The latest guidance for parishes from Bishop Vasquez of the Diocese of Austin may be found on the Diocese website.

In a continuing effort to create a welcoming and safe environment at St. Theresa Catholic Church there are several things we ask you to consider and remember:

• Face Masks are strongly encouraged at Mass.

• Those with pre-existing conditions or who are immunity compromised should remain home.  Any person who is ill should remain at home. 

• Please allow the hospitality ministers to find you a seat when you arrive, and please wait for them to usher you out of the building at the end of worship.

• Late comers will be asked to remain in the narthex until the hospitality minister can seat them.  This will be done only during the Responsorial Psalm.

• The pews in the narthex are reserved for families with infants and small children.  Please respect their needs.

• At Holy Communion everyone must come forward to receive the Eucharist or a blessing.  This prevents having to pass in front of other parishioners in the pews.

• Please remember not to gather in the narthex either before or after Mass.

• While we do sing at Mass, we have not yet resumed full congregational music participation at the direction of the diocese.

• Once seated, please remain in that designated space in order to maintain social distance. Moving about in the sanctuary should be avoided if possible.

Parish COVID-19 Updates

May 1, 2020

Letter from the pastor, Rev. Larry Covington, regarding the return to public Mass.

Dear St. Theresa family,

I'm coming to you with news about the re-opening of public worship.  Bishop Vasquez has decreed that mass will be offered to the public (with limitations) beginning next Tuesday.  The weekend schedule is being determined and that information will be available before the middle of next week. 

When I say: “with limitations,” that concerns the number of people allowed in the building.  We are instructed to block-off every other pew.  This automatically decreases our seating by one half. Add to that the requirement that we space ourselves (families excluded) by six feet and our seating is significantly reduced.  We estimate room for about 130 people.  The Bishop encourages people to choose daily mass as an alternative.
 
Anyone who has any health concerns or who feels that they cannot return at this time are encouraged to stay home and join the mass online.  Certainly, no one should attend who feels in any way unwell.  The Bishop is continuing his dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass until further decree. 
 
While we are making every effort to provide Mass for the community in the church and the gym (if we can get enough volunteers) there is no way we can forecast the numbers who may attend. Regrettably the limitation of seating means that people may arrive and find the building(s) at capacity and be turned away.  We are begging people to be charitable and reasonable when this happens.
 
The Masses will not be the usual “St. Theresa experience” due to exigencies.  Certain procedures and protocol designed for the well-being of all, means that we cannot linger in the narthex to visit before or after worship.  We will continue to forgo the use of holy water, any holding of hands, and the sign of peace.  The hymnals will be removed, and we will rely on our worship aids which you will take home.  The offering will be placed in boxes during communion.  Communion will be offered in the hand or by mouth according to the dictates of Canon Law. Please be prepared to be flexible and I will bring you more information and specifics as I figure them out!
 
Pray for a smooth and joyful re-opening.

Grace and Peace,
Fr. Larry
 

April 30, 2020

Beginning May 5, the Diocese of Austin will, in phases, allow for the public celebration of Mass in its 127 parishes. Click on this link to see the Bishop's letter and decree issued April 30th.

March 17, 2020

March 17, 2020,  1:30 p.m.

From Fr. Larry

Dear parishioners,

Be aware that by law, beginning today, we may no longer have gatherings of more than ten people in the City of Austin.  With that I am cancelling the daily Masses as of today. We are also cancelling the 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Stations of the Cross. Stations can still be prayed in the church or along the trail on your own during normal business hours. Books for Stations of the Cross are available in the narthex.

Confessions will still be heard on Saturday at the usual time of 4 p.m.

We are fully prepared to offer a video of the Sunday Mass this weekend. The Evangelization department is preparing online material and resources for ongoing religious education. Chase Crouse who directs our youth ministry will be offering online support for our teens as well as video resources. Interim principal Rachel Eckert is doing the same with our school.

Our Lord is still very much with us as he promised at the end of Matthew’s gospel.
Let us continue to pray for our community and a rapid end to this health crises.

Grace and peace,
Fr. Larry