About St. Ignatius Martyr · Austin, Texas
St. Ignatius Martyr Catholic Church is an active parish in South Austin, Texas, served by the priests, brothers, and sisters of the Congregation of Holy Cross (C.S.C.). Founded in 1937, it was the first Catholic parish south of the Colorado River in Austin and has grown to nearly 3,000 families. The parish combines daily liturgy, a parochial school (Pre-K 3 through 8th grade), faith formation, youth ministry, and an extensive outreach program including a food pantry that serves thousands of households each month.
- Established
- 1937
- Patron
- St. Ignatius of Antioch (martyr)
- Rector
- Fr. John Dougherty, C.S.C.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Austin (originally part of the Archdiocese of San Antonio; transferred to the newly erected Diocese of Austin in November 1947)
Why belong here
St. Ignatius Martyr is a large, active, multi-generational parish of nearly 3,000 families whose Holy Cross charism shows up in three concrete ways: daily and Sunday Mass in both English and Spanish, with one Sunday Mass interpreted in American Sign Language; a Pre-K 3 through 8th-grade parish school; and a serious outreach footprint in South Austin — most visibly a parish food pantry that serves roughly 5,000 households (over 12,000 people) every month, plus prison ministry, a Cook and Bake Ministry that feeds Safe Place clients and the parish's own priests, Respect Life work, and active partnership with Central Texas Interfaith. Add in faith formation for every age, a Life Teen program, Legion of Mary, centering prayer, and a Grief Support Ministry, and you get a parish where it's easy to plug in and easy to be prayed for.
Mass times at St. Ignatius Martyr
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesdays, 6:00 p.m. until all are heard
- Saturdays, after the 8:00 a.m. Mass
- By appointment (call the parish office at 512-442-3602)
Adoration times
- First Friday: Eucharistic Adoration in the Mother's Chapel after the 12:05 p.m. Mass
- Thursday: Eucharistic Adoration for Vocations after the 12:05 p.m. Mass
History of St. Ignatius Martyr Parish
St. Ignatius Martyr was founded in 1937 by Fr. Patrick Duffy, C.S.C., as the first Catholic parish south of the Colorado River in Austin. The parish's unusual name comes from a story about the archbishop of San Antonio, who fell seriously ill in Rome and recovered after praying to St. Ignatius of Antioch; in gratitude he promised to give that name to the next new parish in his diocese. The first Masses were celebrated on Christmas Day 1937 in the Wilke-Manor (Wilke-Clay) Funeral Home at 1811 South Congress Avenue. In 1939 the worship site moved to an old house on West Johanna Street, where a small church was built to serve about 250 families. The Holy Cross Sisters arrived in September 1940 and opened an eight-grade school in the church basement.
- Founded 1937 by Fr. Patrick Duffy, C.S.C.
- Originally part of the Archdiocese of San Antonio; came under the Diocese of Austin when it was erected in November 1947.
- 5.5 acres on Oltorf/Euclid purchased from the John LaPrelle Estate in 1953 — still the parish campus today.
- Present church first used September 1965; dedicated by Bishop Louis J. Reicher on February 6, 1966.
- Family Center (connected to the school) dedicated October 1987 to mark the parish's 50th anniversary.
The Congregation of Holy Cross (C.S.C.)
St. Ignatius Martyr is served primarily by brothers, priests, and sisters of the Congregation of Holy Cross. The initials C.S.C. stand for the Latin Congregatio a Sancta Cruce ("Congregation of Holy Cross"). The Congregation was founded in 1837 by Blessed Father Basil Moreau, a priest of the Diocese of Le Mans, France, in a town called Holy Cross. Its mission is to assist in Church ministries wherever needed — as parish priests, preachers of missions, educators, writers, and foreign missionaries. From a small beginning the Congregation grew rapidly in Algeria, Canada, and India; in 1842 a small band came to Indiana and founded the University of Notre Dame. In Texas, Holy Cross religious founded St. Edward's University in Austin and many parishes in the Diocese of Austin.
- Founded 1837 by Blessed Fr. Basil Moreau in Le Mans, France.
- Came to the United States in 1842 and founded the University of Notre Dame.
- In Texas, Holy Cross founded St. Edward's University and many Austin-area parishes.
- St. Ignatius Martyr is an apostolate of the U.S. Province of Priests & Brothers.
Faith Formation & Youth Ministry
The parish runs year-round formation for children and youth, with online registration for Religious Education and the Youth Ministry. The Youth Ministry includes the Sunday evening Life Teen Mass at 5:00 p.m. and ongoing programs for middle- and high-school students.
- Religious Education registration for children.
- Youth Ministry registration for teens.
- Life Teen program anchored to the 5:00 p.m. Sunday Mass.
St. Ignatius Martyr Catholic School
St. Ignatius Martyr Catholic School, located on the parish campus, traces its roots to 1940 when the Holy Cross Sisters opened an eight-grade school in the basement of the original church. The current school building was constructed on the parish's Euclid/Oltorf campus in 1955 and serves roughly 250 students in Pre-K 3 through 8th grade. A 2024–2025 School Advisory Board, chaired by Christabel Ketchersid and including principal JB Watters, advises the pastor and principal on school policies, budgets, and strategic planning.
