Irish Catholic families began arriving in Union Mills (later Union City) around 1854. Mass was celebratd in the homes of these early families by Father Emerand, a Beneditine priest. In 1857, twenty Catholic families petitioned for the founding of a church - the original St. Teresa - under the leadership of Fr. Thomas Lonergan. Before long, the congregation outgrew the building and in 1860 a larger church was erected.
In the years 1868 and 1869, a series of priests served St. Teresa Parish. They included Fr. Maloney, Fr. Maurel and Fr. Mada. In 1869, Fr. Dunn arrived and within a few years St. Teresa Parochial School was opened. The school was staffed by the Sisters of St. Joseph and had an average enrollment of approximately 175 students.
Fr. Bernard Lynch served St. Teresa from 1892 to 1894. Fr. David Hanley came next and added a second story to the school as well as redecorating the church. At about the same time the school began to see a gradual decline in attendance, and was finally forced to close in August of 1901.
In 1897, Fr. James Fielding began the preliminary study for removing the wood-framed church building and replacing it with a sturdier and more permanent structure.
In 1904, Fr. Cantlin arrived and decided to go ahead and replace the old church building. The cornerstone of the current church was laid in July of 1906 and the church building was completed and dedicated in May of 1907. Erie newspapers reported the cost of the new church building to be $16,000. A $2,000 grant from Andrew Carnegie allowed the parish to purchase a Grand Tellers organ. Father Cantlin introduced catechism classes to the church, founded the Rosary-Altar Society in 1912, and oversaw the beginnings of the annual Lawn Festival which took place on a Thursday - a tradition that continues to this day. Father Cantlin was well-known and respected throughout the area. He anchored the parish and community through the First World War and the epidemic of Spanish influenza that immediately followed. It was the talk of the area that not a single St. Teresa parishioner died of influenza during the course of the epidemic. Father Cantlin served the parish until his death in 1930.
Father John Ring followed Fr. Cantlin, celebrating his first Mass at St. Teresa on Palm Sunday of 1930. A month later, the church building was struck by lightning, resulting in a devastating fire. By October, the church had been renovated and reopened for services. While repairs were being done, the Presbyterian church opened its doors and allowed the parish to celebrate the Liturgy at their facility. Father Ring was noted for helping his parishioners through the Great Depression, and even sold his own life insurance policy and took little or no salary at times in order to keep the parish financially secure through this difficult period.
In 1914, Father Lawrence Trembly was assigned to St. Teresa and undertook the founding of the chapel of Our Lady of Fatima at Canadohta Lake. In 1954, the covent which had been closed with the closing of the school in 1901 was re-established. In 1954, Father Trembly died of a heart attack shortly before he was to deliver the baccalaureate address to the graduating class at Union City High School. A shaken community took up a collection in his memory which was used to automate the church bells and call people daily to the Angelus Prayer.
Two priests, Father Charles Hackerl and Fahter Malloy served as temporary pastors until Father Anthony Robaczewski arrived as permanent pastor in 1955. Under his leadership, the church's exterior was covered with bondstone and the interior of the building was refurbished. When Fr. Robaczewski became ill a series of priests came as temporary aides until Father Charles Skinner was finally appointed pastor in 1968. Under his pastorate, Our Lady of Fatima was finally winterized. Father Skinner also headed a drive to preserve the local hospital.
After Fr. Skinner's re-assignment to an Oil City parish, Father James Peterson was assigned as pastor of St. Teresa and Our Lady of Fatima, beginning his pastorate on June 27, 1975. Under Fr. 'Pete', te convent was relocated, the Lawn Festival was revived, the cemetery was landscaped, and Horizon House - a facility for women in need - was created. The church was once again repainted on the interior and in 1984 a handicapped-accessible ramp was added to the north side of the church.
In September 1985, Father Tom Smith came to the church as administrator and was named pastor ten months later. In September 1986, it was discovered that the church's side walls had moved to the point that the roof was in danger of collapsing into the church. The building had to be closed. In December of that year, Fr. Dennis Martin came to St. Teresa. Because of the condition of the church building, services were held inthe parish auditorium until the church's walls could be reinforced and the building made safe for use.
In November 1992, Father Paul Schill was assigned as temporary administrator of the parish for a few months. In January of 1993, Father Dan Prez was appointed pastor. During Fr. Prez's pastorate, the front of the church building was given a facelift, thermopane doors were installed at the church entrances, the parking lot was paved, and lanscaping improved.
In August of 1999, Father Tom Suppa arrived as pastor of St. Teresa and Our Lady of Fatima. Father Suppa revitalized the RCIA program, undertaken the refurbishing of the parish hall, including the addition of nice classrooms, a library, office space, and a completely renovated kitchen. In 2007, the entire interior of the church was re-plastered and repainted. On August 19, 2007, St. Teresa celebrated its sesquicentennial. For over 150 years St. Teresa Parish has served the spiritual needs of the Catholics in the Union City area. Together with Our Lady of Fatima in Canadohta Lake, St. Teresa looks forward to many more years of playing a vital role in the life of the Union City area.
(more to come ... partnership with St. Thomas the Apostle in Corry and then merger)