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St Thomas Aquinas Church
Bowling Green
KY
42101-3424
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Who we are
The Catholic Campus Center is located at 1403 College Street. It is near the campus of Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky just one block from Cherry Hall.
The Campus Center is divided into two parts - the St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel and Lyddane Hall.
St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel is the heart of the entire structure and the location for weekend and weekday liturgies, as well as various other spiritual and faith development activities. Worship is fairly relaxed and most people come dressed casually. At the same time, we reflect the teachings of the Church. The people are very friendly and we hope you will get a sense of welcome and belonging from the beginning.
The second part of the building is Lyddane Hall, commonly referred to as the "Center". Located in this area is a student lounge with a TV, Entertainment Center, and comfortable couches which make for a great place to study or relax. There are also three study rooms, a computer room, a library, a kitchen, restrooms, and offices for the chaplain and campus minister. A large meeting room is used for group meetings and meals.
With over 15,000 square feet of space, the Campus Center is able to offer a good place to pray and study in a quiet and comfortable atmosphere, as well as room for social and community building activities.
If you are currently a student at WKU and have not yet made it to the Center, or if you are considering attending WKU, come by for a visit and we would be glad to show you around!
The Campus Center is divided into two parts - the St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel and Lyddane Hall.
St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel is the heart of the entire structure and the location for weekend and weekday liturgies, as well as various other spiritual and faith development activities. Worship is fairly relaxed and most people come dressed casually. At the same time, we reflect the teachings of the Church. The people are very friendly and we hope you will get a sense of welcome and belonging from the beginning.
The second part of the building is Lyddane Hall, commonly referred to as the "Center". Located in this area is a student lounge with a TV, Entertainment Center, and comfortable couches which make for a great place to study or relax. There are also three study rooms, a computer room, a library, a kitchen, restrooms, and offices for the chaplain and campus minister. A large meeting room is used for group meetings and meals.
With over 15,000 square feet of space, the Campus Center is able to offer a good place to pray and study in a quiet and comfortable atmosphere, as well as room for social and community building activities.
If you are currently a student at WKU and have not yet made it to the Center, or if you are considering attending WKU, come by for a visit and we would be glad to show you around!
Location of worship / Church Address
1403 College St
Bowling Green,
KY
42101-3424
United States
Phone: 2708433638
Fax: 2708433638
Download St Thomas Aquinas Church vCard with Mass Times
Church Pastor
Fr. Michael E. Williams
Pastor
1403 College St
Bowling Green,
KY
42101-3424
United States
Phone: 270-843-3638
Download Pastor Fr. Michael E. Williams vCard with Bio
Quote of the Day
Psalms 46:10
Be still, and know that I am God...
Be still, and know that I am God...
Denomination
Roman Catholic
Roman Catholic churches in Bowling Green, Kentucky, United States
Roman Catholic churches in Kentucky, United States
Roman Catholic churches in United States
All churches in Bowling Green, KY
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Social Media
St Thomas Aquinas Church Bowling Green on YouTube
Leadership
Leader Name:
Fr. Michael E. Williams
Leader Position:
Pastor
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Leader Bio:
Fr. Michael E. Williams was born on September 20, 1962 in Lexington Kentucky. He was raised in Cynthiana Kentucky, the youngest of three children born to John Louis Willams, Sr. and his wife Pat Jones Williams. He worked on the farm with his dad and many of his extended family. They raised tobacco and milked cattle for a living. After graduating from Harrison County High School, he attended the University of Louisville for two years, then left school and began his work career.
During the following years of work, he began discerning the priesthood and the community of the Glenmary Home Missioners. Fr. Michael completed one year of formation at the Candidacy program in Hartford, Kentucky in 1990. In the fall of 1990, he traveled to St. Meinrad College and took classes there for two semesters. The next year was the noviate year with Glenmary. Half of the year was spent in Cincinnati, Ohio and the other half was spent in Claxton, Georgia. At the end of this year, he discerned that he wasn’t being called to a vocation with this Community.
He decided to finish his Bachelor’s degree, so he enrolled at Brescia College in Owensboro. While continuing his studies, he was blessed to have the opportunity to live at Sts. Joseph and Paul Parish in Owensboro with two priests from the Diocese of Owensboro. During this time, he decided that he did have a vocation to the priesthood, and he affiliated with the Diocese in the spring of 1994. In the fall of 1994, he began his studies at St. Meinrad School of Theology on a part time basis, while he also was a part time student at Brescia completing his degree studies there. In the spring of 1995, he became a full time seminarian at St. Meinrad and received his Masters in Divinity in the spring of 1997.
