About St. Timothy · Lutz, Florida
St. Timothy Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Lutz, Florida, in the Diocese of Saint Petersburg, serving over 1,700 families in the North Tampa / Hillsborough County area. Founded in 1985 as a mission of Saint Paul Parish and established as an independent parish in 1986, it moved to its current 28-acre campus at 17512 Lakeshore Road in 2002. Today it is a stewardship parish with more than 40 active ministries, a parish preschool, robust faith formation programs, daily and weekend Masses (livestreamed Sundays at 9 am), Eucharistic Adoration, and a sizable main sanctuary seating 1,341 people under a 53-foot dome.
- Established
- 1985
- Patron
- Saint Timothy (companion of Saint Paul)
- Rector
- Rev. Anthony J. Ustick
- Diocese
- Diocese of Saint Petersburg (DOSP)
Why belong here
St. Timothy is a warm, stewardship parish of more than 1,700 families sustained by the time, talent, and treasure of its members, with over 40 active ministries spanning liturgy, faith formation, youth, music, outreach, and hospitality. The 28-acre Lakeshore Road campus offers a 1,341-seat sanctuary, daily Mass (Mon–Sat at 9 am plus Wed at 6 pm), multiple Sunday Masses (livestreamed Sundays at 9 am), robust Eucharistic Adoration, year-round Reconciliation, a parish Preschool, a Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Montessori atrium for 4–6 year olds, K–12 faith formation, OCIA for adults and children, youth and young adult ministry, and well-developed liturgical ministries (Music, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Readers, Sacristans, Altar Servers, Ushers, Ambassadors, and a Safety Team). It is a place where families can grow in faith from infancy through adulthood on a single campus.
Mass times at St. Timothy
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday: 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
- Saturday: 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
- Saturday: 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Adoration times
- Monday and Tuesday: 9:30 AM – 5:45 PM (Holy Family Chapel)
- Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 5:45 PM (immediately following 9 AM Morning Mass, Holy Family Chapel)
- Weekdays (Mon–Fri): 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM (Parish Center)
History of St. Timothy Parish
St. Timothy traces its roots to the early 1980s growth of Saint Paul Catholic Church in Carrollwood. Beginning September 11, 1983, priests from Saint Paul celebrated Mass at schools in the Northdale area before settling at Gaither High School in September 1984. On January 6, 1985, Bishop Larkin appointed Father Dennis Hughes to begin the new mission, which he officially named 'Saint Timothy' on March 21, 1985. The mission became an independent parish on January 26, 1986, broke ground on Ragg Road on February 9, 1986, celebrated its first Mass in the new building on Holy Thursday 1987, and dedicated that first church on May 24, 1987. As the parish outgrew Ragg Road, ground was broken on the current 28-acre site on September 8, 2001, and the new church and parish center were dedicated December 7, 2002.
- Sept 11, 1983 — first Masses celebrated by Saint Paul priests in the northern area
- Jan 6, 1985 — Father Dennis Hughes appointed by Bishop Larkin
- March 21, 1985 — mission officially named Saint Timothy
- Jan 26, 1986 — Saint Timothy becomes an independent parish
- Feb 9, 1986 — groundbreaking at 4015 Ragg Road
- April 16, 1987 — first Mass in the new Ragg Road church (Holy Thursday)
- May 24, 1987 — Ragg Road church dedicated
- Sept 8, 2001 — groundbreaking at 17512 Lakeshore Road
- Dec 7, 2002 — current church and parish center dedicated
Pastoral Leadership
St. Timothy has been shaped by a small succession of pastors. Father Dennis Hughes served as founding pastor from 1985 until his reassignment in 1995, Father John Tapp succeeded him until 2000, and after interim administrators, Father Anthony J. Ustick — who had been serving as Parochial Administrator — was installed as pastor by Bishop Gregory Parkes on September 15, 2024, the same day a 'Pastors Wall' was dedicated in tribute to the parish's legacy of pastoral leadership.
- Rev. Dennis Hughes — founding pastor, 1985–1995
- Rev. John Tapp — second pastor, 1995–2000
- Rev. Anthony J. Ustick — current pastor (installed Sept 15, 2024)
Clergy & Staff
The pastoral team is led by Father Anthony J. Ustick (Pastor) and Father Connor Penn (Parochial Vicar), with Father Tamil S. Jeyaraj retired and in residence, and Pastoral Year Seminarian Caleb Malec. Four deacons serve the parish: Deacon Ed LaRose, Deacon Marc Garofani, Deacon Glenn Smith, and retired Deacon Jerry Crall. The lay staff includes a Parish Life Director (Eddie Mendez), Director of Faith Formation (Joseph Nieves-Serrano), Parish Business Manager (Lisa Prieto), Finance Manager (Shelley Rivera), Director of Preschool (Mary McGuire), Youth & Young Adult Minister (Justin Lantz), Music Ministry lead (Stephanie Escher), Coordinator of Communications and Evangelization (Katie Batteese), and other specialists in maintenance, AV/facilities, sacramental records, and ministry resources.
