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The Catholic Chaplaincy at Yale was established in 1922 with the appointment of Rev. T. Lawrason Riggs '10 as Yale's first Catholic Chaplain. Fr. Riggs had been one of only eight Catholics in his class.

His vision was to establish a ministry to Catholic students and to build a Center that would be a focal point of Catholic identity on Yale's Campus. Within fifteen years, he had secured permission and support to build a Catholic Chapel on Park Street.

The Saint Thomas More Corporation, with a predominantly lay Board of Trustees, was formed in 1937, and in October of 1938, the Bishop of Hartford dedicated its newly constructed Chapel, designed by architect William Douglas '32 BFA, which condinues to serve the Yale Catholic community to this day.

Today, there are over 2,500 Catholic undergraduates, Graduate/Professional Students, Faculty, and Staff at Yale University. To meet the needs of this ever-expanding Catholic community, Saint Thomas More Chapel offers an increasing number of spiritual and intellectual programs, including:

  • Fellowships, Lectures, and Chaplain's Teas, which bring renowned speakers from around the world to share their faith and knowledge with the community. Recent guests include William F. Buckley, Cokie Roberts, Cardinal Godfried Danneels, United States Senator John Danforth, and visitors from the Vatican and White House, to name a few.
  • Small Church Communities, intimate faith sharing and support groups which form the foundation of the larger Saint Thomas More Chapel community
  • Retreats twice a year for undergraduates and graduate/professional students
  • Community service and social justice activities aimed at the needs of the New Haven community and the world
  • Ministry in varied guises, through individual appointments, meals in the dining halls, or the RCIA program for those considering becoming Catholic

Our New Home: The Thomas E. Golden, Jr. Center
Click to see more photos.On the weekend of December 1–3, 2006, we celebrated the dedication of The Thomas E. Golden, Jr. Center, built to house the growing community and ministry of Saint Thomas More Chapel. We have begun Phase II of our building campaign: the renovation of the Chapel and the Chaplain’s residence. During the academic year 2007-2008, Masses, prayer services and other events are held the Golden Center. We look forward to the completion of Phase II in the Fall of 2008. You can hear about the exciting events underway at Saint Thomas More in the Development section of this site.

St. Thomas MoreSt. Thomas More:
The Man, The Saint

Sir Thomas More served as Lord Chancellor of England under King Henry VIII. He was martyred for his opposition of Henry's secession from the Church, and was canonized in 1935 by Pope Pius XI. For a more detailed biography, read this article from the Catholic Encyclopedia.

 


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