About St. Thomas Aquinas · Kingsville, Texas
St. Thomas Aquinas Newman Center & Chapel is a Roman Catholic parish serving the Texas A&M University–Kingsville (TAMUK) campus in Kingsville, Texas, within the Diocese of Corpus Christi. Also known as the St. Thomas Aquinas University Catholic Center, it functions as the home of the TAMUK Catholic Student Organization (CSO) and as a faith-based community for students, faculty, staff, and local residents. The parish offers Mass six times a week (including a Sunday evening student Mass), regular Eucharistic Adoration, and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It shares its ministry with the adjacent STA Newman Hall, an off-campus student residence built in 2013 through a historic land-swap between Texas A&M University–Kingsville and the Diocese of Corpus Christi.
- Established
- 1990
- Patron
- St. Thomas Aquinas
- Diocese
- Diocese of Corpus Christi
Why belong here
St. Thomas Aquinas is the spiritual home for Catholic students at Texas A&M University–Kingsville through the Catholic Student Organization (CSO), which builds friendships on campus while deepening faith and serving the wider Kingsville community. The Newman Center offers an unusually full schedule for a campus ministry — two Sunday Masses (including a 7:30 PM student Mass), weekday Masses, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, and regular confession. Living next door at STA Newman Hall gives 278 students the chance to make Catholic community their daily experience, with on-site Mass and service opportunities led by the Diocese of Corpus Christi.
Mass times at St. Thomas Aquinas
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM
- Sunday 7:00 PM – 7:30 PM
- Tuesday 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Adoration times
- Tuesday 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- Thursday 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
About St. Thomas Aquinas Newman Center & Chapel
St. Thomas Aquinas Newman Center & Chapel is the Roman Catholic parish and university ministry serving Texas A&M University–Kingsville (TAMUK). Located at 1457 Retama Street, Kingsville, TX 78363, the parish is part of the Diocese of Corpus Christi. As the home of the TAMUK Catholic Student Organization (CSO), the Newman Center is described as a place filled with faith, friends, and fellowship — where enthusiastic students gather to strengthen their Catholic faith, build friendships across campus, and serve the surrounding community. The CSO also helps develop social relationships among students, faculty, and university staff in a faith-based environment.
- Parish name: St. Thomas Aquinas Newman Center & Chapel (also called St. Thomas Aquinas University Catholic Center)
- University served: Texas A&M University–Kingsville (TAMUK)
- Diocese: Diocese of Corpus Christi
- Established: 1990 (per GCatholic)
- Phone: (361) 592-5781
History
Founded in 1990 to minister to the Catholic students of then-Texas A&I University (now Texas A&M University–Kingsville), the parish takes its name from St. Thomas Aquinas, the 13th-century Dominican friar, philosopher, and Doctor of the Church who is the patron saint of students and Catholic schools. A major chapter in the parish's story came in 2013 with the construction of STA Newman Hall — an off-campus Catholic student residence built on land obtained through a historic land-swap agreement between Texas A&M University and the Diocese of Corpus Christi. Bishop Michael Mulvey and now Bishop Louis F. Kihneman were instrumental in bringing the vision to life, and the Diocese continues to lead the ministry and service opportunities of the center today.
- 1990: Parish established as a Catholic university center at TAMUK
- Named for St. Thomas Aquinas, patron saint of students
- 2013: STA Newman Hall constructed (278 beds) through a Texas A&M–Diocese of Corpus Christi land swap
- Builders: Keller Webster Construction (Dallas, TX), with Boka Powell (Dallas, TX) and Jaster Quintanilla (San Antonio, TX)
- Bishop Michael Mulvey and Bishop Louis F. Kihneman cited as key diocesan supporters
Catholic Student Organization (CSO)
The Catholic Student Organization is the heart of campus life at St. Thomas Aquinas. Described as a group of enthusiastic and courageous Christian students, the CSO fosters friendships among Catholic students and with the wider TAMUK community, deepens faith formation, serves the local community, and builds social bonds among students, faculty, and staff. The Newman Center frames itself as a place where students can find what they are looking for in a faith-based environment.
- CSO described as 'filled with faith, friends, and lots of fun'
- Goals: foster friendships, strengthen and grow in faith, better the campus and surrounding community
- Builds relationships between students, faculty, and university staff
STA Newman Hall — Student Residence
STA Newman Hall is the off-campus Catholic student residence adjacent to the TAMUK campus, housing 278 students. Built in 2013 through a historic land-swap agreement between the University and the Diocese of Corpus Christi, the building offers Catholic students an on-site residential community with Mass and ministry opportunities. The Diocese of Corpus Christi continues to lead the ministry and service opportunities offered through the Hall.
- Opened 2013
- 278 student beds
- Constructed by Keller Webster Construction (Dallas, TX); designed with Boka Powell (Dallas, TX) and Jaster Quintanilla (San Antonio, TX)
- Operated by the Diocese of Corpus Christi
- Office hours listed: Mon–Fri 9 AM–6 PM; Sat 10 AM–5 PM; Sun closed
- Residence phone: (361) 288-3658
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the Eucharist at scheduled Masses (see schedule above) and offers the Sacrament of Reconciliation three times per week. For baptism, marriage, confirmation, or other sacramental records obtained through the Newman Chapel, parishioners are directed to contact the neighboring St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church, which maintains the parish's sacramental archives.
- Eucharist: celebrated at the Mass times listed above
- Reconciliation: Sunday (before/after each Mass) and Tuesday evening
- Sacramental Records: St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church, 715 North 8th Street, Kingsville, TX 78363, (361) 221-8751
Visit & Contact
St. Thomas Aquinas Newman Center & Chapel is located at 1457 Retama Street in Kingsville, Texas. The parish office can be reached by phone at (361) 592-5781. The official website is newmankingsville.com, and the parish maintains a presence on Facebook. STA Newman Hall's office can be reached at (361) 288-3658.
- Address: 1457 Retama St., Kingsville, TX 78363
- Parish phone: (361) 592-5781
- Newman Hall phone: (361) 288-3658
- Website: newmankingsville.com
- Facebook: facebook.com/p/St-Thomas-Aquinas-Newman-Center-Chapel-100085326648742/