St. Theresa of the Child Jesus parish began as a mission church of SS. Cyril and Methodius Parish on the Southside of Bethlehem. Recognizing the need to serve the Slovak Catholic community that grew out of an increase in Slovak immigrants to Bethlehem to work at the Bethlehem Steel, Dennis Cardinal Dougherty gave Father Francis Vlossak permission to perform a feasibility study for a mission Church. As a result of this study, a location for the first mission church on Whitaker Street in Hellertown was given the name SS. Nereus and Achilleus, after the Cardinal’s Titular Church in Rome. Additionally, the tombs of the 5th century saints were rediscovered 1874 in Rome. Father John Trescak was named the administrator of the mission church and moved into the new rectory on Jefferson Street in Hellertown in 1921. Mass originally was said in the Rectory on Jefferson Street while the building on Whitaker Street was being renovated into a Catholic Church. The number of families grew from thirteen to about sixty in the first years of the parish.  By the end of 1922, the rectory on Jefferson Street was sold as Father Trescak was reassigned. During this time, Father Tomko, the Curate from SS. Cyril and Methodius would come from Southside Bethlehem to take care of the spiritual needs of the people. 

In 1923, Father George Check was ordained to the Priesthood of Jesus Christ and was assigned to SS. Cyril and Methodius, his home parish. At the same time, he was also called upon to be the temporary administrator of SS. Nereus and Achilleus. During his time, he was tasked with buying a new property for a new parish church in Hellertown. In the Fall of 1923, property was bought on Leonard Street and Easton Road with a house that will serve as the rectory and the temporary church until a new church would be built. Immediately, the faithful began to raise funds to build their basement church. The church was dedicated on May 30, 1925. At the same time, Father Check petitioned Dennis Cardinal Dougherty to change the name from SS. Nereus and Achilleus to St. Theresa of the Child Jesus who was just canonized a few days prior on May 17. There are many claims that Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus in Hellertown is the first parish to be named after the saintly nun from Lisieux. However, there is no way to substantiate that claim. Later that year on November 12, 1925, Dennis Cardinal Dougherty officially established St. Theresa’s as a parish territorial parish. In 1935, Father Check received permission to purchase land on Leonard street to build a convent. From the founding of the church until the dedication of the new church in 1956, the spiritual and social life of the parish continued to grow with various social events and spiritual guilds and societies. On October 16, 1956 The Most Reverend J. Caroll McCormick, an Auxiliary Bishop from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia came to the parish to dedicate a new church and rectory, the church building we know today. Following the dedication, the parish continued to grow. In February of 1965, Fr. Check became very ill. On April 3, 1965, Fr. Check passed from this world to the next leaving behind a strong legacy at St. Theresa’s parish.   

Following the passing of Fr. Check, Father Stephen J. Daday was assigned to St. Theresas. He was installed as pastor on June 1, 1965. Fr. Daday arrived at the parish during the height of the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council. Fr. Daday was tasked with rendering the church building to conform with the interpretation of the council documents at that time including the installation of a versus populum altar. It was also during Father Daday’s time as pastor when he was named a domestic prelate of His Holiness Pope Paul VI and given the title Right Rev. Monsignor. Monsignor Daday remained pastor of St. Theresa’s until his retirement in 1984. 

In 1984, Monsignor Raymond Merman was assigned as pastor of St. Theresa of the Child Jesus. Monsignor Merman was a priest of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and was previously assigned as pastor of Holy Trinity in Whitehall. During Monsignor Merman’s time as pastor, the parish continued to grow and expand. The parish school continued to flourish. It was also during his time that the Immaculate Heart of Mary sisters arrived to serve our parish community and school. Monsignor Memman remained pastor of Saint Theresa’s until his retirement on July 15, 2008. 

In July 2008, Reverend Monsignor Alfred A. Schlert was named pastor of St. Theresa’s in Hellertown. At the same time, Rev. Jerome A. Tauber arrived as the curate. Monsignor Schlert remained pastor of St. Theresa’s until February 2010 when Bishop John O. Barres, fourth Bishop of Allentown reappointed Monsignor Schlert full time vicar general of the Diocese of Allentown. 

With the reappointment of Monsignor Schlert, Father Jerome Tauber was named pastor of St. Theresa’s in Hellertown. During Father Tauber’s time as pastor, there was additional purchase of property in order to continue spreading the Gospel in the twenty-first century including a new parish center and space for parking. It was also during Father Tauber’s time where more spiritual programs were introduced in order to foster the spiritual life of the parish in the twenty first century. Father Tauber also led the faithful of the parish during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. It was at this time where, due to decreased enrollment, St. Theresa’s elementary school closed but St. Theresa’s preschool remains open and continues to increase enrollment. It was also during the COVID-19 pandemic when the Immaculate Heart of Mary Sister’s left St. Theresa’s parish.   

On the morning of June 27, 2017 the parish of St. Theresa of the Child Jesus participated in a moment in history when Monsignor Alfred A. Schlert, resident of St. Theresa’s parish was named the fifth Bishop of Allentown by His Holiness Pope Francis. It was the first time in Diocesian History a diocesian son was named Bishop. Bishop Schlert celebrated his first Mass as Bishop-Elect at St. Theresa’s parish. During the liturgy, the Bishop-Elect asked for Mary, Mother of the Church’s intercession for the parish and the faithful of the Diocese of Allentown.   

Today, St. Theresa’s remains a vibrant family of faith. The parish faithfully serves the spiritual needs of the faithful in Hellertown. On June 15, 2021, Reverend Doctor John A. Krivak was named the sixth pastor of St. Theresa’s in Hellertown. Under his leadership the parish continues to focus on spreading the Gospel in Hellertown. With this effort, the parish has a vibrant Knights of Columbus, Ladies Guild, and Holy Name Society. Our religious education program continues to focus on spreading the Gospel though the most up to date and orthodox teachings methods including the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. All of this to ensure the Gospel of Jesus Christ is continuously spread.