Nursery
The St. Thomas More nursery is provided for parish families so parents may attend Mass on Sundays and participate in weekly ministry events giving them the opportunity for spiritual growth while leaving their child in a caring and loving environment.
The nursery was my first step in "letting go". We had never left our child anywhere! I felt totally comfortable with the surroundings and the volunteers I encountered. The staff is awesome and we LOVE the care. Both are a blessing for STM. We are so lucky to have such a wonderful program at our church. Thanks so much!
— The Morris Family
Childcare is provided Sunday mornings for infants at least 6 months old until the child reaches kindergarten age. For programs outside Sunday mornings, Nursery Care is extended through elementary age children.

Our Nursery Staff consists of many volunteers from this ministry and a few paid caregivers who all provide a safe, positive, fun first church experience for our children. Per our Catholic Diocesan policy on Ethics and Integrity in Ministry, all clergy and paid staff, and all volunteers working with youth and vulnerable adults, at any parish or diocesan location, are required to complete an Application for Ministry AND are required to attend an EIM workshop every three years. These requirements and the process to be compliant are listed on the Austin Diocese website. The Application for Ministry is online on that website along with the current schedule of both EIM Workshops and EIM Refresher Workshops.

The Nursery program is successful due to the volunteers and parents who work together each week to make this nursery possible. Our caregivers who staff the Sunday Mass nursery are parents who utilize the nursery and volunteer one Sunday per month. Caregivers for other ministry programs are recruited by ministry leaders and are either paid staff or volunteers.

Our nursery rooms are located in the family center in Nursery Rooms 1, 2 and 3 just past the gift shop. We also utilize Room 102 in the Religious Education building when necessary.

Our hours of operation:
Sunday Co-Op Nursery 8:45 a.m.–12:15 p.m. to accommodate the 9:00 and 10:45 a.m. Masses.
Availability is based on number of children and volunteers present.
Weekly Programs available with Reservation:
Monday 3:30–5:30 p.m. and 6:30–9:00 p.m.
Tuesday 3:30–5:30 p.m. and 6:30–9:00 p.m.
Wednesday 3:30–5:30 p.m. and 6:30–9:00 p.m.
Thursday Closed
Friday 9:00 a.m.–12:00 noon and 7:00–9:00 p.m.
Saturday Closed

The Nursery will be closed on the following major holidays and Sunday Co-Op Nursery will be closed on the following holiday weekends:

  • New Years Day
  • Good Friday and Easter
  • Memorial Day
  • Fourth of July
  • Labor Day
  • Thanksgiving and the Friday after
  • Christmas Eve and Christmas
Reservations for Childcare Outside the Sunday Mass Co-Op Nursery
Childcare room reservations MUST be made at least 10 days in advance of special programs to ensure adequate numbers of nursery workers. Ministry leaders should notify the Nursery Coordinator of need of nursery support for an event as soon as the event is scheduled and not less than 10 days in advance. Contact Kelli Merchant at 258-2055 or stmnursery2055@gmail.com (e-mail is preferred) with the event name, your contact information and an estimated number of infants 6-17 months of age and children 18 months and older needing care. (We have different child:caregiver ratios for each age group.) Parents must submit the Children's Information Form to the Nursery Coordinator 72 hours (3 days) prior to the event. This form is available electronically or as hard-copy here or from Kelli Merchant.

The Nursery Program Guidelines are available in PDF form here. Nursery volunteers should also view the Nursery Volunteers page.

Contact: Kelli Merchant, Coordinator
stmnursery2055@gmail.com
258-2055 (email preferred)