About St. Thomas the Apostle · Chickasaw, Alabama
St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in the City of Chickasaw in northern Mobile County, Alabama, part of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Mobile. Founded in 1947 by Father David Sullivan and dedicated on Mother's Day, May 14, 1949, it now serves over 200 households across northern Mobile County and operates as 'Two Parishes, One Family' with its sister church, St. Bridget, in neighboring Whistler. The parish is led by Very Reverend Father William P. Saucier (pastor since October 2005), who also pastors St. Bridget, and is known for traditional Catholic liturgy — including a Latin Mass celebrated twice monthly at St. Bridget — daily livestreamed Mass on YouTube, a robust Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference, and lay apostolates such as the Men of St. Joseph, Daughters of Mary, and Knights of Columbus.
- Established
- 1947
- Patron
- St. Thomas the Apostle
- Rector
- Very Reverend Fr. William P. Saucier
- Diocese
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Mobile
Why belong here
St. Thomas the Apostle is a small, traditional parish where you'll quickly be known by name, and its regulars include over 200 households from across northern Mobile County who take the faith — and each other — seriously. The parish offers the richness of the Extraordinary Form twice a month alongside the Ordinary Form, daily Mass (livestreamed on YouTube for the homebound), a Wednesday evening teaching Mass, Eucharistic Holy Hour on Wednesdays, and a working Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference that helps local neighbors with rent, utilities, and monthly food. Whether you're a young family, a retiree, a cradle Catholic, or returning to the faith, there is a place for you here — in the pews, at the altar, in the Knights of Columbus, Men of St. Joseph, Daughters of Mary, or in service to the poor.
Mass times at St. Thomas the Apostle
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 30 minutes before every Mass
- Wednesday evening during Holy Hour, 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- Saturday during Holy Hour, 3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Adoration times
- Wednesday Holy Hour: 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. (followed by 6 p.m. Mass)
- Saturday Holy Hour: 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. (followed by 4 p.m. Vigil Mass)
Who We Are
For nearly seven decades, the parish of St. Thomas the Apostle has stood as a beacon of Catholic tradition across northern Mobile County. Since 1949, the parish has served area families by providing the sacraments and holding fast to traditional Catholic values. The parish now serves over 200 households throughout northern Mobile County, and these households are described by the parish as 'the foundation from which our future will be built.' The parish's stated mission is simple: to hold true to traditional Catholic values, to expand access to quality Catholic education, and to grow into a region-wide Catholic community. The current pastor, Very Reverend Father William P. Saucier, has shepherded the parish since October 2005.
- Founded 1947; church dedicated May 14, 1949
- Over 200 households across northern Mobile County
- Mission: traditional Catholic values, expand Catholic education, grow as a region-wide Catholic community
- Pastor: Very Reverend Fr. William P. Saucier
Our History
St. Thomas the Apostle has its roots in the wartime growth of Chickasaw. With Gulf Shipbuilding Corporation bringing thousands of new workers to the village in the early 1940s, Bishop Toolen saw the need for a second parish to serve northern Mobile County beyond St. Bridget's in Whistler. Father David Sullivan was appointed founding pastor on February 21, 1947, and on Mother's Day 1949 the permanent church on Craft Highway was dedicated. The parish then built and opened its own school on September 6, 1959, staffed by the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa, Wisconsin; that school served the community for 30 years before closing in 1989. Father Sullivan served until October 1958, and a succession of eleven pastors has led the parish since — including the current pastor, Father William Saucier, who in 2011 took on the additional pastorate of St. Bridget in Whistler.
- February 21, 1947 – Father David Sullivan appointed founding pastor
- May 14, 1949 (Mother's Day) – permanent church dedicated on Craft Highway
- September 6, 1959 – parish school opens, staffed by Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa, Wisconsin
- 1989 – parish school closes after 30 years
- 2011 – Father William Saucier assumes pastorship of sister parish St. Bridget in Whistler
- 2021 – Archbishop grants faculties to celebrate Latin Mass twice monthly at St. Bridget
Two Parishes, One Family — St. Bridget (Whistler)
St. Thomas and St. Bridget's in Whistler together form 'Two Parishes, One Family.' St. Bridget's, the older of the two, originally served all the Catholics of northern Mobile County; in the 1940s the Whistler pastor, Father Littleton, also said a 9 a.m. Mass in Chickasaw until St. Thomas the Apostle was established in 1947. In 2011, when Father Leo Blanchett retired as pastor of St. Bridget's, Father William Saucier, then pastor of St. Thomas, was asked to take on St. Bridget's as well. In 2021, the Archbishop granted Father Saucier the faculties to celebrate the Traditional Latin Mass at St. Bridget's twice a month — a major development for traditional-Catholic faithful in the Mobile area.
- St. Bridget's Catholic Church, 3625 West Main Street, Whistler, AL 36612
- St. Bridget Rectory phone: 251-457-6847
- Saturday 9 a.m. Mass (Rectory Chapel)
- Sunday 8 a.m. Mass
- Latin Mass 1st & 3rd Sunday at 2 p.m.
- Confessions 30 minutes before each Mass
Parish Groups & Ministries
Lay apostolates are the lifeblood of St. Thomas the Apostle. The parish hosts the four main Catholic men's and women's groups — Knights of Columbus, Men of St. Joseph, Daughters of Mary, and Society of St. Vincent de Paul — all of which meet regularly and warmly welcome new members. Meetings typically happen in the Sullivan Center on the parish campus.
