About St. Thomas the Apostle · Fort Worth, Texas
St. Thomas the Apostle is a bilingual Catholic parish in northwest Fort Worth, Texas, belonging to the Diocese of Fort Worth. The parish was founded in 1937 to serve Czech immigrants on Fort Worth's Northside and is now staffed by Franciscan friars of the Third Order Regular (TOR). After decades at its original Azle Avenue location, the parish relocated in December 2016 to a new 20,285-square-foot mission-style church on a 31-acre campus at 5953 Bowman Roberts Road in the Saginaw–Eagle Mountain area. Today it serves more than 1,200 families with weekend Masses in English and Spanish, weekday Mass, perpetual-style Eucharistic Adoration on Fridays, and a robust Faith Formation and Youth Ministry program.
- Established
- 1937
- Patron
- St. Thomas the Apostle (feast day July 3)
- Rector
- Rev. Benjamin Hembrom, TOR
- Diocese
- Diocese of Fort Worth
Why belong here
St. Thomas the Apostle is a bilingual, Franciscan TOR parish that welcomes more than 1,200 families on a spacious 31-acre campus in northwest Fort Worth. Worshippers can pray at weekday Masses, a Saturday Vigil, three Sunday Masses (including a Spanish Mass), Friday Eucharistic Adoration (extended on First Fridays), and Saturday confessions. The parish invests deeply in the next generation through Faith Formation for all ages and a Wednesday-night Youth Ministry for grades 6–12, supported by a Director of Faith Formation, an Instructor of Faith Formation, and a Knights of Columbus council (#10930). Joining St. Thomas means joining a historic Czech-rooted parish that has grown into a vibrant, multicultural Catholic home in the Saginaw–Eagle Mountain area.
Mass times at St. Thomas the Apostle
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Friday 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
- First Friday (monthly) 8:30 AM – 8:00 PM
Parish History
St. Thomas the Apostle was founded in 1937 to serve the Czech immigrant community on Fort Worth's Northside, with Bishop Joseph Patrick Lynch dedicating the original Azle Avenue church on December 5, 1937. Franciscan TOR priests shepherded the parish through waves of new growth, including the establishment of a Spanish Mass under Father Salvator Stefula, TOR. After decades of overcrowding — 225 worshippers packed into a single room and overflow crowds watching Mass on closed-circuit video in a nearby parish hall — the parish purchased land five miles away in 2010 and broke ground on a new campus.
- Founded 1937 for Czech immigrants on Fort Worth's Northside
- Original Azle Avenue church dedicated Dec. 5, 1937 by Bishop Joseph Patrick Lynch
- Longtime pastor Father Salvator Stefula, TOR (≈20 years) established the Spanish Mass
- Father Anthony Mathew, TOR initiated relocation feasibility studies
- Land purchased in 2010; diocese approved construction in 2014
- Father Mathew Kavipurayidam, TOR oversaw construction
- Bishop Michael F. Olson consecrated the new church Dec. 17, 2016
New Church & Campus (2016)
On December 17, 2016, the parish moved from 2920 Azle Avenue to 5953 Bowman Roberts Road. The 20,285-square-foot mission-style church, designed by CNK Architects and built by M&F Litteken, seats 1,040 in a cruciform sanctuary and sits on a 31-acre site planned to include an education building with 13 classrooms and a future parish hall. The architecture blends traditional sanctuary elements — a vaulted ceiling, clerestory gallery of windows, oak-paneled altar wall, hand-stained oak trim and pews — with modern touches such as dimmable LED pendant fixtures and adjustable altar spotlights.
- 20,285 sq ft mission-style church with bell tower
- Cruciform sanctuary seating 1,040
- Austin flagstone exterior; oak pews, paneling and trim
- Vaulted ceiling with clerestory windows
- 11-ft oak cross with corpus painted by Phil Loveland
- Designed by CNK Architects; built by M&F Litteken
- 31-acre site planned for a 13-classroom education building and parish hall
Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently pastored by Rev. Benjamin Hembrom, TOR, a Franciscan of the Third Order Regular. He is assisted by two deacons, Dcn. Thien Ta and Dcn. Jesus Humberto Serrano (the latter publicly known for his reflection on the parish's patron saint), and by a Faith Formation team led by Gloria DeLaRosa (bilingual) and Shelly Hearne.
