The origins of St. Thomas the Apostle Byzantine Catholic Church began in the hearts of Byzantine-Ruthenian Catholics living in the East Valley of Arizona in the late 1970s. As families and parishoners migrated away from Phoenix and into the East Valley, attending regular services at St. Stephen (which is now the Cathedral of the Eparchy of Phoenix) became increasingly difficult. At these parishoner's request, on March 9, 1980, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated for the first time outside of Phoenix for them, and continued thereafter in various homes in the area. In 1982, St. Thomas was established in Mesa as a mission of St. Stephen, and Rev. Christopher Zugger was appointed the first administrator. He continued to move to different homes and areas to celebrate the Liturgy.
That same year, a ranch-style home on two and one quarter acres was purchased on South 154th Place in Mesa. Deacon Douglas Lorig, with his family, resided there to provide spiritual assistance during the week. A tack house was remodeled into a chapel with seating capacity for 65 people.In 1985, the newly ordaned Rev. Douglas Lorig was appointed Administrator. In 1986 the property was sold and the Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the chapel of Seton Catholic High School in nearby Chandler. Due to the renovation of the Seton Chapel in 1988, the St. Thomas community was forced to seek a new place for Sunday Divine Liturgy. Lewis and Helen Fellin graciously offered their home for Sunday Divine Liturgy in the interim. The Most Reverend Thomas Dolinay, Bishop of Van Nuys, authorized the purchase of the former St. Anne Roman Catholic Church located at 19 W. Bruce Ave. in Gilbert AZ, where St. Thomas now stands.
On Jan 22, 1989, Bishop Dolinay raised St. Thomas to the status of a parish and named Fr. Lorig as Administrator. On March 5, the new parish celebrated its first Divine Liturgy in its new home. During the next couple of years, donations and volunteer work helped to renovate the church to Byzantine specifications. The altar, tabernacle, iconostasis and all wood work was made and donated by John Grab of Grand Blanc, Michigan. Mrs. Shirley Grab made altar linens, vestments, and icon banners. After completing the needed renovations, the church was consecrated on Feb. 14, 1991 by Bishop George Kuzma.
On August 15, 1992 the Rev. Philip Acquaro, CSB, JCL, was appointed Administrator. The church was renovated with the iconography of Mila Mina, who wrote the icons on the walls of the church, and by Sheila Green of Tempe, who wrote the icons for the iconostasis. Among the church's ongoing needs were a larger parking lot and a new church hall. Benefactors donated additional property west of the church for a larger parking lot, and the congregation began fundraising activities to build a new hall. The World War II barracks building, which had served as a hall, was torn down in 1998, and a new hall built adjacent to the church was completed in March of 1999. The new structure provides for classrooms, church offices, a kitchen, and a dining hall to meet the demands of the parish and allow for fellowship after Sunday Liturgy. The hall was blessed by Bishop George on Thomas Sunday, April 11, 1999.The congregation that began with fewer than 10 registered households as a mission church is now a thriving Byzantine Catholic community, attracting families and parishoners from across the East Valley.
All are welcome to Come and See!