Parish History

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.

Known as the "Mother Church of Southeast Washington," Saint Teresa of Avila laid its cornerstone on Sunday, May 5, 1879, was dedicated on Sunday morning November 23, 1879. 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 predominately 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.

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, were established in 1920.

In the interim, they accepted a plan by Fr. 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.

Today, one hundred and twenty nine years later, we stand true to our vision. 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 and boldly 'step out on faith' in the power of the Holy Spirit as we continue to win souls for Christ.