About St. Thomas Aquinas · New Port Richey, Florida
St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in New Port Richey, Florida, in the Diocese of St. Petersburg's West Pasco-Hernando Deanery. Founded in June 1980 as a Mission serving the Seven Springs area, it was the first of fifteen parishes established by Bishop W. Thomas Larkin and has grown from humble beginnings in an elementary school and a funeral home into a thriving parish community centered on its mission to "Learn, Live and Share the Good News of the Gospel message." Today the parish offers daily and weekend Masses, including a vibrant Life Teen liturgy, plus a full range of faith formation, youth ministry (Edge and Life Teen), an Early Childhood Center, the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry, and dozens of liturgical and outreach ministries, all from its campus at 8320 Old County Road 54.
- Established
- 1980
- Patron
- St. Thomas Aquinas
- Rector
- Very Rev. Krzysztof Gazdowicz V.F.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Saint Petersburg (West Pasco-Hernando Deanery)
Why belong here
St. Thomas Aquinas is a parish that takes its mission of "Learning, Living and Sharing the Good News" literally, with structured formation for every age (K–5 Faith Formation, Edge middle school youth ministry, Life Teen high school ministry, and adult OCIA/RCIA), weekly opportunities to serve the poor through an active St. Vincent de Paul Society food pantry, and a Homebound Ministry that brings the Eucharist to Trinity Medical Center and six local nursing homes. Parishioners can worship at four weekend Masses plus a daily 8:00 a.m. Mass, spend Thursdays in Adoration and Benediction, and join a long list of lay-led liturgical and music ministries. With its Early Childhood Center, Vacation Bible School, adult bible study, Vocation Committee, and a Gift Store run by volunteers, the parish offers a ready-made community for any family looking to put down Catholic roots in the New Port Richey / Seven Springs area.
Mass times at St. Thomas Aquinas
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Thursday 3:00 pm – 6:45 pm (Adoration)
- Thursday 6:30 pm – Benediction
Parish History: From a School Mass to a Growing Church
St. Thomas Aquinas began in June 1980 as a Mission to the Seven Springs area of west Pasco County, established by Bishop W. Thomas Larkin — the first of fifteen new parishes he would found for the Diocese of St. Petersburg. Its very first Mass was celebrated on September 7, 1980 by parish founder Fr. Thomas Earner in the cafeteria of Anclote Elementary School, while daily Masses were squeezed into Morgan's Funeral Home. When parishioners were asked to name their new community, they chose "St. Thomas Aquinas."
- Founded June 1980 as a Mission in the Seven Springs area
- First Mass: September 7, 1980 at Anclote Elementary School (Fr. Thomas Earner)
- Daily Masses initially at Morgan's Funeral Home
- Groundbreaking for Parish Center / chapel / classrooms: April 1982 (Bishop Larkin)
- First service in new buildings: Thanksgiving Day 1982
- First Sunday Mass on the campus: December 5, 1982
- Eight classrooms and Parish Center addition completed: May 1986
- Groundbreaking for the current church: February 17, 1993 (Father Aiden Foynes, V.F.)
Mission, Vision and Patron
The parish's calling is captured in its long-standing mission statement: "Learning, Living and Sharing the Good News of the Gospel message." The parish is named for St. Thomas Aquinas (feast day January 28), the great medieval Doctor of the Church.
- Patron: St. Thomas Aquinas
- Feast Day: January 28
- Mission Statement: "Learning, Living and Sharing the Good News of the Gospel message"
Faith Formation and Religious Education
The Office of Faith Formation, led by Michaela Myers, serves children and families with weekly classroom sessions for Kindergarten through Grade 5 on Sunday mornings (9:00–10:15 am, allowing families to attend the 10:30 am Mass) and on Wednesdays (5:30–6:45 pm). The office also coordinates the two-year First Sacraments program (First Reconciliation and First Eucharist), the annual Christmas Pageant, and Vacation Bible School. Adult faith formation includes bible study, faith-sharing groups, seminars, special events, and parent enrichment sessions.
