St. Teresa of Avila

About St. Teresa of Avila

St. Teresa of Avila is a small Catholic mission in Madison, Kansas, in the Diocese of Wichita. The parish was organized in 1954 by about 25 Catholic families from northern Greenwood County, and the present church was completed and dedicated in 1955. It is one of three Catholic parishes that make up the Greenwood County Catholic Churches cluster, served by a single pastor based in Eureka. About 15 families (roughly 50 individual Catholics) belong to the mission.

History of St. Teresa of Avila

The parish traces its beginnings to the first Mass celebrated at the John Simon home near Madison in May 1954. Groundbreaking on a five-acre tract donated by Mrs. Simon (the former Abbie Schneider) took place that September, and the church was finished in time for its first Mass on Easter Sunday 1955, with about 75 people present. Solemn dedication followed on May 22, 1955. A 1959 fire destroyed the temporary rectory and the parish's early records, and the church has weathered several moments of uncertainty — including becoming a mission of Sacred Heart in 1976 due to a priest shortage, and a near-closure in 1993 that was later reversed.

• 1954 — Parish organized; first Mass at the John Simon home
• 1955 — Church completed; first Mass Easter Sunday; solemnly dedicated May 22, 1955
• 1957–1960s — Summer vacation school by Sisters Adorers of the Blood of Christ (Wichita)
• 1959 — Rectory fire destroys church records
• 1963 — Solemn blessing of new altar of sacrifice (used since Vatican II)
• 1967 — St. Mary's, Maydale closes; seven families join St. Teresa
• 1976 — Becomes a mission of Sacred Heart, Eureka (pastor moves to Eureka rectory)
• 1979 — 25th anniversary celebrated
• 1985 — New electric organ and ceiling fans installed
• 1988 — Central air conditioning added
• 1989 — Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary begin summer vacation school
• 1990 — Communion railing restored; new sidewalks, memorial landscaping
• 1993 — Possible closure announced, then reversed
• 1996 — Roof repaired after bishop-parishioner meeting on the parish's future
• 1997 — Interior painted; ceiling panels installed

Architecture & Building

The church is a brick and silverdale-stone building measuring 75 by 40 feet with a full basement that includes a large kitchen. It is 30 feet tall with a 35-foot bell tower, and seats 125 with room for another 15 in the choir area. The interior features redwood paneling, simulated glass onyx windows in white, green and violet, a large crucifix and statuary from the DeParto studios of New York City, and pews brought from the old St. John's church at El Dorado. Volunteer labor helped keep construction costs to a modest $31,000. Subsequent improvements have included ceiling fans, a new electric organ, central air conditioning, a restored communion railing, repainted interior with new ceiling panels, and a re-gravelled parking area.

Greenwood County Catholic Churches

St. Teresa of Avila worships and ministers as part of the Greenwood County Catholic Churches, a three-parish cluster in the Diocese of Wichita that shares one pastor and shares most ministries, events, and the weekly bulletin. The two sister parishes are Sacred Heart in Eureka (the largest of the three and the pastor's residence) and St. John the Evangelist in Hamilton.

• Sacred Heart — Eureka (pastor's residence)
• St. John the Evangelist — Hamilton
• St. Teresa of Avila — Madison
• Shared pastor: Fr. Jeremy Huser
• Shared weekly bulletin and combined parish calendar

Ministries & Organizations

Parishioners of St. Teresa participate in ministries shared across the Greenwood County Catholic community. The St. Teresa Altar Society supports the parish and its Mass intentions, the Knights of Columbus serves the broader Catholic community, and the AXIOS youth program ministers to young people. A parish Prayer Chain links members across all three parishes in intercessory prayer.

• St. Teresa Altar Society
• Knights of Columbus
• AXIOS youth program
• Greenwood County Prayer Chains (Tracy Decker, Dolores Ball, Sue McDonald)

Visiting St. Teresa of Avila

Visitors are warmly welcomed at St. Teresa of Avila. The parish mailing address is in Eureka (514 N Elm, Eureka, KS 67045), but the church itself stands at 1002 S. 4th Street, Madison, on the south edge of town. The church phone is 620-583-7100, and the pastor can be reached at [email protected] or 620-202-2579. The most up-to-date information — including weekly bulletins, the Mass schedule, and announcements — is found on the Greenwood County Catholic Churches website.

• Address: 1002 S 4th St, Madison, KS 66860
• Mailing address: 514 N Elm St, Eureka, KS 67045
• Phone: 620-583-7100
• Pastor email: [email protected]
• Website: https://greenwoodcatholic.org/stteresa