The city of Ojai, nestled in a quiet agricultural valley in Ventura County, is a gateway to the Los Padres National Forest and home to the parish of St. Thomas Aquinas. With 900 families in the Augustinian-administered parish and a town population of less than 8,000, Ojai shares much of its distinctive character with the community atmosphere of St. Thomas Aquinas.

A parishioner since 1997, Millie Reid calls St. Thomas Aquinas "an amazing, generous, reaching community, so much so that I feel at home --- the only parish that I have ever felt at home in." Like many, she finds herself involved in more than one parish ministry.

The pastor, Augustinian Father Patrick Keane, had served as principal of St. Augustine High School, San Diego, as provincial superior of the Augustinians and later as assistant general superior in Rome. In 1989, at age 62, Father Keane was asked to serve as pastor in Ojai.

"I really am glad that my career has ended up here, seeing ordinary people really working at their faith, just living it out in a wonderful way," he says. He is impressed, he adds, at how parishioners raise their families and taking care of one another. "And I feel very proud of the small groups --- the small communities of faith."

About seven years ago the parish began forming small communities of faith, groups which meet weekly to prepare for the following Sunday's liturgy by reading and prayer over the Scriptures. The 14 faith communities meet in parishioner's homes and are coordinated by Laura Kaiser, who calls these communities "awesome. Our church is so big, and the only way to make it personal is in the small communities of faith. Because what we have in common is our faith and traditions."

One of St. Thomas Aquinas' faith communities meets on Wednesdays at the home of Paul Ramirez, who was born in Ojai and has spent most of his life there. For Ramirez, this involvement offers him an opportunity to share his faith with others on a smaller and more meaningful level --- and they are supportive in times of need.

One recent Wednesday Ramirez had just returned from Tijuana with his son and 18 other parishioners. They had re-roofed a wood structure building, painted swing sets, sanded, and did electrical work at Hogar Infantil La Gloria, an orphanage and home to nearly 45 children, sponsored by the Augustinians. It was, Ramirez says, a perfect expression of his faith and love of his community in St. Thomas Aquinas Parish.