About St. Thomas Aquinas · Fayetteville, Arkansas
St. Thomas Aquinas University Parish is the Catholic campus ministry serving the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. Established as a personal parish under Canon Law (Can. 518), its mission is specifically to serve undergraduate, graduate, and terminal-degree students, faculty, and staff of the university. The parish, affectionately known as 'Catholic Hogs,' runs a vibrant Newman-style ministry with Sunday and daily Mass, the Sacraments, FOCUS missionaries, OCIA, Bible studies, retreats, mission trips, and Sunday dinners, drawing over 600 students each week. It belongs to the Diocese of Little Rock (West Ozark Deanery) and is housed in a brand-new church and student center at 603 N. Leverett Avenue, completed after the demolition of the original 1959 chapel.
- Established
- 1937
- Patron
- St. Thomas Aquinas
- Rector
- Fr. Jason Sharbaugh
- Diocese
- Diocese of Little Rock (West Ozark Deanery, Washington County)
Why belong here
St. Thomas Aquinas University Parish is the spiritual home for Catholic students, faculty, and staff at the University of Arkansas — and welcomes any Catholic looking for an active, student-friendly parish in Fayetteville. Sunday Mass (10 a.m., 5 p.m., and 8 p.m.) and daily Mass are complemented by a robust calendar of OCIA, men's, women's, co-ed, and freshmen Bible studies, FOCUS discipleship, theology nights like 'The 603' and Theology on Tap, weekly Sunday dinners, and roughly ten service days plus domestic and international mission trips each year. With more than 600 students participating weekly, a discernment group that has produced over a dozen priests (including the current pastor), and a brand-new 550-seat church and student center open Sunday through Friday, it is one of the most dynamic Catholic campus ministries in the SEC.
Mass times at St. Thomas Aquinas
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
- Tuesday: 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- Wednesday: 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- Thursday: 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
- Friday: 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Adoration times
- Sunday: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
- Tuesday: 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- Wednesday: 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- Thursday: 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
- Friday: 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
- Confessions are offered during each Holy Hour
About St. Thomas Aquinas University Parish
St. Thomas Aquinas University Parish (nicknamed 'Catholic Hogs') is the Catholic campus ministry for the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. As a personal parish under Canon 518, it serves undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and staff of the university. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Little Rock (West Ozark Deanery) and provides the full sacramental life of a parish — daily and Sunday Mass, Reconciliation, Adoration, and OCIA — alongside a robust student ministry of Bible studies, retreats, FOCUS missionaries, service days, and mission trips.
- 603 N. Leverett Ave., Fayetteville, AR 72701
- Mailing: P.O. Box 4840, Fayetteville, AR 72702
- Phone: (479) 444-0223
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: catholichogs.com
- Facebook: /uark.st.thomas; Instagram: @catholichogs
History of the Parish
Catholic presence on the University of Arkansas campus dates to 1937, when the Newman Club was founded. Bishop Albert Fletcher appointed Father John C. O'Dwyer as the university's first full-time chaplain in 1952, and a diocesan campaign from 1956–1957 raised half of the funds needed to build a tri-unit Catholic center at the corner of Leverett and Douglas. The parish was canonically erected in 1959 and formally dedicated in April 1960; in 1967 the center was renamed St. Thomas Aquinas University Parish. Subsequent milestones include the first 'Search' retreat in 1980 (later 'Awakening'), Deacon Paul Cronan's assignment in 1993, the first international mission trip to Honduras in 1997, the 50th anniversary celebration in 2010, and the arrival of FOCUS missionaries in the 2020s. The Diocese of Little Rock approved a major building project in 2020, and a new 550-seat church and student center replaced the original 1959 chapel after its 2023 demolition.
- 1937 – Newman Club founded at the University of Arkansas
- 1952 – First full-time chaplain, Fr. John C. O'Dwyer; Catholic Student Center opens at 620 W. Dickson
- 1957 – Groundbreaking at Leverett & Douglas
- 1959 – Parish canonically erected
- 1960 – Formal dedication of building (April)
- 1967 – Renamed St. Thomas Aquinas University Parish
- 1980 – First 'Search' retreat (evolves into 'Awakening')
- 1993 – Deacon Paul Cronan assigned; serves as Pastoral Administrator 1994–2003
- 1997 – First international mission trip to Honduras
- 2003 – Papal Benemerenti Medals awarded to Andy and Shirley Lucas
- 2011 – Deacon Norm DeBriyn assigned as full-time deacon
- 2020 – Diocese approves building project and capital campaign
- 2023 – Demolition of 1959 chapel; new church and student center completed
Clergy and Staff
Father Jason Sharbaugh serves as pastor and director of faith formation. He is assisted by two permanent deacons long associated with the parish — Dc. Norm DeBriyn and Dc. Paul Cronan (the latter also serving as faculty advisor). Lay staff lead campus ministry, stewardship and development, and parish operations.
