We stand on the foundation of a rich Catholic history.  St. Teresa of Avila parish was formed when a need for a church East of the River became evident to a growing Uniontown community.  Catholics had to travel across the Anacostia River to attend Saint Peters, the nearest Catholic Church located on the other side of Southeast.  Anacostia Catholics, Black and White alike contributed labor and money to build a new church closer to home, at 1244 V Street, SE Washington, DC 20020.

Known as the “Mother Church of Southeast Washington”, Saint Teresa of Avila laid its cornerstone on Sunday, May 5, 1879 and was dedicated on Sunday morning
.  The Eleventh Street bridge was originally built around 1798 or 1799.  When Washington was invaded by the English Army, citizens of Good Hope burned their bridge.  Eleventh Street bridge was reconstructed around 1818.  Later the Pennsylvania Avenue and Eleventh Street bridges were built increasing the pathways for transportation and renewed interest in “East of the River”.  The church flourished with many new Anacostia Catholics.  The word “Anacostia” denoting a river and an island near Georgetown was a compound Latin word made up by the early Jesuit missionaries.  The meaning of the word is “prepared against the enemy.”  In 1886, Congress renamed Uniontown, Anacostia.

By 1904 when St. Teresa of Avila celebrated their Silver Jubilee Mass, the church was filled to capacity.  As the church grew, racial tensions began to slowly surface in the predominantly White church. Black Catholics became disappointed and dissatisfied with their positions and the limited roles they were allowed to assume in the church that they had helped to build.  Although everyone believed in one unifying Lord, everyone did not believe in one unifying church.  Blacks attended Mass seated in the upper church balcony or along the back pews in the sanctuary.

Leaning on the Lord
Two men of the parish journeyed to the Archbishop of Baltimore to request permission to establish a new church.  Permission was granted.  A growing number of Black Catholics held monthly meetings, during which they sang together, recited the rosary and prayed for change.  Prayers were answered when plans for conceiving our first offspring, Our Lady of Perpetual Help was established in 1920.

Trusting in the Lord
In the interim, Black Catholics accepted a plan by Fr. Charles M. Bart, Saint Teresa’s pastor.  They remodeled the basement and began holding a Sunday 8:00am Mass where they could practice their faith more freely in the richness of their culture. Those who refused to accept such arrangements moved to established black Catholic churches in DC.From 1916 – 1960 new Parishes formed resulting from divisions from STA – Assumption in Congress Heights, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Twining City Chapel renamed St. Francis Xavier, St. Ignatius, Our Lady Queen of Peace, St. Thomas More, Holy Family, St. Thomas the Apostle and St. Columba. 

During that same period St. Teresa built a school and a Convent for the Sisters of Notre Dame and a Rectory.  In the 1960’s, racial tensions grew, which resulted in the migration of many white parishioners to other areas of DC.  In 1971, Fr. Dianda, the newly appointed pastor, set out to help his congregation overcome discouragement and begin to rebuild the Basement, converting it into a parish hall, the communion rail was removed to make the altar area more spacious and accessible to the congregation, and a colorful felt banner depicting the Last Supper with Christ and the Apostles as men of Color was erected.

He Never Failed Us Yet
By 1973, Gospel Music was heard for the first time in a Washington Catholic Church, with the establishment of the first Choir.  In 1976 St. Teresa received it’s first black pastor, Rev. George A. Stallings, Jr.  His preaching style, eloquently merged with the music of John and Esther-Bell Watson, created a religious liturgy that was both African-American and Catholic, and met the spiritual needs of the individual.  STA witnessed a growth in active membership.  In 1981, The Missionaries of Charity came to serve the Parish with Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta.

A strong, enthusiastic, and gifted pastor was needed to bring healing and effective leadership.  God provided such a shepherd in the person of Fr. Raymond G. East.  Fr. East would continue the tradition of spirit filled liturgies, and powerful preaching, while adding a well-trained Catechumenate Team (RCIA) to insure the full initiation of new members who began to join soon after his arrival.   The parish was blessed with the anointed and generous ministry of Monsignor Raymond G. East for almost nine years. 

Rev. Raymond G. East was named pastor in 1989.His preaching, melodic voice and faith in God, allowed STA to continue to grow and the Archbishop acknowledged his accomplishment with the honorary title of Monsignor.  In 1997, we were blessed with Rev. Patrick A. Smith, a spirit filled man of God, who continued to preach and teach the Word of God with fire and conviction.  He stepped out on Faith and propelled us to Grow on Purpose, by encouraging the Parish to read “The Purpose Driven Life” by Pastor Rick Warren.  Then in 2005, Msgr. Raymond G. East was re-named pastor and continues to lead us on our mission to bring all to a personal and life-changing encounter with Christ.   God has a purpose for STA and we continue to thank Him for 137 years of service, continued blessings and the opportunity to be a blessing and a beacon at the corner of 13^th and V Street, SE, Washington, DC.    

Today, one hundred and thirty-seven years later, we stand true to our vision as a multicultural parish.We stand on the firm foundation of our Catholic ancestors whose spirit of determination and moral strength still permeates these walls.  We dance in the spirit of our patron Saint Teresa of Avila and boldly ‘step out on faith’ in the power of the Holy Spirit as we continue to win souls for Christ.
From 1882-2017, St. Teresa of Avila Parish was blessed with 10 Pastors – Rev. Stanislaus F. Ryan, Rev. Thomas B. Hughes, Rev. Michael P. Sullivan, Rev. Charles M. Bart, Rev. Dennis C. Keenan, Rev. J. Jennings Clark, Rev. Carl F. Dianda, Rev. George A. Stallings, Jr., Rev. Raymond G. East, (later installed as Monsignor) and Rev. Patrick A. Smith, and Msgr. Raymond G. East.   From 1898 – 1988,  11 Assistant Pastors – Rev. Francis A. Schwallenberg, Rev. Martin P. J. Egan, Rev. Franz M.W. Schneeweiss, Rev. Joseph V. Buckley, Rev. Gerald J. Finan, Rev. J. Jennings Clark, Rev. Robert Pfleger, Rev. John Kinter, Rev. Bruce Greening, Rev. George Quickley and Rev. Frank Whatley;  and 4 Deacons -  Samuel Johnson, John P. Stewart, Ralph W. Cyrus, Lawrence A. Miles and William Hawkins.