About St. Theresa of the Child Jesus · Leeds, Alabama
St. Theresa of the Child Jesus is a Roman Catholic parish in Leeds, Alabama, serving the eastern suburbs of Birmingham within the Diocese of Birmingham. The parish community worships at a modern brick church dedicated in 1953 and named for St. Therese of Lisieux, patron of the missions. With roughly 475 families and over 1,000 parishioners, it offers Sunday Masses in English and Spanish, weekday Masses, an active Legion of Mary, faith formation for children and adults, and a Hispanic ministry led by a permanent deacon.
- Established
- 1947
- Patron
- St. Therese of Lisieux (the Child Jesus)
- Rector
- Rev. E. Gray Bean
- Diocese
- Diocese of Birmingham (Alabama)
Why belong here
St. Theresa is a warm, growing parish that welcomes newcomers with the friendliness of a small-town Catholic community and the conveniences of a larger suburban one: three Sunday Masses (including a Spanish-language Mass), daily weekday Masses, Eucharistic Adoration, and frequent confession. Members can get involved in the Legion of Mary, Fraternus, faith formation (PSR/RCIA), the Flame of Love Cenacle, Father Bean's Book Club, and a dedicated Hispanic ministry — making it a true spiritual home for English- and Spanish-speaking families in the eastern Birmingham suburbs.
Mass times at St. Theresa of the Child Jesus
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday – Friday: 11:15 AM
- Saturday: 3:30 PM
- Sunday: 9:00 AM
- Wednesday: 5:30 PM (per Sept 2022 bulletin)
Adoration times
- Wednesday evening: 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM (Adoration Hour with Benediction)
- Tuesday – Friday: 30 minutes following the 12:00 PM Mass
- Wednesday: 5:30 PM
About St. Theresa of the Child Jesus
St. Theresa of the Child Jesus is a Catholic parish in Leeds, Alabama, in the Diocese of Birmingham, serving the eastern suburbs of Birmingham. The parish is named for St. Therese of Lisieux, the Carmelite nun known as the 'Little Flower' and patron of the missions (feast day October 1). The parish describes itself as a welcoming community where parishioners' prayers, presence, and talents are most welcome.
- Location: 1394 Ashville Court, Leeds, AL 35094
- Office/Parish Life Center: 8101 3rd Avenue, Leeds, AL 35094
- Mailing: P.O. Box 525, Leeds, AL 35094
- Phone: 205-352-3741
- Email: [email protected]
- Approx. 475 families / 1,000+ parishioners
Parish History
The community began as a mission of Holy Infant of Prague Catholic Church in 1947 and grew into a dedicated parish in 1952–53, when a brick church was built and dedicated by Bishop Toolen. A parish house, bell tower, Martin Hall, and a major 2011 expansion followed over the decades. After nearly being closed in 2000, the parish was revived under Fr. Jim Naughton, expanded its Sunday schedule, broke ground on the 2017 Parish Life Center, and added a permanent Spanish-language Mass.
- 1947 — St. Theresa attached as a mission to Holy Infant of Prague under Rev. Joseph Adams.
- 1950 — First baptism (Norah Ann Katz) and first wedding (James Dowling & Betty Smith) in the chapel.
- 1952 — First Mass offered in the new brick church on July 27.
- 1953 — Church dedicated as St. Theresa of the Child Jesus by Bishop Toolen on Feb. 15.
- 1960 — Parish house built for priests.
- 1987 — Martin Hall built and named for the family of St. Therese.
- 1989 — Bell tower added.
- 2000 — Fr. Jim Naughton, SDB, named pastor as parish faced possible closure.
- 2011 — Major church expansion (+80% seating) and remodel.
- 2012 — First Sunday Hispanic Mass celebrated Aug. 5.
- 2013 — Death of Fr. Jim.
- 2014 — Fr. Gray Bean installed as pastor.
- 2017 — 5,000 sq. ft. Parish Life Center dedicated by Bishop Baker on March 4.
Clergy & Staff
St. Theresa is served by one pastor and two permanent deacons, supported by a parish secretary. Pastor biographies are published on the parish website.
- Rev. E. Gray Bean — Pastor ([email protected]). Born Oct. 21, 1967 in Anniston, AL; raised in Ragland; ordained 2003 at the Cathedral of St. Paul, Birmingham. Served St. Peter the Apostle (Hoover, 2003–04), St. Patrick (Adamsville, 2005–07) and St. Stanislaus (Wylam, 2005–07), St. James (Gadsden, 2008–14), then St. Theresa from 2014.
