About Saint Thomas the Apostle [Ruthenian] · Gilbert, Arizona
Saint Thomas the Apostle Byzantine Catholic Church is a Ruthenian (Byzantine) Catholic parish located at 19 W. Bruce Avenue in Gilbert, Arizona, serving the East Valley of the Phoenix metro area. Belonging to the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Phoenix (a Byzantine-rite Catholic diocese covering the western United States, Hawaii and Alaska, in communion with the Bishop of Rome), the parish worships in the Byzantine liturgical tradition, with the Divine Liturgy — fully chanted — at the center of its life. About 100 people attend weekend services, and the parish is pastored by Father Adam Peter Lowe with the assistance of Deacon Michael Sullivan, supported by a wide circle of volunteers.
- Established
- 1980 (first Divine Liturgy celebrated March 9, 1980); formally established as a mission in 1982; raised to parish status on January 22, 1989
- Patron
- St. Thomas the Apostle
- Rector
- Rev. Adam Peter Lowe (Parochial Administrator)
- Diocese
- Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Phoenix (Holy Protection of Mary of the Ruthenians), part of the Metropolitan Archeparchy of Pittsburgh of the Ruthenians; geographically situated within the territory of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix.
Why belong here
St. Thomas the Apostle offers Byzantine-Ruthenian Catholics in the East Valley a parish home where the ancient Eastern Christian liturgical tradition is fully lived: the entire Divine Liturgy is chanted, the church interior is covered in icons, and the faith is celebrated through the full Byzantine liturgical year. The community is known for its warm fellowship — coffee and a potluck follow the Sunday Divine Liturgy in the adjoining parish hall — and is small enough that volunteers carry most of the ministry. The parish also welcomes non-Ruthenian Eastern and Latin Catholics; in fact, it hosts an Iraqi (Chaldean) Catholic community that worships there most Sundays at 5 p.m.
Mass times at Saint Thomas the Apostle [Ruthenian]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 4:00 – 4:30 PM
- Sunday: 8:30 – 9:30 AM
- Sunday: 1:00 PM (additional time listed on the parish calendar)
Welcome to St. Thomas the Apostle Byzantine Catholic Church
St Thomas Byzantine Catholic Church describes itself as "a vibrant parish community which seeks to live the liturgical year in solemnity and celebration." The parish follows the ancient Eastern traditions while remaining in union with the Pope of Rome. Visitors and those seeking a spiritual home are welcomed into the Byzantine liturgical life of the parish.
- Rite: Byzantine (Ruthenian)
- Diocese: Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Phoenix (Holy Protection of Mary of the Ruthenians)
- Mother Church: Metropolitan Archeparchy of Pittsburgh of the Ruthenians
- Located within the geographic territory of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix
Our Story — Parish History
The parish was born out of the post-1970s migration of Byzantine-Ruthenian Catholic families from Phoenix into Mesa, Gilbert and Chandler. After the first Divine Liturgy outside Phoenix was celebrated on March 9, 1980, the community was organized as a mission in 1982, relocated twice in rented and borrowed spaces (Seton Catholic High School chapel, the Fellin home), and finally settled in 1989 at the former St. Anne Roman Catholic Church at 19 W. Bruce Avenue. The church was consecrated on February 14, 1991 and a new parish hall was blessed on Thomas Sunday, April 11, 1999.
- March 9, 1980 — first Divine Liturgy celebrated outside Phoenix for East Valley families
- 1982 — established as a mission in Mesa under the patronage of the Protection of the Mother of God; Rev. Christopher Zugger first administrator
- 1985 — Deacon Douglas Lorig ordained priest; becomes administrator
- 1986 — moves to Seton Catholic High School chapel, Chandler
- 1988–1989 — worships in the Fellin home; purchases former St. Anne Roman Catholic Church at 19 W. Bruce Ave., Gilbert
- January 22, 1989 — Bishop Thomas Dolinay raises the community to parish status under patronage of St. Thomas the Apostle
- March 5, 1989 — first Divine Liturgy in the new Gilbert home
- February 14, 1991 — Bishop George Kuzma consecrates the renovated church
- August 15, 1992 — Rev. Philip Acquaro, CSB, JCL, appointed administrator
- March 1999 — new parish hall completed; blessed by Bishop George on Thomas Sunday, April 11, 1999
Clergy & Staff
The parish is served by a parochial administrator (a married Ruthenian priest) and one deacon, supported by lay volunteers.
- Rev. Adam Peter Lowe — Parochial Administrator
- Deacon Michael Sullivan
- Fr. Lowe also serves as a chaplain at Chandler Regional Medical Center and (occasionally) Mercy Gilbert Medical Center for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix
- Past administrators included Rev. Christopher Zugger, Rev. Douglas Lorig, and Rev. Philip Acquaro, CSB, JCL
Facilities & Sacred Art
The liturgical environment of St. Thomas the Apostle reflects the Byzantine tradition: an icon screen separates the nave from the sanctuary, icons cover the walls, and the dome (a unique piece of 'upcycling' from a satellite dish) crowns the structure.
