History
St. Thomas the Apostle Church was chartered in January of 1925 by Bishop Griffin to be the third Catholic Parish in Decatur. The first Mass of this new parish was celebrated on Easter Sunday, April 12, 1925, by Fr. Andrew Smith.
We have been blessed with great Pastors throughout the life of our Church: Fr. Andrew Smith, Fr. Thomas P. Masterson, Fr. Terence Tracey, Fr. Robert N. Porter, Fr. Dennis Kollross, Fr. James O’Shea, Fr. Rick Weltin, and currently Fr. Michael Friedel (who is also the pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Church).
Our Parish campus includes our present Church which was dedicated in November of 1977, our parish rectory– which houses the parish office of Deacon Kevin Richardson and two meeting rooms on the lower level. Our Pastor, Fr. Michael Friedel has his office at Our Lady of Lourdes Church.
The largest of our Parish buildings is the former Church/School building (school closed May 1991). Angela Hall, our parish fellowship hall and kitchen is at the lower level.
History Photo Gallery
OUR HISTORY
Population growth brings forth many things. On Jan. 16, 1925, it brought forth the announcement of a new Catholic parish in the city of Decatur.
It was just a few days later, Bishop James A. Griffin appointed Rev. Andrew Smith, a native of Ireland, as its first pastor. Father Smith, then pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Franklin, was no stranger to Decatur. He had previously served as assistant pastor at St. Patrick Church. The 2100 Block on North Edward Street was chosen as the location for Decatur’s third Catholic parish.
When Bishop Griffin suggested the church be named after an apostle, Father Smith chose St. Thomas. The boundaries outlined by the bishop comprised that section of the city north of Grand Avenue and east of Edward Street and north of Packard Street. The number of parishioners, the majority of whom attended St. Patrick Church, came to about 800.
Rev. Andrew Smith,
the first pastor of St. Thomas Parish
With a pastor, location, and name set, the next important goal was a temporary building. Work began April 1 on the 36-by-96 foot structure and in just nine and one-half days it was completed. The cost was $7,000. It seated 400.
April 12, 1925, was a very special Easter Sunday. The first Mass was celebrated in St. Thomas’ temporary home that morning. The dedication took place that afternoon.
Thomas E Byrne and Dan Dineen were appointed as St. Thomas’ first trustees. The Altar Society’s first officers were Mrs. Anson Gale, president; Mrs. William Henebry, vice president; Mrs. J.M. Howley, treasurer; Miss Margaret Doran, secretary. Mother Margaret Mary was the first organist in the temporary church. Later in 1925, Mrs. Howley became organist and formed the adult choir.
May found Father Smith a resident in the church rectory a house purchased from E.F. Stringer.
Plans for a permanent building were soon underway. It was to be of brick and stone with a seating capacity of about 600 in the church and four classrooms. At that time, it was said to be a departure from the traditional, the church and school being housed under one roof.
Aschauer and Waggoner served as architects and James McCarthy and Sons, contractors. The total cost of the general construction was $90,000. The cornerstone was laid in August 1925. Approximately 3,500 attended. The Knights of Columbus marched from downtown.
The dedication took place on Sept. 5, 1926, with Bishop Griffin presiding. Various objects in the church were gifts.
The main altar was donated by Margaret Allman in memory of her uncle, Edward Allman, with the side altars donated by Mrs. Ed Dunn and William Donovan.
Altar Carving from the original altar at St. Thomas the Apostle Church
St. Thomas School opened Sept. 7 with four Ursuline sisters in charge. Records list 600 parishioners and 185 students for 1926.
The pipe organ was a gift of Anton Spaeth in memory of his wife. The dedication took place in Dec. 13, 1928. The parish’s first mission was held in 1930. Nine years later the Sorrowful Mother Novena began.
The church was redecorated in 1941. In the early 1940s, the parish debt was completely paid off and a building fund was started for additional classrooms, cafeteria, and a new rectory. Father Smith served as pastor until his death on April 13, 1948. He was succeeded by Rev. Thomas P. Masterson.
On Nov. 5, 1950, the classrooms opened. Later that month the entire $165,000 addition opened.
In December, the old frame building, which served as the original church and later parish hall, was taken down.
In March 1951, the priests moved into the new rectory. The old rectory was sold and moved across the street.
Electronic bells were installed on April 13, 1952, a gift of Mrs. Mary Irons and her sister, Margaret Burke.
The sound could be heard 12 blocks. The interior was decorated that same year.
St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Decatur, Illinois built in 1926.
The number of parishioners rose to 3,150. School enrollment had reached 403. Totals peaked in 1957, with 4,350 parishioners and in 1958 with 600 students.
