The St. Thomas Aquinas Center is The Catholic Center for students at Purdue.

While the church is always open for all to come and pray, the parish office is only open Monday - Friday, 9:00am - 5:00pm.  

(Below is the Parish Office information & building floor plan)

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Hours of Operation: Monday - Friday:  9:00am to 5:00pm

Business Address:  535 West State Street West Lafayette, IN 47906

Telephone Number:  (765) 743 - 4652

Fax Number:  (765) 743 - 0426

Email:   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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1^st Floor

 

2^nd Floor

 

Basement

 

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History / Mission

Purdue Catholic Campus Ministry began in 1906 when the Catholic Club was founded. Students traveled across the Wabash River to attend services at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Lafayette. The Newman Club was chartered in 1927. In 1928, Reverend Leo Pursley was assigned as associate pastor of St. Mary’s Church and to work with Purdue students.

Fifty years ago, Fr. Thomas Heilman had a vision ...to establish a student center at Purdue University to serve the spiritual needs of Catholics attending Purdue University. That vision became reality when the St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel was dedicated in April, 1951. Fr. Heilman’s vision called for adequate space and facilities for programs, faith sharing and for social as well as educational activities.

By 1963, St. Thomas Aquinas faced the challenge of meeting the needs of a growing Catholic population on campus. Under the leadership of Fr. Leo Piguet and Fr. Leo Haigerty, the seating capacity of the worship area was expanded from 350 to 1,200. Large meeting rooms in the lower level provided study areas and space for religious programs.

The year 2000 saw the arrival of the Dominican Friars from the Province of St. Albert the Great in Chicago. These new pastoral leaders join a talented and vital lay staff to continue the vision of Fr. Heilman that has been kept alive and thriving for half a century.

In this new millennium the Center is among the largest parish/campus ministries programs in the nation. The 650+ resident parishioner families and nearly 10,000 Catholic students attending Purdue pose quite a challenge. The relationship that has developed between these two diverse groups is hope-filled and forward thinking regarding the great problems that face our Church. The home atmosphere created by the residents parishioners make St. Tom's one of the great memories the Purdue students take with them into their lives. There are 20,000+ “alums” that are on our mailing list - and counting!

 

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Staff

 

 

Fr. Patrick Baikauskas, OP
Pastor
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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.

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Fr. Tom Poulsen, OP
Associate Pastor
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I seek to be in ministry with you as we seek to bring the qualities of the “kingdom of God” (truth, justice, love, forgiveness, peace) into reality in our time and place. What follows is a brief listing of where I have been before coming here. I’m originally from Racine, WI. After a couple of years at Loras College in Dubuque, IA, I entered a process of becoming a Dominican priest, being ordained in 1967. Since ordination, I taught theology at Fenwick High School in Oak Park, IL from 1968-1983; was associate pastor (1983-1989) and then pastor (1989-1995) of Blessed Sacrament Parish in Madison, WI; acted as chaplain for cloistered Dominican Nuns in Farmington Hills, MI from 1996-1997; was pastor of St. Albert the Great Parish in Minneapolis, MN from 1997-2006; and most recently (2006-2007), I was associate pastor to Fr. Steve Kuhlmann who currently is pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Columbia, MO.

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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!

 

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Br. Jude McPeak, OP
Dominican Intern
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Hello!  I grew up in the foothills of Colorado in a town called Evergreen with my older sister, my parents, and my beloved dog.  However, my family became a little bigger this past April when my sister gave birth to her first child, making me a very happy uncle.  I attended college at a Jesuit school in Denver called Regis University.  I studied English, with a focus on Shakespeare's works, and Religious Studies, with a Catholic emphasis.  I started hanging out with the Dominicans during my Freshman year (when Fr. Mike was just a novice) and I grew to appreciate the common life, prayer, and charism of the order.  In 2007 I entered the order immediately after college and have found the life of the friar to be incredibly life-giving and joyful.  So far I’ve been able to teach middle school religious education in Denver, work with ex-convicts in Chicago, minister to the dying at a hospice in St. Louis, and minister as a chaplain at a hospital in St. Paul, MN.  I never get tired of people singing their rendition of “Hey Jude” by The Beatles to me, and I’m very excited to be a part of St. Tom’s staff this year!

 

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Mari Arthur
Administrative Assistant
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Hi, I’m Mari and I’m the Administrative Assistant at St. Tom's. I’m currently a student at Ivy Tech here in Lafayette, studying Office Administration. I’ll be graduating from Ivy Tech in December 2010.

I have been attending St. Tom’s for about 10 years. I was confirmed here at St. Tom’s. I have been volunteering at St. Tom’s since the summer of 2007, and have been working at St. Tom’s since Jan. 4, 2010.

 

 

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Margie Bakeis
Development Assistant
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Hi!  My name is Margie Bakeis and I am the Development Assistant.  I manage our database of resident parishioners, student parishioners and alumni.  I also help with fundraising events, which benefit our wonderful ministries and programs here at St. Thomas Aquinas.

