Palm Springs, CA – The St. Theresa Catholic Church, designed by heralded architect William F. Cody, was completed in 1968 and time is taking its toll. However, the Church is determined to restore and preserve this desert gem! A group of concerned parishioners have banded together to form the St. Theresa 135 Ministry, focused on the preservation and restoration of the parish’s buildings and grounds. They are planning special events during the October Modernism Weekend to help raise funds to aid in their efforts.
St. Theresa Catholic Church was built on land that was a former World War II airfield, the church was completed in 1968 and dedicated on Thanksgiving Day. As a devout Catholic, and the parish of his family, this award-winning project was very personal for the renowned architect William F. Cody. He created a master plan for the complex in 1963, which included the church, convent, school, and rectory. Only two of these projects were completed. The convent, of which Bob and Dolores Hope were the major donors, was completed in 1965. And after a few design options were considered, the design plan for the church was chosen and work began. Throughout the project Cody guided the collaboration with artists and craftspeople who could realize his total design plan. Divinely inspired, Cody was highly encouraged by the Second Vatican Council of 1962-65 with its implications for buildings, art, and furnishings. Interpreting their call for their parishioners to be “fully conscious and active participants” to mean that the congregation should be as close to the altar as possible, strongly influencing his design. Their support for modern art in the Church, was also something Cody fully embraced. Cody’s design created a modern vision for the parishioners of St. Theresa Church and it remains a prized masterpiece of Cody’s legacy.
In an effort to raise funds, the St. Theresa 135 Ministry will present a special lecture and tour of the Church on Friday October 25 in the afternoon and on Saturday October 26 in the morning as part of the upcoming October Modernism Weekend. Divinely Inspired: Discussing the William F. Cody Design of St. Theresa Catholic Church will be presented by Catherine Cody, daughter of William F. Cody, and architect Morris Skenderian, A.I.A. who had just joined Cody’s firm at the time the St. Theresa project began. They will share stories, photos, drawings, and talk about the artisans and craftspeople involved in making Cody’s design a reality. Following the presentation Catherine and Morris will each take a group of attendees to tour the Church’s main sanctuary and discuss features and details. Following the tour there will be a reception. For tickets for either date go to: https://modernismweek.com/
Proceeds from these special events will be used to help preserve this award-winning Cody masterpiece. Founded in 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic, the St. Theresa 135 Ministry was formed to focus on providing financial support to St Theresa Church for the Restoration, Preservation and Repair of the parish’s buildings and grounds. We are a group of Parishioners who commit to share our treasure annually to stabilize ongoing financial needs and to fund future special projects. Our goal is to raise $135,000 annually. St. Theresa Catholic Church is located at 2800 Ramon Rd., Palm Springs, CA.
