About Saint Thomas More · Glendale, Arizona
Saint Thomas More is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Phoenix serving the north Glendale, Arizona community from its home at 6180 W. Utopia Road. Founded in 1997 and currently led by Father John Ehrich, STL, the parish describes itself with the motto 'Joyful Catholicism' and centers its mission on empowering members 'to grow in faith and act in love.' With roughly 4,000 registered families, daily and Sunday Masses, a robust youth and young adult ministry, and a full sacramental preparation program for children and adults, St. Thomas More functions as a large, active community parish guided by the Holy Spirit.
- Established
- 1997
- Patron
- St. Thomas More (Sir Thomas More, English lawyer, chancellor, author and martyr, canonized in 1935)
- Rector
- Rev. John Ehrich, STL
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix
Why belong here
St. Thomas More offers a deeply Catholic, family-friendly community in north Glendale with daily and Sunday Mass, weekly confession, First Friday adoration and benediction, and a Mary Chapel open most weekdays for prayer. Families will find a complete Faith Formation program for children and OCIA for adults, while teens and young adults have a strong, growing ministry led by a sizable volunteer team. The parish also runs a local St. Vincent de Paul conference that helps neighbors in need, plus marriage support referrals and in-parish counseling — all signs of a parish serious about forming intentional disciples.
Mass times at Saint Thomas More
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Friday 9:00 – 10:00 AM (following the daily Mass)
Adoration times
- First Friday Adoration / Benediction / Chaplet of Divine Mercy following the 8:30 AM Mass
- Blessed Sacrament Chapel open Monday–Thursday 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM and Friday 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Welcome and Parish Identity
St. Thomas More describes itself with the tagline 'Joyful Catholicism' and centers its mission on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The parish welcomes visitors and prospective members alike, inviting anyone looking for a spiritual home to 'join us as we gather together to glorify our Lord through fellowship with one another.' The parish is led by Pastor Father John Ehrich, with a full lay staff supporting administration, formation, music and outreach.
- Motto: 'Joyful Catholicism'
- Mission: empower members to grow in faith and act in love
- Active registration and online giving available via the parish website
History of the Parish
Saint Thomas More was founded in 1997 to serve the growing Catholic community in north Glendale, Arizona, and was formally incorporated in 2008 as 'St. Thomas More Roman Catholic Parish Glendale.' Built on a single campus at 6180 W. Utopia Road, the parish grew in its first two decades to roughly 4,000 registered families. It now sustains daily Mass, a large faith formation program, youth and young adult ministries, and outreach through its local St. Vincent de Paul conference.
- Founded: 1997
- Incorporated with the Arizona Corporation Commission in September 2008 (Entity #14600538)
- Part of the Diocese of Phoenix; Bishop John Dolan installed August 2, 2022
Clergy and Staff
The parish is pastored by Rev. John Ehrich, STL, a priest of the Diocese of Phoenix ordained in 2000 and formerly a student at the Accademia Alfonsiana in Rome. Deacon Richard Kijewski assists in ministry, with a paid staff of twelve divided among executive administration, parish office administration, faith formation, music and liturgy, and maintenance.
- Pastor: Rev. John Ehrich, STL
- Deacon: Dcn. Richard Kijewski
- Parish Business Manager: Wade McFall (623-322-6808)
- Director of Parish Community Life: Becky Howard (623-322-6812)
- Director of Family Faith Formation: Michaela Jones (623-322-6811)
- Director of Young Adult and Youth Ministry: Thomas Muglia
- OCIA and Adult Confirmation: Jeff McClure
- Director of Music and Liturgy: Chris Muglia
- Office Manager/Assistant to Fr. Ehrich: Virginia Meeker
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Faith formation for children and adults is coordinated by Director Michaela Jones and her team. Programs range from the Pre-Kindergarten Sunday Program through OCIA and Adult Confirmation for those entering or completing the Catholic faith.
- Pre-Kindergarten Sunday Program (introduces young children to God through age-appropriate Bible stories, songs, crafts and play)
- Family Faith Formation (K–Grade 8)
- First Reconciliation (typically 2nd grade or older)
- Confirmation and First Eucharist (3rd grade or older, prepared together)
- Order of Christian Initiation of Children (O.C.I.C.) for children over age 7 not yet baptized
- OCIA and Adult Confirmation (Jeff McClure)
- Family Faith Formation Assistant: Maya Sing
Youth and Young Adult Ministry
St. Thomas More invests heavily in its next generation of disciples, with separate high school and young adult ministries led by Thomas Muglia and supported by a team of adult volunteers. Programs emphasize not just doctrine but relationships — practical guidance for growing in virtue, encountering Christ in the Eucharist, and building Catholic community.
- High School Youth Ministry: meets 2nd & 4th Tuesdays, 6:30–8:00 PM in the parish hall (~60 teens and 11 young adult leaders)
- Young Adult Ministry: meets Wednesdays at 6:30 PM at the new Young Adult Center, alternating community nights with faith formation, Bible studies and worship
Music and Liturgy
The parish's Music and Liturgy ministry is led by Chris Mugglia, an accomplished singer/songwriter and recording artist whose work has been featured at diocesan liturgies including Bishop John Dolan's 2022 installation Mass. Together with audio engineer Jeremy Vasellina and his son Thomas Muglia (a Catholic recording artist who serves in youth ministry), the team enlivens the parish's liturgies and formation events.
- Director of Music and Liturgy: Chris Muglia
- Audio Engineer: Jeremy Vasellina
- Composition 'You Are Welcome Here' by Thomas Muglia performed at the Diocesan installation Mass
Outreach and Charity
The parish runs a local St. Vincent de Paul Conference that helps neighbors in need with food, rent, utility and other emergency assistance. Donations qualify for the Arizona Charitable Tax Credit — up to $400 for a joint return — when filed with AZ Form 321.
- St. Vincent de Paul Conference
- Assistance line: 623-694-0942 (voicemail)
- Arizona Charitable Tax Credit (Form 321) up to $200 single / $400 joint
Marriage and Pastoral Counseling Support
Beyond sacramental preparation, the parish curates a list of trusted marriage and counseling resources recommended by the Diocese of Phoenix. It also offers in-parish counseling referrals and points parishioners toward Catholic Charities and other faith-based providers.
- Marriage Support referrals: Worldwide Marriage Encounter, FOCCUS Marriage Ministries, Retrouvaille
- In-Parish Counseling
- Counseling Resources list (recommended by Phoenix Diocese) covering abuse, anxiety, depression, grief, parenting, substance abuse, marriage and trauma
Visit, Register and Connect
Visitors and newcomers are encouraged to register as parishioners online. The parish also maintains a mobile app — 'STM Glendale' in the App Store — for schedules, giving and parish news, and livestreams Mass on YouTube and Facebook.
- Parish website: stmglendale.org
- Parish app: search 'STM Glendale' in iOS/Android stores
- Livestream Mass via YouTube and Facebook
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 9:00 AM–4:00 PM; Fri 9:00 AM–12:00 PM (Sat/Sun closed)
- Sunday overflow parking: dirt lot west of property off 63rd Avenue
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John Ehrich, STLcurrent pastor
Ordained in 2000 for the Diocese of Phoenix; earned M.A. from St. Meinrad Seminary (1998), MDiv (2000), and Licentiate in Sacred Theology (Moral Theology) from the Accademia Alfonsiana in Rome (2007). Currently serves as pastor of St. Thomas More in Glendale.