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This weekend the Catholic Church inaugurates the Sunday of the Word of God! In an Apostolic Letter given on September 30, 2019, Pope Francis declared that the Third Sunday of Ordinary Time be designated as the Sunday of the Word of God, to be “devoted to the celebration, study and dissemination of the word of God” and to the sacred scriptures.  In keeping with the pope’s instruction, St. Catherine of Siena Church celebrates and recognizes the role of God’s Word in each of our lives. Click here for more information.

St. Catherine’s Preschool is now enrolling for 2020-2021. This play-based program for children ages 2-5 years old will provide a loving, safe, and spiritual environment of belonging, self-worth, and self-confidence. Our classes are from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday with a two or three day option. Click here for more information.

The Pomegranate Café will celebrate its 1st Anniversary with a free Waffle Breakfast on Tues., Jan. 7 at 9:30 a.m. Everyone is invited! Please RSVP by contacting Sylvianne at sylvianne.mariotti@stcatherine-austin.org or (512) 892-2433. The Pomegranate Cafe is also in need of donations of baked goods and HEB gift cards for the month of January. Click here for the online sign up.

On Wednesday, January 1, we celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God. Mary is a model of holiness for us in her willingness to hear and obey God’s will. The Vigil Mass will be held Tues., Dec. 31, at 5 p.m. and the Holy Day Mass will be held Wed., Jan. 1, at 11 a.m. Parish Offices will re-open on Thurs., January 2.

The parish offices will be closed Mon., Dec. 23 through Wed., Jan. 1 and will re-open on Thurs., Jan. 2. Weekday Masses on Dec. 23, 26, 27, & 30 will be at 9:00 a.m. There will be NO noon Masses. Please click here for the Holiday Mass Schedule. Happy Holidays!

Fr. Ray has an update on the Church construction project in India. The construction is in full swing. As of now, most of the exterior work has been completed and the stucco and electrical work is being done now. The construction team is hopeful that construction will be completed by January 15, 2020. The pastor has already confirmed a date for Bishop Poola to dedicate the church on January 20. Click here for more details on the progress.

Going shopping? Have a cup of coffee with us before you go. Try our Peppermint Mocha, White Chocolate Mocha or our new Peppermint Hot Chocolate with whip cream and marshmallows, it's delicious!! We will also be celebrating Christmas with a light lunch and Christmas Cookie exchange on Thur., Dec. 19 at 12:30 p.m. Bring a dozen Christmas cookies (labeled) to participate in the exchange!

The Advent season is a time of preparation that directs our hearts and minds to Christ’s second coming at the end of time and also to the anniversary of the Lord’s birth on Christmas. We hope you will join us for the following opportunities to celebrate a hope-filled Advent at St. Catherine, click here for details.

Here is an update on the construction of the St. Catherine of Siena Prayer Hall in India along with some photos. Click her for Fr. Ray's letter and some photos of the progress.

Everyone is invited to La Posada beginning at 6:30 p.m. in Johnson Hall. La Posada is a traditional Spanish religious festival that celebrates the journey that Mary and Joseph made from Nazareth to Bethlehem in search of a safe refuge (a Posada, an Inn or Shelter) where Mary gives birth to the baby Jesus. La Posada is sponsored by the ACTS Community, the Amigos Club, and the Knights of Columbus. Traditional refreshments, hot chocolate, pan dulce, and cookies will be served after the Posada.

St. Catherine of Siena Parish offers members the  opportunity to remember their loved ones by purchasing a Christmas Poinsettia to be used in decorating the church during the Christmas season. Your loved one's name will be printed in the Christmas bulletin and included on a beautiful poster that will be displayed in the church. Click here for more information. Deadline to purchase is Mon., Dec. 9.

We are hosting a party for singers, players and music lovers of all ages on Fri., Nov. 15, 7 - 9 p.m. in Siena Hall! Fall Jam will be a ‘song circle’ where each singer or musician gets to ‘call a tune’ and have the others join in. Songs of any style or genre are fair game (as long as they are family-friendly) and musically anything can happen! The event is FREE and open to all! Come hang out and show our players and singers some love as they go ‘live without a net’! Click here to learn more!

Daylight Savings Time ends this weekend. Don't forget to set you clocks BACK 1 hour on Sun., Nov. 3 at 2 .a.m. or you will be early for church!

As the Christmas Season approaches, we wonder how we will get through all those traditions, and how to prepare for the holidays if we have recently lost a loved one. Join us on Tues., Nov. 19, at 10 a.m. in room A202/A203 for a presentation by Cheryl Jordan on dealing with grief during the holidays. Cheryl has a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, a Master’s degree in Counseling and has vast experience in grief work. Please make plans to attend. For additional information, contact Jeanette Britt at (512) 892-2420.

The funeral for our beloved Fr. Oliver will commence with a Visitation and Rosary at St. Catherine of Siena on Sun., Oct. 13 at 6:30 p.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Catherine on Mon., Oct. 14 at 10 a.m.  Burial will follow immediately after at Cook Walden Forest Oak. There will be a reception in Johnson Hall after the burial.  Please bring a dessert to share with the community.

Join us on our wonderful tour through France and Germany, "Following the War from Normandy to Berlin." The tour will take place September 14-28, 2020. Highlights of the trip include the Normandy beaches, Lisieux, Paris, the Ardennes Forest, Cologne, Berlin, and Dresden. The tour will include a dinner cruise on the Seine and an all day cruise on the Rhine. The tour will be personally escorted by Father Pat Coakley, pastor, and Jeanette Britt, staff, of St. Catherine of Siena parish. For more information, contact Jeanette Britt at jeanette.britt@stcatherine-austin.org or (512) 892-2420, ext. 321. A presentation of the tour will be held on Wed., Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. in Siena Hall.

Join us at the upcoming Parish Ministry Fair during Coffee & Donuts on Sun., Aug 18 after the morning Masses. The ministries and organizations of St. Catherine will be on hand in Johnson Hall to share their ministries, answer questions and tell you how you can join. If you would like your ministry to have table space, please contact Community Ministries at (512) 892-2433.

The Secretariat of Life, Charity and Justice of the Diocese of Austin will host a gathering at St. Catherine of Siena that will bring together parish leaders whose faith inspires them to respond to current challenges relating to evangelization in contemporary society, lay leadership, poverty, injustice, and the promotion of human life and dignity. Join us on Sat., Aug. 24 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Johnson Hall. All are welcome! Cost $20. Please register at www.austindiocese.org/christ-our-hope. Call Rhonda Smith at (512) 892-2433 if you have any questions. Deadline to register is Aug. 16.

On July 16, 2019, Bishop Joe Vasquez presented the 2019 Lumen Gentium Awards to persons nominated by the pastors and staffs of Diocese of Austin parishes. This year, Fr. Pat nominated Gloria Rodriguez for her service to our parish. Gloria was a catechist in our parish for the last 22 years. She recently moved to a new life in New Mexico.  She educated many of our children in the faith and is a role model to all catechists. Fr. Pat, Fr. Ray and members of staff traveled to the Mayborn Convention Center in Temple, TX to honor Gloria as she was presented the Lumen Gentium (People of Light) award. Well done, Gloria!

Back to school can be a stressful time of year for many families. For children, the prospect of returning to school is daunting if their families cannot afford the required school supplies. We will be collecting new backpacks and school supplies for students that live in Foundation Communities’ affordable housing apartments in southwest Austin and also for the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Please consider purchasing a backpack and/or school supplies for these children. Pick up a school supply list on the table in the narthex. Please return your donations by Sunday, July 28. Thank you!