The St. Thomas More church was spared destruction, but the parish rectory, hall, and other buildings were burned to the ground.[/caption]
Name of Church St. Thomas More
Address 767 Elliott Road, Paradise, CA 95969
Phone number (503) 877-4501
Website www.stmparadise.org
Mass times Sunday, 10:30 am, 12:30 pm (Spanish), Tuesday, 6 pm, Wednesday – Friday, 8:30 am.
Confessions Tuesday, 5 – 5:45 pm, Saturday, 3:30 – 5 pm.
Names of priests Father Chuck Kelly, pastor. Faithful priest, good homilist, former vocations director. Installed in the parish in 2024.
Special groups/activities Men’s prayer group, Friday adoration, Knights of Columbus, Respect Life Ministry, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Secular Franciscans, Quilting and Prayer Shawl Ministry, women’s guild.
School No.
Music Choirs.
Fellow parishioners Paradise is an English-speaking community with many retirees; the town population is under 5,000 (down from 26,000 in 2010, due in large part to the 2018 Camp Fire).
Parking There is ample parking around the church.
Additional observations St. Thomas More is a parish of the Diocese of Sacramento established in 1948. The 2018 Camp Fire destroyed much of Paradise and killed 85 residents. It was the most destructive fire in California history. The St. Thomas More church was spared destruction, but the parish rectory, hall, and other buildings were burned to the ground. Three parishioners were among the town’s dead, while most of the others were left homeless. There is a memorial plaque at the church to remember the victims. Rebuilding of the parish and community continues.
The Pastor Fr. Chuck is a sincere honest man. He might not be the super charismatic preacher but he’s a regular guy where you can get some solid counsel, nothing frilly. The great thing that inspires me about him is his honesty and humility. So glad to know where I can find him.
With 80% fewer people in town, the parish is now St. Thomas Less.