About St. Theresa · Palm Springs, California
St. Theresa is a Roman Catholic parish in Palm Springs, California, belonging to the Diocese of San Bernardino. Founded in 1948 by Father William Clavin with about 50 families, it is named for St. Theresa of the Child Jesus (St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the "Little Flower"). The parish sits at 2800 E. Ramon Road and serves a multilingual community with Masses in English, Spanish, and a monthly Filipino Mass, alongside a thriving parish school staffed originally by the Immaculate Heart Sisters. In October 2023 the parish and school jointly marked their 75th anniversary.
- Established
- 1948
- Patron
- St. Theresa of the Child Jesus (St. Thérèse of Lisieux, "The Little Flower")
- Rector
- Reverend John P. Kavcak, MSC (Missionaries of the Sacred Heart)
- Diocese
- Diocese of San Bernardino
Why belong here
St. Theresa is a trilingual Catholic home in the heart of Palm Springs — English, Spanish, and a monthly Filipino Mass — with weekday Adoration, Saturday confessions, and a full sacramental and outreach program. The parish runs more than two dozen active ministries, including a Food Pantry, Bereavement Ministry, Knights of Columbus, Young Adult Ministry, OCIA/Confirmation and First Communion preparation, Bible Study, Altar and Rosary Society, Music Ministry, and the St. Theresa 135 stewardship group. As the home of St. Theresa Catholic School (preschool–8th grade, founded 1948 and co-celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2023), it offers a deeply rooted Catholic school community alongside parish life.
Mass times at St. Theresa
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays in the Church, 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Adoration times
- Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (Blessed Sacrament in the Chapel after daily Mass)
- 12-hour Eucharistic Adoration once a month (check bulletin for date)
About St. Theresa Parish
St. Theresa is a Roman Catholic parish in Palm Springs, California, in the Diocese of San Bernardino. Founded in 1948, it is named for St. Theresa of the Child Jesus (St. Thérèse of Lisieux, "The Little Flower"). The parish community worships in English, Spanish, and (monthly) Filipino, and is closely tied to St. Theresa Catholic School.
- Patron: St. Theresa of the Child Jesus (St. Thérèse of Lisieux)
- Feast day: October 1
- Diocese: San Bernardino
- Founded 1948
- Weekly Masses in English and Spanish; monthly Filipino Mass
History
Father William Clavin became the first pastor of St. Theresa Parish in 1948, launching a new parish with about 50 families and a $200,000 start-up cost. St. Theresa School opened the same September with 130 students under the Immaculate Heart Sisters of Los Angeles. After Clavin's transfer in 1954, Father Michael R. O'Donohue built up the community for seven years; Father Michael Nolan, who took over in 1961, oversaw construction of the present church, dedicated in 1968. The 1965 convent and a stained-glass window were gifts of the Bob and Dolores Hope Family, who also later funded the preschool renovation. Under Sister Alice Dunphy, BVM, and Monsignor Malachy McGinn, a 1987 five-year plan produced a new eight-classroom building and library/learning center (1992) and the administration building (1993). The Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (BVM) succeeded the Immaculate Heart Sisters in 1997, and a preschool opened in 2004. In October 2023, the parish and school celebrated their 75th (diamond) anniversary.
- 1948: Parish founded; Fr. William Clavin first pastor; school opens with 130 students.
- 1954: Fr. Michael R. O'Donohue becomes second pastor.
- 1961: Fr. Michael Nolan becomes pastor.
- 1965: Convent built (gift of Bob and Dolores Hope).
- 1968: Present St. Theresa Church dedicated.
- 1987–1993: Five-year building plan adds classrooms, library, and admin building.
- 1997: BVMs succeed Immaculate Heart Sisters as school staff.
- 2004: Preschool opens in renovated convent.
- October 2023: 75th diamond anniversary celebrated.
Clergy, Staff & Parish Leadership
The parish is pastored by Rev. John P. Kavcak, MSC, a member of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, who was appointed pastor of St. Theresa on July 1, 2013. He is assisted by Parochial Vicar Fr. David Foxen, M.S.C. The lay staff includes a parish secretary, business manager, coordinators for First Communion (Elizabeth Bucio) and Confirmation & OCIA (Jeanette Rosas), an administrative secretary, and a maintenance lead (Lot Espino).
- Pastor: Rev. John P. Kavcak, MSC
- Parochial Vicar: Fr. David Foxen, M.S.C.
- Parish Secretary: Mary Anthen (extension 101)
- Business Manager: Jacqueline Macias (extension 103)
- First Communion Coordinator: Elizabeth Bucio (extension 106)
- Confirmation & OCIA Coordinator: Jeanette Rosas (extension 107)
- Administrative Secretary: Rosalie Delgado (extension 102)
- Maintenance Staff: Lot Espino
Sacraments
St. Theresa prepares Catholics for the sacraments through parish-coordinated programs: First Communion preparation is led by Elizabeth Bucio, and Confirmation and the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, formerly RCIA) are led by Jeanette Rosas. Couples and families are invited to contact the parish office for Baptism, Marriage, and other sacramental needs.
- First Communion — Elizabeth Bucio (ext. 106)
- Confirmation — Jeanette Rosas (ext. 107)
- OCIA / RCIA — Jeanette Rosas (ext. 107)
- Baptism, Marriage and Anointing of the Sick — by contact with parish office
Liturgical Ministries
Liturgical ministry is offered in both English and Spanish, with coordinators named for each language group. Volunteers serve as Altar Servers (after First Communion), Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Greeters, Ushers, Sacristans, and on the Environment Committee, with a parish Music Ministry under David Quinn (English) and Patricia Arellano (Spanish).
