Meet Our Pastor!
The Hon. Rev. Dr. Jayme Mathias jokes that he comes "from the corn fields of Ohio, to the corn tortillas of Texas." Since studying Spanish in Mexico at age 19, he has served Spanish-speaking communities in Missouri, California and Washington, D.C. As a young seminarian in 1995, he was assigned to Cristo Rey Catholic Church in East Austin, where he returned for eight years of priestly ministry. As pastor of that community, Father Jayme grew Sunday Mass attendance from some 2,300 people to over 5,000 people every Sunday, making Cristo Rey the largest Spanish-speaking Roman Catholic faith community in Central Texas. He says, "For me, it is the most invigorating feeling in the world to lead the People of God in prayer. There is nothing more humbling than to celebrate the sacraments of the Church with God's People!"
Father Jayme is passionate about education. He was the valedictorian of his high school class. He possesses two undergraduate degrees, four graduate degrees, and a doctorate in leadership studies. During his years in Austin, he served as President of San Juan Diego Catholic High School "The School that Works," he helped to launch three adult learning centers in East Austin, he founded the Cristo Rey Institute of Spirituality, Theology & Organizational Leadership at Cristo Rey Catholic Church, and in 2013 he brought to birth the Holy Family Theological Institute. In 2012, Father Jayme was elected Secretary & District 2 Trustee of the Austin Independent School District Board of Trustees. For eight years, he was responsible for helping oversee 85,000 students and 11,000 employees in Austin's 130 public schools. He shares, "Stephen Covey is famous for admonishing others to 'live, love and leave a legacy.' As part of my legacy in this world, I hope to cultivate and empower leaders through education!"
In March 2012, Father Jayme was incardinated into the American Catholic Church in the United States by Presiding Archbishop Lawrence J. Harms. He was subsequently named pastor of Holy Family Catholic Church in Austin. He concludes, "We all yearn for that special feeling of being 'at home.' That's how I feel here at Holy Family, and I pray that others might continue to find a home and a Family here, too!”
Father Jayme is passionate about education. He was the valedictorian of his high school class. He possesses two undergraduate degrees, four graduate degrees, and a doctorate in leadership studies. During his years in Austin, he served as President of San Juan Diego Catholic High School "The School that Works," he helped to launch three adult learning centers in East Austin, he founded the Cristo Rey Institute of Spirituality, Theology & Organizational Leadership at Cristo Rey Catholic Church, and in 2013 he brought to birth the Holy Family Theological Institute. In 2012, Father Jayme was elected Secretary & District 2 Trustee of the Austin Independent School District Board of Trustees. For eight years, he was responsible for helping oversee 85,000 students and 11,000 employees in Austin's 130 public schools. He shares, "Stephen Covey is famous for admonishing others to 'live, love and leave a legacy.' As part of my legacy in this world, I hope to cultivate and empower leaders through education!"
In March 2012, Father Jayme was incardinated into the American Catholic Church in the United States by Presiding Archbishop Lawrence J. Harms. He was subsequently named pastor of Holy Family Catholic Church in Austin. He concludes, "We all yearn for that special feeling of being 'at home.' That's how I feel here at Holy Family, and I pray that others might continue to find a home and a Family here, too!”