- Founded 1940 by the Holy Cross Sisters in the basement of the original church.
- Grades served: Pre-K 3 through 8th grade; about 250 students.
- Current school building dates to 1955; Family Center (connected to the school) dedicated October 1987.
- Advisory Board chair (2024–25): Christabel Ketchersid; Vice Chair: Cheri Rowden; Principal: JB Watters.
Outreach & Social Justice
St. Ignatius Martyr takes its Holy Cross mission of service seriously, running several outreach programs that serve thousands of people in the Austin metro area each year. The parish food pantry, the largest of these ministries, provides food, hygiene supplies, infant formula and diapers, prescription assistance, and Capital Metro day bus passes — serving roughly 5,000 households (over 12,000 people) every month, many of whom are without permanent housing. Other ministries include Prison Ministry, the Community Building & Empowerment Ministry (in partnership with Central Texas Interfaith / Austin Interfaith), the Cook and Bake Ministry, Respect Life, and the Funeral Rosary Ministry.
- Parish Food Pantry: ~5,000 households / 12,000+ people served monthly.
- Prison Ministry: one-on-one visits offering spiritual guidance to the incarcerated.
- Community Building & Empowerment Ministry in partnership with Central Texas Interfaith.
- Cook and Bake Ministry (founded 2003): weekly meals for Safe Place clients, ARCH sack lunches, and the parish priests.
- Respect Life Ministry: education and advocacy from conception to natural death.
- Funeral Ministry: Rosary prayed at vigil services for grieving families.
Prayer & Spirituality
The parish offers a rich mix of devotional and prayer opportunities for adults, including the Legion of Mary, Centering Prayer, Lectio Divina, a small-group faith-sharing community, and a Grief Support Ministry. The Legion of Mary Praesidium, 'Queen Assumed into Heaven,' visits the sick and homebound with the Rosary, spiritual companionship, and Holy Communion.
- Legion of Mary — Praesidium 'Queen Assumed into Heaven' (visits to the sick and homebound).
- Centering Prayer gatherings: 20 minutes of silent prayer followed by Lectio Divina.
- Adult small-group faith sharing on Sunday's Gospel — meets 1st and 3rd Sundays, 10:40–11:10 a.m.
- Grief Support Ministry for parishioners mourning the loss of a loved one.
Worship Ministries
Worship ministries support every Mass celebrated at the parish, including altar servers, lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, music, and liturgical art. The parish also runs bilingual (English/Spanish) ministries, fitting with its regular Spanish Mass.
- Altar servers
- Lectors
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Music ministry
- Bilingual / Spanish-language ministry
Fellowship, Service & Parish Life
Beyond formal ministries, the parish sponsors community-building groups like the Garden / Landscaping Ministry (caring for and beautifying parish grounds), the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Boy Scouts / Scouting, and a wide array of fundraising and outreach efforts that knit the parish family together.
- Garden / Landscaping Ministry
- Ancient Order of Hibernians
- Boy Scouts / Scouting
- Parish fundraising events
- Parish Stewardship Committee
- Parish Social Ministry Committee
Visit Us — Practical Information
Parish Office: 512.442.3602. Office hours are Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., closed for lunch 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. The mailing address is 2309 Euclid Avenue, Austin, TX 78704. From I-35, take the Oltorf Street exit west; pass Congress Avenue; the main sanctuary building is on the right (north) side of Oltorf at Euclid Avenue. The parish gift shop is open on Saturday and Sunday before and after Masses (cash and checks only).
- Parish Office Phone: 512-442-3602
- Address: 2309 Euclid Avenue, Austin, TX 78704
- Office Hours: Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–5 p.m. (closed for lunch 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.)
- Driving directions: From I-35, exit Oltorf Street west; pass Congress; church is on the right at Euclid.
- Low-gluten hosts available at every Mass.
- Gift shop open Saturday and Sunday before/after Masses (cash/check only).
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Patrick Duffy, C.S.C.1937–1942; 1946–1947
Founder of the parish; left 1942 to serve as a U.S. military chaplain in World War II, then returned in 1946.
- Fr. Francis Sullivan, C.S.C.1942–1946; 1947–1949
Took over while Fr. Duffy was a war chaplain; returned for a second stint 1947–1949.
- Fr. Patrick Dolan, C.S.C.1947
Brief tenure between the two Sullivan periods.
- Fr. Eugene Doré, C.S.C.1949–
Parish grew at a tremendous rate during his tenure; oversaw the 1953 land purchase and the 1955 school and convent construction.
- Fr. John Payne, C.S.C.1968–
Succeeded Fr. Doré-era leadership.
- Fr. L. Peter Logsdon, C.S.C.1974–
Succeeded Fr. Payne.
- Fr. C. Richard Nowery, C.S.C.1980–
Succeeded Fr. Logsdon.
- Fr. Joe Tomei, C.S.C.2002–2009
Created the Stewardship Committee, Parish Social Ministry Committee, and established the Spanish Mass; later re-assigned to Santiago, Chile.
- Fr. Bill Wack, C.S.C.2009–
Succeeded Fr. Tomei.