About Saint Theresa the Little Flower · Summerville, South Carolina
St. Theresa the Little Flower is a Roman Catholic parish in Summerville, South Carolina, belonging to the Diocese of Charleston. It was established on January 3, 1984, when Bishop Ernest Unterkoefler signed the decree creating a new parish in Summerville, taking its name from St. Thérèse of Lisieux and her 'little way' of spiritual childhood before God. Today the parish serves a diverse, bilingual community at 11001 Dorchester Avenue with weekend Masses in English and Spanish, daily Mass Tuesday through Saturday, a full faith formation program from kindergarten through high school, and a broad range of parish ministries. Current pastor is Rev. Fr. Michael Cellars, appointed January 26, 2023 by Most Rev. Jacques Fabre-Jeune, CS.
- Established
- 1984
- Patron
- St. Thérèse of Lisieux (the Little Flower)
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. Michael Cellars
- Diocese
- Diocese of Charleston
Why belong here
St. Theresa the Little Flower welcomes Catholics and seekers into a parish family that explicitly frames faith as a lifelong journey, beginning at Baptism and continuing into the parish's youth ministry and Young Adults groups. Worship is offered in both English and Spanish — a daily Tuesday-through-Saturday morning Mass, a Spanish Mass Thursday evenings, and a full Sunday schedule — so families from both language communities can call it home. Parishioners can grow through Faith Formation K–9, sacramental preparation, OCIA (formerly RCIA), ministries like Knights of Columbus, Columbiettes, Prayer Shawl, Respect Life, and Bible Study, and outreach through Social Outreach/St. Vincent de Paul. With a 1,100-seat sanctuary, the Powell Chapel and Administrative Center, and 23 wooded acres near the Ashley River, the campus provides both room and beauty for an active Catholic life in Summerville.
Mass times at Saint Theresa the Little Flower
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 9:30 am
- Saturday 3:30 pm
- Wednesday 10:00 am
- Thursday 7:30 pm
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Monday 9:30 am – 8:00 pm (per third-party listing of the parish schedule)
Our History
Catholic faith in the Summerville area dates back to a small 1898 church dedicated to St. John the Beloved. By the early 1980s the growing Catholic population had outgrown that building, and on January 3, 1984 Bishop Ernest Unterkoefler signed the decree creating St. Theresa the Little Flower parish. Founded on a serene 23-acre site near the Ashley River by Rev. Thomas McManus, the parish first worshipped in the gym of Pinewood Preparatory Academy and then at Newington Elementary School. Successive pastors — Rev. Edward Morley, OCSO, Rev. David J. Schiller, and longtime pastor Monsignor Edward D. Lofton — shaped its growth. Under Msgr. Lofton the new sanctuary and the Daniel Thomas Powell Chapel & Administrative Center were built, Rev. Norbert Mendonca led the parish through COVID and started the Spanish Mass, and Rev. Fr. Michael Cellars was appointed pastor on January 26, 2023 by Bishop Jacques Fabre-Jeune, CS.
- January 3, 1984 — parish established by decree of Bishop Ernest Unterkoefler
- February 1984 — founding priest Rev. Thomas McManus arrives
- 1986–1988 — Rev. Edward Morley, OCSO serves; returns to Holy Spirit Monastery, Conyers, GA
- 1997 — Monsignor Edward D. Lofton becomes pastor; oversees major building program
- Spring 2001 — 13,500 sq ft sanctuary dedicated, with Italian Venetian-glass Millennium Christ mosaic donated by the Toner family in memory of Fr. Schiller
- February 2011 — Daniel Thomas Powell Chapel & Administrative Center completed
- July 15, 2021 — Rev. Norbert Mendonca becomes pastor; begins Spanish Mass
- January 26, 2023 — Rev. Fr. Michael Cellars appointed current pastor by Most Rev. Jacques Fabre-Jeune, CS
Faith Formation K–9
Faith Formation at St. Theresa the Little Flower is described as a lifelong journey beginning at Baptism. Children of the parish are expected to attend their grade-level class every year. Classes meet Sunday mornings from 9:15 am to 10:30 am during the school year, and the program is supported by catechists, substitute catechists, and event helpers. Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion typically happens in 2nd grade, while Confirmation is celebrated in high school following a year of active Faith Formation participation.
