COVID-19 Response

Dear Parishioners and friends,
 
This is an official announcement on behalf of the Bishop of the Diocese of Austin. On Thursday, April 30, 2020, Bishop Joe Vasquez issued a decree authorizing the parishes of the Diocese to begin to offer Masses and Sacraments with the people of the parish present. The celebration of public Masses will resume under very restricted conditions beginning on Tuesday, May 5.  The Bishop has also given a dispensation from attending Mass to those over 65, those who have underlying health conditions or those who feel unsafe attending, and to those who live with persons in these circumstances. The arrangements we are about to announce are temporary. (Click here to read Fr. Pat's complete letter.)

St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church is closely following information and directives from the Diocese of Austin and the City of Austin in regards to Coronavirus (COVID-19). Please view below for the latest updates.

In order to serve our community in the best way possible, St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church is implementing ways to keep us connected in the weeks to come.

• We are live streaming the Daily Mass & Sunday Mass at the following times:

Daily Mass:           Broadcast daily at 12 p.m., Monday through Friday
Weekend Mass:   Broadcast at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, 9:30 a.m. & 1:15 p.m. on Sunday

• Give Online: With the recent changes to our worship life arising from COVID-19, St. Catherine is facing many concerns. Although our work at the church continues, we fear that tithing will diminish. Although public events may be cancelled or postpoed, we are still here for our parishioners and need to continue to pay our staff and meet all of our financial obligations.

• Mail checks to the Parish Office: 4800 Convict Hill Road, Austin, TX 78749
• ONLINE:  Establish an online arrangement though our Stewardship page. If you need assistance, please contact Erin Hummel at (512) 892-2420 or erin.hummel@stcatherine-austin.org

• Weekday Schedule:
  • Monday – Friday:   Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament  9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 
                                    Mass at 12:00 p.m.
  • Tuesdays:               Confessions at 6:00 p.m. in the Choir Room 
                                    Mass at 7:00 p.m. 
    We require all who attend to continue with social distancing. Those who attend Mass will be required to wear a mask. If you are not wearing a mask, you will be asked to leave. We will continue to live stream our Daily Masses. We ask that there will be no gathering after Mass, Once Mass is over, we ask you to go to your car and depart immediately.

• Weekend Masses:  Beginning the weekend of Oct. 3-4, 2020, we will return to our regular Mass schedule and will celebrate public Masses at these times:
  • Saturday:   
    • Confessions   3:30 - 4:30 PM in the Choir Room
    • Vigil Mass       5:00 pm*
  • Sunday:
    • 7:30 am, 9:30 am*, 11:30 am, 1:15 pm*, and 5:00 pm  

• We will continue with our existing Pandemic protocols at all Masses. 
• People entering the Church will be required to wear a mask. We will exercise social distancing and public safety precautions. 
• We ask that there will be no gathering in the narthex before or after Mass, Once Mass is over, we ask you to go to your car and depart immediately.
• The Church will be sanitized after each Mass.

• Important Livestream Changes: We will continue to livestream the Masses listed above.  However, all parishes have been instructed by the Diocese that the faithful are to participate in each Mass as a gathered community – whether at church or at home – only at the actual time the Mass is being celebrated.  The practice of archiving video of Masses for ‘On Demand’ viewing has now been prohibited in the Diocese of Austin.

• Adoration Chapel and Day Chapel are currently closed.  We currently are offering Eucharistic Adoration in the Church from 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m., Monday through Friday. The church will open immediately before Adoration begins. All who attend must observe social distancing at all times, using only the areas marked for seating in the church; congregating in the Narthex or other areas will not be permitted.  These hours are intended for private prayer.

• The Church Office is now open to the public. The reception area is open to the public. To meet with individual staff, you may call the Church at (512) 892-2420 to schedule an appointment.

• Staying Connected to the Parish