About St. Thomas by the Sea · Orange Beach, Alabama
St. Thomas by the Sea is a Roman Catholic parish in Orange Beach, Alabama, belonging to the Archdiocese of Mobile. The community consists of a small core of permanent residents augmented by a very large transient/winter-visitor population that is integral to parish life. The parish is named after St. Thomas the Apostle and offers Mass eight times per week, along with Saturday confessions, Friday Eucharistic Adoration (Holy Hour), daily Rosary, and a full slate of ministries including the Knights of Columbus, Daughters of Mary, CCD, Hispanic Ministry, and a Respect Life Committee. It currently ministers to about 300 registered families plus many seasonal visitors.
- Established
- 1991
- Patron
- St. Thomas the Apostle
- Rector
- Rev. Paul Iruthayasamy, H.G.N. (Fr. Paul Ravi, HGN)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Mobile
Why belong here
St. Thomas by the Sea is a small, close-knit Catholic community where permanent residents and winter visitors worship side by side. Daily Mass is offered Tuesday through Friday, the Rosary is prayed before every Mass, Friday Holy Hour provides Eucharistic Adoration, and Saturday confessions are scheduled weekly. New parishioners can plug into ministries such as CCD religious education, the Knights of Columbus, Daughters of Mary, Walking with Purpose, the Music Ministry, or the Altar Rosary Society — and can subscribe to Flocknote and access FORMED's Catholic content library free of charge as registered parishioners.
Mass times at St. Thomas by the Sea
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM
- Also available before and after all Masses, and by appointment
Adoration times
- Friday 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM (Holy Hour after the 9:00 AM Mass)
- Holy Hour every First Friday of the month after morning Mass
Parish History
The parish grew out of Good Shepherd Chapel, a mission begun in June 1986 by the late Rev. Anthony Zoghby, pastor of Our Lady of the Gulf in Gulf Shores. Archbishop Oscar Lipscomb authorized renting space in the Gulfview Shopping Center for the chapel. The mission was officially canonically erected as St. Thomas by the Sea Parish on May 9, 1991, with Father Francis V. Cusack as founding pastor. The Parish Center (Cusack Hall) was dedicated October 1, 1994, and the present church was solemnly dedicated December 17, 2000.
- 1986 — Good Shepherd Chapel mission founded
- 1991 — Parish officially established (May 9)
- 1994 — Parish Center/Cusack Hall dedicated
- 1998 — Pastor's residence completed
- 2000 — Solemn Dedication of the church (December 17)
Pastor Succession
St. Thomas by the Sea has been served by seven pastors since its founding in 1991. The current pastor, Fr. Paul Iruthayasamy H.G.N., is the first pastor from the Heralds of Good News congregation to lead the parish.
- Rev. Francis V. Cusack (1991–1998)
- Rev. Patrick Maher (1998–2002)
- Rev. Mark I. Neske (2002–2005)
- Rev. David P. Carucci (2005–2006)
- Rev. Msgr. G. Warren Wall (2006–2007)
- Rev. James E. Dane (2007–2020)
- Rev. Paul Iruthayasamy, H.G.N. (2020–present)
Our Staff and Clergy
The parish is led by its pastor with the assistance of a permanent deacon. Parish Council and Finance Council members are listed on the website, including a chairperson, secretary, at-large members, an Altar Rosary Society representative, and a Winter Visitor representative — reflecting the parish's dual permanent-and-transient character.
- Rev. Paul Iruthayasamy, H.G.N. — Pastor
- Deacon Steve Seymour
- Parish Council (Chair: Tina D'Aversa; Secretary: Andree Drouilhet; Winter Visitor rep: Ellen Passage)
- Finance Council (referenced on site)
Adult Faith Formation
Adult Faith Formation at St. Thomas by the Sea offers a range of programs for spiritual growth and community. All registered parishioners also receive free access to FORMED, the Augustine Institute's online Catholic platform with thousands of studies, movies, e-books, and Spanish-language content.
- Daughters of Mary — Wednesdays 9:45 AM in the Parish Library
- Walking with Purpose
- Small Christian Communities
- Men of St. Joseph — Wednesdays 7:00 AM – 8:00 AM
- FORMED subscription (free for parishioners)
Religious Education (CCD) and Sacraments
The parish's CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) program provides religious education for children and sacramental preparation. Confirmation preparation for teens is offered through CCD; adult Confirmation is handled individually. The parish website walks through each of the seven sacraments: Baptism, Reconciliation, Eucharist, Confirmation, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, and Holy Orders, and the church office can be contacted at (251) 981-8132 for details.
