Fr. Patrick Baikauskas, OP
Pastor, Director of Campus Ministry
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I am the youngest of four boys having grown up in a small town in Illinois on the border with Indiana. After receiving my B.A. in political science from Bradley University, I entered banking, never thinking I would actually use my poli sci degree. But a couple years later, I was offered a summer internship with my local congressman in Washington, D.C. I went for the summer, but it was 17 years before I finally returned home to Illinois. I began my second job with an Illinois governor and ended my career in government in 2001 with a third governor. But in the interim I ran for office twice – lost twice too, but they were both great experiences. By 2001, God’s call to priestly life became irresistible. I had twice resisted – once as a teenager and again about 15 years ago. The third call was it for me, and I feel that while I have been given great experiences in life, nothing compares to this current journey. The Dominican life of prayer, active ministry, community life and study seems an ideal fit for me. My Dominican brothers have always told me that of our vows of obedience, chastity and poverty – obedience will prove the most difficult. Well maybe that will prove to be true, but for now, when I am given the opportunity to serve in places like St. Tom’s, I only feel very, very blessed.

Fr. Michail Ford, OP
Associate Pastor
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I am the oldest of three brothers who were born and raised in the city of Florissant which is in north St. Louis County, MO.  I received my BSBA in Management from the University of Central Missouri in 1993 and then worked for ten years for the same company in management before entering the Order of Preachers in 2003.  I was ordained to the priesthood on May 9, 2010 and St. Toms is my first ministerial assignment.  I served as a Chaplain for the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department for five years during my initial formation and served as a transitional deacon at St. Justin Martyr Parish In Sunset Hills, MO.  I am very happy to be here and look forward to serving the people of St. Toms!

Fr. Joseph Minuth, OP
Associate Pastor
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Father Joseph Minuth, OP grew up in El Paso, TX, where he attended St. Clement's Elementary School, an Episcopalian school, and graduated from Cathedral High School, a Catholic school run by the Christian Brothers. He attended St. Edward's University in Austin, TX, where he stayed for several years after graduation to work in sales and marketing for computer companies such as Cisco Systems and Microsoft. His first job after college, however, was at the World Fair in Hanover, Germany. He also worked in the San Joaquin Valley in California for his uncle's campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives. While in the Dominican Order, he has worked for the Office of Evangelization in the Archdiocese of Chicago, the Vocation's Office for the Dominican Province of St. Albert the Great, as well as parishes and university campuses in Minneapolis, Chicago, Denver, southern Illinois, and St. Louis. Brother Joseph enjoys running, hiking, swimming, photography, fine beers, and spiritual theology.

Mari Arthur
Administrative Assistant
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Hi, I am Mari and I am the Administrative Assistant at St. Tom's. I graduated from Ivy Tech this past May, with an Associates Degree in Office Administration.

I have been attending St. Tom’s since 1999. I started volunteering at St. Tom’s in the summer of 2007, and have been working at St. Tom’s since January, 2010. I am very happy to be a part of the St. Tom's staff and community.

Christine Benner
Development Associate
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Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Hi, I am Christine McGwin Benner and I provide administrative support to Jesica and Michele in Development.

I was raised in Portland, Maine, spent, and still spend, my summers on a lake in the White Mountains of New Hampshire and attended Providence College, in Providence, RI, where I graduated with a degree in English in 1991. Following graduation, I returned to Maine and worked in banking. I never envisioned living anywhere other than New England but God had other plans in mind, and a job opportunity moved my family to Indiana 6 years ago.

I never thought I would call Indiana home, but my children and I have been blessed with wonderful friends and a welcoming and supportive parish community here at St. Tom's. I now consider myself a Hoosier by choice!

Brad Bodine, DMA
Music Coordinator
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G. Bradley Bodine (b. 1960) holds degrees from The Evergreen State College, Pacific Lutheran University and the University of Arizona. He has been the recipient of numerous awards and commissions, including his most recent commission from a consortium of 11 university/college percussion ensembles.

