About St. Thomas the Apostle · Homosassa, Florida
St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish serving Homosassa and the surrounding Citrus County communities along Florida's Suncoast. Founded in the mid-1980s as a mission of St. Benedict's Catholic Church in Crystal River, it was canonically established as a parish on May 3, 1987 and today belongs to the Diocese of St. Petersburg. The parish is led by Rev. J. Glenn Diaz and offers daily and weekend Masses, Eucharistic Adoration, a robust parish school of adult faith formation, the Knights of Columbus St. Thomas Council #15154, a Women's Guild, and a St. Vincent de Paul conference serving local neighbors in need.
- Established
- 1987
- Patron
- St. Thomas the Apostle
- Rector
- Rev. Jose Glenn Diaz
- Diocese
- Diocese of St. Petersburg
Why belong here
St. Thomas the Apostle offers a complete rhythm of Catholic life: weekday and Sunday Masses, weekly Eucharistic Adoration with Benediction, Saturday confession, and a monthly First Saturday Rosary in a hand-built outdoor Meditation Garden with a 160-foot Via Dolorosa. Parishioners grow in faith through a parish-based Adult Faith Formation series (recent talks have covered '21st Century Saints' and 'Mary: Our Mother, Our Lady, Our Queen') and serve the wider community through the Knights of Columbus Council #15154, the Women's Guild, a St. Vincent de Paul food pantry, a Respect Life Ministry, and a Youth Group. A welcoming, family-oriented Suncoast parish with deep liturgical and devotional life.
Mass times at St. Thomas the Apostle
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:15 – 4:00 p.m.
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- Thursday 8:30 – 9:30 a.m. (Adoration with Benediction)
- First Friday of each month 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (with Benediction)
Parish History
St. Thomas the Apostle began as a 'Mission-to-Be' of St. Benedict's Catholic Church in Crystal River under the Benedictines of St. Leo Abbey. Land was acquired in March 1972; the mission was formally established in 1984; the first Mass was celebrated Christmas Day 1985; Bishop W. Thomas Larkin dedicated the building on January 16, 1986; and canonical parish status was granted on May 3, 1987 with Rev. Martin Obert as first resident pastor. The parish has continued to grow physically (Meditation Garden 2013, electronic bells 2014, projectors 2019) and spiritually through its ministries.
- 1972 – 12-acre parcel acquired
- 1982 – Named 'Mission-to-Be' by the Benedictines
- March 17, 1985 – Groundbreaking led by Rev. James Hoge, O.S.B.
- Christmas Day 1985 – First Mass celebrated
- January 16, 1986 – Building dedicated by Bishop W. Thomas Larkin
- May 3, 1987 – Established as a parish; Rev. Martin Obert named first resident pastor
- August 15, 2013 – Rosary Meditation Garden dedicated by Rev. Ron Marecki
- May 11, 2014 – Electronic bells dedicated on Mother's Day
- December 16, 2018 – First visit of Bishop Gregory L. Parkes; two Arizona cypress trees planted
- April 2020 – Kitchen renovated into veneration room, confessional, and SVdP food pantry
- Present – 'Bayanihan' $4.8 million parish-hall capital campaign underway
Clergy and Pastoral Staff
The parish is currently served by Rev. Jose Glenn ('J. Glenn') Diaz as Pastor. He has been assigned since July 1, 2018, when he became Parish Administrator following the retirement of Rev. Ronald Marecki. Deacon Mark Manko is assigned to the parish, and Rev. Joy Colina resides at the parish on special assignment from the Diocese of St. Petersburg.
- Rev. Jose Glenn Diaz — Pastor (2018–present)
- Deacon Mark Manko — Assigned
- Rev. Joy Colina — Residing priest (diocesan special assignment)
Faith Formation and RCIA
St. Thomas the Apostle runs an Adult Faith Formation series for ongoing growth in the Catholic faith. Recent presentations in St. Martin's Hall have covered topics such as '21st Century Saints' and 'Mary: Our Mother, Our Lady, Our Queen,' and are open to all parishioners. The parish also supports RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) for those preparing to enter the Catholic Church.
