About St Helen · Georgetown, Texas
St. Helen Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Georgetown, Texas, belonging to the Diocese of Austin. Founded in 1931 by Mexican-descent Catholics and dedicated on May 3, 1931 by Bishop Byrne, it has grown into a vibrant Eucharistic community of over 3,000 families serving the Georgetown area in Williamson County. The parish offers daily and weekend Masses in both English and Spanish, runs a K-8 parish school (St. Helen Catholic School), maintains a perpetual adoration chapel, and supports a wide range of faith-formation, youth, and outreach ministries. Its patron is St. Helen, mother of Roman Emperor Constantine.
- Established
- 1931
- Patron
- St. Helen (Helena), mother of Roman Emperor Constantine
- Rector
- Rev. Brian McMaster
- Diocese
- Diocese of Austin
Why belong here
St. Helen offers the rare combination of a large, well-resourced parish (3,000+ families) with a deeply devotional Catholic life — daily English and Spanish Masses, a 24/7 Perpetual Adoration Chapel, weekly confession on three days, and a parish school that anchors its faith-formation mission. Active OCIA (formerly RCIA), youth, family, Hispanic ministry, and outreach programs make it a place where newcomers can find community regardless of language background, and the Georgetown community continues to grow around one of the Diocese of Austin's oldest parishes.
Mass times at St Helen
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
- Friday 11:00 am – 12:00 pm (with Adoration and Benediction; not available during Holy Week)
- Saturday 3:15 pm – 4:45 pm (not available during Holy Week)
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration in the Adoration Chapel: 24/7
- Friday 11:00 am – 12:00 pm in the church with Adoration and Benediction
History & Heritage
St. Helen Catholic Church was formally dedicated on May 3, 1931 by Bishop Byrne, making it one of the older parishes in the Diocese of Austin. Its roots run deeper than that date, however: in the years before founding, local Catholics of largely Mexican descent gathered for Mass in private homes, then under a tent, and finally in a freight box car that served as one family's home. Early parish organizations included the Sagrado Corazon de Jesus society, the Hijas de Maria Youth Group, and a Young Men's Club of about 20 Mexican members. Today, that same Catholic community has grown into a parish of more than 3,000 families serving the Georgetown area.
- Founded 1931
- Dedicated May 3, 1931 by Bishop Byrne
- Early Masses celebrated by Father Patrick O'Reilly in tent and boxcar
- Part of the Diocese of Austin
Mass & Liturgy
The parish celebrates Mass in both English and Spanish every day of the week. Weekday Masses are held at 12:05 pm Monday through Saturday, with additional Spanish Masses on Wednesday and Friday evenings, plus a Friday morning school Mass during the school year. The weekend schedule includes a Saturday Vigil and four Sunday Masses in English, plus Spanish Masses on Sunday morning and Sunday afternoon.
Faith Formation & OCIA
The parish runs the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) process for adults exploring the Catholic faith, seeking baptism or completing initiation. Sessions for the 2025-2026 year begin Sunday, August 31, 2025 and are held on Sundays from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm in the St. Rita Activity Center, Rooms 103/104. Inquiries can be directed to Deacon John Evanoff at 512-863-3041 ext. 104.
- OCIA sessions Sundays 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
- St. Rita Activity Center, Rooms 103/104
- Contact: Deacon John Evanoff, ext. 104
Parish School
St. Helen Catholic School is the parish's K-8 Catholic elementary school. The parish celebrates a Friday morning school Mass at 8:05 am during the school year as part of its faith-formation mission to students and families.
- St. Helen Catholic School (K-8)
- Friday 8:05 am school Mass during school year
Leadership & Staff
St. Helen is currently led by Pastor Rev. Brian McMaster, with Deacon John Evanoff serving in ministry and as a contact for OCIA. Parish staff include Paula Helfrich, Director of Parish Life and Discipleship, and Renee Perez-White, Parish Business Administrator. The Pastoral Council, chaired by Matt MacKay, advises the pastor on parish-wide pastoral decisions; 2026 council members include Julio Ayala, Annie Bass, Anita Eubanks, Monica Flores, Carol Nelson, and Fernando Garcia Rubi, alongside continuing members.
- Rev. Brian McMaster — Pastor
- Deacon John Evanoff
- Paula Helfrich — Director of Parish Life and Discipleship
- Renee Perez-White — Parish Business Administrator
- Matt MacKay — Pastoral Council chairperson
Pastoral Council
The Pastoral Council serves as advisor to the pastor on pastoral decision-making, focusing on the needs, goals, and mission of the entire parish, now and for the future.
- Matt MacKay — chairperson
- Julio Ayala (new 2026)
- Annie Bass (new 2026)
- Anita Eubanks (new 2026)
- William Fejeran
- Monica Flores (new 2026)
- Leo Garcia
- Mimi Garcia
- Chris Helfrich
- Sara Johnson
- James Kleineck
- Ali McGraw
- Carol Nelson (new 2026)
- Fernando Garcia Rubi (new 2026)
Visiting & Newcomers
The parish describes itself as 'a welcoming, beautiful and vibrant community of over 3,000 families' and grounds its identity as a Eucharistic community in prayer, study, sacraments, fellowship, and service. Newcomers are invited to attend Mass, visit the Perpetual Adoration Chapel, and contact the parish office for information on registration, sacraments, or ministries.
- Over 3,000 families
- Eucharistic community
- Phone: (512) 863-3041
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Patrick O'Reillylate 1920s
Celebrated Mass in a tent and then in a freight box car that was the home of a Mexican family in Georgetown before the parish was formally established.