St. Thomas Mission Church - Our Beginning
St. Thomas Church is a vibrant Mission in Fullerton, CA, led by Fr. Kevin Craik, and is a church plant of St. Matthew’s Church, under the direction of Bp. Stephen Scarlett. What began as a group of three people meeting faithfully to pray for mission in North Orange County every Wednesday has grown into a Mission church that now has over 100 people who call it their church home. Here’s some background about our mission and how we got to where we are.
Bp. Scarlett envisioned having a church plant in North County for years, but a previous attempt at a mission in Fullerton ended suddenly and traumatically due to a moral failure and ineffective leadership of its priest in 2014. Members of the mission were hurt, confused, and lost. Some returned to St. Matthew’s to be nourished by the steady leadership of Bp. Scarlett, some joined other churches, and some left the church entirely. Bp. Scarlett knew another attempt at a Fullerton Mission would only work if it had a healthy leader–someone spiritually healthy, stable, and who was a missionary at heart.
Not knowing where this leader was going to come from, but trusting in God’s faithfulness, Bp. Scarlett called Dcn. Bob Jennings and two other parishioners to fast and pray for Mission every Wednesday night in Fullerton starting in May 2017. This was a simple gathering to offer the Evening Office and pray the diocesan Litany for Mission; there was never any effort to try and “recruit” more people to join that remnant. The “faithful three” met every week for a few years; we consider their prayers and faithfulness to be the foundation of St. Thomas. In November 2018, prayers were answered when Fr. Kevin joined the staff of St. Matthew’s, after starting and growing a successful church plant in Everett, WA.
Fr. Kevin joined the faithful remnant in praying weekly for Mission in North Orange County for over a year — and then Covid hit. Knowing people were desirous for the Eucharist, Fr. Kevin got creative. He began holding weekly Masses outside — in Fullerton — in the Summer (think 95°-100°). Despite the heat, 25-50 people gathered every Sunday, spaced apart, with masks on to receive the Eucharist in community. This was the birth of St. Thomas. (Note: Fr. Kevin will say it was not his intention to launch a church in the middle of a global pandemic, but hey, God works in mysterious ways, and we’re here for it!)
Looking back on the journey of St. Thomas, it’s encouraging to reflect on the many obstacles we faced. Setting aside the Covid-19 pandemic, the people who had attended the previously-attempted Mission were hurt; they were not interested in attending, what they thought, was a church doomed to fail in North County. But Fr. Kevin sought each one out; he was intentional about developing relationships with the wounded–building trust while giving them space to grieve what they had lost. We are happy to say that almost all of the people who were part of the first mission attempt in Fullerton now attend St. Thomas; this is truly a testament to God’s healing mercy felt in community under healthy leadership.
The healthy leadership aspect of St. Thomas is important to note, as it is why this attempt at mission in Fullerton was successful and the first attempt was not. Fr. Kevin is a true missionary; he seeks out and finds lost sheep, he tends to his flock, and he has created a culture at St. Thomas where people long to be. St. Thomas is thriving because of its principles of prayer, honesty, and trust. Fr. Kevin centers the Mission around prayer–Sunday Eucharist, Wednesday Evening Prayer, and monthly Healing Masses. He has developed a space where both healthy and broken people are comfortable being themselves. And trust is the natural byproduct of prayer and honesty.
For nearly three years, St. Thomas has grown from a group of 3 to over 100 members. The average weekly attendance for Mass is 70, and the weekly prayer group that started it all has grown to 10-15 people who continue to gather every Wednesday to fast and pray for our Mission. Ministries have been created by healthy leaders who are in Bp. Scarlett’s Pastoral Ministry classes. St. Thomas now has a music ministry, children’s ministry, and youth group. There have been baptisms, confirmations, and a wedding. We at St. Thomas are grateful for all God has done, and we pray for his continued provision as we seek to do his work in North Orange County. We ask you to please remember us in your prayers.
