About St. Therese of the Child Jesus · Midvale, Utah
St. Therese of the Child Jesus is a bilingual Catholic parish in Midvale, Utah, established in 1925 as a mission and canonically erected as a parish in 1934. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Salt Lake City and serves a largely working-class, Spanish-speaking community that has grown to include families from Mexico, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Peru, and elsewhere in Latin America. Today the parish is home to the historic 1928 'Little Rock Church' (now used for daily Mass, adoration, and confessions) and a larger main church dedicated in 2009 after the 1974 church was destroyed by smoke damage from a candle in 2008. Father J. Gregorio Rausseo has served as pastor since 2023, leading the parish through its 2025 centennial year alongside its patron saint.
- Established
- 1925
- Patron
- St. Therese of the Child Jesus (St. Thérèse of Lisieux)
- Rector
- Rev. Jose Gregorio Rausseo (since 2023)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Salt Lake City
Why belong here
St. Therese of the Child Jesus is a bilingual, working-class Catholic community rooted in Midvale for a century, where families from Mexico, Central America, and South America are welcomed alongside English-speaking parishioners. The parish offers daily and weekend Mass in both English and Spanish, a year-round Holy Hour and Eucharistic Adoration in the historic 1928 Little Rock Church, and a lively Faith Formation program preparing children for First Communion and families for the sacraments. Its ministries — from St. Carlo Acutis faith formation to RCIA, quinceañeras, and parish food and thrift outreach — make it a place where newcomers are quickly folded into parish life.
Mass times at St. Therese of the Child Jesus
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 5:30 PM – 6:15 PM (English) in Little Rock Church
- Thursday 9:30 AM – 6:15 PM (English) in Little Rock Church
- Thursday 6:30 PM (Spanish) in Capilla de Piedra
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration: Thursdays 9:30 AM – 6:30 PM in the Little Rock Church / Capilla de Piedra
- Holy Hour: every 2nd Wednesday of the month at 6:00 PM
Parish History
Saint Therese of the Child Jesus in Midvale traces its roots to 1917, when the Catholic Directories first list a 'Saint Joseph' mission of Saint Ann's Parish. Early Masses were celebrated in a private home on Main Street, the Woodsmen of America/Odd Fellows Hall inside a local tavern, and later the second story of Goff Mortuary. Parishioners traveled from as far as Riverton by horse-drawn surrey, with heated bricks and blankets for winter warmth. The Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul taught Sunday school from 1924 to 1926. Saint Thérèse of Lisieux was canonized in May 1925; the mission took her name that September. Father Patrick McGuire purchased property in 1926 and built the Little Rock Church, dedicated by Bishop John J. Mitty on September 3, 1928. In 1934 Bishop James E. Kearney erected Midvale as a full parish with Father Joseph I. Gosselin as first pastor; the parish is celebrating its centennial jubilee in 2025.
- Mission established 1925; parish erected 1934
- Little Rock Church built 1927, dedicated September 3, 1928
- Centennial year 2025 alongside St. Thérèse's own canonization centenary
The Little Rock Church (Capilla de Piedra)
The St. Therese of the Child Jesus Chapel — affectionately known as the 'Little Rock Church' or 'Capilla de Piedra' — is the parish's original 1927/1928 native-stone mission church, designed in Old English style. After the 1950s it was used as a social hall and CCD classroom. Under Father Martin Diaz, who arrived in 2006, the chapel was restored to sacred use, outfitted for daily Mass, and re-dedicated in July 2010. It is recognized as a historic site and today hosts daily weekday Masses, Thursday Eucharistic Adoration (9:30 AM – 6:30 PM), confessions, and occasional retreats. Baptisms, weddings, and quinceañeras are also held here when the main church is unavailable.
- Built 1927, dedicated by Bishop John J. Mitty Sept. 3, 1928
- Old English style, native stone construction
- Re-dedicated July 2010; daily Mass, adoration, and confessions
The Main Church — Fire, Rebuild & Re-dedication
The current main church was built under Father Glen Shrope in 1974 and opened with a parish open house. On January 4, 2008, the church was severely damaged by smoke from an Advent-Christmas candle left burning after the previous evening Mass. Rather than simply rebuild, the Diocese of Salt Lake City chose to expand the structure. Father Martin Diaz supervised the renovation, and Bishop John C. Wester dedicated the rebuilt and expanded main church on September 27, 2009. The main church now hosts all weekend Masses, baptisms, quinceañeras, funerals, prayer meetings, retreats, and other large gatherings.
- 1974 church destroyed by smoke damage January 4, 2008
- Renovation supervised by Fr. Martin Diaz
- Re-dedicated by Bishop John C. Wester September 27, 2009
Clergy & Pastoral Succession
Father Jose Gregorio Rausseo has served as pastor since 2023, leading the parish through its centennial jubilee year. He is assisted by Deacon Stanley L. Stott — a member of the first class of Permanent Deacons in the Diocese of Salt Lake City, ordained December 26, 1976 — and Deacon Gerardo Marrufo, ordained in 2017, who coordinates RCIA/OICA and the parish baptismal preparation. Retired Father Hernando Diaz returned to semi-active ministry at the parish in 2017 to assist with English liturgies.