- Deacon Silverio Rubio-Roman — Permanent Deacon / Hispanic Ministry ([email protected]).
- Deacon Chuck Kelley — Permanent Deacon ([email protected]).
- Ms. Michele Shumate — Parish Secretary ([email protected], Ext. 2).
Faith Formation: PSR & RCIA
Children's faith formation (Parish School of Religion, PSR) and the adult Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) meet together on Sundays at 9:00 AM in the Parish Life Center Library, running September through April. RCIA prepares adults seeking Baptism, Confirmation, or full communion with the Catholic Church.
- PSR (children) — Sundays 9:00 AM, Parish Life Center, September – April
- RCIA (adults) — Sundays 9:00 AM, PLC Library, September – April
Parish Ministries & Groups
St. Theresa's lay ministries serve the parish and the wider Leeds community. The Legion of Mary is the largest and most prominent; Fraternus mentors boys and their fathers; the Hispanic ministry reaches Spanish-speaking families; and several prayer cenacles and a book club round out parish life.
- Legion of Mary — Tuesday 10:00 AM, Parish Life Center Library; spiritual directors Fr. Bean and Deacon Rubio. Largest lay apostolic organization in the Catholic Church, founded 1921 in Dublin.
- Fraternus — National Catholic organization for boys (grades 5–12) and their fathers / male mentors; meets at the parish.
- Hispanic Ministry — Sunday 2:00 PM Spanish Mass, pre-baptism and pre-matrimony preparation, Hispanic cultural celebrations.
- Youth Group (Dead Theologians Society) — launching in September per 2022 bulletin.
- Father Bean's Book Club — Thursdays 10:00 AM in Martin Hall.
- Flame of Love Prayer Cenacle — Tuesdays 10:00 AM in the church.
- Mary, Mother Guardian of the Faith Prayer Cenacle — Thursdays 5:45 PM.
Facilities: Church, Martin Hall & Parish Life Center
The parish campus includes the original brick church (expanded 2011), the 1987 Martin Hall, and the 2017 Parish Life Center. The Life Center was dedicated by Bishop Baker on March 4, 2017.
- Church (1952) — 1394 Ashville Court; bell tower added 1989; seating expanded 80%+ in 2011.
- Martin Hall (1987) — church hall named in honor of the family of St. Therese; hosts Father Bean's Book Club.
- Parish Life Center (2017) — 8101 3rd Avenue; 5,000 sq. ft. Fellowship Hall, large kitchen, parish offices, pastor's office, 10 classrooms, meeting room/library; dedicated by Bishop Baker.
Bulletin & Contact
The parish posts a weekly bulletin PDF (with Mass intentions, schedule, and devotional announcements) and lists contact extensions for each staff member. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM (Monday office opens at 9:00 AM per recent bulletins).
- Phone: 205-352-3741
- Pastor (Fr. Bean): Ext. 3 — [email protected]
- Deacon Silverio Rubio: Ext. 5 — [email protected]
- Deacon Chuck Kelley: [email protected]
- Parish Secretary (Michele Shumate): Ext. 2 — [email protected]
- Office: 8101 3rd Avenue, Leeds, AL 35094
- Bulletin PDFs published at sttheresaleeds.org/bulletin.html
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Joseph Adams1947 – 1950
First resident pastor of Holy Infant of Prague; St. Theresa attached to his parish as a mission from 1947.
- Rev. James Gallagher1950 – 1958
Appointed 1951; oversaw construction of the brick church (first Mass July 27, 1952; dedicated Feb. 15, 1953).
- Rev. Owen Connaughton1959
- Rev. Desmond Regan1959 – 1966
- Rev. Robert Bauler1966 – 1972
- Rev. Michael J. White1972 – 1974
- Rev. Robert Bauler1974 – 1982
Returned for a second term.
- Rev. Peter MacCarthy1982 – 2000
- Rev. James (Jim) Naughton, SDB2000 – 2013
Salesian priest; arrived when parish was slated for closure but grew attendance from under 100 to over 450; led 2011 expansion. Died 2013.
- Rev. E. Gray Bean2014 – Present
Born 1967 in Anniston; ordained 2003; previously served St. Peter the Apostle (Hoover), St. Patrick (Adamsville), St. Stanislaus (Wylam), and St. James (Gadsden).