About St. Thomas More · Omaha, Nebraska
St. Thomas More is a Roman Catholic parish in central Omaha, Nebraska, founded in 1958 and located at 4804 Grover Street. Since the summer of 2020 it has been partnered with neighboring St. Joan of Arc Parish under the umbrella name 'Midtown Catholic,' sharing a pastor, ministries, Mass schedule, and mission while preserving each parish's own identity. The parish is noted for its award-winning mid-century modern church architecture with a swooping, shingled roof that has been compared to the bow of Noah's Ark, and for its strong, decades-long tradition of Catholic education through the parish school. As part of the Archdiocese of Omaha, Midtown Catholic proclaims itself 'One Church: Encountering Jesus, Equipping Disciples, Living Mercy, Sending Apostles.'
- Established
- 1958
- Patron
- St. Thomas More
- Rector
- Rev. Frank Jindra
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Omaha
Why belong here
St. Thomas More offers a welcoming neighborhood Catholic community in the heart of Omaha, with a pastor and deacons who walk with parishioners through every stage of life. Worship is centered on a Sunday 10:30 AM Mass (livestreamed) and 4:30 PM Mass, with daily Mass Thursday through Saturday and confessions a half-hour before each Mass. The parish runs RCIA-style 'Becoming Catholic' classes, the Alpha course, Family Formation for K–8 families, a 7th–12th grade Youth Group, and partners with the on-site St. Thomas More Catholic School — making it a true cradle-through-Adult faith community under the Midtown Catholic banner.
Mass times at St. Thomas More
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 30 minutes before each Mass
Parish Identity & Midtown Catholic Partnership
St. Thomas More is one of two parishes that together form 'Midtown Catholic' within the Archdiocese of Omaha. The other is neighboring St. Joan of Arc (3122 S. 74th St.), founded in 1958. Since the summer of 2020 the two parishes share a pastor, ministries, maintenance, a combined Mass schedule, and a common mission while continuing as two canonical parishes. Their shared mission statement reads: 'One Church: Encountering Jesus, Equipping Disciples, Living Mercy, Sending Apostles.' The partnership is presented as a way for two historic neighborhood parishes — about a seven-minute drive apart — to continue serving central Omaha in a new season of life.
- St. Thomas More – 4804 Grover St.
- St. Joan of Arc – 3122 S. 74th St.
- Formed Midtown Catholic partnership in summer 2020
- Pastoral mission: Encountering Jesus, Equipping Disciples, Living Mercy, Sending Apostles
History of St. Thomas More Parish
Founded in 1958 at the corner of 48th and Grover Streets, St. Thomas More grew in step with its central-Omaha neighborhood during the post-war housing boom and became known for its distinctive mid-century modern church and its commitment to Catholic education. As demographics in the surrounding neighborhood shifted, the parish moved into what its leadership calls 'a new season of life,' formalized by the 2020 Midtown Catholic partnership with St. Joan of Arc.
- Founded 1958
- Located at 48th & Grover
- Church completed the same year as the parish's founding
Church Architecture
St. Thomas More's church is one of the most recognizable mid-century modern religious buildings in Omaha. Local architectural writers have called its swooping, shingled roof — meant to evoke the bow of Noah's Ark — both 'award-winning' and an example of the kind of bold post-war ecclesiastical design found in cities from coast to coast. Inside, the roof descends as the curved undersides of two boat-like shells, producing a low, curving wood ceiling above the pews.
- Mid-century modern, 1958
- Swooping shingled roof likened to Noah's Ark
- Curving wood ceiling inside
- Design compared to Le Corbusier's Ronchamp and Jørn Utzon's organic forms
Parish Leadership & Staff
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Frank Jindra, who also serves as pastor of St. Joan of Arc under the Midtown Catholic partnership. He is assisted by several deacons — Deacon Allan Schumacher, Deacon Matt Wolbach, and deacon couples Ron & Julie Ryan and Tim & Ruth Leininger. Lay leadership is provided by the Parish Council, currently headed by President Joe Willie Benes, Vice President Eric Whitesides, and Secretary Debbie Wojcinski.
- Pastor: Rev. Frank Jindra
- Deacons: Allan Schumacher, Matt Wolbach, Ron & Julie Ryan, Tim & Ruth Leininger
- Parish Council: Joe Willie Benes (President), Eric Whitesides (VP), Debbie Wojcinski (Secretary)
Parish Office & Staff Contacts
Day-to-day operations of both parishes are coordinated by Director of Parishes Chad Grosse-Rhode. Parish Secretary for St. Thomas More is Kristine Yonathan (ext. 200); Jenny Keller is the Coordinator of Religious Education (ext. 210); Rebecca Manno serves as Coordinator of Evangelization and Youth Minister; Linda Boyer is the Bulletin Editor; Lindsey Sova is the Accounting Coordinator (402-501-7457); and Renae Vorland serves as parish secretary at St. Joan of Arc. The parish office is open 9:00 AM–2:00 PM.
