History

2000-2006: Being refounded

Parishioners built the altar, ambo, and confessional screen while acquiring numerous other items our church needed. Our “church on wheels” took form. The weekly setting up and tearing down became a ministry. Although each week there was a scheduled crew assigned to this task, everyone stacked a few chairs or gathered some books when the last Mass was over. We all worked together to accomplish whatever was needed. When a baptism occurred, Fr. Andy would gather the child in his arms and promenade around the room, showing off like a proud grandparent. We became a family.
 
Within the first year we needed more space, so our parish moved to Dessau Middle School. In order to serve our Spanish-speaking parishioners, Deacon Joe Trujillo came to us. Our Spanish Mass and Hispanic ministries began. After two years, we rented space for offices in the Pflugerville Office Park (POP). This was a huge step for us. We established not only an office but a chapel as well. We expanded our ministries and started our own religious education program. We shared in Bible studies and church missions. Our family grew. While at Dessau Middle School, we negotiated to buy land on Dessau Road. But God had other plans in store. The street where our church was to have been built is still named “St. Patrick Place.” We continued looking for a location where the sanctuary and offices could be under one roof and finally found rental space at the E. Howard Lane location which is now today Legacy Academy. Our “church on wheels” had a place to park for a while, but the search for a permanent place to call home continued. Great food was always part of our parish identity. Now, we had a kitchen, which made things much easier. It was still lacking a stove and the refrigerator was small, but it was a step in the right direction.
 
Deacon Joe took a sabbatical, but we were blessed to have Deacon Marc Washburne join us. This soft-spoken man was full of faith and enthusiasm. He fit right in with our parish family.
 
Fr. Andy was our spiritual leader, our father, our brother, and our friend. He fed our hungry congregation with the spiritual food we needed. Chances are, if you talked to him before Mass, you or some member of your family would end up as part of his homily. He was always smiling, easygoing and filled with faith. He was the spirit of our parish.

2006 - 2012: Challenges and Successes

In February 2006, Fr. Andy was diagnosed with cancer. He called it “a bump in the road” but it was a tough blow to our parish family. While dealing with the illness of our pastor, we also had the uncertainty of our future home. Fr. Andy announced that a move to Hutto was one possibility being considered by the diocese. Fr. Keith Koehl was named as the pastor who would guide us through the transition to our new home.
 
After a brave struggle, Fr. Andy passed away on August 8, 2006. Our family grieved. We will be forever grateful that God sent us Fr. Keith Koehl in our hour of need. He helped us heal, move forward, and be joyful once again. Just a few years later, on June 17, 2011, Jeri passed away.
 
The official announcement from the diocese in 2007 that we were indeed moving to Hutto sparked new growth for the parish. Our clergy grew with the addition of Deacon Allen Desorcie and Deacon Gumie Gonzales. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on December 16, 2007 at 2500 Limmer Loop and the Most Rev. Gregory Aymond, Bishop of Austin, was our special guest. We built a multipurpose facility on nineteen acres of land for the new additions to our family. The Dedication Mass was held on August 24, 2008, which was also declared "St. Patrick Catholic Church Day" by Hutto Mayor David F. Begier. Our parish grew to over 550 families in the first year in Hutto.
 
Father Keith announced in June 2011 that, after much prayer and reflection, he would join the faculty of Holy Trinity Seminary in Dallas in January 2012, after taking a fall sabbatical. Moving from St. Julia in East Austin, Fr. Chris Ferrer was named our new pastor and joined our family in July 2011. Deacon Allen moved to a different parish, and Deacon Ken Ryan joined the parish in July.
 
Fr. Chris also serves the diocese as the Judicial Vicar in the Canonical and Tribunal Offices, and on July 2, 2012, this became his sole focus. Fr. Pedro Garcia-Ramirez and his associate pastors, Fr. Steve Sauser and Fr. Paul Hudson, all serving St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish in Pflugerville, would also now serve St. Patrick Parish. In addition, Deacon Ken Ryan moved to Santa Rosa Parish in Andice and Deacon Marc Washburne returned to St. Patrick. Deacon Marc moved away a short time later to be closer to his grandchildren.

2013 - 2020: Moving forward and future clergy

In June 2013, the diocese announced that Fr. Pedro would be leaving and replaced by the Very Rev. Michael O'Connor as pastor and Rev. Jim Deaconson as Parochial Vicar for St. Patrick. Deacon Harold Eskew came to us during this time, as well, and later retired.
 
In April 2014, we were blessed with announcement that Fr. Adrian Chishimba would be coming to St. Patrick as our new leader. Ordained in 2010, Fr. Adrian comes with a wise mind and a gentle, loving heart. He has endeared himself to the family of St. Patrick and we treasure the years we had with Fr. Adrian as our shepherd. 
 
Through all of these changes and struggles, Deacon Gumie remained steadfast in his support of our parish family, despite the medical challenges going on in his own family, and we are so thankful for him. In 2016, Deacon Gumie Gonzales retired, and Deacon Bob van Til was ordained and assigned to our parish.

The summer of 2019 brought with it new leadership in the gentle soul of Fr. Brian Eilers. Prior to his ordination, he was a student at Texas A&M University, a missionary with NET Ministries, and a counselor at The Pines Catholic Camp. Fr. Brian was ordained June 12, 2004. His last assignment in our Diocese of Austin was as campus minister at Texas State University in San Marcos. In 2013, he was appointed to the formation team at St. Mary's Seminary in Houston, where he served as a Vice-Rector of the Seminary, before coming to St. Patrick Parish in 2019.

In October of 2019, we added a Spanish Mass on Sunday afternoon. It has truly been a joy to see our Spanish-speaking brothers and sisters come together as a vibrant community to serve here.
 
The spring of 2020 brought the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, which fundamentally changed how we minister to each other as a parish. Fr. Brian led with a vision to live-stream our Masses, evangelize using social media with family rosaries and devotionals, and build a network of neighborhood leaders to connect with families throughout our parish. We shifted to Zoom meetings for everything, and began remote Religious Education, with the parents teaching their children at home, mentored by catechists. Fr. Brian brought Alpha, Teams of Our Lady, Marriage Preparation Mentors, and Discipleship Quads to our parish, as well. While many other parishes suffered a decline in engagement and offertory, St. Patrick grew. 

2021 - Present: Going Forward

In the spring of 2021, Bishop Vásquez called on Fr. Brian to shepherd another parish, and ever-faithful, he accepted the call. God always provides, and he has blessed us with Fr. Paul-Michael Piega, S.T.L., a young, energetic priest who has served at Santa Cruz in Buda, St. Albert the Great in North Austin and at St. Mary's Catholic Student Center at Texas A&M University in College Station. Fr. Piega was a student at Texas A&M University and heard the call to the priesthood during a silent retreat. He entered seminary and studied in Louisiana and Rome, Italy. Fr. Piega comes to us at a crucial turning point in our history as we continue to experience rapid growth in our community and faith family.

We, the parishioners of St. Patrick Parish, truly feel guided by the Holy Spirit. He continues to bring together a diverse group of people who are growing as a family. He teaches us to pray, love, and serve. Although the path has sometimes been unclear, our faith remains unshakable. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). Moreover, we also look forward to fulfilling our facilities vision together of "Building Disciple Families for the Ages!" Feel free to view our long-term campus master plan by clicking here.

As such, our faith family’s story continues as a parish who began with humble beginnings. Therefore we invite you to be on mission with us which is to walk with Jesus Christ and us as a family striving for holiness and as we respond to the universal commission of Jesus to "go and make disciples!"