These rugged pioneers overcame almost insurmountable obstacles in raising funds for the church-to-be. Mrs. Davis donated a site to the diocese about this time for the building of a parish church. It seems that the extent of this piece of property, where Denning Paint & Body Shop now stands, was seriously diminished when Hwy 301 was four-laned. The first fundraising dinner (spaghetti dinner) was co-sponsored by Anthony Kapicak and Jim Carney. This may account for the preference for spaghetti dinners that still reigns in St. Theresa, even on St. Patrick’s Day. Meetings were held in various members’ homes where picnics, dances, and bake sales were planned to raise money for the building fund. Mr. and Mrs. James Carney sponsored one of the first dances in a new chicken coop, recently constructed on their property. Through all this time the fledgling congregation continued to grow.

 

Every parish knows that their greatest cores of workers are women. The Ladies’ Guild since the time of its earliest founders has been the right arm of the parish. On the occasion of its 25th anniversary, St. Theresa saluted its earliest group of organized volunteers (the Ladies’ Guild) by paying a special tribute to the Ladies’ Guild of 1991, and their leader Mrs. Julie Ledbetter, and president of many years, Mrs. Mickey Fin. The Ladies’ Guild is now led by Karen French.

 

A red-letter day occurred in 1950 when 4 acres were purchased by Archbishop Hurley on U.S. Highway 301, just south of Belleview, from the Wallace family, who were Catholics. The purchase included the Wallace home, later to become the rectory (which is now the soup kitchen and social services complex). This was the only edifice on the property at the time. The great generosity of John Knope, an Ocala contractor and convert to Catholicism, made it possible for the parishioners to have a church constructed by him, at a cost of $12,000. The new Church of St. Theresa was completed in 1951, and dedicated by Bishop Hurley assisted by Fr. Cummings. The name “St. Theresa”, according to Virginia Cruce, was suggested by a Mr. Campbell, whose daughter’s name was Theresa.

 

The Extension Society headquarters in Chicago provided $2,500 for the Belleview church which had seating for 168 people. Air-conditioning was added to the church through a gift from the mother-parish in Ocala, Blessed Trinity.

 

Fr. Mitzi, about 1974, with permission from Bishop Grady, introduced girl altar servers at mass. This was a courageous innovation. Among the first girls to serve in St. Theresa (possibly in the Diocese of Orlando) were: Lisa Hillestad, Alice Davis, Liesl Haggar, Kim Bockoras, Lisa Allen, Susan Bickler, Deborah Filer, Lora Rosmarin, Angela Lipira, Michelle De Nicola, Emily Lord, Lynn Schaefer, Joanna McGrath, Patricia Sardisco, and Ruth Aldrick. Since then there has been a new council formed with a very diverse group of members.

 

Volunteers, giving of their time and talent to the service of God and the church, are the life-blood of any parish. During Fr. Mitzi’s pastorate, Margaret Maguire was a volunteer secretary, typing the weekly bulletin and registering new parishioners. Jackie Muniz was a volunteer bookkeeper and record-keeper for almost 5 years. Arthur Wronske took care of the parishioner contribution records. An indispensable core of volunteers continues the tradition in the office today. Office Volunteers (1991): Rita White, Nancy Linwood, Rose Cruz, Paula Urbano, Peggy Lane, Elizabeth Johnson, Barbara Secor, and Rosa Hemmen. Current office volunteers: Loretta Champi, Lynn Reiser, Fran Wreen, David Pistarelli Jr., and Karen French.

 

After only 2 years of parish membership, Fran Milton was hired by Fr. Mitzi as a part-time secretary working the hours of 9:00am-12:00pm. For the duration of Fr. Mitzi’s pastorate, St. Theresa’s parish had 2 associate pastors serving its community of Catholics. Fr. Joseph Hacket, O.M.I. (1970-1971) who was well known for his acute sense of humor, and Fr. Tony Riffle (1971-1976).

 

When Fr. Uhran became pastor in June 1976, the workload becoming greater, Fran began working from 9:00am-4:00pm. Her duties included the registration of new parishioners, record keeping (Baptisms, First Communions, Confirmations, Weddings, and Funerals), paying bills, bulletin typing, printing, and parishioner contribution recording. Her duties have amassed considerably with the passing of years. As the longest working employee of the parish.

 

There is no greater asset to an incoming pastor than a competent and experienced professional in the next office.  Among them were: Fr. Wester, Fr. William Sheerin, Fr. Paul Coumings, Fr. Lima, Fr. Bernard, Fr. Michael Cory, and Fr. Bill Hochheim.

