St. Theresa's Catholic Church
2855 St. Theresa Avenue
Bronx, NY 10461

Born: July 18, 1968 - Ordained: May 15, 1999 - Entered into Eternal Life: September 5, 2018

We have lost one of our own family, the family of St. Theresa's Parish, our dear Father Charles Szivos, who went home to God on September 5. Perhaps the greatest compliment that could be made of Father Charles was this; he was here for less than two years, but it seemed that he was here so many years more. One of the greatest blessings of my life was that, after his ordination on May 15, 1999, he was assigned to St. Helena Parish where Father Joseph, Father Gomez and I worked with him for five wonderful years. After that he worked in other parishes and in St. Joseph's Seminary, but he always wanted to come back to a parish, for he always considered himself to be a simple parish priest. I am so grateful that His Eminence Cardinal Dolan gave him to us at St. Theresa Parish for almost two wonderful years. From the first day he came here, he was home, he was family. His evident joy in being a priest spoke volumes. How quickly he became involved in our many parish activities, of course, his celebration of the Mass and his beautiful homilies; his love for our school children and the children in our CCD Program; his love for our seniors who were touched by his youthful spirit; and simply his happiness in being here with us. At this time when the priesthood has suffered from so much negativity, how blessed we were to have Father Charles, the "genuine article" of what a priest should be. 

Father Charles always had a great devotion to St. Theresa and how happy he was to be in a parish named in her honor. When she was leaving this life she said "I will spend my heaven doing good on earth."  We have no doubt that Father Charles will spend his heaven doing good on earth for all of us. 

                                             Father Thomas B. Derivan

                                           From the Homily at the Mass of the Eucharist 9/9/18
 

• We welcome the families who come here with their children, looking for an excellent school, a school where their children will not only be taught, but will be loved;

• We welcome our older parishioner the “pioneers” of our parish, many of whom have lived here for so many years, many of whom were married here, had their children baptized here, and most importantly have come here Sunday after Sunday to Mass giving the Lord praise and thanks;

• We welcome those who visit our church perhaps after years of “being away.” looking for a spiritual home and who hopefully find it here;

• We welcome those who are new to our community, those who come here now with the same aspirations that people years ago came here for—a good place in which their children can grow up, a place where Church is an important part of their lives, a place where they can know their neighbors and treasure their community.

• We welcome people of every ethnic background, every race, every way of life, realizing that whoever we are, however we look, we are all children of God joined in His family.

BIBLE STUDY/SHARING: - Welcome Back!
Bible Study will begin again on October 3, 2018

Every Wednesday night at 7:30 PM in the Rectory Dining Room a group gathers seeking to grow closer to Christ by meditating on the Holy Scripture. Please come and be nourished by the Word of God. Everyone is invited to attend.