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 would like them to celebrate the Sacraments. Before receiving any Sacrament, the Church asks that children take part in preparation classes so they can grow in their understanding and faith. At St Thomas Parish, we support parents in this important role by offering preparation programs for each of the three Sacraments for baptised, school-aged children.
Reconciliation is the first Sacrament children receive. It is available to baptised children from Year 3. First Eucharist is the second Sacrament. It is offered to baptised children in Year 4 or older who have already celebrated Reconciliation. Confirmation is the third Sacrament. It is offered in Year 6 to baptised children who have previously celebrated Reconciliation and First Eucharist. Each preparation program is held on Mondays after school from 4:00–4:50pm at St Thomas Church and runs for approximately 5 - 8 weeks.
For 2026 preparation details or any further questions, please contact: Debbie Chasemore Sacramental Coordinator sacramentalstthomas@gmail.com
PLEASE NOTE There is an Enrolment fee of $150 per Sacrament (with a 20% discount on additional siblings receiving the same Sacrament) payable upon enrolment which covers classes, materials and mementos.
St Thomas Sacrament Program dates for 2026
Contact Debbie Chasemore sacramentalstthomas@gmail.com for details.
Eucharist:
Classe 2th February to 16th March (except public holidays)
Time: 4pm-4:50pm.
Venue: St Thomas Church Peninsula Drive Drysdale
Sacrament of Eucharist - Sunday 22th March at St Thomas’ Church Drysdale. 9.00am
Reconciliation: NOW OPEN Enrolments close 1st May 2026.
Classes: 4th May to Monday 1st June (except public holidays)
Time: 4pm-4:50pm Venue: St Thomas Church Peninsula Drive Drysdale
Sacrament of Reconciliation- 1st Rite on Monday 15th June 4pm.
Confirmation: Enrolments close 4th July 2026.
Classes: 27th July to 14th September.
Time: 4pm-4:50pm
Venue: St Thomas Church Peninsula Drive Drysdale
Sacrament of Confirmation Thursday 17th September at 7.00pm
Baptism for Older Children (8-12 yr olds) - Enrolments close 9th October 2026.
Our final Sacrament preparation programme is for the Baptism of older children which begins on Monday the 19th of October to 16th November.
Time: 4pm-4:50pm
Venue: St Thomas Church Peninsula Drive Drysdale
Sacrament of Baptism Saturday 21st November at 11.00am
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.
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.
