About St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church · Bartow, Florida
St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church is a small, family-style Catholic parish in Bartow, Florida, established in 1947 and part of the Diocese of Orlando. The parish is staffed by the Salvatorian Fathers and serves the faithful of Bartow and surrounding Polk County communities with daily and weekly Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, Confession, Faith Formation (CCD), Bible Study and a Knights of Columbus council. Under the pastoral leadership of Fr. Eugene Grytner, SDS — a Salvatorian priest who previously served as a missionary in Africa for nearly 30 years — the parish combines traditional Catholic devotional life with a welcoming rural-parish feel.
- Established
- 1947
- Patron
- St. Thomas Aquinas
- Rector
- Fr. Eugene Grytner, SDS
- Diocese
- Diocese of Orlando
Why belong here
St. Thomas Aquinas Bartow is a welcoming, mid-sized Catholic parish where the traditional rhythm of parish life is easy to plug into — daily Mass four days a week, Eucharistic Adoration three times a week, Confession a half-hour before every Mass, and a CCD faith-formation program with Sunday registration in mid-summer. Active laity run parish life through long-standing groups including the Knights of Columbus, the Women's Club, Adult and Youth Choirs, a Prayer Group, and Sunday-evening Bible Study. If you are looking for a parish with a strong devotional life and small enough that the pastor and staff know your name, St. Thomas Aquinas is a faithful home.
Mass times at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Half hour prior to all Masses (weekday and weekend)
Adoration times
- Sunday 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
- Monday 9:15 AM – 10:30 AM (after 8:30 AM Mass)
- Thursday 7:00 PM
About St. Thomas Aquinas Parish
St. Thomas Aquinas is a Catholic parish in Bartow, Florida in the Diocese of Orlando, founded in 1947. It is staffed by the Salvatorian Fathers (Society of the Divine Savior) and currently pastored by Fr. Eugene Grytner, SDS. The parish serves Bartow and the surrounding Polk County area, including a Sunday Mass at Fort Meade (September–May). The parish provides daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, Confession, Faith Formation (CCD), Bible Study, a prayer group, choirs, a Women's Club, and a Knights of Columbus council.
- Founded: 1947
- Diocese: Orlando
- Pastored by the Salvatorian Fathers (SDS)
- Pastor: Fr. Eugene Grytner, SDS
- Address: 1305 E Mann Rd, Bartow, FL 33830
History
St. Thomas Aquinas was established in 1947 as a parish of the Diocese of Orlando, and is listed in the Diocese's 50th Anniversary Jubilee Booklet among its historic parishes. The parish's IRS tax-exempt recognition was granted in March 1946, just before its canonical establishment. In August 2011, Fr. Eugene Grytner, SDS — a Polish Salvatorian who had served as a missionary in Africa for nearly 30 years — was appointed as the parish's pastor, a role he continues in today.
- Established 1947 (Diocese of Orlando)
- Entrusted to the Salvatorian Fathers
- Fr. Eugene Grytner appointed pastor, August 2011
Parish Staff & Leaders
The parish is led by pastor Fr. Eugene Grytner, SDS, with an active lay staff and volunteer leadership running the various ministries, choirs and groups.
- Pastor: Fr. Eugene Grytner, SDS
- Parish Secretary: Betty Cheeseman
- Director of Religious Education: Carol Polkowski
- Faith Formation: Evelyn Rivera (863-370-4000)
- Organist: Susanne Barabas
- Adult Choir: Susanne Barabas
- Youth Choir: Charlotte Daubert
- Prayer Group: Terry Sitz
- Women's Club: Anne Spencer
- Knights of Columbus: Jack Daubert
Sacraments
The parish prepares Catholics for the reception of the major sacraments and offers ongoing Sacramental life through regular Mass, Confession and Adoration.
- Baptism Preparation
- Marriage Preparation
- Sacrament of Penance (Confession) — 30 min before each Mass
- Eucharistic Adoration — Sun / Mon / Thu
Faith Formation & Religious Education (CCD)
Faith Formation classes (CCD) meet on Sunday mornings at 9:00 AM, with the children joining the 10:30 AM Mass. Registration is held before and after Mass, July 18 – August 9 in the school; classes begin August 16. No registrations are accepted after August 9. Evelyn Rivera is the parish contact for Faith Formation (863-370-4000, Monday–Friday 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM).
- CCD — Sundays 9:00 AM + 10:30 AM Mass
- Registration before & after Mass, July 18 – August 9 in school
- Classes begin August 16
- No registrations after August 9
- Bible Study — Sundays 6:00 PM
- Summer Fun With Jesus — Wednesdays, June 24 – July 22, 5:00 – 7:00 PM
Music Ministry
The parish is served by an organist and two choirs — an Adult Choir and a Youth Choir — supporting the sung liturgy at Mass.
- Organist: Susanne Barabas
- Adult Choir Director: Susanne Barabas
- Youth Choir Director: Charlotte Daubert
Parish Groups & Outreach
A number of active lay-led groups give the parish its community life — a prayer group, women's club, and Knights of Columbus council, along with a Bible Study that meets Sunday evenings.
- Prayer Group — Terry Sitz
- Women's Club — Anne Spencer
- Knights of Columbus — Jack Daubert
- Bible Study — Sundays 6:00 PM
Fort Meade Mission
St. Thomas Aquinas pastors the Sunday Mass at Fort Meade, Florida, from September through May at 8:00 AM. There is no Mass in Fort Meade in June, July and August; the Mass resumes the first Sunday of September.
- Sunday Mass at Fort Meade — 8:00 AM (September–May)
- No Fort Meade Mass June–August
- Mass resumes in September
Visit & Contact
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office at 863-533-8578 or by email at [email protected]. The parish is located at 1305 East Mann Road, Bartow, FL 33830. Weekly bulletins and ministry schedules are available on the parish website.
- Phone: (863) 533-8578
- Email: [email protected]
- Address: 1305 E Mann Rd, Bartow, FL 33830
- Website: https://stthomasbartow.org/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Eugene Grytner, SDS2011–present
Salvatorian priest from Poland; nearly 30 years a missionary in Africa before coming to Florida; appointed pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Bartow in August 2011.