About St. Thomas Aquinas · Indianola, Iowa
St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Indianola, Iowa, belonging to the Diocese of Des Moines. The parish was canonically established on September 8, 1957, by Bishop Edward C. Daly, with its first Mass celebrated on January 6, 1957, at the American Legion Hall by Fr. Hilary Gaul. What began with roughly 250 people and about 70 Catholic families has grown into a thriving community of approximately 600 registered families (as of October 31, 2025). The parish also serves as the Catholic chaplaincy for nearby Simpson College, where it celebrates a Sunday evening Mass at Smith Chapel during the academic year.
- Established
- 1957
- Patron
- St. Thomas Aquinas
- Rector
- Fr. Adam Westphal
- Diocese
- Diocese of Des Moines
Why belong here
St. Thomas Aquinas is a 600-family parish in Indianola that combines the warmth of a smaller community with a rich Catholic life: daily and weekend Masses, weekday Eucharistic Adoration three days a week, a vibrant music ministry, the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd faith formation program for children, the STAT youth ministry, and Simpson College campus ministry. The parish offers deep outreach through its Caring Hands Ministry, Social Concerns Committee, Creation Care Team following Laudato Si', Knights of Columbus, and the St. Thomas Altar and Rosary Society (STARS), so newcomers can find a way to pray, serve, and belong. With ChristLife having drawn over 200 participants since 2022, the parish is actively renewing and growing.
Mass times at St. Thomas Aquinas
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday afternoon beginning at 3:30 PM
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Wednesday: 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM (Adoration Chapel)
- Thursday: 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM (Adoration Chapel)
- Friday: After Mass until noon (in the sanctuary)
About St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church
St. Thomas Aquinas is a Roman Catholic parish in Indianola, Iowa, part of the Diocese of Des Moines. Founded in 1957, it has grown from about 70 families and a first Mass at the American Legion Hall into a community of roughly 600 registered families as of October 31, 2025. The parish also serves as the Catholic chaplaincy for Simpson College, with Sunday evening Mass celebrated at Smith Chapel during the academic year. Visitors and newcomers are warmly invited to register, get involved, and find a place in the parish's ministries.
- Parish established September 8, 1957, by Bishop Edward C. Daly
- First Mass: January 6, 1957, at the American Legion Hall with ~250 people
- About 600 registered families as of October 31, 2025
- Serves as Catholic chaplaincy for Simpson College
Our History
Catholic life in Warren County dates to the 1856 Irish Settlement in Madison County. The Diocese of Des Moines was created in 1885. In December 1956 Bishop Daly asked Fr. Hilary Gaul, pastor of Immaculate Conception, to begin celebrating Mass in Indianola, where about 70 Catholic families lived. Fr. Gaul celebrated the first Mass on January 6, 1957, at the American Legion Hall, and on September 8, 1957, Bishop Daly canonically established St. Thomas Aquinas as a new parish — fittingly named for the great scholar-saint in a college town. Over the decades the parish built an old church (1958), a rectory (1961), a new church seating 600 (1989), and an 18,800 sq. ft. pastoral center (2002, paid off by December 2005).
- 1957: Parish established; Fr. Hilary Gaul first pastor
- 1958: First Mass in old church; Altar & Rosary Society formed
- 1961: Rectory built with volunteer labor
- 1978: 265 registered families
- 1988: Fr. Don Bruck arrives; reestablishes parish council, RCIA, etc.
- 1989: Current church completed (seats 600)
- 2002: Pastoral center completed (~$2.9 million)
- 2005: Pastoral center paid off
- 2022: Fr. Adam Westphal becomes pastor; ChristLife launched
Parish Staff
St. Thomas Aquinas is served by a pastor, two deacons, and a dedicated lay staff and volunteer leadership team. The staff supports faith formation, youth ministry, campus ministry, music, accounting, administration, and facility care.
- Pastor: Fr. Adam Westphal
- Deacon Support: Rev. Mr. Dave O'Brien; Rev. Mr. Tom Hunkele
- Bookkeeper: Beth McGinnis
- Administrative Assistant: Brenna Blong ([email protected])
- Campus Ministry & Special Projects Coordinator: Trenton Priest
- Youth Minister (STAT): Diane DeWall
- Director of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd: Michelle Helm
- Facility Rental Coordinator: Nicola Brummer
- Housekeeper: Andrea Ooms
- Caring Hands: Patty Alexander
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. Thomas Aquinas offers faith formation for children through the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program, directed by Michelle Helm, and prepares children for the sacraments of Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation. The parish emphasizes walking alongside each child at their own pace with a passionate team of catechists.
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (Director: Michelle Helm)
- Sacramental preparation: Reconciliation, First Communion, Confirmation
- St. Thomas Aquinas Teens (STAT) youth ministry (Diane DeWall)
Youth & Campus Ministry
STAT (St. Thomas Aquinas Teens) provides middle- and high-school students with opportunities for service, education, small-group discussion, and reception of the sacraments. Since 2022, Fr. Adam Westphal has also brought FOCUS missionaries to Simpson College to reach Catholic students, with Trenton Priest coordinating campus ministry and special projects.
