About Saint Thomas · Fort Thomas, Kentucky
Saint Thomas Roman Catholic Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Fort Thomas, Kentucky, in the Diocese of Covington. Founded in 1902 by Father Matthias J. Leick as chaplain to the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd convent, it is the spiritual home of approximately 1,000 families and operates Saint Thomas School, a PreK-8 elementary school of about 200 students. The parish offers a robust Sunday and weekday Mass schedule, daily Eucharistic Adoration, a Parish School of Religion (PSR), RCIA-style Seekers classes, and a full music ministry. Today the parish is led by Pastor Father Ross Kelsch, with Father Raymond Enzweiler in residence and Deacon Charles Hardebeck assisting.
- Established
- 1902
- Patron
- Saint Thomas the Apostle
- Rector
- Fr. Ross Kelsch
- Diocese
- Diocese of Covington
Why belong here
Saint Thomas is a vibrant, mid-sized parish of roughly 1,000 families that blends the heritage of a 120-year-old congregation with a thriving parish school and active ministry life. Visitors and parishioners can worship at four Sunday Masses plus daily Mass, spend time in nearly 18 hours of daily Eucharistic Adoration each week, hand on the faith to their children through Saint Thomas School (PreK-8) or the Parish School of Religion, and join dozens of liturgical and outreach ministries—from adult and children's choirs to altar servers, lectors, greeters, and Seekers classes for those exploring the Catholic faith.
Mass times at Saint Thomas
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 7:00 PM to 7:30 PM (longer if needed and by appointment)
Adoration times
- Monday 6:00 AM to 11:30 PM
- Tuesday 6:00 AM to 11:30 PM
- Wednesday 6:00 AM to 11:30 PM
- Held in the Providence Center Chapel; ring bell for entrance; email [email protected] for more info.
History of Saint Thomas Parish
Saint Thomas traces its origins to Catholic ministry at the U.S. Army post established at Fort Thomas in 1887 and to the Good Shepherd Sisters' convent in The Highlands of Campbell County. Father Matthias J. Leick organized the parish in 1901 and became its first pastor in 1902, laying the cornerstone of the first church on August 3, 1902 and seeing it dedicated by Bishop Maes on December 21, 1902. The congregation moved in 1918 to property at South Ft. Thomas Avenue and Villa Place, where a two-story combination church and school was built in 1920. Pastor Monsignor Herbert F. Hillenmeyer (pastor from 1925) added classrooms in 1925, broke ground in January 1937 for the present church, and Bishop Howard laid its cornerstone on March 6, 1938. The striking Bedford stone and Indiana limestone church was dedicated March 26, 1939, and enhanced with imported stained-glass windows and mosaic Stations of the Cross for the parish's Golden Jubilee on August 3, 1952.
- First pastor: Rev. Matthias J. Leick (1902–1906)
- Present church: cornerstone March 6, 1938; dedicated March 26, 1939
- Golden Jubilee celebrated August 3, 1952
Clergy & Parish Staff
The parish is currently served by Pastor Father Ross Kelsch, with Father Raymond Enzweiler in residence (also Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences at Thomas More University) and Deacon Charles Hardebeck assisting. The parish office, located behind the church in the rectory at 26 East Villa Place, is staffed by a Director of Music Ministries, an Assistant Director of Music and Music Assistant, a Parish Administrative Coordinator & VIRTUS Coordinator, a Business Manager, the Director of Youth Ministry and Faith Formation (PSR), and a Director and Assistant Director of Facilities. Saint Thomas School is led by Principal Mrs. Kim Huser, with Emily Wagner as School Office Manager.
- Fr. Ross Kelsch — Pastor
- Fr. Raymond Enzweiler — In Residence (Thomas More University)
- Deacon Charles Hardebeck — Permanent Deacon
- Katie Barton — Director of Music Ministries (Adult Choir, Cantors, Liturgical Ensemble, Children's Choir)
- Christina Seal — Assistant Director of Music
- Rick Davis — Music Assistant
- Mark Johnson — Director of Youth Ministry and Faith Formation (PSR)
- Audrey Wilson — Parish Administrative Coordinator & VIRTUS Coordinator
- Elizabeth Gruenschlaeger — Business Manager
- Todd Minge — Director of Facilities
- Breyon Hadder — Assistant Director of Facilities
- Mrs. Kim Huser — Principal, Saint Thomas School
- Emily Wagner — School Office Manager
Worship & Sacraments
Saint Thomas offers four Sunday Masses (a Saturday Vigil plus three Sunday morning Masses) and daily Mass throughout the week. The parish proclaims that 'the Liturgy is a foretaste of the heavenly reality that is to come' and invites all to share in the Liturgy of the Church as Baptized members of the Body of Christ. Confessions are heard Tuesday evenings following the 6:30 PM Mass, with the option to extend by appointment.
- Saturday Vigil Mass: 4:00 PM (English)
- Sunday Masses: 8:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 12:15 PM (English; live-streamed at 8:30 and 10:30)
- Tuesday 6:30 PM; Tuesday–Saturday 8:15 AM; Wednesday 6:15 AM
- Confessions: Tuesday 7:00–7:30 PM and by appointment
- Anointing of the Sick: by appointment
Music Ministries
Music ministry at Saint Thomas is led by Director of Music Ministries Katie Barton and supported by Assistant Director Christina Seal and Music Assistant Rick Davis. The program spans four groups that serve the parish's weekend and feast-day liturgies.
