About St. Theresa of the Child Jesus · Attleboro, Massachusetts
St. Theresa of the Child Jesus is a Roman Catholic parish in South Attleboro, Massachusetts, that has served Attleboro and its surrounding communities since 1925. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Fall River and is staffed by Pastor Reverend Gregory Quenneville, along with Deacons Rick Varieur and Shawn Seybert. Centered on prayer, the Eucharist, and the 'little way' of its patroness St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the parish offers weekend and weekday Masses, Eucharistic adoration, the sacraments, faith formation for grades 1–9, a St. Vincent de Paul food pantry, a Knights of Columbus council, and a Women's Guild. In May 2025 the Diocese announced that the parish would be suppressed effective June 30, 2025, with its territory folded into Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Parish in Seekonk, but parishioners were welcomed to continue their ministries and fellowship there.
- Established
- 1925
- Patron
- St. Thérèse of Lisieux (St. Theresa of the Child Jesus / 'The Little Flower')
- Rector
- Reverend Gregory Quenneville
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Fall River
Why belong here
St. Theresa of the Child Jesus is a warm, prayer-centered parish where the sacramental life — especially the Holy Eucharist and Eucharistic adoration — sits at the heart of the community. Parishioners can join a faith formation program for grades 1–9, serve through the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry or the parish prayer line, gather with the Women's Guild or the Knights of Columbus, or simply attend daily Mass, Confession three times a week, and Benediction on Thursdays. As the parish's own mission statement puts it, members strive to imitate St. Thérèse in the 'little ways' of serving God by serving one another.
Mass times at St. Theresa of the Child Jesus
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 10:15 am – 10:45 am
- Wednesday 5:45 pm – 6:45 pm
- Saturday 3:15 pm – 4:15 pm
- Anytime by appointment
Adoration times
- Monday, Tuesday & Friday: 1 hour after Mass
- Wednesday 5:45 pm – 6:45 pm
- Thursday following 7:00 am Mass until Benediction at 4:00 pm
Welcome & Parish Identity
St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Parish identifies itself as a 'Roman Catholic Church serving Attleboro and its surrounding communities since 1925.' Its self-stated mission — summed up in the Commandment of Christ, 'Love One Another, As I Have Loved You' — is to imitate the example of its patroness, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, in the 'little ways' of serving God by serving one another. The parish is centered on prayer and the sacramental life of the Catholic Church, especially the celebration of the Holy Eucharist.
- Located at 18 Baltic Street, South Attleboro, MA 02703
- Parish phone: 508-761-8111
- Parish office email: [email protected]
- Food pantry email: [email protected]
Parish Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by Parish Priest / Parochial Administrator Reverend Gregory Quenneville, assisted by two permanent deacons. Deacon Rick Varieur hosts Bible Study (archived on the parish website), and Deacon Shawn Seybert coordinates ministry initiatives such as the Lenten Parish Mission.
- Rev. Gregory Quenneville — Parish Priest ([email protected])
- Deacon Rick Varieur — 401-726-0066
- Deacon Shawn Seybert — [email protected], 508-332-2625
- Parish Office Hours: Monday–Thursday, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
Patron Saint — St. Thérèse of Lisieux
The parish's patroness is St. Thérèse of Lisieux (1873–1897), the French Carmelite nun known as 'The Little Flower.' Born January 2, 1873 in Alençon, France, to Louis and Zelie Martin, Thérèse was the youngest of nine children (only five survived to adulthood). Orphaned at four when her mother died, she entered the Carmelite convent in Lisieux at 15 and took the religious name Sister Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face. Her autobiography, 'Story of a Soul,' describes her spirituality of 'the little way' — finding holiness in small, everyday acts of love. She died of tuberculosis on September 30, 1897, at age 24, saying, 'My mission — to make God loved — will begin after my death. I will spend my heaven doing good on earth. I will let fall a shower of roses.' Pope Pius XI canonized her on May 17, 1925 — the same year the parish was founded — and her feast day is October 1.
