: 314-522-3888
- Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)
- BTC Angels sponsorship program
- Scrip gift-card fundraising
Parish Organizations & Ministries
The parish supported more than 50 active ministries and organizations. Outreach was anchored by the St. Vincent de Paul Society (food and utility assistance, two weekly food pantries) and supported by fraternal organizations (Knights of Columbus De Andreis Council #800, Knights of Peter Claver), youth ministry, women's and men's clubs, liturgical committees, and social groups.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society — Mike Cunningham; food pantries Tuesday and Friday; meets 2nd Thursday 7 PM
- Knights of Columbus (De Andreis Council #800) — Mike Saxe; meets 3rd Thursday 7 PM
- Knights of Peter Claver — meets 1st Monday 6 PM
- Youth Group (HS Sundays 7 PM) & EDGE (MS Mondays 6:30 PM) — Jeff Finnegan
- Liturgy Committee — Deacon Al Love; meets 3rd Saturday 10:30 AM
- Athletic Association — LaMika Covington; meets 3rd Wednesday 7:30 PM
- Ladies of Teresa — Lizzie Lonero; meets 4th Monday 7 PM
- Men's Club — Ted Heidemann & John Knowles; meets 4th Tuesday 7 PM
- Quilters — Marilyn Geiger & Dorothy Frese; weekly meetings
- Bridge & Game Clubs — Eileen Weiskopf
- Environment Committee — Laurie Steinmann
- Maintenance Committee
- Teresa's Helpers (funeral luncheon ministry)
- Donuts & Healthy Hospitality — first weekend each month after 8:15 AM Sunday Mass
- MCU (Metropolitan Congregations United) — Carolyn Randazzo
- ACA Volunteers — Gerry Bucher & Joe Schroeder
- Finance Council — Patrick Wall
- Parish Council
Youth Ministry & Faith Formation
Youth Ministry at BTC was led by Jeff Finnegan ([email protected]) and offered programs for both high school and middle school teens. The parish also ran a Parish School of Religion (PSR) program in conjunction with EDGE for middle school youth, supporting sacramental preparation and ongoing faith formation.
- Youth Group — Sundays 7 PM (high school)
- EDGE — Mondays 6:30 PM (middle school)
- PSR (Parish School of Religion) program
- Baptismal preparation appointments via Jeff Finnegan (ext 352)
Sacraments
The parish prepared parishioners for the sacraments through scheduled programs. Marriage preparation was arranged six months in advance through the pastor. RCIA/OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) was offered for those becoming Catholic, with introductory sessions led by Fr. Haley and Jeff Finnegan.
- Baptism preparation via Youth Minister
- Marriage preparation 6 months in advance with Fr. Haley
- RCIA / OCIA for Becoming Catholic
- Funeral arrangements via parish office
Giving & Outreach
Parishioner donations were the primary source of funding for parish operations, ministries, and outreach. BTC operated two food pantries through the St. Vincent de Paul Society and provided utility assistance to hundreds of families in the area. School-related giving included the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), BTC Angels, and Scrip gift-card programs.
- Sunday Offerings — weekly offertory collection
- School Assistance (Blue Envelope)
- Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)
- BTC Angels — student sponsorship
- Scrip gift cards
- Annual Appeal for BTC Catholic School
- St. Vincent de Paul food & utility assistance
Joining the Parish
Newcomers were welcomed with a downloadable registration form and an invitation to attend any of the 50+ ministries listed on the parish website. Introduction sessions for those joining the Catholic faith were led by the pastor and the youth minister. The parish encouraged participation in liturgical and social ministries as the foundation of parish family life.
- Registration form available via parish website
- Introduction to Catholicism sessions with Fr. Haley and Jeff Finnegan
- Weekly bulletin for Mass intentions and events
- Active calendar of ministries and social events
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Reverend Thomas Haley
Listed as Pastor of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Parish; now serves as Part-Time Senior Associate Pastor at Sacred Heart Parish following the 2023 merger.