A Bilingual Parish on Prestley Mill Road
St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Catholic Church sits along Prestley Mill Road in Douglasville, Georgia, serving a parish family that worships in both English and Spanish every weekend. Under the protection of St. Thérèse of Lisieux and the pastoral care of the Archdiocese of Atlanta, the parish describes itself as "an on-fire parish putting our faith first, before all other things, serving God through the faith community and striving to be saints here and now." Six weekend Masses, daily Mass, perpetual adoration and a packed calendar of Hispanic devotions have made the parish a gathering point for Catholics from across west Georgia.
Weekend and Daily Masses
The Mass schedule is built around the bilingual character of the parish. On Saturday, Mass is celebrated at 4:00 PM in English and 6:00 PM in Spanish. On Sunday, the offerings are 7:00 AM in Spanish, 9:00 AM in English, 11:00 AM in English and 1:00 PM in Spanish. Daily Mass is celebrated Monday through Friday at 9:00 AM in English. Mass intentions may be requested through the parish office for loved ones, living or deceased, in keeping with the Archdiocese of Atlanta's practice of one intention per Mass.
Confession and Eucharistic Adoration
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered on Thursday from 8:00 to 8:45 AM and on Saturday from 3:00 to 3:45 PM. Appointments for confession at another time can be arranged by calling the parish office. The parish takes its lead from the Catechism's teaching that "those who approach the sacrament of Penance obtain pardon from God's mercy for the offense committed against him, and are, at the same time, reconciled with the Church."
Eucharistic Adoration is a defining practice at St. Theresa. On Thursdays, the Blessed Sacrament is exposed from 10:00 AM until 7:00 PM, followed by a Holy Hour in Spanish from 7:00 to 8:00 PM with Exposition and Benediction. Volunteers called "Guardians of the Blessed Sacrament" commit to a weekly hour of prayer, while substitutes fill in when needed. Visitors are welcome to stop in and pray before the Blessed Sacrament in the chapel anytime.
A New Church Rising on the Little Way
The parish is in the middle of a capital campaign, "Small Acts, Lasting Impact," inspired by the Little Way of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. The campaign funds the construction of a new church, with a downloadable case study packet available in English and Spanish. The effort reflects the parish's belief that "even the smallest acts of generosity, offered with love and faith, can accomplish extraordinary things." Pledges can be made online through a Ministry Forms link on the parish's campaign page.
Faith Formation from First Grade Through High School
St. Theresa runs a Parish School of Religion (PSR) that meets the Archdiocese's two-year preparation for the sacraments. Sunday classes are offered in three time blocks - 8:15 to 9:15 AM, 9:45 to 10:45 AM, and 4:00 to 5:30 PM - with level classes (L1C, L2C, L1T, L2T) and sacramental preparation for grades one through five and Confirmation 1 held in the Parish Life Center (PLC) building. Confirmation 2 and Life Teen (high school) meet in the CITY building on Sundays. Wednesday classes from 6:00 to 7:30 PM host Edge, the middle-school program built on the pillars of the Catechism. Diana Paz, Director of Religious Education, oversees the program.
First Communion is received after a second year of preparation, generally around second grade, while Confirmation requires the Archdiocese's two-year plus six-week program and reception of the sacrament from one of the archdiocese's bishops.
OCIA and the Bases of the Catholic Religion
Adults interested in becoming Catholic or completing their Sacraments of Initiation can enter the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA). The program runs from August through Pentecost, with sessions focused on Scripture, the teachings of the Church, prayer and building a personal relationship with Christ. Catechumens (unbaptized adults), candidates baptized in another Christian tradition, and baptized Catholics seeking First Eucharist and Confirmation are all welcome.
For Spanish-speaking adults seeking a deeper grasp of the faith, the parish offers Bases of the Catholic Religion, an evangelization program that walks through Bible classes 1 and 2 and answers common questions about Catholic teaching. Classes are taught in Spanish.
Hispanic Devotions: Guadalupe, Posadas and Quinceañeras
The parish has a particularly rich set of Hispanic ministries. The Our Lady of Guadalupe ministry coordinates the December 12 feast day celebration with Mass, Mañanitas, the Work of the Apparitions and traditional dance. The Christmas Posadas, a nine-day novena of prayer and reflection from December 16 through December 24, prepares families to receive the Christ child into their homes. The parish also celebrates the Quinceañera, the Mass marking a young woman's fifteenth birthday, with a $750 non-refundable reservation fee, a required Quinceañera class, and consecration to God through the Virgin Mary. Baptized and First Communicant young women enrolled in PSR or Confirmation preparation are eligible.
Liturgy Ministries
Serving at the altar is woven into parish life from an early age. The Altar Server ministry welcomes boys and girls from third grade who have been baptized and received First Communion, with four ranks from Beginner to Young Servant Leader. Servers graduate by demonstrating knowledge, competency and leadership, with higher ranks serving at weddings and funerals. Lectors are fully initiated practicing Catholics who proclaim Scripture at liturgy, with separate English and Spanish coordinators. Music and Choirs, under Music Director Hugo Castro, lead congregational singing. Other liturgical roles include Ushers, Sacristans, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (including those who bring the Eucharist to the sick and homebound) and the Altar Linen Ministry (Altar Society), which rotates monthly care of vestments and altar cloths.
