Welcome Father Rick Stelter!

Bishop Barres has appointed Father Rick Stelter as our new associate pastor to serve the needs of the people of Saint Thomas the Apostle Church. The assignment will take effect on Wednesday, June 24th. Father Rickwas ordained for the Diocese of Rockville Centre on March 15, 1980 (exactly one year after Father Tony’s ordination). Father Rick and Father Tony share a lot of connections. In his early priesthood, Father Rick served the people of Westbury at Saint Brigid’s Church (Father Tony’s last pastorate) as well as serving the people of Saint Barnabas in Bellmore (Father Tony’s home parish). Both Father Tony and Father Rick went to Saint Pius X High School seminary, Cathedral College and the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception; both also pursued post graduate work at Fordham University. And finally, both are Met fans!

For the past twenty-four years, Father Rick has been pastor of Saint Martin of Tours in Amityville and Our Lady of Peace in Lynbrook. As he has finished his second term as pastor of Our Lady of Peace, Father Rick was generous enough to stay active in ministry and make himself available for priestly service in the Diocese. And so, the Bishop has assigned him to work with us here at Saint Thomas.

We look forward to offering a warm welcome to Father Rick as he begins this new chapter in his priestly life.