Saint Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church sits in Oroville, the seat of Butte County in Northern California, where the same parish has gathered Catholics since 1857. Its identity is shaped by two commitments: a school that has educated generations of children on the parish grounds, and a small mission church, Saint Anthony of Padua, that keeps a Catholic presence in the foothill community of Challenge. Together the two campuses make up one parish family belonging to the Diocese of Sacramento since 1886.
The parish states its mission this way: "Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we, the church, answer the call of Christ to be a visible sign of His presence by participating in Scripture and Sacraments, Worship and Prayer, Spiritual and Academic Education, Evangelization and Witnessing, Service and Charity, Fellowship, and Community." Every ministry the parish offers flows from that statement.
Mass, Confession, and the Weekly Rhythm
The heart of parish life is the seven-day schedule of Masses at Saint Thomas the Apostle, complemented by a single Sunday Mass at the Challenge mission and a steady rhythm of confession and Eucharistic Adoration.
At Saint Thomas the Apostle on Bird Street, Mass is offered Saturday at 5:30 p.m. as the vigil Mass and at 7:00 p.m. in Spanish. Sunday brings two Masses, at 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Weekday Masses follow a steady pattern: 8:30 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, and 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday. At Saint Anthony of Padua in Challenge, Sunday Mass is celebrated at 12:30 p.m.
The Sacrament of Penance is heard at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and 4:00 p.m. on Saturdays, with appointments available outside those hours. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament draws worshippers into the middle of the week: every Tuesday from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., every Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., and on the third Saturday of each month at 8:00 p.m. Spanish-language Adoration follows the 7:00 p.m. Spanish Mass on the third Saturday of each month. The Rosary is recited every weekday after the morning Mass and after each Sunday Mass.
One Parish, Two Churches
Saint Thomas the Apostle in Oroville and Saint Anthony of Padua in Challenge form a single parish under one pastor. The main parish office at 1330 Bird Street in Oroville serves both communities, and the parish bulletin, registration, and sacramental preparation are unified. The Challenge mission operates from 10184 La Porte Road and holds its own Sunday Mass at 12:30 p.m. Its Parish Council is led by Peter Garcia, Mary Lou Lauck, and Gene Weckman, with Margaret Carnahan coordinating the Altar Society there.
Parish office hours at the Bird Street office are 9:00 a.m. to noon Monday through Thursday, and 9:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. on Friday. The parish office can be reached at 530-533-0262.
Saint Thomas School on the Parish Grounds
Saint Thomas School, located on the parish grounds, is a parish school serving students through eighth grade under the leadership of Principal Kelly Floyd. The school shares faith life, schedule, and facilities with the parish, and many of its families register their children for parish religious education classes offered outside school hours. Eighth-grade graduates of the school appear regularly in the parish photo gallery, and First Communion and Confirmation celebrations that mark each year's milestones are held in common with the parish. The Knights of Columbus and the school's Parent Club support the school with fundraising and family events.
Becoming Catholic: OCIA
The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) is the formal door into the Catholic Church for those who have never been baptized, those baptized in another Christian tradition, and baptized Catholics seeking First Communion and Confirmation. The OCIA process is led by Lianna Bazzani and meets every Tuesday evening from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Parish Office Conference Room.
The five stages follow the universal Catholic pattern: Inquiry or Pre-Catechumenate, the Catechumenate, Purification and Enlightenment during Lent, the celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil, and Mystagogia. Those preparing for full communion ordinarily receive Baptism (if not already baptized), Confirmation, and First Eucharist at the Easter Vigil. The process is open to anyone exploring the faith; participation does not require a commitment to become Catholic, and Catholic sponsors are always needed to walk alongside candidates.
The Sacraments of Christian Initiation for Children
The parish offers full sacramental preparation for children who are not enrolled in the parish school.
Baptism for infants and young children is preceded by a class for parents and godparents, taught on the first Saturday of each month in the Parish Office. Baptisms are celebrated on the fifth weekend of months that have five Sundays; there are no baptisms during Lent. Adult baptism ordinarily takes place once a year at the Easter Vigil.
First Communion preparation is a two-year program required by the Diocese of Sacramento. Children must be at least seven years old, enrolled in second grade, and baptized; parents must provide a copy of the baptismal certificate. Classes are held on Monday evenings. Confirmation preparation is also a two-year program, with the first year meeting on Monday evenings and the second year on Sundays. Candidates must be in seventh, eighth, or ninth grade, already baptized, and have celebrated First Reconciliation and First Communion. A Confirmation sponsor must be at least sixteen, a fully initiated practicing Catholic, and chosen by the candidate rather than the parents.
Marriage Preparation
Couples who wish to be married at Saint Thomas the Apostle work with a marriage coordinator for a six-month preparation period. Martha Toete serves as the marriage preparation advocate, working with couples to gather the necessary diocesan paperwork, attend an approved marriage preparation program, and rehearse the ceremony. Engaged couples should contact the parish at least six months before their desired wedding date, and the Catholic Church requires a marriage preparation course before a wedding can take place in the church.
