St. Thomas Aquinas

Parish History

The community that became St. Thomas Aquinas began in the 1950s with Bible study hosted by Msgr. Joseph Cassidy at the home of Dr. and Mrs. Orville May in Roswell. In 1959, ten families organized as a mission of the Cathedral of Christ the King and celebrated their first Mass on September 27, 1959, with Msgr. Michael Regan at the Roswell Community Center. For thirteen years they met in homes, schools, and a bank. The mission was transferred to St. Jude the Apostle in Sandy Springs in 1964. Archbishop Thomas A. Donnellan formally erected the parish on June 1, 1972; a 14- to 17-acre site on Rucker Road was purchased and a multi-purpose building dedicated that October. Growth was steady: 200 families by 1972, 600 by 1977, and a new sanctuary seating 700 dedicated in 1982. The parish celebrated its 25th anniversary in 1997 and its 50th on June 4, 2022.

• 1959 — first Mass as a mission of the Cathedral of Christ the King (10 families)
• 1964 — mission transferred to St. Jude the Apostle, Sandy Springs
• 1972 — erected as a parish by Archbishop Thomas A. Donnellan
• 1972 — multi-purpose building dedicated in October
• 1982 — new sanctuary seating 700 dedicated
• 1993 — Hispanic ministry launched
• 1997 — 25th anniversary; twinning begun with St. Martin Parish, Delatte, Haiti
• 2022 — 50th anniversary celebrated June 4

Parish Staff & Clergy

Fr. Juan Areiza was appointed pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas by Archbishop Gregory J. Hartmayer, OFM Conv., effective July 1, 2023, having previously served as pastor of St. Pius X Church in Conyers. He is assisted by two parochial vicars, Fr. Jaime Rivera and Fr. Daniel (Dan) Fleming, and a team of permanent deacons. The lay staff runs the parish office, Faith Formation office, music ministry, youth ministry, communications, bookkeeping, maintenance, and the preschool.

• Pastor: Fr. Juan Areiza
• Parochial Vicar: Fr. Jaime Rivera
• Parochial Vicar: Fr. Daniel (Dan) Fleming
• Deacons: Richard Clawson, Rev. Mr. Geza Gereben, Rev. Mr. Bernie Casey, Rev. Mr. Mike Chernick, Rev. Mr. Art Lerma, Rev. Mr. Thomas McGiveny
• Deacons (Retired): Rev. Mr. Steve Shawcross, Rev. Mr. Bill Keeling
• Pastoral Executive Assistant: Gail Graham ([email protected])
• Business Manager: Debra Mahon
• Office Manager: Martha Zamorano
• Parish Office Receptionist: Sara Hameed
• Bookkeeper: Rosario Rosenberger
• Maintenance: Manuel Flores
• Music Director: Richard Clawson
• Youth Minister: Ricardo Botello ([email protected])
• Faith Formation Director: Abigail Byron-Goslin ([email protected])
• Faith Formation Administration Assistant: Natalie Fleming
• Faith Formation Assistant: Cosette Zavaleta
• Elementary School Coordinator: Roger Gregory
• Senior Ministries Coordinator: Tom Guilbert
• Communications Coordinator: Rodney Rodriguez
• Preschool Director: Cosette Zavaleta

Faith Formation & Religious Education

The Office of Faith Formation at St. Thomas Aquinas partners with families to form hearts and minds in the Catholic faith. Registration for the 2026–2027 year is open, with scholarship assistance available. The Office (770-475-4508, [email protected]) is open Monday through Thursday, 10 AM to 3 PM, on the first floor of the Education Building. Sacramental preparation requires two years of formation classes before receiving a sacrament.

• First Reconciliation & First Communion — typically celebrated in 2nd grade ($30 fee covers prayer book and two retreats)
• Confirmation — for candidates at least 16 and in 10th grade, two-year program ($150 includes Catholic youth Bible and yearly retreat)
• OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) — Thursday evenings; $150 per year, two-year preparation; open to unbaptized adults, Christians entering full communion, and Catholics completing Initiation

Sacraments

The parish celebrates the seven sacraments on the Rucker Road campus, including a monthly Mass with Anointing of the Sick on the first Friday at noon for those facing serious illness. Baptism preparation is coordinated by Gail Graham ([email protected]); expectant mothers are encouraged to make contact before the baby is born. First Communion and Reconciliation are typically celebrated in 2nd grade after two years of formation. Confirmation preparation runs at least two years and follows the Archdiocese of Atlanta's minimum age of 16. Confessions are heard Saturdays from 3:30 to 4:30 PM or by appointment. Marriage preparation and other sacramental inquiries go through the Parish Office at 770-475-4501.

STA Preschool

The on-site preschool at St. Thomas Aquinas, 'Where Young Minds Grow in God's Love,' serves children who are 18 months (Toddlers) by September 1 of the current school year through Pre-K 4. The program accepts each child at his or her own developmental level and integrates a Faith Formation program — Bible Buddies — built around the Sign of the Cross, the Our Father, the Guardian Angel prayer, saints, Old and New Testament stories, Advent, Lent, Easter, and the Blessed Mother. The program follows Archdiocese of Atlanta preschool guidelines and the Georgia Early Learning and Development Standards (GELDS); teachers are trained in First Aid, CPR, AED, and VIRTUS and attend the Archdiocese's Summer Education Institute. The preschool has received an 'excellent' quality assurance rating from the Office of Catholic Schools.

• Toddlers (18 months by Sept 1) through Pre-K 4
• Bible Buddies faith-formation boxes rotate weekly through each class
• Office of Catholic Schools oversight; Archdiocese Summer Education Institute for staff
• Director: Cosette Zavaleta

Hispanic Ministry (Ministerio Hispano)

What began in 1993 as occasional outdoor Masses on Frazier Street in Roswell has grown into a robust Hispanic ministry of 17 groups and programs, supported by a 7 PM Spanish Mass on Thursday, a 7 PM Spanish Vigil Mass on Saturday, and a 2 PM Spanish Sunday Mass (livestreamed). The Hispanic Ministry Office (Oficina del Ministerio Hispano) coordinates formation, sacramental preparation in Spanish, and parish life for Spanish-speaking parishioners. Coordinator: Andrea Garcia.

• Saturday 7 PM Vigilia in Español
• Thursday 7 PM Misa en Español
• Sunday 2 PM Misa en Español (livestream)
• Faith Formation registration available in Spanish

Knights of Columbus & Outreach

The pastor, Fr. Juan Areiza, currently serves as state chaplain of the Georgia State Council of the Knights of Columbus, an indication of the parish's engagement with the order. St. Thomas Aquinas also maintains a long-standing twinning relationship with St. Martin Parish in Delatte, Haiti, begun in 1997 to mark the parish's 25th anniversary; the relationship has produced mutual visits and ongoing financial and prayerful support.

• Knights of Columbus council at the parish
• Sister-parish relationship with St. Martin, Delatte, Haiti (since 1997)

Visiting & Getting Involved

Visitors are welcome at any of the weekend or daily Masses listed on sta.org/mass-times. The Parish Office is open Monday through Friday 9 AM to 4 PM and Sunday 9 AM to 1 PM (closed Saturday). The Faith Formation Office is open Monday through Thursday 10 AM to 3 PM. Adult newcomers interested in joining the Catholic Church or completing their Initiation should contact the OCIA team; those wishing to register with the parish can complete a Parish Registration Form online. Volunteer and ministry inquiries can be directed to the appropriate staff member listed on the parish website.