A Message from our Pastor

Dear Saint William Parishioners,

 
I greet you with the love and peace of Christ, hoping this letter finds you well. I write to you today with a heart full of gratitude for the unwavering support and dedication you continually show to our parish community. Your faithfulness and commitment to our shared mission inspire me daily, and I am blessed to serve alongside you in our journey of faith.

In May 2021, during a time of prayer, the Lord placed on my heart the possibility of having a school at St. William. I felt some initial resistance, but the Lord kept inviting me to move forward. I met with Bishop Joe Vásquez and was given permission to move forward with a feasibility study beginning with the parish. After bringing the possibility of the school to the Pastoral and Finance Councils we decided to move forward with building a school team to help discern and prepare for the survey. 
 
From January 27, 2024 - February 15, 2024, we conducted the School Interest Survey to gauge interest and support for a Catholic Classical school at St. William, one that would provide faith-based education to our children, to nurture their faith, and to lay a strong foundation for their future. I want to thank each of you who participated in the survey, shared your thoughts, and offered your prayers for this potential project.
 
Since the completion of the survey, the data has been compiled, the parish school team along with Misty Poe, the Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Austin, have since met and reviewed the data. Our findings were that while there is a desire for a school, that desire was not overwhelming. Furthermore, more than 50% of those who completed the survey were uncertain if they would financially support a school. Some of the factors contributing to this uncertainty included the economy, wanting to learn more about the curriculum, our parish debt, and a few others. I want you to know that while I do believe a school would be good for St. William, your voices have been heard. 
 
The results of the survey revealed that, while there is significant interest for Catholic education within our community, we are not yet in a position to move forward with the school at this time. This outcome is a reminder that every good work requires careful discernment and, sometimes, waiting on the Lord’s perfect timing.

Our role in educating and forming our children in the faith remains as vital as ever. We may not have the physical structure of a school right now, but we have the opportunity as a parish family to renew our commitment to living out the Gospel, teaching our children by example, and fostering a deep sense of faith and community—and ultimately forming missionary disciples in the truth.
 
As a parish, we need to support our parents in their role as the primary teachers of the faith to their children. Our parish offers a variety of programs that are already making a difference in the lives of our young ones and their parents alike, beginning with our growing Early Childhood Development Center that serves families with children ages 2-5 years. From our vibrant religious education classes, which teach the foundations of our faith, to our youth ministry programs that engage our teenagers in meaningful service and fellowship, we are actively working to build a strong, faith-filled future for our children.
 
Additionally, our marriage and family life ministry provides opportunities for parents and guardians to grow in their own faith and to find support and encouragement as they navigate the joys and challenges of raising children in today’s world. By participating in these programs, we strengthen not only our individual families but the entire parish community.
 
I encourage each of you to stay engaged, to continue supporting these vital ministries, and to share your gifts and talents with our parish. Together, we can ensure that our mission to educate and form our families in the faith continues, even as we discern future opportunities for growth.
 
Thank you for your continued support, your prayers, and your dedication to our parish family. I am confident that, with God’s grace, we will continue to build a strong, vibrant, and faith-filled community that nurtures and supports our families in every way.

 
May God bless you and your loved ones.
 
 
Ad Jesum per Mariam,
 
 
 
Fr. Francisco Rodriguez III 
Pastor