St. Austin Parish campus.

As. Fr. Chuck mentioned in his column on Pentecost Sunday, we have received permission from the Diocese of Austin to proceed with our major development project. With a new birth for our parish and school, St. Austin will continue to be a vibrant spiritual presence on Guadalupe Street and in the city of Austin.

The parish has a long history of renovation, rebuilding and renovating space for all the parish educational and spiritual activities. It all began in the fall of 1908 when the Paulists began an active campaign for funds over the State and in Austin. The Rev. Michael P. Smith, CSP, began the work of establishing a center of missionary activity for the Catholic men and women at the University of Texas. The Paulists purchased the property at 21st and Guadalupe from Mr. Sam Fisher for $7,000. A year later, work on the chapel was begun.

Through the years, many capital campaigns were initiated for additional building projects and land purchases. Some of these included:

•  Purchase of two small houses on San Antonio Street for the Newman Catholic School in 1917

• School was renamed St. Austin Catholic School in 1941 and the present school building was built in 1953

• Summer 1982 – parish purchased Newman Hall and continued to operate it as a University women’s residence hall for several years

• Parish Improvement Fund (PIF) began in the fall of 1983 for several objectives – retirement of Newman Hall debt and finish construction of the gym/parish center

• Parish plan, 2000 – parking, expansion and renovation of St. Austin School, expand Hecker Hall and renovate Newman Hall, expand the courtyard

• Built of Living Stones capital campaign – parking structure and priests’ residence

We’re on our way to another major development of the St. Austin Parish campus.