About St. Thomas Aquinas · Boulder, Colorado
St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Center is the Catholic university parish and campus ministry serving the University of Colorado Boulder. The Center, founded in 1950 as a Newman Club chapel, today ministers to CU Boulder students, faculty, staff, alumni, the resident parish community, and anyone drawn to share in its mission. Under Pastor Fr. Chris Considine and a staff that includes FOCUS missionaries, the Center lives and proclaims the Gospel of Jesus Christ, engages higher education, and forms all whom it serves in the intellectual, spiritual, and apostolic tradition of the Catholic faith.
- Established
- 1950
- Patron
- St. Thomas Aquinas
- Rector
- Fr. Chris Considine
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Denver
Why belong here
St. Thomas Aquinas is a unique parish that intentionally serves the university community while also being home to permanent parishioners. Students find a full student-life program — weekly Student Suppers, Candlelight Mass, FOCUS Bible studies and discipleship groups, the Buffalo Awakening retreat, intramurals, pilgrimages to Rome, Poland, Peru, and the Holy Land, and street walks with the Homeless Ministry. The Center offers daily and Sunday Mass, ample confession times, weekday Eucharistic Adoration, OCIA for those becoming Catholic, marriage preparation, infant baptism, and a family faith formation program (Pre-K through 12) that prepares children for First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation. With Drogo's Coffee Bar on site, an active music ministry, and a welcoming parish staff, it is both a campus hub and a true parish home.
Mass times at St. Thomas Aquinas
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30–4:45 pm
- Tuesday–Thursday 4:40–5:10 pm
- Friday 11:40 am–12:10 pm
- Also available by appointment
Adoration times
- School year: Monday–Friday 9:00 am–5:00 pm in the Catholic Center Chapel (St. Pier Giorgio Frassati Chapel)
- Summer schedule: Monday–Friday 9:00 am–12:00 pm at the chapel in Drogo's Coffee Bar
Welcome to St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Center
St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Center is the Catholic university parish and campus ministry serving the University of Colorado Boulder. The Center's mission is to live and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, engage higher education, and form all whom it serves — students, faculty, staff, alumni, permanent residents, and visitors — in the intellectual, spiritual, and apostolic tradition of the Catholic faith. Whether you are a student, parent, donor, alumnus, or part of the resident parish community, you are invited to get involved, browse the website, stop by the Catholic Center, or attend Mass.
History of the Parish
The parish grew out of the University of Colorado's Newman Club. Land for a Catholic student chapel was purchased in 1948, ground was broken on 15 May 1949, and the cornerstone was laid in February 1950. Archbishop Urban Vehr of Denver blessed the completed basement chapel at 898 14th Street on 19 May 1950, the founding year of the parish. Construction on the full upper church began in February 1955 but was halted in May of that year by damage from high winds; the completed chapel was finally dedicated on 14 April 1956. The parish added the Catholic Campus Ministry Center at 1520 Euclid Avenue, which was dedicated on 29 August 2005 to serve as the home for student life, formation, retreats, and fellowship. Both the historic church and the modern ministry center remain in active use today.
- 1948 — Land purchased for a Catholic student chapel
- 15 May 1949 — Groundbreaking
- 19 May 1950 — Basement chapel blessed by Archbishop Urban Vehr (parish founded)
- May 1955 — High-wind damage halts construction of the upper church
- 14 April 1956 — Full chapel dedicated
- 29 August 2005 — Catholic Campus Ministry Center at 1520 Euclid Avenue dedicated
Meet Our Clergy and Staff
The parish is led by Pastor and Director of University Ministry Fr. Chris Considine — a CU Boulder alumnus originally from Seattle, Washington. He is assisted by Parochial Vicar Fr. Peter Srsich and Deacon Steve Boselli. The wider team includes a Director of Advancement, Director of Facilities, Music Director, Church Sacristan, University and Parish Ministry Coordinator, Marketing and Communications Coordinator, Advancement Communications and Events Manager, Parish Administrative Assistant, Facilities Assistant, and the Drogo's Coffee Bar Manager. The Center also partners with FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students), which staffs several missionaries including a FOCUS Team Director.
