About St. Thomas More · Paducah, Kentucky
St. Thomas More Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish located at 5645 Blandville Road in Paducah, Kentucky, belonging to the Diocese of Owensboro. Established in 1943 as a second parish carved out of the overcrowded mother church of St. Francis de Sales, it has served the western Kentucky Catholic community for more than 80 years. The parish campus includes a permanent church (dedicated 1996), the Works of Mercy Chapel (blessed 2012 with Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration), a parish hall, school facilities historically staffed by the Ursuline Sisters, and Mt. Carmel Cemetery. It offers Mass in English and Spanish, a robust Hispanic ministry, an OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) program, youth and family ministries, and a wide network of lay service groups.
- Established
- 1943
- Patron
- St. Thomas More
- Rector
- Rev. J. Michael (Mike) Clark
- Diocese
- Diocese of Owensboro
Why belong here
St. Thomas More is one of the largest and most active Catholic parishes in the Jackson Purchase region of western Kentucky, with a 1:00 p.m. Sunday Mass celebrated in Spanish alongside three English Masses, a robust Hispanic Ministry led by Hna. Ofelia Quiroz-Martinez, and parish staff dedicated to OCIA, youth, and family life. Worshippers have access to Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in the Works of Mercy Chapel (begun in 2012 and continuous since), two weekly confession slots, and a full week of daily Masses including a midday Mass at Lourdes Mercy Health Hospital. A deep bench of lay ministries — Bereavement, Funeral Meals, Elizabeth Meals, Transportation, Parish Nurse, Maintenance, Grounds, Altar Society, Office Volunteers, and Mt. Carmel Cemetery — gives parishioners many concrete ways to serve one another and the wider Paducah community.
Mass times at St. Thomas More
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00–4:40 PM (in the church)
- Thursday 5:30–6:00 PM (Works of Mercy Chapel)
Adoration times
- Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in the Works of Mercy Chapel (24 hours a day, since June 23, 2012)
About St. Thomas More Parish
St. Thomas More is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Owensboro serving Paducah and the surrounding Jackson Purchase region of western Kentucky. It was founded in 1943 by Bishop Francis R. Cotton to relieve overcrowding at St. Francis de Sales and has grown into one of the area's largest Catholic communities. The parish offers daily and Sunday Masses in English and a Sunday Mass in Spanish, Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, OCIA, youth and family ministries, and a broad network of lay service groups. Its campus includes the church, Works of Mercy Chapel, parish hall, offices, school facilities, and Mt. Carmel Cemetery.
Our History
Founded in 1943 and built out on Blandville Road beginning in 1948, St. Thomas More worshiped for 53 years in a temporary structure originally intended as a school gym. In 1990, under Rev. Jerry Riney, the parish launched a Vision campaign; the resulting permanent church was dedicated in 1996 by Bishop John J. McRaith. The 2000 ReVision phase added a parish hall, offices, meeting rooms and a statue of St. Thomas More by sculptor Steve Shields. Rev. J. Patrick Reynolds then led the EnVision the Future Campaign (2010) that produced the Works of Mercy Chapel, blessed by Bishop William Medley on June 23, 2012, and home to Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration ever since.
- 1943 – Parish established by Bishop Francis R. Cotton; Rev. Charles Rudy Carrico named first pastor.
- 1948 – Buildings completed on Buckner Lane (present Blandville Road); temporary structure used as church for 53 years.
- 1990 – Parish Vision campaign launched for a new church under Rev. Jerry Riney.
- 1996 – Permanent church dedicated by Bishop John J. McRaith; 100-year-old bell from St. Paul Lutheran Church (Indianapolis) installed.
- 2000 – ReVision phase completed: Parish Hall, offices, meeting rooms, Steve Shields statue of St. Thomas More.
- 2010 – EnVision the Future Campaign launched by Rev. J. Patrick Reynolds.
- 2011 – Rev. Reynolds sworn in as Vicar General of the Diocese of Owensboro; Eucharistic/Daily chapel construction begins.
- 2012 – Works of Mercy Chapel blessed June 23 by Bishop William Medley; Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration begins.
Parish Staff
- Rev. Mike Clark — Pastor
- Rev. Basilio Az Cuc — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Jerry Stoverink
- Tim Bray — Business Manager
- Vicki Kight — Bookkeeper
- Jill Langston — Administrative Assistant
- Ann Morrow — Director of Family Life & Youth Ministries
- Steve Shoulta — Director of OCIA
- Hna. Ofelia Quiroz-Martinez — Hispanic Ministry
- Derrick Anderson — Parish Pianist/Organist
- Holly Shockley — Bulletin Editor
- Roy Murray — Maintenance Supervisor
- Miguelina Young — Custodian
Parish Life & Ministries
St. Thomas More sustains a wide range of lay-led ministries. The Bereavement and Funeral Meals ministries walk with families through loss, while the Elizabeth Meals Ministry delivers short-term meals to parishioners recovering from illness or surgery. The Transportation Committee drives parishioners to the 9:00 AM Sunday Mass using the parish van or personal vehicles. A Parish Nurse Program integrates faith and healthcare with monthly blood pressure screenings and homebound visits. The Maintenance Ministry, Grounds Committee, Office Volunteers, Altar Society, and Over 50's Group round out a parish culture that prizes hands-on service.
- Bereavement Ministry
- Funeral Meals Ministry
- Elizabeth Meals Ministry
- Transportation Committee
- Parish Nurse Program
- Maintenance Ministry
- Grounds Committee / Garden of Angels
- Office Volunteers
- Altar Society
- Over 50's Group (potluck dinners first Tuesday every other month)
Faith Formation & OCIA
The parish's Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) is directed by Steve Shoulta and welcomes adults preparing for Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist, as well as Catholics wishing to complete their initiation. Family Life and Youth Ministries are led by Director Ann Morrow.
Hispanic Ministry & Spanish-Language Mass
St. Thomas More is a hub for Spanish-speaking Catholics in the Jackson Purchase region. A weekly Sunday Mass is celebrated in Spanish at 1:00 PM, and Hispanic Ministry is coordinated by Hna. Ofelia Quiroz-Martinez.
Mt. Carmel Cemetery
Mt. Carmel Cemetery is part of the parish campus and includes the 'Garden of Angels.' Adult and youth volunteers help maintain the grounds — trimming, planting, removing seasonal tributes, and participating in scheduled cleanup days.
Pastoral Council & Stewardship
The Pastoral Council is composed of parishioners who meet monthly to make recommendations to the pastor; members serve three-year terms with approximately one-third replaced each cycle, with nominations in April and discernment in May. Stewardship sign-up forms (paper or online) are returned to Jill Langston in the Parish Office or emailed to [email protected].
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Charles Rudy Carrico1943–
Founding pastor named by Bishop Francis R. Cotton; planned the school, convent, and temporary church.
- Rev. Aloysius Powers1976–1982
- Rev. Lucian Hayden1982–1989
- Rev. William Jerry Riney1989–1997
Led the Parish Vision campaign for a new church; hired consultant Rev. Richard Vosko and architect Jim Williamson.
- Rev. Henry Wieder1997–2003
- Rev. J. Patrick Reynolds, JCL2003–2015
Led the EnVision the Future Campaign (2010); in 2011 was sworn in as Vicar General of the Diocese of Owensboro; oversaw construction and 2012 blessing of the Works of Mercy Chapel.
- Rev. Brad Whistle2015–2024
- Rev. J. Michael Clark2024–present
Current pastor.