Parish Spotlight is an Austin Catholic New Media series dedicated to highlighting and sharing information about the various parishes in the Austin Diocese. Did you know the diocese is home to 127 parishes? In this series, we hope to bring not just facts to your attention, but a sense of community that will help you… [Read More]
About Martina
FREE tickets to dinner benefiting Dominican Sisters of Mary, March 24
The Texas Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist and Catholic Sistas have come together to offer two free tickets to the dinner and live auction for Open Wide the Doors, a benefit that will help the Sisters with the Texas Expansion project. The event will be held on Monday, March 24 at Cimarron Hills… [Read More]
Healing Services with Alan Ames from Australia
Carver Alan Ames was born in England yet today lives in Australia. Alan was transformed from a virtual unbeliever to a powerful apostle of Christ. Alan moves under a powerful anointing, exhibiting the gifts of the Holy Spirit, especially the Gift of Healing. Every person will be prayed over individually. Many reported physical, emotional and spiritual cures have occurred… [Read More]
2nd Annual Texas Women’s Retreat
Friends, you do not want to miss the 2nd Annual Texas Women’s Retreat put on by my friends, the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist. This amazing order is home to the most joy-filled women who have responded to God’s call to serve as religious. The retreat is geared towards women, married or… [Read More]
Faith-filled Events Abound in October at St. Theresa Catholic School
Austin, Texas, October 3, 2013 – October brings many faith-filled activities to the campus of St. Theresa Catholic School commemorating religious persons whose lives are great examples of virtue, and prayer and love. The school also joins Catholic children throughout the world in a special children’s hour of prayer during this month. St. Theresa of Lisieux Feast Day… [Read More]
Oasis Retreat: Empowered In Christ
If you missed the chance to attend the last Oasis retreat, don’t worry! The next retreat is coming up on Saturday, October 5 at St. Louis the King Catholic Church from 7-9 p.m. The speaker will be Leticia Adams, who will share her personal story of going from a bartender to becoming a driving force… [Read More]
OASIS Retreat for Women: You’re Invited!
It is with excitement that we at Feminine Genius Inc. warmly invite you to the second-ever Oasis! There is, among young women, an ever-deepening desire for Christ, for an encounter with him in silence and mystery, and we are thrilled, through Oasis, to cooperate with God’s plan for offering every young woman fullness of life… [Read More]
MATTHEW KELLY: Passion & Purpose Live!
Don’t miss THIS: Passion & Purpose Live! Saturday, July 20, 2013 – 9AM – 1:30PM at Christ the Good Shepherd Ever wondered if God was speaking to you or it was just a voice in your head? Ever wanted a life with just a little… MORE? Are you ready to take your life – practically and spiritually – to the… [Read More]
WORKSHOP: Preparing to Homeschool
Are you new to homeschooling this year? Or perhaps you’ve been homeschooling but are nervous about the Middle School and High School years. Have you wondered: How do I socialize my kids? How do I homeschool with a baby or pregnant? How much time do I need to be spending “teaching” my kids? How do… [Read More]
Relic of Patron Saint of Physicians to be Enshrined in Austin Clinic
AUSTIN, Texas— Austin Diocese Bishop Joe Vásquez and St. Gianna Physician Guild President Thomas McKenna conducted an enshrinement and blessing of a St. Gianna relic and picture at The Vitae Clinic, an Austin-based OB/GYN practice, on April 16. St. Gianna Molla is one of the Catholic Church’s newest saints – and is the patron saint of physicians and… [Read More]
Christ Child Society hosts 4th Annual Evening For The Ladies
Ladies, you don’t want to miss this event! Held each May to celebrate the gift of Mary and the Christ Child, the Christ Child Society of Texas Capital Area, Inc. is holding its 4th Annual Evening For The Ladies and the theme will be “Luau.” What is the Christ Child Society? They are a group… [Read More]
How to Support SB 521: Put Sexual Education Back into Parents’ Hands
UPDATE The House hearing for HB 1057 will be on Tuesday, April 2 at 2:00 p.m. or upon adjournment of the House. This means it could be later than 2 pm. The hearing could go late in the evening. After reading an article about new senate bill 521, the Texas Parental Control Accountability Act proposed… [Read More]
Catholic Homeschoolers Building Bridges with Upcoming Conference
They are not hard to pick out at daily Mass. They are the parents with the procession of children following them down the communion line. The number of families choosing to homeschool has been steadily growing over the last 10 years. The most common reason given for choosing to homeschool is the desire to provide… [Read More]
Alan Ames to Visit Austin Area in March for Healing Services
Alan Ames from Perth, Australia, will be in Austin March 1st, 2nd, and 3rd for healing services at Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Ignatius, and St. Helen’s. For information, please view below or click to download this flyer.
