Photo by _jjph on Flickr
For many parishes the dedication of a church building is a once in a lifetime event. Well after 28 years St. John Neumann in Austin, TX will be dedicating theirs. Here is a bit of history behind this wonderful community.
A newly founded parish in West Lake Hills in May 1984, St. John Neumann Catholic Church’s first Mass was held in the cafeteria at Valley View Elementary School off Loop 360 and later at Cedar Creek Elementary School on Pinnacle near Walsh Tarlton. In the fall of 1986, the parish purchased and moved into a vacant church property, once the home of Westlake Hills Presbyterian Church at Bee Cave Road and Westlake Drive. The buildings at that site served as a home to St. John Neumann Parish for 14 years until the number of families and the many parish activities outgrew the facilities. Zoning restrictions prevented growth of the parish at that site. In 2000, the parish purchased 28 acres between Loop 360 and Bee Cave Road and began construction on the two-story Pastoral Center and the multi-purpose Holy Family Center. The buildings were completed and the parish moved to its present site in January 2003. The Holy Family Center, a multi-purpose building resembling a gym, has served as a temporary worship space for almost 10 years. Groundbreaking for the permanent church structure was held on March 7, 2009, with construction beginning in September 2009. The new church was used for Mass for the first time on Christmas Eve 2011. Beginning with less than 200 families in 1984, the parish has grown to approximately 2,500 families.
Most Reverend John McCarthy, D.D., Bishop Emeritus of Austin, will dedicate the new church of St. John Neumann Catholic Church’s parish community at a Dedication Mass to be held on March 17th at 3:00pm. A reception with dinner, live music and dancing immediately follows the Dedication Mass.
Please join me in praying for this parish community as they continue all the wonderful work they do to provide a spiritual home for so many.
St. John Neumann, Pray for us.