About St. Thomas the Apostle · Decatur, Illinois
St. Thomas the Apostle is a Roman Catholic parish in Decatur, Illinois, in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. Founded in 1925 as Decatur's third Catholic parish, it grew rapidly through the mid-20th century and today serves roughly 300 families in partnership with Our Lady of Lourdes Church. The parish is led by its current pastor, Rev. Jason P. Stone, with Rev. Msgr. James D. O'Shea and Rev. Richard W. Weltin serving as Pastors Emeriti.
- Established
- 1925
- Patron
- St. Thomas the Apostle
- Rector
- Rev. Jason P. Stone
- Diocese
- Diocese of Springfield in Illinois
Why belong here
St. Thomas the Apostle is a welcoming, century-old Catholic parish in northern Decatur where parishioners are encouraged to use their stewardship gifts of time, talent, and treasure as disciples of Jesus Christ. It pairs traditional Catholic worship — including a daily 8:15 a.m. Mass, a Sunday 10 a.m. Mass, Eucharistic Adoration on First Fridays, and regular Reconciliation — with a strong, year-round RCIA process for those exploring the faith and an active ministries program rooted in service. The parish works together in a pastoral unit with nearby Our Lady of Lourdes Church, and it warmly invites new parishioners to register online or in person to join the St. Thomas family.
Mass times at St. Thomas the Apostle
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 9:15 AM – 9:45 AM
- Weekdays: 7:30 AM – 8:05 AM
Adoration times
- First Friday: 8:15 AM – 5:00 PM (Eucharistic Adoration)
History of St. Thomas the Apostle
Founded in 1925 by Bishop James A. Griffin as Decatur's third Catholic parish, St. Thomas the Apostle grew quickly from about 800 parishioners into one of the largest parishes in the city, peaking at 4,350 families in 1957. The original Romanesque-style church was dedicated Sept. 5, 1926; a modern circular church with a geodesic dome replaced it in 1977. The parish marked its centennial with a Mass celebrated by Bishop Thomas John Paprocki on Sunday, July 20, 2025.
- Founded January 1925 by Bishop James A. Griffin; first Mass Easter Sunday, April 12, 1925
- Founding pastor: Rev. Andrew Smith, an Irish-born priest and former St. Patrick assistant
- Original church: brick-and-stone Romanesque style, architects Aschauer and Waggoner, dedicated Sept. 5, 1926
- St. Thomas School opened Sept. 7, 1926 with four Ursuline sisters; peaked at 600 students in 1958; closed end of 1990-91 school year
- 1977 church designed by Philip Miller & Associates — modern circular plan with geodesic dome, 700 seats + 100-seat chapel; dedicated by Bishop Joseph McNicholas Nov. 6, 1977
- Centennial Mass with Bishop Paprocki: Sunday, July 20, 2025
Parish Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by its pastor, Rev. Jason P. Stone. Two former pastors serve as Pastors Emeriti: Rev. Richard W. Weltin and Rev. Msgr. James D. O'Shea. Permanent Deacon Kevin Richardson, ordained for the parish in June 2007, has his office in the parish rectory at 2160 N. Edward Street.
- Pastor: Rev. Jason P. Stone (first named administrator in 2023, named pastor in 2024)
- Pastor Emeritus: Rev. Richard W. Weltin (retired July 2020)
- Pastor Emeritus: Rev. Msgr. James D. O'Shea
- Permanent Deacon: Kevin Richardson (since June 2007)
- Director of Music: Kathy Litz
- Administrative Assistant: Cynthia Hinkle
- Business Manager: Joe Snow
Pastoral Succession
Across its 100 years, St. Thomas the Apostle has been served by fewer than a dozen priests. The parish website and the diocesan centennial article both note the succession from founding pastor Father Andrew Smith through the current pastor, Father Jason Stone.
- Rev. Andrew Smith — 1925–1948 (founding pastor; died in office)
- Rev. Thomas P. Masterson — 1948–1970
- Rev. Terence Tracey — 1970–1985
- Rev. Robert N. Porter — 1985–1989
- Rev. Dennis Kollross — 1989–2004
- Rev. (later Msgr.) James D. O'Shea — 2004–2008
- Rev. Richard W. Weltin — 2008–2020
- Rev. Michael Friedel — 2020–2024 (also pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes)
- Rev. Ramesh Babu Matta — parish administrator 2022
- Rev. Peter Chineke — parish administrator 2023
- Rev. Jason P. Stone — administrator 2023; pastor 2024–present
Worship & Liturgy
St. Thomas celebrates Mass every day of the week in its modern 1977 church, with weekday Masses at 8:15 a.m. and the single Sunday Mass at 10:00 a.m. The parish offers regular Reconciliation, monthly First Friday Eucharistic Adoration, and a long-running Sorrowful Mother Novena that dates back to 1939.
