About St. Paul · Austin, Texas
St. Paul Catholic Church is a South Austin parish in the Diocese of Austin, founded in 1989 to serve the growing neighborhoods around the old Bergstrom Air Force Base area. It is staffed by the Schoenstatt Fathers (ISP) and offers Mass in both English and Spanish, a robust Religious Education program, an active St. Vincent de Paul conference, and one of the newest sanctuary buildings in the diocese. After more than three decades of worshiping in a multi-purpose hall, the parish celebrated the dedication of its long-awaited new 650-seat church on April 11, with Bishop Daniel E. Garcia presiding.
- Established
- 1989
- Patron
- St. Paul (the Apostle)
- Rector
- Rev. Johnson Nellissery, ISP
- Diocese
- Diocese of Austin
Why belong here
St. Paul is a bilingual, multi-generational parish in South Austin where the Schoenstatt Fathers celebrate Mass in English and Spanish every Sunday. The parish combines a long-standing catechetical tradition — Sunday Religious Education and the OCIA program for adults — with hands-on outreach through its St. Vincent de Paul Society, the Gabriel Project, and a Knights of Columbus council, along with a roster of lay-led groups like ACTS, the Society of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Music Ministry. After more than 30 years, the community is now gathering in a brand-new 650-seat sanctuary on the same wooded property it has called home since 1989.
Mass times at St. Paul
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Every Saturday, 4:00 pm – 4:45 pm
- 1st Thursday of the month, 6:00 pm
- 1st Saturday of the month, 8:30 am (after the 8:00 am Mass)
Adoration times
- Every Friday — following the 12:00 pm noon Mass until 10:00 pm
- 1st Friday — after the 12:00 pm noon Mass until Saturday morning at 7:30 am
- Trinity Chapel (tabernacle) open daily 8:30 am – 8:00 pm; Friday Adoration in the chapel 12:30 pm – 10:00 pm and all-night on the first Friday
Welcome and Parish Identity
St. Paul Catholic Church is a South Austin, bilingual parish of the Diocese of Austin staffed by the Schoenstatt Fathers (ISP). Pastor Father Johnson Nellissery and the parish team describe the community as a place where every member is invited to use the gifts God has given them to build up the Church. Whether visiting for a single Mass, looking for a new parish home, returning to the faith, or just beginning to ask what Catholics believe, the parish invites newcomers to register, join a ministry, or enter OCIA. The parish worships in the same South Austin location it has occupied since 1989, but now has a brand-new sanctuary in addition to its older facilities. Mass is offered in English four times each Sunday plus a Saturday Vigil, and in Spanish at noon on Sunday. A daily noon Mass Monday–Friday is live-streamed, as is the Saturday Vigil and the two largest Sunday Masses.
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
- Bilingual Sunday schedule (English and Español)
- Live-streamed daily noon Mass
History of St. Paul Parish
The Diocese of Austin founded St. Paul Parish in 1989 to serve the growing South Austin area surrounding Bergstrom Air Force Base. Father Paul McCallum, the founding pastor, celebrated the first Sunday Mass on September 3, 1989 in the cafeteria of Williams Elementary School, and the community continued to meet there for nearly five years. The first on-site chapel — a small building on the west end of what is now the parish property — eventually grew into a fuller campus as the Diocese had earlier acquired an 11.7-acre wooded tract on David Moore Drive for the new worship site. Bishop John McCarthy dedicated Grace Hall, the parish's multi-purpose church and hall, on April 10, 1994. For the next three decades, Sunday Mass, Religious Education, weddings, and parish events all shared the same building — a constraint that ultimately drove the parish's biggest project to date. The former rectory was renamed Casa San Pablo and now houses the St. Vincent de Paul Society and the Gabriel Project; Spark Hall, the original small chapel, hosts youth-group activities.
