About St. Theresa · Cordele, Georgia
St. Theresa Catholic Church, affectionately known as the "Church of the Little Flower," is a multicultural Roman Catholic parish in Cordele, Georgia, in Crisp County, belonging to the Diocese of Savannah (Albany Deanery). The parish traces its roots to a mission church built in 1931 and was formally recognized as a parish in 1966 when Fr. Pat Adams, OFM, took up residence. Today St. Theresa serves a community that includes longtime American members together with Hispanic and Vietnamese Catholics, offering Mass in both English and Spanish. The parish is pastored by Fr. Paulinus Okpala and remains a small but vibrant worshiping community in southwest Georgia.
- Established
- 1931
- Patron
- St. Thérèse of Lisieux ("the Little Flower")
- Rector
- Fr. Paulinus Okpala
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah (Albany Deanery)
Why belong here
St. Theresa offers the warmth of a small, multicultural Catholic community in southwest Georgia, with Mass celebrated in both English and Spanish and a faithful Vietnamese community that has brought its own devotion and resourcefulness to the parish. Visitors can take part in weekday Mass, a Wednesday Holy Hour and Eucharistic Adoration, regular Confession, lively youth and Confirmation programs, and outreach such as the Prison Ministry that serves inmates at Wilcox, Pulaski, and Dooly State Prisons. Annual traditions like the Ladies' Bake Sale — featuring Vietnamese egg rolls and tamales — show how generations and cultures worship, eat, and serve side by side.
Mass times at St. Theresa
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 5:00–5:45 pm
- Saturday 4:15–4:45 pm
- Sunday 8:45–9:15 am
- Sunday 11:30 am–12:00 pm
Adoration times
- Wednesday 5:00–6:00 pm (Holy Hour before the 6:00 pm Mass)
- Wednesday 8:00 am–7:00 pm (Private Prayer)
History of St. Theresa Catholic Church
St. Theresa — the 'Church of the Little Flower' — was built in 1931 in southwest Georgia as a mission church, and was formally recognized as a parish in 1966. Its founding is intimately tied to St. Thérèse of Lisieux, who had a great love for missionaries and small missions. The parish survived a devastating fire in 2009, has ordained a priest from its own community, and continues today as a multicultural home for English-, Spanish-, and Vietnamese-speaking Catholics in Cordele.
- Dedicated April 26, 1931, by Bishop Michael J. Keyes of Savannah
- Built by Mrs. J.J. Lynch of Atlanta in memory of her relatives and Bishop Keiley
- Served as one of eight Sunday missions under Father Brennan and Father Sheehan
- Recognized as a parish in 1966 under Fr. Pat Adams, OFM
- Damaged by fire November 7, 2009; restored and reopened Father's Day, June 20, 2010
- Fr. Jason Adams, a son of the parish, ordained June 30, 2012
The 1931 Building and Its Features
The original 1931 description of the church details oak flooring throughout, eight windows of Cathedral glass with copper screens, a wood screen at the rear of the choir, three entrances from the vestibule, steam heating, and a walnut-and-ivory color scheme. A statue of the Little Flower above the entrance was valued at $1,100. The altars, Stations of the Cross, and statues were designed by the Bern studio.
- Oak flooring throughout the church
- Eight Cathedral glass windows with copper screens
- Wood screen adorning the rear of the choir
- Steam heating installed by H.F. Corbett of Cordele
- Statue of the Little Flower above the entrance
- Altars, Stations of the Cross, and statues by the Bern studio
Parish Leadership and Pastoral Succession
Fr. Paulinus Okpala has served as pastor since 2016. The diocese's parish directory preserves the full succession of pastors since the parish was formally established in 1966, beginning with the long-tenured Fr. Pat Adams, OFM (1966–1992). The current pastor is listed on the parish website and in the Diocese of Savannah directory.
