About Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas - University of St. Thomas · Saint Paul, Minnesota
The Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas is the spiritual heart of the Saint Paul campus of the University of St. Thomas, a Catholic liberal arts university founded in 1885 by Archbishop John Ireland. Designed in a Renaissance adaptation of the Byzantine basilica style by the famed Franco-American architect Emmanuel Louis Masqueray, it was dedicated on May 29, 1919 and is called by Monsignor James Reardon 'the last and best gift of Archbishop Ireland to his beloved college.' Daily and Sunday Mass, weekday confession, and the full sacramental life of the university flow from this chapel, which now sits atop the Iversen Center for Faith completed in 2020.
- Established
- 1919
- Patron
- Saint Thomas Aquinas
- Rector
- Fr. Christopher Collins, S.J. (Vice President for Mission); Fr. Thomas Saucier, O.P. (Associate Chaplain)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Why belong here
The Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas welcomes the whole University of St. Thomas community and visitors from the wider Saint Paul area to share in daily and Sunday Mass, weekday confession, and seasonal devotions like the Stations of the Cross each Friday of Lent. The worship life is rich and student-led: undergraduates serve as lectors, altar servers, hospitality ministers, and extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, and a music ministry welcomes vocalists and instrumentalists of every kind for Sunday and special liturgies. Surrounding the chapel, the Iversen Center for Faith offers sacred-art exhibits, a multifaith meditation room, retreat programs, sacramental preparation, and the Lay Ministry Certificate — making this a place where faith and intellect together form the Catholic heart of one of Minnesota's largest Catholic universities.
Mass times at Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas - University of St. Thomas
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday – Friday: 11:30 am – 12:00 pm
History of the Chapel
Archbishop John Ireland founded the University of St. Thomas in 1885 and envisioned a worthy chapel for his college. After a small wood-frame chapel (built 1891) was razed in 1917, Archbishop Ireland commissioned the present chapel from his friend Emmanuel Louis Masqueray in 1916. Construction began October 11, 1916; the cornerstone was laid in 1917; the architect died that year; and the first Mass was celebrated on St. Thomas Day, March 7, 1918. Archbishop Austin Dowling formally dedicated the building on May 29, 1919 as part of Homecoming Day — calling it, in Monsignor James Reardon's words, 'the last and best gift of Archbishop Ireland to his beloved college.'
- 1885 – University of St. Thomas founded by Archbishop John Ireland
- 1891 – Original wood-frame chapel built (razed 1917)
- April 11, 1916 – Archbishop Ireland announces the new chapel; Masqueray engaged
- October 11, 1916 – Construction begins
- 1917 – Cornerstone laid; Masqueray dies; assistant Edwin Lundie completes the building
- March 7, 1918 – First Mass celebrated (St. Thomas Day)
- May 29, 1919 – Formal dedication by Archbishop Austin Dowling
- 1944–1945 – Interior decoration completed (LeBeau master plan)
- 1978 – Major renovation
- 2008–2009 – Renovation; new altar dedicated by Archbishop Harry Flynn (March 2008)
- 2019–2020 – Iversen Center for Faith built around the chapel; interior remodeled
Architecture and Sacred Art
Emmanuel Masqueray designed the chapel on a Latin-cross plan adapted from the Byzantine style of Northern Italian Renaissance basilicas, with a nave 95 feet long and 43 feet wide. Monsignor James Lavin, in his 1997 book 'The Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas,' praised 'the magnificent spaciousness and the pleasing relationship between the greater and lesser arches.' The interior master plan — an integrated program of stained glass, painted walls, and carved ceilings portraying 'the whole plan of God's dealing with men' — was designed by Father Walter LeBeau and completed in the 1944–45 academic year.
- Latin-cross plan; nave 95 ft × 43 ft
- Byzantine basilica style, adapted from Northern Italian Renaissance examples
- Master plan by Father Walter LeBeau (faculty member and director of religion)
- Icon of Holy Thomas and other sacred art throughout the interior and exterior
Unique Features and Furnishings
The chapel is distinguished by a sequence of commissioned artworks by internationally recognized artists. A bronze-and-wood altar by Alexander Tylevich incorporates the Tree of Life and was dedicated by Archbishop Harry Flynn in March 2008; the same artist later designed the brass sanctuary doors, the ambo, and an 11-foot polished-bronze crucifix suspended above the altar, as well as a hymn of Saint Thomas Aquinas inscribed into the sanctuary floor. Timothy Schmalz's bronze statue of Saint Thomas Aquinas on the Northern Plaza depicts the saint's garments lifted by unseen wind as pages of the Summa Theologica rise skyward and transform into a dove.