John Paul II Life Center Hosts Second Annual Benefit: Let Freedom Ring
Hosts Second Annual Benefit Let Freedom Ring *** Austin, Texas, October 16, 2012 – On Wednesday, December 5th, the John Paul II Life Center is hosting their 2nd Inaugural Benefit Dinner at the AT&T Center at 7:00 p.m. His Eminence Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, Archbishop of Galveston-Houston and Pro-Life Chair of the US Catholic Conference… [Read More]
Finding Jesus in The Rug
Monday mornings are typically our family “recover from the weekend” cleanings. I used to have a whatever approach to schedules, but six kids no longer affords me that luxury…or penance. However you want to look at the glass… So…first thing Monday morning, we start with our usual morning cleaning which I refer to as ordered… [Read More]
They’re Only the Coolest Boys Camps Around!
A few years ago, we introduced our eldest son to Conquest, an apostolate aimed at increasing the faith of our young boys. Though we were new to Conquest, we weren’t new to the programs through Regnum Christi. Our eldest daughter had been fortunate enough to be introduced to the girls’ program called Challenge. For her,… [Read More]
The 2012 Non-Evangelizing Guide Every Catholic Needs To Read
Today’s post is an intro into a two {or three} part series depending on how feisty and “write-y” I feel this week about ways NOT to evangelize. Today’s piece is foundational, meaning I’m going to build on it by writing a series based on my own personal experiences. I should start this piece of brilliance by stating that… [Read More]
Report Card: How I Did This Lent
Now that we are more than halfway through the Easter octave and thoroughly enjoying that He is risen and paid the price for our sins and regained entrance to heaven, I have to ask myself “how did I fare this Lent?” I admit, I did better than most years, handling those spiritual curve balls with… [Read More]
Relevant Radio’s Father Rocky to visit St. William!
You don’t want to miss Father Rocky’s visit to the Austin area next month. In fact, tickets for his two-day talks at St. William are already on sale! If you don’t know who Father Rocky is, don’t worry! Tune into Relevant Radio 970 in the evenings around 6 p.m. for his show called “Go Ask… [Read More]
In thanksgiving for friends, the sacraments, and huffing chrism
This past weekend I got to visit with some college friends. I’ve never been one to think about friendships and how valuable they are until very recently. You see, Emma was my first roommate at UT. I remember when she roomed with Cindy. Cindy was dating Dio. I’ve known Emma since the summer of 1994… [Read More]
Alan Ames to visit St. William on Sunday, March 11
Last year, I was excited to see who this Alan Ames guy was who came to St. William. I had never really attended a healing service before. Well…I had. But it was different. Very, very different. I was partially curious and partially skeptical to see how he would be different. Fellow St. William friends said… [Read More]
Anointing of the sick Mass at St. William
This past weekend I was pleased to photograph part of the vigil Mass that saw healing prayers and oils administered to more than 50 parishioners. I absolutely love my home parish, St. William, and always look forward to opportunities to show off how beautiful she is to others…and so, that is what I will do… [Read More]
Komen breaks ties with Planned Parenthood
VS This story broke early Tuesday afternoon as I checked my FB feed and saw – no, not from a fellow pro-life Catholic – the story was linked up by one of my most pro-choice {and not to mention, agnostic} friends. I kind of chuckled to myself at the irony of finding out the victory… [Read More]
It’s Not Religion You Hate, It’s Hypocrisy
If you’ve been under a rock the past week or so {ok, so that doesn’t come across as entirely nice, so let’s just say you weren’t under a rock, but you avoided all social media outlets the past week 😉 }, you probably missed a “lovely” gem of a video that made the rounds on… [Read More]
Matthew Kelly to the rescue!
Have you heard Matthew Kelly is coming to speak at St. William Catholic Church in Round Rock? NO??? Have you heard of Matthew Kelly? Still no?? You’ve heard of St. William in Round Rock, right? Ok, let’s start with that. Take I-35 and exit the Round Rock exit McNeil and head towards the GIANT church… [Read More]
Well blessED your heart, you’re a SAINT now!
