Even though Viatorian priests no longer lead St. Thomas More, the Viatorian charism continues to thrive, thanks to Associates Juliann Dwyer and Cheryl Schwarz.
The Clerics of St. Viator founded St. Thomas More Catholic Community in 1986. As the population in Clark County boomed and new parishes were needed, the Diocese of Reno-Las Vegas invited Viatorians to lead the Green Valley mission. Over the next 33 years in Henderson, Viatorian priests served as pastors and stewarded the building of a community center, church, and parish offices for what has become a very large parish. In 2019, we transferred the parish to the Archdiocese of Las Vegas, which administers it today.
St. Thomas More will always be a sacred space for Viatorians, who stewarded the construction of the church and led the parish for over 30 years. Fr. John Eustice, CSV belonged to STM as a teen, volunteered as a LifeTeen leader, and returned for his presbyteral ordination in 2024, with Bishop Christopher Glancy, CSV as ordaining bishop and dozens of Viatorians praying with him.
Associate Cheryl Schwarz serves STM as Director of Outreach Ministry and runs the gift shop, and Associate Juliann Dwyer serves STM in a range of ministries, including sacristan duties and grief ministries. Even amid other change, the Viatorian charism endures with a timelessness and vitality.
Cheryl sees her work as an opportunity to walk with people, especially in the food pantry. “If you have a need, you come and shop like a grocery store and pick out what you’ll use. Some people are quiet, but most open up and let you know what they’re going through.”
Juliann appreciates offering accompaniment amid grief. “It’s helping them get through – giving them a prayer blanket made by the Peacemakers, giving them a cross to hold on to their loved ones, I’m here for all of it,” Juliann said, describing one of many roles she serves. “You get to meet a lot of different people from a lot of different walks of life with a lot of different things happening.”
Cheryl and Juliann also find joy and hope in passing the charism forward, inviting others to join us and seeing them respond. “Associate Shelley Aguiar helps me in the pantry every Monday, sorting all the donations from the weekend. She’s always out there doing something to help others, and she’s got the charism with her,” Cheryl said of Shelley, who made her first commitment in October.
Juliann is part of the regional formation team and works closely with pre-associates in discernment and formation. “What I love is we’re getting a lot of younger people. Most of them have gone through the Viatorian Youth Congress (VYC), and they understand what the Viatorians are all about. They know so much already and are so active in that identity,” Juliann said of the group, which includes Pre-Associate Georgina Martinez, a VYC alum and an STM parishioner and ministry volunteer.
Hear more in Episode 88 of Viatorian Voices on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube:
+
Learn more about St. Thomas More:
- In Episode 38 of Viatorian Voices, Viatorians reflect on our 33 years of stewardship at the parish – founding pastor Fr. Tom Long, CSV, former parishioner Fr. John Eustice, CSV, and longtime parishioner and staff member Associate Juliann Dwyer share stories and reflect on the decades.
- In Episode 65 of Viatorian Voices, STM parishioner and Pre-Associate Georgina Martinez reflects on her vocation to teaching, thinking back to her choice of studies in college and her early career teaching kindergarten.
- In 2019, Viatorians took part in the celebration of our stewardship and marked the transfer of administration to the Archdiocese of Las Vegas.
- In 2021, Viatorians returned to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the dedication of the Church.
- As Viatorians sustain our ties and continue living out our charism, earlier this year, regional leaders organized a service activity at STM, bringing together area Viatorians to support local charities.