Emmaus Catholic Parish had its beginning 1963 when Monsignor Richard McCabe, at the request of Lakeway residents, began celebrating Mass at the Lakeway Inn and in parishioners’ homes. In the late 1960s, the Protestant congregation also began holding services in the homes of its members. The two congregations made the unique decision in 1972 to become an ecumenical church and, on June 9, 1975, the Lakeway Ecumenical Church was dedicated.
Twenty years later in 1995, due to the tremendous growth in the area, the two congregations agreed to separate. Their ties remain, however, in faith. Emmaus purchased land and began building.
In January 2001, our church was dedicated as The Church of the Resurrection of the Lord-Emmaus Catholic Parish. The new church was modeled after the Cooper Memorial Chapel in Bella Vista, Arkansas.
The name “Emmaus” comes from the town mentioned in Luke 24:13-35 in which Jesus appeared, after His death and resurrection, before two of His disciples while walking on the road to Emmaus. That evening when they broke bread, the two disciples recognized Him to be Jesus.
A parcel of land in Spicewood was donated to the parish and, in December 2004, Queen of Angels Chapel was dedicated. As a part of Emmaus Catholic Parish, the Chapel shares in all ministries and events for the entire parish and is administered by the staff of Emmaus Catholic Parish.
The Emmaus Parish Life Center, which includes classrooms for the Emmaus Early Childhood Education Program as well as our Faith Formation programs (for both youth and adults), a youth space, a fellowship hall, and kitchen, was dedicated in 2011.