- 1989: First Mass at Williams Elementary School, September 3
- 1994: Grace Hall dedicated by Bishop John McCarthy, April 10
- 2022: Capital campaign launches, raises ~$3.5 million in pledges
- Diocese contributes $1 million toward the new sanctuary
- March 16, 2024: Bishop Joe Vásquez breaks ground on new church
- April 11, 2025: Bishop Daniel E. Garcia dedicates the new sanctuary
Building the New Church
After more than 30 years in a multi-purpose building, St. Paul opened a dedicated church in April 2025. The new sanctuary was designed by William Scarmardo, a retired deacon in the Diocese of Austin, and built by Navcon Builders. It seats about 650 worshipers and was celebrated with a standing-room-only dedication Mass on April 11, 2025. The parish's original worship building is now Trinity Hall, available to rent for weddings, quinceañeras and other events, and still contains a small chapel with the tabernacle for personal and group prayer.
- Architect: William Scarmardo (retired deacon, Diocese of Austin)
- Builder: Navcon Builders
- Capacity: ~650 worshipers
- Dedication: April 11, 2025 by Bishop Daniel E. Garcia
- Existing worship building renamed Trinity Hall
Sacraments
The parish prepares families, couples and adults for the sacraments of Baptism, First Reconciliation, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, and Anointing of the Sick. Marriage preparation follows the Diocese of Austin's four-step process and normally takes six to twelve months. An emergency line is available for Anointing of the Sick outside of regular office hours.
- Baptism: 3rd Saturday at 10:00 am; prep class on the 2nd Thursday at 7:00 pm
- First Reconciliation / First Communion: two-year process, usually in 2nd grade
- Confirmation: through the Religious Education program
- Marriage: 6–12 months preparation; $100 administrative fee
- OCIA: adult initiation, candidates received at the Easter Vigil
- Anointing of the Sick: emergency line 512-280-7230
Faith Formation and OCIA
The Director of Religious Education, JJ Flores, oversees the parish's children's Religious Education (RE) program and the adult OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) process, formerly RCIA. RE registration for the 2026-2027 school year is open, and OCIA registration opens in early July each year. The RE program is described by the parish as ongoing faith formation, not merely sacramental preparation; families are expected to attend Sunday Mass each week as part of the formation year.
- Director of Religious Education: JJ Flores (512-420-4070, [email protected])
- RE 2026-2027 registration now open
- OCIA: 1-day-a-week sessions for adults preparing to become Catholic
- Children must know Sign of the Cross, Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, and Act of Contrition
Parish Ministries and Outreach
St. Paul's lay-led ministries cover almost every corner of parish life — liturgy, faith formation, hospitality, charity, and community. The Spiritus profile of the parish lists ACTS, Adoración Eucaréctrica, Children's Liturgy of the Word, Eucharistic Adoration, Extraordinary Ministers, Floral Ministry, Gabriel Project, Knights of Columbus, Lectors, Men's Club, Society of Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Welcome Ministry and Music Ministry. Parish ministries also lead the Sunday Rosary, coordinate Lenten suppers, and host seasonal retreats.
- ACTS retreats for men and women
- Adoración Eucarística (Spanish-language Eucharistic Adoration)
- Children's Liturgy of the Word (ages 4–11) during Sunday Mass
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Floral Ministry
- Gabriel Project (pro-life, crisis-pregnancy support)
- Knights of Columbus council
- Lectors
- Men's Club
- Music Ministry
- Society of Our Lady of Guadalupe
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Welcome Ministry
- Traveling Vocation Shrine
St. Vincent de Paul Society
St. Paul's SVDP conference visits neighbors in their homes and helps with rent, utilities, HEB gift cards, SVDP vouchers and resource referrals, ending each visit with prayer. Thanks to parish generosity, in 2024 SVDP helped roughly 500 families — about 42 families each month — with utilities, rent, food, or vouchers.
