About St. Thomas More University Parish · Indiana, Pennsylvania
St. Thomas More University Parish is a Catholic parish in Indiana, Pennsylvania, affiliated with the Diocese of Greensburg and staffed by the Capuchin Franciscans of the Province of St. Augustine. It serves the Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) community as a designated university parish, offering Mass, the sacraments, faith formation, and campus ministry to students, faculty, and the wider Indiana community. The parish traces its roots to a 1927 Newman Club at what is now IUP and worships in a Vatican II-style church completed in 1967 and dedicated in 1968.
- Established
- 1927
- Patron
- St. Thomas More
- Rector
- Fr. Richard N. Owens, O.F.M., Cap.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Greensburg
Why belong here
St. Thomas More University Parish is the Catholic home for the Indiana University of Pennsylvania community, offering daily and weekend Masses, Reconciliation, and a full sacramental life. Students, faculty, and residents can grow in the faith through RCIA, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, junior and senior high youth ministry, sacramental preparation, and a range of liturgical and service ministries. As a Capuchin Franciscan parish, it pairs the intellectual life of a university with the pastoral warmth of a friars' community.
Mass times at St. Thomas More University Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 5:00 – 5:45 PM
- Or by appointment (call 724-463-2277)
Our Story: From Newman Club to University Parish
The parish traces its origins to a 1927 Newman Club at Indiana Normal School, organized by Father Neil McNelis, Father James Brady, and about 100 Catholic students and faculty. It grew with the college into a leading religious organization, and in 1958 its ministry moved into a former macaroni factory converted into St. James Chapel. The present Vatican II-style church was completed in 1967 and dedicated on October 13, 1968. In the late 1990s, under Father Michael J. Crookston, the parish was formally designated a university parish of the Diocese of Greensburg.
- 1927 — Newman Club founded at Indiana Normal School
- 1951 — Diocese of Greensburg established from the Diocese of Pittsburgh
- 1958 — First Mass celebrated at the converted Macaroni Factory / St. James Chapel on November 8
- 1965 — Indiana State College becomes Indiana University of Pennsylvania
- 1967 — Vatican II-style church completed after Christmas
- 1968 — First Mass on February 4; church dedicated October 13
- Late 1990s — Designated a university parish of the Diocese of Greensburg under Fr. Michael J. Crookston
- October 17, 2008 — Vocations Prayer Chapel dedicated by Bishop Lawrence E. Brandt
Our Mission
St. Thomas More University Parish, devoted to spiritual growth through worship, prayer and service, seeks to build the kingdom of God. Centered around the Eucharist, it is a diverse, faith-filled parish of the Diocese of Greensburg with a special call to minister to its parishioners and to the entire Indiana University of Pennsylvania community. The parish is staffed by the Capuchin Franciscans of the Province of St. Augustine.
Clergy & Staff
The parish is served by Capuchin Franciscan friars and a small lay staff. Fr. Richard N. Owens, O.F.M., Cap., is pastor, and Fr. Jonathan Ulrick, O.F.M., Cap., serves as Parochial Vicar and Catholic Chaplain to IUP. Br. Stephen Cantwell, O.F.M., Cap., is in residence, and Fr. Tage Danielson, O.F.M., Cap., is also named in parish ministry materials. Lay staff include Diane Cawley (Financial Secretary), Anita Hood (Clearance Coordinator), and Bill Strittmatter (Maintenance and Physical Plant Manager).
- Fr. Richard N. Owens, O.F.M., Cap. — Pastor
- Fr. Jonathan Ulrick, O.F.M., Cap. — Parochial Vicar and Catholic Chaplain to IUP
- Br. Stephen Cantwell, O.F.M., Cap. — In-Residence
- Fr. Tage Danielson, O.F.M., Cap.
- Diane Cawley — Financial Secretary (ext. 113)
- Anita Hood — Clearance Coordinator (ext. 110)
- Bill Strittmatter — Maintenance and Physical Plant Manager (ext. 122)
Capuchin Franciscan Identity
St. Thomas More University Parish is staffed by the Capuchin Franciscans of the Province of St. Augustine. The Capuchins (O.F.M., Cap.) are a reform branch of the Franciscan order known for their preaching, simplicity, and service. Their presence gives the parish a particular charism of intellectual engagement paired with pastoral warmth, fitting for a university parish named for the great Christian humanist and martyr St. Thomas More.
