About St. Thomas and Anne · Voluntown, Connecticut
Saints Thomas & Anne (Ss. Thomas & Anne) is a small Catholic parish in the rural town of Voluntown in northeastern Connecticut, within the Diocese of Norwich. Founded in 1892 as St. Thomas the Apostle, the parish was renamed Saints Thomas & Anne after its long-standing mission church of St. Ann in the nearby Glasgo section of Griswold closed in October 2012. The parish is yoked with St. Mary Our Lady of the Rosary in Jewett City and St. Catherine of Siena in Preston, forming the Holy Spirit Catholic Community, a tri-parish family served by a shared pastor, deacons, and staff. Weekly Sunday Mass is celebrated on Sunday morning, with weekday Mass on Friday morning, and Holy Days as announced.
- Established
- 1892
- Patron
- St. Thomas the Apostle and St. Anne (mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Father Tom Griffin (Parish Administrator of the Holy Spirit Catholic Community)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Norwich (Norwich Deanery)
Why belong here
Ss. Thomas & Anne offers a small, welcoming Catholic community in the rural Voluntown area, with Sunday Mass at 10:00 AM and weekday Mass on Friday mornings. As part of the tri-parish Holy Spirit Catholic Community alongside St. Mary in Jewett City and St. Catherine of Siena in Preston, parishioners benefit from shared clergy, faith formation, Confirmation preparation, and a connection to a wider Catholic family in the Diocese of Norwich — all while keeping the intimate feel of a country parish. The parish maintains a traditional devotional life, including a Holy Rosary prayed before Sunday Mass and Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament following First Friday Mass.
Mass times at St. Thomas and Anne
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- By appointment by calling the parish office (860-376-2044)
Adoration times
- First Friday: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament following the 8:00 AM Mass
Welcome to Ss. Thomas & Anne Parish
Ss. Thomas & Anne Catholic Parish in Voluntown, Connecticut is one of three yoked parishes forming the Holy Spirit Catholic Community, alongside St. Mary Our Lady of the Rosary in Jewett City and St. Catherine of Siena in Preston. The parish describes itself as 'a community where faith, community, and God's love come together' — a place to grow in faith, worship God with joy, and find fellowship and support. Whether a long-time parishioner, new arrival, returning Catholic, or simply exploring, visitors are warmly welcomed to attend Mass, join a ministry, and make a spiritual home there.
History of the Parish
Established in 1892, St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church served Voluntown and the surrounding rural northeastern Connecticut area for more than a century. From very early on it supported a mission church — St. Ann on Route 201 in the Glasgo section of neighboring Griswold — built in 1891 on land donated by the Glasgo Finishing Company to minister to its French-Canadian mill workers. The little white wooden mission was modeled after a St. Anne Church in Quebec, with a steep shingled roof and a front steeple. After the mill closed and the workers dispersed, the Diocese of Norwich concelebrated the last Mass at St. Ann in October 2012. The Voluntown parish was then renamed Saints Thomas & Anne in honor of its mission, and in October 2019 Griswold residents approved acquiring the 1.4-acre St. Anne property from the diocese for $1.
- Founded 1892 as St. Thomas the Apostle, Voluntown
- Mission church of St. Ann built 1891 in Glasgo (Griswold)
- St. Ann closed October 2012; parish renamed Saints Thomas & Anne
- St. Anne property transferred to Town of Griswold in October 2019 for $1
Mass & Sacrament Schedule
Sunday Mass at Ss. Thomas & Anne is celebrated at 10:00 AM. Weekday Mass is offered on Friday mornings at 8:00 AM. On First Fridays, the 8:00 AM Mass is followed by Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. The Holy Rosary is prayed before Sunday Mass and after weekday Masses. Holy Day Masses are announced in advance. Reconciliation is available by appointment through the parish office.
- Sunday Mass: 10:00 AM
- Friday weekday Mass: 8:00 AM
- First Friday: 8:00 AM Mass with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament following
- Holy Rosary: before Sunday Mass and after weekday Masses
- Holy Days: to be announced
- Confessions: by appointment (call 860-376-2044)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation for the parish's children is coordinated through Cathy Becotte (D.R.E.), with assistance from Todd Becotte, reachable at 860-376-8665. Older youth preparing for the sacrament of Confirmation are served by a separate Confirmation Coordinator, Paul F. Dillon, Jr. (P.O. Box 14, Voluntown, 06384; phone 860-376-8304), who works with students across the tri-parish community.