- Pastor: Rev. Jose Gregorio Rausseo (2023–present)
- Deacon Stanley L. Stott (since 1976)
- Deacon Gerardo Marrufo (since 2017, RCIA/OICA & baptismal coordinator)
Parish Staff
The parish staff supports worship, faith formation, administration, and communications. Stephanie Lara serves as Pastoral Assistant, Sacramental Education Coordinator, and Bulletin Editor. Yolanda Peralta is the Faith Formation / Religious Education Director and DRE Coordinator. Carina Corona serves as Financial Advisor.
- Stephanie Lara — Pastoral Assistant, SEC Coordinator, Bulletin Editor (ext. 2, [email protected])
- Yolanda Peralta — Faith Formation Director, DRE Coordinator (ext. 4, [email protected])
- Carina Corona — Financial Advisor (ext. 3, [email protected])
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. Therese's Faith Formation (CCD) program prepares children for First Communion and other sacraments and is run by Yolanda Peralta, Religious Education Director and DRE Coordinator. Classes meet in the St. Carlo Acutis Faith Formation Center on Wednesdays and Fridays from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. The two-year program requires a birth certificate, baptism certificate, completed contact-of-completion form, student application, and a yearly contribution ($75 first year, $100 second year; $5 sibling discount; payment plans available). The Religious Education Center, begun in 1999, serves both English- and Spanish-speaking families.
- Faith Formation Office: [email protected], (801) 255-3721 ext. 4
- St. Carlo Acutis Center open Wednesdays & Fridays 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
- Two-year program: $75 year one, $100 year two
RCIA / OICA & Adult Initiation
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RICA / OICA) is coordinated by Deacon Gerardo Marrufo. Adults seeking Baptism, Confirmation, or reception into the Catholic Church are invited to contact the parish office for the current schedule of inquiry sessions and formation classes.
- Coordinator: Deacon Gerardo Marrufo
- Contact parish office at (801) 255-3721
Baptism, Marriage, and Quinceañera
Sacramental preparation is offered for Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, and Quinceañera. Baptismal preparation is coordinated by Deacon Gerardo Marrufo, and the parish staff helps couples and families navigate paperwork, formation classes, and liturgical celebrations. Weddings and quinceañeras are typically celebrated in the main church but can be scheduled in the Little Rock Church when the main church is unavailable.
- Baptism: Deacon Gerardo Marrufo
- First Communion: Faith Formation program
- Marriage and Quinceañera: contact parish office
- Weddings also celebrated in Little Rock Church when needed
Parish Ministries & Outreach
St. Therese's ministry life centers on its bilingual community and the historic Little Rock Church. The parish has operated a food bank and thrift store since 1974, and ministries serve both English- and Spanish-speaking families. The parish is part of the Diocese of Salt Lake City, and its ministries welcome new immigrants and longtime parishioners alike.
- Food Bank & Thrift Store (opened 1974)
- Quinceañera celebrations
- Faith Formation and Sacramental Education (SEC)
- RCIA / OICA in English and Spanish
- Parish Bulletin edited weekly
Contact & Visiting the Parish
The parish office is located at 7832 Allen Street, Midvale, UT 84047, with the main church address at 624 West Lennox Street. Office hours are Monday – Thursday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM. The general parish email is [email protected] and the main phone line is (801) 255-3721 with extensions for staff. Holy Day schedules are posted on the parish website at stcj.org.
- Parish office: 7832 Allen Street, Midvale, UT 84047
- Main church: 624 West Lennox Street, Midvale, UT 84047
- Phone: (801) 255-3721
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://stcj.org/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Patrick McGuire1925–1934
Mission priest who purchased property in 1926 and oversaw construction of the Little Rock Church.
- Fr. Joseph I. Gosselin1934
First pastor when Midvale was erected as a full parish by Bishop James E. Kearney.
- Rev. James T. Torsney1939–1942
Administrator.
- Fr. John A. Finneral1942–1943
Administrator; died in the rectory in 1943.
- Fr. Francis J. Sloan1943–1951
Volunteered as pastor after Bishop Hunt considered closing the parish.
- Fr. (later Msgr.) Joseph P. Moreton1951–1957+
Built the Parish Hall in 1957 with the 'dime a day' saving plan.
- Fr. James T. Kenny1962–1969
- Fr. (later Msgr.) Robert C. Pollock1969–1972
- Fr. Glen Shrope1972–1982
Initiated and oversaw construction of the 1974 church.
- Fr. William M. Mabley
- Fr. James Semple1984–1989
- Fr. Matthew O. Wixted1989–1996
- Fr. Stanislaw Herba1996–2003
Religious Education Center constructed during his tenure.
- Fr. Francisco Pires2003
- Fr. Martin Diaz2006–2013
Assigned August 2, 2006; restored Little Rock Church and oversaw 2009 rebuilding/expansion of the main church.
- Fr. Joey Frez2013–2016
Reassigned outside the diocese in 2016.
- Fr. Jose A. Barrera2015–2023
Parochial Vicar 2015; Administrator 2016–2023; reassigned as Pastor of San Felipe Parish in Wendover in 2023.
- Fr. Jose Gregorio Rausseo2023–present
Current pastor during the 2025 centennial year.