About Saint William · Round Rock, Texas
Saint William Catholic Church is a large, bilingual Roman Catholic parish in Round Rock, Texas, belonging to the Diocese of Austin. With roots going back to 1916, when Mexican-American immigrants first gathered for Mass in the home of Francisco Carlin, the parish has grown into the largest parish in the Diocese of Austin, serving more than 6,000 registered families through 128 active ministries. Its current church, the fourth on or near the original Carlin-family land, was dedicated on November 18, 2006, on a 30-acre campus three blocks east of its earlier locations. Worship is celebrated in English, Spanish, and bilingual formats, and the parish is known for its Hispanic heritage, the Cursillo Movement, the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry and aid program, and the annual Annie's Way Thanksgiving Dinner for the wider Round Rock community.
- Established
- 1940
- Patron
- Saint William (named for Archbishop William O'Brien, president of the Catholic Church Extension Society)
- Rector
- Father Francisco Rodriguez III
- Diocese
- Diocese of Austin
Why belong here
Saint William welcomes Catholics and non-Catholics alike into one of the largest and most diverse parishes in the Diocese of Austin — a community whose members come 'from all corners of the earth.' Mass is offered daily in English, Spanish, and bilingual formats, confession is available six days a week, and perpetual adoration runs from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM daily. With more than 128 active ministries — including a robust faith-formation program for children through Confirmation, the JSQUAD high-school leadership program, the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry and financial-aid program, and the city-wide Annie's Way Thanksgiving Dinner — there are deep, concrete ways to live the faith here.
Mass times at Saint William
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday: 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- Tuesday: 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- Thursday: 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- Friday: 7:00 AM – 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- Saturday: 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Adoration times
- Sunday – Saturday: 7:00 AM – 9:00 PM (12:00 AM – 7:00 AM available by key card)
Parish Story & Heritage
Saint William's story begins not with a cornerstone but with a pecan tree: in 1916, a bell hanging in Francisco Carlin's yard called Mexican-American immigrant families — many of them quarry workers at the Round Rock White Lime Company — to Mass celebrated by visiting Holy Cross priests. That gathering around the Carlin home became Round Rock's first Catholic community and, twenty-four years later, the foundation for the church that took the name Saint William in honor of Archbishop William O'Brien of the Catholic Church Extension Society.
- 1916 — First Mass celebrated by Father Walter O'Donnell, CSC, at the Carlin home
- 1939 — 18 acres purchased under Bishop C.E. Byrne of Galveston
- 1940 — First church dedicated in the fall, funded in part by the Catholic Church Extension Society
- 1956 — Becomes an independent parish with Father Fred Schmidt as first pastor
- 1970 — Transferred to diocesan clergy; Father Peter Noble appointed pastor
- 1975 — Second church dedicated
- 1982 — Third church dedicated April 24
- 1994 — Parish Activity Center completed
- 2006 — Fourth (current) church dedicated November 18 on 30 acres adjacent to the original Carlin property
Clergy & Parish Staff
The parish is led by a pastoral team of a pastor, two parochial vicars, and a deacon, supported by a wide staff of ministry coordinators and a chief operations officer. The current pastor, Father Francisco Rodriguez III, writes that 'each day, as I enter our church and take in the beauty of the artwork, the stained-glass windows, and the architectural richness of our campus, I am filled with gratitude for the gift of St. William.' Religious Sisters from the Servants of the Truth, Jesus, and Mary (SCTJM) serve in youth ministry and evangelization.
- Father Francisco Rodriguez III — Pastor
- Father Enrique Sada-Coeto — Parochial Vicar
- Father Lourdhu Raju Madanu — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Guadalupe Rodriguez — Adult Faith Formation Coordinator
- Sr. Clara Maria Malay, SCTJM — Coordinator of Youth Ministry (Grades 6–8)
- Sr. Grace Marie Heinrich, SCTJM — Director of Evangelization
- Chris Pittner — Chief Operations Officer
- Hector Lozano — Director of Facilities
- Elida Navarro — Director of Accounting
- Damaris Thillet — Director of Music Ministry (Spanish)
- Francisco Soriano — Director of Youth Ministry
- Alejandra Barrios — Youth Ministry Coordinator
- Dustin Parks — Coordinator of Elementary Religious Education (English)
- Adriana Bañuelos — Coordinator of Ministries and Volunteers
- Becky Saucedo — Coordinator of Family Life
- Blanca Mendiola — Coordinator of Liturgy
- Isaac De La Rosa & Lucero Ponce — Communications
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at Saint William is structured by grade level and is supported by more than 1,000 enrolled children and a steady call for catechists. The parish recognizes that growing in the Faith is a lifelong journey and offers programming from Pre-K through adulthood, plus specific preparation for the Sacraments of Initiation and a Christian Initiation track for unbaptized children.
