Father Barry Cuba, the spiritual advisor of ACC Catholic and associate pastor of St. Theresa Parish in Austin, celebrated Mass to kick off the new ministry in August. In his homily, he recalled the time he spent as a student at ACC. “I loved being there among all the students, I learned a lot about life and myself,” he said.

Elizabeth McAlonan, the Young Adult Outreach Associate for the Diocese of Austin, said the Holy Spirit had a hand in the timing of the new ministry. A few years ago, the Encountering Christ Capital Campaign provided the funds necessary to start this endeavor, but the pandemic put the ministry on hold. This year as ACC returned to on-campus learning, ACC Catholic was launched.

“Our purpose with ACC Catholic is to ensure that all college students, particularly our community college students, have the opportunity to grow in their faith, to encounter the Lord, and to build community with each other,” McAlonan said.

While the diocese is blessed by “a rich tradition and history of campus ministry” in the large four-year universities within its borders (the University of Texas, Texas A&M, Texas State and Baylor), there is a need for a college campus ministry at ACC.

“We don’t want anyone to fall through the cracks,” McAlonan said.

With more than 10 campuses in Austin and surrounding areas, students commuting to class without lingering on campus and no central campus ministry center, ministry at ACC requires a slightly different approach.

As Father Cuba explained, “This is not waiting for people to come to us … this is us going out to people.”

SPO missionaries Cassady Detrick and Erin Quiroz drive to the ACC campuses to make connections and establish friendships with students. For now, Detrick and Quiroz are most active at the Highland and Round Rock campuses, which have a lot of foot traffic. But all ACC students are welcome, no matter their location.

Recently, Detrick and Quiroz attended adoration with two ACC students at St. Louis Parish in Austin. As Detrick prayed, she thought to herself, “Wow, God, you have people for us, people who actually want to be in relationship with you.”

Diana Cruz-Arzate, a second-year electrical engineering student at ACC who attended adoration with the group, sought out the ministry after her closest friend at ACC transferred to the University of Texas.

Cruz-Arzate said ACC Catholic provides an atmosphere for her to “grow in faith” and share about her struggles. “I’m not alone anymore,” she said.

The same sentiment was echoed by David Keener, who is studying English at ACC. “I’m not alone,” he said. Though he often encounters “anti-religious rhetoric” in public, Keener finds the ACC Catholic community “reassuring.”

Quiroz said the future of ACC Catholic is bright.

“This whole initiative with the diocese has really opened up my heart and my eyes,” she said. “I just love these people already.”

Father Cuba said ACC Catholic also provides ministry to people who sometimes have difficulty finding their place in the church — people whose lives may not follow the expected trajectory of high school to college to marriage to raising children.

Also, many ACC students are already applying to transfer to other schools, so Quiroz and Detrick encourage the students to seek out community at their next school.

The missionaries want to make sure students are in good hands as they continue their education, Quiroz said.

Currently, Quiroz and Detrick each lead small groups for female ACC students. These ministries mingle with other SPO ministries and include some Texas State students.

ACC Catholic is planning monthly events, and they hope to start a Bible study or men’s small group soon. ACC students are also invited to attend the upcoming Fan into Flame retreat Feb. 7-9.

Find more information about ACC Catholic at www.austindiocese.org/acc.