- Chad Grosse-Rhode – Director of Parishes
- Kristine Yonathan – STM Parish Secretary (ext. 200)
- Jenny Keller – Coordinator of Religious Education (ext. 210)
- Rebecca Manno – Coordinator of Evangelization / Youth Minister
- Linda Boyer – Bulletin Editor
- Lindsey Sova – Accounting Coordinator (402-501-7457)
- Renae Vorland – SJA Parish Secretary
St. Thomas More Catholic School
St. Thomas More Catholic School — the 'Bengals' — has been educating students since 1959 on the parish campus at 3515 S 48th Avenue. It offers a preschool through 8th grade Catholic education rooted in five charisms: Courage, Holiness, Intellect, Leadership, and Service. The school is part of the Omaha Catholic School Consortium (six schools supported by sixteen parishes); parishioners of Midtown Catholic are eligible for a $500 tuition discount.
- Preschool–8th grade
- Founded 1959
- 3515 S 48th Avenue, Omaha
- Principal: Gary Davis
- Charisms: Courage, Holiness, Intellect, Leadership, Service
- Member of the Omaha Catholic School Consortium
Academics & Faith Formation at the School
The school is accredited by the State of Nebraska and follows Omaha Archdiocesan standards-based curriculum in religion, language arts, math, social studies, and science. Standardized testing three times a year helps teachers monitor growth. Enrichment offerings include visual arts, weekly library, music, physical education, and Spanish.
- Accredited by the State of Nebraska
- Standardized testing three times a year
- Enrichments: visual arts, library, music, PE, Spanish
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
Starting in Pre-K, STM students participate in the Montessori-based Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program. St. Thomas More is one of a small number of Catholic schools in Omaha offering this approach, in which children encounter Scripture, liturgy, and prayer in a peaceful, child-sized space called the Atrium through hands-on materials, quiet reflection, and joyful song.
- Montessori-based Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
- Offered beginning in Pre-K
- Takes place in a dedicated Atrium space
Faith Formation for Parishioners — Grow Here
Midtown Catholic's 'Grow Here' umbrella gathers the adult-formation offerings of the partnership. The Becoming Catholic Course is the parish's RCIA: a year-long journey of about twice-monthly sessions from September through Easter for those exploring full entry into the Catholic Church. Alpha is a 10-week, one-evening-per-week introduction to the Christian faith open to anyone of any background.
- Becoming Catholic (RCIA) — twice monthly, Sept–Easter
- Alpha — 10-week course, weekly, with meal and discussion
Family Formation
Family Formation is the parish's K–8 religious education program, structured around twice-monthly Wednesday evenings. On one evening the whole family participates in a lesson and activity together; on the other, children split into age-appropriate classes while parents take part in adult discussion. The program includes sacrament preparation and a $50 per-family cost. Coordinators are Jenny Keller and Renae Vorland.
- Twice monthly on Wednesdays
- K–8th grade with parents
- Includes sacrament preparation
- Contact: Jenny Keller and Renae Vorland
Youth Ministry
Youth Group at Midtown Catholic meets every other Sunday from 5:30–7:00 PM in the St. Thomas More School Media Center and is open to students in 7th through 12th grade. Each session includes food, fellowship, and faith formation. The Totus Tuus summer program is also offered, and summer fellowship events for youth — including pickleball, snacks, and outdoor games at local parks — are publicized on the parish Facebook page.
- Youth Group: every other Sunday, 5:30–7:00 PM, STM School Media Center
- Grades 7–12
- Totus Tuus summer program
- Summer youth fellowship events
Contact & Visiting
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish by phone at 402-556-1456 or by email at [email protected]. Both St. Thomas More (4804 Grover) and St. Joan of Arc (3122 S. 74th St.) offices are open 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. For event or school cancellation updates — particularly relevant given the campus location — the parish publishes a cancellation line at 402-896-4539. Mass on Sunday at 10:30 AM is livestreamed for those unable to attend in person.
- Phone: 402-556-1456
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: 9:00 AM–2:00 PM
- Cancellation line: 402-896-4539
- 10:30 AM Sunday Mass livestreamed
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Norman F. Hunke
Listed as pastor of St. Thomas More in older directories prior to the current pastor.
- Rev. Frank Jindra
Current pastor; shared between St. Thomas More and St. Joan of Arc under the Midtown Catholic partnership formed in 2020.