Six Degrees of Separation for Residents at Saint Therese of Corcoran and Co-Founder

Barb Hemberger • March 19, 2024

When Saint Therese of Corcoran opens its doors later this summer, some of its new residents will have a special connection to one of the founders of the Saint Therese parent organization, Father Gordon Mycue.


Fr. Mycue was the pastor at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Corcoran in 1963, when he was introduced to New Hope businessman Jerry Choromanski, and learned of Jerry’s desire to build a Catholic senior living community. Fr. Mycue, Choromanski, Elizabeth Hidding and Sister Marcelline Jung, OSB (Order of St. Benedict), together created the vision for the Saint Therese of New Hope care center, which was founded in 1964 and was one of the first Catholic-based nursing homes in the Twin Cities.

Fr. Mycue served at St. Thomas for 23 years; he was very well-liked and a bit of an innovator. While pastor, he was also the Director of Radio and Television for the Archdiocese of St. Paul & Minneapolis and developed a television program called “Quiz a Catholic.” He attracted many celebrities to the show including the Lennon Sisters. Eventually Fr. Mycue moved into Saint Therese of New Hope and died in 2003. The main chapel is named in his honor.

Several incoming residents at Saint Therese of Corcoran have fond memories of Fr. Mycue from his time at St. Thomas the Apostle and find it a full circle moment to be moving into a community that exists because of him. Not to mention, the senior community is less than a mile from the church.

Among the new Saint Therese of Corcoran residents that remember Fr. Mycue is John Aeshliman, of Corcoran. Aeshliman’s daughter, Cindy Patnode, said Fr. Mycue was incredibly friendly and nice to everyone. “I was a kid at the time and thought he was very cool. He was great with the kids and made church more accessible to us.”

Further proof of the strong link between past and present: Patnode’s grandmother volunteered at Saint Therese of New Hope; her mom rehabbed at New Hope and Saint Therese at Oxbow Lake in Brooklyn Park; and, last year, Patnode was named the new Parish Administrator at St. Thomas the Apostle.


Full circle indeed.

Stay Connected


Search All Posts


About

At Saint Therese, our heartfelt purpose since 1968 has been a people first approach to living well by providing senior care and services where every life we touch feels welcomed, respected, and heard. We achieve this by doing ordinary things with extraordinary love every single day. Contact us to learn more. 

By Barb Hemberger July 29, 2025
At Saint Therese of Woodbury , a unique group of residents gathers twice a year not just to sing—but to connect, inspire, and celebrate the joy of music. The Saint Therese of Woodbury Choir, the only choir across all Saint Therese communities, offers two one-hour concerts each year—one in December with a Christmas theme, and a second during the summer. This year's summer performance, held in June, was called “ Music from the Movies ” and featured beloved classics including Que Sera Sera, The Bare Necessities, Tuxedo Junction and Singin’ in the Rain. Residents and guests filled the chapel for a heartwarming program filled with nostalgia, harmony, and connection. Founded in 2018 by Therese Stecher , a lifelong pianist and retired critical care nurse, the Woodbury choir started with just 10 members and has now grown to 24 dedicated singers. “The biggest fear people have is they haven’t sung in so long, they think they can’t do it,” Stecher says. “But the muscles that control the vocal cords—you just need to work them.” Stecher arranges each songbook specifically for aging voices and emphasizes that this is not simply a singalong group. “We’re here to learn a show,” she says. “The expectations are high, but the reward is even greater.” The choir practices for months before each performance.
By Barb Hemberger July 21, 2025
Discover how the Saint Therese Auxiliary’s six-decade legacy of volunteerism and community support will live on through two lasting endowment funds.
By Barb Hemberger June 16, 2025
Generational Connections Changing Lives