"Do everything -- no matter how trivial or insignificant --
out of the motive of love of God." This simple motto of
St. Therese was her "Little Way." "Little Flower" is
the most popular title by which St. Therese of Lisieux is known.
She received this title by referring to herself as being only
one little flower among many in God's garden, an indication of
her
humility and of her awareness of the diversity in human beings.
The family
of Little Flower parish takes this command very seriously as
we attempt to bring Christ to the world and to each other in
a spirit
of love
and humility. She was canonized on May 17, 1925, the same year
as the founding of our parish. The people of Little Flower consider
it an honor to be one of the first churches in the world to be
named
after St.
Therese of Lisieux.
The structure of our parish church is quite unique. Formally dedicated
on December 18, 1949, it is totally in the round with the altar
in the very center of the building; the pews form a complete circle
around the altar. While often thought of as a predecessor to parish
churches built after the Second Vatican Council, it is actually
based on a fifth century church in Rome, Santo Stefano Rotondo.
Our parish church reflects well the character of our parish community
in that we believe that everything about us is to be focused on
the death and resurrection of Jesus celebrated in the Eucharist.
Our community of approximately 550 households is extremely diverse:
old and young, married and single, the economically affluent and
the economically struggling, a mixture of races and a mixture of
types of housing. Our parish school is an extreme source of pride
for us and has an enrollment of 200 students from pre-kindergarten
to eighth grade. Our Parish Council is comprised of twelve members
selected by lot and is vital in forming parish policy. There are
five Commissions under the direction of and coordinated by our
Council: Administration
and Finance, Community, Christian
Service,
Christian Formation, and Liturgy. As stated earlier, we see the
center of our parish's life in the liturgy which is the summit
and source of all we are and all we do, and we take pride in the
spirit and life of our prayer together.
As a parish family we are sensitive to the needs of our own members
while recognizing the need to reach out to the wider church and
the world. Our focus is one of ongoing faith formation, beginning
at birth and continuing throughout life. In that effort, our liturgical
efforts, school, organizations, and all formation activities are
focused outwardly, always welcoming and inviting the traveler to
journey with us in building the Kingdom of God.
Along with our
neighboring parishes of Immaculate
Conception in
Maplewood, St.
Luke the Evangelist here in Richmond Heights,
and St.
James the Greater in the 'Dogtown' area of St.
Louis, we form the Parish Cluster where resources, gifts, and
talents are mutually shared by all three parish families. The
cluster concept,
while relatively new, is one of our ways to respond to Christ's
call to be good stewards.
Little Flower is located in the heart of St.
Louis County, and
this location offers ready access to all parts of the metropolitan
area. Our parish's boundaries extend from Clayton Road to Big Bend
Road on the North; Big Bend to Folk Avenue on the East; Folk to
Laclede Station Road to West Bruno Avenue to Hanley Road on the
South; and Hanley Road including the Hanley Downs and Lake Forest
Subdivisions on the West.
Thank you for visiting us on the Internet; we hope that you will
soon visit us in person.
