St. Thomas The Apostle

St. Thomas the Apostle Church has a rich history that started more than a century ago. At the turn of the 20th century, the Catholics living in the Arlington area, where the present Riverside belonged before, went to St. Francis de Sales Church in Downtown Riverside, or to St. Edwards Parish in Corona for their sacraments. Everything changed when the Sherman Indian High School (SIHS), an off reservation boarding high school for Native Americans, relocated to Riverside, California, in 1903 from Perris, California, under the name Sherman Institute. The spiritual welfare of the students became a concern to both Fr. Michael and Mr. Peter Goethals who envisioned of constructing a chapel for the students. Founded by the Diocese of San Diego, St. Thomas then started as a mission and as an education center for the early American Indians of the Western United States. In 1914 under the spiritual leadership of Fr. Junek, the chapel of St. Thomas the Apostle was raised to the status of a parish. From its inception, its pastoral leadership has moved through the years from diocesan priests to the Jesuits and the Franciscans and transferred back to the Diocese of San Bernardino in 2000 when Fr. Joseph Felker was appointed pastor. After Fr. Felker, St. Thomas was administered by another diocesan clergy by the name of Fr. Frank Dicristina for 7 years until his retirement in June 2020. In July 2020, Bishop Gerald Barnes appointed Fr. Restituto ‘Resti’ Galang, as the Parochial Administrator of St. Thomas. Fr. Galang is a member of the Mission Society of the Philippines, a Pontifical Society of Apostolic Life founded by the Bishop’s Conference of the Philippines. Together with Fr. Theodore “Ted” Drennan, the Parochial Vicar, they are journeying with parishioners as they minister to them during the challenging COVID-19 pandemic times.

The parish celebrates a rich diversity, a collaborative spirit and vibrant enthusiasm, while with great anticipation looks to a future in which the Spirit’s presence is nourished its history and future.