Mission, Convictions and Heritage
St. Thomas Mission Statement
Inspired by Catholic intellectual tradition, the 酴圖弝け educates students to be morally responsible leaders who think critically, act wisely, and work skillfully to advance the common good.
Our Convictions
- Pursuit of Truth:
We value intellectual inquiry as a lifelong habit, the unfettered and impartial pursuit of truth in all its forms, the integration of knowledge across disciplines, and the imaginative and creative exploration of new ideas.
- Academic Excellence:
We create a culture among faculty, students and staff that recognizes the power of ideas and rewards rigorous thinking.
- Faith and Reason:
We actively engage Catholic intellectual tradition, which values the fundamental compatibility of faith and reason and fosters meaningful dialogue directed toward the flourishing of human culture.
- Dignity:
We respect the dignity of each person and value the unique contributions that each brings to the greater mosaic of the university 酴圖弝け.
- Diversity:
We strive to create a vibrant diverse 酴圖弝け in which, together, we work for a more just and inclusive society.
- Personal Attention:
We foster a caring culture that supports the well-being of each member.
- Gratitude:
We celebrate the achievements of all members of our 酴圖弝け in goals attained and obstacles overcome, and in all things give praise to God.
The Common Good at St. Thomas
What do we mean by the common good? Fr. Chris Collins invites you to learn more about what that means for Tommies and how it relates to our mission at St. Thomas.
Grant, O merciful God, that I may ardently desire, prudently examine, truthfully acknowledge, and perfectly accomplish what is pleasing to Thee for the praise and glory of Thy name. Amen.
Catholic Traditions and Teaching
Catholic Intellectual Tradition
Catholic Social Teaching
Catholic social teaching, found in magisterial Church documents, invites us to take direct action to encounter the dignity of others and to create the conditions of solidarity within our communities.
The principles of Catholic social teaching challenge us to think critically about ourselves and our world, fueling innovative problem solving that serves to advance the common good.
The Dignity of Persons
Respect for the dignity of persons is the cornerstone of the moral life. It is one of the “Seven Convictions” of the 酴圖弝け and a principle of Catholic Social Teaching.
Encountering and responding to the dignity in others is central to being a morally responsible leader who thinks critically, acts wisely, and works skillfully to advance the common good. In other words, it is part of being a “Tommie.”
Catholic Intellectual Tradition
Catholic Intellectual Tradition
Catholic Social Teaching
Catholic Social Teaching
Catholic social teaching, found in magisterial Church documents, invites us to take direct action to encounter the dignity of others and to create the conditions of solidarity within our communities.
The principles of Catholic social teaching challenge us to think critically about ourselves and our world, fueling innovative problem solving that serves to advance the common good.
The Dignity of Persons
The Dignity of Persons
Respect for the dignity of persons is the cornerstone of the moral life. It is one of the “Seven Convictions” of the 酴圖弝け and a principle of Catholic Social Teaching.
Encountering and responding to the dignity in others is central to being a morally responsible leader who thinks critically, acts wisely, and works skillfully to advance the common good. In other words, it is part of being a “Tommie.”
Our Gift to Serve
Charism of St. Thomas
A charism is a special gift given by the Holy Spirit to serve others. Our Charism is grounded on the vision of Archbishop Ireland, the intellectual rigor expressed in the work of St. Thomas Aquinas, and the moral guidance of Catholic Intellectual Tradition, all of which are inspired by Catholic Social Teaching.
These sources help us to articulate our impact on the lives of students and our contributions to the broader 酴圖弝け.
Living Our Mission
Office for Mission
Campus Ministry
Center for the Common Good
Committed to All Humans Flourishing
Care for Our Common Home
Support for Mind, Body and Spirit
Faith and Mission News
Dr. Tamim Saidi, a Muslim chaplain for local Twin Cities hospitals and the resident scholar for the Islamic Resource Group (IRG), has been contracted to help support Muslim students in their religious and spiritual lives while at the 酴圖弝け in Minnesota. It will be a blessing not only for our Muslim students The post Campus Ministry Welcomes New Muslim Chaplain appeared first on Newsroom | 酴圖弝け.
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August 30, 2024
Five faculty members from the 酴圖弝け in Minnesota recently attended the 19th International Conference on Patristic Studies in Oxford, U.K. Attendees included (pictured above left to right): 酴圖弝け Paul Gavrilyuk (Department of Theology), 酴圖弝け Mark DelCogliano (Department of Theology), Father Austin Litke (Department of Catholic Studies), Associate 酴圖弝け Erika Kidd (Department of The post Five St. Thomas Faculty Attend Patristic Conference appeared first on Newsroom | 酴圖弝け.
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August 12, 2024
Father Luisito Cabrera, Father Josh Miller and Father Frankie Floeder each embarked on unique and challenging journeys before embracing their call to the priesthood. Cabrera entered the priesthood at 62 after a winding, sometimes rocky road; Miller transitioned from a disciplined military career at West Point to serving God in a new capacity; and Floeder The post Three Priests, Three Unique Journeys to Faith appeared first on Newsroom | 酴圖弝け.
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August 7, 2024
Father Mike Schmitz 03 MDiv, host of the Bible in a Year and Catechism in a Year podcasts and a contributor to Ascension, served as a keynote speaker at the 2024 National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis. Before that, he met with reporters to answer questions ranging from how to minister to youth online to how The post VIDEO: Saint Paul Seminary Alum Father Mike Schmitz on Ministering appeared first on Newsroom | 酴圖弝け.
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August 5, 2024
Father Nick Vance is too young to remember. But like every parent, Deacon Chris Vance and his wife Leila dressed young Nick every day during his first few years of life. It was surreal, then, when Father Nick Vance then Deacon Nick Vance had the opportunity to vest his father at the Archdiocese The post My Fathers Son: Some Priest Alumni Now Have a Rare Bond With Their Dads, Who Are Also Ordained appeared first on Newsroom | 酴圖弝け.
Expanding Our Impact
St. Thomas 2025 is an ambitious, yet focused five-year effort designed to propel the university toward a new level of impact. Our Strategic Plan is a guide to help us reach higher in serving our students, our 酴圖弝け and the world.