About St. John Neumann · Austin, Texas
St. John Neumann Catholic Church is a parish in the Diocese of Austin, Texas, located on a 28-acre campus at 5455 Bee Cave Road in the Westlake / West Lake Hills area of Austin. Founded in 1984, the parish has grown from about 200 families to more than 2,400 families, with a wide range of ministries for children, youth, adults, and outreach. The current sanctuary, dedicated in 2012, is a 37,000-square-foot church featuring a distinctive 'trinity of domes,' and the parish is also home to the Light of Christ Catholic Montessori School, which opens on the campus for the 2026–27 school year.
- Established
- 1984
- Patron
- St. John Neumann
- Rector
- Fr. Dean Wilhelm
- Diocese
- Diocese of Austin
Why belong here
St. John Neumann is a large, family-friendly Catholic parish in the Westlake / West Lake Hills area with deep roots in Austin since 1984 and a strong tradition of vibrant liturgy — five Sunday Masses plus a daily Mass, generous Confession and Adoration hours, and a livestream Mass online. A faithful community of more than 2,400 families, SJN runs formation for every age (Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for children, Family Faith nights, a thriving High School Ministry, and Adult Faith Formation/RCIA) along with a robust outreach arm through the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Threads of Hope, and the Knights of Columbus, and is launching the Light of Christ Catholic Montessori School on site for the 2026–27 year.
Mass times at St. John Neumann
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday 9:15 AM – 9:45 AM (after daily Mass, in the Church)
- Wednesday 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM (in the Church)
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM (in the Church)
Adoration times
- Monday – Thursday: 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- Friday: 6:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Parish History & Story
Founded in May 1984 in the Westlake area of Austin, St. John Neumann first gathered for Mass at Valley View Elementary School under founding pastor Fr. Vaughn Meiller, then moved through Cedar Creek Elementary to a temporary facility at Bee Caves Road and Westlake Drive. After purchasing the office building at 102 Westlake Drive in 1988 and acquiring three adjacent homes in 1995, the parish was ultimately forced by zoning restrictions to seek a new site — a 28-acre parcel between Loop 360 and Bee Cave Road. Construction on a permanent sanctuary began in 2000; the parish worshiped in a multi-purpose building on the new site from 2003 onward until the 37,000-square-foot domed church was dedicated on March 17, 2012. The community has grown from about 200 founding families to roughly 2,400 families today.
- Established May 1984 in Westlake, Austin
- Founding pastor: Fr. Vaughn Meiller (1984–1992)
- First Masses held at Valley View Elementary School
- Moved to permanent campus at 5455 Bee Cave Road in 2003
- New sanctuary dedicated March 17, 2012 by retired Bishop John McCarthy
Clergy, Deacons & Staff
Parish life is shepherded by Pastor Fr. Dean Wilhelm and Associate Pastor Fr. Luan Pho, with two permanent deacons — Deacon Manuel Torres and Deacon Michael Glenn. The lay staff team includes a Director of Business Operations, Director of Stewardship & Communications, Director of Music & Liturgy, an Assistant Director of Contemporary Music, three Youth Ministry Evangelists (Children's K–5, Middle School, High School), a Liturgy Coordinator, an Administrative Coordinator for Parish Experience, the Head of School for Light of Christ, and a Preschool Director, plus nursery, facilities and accounting support.
- Pastor: Fr. Dean Wilhelm
- Associate Pastor: Fr. Luan Pho
- Deacon Manuel Torres
- Deacon Michael Glenn
- Director, Business Operations: Rhonda Dirvin
- Director, Stewardship & Communications: Michelle Fontana
Children's Ministry & Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
Children's Ministry supports parents as first witnesses of the faith and offers three formation tracks: Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for ages 3–6 (a Montessori-based, hands-on religious formation held Sunday mornings 10:15–11:15 AM); weekly K–5th grade classes using St. Mary's Press 'Discover, Finding Faith in Life' (Sundays 10:15–11:15 AM); and Family Faith, a bi-monthly evening program (1st & 3rd Wednesdays 4:30–6:30 PM) where families share dinner and a community event and then complete lesson boxes at home. Sacramental preparation for First Communion is integrated into these programs. Contact: Natalie Mohr, Youth Ministry Evangelist – Children's K–5.
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (ages 3–6)
- K–5th grade Faith Formation, Sundays 10:15–11:15 AM
- Family Faith, 1st & 3rd Wednesdays 4:30–6:30 PM
- First Communion preparation
Youth & High School Ministry
The parish runs dedicated middle school and high school youth ministry tracks under the title 'Youth Ministry Evangelist' for each age group. High School Ministry ('HSM Sundays') gathers teens weekly to talk about real issues facing young Catholics in an atmosphere of love and acceptance — encouraging them to live their faith, share their testimony, and learn to defend the hope they have in Christ.
- HSM Sundays (High School Ministry)
- Middle School youth ministry
- Teen Confirmation preparation
Adult Faith Formation & RCIA
SJN's Office of Adult Faith Formation offers ongoing classes (including Catholic 101 / Adult Confirmation) and weekend retreats for adults of every age, and provides free parish-wide access to Formed.org for streaming Catholic content. The office's mission is to engage families, create opportunities to encounter Jesus Christ, and empower fuller participation in the Catholic Church.
