Reverend Monsignor Douglas A. Raun became the pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas in September of 1995. Growing up in Albuquerque, he entered the seminary in 1974. He received his Bachelor of Arts from St. Thomas Seminary, Denver, Colorado, in 1978, and his Master of Divinity from the Pontifical College Josephinum, Columbus, Ohio, in 1982.

Ordained to the priesthood on May 29,1982, Msgr. Raun served as the vicar of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Santa Fé and as the pastor of first Roy, then Moriarty, before coming to Rio Rancho in 1995. Since 1995, Rio Rancho and St. Thomas Aquinas Parish have experienced tremendous growth. During this time, St. Thomas Aquinas Parish initiated two mission churches (Incarnation Parish & St. John Vianney Mission) and launched the first Catholic school (St. Thomas Aquinas School, grades K-8) in the archdiocese in over 46 years.