Our Patron Saint, St Teresa of the Child Jesus died at Lisieux, France on 30 September 1897 when she was 24 years old. In 1925, she was proclaimed a saint, 28 years after her death. Born in Alencon, France. Teresa was the youngest of 9 children born to Louis Martin and Marie Guerin. 

She was cured of a serious illness through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin in 1883 at the age of 10. At a very young age, she tried in vain to enter the Carmel Monastery of Lisieux. She even pleaded personally with Pope Leo XIII during a pilgrimage to Rome. She finally succeeded in being admitted at the age of 15 in 1888. She was given the name of Teresa of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face. 

In 1896 she had her first attack of tuberculosis. She died of it in 1897. In 1925 Teresa was declared a saint. In 1944 she was declared patroness of the Missions together with St Francis Xavier.

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She gives witness to two outstanding virtues that are needed by all devout Christians: a true humility that makes us aware of our weakness and our total dependence of God and a complete surrender to the infinite mercy of God in an act of perfect love.