Missions and Discipleship

Office of Missions and Discipleship

Parish Resources During Covid-19 Outbreak

We care deeply for your ministry and for those that you serve, and for this reason I would like to offer some resources available in English and Spanish for the spiritual nourishment of your leadership team and membership. The first resource is an attached document with a list of platforms to watch or hear Mass, and where you can have access online for daily readings, reflections and prayers. The second resource is an article published by the diocese on “What should I do if I cannot attend Mass?” (English) (Spanish). And the third resource is a document on “A Faith Response to the Coronavirus” (English) (Spanish).
 
We would like to encourage you to utilize technology and social media to continue ministering as best you can.  Below are few ideas that you could possibly utilize.

1. Create a live video or Facebook Watch Party where you invite others to participate in a rosary, communal prayer, conversation about the faith or share some other meaningful video. Facebook Watch Party instructions, Facebook Live information.Instagram Live information
2. Share uplifting content, and resources through various social media outlets and email.
3. Encourage others to continue to support local churches and ministries through various social media outlets and email.Contact your local parish for details on the best ways to support them.
4. Keep your community updated on your plans by communicating by phone or electronically.
5. Here are a list of platforms that you could potentially utilize to interact with your ministry teams.

• Skype: This platform gives you the ability to video conference with individuals or teams.  You can video conference upto 25 people.  Team members will need to set-up a skype account.
• Google Hangouts: This platform gives you the ability video conference individuals or teas.  You can video conference upt to 10 people. Everyone utilizing this will need a google acount.
• Microsoft Teams:  This is a team collaboration platform that could be a good resource for parish administration or ministry teams that are looking to continue planning.  Features include chatting or messaging, video conferencing and sincing calendars along with other applications.  This platform offers extensive tutorials.
• Zoom: This platform gives you the ability to video conference, web conference, and some team collaboration features that allow for chatting and sharing information.

Cristobal Lopez, MSLC
Associate Director of Missions and Discipleship
(512) 949-2407

Diocese of Austin
6225 E US 290 HWY SVRD EB
Austin, TX 78723

About the Missions Office and Discipleship

The Office of Missions and Discipleship together with the Department of Life, Charity and Justice works to cultivate a greater understanding of our mission identity that comes from our baptism. Together we seek to establish dialogue and be of assistance to our diocesan departments, parishes, clergy, the laity and schools to promote mission awareness, to stimulate mission education endeavors, to cultivate mission spirituality, and nurture missionary activity.

This work is achieved primarily through the works of:

• The Pontifical Mission Societies
• Catholic Relief Services
• Missionary Cooperative Plan​
• Ashes to Easter Lenten Campaign
• Mission Education
• Collaboration with internal and external organizations
• Supporting the U. S. Catholic Mission Association
• Participating in the Texas Mission Council

For more information about Missions, please contact our office. 

Cristobal Lopez, MSLC
Associate Director of Missions and Discipleship
(512) 949-2407

Diocese of Austin
6225 E US 290 HWY SVRD EB
Austin, TX 78723