- Altar and ambo by Alexander Tylevich (2008) — bronze and wood, Tree of Life motif
- 11-foot polished-bronze sanctuary crucifix by Alexander Tylevich
- Brass sanctuary doors restored in the 2020 renovation
- Hymn of Saint Thomas Aquinas inscribed into the sanctuary floor
- Timothy Schmalz bronze statue of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Northern Plaza)
The Pipe Organ
The chapel's large pipe organ was installed in July 1987 and built by Gabriel Kney of London, Ontario. Housed in a classic Werkprinzip case of red oak, the instrument has 2,787 pipes; the basswood pipe shades and the grille over the Swell shutters were carved by Kney based on motifs from the painted ceiling of the chapel.
- Builder: Gabriel Kney, London, Ontario
- Installed July 1987
- 2,787 pipes
- Classic Werkprinzip case in red oak
- Carved basswood pipe shades and Swell grille by Kney, echoing chapel ceiling motifs
2020 Renovation
A focused restoration completed in 2020 revitalized the chapel as a symbol of faith on campus. The work combined craftsmanship faithful to the original Masqueray design with modern systems and accessibility improvements.
- Brass sanctuary doors restored
- Wood pews and kneelers replaced with custom pews matching the original design
- Flooring replaced with Kasota stone; accessibility ramp added to the altar
- First-level light fixtures replaced with energy-efficient LED fixtures
- Air conditioning installed
- Code-compliant fire-alarm system and security cameras installed
Iversen Center for Faith
Completed in 2020, the Iversen Center for Faith was built to surround the chapel, retaining the building's majesty while adding gathering, study, and prayer spaces for the university community. It is the home of Campus Ministry, the Hoedeman Gallery of Sacred Art, a multifaith (Interfaith/Meditation) Room, Schoenecker Hall, and an amphitheater — making it the spiritual and cultural heart of the Saint Paul campus.
- Campus Ministry offices
- Hoedeman Gallery of Sacred Art
- Multifaith / Interfaith Meditation Room
- Schoenecker Hall
- Amphitheater
Liturgical and Music Ministry
Students are central to the chapel's liturgical life. As liturgical ministers they serve as lectors, hospitality ministers, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, and altar servers. The music ministry welcomes vocalists and instrumentalists of every kind — from bands to orchestral instruments — for Sunday Mass, special liturgies, and ecumenical services.
- Lector — proclaim the Word of God
- Hospitality Minister — welcome and assist the assembly
- Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion (EMHC)
- Altar Server
- Liturgical Assistant (work-study)
- Music Ministry — choirs, cantors, bands, and instrumental ensembles
- Contact: Dr. Jacob Benda, Director of Music, Liturgy and Sacred Arts — [email protected]
Sacraments and Sacramental Preparation
Campus Ministry accompanies St. Thomas students through the Sacraments of Initiation — Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation — and offers sacramental preparation for weddings, funeral Masses, and memorial services for members of the university community, including alumni. Mass Intentions may be requested by current students, faculty, staff, alumni, and donors and are scheduled within four to six weeks where possible.
- Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation (Becoming Catholic / RCIA)
- Matrimony (Weddings)
- Reconciliation (Confession)
- Funeral Masses and Memorial Services
- Mass Intentions
Chapel Use and Hours
The chapel is open for personal prayer and meditation every day of the academic year and is available to the St. Thomas community — including alumni — for religious events such as weddings, funeral Masses and memorial services, and sacramental preparation. Summer hours may vary.
- Monday–Friday: 6:45 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
- Saturday–Sunday: 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
- Summer hours are subject to change
- Available for weddings, funeral Masses, memorial services, sacramental preparation
Campus Ministry Staff and Spiritual Leaders
Campus Ministry provides Catholic priests and other professional spiritual leaders to serve students of all faith traditions. The team is housed in the Iversen Center for Faith (LL 18) and can be reached at (651) 962-6560 or [email protected], Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- Fr. Christopher Collins, S.J. — Vice President for Mission ([email protected])
- Fr. Thomas Saucier, O.P. — Associate Chaplain, Dominican (joined July 2025)
- Jacob Benda, D.M.A. — Director of Music, Liturgy and Sacred Arts ([email protected])
- Marta Pereira, Ed.D. — Director, Cultural Initiatives and Spiritual Life ([email protected])
- Christina Crow — Sacramental Coordinator ([email protected])
- Donna Matuszewski — Budget and Office Manager
- Sarah Chamseddine — Program Manager
- Tamim Saidi — Muslim Faith Leader
- Sam Yolles — Jewish Faith Engagement Associate