St Thomas Catholic Church is located on Peninsula Drive, Drysdale, situated between St Thomas Primary School and St Ignatius College Geelong. Its location between these two schools represents the Holy Spirit's embrace of the school communities.
St Thomas Catholic Church in Drysdale was the fourth church built in the parish in the past 50 years. It replaced the original, 150-year-old parish church, which is now part of a nursing home complex and is used for funerals and weddings.
The church's design is modelled on a dove - the dove being a symbol of hope, peace and the Holy Spirit. It has been designed so that the sanctuary can be screened off, giving the building a multi-purpose function to support the parish schools.
Church open times: St Thomas Catholic Church is open on Sundays from 8.30am to 10.30am unless there are baptisms or weddings to follow, Saturdays from 9.30am to 11am, and Thursdays from 9.30am to 11am. For mass times for all churches in the parish see the Mass Times.
Parish Sacramental Program
Sacrament Information for families of children not attending a catholic school.
The Information below is for families whose children attend a non -catholic school and who wish their child to celebrate the sacraments.
The Church requires that the sacraments are received in order and that children undertake preparation before receiving the sacraments.
St Thomas Parish assists parents in their teaching of the faith by providing preparation programs for each of the three sacraments for school aged children who have been baptised.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is the first sacrament to receive and is available to baptised children from Year three. The second sacrament is First Eucharist and is available to baptised children in year 4 or older who have previously celebrated Reconciliation. The third sacrament is Confirmation in Year 6, and is available to baptised children who have previously celebrated Reconciliation and Eucharist .
Each preparation program is held at St Thomas Church on Mondays after school from 4-4:50pm, for approximately 7-10 weeks. An enrolment fee is payable on enrolment for each program.
For dates of each sacrament’s preparation and reception for this year or other information please contact Viv Adamko, the Parish Sacrament Coordinator at vivvya41@gmail.com
***PLEASE NOTE There is an Enrolment fee of $120 per sacrament (excluding Baptism) payable upon enrolment which covers classes, materials and mementos. **
St Thomas Sacrament Program dates for 2025
Contact Mrs Viv Adamko vivvya41@gmail.com for details.
Eucharist: Enrolment close 24th January 2025.
Classes: Monday 3th February to March 24th (except public holidays)
Time: 4pm-4:50pm.
Venue: St Thomas Church Peninsula Drive Drysdale
Presentation Ceremony (welcome and blessing) Sunday 23rd February at St Thomas 9.00am .
Sacrament of Eucharist -Sunday 30th March at St Thomas’ Church Drysdale. 9.00am
Reconciliation: Enrolments close 18th April 2025.
Classes: Monday 28th April to Monday 16th June (except public holidays)
Time: 4pm-4:50pm Venue: St Thomas Church Peninsula Drive Drysdale
Presentation Ceremony (welcome and blessing) Sunday May 18th at St Thomas Church 9am.
Sacrament of Reconciliation- 1st Rite on Monday 23rd June 4pm.
Confirmation: Enrolments close 4th July 2025.
Classes: Monday 28th July to Monday 15th September.
Time: 4pm-4:50pm
Venue: St Thomas Church Peninsula Drive Drysdale
Presentation Ceremony (welcome and blessing) Sunday 10th August at St Thomas Church 9.00am.
Sacrament of Confirmation Thursday 18th September at 7.00pm
Baptism for Older Children (8-12 yr olds) - Enrolments colse 26th September 2025.
Our final Sacrament preparation programme is for the Baptism of older children which begins on Monday the 13th of October. There are 3 sessions children need to attend on the 13/10. 20/10, 27/10, beginning at 4pm until 4:50 at St Thomas Church Drysdale.
The classes aim to help children understand what it means to be Baptised and that their parents are passing on this gift of faith through Baptism . Baptism welcomes them into the Catholic faith - the Catholic church, and, through their Baptism they become followers of Jesus. Symbols of Baptism will be explored. Oil, water, the candle and the white garment or stole, as well as the promises they will make during the celebration; through the Rite of Baptism.
