The Parish

St. Thomas-by-the-Sea Parish grew out of a mission, Good Shepherd Chapel, established in June, 1986 by the late Rev. Anthony Zoghby, Pastor of Our Lady of the Gulf Parish of Gulf Shores. Recognizing the spiritual needs of Orange Beach Catholics, as well as those of the ever-growing number of Catholic visitors to the area, Archbishop Oscar Lipscomb authorized the rental of space in the Gulfview Shopping Center for the Chapel. 

It soon became evident that both permanent residents (approximately 75 families at the time) and the many visitors to the area would require a permanent house of worship. Officially established as St. Thomas by the Sea Parish on May 9, 1991, the new faith community came under the guidance of Father Francis V. Cusack as Pastor. 

The Parish Center, known as Cusack Hall, was dedicated and blessed by Archbishop Lipscomb on October 1, 1994. The Church property consists of four and one-half acres of land, most of which was donated to the parish. An organ and marble altar were donated by Our Lady of the Gulf Church and pews were the gift of St. Lawrence Parish in Fairhope. 

A pastor's residence was completed in September, 1998. Construction on the church started in the summer of 1999 and the Solemn Dedication took place on December 17, 2000. The church seats about 800 people in the nave, and includes a chapel with seating for 100 people, two sacristies, a cry room, ushers' room, and reconciliation room. An enclosed narthex joins the new building to Cusack Hall, with a statue of St. Thomas and Christ as the focal point. 

Father Patrick Maher was appointed as Pastor in August, 1998 and served as Pastor until 14 June 2002, when Father Mark I. Neske became Pastor. Deacon Henry Pouliot joined the parish in August 2002, upon Deacon Basoco's departure, There are presently about 215 families registered as parishioners, and many visitors.

 

 

The Mission

St. Thomas by the Sea is the center of the diversified community of Catholics practicing their religious beliefs in the City of Orange Beach, Alabama. We are a community of a small core of permanent residents augmented by a very large transient population which is an integral part in maintaining our parish.

St. Thomas by the Sea exists for the mission of Christ. Through our baptism we share in the mission which is to live and witness to the values of the gospel.

We resolve to witness to the gospel message, by providing an adequate place of worship, by living and celebrating the word of God through our Eucharistic liturgy, prayer, study, and reflection of the Scriptures, to create and sustain a community of hospitality and friendship in order to reflect God's love in a warm and inviting atmosphere to our winter parishioners and summer visitors, to create as environment of human concern to hear and respond to the cry of those in need not only in our community, but also in our world.

Authorized by the parish council on December 11, 1997