Dec. 2: The diocesan celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe will begin with a gathering at 7:30 a.m. at St. Mary Cathedral in Austin. At 8 a.m. participants will process to San José Parish in Austin, where the rosary will be prayed and Mass will begin at 10:30 a.m.

Details: www.austindiocese.org/olg-celebration.

Dec. 8: Diocesan offices will be closed for the feast of the Immaculate Conception, which is a holy day of obligation.

Dec. 9-10: A special collection for Retired Clergy and Religious will be taken up in diocesan parishes. Gifts to this collection help provide medications, nursing care and more for our religious sisters and brothers and priests who are retired.

Dec. 11-15: Austin Caritas is a five-day mission in Austin organized by the Schoenstatt Movement of Austin and by UT students. The mission collaborates with local charities in the city, serving the homeless, visiting the elderly and families in need, and hosting community events. Anyone between the ages of 18 and 24 is welcome to join. Register at www.austincaritas.com.

Dec. 13-15: Father Greg Gerhart, the diocesan vocations director, will offer the Heart of Jesus: A Discernment Retreat for Men. The retreat will include time for prayer, spiritual conferences on discernment and vocations, and opportunities to speak with priests, seminarians and other men discerning their vocation. The retreat is open to single men who are 18-49 years old. Seniors in high school are also invited. The cost of the retreat is $35.

Details: austinvocations.com or call (512) 949-2519.

Dec. 17-19: Holy Cross Parish in Austin will host their annual 2023 Advent Revival. Times are Sunday at 6 p.m. and Monday and Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. A Penance Service will be offered on Monday, and Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday. Father Vernon F. Hughley of St. Peter the Apostle Parish in the Diocese of Birmingham will be the guest speaker. Each evening after his presentation, dinner will be served. All are welcome!

Dec. 25 – Jan. 1: Diocesan offices will be closed for the Christmas holidays.

Dec. 25: The feast of the Nativity, a holy day of obligation.

Dec. 29: On the last Friday of each month, there is a Candlelight Rosary at the Marian Shrine of Our Lady of Schoenstatt in Austin. This rosary will include songs, meditations, and candles.

Details: schoenstatt-austin.us or email info@schoenstatt.us.

Dec. 30-31: The Feast of the Holy Family special collection supports the Annunciation Maternity Home in Georgetown, Our Lady of the Angels Maternity Shelter in Temple and the diocesan Office of Life, Marriage and Family. Throughout Central Texas there are maternity homes, foster care programs and adoption services that help expectant mothers, children in need and entire families. These important services and programs provide much needed assistance and promote our Catholic values of respecting all human life. Please be generous in your support of this most worthy cause.

Jan. 1: The feast of Mary, the Mother of God is celebrated; the obligation to attend Mass is abrogated.

Jan. 13-15: TEC (Together Encounter Christ), a three-day retreat centered on the Paschal Mystery of Jesus, will be held at Eagle’s Wings Retreat Center in Burnet. This is a weekend of prayer, reflections/talks, group discussions, personal reflections, recreation, live music and activities.

Details: tecofctx.wordpress.com.

Jan. 13: The Diocese of Austin will host a commemoration of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at 11 a.m.

Details: (512) 949-2449.

Jan. 13: 2024 Saints & Scholars, Celebrating Catholic Schools will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency in Austin.

Details: csdatx.org or call (512) 949-2439.

Jan. 15: Diocesan offices will be closed for the Martin Luther King holiday.

Jan. 18: In Fatima, Our Lady said, "My Immaculate Heart will be your refuge and the way that will lead you to God." Please join us for 33 days of preparation prayer for Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary. The prayers begin on Feb. 20 and are done privately using a preparation book. Visit www.TexasToJesusThroughMary.org by Jan. 18 to receive a free copy of the Montfort preparation prayer book, which will be mailed.

Jan. 21: Called By Name Sunday.

Details: austinvocations.com.

Jan. 27: Texas Catholic Pro-Life Day will be held at the State Capitol.

Details: www.austindiocese.org/texas-catholic-pro-life-day.

Feb. 2-4: The Diocesan Catholic Youth Conference will be held in Waco. High schoolers can register with their parish youth minister.

Details: www.austindiocese.org/dcyc.

Feb. 3-9: An interactive Eucharistic Miracle Exhibit will be held at St. William Parish Evangelization Center in Round Rock. Families and people of all ages are invited to come and learn how Jesus shines his light on his true presence in the Eucharist with Eucharistic miracles.

Details: email mkirking@hotmail.com or visit st-william.org/eucharistic-miracles-exhibit.