Campus Ministry at IUP
As a parish of the Diocese of Greensburg charged with the unique mission of serving the Indiana University of Pennsylvania community, the parish offers a range of liturgical and faith-formation opportunities for students. IUP students are invited to serve as altar servers, cantors, choir members or instrumentalists, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, greeters, readers, sacristans, or ushers. The parish also offers faith formation programs, social activities, and opportunities for intellectual and spiritual growth.
- Liturgical roles: altar server, cantor, choir/instrumentalist, EMHC, greeter, reader, sacristan, usher
- Faith formation programs for IUP students
- Social and service ministries
Faith Formation Programs
The parish runs a full slate of faith formation programs for children, youth, and adults, including a Catechesis of the Good Shepherd atrium for ages 3–12, junior and senior high youth ministry, sacramental preparation for children, and the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) for those seeking to become Catholic or complete their sacraments of initiation.
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (Ages 3–12) — Director: Danielle Cribbs
- Junior and Senior High Youth Ministry
- Sacramental Preparation for Children
- Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)
- Campus Ministry Team: Cindy Schillinger, Director for Campus Ministry
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
Applying Montessori methods, children and catechists meet once a week in a specially prepared environment called the atrium, where they listen, reflect, and pray in harmony with the natural, slow rhythm of the child. The program is supported by parishioners with woodworking, painting, sculpting, and sewing skills who help make the hands-on materials the children use. Catechists and assistants are needed, and specialized training is required.
- Ages 3–12
- Montessori-style atrium environment
- Contact: Danielle Cribbs, Director of Faith Formation
Becoming Catholic (RCIA)
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is a faith formation process for adults who have not been baptized, those baptized in other faiths, and baptized Catholics who have never completed the sacraments of initiation (Confirmation and Eucharist). The process moves through four periods of development and three liturgical rites, drawing on the ancient 'order of catechumens' from the early church and restored after the Second Vatican Council.
- For unbaptized adults, baptized Christians, and Catholics seeking Confirmation/Eucharist
- Four periods of development and three rites
- Contact the parish office at 724-463-2277 for details
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the seven sacraments. Baptism is normally celebrated during Saturday or Sunday Masses, with sponsor eligibility and preparation classes as required by the Diocese of Greensburg. Confirmation is offered in accord with diocesan guidelines, including sponsor qualifications. Marriage is prepared with the pastor at least a year in advance, with weddings typically scheduled on Saturdays between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. (the church and parking lot must be cleared by 4:00 p.m. for the Saturday vigil Mass). Reconciliation is offered Saturday afternoons, and the parish provides Anointing of the Sick and Holy Orders information as well.
- Baptism — celebrated during Saturday/Sunday Masses; preparation required; sponsor must be a fully initiated Catholic, at least 16, in good standing
- Confirmation — diocesan guidelines; one sponsor, normally a baptismal godparent
- Eucharist
- Reconciliation — Saturdays 5:00–5:45 PM, or by appointment
- Anointing of the Sick
- Marriage — contact pastor one year in advance; weddings generally Saturdays 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.; not scheduled on Sundays, Holy Days, or other Solemnities
- Holy Orders
Vocations Prayer Chapel
A portion of the narthex at St. Thomas More University Parish has been set aside as a Vocations Prayer Chapel to promote prayer for vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, and consecrated life. The chapel was dedicated by Bishop Lawrence E. Brandt, fourth Bishop of Greensburg, on October 17, 2008, in the fourth year of the pontificate of Pope Benedict XVI.
- Dedicated October 17, 2008 by Bishop Lawrence E. Brandt
- Promotes prayer for priestly, diaconal, and consecrated vocations
St. Bernard Cemetery
The parish is connected to St. Bernard Cemetery, which offers an online gravesite lookup application. Visitors can search the cemetery map by name, additional interred names, or lot number. The Cemetery Manager can be reached at 724-465-4370 or 724-762-3222.
- Online gravesite search tool
- Cemetery Manager: 724-465-4370 or 724-762-3222
Visit Us & Contact
St. Thomas More University Parish is located at 1200 Oakland Avenue, Indiana, PA 15701. The parish phone number is 724-463-2277. Office hours, effective February 1, 2026, are Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.; the office is closed on Fridays. Visitors and newcomers are warmly welcomed, and the website invites everyone to browse and learn more about parish life.
- Address: 1200 Oakland Avenue, Indiana, PA 15701
- Phone: 724-463-2277
- Office Hours: Monday–Thursday, 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. (closed Fridays, effective Feb 1, 2026)
- Website: http://www.stmup.org/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Michael J. Crookstonlate 1990s
Oversaw the transition of the Newman Center into a university parish of the Diocese of Greensburg.