St. Thomas More Church
The St. John's University Community welcomes you to St. Thomas More Church, our free standing church on the Queens Campus.
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This church is the center of the Queens campus and our mission. What happens here nourishes what happens in all of the classrooms and labs, and on all of the campuses and playing fields, preparing our students to go forth in love and service.
We come here with gratitude to so many alumni and friends, in particular to John '63C, '66L, '93HON and Anita Brennan, whose extraordinary generosity made St. Thomas More Church possible.
Check out St. Thomas More Church featured on NETtv's City of Churches
Contact Us
Tom Donoghue
St. Thomas More Church
Campus Ministry Office
8000 Utopia Parkway
Queens, NY 11439
718-990-1849
donoghut@stjohns.edu
Mass, Liturgy, and Sacraments
Daily Mass (Monday–Friday)
- 8 a.m. (not during Christmas Break December 24–January 1; resumes January 2)
- 12:15 p.m.*
Sundays
- 11 a.m. (Continues all year)
- 5:30 p.m. (Student Mass) *
*Only during fall and spring semesters
Miraculous Medal Novena
Mondays before 8 a.m. Mass and after 12:15 p.m. Mass
Sacraments at St. Thomas More Church
Baptisms
St. Thomas More Church is the campus church for those who belong to St. John's University Community. With regard to the celebration of Baptisms, St. Thomas More Church is open to current students, staff, faculty, administrators, and the children (under 8) of alumni (mother or father of child) of St. John's University. Registration in a diocesan parish is required. For more information, please refer to the Sacrament of Baptism brochure link provided.
Weddings
With regard to the celebration of Weddings, St. Thomas More Church is open to students, staff, faculty, administrators, and alumni. Registration in a diocesan parish is required. For more information, please refer to the Sacrament of Marriage brochure link provided.
Funerals
According to the Code of Canon Law, “a funeral for any deceased member of the faithful must generally be celebrated in his or her parish church.” (Can. 1177 §1) In other words, the funeral rite for those who have died should take place at the deceased’s home parish church. Funerals are not regularly celebrated at St. Thomas More Church. Exceptions are made strictly under the following circumstances (along with notifying the pastor of the home parish of the deceased in accordance with Canon Law)
By direct request of the Office of the President of St. John’s University
For a Vincentian Priest by direct request of the Congregation of the Mission
For current, established, long-standing members of the Sunday 11:00am Mass Community whose names appear on the current 2025 list of members which is maintained by the University Chaplain.
Regrettably, funerals outside of the circumstances outlined above are not able to be accommodated. If you are looking for other ways to memorialize and pray for your loved one at St. John’s, please contact us at 718-990-1849. (Updated June 19, 2025)
Reconciliation Schedule
Monday–Friday
11:50 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.*
Sunday
4:50 p.m.*
*Only during fall and spring semesters
Please call 718-990-1849 for additional information.
Special programs and Reconciliation services are offered during Advent and Lent.
Prayer Requests
If you have a specific intention or prayer request, please call or email us at
Queens Campus
718-990-1849
At every Mass, we pray for these intentions during the Universal Prayer. Names can be freely written into our Book of Prayer in the Narthex of St. Thomas More Church for those loved ones to be remembered at our daily liturgies.
Daily Readings Link
A great way to prepare for liturgy is to read daily or Sunday readings before you attend Mass. Find the readings for every day on the homepage at usccb.org.
History
St. Thomas More Church is the spiritual sanctuary of St. John’s University. Named after St. Thomas More (1478-1535), knight, lawyer and author who was appointed Lord Chancellor of England during the 16th century, it is the University’s first freestanding church located on the Queens campus. The church is the embodiment of the spiritual identity of the University and represents peace and refuge for the entire St. John’s community.
Since its move to the Queens campus in 1955, St. John’s University had intended to build a freestanding church that would function as a house of worship on campus, but due to the difficulty of funding such an expensive project, the plan was put on hold. It was through the generous support of St. John’s alumnus John ’63C, ’66L, ’93HON and his wife Anita Brennan, that the University’s dream of its very own church was realized. John and Anita Brennan’s kind and thoughtful donation totaling $10 million, was the catalyst to build a space where “students can embrace their relationship with God” and be called forth to service. The church opened its doors to the University community on September 27, 2004.
The church stands at the heart of the Queens campus, centrally located between the Residence Village and south-eastern corner of the University’s Great Lawn, with its front entrance facing St. John Hall, home to St. John’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The walls of the church are adorned with vibrant hand-crafted mosaics and stained-glass windows imported from Italy that depict scenes of Vincentian history including the founding of St. John’s University.
Also located inside the church is the 9/11 shrine which serves as a space for reflection and prayer for members of the University who have lost family and friends during the events of 9/11.
St. Thomas More Church is open to the public and student and community masses are held weekly. Prayer services and vigils are held inside the church several times throughout the year. The church also serves as a meeting place for religious organizations such as Campus Ministry.
Recent News
St. John’s Hosts National Catholic Student Affairs Conference
The role of faith-based colleges and universities during challenging times in higher education was examined over four days when St. John’s University hosted the Association of Student Affairs at Catholic Colleges and Universities (ASACCU) annual conference for the first time.
Bishop Brennan Administers Sacraments to St. John's Community Members
The candidates received the Sacraments of Initiation at a Mass at which Bishop Brennan was principal celebrant, on Sunday, April 27, at St. Thomas More Church on the Queens, NY, campus. Focusing on prayer, study, and reflection, the OCIA process welcomes non-Catholics, and Catholics who may not have received one or more of the Sacraments of Initiation as children.
On the passing of Pope Francis
St. John’s University joins the whole Church in mourning the death of Pope Francis. Pope Francis, the first to take the name of the 13th-century saint, served his 12-year papacy with the humility, mercy, and joy of his namesake.
Featured Events
Mass - Debbie Trance Mordecai
* Open to Administrators, Faculty, Staff, Students, Alumni Donors, Board, Public External Community
Jul 06, 202511 a.m.
– NoonSt. Thomas More Church
Mass - William and Betty Dunn
* Open to Administrators, Faculty, Staff, Students, Alumni Donors, Alumni
Jul 07, 20258 a.m.
– 8:30 a.m.St. Thomas More Church
Mass
* Open to Administrators, Faculty, Staff, Students, Alumni Donors, Alumni
Jul 08, 20258 a.m.
– 8:30 a.m.St. Thomas More Church