The Rock has entered a season of renewal. Saint Alphonsus Liguori “The Rock” Catholic Church is welcoming Father Royce M. Thomas, C.Ss.R., as its new pastor priest. The new installation signals both continuity and fresh energy for a parish long shaped by music, faith and community.
On Sunday, August 23, Saint Alphonsus Liguori “The Rock” Catholic Church will gather in prayer and celebration as Father Thomas is installed as its new pastor priest during the 10 a.m. Mass. The Archbishop of St. Louis, the Most Reverend Mitchell T. Rozanski, will preside at the Mass and formally install Father Thomas as pastor.
“There’s no need to be quiet at the Rock.”
Father Royce M. Thomas, C.Ss.R
Founded in 1867, the Rock has long served as a spiritual anchor for Black Catholics in St. Louis. Father Thomas, 37, will be the first Black pastor priest to lead the parish since 2002, and only the second in its history following Father Maurice J. Nutt, who served from 1993 to 2002.
Father Thomas said his focus is “to stabilize and revitalize” the parish — welcoming back congregants who may have become less engaged, while inviting new worshippers seeking a dynamic and culturally grounded experience of Mass. “The Rock’s doors will be open to anyone who comes communicating a desire to have a relationship with Christ,” Father Thomas said. “There is a perception that you have to be a certain way to come to church, that you have to come in perfect. Come as you are. Whoever you are, whatever state of life you are in, just come in with an open heart and God will take care of the rest.”
Born and raised in Trinidad, Father Thomas grew up in the Catholic Church and was active in music ministry — playing drums and guitar and singing in the choir. Although he was assigned to The Rock by the Redemptorist administration rather than choosing the parish himself, he immediately connected with the rhythmic, musical worship style that has long defined the Rock’s liturgy. He has quickly become known for incorporating singing into his homily, a practice that has resonated with parishioners.
“There’s no need to be quiet at the Rock,” he said. “Some see Mass as dull or routine, expecting to passively observe. However, at the Rock, we are more expressive.”
Father Thomas emphasized that the parish’s vibrancy is not limited to music. He hopes to attract worshippers seeking deeper intellectual engagement with their faith. “We are ready to provide theology and philosophy,” Father Thomas said.
He recently completed his one-year appointment as the Rock’s parochial administrator — a period that functions as a trial for the role of pastor priest. During that year, attendance grew from roughly 140 worshippers to closer to 250. He has set a goal of 375 regular attendees and hopes to reach 450 within five years. His appointment as pastor priest is for an indefinite term.
Before arriving in St. Louis, Father Thomas served as campus chaplain at Immaculata University near Philadelphia. He completed his Novitiate in Toronto, earned his graduate degree at the Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio, and completed his undergraduate studies at St. John’s University in New York.
He said he has grown to appreciate St. Louis for its slower pace compared to larger cities where he has lived and worked. The warmth and friendliness he associates with his Caribbean upbringing feel familiar here — though he admits he has yet to find a restaurant that serves Trinidadian cuisine.
Father Thomas also brings a unique personal history to his ministry. Before entering religious life, he was a standout cricket player in Trinidad — an all-tool athlete who excelled as both a batsman and a bowler. He said cricket would have been his most likely career path had he not pursued the priesthood.
“If you are looking for a space, come be a part of us. Come be a part of our community, our family. We are here to serve and uplift,” Father Thomas said. “Jesus is here. And we are very welcoming. You will find greeters at our door. You will experience our community before Mass even begins.”
Saint Alphonsus Liguori “The Rock” Catholic Church is located at 1118 N. Grand Blvd. in St. Louis. Call (314) 533-0304.