About St. Thomas the Apostle · Minneapolis, Minnesota
St. Thomas the Apostle is a Catholic parish in the Linden Hills neighborhood of southwest Minneapolis, Minnesota, near the shores of Lake Harriet. Founded in 1908 by Archbishop John Ireland, it was the first Catholic parish in Southwest Minneapolis and has served the community for more than a century. The parish describes itself as 'A Catholic Community of Inclusion' and is currently clustered with the Church of Christ the King, together supporting Carondelet Catholic School. Today the parish is home to more than 900 households from across the metropolitan area.
- Established
- 1908
- Patron
- St. Thomas the Apostle
- Rector
- Rev. Erich Rutten
- Diocese
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Why belong here
St. Thomas the Apostle welcomes those at any stage of their faith journey to a Catholic community explicitly committed to inclusion. Worship is rich and live-streamed at 9:00 am Sundays, with the parish sharing Masses and ministries with clustered partner Christ the King. Members put faith into action through an unusually wide range of outreach — Habitat for Humanity builds, Simpson Housing housewarmings, Catholic Charities Branch Lunch, Meals on Wheels, a knitting ministry, and TRUST ecumenical service — while families are supported by Carondelet Catholic School, robust children's and youth faith formation, and Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation.
Mass times at St. Thomas the Apostle
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30–4:00 PM at St. Thomas in Feb, Apr, June, Aug, Oct, Dec (at Christ the King in odd months)
- By appointment
Our History
St. Thomas the Apostle was incorporated by Archbishop John Ireland on October 28, 1908 as the first Catholic parish in Southwest Minneapolis. The parish grew with the neighborhood, opening its school in 1925 and worshipping in a space designed by parishioner-architect Joseph Victor Vanderbilt. The Depression halted plans for a separate church, and the same Italian Romanesque hall is still used for Mass today. After the elementary school merged with Christ the King's in the early 1990s and 2000s, the joint effort became Carondelet Catholic School in 2003. The worship space was remodeled in 2000–2001 to bring the altar to the center, add a gathering area, and improve accessibility.
- Founded October 28, 1908 by Archbishop John Ireland
- First Catholic parish in Southwest Minneapolis
- School opened September 1925; first Mass in current worship space on Christmas Eve 1925
- Architect: parishioner Joseph Victor Vanderbilt (Italian Romanesque)
- Combined school with Christ the King; rechristened Carondelet Catholic School in 2003
- Worship space remodeled 2000–2001
Mission & Vision
St. Thomas the Apostle identifies itself as 'A Catholic Community of Inclusion,' welcoming people wherever they are on their faith journey with rich and meaningful worship, spirit-filled witness, and insightful wisdom. The parish is clustered with the Church of Christ the King, sharing pastoral resources and liturgical scheduling.
- A Catholic Community of Inclusion
- Clustered parish with Christ the King
Parish Staff
The pastoral team is led by Rev. Erich Rutten, pastor, who was ordained in 2005 and has served at the Cathedral of Saint Paul, Our Lady of Grace in Edina, the University of Saint Thomas Campus Ministry, Saint Peter Claver in Saint Paul, and Saint Odilia in Shoreview. He chaired the Archdiocesan Commission for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs for eleven years and has served on social concerns and Catholic-school boards.
- Rev. Erich Rutten – Pastor
- Barbara Staats – Pastoral Associate, Director of Discipleship
- Christina Maas – Director of Liturgy and Music
- Abby Bosway – Coordinator of Confirmation & Youth Ministry
- Erin O'Leary – Pastoral Administrator
- Cheryl Taylor – Coordinator of Faith Formation with Children / Safe Environment Coordinator (since 2006)
- Pat Adkins – Community Life Coordinator (since 2021)
- Julie Wickland – Office Administrator (since 2008)
- Additional coordinator for First Reconciliation & First Communion
- Nursery staff
Mass & Sacraments Schedule
St. Thomas shares Sunday Mass duties with clustered partner Christ the King on a rotating monthly basis. In odd months (Jan, Mar, May, Jul, Sep, Nov), Sunday Masses at St. Thomas are 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM; in even months (Feb, Apr, Jun, Aug, Oct, Dec), Mass is celebrated Saturday at 4:30 PM and Sunday at 9:00 AM. The 9:00 AM Sunday Mass is live-streamed and available on demand throughout the week. Weekday Masses vary — see the weekly bulletin for the current schedule.
- Sunday 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM in odd months
- Saturday 4:30 PM and Sunday 9:00 AM in even months
- Live-streamed Sunday 9:00 AM Mass (on demand)
- Weekday Masses per bulletin
- Reconciliation Saturday 3:30–4:00 PM (alternating with Christ the King)
- Baptism offered on published Sundays throughout the year
Holy Day & Liturgical Year Schedule
The parish publishes an annual liturgical calendar with Mass times for holy days, weekday solemnities, and the Sacred Paschal Triduum. Holy Day Masses, Ash Wednesday services, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, the Easter Vigil, and Easter Sunday are all scheduled on the parish's calendar page.
