Last weekend, St. Thomas More Catholic Community in Henderson, NV – a parish founded by the Viatorians – held its 40th anniversary gala. Staff members Associates Juliann Dwyer and Cheryl Schwarz helped organize the event and fundraiser, and several Viatorian parishioners as well as those who have served as pastors, associate pastors, and deacons took part among almost 300 attendees.
Standing, left to right: Fr. Jhobany Orduz, CSV, and Fr. Dan Belanger, CSV; seated, left to right: Fr. Patrick Render, CSV, Br. Rob Robertson, CSV, and Fr. Mick Egan, CSV
“It was a beautiful presentation of the history of St. Thomas More and its foundation with the Viatorians,” Juliann said. “We enjoyed reflecting on the timeline of these 40 years, including all of our wonderful priests who have served here.”
“It’s a wonderful community. I maintain many friendships at St. Thomas More and still enjoy helping out with Mass,” former Pastor Fr. Mick Egan, CSV, said. “They told the story of the 40-year history particularly well. I was very grateful for how they highlighted the Viatorians and those of us who served there over the first several years.”
In the 1980s, the growing community in the Green Valley area of Henderson desired a parish. Viatorians stepped up and sent Fr. Thomas Long, CSV, who started celebrating Masses, first in a school and then in a mortuary chapel. In 1986, St. Thomas More became a formal parish with Fr. Tom as founding pastor. Over time, Viatorians led construction of a community center, a church, and a robust parish campus. Viatorians served as pastoral leaders until 2019, when we transferred the parish administration to what is now the Archdiocese of Las Vegas.
A huge group of Viatorians came together to celebrate the joyful day for Fr. John’s ordination at St. Thomas More in 2024.
The parish is an incubator of Viatorian vocations. Fr. John Eustice, CSV, spent formative teen years as a parishioner there with his family; he professed first vows in 2005, and after discerning a later call to priesthood, he was ordained a priest there in 2024. Fr. Dan Belanger, CSV, discerned his call to Viatorian religious life in Las Vegas and got involved at St. Thomas More in the lead up to his religious formation; he later served his transitional diaconate there in 2006-2007 and was ordained a priest in the newly built church in 2007. And, all at St. Thomas More, Associate Deacon Michael Underwood found his Catholic faith, met his wife Associate Kathy Underwood, and answered God’s invitation to the diaconate, before later transferring to St. Viator Catholic Community.
“It was especially meaningful to return to a parish that holds such an important place in my own story and our history in Southern Nevada,” Fr. Dan said. “Former Pastor Fr. Pat Render reflected that, as a religious community, we often come in to build something, nurture it, and return it to the local Church. That captures the Viatorian story at St. Thomas More: we helped establish and shape the parish, and then the success is seeing the community continue to grow and flourish.”
Two young adult leaders and four delegates took part in the 2026 Viatorian Youth Congress last month with Rolyssa Sanchez, STM pastoral associate for youth and young adult ministry.
Viatorian associates in the parish continue to live out our charism in service of others and nurture new vocations to Viatorian life, too. “It was heartwarming to see the great support from generations of Viatorian clergy that have served St. Thomas More as well as parishioners that have been with us from the very beginning,” longtime parishioner Associate Dan Schwarz said. “It was a great evening of celebration recognizing the significant impact that St. Thomas More has had on the wider community here.”
Fr. Mick affirmed the faithful service of the parish and the way it retains our charism. “It has become a community that celebrates faith within its own activities and then reaches out so well in so many ways. This parish reflects the Viatorian mission and what we brought to them,” Fr. Mick said. “It’s clear that our mission is alive at St. Thomas More, carried on thoughtfully by the priests who came after us. Viatorians have always operated in collaboration with lay people, and that has definitely continued at St. Thomas More.”