FAMILY OF THE MONTH
NICK & TARA THOMO
by: Mike Byrne - GK
Nick joined the Knights of Columbus in 2023 and is currently a 3rd Degree Knight and our Worthy Chancellor. He is also on the proposed slate of officers as our next Deputy Grand Knight.
Nick joined the Knights for several reasons. First, he wanted to deepen and strengthen his relationship with God by serving others with strong, faithful Catholic men. Second, he wanted to learn from other Christian men around him on how to be a leader and example to others in his family and community. He is a father to three young boys. It is imperative to him to be an excellent, strong leader in his family. Nick must set a good example for his boys so that they have a strong Christian role model that they can look to as they continue to grow. He also understands that he has a responsibility to our community to be a positive role model for others. The Knights afford him an opportunity to learn from other Catholic men on how to develop the self-discipline, integrity, and strength to do what is right and give others in our community a positive role model. The Knights provide an organized opportunity for Nick to act out the virtue of charity. God calls on each of us to orient our will towards virtue. One of the key virtues is charity and the Knights provide significant opportunities to serve God by serving others.
Nick Thomo and family
In addition to being our Worthy Chancellor, Nick is our Life Director, and has been very passionate and involved in that ministry. He recently got our council involved in supporting a Walk for Life by the Horizon Pregnancy Center when the local Huntington Beach council couldn’t help. I heard it was a fantastic event. He also stepped up to be our ID Drive Chaiman when no one else would. Kayden helped his dad and other Knights out last weekend for our annual Tootsie Roll Drive. Kayden and his brothers Brooks and Beckham are often at our Car Wash Fundraisers getting wet and soapy while cleaning the parishioners’ cars. Nick shows up for Campus Cleanups, spearheads most of our Breakfast Burrito Fundraisers, pitches in during our Fall Festival and marches with his kids in the 4th of July parade.
Finally, He joined the Knights to create time and space where he can be with other men. Nick thinks our culture is so focused on attempting to eliminate all spaces where men can spend time around other men. He believes it is incredibly valuable and important for men to intentionally create space and time where they can just be around other men. In that space, they can speak openly about issues that affect us as men. He feels we can more easily learn from one another and strengthen each other, and that this is one of the unique benefits that the Knights offer.
Nick has been married to his beautiful wife, Tara since 2019. They have three boys: Kayden is the oldest (7), and twins: Beckham (5 ½) and Brooks (5 ½).
His wife was raised Catholic whereas Nick has recently converted to Catholicism after being raised Protestant by his mother and Orthodox by his father. He began seriously considering the Catholic faith after learning that many serious thinkers that he enjoys were Catholic. Once he began investigating what the Catholic faith was all about, he was convinced that Catholicism is true and he is still amazed at how beautiful our faith is. The Thomo’s have been attending Santiago de Compostela since 2022.
Tara and Nick both work full time as attorneys. Recently, Nick left the Orange County District Attorney’s office where he prosecuted homicides and entered the private sector as a defense attorney. His wife is still currently a criminal trial attorney for the Orange County District Attorney, working in the sexual assault unit focusing on rape and child molestation. Beyond his professional duties, he has participated in volunteer programs in the legal community such as CRF-OC, G.R.I.P. and high school mock trial.
I think you can all see why Nick Thomo and Nick’s Family are deserving of the dual honors this month as our Knight of the Month and Family of the Month. CONGRATULATIONS, NICK AND FAMILY!