- Pastor: Rev. Anthony J. Ustick
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Connor Penn
- Retired in residence: Rev. Tamil S. Jeyaraj
- Seminarian: Caleb Malec
- Deacons: Ed LaRose, Marc Garofani, Glenn Smith, Jerry Crall (retired)
- Parish Life Director: Eddie Mendez
- Director of Faith Formation: Joseph Nieves-Serrano
- Parish Business Manager: Lisa Prieto
- Director of Preschool: Mary McGuire
- Youth & Young Adult Minister: Justin Lantz
Faith Formation for Children & Youth
The Lifelong Faith Formation office supports parents as the first teachers of the faith and offers year-round programs for every age. The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a Catholic Montessori program for 4- to 6-year-olds with hands-on materials and prayerful reflection. Grades 1–5 meet principally on Sundays at 10:30 AM and Mondays at 4:45 PM, with a Home Study option and Family Catechesis program supported by monthly family gatherings. Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion is a two-year process; older children not yet baptized prepare through OCIA Adapted for Children/Youth. Grades 4–5 follow a lectionary-based curriculum connecting each week's lessons to the upcoming Sunday Gospel.
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (4–6 yrs) — Montessori atrium
- Faith Formation Grades 1–5 — Sun 10:30 AM and Mon 4:45 PM
- Home Study & Family Catechesis
- First Communion (two-year preparation)
- OCIA Adapted for Children/Youth
- Baptism for children/youth age 7 through high school
Youth, Young Adults & Adult Faith
Beyond children's faith formation, St. Timothy runs a Youth Ministry split into middle school (Grades 6–8) and high school (Grades 9–12) tracks under a Parish Youth & Young Adult Minister (Justin Lantz). Becoming Catholic / OCIA walks adults and older youth through the Order of Christian Initiation. Other adult offerings include Adult Bible Study, Fishers of Men (a men's faith group), and a Young Adults community. Faith Formation uses the Augustine Institute 'Word of Life' curriculum for Grades 1 & 3, Ascension Press 'Renewed and Received' for First Holy Communion years, and a lectionary-based curriculum for Grades 4 & 5.
- Youth Ministry Grades 6–8
- Youth Ministry Grades 9–12
- OCIA (Becoming Catholic)
- Adult Bible Study
- Fishers of Men
- Young Adults
Liturgical Ministries
St. Timothy's liturgical life is supported by an extensive team of lay ministers. The Music Ministry includes a parish choir, children's choir, teen band, cantors, and instrumentalists — adult choir practice is held Wednesdays from 7:00 to 9:00 PM with no audition required. Hospitality Ministers serve as Ushers, Ambassadors, and the Safety Team. Other liturgical roles include Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (who may also assist with ashes on Ash Wednesday and Blessing of Throats for St. Blaise), Readers who proclaim Sacred Scripture, Sacristans, and Altar Servers (open to youth beginning fifth grade, with training provided).
- Music Ministry (adult choir Wed 7–9 PM, children's choir, teen band, cantors)
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC)
- Hospitality Ministers — Ushers, Ambassadors, Safety Team
- Readers
- Sacristans
- Altar Servers (5th grade and up)
Parish Preschool & School Partnerships
The Parish Center houses the St. Timothy Early Childhood Learning Center (Preschool), directed by Mary McGuire. The parish ministry directory also references Mother Teresa Catholic School as part of its family of faith formation resources for parish children.
- St. Timothy Early Childhood Learning Center (Preschool)
- Director: Mary McGuire
- Mother Teresa Catholic School (feeder school for parish families)
Media, Outreach & Stewardship
The parish Communications and Evangelization team produces the weekly eNewsletter (sent every Thursday at noon), manages the parish's social channels, and streams the Sunday 9 AM Mass. The 'My Parish App' (iOS/Android) carries daily readings and announcements. Formation content includes the 'School of Prayer' video series with Father Anthony, Father Penn, and Seminarian Caleb Malec, plus an annual Advent Mission. St. Timothy is a stewardship parish funded by the time, talent, and treasure of more than 1,700 families, supported by over 40 active ministries.
- Sunday 9 AM livestream Mass
- My Parish App (iOS/Android)
- Weekly eNewsletter (Thursdays at noon)
- School of Prayer video series (YouTube)
- Annual Advent Mission
- Stewardship parish — 1,700+ families, 40+ ministries
Visit & Contact
St. Timothy Catholic Church is located at 17512 Lakeshore Road, Lutz, FL 33558 (Hillsborough County), in the North Tampa Deanery of the Diocese of Saint Petersburg. The Parish Office is open Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM, closed for lunch from 12:30 to 1:00 PM. The main phone line is (813) 968-1077; the fax is (813) 961-9429. Individual staff extensions and email addresses are listed on the Staff page at sainttims.org.
- Address: 17512 Lakeshore Road, Lutz, FL 33558
- Phone: (813) 968-1077 | Fax: (813) 961-9429
- Office Hours: Mon–Fri 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM (closed 12:30–1:00 PM)
- Website: www.sainttims.org
- Diocese: Saint Petersburg (Deanery: North Tampa)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Dennis Hughes1985–1995
Founding pastor; appointed by Bishop Larkin on Jan 6, 1985; named the mission Saint Timothy on March 21, 1985; led the parish to its Ragg Road dedication in 1987.
- Rev. John Tapp1995–2000
Second pastor; led the parish until he left to pursue other diocesan duties in 2000.
- Rev. Anthony J. Ustick2024–present (installed Sept 15, 2024)
Installed as pastor by Bishop Gregory Parkes on September 15, 2024, having previously served as Parochial Administrator. A 'Pastors Wall' was dedicated at the installation in tribute to the parish's legacy of pastoral leadership.