- Fr. Jason Sharbaugh — Pastor & Director of Faith Formation ([email protected])
- Dc. Norman (Norm) DeBriyn — Deacon ([email protected])
- Dc. Paul Cronan — Deacon & Faculty Advisor ([email protected])
- Madelyn McClinton — Campus Minister ([email protected])
- Sarah Du Preez — Director of Stewardship and Development ([email protected])
- Larrie Holiday — Office Manager ([email protected])
- Rhonda Prender — Business Manager ([email protected])
Ministries and Formation
In addition to the sacraments, St. Thomas runs a year-round formation program designed to meet students where they are. FOCUS missionaries (the University of Arkansas was the first SEC campus to host them) meet individually with students and lead Bible studies; OCIA (Catholic Faith 101) walks inquirers through the Catechumenate; and the parish hosts Awakening retreats, 'The 603' nights, Theology on Tap, vocation discernment, and roughly ten service days per year. Men, women, co-ed, and freshmen all have dedicated Bible studies, and a Knights of Columbus council serves male students and parishioners.
- OCIA / Catholic Faith 101 (RCIA)
- Men's, Women's ('Setons'), Co-ed, and Freshman Bible studies
- FOCUS missionaries on staff
- Knights of Columbus council
- Awakening retreat (annual)
- Service days (~10 per year) and domestic/international mission trips
- Theology on Tap, 'The 603' faith nights, Praise & Worship evenings
- Vocations discernment group led by Fr. Jason
Vocations and Missionary Spirit
St. Thomas Aquinas takes seriously the formation of future Catholic leaders. Fr. Jason leads a monthly discernment group of 3–5 young men considering the priesthood; the parish has produced at least 10 priests from its alumni, including the current pastor. Other alumni have entered consecrated religious life as sisters or brothers, while many couples formed at St. Thomas have gone on to build Catholic marriages in parishes across the country. The parish's first international mission trip to Honduras was in 1997, and short-term domestic and international mission trips remain a staple.
- 10+ alumni ordained to the priesthood, including Fr. Jason Sharbaugh
- Numerous alumni in religious life
- First international mission trip: Honduras, 1997
- Domestic and international mission trips continue yearly
- Vocations discernment group meets monthly with the pastor
The New Church and Student Center
After more than 63 years in the 1959/1960 tri-unit building — which was aging and no longer fit for ministry or capacity — the parish completed a major building project under the 'Light on the Hill' capital campaign. The old chapel was demolished in 2023 and the new facility at 603 N. Leverett Avenue now offers a 550-seat church, expanded meeting spaces, classrooms for religious education, an adoration chapel, and outdoor green space, while keeping the parish's prime location at the corner of N. Leverett Avenue and W. Douglas Street.
- 550-seat church (more than double the old 240–250 capacity)
- Student Center open Sun.–Fri., 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. during fall/spring
- Parish office hours Mon.–Thurs. 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Fri. 8 a.m. – noon
- Summer hours (after Spring Commencement): Mon.–Thurs. 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Fri. 9 a.m. – noon
- Approximately $14 million 'Light on the Hill' capital campaign
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Andy Smith1937–1938
Early chaplain of the Newman Club era
- Fr. Rudolph Maus1938–1939
- Fr. Francis J. McKee1939–1946
- Fr. Edward Maloy1946–1950
- Fr. Robert Dienert1951–1952
- Fr. John C. O'Dwyer1952–1966
First full-time chaplain appointed by Bishop Albert Fletcher in 1952
- Fr. Vincent Maguire1966–1973
- Fr. Charles McCauley1973–1977
- Fr. Joseph Pallo1977–1989
- Fr. John A. Flaherty1989–1991
- Fr. Mark Wood1991–1994
- Dc. Paul Cronan1994–2003
Pastoral Administrator
- Fr. Lawrence Frederick2004–2009
- Fr. Jason Sharbaugh2009–2015
First stint at St. Thomas (associate role)
- Fr. Andrew Hart, JCL2015–2019
Pastor before current pastor's return
- Fr. Jason Sharbaugh2019–present
Appointed pastor April 2019; oversaw the Light on the Hill building project and new church dedication