New Pastor Announcement

Effective Monday, March 1, 2021 Reverend Patrick M. Crino will assume responsibilities as Pastor, St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, succeeding Msgr. John Lyons who announced his retirement earlier this Fall.

Bishop Weisenburger made the official announcement on Saturday, November 1, 2020; Fr. Crino advised his current parishioners this weekend as well.

A Tucson native, Fr. Crino was educated at Our Mother of Sorrows School and Palo Verde High School. He graduated St. John’s Seminary, Camarillo, California in 1980 and earned his Master of Divinity following four years of graduate work at St. John's. He remains close with his four sisters (and their families) - two of whom reside in Tucson; two in Chandler.

He was ordained, together with John Lyons and Raul Trevizo (now both Msgrs.), here in Tucson at St. Augustine Cathedral by Bishop Manuel Moreno on August 15, 1988. 

Fr. Crino’s first clerical assignments were Parochial Vicar at Sts. Peter & Paul Parish (5-1/2 years) followed by Director of Vocations at the Diocesan Chancery office (six years). 

In 1999, he became Pastor (for the first time) at St. Francis of Assisi in Yuma.  While there, Fr. collaborated with lay leaders to organize the Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at St. Clare Chapel and had his first opportunity to influence Catholic youth education (Religious Education, at the parochial school and at Yuma Catholic High School.)

For the  next six years (beginning in 2004), Fr. was Rector at St. Augustine Cathedral where, in addition to caring for the spiritual needs and growth of his parishioners, he also served as the Church's administrator, president of the corporation board and was instrumental in preserving its historic buildings as well as the functionality of the parish facilities.

In 2010 Fr. Crino returned to Sts. Peter & Paul as Pastor, replacing Fr. John Lyons when he became our Pastor here at St. Thomas the Apostle. Most recently he has also held a dual role as Director of Seminarians for the Diocese of Tucson. 

Being raised in a Knights of Columbus family, Fr. Crino is a Fourth Degree Knight, having made his First Degree in 1990. For 22 years (until 2019) he served as KofC Arizona State Chaplain. At all his parishes, Fr. exhibits his enthusiasm and commitment to the Knights at council, assembly and state levels.

With his spiritual experience and tenure, Fr. Crino will bring a renewed energy to our Parish. We look forward to him leading our flock for years to come.