- Iconostasis, altar, tabernacle, and all woodwork — John Grab of Grand Blanc, Michigan
- Altar linens, vestments, and icon banners — Shirley Grab
- Wall icons — Mila Mina
- Iconostasis icons — Sheila Green, Tempe, AZ
- Hall (with classrooms, parish offices, kitchen and dining hall) — completed March 1999, blessed April 11, 1999
- Paz de Cristo food bank drive supported by a matching gift from the Greek Catholic Union
Faith Formation — Eastern Christian Formation (ECF)
Children and youth are catechized through the Byzantine-rite Eastern Christian Formation (ECF) program, using the 'God With Us' curriculum. Classes meet most Sundays at noon in the parish hall, immediately after the 10:00 AM Divine Liturgy, allowing families to attend Liturgy together and then move into formation.
- Eastern Christian Formation (ECF) — Sundays ~12:00 PM, parish hall classrooms
- Curriculum: 'God With Us' (godwithusonline.org)
- Apothegmata — adult reflections on the sayings and teachings of the Desert Fathers (Sundays 6:00 PM)
- Plans (per Fr. Lowe) to expand the church hall and add classrooms, with a view to a Montessori-based catechetical program
Parish Life, Fellowship & Outreach
St. Thomas the Apostle is known for its strong fellowship: a coffee hour and potluck in the parish hall follows Sunday Liturgy. The parish hosts seasonal celebrations (Pascha Festival, Thomas Sunday picnic at Discovery Park, the annual Holy Supper), and undertakes outreach through food drives and senior care bags.
- Sunday 11:30 AM Coffee & Potluck after Divine Liturgy
- Pascha Festival after the Blessing of Baskets; Thomas Sunday picnic at Discovery Park
- Annual Holy Supper (Holy Week parish meal)
- Knights of Columbus — parish fundraiser events (e.g., spaghetti dinner)
- Paz de Cristo (Mesa) food drive, matched up to $500 by the Greek Catholic Union
- Senior care-bag outreach (socks/slippers, personal care items, snacks)
- First All Souls Saturday — joint prayer with Arizona's Eastern Catholic clergy at Holy Redeemer Cemetery, 10:00 AM
- Hosting a Chaldean (Iraqi) Catholic worshipping community most Sundays at 5:00 PM
Communication & Digital Outreach
The parish maintains a current website and active digital presence for homilies, news, and formation. Deacon Michael Sullivan has delivered homilies on the Theotokos of Guadalupe; parishioners have appeared on outside podcasts exploring contemporary moral questions.
- Official website: https://stthomasbyzantine.org/ (also reachable as stabcc.org)
- Homilies & Video page — also distributed natively via YouTube
- News page for announcements (fundraisers, festival details, Holy Week sign-ups)
- Calendar page with weekly schedule, including Matins, Apothegmata, Confessions, ECF, and fellowship times
- Parishioner featured on 'A Seat at the Table' podcast discussing ethics/morality of AI
Byzantine Catholic Identity & Full Communion
St. Thomas is a Ruthenian Byzantine Catholic Church — part of the Byzantine Catholic Church in America, in full communion with the Bishop of Rome while preserving its own liturgical, theological, and canonical tradition. The parish situates itself within the wider Catholic Church's six major ritual families (Roman, Byzantine, Coptic, Ethiopian, Armenian, and various Syrian rites) and welcomes the faithful of all rites.
- Rite sui iuris: Byzantine Ruthenian Catholic
- Metropolitan Archeparchy: Pittsburgh of the Ruthenians
- Eparchy (Diocese): Holy Protection of Mary in Phoenix of the Ruthenians
- Geographically within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix
- Divine Liturgy traces back to the 5th-century liturgy of Constantinople and is fully chanted in English using ancient Eastern European melodies
Visit & Contact
All are welcome — "Come and See" — at Divine Liturgy on Saturday evening or Sunday morning, with fellowship in the parish hall afterwards.
- Address: 19 W. Bruce Avenue, Gilbert, AZ 85233
- Mailing: PO Box 667, Gilbert, AZ 85299-0667
- Parish phone: (480) 584-6676
- Hall line: (480) 497-5799
- Websites: stthomasbyzantine.org and stabcc.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Christopher Zugger1982–c.1985
First administrator, appointed when the community was established as a mission of St. Stephen in Mesa in 1982.
- Rev. Douglas Lorig1985–1992
Ordained a priest in 1985; previously Deacon Lorig residing at the Mesa property. Named Administrator when the parish was erected on Jan 22, 1989, and led the move to 19 W. Bruce Ave. and the Byzantine renovation/consecration (1991).
- Rev. Philip Acquaro, CSB, JCL1992–
Appointed Administrator on August 15, 1992; commissioned the Mila Mina iconography and the construction of the present parish hall (completed March 1999).
- Rev. Diodoro Mendoza
Listed as Director of the parish corporation (Pastor of Saint Thomas The Apostle Byzantine Catholic Church Gilbert) on Arizona corporate filings.
- Rev. Adam Peter Lowepresent
Current Parochial Administrator per the Eparchy of Phoenix clergy directory.