The parish has its' roots in community -- a group of Alsip residents who banded together in what was to be a successful attempt to persuade the Archdiocese of Chicago to establish a parish in their village.

    Tradition says that a French Catholic Church once was located in the Hazelgreen area in the late 1800's, but its' history had been lost.  The spark of faith was not reignited until the late 1950's with the purchase of 17 3/4 acres of land by the Archdiocese at 119th Street and Kostner Avenue as a possible site for a future parish.

   Alsip residents who moved to the village in the 50's and early 60's needed to attend other area churches yet remained united in their quest for a parish.  The Archdiocese had established the area as a mission of St, Christina's parish and Sunday masses were said in Alsip at Stony Creek School at 117th Street and Kolin Avenue.

   Matt Cramer, an usher, built the altar and podium at Stony Creek from discarded material hauled home from one of the toll roads being built at the time.  Sandpaper, other materials, and labor were supplied by men and boys from the parish.

   Each week, ushers set up the school gym for services.  A group of dedicated women took turns caring for the altar linens, vestments, albs, and other articles - all of which were transported to and from the school in a box made by John Kelbowski, Sr.  Helen Leonard took responsibility for altar flowers.

   Although villagers had to go to neighboring parishes for baptisms, weddings, funerals and other services, the congregation grew steadily.   Many of the children attended Catholic Schools at St. Christina's in Chicago, St. Benedict in Blue Island, and Our Lady of the Ridge in Chicago Ridge.  Letters asking for a parish were sent to the new Archbishop, John P. Cody following his arrival in Chicago in the mid 60's.  Archbishop Cody responded.

   Representatives from the Chancery office came to Alsip on a blistering hot summer night in July 1966 to meet with area Catholics in the home of Mr. & Mrs. Robert Pressley.  The Pressley's basement was packed with people, but the heat did not affect the fervor of their intentions.

   Two days after the meeting, Archbishop Cody authorized Father Eugene Riordan to establish a parish in the vicinity of Alsip.

   The new Pastor was introduced and welcomed at a reception on July 31, 1966 at Stony Creek  School.

   The parish was to be named St. Terrence after a Roman martyr whose feast is celebrated on August 29th, which was also Father Riordan's birthday.  The 450 families of the parish were assembled from the south and west part of St. Christina parish, the north and west part of St. Benedict and the south and east part of Our Lady of the Ridge parish.

The first masses of St. Terrence were celebrated by Father Riordan at Stony Creek School.  However, after only one Sunday, the parish moved to Marist High School which had graciously extended use of its' facilities to the fledgling parish.  on Aug. 14, 1966 the first parish building bulletin was distributed at Marist.  Father Riordan highlighted the parish boundaries and offered a personal note of enthusiasm.  He wrote "St. Terrence... (is) a parish that will do the work God wants of it--the salvation of souls.  My sincere thanks to you all for the very gracious and wholehearted welcome you have extended to me.  May God bless you."

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