About St. Elizabeth of Hungary · Pflugerville, Texas
St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church is a large, bilingual Roman Catholic parish in Pflugerville, Texas, a fast-growing suburb just north of Austin. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Austin and serves a diverse community of more than 4,000 registered families with Mass celebrated in both English and Spanish. Rooted in the agricultural faith of Mexican Catholic farming families of the 1920s, today's parish is known for its strong sacramental life, robust Religious Education program (K through Confirmation), a Preschool/Parents' Day Out, and roughly 55 ministries that serve every age and stage of Catholic life.
- Established
- 1932
- Patron
- St. Elizabeth of Hungary
- Rector
- Father Efrain Villanueva
- Diocese
- Diocese of Austin
Why belong here
St. Elizabeth of Hungary is a large, vibrant, bilingual Catholic community where families of every background can find a spiritual home. Weekday and Sunday Masses are offered in both English and Spanish, with a Saturday vigil and four Sunday Masses providing flexibility for working families. The parish supports roughly 55 ministries — including faith formation from Kindergarten through Confirmation, a Preschool and Parents' Day Out, altar serving, lectors, music, homebound ministry, bereavement, marriage preparation, and outreach — so almost any parishioner can find a way to serve and belong.
Mass times at St. Elizabeth of Hungary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 5:00 PM to 5:45 PM
- Thursday 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM
- Saturday 3:30 PM to 4:45 PM
- Personal appointments available (citas personales disponibles)
Adoration times
- Friday 7:30 AM through Saturday 8:00 AM (Adoration begins after the Friday 7:00 AM Mass and ends before the Saturday 8:00 AM Mass)
- La adoración comienza después de cada misa del viernes a las 7 a.m. y termina antes de la misa del sábado a las 8 a.m.
Parish Story & History
St. Elizabeth of Hungary began in the 1920s when Mexican Catholic tenant farmers in the Pflugerville countryside, helped by their Lutheran employers, sought a Catholic church of their own. The mission was approved on the saint's feast day, November 17, 1931, and consecrated on September 11, 1932 by Bishop Christopher Byrne. After decades as a mission served by the Oblate Fathers of Mary Immaculate from Austin and Taylor, it became an independent parish on June 11, 1984 under Bishop Vincent M. Harris. Three successive church buildings — the original wooden church on Wilbarger & Railroad, the 1979 building now used as the Chapel, and the current sanctuary dedicated in 1997 — trace the parish's growth into a community of more than 4,000 families.
- Mission approved November 17, 1931; consecrated September 11, 1932
- Became an independent parish June 11, 1984
- Original church built by parishioners themselves in 1978–1979
- New sanctuary and Religious Education Center dedicated September 7, 1997 by Bishop John McCarthy
- New Religious Education Center dedicated August 30, 2015 by Bishop Joe Vazquez
- Second floor of R.E. Building — construction began April 24, 2025
Leadership & Clergy
The parish is led by Father Efrain Villanueva as pastor, with Father Saji Lukose serving as Parochial Vicar (Associate Pastor) since July 1, 2024, and Father Michael Noriega also serving as Associate Pastor. Deacon Barry Ryan assists in ministry. Father Saji Lukose is bi-ritual (Latin and Syro-Malankara), fluent in six languages, and also serves the Syro-Malankara Catholic faithful of the area.
- Pastor: Father Efrain Villanueva (assigned July 1, 2019)
- Parochial Vicar: Father Saji Lukose (since July 1, 2024)
- Associate Pastor: Father Michael Noriega
- Deacon Barry Ryan
Syro-Malankara Catholic Community
A small but growing Syro-Malankara Catholic community meets at St. Elizabeth of Hungary. Their Mass is celebrated every third Sunday of the month at 3:30 PM in the parish Chapel by Father Saji Lukose, a bi-ritual priest of the Syro-Malankara rite from the Diocese of Puttur, Karnataka, India.
- Mass every 3rd Sunday at 3:30 PM in the Chapel
- Celebrant: Father Saji Lukose
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious Education at St. Elizabeth serves students from Kindergarten through Confirmation, with roughly 1,400 students enrolled annually. The parish also offers a Preschool / Parents' Day Out program for children ages 2–4, and Children's Liturgy of the Word during Mass. The diocese requires background checks for volunteers over 16 and VIRTUS training for adults 18 and older.
