St. Thomas the Apostle

About St. Thomas the Apostle

St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church is a bilingual (English/Spanish) parish of the Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama, serving more than 1,800 registered parishioners across Shelby, Bibb, and Chilton Counties. The parish campus sits on more than 20 acres at 80 Saint Thomas Way, Montevallo, AL 35115, near the Alabaster City Limits, and also operates a Student Center for its Catholic Campus Ministry at 1027 Moody St. The parish mission statement reads: 'We, the parish family of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, proclaim our belief in the message and mission of Jesus Christ. We are committed to sharing our time, talent, and treasure through worship, spiritual formation, and outreach.'

Parish History

Catholic life in Montevallo began around 1868, when about ten faithful gathered in a living room for Mass with a priest of the North Alabama Mission Band. The first Catholic church in Montevallo was built in 1951 and dedicated by Bishop Thomas J. Toolen on May 11, 1952. It served as a mission church until October 1956, when it was raised to parish status with Reverend Thomas J. Blythe as the first resident pastor. The parish grew rapidly and, under Father Philip N. O'Kennedy, relocated in 1991 to its present Saint Thomas Way campus; the 1991 worship building (seating about 300) was repurposed as the parish hall when a larger worship space (seating over 500) and a new education building were dedicated by Bishop Foley on April 20, 2005, fulfilling expansion plans unveiled at the 50th Anniversary Celebration in 2002.

• 1868 — Living-room Mass with North Alabama Mission Band priest
• 1869 — Montevallo listed as a mission of the Church of the Assumption, Selma
• 1951 — Construction of the original church on Highland and Moody Streets
• May 11, 1952 — Bishop Thomas J. Toolen dedicates the church
• October 1956 — Raised to parish status; Rev. Thomas J. Blyte first resident pastor
• 1991 — Relocation to 80 Saint Thomas Way; First Mass August 17, 1991; dedication October 13, 1991
• May 12, 2002 — 50th Anniversary Celebration; expansion plans unveiled
• April 20, 2005 — Bishop Foley dedicates new worship facility and education building
• February 2025 — New parish elementary school announced

Parish Staff & Clergy

The parish is led by Pastor Father Bradley Jantz, a bilingual priest, with Father John Gardiner serving as Associate Pastor and Sister Amanda Magdalena as Pastoral Associate. Deacon David Hicks serves as deacon; he and his wife Ann Hicks are diocesan tribunal-certified advocates for the marriage annulment process. Lay staff includes Eric Smith (Communications, bilingual), Laila Garcia (Hispanic Coordinator, bilingual), Clarissa Alberto (Student Center), and Valerie Sanner (Financial Secretary). Sacramental emergencies have separate English and Spanish contact lines listed on the parish website.

• Rev. Bradley Jantz — Pastor (Bilingual/Bilingüe)
• Rev. John Gardiner — Associate Pastor (Bilingual/Bilingüe)
• Deacon David Hicks — Deacon (English)
• Sister Amanda Magdalena — Pastoral Associate (Bilingual/Bilingüe)
• Eric Smith — Communications (Bilingual/Bilingüe)
• Laila Garcia — Hispanic Coordinator (Bilingual/Bilingüe)
• Clarissa Alberto — Student Center
• Valerie Sanner — Financial Secretary

Faith Formation & Sacraments

The parish runs a thriving Faith Formation program for students in grades 1 through 10, with general religious education and specific preparation for First Communion, Confirmation, and Reconciliation. Adults and those new to the Catholic Church are welcomed through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA, formerly RCIA), which meets Tuesday evenings at 6:30 PM; OCIA is open to the unbaptized, Christians baptized in another tradition, and Catholic adults who have not yet been confirmed. The parish also welcomes inquiries about any of the seven sacraments — Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Matrimony, and Holy Orders — and offers annulment advocacy through Deacon David and Ann Hicks.

• Faith Formation: grades 1–10
• First Communion preparation
• Confirmation preparation
• Reconciliation preparation for children
• OCIA (RCIA) — Tuesday evenings 6:30 PM
• Annulment advocacy (diocesan tribunal certified)

Youth, Young Adult & College Ministries

A weekly Youth Ministry for high school students meets Wednesdays at 7:00 PM. The Young Adult Ministry gathers Thursdays at 7:00 PM and is open to all adults ages 18–30 regardless of university affiliation. The Catholic Campus Ministry (CCM) serves students at the University of Montevallo with Wednesday 5:30 PM Mass at the Student Center (1027 Moody St) during the regular university session, followed by a meal, plus Adoration on the 1st and 3rd weekends of each month.

• Youth Ministry — Wednesdays 7:00 PM (contact Cristina Angeles)
• Young Adult Ministry — Thursdays 7:00 PM, ages 18–30 (contact Rosa Jiménez)
• Catholic Campus Ministry — University of Montevallo, Wed. 5:30 PM Mass at Student Center
• CCM Adoration — 1st & 3rd weekends, Fri noon–Sat noon

Parish Groups & Organizations

Lay-led groups give parishioners many ways to grow in faith and serve together, including a Knights of Columbus council, a Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference, Men of St. Joseph, Daughters of Mary (Women Renewing Faith and Family), and a Primetimers senior fellowship (monthly 2nd Tuesday 11:00 AM Mass and luncheon, open to those 50+).

• Knights of Columbus
• Society of St. Vincent de Paul
• Men of St. Joseph
• Daughters of Mary
• Primetimers — 2nd Tuesday 11:00 AM Mass & luncheon
• Liturgical ministries: Eucharistic Minister, Sacristan, Usher, Lector, Altar Server

New Elementary School (2025)

In February 2025 the parish announced it is opening a new elementary school, citing the need for additional capacity and the desire to serve both English- and Spanish-speaking families. The opening reflects continued growth in the parish and the vision first articulated at the 2002 50th Anniversary Celebration.

Giving & Capital Campaign

The parish is conducting a Capital Campaign — 'Vision for Our Parish' — to fund continued growth on the Saint Thomas Way campus. The parish's published timeline traces the faith community from the 1868 living-room gathering through the 1952 dedication, the 1991 move, and the 2005 expansion under Fr. Ray Remke that added the larger worship space and education building.

Contact, Office Hours & Emergencies

Parish Office: 80 Saint Thomas Way, Montevallo, AL 35115 — phone 205-663-3936 (email [email protected]). Office hours are Monday-Thursday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM and Friday 8:00 AM-12:00 PM; the office is closed on federal holidays. Catholic Campus Ministry / Student Center: 1027 Moody St, Montevallo, AL 35115 — 205-665-7379, [email protected]. For a pastoral or sacramental emergency, the parish publishes separate English and Spanish numbers on its Contact page.