About St. Therese Catholic Church · Canton, Texas
St. Therese Catholic Church is a bilingual Roman Catholic parish serving Canton, Texas, the seat of Van Zandt County in East Texas. It belongs to the Diocese of Tyler and ministers to its community in both English and Spanish, with a Spanish-language Mass every Sunday. The parish is guided by a published Vision Statement that describes the community as 'a well-tended rose planted in Canton, Texas, nurtured by the Way, the Truth, and the Life of Jesus Christ,' and the Spanish-language parallel is printed on the parish website. Under pastor Rev. Jesudoss Thomas S.T.L. and three permanent deacons, the parish runs an unusually full program of daily Mass, weekly confession, First Friday adoration, youth ministry, RCIA/OCIA, the Knights of Columbus, and a Ladies Guild — the kind of rich parish life one expects in a much larger community.
- Established
- 1980
- Patron
- St. Thérèse of Lisieux (The Little Flower)
- Rector
- Rev. Jesudoss Thomas, S.T.L.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Tyler
Why belong here
St. Therese offers a remarkably full schedule for a small-town parish — daily Mass Monday through Friday, two English Sunday Masses plus a Spanish Mass, confession every day before Mass, monthly First Friday adoration, and a First Saturday Mass with Rosary. The parish wraps its members in a real community life: Knights of Columbus, Ladies Guild, Holy Name Society, St. Therese Charity, Daughters of Mary, an annual blood drive, and active youth ministry (CYO) for grades 6–12. If you are seeking a welcoming, bilingual Catholic home in the Canton–Van Zandt County area that takes both liturgy and outreach seriously, this is it.
Mass times at St. Therese Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 30 minutes before each daily Mass
- Saturday 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm
- Sunday 8:30 am – 9:00 am
- By appointment with the priest
Adoration times
- First Fridays, 8:30 am – 5:00 pm (sign up in the Narthex)
Welcome & Vision
The parish's home page invites visitors to 'Join Us for Catholic Mass at St. Therese Church.' The site's Contact page extends a warm welcome to long-time members, newcomers, returning Catholics, and seekers, and tells anyone wishing to register to visit the Church Office. A formal Vision Statement frames the community's identity in both English and Spanish: 'The St. Therese Catholic Community is a well-tended rose planted in Canton, Texas, nurtured by the Way, the Truth, and the Life of Jesus Christ according to the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, to bring the fruit of His grace and mercy to the lives of everyone, for the greater honor and glory of God.' (Spanish: 'La comunidad católica de Santa Teresa es una rosa cuidadosamente cultivada en Canton, Texas, sostenida por el Camino, la Verdad y la Vida de Jesucristo…')
- Bilingual (English/Spanish) welcome and vision statement
- Visitors encouraged to register at the Church Office
- Parish hall used for many community events
Our Parish Staff
The 'Our Parish' page lists the current clergy, deacons, and lay staff who keep the parish running day to day. Rev. Jesudoss Thomas, S.T.L., serves as pastor; he is assisted by three permanent deacons — Jim Burkel, Alan Stehsel, and Larry Edwards. A full office and ministry team supports liturgy, formation, finances, facilities, and music.
- Pastor: Rev. Jesudoss Thomas, S.T.L.
- Deacons: Jim Burkel, Alan Stehsel, Larry Edwards
- Secretary: Anna Stephens
- Bookkeeper: Sharla Lewis
- Director of Religious Education (DRE): Barbara Cozart
- Music Director: Ken Mings
- Liturgy Coordinator: Jon Fadely
- Pastoral Council: Ron Veilleux
- Finance Council: Helen Howell
- Building Maintenance: Ed Lucas
- Facility Rental: Larry Edwards
- CYO High School: JoAnne Henson
- CYO Jr. High: Sue Watson
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation is coordinated by Barbara Cozart and is a central part of parish life. Registration for Faith Formation and Sacramental Preparation typically opens in early August, with classes beginning the fourth Sunday of August. The parish actively recruits catechists and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, holding teacher and ministry trainings in the Parish Hall each summer.