- Adult Choir
- Cantors
- Liturgical Ensemble
- Children's Choir
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The Parish School of Religion (PSR) serves children in PreK through 8th grade whose Catholic religious education does not come through Catholic schools. The program partners with parents in handing on the faith and incorporates preparation for First Reconciliation, First Communion (typically 2nd grade), and Confirmation (typically 7th–8th grade).
- Wednesday evening classes 6:30–7:30 PM, August–May (no class when Fort Thomas Independent Schools are not in session)
- Sunday morning classes offered for sacramental prep years (2nd and 8th grade), beginning with the 9 AM Mass and ending by 11:15 AM
- Stipend paid to PSR teachers; aides (adults or high schoolers) welcome
- Contact: Mark Johnson, [email protected]
Saint Thomas School
Saint Thomas Parish includes Saint Thomas School, a PreK-8 Catholic elementary school of about 200 students whose faith-formation mission begins the moment students walk in the door. K-8 students use the Sophia Institute series, and second grade adds the Dynamic Catholic Blessed series for First Reconciliation and First Communion preparation. Students attend Mass weekly, and beginning in first grade students help plan and prepare the Mass at different times throughout the year. Service learning is a hallmark, with classes taking turns making cards for the elderly and shut-ins of the parish.
- PreK-8 Catholic school, ~200 students
- Weekly Mass; first-graders begin helping plan and prepare Mass
- Sophia Institute religion curriculum; Dynamic Catholic Blessed in 2nd grade
- All Saints Day Mass — students dress as patron saints
- Christmas Play in 1st and 2nd grades
- Second grade reenacts the First Christmas in an Advent prayer service
- Kindergarten students attend Mass with their 6th-grade buddies
- Primary grades complete at least one service learning project each year
Sacramental Preparation
Saint Thomas runs a structured parish-wide sacramental preparation program that treats parents as the primary educators of their children. Key dates and rituals mark each stage, from First Reconciliation in January to First Communion in the spring, with a May Crowning and student retreats built into the calendar.
- First Reconciliation — Liturgy begins at 6:30 PM; students sit with parents in the pews
- First Communion Retreat — typically the Sunday before First Communion
- First Communion — celebrated at a 2:00 PM Mass at Saint Thomas Church
- May Crowning — First Communicants return in their First Communion attire
- Photos not permitted during the liturgy or confessions; encouraged before/after
Becoming Catholic — Seekers Classes
Saint Thomas extends an open invitation to anyone curious about Jesus, the Catholic faith, or becoming Catholic through its Seekers Classes, the parish's inquiry process for those exploring the faith.
- Open to inquirers and those exploring Catholicism
- Information: https://stthomasnky.org/class
Liturgical Ministries & Volunteering
The parish invites parishioners to serve at the altar and welcome the assembly through its liturgical ministries. New volunteers are welcomed, and training (including diocesan training for Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers) is provided.
- Altar Server (and Lead Server for those over 8th grade)
- Lector (diocesan training available)
- Minister of Holy Communion / Eucharistic Minister (diocesan training available)
- Family Greeter
- Usher
- Music Ministry
- Sign up via the parish's Minister Sign-Up form
Parish Office & Contacts
The parish office is located behind the church in the rectory at 26 East Villa Place, Fort Thomas, KY 41075. General inquiries are handled at [email protected] or by phone at 859-441-1282. The diocese lists the church address as 500 S. Ft. Thomas Ave, Fort Thomas, KY 41075.
- Phone: 859-441-1282
- Email: [email protected]
- Office: 26 East Villa Place (behind the church)
- Diocese-listed church address: 500 S. Ft. Thomas Ave, Ft. Thomas, KY 41075
Parish Identity & Heritage
Saint Thomas carries forward the legacy of three successive church buildings on or near its present site, beginning with the 1902 brick combination church and school on Grand Avenue, the 1920 combination church and school on Villa Place, and the present 1939 Bedford- and Indiana-limestone Romanesque church. The parish's Golden Jubilee in 1952, marked by Bishop Howard's laying of the cornerstone a generation earlier, remains a touchstone of parish identity.
- Three churches have served the parish on or near the present site
- Cornerstone of the present church laid by Bishop Howard, March 6, 1938
- Dedication of the present church by Bishop Howard, March 26, 1939
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Matthias J. Leick1902–1906
First pastor; organized the Fort Thomas parish and built the first St. Thomas Church (cornerstone laid August 3, 1902; dedicated by Bishop Maes December 21, 1902).
- Rev. Thomas Colemanby 1918
Moved into the new parish rectory opposite the new church site at Villa Place and South Ft. Thomas Avenue in June 1918.
- Rev. (later Msgr.) Herbert F. Hillenmeyer1925–1952+
Built the present church (cornerstone 1938, dedicated 1939); oversaw Golden Jubilee in 1952 with imported stained-glass windows and mosaic Stations of the Cross.