GRANTS, N.M, - The St. Theresa Gym and Community Center, located on High Street, was recently designated and awarded as a historical site in the community.
The first Catholic Mass was celebrated in 1911 by the founder of Los Alamitos, known as Grants today, in the house of Don Jesus Maria Blea. Father Robert Kalt, better known as “El Padre Roberto” celebrated the mass.
In 1951, the Gunderson family donated a large tract of land to house a new community center. The stone building would become the gym at St. Theresa’s. Father Gerard Geier, OFM, was a leader in the movement to have this facility built. He saw a need to accommodate more Catholics as the Grants area grew in population.
The community center was the beginning of growth for St. Theresa’s, because in 1954 the catholic school was built under the direction of Father Austin Ernestes, OFM.
According to the Cibola Catholic Community’s website, “St. Theresa, which is currently the largest parish in the area, is the center for such active organizations as the Knights of Columbus, Cursillistas, Searchers, C.C.D., St. Vincent de Paul Society, the School Board Third Order Charismatic group, Parent Teacher group, Legion of Mary, RCIA, Bible Study group, and other such activity groups. It is home of the Cibola Deanery, Western Cluster, and its pastor also has duties and authorities the Eastern Cluster of the Cibola Deanery.”