About St. Thomas Aquinas · Camas, Washington
St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Camas, Washington, belonging to the Archdiocese of Seattle and part of Parish Family 46, which it shares with Holy Redeemer in Vancouver and the mission of Our Lady Star of the Sea in Stevenson. The parish traces its roots to 1881, when the first mission church was built south of Lacamas Lake, and received the name St. Thomas Aquinas when a second church was constructed on 14th and Birch Street in 1901–02. The present church on NE Oak Street was dedicated in April 1950, and the parish continues to serve the Camas–Washougal community with daily and Sunday Mass, perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, a robust sacramental life, and a wide range of lay apostolates including the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the Knights of Columbus, and the Aquinas Guild.
- Established
- 1881 (first church); named St. Thomas Aquinas 1901-02
- Patron
- St. Thomas Aquinas
- Rector
- Rev. Thomas J. Nathe (pastor of Parish Family 46 — St. Thomas Aquinas, Holy Redeemer, and Our Lady Star of the Sea — effective July 1, 2025)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Seattle (Parish Family 46, formed under Partners in the Gospel)
Why belong here
St. Thomas Aquinas is a small but active parish that punches above its weight: parishioners can worship at a Saturday Vigil and Sunday morning Mass, attend daily Mass three days a week, and pray in a 24/7 Adoration Chapel. The parish feeds a deep sacramental and devotional life through Reconciliation three times a week, OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults), Children's Faith Formation, and Family Evangelization, and gives plenty of ways to serve — from the Knights of Columbus and Catholic Daughters to the St. Vincent de Paul conference, Homebound Ministers, Respect Life, Grief Support, and the Aquinas Guild.
Mass times at St. Thomas Aquinas
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sundays 7:30–8:15 AM (before 8:30 AM Mass)
- Wednesdays 5:00–5:45 PM (before 6 PM Mass)
- Saturdays 4:00–4:45 PM (before 5 PM Mass)
- By appointment — call the parish office
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration Chapel open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (except during Mass) — contact the parish office for the door code
- Open church for private prayer: Monday–Friday 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Parish History
St. Thomas Aquinas traces its origins to 1881, when the first mission church was built south of Lacamas Lake under the care of St. James Parish. The parish received its current name in 1901–02 when a second church was constructed at 14th and Birch Street in Camas. The present church on NE Oak Street was dedicated in April 1950, and the surrounding campus grew with the 1962 Aquinas Center and successive remodels following Vatican II and again in 2006.
- 1881 – first frame mission church built south of Lacamas Lake
- 1901–02 – second church at 14th & Birch Street built by parishioners for $600; parish named St. Thomas Aquinas
- c. 1900 – St. Anthony's mission church built in Washougal; Holy Cross Cemetery still administered by the parish
- April 1950 – present church on NE Oak Street dedicated, cost $130,000
- 1962 – Aquinas Center built, housing a Montessori school, library, parish office, and Fireside Room
- Post-Vatican II – altar brought forward, English Mass begun, French-designed stained-glass windows installed
- c. 2006 – church remodeled with marble fixtures and tapestries
- 2017 – Adoration Chapel refurbished and Fireside Room given a facelift
Parish Family 46 and Leadership
Under the Archdiocese of Seattle's Partners in the Gospel pastoral planning initiative, St. Thomas Aquinas was placed in 2024 into Parish Family 46 alongside Holy Redeemer Parish in Vancouver and the mission of Our Lady Star of the Sea in Stevenson. The family is led by a single pastor, with the broader parish team of deacons, staff, and lay ministers providing ministry across all three communities.
- Pastor: Rev. Thomas J. Nathe (effective July 1, 2025)
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Joji Balasamy Nagineni
- Partner parish: Holy Redeemer, Vancouver, WA
- Mission: Our Lady Star of the Sea, Stevenson, WA
- Cemetery: Holy Cross, Washougal
Parish Staff
Beyond the priests, a dedicated lay staff and ministry leaders keep the parish running day to day, from faith formation and sacramental prep to finances, building maintenance, and music.
