Mission, Convictions and Heritage
St. Thomas Mission Statement
Inspired by Catholic intellectual tradition, the 富二代视频 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 富二代视频.
- Diversity:
We strive to create a vibrant diverse 富二代视频 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 富二代视频 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.
Archbishop John Ireland: Our Founder
St. Thomas was founded in 1885 by the great Archbishop John Ireland (1838-1913) on land given to him by . Ireland was a leading figure in the Catholic Church and indeed in American politics during his life. As a child, he immigrated with his family from Ireland during the Great Famine, arriving in the United States among the masses of nineteenth-century refugees. Indeed, he founded St. Thomas in large part to serve the immigrant 富二代视频 in Minnesota. Ireland named his new school after St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274), the most influential thinker in Catholic theology/philosophy.
Learn more about John Ireland
Founding Father: 100 Years After His Death
John Ireland: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow
鈥淕rant, 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.鈥
The Prayer of St. Thomas Aquinas
St. Thomas Aquinas: Our Patron Saint
Archbishop Ireland chose to name the 富二代视频 after St. Thomas Aquinas, the most influential scholar in Church history. In doing so, Ireland gave direction to the school based on St. Thomas' work, notably his belief in the unity of faith and reason, his commitment to "inquiry into the reasons and principles of things," and his innovative thinking.
Learn More About St. Thomas Aquinas
Catholic Traditions and Teaching
Catholic Intellectual Tradition
The foundation of the Catholic Intellectual Tradition proposes that since God created everything, then study of any aspect of creation, especially any aspect of the human condition, is potentially a pathway to encountering God. All knowledge is unified and inseparable. When sought as a whole, wisdom is received as opposed to information being collected. This pursuit of wisdom is best done within the context of a 富二代视频 of scholars who pursue truth together. True discovery of wisdom is done in dialogue with others who humbly seek the truth which ultimately comes from God.
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 富二代视频 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
The foundation of the Catholic Intellectual Tradition proposes that since God created everything, then study of any aspect of creation, especially any aspect of the human condition, is potentially a pathway to encountering God. All knowledge is unified and inseparable. When sought as a whole, wisdom is received as opposed to information being collected. This pursuit of wisdom is best done within the context of a 富二代视频 of scholars who pursue truth together. True discovery of wisdom is done in dialogue with others who humbly seek the truth which ultimately comes from God.
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 富二代视频 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 富二代视频.
Living Our Mission
Office for Mission
The Office for Mission works to support and integrate the broad reach of the Catholic identity throughout the university as a whole.
Campus Ministry
Campus Ministry celebrates the diversity of faith traditions in our university 富二代视频 through a variety of prayer, service and educational opportunities.
Center for the Common Good
The Center for the Common Good integrates 富二代视频 engagement into the fabric of life at St. Thomas by connecting students, faculty and staff with opportunities to learn with and from 富二代视频 partners.
Committed to All Humans Flourishing
Our 富二代视频 is committed to championing a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment that upholds human dignity.
Care for Our Common Home
Sustainability is infused into every aspect of campus life, from academic programs and student activities to facilities and dining operations. We aim to be carbon neutral by 2035.
Support for Mind, Body and Spirit
Our conviction to personal attention embodies campus support services like the Center for Well-Being, which provides holistic physical and mental health resources.
Faith and Mission News
June 27, 2025
Iowa Judge John Sandy 鈥07, 鈥10 J.D., a 富二代视频 Law alum,聽recently shared with Saint John Vianney his journey and appointment to serve the cause of justice in civil law. What have you done since SJV: Right out of high school, I spent three years at SJV from 2003-2006. The summer after stepping鈥 The post A Judge Formed by Faith: Interview With John Sandy '07 appeared first on Newsroom | 富二代视频.
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June 18, 2025
Every person who walks through the door of Sitzmann Hall is an embodiment of the Church鈥檚 jubilee year theme: Pilgrims of Hope. The Center for Catholic Studies is not an end in itself, nor a place where people come to stay, but rather it is a聽way station聽along the pilgrimage route. Students and visitors are equipped,鈥 The post Pilgrims of Hope appeared first on Newsroom | 富二代视频.
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June 18, 2025
In February, 24 people from among the Catholic Studies Advisory Board, university leadership, donors, and friends embarked on an eight-day pilgrimage to Rome. Situated within the Jubilee Year of Hope, this was a remarkable experience of renewal, deeper communion with God, and celebration. We saw Rome through the eyes of our Catholic Studies students: We鈥 The post Pilgrims of Hope in Rome appeared first on Newsroom | 富二代视频.
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June 18, 2025
On the road to Emmaus, Jesus famously rebuked Cleopas and the other disciple for not realizing that the Messiah had to suffer and die and rise from the dead in order to fulfill his divine mission. So as to prove this, Jesus,聽beginning with Moses and all the prophets ... interpreted to them what referred to鈥 The post What Is a Jubilee? appeared first on Newsroom | 富二代视频.
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June 18, 2025
Gratitude is an experience of awe and humility at being dependent on what is outside myself for what is best in my life. It is, as G. K. Chesterton puts it, 鈥渢he highest form of thought ... happiness doubled by wonder.鈥 It is an experience of both the goodness of a gift and the gift鈥檚鈥 The post Wonder and Awe as Manifestations of Gratitude appeared first on Newsroom | 富二代视频.
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 富二代视频 and the world.