Our patron, St. Thomas Aquinas, recognized that man’s mind is raised to contemplation through material objects, especially sacred objects and sacred architecture. By expressing beauty, permanence, and transcendence, a church building can teach all who see it what it means to be Catholic. For all of these reasons, our new church is a catalyst for a deeper commitment to our Faith, among both regular and occasional participants in the Eucharist and other liturgies, as well as a compelling invitation to all, especially the 4,000+ University of Virginia undergraduates who self-identify as Catholic, and whom we are dedicated to serve in a particular way.