About Our Community

Celebrating the past, committed to the future...

Welcome to our thriving parish in Henderson, Nevada. As a proud member of the Archdiocese of Las Vegas, we offer a wide range of programs, ministries, and organizations catering to individuals of all ages.

Our History

St. Thomas More Catholic Community was founded in 1983 by a dedicated group of lay men and women who recognized the need for a parish in the growing Green Valley area of Henderson, Nevada. Early gatherings were held at Hallmark Preschool and were known as The Mission of St. Peter’s Church.

As the community quickly grew, services moved in July 1984 to the chapel at Palm Mortuary. That same summer, the Clerics of St. Viator assumed pastoral responsibility for the mission, sending Fr. Thomas Long, CSV, as its first pastor.

On August 1, 1986, the Diocese of Las Vegas officially established the parish as St. Thomas More Catholic Community. Construction soon followed, and on July 17, 1988, ground was broken for a multi-purpose building where the first Mass was celebrated on July 1, 1989.

Growth and Expansion

As the parish grew, additional clergy were assigned, including Fr. James Crilly, CSV (Associate Pastor, 1992), and Fr. Dan Nolan, CSV, who became Pastor in 1993. With continued growth, plans for a permanent church building were realized. Groundbreaking took place on October 6, 1995, and the new church was dedicated on September 26, 1996.

In 1999, a daily Mass chapel and parish office complex were added. By the early 2000s, the parish had grown to nearly 5,000 families, prompting further expansion. Under the leadership of Fr. Pat Render, CSV (appointed Pastor in 2001), a major addition to the original building created a Community Center. This expansion included classrooms, meeting spaces, offices, a nursery, a kitchen, and a gift shop.

Parish Life and Leadership

Throughout its history, many Viatorian priests served as associate pastors, alongside five ordained deacons and a dedicated lay staff who continue to lead parish ministries and programs. In 2002, a newly structured Pastoral Council was formed to strengthen collaboration and lay leadership.

The parish celebrated its 25th Anniversary in 2011, with membership exceeding 6,000 households. The community continues to be shaped by its cultural diversity, reverent liturgies, commitment to service, and strong faith formation programs.

Recent Developments

2015–2017: Fr. Mick Egan, CSV, served as Pastor before being appointed Provincial of the Viatorians.

2017–2018: Fr. Dan Nolan, CSV, returned as Pastor until his retirement.

2018–2019: Fr. Mike Keliher served as Parish Administrator, followed by Bishop Chris Glancy, CSV.

In July 2019, St. Thomas More became a Diocesan parish. Fr. Bede Wevita was appointed Pastor, and Fr. Tokha T. Hoang, C.Ss.R. (Fr. Thomas) served as Parochial Vicar, later succeeded by Fr. Joseph Quang Nguyen, C.Ss.R. in 2021.

2022: Fr. Bede Wevita resigned due to medical reasons; Fr. Edmund Nnadozie, MSP, was appointed Parochial Administrator.

2023: Fr. Edmund Nnadozie was named Pastor and formally installed on May 19, 2024.

2023: The Diocese of Las Vegas was elevated to an Archdiocese by Pope Francis, with Archbishop George Leo Thomas appointed as its first Metropolitan Archbishop.

2025: Fr. Luis Van Dam, CJD, joined as Minister of the Sick.

February 2026: Fr. AJ Sales was appointed Parochial Vicar.

Current Parish Leadership

June 2026: Fr. Mark Lam Tran, C.Ss.R., and Fr. Luis Van Dam were reassigned. Fr. Vincent joined the parish as Parochial Vicar, serving alongside Fr. Edmund Nnadozie and Fr. AJ Sales.

Today, St. Thomas More Catholic Community remains a vibrant and growing parish, rooted in faith, service, and a strong sense of community.