About St Clare of Assisi Church · Surprise, Arizona
St. Clare of Assisi Roman Catholic Parish is a vibrant Roman Catholic parish of over 5,000 registered families located on the southwest corner of Bell Road and Cotton Lane in Surprise, Arizona, in the Diocese of Phoenix. The parish welcomes visitors and seasonal residents from across the northwest Phoenix Valley, including Surprise Farms, Sun City Festival, Vistancia, Verrado, and northern Buckeye. With more than 35 active ministries on campus, daily Mass, perpetual adoration in a newly dedicated chapel, a robust OCIA program, and family faith formation for K–12, St. Clare describes itself as a community 'where everyone is welcome, everyone is known, and every member of our community is joyfully celebrated.'
- Established
- 2000
- Patron
- St. Clare of Assisi
- Rector
- Fr. Thaddeus (Thadd) McGuire
- Diocese
- Diocese of Phoenix
Why belong here
St. Clare of Assisi is one of the larger parishes in the northwest Phoenix Valley, with over 5,000 registered families and more than 35 active ministries — from OCIA and family faith formation to youth ministry, Sacred Music, St. Vincent de Paul-style outreach, and a Knights of Columbus council. The parish offers daily Mass Monday through Saturday, a full Sunday schedule with a Saturday Vigil, weekly Confession on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, and perpetual adoration in a newly opened chapel. Its 12.5-acre campus on Bell Road and Cotton Lane is a half mile from Loop 303 and warmly welcomes seasonal residents who register in both their summer and winter parishes.
Mass times at St Clare of Assisi Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 12:00pm
- Friday 5:00pm
- Saturday 2:30pm
- Other days and times by appointment
Adoration times
- Friday 1:00pm–4:00pm (scheduled adoration)
- First Friday Holy Hour 6:00pm
- Perpetual adoration in the new chapel (opened May 2026) — the church is open daily for private prayer
About St. Clare of Assisi Parish
St. Clare of Assisi is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Phoenix serving over 5,000 registered families on a 12.5-acre campus at the southwest corner of Bell Road and Cotton Lane in Surprise, Arizona. The parish describes itself as a community 'where everyone is welcome, everyone is known, and every member of our community is joyfully celebrated,' with more than 35 active ministries and a strong emphasis on accompaniment — listening to and walking with one another in faith.
- Diocese of Phoenix
- Over 5,000 registered families
- More than 35 active ministries on campus
- 12.5-acre campus at Bell Road & Cotton Lane
History of the Parish
St. Clare of Assisi was established on July 1, 2000 when the Diocese of Phoenix carved new territory out of three overcrowded parishes: Santa Teresita in El Mirage, Our Lady of Lourdes in Sun City West, and St. Anthony in Wickenburg. The Diocese purchased 12.5 acres at Bell and Cotton Lane, and founding pastor Fr. John Coleman celebrated the first Masses in a rented space supported by two modular buildings. Masses routinely overflowed outdoors.
Founding Pastor (2000–2002)
Reverend John Coleman was the founding pastor, leading the community from its establishment in July 2000 until July 2002.
- Fr. John Coleman — founding pastor
Long-Tenured Pastor Fr. Hans Ruygt (2002–2022)
Reverend Hans P. Ruygt was appointed pastor in July 2002 and served for 20 years. Under his leadership, Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted blessed and broke ground on the permanent church on August 12, 2006; the church opened for its first Mass on Christmas Eve 2008 with seating for roughly 1,800–2,000. Fr. Ruygt also oversaw the design and construction of the new 44,000-square-foot parish center (Adaptive Architects / Wespac Construction). He retired in 2022.
- 2006 groundbreaking with Bishop Olmsted
- Christmas Eve 2008 opening of the permanent church
- Stations of the Cross restored from a closed Polish church in Massachusetts
- Statues commissioned from northern Italy
- 2023 opening of the 44,000-sq-ft parish center
Current Pastor Fr. Thaddeus McGuire
Fr. Thaddeus ('Thadd') McGuire arrived at the parish in 2021 while construction of the new parish center was in progress. His 2021 welcome letter invites parishioners to 'go all in' as they encounter Jesus more deeply, and emphasizes the parish's commitment to accompaniment — listening, supporting, loving, and nurturing every member of the community.