- Financial Assistance line: 512-420-4077 (Mon–Thu, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm)
- President: Connie Chavez
- Phone or home visits available
- Donations accepted through the parish website under the SVDP tab
Gabriel Project
The Gabriel Project is St. Paul's pro-life ministry for families experiencing an unplanned or crisis pregnancy. Trained parish 'Angels' walk alongside new parents with spiritual, emotional, and material support — from cooked meals after the baby comes home to crocheted blankets and donated baby items — in the spirit of Gabriel's words to Mary: 'Do not be afraid … for nothing will be impossible for God.'
- Contact: Maria Tamez, [email protected]
- Ways to help: pray for a mother and baby, become an Angel, cook a meal, knit/crochet, donate baby items
- Operates in partnership with the Diocese of Austin Gabriel Project
Parish Life and Events
Beyond the regular liturgical schedule, St. Paul hosts parish-wide events that build community. Monthly Bingo in Grace Hall has become a parish tradition, and the annual Fall Festival is supported by raffle ticket sales at every Mass. The parish has also just launched a Traveling Vocation Shrine ministry, which is displayed at weekend Masses and is run by parishioner Veronica Martinez.
- Monthly Bingo — 2nd Friday in Grace Hall, doors 5:30 pm
- Annual Fall Festival with raffle tickets sold at all Masses
- Traveling Vocation Shrine ministry — contact Veronica Martinez at 512-663-7333
- Sunday Rosary, Lenten suppers, seasonal retreats
Facilities and Rentals
The 11.7-acre campus includes the new sanctuary, Trinity Hall (the former multi-purpose church, which still holds the chapel with the tabernacle), Grace Hall (used for Bingo, Rentals and large gatherings), Spark Hall (used for youth group), and Casa San Pablo (the former rectory housing SVDP and Gabriel Project). Trinity Hall is available to rent for weddings, quinceañeras, and other parish or community events; parish members and non-parishioners pay different rates and admin fees, and the parish office can share the current fee schedule.
- Trinity Hall: chapel with tabernacle, open daily 8:30 am – 8:00 pm
- Grace Hall: host space for Bingo and rentals
- Spark Hall: youth-group space
- Casa San Pablo: home of SVDP and the Gabriel Project
- Quinceañera and wedding rentals available
Parish Staff and Clergy
Parish life is led by the Schoenstatt Fathers (Institute of Schoenstatt Fathers, ISP) and a small lay staff who together run the sacraments, faith formation, business operations, and parish facilities. Deacon Rey Garza assists at Masses, with Deacon Michael Marchek also listed in diocesan coverage.
- Pastor: Rev. Johnson Nellissery, ISP — 512-280-4460 ext. 100, [email protected]
- Associate Pastor: Rev. Hector Vega, ISP — 512-420-4071, [email protected]
- Deacon Rey Garza — [email protected]
- Deacon Michael Marchek
- Director of Religious Education: JJ Flores — 512-420-4070, [email protected]
- Parish Office Administrator: Veronica (Betty) Torres — [email protected]
- Parish Business Administrator: John Steen — 512-420-4069, [email protected]
- Bookkeeper: Dewi Sauer — 512-420-4074, [email protected]
- Custodian: Anita Gonzalez — 512-280-4460, [email protected]
Contact and Visit
The parish office at 10000 David Moore Drive is open Monday–Friday from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. Two dedicated phone lines cover emergencies: the Anointing emergency line (512-280-7230) for the sacrament of the Sick, and the SVDP financial-assistance line (512-420-4077) for neighbors in need.
- Parish office: 512-280-4460
- Office hours: Mon–Fri, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
- Emergency Anointing: 512-280-7230
- St. Vincent de Paul financial assistance: 512-420-4077
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: saintpaulaustin.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Paul McCallum1989 (founding pastor)
Celebrated the first Sunday Mass on September 3, 1989 at Williams Elementary School cafeteria.
- Rev. Johnson Nellissery, ISPCurrent
Schoenstatt Father; led the new-church capital campaign and dedication.