About St. Stephen Catholic Church · Riverview, Florida
St. Stephen Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Saint Petersburg, serving the Riverview and Valrico communities in southern Hillsborough County, Florida. Founded in 1987 as a mission of Nativity Catholic Church in Brandon, the parish grew from humble beginnings — its first Masses were celebrated in a storefront at 4430 Bell Shoals Road (now a Beef O'Brady's) — into one of the largest parishes in the diocese, with an average weekend attendance of roughly 4,000. Today St. Stephen operates two campuses connected to its ministry: the original Bell Shoals Road worship site and the newer Boyette Road campus, which is home to the parish school, the Family Life Center, and a 1,600-seat sanctuary dedicated in 2017.
- Established
- 1987
- Patron
- St. Stephen (the first Christian martyr; the parish is named after him)
- Rector
- Very Rev. Dermot J. Dunne, V.F.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Saint Petersburg
Why belong here
St. Stephen is one of the largest and most active parishes in the Diocese of Saint Petersburg, offering a rare combination of large-parish resources and a strong small-group culture. Worshippers can choose from five Sunday Masses (including a Family Mass and a Contemporary Mass), a daily Mass schedule in both the main church and the chapel, weekly Eucharistic Adoration on Wednesdays, a robust Reconciliation schedule several days a week, and a thriving Catholic school on the same campus. The parish's outreach arms — notably the Society of St. Vincent de Paul food pantry (serving 40–50 families each Friday), mission trips to its sister parish in Calobre, Panama, and ministries for the unemployed and migrant farm-worker families — give parishioners concrete ways to live the Gospel locally and internationally.
Mass times at St. Stephen Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday — immediately after 8:30 AM daily Mass (until there is no one in line)
- Tuesday — 6:00 PM in the Chapel
- Thursday — immediately after 8:30 AM daily Mass (until there is no one in line)
- Friday — immediately after 8:30 AM daily Mass (until there is no one in line)
- Saturday — 2:45 PM in the Chapel (until there is no one in line or Mass begins)
Adoration times
- Wednesday — 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM (Chapel)
- First Friday — 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM
History of St. Stephen Parish
St. Stephen began in 1987 as a mission of Nativity Catholic Church in Brandon, with early Masses in a Valrico storefront. Over nearly four decades the parish has grown into a regional Catholic hub on two campuses, anchored today by the Boyette Road sanctuary and school complex. The parish has had a short succession of pastors — with Father William Swengros (2005–2025) the dominant figure of the modern era — and today is led by Father Dermot Dunne, V.F.
- 1987: Founded as a mission of Nativity Catholic Church; first Masses at 4430 Bell Shoals Road storefront.
- Early 1990s: Parish status achieved; transitions through several pastors.
- 2001: St. Stephen Catholic School opens on the Boyette Road property.
- 2005: Father William Swengros arrives; begins a 20-year tenure.
- 2009: Sister-parish relationship established with Calobre, Panama.
- 2011: Capital campaign launched for a new church on Boyette Road.
- December 27, 2015: Cornerstone of the new church blessed.
- April 30, 2016: Family Life Center dedicated.
- 2017: New sanctuary completed and dedicated (June 29, 2017).
- July 2025: Father Swengros reassigned to St. Ignatius of Antioch and granted retirement status; Father Dermot Dunne named pastor.
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish's Office of Faith Formation, directed by Rose ('Rosie') Bridges and reachable at 813-671-4434, coordinates religious education for PreK4 through Grade 8, plus adult formation. Classes meet on Sundays, Mondays, and Wednesdays. Two consecutive years of Catholic education (parish faith formation or Catholic school) are required before a child may receive First Communion.
- Faith Formation K–5 (Sun/Mon/Wed classes)
- Faith Formation 6–8 and Confirmation preparation (Monday evenings)
- First Communion and First Reconciliation preparation
- Adult Lifelong Faith Formation — Bible Study, Book Studies, Apologetics (contact Sue Haines)
- Volunteer catechists and assistant catechists always needed; Safe Environment Training provided.
Youth & Young Adult Ministry
St. Stephen runs one of the largest middle-school youth programs in the diocese — the EDGE program draws roughly 300 young people on Monday and Tuesday nights to the Family Life Center. High-school Life Nights meet on Sundays after the 5:30 Mass, and the parish hosts a Monday-evening Young Adult Bible Study for ages 18–35.
- EDGE Middle School Youth Group (grades 6–8)
- High School Youth Ministry Life Nights (grades 9–12, Sundays)
- Young Adults Ministry ages 18–35 (Monday Bible Study)
- Vacation Bible School
OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
What was formerly known as RCIA is now called OCIA (the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults). The parish walks both unbaptized catechumens and already-baptized Christians seeking full communion with the Catholic Church through the process, culminating at the Easter Vigil. Adult baptized Catholics who have not yet received Confirmation and Eucharist can also complete their Sacraments of Initiation through OCIA.
- Rite of Entrance and Welcome
- Catechumenate formation
- Easter Vigil Sacraments of Initiation
- Full Communion for baptized Christians
- Contact: [email protected]
Outreach: Society of St. Vincent de Paul
The parish's Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference operates a food pantry that distributes groceries to 40–50 families (over 100 individuals) every Friday morning from the Family Life Center. It also provides financial assistance for rent, utilities, and other essential needs to neighbors in the parish area, with home visits conducted by trained volunteers. The conference reports serving more than 8,000 people in a single year and returns 100% of donations to the local community.