Diocesan-approved programs include a parish-based class held over four to six evenings, the Engaged Encounter weekend retreat offered five times a year, and an online marriage preparation course. The Diocese also requires a minimum one-hour Natural Family Planning overview session taught by certified instructors.
Consolation Ministry: Walking With Families at the Hour of Loss
The parish's Consolation/Funeral Ministry accompanies families through the death of a loved one. Maria Johnson leads the ministry, working with the pastor to plan Funeral Masses, funeral services without Mass, vigil services, and committal services. The Catholic Church views the funeral liturgy as a prayerful event that comforts those who mourn and commends the deceased to God's mercy. Receptions can also be arranged in the parish community. The Art of Dying Well series on FORMED is recommended to families preparing for end-of-life decisions.
A Bilingual Parish
Spanish-speaking Catholics form a significant part of the parish. A weekly Spanish prayer group, Caminando Con Dios (Walk with God), meets every Friday at 6:00 p.m. in the Community Center, beginning with the Rosary. The group sings, listens to the daily Gospel, and shares testimonies of how the Lord has changed lives. Maribel Melchor coordinates the group and Ivania Rojas serves as officer. Throughout the year, the group plans healing Masses, youth retreats, and mini concerts of adoration.
The Guadalupana Society, led by Celina Sanchez and Henry Sanchez, honors Our Lady of Guadalupe and gathers the Spanish-speaking Catholic community of the parish. Our Lady of Guadalupe events appear regularly in the parish photo gallery. Saturday evening Mass in Spanish, weekly confession in Spanish, and a monthly Spanish Adoration Night (Adoración Nocturna) led by Juan Juarez complete the picture. The Coronilla de la Divina Misericordia, the Spanish Chaplet of Divine Mercy, is led by Maribel Carrillo.
Lay Ministries That Carry the Parish
The parish describes liturgical ministry as "an excellent opportunity to fulfill your baptismal call of service to one another," and the sheer number of lay ministries reflects that conviction. Altar Servers, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Lectors, the Music Ministry, and Ushers serve at the altar. Collection Counters, the Finance Council, the Liturgy Committee, and the Parish Council handle the administration of parish life.
Among the wider service ministries, the Marriage Preparation team walks with engaged couples; the Ministers to the Sick and Homebound bring Holy Communion to those unable to attend Mass; the Prayer Chain led by Maeva Barickman carries intercessory prayers for any intention, large or small; the Fellowship and Coffee Hour Ministry, coordinated by Marth Roz, hosts treats between the 8:00 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday Masses from September through May, with each parish group taking a turn.
The Men's Morning Ministry, in existence since 1992, gathers working and retired men on Thursday mornings in the Community Center. Some arrive at 5:00 a.m. to pray the Divine Office, and the full group is together by 5:30 a.m. for scripture study, ending at 6:30 a.m. All are welcome, and non-Catholics are encouraged to attend. Greg Bates and Deacon Tom O'Connell lead the ministry.
St. Anne's Creative Hands Ministry meets on the second and fourth Mondays of each month at 10:00 a.m. in the Parish Library. Under the patronage of Saint Anne, mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary, members work on group and individual craft projects that benefit the church, school, and community. Zooba Zwicker coordinates the ministry.
The Garden Volunteers maintain the flower beds, foliage, and grounds surrounding the church, working on Monday and Friday mornings after the 8:30 a.m. Mass. Teresita "Tess" Woods welcomes new volunteers.
The Teen Ministry reaches junior high and high school students. Elizabeth Gusman leads meetings on the first Sunday of each month after the 10:30 a.m. Mass in the Community Center, and on the third Friday of each month in the Parish Office. The ministry draws inspiration from Pope Francis's apostolic exhortation Christus Vivit.
The parish is also home to several long-standing organizations. The Altar Society, led by Jan Jensen, maintains the sanctuary and hosts funeral luncheons, with meetings on the second Tuesday of each month from September through June, 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. The Catholic Ladies Relief Society #12, coordinated by Jane Starling, runs the annual rummage sale and coat drive. The Knights of Columbus, the parish's fraternal organization, is led by Henry Sanchez. The parish also organizes Catholic Media outreach through Dominick Chiricosta, sharing resources like EWTN, Relevant Radio, and the daily Mass readings.
Music in the Liturgy
The Music Ministry provides music for every weekend Mass and Holy Day of Obligation at both Saint Thomas the Apostle and Saint Anthony of Padua in Challenge. Rhonda Williams serves as Music Coordinator, and Bronwyn Eisermann directs the High Mass Choir. The parish teaches that "he who sings prays twice" and that sacred music is a "necessary or integral part of the solemn liturgy." Quoting the Second Vatican Council's Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy (Sacrosanctum Concilium) and the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, the parish underscores that Gregorian chant holds pride of place in the Roman liturgy, polyphony is not excluded, and the congregation's voice should ring out in worship.
