On March 1, the Rev. Patrick Crino will assume duties as the pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Tucson, an announcement in the church's Nov. 8 bulletin said.

He will take over for Msgr. John Lyons, who announced his retirement earlier this month.

Crino is a Tuscon native. He attended Our Mother of Sorrows School and Palo Verde High School. He also graduated from St. John's Seminary-Camarillo and earned his Master of Divinity from St. John's. He was ordained with Lyons and Raul Trevizo in 1988.

He has worked as the parochial vicar at Sts. Peter and Paul Parish and was the pastor at Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at St. Clare Chapel. He also was rector at St. Augustine Cathedral and served as the church administrator.

Crino previously replaced Lyons at Sts. Peter & Paul when Lyons became the pastor at St. Thomas. He most recently served as the director of seminarians for the Diocese of Tucson.

Fr. Crino also served as the Knights of Columbus Arizona State Chaplain for 22 years.