We are deeply thankful to Bp. J.E. McCarthy for requesting the Missionaries of Faith to come, open a community and work with the Church in Central Texas.

After some months of evaluation, the Congregation finally set up and gathered together three priests: Fr. Celso from the St. Lucia Community (West Indies), Fr. Benjie from the Philippine Community and Fr. Ed from the Trieste Community (Italy). Three Filipinos from three different angles of the mission world called to work together in this “new world.”

We arrived at the Austin Bergstrom International Airport last April 18, 2000 around 11 PM.  While going down the escalator to pick up our luggage, there was this man posing as the bishop’s driver; but unfortunately for him, he was easily recognized by Fr. Benjie and so the “joke” was called off.  Nice try, Black Mac!

Before coming to the US, we thought of leaving Rome on that Holy Tuesday morning, arrive here on the eve of the same day, rest the next and attend the Holy Thursday Chrism Mass to meet the Austin Clergy.  Well planned, right? Wrong!  Little did we know that Austin Diocese celebrates Chrism Mass on Holy Tuesday which is very convenient for Pastors miles and miles away from the Cathedral. You certainly got us surprised, JEM! Despite that “flop” of a plan, the Bishop accompanied us to Fr. Danny’s place on Holy Wednesday and there we met some priests. He organized for us different meetings with the diocesan staff at the Chancery and the Pastoral Center to give us a “view” of the Diocese as a whole and of the parishes we are assigned at in particular before sending us there.

And here we are with the hope that this community be the anchor to a new beginning.