St. Thomas

Welcome to St. Thomas

St. Thomas Catholic Church in Camp Point, Illinois is a small rural parish community in northeastern Adams County that has gathered for worship since 1860. The parish is part of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois and serves roughly 344 parishioners from 123 families. Mass is celebrated on Sundays at 10:00 a.m., on Thursdays at 5:30 p.m., and on First Fridays at 6:00 p.m., with the full First Friday program of adoration, reconciliation and benediction.

Mission Statement

The parish's published mission statement reads: "We the parishioners of St. Thomas in northeastern Adams County, a rural parish community since 1860, are ever mindful of God's bountiful blessings. As baptized Catholics, we believe in Jesus Christ, in Word and Sacrament, and celebrate His good news by living our faith. We become the Christian community that Jesus calls us to be through worship and the activities that flow from it in the areas of word, service and community. By our love and example, working as individuals and as a parish community, we will continue to promote freedom, justice and love."

History of St. Thomas

St. Thomas traces its origins to the Irish laborers who built the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad through Camp Point and erected a small church in 1860 under the patronage of St. Patrick. The first pastor was Reverend A. B. Rinckes. When Father Thomas Cusack founded St. Brigid at Liberty, he took on the Camp Point mission as well, and from then on the Liberty pastor traditionally cared for St. Thomas as an out-mission attended once a month. As the railroad moved westward the Irish workers departed, the Catholic population dwindled to roughly ten families, and the mission's name was changed to St. Thomas.

• 1860 — original St. Patrick church built by Irish railroad laborers
• First pastor: Rev. A. B. Rinckes
• Mission cared for by the pastor of St. Brigid, Liberty, from Father Cusack's time onward
• Name changed from St. Patrick to St. Thomas as the Irish workforce moved on
• 1953 — 81 parishioners registered; old cattle-barn church nearing 100 years old

Building the Present Church (1957–1959)

By the late 1950s the old church could no longer hold the growing congregation, so Bishop William A. O'Connor authorized the purchase of a new site on July 1, 1957. The 4.39-acre tract at the end of Ohio Street, two blocks south of Highway 24, was secured from Harold R. Farlow with the help of Ross Bowers and the Camp Point village council. Ground was broken on Easter Sunday, April 6, 1958, by John Sommer, the parish's oldest living member, and the new brick-and-steel church was first used for Mass on July 26, 1959.

• July 1, 1957 — Bishop O'Connor authorizes purchase of new site
• December 19, 1957 — deed recorded at the Adams County Courthouse (61 transfers, 86 pages, tracing back to a War of 1812 land grant)
• April 6, 1958 (Easter Sunday) — groundbreaking by John Sommer
• July 1958 — foundations poured
• August 1958 — steel construction
• July 26, 1959 — first Mass in the new church, with 10 first Communicants

Mass and Sacrament Schedule

Sunday Mass is celebrated at 10:00 a.m. and Thursday Mass at 5:30 p.m. The parish keeps a particularly rich First Friday schedule, with adoration of the Eucharist from noon to 6:00 p.m., reconciliation from 5:00 to 5:45 p.m., benediction at 5:45 p.m. and Mass at 6:00 p.m. Holy Day and Eve-of-Holy-Day Masses are offered at 7:00 p.m. Confessions are also available by appointment through the parish office.

• Sunday Mass — 10:00 a.m.
• Thursday Mass — 5:30 p.m.
• First Friday Adoration — 12:00 noon to 6:00 p.m.
• First Friday Reconciliation — 5:00–5:45 p.m.
• First Friday Benediction — 5:45 p.m.
• First Friday Mass — 6:00 p.m.
• Eve of Holyday Mass — 7:00 p.m.
• Holyday Mass — 7:00 p.m.

Faith Formation & Religious Education

Children's religious education is offered through the Parish School of Religion (PSR), which meets on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. under Director of Education Laura Evans, who also coordinates Bible School and the Youth Group. Adult faith formation is supported by the Ladies Bible Study, which meets Wednesday mornings, and by the Men's Prayer Group, which gathers on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays at 7:00 a.m. Pat Sharow serves as parish secretary and Karen Janssen as Youth Minister.

• PSR (Parish School of Religion) — Wednesday 6:30 p.m.
• Ladies Bible Study — Wednesday mornings
• Men's Prayer Group — 1st & 3rd Saturday 7:00 a.m.
• Bible School — coordinated by Laura Evans
• Youth Group — coordinated by Laura Evans and Karen Janssen

Liturgy & Music

Liturgical life at St. Thomas is supported by a parish choir under the direction of Anita Witt and an Arts and Environment committee led by Amanda Genenbacher, which cares for the beauty of the worship space through the seasons of the church year. Ministry scheduling for liturgical roles is coordinated by Bobbi Mock.

• Choir Director — Anita Witt
• Arts and Environment — Amanda Genenbacher
• Ministry Scheduling — Bobbi Mock

Parish Life & Organizations

Parishioners are organized through several groups that meet on a regular rotation. The Men & Women's Organization meets on the 1st Thursday of the month, and the Parish Pastoral Council meets on the 2nd Thursday. The parish also participates in the Community for Christ Assistance Center, with board member Dorothy Obert.

• Men & Women's Organization — 1st Thursday
• Parish Pastoral Council — 2nd Thursday
• Community for Christ Assistance Center — board member Dorothy Obert

Clergy & Staff

St. Thomas is currently served by Rev. Aaron Kuhn, who was ordained on May 26, 2018 and has been pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle, Camp Point (and Holy Family, Mt. Sterling) since 2020; he also serves as chaplain of the Western Illinois Correctional Center. Deacon Mike Ellerman assists at the parish. Pat Sharow serves as secretary, Laura Evans as Director of Education, Bible School coordinator and Youth Group leader, Karen Janssen as Youth Minister, Anita Witt as Choir Director, Amanda Genenbacher in Arts and Environment, Cathy Holtschlag handles hall rentals, Dorothy Obert serves on the Community for Christ Assistance Center board, and Bobbi Mock coordinates the ministry schedule.

• Pastor: Rev. Aaron Kuhn — (217) 242-9669
• Deacon: Mike Ellerman — (309) 333-2509
• Secretary: Pat Sharow — (217) 593-6685
• Director of Education / Bible School / Youth Group: Laura Evans — (217) 316-1734
• Choir Director: Anita Witt
• Arts and Environment: Amanda Genenbacher
• Hall Rentals: Cathy Holtschlag — (217) 430-7493
• Community for Christ Assistance Center Board Member: Dorothy Obert — (217) 593-6520
• Ministry Schedule: Bobbi Mock — (217) 430-2859

Visit, Contact & Facilities

The parish office and parish hall are located at 109 E. Spring Street, Camp Point, IL 62320 (mailing address: P.O. Box 373). A separate hall at 103 E. Spring Street is available for rental through Cathy Holtschlag. The rectory can be reached at (217) 773-3233. Email: [email protected]. The church property sits two blocks south of Highway 24 at the end of Ohio Street, which the village council incorporated into the Camp Point corporation limits when the new site was acquired in 1957.

• Church Address — 109 E. Spring, Camp Point, IL 62320
• Mailing Address — P.O. Box 373, Camp Point, IL 62320
• Parish Hall — 103 E. Spring, Camp Point, IL 62320
• Office / Parish Hall Phone — (217) 593-6685
• Rectory — (217) 773-3233
• Email — [email protected]
• Website — www.stthomascp.org