I am Fr. Thomas M. Pastorius (it is about 50/50 with whether or not people call me Fr. Tom or Fr. Pastorius.  I was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of St. Louis in 2003 and my first priesthood assignment was as associate pastor of Sacred Heart in Valley Park.  I have also served as associate pastor at St. Norbert parish in Florissant and as the associate pastor of St. Mark's Parish on Morganford/Union.  On January 9, 2012 I was made pastor of Epiphany Parish in South St. Louis.  I am currently pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Manchester (a suburb of St. Louis) Missouri.  

I am the oldest of six children.  (I had an older sister who died when she was four and I was two so I often tell people that I am the oldest by default.  Both of my parents are not only still living but they are still living in the same house that I grew up in.  While I was growing up, I attended Church at St. William’s Parish (which is now closed so technically Holy Trinity would be considered my home parish now.)

I attended St. William’s elementary school and one year of St. Louis Preparatory Seminary (“Prep South”).  Prep closed at the end of my freshman year, and I transferred to Ritenour High School in Overland/St. John area.  I attended Kenrick-Glennon Seminary for college and graduate school.  The college program was in conjunction with St. Louis University so I actually have a degree from St. Louis University with a double major in Philosophy and History.  I have a Masters of Divinity from Kenrick School of Theology.  My internship assignment was All Soul’s Parish in Overland and my deacon assignment was St. Gabriel’s in the city behind Ted Drew’s. 

In addition to my work in the parish, I try my best to support the Office of Vocations in their efforts to promote priesthood and religious life. I am currently the lead priest for Project Rachel (post abortive ministry) and I am chaplain for the office of Youth Formation. 

I have completed a three year program in the Art of Contemplative Spiritual Direction from the Institute of Priestly formation and I am currently finishing up a retreat director certificate through the Institute of Priestly Formation.