St. Thomas the Apostle

Bishop Thomas Hickey officially created the parish on July 21, 1922. Appointed as the founding pastor was Reverend John F. Muckle. Fr. Muckle named the new church St. Thomas, in honor of his father's patron saint.

In the beginning Masses were held at the Chapel of St. George on the Lake, a summer chapel built by the resident Catholics of Summerville. The school, staffed by Sisters of Mercy, opened in September, 1922.

Fr. Muckle purchased land on the corner of St. Paul/Colebrook Rd. in 1922. A new schoolhouse was completed by fall 1923. An extension of six classrooms and a basement church seating 500 were dedicated on February 21, 1926. In the early 1930's Sister Mary Charles, Fr. Muckle's sister, became principal of St. Thomas School. Sister Charles started the first parochial school uniform rule.

In 1949 the basement church was expanded to seat 700 and three new classrooms were built above it; and in 1952 the second floor was completed.

The Holy Name Society, the Rosary Society, the League of the Sacred Heart and the Sodality were the main devotional societies.

Eight assistants served under Father Muckle. William D. Tobin; James D. Cuffney, Albert J. Shamon, Joseph H. DeVaney, Francis E. Donoghue, Donald J. Murphy, Michael P. O'Brien, and John A. Morgan.

On June 29, 1954, Fr. Muckle submitted his resignation.

Bishop James E. Kearney appointed as our second pastor the Right Reverend Richard K. Burns.

Msgr. Burns created multiple programs for his parishioners and endeared himself to them by his warm, charismatic, and caring personality. His "Child of God" greeting became an anticipated salute. He established a list for weekly communion calls, taught 7th and 8th grade religion and visited the other grades regularly, led the pupils into Church for Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament every Friday, and often brought little children into the sanctuary during Mass. He fostered religious instruction for public school children on "release time". In an effort to combat racism, he provided a number of spaces in St. Thomas School for inner city children.

In 1956, a fund drive for a large convent was launched. In November, 1958, the sisters were formally inducted into their new home. Two decades later, however, due to an increasing shortage of nuns, the building became a parish center and the rectory of the St. Thomas clergy.


The parish Legion of Mary was founded on December 8, 1955. This organization is still active, reaching out to the homebound, the elderly and new members of the faith community.

After the closing of St. George's Chapel in 1958, a drive was launched for a new St. Thomas Church. The cornerstone was blessed and laid by Bishop James E. Kearney on October 4, 1964, and on Palm Sunday, April 11, 1965, the structure was completed.

Fourteen assistants served under Msgr. Burns: Fathers John Morgan, Daniel V. Hogan, Robert J. Winterkorn, Thomas D. Hoctor, Robert J. Donovan, John G. Skvorak, Joseph M: Jankowiak, Walter J. Wainwright, Thomas G. Lenhart, James E. Tierney, Douglas C. Hoffman, Andrew J. Kalafsky, Daniel E. Holland, Richard Monaghan, O. Carm. and Michael Huerter. Reverend Robert McNamara, a retired Rochester diocesan priest and the Archivist of the Diocese of Rochester, became a rectory resident in 1981and stayed until 2002.

April 7, 1982, Msgr. Burns' submitted his resignation. After his death, his remains were buried on the church grounds.

On July 3, 1982, Bishop Matthew H. Clark appointed as third pastor, Reverend L. James Callan. He continued many of the programs begun by his predecessors.

Eucharistic Adoration, from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., Monday through Friday, was started on March 2, 1992, in the rectory chapel. The hours were eventually reduced to 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Religious education for children attending public schools was expanded, and summer bible classes for children were held. An adult education program and the Irenaeus Study Center served the faith community well.

The school was closed by the diocese in June, 1992, as the result of a school re-organizational program. The building was leased to the Stepping Stones Learning Center on August 15, 1994.

Four assistants served under Fr. Callan: Lawrence A. Gross, William G. Endres, Thomas F. Corbett, Ralph J. Fraats. Deacon Gregory Sampson also served St. Thomas for several years.

On September 5, 1994, the third pastor submitted his resignation.

On June 25, 1995, Bishop Matthew H. Clark appointed as fourth pastor Reverend Robert C. Bradler.

While fostering such traditional observances as Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, Forty Hours Devotion, holy hours and May Day, he introduced other rites like Morning and Evening Prayer, pilgrimages to area churches on Holy Thursday, Good Friday Tenebrae Service, and the English Service of Lessons and Carols. Lectors spoke in several languages on Pentecost.

He gave permission to the Fingerlakes Chapter of the Knights of Columbus to construct a Memorial for the Unborn on-church property. The monument was dedicated on September 14, 1997. On the Feast of the Sacred Heart, an Eternal Flame donated by St. Josaphat Church and a statue of the Infant of Prague were dedicated at the Monument to the Unborn.

On March 10, 1996, the Msgr. Richard K. Burns Council of the Knights of Columbus was established.

Deacon Thomas Beck arrived in July 1996 to succeed Deacon Gregory Sampson.

Father Fraats and Father Joseph Lanzalaco, CSB served under Fr. Bradler.

On June 30, 2007 Fr. Bradler retired. For several years the parishes of Irondequoit had been planning for a restructuring of the town’s Catholic community and with Fr. Bradler's retirement the plan presented to Bishop Clark in 2006 became effective.

On July 1, 2007 St. Thomas the Apostle, Christ the King and St. Salome’s were clustered together. The staffs of the three parishes were combined and Fr. Norman Tanck, CSB became the pastor of the clustered communities. Fr. Richard Beligotti became vicar of the cluster along with Fr. Joseph Trovoto, CSB. Deacons Larry Feasal and Tom Beck served the cluster.

On November 14, 2010 the last Sunday Mass was celebrated at St. Thomas the Apostle Church as a result of lower Mass attendance and the consolidation of the five Irondequoit parishes into Saint Kateri Parish.