Location Requests

The Office of Communications reviews all requests for filming and photography in all parishes throughout the diocese.
 
All Catholic churches are sacred and holy ground. People have come to these particular churches, in some places, for more than a hundred years to worship God. Our primary duty is to preserve the sanctity of the church. Each Catholic Church contains a tabernacle. Within that tabernacle is the Body of Christ, what was once bread and is now the physical Body of Christ – body, blood, soul and divinity. In other words, Jesus Christ is physically present in every Catholic church.
 
Requests for videography, photography, streaming or audio recording of regularly scheduled Masses, liturgies, weddings, baptisms and other sacraments should be directed to the parish office unless the bishop is presiding. If the bishop is presiding at any liturgy, the request should be directed to the Office of Communications.
 
Requests for filming movies, television, commercials, music videos and/or non-liturgical photography or audio recordings are considered on a case-by-case basis.
 
General guidelines:

• Music videos are typically only considered if the artist is a Catholic musician who has the endorsement of their pastor and/or bishop.
• Fictional movies, television shows, student films, etc., are typically only considered if the movie contains a Catholic or Christian message in line with the teachings of the Catholic Church. Projects with topics of the occult, “monster movies,” violence, or any project that would be rated higher than PG-13 by the MPAA will not be considered or approved.
• Documentaries, non-fiction projects and reality shows will also be considered on a case-by-case basis but there must be a connection to the subject and the Catholic Church.

• Location/property requested
• A prospectus and/or summary of the project
• The complete script, with the scenes to be shot on church property clearly marked
• A list of all producers, financiers, directors and cast
• Proof of insurance (property and liability)
• Requested dates and times for filming. (Please review the calendar for the location, on the church’s website, for an understanding of how busy a particular location may be. For example, weekends are typically not available for filming.) 

It may take up to 2 weeks to review a project and render a decision. Please plan accordingly.

If the location request is approved, the pastor of the specific location has the discretion to accept or deny the project access to his location. If a pastor denies the project, the project may seek secondary locations under the same approval. All of the logistical details of scheduling, etc., must be made directly with the parish office. All recorded material is to be used only for the project approved and shall not be used for any other projects without the expressed written consent of the Diocese of Austin.

If the location request is denied by the diocese, that decision stands for all Roman Catholic Churches in the diocese.

All decisions by the Diocese of Austin are final.