- Ted Meany — Pastoral Associate
- Amy Parent — Family Evangelization Lead (also Baptism intake)
- Denice Twyman — Children's Faith Formation
- Christine Peters — Sacramental Preparation
- Don Anderson — Parish Family Manager
- Kevin Greenlee — Business Manager
- Susan Schneider — Business Manager / Bookkeeper
- Julia Ojeda — Financial Administrative Assistant
- Mike Lomax — Maintenance
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners of all ages serve at the altar and in the worship space. Each ministry is led by an organized volunteer coordinator and is an easy way to share your time at Mass.
- Sacristans — set up and take down for Holy Mass
- Altar Servers (children and adults, including at funerals) — contact Anna Lilleboe
- Cantors and Musicians — adult choir, Vox Clara children's choir, instrumentalists; contact Taylor Gonzaga ([email protected])
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion — contact Ted Meany
- Readers — proclaim Sacred Scripture at Mass
- Ushers / Greeters / Church Angels — welcome, assist, and hand out bulletins; contact John Morehead
- Linen Maidens — wash and iron altar linens on a rotating schedule; contact Anne Barnes
Apostolates and Parish Groups
Outside the liturgy, the parish runs an unusually wide range of faith-based and charitable groups, supporting both parishioners and the wider Camas–Washougal community.
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVDP) — rent, utilities, gas vouchers, food/clothing/shelter referrals; school-supplies drive and Christmas Giving Tree; meets first Wednesday of the month
- Knights of Columbus, Council 2999 — parish breakfasts, woodcuts, picnic, Corpus Christi procession; Fourth Degree Assembly provides Color Guard
- Catholic Daughters of the Americas — meets first Monday of the month (Sept–June) at 6:30 PM in the Fireside Room
- Aquinas Guild — women's association; meets first Wednesday of the month, social hour 10:00 AM, meeting 10:30 AM
- Respect Life Committee — pro-life booth at Camas Days, 40 Days for Life support, poster/essay contests; contact Andy Twyman
- Homebound Ministers — bring Holy Communion to the sick; contact James Wurzer
- Consolation Ministry — greets mourners at funerals; contact Mike Hansen
- Grief Support — Mondays 9:30 AM, Parish Office Sitting Room; contact Virginia Lowery
- Natural Family Planning resources
- Money Counters — process the weekly collection
Faith Formation and Sacraments
The parish prepares children and adults for the full sacramental life of the Church, from infant Baptism through the OCIA process for adults seeking full initiation. Sacramental preparation is coordinated by Christine Peters, with Children's Faith Formation led by Denice Twyman and Family Evangelization led by Amy Parent.
- Baptism — for infants and children up to age 7; classes mandatory for parents and godparents; typically celebrated during the Saturday 5 PM Mass; contact Amy Parent ([email protected])
- First Eucharist and Reconciliation preparation
- Confirmation preparation
- Anointing of the Sick
- Marriage — contact the parish office
- Holy Orders — discernment support
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults, formerly RCIA) — classes meet Tuesdays at 6:00 PM at Holy Redeemer Parish Hall; enrollment is ongoing
Annual Traditions
The parish is known in the area for a small number of well-loved annual events that draw the wider community into the church year.
- Corpus Christi procession — begun in 2005 by then-pastor Father Derek Lappe; includes five outdoor benediction stops, choir-led Eucharistic hymns, and a parish picnic
- Annual parish picnic on the grounds next to the church
- Knights of Columbus parish breakfasts and woodcut fundraisers
- Christmas Giving Tree (SVDP)
- First Anniversary of Loss Mass program
Visit, Register, and Contact
Newcomers and returning Catholics are warmly invited to register as parishioners, sign up for ministries, or simply stop by the parish office. The church sits at 324 NE Oak Street in central Camas, and the parish office is open Monday–Thursday 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (closed Fridays).
- Address: 324 NE Oak Street, Camas, WA 98607
- Phone: 360-834-2126
- Email: [email protected]
- Parish office hours: Monday–Thursday 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (closed Fridays)
- Online parish registration form available on the parish website
- Weekly bulletins and SUMMA available online
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Derek Lappe
Pastor who in 2005 started the parish's annual Corpus Christi procession during the Year of the Eucharist proclaimed by Pope John Paul II.
- Rev. Thomas J. NatheJuly 1, 2025 – present
Took leadership of Parish Family 46 (St. Thomas Aquinas, Holy Redeemer, Our Lady Star of the Sea) on July 1, 2025.