- Baptism preparation
- First Reconciliation and First Eucharist (CCD)
- Confirmation (CCD for teens; individual for adults)
- Marriage preparation
- Anointing of the Sick
- Holy Orders / Vocations support (Seminarian page on site)
Parish Ministries and Organizations
The parish supports an active network of ministries and lay organizations. The Knights of Columbus Council #13339 is one of the most visible, running a popular Friday Fish Fry in season and meeting on the second Wednesday of each month at 6:00 PM in the church library. Other groups include the Altar Rosary Society, Music Ministry, Respect Life Committee (supporting Mary's Shelter Gulf Coast), and the historic Hispanic Ministry (now directing visitors to St. Margaret of Scotland in Foley).
- Knights of Columbus Council #13339 — Grand Knight Bob Lindley, (251) 978-8147
- Altar Rosary Society
- Music Ministry
- Respect Life Committee / Mary's Shelter Gulf Coast
- Hispanic Ministry (historical)
- Parish Council and Finance Council
- Gift Shop
Outreach and Charity
Outreach flows through the parish's Respect Life Committee (linked to Mary's Shelter Gulf Coast), the Knights of Columbus (community support, support for first responders, aid to veterans and active military families), and the parish's stated mission to 'respond to the cry of those in need not only in our community, but in our world.' The parish mission statement emphasizes hospitality to both winter parishioners and summer visitors.
- Mary's Shelter Gulf Coast
- Knights of Columbus charitable works
- Hospitality to winter visitors and summer tourists
Music and Liturgy
The Music Ministry supports the sung liturgy at weekend and daily Masses. Parishioners serve as lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, and choir members (the parish council bio for Francie Towey notes she is 'a member of the St. Thomas choir'). The marble altar and organ in the church were donated by Our Lady of the Gulf parish when St. Thomas was being built.
- St. Thomas choir
- Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers
- Organ (gift from Our Lady of the Gulf)
Mission Statement
From the parish website: 'St. Thomas by the Sea is the center of the diversified community of Catholics practicing their religious beliefs in the City of Orange Beach, Alabama. We are a community of a small core of permanent residents augmented by a very large transient population which is an integral part in maintaining our parish. St. Thomas by the Sea exists for the mission of Christ. Through our Baptism we share in the mission, which is to live and witness to the values of the Gospel. We resolve to witness to the Gospel message by providing an adequate place of worship, by living and celebrating the Word of God through our Eucharistic liturgy, prayer, study and reflection of the Scriptures, to create and sustain a community of hospitality and friendship in order to reflect God's love in a warm and inviting atmosphere to our winter parishioners and summer visitors, to create an environment of human concern to hear and respond to the cry of those in need not only in our community, but in our world.'
Facilities, Church Art, and Decorative Elements
The church and Parish Center sit on roughly 4.5 acres along Perdido Beach Blvd. The Decorative Elements of Church page on the parish site highlights the artwork and sacred furnishings, while the Gift Shop is staffed by parish volunteers. Cusack Hall (the Parish Center) houses offices, classrooms, and the Parish Library where Daughters of Mary and the Knights of Columbus meet.
- Cusack Hall (Parish Center) — offices, classrooms, library
- Church nave (seats ~800) and side chapel (seats ~100)
- Cry room, two sacristies, reconciliation room, enclosed narthex
- Statue of St. Thomas and Christ (narthex focal point)
- Gift Shop
Get Involved and Stay Connected
Newcomers and visitors are invited to register as parishioners, subscribe to the parish Flocknote for email and text updates, watch the Sunday Mass livestream, give online, and pick up the weekly bulletin from the parish website. Photos of parish life are also posted online.
- Parish Registration form
- Flocknote (email/text updates)
- Online Giving
- Sunday Mass livestream
- Weekly Bulletin (downloadable)
- Photos of Parish Life
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Francis V. Cusack1991–1998
Founding pastor of St. Thomas by the Sea; oversaw the establishment of the parish in 1991 and the dedication of the Parish Center (Cusack Hall) in 1994.
- Rev. Patrick Maher1998–2002
- Rev. Mark I. Neske2002–2005
- Rev. David P. Carucci2005–2006
- Rev. Msgr. G. Warren Wall2006–2007
- Rev. James E. Dane2007–2020
Longest-tenured pastor after the founder; oversaw many years of growth.
- Rev. Paul Iruthayasamy, H.G.N.2020–present
Arrived June 2020; current pastor.