Major ensembles and virtuoso performers regularly perform Dr. Bodine’s music. His compositions have been performed at major music festivals throughout the United States and in Europe. His latest composition, “Kaleidoscope: A Concerto for Marimba and Orchestra” was recorded by the Portuguese marimbist, Pedro Carneiro with Gerard Schwarz and the Seattle Symphony and was released in 2009. 

G. Bradley Bodine is the Composer in Residence at both the Saint Thomas Aquinas Catholic Center at Purdue, the Lafayette Symphony Orchestra as well as a Continuing Lecturer of music theory at Purdue University.

Joan Clark
Administrative Director
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My bio is coming soon...

Andrew Czarnecki
Office/Publicity/Technology Coordinator
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Hi! My name is Andrew Czarnecki and I am the Office/Publicity/Technology Coordinator here at St. Tom's. This is will be my 7th year as a member of the St. Tom's Community. I grew up in Elkhart, IN. I have served in several positions here at St. Tom's including Extrodinary Minsister of Holy Communion, LifeGuide (starting my 7th year), and as the LifeGuide 8th and 9th Grade Intern. I graduated from Purdue in 2010 with a B.A. in Social Studies Education. I am the oldest of three, I have a brother who is working toward his EMT/Firefighter, and a sister who is a Senior at Purdue in Psychology. My sister plays Piccolo as a Section Leader in the Purdue All-American Marching Band. I am an Eagle Scout and Vigil Honor Member of the Order of the Arrow. I am excited for the opportunity to give back to a ministry that offered so much for me as a student.  I hope to ensure that the experience is even better for current students than it was for me here at Purdue.

Kyle Eilenfeldt
Assistant Director of Campus Ministry
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My name is Kyle Eilenfeldt, the Assistant Director for Campus Ministry at St. Tom's. I was born in Chicago and grew up in the Dallas area. Following high school, I attended Creighton University in Omaha Nebraska. At Creighton, I was very involved with campus ministry, participating in many retreats and leading a group of students to share a meal with the guests of a local homeless shelter. After graduation, I served for one year as a a member of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in Milwaukee, where I worked at an inner city middle school of primarily Latina youth, learning much about immigration issues. I received my Masters degree in Pastoral Ministry from Boston College in 2009, writing my thesis on God and the Environment. I have also worked at a parish in New Jersey, doing work with Young Adults. In my free time, I enjoy reading, cycling and hiking. I am truly excited about being part of the St. Tom's staff and meeting all of you.

Jesica Hollinger
Director of Development & Strategic Communications
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It is a sincere honor and pleasure to be working on behalf of St. Tom’s, having been both a Purdue student and parishioner many moons, ago. Twenty-six years later, I have the unique opportunity to serve St. Tom’s – a church that has given me great spiritual strength, especially during the most challenging times of my life. The past eleven years, I worked at Purdue as a writer and fundraiser, gaining invaluable experience which I hope will benefit our parish. Prior to my tenure at Purdue, I worked in Indiana politics, assisting on numerous state and national campaigns as a writer, fundraiser, and campaign manager. My husband Rich and I have four children, ages 12-21, in addition to four dogs, four cats and a pet cow named Daisy. When we have time, we love to camp and fish, witnessing God’s handiwork in nature.

Michael Plake
Director of Religious Education; Youth Minister
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Hello! I was born and raised in Tipton, Indiana where I went to St. John the Baptist Catholic Church and Elementary School.  I completed my Bachelor’s degree in Music Education at Butler University in 1987 and in August of 2007 I earned my Master of Science in Educational Leadership from Purdue University.

As an educator I have taught in public and parochial schools for 17 years and I have served on the faculty of Simpson College and Purdue University as a music instructor and band director.  I have been a catechist for many years both at St. John’s in Tipton as well as here at St. Tom’s.

My wife of 19 years also earned her degrees from Butler and Purdue.  My wife, Kim, works for Purdue in the college of pharmacy and our daughters Katy (age 14) and Anna (age 11) are “died in the wool” Boilermakers!

