Campaign Goal: $14 million

The unifying goal of our pastoral plan is to foster encounters with Jesus Christ, leading to a deeper engagement that will transform our ministry, resulting in true missionary discipleship. Witnessing our faith is an essential part of Catholic-Christian discipleship.

Since its founding, the Diocese of Austin has experienced continuous growth and change. The last 10 years have brought significant demographic shifts in where our population lives and in their cultural and ethnic backgrounds. As disciples, we must be prepared to meet the needs of our brothers and sisters wherever they are, in the manner most appropriate for and resonant with them. This will require the diocese to extend its reach and ensure its presence outside of the Austin-metropolitan area. We must also actively encourage and develop leadership in our parishes to thrive in the future and provide opportunities to encounter Christ.

There are four priorities withing the pillar of Embracing Discipleship:

Tomorrow's Leaders | Young Adults
Catholic Charities | Cedarbrake Catholic Retreat Center

Tomorrow’s Leaders: $5 million

All Catholics are called to lead their parishes in some way. We recognize, however, a need for Hispanics and members of other emerging ethnic communities to take a greater role in parish leadership. In particular, engaging the next generation of leaders now and bridging the gap between older and younger members of these communities is crucial. 

Catholic school principals and teachers require ongoing education to stay energized and current in their skills and knowledge, as do the leaders of tomorrow working in our schools today. 

Encountering Christ will dedicate $5 million to leadership development in our parishes and schools. Through immediate investments and the establishment of an endowment, totaling $2.5 million, we will replicate successful models of leadership identification, recruitment and formation for both the laity and clergy. To directly help parishes engage untapped leadership potential, funds will support parishes with programs in progress as well as encourage collaboration across offices. 

We will also invest in identifying and developing principals and faculty leaders as well as to plan and implement specialized curricula, such as for STEAM (science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics) or special needs. 

Young Adults: $2 million

Our diocese is blessed to have grassroots groups of young adults who gather together in fellowship, outside of the parish setting, to grow in faith during their post-college years. Current resources of our parishes and Young Adult Ministry office prevent us from contributing in a meaningful way to these independent groups. All families in the diocese will benefit in the long term if young adult groups are able to connect directly to parishes and assist with implementing effective young adult ministries.

Through Encountering Christ, we will reserve $2 million to begin a network of young adult ministry programs and parish ministers, with the goal of testing and replicating successful young adult programs at the diocesan and parish levels. Expanding our efforts and providing resources directly to parishes will fill a critical gap in ministry for young adults between youth ministry and family life.

Catholic Charities: $5 million

Another key element of our calling as Catholics is to engage with and care for those living on the margins of our communities. As the direct service arm of the Diocese of Austin, Catholic Charities of Central Texas serves those in need by strengthening families and promoting respect for human dignity and life. Catholic Charities supports our parishes’ spiritual work by meeting their clients’ material and social needs in order to break the cycle of generational poverty. Since 1999, Catholic Charities has provided protection and care to children, help to families, a new beginning for refugees and immigrants, and restored dignity to the elderly.

The number of families that Catholic Charities serves annually has more than tripled over the last 10 years, and is expected to rise to 100,000 annually by 2028. Although their work serves our entire diocese, they have a limited physical presence outside of the Austin and Bryan/College Station communities, making it difficult for some of our brothers and sisters to access vital services. Additionally, the Catholic Charities offices in Austin and Bryan/College Station are at capacity, limiting how many volunteers can serve and how many clients can receive services at one time.

An analysis of the current and future needs of our region revealed that establishing a physical office in Waco will have the greatest immediate effect and help provide additional services to historically underserved communities. The diocese will reserve $5 million from Encountering Christ to renovate a diocesan building in Waco and to reconfigure the current facilities in Bryan/College Station to serve as extension offices in those areas. Funds will also be dedicated to reconfiguring the Austin offices so more staff, volunteers and clients can be welcomed. These investments will bring Catholic Charities closer to all who seek their help and allow them to respond better to our community’s needs.

Cedarbrake Catholic Retreat Center: $2 million

While going out into our communities to serve others and proclaim the Good News is important, we must also take the time to reflect on our experiences and our calling. Retreats are proven to have a significant effect on one’s faith. Our pastoral plan specifically charges us to strengthen retreat experiences and broaden their availability so they can facilitate an encounter with Jesus Christ.
The beautiful setting at Cedarbrake Catholic Retreat Center in Belton encourages retreatants to rest, be renewed in their faith and return to their parishes and the community refreshed, energized and prepared to engage in more prayerful and fruitful leadership. To better serve the needs of our diocese today, Encountering Christ will direct $2 million toward upgrading the retreat center. Space is limited for individual prayer, youth, and groups of more than 50 retreatants. To better accommodate larger retreat groups, which must now celebrate Mass in the conference center, campaign funds will be dedicated to expanding Our Lady of Good Counsel Chapel to seat 80, installing additional sacred art and upgrading lighting.

Cedarbrake also lacks suitable accommodations for youth retreats. The diocese will build a multipurpose meeting and dining space designed specifically with youth in mind, as well as two dormitory-style cabins with bunk beds for up to 48 retreatants. Because designated indoor or outdoor space for individual and private prayer is currently limited, we will use campaign funds to construct a small prayer chapel and plant a prayer garden. These enhancements will ensure Cedarbrake is more welcoming, spacious and comfortable, creating an appealing and enriching environment in which all generations may encounter Christ more deeply