- Director of Religious Education (D.R.E.): Cathy Becotte
- Assistant: Todd Becotte (860-376-8665)
- Confirmation Coordinator: Paul F. Dillon, Jr. (860-376-8304)
Clergy, Staff & Pastoral Leadership
The Holy Spirit Catholic Community — the yoked partnership of Ss. Thomas & Anne, St. Mary (Jewett City), and St. Catherine of Siena (Preston) — is led by Father Tom Griffin as Parish Administrator, supported by Deacons Bryan Jones and Jorge Escalona (and formerly Deacon Paul Baillargeon). Parochial assistance has historically been provided by a parochial vicar such as Rev. Stephen S. Gulino. The long-time pastor Very Rev. Ted F. Tumicki, S.T.L., J.C.L., J.V., transitioned out of the pastorate effective February 1, 2025 to become Judicial Vicar for the Tribunal Office of the Diocese of Norwich. Shared parish staff includes Secretaries Mrs. Christine Siart (St. Mary) and Mrs. Jaymie Macko, plus Maintenance Coordinator Mr. Steve Champagne.
- Father Tom Griffin – Parish Administrator
- Deacon Bryan Jones
- Deacon Jorge Escalona
- Deacon Paul Baillargeon (former)
- Rev. Stephen S. Gulino – former Parochial Vicar
- Very Rev. Ted F. Tumicki – former Pastor (now Judicial Vicar, Diocese of Norwich)
- Mrs. Christine Siart – Secretary (St. Mary)
- Mrs. Jaymie Macko – Secretary
- Mr. Steve Champagne – Maintenance Coordinator
The Holy Spirit Catholic Community (Yoked Parishes)
Ss. Thomas & Anne is part of a tri-parish Catholic family called the Holy Spirit Catholic Community. The yoked parishes share clergy, staff, and faith-formation programs while each retains its own worship site, schedule, and community identity. Sister parishes include St. Mary, Our Lady of the Rosary (34 N. Main St., Jewett City, established 1872) and St. Catherine of Siena (Preston). The combined rectory office is in Jewett City and may be reached at 860-376-2044.
- Ss. Thomas & Anne, Voluntown (est. 1892)
- St. Mary Our Lady of the Rosary, Jewett City (est. 1872)
- St. Catherine of Siena, Preston
- Shared office: 34 N. Main St., Jewett City — 860-376-2044
St. Thomas Cemetery
The parish maintains St. Thomas Cemetery on Sheldon Road in Griswold, with the cemetery office operated out of St. Mary Church in Jewett City. For information about by-laws and regulations regarding the purchase of grave plots, parishioners are directed to call the parish office at 860-376-8352.
- Location: Sheldon Road, Griswold, CT
- Cemetery office: St. Mary Church, Jewett City — 860-376-2044
- Grave-plot inquiries: parish office — 860-376-8352
Devotions & Special Observances
Ss. Thomas & Anne maintains several traditional devotions. The Holy Rosary is recited before Sunday Mass and after weekday Masses. On First Fridays, the 8:00 AM Mass is followed by Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, allowing the community to spend time in adoration. The parish also supports visits to the sick and homebound — anyone unable to attend Mass can call the rectory to arrange a pastoral visit.
- Holy Rosary before Sunday Mass and after weekday Masses
- First Friday Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament following 8:00 AM Mass
- Visitation of the Sick and Homebound — call 860-376-2044
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Matrimony, Anointing of the Sick, and Reconciliation. Baptisms are normally celebrated during or after weekend Masses, or by appointment. Couples preparing for marriage are asked to make arrangements at least one year in advance, in keeping with the Diocese of Norwich's preparation requirement. Reconciliation is offered by appointment. The parish also visits the sick and homebound — simply call the rectory to arrange.
- Baptism: during or after weekend Masses, or by appointment
- Matrimony: at least one year advance notice required; diocesan preparation
- Anointing / Sick visits: call the rectory (860-376-2044)
- Confirmation: coordinated through Paul F. Dillon, Jr.
- Reconciliation: by appointment
Visiting, Office & Contact Information
The parish is located at 61 Preston City Road, Voluntown, CT 06384. The tri-parish office is staffed at 34 N. Main Street, Jewett City, with office hours Monday through Thursday, 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM; the office is closed on Fridays. The single telephone number (860-376-2044) reaches the shared rectory that serves all three yoked parishes. The parish email is [email protected], and the parish website is www.stthomasvoluntown.org (with the tri-parish community hub at stmaryjc.weconnect.com).
- Church: 61 Preston City Rd., Voluntown, CT 06384
- Tri-parish office: 34 N. Main St., Jewett City, CT 06351
- Office hours: Monday–Thursday, 9:00 AM–1:00 PM (closed Friday)
- Phone: 860-376-2044
- Email: [email protected]
- Web: www.stthomasvoluntown.org / stmaryjc.weconnect.com
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Thomas P. Griffin
Listed as Administrator in earlier diocesan directory; returned as Parish Administrator of the Holy Spirit Catholic Community after Fr. Tumicki's reassignment.
- Very Rev. Ted F. Tumicki, S.T.L., J.C.L., J.V.
Pastor of the yoked parishes of Ss. Thomas & Anne, St. Mary (Jewett City), and St. Catherine of Siena (Preston). Effective February 1, 2025, he stepped down as pastor to serve full-time as Judicial Vicar for the Tribunal Office of the Diocese of Norwich; continued living in residence at St. Mary rectory providing weekend Mass assistance through at least June 2025.