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If you require a certificate for a sacrament received at St. Thomas Aquinas University Parish, please fill out the form below and email it to [email protected].
If you have been asked to be a sponsor at another parish, you must print the Sponsorship Verification Form below and bring it to the Parish Office.
Click here for a Godparent/Sponsor Attestation Form.
Fr. Walter entered the Order of Preachers on August 15, 1988. Since his ordination on May 21, 1993, he has served as a college teacher, a retreat master, novice master, and pastor. He is the Religious Assistant to the North American Association of Dominican Monasteries. Most recently, he served as pastor at St. Vincent Ferrer and St. Catherine of Siena Parish in New York City from 2010 to 2021.
Fr. Nicodemus was born in Massachusetts and met the Dominicans at Providence College. After graduating in 2018, he entered the Dominican Order. Father was ordained a priest in 2025, and his first priestly assignment is here at St. Thomas Aquinas.
Fr. David (UVA Col ’84) was a Charlottesville area resident and an active parishioner at St. Thomas Aquinas University Parish before entering the Dominican Order in 1997. Ordained a priest in 2004, he then served as a parochial vicar in Providence, as Catholic Chaplain to American University and then to Johns Hopkins University, and as pastor to SS. Philip & James University Parish in Baltimore.
Fr. Matthew was born and raised in Newport, R.I. After graduating from Providence College in 1983, he entered the Dominican novitiate and was ordained to the priesthood in 1990. Father Matthew has served the Dominican Province of St. Joseph in various pastoral and administrative assignments, including Holy Name of Jesus, Philadelphia, PA; St. Mary, New Haven, CT; St. Catherine of Siena and Saint Vincent Ferrer, New York, NY; the Dominican House of Studies, Washington, DC; and Saints Philip and James, Baltimore, MD.
Father Joseph was raised in Pittsburgh and entered the Order of Preachers in 2012. After his ordination in 2019, he served at the parish of St. Vincent Ferrer and St. Catherine of Siena in New York City for three years. Then in 2022, he served at the campus ministry at the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC.
Dcn. Tony was born and raised in Milford, MA. He earned an A.B. in Political Science from Boston College in 1988 and a J.D. from The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC in 1991. He also holds an M.A. in Theology from St. Leo University. Since 2008 he has worked for the University of Virginia in the construction department. Prior to that he worked in law publishing for 26 years. He is admitted to practice law in both MA and DC. He was ordained a permanent deacon on September 15, 2018 and is assigned to St. Thomas Aquinas.
Sam Nicholson entered the Catholic Church at St. Thomas Aquinas University Parish in 2010. He has served on the parish staff since 2016. He and his wife homeschool their six children.
A homeschooling mom of six, Eleanor served as Director of Religious Education at the parish from 2011 to 2021. Before beginning her work at STA, she owned and operated her own freelance writing and editing business. To her great delight, her work at STA utilizes a great deal of this training. In her practically non-existent downtime, she continues her writing and editing work.
Biography coming soon!
After many years of service as a volunteer, Karl Meier united his long experience in theatre, music, and ministry to serve as our Director of Youth Ministry and leader of our Life Teen Band from 2014 until 2022. In 2022, he transitioned to Director of Music. Karl brings with him nearly 30 years of liturgical music experience and a deep love of sacred music in all its many beautiful forms. Both he and his Confirmation patron, St Augustine, believe that singing is praying twice; so join the choir if only because it’s efficient.
Reed graduated from the University of Virginia in 2021 where he double majored in foreign affairs and religious studies. He completed his Masters in Catechetics and Evangelization from the Franciscan University of Steubenville in 2024. Starting as the Youth Ministry Intern (supporting middle school ministry, in particular), Reed has been working at St. Thomas Aquinas since 2019. Reed is also a full member in the Youth Apostles Institute.
Grace is delighted to be serving the Catholic Hoos as Campus Minister! Grace graduated from Virginia Tech in 2022 and then moved to Charlottesville to work with the Catholic Hoos. She married her husband, Grant, in 2023 and they welcomed their first child in 2025. Grace also completed her Masters in Catechetics and Evangelization from the University of Steubenville in 2025.
Alisa is a Connecticut native who coordinated cancer research studies before raising and homeschooling four children with her husband, Steve. She is a staff writer and associate editor for Christ and Pop Culture and a freelance writer for other publications. She brings an editor’s eye for detail and a love of connecting with people to her role at St. Thomas. Alisa loves writing theological essays, borrowing more library books than she has time for, and reading aloud to her kids on the couch.
Erin Capuras was born and raised in the Philippines and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2011. She is a devoted wife and proud mother of three beautiful daughters.
Erin is married to Oscar Capuras, one of the owners of Kalye 80’s Bakeshop, the first Filipino bakery in Charlottesville, Virginia. Together, they are passionate about sharing Filipino culture, hospitality, and traditional baked goods with their community. Family is the heart of Erin’s life. She loves spending quality time with her husband and daughters, whether it’s enjoying a day at the beach, exploring new places, or simply creating meaningful memories together. In her free time, she enjoys singing, a passion that brings her joy and allows her to express her faith.
Erin is also an active member of the Filipino community in Charlottesville and proudly serves as a member of the Filipino Choir, where she shares her love of music and devotion through worship and fellowship. Her dedication to family, faith, and community continues to inspire those around her.
Gianna graduated from Liberty University in 2024, where she studied Politics and Policy and Journalism. Following graduation, she worked as the Diocese’s Campus Ministry Fellow at Christopher Newport University in Newport News. Gianna moved to Charlottesville this Summer to be closer to her fiancé, Andy, and then began her role as Minister to Families at STA. She is looking forward to working with the children and families of STA in Religious Education along with engaged couples as they prepare for marriage.
