About St. Thomas Aquinas · Ruston, Louisiana
St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Ruston, Louisiana, established in 1941 and serving the Catholics of Ruston, Lincoln Parish and surrounding communities, including students attending nearby Louisiana Tech University. The parish is part of the Diocese of Shreveport's Eastern Deanery and offers Mass in both English and Spanish, with a special Sunday evening Mass tailored to college students during the academic year. Its mission statement describes a community 'rich in heritage, diverse in culture, guided by the spirit, and embracing all,' committed to nourishing its parish family through sacraments, worship, education and ministry.
- Established
- 1941
- Patron
- St. Thomas Aquinas
- Rector
- Fr. Kevin Mues
- Diocese
- Diocese of Shreveport
Why belong here
St. Thomas Aquinas offers one of the most complete Catholic presences in north-central Louisiana, with daily and Sunday Masses, Spanish-language liturgy, a college Mass for Louisiana Tech students, and reconciliation before most weekday Masses and on Saturday afternoons. The parish invests seriously in faith formation through its Parish School of Religion (PSR), Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA/RCIA), Vacation Bible School, and a vibrant lay life that includes a Women's Guild, Men's Club, St. Vincent de Paul charity outreach, Liturgy & Music, Spirituality, and Buildings & Grounds committees — all coordinated through an active Pastoral Council.
Mass times at St. Thomas Aquinas
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday – Thursday: 7:30 am – 8:00 am
- Saturday: 3:30 pm – 4:45 pm
History and Heritage
St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church was established in 1941 to serve the Catholics of Ruston, Louisiana, and the surrounding area. From the beginning it was cared for by Franciscan priests in residence in Ruston, who also traveled out to minister to the Catholic communities of Grambling and Farmerville. The parish operated a parochial school taught by Franciscan Sisters, with instruction for grades one through six. A July 12, 1963 article in the Ruston Daily Leader noted that while roughly 8.3% of the population of the Diocese of Alexandria (now Shreveport) was Catholic, only about three tenths of one percent of Ruston's residents were Catholic — making the parish a small but vital Catholic witness in north-central Louisiana.
- Established in 1941
- Historically served by Franciscan (Order of Friars Minor) priests
- Priests in residence also served the missions at Grambling and Farmerville
- Operated a parochial school, grades 1–6, staffed by Franciscan Sisters
- Diocese transferred from Alexandria to the (now) Diocese of Shreveport
Parish Staff
St. Thomas Aquinas is led by a pastor who also serves as campus minister to Louisiana Tech University, assisted by a parochial vicar, two deacons, and lay staff overseeing parish operations, religious education and the Luffey Catholic Center.
- Pastor: Fr. Kevin Mues
- Parochial Vicar: Fr. Gabriel Cisneros
- Campus Minister: Fr. Kevin Mues (318-310-4007)
- Deacon John Serio
- Deacon Robert Ransom
- Business Manager / Luffey Center Director: Marcie Tucker (318-255-2870)
- PSR Director: Melinda 'Mindy' Bryan (318-525-4906)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at St. Thomas Aquinas is centered on the Parish School of Religion (PSR) and the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) process, which together walk children, teens and adults through the Catholic faith and the sacraments of initiation.
- Parish School of Religion (PSR) — Sunday religious education program for parish children
- PSR Director: Melinda 'Mindy' Bryan (318-525-4906)
- OCIA / RCIA for adults — Thursdays 6:00–7:30 pm, September–May
- First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion prepared through the 2nd-grade PSR class
- Vacation Bible School (e.g. June 8–12, 2026)
Becoming Catholic (OCIA / RCIA)
The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (formerly the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) is the parish's process for adults interested in exploring the Catholic faith, including those unbaptized, baptized Christians seeking full communion, and baptized Catholics wishing to receive Confirmation. Sessions meet Thursday evenings during the academic year and use Sacred Scripture and the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
- Open to anyone exploring Catholicism
- Welcomes baptized Catholics seeking Confirmation
- Open to any parishioner wanting to refresh their knowledge of the faith
- Sessions: Thursdays, 6:00–7:30 pm, September–May
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all the sacraments of initiation and offers preparation programs for children and adults. Parents of infants contact the parish office to schedule a baptism and required preparation class; adults seeking baptism or other sacraments of initiation are directed to the OCIA coordinator or the parish priest.
- Infant Baptism — schedule through the parish office; parent preparation class required
- Adult Baptism / sacraments of initiation — by appointment with the priest
- First Holy Communion — typically received in the spring of 2nd grade via PSR
- First Reconciliation — integrated into 2nd-grade PSR instruction
- Reconciliation — see scheduled times before daily Mass and Saturday afternoon
- Confirmation (for baptized Catholics) — through the OCIA process
Parish Life & Ministries
Parish life is organized around an active Pastoral Council with standing committees in Liturgy & Music, Education, Spirituality, Buildings & Grounds, Communication & Community Relations, Ways & Means, and Safety & Security. Lay organizations include a Women's Guild and Men's Club, and the parish hosts the St. Vincent de Paul Society for outreach to the needy.
- Pastoral Council with standing committees
- Women's Guild — meets 2nd Tuesday of the month (except summer)
- Men's Club — meets 3rd Monday of the month
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Liturgy & Music Committee coordinating Lectors, Ushers, Eucharistic Ministers, Servers, Sacristans, and Music Ministry
Liturgy & Music
The Liturgy & Music Committee helps make the Mass experience smooth and cohesive by coordinating the lay liturgical ministries — lectors, ushers, Eucharistic ministers, servers, sacristans and the music ministry — who serve alongside the parish's ordained priests.
- Lectors
- Ushers
- Eucharistic Ministers
- Altar Servers
- Sacristans
- Music Ministry
Outreach & Charity
The parish supports outreach to those in need through the St. Vincent de Paul Society and through the Communication & Community Relations Committee, which connects the parish to the wider Ruston and Lincoln Parish community.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Ways & Means Committee (fundraising for the Luffey Catholic Life Center)
- Communication & Community Relations Committee
Facilities: The Luffey Catholic Life Center
The Luffey Catholic Center serves as a hub for parish activities, including Women's Guild meetings and Vacation Bible School. A dedicated Business Manager / Luffey Center Director oversees the center, and a Ways & Means committee is specifically charged with raising funds to pay off the facility.
- Luffey Catholic Center — venue for Women's Guild, VBS and parish events
- Director: Marcie Tucker (318-255-2870)
- Ways & Means Committee funds the center
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone, fax or email during regular office hours. Office hours are Monday through Thursday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, and Friday from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm.
- Address: 810 Carey Avenue, Ruston, Louisiana 71270
- Main Office Phone: 318-255-2870
- CYO / Luffey Center Director: 318-224-7007
- ACTS: 318-251-0793
- Fax: 318-254-8319
- Bulletin / Main email: [email protected]
- Parish Office email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Mon–Thu 8:30 am – 4:30 pm; Fri 8:30 am – 12:00 pm