- K–5 Faith Formation on Sundays 9:00–10:15 am and Wednesdays 5:30–6:45 pm
- First Sacraments preparation (Reconciliation & Eucharist) — two-year process
- Children's Faith Formation (formerly CCD) — separate from First Sacraments program
- Adult Faith Formation: bible study, faith sharing, seminars, special events
- Annual Christmas Pageant and Vacation Bible School
- Coordinator: Michaela Myers, ext. 133, [email protected]
Youth Ministry: Edge and Life Teen
St. Thomas Aquinas runs both middle-school and high-school youth ministries under Director of Evangelization Claire Obordo and Youth Ministers Beth DeBella and Cliff Stodden. Edge, for grades 6–8, meets Wednesday evenings 5:30–6:45 pm. Life Teen, for grades 9–12, is centered on the 5:00 pm Sunday Life Teen Mass with fellowship and Life Nights following. Life Teen came to St. Thomas Aquinas in 2007 and feeds directly into the Confirmation preparation curriculum.
- Edge (grades 6–8): Wednesdays 5:30–6:45 pm
- Life Teen (grades 9–12): Sundays — 5:00 pm Mass, then Life Night fellowship
- Life Teen at the parish since 2007
- Confirmation preparation integrated with Life Teen
- Youth Ministers: Beth DeBella & Cliff Stodden — ext. 131, [email protected]
OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
OCIA (formerly RCIA) sessions are offered weekly with Breaking Open the Word and Catechetical gatherings, for both adults and youth (OCIA adapted for youth). It is the customary path for unbaptized adults, as well as parents of children over age 7, seeking baptism and full sacramental initiation.
- Weekly OCIA sessions with Breaking Open the Word
- OCIA adapted for youth
- Coordinator: Kevin Welsh (also Baptism Coordinator), ext. 132
Sacraments: Instruction and Preparation
The parish prepares parishioners for all seven sacraments, with required preparation for Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, and Matrimony. Six months of preparation is required for Holy Matrimony, and the Anointing of the Sick (formerly Last Rites) is available by appointment through the parish office, with a dedicated after-hours emergency line for nights and weekends.
- Baptism: monthly preparation for parents and godparents of infants/toddlers
- First Sacraments (Reconciliation & Eucharist): workshop series
- Confirmation: preparation through Life Teen
- Reconciliation (Confession): Saturdays 2:30–3:30 pm and by appointment
- Anointing of the Sick: office hours; emergency (727) 836-3211 nights/weekends
- Holy Matrimony: six months of preparation; request wedding brochure
- Holy Orders: contact Diocesan Vocations Office (727) 345-3452
Music and Liturgical Ministries
Music Director Dan O'Hara leads a Music Ministry that welcomes singers, choir members, cantors, and instrumentalists at every weekend Mass. Liturgical lay ministries include Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Lectors (Ministers of the Word), Altar Servers (boys and girls, grades 3–12, plus adult servers for funerals and weekday morning Mass), Ushers, and Projection Operators. Volunteers are coordinated through Cheralyn Quevedo (ext. 111).
- Choirs and Praise Band for weekend Masses
- Cantors and choir members needed at 4 pm, 6 pm, 8:30 am, and 10:30 am Masses
- Bass player needed for the 10:30 am praise band
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Lectors / Ministers of the Word
- Altar Servers (grades 3–12, plus adult servers)
- Ushers and Projection Operators
- Music Director: Dan O'Hara, ext. 128, [email protected]
Outreach and Charity
The parish's principal outreach arm is the St. Vincent de Paul Society, which runs a busy food pantry open Mondays and Thursdays, 9:30–11:00 am and 1:30–3:30 pm, and assists with home visits and financial needs for clients in the area. The Homebound Ministry brings Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion to Trinity Medical Center, six area nursing homes, and to private homes. Parish Nurse Betty West directs this ministry and the Ministry to the Sick.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society Food Pantry — Mon & Thu, 9:30–11 am and 1:30–3:30 pm
- Homebound Ministry — visits Trinity Medical Center and six nursing homes
- Parish Nurse Ministry — Betty West, ext. 116, [email protected]
- Emergency Maintenance Team — hurricane-prep volunteers for parish grounds
Vocation Ministry
A newly formed Vocations Committee at St. Thomas Aquinas supports religious vocations through daily prayer, a traveling crucifix for families, and Spiritual Motherhood of Priests on Thursday mornings. The parish notes that the Diocese of St. Petersburg would not ordain any priests for four years after Deacon Christian Galvin's May ordination, and asks parishioners to pray for vocations.