Prayer and Fellowship Groups
St. Theresa's devotional life is unusually broad. The Elijah Cup ministry sends a Vocation Chalice home with a different family each weekend, who prays daily for an increase in religious vocations. The Divine Mercy Prayer Group gathers to study the Divine Mercy devotion and to pray at the bedside of the sick and dying. The Legion of Mary Praesidium meets weekly for prayer, family visits and apostolic work. The Catholic Charismatic Renewal assembly meets every Friday from 7:00 to 8:30 PM for praise, Scripture reflection and prayer for the sick. During Lent, parishioners stage a live Passion of Christ presentation on Good Friday. The Presentation of the Lord ministry offers the Forty-Day Blessing of mothers and their newborn children at the close of regular weekend Masses.
Fellowship organizations include the Council of Catholic Women, affiliated with the Atlanta Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women, which meets the second Thursday of each month at 10:00 AM in the Parish Life Center and supports supply drives, the Walk for Life, Boxes of Joy and other charitable projects. R.A.S.C.A.L.S. (Relaxing Adult Senior Citizens and Leisurely Services) is the parish's 55-plus group, gathering once a month for fellowship, food and fun. The Knights of Columbus council invites Catholic men 18 and older to take up its call to lead with faith, protect their families and serve others. Circle of Friends provides meals and fellowship for bereaved families and the sick.
Outreach: St. Vincent de Paul, Prison Ministry and Respect Life
The St. Vincent de Paul Society provides temporary and emergency financial and food assistance to neighbors in need, meeting on the first and third Tuesdays of each month. Members may visit two to four clients per month and must pass background checks. The parish's Prison Ministry, led by Deacon Ron St. Michel and Maria Hernandez, brings the Word of God and the Eucharist to inmates held in the Douglas County jails. Volunteers must be authorized Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist and must pass background checks by both the Archdiocese and the Douglas County Sheriff's Department. The Respect Life Ministry promotes the Catholic Church's pro-life teachings and supports local pro-life organizations and events.
Sacraments of Initiation and Marriage
Infant Baptism requires parents to be registered, active members of the parish (verified by envelope submissions), with a completed baptismal form, the child's birth certificate, and godparent eligibility documents. Preparation classes meet on the second Saturday of each month, English at 2:00 PM and Spanish at 4:00 PM, in the Conference Room of the Parish Life Center. Children age 7 and older enter Level 1 Religious Education and are baptized during their first year of PSR.
The Sacrament of Marriage requires at least six to twelve months of preparation. Couples contact the parish office to begin the process, with documents including recently issued baptismal certificates, a marriage registration form, prenuptial witness affidavits, pre-marriage preparation certificates, and a civil marriage license. Weddings are not celebrated on Sundays. Couples whose previous marriages require an annulment must complete that process before marriage preparation begins.
Men discerning a vocation to the priesthood or permanent diaconate, or men and women considering religious life, are invited to speak with Fr. Leandro Nunes.
Funeral Planning and Anointing of the Sick
The parish office helps families plan Catholic funeral liturgies that acknowledge grief while emphasizing the hope of eternal life. The staff works with families from the first days after a loss. Anointing of the Sick can be requested by calling the parish office for oneself or a loved one.
Parish Life, Office and Online Resources
The parish office is open Monday through Thursday from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM and Friday from 9:30 AM to 2:00 PM, reachable at 770-489-7115 or admin@sttheresacc.org. Newcomers are encouraged to register as parishioners; active status requires at least six months of registration, weekly Mass attendance and a record of stewardship through envelopes, online giving or ministry involvement.
Catholics can pray with the daily readings through the USCCB Bible link, request Mass intentions online, browse the parish bulletin via Discover Mass, and stream Catholic content through FORMED.org (free for parish members) in both English and Spanish. Online giving is available through the ParishSoft portal on the parish's main page. The parish also maintains a Facebook page and a YouTube channel.
Patron Saint: St. Thérèse of Lisieux
St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, the youngest of nine children, was born in Alençon, France in 1873 and entered the Carmelite convent in Lisieux at fifteen. Her autobiography, The Story of a Soul, urged Christians to follow "The Little Way" of small, hidden acts of love. She died of tuberculosis at twenty-four on September 30, 1897, was beatified in 1923, canonized in 1925 and proclaimed a Doctor of the Church by St. John Paul II in 1997. Her feast day, October 1, is observed with the novena prayer: "O Little Therese of the Child Jesus, please pick for me a rose from the heavenly gardens and send it to me as a message of love."
Leadership and Staff
The parish is administered by Fr. Leandro Nunes, with Deacon Ron St. Michel and Deacon Facundo Maldonado assisting. Diana Paz directs Religious Education, Hugo Castro leads the Music ministry, and Evelyn Ortega serves as Assistant Director of Religious Education and Director of Communications. The business manager, receptionist, administrative assistant and maintenance supervisor round out the staff.