timeline
Our History
1937
Founding of the Newman Club at the University of Arkansas
1952
First full-time chaplain appointed – Rev. John C. O’Dwyer
Opening of Catholic Student Center at 620 West Dickson St
1956
Arkansas Newman Center Launches $225,000 Campaign for New Student Center
1957
Groundbreaking Ceremony for new Catholic Center on Leverett and Douglas
1958
Laying of the Cornerstone
1959
Parish Canonically Erected
1960
Formal Dedication of Building
1967
Renamed from University of Arkansas Newman Center to St. Thomas Aquinas University Parish
1980
First College “Search” retreat – later evolved into Awakening
1993
Deacon Paul Cronan assigned as a full- time deacon at St. Thomas and begins as Pastoral Administrator until 2003.
1997
St. Thomas’s first international mission trip to Honduras
2003
Papal Benemerenti Medals (JP2) awarded to Andy Lucas and Shirley Lucas
2010
50th Anniversary Party to celebrate Dedication of St. Thomas
2011
Deacon Norm DeBriyn assigned as a full- time deacon at St. Thomas
2020
Diocese of Little Rock approves plans to explore a building project and capital campaign, St. Thomas hires fundraising staff and conducts feasibility study