- Knights of Columbus — meets 1st Thursday of the month at 7:00 p.m.
- Men of St. Joseph — weekly Thursdays at 8:30 a.m. (Sullivan Center); contact Deacon Groves (251) 377-5269
- Daughters of Mary: Women Renewing Faith and Family — weekly Thursdays at 8:30 a.m. (Sullivan Center); contact Monique Bosarge (251) 452-9837
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul — 1st Mondays at 8:45 a.m. after morning Mass; contact (251) 458-4578
Society of St. Vincent de Paul
The St. Thomas the Apostle Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is a lay-led Catholic charity that 'grows spiritually by offering person-to-person service to individuals in need.' All of its funding comes strictly from the generosity of the parish community. The conference distributes food once a month to neighbors in need and assists with rent and utility bills, and also supports other St. Vincent de Paul Conferences in the Mobile area. Those interested in joining or learning more can leave a message at (251) 458-4578.
- Person-to-person service to the needy
- Monthly food distribution
- Rent and utility assistance
- Business meetings 1st Mondays at 8:45 a.m.
- Contact: (251) 458-4578
Men of St. Joseph
The St. Thomas the Apostle Chapter of the Men of St. Joseph is a brotherhood of Catholic men dedicated to becoming the spiritual leaders of their families and 'the best versions of themselves.' They meet Thursday mornings at 8:30 a.m. for one hour in the Sullivan Center, praying for special intentions and welcoming prayer requests from the parish and beyond.
- Weekly meetings: Thursdays at 8:30 a.m.
- Location: Sullivan Center
- Contact: Deacon Groves at (251) 377-5269
- Accepts special prayer intentions from parishioners
Daughters of Mary: Women Renewing Faith and Family
The Daughters of Mary is the women's counterpart to the Men of St. Joseph. The group meets Thursday mornings at 8:30 a.m. in the Sullivan Center for coffee, prayer, and reflection, and is described by the parish as a ministry of 'women renewing faith and family.' It is a welcoming entry point for women new to the parish or returning to parish life.
- Weekly meetings: Thursdays at 8:30 a.m.
- Coffee, prayer, and reflection
- Location: Sullivan Center
- Contact: Monique Bosarge at (251) 452-9837
Knights of Columbus
The parish Council of the Knights of Columbus brings together Catholic men of the parish for fraternal service, faith formation, and works of charity in the wider community. Meetings are held on the first Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m.
- Meetings: 1st Thursday of the month, 7:00 p.m.
Parish School (1959–1989)
From the day the parish was established, parishioners dreamed of a parish school. After years of fundraising and labor, Father Sullivan and volunteers refurbished a Quonset hut to serve as the first classrooms. St. Thomas the Apostle School opened on Tuesday, September 6, 1959, with the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa, Wisconsin, serving as its first teachers. After 30 years of operation, the school closed in 1989 due to declining enrollment. After the school closed, Sister Anne Matisek of the Congregation of St. Agnes came to serve the parish as Pastoral Assistant.
- Opened: September 6, 1959
- Staffed by: Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa, Wisconsin
- Closed: 1989 (after 30 years)
- After closure: Sister Anne Matisek, C.S.A., served as Pastoral Assistant
Sacraments & Sacramental Records
St. Thomas the Apostle celebrates the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church, including daily Mass, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, and pastoral home visitations for the sick and homebound. Parishioners needing sacramental documents (such as baptismal or marriage records) are asked to contact the Parish Office directly at 251-725-1556.
- Baptism
- First Communion & Confirmation (typically via Archdiocesan preparation)
- Marriage (call Parish Office for preparation)
- Anointing of the Sick / Home Visitations
- Sacramental Documents: contact Parish Office 251-725-1556
Contact, Visit & Stay Connected
Visitors and new parishioners are warmly welcomed. New parishioner cards are available in the back of the church, and a digital version can be completed on the parish website. The parish keeps in regular contact through its weekly bulletin (published online), its YouTube channel (which posts a video of each day's Mass), and its Facebook pages.
- Parish Office: 251-725-1556
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: stthomastheapostlecatholicchurch.com
- Weekly bulletins published online
- YouTube: @St. Thomas Chickasaw — daily Mass videos
- Facebook: @St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church & @St. Bridget Catholic Church
- Address: 251 North Craft Highway, Chickasaw, AL 36611
The Legacy Campaign
The parish publicly references an ongoing 'Legacy Campaign' on its homepage — a capital or stewardship effort tied to its mission of growing as a region-wide Catholic community and expanding access to quality Catholic education. Specific campaign details (goal, scope, timeline) are published in the parish bulletin.
- Referenced on parish homepage as 'The Legacy Campaign'
- Full details in weekly bulletin (PDF on parish website)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father David Sullivan1947 – October 1958
Founding pastor; built the permanent church and opened the parish school.
- Father John O'Hara1958 – January 1966
- Father Thomas Lorrigan1966 – April 1968
- Father Francis O'ConnerApril 1968 – September 1968
- Father Cecil GillSeptember 1968 – September 1972
- Father Patrick Maher1972 – June 1978
- Father Kenneth Klepac1978 – January 1980
- Father Andrew Stauter1980 – September 1983
- Father Alex Sherlock1983 – June 1986
- Father Matthew O'Conner1986 – 1993
- Father John Lynes1993 – October 2005
- Father William P. SaucierOctober 2005 – Present
Current pastor; also assumed responsibility for sister parish St. Bridget in Whistler in 2011; received faculties to celebrate the Latin Mass at St. Bridget in 2021.