On May 31st 1997, he was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Owensboro by Bishop John McGraith, along with three other men from the Diocese of Owensboro. His first assignment was at St. Stephen cathedral in Owensboro, where he served as Parochial Vicar for three years with the Pastor, Fr. John Vaughan.
In the summer of 2000, he was assigned as Parochial Vicar at St. Mary of the Woods parish in Whitesville where he served for one year with Fr. Richard Powers as his pastor. He taught senior religion at Trinity High School in Whitesville for the year he was assigned there. It was there that he came to appreciate his love of teaching.
In the summer of 2001, Fr. Michael was assigned to be pastor of St. Edward parish in Fulton, Sacred Heart Parish in Hickman, and St. Jude Parish in Clinton. He served in these parishes for three years. Then in the summer of 2004, he was assigned as pastor of St. Leo Parish and as the Director of the Newman Center at Murray State University in Murray.
After five years as pastor at St. Leo, he was assigned in the summer of 2009 as the Chaplain of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Campus Center at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green.
During his 14 years of service, Fr. Michael has been very involved with many youth activities in the Diocese. He has worked with the Christian Leadership program, Camp Life, Teens Encounter Christ and is currently part-time chaplain at the Gasper River Youth Camp and Retreat Center, just outside of Bowling Green.
He began his formation with a missionary community, and he believes that working with youth is like working in the mission fields. There are so many youth and young people who are searching to know God and what they really believe. He is grateful that his current assignment gives him the opportunity to share the Catholic Faith with so many of these young disciples and help to strengthen their Faith while they are still young!
During the following years of work, he began discerning the priesthood and the community of the Glenmary Home Missioners. Fr. Michael completed one year of formation at the Candidacy program in Hartford, Kentucky in 1990. In the fall of 1990, he traveled to St. Meinrad College and took classes there for two semesters. The next year was the noviate year with Glenmary. Half of the year was spent in Cincinnati, Ohio and the other half was spent in Claxton, Georgia. At the end of this year, he discerned that he wasn’t being called to a vocation with this Community.
He decided to finish his Bachelor’s degree, so he enrolled at Brescia College in Owensboro. While continuing his studies, he was blessed to have the opportunity to live at Sts. Joseph and Paul Parish in Owensboro with two priests from the Diocese of Owensboro. During this time, he decided that he did have a vocation to the priesthood, and he affiliated with the Diocese in the spring of 1994. In the fall of 1994, he began his studies at St. Meinrad School of Theology on a part time basis, while he also was a part time student at Brescia completing his degree studies there. In the spring of 1995, he became a full time seminarian at St. Meinrad and received his Masters in Divinity in the spring of 1997.
On May 31st 1997, he was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Owensboro by Bishop John McGraith, along with three other men from the Diocese of Owensboro. His first assignment was at St. Stephen cathedral in Owensboro, where he served as Parochial Vicar for three years with the Pastor, Fr. John Vaughan.
In the summer of 2000, he was assigned as Parochial Vicar at St. Mary of the Woods parish in Whitesville where he served for one year with Fr. Richard Powers as his pastor. He taught senior religion at Trinity High School in Whitesville for the year he was assigned there. It was there that he came to appreciate his love of teaching.
In the summer of 2001, Fr. Michael was assigned to be pastor of St. Edward parish in Fulton, Sacred Heart Parish in Hickman, and St. Jude Parish in Clinton. He served in these parishes for three years. Then in the summer of 2004, he was assigned as pastor of St. Leo Parish and as the Director of the Newman Center at Murray State University in Murray.
After five years as pastor at St. Leo, he was assigned in the summer of 2009 as the Chaplain of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Campus Center at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green.
During his 14 years of service, Fr. Michael has been very involved with many youth activities in the Diocese. He has worked with the Christian Leadership program, Camp Life, Teens Encounter Christ and is currently part-time chaplain at the Gasper River Youth Camp and Retreat Center, just outside of Bowling Green.