- Pastor: Rev. Benjamin Hembrom, TOR
- Deacon: Dcn. Thien Ta
- Deacon: Dcn. Jesus Humberto Serrano
- Faith Formation Coordinator: Gloria DeLaRosa (bilingual English/Spanish)
- Instructor of Faith Formation: Shelly Hearne
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. Thomas offers Sacramental Preparation programs for youth, teens and adults, including First Penance, First Eucharist and Confirmation preparation. Programs are coordinated through the parish office and require the diocesan Safe Environment forms for any minors participating.
- Sacramental prep for youth, teens and adults
- First Penance & First Eucharist programs
- Confirmation 1 & 2 (must also attend Youth Ministry)
- Diocesan Safe Environment Forms A & B required
- Welcome Brochure available for new families
Youth Ministry
Open to all youth in grades 6 through 12, the parish's Youth Ministry meets on Wednesdays from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM. The 2025–2026 year began September 10, 2025. Confirmation 1 and 2 students attend Youth Ministry as part of parish life. Adult and Teen Leader volunteers are welcomed, subject to diocesan Safe Environment training and a meeting with the Director of Faith Formation.
- Grades 6–12; Wednesdays 7:00–8:00 PM
- Registration $10
- Confirmation 1 & 2 attendance required
- Teen Leader track available
- Safe Environment sessions held twice per year (Fall & Spring)
Knights of Columbus Council #10930
Knights of Columbus Council #10930, named the Father Emil Gerlich of Fort Worth Council, is based at St. Thomas the Apostle and meets monthly at the parish. The council supports parish life through service, fundraising and faith-formation outreach, and is featured prominently in the parish calendar alongside other parish-wide events.
- Council #10930 'Father Emil Gerlich of Fort Worth'
- Meets monthly at the parish
- Supports parish fundraisers and building projects
Stewardship & the One Family Campaign
The parish's 'One Family: Growing Together in Faith' campaign (formerly 'Give & Grow') is a multi-year capital effort led by Father Ben. Its twin goals are to eliminate the existing mortgage on the $18 million campus and to fund a much-needed parish hall. Families are invited to prayerfully commit 3–5% of household income over three years.
- Campaign name: One Family: Growing Together in Faith
- Goal: pay off campus mortgage and build a parish hall
- $18 million campus
- Suggested pledge: 3–5% of household income for 3 years
- Online giving and text-to-give options available
- Bilingual brochures and campaign prayer available
Parish Life, Calendar & Outreach
Beyond Mass and formation, St. Thomas sustains an active parish calendar with Knights of Columbus meetings, bilingual parish surveys, garage-sale fundraisers, and 'To-Go Meal' building-fund dinners. FORMED digital content is offered free to parishioners using parish code HWM6P2, and Online Offertory Giving is available through the parish website. The parish also posts legal notices required by Texas Penal Code §§ 30.05–30.07 (no concealed firearms on property, per diocesan policy).
- Online Offertory Giving via sttafw.org
- FORMED digital library (parish code HWM6P2)
- Parish Garage Sale fundraisers
- Building-fund To-Go Meal dinners
- Bilingual parish surveys and announcements
- Volunteer recruitment through 'Come Serve with Us'
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Salvator Stefula, TORapproximately 20 years
Established the parish's Spanish Mass during his long tenure; Franciscan TOR.
- Father Anthony Mathew, TOR
Initiated feasibility studies to relocate the parish.
- Father Mathew Kavipurayidam, TOR
Concelebrated the Dec. 17, 2016 dedication Mass of the new church as pastor; oversaw construction.
- Rev. Benjamin Hembrom, TOR
Current pastor; leads the 'One Family: Growing Together in Faith' campaign.