St. Thomas More Catholic Church history

On April 5, 1890, it was registered as “St Philomena Church, Narragansett Pier” Corporation and one year later it was official as the mission chapel.

On April 4, 1917, St Philomena’s mission chapel was elevated to an independent parish with Rev.

1928 Student center, now the rectory/parish center, was built by Psi Omega, a social fraternity.

In October 1931, the bell was purchased from an old unused Presbyterian Church which was located on the corner of Boon and Rodman Streets.

The bell was rung for first time on Christmas Eve, 1933.

The first Mass for parishioners of the newly organized St Thomas More Parish was offered on December 22, 1934, in the Valle Theater building by Fr.

Richard built the church in 1937 and it was dedicated by Bishop Joseph H. Schlarman on September 26 of that year.

On September 6, 1938, a piece of land off Old Point Judith Road was purchased for St Mary – Star of the Sea.

Clarke installed the stained glass windows in the church starting from January 1939 and he built vestment case and cope closets located on the left side of the sacristy.

Frederick Winchell, O.S.B., who remained until February 13, 1940, when Fr.

September, 1941, Monsignor Rankin dedicates flagpole donated by Joseph Kirchner.

In 1942 the first Church building was ready.

St Thomas More Parish was established in 1943 after the mother church, St Francis de Sales, became overcrowded.

A school was started in 1944, directed and staffed by the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Expansion of the first rectory in 1945.

1947 April, Quonset construction began.

He died from illness in the rectory in 1951.

1952 Monsignor D.J. Conway became pastor.House next to student center purchased to be used as a convent.

Clarke installed the stained glass windows in the church starting from January 1939 and he built vestment case and cope closets located on the left side of the sacristy. As a result, 1954, the old telephone exchange building on the corner of Boon and Rodman Streets was purchased.

The current Rectory was built in 1955.

During his ministry, on September 1, 1959, he established St Philomena Convent.

Barry blessed and inaugurated St Philomena School on September 7, 1960 with an enrollment of 64 children in grades 1 through 4.

The congregation received the announcement at all the Sunday Masses on May 28, 1961.

They gave their first concert on Palm Sunday in 1962.

On March 29, 1966, Doctor Adelman’s property (called ‘LASATA’) adjoining the parking lot was purchased for the convent, since the living space had become too small for the sisters in the old facility.

The regional school opened its doors to its first group of students on September 7, 1967.

Richard J. Burke came from Richmond to become pastor on June 8, 1969.

1971 – Mission South East founded by Rev.

Richard Powers was appointed pastor in August 1974 and was succeeded by Fr.

College Lane renamed to Cathedral Lane in 1975.

1976 – First Extraordinary Ministers of the Holy Eucharist mandated

In order to build a new rectory, parish office and a parish hall and to renovate the church, the bishop granted permission on July 17, 1980 to demolish the old parish hall (old St Philomena Church) at the cost of $ 3,350.

The grateful parishioners named the hall in his honor on the occasion of his transfer in 1981.

St Thomas More Catholic Community began in 1983 at the initiative of several lay women and men who had moved into the Green Valley area of Henderson and who saw the need for a parish in that area.

On July 23, 1984, surplus land at St Veronica Chapel was sold.

On March 8, 1985, the bishop granted permission to sell the rectory building, lot on Corner of Rodman and Caswell Streets (with Carriage house). Later the farmer school building on Boon Street and adjacent rental buildings were sold to raise funds for the completion of the project.

On August 1, 1986, the Mission was officially established by the Diocese of Las Vegas as St Thomas More Catholic Community.

In fact, the first fundraising event to raise money for a new church building was held on October 31, 1987.

1989 – Archbishop Stafford makes his first pastoral visit to STM

1991 – Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on Thursdays begins

1993 – STM hosts 2300 French delegates for World Youth Day

1994 – STM Catholic School opens doors for first school year for grade K through 6

Peter McGuine became the second pastor of STM, and his first Mass was celebrated on August 2, 1995.

1996 - The newly placed 100 year old St Thomas More bell from St Paul Lutheran Church in Indianapolis, Indiana, began the dedication presided by Bishop McRaith.

1997 – STM sees first graduates of Parish School, May 27, 1997

In 1998, the chapel was turned over to the parish, but it was not worthy for conducting liturgical services.

Our Hispanic Ministry was formally established in 2000-01.

Pat Render, CSV, was appointed the third pastor in July of 2001 and construction began that same summer.

In 2002 a newly structured Pastoral Council was created to advise the Pastor and Pastoral Staff and to build on the history of strong lay leadership with the parish community.

The Parish newsletter, The Tower, began in December 2003 and continues today.

2004 Parish voluntarily discusses relocation possibility through open meetings process.

2005 – Parishioners Bob Gregorius and Alan Rastrelli, M.D.,ordained as deacons.

The ONE Campaign, begun in 2006, raised $6.75 million in pledges to fund this extraordinary project.

Halloran retired in June 2007 and “passed the baton” to the present Pastor.

2008 – First Mass at newly renovated church (May 30)

He was elevated to the honorable title of “Monsignor” in January 2009 and continues to serve the parish.

During the “window reveal” on Easter Sunday, April 4, 2010, four stained glass windows in sanctuary were inaugurated at St Veronica Chapel.

The parish celebrated its 25th Anniversary in 2011 and by that time the parish registration was well over 6000 households.

Ground was broken for the permanent church and Parish offices on January 29, 2012.

The year 2013 marked the 75th Anniversary of St Thomas More Parish.

2014 New Season Capital Campagin begins to fund lower level renevations for Parish Center/Religious Ed Center and retire church building debt.

The Cathedral underwent a major renovation beginning in June, 2015 reopening on 12/13/15.

The highlight of commemorating the 100th year was getting the first class relics of St Padre Pio for public veneration in the church on October 1, 2017.

2018 Parish membership hits 1200 families, increasing the need to expand the church and worship space to accomodate growing community

2019 On Palm Sunday, St Thomas More Parish celebrated the retirement of our debt by burning the mortgage at Mass