Dec. 2: The Office of Social Justice and Multicultural Engagement will host a series of gatherings to discuss the most pertinent objectives and action items are for the Black apostolate of the Diocese of Austin. These gatherings take place on the first Tuesday of the month. 

Details: www.austindiocese.org/regional-plan-of-action-for-black-ministry.

Dec. 5-7: Cedarbrake Catholic Retreat Center will host a Silent Advent Retreat.  This retreat is a time to reflect on a few talks by Father Harry Dean and Brian Egan. Come encounter God in silence through the Mass, Eucharistic adoration and the sacrament of reconciliation. The costs are $310 for a private room, $265 for a shared room and $165 for commuters.

Dec. 6: The Diocese of Austin will host its 13th annual celebration in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The celebration begins at 8 a.m. at St. Mary Cathedral in Austin. The procession will move through the streets of Austin, concluding with Mass at 10 a.m. at San José Parish in Austin. Lunch will be offered at San José after the Mass.

Details: austindiocese.org/olg-celebration.

Dec. 6: Father Kevin Rai leads Marian Mornings on first Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon at St. Elizabeth Parish in Pflugerville. The morning includes Mass, teaching, prayer time, silence and time for the sacrament of reconciliation.

Dec. 6: St. John Neumann Parish in Austin hosts a Mass for Vocations at 8:45 a.m. on the first Saturday of each month.

Dec. 6: St. Mary Church of the Assumption in Waco hosts a Mass and Holy Hour for Vocations on the first Saturday of each month at 9 a.m. All are welcome.

Dec. 6: Gifts Discernment, a day retreat, will be offered from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Mercy of God Prayer Center on the campus of St. Thomas More Parish in Austin. Come learn the gifts you have been blessed with, and the many ways to use those gifts. Cost is $45. 

Details: email mogpc81@gmail.com or visit mogpc.org/programs (click retreats).

Dec. 6: St. John Neumann Parish in Austin will host an Austin Brass Collective Christmas Concert at 7 p.m. in the church. Kick off the holiday season with joyful sounds from trumpets, trombones, tubas and percussion. The concert will feature festive favorites like “Sleigh Ride” and music from Home Alone. Bring the whole family. A reception in Morris Hall will follow.

Dec. 6: All are invited to make a pilgrimage to The Marian Shrine of Our Lady of Schoenstatt and pray the rosary by candlelight at 7:30 p.m. The rosary will include meditations, songs, and end with a short candlelight procession.

Plan to stay afterward for refreshments and social time.

Dec. 6-7: Eagle's Wings Retreat Center in Burnet will offer Joyful Expectation, a women's Advent retreat. During the busy holiday season, women 18 and older are invited to this overnight retreat with talks by Megan Copeland to rediscover the joy of waiting during the Advent season. The retreat is $125 and includes an overnight stay with meals, Mass, adoration and much more. 

Details: ewrc.org/joyful-expectation.

Dec. 7: The Men's Ministry of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Austin will present Guadalupe Fest from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event features more than 20 vendors in celebration of Christmas. The ministry will offer breakfast in the morning and lunch plates from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. 

Details: contact Leo DeLaGarza at Leo.delagarza@bbtrails.org or (512) 750-8028.

Dec. 11: St. John Neumann Parish in Austin will host a Lessons and Carols Service at 7 p.m. in the church. This is a solemn and beautiful service of Scripture and song, led by the St. John Neumann choir. A reception in Morris Hall will follow.

Dec. 13-14: A special collection for retired clergy and religious will be taken up in parishes. Gifts to this collection provide medications, nursing care and more for retired clergy and religious.

Dec. 20: St. John Parish in Fayetteville hosts a Holy Hour for Vocations on the third Saturday of each month following the 7:30 a.m. Mass. All are welcome.

Dec. 24: Diocesan offices will be closed Dec. 24-Jan. 2 for the Christmas holidays.

Dec. 27-28: Parishes in the diocese will take up the Feast of the Holy Family special collection, which 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.

Jan. 1: Join thousands throughout the diocese for 33 days of preparation prayer for Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary. The prayers begin on Feb. 20 and are done privately using the preparation book. 

Visit www.TexasToJesusThroughMary.org by Jan. 18 to receive a free copy of the Montfort preparation prayer book in the mail.

Jan. 17-19: A three-day retreat for young adults entitled TEC (Together Encounter Christ) will be offered at Eagle’s Wings Retreat Center in Burnet. The retreat is centered on the Paschal Mystery of Jesus, and welcomes young adults into a greater community focused on living the faith.

Details: tecofctx.wordpress.com.

Jan. 17: The Diocese of Austin will host its annual Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration at 11 a.m. at St. Austin Parish in Austin. Honoring MLK Jr.'s legacy, this event promotes social justice, civil rights, diversity and freedom. All are invited to this morning of prayer and a light reception.

Details: austindiocese.org/mlk-commemoration.

Jan. 17: Registration is now open for the 2026 Saints & Scholars, Celebrating Catholic Schools event from 6 to 9 p.m. This annual dinner celebrates Catholic education in the diocese while honoring the unsung heroes at each of our Catholic schools and raising funds that are returned to each school in support of their tuition assistance programs for students and families. 

Details: csdatx.org/2026gala.

Jan. 24: Texas Catholic Pro-Life Day is a time to pray for an end to abortion and a restoration of the dignity of human life. Masses for Life will be celebrated at San José Parish in Austin and St. Louis King of France Parish in Austin. The rosary will be prayed at 9 a.m., and Mass will follow at 10 a.m. Then all are invited to the March and Rally for Life from 1 to 4 p.m. at the State Capitol.

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

Jan. 30-Feb. 1: The annual Diocesan Catholic Youth Conference will be held at the Waco Convention Center. This year’s theme is Marvelous Things. High schoolers can register with their parish youth minister.

Details: austindiocese.org/dcyc.

Feb. 7: St. John Neumann Parish in Austin will host a women's retreat entitled The Gift of Mary and Martha from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Women are invited to come find rest, reflection and renewal and they explore the lives of Mary and Martha. Learn more about the gift of balance between stillness and service and listening and doing. 

Details: sjnaustin.org/womens-retreat.

Feb. 20: St. John Vianney Parish in Round Rock will host an Organ Dedication Concert at 7 p.m. The concert will feature guest organist Geoffrey Waite who will premier the parish’s new Virtual Pipe Organ powered by Hauptwerk software.