- Adult Faith Formation monthly presentations in St. Martin's Hall
- RCIA — Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
- Lent and Advent formation opportunities
Parish Ministries and Groups
St. Thomas offers a wide range of lay ministries for parishioners of all ages. The Knights of Columbus St. Thomas Council #15154 is a major force on campus, sponsoring the electronic bells, the Meditation Garden, fundraisers, and free community movie screenings. The Women's Guild runs the Annual Flea Market, Soup and Dessert fundraisers, and the St. Joseph Table. A St. Vincent de Paul conference operates an on-site food pantry for those in need.
- Knights of Columbus St. Thomas Council #15154
- Women's Guild (Annual Flea Market, Soup and Dessert to Go, St. Joseph Table)
- St. Vincent de Paul Society — St. Thomas Conference (food pantry)
- Respect Life Ministry
- Youth Group and Youth Outreach Group (e.g., Children's Snack Collection, Advent Fundraiser)
- Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers of Holy Communion
- RCIA team
- Adult Faith Formation team
- New Parishioner Welcome
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all the standard Catholic sacraments. Schedules and registration information are available from the parish office.
- Eucharist (daily and weekend Masses)
- Reconciliation / Confession
- Baptism — contact parish office
- Matrimony / Marriage — contact parish office
- Anointing of the Sick
- RCIA for adult initiation
Rosary Meditation Garden and Campus
The Rosary Meditation Garden, dedicated by Rev. Ron Marecki on the Feast of the Assumption (August 15, 2013), is a defining feature of the St. Thomas campus. Its 325-foot concrete walkway traces the shape of a rosary with embedded icons representing the 'Hail Mary' and 'Our Father.' A 160-foot 'Via Dolorosa' walkway leads to the Stations of the Cross, and the centerpiece is a life-sized statue of Jesus praying in the garden, sculpted by local artist and Knight Guy Zins. The Knights of Columbus also installed electronic bells on Mother's Day 2014 whose music reflects the liturgical season.
- 325-foot rosary-shaped walkway
- 160-foot Via Dolorosa with the Stations of the Cross
- Life-sized statue of Jesus praying in the garden (by Guy Zins)
- Electronic liturgical bells (installed 2014)
- Two Arizona cypress trees planted for Bishop Parkes' first visit (2018)
Building the Future: Bayanihan Parish Hall
St. Thomas is one of six Catholic parishes in Citrus County and, until recently, the only one without a dedicated parish hall. To remedy that, pastor Rev. J. Glenn Diaz launched a $4.8 million capital campaign named 'Bayanihan' — a Filipino word for communal effort — that captures the spirit of building together. The new parish hall will include a commercial kitchen and provide space to expand the parish's vibrant ministries, community outreach efforts, and the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry.
- $4.8 million 'Bayanihan' capital campaign
- Will include a commercial kitchen
- Designed to host ministries, parish gatherings, and SVdP outreach
- Named for a Filipino tradition of community working together
Visit, Contact, and Office Hours
St. Thomas the Apostle welcomes visitors and new parishioners at 7040 S. Suncoast Blvd., Homosassa, FL 34446. The rear door of the church is open for personal prayer time Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. when traveling outside the Diocese of St. Petersburg, the parish recommends catholicmasstime.org to locate a nearby Catholic church.
- Address: 7040 S. Suncoast Blvd., Homosassa, FL 34446
- Phone: (352) 628-7000
- Fax: (352) 628-4723
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.MyStThomas.org
- Facebook: facebook.com/MyStThomas.org
- Office hours: Monday–Thursday, 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. (rear church door open for prayer)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. James Hoge, O.S.B.1985–1987
Founding Pastor; pastor of St. Benedict Parish who spearheaded the mission. Celebrated the first Mass on Christmas Day 1985 and oversaw construction of the original multi-purpose building.
- Rev. Martin Obert1987–1996
First Resident Pastor; assigned by canonical decree when the mission became a parish on May 3, 1987.
- Rev. David Banks1996–2007
Pastor.
- Rev. Ronald (Ron) Marecki2007–2018
Pastor; granted retirement status on July 1, 2018 and named Pastor Emeritus. Dedicated the Meditation Garden (2013) and the electronic bells (2014).
- Rev. J. Glenn Diaz2018–present
Assigned as Parish Administrator on July 1, 2018; current Pastor. Born and raised in the Philippines.