He began his formation with a missionary community, and he believes that working with youth is like working in the mission fields. There are so many youth and young people who are searching to know God and what they really believe. He is grateful that his current assignment gives him the opportunity to share the Catholic Faith with so many of these young disciples and help to strengthen their Faith while they are still young!
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Fr. Michael E. Williams on Social Media:
St Thomas Aquinas Church Leadership Photos
Administration
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2708433638
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St Thomas Aquinas Church Bowling Green Mass Times
Weekly Schedule
Sunday
Music Practice for Mass: 9am
Mass: 10am
Lunch: 11am
Music Practice for Mass: 7pm
Mass: 8pm
Dinner: 9pm
Monday
Mass: 6pm
RCIA 6:45
Night Prayer: 11pm
Tuesday
Confession: 5pm
Mass: 6pm
Eucharistic Adoration: 6:30-8pm
Night Prayer: 11pm
Wednesday
Confession: 5pm
Mass: 6pm
Dinner: 6:30pm
Catholics on the Hilltop: 7pm
Music Practice: 7:30
Night Prayer: 11pm
Thursday
Eucharistic Adoration: 4-6pm
Mass: 6pm
Night Prayer: 11pm
Friday
FUN Night: 7pm
Night Prayer: 11pm
Mass Times last updated on the 18th of February, 2018
Sunday
Music Practice for Mass: 9am
Mass: 10am
Lunch: 11am
Music Practice for Mass: 7pm
Mass: 8pm
Dinner: 9pm
Monday
Mass: 6pm
RCIA 6:45
Night Prayer: 11pm
Tuesday
Confession: 5pm
Mass: 6pm
Eucharistic Adoration: 6:30-8pm
Night Prayer: 11pm
Wednesday
Confession: 5pm
Mass: 6pm
Dinner: 6:30pm
Catholics on the Hilltop: 7pm
Music Practice: 7:30
Night Prayer: 11pm
Thursday
Eucharistic Adoration: 4-6pm
Mass: 6pm
Night Prayer: 11pm
Friday
FUN Night: 7pm
Night Prayer: 11pm
Mass Times last updated on the 18th of February, 2018
Worship Languages
Dress code:
Children and Youth Activities
Under 12s:
Under 18s:
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Other activities & ministries
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St Thomas Aquinas Church Photo Gallery
St Thomas Aquinas Church History
In 1962, Bishop Henry Soenneker (2nd bishop of the Diocese of Owensboro) had a vision to begin the project, and the diocese acquired the Max Nahm house located at 1403 College Street. The house was renovated to hold a chapel, lounge, recreation room, study rooms and a library, as well as the priest’s living quarters.
In Bishop Soenneker sent Fr. Bill Allard to be the founder of the Newman Center. Fr. Allard formed a small gathering of students at the new Newman Center.
As WKU’s enrollment grew, so did Fr. Allard’s congregation. The house was no longer adequate for the needs of the students. So, in 1967, the house was torn down and replaced with the current building, which was dedicated on Oct. 27, 1968. The building is now known as the St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Campus Center.
Six priests have served the St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Campus Center since 1962: Fr. Bill Allard, Fr. Phillip Waters, O.S.B., Fr. Thomas O’Connor, O.S.B., Fr. Raymond Goetz, Fr. John Little, and Fr. Darrell Venters.The current director is Fr. Mike Williams.
The Catholic Campus Center serves the students, faculty and staff of Western Kentucky University. We aim to give people a comfortable place to pray, study, and build relationships based on faith.
In Bishop Soenneker sent Fr. Bill Allard to be the founder of the Newman Center. Fr. Allard formed a small gathering of students at the new Newman Center.
As WKU’s enrollment grew, so did Fr. Allard’s congregation. The house was no longer adequate for the needs of the students. So, in 1967, the house was torn down and replaced with the current building, which was dedicated on Oct. 27, 1968. The building is now known as the St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Campus Center.
Six priests have served the St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Campus Center since 1962: Fr. Bill Allard, Fr. Phillip Waters, O.S.B., Fr. Thomas O’Connor, O.S.B., Fr. Raymond Goetz, Fr. John Little, and Fr. Darrell Venters.The current director is Fr. Mike Williams.
The Catholic Campus Center serves the students, faculty and staff of Western Kentucky University. We aim to give people a comfortable place to pray, study, and build relationships based on faith.
St Thomas Aquinas Church Historical Photos
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