- Elementary (PreK–Grade 5) — English track led by Dustin Parks; Spanish track led by Gaby Francke
- TRIUMPH (Grades 6–8) — led by Sr. Clara Maria Malay, SCTJM
- SWYM (Grades 9–12) — led by Francisco Soriano and Alejandra Barrios
- JSQUAD — high-school leadership program, Mondays 7:00–9:00 PM, Parish Evangelization Center Building 5 Room 209
- First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation preparation
- Christian Initiation of Adults adapted for Children (OCIA-AC) for unbaptized children
- Adult Faith Formation coordinated by Deacon Guadalupe Rodriguez
Outreach & Charity
Outreach is woven into Saint William's identity, beginning with the work of its earliest pastor. Father Fred Schmidt founded the St. Vincent de Paul Society, the Sacred Heart Society, and the Guadalupanas Society; today the parish's Society of St. Vincent de Paul runs a food pantry and provides substantial financial assistance to neighbors in need. The parish also opens its doors to the wider Round Rock community each Thanksgiving.
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Saint William Conference — food pantry Mon & Fri 9:00 AM–12:00 PM on the parish campus
- Financial assistance for rent, utilities, transportation, prescriptions, and dental care
- Predatory-loan conversion program
- Clothing, furniture, and household-item vouchers through the Vincentian Family Center Thrift Store (901 W. Braker Lane, Austin)
- Annie's Way Thanksgiving Dinner — pickup, delivery, and in-person luncheon in Building 3 (Parish Hall) for the City of Round Rock
Cursillo & Spiritual Movements
During the long pastorate of Father Fred Schmidt, Saint William became the center of the Cursillo Movement for the Diocese of Austin. Schmidt opened the parish's modest buildings to the movement, and since then thousands of men and women have experienced personal spiritual renewal through Cursillo weekends rooted in the parish.
- Saint William serves as the diocesan center for Cursillo since the 1950s
- Sacred Heart Society
- Guadalupanas Society (Hispanic Marian devotion society)
Parish-Wide Events & Community Life
Beyond its regular sacramental schedule, Saint William hosts a calendar of signature events that bring together parishioners and the wider Round Rock community. The Ministry Life Office coordinates volunteers for these annual gatherings, and parishioners are invited to step into roles ranging from hospitality and registration to audio-visual livestreaming.
- Welcome Sunday (twice a year)
- Annie's Way Thanksgiving Dinner (Nov. 26, 2026)
- Big Event Community Festival (Saturday, April 25, 2026)
- Saint Joseph's Day (Wednesday, March 19, 2026)
- Vacation Bible School service projects (recent collaboration with Annunciation Maternity Home)
Parish Evangelization Center (PEC)
Saint William's 34,500-square-foot Parish Evangelization Center is a modern, state-of-the-art facility built with parishioner support to host everything from small meetings to retreats, conferences, banquets, and galas. Lifetime naming opportunities are still available for those who wish to honor loved ones and strengthen a family legacy.
- 34,500 sq. ft. facility with small meeting rooms and a large banquet hall
- Hosts small gatherings, retreats, conferences, and large receptions
- Parishioner-discounted rental rates available
- Contact: [email protected] or 512-600-8199
Music & Liturgical Arts
Liturgy at Saint William is supported by both an English and a Spanish Music Ministry, reflecting the parish's bilingual identity and its Hispanic heritage. The 5:00 PM Sunday Mass is celebrated without incense, providing a quieter liturgical option for those who need it.
- Music Ministry led by Damaris Thillet (Spanish)
- Liturgy Coordinator: Blanca Mendiola
- Livestreamed Masses available for those unable to attend in person
Getting Involved & Becoming a Parishioner
Father Rodriguez III teaches that 'a parishioner is an individual or family who either lives within the geographical boundaries of a parish established by the diocese or is formally registered there.' The parish makes registration and volunteering easy through the Ministry Life Office, which can match newcomers to one of more than 128 active ministries.
- Parish registration available via the website
- Volunteer matching through Adriana Bañuelos, Coordinator of Ministries and Volunteers — [email protected]
- Ongoing need for catechists in all age groups
- Audio-visual/livestream training available for interested volunteers
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Walter O'Donnell, CSC1916
Holy Cross priest who celebrated the first Mass at the Carlin home
- Father Fred Schmidt1956
First pastor when the mission became an independent parish; opened buildings to the Cursillo Movement and founded the St. Vincent de Paul, Sacred Heart, and Guadalupanas Societies
- Father Peter Noble1970
Appointed pastor when parish was transferred to diocesan priests; created the parish board and launched a three-year pledge campaign for a new church
- Father Rosendo Rafael1971
Second term as administrator; primary work was planning the new church
- Father Elmer Holtman1976
Oversaw growth that outgrew the 1975 church; dedicated the third church on April 24, 1982
- Father Louis Pavlicek1984
Became pastor July 1, 1984; Parish Activity Center completed in 1994
- Father Don Loftin1996
Named Administrator July 1, 1996
- Father Joel McNeil1999–2009
Pastor from July 1999 to July 2009; led planning for the fourth church campus
- Father Dean Wilhelm2009
Became pastor July 2009; oversaw completion of the current church dedicated November 18, 2006 (note: source conflict — building dedicated 2006 while Wilhelm took office 2009)