I graduated from Purdue in 1994 with a degree in biology and have worked in research and also in banking.  After college, I followed the call to become a full member of the Catholic church and went through RCIA at St Tom’s.   My husband Steve and I were married here in 1998.  We have three young boys that keep us busy with all of their sporting events including football, basketball, soccer and baseball.

If you have never registered with us or have moved recently, we welcome you to register online on our website.  You may also stop by and pick up a registration form the next time you are at St. Tom’s.

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Brad Bodine, DMA
Music Coordinator
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Dr. Bodine is also a fine conductor, having studied with Wayne Hertz and Richard Sparks. Recent studies include two master-classes with Paul Salamunovich and one with the internationally acclaimed vocal group Chanticleer. Dr. Bodine has held choral directing posts in Washington State, Arizona and Indiana. G. Bradley Bodine is the music coordinator at The Catholic Center at Purdue and lecturer of music theory at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana.

 

 

 

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Angela Duffy
Finance Director
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Hello. I'm Angela Duffy, I have been with St. Thomas since July of 2000 as Finance Director.I have been attending St. Thomas since 1999 and reside in West Lafayette and have an adorable son, Kyle and an adorable daughter, Lexi. My job is to oversee the financial books for the church and try to keep our budget under control. I am on the tithing committee and work with Haiti and finance committee. Some of my other responsibilities are tax preparation, insurance, payroll, and personnel records. I am also a Notary Public, so if you need anything notarized, please come see me.

 

 

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Ken Fussner
Technology Coordinator
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This is my fourth year now being actively involved here at St. Tom's in various different specialties.  I am the youngest of 8 siblings, growing up on a farm in Southeastern Indiana.  Of these 8 siblings, I am the fifth to come to Purdue, which makes me a bit of a legacy to a few here.  In my time here over the last four years, I have served as a PCS Vice-President and as a Parish Council Board Member, I've worked or helped in nearly every position in the office, and am now joyfully serving as the technology coordinator.

I've been kept happily busy in continuing the journey Keith began in getting St. Tom's up-to-date with technology, and I am certain we will continue to use technology to our advantage here to spread the word of God and his joy to all.

 

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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 17 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 13) and Anna (age 10) 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) and high school sophomores (confirmation).  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 the wonderful faith that Jesus gave us.  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.

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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.

 

 

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Bryan Schamus
Campus Minister
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Hi there! I am a native of New York but have spent most of my life living in Virginia. I completed my Bachelor’s degree in Communication and Music at Virginia Tech. And in June of 2010, I completed my Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministries, with a concentration in Spirituality, from Santa Clara University.

I have an awesome family. My mom works for Loudoun County Public Schools in Virginia. And my dad works for Avis Budget Rent-a-Car in New Jersey. I have a sister named Laura, who is a graduate of Virginia Tech and now working on her Master’s degree in Education at Radford University. And I have a brother named Christopher (a future Hokie), who is a senior in high school. Together, we rally around our love for laughter, games, celebration, food, the Virginia Tech Hokies, the New York Mets and the Dallas Cowboys.

As a minister I have served as a campus minister, resident minister, liturgy coordinator, music director, cantor, pianist and composer. After the shootings at Virginia Tech in 2007, I helped direct and produce a CD of the songs we had been singing through this difficult and transformative time. It’s entitled “Voices of Hope” and can be found on iTunes.

Here at St. Tom’s, I will help in the care and growth of our campus ministry efforts – particularly with retreats, mission trips and faith sharing. We will take the lead of “Empowered By the Spirit”, a document from the US Bishops, who call for campus ministry to empower young adults to form the faith community, appropriate the faith and to form one’s conscience. We will do this through educating for justice, facilitating personal development and developing leaders for the future.

I give great thanks to God for my health, knowledge and relationships that allow me to serve here on the campus of Purdue University.

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Candy Silver, CFRE
Development Director
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I am the oldest of three children growing up in neighboring Warren County, IN and graduate of Seeger High School.  I have BA. in Individual and Family Behaviors from Purdue University and am currently working on a M.A. in Philanthropy and Development at St. Mary’s of MN in Winona.

I lived in Jackson Hole, Wyoming for 12 years, where I enjoyed hiking, camping, downhill and cross country skiing.  I moved back to Lafayette in 1998 and began attending Mass here at St. Tom’s.  I became Catholic in 2000, and joined the staff in 2004.

My husband, Meddie and I have a beautifully blended family with 3 daughters, Courtney, Tara, Christian and son- in- law, Matt.  We also have our first two adorable grandsons.

As Development Director at St. Thomas Aquinas, my primary responsibilities are fundraising through capital campaigns, annual appeals, and special gifts.  I enjoy working with the resident and student parishioner Stewardship Committees as well as our alumni/alumnae and parents of Purdue students.  It has been a joy to witness the many blessings in our faith community and beyond.

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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.

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