Mission Statement

As Catholic Christian community of faith. we the members, youth and adults of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church family affirm our mission to spread the love and message of our personal savior, Jesus Christ. In fulfilling this lifetime mission to St. Thomas Parish, the university community of Louisiana Tech, and the Northeast Louisiana area, it is our joyful responsibility to develop a vibrant Catholic community. We commit ourselves to God and to this community located in the Church Diocese of Shreveport through love, for service of, and support of our parishioners based on the Bible and our Catholic Tradition In the true spirit of our great American heritage, of genuine Southern hospitality of St. Francis of Assisi, and of our desire to be truly Catholic, we still shrive to be sensitive to the diverse needs of the greater Ruston community.

Parish History

Saint Thomas Aquinas Parish was dedicated on December 14, 1941 bt Bishop F. Desmond, the Bishop of Alexandria, Louisiana. Prior to this, Mass was celebrated starting in 1924 in the Educational Building at Louisiana Tech University. Mass was offered only at various intervals and it was not until 1940 that a Priest was assigned to the Ruston area. It was Father Henry Freiburg of the Franciscan Order. Father Jasper Mauss, OFM was aasigned here to build the first parish Church. The first permanent pastor was Father Humilis Soland, OFM. From the early days of over 60 years ago, Saint Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church grew in size and number.

We are very unique in the sense our parish is closly connected with the Louisiana Tech University community. We have a good number of people who are faculty or staff at the University, many people who live and work in the Ruston area community, and student who worship and share in the Parish community while studying at Louisiana Tech.

Active Parish Membership
All people are encourged to become active members in our Parish Community. Being an active member means certian obligations. We need all new members to register. The easiest way is to call the Parish office at 255-2870.

Active members are expected to help support their Parish through contributions of time, talent, and money. To help facilitate our parish records you will be receiving support envelopes. We ask that you please use this method. Even at times when you cannot help with financial resources, just note this on your envelope.
If after a minimum period of six months you are not active in the parish, your name be will dropped from the parish active list.