The Rev. Katie Leuba

Rector, St Matt’s Austin, Austin

Email: katie@stmattsaustin.org

The Rev. Katie Leuba, better known as Mother Katie, became the 8th Rector of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, Austin, in 2021. Before taking the helm at St. Matthew’s, Katie served for over eight years as Associate Rector at St. David’s Episcopal Church in downtown Austin, where she wore many hats, including that of Locum Tenens (which is Latin for “to hold the place of”) during their rector search.

Katie was born and raised in sunny Phoenix, Arizona. Her path to Texas included a detour through Southern California, where she attended Claremont McKenna College to study Psychology and Economics and then worked in retail management for the May Company. Eventually, she migrated to Dallas, landing a job in the buying offices at Neiman Marcus (proof that she has both a passion for people and a healthy tolerance for spreadsheets).

Though Katie first felt the call to the priesthood at the age of 12, she took the scenic route, finally answering it as an adult. She earned her Master of Divinity at Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University and has served in nearly every ministry role you can think of, including Director of Children’s Ministry, Youth Minister, and Family Minister. She was ordained in the Diocese of Chicago and later served as the Rector of St. Andrew’s in Elyria, Ohio.

Katie shares her life with three wonderful children and three highly entertaining dogs. In her downtime, Katie can often be found hiking with her sister, practicing yoga, working out with her trainer, or quilting (or at least collecting fabric for quilts she’ll get to someday). She’s also an avid traveler, whether on religious pilgrimages or family adventures abroad. And then there’s a near-obsessive love of reading, fiction mostly, especially the kind that sneaks in profound truths about life and faith between the plot twists. Lastly, if you ask her staff for the fastest route to Katie’s heart, the answer is simple: delicious baked goods!