2541 Earl Rudder Freeway South
College Station, TX 77845
979-693-6994
Beginning November 19, 2022, through November 18, 2023, the diocese will celebrate the 75th anniversary of its founding on November 15, 1947. The chosen theme for our 75th Anniversary is "That they may all be one" (Jn 17:21), which is also the theme for our Eucharistic Revival. Bishop Vasquez prays we journey together during this time, growing in love of the Eucharist and caring for one another. There will be many opportunities throughout the year to engage in this celebration.
Pope Francis has granted the faithful a Plenary Indulgence for the 75th anniversary of the Diocese of Austin. Bishop Vásquez has designated five Pilgrimage Sites around the diocese to receive this indulgence, and St. Thomas Aquinas is one of those spots.
Check out the resources below, and if you have any questions contact: liturgy@stabcs.org
The St. Julienne of Liege Perpetual Adoration Chapel is open 24/7, with the occasional holiday closure. We recommend attending Mass and Confession at your own parish, separate from your visit to the pilgrimage site. Still, if you join us for worship, our Mass and Confession times can be found on those links or by clicking the "Mass Times & Direction " button at the bottom right of your screen.
There is plenty of parking available surrounding our chapel. After exiting the feeder road along Highway 6, turn right at the parish sign to enter the parking lot. Do not turn after the church sign; that road leads to the neighboring businesses, and there is no way to enter our parking lot from there. When turned onto the parish street, follow it left until you reach the parking closest to the chapel. In the accompanying image, the red lines are the roads, the green is sidewalks, the yellow blocks are parking, and the blue block is handicapped parking. The Red "+" Cross designates the chapel where you can pray for your pilgrimage.
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditions through the action of the Church which, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints … The faithful can gain indulgences for themselves or apply them to the dead.”
To receive this Plenary Indulgence, you must:
Those who are unable due to age, illness or other circumstances to leave their home can gain the indulgence by spiritually joining themself to the anniversary celebrations and offering their sufferings to God.
For the 75th Anniversary of the Diocese of Austin, Bishop Vásquez has designated St. Thomas Aquinas as a pilgrimage site! Historically the construction of a door itself is meant to remind us of the history of salvation.
Our Holy Door is designed with two key themes in mind:
1) Fostering a Sense of Pilgrimage
2)Connecting us to the Diocese
When you come to our pilgrimage site, take a moment before entering to contemplate the beauty of a holy door. After entering through our holy door, take a booklet from our narthex to help explain the design and purpose of our door.
A commemorative book has been available for purchase. Commissioned by Bishop Joe S. Vásquez in celebration of our 75th Anniversary, this beautifully bound book captures the history and images of our vast diocese. From its earliest days, when residents, settlers, and newly arrived migrants came to Texas, building towns and living their Catholic faith, to the present day, this almost 300-page book tells the history in text and photos. Photos of all parishes, missions, convents, schools, hospitals, and more live in this compilation.
The Treasures of the Diocese of Austin book is a keepsake and will be a wonderful addition to every home. Books are expected to arrive in late October and will be available for purchase at parishes and the Diocesan Pastoral Center in Austin. Books are available in English and Spanish.