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Saint Thomas Roman Catholic Parish
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  • Welcome
      • Parishioner Portal
      • Contact Us / Staff Information
      • I'm New
      • Lent 2025
      • Confirmation
      • Exodus 90 2024
  • History & Art
      • History of Saint Thomas Parish
      • Art and Decoration in the Church
  • Worship & Sacraments
      • Weddings at Saint Thomas
      • Funerals at Saint Thomas
      • The Sacrament of Baptism
      • Livestream
  • Religious Education
      • Saint Thomas School
      • PSR (Parish School of Religion)
      • Seekers Class (RCIA)
  • Ministries
      • Lenten Bible Study
      • Youth Ministry
      • Men's Faith Formation
      • Women's Faith Formation
      • Walking With Moms in Need
      • St. Vincent DePaul Society
  • Give
      • Race to $500k
      • End of Year Report
      • Organ Fund
    • History
      • Fr. Paul Ryan Diocesan History 1853-1953

        Saint Thomas from History of the Diocese of Covington, Kentucky,
        on the Occasion of the Centenary of the Diocese, 1853-1953, by Rev. Paul E. Ryan


        The Site of the City of Ft. Thomas originally was a part of the grant of land given by the State of Virginia to Colonel John Campbell, an early American Army officer, after whom Campbell County was named. In 1866, Eli Kinney, a rising figure in banking circles in Cincinnati, purchased property in that area, which became known as the Eli Kinney Highlands Home Subdivision. With the failure of the Kinney National Bank of Cincinnati, Eli Kinney was declared bankrupt and all his assets ordered to be sold. Much of the original property of the Kinney Subdivision was purchased by the United Stated Government in 1887 for an army post to replace the Newport Barracks. The selection of the site is accredited to the Civil War veteran, General Phil Sheridan, who gave it the name of "Fort Thomas," in honor of his colleague, General George H. Thomas.

        The Bishops of Covington have always shown interest in the Catholic soldiers stationed at Ft. Thomas. Whenever the number of Catholics has warranted it, and no Army Chaplain had been appointed, priests of the Diocese have been assigned to look after the spiritual needs of the men. Following the Spanish-American War, when there was a large number of soldiers at the Fort, Very Reverend Edward Vattmann, who ranked as a Major in the Army, was stationed there. Later, when the number of the soldiers at the Fort was reduced, Reverend Peter McDonald and Reverend Matthias J. Leick attended them. Beginning in July, 1917, Mass was offered regularly at the Fort. Pending the erection of a chapel and social quarters at the Fort by the Knights of Columbus, the U.M.C.A. tent was used for Catholic services. Having a shortage of priests, Bishop Brossart consulted with Archbishop Moeller of Cincinnati, who assigned Reverend William J. Anthony, his secretary, to say Mass at the Fort on each Sunday, as long as circumstances demanded.

        In the early 1870's, the Jesuits of St. Xavier College had a summer Villa on the fifty-acre Avenel property in The Highlands, where Mass was offered in their Chapel. The establishment of the convent of the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd in the Highlands of Campbell County beyond Newport, moreover, soon necessitated a resident chaplain in the Fort Thomas area. The organizing of a parish in Ft. Thomas was begun in 1901 by Reverend Matthias J. Leick, who had been appointed as chaplain of the Good Shepherd Convent. In 1902, Father Leick became the first pastor of the Ft. Thomas congregation, remaining in that pastorate until 1906, when he was transferred to Corpus Christi Parish, Newport.

        The first St. Thomas Church was located on Grand Avenue at the foot of Tremont Avenue. The cornerstone of the church was laid on August 3, 1902, by Very Reverend Ferdinand Brossart, V.G. The brick structure, a combination church and school, was dedicated by Bishop Maes on December 21, 1902.


        In 1918, the congregation purchased property at the corner of South Ft. Thomas Avenue and Villa Place. At a meeting of the trustees of the parish, on June 4, 1918, the advisability of renovating the residence on South Ft. Thomas Avenue was discussed. Later, in the same month, Father Thomas Coleman moved into the new parish rectory, located opposite the new church site.

        St. Thomas Church remained on Grand Avenue until 1921. In 1920, a two-story combination church and school building, measuring fifty by seventy-two feet, was erected on the new property at Villa Place. The cornerstone of the building was laid on June 27, 1920. The first floor of the new building contained a chapel with a seating capacity for about three hundred persons. The second floor housed three large classrooms. The building had a large basement to serve as an assembly hall. The exterior of the edifice was constructed of tapestry brick with stone trimmings.

