Clarenville to St. John's and Concert
I know I sound like a broken record but the hospitality of the people of Newfoundland is unrivalled. The choir pulled up to the beautiful St. Teresa’s Catholic Church and was met by a very exuberant Austin who welcomed us on the bus. Laurie and Paul and I went in to see the lay of the land and were met by an astounding number of volunteers who all introduced themselves and could not have been more helpful as we set ourselves up for the concert.
After sound checks it was downstairs for another unbelievable meal. Three different homemade soups each one soliciting oohs and awes as they warmed us up on a cool rainy day. The conversation also warmed us as we met the volunteers who served us.
The concert was very well attended and the audience very enthusiastic. It is such a thrill to sing to all these audiences when you see them tapping their feet and singing along.
This was the beautiful view we had as we sang to the St. Teresa audience. The beautiful stained glass and through the door you can see the pond.
St. Teresa's Parish officially began in 1924 with the appointment of Father Harold A. Summers, then pastor of St. Patrick's Parish, to attend to the spiritual needs of the people of Mundy Pond. By 1928, a census showed that there were 150 Catholic families with approximately 750 people in the community. Though Father Summers looked after the needs of the vicinity for several years, it was not until October 1, 1930, that he was appointed the first resident priest of the new parish. By Christmas of 1932 the parish residence was ready for occupancy and on June 12, 1938, the first parish church (today's parish hall) was blessed by Archbishop Roche.
Parishioners of St. Teresa's have had a long term relationship with the sisters of Mercy and the Redemptorists. The sisters were welcomed to the parish in 1944 when they took over the administration of the school ( the area had a Catholic school as early as 1899), and the Redemptorists officially began to minister in the parish on Sunday, October 21, 1956. The first Redemptorist pastor who served at St. Teresa's was Father Patrick Mann who, together with his assistant Father Francis Maloney, set a pattern of working with and for the people that continues to this day. On Sunday May 27, 1962, the sod was turned for a new church and monastery. Nearly 2 years later, October 25, 1964, the new church opened on the feast of Christ the King. At present St. Teresa's with a Catholic population of 12,000, is one of the biggest Roman Catholic parishes in the Archdiocese of St. John's. The area has grown from its original 750 inhabitants to over 26,000. The parish register confirms 9,535 persons on its lists, and seeks to care for the needs of the 3,494 families who see St. Teresa's as their spiritual home.