- Religious Education K through Confirmation
- 1,403 Religious Education students (2014–2015)
- 296 First Communions in 2015
- 265 Confirmations in 2015
- 139 Baptisms in 2014
- Preschool / Parents' Day Out, ages 2–4
- Children's Liturgy of the Word
- Weekend Faith Formation for elementary children
Parish Ministries & Parish Life
St. Elizabeth operates approximately 55 ministries, spanning liturgical service, faith formation, hospitality, outreach, and care for the sick and homebound. Almost every parishioner can find a way to serve. The parish mission statement commits to studying and teaching the Gospel, continually improving ministries to serve spiritual and physical needs, and providing activities that strengthen family life.
- Altar Servers (children and youth)
- Lectors and Commentators
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Music Ministry / Choir
- Zoom / Media Ministry (livestream)
- Bereavement Ministry
- Homebound & Sick Ministry
- Human Concerns / Social Outreach
- Hospitality / Ushers / Greeters
- Marriage Preparation ministry
Marriage Preparation
Engaged couples prepare for the Sacrament of Matrimony through 'Together in God's Love,' a four-part, two-day series presenting the Church's teaching on Holy Matrimony as a visible sign of the Holy Trinity and Christ's relationship to the Church. Sessions cover faith, communication, sexuality, and stewardship, with discussion, self-reflection and journaling. A Natural Family Planning class is offered at no extra cost when a presenter is available. Registration and completion of the course are required.
- Program: Together in God's Love
- Two-day sessions, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM (includes lunch)
- Optional Natural Family Planning class
- Contact: [email protected] or (512) 251-9805
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the seven Catholic sacraments with ongoing sacramental formation: Baptism (139 in 2014), First Communion (296 in 2015), Confirmation (265 in 2015), Matrimony through the 'Together in God's Love' prep, Reconciliation at scheduled times and by appointment, Anointing of the Sick, and funeral/bereavement ministry. The Homebound & Sick ministry brings Communion to parishioners who cannot attend Mass.
- Baptism preparation and celebration
- First Holy Communion
- Confirmation
- Matrimony with required prep course
- Reconciliation (see schedule)
- Anointing of the Sick and Homebound visits
- Funeral and Bereavement support
Facilities & Campus
The parish campus at 1520 N. Railroad Ave. includes the current sanctuary dedicated in 1997 by Bishop John McCarthy, the original 1979 church now used as the Chapel, the Parish Activity Center ("The Hall," dedicated May 19, 1996), and the Religious Education Center dedicated in 2015 by Bishop Joe Vazquez, on which a second floor began construction on April 24, 2025.
- Current sanctuary (dedicated 1997)
- Original 1979 church — now the Chapel
- Parish Activity Center / "The Hall" (dedicated 1996)
- Religious Education Center (dedicated 2015)
- Second floor of R.E. Building under construction (began April 24, 2025)
Visit, Contact & Office Hours
The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM, closed for lunch 12:30–1:00 PM, then open 1:30 PM to 5:30 PM. Visitors and newcomers are warmly welcomed at any of the weekend or daily Masses, and personal appointments for sacraments can be arranged by calling the parish office.
- Address: 1520 N. Railroad Ave., Pflugerville, TX 78660
- Phone: (512) 251-9838
- Email: [email protected]
- Marriage prep contact: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Mon–Fri 9:00 AM–12:30 PM and 1:30–5:30 PM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Pete McCabe1984
First resident pastor when St. Elizabeth became an independent parish under Bishop Vincent M. Harris
- Father Tom Frank
Second resident pastor
- Father George Joseph
Third resident pastor
- Father Pedro Garcia-Ramirez
Pastor; oversaw major growth, the new Religious Education Center and ministry expansion
- Father Albert RuizNovember 15, 1992
Succeeded as pastor
- Father Juan Carlos Lopez
Pastor
- Father Efrain Villanueva2019
Current pastor, assigned July 1, 2019