- Daily Mass Monday–Friday: 8:15 AM
- Sunday Mass: 10:00 AM
- Reconciliation (Confession): Sundays 9:15–9:45 AM and weekdays 7:30–8:05 AM
- Eucharistic Adoration: First Friday, 8:15 AM – 5:00 PM
- Sorrowful Mother Novena (since 1939)
- Music Ministry led by Director of Music Kathy Litz
Sacraments
The parish prepares parishioners for all seven sacraments and directs most faith formation for First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation through the Parish School of Religion (PSR) held at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, in keeping with the pastoral-unit relationship between the two parishes.
- Baptism — arrangements required in advance; registration as parishioner needed first
- First Reconciliation — 2nd grade (PSR at Our Lady of Lourdes)
- First Eucharist — 3rd grade
- Confirmation — 3rd grade for PSR students; adults may contact the parish office
- Anointing of the Sick — by appointment with Fr. Stone
- Marriage — couples must be registered parishioners; preparation time required
- Holy Orders / Vocations — speak with Fr. Stone or visit the diocesan vocations page
Becoming Catholic (RCIA)
St. Thomas offers a year-round Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) process for adults and children who wish to learn about and join the Catholic Church. The journey begins with an initial conversation with the pastor or deacon, which helps shape a personalized formation path, followed by weekly meetings centered on Scripture and life in God.
- Open to adults and children of any background
- Begins with a conversation with the pastor or deacon
- Weekly meetings cover Scripture, the Catholic tradition, and one's relationship with God
- Inquirers may begin at any time — contact the parish office at (217) 877-4146
Parish Ministries & Stewardship
Parishioners are invited to share their gifts and talents in at least one ministry. The parish frames stewardship as the use of one's time, talent, and treasure in the service of Christ and neighbor, and lists a wide variety of opportunities to connect, learn, and serve.
- Stewardship of Time, Talent, and Treasure
- Parish Council
- School Board (first formed May 1972)
- Music Ministry (Director: Kathy Litz)
- Hospitality / Fellowship (centered at Angela Hall)
- RCIA team
- PSR / faith-formation catechists
- Pastoral care / visits to the homebound
Parish Campus & Buildings
The parish campus in north Decatur includes the present 1977 church at 2155 N. Union Street, the parish rectory at 2160 N. Edward Street (which houses the parish office of Deacon Kevin Richardson and two meeting rooms on the lower level), and the former Church/School building whose lower level is now Angela Hall — the parish fellowship hall and kitchen, dedicated in 1992 in honor of the Ursuline Sisters.
- Current Church — dedicated November 1977 (2155 N. Union St.)
- Parish Rectory — houses parish office of Deacon Kevin Richardson; Fr. Michael Friedel's office was at Our Lady of Lourdes
- Former Church/School building — largest parish building; school closed May 1991
- Angela Hall — parish fellowship hall and kitchen, dedicated May 17, 1992
- Sister parish: Immaculate Conception Church, Comapa, Guatemala (chapel crucifix gifted 2005)
Visit, Contact & Register
The parish office is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, and is closed on Holy Days. New parishioners are warmly welcomed and may register online, pick up a registration card at the church, or download the registration form from the website and bring or mail it in.
- Church address: 2155 N. Union Street, Decatur, IL 62526
- Parish Office: 2160 N. Edward St., Decatur, IL 62526
- Phone: (217) 877-4146
- Office Hours: Mon–Fri 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM (closed on Holy Days)
- Website: http://stthomasdecatur.com/
- Works in a pastoral unit with Our Lady of Lourdes Church
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Andrew Smith1925–1948
Founding pastor; born, educated, and ordained in Ireland; a former assistant at St. Patrick Church in Decatur. Served until his death on April 13, 1948.
- Rev. Thomas P. Masterson1948–1970
Also from Ireland; oversaw the $165,000 classroom/cafeteria/rectory addition (1950–51); resigned May 1970 due to ill health and died four months later.
- Rev. Terence Tracey1970–1985
Third pastor, began June 1, 1970. Guided construction of the new 1977 church and the adoption of the parish's first constitution (1971).
- Rev. Robert N. Porter1985–1989
Succeeded Father Tracey in 1985 and served four years.
- Rev. Dennis Kollross1989–2004
Became pastor in August 1989; served through the 1991 school closing and into the next decade.
- Rev. (later Msgr.) James D. O'Shea2004–2008
Named pastor in July 2004; later named Pastor Emeritus.
- Rev. Richard W. Weltin2008–2020
Served as pastor until July 2020, when he retired from active priestly ministry and was named Pastor Emeritus of St. Thomas the Apostle and Our Lady of Lourdes parishes.
- Rev. Michael Friedel2020–2024
Appointed pastor in July 2020 while also pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes; Fr. Michael Trummer was named parochial vicar at that time. Later named Pastor Emeritus.
- Rev. Ramesh Babu Matta2022
Served as parish administrator during the St. Thomas / Our Lady of Lourdes pastoral-unit arrangement.
- Rev. Peter Chineke2023
Served as parish administrator before Fr. Stone's appointment.
- Rev. Jason P. Stone2023–present
First named administrator in 2023, then pastor in 2024.