See newsletter for parish news.
Everybody`s welcome at St Teresa`s Catholic Church. We hope you will find among us: Spiritual Nourishment, Friendship, Acceptance and Love. 
We are proud to be part of the life of Upholland. We share with all Christians the benefits and blessings from faith in God, in a lovely location with warm – hearted people, following Christ and enjoying the peace of the Holy Spirit. We are "moving beyond safe harbours into new and sacred waters".
For hundreds of years there has been a Catholic community here in Upholland, upholding the deep blessings of our faith. Initially belonging to St James Parish, the people of Upholland had to travel to Orrell for Mass.
In 1875 Fr Doon, the Parish Priest, could not provide a church for the people he loved in Roby Mill, so he built a school which he dedicated to "All Hallows", after the Dublin College he attended. In 1917 the Carmelite Convent was built and became a Mass centre served by priests from St Joseph`s College. All Hallows School at Roby Mill was opened in the late 1800`s to serve the Catholic community of Roby Mill and Upholland. Due to the war, St Teresa`s church was not built until 1955 in College Road. In the 1970s a new primary school was built on the same site as the church and All Hallows school was closed.
In 1940 the parish of St Teresa`s was founded and the foundation stone was laid in Roby Mill, where the cemetary is today. The school was designated as the parish church until the new church was built, but due to the war, this was not possible until 1955 when it was constructed on the present site in College Road.
The parish still incorporates the Carmelite Convent in Roby Mill. St Teresa`s is a member of The Pastoral Area of St John Rigby. In the shared life of the Ecumenical Covenant, St Teresa`s has ecumenical ties with St Thomas the Martyr Church of England and with Upholland Methodist Church. Sharing the ample car park is St Teresa`s Catholic Social Club, which is available for private functions.
Our parish vision is for 5 facets of vibrant parish life:
1. Growing in faith
2. Sharing in Community
3. Service in the Parish and the World
4. Prayer and liturgy
5. Listening leadership
You can click on the link below for the Parish 2010 Year Plan:
Parish_Year_Plan_for_Display_July_2010_to_2011.doc
If you are new to the area and would like to become a member of the Parish or you have changed your address or phone number, you can click on the link below, print and send the completed form to the Parish office:
ST_TERESA_WELCOME_SHEET_data_collection_form_for_website.doc
You can click on the link below for more information about St Teresa`s Library and the books available:
Click on the link below to read reflections by Pam Ashcroft during the visit of the relics of St Therese to the cathedral 2009.
Parish Priest – Father Tony Slingo
(available everyday except Monday by appointment)
Parish Assistant – Elizabeth Dodd
(available everyday except Thursdays)
Parish Secretary – Jane Simpson
(available Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:30am – 3pm)
Member of Parish Focus Team – Chris Osborne
Cathechetics co-ordinator – Pam Ashcroft
Pastoral Area Working Group Representative. Deputy Co-ordinator for Welcoming - Viv Shaw.
Member of Parish Focus Team - Libby Wilson
Altar Servers co-ordinator – John Hartill 
Premises committee - John Rowlands
You can click on the attachment below for more information about the fundraising for the redecoration of St Teresas, the new lighting and the improvements to the Terrace. The main areas painted are the ceilings.
fundraising_church_improvements_2010.doc
You can click on the link below for a summary of the Parish accounts for 2009:
Summary_of_Accounts_for_2009.doc
Ecumenical representative - Margaret Mary Osborne 
Home is a holy place co-ordinator - Lois Rowlands
"Home is a Holy Place” is an initiative by the Bishops to show all of us that God is everywhere and is central in our home whether we are aware of his presence of not. To present this to parishioners a DVD has been prepared that shows various families and how they perceive God in their family life, making it a holy place. We gather a few people together to view the DVD and over a cup of tea they discuss how God shows himself in their own lives.
You can click on the link below for more about Home is a Holy Place:
Chair of Parish Open Forum - Julian Finch
Click on the link below for the Record of the Parish Open Forum June 2010:
Record_of_the_Open_Forum_10th_June__2010.doc
Click on the link below to read the Parish Priest Report in preparation for the June 2010 Parish Open Forum:
Parish_Priests_Report_for_Open_Forum_on_10th_June_2010.doc
St Teresa, (also known as St Therese), grew up in a loving family in which she learned how to live a good life. The family endured tragedy, however. When Teresa Martin was just four years old her mother, Zelie, died of breast cancer. After her death the family moved to Lisieux. Despite the difficulties the family remained strong in faith. All the surviving sisters entered religious life, her sister Pauline became a Carmelite nun and Teresa`s parents were beatified in 2008.
St Teresa`s Parish Prayer
Holy God, Father, Son and Spirit,
Share with us anew the love you shared with St Teresa.
With her, we give you thanks for life,
And the faith and community we share.
May your Holy Spirit inspire us anew to enjoy your presence,
And build a community fresh of hope.
Lead us beyond safe harbours,
Into new and sacred waters.
Guide us on our voyage with the Word of Christ,
And the courage and joy of St Teresa.
We ask this through Christ Our Lord.
Amen.
St. Teresa of Lisieux.
Teresa was born at Alencon, France, on January 2, 1873. She was the youngest of nine children, four of whom died in childhood. Her father Louis was a watchmaker and her mother ran a lace - making business. Entering the Carmelite Monastery at Lisieux on April 9th 1888 at age 15, she took the name Sister Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face. During her illness Teresa endured a trial of faith. Although she believed, she spoke of how heaven seemed "closed" to her and she found it difficult to feel God`s presence. She often prayed for those who doubted and those who had lost their way in life. She died aged 24 on September 30, 1897, loving with a heart as big as the world itself. "I`m not dying, I`m entering into Life." Just a handful of people attended her funeral. Now she is revered by millions all over the world and countless people look to her for help. Canonized in 1925, she was declared Patroness of the Missions in 1927, and a Doctor of the Church in 1997.
The wood carving below was presented to the church at Harvest Mass 2009. It represents and depicts the beautiful mullions inside and outside St Teresa`s. The sculpter, Bill, and Fr. Tony have named it "Velarde`s Trinity", after the architect of the church. It is currently on display in the Meeting room.
Photographs provided by Christopher Finch
Webmaster - Stephen Finch
The aim of the parish website is to provide useful information regarding the parish, the parishioners and the community of Upholland. To employ this technology in the service of the church`s mission today, through information to current parishioners about parish life. It acts as a gateway for interested and curious people to access church life. To promote links to other useful sites in connection with church and spirituality and to serve the local community.
Deputy webmaster - Christopher Finch.
Image of St Therese below kindly provided by the Catholic church.
