St. Thomas Aquinas Church (St. Cloud, FL) - (407) 957-4495

Address: 700 Brown Chapel Road, St. Cloud, FL 34769. Phone: (O) 407-957-4495 (F) 407-957-1771. Web: www.stacatholic.org.

Mass Schedule:

Monday - Friday: 9:00am (English)
Tuesday & Thursday: 6:30pm (Spanish)
Saturday: 9:00am (Daily/Spanish) & 4:00pm Vigil (English)
Sunday: 8:30am, 10:00am, 11:30am (Spanish), 6:00pm

The Catholic Church of St. Cloud has been around as long as the city itself. From a humble beginning in 1912, the St. Thomas Aquinas church has grown from a small, one-room, frame structure into one of the most beautiful buildings to grace the St. Cloud Community.

In 1910, Father Michael Fox of Orlando, visited the small community of St. Cloud. Father Fox said Mass in the private residences of Mrs. Rouse and Mr. Peter Walsh. They kept the church fires burning and were instrumental in establishing the Catholic Church in St. Cloud. Eventually, Fr. Fox received some property from the founders of the colony, but did not have enough funds to build a small frame chapel. Two years later, a frame structure with a seating capacity of thirty people for the sum of $600 was erected. The first Mass was celebrated in the new Chapel in May of 1912 and soon after, St. Cloud became a city.

In December 1917, Father Walter B. Golden, the first resident priest in Kissimmee, began to care for the spiritual needs of the Catholics in St. Cloud. Beginning with Fr. Golden and continuing until 1962, priests from Holy Redeemer Church in Kissimmee.

Father William J. Holmes came to St. Cloud in 1964 after the opening of the town's Church-operated hospital. The Mission Parish of St. Thomas Aquinas was made vacant through Rev. Holmes' retirement. One September 11, 1968, Fr. Brendan Donnelly was appointed Pastor. With this appointment, the mission church was elevated to the status of Parish with a decree given October 1, 1968. In 1970, the church building was complete.

Following Fr. Donnelly's footsteps would be Fr. Arthur L. Dunningham, who served St. Thomas Aquinas until his retirement in 1982.

Msgr. Fabian G. Gimeno became the third Pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Church in 1982. Under his leadership, the Parish Center, a newly renovated church, a bell tower, and the first Catholic school in Osceola County were built.

Sister Linda Martin and Sister Ann Whitely became our school's first principal and assistant principal, respectively. Under their leadership, the school opened on August 21, 1989 with 123 students (Pre-K through 2nd grade). Mrs. Maura Cox is now the Principal of St. Thomas Aquinas School with over 200 students and a faculty/staff of 35.

In 2011, Msgr. Gimeno retired, and Rev. Kent Walker was named his successor. Fr. Kent is excited to build our community together and help out St. Thomas Aquinas family grow.

Tags: Catholic Church,Religious Organization