- Fr. Pat Adams, OFM — 1966–1992
- Fr. Ken Gilley — 1992–1993
- Fr. Frank Berry — 1993–1996
- Fr. Raul Perez — 1996–2000
- Fr. Victor Seidel — 2000–2001
- Fr. Ifeanyi Iwu — 2001–2002
- Fr. Lawrence Lucree — 2002–2006
- Fr. Bob Cushing — 2006–2013
- Fr. Scott Winchel — 2013–2016
- Fr. Paulinus Okpala — 2016–present
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. Theresa runs Religious Education classes for children Pre-K and older, with registration typically held during the Sunday Social. Sacramental preparation is offered each year for First Communion and Confirmation, with Confirmation classes meeting on Wednesday evenings along with the Youth Group.
- Religious Education classes resume annually in August (e.g., August 20, 2023 at 11:00 am)
- First Communion preparation (children received First Communion on December 14, 2022)
- Confirmation preparation (Wednesday evenings)
- Youth Group — supper at 6:45 pm, classes 7:00–8:30 pm
- Contact: Tammy Teel (Confirmation & Youth Group)
Ministries, Outreach, and Parish Life
The parish supports a Prison Ministry that serves inmates at Wilcox, Pulaski, and Dooly State Prisons, and an active Ladies' Bake Sale fundraiser that draws on the gifts of the parish's Vietnamese and Hispanic members — Vietnamese egg rolls and tamales are perennial favorites. The Youth Group helps advertise the bake sale and collects donations of its own. Sunday Socials after Mass provide regular fellowship.
- Prison Ministry (Wilcox, Pulaski, and Dooly State Prisons)
- Ladies' Bake Sale (Vietnamese egg rolls, tamales, baked goods)
- Confirmation & Youth Group
- Sunday Social gatherings
- Religious Education for children
Sacraments
St. Theresa celebrates the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. The parish website publishes the requirements for the Sacrament of Baptism, outlines the four steps of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and offers preparation for First Communion and Confirmation each year. Couples should contact the parish office for marriage preparation, and the parish can be reached for Anointing of the Sick.
- Baptism — requirements page on parish website
- Reconciliation / Confession — Wed, Sat, Sun (see schedule)
- First Communion — annual preparation, celebrated in December
- Confirmation — annual preparation with Wednesday evening classes
- Marriage — contact parish office
- Anointing of the Sick — contact parish office
Visiting and Contact Information
St. Theresa Catholic Church is located at 807 South 3rd Street, Cordele, Georgia 31015. Visitors coming from Interstate 75 take Exit 101 and head west; from US-280 they turn south on 3rd Street South. The parish office can be reached by phone or email.
- Address: 807 South 3rd Street, Cordele, GA 31015-1722
- Phone: (229) 273-3446
- Email: [email protected]
- From I-75: Exit 101, west 1.3 miles to 3rd St., left two blocks to 19th Ave.
- From US-280: south on 3rd Street South almost three blocks; church on the left
- Located at the corner of 3rd Street and 19th Avenue
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Thomas A. Brennanby 1931
Pastor of Albany, GA; built the Church of the Little Flower in Cordele.
- Rev. Thomas I. Sheehanby 1931
Assistant pastor serving the Southwest Georgia missions.
- Fr. Pat Adams, OFM1966–1992
Assigned in residence in 1966, when St. Theresa was recognized as a parish; served 26 years. Father of Fr. Jason Adams, ordained for the Diocese of Savannah in 2012.
- Fr. Ken Gilley1992–1993
- Fr. Frank Berry1993–1996
- Fr. Raul Perez1996–2000
- Fr. Victor Seidel2000–2001
- Fr. Ifeanyi Iwu2001–2002
- Fr. Lawrence Lucree2002–2006
- Fr. Bob Cushing2006–2013
- Fr. Scott Winchel2013–2016
- Fr. Paulinus Okpala2016–present
Current pastor, listed on parish website and diocese directory.