Saint Mary Cathedral is grateful to have had some of its own parishioners enter religious life.

Currently in Formation

Miguel Flores

Christopher Yeager
Upon completion of his undergraduate degree at St. Edward's University, Chris entered formation for the Diocese of Austin. He is presently at St. Mary's Seminary in Houston.









Caleb Kick
Caleb is presently in formation with The Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP), a Society of Apostolic Life of Pontifical Right canonically established by Pope John Paul II in 1988. The particular charism and mission of the Fraternity is to offer the Sacred Liturgy, including the Holy Mass and the Divine Office, as well as the sacraments, in all of their traditional solemnity, according to the Latin liturgical books of 1962.

Svaha SriDhanyata
Svaha SriDhanyata joined the parish as we viewed the funeral of Pope John Paul II live from the Vatican in 2005. That same year, Svaha attended our RCIA class directed by Deacon Ron and DeAnn Walker and converted to Catholicism on Easter Sunday 2006. While attending RCIA, she began to feel called to religious life and soon attended a vocation weekend summer retreat in 2006.
Around the same time, through the kindness of Father Mike Sis, she was able to attend the First Vows Ceremony for Sister Marie Josephina at Our Lady of Grace Monastery in Christoval, Texas, on June 22, 2006. It was there that the call became crystal clear. For three years afterwards, she frequented the Carmelite monastery and was accepted as a candidate into their cloister of Carmelite nuns on the Feast of the Annunciation of Our Lord on March 25, 2009.

Serving as Priests
Fr. Christopher Downey
Father Chris was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA. He earned a bachelor’s degree in hotel and restaurant management from Penn State University. He came to Austin to become an independent musician and supported himself – had a day job - for six years as a salesman for U.S. Foodservice. After leaving a successful sales career and deciding to play music full-time (with a big pay cut!), he was later struck by a priest's homily that maybe he was called to the priesthood, where he hopes he can provide true service to people. He plays electric and upright bass guitars, and his favorite sports team is the Pittsburgh Steelers. Fr. Chris was ordained a priest on June 6, 2009.

Fr. Albert Laforet
Born and raised in Detroit, Mich.; son of Albert J. and Adeline A. Laforet. Graduated from Oral Roberts University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and practiced critical care nursing in Michigan, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and Texas. Ordained priest June 6, 2002 by Bishop Gregory M. Aymond, D.D. Served as associate pastor at St. Albert the Great Parish in Austin, St. Mary Parish in Lockhart, Saint Mary Cathedral in Austin and St. Louis Parish in Waco. Was appointed rector of the Cathedral on July 14, 2008.

Fr. Bud Roland
Fr. Bud was born in Amarillo, Texas, and graduated from St. Edward's University here in Austin. He was ordained to the presbyterate of the Diocese of Austin on Jan. 9, 1999 and has since served as the associate pastor of St. Louis King of France Catholic Church and as the appointed administrator, later rector, of Saint Mary Cathedral from October 2000 through July 2008. He is now the pastor of St. John Neumann Catholic Church in Westlake.