Becoming Catholic (OCIA) & Family Faith Formation
St. Clare runs a year-round Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA) for adults discerning entry into the Catholic Church, with weekly sessions on Sundays at 10:00am. The parish also offers Family Faith Formation for K–12 on Wednesdays at 4:15pm or 6:00pm and Sundays at 10:15am, plus Order of Christian Initiation for Children/Teens (OCIC/T) for children older than 7 who have not been baptized. A Vacation Bible School program is also offered in summer.
- OCIA — Sundays 10:00am
- Family Faith Formation — Wed 4:15pm & 6:00pm, Sun 10:15am
- OCIC/T for children older than 7
- Vacation Bible School
Sacraments
Infant Baptism is celebrated by appointment only (call the Parish Office); parents and godparents must attend baptism classes held the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Saturdays of August, October, January, March, and May (9:00am–1:30pm). Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation is provided for children and youth. Marriages and annulments are coordinated through Karen Boswell.
- Infant Baptism — by appointment
- Baptism Classes — 1st–3rd Saturdays of Aug, Oct, Jan, Mar, May, 9:00am–1:30pm
- First Reconciliation & First Eucharist prep
- Confirmation prep
- Marriage & Annulments — contact Karen Boswell
Youth Ministry
The parish's Youth Ministry aims to 'awaken and ignite a generation of middle and high school students to come to know, love and serve Christ and His Church.' Youth Nights meet on Sundays after the 5:00pm Mass, from 6:00pm–8:00pm, offering students space to explore their faith, ask tough questions, and build community. Junior High 'J. Crew' (grades 7–8) examines moral and social issues through a Catholic lens in both classroom and social settings.
- Youth Nights — Sundays after 5:00pm Mass, 6:00pm–8:00pm
- Junior High 'J. Crew' for grades 7–8
Parish Ministries
With more than 35 active ministries on campus, St. Clare offers wide-ranging opportunities to serve: Sacred Music and Liturgy, Family Life, Pastoral Care, Marriage and Annulment Ministry, Communications and Safe Environment, Evangelization and Formation, OCIA, Youth Ministry, and outreach such as a Knights of Columbus council and St. Vincent de Paul-style service. The full list is published on the parish website.
- Sacred Music & Liturgy — Vania Masch
- Family Life — Lucas Conley
- Pastoral Care — Karen Boswell, Alivia Smith
- Marriages & Annulments — Karen Boswell
- Communications & Safe Environment — Kaitlynn Eaton
- Evangelization & Formation — Nanci Lukasik-Smith
- Catechetical Coordinator — Ally Castillo
- Office Manager — Shelley Barber
- Facilities/Maintenance — Phillip Weatherspoon
Our Campus
The 12.5-acre campus sits on the southwest corner of Bell Road and Cotton Lane, half a mile west of Loop 303. It includes the permanent church (opened 2008), the 44,000-square-foot parish center with offices, social hall, meeting rooms, and a small chapel (opened 2023), and the new perpetual adoration chapel (opened May 2026). The parish serves Surprise Farms, The Grand, Arizona Traditions, Waddell, Sun City Festival, and surrounding communities.
- Permanent church — opened Christmas Eve 2008
- 44,000-sq-ft parish center — opened 2023
- Perpetual adoration chapel — opened May 2026
- Half a mile west of Loop 303
Parish Office & Contact
Office hours are Sunday 7:30am–1:30pm and Monday–Thursday 9:00am–5:00pm (closed for lunch 12:00–1:00pm); the office is closed Friday and Saturday. The parish can be reached by phone at (623) 546-3444 or in person at 17111 W. Bell Road, Surprise, AZ 85374.
- Office Hours — Sun 7:30am–1:30pm; Mon–Thu 9:00am–5:00pm (closed Fri/Sat)
- Phone — (623) 546-3444
- Address — 17111 W. Bell Road, Surprise, AZ 85374
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John ColemanJuly 2000 – July 2002
Founding pastor; celebrated the first Masses in a rented space supported by two modular buildings on the new 12.5-acre Bell Road/Cotton Lane site.
- Rev. Hans P. RuygtJuly 2002 – 2022 (retirement)
Appointed pastor in July 2002; led the parish for 20 years. Oversaw the August 2006 groundbreaking with Bishop Olmsted, the Christmas Eve 2008 opening of the permanent church, and the planning/construction of the new 44,000-square-foot parish center.
- Rev. Thaddeus (Thadd) McGuire2021–present
Arrived in 2021 while construction of the new parish center was in progress; current pastor.