- Faith Formation Coordinator: Barbara Cozart
- Sacramental Preparation (children): Eric Killian
- Registration window: early August each year
- Classes begin: fourth Sunday of August
- Annual Faith Formation teachers' meeting held in July
- Training for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion offered each summer
RCIA / OCIA & Adult Faith
Adults preparing for full communion with the Catholic Church are welcomed into the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA, formerly RCIA), which meets on Sundays at 10:30 am. The parish also runs an Adult Bible Study, ensuring ongoing formation beyond the sacraments of initiation.
- RCIA / OCIA: Sundays at 10:30 am (Deacon Alan Stehsel & Ed Lucas)
- Adult Bible Study: Rosemarie Hicks
Youth Ministry & CYO
Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) ministry at St. Therese serves students in grades 6 through 12, with separate coordinators for high school and junior high. Sacramental Prep for youth meets on Wednesdays at 6:30 pm, and CYO gatherings follow on Wednesdays at 6:00 pm.
- Youth Ministry & CYO, Grades 6–12: JoAnne Henson
- CYO High School lead: JoAnne Henson
- CYO Jr. High lead: Sue Watson
- CYO meetings: Wednesdays at 6:00 pm
- Youth Sacramental Prep: Wednesdays at 6:30 pm
Parish Organizations
A wide range of parish organizations offers members ways to live out faith through fellowship, charity, and service. Several meet monthly, with published times for the Knights of Columbus, Ladies Guild, Holy Name Society, and prayer groups.
- Knights of Columbus — Jeff Aubert (3rd Thursday: potluck 5:30 pm, meeting 6:00 pm)
- Ladies Guild — Jane Miller (2nd Sunday at 10:00 am)
- Holy Name Society — Mike Perez (2nd Sunday at 10:00 am)
- St. Therese Charity — Kathleen Bulfer
- Hospitality Ministry — Linda Lehman
- Religious Gift Shop — Judy Thurman
- Scholarship Fund — Sharla Lewis
- Daughters of Mary (2nd Wednesday at 10:30 am)
- Divine Will Group (Thursdays at 9:00 am)
Hispanic Ministry / Ministerio Hispano
St. Therese maintains a robust Spanish-language ministry alongside its English programs. A Spanish Sunday Mass is celebrated at 11:30 am every week, and lay leaders coordinate Spanish lectors, altar servers, and choir. Adult Sacramental preparation and Quinceañera preparation are offered in Spanish through Deacon Jon Fadely, with Eric Killian coordinating children's sacramental prep.
- Spanish Sunday Mass: 11:30 am
- Spanish Lector & Altar Server Ministry: Andrea Galvan, Maria Landaverde
- Spanish Choir Director: Gerardo Ramirez
- Adult Sacramental Prep & Quinceañera Preparation (Spanish): Deacon Jon Fadely
- Children's Sacramental Prep (Spanish): Eric Killian
- Faith Formation Coordinator: Barbara Cozart
Outreach & Charity
The parish keeps a strong outward focus through pro-life and crisis-pregnancy work and an annual community Blood Drive held in the Parish Hall. St. Therese Charity is the parish's organized charitable arm, and the United in Faith ministry supports parish stewardship.
- Sanctity of Life Ministry: Deacon Jim Burkel
- Crisis Pregnancy / Gabriel Project: Jane Miller
- St. Therese Charity: Kathleen Bulfer
- United in Faith: Carmen Good & Jane Miller
- Annual Parish Blood Drive (held in the Parish Hall)
Sacraments
The parish's Contact page makes a point of instructing families to contact the church office first — prior to setting any date — for Baptism, Quinceañera, or Wedding celebrations. Sacramental Preparation for First Communion and Confirmation is organized through the parish's Faith Formation program.
- Baptism — contact the office before setting a date
- Marriage / Wedding — contact the office before setting a date
- Quinceañera — contact the office before setting a date
- First Communion & Confirmation Preparation: Eric Killian
- Adult Sacraments (Spanish): Deacon Jon Fadely
- RCIA / OCIA: Sundays 10:30 am
Visiting & Contact
The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, and on Sundays from 10:00 am to 11:30 am. Visitors and parishioners can reach the priest at [email protected] and the office/secretary at [email protected], or by phone at 903-567-4286.
- Address: 885 First Monday Lane, Canton, TX 75103
- Phone: 903-567-4286
- Email (pastor): [email protected]
- Email (office): [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon–Fri 9:00 am – 3:00 pm; Sun 10:00 am – 11:30 am
- Website: sttheresecanton.org
- Part of the Diocese of Tyler