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Sion Mills was part of the Melmount parish, Strabane until 1974, when it became a parish in its own right. In the early 1930's a temporary church was blessed by Fr. O'Kane with permission to hold Mass on Sundays and in 1935 a parochial house was built due mainly to the efforts of Fr. Willie Devine. In 1939 the temporary church was blessed and called the Church of the Little Flower.
It wasn't until October 1961 that plans were accepted for a new church which was to be the first of the modern churches in the Derry Diocese with much concentration on the sanctuary.
The new church of St. Theresa was dedicated and officially opened on August 25, 1963. The parish priest of Melmount at the time was Fr. Faulkner and the priest in Sion Mills was Fr. J Brennan. Sion Mills became a parish in its own right in 1974 and Fr. Gerard O'Neill was inducted, by Bishop Edward Daly, as its first parish priest.
The church suffered during the troubles and was seriously damaged by bombs in 1985 and again in 1990. 1991 was a year of repairs and improvements and new heating and lighting was installed. The stained glass windows were replaced. The mortuary chapel was converted into a conference/crying room and is now also used on Thursdays for the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.
St. Theresa's church, with its famous and impressive Last Supper façade, well kept grounds and graveyard is an integral part of the parish of Sion Mills.
Priests of St. Theresa's Parish
Fr. James Brennan was curate in St. Theresa's from March 1957 until August 1974
Fr. Gerard O'Neill was Parish Priest in St. Theresa's from September 1974 until January 1982.
Fr. Eamon Tierney was Parish Priest in St. Theresa's from January 1982 until January 1987
Fr. Bernard Bryson was Parish Priest in St. Theresa's from January 1987 until August 2004.
Fr. Peter McLaughlin was installed as Parish Priest in St. Theresa's in August 2004.
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