St. Thomas Aquinas marks 50 years

RIO RANCHO — Friday marked more than the holy day of All Saints Day at St. Thomas Aquinas Church. It also marked the church’s 50th anniversary.

“It’s just been a joy to see,” Monsignor Douglas A. Raun said. “The parish has been there to help so many, and it faces a wonderful future as Rio Rancho continues to grow.”

It was on Nov. 1, 1974 when Archbishop Robert F. Sanchez issued a decree making St. Thomas Aquinas a parish.

“We were originally a Mission of St. Jude’s. Down in Haynes Park, there is an ‘itty bitty’ little community room, and that’s where the parish began,” Raun said.

After the 6 p.m. solemn Mass at St. Thomas Friday, parish members headed over to the parish hall for food, entertainment, and a short program on the history of the parish. During the celebration, the church’s original members were recognized with plaques and parish members were asked to answer trivia questions about the church’s history.

“What began as a small little church for a bunch of retirees, has grown into this huge parish,” Raun said. “That we have given birth to two new parishes!”

Because of the success of St. Thomas, two more churches have started in Rio Rancho: Church of the Incarnation and St. John Vianney.