Meet Our Deacons!
Deacon Elsa Y. Nelligan was born and raised in H. Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico.
After graduating from Esc. Normal J. Guadalupe Mainero with a double major, in Psychology and Elementary Education, she came to Austin unable to communicate in English.
Elsa studied English as a Second language at Austin Community College and enrolled in St. Edwards University where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Bilingual Education and her Master of Arts in Human Services. After teaching in the Austin Independent School District for 30 years, she retired in 2016.
Elsa attended six Roman Catholic churches after moving to Austin, including Cristo Rey Catholic Church, where she met Father Jayme Mathias. His homilies touched her heart and opened her eyes to the Word of God.
After Father Jayme co-founded Holy Family Catholic Church, Elsa started attending the church, participated in several ministries, and studied the history and theology of the inclusive Catholic Movement. Elsa felt called by the Holy Spirit to serve God's people, so she participated in the parish’s bible classes, diaconate classes, Theological Institute, and conferences.
With the teaching and support of other priests like Father Libardo Rocha, Father Roy Gomez, Father Daniel Storrs, and Deacon Angelita Mendoza-Waterhouse, Elsa was ordained to the diaconate on October 30, 2021 by the Most Rev. Mark Elliot Newman, Presiding Bishop of the Catholic Apostolic Church of Antioch.
Deacon Elsa enjoys serving the Church, and she continues her religious education through virtual courses.
She is very grateful to the Holy Trinity, to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and all who have supported her through their prayers for her ministry.
In addition to her interest in education, Deacon Elsa enjoys teaching and performing Mexican folk dances, traveling, sewing, embroidering, crocheting, hiking, growing plants, and caring of two parrots and two tortoises.
After graduating from Esc. Normal J. Guadalupe Mainero with a double major, in Psychology and Elementary Education, she came to Austin unable to communicate in English.
Elsa studied English as a Second language at Austin Community College and enrolled in St. Edwards University where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Bilingual Education and her Master of Arts in Human Services. After teaching in the Austin Independent School District for 30 years, she retired in 2016.
Elsa attended six Roman Catholic churches after moving to Austin, including Cristo Rey Catholic Church, where she met Father Jayme Mathias. His homilies touched her heart and opened her eyes to the Word of God.
After Father Jayme co-founded Holy Family Catholic Church, Elsa started attending the church, participated in several ministries, and studied the history and theology of the inclusive Catholic Movement. Elsa felt called by the Holy Spirit to serve God's people, so she participated in the parish’s bible classes, diaconate classes, Theological Institute, and conferences.
With the teaching and support of other priests like Father Libardo Rocha, Father Roy Gomez, Father Daniel Storrs, and Deacon Angelita Mendoza-Waterhouse, Elsa was ordained to the diaconate on October 30, 2021 by the Most Rev. Mark Elliot Newman, Presiding Bishop of the Catholic Apostolic Church of Antioch.
Deacon Elsa enjoys serving the Church, and she continues her religious education through virtual courses.
She is very grateful to the Holy Trinity, to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and all who have supported her through their prayers for her ministry.
In addition to her interest in education, Deacon Elsa enjoys teaching and performing Mexican folk dances, traveling, sewing, embroidering, crocheting, hiking, growing plants, and caring of two parrots and two tortoises.
Deacon Stephen Rodriguez was born and raised in Austin, Texas where he attended Austin & Pflugerville elementary schools and Paredes Middle School, before graduating from Akins High School.
After a time of distance from the Church, he discovered Holy Family and began attending our weekly bible study with Father Roy Gomez.
After his Confirmation in October 2019, he began discerning a call to the ordained ministries of the Church. During his formation, he began a ministry to the unhoused of Austin and completed a unit of Clinical Pastoral Education.
Deacon Stephen was ordained to the diaconate on May 20, 2022 by Archbishop Alan Kemp of the Ascension Alliance. In addition to his liturgical ministry at Holy Family, he leads our parish's outreach to two local nursing homes.
Deacon Stephen is married to Jordan Dickenson. When he’s not nourishing the spiritual and physical hungers of people, Deacon Stephen enjoys spending time with his family and two dogs, Hildegard and Bentley.
After a time of distance from the Church, he discovered Holy Family and began attending our weekly bible study with Father Roy Gomez.
After his Confirmation in October 2019, he began discerning a call to the ordained ministries of the Church. During his formation, he began a ministry to the unhoused of Austin and completed a unit of Clinical Pastoral Education.
Deacon Stephen was ordained to the diaconate on May 20, 2022 by Archbishop Alan Kemp of the Ascension Alliance. In addition to his liturgical ministry at Holy Family, he leads our parish's outreach to two local nursing homes.
Deacon Stephen is married to Jordan Dickenson. When he’s not nourishing the spiritual and physical hungers of people, Deacon Stephen enjoys spending time with his family and two dogs, Hildegard and Bentley.
