St. Austin Catholic Church
Austin TX

We Bring the Word of God to Life!

Located in the heart of Austin near the University of Texas campus, St. Austin is a thriving and diverse parish community, served by the Paulist Fathers since its founding in 1908.

We Are a Parish With a Mission

Our parish family - our community - comes together with one purpose: to minister, to bring to our world and our time God's transforming love.

 

https://www.staustin.org/  

 

St. Austin owns the parking garage at the corner of San Antonio St. and W. MLK Jr. Blvd. across from the Otis & AC Marriott Hotel.

Parking is always FREE for visitors to St. Austin for Mass, Confessions, Weddings, Baptisms, or any other church or school event, but you must validate your ticket in church or ministry center lobby.

Park in any space on the first three levels, which should be marked with 'Reserved for St Austin' while respecting handicap signs. Unmarked upper level parking is also available if the lower levels are filled.

It's about a five minute walk from the parking garage to St. Austin's Church and the first phase of the Ministry Center & School.

1) Walk east on MLK past the hotel burger bar.

2) Make a left in front of the Domino's Pizza

3) Walk North on Guadalupe past the restaurants.

Once construction on the new parish campus is completed, the walk from the parking garage will be much shorter.  

Founded in 1908, St. Austin Catholic Parish was named in honor of St. Augustine of Canterbury when the Most Rev. N. A. Gallagher, bishop of Galveston, invited the Missionary Society of St. Paul the Apostle, known as the Paulist Fathers, to establish a third parish in Austin. Not only did Bishop Gallagher ask the Paulist Fathers to tend to the “spiritual needs of our growing Capital City,” he further requested them to “make their House a center of missionary activity for Catholics and non-Catholics.” The Bishop then gave them a particular mandate to “exercise a special care and supervision over the Catholic young men and women who are students at the State University.” With the help of the Dominican Sisters of Houston, St. Austin Catholic School was founded in 1917. In 1953-1954, under the leadership of then pastor Rev. Joseph Troy, CSP, the present church, residence for the Paulist Fathers and school were built. St. Austin has grown to become a parish of over 2,000 households from over 80 zip codes. In addition, we continue to serve hundreds of university students each year.

St. Austin's growth over the past 100+ years has corresponded with the explosive growth of the student body of the University of Texas. The timeline below highlights the development of St. Austin Catholic Church and School as well as The University Catholic Center.

Our Development Over Time

1908 The founding of St. Austin Catholic Parish. The original St. Austin’s Chapel was dedicated in December 1908.

1909 Following a devastating fire, St. Austin's Chapel was rebuilt on the same location

1917 Newman Elementary School opened with the help of the Dominican Sisters, located in a renovated house behind the church. Also in 1917, Newman Hall was built by the Dominican Sisters in 1917 to provide a residence for young Christian women who were attending U.T.

1918 Newman Center constructed as a university student center (2014 Guadalupe St.)

1946 Property at the corner of 21st St. and University Ave. purchased; the existing building used to meet the growing university student ministry needs (2010 University Ave.)

1953 September 25 -- Dedication of new St. Austin Catholic Church and Rectory as it exists today (The Church is located at 2008 Guadalupe St., and the rectory is located at 2010 Guadalupe St.)

1955 Opening of new St. Austin Catholic School building as it exists today at 1911 San Antonio St.

1965 Dedication of a new Catholic Student Center building at 2010 University Ave.

1968 In October, a new wing of Newman Hall opened to provide additional dormitory housing for Catholic women attending UT. This new wing built parallel to Guadalupe St., provides us with our long time address at 2026 Guadalupe St.

1984 Dedication of Parish Center/School Gymnasium as it exists today at 2021 San Antonio St.

1989 Dormitory renovated for parish offices and middle school classrooms

1990 St. Austin Catholic School’s 6 th-8 th grades moved from elementary school building to the renovated Newman Center, which is as it exists today (2014 Guadalupe St.)

2002 With renovation of the Catholic Student Center at 2021 University Ave. completed, the building reopened as the University Catholic Center

2008 Parking Facility opened at 500 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. with over 200 parking spaces and two levels of retail rental spaces

2018 Completion of St. Austin's Church and Rectory facade renovations and interior renovation of the Rectory first floor's public area, adding bathrooms and a meeting space and updating the nursery

2019 Blessing ceremony to welcome Saints Mary of Magdala and Phoebe into our community of saints.