Earlier this week, Pope Benedict XVI recently approved a series of decrees by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. In short, this means that a group of seven candidates were approved by not only the pope, but also passed the authenticity of a miracle attributed to their intercession, paving the way for the final… [Read More]
Happy Thanksgiving!
Whether you are spending time with family, friends, coworkers, or even by yourself, we want to wish you a very wonderful and pleasant Thanksgiving. May your day be filled with the true sentiment of the day {laced with Mass for the ultimate thanksgiving in the Eucharist, followed by a yummy meal and the LAST UT… [Read More]
Ralph Martin to come to St. William tomorrow!
I have to say, when I first heard Ralph Martin* was coming to our parish, my first thought was I HAVE to meet this man and thank him profusely for his role in reenergizing our pastor, Father Dean Wilhelm. You see, Ralph Martin and Father Dean go back a “few” years and as it turned… [Read More]
I keep my cape in the car. Where do you keep yours?
Have you ever been guilty of being in awe of friends and family members who appear to “have it all together?” Have you felt the pressure to be like them? Do these friends and family members post the most productive, up-before-6 a.m.-and-have-already-done-everything-you-would-hope-to-accomplish-in-one-day Facebook statuses? Do you look to them with drool-filled awe, only to fall… [Read More]
The power of grass roots movements…
My husband and I had the opportunity to attend the Texas Alliance for Life banquet Tuesday evening, where we heard Lila Rose speak about her first experience with abortion at the tender age of nine and how that shaped her youth-led program, Live Action, in her teens. The enthusiasm she recalled as they all sat… [Read More]
The Many Faces of Evangelization
Whenever I hear the words “New Evangelization,” my ears perk up, like a child who is watching those fabulous toy commercials that make them feel like they HAVE to have, well, everything under the sun. Except, I am assured that my grabby hands and “want want want” are necessary and needed in today’s society. So,… [Read More]
Ten years ago today…
Ten years ago today, our then small family was getting ready for the baptism of our second child, our son. Days earlier, our lives had been shaken from the effects of 9/11. You see, at the time, we lived in Mannassas, a town in the Northern Virginia area, which borders Washington D.C. Our ties to… [Read More]
MOM! DAD! All the cool kids are doing it!
Isn’t this the phrase that most parents tend to tune out the parent frequency? I know I do to escape the pressure of what other parents are doing – obviously, they are way more cool than I am. Or hope to be, for that matter. I am actually writing about something that is coming to… [Read More]
Longhorns and Aggies *CAN* get along!
Recently I was asked by an online Catholic friend if I received a package yet. I hadn’t, so when I checked the mail after a long mail hold while we were visiting family in Virginia, I was excited to open the package and see what it was. Yes! Christmas in August! I opened it, saw… [Read More]
The Catholic Toolbox
One thing we enjoy within our Faith as Catholics {among many others} is the Deposit of Faith, which was revealed namely through Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition and completed upon the death of the last Apostle. I like to think of the fullness of Truth that we enjoy as Catholics as a toolbox. Because Jesus… [Read More]
Lighten up! And other pithy things to contemplate.
The road I’ve travelled to a better understanding of the Catholic Faith has been filled with a lot of bumps, bruises and pendulum swinging. I drifted away from my faith, my heritage and cultural identity in my college years {though I wouldn’t have thought of it that way at the time}. I figured, like all… [Read More]
The reason why you can’t hook a U-Haul to the Hearse – a lesson in detachment
This past weekend I found myself engrossed in a new {to me} show via Netflix streaming. I gave up t.v. for Lent 2010 and I never really went back full swing. I have always been intrigued by reality shows, so it was no shock that I took to a show like Hoarders. All I can… [Read More]
WARNING: Scandal – Proceed With Caution
When I started attending Bible Study two years ago, I went in with full knowledge that I knew nothing – Scripturally speaking. I was blown away when we read 1st Corinthians. It wasn’t so much being blown away by reading Scripture, but by the realization that St. Paul spoke to me in a very personal… [Read More]
Journey to the Center of Homeschooling
As I sit down to write this entry, I have Pandora going in the background, the teenager is informing that I need to go to the store {I just went two days ago – never mind I bought a week’s worth of groceries}, the three-year-old and six-year-old are complaining and whining about who gets to… [Read More]