The church sanctuary floor and aisles were carpeted in red in 1964; in 1965, an altar facing the people was installed.
Father Masterson resigned in May 1970, due to ill health and died four months later. Rev. Terence Tracey became St. Thomas’ third pastor on June 1, 1970.
In January 1971, the parish approved its first constitution. In April, the first parish council of 16 members was elected. The following year, the first school board was formed in May.
A major step occurred in the fall of 1976 as work began on a new church building. Philip Miller & Associates were architects. The new church, seating 700, with a chapel seating 100, was completed in 1977. The first Masses were held on the first weekend in July. Bishop Joseph McNicholas dedicated the church Nov. 6.
The circular church has a geodesic dome. Exterior walls are buff brick; interior walls, colonial antique brick. Seat cushions are rust. Carpeting is rust striped. Windows are colored chunk glass. The church features a baptismal font and pool with continuously running water signifying the living water which is the Lord. The tabernacle is in the eucharistic chapel, which has a ceramic clay mural by Nancy Pease.
The new St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Decatur, Illinois built in 1977.
In 1978, the old sanctuary was converted into Masterson Cultural Center and the old church was converted into the gym and renamed Smith Hall.
In 1985, Father Tracey was succeeded by Rev. Robert N. Porter who served four years as pastor. In August, 1989, Rev. Dennis Kollross became pastor of St. Thomas.
St. Thomas was served by a number of assistants from 1948 to 1989. They included: Rev. James O’Hara, Rev. James Hughes, Rev. Henry Kozak, Rev.Anthony Tamulus, Rev. Richard Buchanan, Rev. Robert Morris, Rev. A.D.LeBreton, Rev. Bernard Meyer, Rev. Donald Meehling, Rev. Roy Bauer, Rev.Walter Weerts, Rev. Vincent Worland, Rev. Richard Chiola, Rev. Larry Boehler, Rev. Michael Kuse, Rev. Robert A. Porter, Rev. Steve Pohlman, Rev.Jeffrey Holtman, Rev. Robert Jallas.
Because of the low enrollment and work needed on the building, St. Thomas School closed its doors at the end of the 1990-91 school year. One hundred seven students were enrolled at the time. Because St. James School building was of superior construction and the enrollment was low, St. Thomas and St. James officially combined their schools.
The renovation took place in several areas of the St. Thomas building, such as restrooms and cafeteria. The latter was made over into a parish hall. It was dedicated as Angela Hall on May 17, 1992, honoring the 65 years of ministry to the people of St. Thomas the Apostle parish by the Ursuline Sisters.
A lift was installed to provide access to the hall for the handicapped and elderly people.
The parish community building has been used by many area groups and organizations. It continued to serve as classroom space for religious education for children, through eighth grade, not attending Catholic schools.
Father James O’Shea was named pastor of St. Thomas in July 2004.
The crucifix above the altar in the daily chapel was a gift given in 2005 from our sister parish, Immaculate Conception Church in Comapa, Guatemala.
Kevin Richardson was named Permanent Deacon of St. Thomas beginning in June 2007. St. Thomas serves approximately 400 families and works together in a pastoral unit with Our Lady of Lourdes Church.
With profound sadness, the parishioners in 2008 discovered one weekday morning that the church had been broken into and the tabernacle and the Blessed Sacrament had been stolen. The entire parish grieved the loss.
One of the chunk glass windows was smashed but was able to be restored. The tabernacle from the original church on Edward Street was installed in the new church. It had been carefully stored in 1977 when the new church was dedicated. In 2017, parishioners contributed toward the creation of a beautiful wood enclosure to house the original tabernacle and purchase a pair of votive candle racks that flank the sides of the tabernacle in the adoration chapel.
New tabernacle enclosure and votive candle racks donated by parishioners in 2017.
Fr. Richard Welton was named Pastor of St. Thomas and Fr. James Palakudy was named Parochial Vicar in July 2008. Fr. James left in 2011 to become pastor of another parish in the diocese.
Fr. Marianna Sathuluri was named Parochial Vicar in July 2012. He left in 2014 to become pastor of another parish in the diocese.
Fr. David Zimmerman was named senior priest in residence in October 2016. He retired in December 2017.
In July 2020, Fr. Rick Weltin retired from active priestly ministry and was named Pastor Emeritus of St. Thomas the Apostle and Our Lady of Lourdes parishes. Fr. Michael Friedel was appointed pastor of St. Thomas and Fr. Michael Trummer was named parochial vicar.
217-877-4146 2160 N Edward. Decatur, IL, 62526