Bishop Joe Vasquez of the Diocese of Austin has called all faithful to join in a Novena of Reparation starting Tuesday, October 9th through October 17th to pray for victims of abuse and offer prayers of reparation. In an interview from August, when the Pennsylvania grand jury news broke, Bishop Joe said the following: Editor:… [Read More]
#CatholicConvo Through the Eyes of an Texan
“Uplifting, motivating, challenging, community, transformative.” That’s how Theresa Prudhomme, a mid 20s young professional from Katy, describes her experience of #CatholicConvo in 5 words or less. The weekend before last, while we were all firing up the grill and making July 4th plans, Theresa joined thousands of lay leaders, religious, priests and bishops from across… [Read More]
Longhorns Forging a Culture of Encounter In Our Own Backyard – CARITAS 2016
The week before classes started at UT this January, nearly 80 Longhorn Catholics came back to town early – to go out in mission. This is the 4th year of Austin CARITAS (Catholics Answering the Redeemer’s Invitation to Authentic Sanctity), where UT students give up a week of their winter break to serve those in need… [Read More]
The Door to Mercy – Knowing We Are Loved
For the opening of the Year of Mercy, I was late to mass. Late to mass! Imagine, this great event, once in a Jubilee, and I had even planned ahead to get out of work early – and still I was late to mass, and very late. Walking up to the mass-in-progress, I slid into… [Read More]
Something Greater Than Ourselves
In a little less than 2 weeks, on October 11, Bishop Joe Vasquez will celebrate Mass at the Marian Shrine of Our Lady of Schoenstatt, in honor of the Feast of Our Lady of Schoenstatt, and to give thanks for the first year anniversary of the Shrine. What might inspire us to go? What might… [Read More]
Parish Spotlight: St. Elizabeth of Hungary
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]
The Ordination of Bishop Danny Garcia in Pictures
It’s said a picture is worth a thousand words. And so since several of us at ACNM were blessed to attend the Ordination of Auxiliary Bishop Danny Garcia, we wanted to snap some pictures and share them with you all. It was a Holy Spirit filled and blessed day to spend together with our Catholic… [Read More]
New Priest for the Diocese of Austin in 2014
Just last Saturday, June 7, 2014, a wonderful young man, Craig DeYoung, was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Austin. His love for God, his servants heart and his joy for life is evident from the moment you meet Craig and is splashed across his face when you see his big smile. Personally, I’ve… [Read More]
Pray for Fort Hood
As the details emerge in the coming weeks about the shooting that occurred at Fort Hood yesterday, Wednesday, April 2, 2014, for us Central Texans, our thoughts naturally turn to how we might be able to help the community. And as information is released to how the public may be able to help, let us… [Read More]
Almsgiving in Lent: Amplify Your 2014
During Lent, Catholics are asked to pray, fast and give alms. However, of the three, almsgiving is the most neglected. Prayer & Fasting We usually do pretty good on the prayer part. This is easy because our parishes help us with this one very well, providing increased opportunities for spiritual development at our parishes through… [Read More]
Groundbreaking of the First Marian Shrine in Austin
Making Austin History: Last Sunday, atop a small hill in Bee Caves, beneath grey skies and cold winds, history was made. It was the ground breaking of the first Marian Shrine in the Diocese of Austin. Approximately 300 people from across the Diocese and across Texas participated in the mass and groundbreaking ceremony. During the… [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]
The Year of Faith: What’s Next?
Growing up in a family whose roots are deep in the small Caribbean island of Trinidad and Tobago I’ve always heard December 31st referred to as “Old Year’s Night” instead of “New Year’s Eve.” I’ve always kind of liked calling it “Old Year’s Night.” Calling it that, in a way, gives us an opportunity to… [Read More]
Msgr Mike Sis to speak at Gala to benefit first Marian Shrine in Diocese
Do you want to be a part of building the first Marian Shrine in the Diocese of Austin? Monsignor Mike Sis will be speaking in two weeks at the second annual Seeds of Grace Gala. The Gala is hosted by the Schoenstatt Movement of Austin, which is the local branch of the International Schoenstatt Movement,… [Read More]
#prayforpeace and #fast4syria
“Let the cry for peace ring out in all the world!#prayforpeace” –@Pontifex, Pope Francis, Twitter, September 4, 2013 This past Sunday, September 1, during his Angelus Address, Pope Francis called upon Catholics around the world to observe a day of prayer and fasting for peace in Syria on Saturday, September 7. As Pope Francis made… [Read More]
SB5: A Moment in Texas Legislative History
The night of Tuesday, June 25 was one crazy and unsettling night for many Texans. A sea of pro-choice persons clad in orange shirts with speckles of pro-life blue shirts thrown in here and there had been present in the Texas Capitol building in downtown Austin for nearly 13 hours. And the chaotic nature of… [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]
What to say (and not say) to someone who is depressed
Part One of a series about reaching out to and understanding those who cope with depression. Recently my book club read “Never Give Up: My Life and God’s Mercy” by John Janaro. Among some amazing insights, we had some very fruitful discussion about depression and its elusive, sneaky nature. We heard from a number of people… [Read More]
Keep Holy Week Holy! 3 Tips to Focus on Holy Week
Where did Lent go? It feels like we just got started, yet here we are, about to celebrate Holy Week! Yes, Easter will be here before you know it. So as Lent comes to a close with us celebrating Holy Week, the holiest week of all weeks for us in the Catholic Church, it’s time… [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]
St Vincent de Paul Gets a New Church Building
We are blessed to live in a thriving diocese. Earlier this year, St John Neumann dedicated their new church building in the West Austin area. Now, our diocese gets to celebrate its second dedication in one year. On Saturday December 29, 2012, Bishop Joe Vásquez will celebrate the dedication mass of the new church building for St Vincent… [Read More]
Peter Kreeft and Jeff Cavins in Austin Nov 30-Dec 1
The year of faith is an opportunity for all of us to grow deeper. That means we have to take some initiative and go to presentations, attend studies, and go outside ourselves to learn about our beautiful faith. This weekend, the Diocese of Austin is blessed with two wonderful opportunities to attend presentations, retreats, and… [Read More]
Porta Fidei: Austin DCYC 55
The excitement is growing. Austin DCYC is 50 days away, January 18-22, 2013. Every year, the numbers grow. Last year the number was nearly 2200 teens. Last year, more than 80 parishes of the 130 parishes in the Diocese of Austin participated. Ask a teen from your parish that has been to a DCYC (Diocesan… [Read More]
Dear Representative Dawnna Dukes…
Dear Representative Dawnna Dukes: I am sorry that you believe that the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Austin is picking on you. I am sorry you believe that you have been given a scarlet letter by the Church. And I’m sorry that you think that it’s unfair that your request to speak at an… [Read More]