- Sunday morning Faith Formation, 9:15–10:30 am
- First Reconciliation & First Holy Communion — 2nd grade
- Confirmation — high school, with prior-year Faith Formation participation required
- Homeschooling families — supported with curriculum but must request approval
- Fees: Regular Faith Formation $40; First Holy Communion Sacramental $60; Confirmation Sacramental & Retreat $75
- Baptism Certificate required for students preparing for First Holy Communion or Confirmation
- Director of Religious Education: Jeffrey Elbertson
OCIA — Becoming Catholic (Adults & Children)
The parish runs the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (formerly RCIA) for adults seeking to become Catholic or complete their sacraments of initiation — Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. OCIA classes meet every Tuesday from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm, beginning August 26, 2025. For children over age 7 who have not been baptized, or older than 8 who have not yet received First Communion, the Order of Christian Initiation for Children (OCIC) meets Sundays 9:15–10:30 am following the regular Faith Formation schedule.
- OCIA (adults) — Tuesdays 6:30–8:00 pm, starting August 26, 2025
- OCIC (children) — Sundays 9:15–10:30 am
- Contact: (843) 875-5002 or [email protected]
Ministries & Parish Life
St. Theresa the Little Flower supports a wide range of parish ministries for men, women, youth, young adults, seniors, and families. Social Outreach and Respect Life work are central to the parish's mission beyond the walls of the church. The Hispanic Ministry / Ministerio Hispano — directed in part through the bilingual parish offices — has grown rapidly since the Spanish Mass began in 2021.
- Knights of Columbus
- Columbiettes
- Ancient Order of Hibernians
- Middle School Youth Ministry
- High School Youth Ministry
- Young Adults
- Young at Heart (seniors)
- Family Ministry
- Bible Study
- Prayer Shawl Ministry
- Respect Life
- Social Outreach / St. Vincent de Paul
Sacraments
Information about the seven sacraments — Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony — is provided through dedicated parish pages. The Baptism page outlines the process for infants through the Order of Christian Initiation for Children (OCIC) and directs inquirers to the parish office for adult sacraments.
- Baptism for children — through OCIC, Sundays 9:15–10:30 am
- First Reconciliation & First Holy Communion — typically 2nd grade
- Confirmation — high school after required Faith Formation
- OCIA — Tuesday evenings for adults entering the Church
- Reconciliation — see confession schedule or by appointment
- Matrimony — contact parish office
Our Clergy & Staff
The parish is served by a pastor, three permanent deacons, and a lay staff that includes directors of Religious Education, Sacred Music, and Facilities, plus administrative support in both English and Spanish.
- Rev. Fr. Michael Cellars — Pastor
- Rev. Mr. Ken Chandlee — Deacon
- Rev. Mr. Dan Crance — Deacon
- Rev. Mr. Michael Regan — Deacon
- Jeffrey Elbertson — Director of Religious Education and Youth Ministry
- Ian Simon — Director of Sacred Music
- Greg Mueller — Director of Facilities
- Ashley Folz — Administrative Assistant / Events Coordinator
- Gaby Espinoza — Administrative Assistant, Ministerio Hispano
- Carmen Ramírez — staff
- Bartolome Hernandez — staff
- Ramon Hernandez — Garden Maintenance
- Perfecta Hernandez — Directora de Educación Religiosa
- Brian Riggle — Ministerio de Música Hispana (volunteer)
- Cierra Scott — staff
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Thomas McManus1984–1986
Founding priest who arrived in February 1984; celebrated first Masses in the Pinewood Preparatory Academy gym and Newington Elementary School.
- Rev. Edward Morley, OCSO1986–1988
Trappist priest who returned to Holy Spirit Monastery in Conyers, GA after two years.
- Rev. David J. Schiller1988–1997
First official Pastor; on his retirement the Italian Venetian-glass mosaic in his memory was later donated by the Toner family.
- Monsignor Edward D. Lofton1997–2021
Long-tenured pastor who led the 2001 sanctuary and 2011 chapel/administrative center building programs; remained to bridge to his successor.
- Rev. Norbert Mendonca2021–2023
Guided the parish through the aftermath of COVID; began the Spanish Mass, nurturing the growing Hispanic community.
- Rev. Fr. Michael Cellars2023–present
Appointed January 26, 2023 by Most Rev. Jacques Fabre-Jeune, CS.