Yesterday, I went on a short tour of South Austin in the context of the Congregation of Holy Cross. I met Fr. John Korcsmar, CSC, the provincial of the CSC’s Southern Province at the Provincial House off of South Congress.
First, he took me to this area near South 2nd and Live Oak. I could find it again in a car but cannot remember the actual streets. Holy Cross founded three parishes in the area- Holy Family, a now-defunct African-American parish, San Jose, a Hispanic parish and St. Ignatius, a standard run-of-a-mill parish. The old parish hall for Holy Family was still standing. The concept was to found three parishes and over time, the “ethnic” parishes would cease to have a purpose after the immigrants became more “American.” This is the path that Holy Family took.
A couple of blocks down the street, he took me to the original San Jose parish church. The building is now being used for worship by an Orthodox church.
Our next stop was the current San Jose. San Jose Catholic Church is a huge campus. A large church, a community center, a high school, an office, the old church (now a parish hall?). There are signs at the end of the city streets saying “End City Maintenance” marking where the campus begins. San Jose is now under the leadership of Diocesan priests. CSC has a strong relationship with the school as some of the teachers are of the Congregation.
He took notice that from the parking lot of San Jose, you can see both St. Ignatius and St. Edwards University.
We drove to St. Edwards’ Campus Ministry office and I listened in on a meeting between Fr. Rick, CSC- the campus minister, and Fr. John. Interesting stuff going on.
We continued to Dolores Parish. It is quite a distance away from our previous stops but we had an interesting discussion of the history of the area including the involvement of the parish with the community.
It appears that Holy Cross, as is true of any religious order, does do some good work. So far, I do not feel a strong attraction towards them. I have investigated them for a short while now and I simply do not feel a longing towards what they provide. It was an enjoyable tour nonetheless.
First, he took me to this area near South 2nd and Live Oak. I could find it again in a car but cannot remember the actual streets. Holy Cross founded three parishes in the area- Holy Family, a now-defunct African-American parish, San Jose, a Hispanic parish and St. Ignatius, a standard run-of-a-mill parish. The old parish hall for Holy Family was still standing. The concept was to found three parishes and over time, the “ethnic” parishes would cease to have a purpose after the immigrants became more “American.” This is the path that Holy Family took.
A couple of blocks down the street, he took me to the original San Jose parish church. The building is now being used for worship by an Orthodox church.
Our next stop was the current San Jose. San Jose Catholic Church is a huge campus. A large church, a community center, a high school, an office, the old church (now a parish hall?). There are signs at the end of the city streets saying “End City Maintenance” marking where the campus begins. San Jose is now under the leadership of Diocesan priests. CSC has a strong relationship with the school as some of the teachers are of the Congregation.
He took notice that from the parking lot of San Jose, you can see both St. Ignatius and St. Edwards University.
We drove to St. Edwards’ Campus Ministry office and I listened in on a meeting between Fr. Rick, CSC- the campus minister, and Fr. John. Interesting stuff going on.
We continued to Dolores Parish. It is quite a distance away from our previous stops but we had an interesting discussion of the history of the area including the involvement of the parish with the community.
It appears that Holy Cross, as is true of any religious order, does do some good work. So far, I do not feel a strong attraction towards them. I have investigated them for a short while now and I simply do not feel a longing towards what they provide. It was an enjoyable tour nonetheless.
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