 

Archbishop Hurley raised St. Theresa Mission to parish status in 1966. The boundaries of the new parish were: the Marion and Levy County boundaries to the north; Marion and Lake boundaries to the east and south; and Marion and Citrus boundaries to the west to where the boundaries return to the Marion-Levy line. The extent of the parish is better grasped in terms of townships. The most northerly town in the parish at the time was Blichton on Highway 27, northwest Ocala; the furthest west, Dunnellon (which had a flourishing Catholic mission before WWI); the furthest east, Moss Bluff; the most southerly, Weirsdale; and farthest to the southwest, Pedro.

 

Fr. Jose Oti (pastor: 1966-1970) was a native of Spain. He arrived in Belleview in the spring of 1966. In addition to his responsibility for the parish of St. Theresa, he was also entrusted with the mission of St. John the Baptist in Dunnellon, which had been opened by Fr. William Corry (1966-1970) while pastor at Blessed Trinity. Parishioners, recalling the early history of St. Theresa, Belleview, said of Fr. Oti, “His warm personality, untiring efforts, skillful management, and keen foresight brought about many improvements to the church.” The celibacy law of the Catholic Church has always been a matter of controversy, diminishing the number of ordained priests and curtailing the number of vocations. Fr. Oti, after several years of fruitful work, departed the priesthood in order to marry. He was replaced temporarily by Fr. Paul Woodyard, who remained for a short period of time before retirement in 1970.

 

Fr. John Mitzi (pastor: 1970-1976), born on October 21, 1933, a native of the island of Malta, which was established by God to maintain surveillance on shenanigans on the Mediterranean. He was ordained in the Cathedral of St. John in Valetta, Malta, on April 6, 1957. He immigrated to Canada to work in the cities of Windsor, Stratford, and Tillsonburg, in the Diocese of London, Ontario. In 1966 he moved to Boca Raton to serve in St. Joan of Arc parish, for 1 year. Then he transferred to St. Helen parish in Vero Beach. After 3 years there he was appointed pastor of St. Theresa, Belleview.

 

Fr. Mitzi began extensive improvements in all of the parish’s buildings. The rectory was remodeled. He completely renovated the church’s sanctuary, putting in a marble altar of reposition (an altar of sacrifice made of Georgia granite), wall-to-wall carpeting in the sanctuary and church, and solid oak, upholstered pews. The church was completely rewired and gas heaters were replaced by central air-conditioning and heating. Buster Beshere, owner of the old “Pirates’ Cove” in Ocala, donated the first marble altar as well as the carpeting for the sanctuary, pews, and kitchen equipment.

 

Fr. Mitzi, about 1974, with permission from Bishop Grady, introduced girl altar servers at mass. This was a courageous innovation. Among the first girls to serve in St. Theresa (possibly in the Diocese of Orlando) were: Lisa Hillestad, Alice Davis, Liesl Haggar, Kim Bockoras, Lisa Allen, Susan Bickler, Deborah Filer, Lora Rosmarin, Angela Lipira, Michelle De Nicola, Emily Lord, Lynn Schaefer, Joanna McGrath, Patricia Sardisco, and Ruth Aldrick. Since then there has been a new council formed with a very diverse group of members.

 

Volunteers, giving of their time and talent to the service of God and the church, are the life-blood of any parish. During Fr. Mitzi’s pastorate, Margaret Maguire was a volunteer secretary, typing the weekly bulletin and registering new parishioners. Jackie Muniz was a volunteer bookkeeper and record-keeper for almost 5 years. Arthur Wronske took care of the parishioner contribution records. An indispensable core of volunteers continues the tradition in the office today. Office Volunteers (1991): Rita White, Nancy Linwood, Rose Cruz, Paula Urbano, Peggy Lane, Elizabeth Johnson, Barbara Secor, and Rosa Hemmen.

 

Current office volunteers: Loretta Champi, Lynn Reiser, Fran Wreen, David Pistarelli Jr., and Karen French.

After only 2 years of parish membership, Fran Milton was hired by Fr. Mitzi as a part-time secretary working the hours of 9:00am-12:00pm. For the duration of Fr. Mitzi’s pastorate, St. Theresa’s parish had 2 associate pastors serving its community of Catholics. Fr. Joseph Hacket, O.M.I. (1970-1971) who was well known for his acute sense of humor, and Fr. Tony Riffle (1971-1976).

 

When Fr. Uhran became pastor in June 1976, the workload becoming greater, Fran began working from 9:00am-4:00pm. Her duties included the registration of new parishioners, record keeping (Baptisms, First Communions, Confirmations, Weddings, and Funerals), paying bills, bulletin typing, printing, and parishioner contribution recording. Her duties have amassed considerably with the passing of years. As the longest working employee of the parish.

 

There is no greater asset to an incoming pastor than a competent and experienced professional in the next office.