- Rosary for Vocations — Mon–Fri 7:30 am before daily Mass
- Traveling Crucifix for one family per week to pray for vocations
- Spiritual Motherhood of Priests — Thursday mornings after daily Mass
- Contact: Cheralyn Quevedo, ext. 111
Early Childhood Center
St. Thomas Aquinas runs a year-round Early Childhood Center on the parish campus under the direction of Alicia Mumma. The Center is part of the parish's family-ministry mission and serves as an early point of contact for many parish families.
- STA Early Childhood Center
- Director: Alicia Mumma, (727) 376-2330
- Located at the Parish Center, 8320 Old County Road 54
Clergy and Staff
The parish is led by Pastor Very Rev. Krzysztof Gazdowicz, V.F., who was assigned July 1, 2024, and Associate Pastor Fr. George P. Varkey, M.S.T., a member of the Missionary Society of St. Thomas the Apostle ordained in Kerala, India on April 17, 1990. Deacon Michael Trimpe serves seasonally. Lay staff lead faith formation, youth ministry, music, evangelization, sacraments, and the Early Childhood Center.
- Pastor: Very Rev. Krzysztof Gazdowicz, V.F. (since July 1, 2024)
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. George P. Varkey, M.S.T. (Missionary Society of St. Thomas the Apostle)
- Deacon Michael Trimpe (Seasonal)
- Claire Obordo — Director of Evangelization
- Michaela Myers — Faith Formation (K–5), ext. 133
- Beth DeBella & Cliff Stodden — High School Youth Ministers (Life Teen), ext. 131
- Beth DeBella — Middle School (Edge)
- Kevin Welsh — OCIA Coordinator / Baptism Coordinator, ext. 132
- Dan O'Hara — Music Director, ext. 128
- Betty West — Parish Nurse, Ministry to the Sick & Homebound, ext. 116
- Cheralyn Quevedo — Volunteer & Liturgical Coordinator, ext. 111
- Alicia Mumma — Director, Early Childhood Center, (727) 376-2330
Visiting the Parish: Hours, Gift Store and Library
The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, with the switchboard closed from 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm. A volunteer-run Gift Store is open before and after all weekend Masses, and a Parish Library is open during office hours in the Parish Center near the front doors. After-hours and weekend emergencies for the Anointing of the Sick should be directed to (727) 836-3211.
- Parish Office Hours: Mon–Fri 9:00 am – 4:00 pm (switchboard closed 12:00 noon – 1:00 pm)
- Gift Store: open before and after all weekend Masses (volunteer-staffed)
- Parish Library: open during office hours, Parish Center by the front doors
- Emergency Anointing of the Sick (nights/weekends): (727) 836-3211
- Main Phone: (727) 372-8600; Fax: (727) 372-5712
Volunteer Opportunities and Getting Involved
The parish regularly invites parishioners to serve in liturgical, formation, outreach, and hospitality roles. Opportunities include the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry, Homebound Ministry visits to Trinity Medical Center and six nursing homes, Music Ministry (praise band, choirs, cantors), Liturgical Ministries (EMHCs, lectors, servers, ushers, projection), Faith Formation (classroom and behind-the-scenes help), and a hurricane Emergency Maintenance Team.
- St. Vincent de Paul — ext. 142
- Homebound Ministry — Betty West, ext. 116
- Music Ministry — Dan O'Hara, ext. 128
- Faith Formation — Michaela Myers, ext. 133
- Liturgical Ministries — Cheralyn Quevedo, ext. 111
- Emergency Maintenance Team — Cheralyn Quevedo, ext. 111
- Altar Servers — grades 3–12 (plus adult servers)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Msgr. Thomas F. Earner1980–1998
Parish founder; celebrated the first Mass on Sept. 7, 1980 at Anclote Elementary School; served as pastor until his retirement in January 1998; named a Prelate of Honor of His Holiness (Monsignor) by Pope John Paul II in August 1999.
- Father Aiden Foynes, V.F.
Mentioned in the parish's 1993 groundbreaking for the current church building; served during the parish's next phase of growth.
- Very Rev. Krzysztof Gazdowicz, V.F.2024–present
Born in Brzozow, Poland; ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of St. Petersburg by Bishop Robert N. Lynch on May 15, 2004; previously Vicar Forane of the East Central Deanery; began assignment as Pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas on July 1, 2024.