Ten years ago, Father Mark Hamlet established “Our Kids at Heart,” a nonprofit aimed at accelerating the growth of Catholic schools through Catholic school tuition assistance for the underserved members of the Diocese of Austin.

Our Catholic schools recently welcomed more than 5,400 students for the new academic year. As superintendent, I am excited to be a part of another great school year, and I look forward to seeing how the Holy Spirit will move and work in and through our school communities. Our theme for the 2023-2024 school year, “Follow me as I follow Christ,” points to the core of our mission in Catholic education, to bring people to Christ and Christ to people. As we begin another year, we are also invited to reflect on how Catholic schools continue responding to the great commission of Jesus — to go and make disciples.

Catholic schools educate students of all faiths; in fact, in the Diocese of Austin, nearly 20% of the student population in our Catholic schools is non-Catholic. When a family chooses Catholic education for their children, even if they are not Catholic, they understand that the faith is not only taught but also lived in our schools.

Bryan’s St. Joseph Catholic High School Lady Eagle track and field team earned state championship honors in the Texas Associate of Private and Parochial School (TAPPS) 2A competition on May 6 in Hewitt. Although the school has produced many sports teams that have entered post-season play, this is the first team in the school’s history to win a state title.

Father Jakob Hurlimann, formerly associate pastor of St. Mary Cathedral in Austin and now associate pastor of St. Mary Catholic Center in College Station, hosted the ninth installment of 60 Seconds with the Eucharist, which recently aired on the diocesan Facebook channel. He said when we approach the minister to receive the Eucharist, and we hear the words, “The Body of Christ,” there are three things we recognize:

It was August of 1896 when St. Mary’s Catholic School opened in Taylor with 80 students under the tutelage of Dominican Sisters. It’s the oldest private school in Williamson County, and this year it is celebrating a big milestone: the first graduating class since 1966. The whole community is celebrating this milestone and the four young men who make up the class.

Every year, Catholic schools in the Diocese of Austin adopt a distinctive theme to be a pillar for the community for that specific year. For the 2022-2023 academic year, “Joyful Disciples” is the theme that has invited us to reflect, act and teach in such a way that is uniquely experienced in our schools.

Thanks to interest earned from an endowment trust established 30 years ago, St. Joseph Catholic School’s operating expenses are offset each year. “The driving force behind the original endowment was to have financial support for the school to ensure it would survive any financial crisis and still be able to provide a Catholic education in our community,” said Julia Mishler, principal of both the elementary and secondary campuses in Bryan.

This school year marks the 125th anniversary of St. Mary’s Catholic School in Temple. Principal Theresa Wyles said while there have been many changes over the years, the school’s core Catholic values have created an enduring legacy.

Joyful Disciples is the theme for Catholic education in the Austin Diocese this year, and a Bryan family exemplifies this joy at St. Joseph Catholic School. Members of St. Joseph Parish, Martha and Richard Johnson are the parents of four students, who are in the third, sixth, 10th and 12th grades. While growing up, Martha attended Catholic elementary school.

As the school year moves into overdrive with hectic schedules and more stress on students and parents, two groups of moms at Holy Family Catholic School and St. Dominic Savio High School in Austin are meeting regularly to build community, build their prayer lives and build their bodies.

Maria Almaraz and Pedro Guzman are the parents of five children, and four of them are school age. They want their children to attend a school that offers both academic excellence and an environment that supports their Catholic faith, morals and values. Like many parents, they believe Catholic education is the best choice.

“Hope for the Future: Partnership Program with Parishes” is one of more than 150 informative and inspiring sessions that will strengthen the commitment of Catholic school educators to their ministry.

Saints and Scholars, the annual celebration of Catholic schools in the Diocese of Austin, was held Jan. 22 at the Hyatt Regency Town Lake in Austin.

When Jeanne Lyman became a fourth-grade teacher at Holy Family Catholic School in Austin 18 years ago, a freckled, pigtailed Lizzie Laster was in her class. She was a good student, respectful, polite and always smiling. While quiet in the classroom, Lizzie showed a boisterous side outdoors. Neither student nor teacher could have imagined that one day they would be back in fourth grade teaching together in the same school.

One day they said simply, “yes” and everything changed. Erin and Phong Vu never could have imagined the life that would unfold from accepting the invitation to teaching with the Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE).

The first time I pondered a potential religious vocation was in first grade, during a school assembly. We had been asked to share what we wanted to be when we grew up, and I was having trouble deciding between becoming a Dallas Cowboys’ Cheerleader or a nun. When my turn came, I announced my plans to cheer for the Cowboys, and the thought of religious life didn’t resurface until several years later.

Although uncertainty due to the pandemic continues, the Catholic schools in the Austin Diocese are ex-cited to welcome students back. “The schools are working hard to ensure that students, faculty and staff return to a safe and nurturing environ-ment, just as they did last year,” said Misty Poe, superintendent of Catholic schools for the Diocese of Austin.Going forward in hope, gratitude and optimism, diocesan Catholic schools reflect this year’s theme, “Christ makes all things new.” Enrollment has increased with the total number of students up by 256 over last year. Additionally, 130 new school employees across the diocese have joined other faculty and staff.

The Diocese of Austin’s new as-sistant superintendent of Catholic Schools, Kelly Laster, has more than 20 years’ experience in Catholic education, with a track record of excellence in the classroom and as an administrator.“We are excited to welcome Mrs. Laster to our team. She brings a great wealth of knowledge and passion for curriculum, instruction, and the accreditation process. Her gifts and talents will be a great asset,” said Misty Poe, superintendent of Catholic Schools.