Our History
St. William of York Catholic Church (now called St. Thérèse of Carmel,) is an urban community of faith located in the heart of coastal Carmel Valley.
The parish of Saint William of York was established September 1, 1985 to meet the needs of families in Carmel Valley. Our parish is named in honor of Saint William Fitzherbert, Archbishop of York in England, a saint of the twelfth century who emulated the virtue of patience.
Saint William of York died at York, June 8, 1154; canonized 1226 or 1227 by Pope Honorius III.
The whole of Christianity can be summed up in three revolutionary words that can change the world or change a life: God is love. This is the unique contribution of our faith, and its very essence that sets it apart.
When Jesus was asked what was the most important commandment, he summed them up by saying that we should love God with our whole hearts, minds and souls, and that we should love our neighbors as ourselves. And when Jesus described the Last Judgment, he did not portray a scenario where things we did would condemn us, but rather things we did not do: neglecting to feed the hungry, visit the sick. Those of us who base our idea of living a good life on what we do not do will be hard pressed to justify our lives.
The history of St. Thérèse of Carmel reflects the growth of the Carmel Valley region, the character of growing North County, and the changing demographics and social changes on the Church as a whole.