- Food Pantry: Fridays 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM (enter via Family Life Center)
- Financial assistance line: 813-325-6440
- Emergency referral line: 211
- Volunteer opportunities for home visits, food distribution, holiday programs
- Collaboration with St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store (Ruskin) for pick-ups: 813-645-5255
Family Ministry & Sister-Parish Mission Trips
St. Stephen's Family Ministry ('Grown in Love, Strengthened by Faith, and Protected by the Loving Hands of Jesus Christ') was launched as part of the diocesan 'Courageously Living the Gospel' pastoral plan. Monthly Family Ministry Nights draw 100–150+ attendees from public, private, and home schools, combining fellowship, service, and faith formation. The parish also maintains a sister-parish relationship with Calobre, Panama, sending mission teams twice a year since 2009.
- Monthly Family Ministry Nights (Anthony & Cindy Basilicato, coordinators)
- Sister parish: Calobre, Panama (since 2009)
- Twice-yearly mission trips
- Cultural Diversity Ministry
- San Jose Home Makers (furnishings for migrant farm workers)
St. Stephen Catholic School
St. Stephen Catholic School opened in 2001 on 39 acres donated to the parish by Father Irwin and Bishop Lynch in 1999. It serves students from early childhood three-year-olds (EC3) through 8th grade, has been accredited by the Florida Catholic Conference since 2007, and operates in close partnership with the parish on the shared Boyette Road campus. The Family Life Center (2016) added the school's first true home gym, cafeteria, and additional classrooms.
- Founded 2001; accredited by the Florida Catholic Conference in 2007
- EC3 through 8th grade
- Angels Wing addition for grades 5–8
- Weekly school Mass in the new sanctuary
- Principal: Linda Umoh; Assistant Principal: Mary Gurley
Clergy, Deacons & Parish Staff
The pastoral team is led by Father Dermot J. Dunne, V.F., who also serves as Vicar Forane of the Hillsborough Deanery. He is assisted by two parochial vicars — Father Joshua M. Hare and Father Primus Weria — with Msgr. Michael G. Carruthers in residence. Four permanent deacons (Edward Dodenhoff, Geoffrey D'Angelo, Mike Sweeney, and Shawn Ryan) round out the clergy team. Lay staff lead Faith Formation, Communications, Music, Development, and the parish school.
- Pastor: Very Rev. Dermot J. Dunne, V.F.
- Parochial Vicars: Rev. Joshua M. Hare; Rev. Primus Weria
- In Residence: Rev. Msgr. Michael G. Carruthers
- Deacons: Edward Dodenhoff, Geoffrey D'Angelo, Mike Sweeney, Shawn Ryan
- Director of Faith Formation: Rosie (Rose) Bridges
- Parish Development: Trish Cavarra
- Communications: Gretchen Robens; Stephanie Villalta
- School Principal: Linda Umoh
Facilities: Boyette Campus & Bell Shoals Road
The parish consolidated its operations on the Boyette Road campus after the 2017 completion of the new sanctuary. The campus includes St. Stephen Catholic School, the Family Life Center (a 30,000-square-foot multi-use building), and the new sanctuary itself. The original Bell Shoals Road worship site has been sold. The Family Life Center provides a cafeteria, gym, youth room, and eight classrooms, and serves as overflow seating for major feasts.
- Boyette Road campus (current): sanctuary, Family Life Center, school
- Family Life Center: gym, cafeteria, youth room, 8 classrooms (30,000 sq ft)
- Bell Shoals Road (former worship site): sold
- Onsite parking on Saint Stephen Circle
Visiting & Getting Involved
Newcomers and visitors are warmly welcomed. The parish office (813-689-4900) is open Monday–Thursday 9:00 AM–4:00 PM and Friday 9:00 AM–noon. Practical ways to plug in include registering as a parishioner, joining Flocknote (text SSCCFL to 84576) for the weekly e-newsletter, signing up for FORMED.org for Catholic content, and submitting prayer requests through the parish Prayer Team. Catechists, altar servers, livestream volunteers, food-pantry volunteers, and Knights of Columbus members are regularly needed.
- Parish Registration available online
- Flocknote weekly e-newsletter (text SSCCFL to 84576)
- FORMED.org digital Catholic library
- Prayer Team prayer-request email chain
- Livestream / Streaming Ministry volunteers welcome
- Knights of Columbus and Men's Club
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Founding pastor (mission status, 1987)1987
Parish began as a mission of Nativity Catholic Church, Brandon; first Masses celebrated in a storefront at 4430 Bell Shoals Road, Valrico.
- Rev. Joseph M. (first pastor)1987 – c. early 1990s
Listed in Diocese of St. Petersburg Official Catholic Directory; the parish transitioned from mission to parish status in its early years (source: Official Catholic Directory 2024).
- Rev. Robert J. (third priest in 25-year history)c. 1990s – c. 2000s
Served as pastor during a period of significant parish growth and the founding of the parish school (2001) on the Boyette Road property.
- Rev. Robert J. Schneiderc. 2005
Identified as one of the four priests who led St. Stephen during its first 25 years (Patch, Bloomingdale); subsequently listed in Diocese clergy changes as being granted retirement status.
- Rev. William J. Swengros, J.C.D.2005 – 2025
Former high-school music teacher, ordained 1992, holds a doctorate in canon law. Led unprecedented growth to ~15,000 registered families and ~4,000 average weekend attendance. Initiated the sister-parish relationship with Calobre, Panama (2009) and twice-yearly mission trips; launched the capital campaign for the new church; oversaw construction of the Family Life Center (2016) and the new sanctuary (2017). Reassigned July 2025 to St. Ignatius of Antioch, Tarpon Springs, and granted retirement status.
- Very Rev. Dermot J. Dunne, V.F.2025 – present
Current pastor (also Vicar Forane of the Hillsborough Deanery). Leads the parish today, along with two parochial vicars and four assigned deacons.