- Born January 2, 1873 in Alençon, France
- Entered Carmel of Lisieux at age 15
- Died September 30, 1897 at age 24
- Canonized by Pope Pius XI on May 17, 1925
- Feast day: October 1
- Title: Doctor of the Church and Patron of the Missions
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish operates a Faith Formation program for children in grades 1 through 9. Registration is offered through the Faith Formation Office, which has a separate phone line and email.
- Faith Formation Office: 508-761-5367
- Email: [email protected]
- Registration open to all parish children in grades 1–9
Sacraments
St. Theresa of the Child Jesus celebrates each of the seven sacraments, with most requiring an appointment and preparation through the Parish Office. Marriage preparation must begin at least six months in advance. The bishop of Fall River comes to the parish periodically to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation.
- Baptism — last Sunday of the month, by appointment
- Penance — three weekly scheduled times plus by appointment
- First Communion — through Faith Formation (grades 1–9)
- Confirmation — celebrated by the Bishop of Fall River (most recently March 5, 2023)
- Marriage — at least six months' notice; appointment with Pastor
- Anointing of the Sick / Communion for the homebound — by calling the Parish Office
Parish Ministries & Outreach
The parish supports a wide range of ministries spanning charity, prayer, men's and women's fellowship, Scripture study, and family life. The St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry and Society is a flagship outreach serving neighbors in need of food, clothing, rent, and utility assistance.
- St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry — Wed 9:30–10:30 am; Thu 6:00–7:00 pm; helpline 508-243-4386
- St. Vincent de Paul Society — seeking new president to lead food/clothing/rent/utility help
- Knights of Columbus — meets second Monday of the month; contact Greg MacDonnell 508-505-1620
- Women's Guild — meets third Tuesday of the month in the Parish Center; contact Sue Priest 508-399-8772
- Bible Study with Deacon Rick — archived sessions on the parish website
- Prayer Line — Jeanne Gagne, 508-761-6073
- Couple Dinner Night — open to married or dating parishioners 18+
- Volunteering and Safe Environment office
- Annual Golf Tournament fundraiser
Devotions & Prayer Life
Beyond Mass, the parish sustains a strong prayer culture. Eucharistic adoration is offered most days of the week, with a particularly long Thursday holy hour that closes with Benediction. The parish also publishes a Novena to St. Theresa of the Child Jesus on its website and hosts a weekly Thursday Cenacle for Life prayer group in the church.
- Novena to St. Theresa of the Child Jesus — prayer printed on the parish Patron Saint page
- Our Lady of Guadalupe 'Cenacle for Life' Men & Women's Prayer Group — Thursdays at 9:30 am in church (Catherine Cote 508-838-8741)
- Thursday Benediction — following the 7:00 am Mass, ending at 4:00 pm
- Bible Study with Deacon Rick — archived online
Parish Office & Practical Information
Parish Office hours run Monday through Thursday, 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. The parish accepts online giving, publishes a weekly bulletin, and provides contact emails for each ministry. Pastoral emergencies and anointings are handled by appointment through the office.
- Parish Office phone: 508-761-8111
- Office hours: Monday–Thursday, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
- Parish email: [email protected]
- Online Giving link on parish website
- Bulletin posted on the parish website
- New Parishioner registration via 'Welcome' envelopes at church doors
2025 Pastoral Transition
On May 24–25, 2025, the Diocese of Fall River announced that St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Parish would be suppressed effective June 30, 2025 — one of five Fall River parishes impacted by Bishop da Cunha's pastoral letter A Time for Fortitude. Father Gregory Quenneville, the parish's parochial administrator, was named pastor of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Parish in Seekonk (and of Our Lady of Mount Carmel). The preschool leasing the parish center and the food pantry in the church basement were invited to continue in their spaces, and parishioners were welcomed to continue their faith-based ministries and fellowship at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs. Bishop da Cunha celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving at St. Theresa Parish at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 21, 2025.
- Diocesan announcement: May 24–25, 2025
- Suppression effective June 30, 2025
- Territory joined to Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Parish, Seekonk
- Mass of Thanksgiving: Saturday, June 21, 2025 at 4:30 pm
- Food pantry and preschool invited to continue operating on site