The Parish Picnic Carries On: St. Thomas More Parish Celebrates 25 Years
10/21/2011

St. Thomas More Parish in Henderson, NV kicked off a yearlong celebration this fall, dedicated to “25 years of building a community of faith.”

An outdoor Mass and parish picnic drew back some of the first parishioners who had met in a local pre-school for early liturgies before moving to the relatively spacious chapel at the Palm Mortuary.

Even Fr. Tom Long, CSV, who served as founding pastor in 1986 returned to celebrate the Mass. Then, as now, he reflects that parishioners took ownership and worked to build the faith community.

“The attitude of the laity right from the start, made the difference,” Fr. Long said. “They knew what needed to be done, and did it. They didn’t wait for the parish priest to come in and do it.”

Viatorians continue to staff the church, including Fr. Pat  Render, CSV, pastor, and associates Fr. Bob Bolser, CSV and Fr. Michael Keliher, CSV, as well as Viatorian associates Ken Rosania, pastoral assistant, and Juliann Dwyer, religious education director.

What started with roughly 125 registered families in suburban Las Vegas, has grown to more than 6,000 families. Visible signs of their growth and new life include building the first community center in 1988 and their new church in 1996.

“We are a vibrant and faithful community within the diocesan church,” said Fr. Render in his greeting in the anniversary bulletin. “This is a day for celebrating and giving thanks, a day for counting blessings and giving thanks, a day of fun and friendship --- all under the watchful care of a beneficent God.”