Their VBS is the very best out there we've been a part of it since 2012 I don't know why OLPH is #1 I guess no one that went to VBS at St. Thomas left a review. read more

We have belonged to St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church for 52 years. We have been involved in serveral programs offered here: Eucharistic Ministers to the Homebound, Fiesta, Usher, Decorations of our church, and CCD Teachers. We have had many worderful priests here over the years. One of our favorite of many is Father Celestine. He is sweet, kind and caring. It is difficult to understand him sometimes but he does his best and if you truely listen you will be able to understand. Thank you Father Celestine for being here at St. Thomas. We appreciate you. Larry and Jane Cassidy read more

We attended a wedding on a Saturday afternoon. There was ample parking nearby, a parking lot shared with the Catholic school on the corner. St. Thomas appears to be a clean, well-maintained church, with tiled columns, polished pews, and lots of wood paneling. One hopes that the woman who plays the piano and sings the hymns comes with the wedding package and the masses. She has a great set of pipes. The wedding reception was in the parish hall, which has the maximum occupancy of 235. It is on the opposite side of the parking lot, right next to the school. For this reception, there were lights strung across the ceiling. The facility has restrooms, male and female. The men's restroom has two toilets and one urinal. The men's restroom has two toilets and one urinal. There is also a kitchen in the parish hall for warming up food and windows for serving food and drink. This wedding hired a taco truck which fed a party of about 140. read more

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Baptized my daughter here and worst experience ever priest was mad from the start because office people told him the mass was in English when I clearly stated that I wanted it in Spanish plus I paid for a private church mass so right when it started he starting being rude to the helper and to us because we couldn't understand what he was saying since his Spanish was not that well I get it he was upset with the office people but that doesn't mean he had to be such a a**hole to us and my family wouldn't recommend this church read more

It's unfortunate about some of the demeaning comments about Fr. Celestine, as he is a phenomenal speaker, and confessor. My family and myself are thankful for the spirit (Holy Spirit!) filled homilies he provides, and also providing truthful and honest feedback about confessions, so that we can reconcile ourselves back to Christ! We are truly blessed and grateful to have Fr. Celestine in our parish. In regard to Nigeria, and Fr. Celestine asking for money: why not? The poor will always be with us, and we are all called to give and spread the Gospel throughout the world! Thank you, Lord read more

Came here for a confession. Left in tears after being judged and rushed by the priest. Don't come here. Please go somewhere else if you seek solace in your life. Told (yelled) at me to hurry up, are you done, I can't hear you. (I spoke up for him) if I was done, to stop talking, rushed me. I couldn't say anything. I feel hurt. My faith is hurt. Wouldn't stop yelling at me, judging me, hitting the wall between us violently. NEVER COME HERE. His name is Celestine. Father Celestine should be fired and stripped of his title of priest. read more

Clean church. They have been welcoming every time I attend mass. The sermons are good.

I sat house left on 10/06/24, and the components of the Mass spoken by the priest & lectors were incomprehensible. The sound system produces muffled audio, and it doesn't help that there is a light echo. I am assuming the sound was rigged to prioritize audio quality for the house center left and center right pews, but not the side wings with the angled pews. Also, all individuals using microphones throughout the Mass could benefit from a skills training on articulation and enunciation. Most importantly, I urge this parish to prioritize improving the sound system out of respect for the liturgy of the word and so the congregation isn't hostage to 75min of garbled audio. read more

A beautiful church with very friendly people and...brace yourself: projectors during mass so you can follow along and focus on the words and sing your heart out because all the words are right there! I used to attend St. Paul the Apostle in Chino Hills and they have projectors too. I missed that so much when I left. If you are looking for a wonderful church this is it!! Come home! read more

Saint Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church - Look at this!!! I love it!!! - Churches Near Me - Riverside, California

SB Diocese, SB Diocese, Why have you forsaken us? I echo the sentiments Jesus last spoke as he was crucified by his people in response to how the Diocese of San Bernardino has foresaken its people in Riverside, Ca. A cornerstone of the work of Vatican II was to understand the Church's need to celebrate Mass in the language of the local congregation to appropriately and effectively "get closer to the people of God so that they could understand well what it does, and this is important for us" Pope Francis, 2015. St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Riverside, CA has a Parochial Vicar- Celestine Afugwobi who fails at bringing the Word of God to our community. He is unable to effectively communicate in either in English or Spanish to be able to share the Good News. He leaves our community to the time prior to Vatican II where God's people did not understand the language of the Sacraments being celebrated. This is a huge disservice to his flock. Besides being unintelligible, Celestine's primary focus is evident: his hometown and his people back in his home country. Celestine does not promote the well-being or development of his community in Riverside but rather capitalizes on ways to extract funding and resources from his home community to take back to his home country. We need a priest focused on improving and developing our community, not one looking to exploit us for the benefit of his friends and family back at home. read more

Everyone at this church is very friendly and kind. The staff is extremely helpful and the priest is really to the point. Church is beautiful inside and accommodates everyone that attends. My only issue is the audio. Sometimes it's hard to understand the priest, lector and even the choir due to the echo in the church. read more

Went to Saint Thomas for the first time and last time.First off Every Catholic Mass anywhere is absolutely amazing, we get to witness the true miracle of the Eucharist!!! However when a priest decides to play with the rubrics of the Mass it is a sad day! The older priest that was presiding at Mass this passed Sunday decided to completely take out the Creed!! And why do I have to see "Deacon Couple" on the bulletin on my way out??!! I should have just kept on driving passed this church and made it to my original destination San Secundo... Don't play with the mass rubrics please!!! read more

I've been attending this church ever since I was a wee child. Actually i went to preschool here. Mass schedule is flexible in case you are an early bird or sleeper, even a late night mass on Saturday and Sunday. Recently it has filled up more due to population increase but usually unless you are really late (don't bother going, mass starts on time, doesn't wait for you!) you will be able to find a seat. The ushers are nice and they always have very great singers. The music sometimes leaves you in awe of how great it is! read more

Love our Church and all the Priests are a blessing. Very welcoming and the choir is so harmonic.