In Austin, Holy Cross has had a presence and a number of community apostolates for many years.  St. Edward's University was the central institution.  For many years, a boarding high school was on the campus.  A number of religious entered Holy Cross from the high school.  Father Dave Verhalen, Father John Dunne, and Father Peter Mueller are among those who came to Holy Cross from the high school.  Msgr. Fred Bomar (pastor at St. Peter the Apostle in Austin), Msgr. Emil Foltyn (pastor at Dimebox, TX) and Father Michael Mulvey (pastor of St. Helen's in Georgetown, TX a parish served by Holy Cross for many years) are some of the clergy from the Diocese of Austin who graduated from St. Edward's High School.

St. Ed's has been a center for Holy Cross formation for many years.  Many brothers from all the U.S. provinces were scholastics there.  They often went to the parishes to teach CCD and to sing at special events.  Some brought their own special talents to bear; Brother Paul Rahaim played Santa Claus as only he can at Dolores Parish.

In more recent times we have fewer religious, but some of the day-to-day apostolic work has become more intertwined.  Brother John Paige came to St. Edward's University in Austin to teach in the school of education.  He has become the dean and has been able to do a great deal of work, not only inside of St. Ed's, but also with other Holy Cross religious in the Austin area.

At about the same time, Sr. Alice Condon, C.S.C., became principal at St. Ignatius Martyr School.  She worked hard at keeping the teachers that were at the school.  With Brother John on the school board, he also sent student teachers to St. Ignatius school, as well as to some of the Alliance Schools that Fr. John Korcsmar and Austin Interfaith were working with.  Sr. Alice has been able to sign up two A.C.E. teachers, graduates of the University of Notre Dame who will be teaching at St. Ignatius school full-time next fall.

Brother John was also interested in E.N.L.A.C.E., a Kellogg Foundation project, that is interested in "plugging the leaks in the educational pipeline of K-16" for Latino students.  This meant that Dolores Parish, Austin Interfaith, St. Edward's University, and others would work together with Allison Elementary and Baty Elementary, Martin Middle School, and Johnston High School.

Brother John and St. Ed's were looking on an area where they could work with a community with a community organization.  They looked at the Montopolis neighborhood where Dolores Parish is located.  (For some history on Holy Cross and the Montopolis area, please read The History and Development of Dolores Parish.)  Then they pestered the disinterested pastor, Fr. John Korcsmar,  until he came in kicking and screaming.  But once he got with the program, Fr. John threw all his weight in support of the project.

With the funding from Kellogg, John at Dolores Parish and Bro. John at St. Ed's have collaborated on a number of projects involving students from the area of Dolores Parish.  Some of the collaboration has involved:

• Lourdes Zamarrón was hired by Dolores as an organizer working with Austin Interfaith in the neighborhood.  She works with families in the two public schools and also with the immigrant action team.
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• Corina Robles Ramos was hired to coordinate the mentors for students in the area.  Students from Austin Community College, especially those from the Montopolis (Dolores) neighborhood were hired as mentors for Allison Elementary and Baty Elementary in Montopolis.  Corina was officed at the Dolores rectory.
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• Students from Allison Elementary, Martin Middle School, and Johnston High School went on campus tours to get to know St. Ed's.
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• E.N.L.A.C.E. also did some neighborhood walks in the Montopolis neighborhood.  They included E.N.L.A.C.E. staff, Dolores Parish\Austin Interfaith leaders, teachers and principals from the public schools.  They visited the homes of students and talked with the parents and families about the schools.
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• Everyone worked together on information nights about college opportunities and choosing the right courses in high school for college.  These were held at Dolores Parish and at Martin Middle School.
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• Parents and leaders from Montopolis went over to St. Edward's to have a Posadas event at the main building at St. Ed's.  The Posadas was a collaboration among E.N.L.A.C.E., St. Edwards, and the Montopolis community to bridge the gaps between the communities using the vehicle of a cultural and educational event.
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• Some of the results of the collaboration, mentoring, organizing efforts are:
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• Allison Elementary is now at the "recognized" level by the Texas Education Agency.
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• More students are attending college, including one young lady from Johnston High School who will be attending the University of Notre Dame in the fall.  She was a student at Zavala Elementary.  Father John and other Austin Interfaith leaders worked with the principal, teachers, and parents to help make Zavala the very first Alliance School.  The principal at Zavala is Rosa Peña, a parishioner and lector at St. Ignatius Martyr Parish in Austin.
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• Parents, community leaders, and students have begun to organize and present their issues to the board at the Austin Community College.  A.C.C. has accepted responsibility for the mentoring program (including Corina's office and salary) and the Summer Academy in Montopolis.