Worship / Communal Prayer

Join us for one of our Sunday evening liturgies at 7 pm and 9 pm, which are specifically offered for our university parishioners, or attend one of other Saturday/Sunday liturgies: Saturday at 5pm, Sunday at 8:15am, and Sunday at 10:15am (held in the Aquinas Center). Students are welcome at all liturgies!

During the week, masses are offered at 12:10pm; also at 5:30 on M,T,W, F and Tuesday at 9pm. Feel free to stop by the chapel at any time, which is always open for prayer and quiet reflection.

Students at St. Thomas participate in all aspects of the liturgical ministries, serving as:
Liturgical Team Leaders
Eucharistic Ministers
Readers
Cantors
Members of our student choir.
If you would like to serve as LTL, EM or Reader, please contact Annemarie O'Connor, Campus Minister.
Interested in music ministries? Please contact Jane Frogley, Director of Music.

Sacramental preparation: Do you wish to be baptized, enter the Church, or complete your initiation by receiving the sacraments of Eucharist and Confirmation? Please contact Father Gerry.
                                                                                                  Top

Spirituality

Student-Centered Retreat Program
This program provides a break from campus life, while nurturing faith and spirituality, developing leadership skills, and building community. To learn more about our programs, please contact Annemarie O'Connor or Fr. Gerry Mc Keon, SJ.

Student-Led Fall Retreat
Save the date for this year's student-led Fall Retreat for all undergraduate students which will be held the weekend of Nov.2-4, 2007 at Incarnation Center in Ivoryton. Additional retreats specifically geared for Juniors and Seniors will be held during the Spring semester: April 4-5 and April 4-6, 2008, respectively, at the Voluntown Peace Trust. More info. to follow.

"Busy Student's Retreat"
During Lent, consider participating in the "Busy Student's Retreat", an opportunity for guided daily prayer and reflection on one's own, and weekly meeting with a director.

Evening Mini-Retreats
Tom's Leadership Council, the University Undergraduate Catholic student group, plans two evening mini-retreats each year, the first to be held on Sept. 14. TLC meetings also provide opportunities for faith-sharing and service via planned activities throughout the year. (See below and TLC brochure.

St. Thomas Young Adult and Graduate Student group
This group organizes opportunities for mini-retreats, scripture study and faith-sharing as well. (During the summer months the graduate group may meet more regularly because of a less pressured schedule.) For more information, please contact Daniel Sierra Bueno: or Iskandar Arifin.
                                                                                                  Top

Tom's Leadership Council (TLC)

St. Tom's undergraduate student organization seeks to develop Christian leadership, fellowship, spirituality, service and community among students by providing opportunities for socializing, faith-sharing, and participating in local service projects.

Join fellow students on Sundays from 5:00-6:00pm and participate in a wide variety of events scheduled throughout the semester. See TLC brochure for a sampling of scheduled activities and contact info. at http://uconntlc.tripod.com or email Dan Ferro, Kelly Almeida or Jenn Barry at UConnTLC@yahoo.com.
                                                                                                  Top

Ongoing Education/Faith Formation

“Catholicism 101”
St. Thomas offers a variety of educational opportunities, including a new discussion series titled "Catholicism 101" (more information) . This series explores aspects of Catholic faith and teaching in an effort to assist students who seek to understand the ongoing Catholic tradition. It also assists students who desire to integrate their faith into everyday life more fully. Throughout the academic year, speakers are invited to address topics of particular concern to students as they attempt to deepen their spirituality and live their faith in the world. This series, along with occasional speakers, serves both undergraduate and graduate students.

Loyola Colloquium
The Loyola Colloquium was established when the Jesuits first arrived at St. Thomas in 1990. Respected leaders in a variety of fields explore contemporary theological issues and concerns. This lecture series promotes a university-church dialogue on the important topics facing our society today. This year's guests include: Paul Bauman, editor of Commonweal and Rev. William Barry, SJ, PhD, a noted writer and scholar of psychology and spiritual development. (See the calendar for dates and times.)

We also offer ongoing opportunities for scripture study, faith-sharing, spiritual direction, and vocational discernment.
                                                                                                  Top

Service / Building Relationships

St. Thomas university ministry offers a variety of service opportunities to students. This year, students can engage in:
tutoring elementary students
assisting at local soup kitchens
volunteering with the elderly
teaching in the parish religious education program and
assisting in various aspects of prison ministry.

For further information or to participate in these programs, please indicate your interest on your registration or email Annemarie O'Connor, Pastoral Minister or call 429-6436 x205.

A number of service opportunities are also available throughout the parish. For a full listing of parish ministries and to contact any of the parish ministry coordinators directly, please see the list of committees and contact persons.

Tom's Leadership Council also sponsors short-term service project each semester, including:
Boston CityReach - a program that helps students learn about homelessness through people who have formerly been homeless
St. Tom's 30-Hour Famine - a program to raise awareness re: issues of hunger, both locally and globally and
Seasonal events such as Windham AIDS Thanksgiving Luncheon, holiday visits and caroling at Mansfield Rehab.

For those students interested in a greater level of involvement,St. Thomas sponsors two important and fulfilling opportunities:

• Spring Break service week in Appalachia - During this week, college students assist with housing repairs and building relationships with families in eastern Kentucky's Christian Appalachian Project. Careful preparation and reflection before, during, and after helps them to enter this experience with an openness and appreciation of the strong faith and culture of the people they encounter, and leave enriched by the many relationships forged during the week and the opportunity to assist in tangible ways. For further information on this project, please contact Annemarie O'Connor, Campus Minister, or George Maynard, student leader for Appalachia 2008 team.


• 10-day immersion experience in Haiti - During the winter, students travel to Haiti where they encounter the people and the rich culture and religious faith of this Caribbean nation. Students grow in understanding as they allow this experience to inform and form their faith, their attitudes, their global awareness, and their own life choices. Careful preparation and reflection both before and after make this a rich and potentially life-changing experience. Please contact Fr. Gerry McKeon.

Top

Leadership Formation

Students are involved in leadership in many areas. Many are trained in liturgical ministries, help plan and run the retreats, help coordinate service projects, including Boston CityReach, Appalachian and Haiti programs, assist in coordinating student volunteers at various agencies, and represent students on the Pastoral Council. Through their involvement in Tom's Leadership Council, many students help to organize and support a number of social, spiritual and service activities.
                                                                                                  Top

Social Events

Leadership Formation Social Events St.Thomas works with Tom's Leadership Council to offer a variety of social events throughout the year. These events are open to all University students and include BBQs, new-student bowling tournament, hiking, pumpkin picking/ Corn Maze, Christmas caroling, end-of-semester celebrations, movies, SuperBowl party, and trips to NYC, Boston, and Providence Waterfire. See the TLC brochure for full list of events or visit the Tom’s Leadership Council website.

Pasta suppers are scheduled throughout the year to provide an opportunity for the community to gather - old friends and new.

During exam week, St. Thomas provides 24 hour snacks and quiet to assist student studying. The center is open for study and socializing throughout the year.

For further information on any and all University Ministry activities and events, feel free to contact us at any time!

Jane Frogley, Director of Music: email or 429-6436 ext. 301
Fr.Gerry McKeon, SJ: email or 429-6a436 ext. 203
Annemarie O'Connor, Pastoral Minister: email or 429-6436 ext. 205
Fr. Paul Sullivan, Pastor: email
Tom's Leadership Council: UConnTLC@yahoo.com
St. Thomas Ministry Coordinators                                                Top