It was August of 1896 when St. Mary’s Catholic School opened in Taylor with 80 students under the tutelage of Dominican Sisters. It’s the oldest private school in Williamson County, and this year it is celebrating a big milestone: the first graduating class since 1966. The whole community is celebrating this milestone and the four young men who make up the class.
Every year, Catholic schools in the Diocese of Austin adopt a distinctive theme to be a pillar for the community for that specific year. For the 2022-2023 academic year, “Joyful Disciples” is the theme that has invited us to reflect, act and teach in such a way that is uniquely experienced in our schools.
Thanks to interest earned from an endowment trust established 30 years ago, St. Joseph Catholic School’s operating expenses are offset each year. “The driving force behind the original endowment was to have financial support for the school to ensure it would survive any financial crisis and still be able to provide a Catholic education in our community,” said Julia Mishler, principal of both the elementary and secondary campuses in Bryan.
This school year marks the 125th anniversary of St. Mary’s Catholic School in Temple. Principal Theresa Wyles said while there have been many changes over the years, the school’s core Catholic values have created an enduring legacy.
Joyful Disciples is the theme for Catholic education in the Austin Diocese this year, and a Bryan family exemplifies this joy at St. Joseph Catholic School. Members of St. Joseph Parish, Martha and Richard Johnson are the parents of four students, who are in the third, sixth, 10th and 12th grades. While growing up, Martha attended Catholic elementary school.
As the school year moves into overdrive with hectic schedules and more stress on students and parents, two groups of moms at Holy Family Catholic School and St. Dominic Savio High School in Austin are meeting regularly to build community, build their prayer lives and build their bodies.
Maria Almaraz and Pedro Guzman are the parents of five children, and four of them are school age. They want their children to attend a school that offers both academic excellence and an environment that supports their Catholic faith, morals and values. Like many parents, they believe Catholic education is the best choice.
“Hope for the Future: Partnership Program with Parishes” is one of more than 150 informative and inspiring sessions that will strengthen the commitment of Catholic school educators to their ministry.
When Jeanne Lyman became a fourth-grade teacher at Holy Family Catholic School in Austin 18 years ago, a freckled, pigtailed Lizzie Laster was in her class. She was a good student, respectful, polite and always smiling. While quiet in the classroom, Lizzie showed a boisterous side outdoors. Neither student nor teacher could have imagined that one day they would be back in fourth grade teaching together in the same school.
One day they said simply, “yes” and everything changed. Erin and Phong Vu never could have imagined the life that would unfold from accepting the invitation to teaching with the Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE).
The first time I pondered a potential religious vocation was in first grade, during a school assembly. We had been asked to share what we wanted to be when we grew up, and I was having trouble deciding between becoming a Dallas Cowboys’ Cheerleader or a nun. When my turn came, I announced my plans to cheer for the Cowboys, and the thought of religious life didn’t resurface until several years later.
Although uncertainty due to the pandemic continues, the Catholic schools in the Austin Diocese are ex-cited to welcome students back. “The schools are working hard to ensure that students, faculty and staff return to a safe and nurturing environ-ment, just as they did last year,” said Misty Poe, superintendent of Catholic schools for the Diocese of Austin.Going forward in hope, gratitude and optimism, diocesan Catholic schools reflect this year’s theme, “Christ makes all things new.” Enrollment has increased with the total number of students up by 256 over last year. Additionally, 130 new school employees across the diocese have joined other faculty and staff.
The Diocese of Austin’s new as-sistant superintendent of Catholic Schools, Kelly Laster, has more than 20 years’ experience in Catholic education, with a track record of excellence in the classroom and as an administrator.“We are excited to welcome Mrs. Laster to our team. She brings a great wealth of knowledge and passion for curriculum, instruction, and the accreditation process. Her gifts and talents will be a great asset,” said Misty Poe, superintendent of Catholic Schools.
Every Catholic Schools Week, the Catholic Schools Office travels the Diocese of Austin to surprise teachers being awarded Advancing Our Mission Grants — “Publishers Clearing House-style.” “We show up at the school and bust into the teacher’s classroom with noisemakers and balloons to congratulate them for getting the grant,” said Misty Poe, superintendent. “It’s the highlight of the year.”
WACO, TEXAS, APRIL 15, 2021. - Bishop Louis Reicher Catholic School is honored to announce that four Dominican Sisters from the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, will join its faculty beginning with the Fall 2021 term.
When a Catholic school increases enrollment by nearly 75% in one year, it must be doing something right! That is exactly what is happening at St. Joseph Catholic School in Killeen. At the end of the last school year, 98 students were enrolled in pre-K through 8th grades. This year, as the school observes its 65th anniversary, 170 students are enrolled.
It’s not every day we hear about a high school freshman organizing a benefit to help others, especially when those “others” attend a different school and are in a different state, but that’s just what Luke Arnold, a freshman at St. Dominic Savio Catholic High School in Austin, recently did.
Since 2009, the Diocese of Austin has celebrated Catholic Schools Week in January with the Saints and Scholars Gala. This event showcases the 20 Catholic schools, honors “unsung heroes” from each school community, and raises funds for tuition assistance. Typically, 800-1,000 attend. With risks now associated with large gatherings and the anxiety and restrictions that stifle a party atmosphere, this year’s event will be hosted on a virtual platform on Jan. 23 at 6:30 p.m. The gala is free, and all are welcome to enjoy the online evening.