For those who want to go deeper, FORMED hosts Gregorian chant, polyphony, Latin hymns in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Georgian chant, and one-hour selections of sacred music.
The Liturgy Committee
The Liturgy Committee plans, implements, and evaluates parish liturgies through the seasons of the Church year, especially Advent, Christmas, Lent, Holy Week, and Easter. The committee includes the pastor, deacons, the school principal, the religious education and OCIA coordinators, music ministry, lectors, eucharistic ministers, the Altar Society, the Catholic Ladies Relief Society, altar servers, Hispanic ministries, Extraordinary Ministers who visit the sick, the Consolation Ministry, the parish communications editor, the youth and teen coordinators, the Divine Mercy coordinators, and a Parish Council representative. Rhonda Williams chairs the committee, which meets monthly and keeps minutes on file in the parish office for future planning.
Learning the Faith: FORMED and the Scholars Corner
The parish is a subscriber to FORMED, the Catholic streaming platform of the Augustine Institute and Ignatius Press. Parishioners can register at formed.org/signup using the parish zip code 95965 to access thousands of studies, films, audio content, e-books, and family programs. Travis Holland and Steve Hutton help parishioners with the registration process.
The Scholars Corner offers a curated set of intellectual and devotional resources. These include the Ascension podcasts The Rosary in a Year with Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR, The Bible in a Year with Fr. Mike Schmitz, and The Catechism in a Year, also with Fr. Mike Schmitz. The Corner also features video explanations of Catholic questions: whether Catholics worship saints, the nature of purgatory, why Mary is honored as Mother, what is really happening during Mass (drawn from the film The Veil Removed), and what makes Catholic Christianity distinct from other Christian traditions. There are also conversations with Bishop Robert Barron, Tammy Peterson's testimony about the rosary, an introduction to Thomas Aquinas, and a primer on the virtue of hope. The parish's Questions About Catholicism page gathers these videos into a single starting point for those inquiring about the Catholic faith.
The Basis of Catholic Belief
The parish catechesis is straightforward: Catholic beliefs and doctrines have their roots in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ and are drawn from both Scripture and Tradition, the two together forming the deposit of faith. Over two thousand years, councils, doctors of the Church, and faithful believers have contributed to the deepening articulation of doctrines such as the canon of Scripture, the seven sacraments, transubstantiation, and the communion of saints. Devotions like the Rosary grew over time and, while not formal doctrines, are part of the spiritual life that flows from the same Catholic faith.
Daily Readings and the Liturgical Year
The parish provides a link to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' daily readings. The parish teaches the structure of the liturgical year: Advent, Christmas, Lent, the Sacred Paschal Triduum, Easter, and Ordinary Time, along with the colors of vestments and the ranks of solemnities, feasts, and memorials. Links to the General Roman Calendar, the Diocese of Sacramento's liturgical calendar, and the USCCB's annual calendar are part of the regular resources.
Giving and Supporting the Parish
The parish offers online giving through Zeffy. Donations can be directed to Offertory Collections, the Maintenance Fund, or School Support, and the parish encourages existing givers to use the platform because no fees are charged to the parish. Parishioners who give through OSV (Our Sunday Visitor) can still access their accounts. Donations can also be made in person at the parish office or by mail.
Bulletins, Calendar, and Photo Gallery
A weekly bulletin is published for Mass at both Saint Thomas the Apostle and Saint Anthony of Padua. A complete bulletin archive is maintained, organized by month. The parish maintains a Facilities Calendar through Google Calendar so that parishioners and outside groups can see when the church and meeting rooms are reserved. The parish photo gallery gathers images from major feasts and celebrations: the Corpus Christi Procession, the dedication of the Saint Thomas statue, the Easter Vigil, Holy Thursday Mass, the Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion, the dedication of the Our Lady of Guadalupe statue and rose garden, the annual Feast Day Celebration, eighth-grade graduates, First Communions, Confirmations, and the Our Lady of Guadalupe Feast.
The People of the Parish
The parish is led by Fr. German Ramos, Parochial Administrator, with the assistance of Deacon Thomas O'Connell (retired). Martha Orozco serves as Parish Secretary, and Shirlee Ohls-Morris is the parish bookkeeper. Kelly Floyd is the School Principal. Garrett Fernandez is the Parish Council contact, and Michael Suplita chairs the Finance Council.
Staying Connected
Anyone who would like to join the parish can pick up a registration form in the church vestibule or at the parish office and return it in person, by mail, or by email. New parishioners and visitors are warmly welcomed, and the parish regularly announces volunteer needs in its bulletin for Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, and bulletin assembly.