If you would like your child to participate in this Parish preparation program for the Sacrament of Baptism , please email Viv Adamko at vivvya41@gmail.com
Please note: At least one parent must be a Baptised Catholic in order for their child/ ren be Baptised. The classes will assume some knowledge of God as you as parents are the first educators of your children in faith, so my role will be to build upon that faith base that has been created. Once children have completed the preparation program, parents will then need to contact Fr Ray and arrange the date of the Baptism.
Catholic Parish of the Bellarine
The Catholic Parish of the Bellarine is made up of four churches: St Thomas, Drysdale; Lumen Christi, Leopold; St Patrick, Portarlington; and Sts Philip & James, St Leonards.
Our Parish Priest is Father Raymond Bugeja.
St Thomas: Peninsula Drv, Drysdale
Lumen Christi: Kensington Rd, Leopold
St Patrick: Harding St, Portarlington
Sts Philip & James: Murradoc Rd, St Leonards
Safeguarding Committee
Safeguarding Children and Young People
The St Thomas Parish Drysdale community is committed to creating a child safe culture that safeguards children, young people and vulnerable persons including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with a disability, and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds so that all people can actively participate and fully realise their potential in a faith community.
Statement of committment can be viewed here.
Child Safe Policy can be viewed here.
Prayer of Protection
Lord Jesus, our Good Shepherd, protect and nurture people of all ages under our care that they may fear no evil, for with your crook and staff you comfort us and enable goodness and kindness to follow us all the days of our lives. Amen
Parish Mission Statement
Our Mission as a Faith Community is to come into a deeper and fuller relationship with Christ our Saviour through meaningful celebrations of the Eucharist and the Sacraments.
Parish Vision Statement
After consultation with our Mass Centre Communities we have agreed to this as our vision
• Be an Active Parish engaging our four communities, as one Parish.
• Enhance our Communications Strategies, through the establishment of our Website and St Thomas Parish FB Page making full use of Social Media.
• Build relationships within our communities to make us truly welcoming.
• Engage Youth to make a place for them in our Community.
• Reach out to our Schools and Families to include them in the Sacramental life in our Parish.
Parish Schools
St Thomas Catholic Church has two parish schools - St Thomas Primary School and Saint Ignatius College. Both schools use the Church regularly for worship, liturgy, and events.
St Thomas Primary SchooL
St Thomas Primary School is in the Drysdale Parish situated in the heart of the Bellarine Peninsula. The school was founded in 1997 and has a short but rich history of school, families and parish working together to ensure children are given every opportunity to feel safe and happy at school while they strive to learn and develop.
St Thomas' School Community aims to foster Gospel values and to work in partnership with families to ensure growth in faith and identity as a member of the Catholic community. After initiation by Baptism into the community, then growth in that faith is encouraged within the climate of our Catholic School. Therefore it is the right of every Catholic child to be given these opportunities wherever and whenever it is practically possible to do so. St Thomas Primary School is always actively involved with our local and parish community. www.stdrysdale.catholic.edu.au
Saint Ignatius College
Saint Ignatius College is a years 7-12 co-educational college owned and operated by the parishes of the Geelong Deanery. The College is a proud Jesuit Partner School and a member of the Ignatian Network of 95 schools in Australasia, together with others worldwide that share the spiritual and educational philosophy of St Ignatius of Loyola. The Ignatian Way is to strive for the greater good, educate the whole person (body, mind and spirit) and develop young adults of competence, compassion and conscience ready to serve their community and transform their world.
Saint Ignatius College aspires to form young men and women in the spirit of seeking the magis; through fostering growth in their ability to be discerning persons, our purpose is that they will come to a fuller understanding of themselves as loved by God, and invited by Christ to participate in creating a better world where goodness, peace and justice reign. www.ignatius.vic.edu.au
Indigenous Acknowledgement
St Thomas Catholic Parish acknowledge the Wada wurrung people, the Traditional Owners who have walked upon and cared for this land for thousands of years. We acknowledge the continued deep spiritual attachment and relationship Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have to their country and commit ourselves to the ongoing journey of reconciliation.
