About St. Thomas Aquinas · College Station, Texas
St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in College Station, Texas, located in the Diocese of Austin and dedicated to the patron saint of students and scholars. Founded in 1982 to serve the growing Catholic population on the south side of College Station near Texas A&M University, the parish has grown to over 2,200 registered households. It celebrates daily noon Mass Monday through Friday, a Saturday vigil, and three Sunday Masses, and operates a perpetual Eucharistic Adoration chapel open 24 hours a day. The parish describes its mission as welcoming everyone as a member of the family, engaging the whole family, and serving together as a family.
- Established
- 1982
- Patron
- St. Thomas Aquinas
- Rector
- Rev. Albert Laforet, Jr.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Austin
Why belong here
St. Thomas Aquinas is a large, family-oriented parish in south College Station with more than 2,200 registered households, daily 12:15 PM Mass Monday through Friday, three Sunday Masses, and a perpetual Eucharistic Adoration chapel (St. Julienne of Liege Chapel) that is open 24/7. Daily confessions (Mon–Fri 11:00 AM–12:00 PM and Sat 3:30–5:00 PM) make regular sacramental life accessible, and the parish offers faith formation for children, RCIA for adults, marriage preparation, and outreach through ministries such as St. Vincent de Paul. Its location near Texas A&M and its long-running motto, 'Working together in simple faith,' give it the feel of a tight-knit Aggieland Catholic family.
Mass times at St. Thomas Aquinas
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday–Friday 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Adoration times
- Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in the St. Julienne of Liege Chapel, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
About the Parish
St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Austin serving the College Station, Texas (Aggieland) community since 1982. Located on the Earl Rudder Freeway South in south College Station, the parish's mission is to welcome everyone as a member of the family, engage the whole family, and serve together as a family. With more than 2,200 registered households, the parish is one of the principal family parishes for the Bryan–College Station area alongside the student-focused St. Mary's Catholic Center at Texas A&M University.
- Established 1982
- Diocese of Austin
- Parish motto: 'Working together in simple faith'
- Over 2,200 registered households
History
The parish was founded in 1982 in response to the rapid growth of the Catholic population in Aggieland. Originally tasked with family and children's faith formation, it allowed the older St. Mary's Catholic presence—rooted in a 1904 Mass ministry begun by Father Gleissner for A&M students under Bishop Nicholas A. Gallagher of the Galveston Diocese—to focus entirely on student ministry. The parish adopted the motto 'Working together in simple faith' and grew quickly into a dynamic faith community of more than 1,650 families by the mid-2000s and over 2,200 households by the 2020s.
- Founded 1982 in south College Station
- Children's religious education centralized at the new parish
- Long-running motto: 'Working together in simple faith'
Clergy and Staff
The parish is currently served by Pastor Reverend Albert Laforet, Jr. and Associate Pastor Rev. Justin-Anthony Ekene Anene. Earlier editions of the parish site and bulletins reference Rev. Fr. Edwin Kagoo as a former pastor. The parish office is staffed Monday through Friday and can be reached at (979) 693-6994 or [email protected].
- Rev. Albert Laforet, Jr. — Pastor
- Rev. Justin-Anthony Ekene Anene — Associate Pastor
- Rev. Fr. Edwin Kagoo — former pastor
Ministries and Faith Formation
The parish offers ongoing faith formation for children, the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) for those entering the Catholic Church, and outreach to the wider community through ministries such as the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Liturgical music is supported by the Contemporary Ensemble which leads the 4:30 PM Sunday Mass, with additional choirs serving the other Masses.
- Faith Formation / Religious Education
- RCIA
- St. Vincent de Paul
- Contemporary Ensemble and choirs
Visiting and Contact
St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Parish is located at 2541 Earl Rudder Freeway South, College Station, TX 77845, on the east side of the TX-6 access road just north of Emerald Parkway. The parish office is open Monday through Friday; the Adoration Chapel is open 24/7. A weekly parish-wide email is sent every Monday to all registered parishioners.
- Address: 2541 Earl Rudder Fwy S, College Station, TX 77845
- Phone: (979) 693-6994
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.stabcs.org/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Fr. Edwin Kagoo
Former pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Parish, College Station, Texas (referenced in earlier parish communications).