- Fr. Chris Considine — Pastor and Director of University Ministry
- Fr. Peter Srsich — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Steve Boselli
- Mark Harrington — Director of Advancement
- Mria Gamble — University and Parish Ministry Coordinator
- Steve Brady — Director of Facilities
- Brian Lambert — Music Director
- Jean Olmsted — Church Sacristan
- Grace Purdy — Marketing and Communications Coordinator
- Tania Renault — Advancement Communications and Events Manager
- Lisa Unger — Parish Administrative Assistant
- Ed Salazar — Facilities Assistant
- Julia Wargo — Drogo's Coffee Bar Manager
- FOCUS Missionaries: Spencer Purdy (FOCUS Team Director / 9th Year, Varsity Catholic), Tim Mellen (4th Year), Megan Lynn (3rd Year), Michelle Leonard (3rd Year), Anna Vavak (1st Year, Greek)
Student Life and Ministry
St. Thomas Aquinas runs a robust student ministry program. Students can register as student parishioners, join the student GroupMe, attend the Sunday Student Supper after the 6:00 pm Mass, and participate in weekly Bible studies, discipleship groups, and the pro-life ministry. The parish leads semesterly Buffalo Awakening retreats in Allenspark, intramurals (volleyball and flag football on Farrand Field), Tuesday-night Candlelight Mass at 9:00 pm (preceded by Adoration and Confessions at 8:00 pm), and pilgrimages and mission trips — past trips have gone to Rome, Poland, Peru, and the Holy Land.
- Student Parishioner Registration
- Weekly Student Supper (Sunday after 6 pm Mass)
- Buffalo Awakening Retreat (semesterly, Allenspark)
- Candlelight Mass (Tuesday 9 pm)
- FOCUS Bible Studies and Discipleship Groups
- Pilgrimages and Mission Trips (Rome, Poland, Peru, Holy Land)
- Intramurals on Farrand Field
- Pro-Life Ministry
Homeless Ministry and Outreach
The parish organizes regular street walks to serve people experiencing homelessness in Boulder, going out on Wednesday and Friday nights. Those interested can contact Music Director Brian Lambert for more information about joining.
- Street walks every Wednesday and Friday night
- Contact: [email protected]
Music Ministry
Music is central to the Center's liturgical life. The Music Ministry, directed by Brian Lambert, coordinates cantors, choirs, and instrumentalists for Mass. Volunteers with musical gifts are invited to reach out and share their talents.
- Music Director: Brian Lambert ([email protected])
- Choir and cantors for weekend and student Masses
- Volunteer opportunities for instrumentalists
Sacraments
St. Thomas Aquinas prepares and celebrates all the major sacraments, both for students and for the wider parish community. For Infant Baptism, Marriage Preparation, the OCIA process for adults wishing to become Catholic, and family faith formation (which includes preparation for Confirmation, First Eucharist, and First Reconciliation), families and individuals begin by submitting the appropriate request form. The University and Parish Ministry Coordinator, Mria Gamble, is the main contact for all sacramental inquiries.
- Infant Baptism
- Marriage Preparation (8–12 months)
- Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA / RCIA)
- Family Faith Formation (Pre-K through 12) — First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, Confirmation
- Contact: [email protected]
Drogo's Coffee Bar
Located within the Catholic Center and just a block from campus, Drogo's is a full-service coffee bar that serves students, parishioners, and visitors. It also houses the summer Adoration chapel.
- On-site at the Catholic Center
- Full coffee service
- Summer weekday Adoration chapel
Visit, Contact, and Get Involved
The Catholic Center and Drogo's Coffee Bar are open all week during the school year. Stop by to study in the library, spend time in the Adoration chapel, or simply say hello. Parishioners and students can register online to be plugged into ministries, the student GroupMe, and the weekly e-bulletin. The parish also relies on the support of donors to sustain its university ministry.
- Address (church): 898 14th Street, Boulder, CO 80302
- Catholic Campus Ministry Center: 1520 Euclid Avenue, Boulder
- Phone: (303) 443-8383
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: thomascenter.org
- Facebook: facebook.com/buffalocatholic
- Online giving and donor information via the Donate page