About St. Thomas More · Sarasota, Florida
St. Thomas More is a Roman Catholic parish in the Gulf Gate neighborhood of Sarasota, Florida, belonging to the Diocese of Venice. Founded in 1979 as a mission of nearby Incarnation Parish, it has grown from a handful of families meeting in a school cafeteria into one of the largest parishes on Florida's Gulf Coast, now serving more than 5,000 members on a 20-acre campus. The parish is known for its contemporary-styled church (expanded in 2013 to seat 1,850), a renowned Italian-made Ruffatti organ, the Twelve Baskets Food Pantry that feeds hundreds of local families each week, and a busy life of ministries from the Knights of Columbus and Quilters to a thriving high-school youth program and OCIA for adults.
- Established
- 1979
- Patron
- St. Thomas More
- Rector
- Rev. Nicholas "Nick" Thompson (Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Venice (Northern Deanery)
Why belong here
St. Thomas More offers a large, active Catholic community in the heart of Sarasota's Gulf Gate neighborhood, with three Sunday Masses, daily Mass Monday through Saturday, a live-streamed 10:00 am Sunday Mass, and a full confession and Eucharistic Adoration schedule. Members can get involved in well-established ministries such as Knights of Columbus Council 7826, the Quilters of STM, Boy Scouts, the high-school Youth Ministry, OCIA, and Faith Formation for children. Outreach like the Twelve Baskets Food Pantry, which serves more than 100 families every Wednesday, and a beautiful 20-acre campus with a Ruffatti organ, a 400-seat parish hall, and Mary's Memorial Garden give newcomers many ways to belong, serve, and grow in faith.
Mass times at St. Thomas More
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 8:30 am
- Tuesday 6:00 pm
- Thursday 8:30 am
- Saturday 8:30 am
- Saturday 3:00 pm
Adoration times
- Tuesday 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
- Wednesday 8:30 am – 12:00 noon
Parish History
St. Thomas More began in 1979 as a mission of Incarnation Parish, Sarasota, with its first Mass held in the cafeteria of Gulf Gate Elementary. It was erected as an independent parish on January 27, 1981, and its first permanent church — designed in a contemporary style by architect Carl Abbot — was dedicated on October 6, 1984. By 2008 the original 750-seat church could no longer hold the growing community, and a $6 million expansion led by Rev. Don Henry was dedicated in February 2013, doubling capacity to 1,850 seats. Today the parish numbers more than 5,000 members and is known throughout the diocese for its worship, music, and outreach.
- 1979 — Established as a mission of Incarnation Parish (Sept 16)
- 1979 — First Mass at Gulf Gate Elementary cafeteria (Oct 6)
- 1981 — Erected as an independent parish (Jan 27)
- 1984 — First Mass in the new church at sunrise on Easter; formal dedication Oct 6
- 2013 — $6 million expansion dedicated; seating grows from 750 to 1,850
Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently led by Rev. Nicholas "Nick" Thompson as Administrator, with Rev. Daniel Scanlan serving as Parochial Vicar. A team of lay staff and ministry leaders supports the work of the parish office, finance, music, and faith formation.
- Rev. Nicholas Thompson — Administrator
- Rev. Daniel Scanlan — Parochial Vicar
- Kat Cooper — Business/Finance Manager
- Mary Maxwell — Administrative Assistant
- Joan Nock — Administrative Assistant
- Pam Lorows — Receptionist
- Alex Dilan — Music Director
- John & Lucy Koitsch — Sacristans
- Barbara Siano — Youth Ministry / Confirmation Preparation
The 20-Acre Campus
The parish sits on a 20-acre campus composed of three connected buildings: the Church, the Spirit Center, and the Chelsea Center. Mary's Garden lies just outside the sanctuary, and Mary's Memorial Garden and the Gethsemane Prayer Garden provide spaces for prayer and the interment of cremated remains of loved ones.