- Altar Servers — Loni Mann (English), Carmen Tapia (Spanish)
- Eucharistic Ministers — Loni Mann (English), Aurora Jimenez (Spanish)
- Greeters — Jack Sauter
- Lectors — Kim McNulty (English)
- Music Ministry — David Quinn (English), Patricia Arellano (Spanish)
- Environment Committee, Sacristans, Ushers
Parish Life Ministries
Beyond the sanctuary, St. Theresa runs an extensive parish-life program including Bible Study on Zoom, an Altar and Rosary Society, a Bereavement Ministry, Eucharistic Adoration volunteers, a Filipino Community group, Pastoral and Finance Councils, Pro-Life efforts, a Young Adult Ministry (ages 18–32), the Knights of Columbus, the bilingual Prevención y Rescate ministry, an LGBT Catholics group (Gifted and Called), and the Hug-a-Baby maternal support program.
- Bible Study (Zoom) — Linda Patton-Eakin
- St. Theresa 135 Ministry (founded 2020; ~$135,000/yr for parish repairs)
- Altar and Rosary Society — Phyllis Henderson
- Bereavement Ministry
- Pastoral Council — Ulrich McNulty
- Pro-Life Ministry
- Young Adult Ministry (18–32) — @ps_littleway on Instagram
- Knights of Columbus — Mark Lanca
- Prevención y Rescate (bilingual 12-step, teens & families)
- Gifted and Called LGBT — [email protected]
- Hug-a-Baby — maternal and newborn support
Outreach & Charity
St. Theresa reaches beyond its walls through a parish Food Pantry held Monday mornings starting at 7:30 a.m. (Find Food Bank; ID and proof of Palm Springs residency required), as well as the Hug-a-Baby ministry for expectant mothers, Pro-Life work, the Knights of Columbus, and the parish's support of St. Theresa Catholic School.
- Food Pantry — Mondays from 7:30 a.m. until food runs out
- Hug-a-Baby — donations of newborn diapers, bottles, and wipes welcome
- Knights of Columbus — community service and faith formation
- Pro-Life ministry
- Filipino Community outreach
St. Theresa Catholic School (Preschool–8th Grade)
St. Theresa Catholic School opened September 2, 1948 with 112 students in kindergarten through eighth grade, using buildings from the former Torne Military Hospital and Air Base, and was staffed by the Immaculate Heart Sisters of Los Angeles. A 1962 convent near the northwest corner of the property was a gift of the Bob and Dolores Hope Family, and the Immaculate Heart Sisters created a stained-glass window still in the school today. A 1987 five-year campus plan under Sister Alice Dunphy, BVM, and Monsignor Malachy McGinn produced an eight-classroom building and library/learning center (1992) and the administration building (1993). In 1997 the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (BVM) succeeded the Immaculate Heart Sisters. In 2004 a preschool for three- and four-year-olds opened in the remodeled convent with Hope-family funding, expanding the grade structure to preschool–8. The school and parish jointly celebrated their 75th anniversary in October 2023.
- Opened: September 2, 1948 (112 students, K–8)
- Original religious staff: Immaculate Heart Sisters of Los Angeles
- 1962 convent: gift of Bob and Dolores Hope Family
- 1987–1993 campus plan: classrooms, library/learning center, admin building
- 1997: BVMs succeed Immaculate Heart Sisters
- 2004: Preschool opens (Hope-family funded)
- 2023: 75th anniversary celebrated
- Web: sttheresaschoolpalmsprings.org
Devotions & Annual Events
The parish keeps traditional Catholic devotions at the center of its year — including the Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus each June (June 3–11 in 2026), monthly 12-hour Eucharistic Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, and parish fundraisers such as the First Friday of Lent Fish Fry in the St. Theresa School gym.
- Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus (early June)
- Monthly 12-hour Eucharistic Adoration
- First Friday of Lent Fish Fry — parish fundraiser in school gym
- 75th Diamond Anniversary celebration (October 2023)
- Faithful Voices Podcast — new episode the third Sunday of each month
Visit & Contact
St. Theresa Parish is located on the south side of Palm Springs at 2800 E. Ramon Road, easily reached from the rest of the Coachella Valley. The parish office can be reached at (760) 323-2669 or [email protected]; directions and full staff extensions are available on the parish website's contact page.
- Address: 2800 E. Ramon Rd., Palm Springs, CA 92264
- Phone: (760) 323-2669
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: sttheresaps.com
- Facebook: facebook.com/Sttheresaps
- Podcast: faithfulvoicespodcast.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. William Clavin1948–1954
First pastor; founded the parish with ~50 families and opened St. Theresa School (1948) with 130 students under the Immaculate Heart Sisters.
- Fr. Michael R. O'Donohue1954–1961
Spent seven years building up the parish community while school enrollment kept growing.
- Fr. Michael Nolan1961–
Oversaw construction of the present St. Theresa Church, dedicated in 1968; school enrollment reached 350.
- Monsignor Malachy McGinnlate 1980s–
Co-led, with Sister Alice Dunphy BVM, the five-year campus plan whose buildings were completed in 1992–1993.
- Fr. John Kavcak, MSC2013–present
Member of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart; previously served the Palm Springs parishes Our Lady of Solitude and Our Lady of Guadalupe (2005–2013) before being appointed pastor of St. Theresa on July 1, 2013.