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History |
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It was difficult for the residents of the East Valley to travel to St. Stephen’s Byzantine Catholic Church in Phoenix, so in 1980, Monsignor Alexander Nanko and Reverend Christopher Zugger began to come to the East Valley and celebrate Divine Liturgy in private homes. In 1982, St. Thomas the Apostle was established as a mission of St. Stephen’s. Reverend Christopher Zugger was appointed the first Administrator. A home was purchased at 341 S. 154th Place, now Ranchos Legante Drive. Deacon Douglas L. Lorig and his family resided there. A tack house was painted and renovated as a chapel. The mission was placed under the Protection of the Mother of God. In 1984 now Reverend Douglas Lorig was appointed Administrator. In 1986 the property was sold and Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the Chapel of Seton Catholic High School, Chandler. A second move was made to the private home of Lewis and Helen Fellin Tempe. As the congregation grew a search began for a church building. In March 1989 Bishop Thomas V. Dolinay authorized the purchase of the former St. Anne’s Roman Catholic Church, 19 W. Bruce Ave., Gilbert. On August 15, 1989, St. Thomas was raised to the status of a parish. 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. St. Thomas Church was blessed by Bishop George M. Kuzma on February14, 1991. On August 15, 1992 Reverend Philip A. 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 on the iconostasis. Among ongoing needs were a larger parking lot and a new church hall. Property West of the church was donated for a parking lot. 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. As funds were limited, Father Acquaro served as the general contractor. A new hall provides a church office and gift shop, a kitchen and a meeting room for the needs of the parish. The hall was completed in March 1999. On August 1, 2002, the thirty-year loan on the church was paid off thirteen years ahead of schedule. In January 2006 the ten-year loan on the hall was paid off eleven months ahead of schedule. As no rectory was available, Father Acquaro commuted from Phoenix to Gilbert for over ten years. In July 2003 a home near the church was donated for a rectory. The membership of St. Thomas is multi-cultural including parishioners born in Lebanon, Ghana, Romania, South Africa and Haiti and has grown to approximately 50 households. Emphasis is placed on Eastern Christian Formation of the children and an ongoing study of Eastern Christianity. Parishioners have attended the Orientale Lumen Conferences at the University of San Diego. For his long service to the Byzantine Catholic Church, Cantor Michael Bacovcin was knighted by Pope John Paul II on June 6, 2004, and given the title of Knight of St. Gregory. Church activities include the annual Oktoberfest, visits from St. Nicholas, ongoing collection of food for the poor, picnics, baking, pilgrimage and annual teachings by Reverend John S. Custer, SSL, STD of the Byzantine Catholic Seminary of SS Cyril and Methodius in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 2006 the ByzanTeens traveled to Washington, DC then, Emmitsburg, Maryland, for a ByzanTeen rally. St. Thomas the Apostle Church has a vision of establishing a true Light of the East in the area and to continue its spiritual and physical growth. 1980 Divine Liturgy celebrated in private homes in the Mesa area by Monsignor Alexander Nanko and Reverend Christopher Zugger of St. Stephen Byzantine Catholic Church in Phoenix. St. Thomas the Apostle established as a mission of St. Stephen. Rev. Christopher Zugger appointed first Administrator. Divine Liturgy celebrated at 341 South Ranchos Legante Drive, Gilbert. The mission placed under the Protection of the Mother of God. Douglas L. Lorig, a Roman Catholic priest with Byzantine faculties appointed second Administrator. Divine Liturgy celebrated in the chapel of Seton Catholic High School, Chandler. Due to renovation of chapel, Divine Liturgy celebrated in home of Lewis and Helen Fellin of Tempe. March 1989 Bishop Thomas V. Dolinay authorized the purchase of the former St. Anne’s Roman Catholic Church, 19 West Bruce Avenue, Gilbert. February 14, 1991 Church at 19 West Bruce Avenue, Gilbert, consecrated by Bishop George M. Kuzma. In addition to the Mother of God, the parish was placed under the protection of martyred Bishop Theodore Romzha. Bishop Romzha was murdered in Uzhorod, on November 2, 1947 by the Secret Police under orders of Nikita Khrushchev. August 15, 1992 Rev. Philip A. Acquaro, CSB, JCL was appointed Administrator. Rev. Acquaro started a building fund to replace the World War II barracks building which served as an Education/Social Hall. November 1994 Property at 19 West Bruce Avenue surveyed. August 1998 Environmental disposal team removed hazardous materials in hall. September 1998 Old Hall demolished and ground broken for new hall September 1998 to February 1999 In addition to his position as a Cannon Lawyer and Judge on the Marriage Tribunal a the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix, Father Acquaro served as general contractor on the building program. April 11, 1999 Bishop George M. Kuzma blessed the new hall. April 13, 1999 Town of Gilbert issued Certificate of Occupancy for the new hall. |
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St. Thomas the Apostle Byzantine Catholic Church, Gilbert, Arizona |
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Bulletins |
Fr. Wes Izer,
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