St. Thomas More Catholic Campus Ministry at USC

“It is wonderful to be young. It is wonderful to be young and to be a student of the university. It is wonderful to be young and to be a student at the University of South Carolina.”
 -Pope St. John Paul II

We are St. Thomas More Catholic Church and Student Center—the Catholic Campus Ministry at the University of South Carolina. We’ve been a spiritual heartbeat on Greene Street since 1953, and our student chapel has been forming generations of Gamecocks since 1973. For more than 70 years, God has been doing something extraordinary here.

Today, STM is alive with faith, friendship, and purpose. Our Student Center has become a true home away from home for hundreds of USC students who are hungry for something deeper—community, truth, mission, and a place where their Catholic faith can grow strong. 

Students dive into Bible studies, retreats, mission trips, daily Mass and Confession, and they pack the house for Wednesday's Campus Ministry Nights, community meals, study groups, service opportunities, day trips, and a whole lot more. Most importantly, they find what so many college student are searching for: a joyful Catholic community that actually feels like family.

Every Week at STM…

• Sunday Supper brings in 250+ students after the 5pm and 9pm Masses—home-cooked or catered meals provided parents, parishioners, alumni, and friends who love our students fiercely.
• 60–80 students choose to encounter Jesus every week at daily Mass and Confession.
• Students sign up for Adoration Monday–Thursday, taking one-hour slots to sit with the Eucharist all day long, between classes and studying, you can find them in the chapel.
• 900+ people join us for five weekend Masses, all of them over capacity. To make room, we extend the chapel outdoors and into five overflow rooms where Mass is streamed for students who don’t mind squeezing in wherever they can.

And that’s just the weekly life at STM—because each season brings its own epic moments.

During Gamecock football season, students gather for STM tailgates, fall camping trips, and this year’s highlight—a mountaintop sunrise Mass for our graduate students!

We celebrate our graduates with Baccalaureate Masses and receptions every December and May. Our popular Adulting 101 Series equips students with real-life skills like budgeting, financial planning, résumé building, and cooking. 

Every January, we send a group to the national SEEK Conference for powerful talks, worship, and formation. Spring brings our mission trip to South America, and seniors cap off their time at USC with a transformative pilgrimage to sacred sites around the world. Previous pilgrimages have included trips to the Holy Land, Italy, and France.

Our Fundraising Goal: $350,000

Why Give to St. Thomas More?

Because at STM, we’re doing something bold: We’re giving every USC student the chance to find real purpose, real community, and a real encounter with Jesus Christ.

Here’s the reality: more than 80% of young adults stop practicing their Catholic faith by age 23. College can form them, or pull them away. STM is the battleground, sanctuary, and refuge for those souls. We are the place where students discover they are Made for More—a home, a retreat, a sacramental family that grounds them in truth, joy, and mission.

Your Gift Changes Everything

Your generosity fuels everything we do. It builds programs that reach more college students, creates a vibrant spiritual home on campus, and forms the next generation of Catholic leaders, spouses, parents, and disciples.

And THIS YEAR, your impact can double: We have a Dollar-for-Dollar Match up to $150,000, thanks to incredibly generous donors who love seeing young Catholics alive in their faith.

Every dollar you give = twice the ministry, twice the outreach, twice the transformed lives.

Be Part of the Mission

When you give to STM this Giving Tuesday, you’re not just donating—you’re investing in the future of the Church. You’re shaping the lives of hundreds of Gamecock Catholics who walk through our doors seeking hope, purpose, and Christ.

Join us. Fuel the mission. Help us raise $300,000 and build a generation of young Catholics who will change the world.

Make your gift today—and watch it multiply.

Give here (STM's #iGiveCatholic landing page) to make a secure online donation. 

Gifts of Stock: To make a stock gift, contact Katie Washington at katie@stthomasmoreusc.org. 

Checks: Make checks payable to St. Thomas More USC (memo: IGC) and mail or drop off at: 1610 Greene Street, Columbia, SC 29201 

Qualified Charitable Distributions / RMDs: You can also support STM through QCDs or Required Minimum Distributions from your IRA. 

Corporate Matching Gifts: Double your impact by checking whether your employer offers a matching gift program.

Thank You. 

Your generosity, your faith, and your belief in what God is doing at St. Thomas More mean everything to us. We are only able to serve students because of you, and we are deeply grateful for your partnership in this mission.