About St. Thomas Aquinas · Hattiesburg, Mississippi
St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church is a parish and Newman Center in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, serving both its residential congregation and the students of the University of Southern Mississippi. Located at 3117 W 4th Street just three blocks west of US-49, it sits adjacent to Southern Miss's Pete Taylor Park and is recognized as the home of 'Eagle Catholic' campus ministry. The parish is led by Father Mark A. Ropel, V.F., and belongs to the Diocese of Biloxi.
- Established
- 1968
- Patron
- St. Thomas Aquinas
- Rector
- Father Mark A. Ropel, V.F.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Biloxi
Why belong here
St. Thomas Aquinas offers a vibrant sacramental life that genuinely integrates a parish community with a university campus community. Weekend and daily Masses are offered seven days a week, with weekday services arranged around both working and class schedules. Members can get involved in ministries spanning faith formation, Knights of Columbus fish fries, and the Eagle Catholic campus outreach — a rare combination of small-parish warmth and the energy of Southern Miss student life, steps from Pete Taylor Park.
Mass times at St. Thomas Aquinas
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 4:45 PM – 5:10 PM
- Sunday: 7:30 AM – 7:50 AM
- Sunday: 9:45 AM – 10:00 AM
- Sunday: 5:30 PM – 5:50 PM
- Monday: 4:45 PM – 5:15 PM
- Wednesday: 5:15 PM – 5:45 PM
Adoration times
- Monday: 2:00 PM – 9:00 PM (adoration paused at 5 PM for Mass)
- Tuesday: 8:45 AM – 12:00 PM (Adoration Chapel)
- Thursday: 8:45 AM – 9:00 PM
- Thursday: 9:00 PM – (in Chapel)
- Friday: 12:00 AM – 8:00 AM (in Church)
- Friday: 8:45 AM – 5:00 PM (1st Friday)
- Saturday: 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM (1st Saturday)
About St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church
Saint Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, empowered by the Holy Spirit to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ, strives to share the riches of the Catholic faith by a vibrant sacramental life so that all in the parish and university community will fulfill their call to know, love, and serve the Lord. The parish describes itself as a place where parishioners can get to know, love, and serve Our Lord Jesus Christ, and where new parishioners are warmly welcomed to get involved in parish life. The parish publishes a Parish Resource Guide to help newcomers get acquainted with parish events and ministries.
- Parish Resource Guide for new members
- Open invitation to volunteer
Mission Statement
Saint Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, empowered by the Holy Spirit to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ, strives to share the riches of our Catholic faith by a vibrant sacramental life with a goal that all in our parish and university community will fulfill their call to know, love and serve the Lord. The parish frames itself as both a worshipping community and a university apostolate.
Our History
In 1952, Msgr. Gregory Johnson of Hattiesburg's Sacred Heart Parish began serving the students and faculty of Mississippi Southern College — the institution that would become the University of Southern Mississippi. From those early mission visits, a parish community took root and was formally established in 1968 as St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, also serving as the Newman Center for the university. The parish has continued to grow alongside USM for decades, building a unique identity that weaves together residential Catholic life and Southern Miss student ministry.
- 1952: Msgr. Gregory Johnson begins serving MSC students/faculty
- 1968: Parish formally established as Newman Center
- Adjacent to Pete Taylor Park, home of Southern Miss baseball
Other Services & Devotions
Beyond Mass, Confession, and Adoration, the parish is well known in the Hattiesburg community for its annual Knights of Columbus Lenten Friday Fish Fry, held in the Parish Center on Friday evenings during Lent — coinciding with many Southern Miss baseball home games. Plates are $12 and feature fried catfish or shrimp with hush puppies.
- Knights of Columbus Lenten Fish Fry ($12 plates)
- 1st Friday / 1st Saturday Adoration devotions
Ministries
The parish embraces stewardship and lists a full range of volunteer ministries on both its old and new websites. From its founding ministry to university students to its longstanding service traditions, members are encouraged to find a way to give back to the Lord.
- Eagle Catholic (USM campus ministry)
- Parish Resource Guide
- Stewardship volunteer opportunities
- Knights of Columbus
- Liturgical and sacramental ministries
Eagle Catholic Campus Ministry
Eagle Catholic is the university's Catholic outreach built around Southern Miss students, offering worship, fellowship, and a sense of home steps from Pete Taylor Park. It is recognized as the defining ministry of the parish, rooted in Msgr. Johnson's 1952 outreach to Mississippi Southern College students.
- Worship, fellowship, and community for USM students
- Closely tied to Right Field Roost / Pete Taylor Park
Pastoral Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by Father Mark A. Ropel, V.F., who is incardinated in the Diocese of Biloxi and serves as Pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas. Father Mark holds a Master's in Theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville (1995) and an S.T.B. from the Angelicum in Rome (2001), and has ministered with USM students for over a decade. Deacon Ralph Torrelli is also active in parish ministry, recognized across the Diocese for his preaching.
- Pastor: Father Mark A. Ropel, V.F.
- Deacon Ralph Torrelli
- Father Mark's contact line: 601-264-5192
Diocese & Administration
St. Thomas Aquinas is a parish of the Diocese of Biloxi. Father Mark Ropel is listed on the Diocese of Biloxi's official clergy roster as Pastor with a Vicar Forane (V.F.) designation, and Associate Pastor Reverend Kenneth G. Ramon-Landry is also listed at the same contact line (601-264-5192) for the parish.
- Diocese of Biloxi
- Father Mark A. Ropel, V.F. — Pastor
- Reverend Kenneth G. Ramon-Landry — Associate Pastor