As the Director of Religious Education and Youth Minister at St. Thomas Aquinas, I will be involved in many areas.  My primary responsibilities will be to coordinate the elementary, middle, and high school religious education programs which includes sacramental preparation for 2nd graders (1st reconciliation and 1st Eucharist), high school freshmen (confirmation), as well as our middle school and high school youth groups.  While I do not teach any of these essential programs, it is my job to recruit and work with those who are called to teach in our program and ensure that they have the support necessary to teach our young parishioners about the Catholic Church and to point our youth toward Christ as our source and summit through the Eucharist.  I look forward to working with both student and resident parishioners of St. Tom’s and all of the many blessings that will come as a result.

Dr. Thomas Ryba
Theologian-in-Residence
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Dr. Ryba works alongside St. Tom's, as well as Purdue University & the University of Notre Dame, to spread God's word and religious education to as many people as he can. 

Feel free to contact Dr. Ryba to learn more about him and/or his classes.  

Click Here for Dr. Ryba's Vita.

Michele Salrin
Assistant to Pastor
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I could have never predicted in a million years that I would be returning one day to my sweet Alma Mater, Purdue. Not only did I return to Purdue but to St. Thomas Aquinas that I frequented when I was a student, graduating in 1973. Life has always been a sweet surprise; but this last move returning "home", less than one year ago, has got to be the best of all.

I grew up in the 1960's that are often referred to as the best of times and the worst of times; however, one of the major strengths of shaping my path's direction was my Catholic teachings from St. Henry’s in Medaryville. Father Melvin, was an advocate for us small town teens, often taking us to Chicago, exposing us to the arts and life outside of our rural community. This and growing up with family in Chicago sparked my natural talents to be drawn toward the Arts, brought me to Purdue. After a B. S. in Interior Design, I headed to Murrieta, California, where I was wanted in a family business. I coordinated all construction activities and started designing kitchens, etc.

I allowed life to lead me where I felt the most needed. In 1999 an aunt in Hayward, Wisconsin, beckoned. She sold me a lakeside cabin. (I can still hear the loons calling.) Luckily, an opening at Floor to Ceiling accepted my application and I began a decade of designing kitchens and baths and interiors.

When the economy turned and building stopped, I accepted an invitation from a childhood friend/cousin to move to the Lafayette area. I began small jobs painting and updating rooms and homes. But something was missing, namely people. My current part time job as assistant to Father Patrick was seen in The Lafayette Journal and Courier. I answered the ad and have been blessed again and again working with the best people ever! My background in Design was a perfect fit to help bring new life to St. Tom’s through the Art and Environment Committee. I am overwhelmed by the friendliness and acceptance at St. Tom's, I know that I am truly back home. I feel honored.

Eileen Strater
Director of Adult Formation
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I am the middle child with 4 siblings, a native of California, but growing up in several different states, including Pennsylvania, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Indiana. I earned a B.S. in Restaurant, Hotel and Institutional Management from Purdue in 1979, and subsequently worked as an administrator in the Purdue Residence Hall System for 18 years.
My husband of 35 years also earned degrees from Purdue (we met at Cary Quadrangle), and our two grown children have also attended Purdue. My husband, Roger, also works for Purdue in the library system, and our daughter is employed with the university while pursuing her bachelor's degree—all of this makes us truly a "Purdue Family." There is no doubt in any of our minds that our grandson Christopher will also be attending Purdue in about 8 years.
Roger and I love to travel to Florida—especially during the Indiana winters—where we enjoy camping (a passion with both of us), and kayaking in the Gulf of Mexico. We also spend a lot of time snorkeling and biking while we are there. When we are at home, my favorite activities include reading, knitting, weaving and gardening.
As the Director of Adult Formation with St. Thomas Aquinas, I am involved in many different areas. My primary responsibilities include coordinating the RCIA process for those individuals interested in joining the Catholic Church, and working with students to implement the many student retreats that are offered each year. I also coordinate the baptism preparation process, and schedule baptisms. Marriage preparation is another ministry that I am heavily involved with, and I work primarily with engaged couples who are planning to be married outside of St. Tom's. All of these ministries allow me the pleasure of working closely with both student and resident parishioners of St. Tom's, which is truly a blessing.