        When Reverend Herbert F. Hillenmeyer became pastor of St. Thomas Parish in 1925, one of his first projects was to add six more classrooms to the combination church and school building. In 1937, Monsignor Hillenmeyer began the construction of the present St. Thomas Church. In January of that year, a new rectory was acquired, by the purchase of the Donaldson homestead, and the old rectory was razed. The Sisters' home and the janitor's house were moved to their present location, opposite the rectory, to make room for the new church which was to front on South Ft. Thomas Avenue at East Villa Place. On Sunday, March 6, 1938, Bishop Howard laid the cornerstone. A year later, the new artistic St. Thomas Church, constructed of Bedford stone on the exterior and Indiana limestone on the interior, of modern Romanesque architecture, was dedicated by Bishop Howard on Sunday, March 26, 1939.

        In 1945, the space in the school building formerly occupied by the chapel was remodeled into classrooms to serve as a St. Thomas High School, which was opened in September of that year. In 1948, the parish purchased the Dr. Harry Meyer residence on South Ft. Thomas Avenue to be used as a convent for the Sisters of Divine Providence.

        In preparation for the Golden Jubilee of the parish in 1952, Monsignor Hillenmeyer further enhanced the church by installing a number of imported stained-glass windows and new mosaic Stations. On Sunday, August 3, 1952, the parish observed its Golden Jubilee. St. Thomas Parish today numbers about five hundred and fifty families  
         

    • Pastors of Saint Thomas
      • Pastors

        Rev. Mathias Leick, first pastor 1902-1906
        Rev. Aloysius J. Roell, second pastor 1906-1917
        Msgr. Martin R. Delaney, third pastor 1917-1918
        Msgr. Thomas Coleman, fourth pastor 1918-1919
        Rev. Otto Hafen,  fifth pastor 1920-1925
        Msgr. Herbert F. Hillenmeyer, sixth pastor 1925-1968
        Msgr. Thomas B. Finn, seventh pastor 1968-1981
        Rev. Charles J. Hoffer, eighth pastor 1981-1989
        Rev. John J. Riesenberg, ninth pastor 1989-1999
        Msgr. William B. Neuhaus, tenth pastor 1999-2006
        Msgr. Roger Cooney, eleventh pastor  2006-2016
        Msgr. John R. Schulte, twelfth pastor 2016-2019
        Rev. Raymond N. Enzweiler, thirteenth pastor 2019-2021
        Rev. V. Ross Kelsch, fourteenth pastor 2021 - 


         

    • 3 Churches...
      • The First Church
         of Saint Thomas

         1902


        Founding of Saint Thomas Parish

         First dedicated church was at the corner of Grand Avenue and Tremont Avenue.

         December 21, 1902, the congregation moved into a combined church-school building.

         
        The Second Church
         of Saint Thomas

         1920


        Second dedicated church was on East Villa Place.
         Another combined church and school
         Cornerstone laid on June 27, 1920

         First three classrooms on the first floor served as the Church

         In 1945, the space in the school building formerly occupied by the chapel was remodeled into classrooms to serve as a St. Thomas High School Later called the Activity Center Building was demolished in 2021

         
        The Third and Current Church of Saint Thomas

         1937


        Third – and current – building
        Excavation for the Church began in October 1937, cornerstone was laid on March 6, 1938 by Bishop Francis W. Howard
        Church was dedicated on Passion Sunday, March 26, 1939 by Bishop Howard
        Msgr. Hillenmeyer and the parish contracted with Edward J. Schulte to be the architect for the new building
         
         
    • Gallery Size Helper  photo album Slideshow Background Image
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      5 FADE
      The 2nd Church and School Building /photoalbums/historic-photos/1st%20Church.jpeg _parent
      The proposed render of the 2nd Church and School. /photoalbums/historic-photos/AC%20rendering%201920.jpg _parent
      The High Altar at an anniversary of Msgr. Hillenmeyer /photoalbums/historic-photos/HighAltar%20Jubilee.jpg _parent
      Msgr. Hillenmeyer /photoalbums/historic-photos/Hillenmeyer%20headshot.png _parent
      Bishop Howard /photoalbums/historic-photos/Howard-286x300.jpg _parent
      Current Church in the 1940s /photoalbums/historic-photos/Scan1.jpeg _parent
      Dedication day in 1939 /photoalbums/historic-photos/Scan1%201.jpeg _parent
      Sanctuary of the 2nd Church /photoalbums/historic-photos/Scan123.jpeg _parent
      Edward Schulte, Architect of Saint Thomas Church /photoalbums/historic-photos/schulte-portrait-50_orig.jpeg _parent
      Render of the Current Church /photoalbums/historic-photos/StT%201954.jpg _parent
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