- Solemnity of Mary — Jan 1 at 10 AM
- Ash Wednesday — 9 AM Mass / 7 PM Liturgy with Ashes
- Holy Thursday — 7:30 PM
- Good Friday — 3 PM
- Easter Vigil — 8:30 PM
- Easter Sunday — 9 AM and 11 AM
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Erin O'Leary oversees all areas of faith formation and Sacramental preparation for St. Thomas the Apostle and Christ the King, spanning early childhood through adult formation, with a focus on living out the Baptismal Mission as disciples of Christ.
- Seeds (ages 3–5) Sunday mornings
- Liturgy of the Word with Children (ages 6+) Sunday mornings
- Faith Formation for All (Grades K–8) Wednesday evenings
- Coordinator of First Reconciliation & First Communion
- Coordinator of Confirmation & Youth Ministry (grades 6–12)
- Adult faith formation opportunities
Carondelet Catholic School
Carondelet Catholic School is the joint parish elementary school of St. Thomas the Apostle and Christ the King. The school is named in recognition of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, who were the original teachers at both parishes' schools. The school serves more than 400 students.
- Joint elementary school with Christ the King
- Named for the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet
- Serves more than 400 students
Music & Liturgy
Christina Maas directs the parish choir and instrumentalists, rehearses cantors, and hires musicians as needed. She selects music, plans liturgical seasons, coordinates liturgical environments, recruits and schedules liturgical ministers, manages the sound system, and prepares worship aids, general intercessions, and scripts.
- Parish choir and instrumental ensemble
- Cantor rehearsals and scheduling
- Seasonal liturgical planning (Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, etc.)
- Liturgical environment coordination
Social Outreach & Charity
The Social Outreach Commission coordinates the parish's ministries to those in need of material assistance — housing, food, clothing, education, and employment — partnering with several local organizations.
- Habitat for Humanity (joint summer build with Christ the King)
- Simpson Housing Ministry (housewarming furnishings, supplies, advocacy)
- Simpson Shelter Meal Ministry (monthly meal prep and service)
- Catholic Charities Branch Lunch (4th Friday monthly)
- Meals on Wheels (deliveries every six weeks)
- Great Harvest Bread Rescue (Mon/Wed/Fri)
- Knitting Ministry (shawls, hats, scarves, lap blankets)
- Food Shelf Weekends — first weekend each month supporting Joyce Uptown Foodshelf
Pastoral Care & TRUST Ecumenical Coalition
St. Thomas the Apostle participates in TRUST (Toward Renewed Unity and Service Together), a South Minneapolis ecumenical coalition of churches working together in service to families, youth, and seniors. The parish also maintains a Pastoral Care Commission and Parish Nurse ministry to support parishioners in need.
- TRUST — South Minneapolis ecumenical coalition
- Trust Builders (with Urban Homeworks, affordable housing)
- Trusty Salers Estate Sales
- Chore Program (housecleaning, snow removal, yard work, repairs)
- Pet Food Project (with Meals on Wheels)
- Starfish Ministry / Caring Network financial assistance fund
- Parish Nurse (education, screening, referral, advocacy)
- CoAm — Cooperative Adult Ministry (Life Enrichment Series, Grocery Shopping Transportation, Day Tours)
- Lyngblomsten 'The Gathering' (group respite for early/mid-stage memory loss)
Sacramental Preparation
Sacramental preparation is coordinated across both St. Thomas the Apostle and Christ the King, with dedicated coordinators for each of the three Sacraments of Initiation as well as First Reconciliation.
- Baptism — celebrated on published Sundays; preparation required
- First Reconciliation — for children in the faith formation program
- First Communion — for children in the faith formation program
- Confirmation — typically 9th grade, coordinated by Abby Bosway
- Marriage — preparation information on parish site
- Anointing of the Sick — through Pastoral Care Ministry
Community Life & Getting Involved
Pat Adkins coordinates the parish's social life and community events, working to make St. Thomas a place where newcomers and long-time members feel at home.
- Coffee and Donuts after Mass
- New Member Welcome
- Volunteer Appreciation Dinner
- Live-stream production team
- Nursery care during Mass
Contact & Visit
Parish offices are open Monday–Thursday 9 AM – 4 PM and closed on Fridays. The church is located at 2914 W. 44th Street in the Linden Hills neighborhood, close to Lake Harriet and the 43rd & Upton commercial node.
- Church: 2914 W. 44th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55410
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 9 AM – 4 PM (closed Fridays)
- Phone: 612-922-0041
- Website: stthomasmpls.org
- Live-streamed Sunday 9:00 AM Mass available on demand
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Michael O'Brien1908–1918
First pastor at the founding of the parish in 1908