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85th Anniversary Events
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Prayer to St. William of Vercelli (San Guglielmo da Vercelli)
O God, who called your servant
St. William to the solitary life of prayer and sacrifice, grant that through his intercession, we may seek you with a sincere heart, and follow you more faithfully each day.
By the example of his holiness, may we grow in humility, perseverance, and love for the Cross of Christ. Strengthen us to live lives of virtue and service, trusting always in your mercy and grace.
St. William, pray for us.
Amen.
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Starlight Gala
Celebrating 85 Years
Thursday, May 1
Banquet Hall
6 pm - 10 pm
Prayer & Music
Feast of St. Cecilia
Saturday, Nov. 22
6:30 pm- St. William Catholic Church
Hosted by the Music Ministries
of St. William
Watch live >>
Anniversary Mass
of the Dedication of St. William
Monday, December 1
6 pm - St. William Catholic ChurchCelebrated by Bishop Daniel E. Garcia1st Class Relic of St. William of Vercelli
On this 85th anniversary of St. William Parish, we are blessed to call our parish home to a first-class relic of our patron saint, St. William of Vercelli. If you would like to venerate the relic, it is housed in the display case in the Narthex.
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History of St. William:The Beginning of St. William:
Francisco Carlin came to Round Rock in 1900 from San Diego de Alejandria in the State of Jalisco. To protect the Faith against religious sects who conducted their services under the trees of the limestone kiln, Mr. Carlin went to Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Austin and requested that a priest be sent to Round Rock once a month to say Mass. He promised protection and his home as a meeting place, where the priest could spend the night and celebrate Mass. The first Mass there was celebrated in 1916 by Father Walter O'Donnell, a Holy Cross priest. The liturgy was celebrated at the Carlin home until 1939.
In that year, the purchase of 18 acres of land was approved by Bishop C.E. Byrne, Bishop of Galveston. Five acres were kept for a church site and 13 acres were sold and divided into lots. The Catholic Church Extension Society offered $1,500 to help build a church if it were agreed to name it Saint William Catholic Church, in honor of Archbishop William O'Brien, head of the Society. The Hispanic community did not particularly like the name, since they had promised years ago that if a church were ever built, it would be named Sacred Heart. They agreed to the Saint William naming, however, when they learned that their church would actually be built. The church was dedicated in 1940. -
Share your St. William story
We invite you to share your stories and memories with us as we begin this time of celebration.
Below is a form where you can share these memories
Share your memories >>