- Catholic 101 / Adult Confirmation
- Ongoing adult classes and weekend retreats
- Free parish access to Formed.org
Light of Christ Catholic Montessori School
Opening on the SJN parish campus for the 2026–27 school year, Light of Christ Catholic Montessori School offers a three-year, five-day-a-week program for children ages 3–6 housed in a renovated cottage near the wooded edge of the property. The program combines the full Montessori curriculum (language, mathematics, sensorial and practical life works) with Level I Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, weekly liturgy, liturgical-season celebrations, and Music Together. Classrooms are led by AMI-trained and CGS Level 1-certified guides; students stay with the same guide and classroom for three years. The Director of the existing parish Preschool and the Head of School (Meghan Jackson) coordinate these early-childhood offerings, which have been supported by the Diocese of Austin's Office of Catholic Schools from their earliest stages.
- Ages 3–6, three-year program
- Montessori materials + Level 1 Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
- Located on the SJN parish campus
- Head of School: Meghan Jackson
- Website: www.LOCaustin.org
Outreach & Charity
SJN sponsors robust works of mercy locally and beyond. The parish Society of St. Vincent de Paul conducts two-person home visits with neighbors in need (the most recent reported year helped roughly 615 households), runs a parish thrift store that also supplies vouchers for clients in need, organizes the Christmas Giving Program (which served more than 200 families / 800 people last Christmas), and leads a Back-to-School backpack and supplies drive that supported 500 students in its most recent reporting period. Threads of Hope, founded in June 2017, is a sewing ministry that has produced hundreds of weighted blankets for foster children plus blankets, scarves, and backpacks for the homeless.
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul — home visits, Thrift Store, Christmas Giving, Back-to-School program
- Threads of Hope sewing ministry (weighted blankets for foster kids)
- Knights of Columbus Council #10836 charitable giving
Knights of Columbus Council #10836
Council 10836 was officially organized in 1984 alongside the parish itself under founding Grand Knight William Greve and the original charter members. Today it has more than 200 members and their families active in parish life. The council meets on the 3rd Tuesday of each month in the St. Timothy Room on campus (officers and directors meet on the 2nd Tuesday). The Knights raise funds through parish and family volunteer service hours and regrant them each year to local not-for-profit causes, also supporting an annual charity golf tournament at Grey Rock Golf Club.
- Chartered 1984; first Grand Knight William Greve
- Council Business Meeting: 3rd Tuesday, St. Timothy Room
- Officers & Directors: 2nd Tuesday on campus
- Annual Charity Golf Tournament at Grey Rock Golf Club
Fishers of Mankind
Fishers of Mankind is a lay Catholic evangelization ministry for both women and men rooted in Mark 16:15, 1 Peter 3:15, and Matthew 4:19. Members meet every Monday from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM in Morris Hall at SJN. Contact: President Jerry Phillips (512-567-4340, [email protected]).
- Lay Catholic evangelization for men and women
- Meets Mondays 6:30–8:00 PM in Morris Hall
Music & Liturgy
A dedicated Music & Liturgy team — including a Director of Music & Liturgy, an Assistant Director of Contemporary Music, and a Liturgy Coordinator — supports the parish's five Sunday Masses and weekday liturgy, working with both traditional and contemporary ensembles.
- Director, Music & Liturgy
- Assistant Director, Contemporary Music
- Liturgy Coordinator
Virtual Mass & Prayer Requests
For those unable to attend in person, SJN livestreams Mass Monday through Friday at 8:45 AM and Sunday at 11:30 AM directly through its website (sjnaustin.org/virtual-mass). Parishioners and visitors can also submit prayer requests online; the community keeps those intentions in its prayers.
- Livestream: Mon–Fri 8:45 AM; Sun 11:30 AM
- Online prayer request form on sjnaustin.org
Getting Involved & Contact
Parish offices can be reached at (512) 328-3220 or [email protected]; the mailing address is 5455 Bee Cave Road, Austin, TX 78746. Specific staff extensions are listed on the parish 'Our Staff' page for business operations, stewardship, youth ministry, the school, and the SVdP voicemail line. Volunteering opportunities are highlighted in nearly every ministry — Children's Faith Formation, Threads of Hope, the SVdP Thrift Store, Knights of Columbus, and more.
- Phone: (512) 328-3220
- Email: [email protected]
- Address: 5455 Bee Cave Road, Austin, TX 78746
- SVdP voicemail: option 137 after hours
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Vaughn Meiller1984–1992
Founding pastor; carried a plastic laundry basket of parish items into Valley View Elementary for the first Masses.
- Fr. Patrick Zurek1992–February 1998
Served until his ordination as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of San Antonio.
- Fr. David Jaeger, OFM1998–May 1999
A Franciscan friar of the Holy Land; called to Rome in May 1999.
- Monsignor Edward JordanJune 1999–
Led the parish through its capital campaign and the move to the new Bee Cave Road facility.
- Fr. Kirby GarnerJoined July 2006
Led the capital campaign that raised $12 million in pledges to build the new sanctuary.
- Fr. 'Bud' RolandJoined July 2008
Continued the parish's growth in membership, stewardship, and spirituality as pastor.