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May 15, 2023

A Day at Cathedral Park with the Kerrville Daughters of the King®

For their first meeting of 2023, the Daughters of the King chapter from St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Kerrville planned a special day at the Bishop Jones Center. The Bishop Jones Center houses the diocesan offices, provides several conference rooms and meeting areas that churches and other organizations can reserve, hosts a weekday service in St. John's, Chapel, and sits on 19-acres of land known as Cathedral Park, near the headwaters of the San Antonio River in central San Antonio. "Though the [diocesan office] is only an hour's drive from Kerrville, this was the first visit for many, and we weren't aware of the Columbarium that faces Cathedral Park," Beverly Dodds shared. 

The Rev. Kitty Lehman, Daughters of the King Chaplain, invited the Rev. Canon Ann Normand to officiate a Eucharist service with the Rt. Rev. Rayford B. High assisting in St. John's Chapel. The Daughters enjoyed fellowship during lunch, and then Paula Butt, Chair of the Grounds Oversight Committee for Cathedral Park, joined the group to speak about the history of Chapel House and Cathedral Park from its origin to the present day. 

Paula led the group on a guided walking tour of Cathedral Park, through its easy, meandering trails. Benches are placed around the property to relax and rest in nature and listen to God’s creation speak through calling birds and whispering trees, subtle breezes, and bubbling fountains. 

A three-leveled pavilion rests among the tree tops. The first level sits just above a dry spring, which has been known to bubble up when the aquifer reaches sufficient levels. The second level features a deck and meeting space, allowing for enjoyable conversation or more formal gatherings surrounded by trees. For a bird's eye view of the Bishop Jones Center,  ascend a spiral staircase to a viewing platform overlooking the treetops with two benches on the third level. 

“St. Peter’s, Kerrville, Daughters of the King were abundantly blessed by our day spent at the Bishop Jones Center and in Cathedral Park. The Eucharist, the lunch fellowship, and the fascinating tour of the beautiful grounds with the Rev. Dr. Normand, Bishop High, and Paula Butt were simply wonderful," Sarah Baetz shared. "Our chapter is so eager to return with our inaugural Junior Daughters of the King girls. What a tremendous gift of natural beauty that we are grateful to share in the Diocese of West Texas!”

More Information About Cathedral Park

Cathedral Park is open to the public from sunrise to sunset, with a side gate for access during the weekend. 

Click here for a self-guided Meditation Walk that takes approximately 45-minutes.

Contact Melissa Soderburg, Executive Assistant to the Bishop's Office, to reserve the Mission Room, Pavilion, or St. John's Chapel.

Click here for more information about the Daughters of the King®.

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