- STAT — St. Thomas Aquinas Teens (Diane DeWall)
- STAT Mission Trip
- Simpson College Catholic Campus Ministry (Trenton Priest)
- FOCUS missionaries at Simpson College
Music Ministry
The Music Ministry invites singers and instrumentalists to lead the congregation in prayerful song. Practice is held on Tuesdays at 7:00 PM. Fr. Adam Westphal launched a search for a new Director of Music Ministry upon his arrival in 2022.
- Music Ministry practice: Tuesdays at 7:00 PM
- Welcomes vocalists and instrumentalists
Parish Groups & Fellowship
A wide array of groups supports prayer, fellowship, and service — from women's and men's groups to Scripture-based community. Coffee With Jesus gathers women on the first Saturday of each month from 9:00–10:30 AM for faith, food, fellowship, and fun, while the Women's Breakfast Club meets the fourth Tuesday at 9:00 AM at Fireside Bistro.
- Coffee With Jesus — first Saturday, 9:00–10:30 AM
- St. Thomas Women's Breakfast Club — fourth Tuesday, 9:00 AM
- Knights of Columbus — second Thursday, 7:00–8:00 PM
- St. Thomas Altar and Rosary Society (STARS) — third Monday, 6:30 PM
Outreach & Social Concerns
The parish lives its faith through outreach to the elderly, ill, homebound, and bereaved via the Caring Hands Ministry, and through the Social Concerns Committee, which identifies and addresses local needs. The Creation Care Team follows Pope Francis' Laudato Si' Action Plan to help the parish be stewards of God's creation.
- Caring Hands Ministry (Patty Alexander) — bi-monthly outreach
- Social Concerns Committee
- Creation Care Team (Laudato Si' Action Plan)
- Prayer Chain (pray.mysta.org)
ChristLife
ChristLife is a three-step relational evangelization process — Discovering Christ, Following Christ, and Sharing Christ — that the parish adopted in 2022 under Fr. Adam Westphal to reconnect with families separated from the Church during COVID-19. The first run of Discovering Christ drew over 70 participants, and more than 200 people have begun the ChristLife journey since.
- Discovering Christ
- Following Christ
- Sharing Christ
- Over 200 participants since 2022
Sacraments
The parish celebrates Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick, and offers RCIA for adults. Parents must attend pre-Baptism classes; couples should call at least six months in advance of marriage; the sick and homebound may request Anointing of the Sick or the Eucharist through the parish office.
- Baptism (pre-Baptism classes required)
- First Communion & Reconciliation
- Confirmation
- Marriage (6 months' notice; Pre-Marriage Program)
- Anointing of the Sick / care for the homebound
- RCIA
Councils & Stewardship
The Parish Council is a consultative body that advises the pastor on pastoral matters and the life of the parish. The Finance Council advises on the responsible stewardship of the parish's financial resources, overseeing the budget, income, expenses, and long-term financial health.
- Parish Council (consultative body)
- Finance Council (budget and long-term financial oversight)
Contact & Visit
St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church is located at 210 S Wesley Street, Indianola, Iowa 50125. The parish office number is 515-961-3026, with office hours Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (per bulletin). For sacramental emergencies, call 515-961-3026 and press #7 when prompted. Newcomers can register or update their information through new.mysta.org.
- Address: 210 S Wesley Street, Indianola, IA 50125
- Phone: 515-961-3026
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday 9:00 AM–4:00 PM
- Sacramental emergency line: 515-961-3026 (press #7)
- Newcomers register at new.mysta.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Hilary Gaul1957
First pastor; also pastor of Immaculate Conception when Bishop Daly asked him to begin Mass in Indianola. Officially established as pastor by Bishop Daly on September 8, 1957.
- Fr. Lawrence Burns1966
Appointed pastor; FAA-licensed hot air balloon pilot known as 'The Flying Father'; served as Chaplain for the National Balloon Championships. During his tenure he began the Simpson College Catholic student Mass and restarted parish fundraising dinners. Returned for a second stint in 1985.
- Fr. Eugene Klein1978
Appointed pastor when the parish had grown to about 265 families.
- Fr. Don Bruck1988
Appointed by Bishop William Bullock; reestablished the parish council, instituted Eucharistic Ministers/Lectors/Greeters/Children's Liturgy/Renew/missions/RCIA; oversaw purchase of 20 acres west of town and reordering of the sanctuary.
- Fr. Ray McHenry2006
Named Administrator by Bishop Joseph Charron; later became the sixth pastor; launched capital campaign for new church facilities.
- Fr. Frank Palmer
Appointed pastor by Bishop Joseph Charron; revived parish fundraising dinners (spaghetti dinners, six per year by retirement).
- Fr. Chris Fontanini
Led the parish through the COVID-19 pandemic; expanded facilities with additional classrooms and a multipurpose room. 518 registered families by July 2022.
- Fr. Adam Westphal2022–present
Current pastor and Catholic Chaplain for Simpson College; brought FOCUS to campus and launched ChristLife renewal process; oversaw facility improvements and integration of technology.