- Church — narthex, nave, sanctuary, sacristy and chapel
- Chelsea Center (17,000 sq ft) — church office, Chancellor Room (6,000 sq ft, seats 400), meeting rooms, food pantry
- Spirit Center (7,500 sq ft) — main meeting room, kitchen, three classrooms; used by Knights of Columbus, Boy Scouts, Quilters, Youth Group
- Mary's Memorial Garden — columbarium for cremated remains
- Gethsemane Prayer Garden — open before/after all Masses and Adoration
Sacraments
Information about each of the seven sacraments is available through the parish website, with Baptism, Confirmation, First Eucharist, Reconciliation, Matrimony, Anointing of the Sick, and Christian Burial all celebrated in the life of the parish.
- Confirmation preparation begins in 9th grade; sacrament usually received in 10th grade
- Reconciliation follows the published weekly schedule
- Marriage preparation and funerals coordinated through the parish office
- Mary's Memorial Garden available for cremated remains of loved ones
Faith Formation & Youth Ministry
Faith Formation for children and OCIA for adults meet in the Chelsea Center meeting rooms, while a robust High School Youth Ministry welcomes all parish teens and their friends.
- Faith Formation for children — Chelsea Center classrooms
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) — for adults seeking Baptism, Confirmation, or full communion
- High School Youth Ministry — game nights, movie nights, beach parties, service projects, mission trips, Rock the Universe, Living Stations of the Cross
- Confirmation Preparation — minimum two years in faith formation, sacrament in 10th grade
- Contact: Barbara Siano, [email protected] or 941-923-1691
Parish Ministries & Groups
St. Thomas More is supported by a wide range of lay-led ministries and groups that meet on the campus, including the Knights of Columbus, the Quilters of STM, Boy Scouts, and parish family gatherings.
- Knights of Columbus Council 7826 — meets 2nd Thursday, 7:00 pm, Spirit Center (Grand Knight Scott Deahna)
- Quilters of STM — Mondays and Thursdays, 10:00 am–3:00 pm, Spirit Center (contact Diane Kestner, 941-927-1605)
- Boy Scouts
- Families of the Vineyard — monthly parish family gatherings with the priest
Outreach: Twelve Baskets Food Pantry
Started in 2017 when the pastor converted an unused storage room at the back of the Chelsea Center, the Twelve Baskets Food Pantry has grown into one of the parish's signature ministries, serving more than 100 families every Wednesday afternoon.
- Open every Wednesday, 3:00–6:00 pm
- Set up as a 'shopping' experience: guests receive a cart and choose their items
- Serves seniors, veterans, working families, and families with children
- Accepts donations at the parish office and via an Instacart delivery option
- Coordinator Ellie Gibeau has volunteered since the pantry's founding
Music & Liturgy
Music is a major part of parish life under Music Director Alex Dilan, with the centerpiece being the Italian-made Ruffatti pipe organ installed as part of the 2013 expansion. A hearing-loop system supports parishioners with T-coil hearing aids. The 10:00 am Sunday Mass is live-streamed online.
- Music Director: Alex Dilan
- Italian-made Ruffatti organ (installed 2013)
- Hearing-loop system for T-coil hearing aids
- Live-streamed 10:00 am Sunday Mass
Joining the Parish
Parishioners and newcomers are invited to register with the parish office, join the weekly email list, and participate in ministries. Families new to the area are particularly encouraged to attend Families of the Vineyard evenings for fellowship and faith conversation with the parish priest.
- Registration Form available on the parish website
- Weekly parish email sign-up via the parish office
- Families of the Vineyard — evenings for parents and children to meet the priest and other families
Contact & Visit
The parish office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm (closed 12:00–1:00 pm) and is located in the Chelsea Center on the parish campus at 2506 Gulf Gate Drive, Sarasota, FL 34231.
- Address: 2506 Gulf Gate Drive, Sarasota, FL 34231
- Phone: (941) 923-1691
- Fax: (941) 923-1692
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 am–4:00 pm (closed 12:00–1:00 pm)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Don Henryby 2008–at least 2013
Encouraged and shepherded the major church expansion campaign that raised $6 million and was dedicated in February 2013.