Elsie Biron is the director of Catholic Outreach. Using literature, programs and presentations and her own powerful charisma, she presents the many offerings of the University of St. Thomas to Catholic organizations, clergy and the laity throughout the Galveston-Houston Archdiocese. Pastors and principals, bishops and archbishops alike learn from Biron how the University of St. Thomas can meet the needs and expectations of area Catholics.

The annual UST/Archdiocesan Essay Contest stands out as a major event coordinated by the Catholic Outreach Office. The essay contest, which historically encourages 3rd though 12th grade students in Catholic schools throughout the Archdiocese to write about important mentors within their particular school, has attracted as many as 1225 entrants.

Catholic Outreach brings other groups to campus, including librarians and/or high school principals from Catholic elementary, junior high and secondary schools. The National Catholic Education Association (NCEA) Region 10 brings approximately 80 principals from Texas, Arkansas and Oklahoma. Aids ministry training workshops are held at UST and pastors or representatives from LIFE TEEN are hosted by Catholic Outreach.

Another important aspect of Catholic outreach involves listening. Through meetings with Catholic leaders, Biron can discern how the University might better discern community needs and comes back with ways to enrich what St. Thomas is already doing. In sum, the purpose of Catholic Outreach is to demonstrate how the University will meet its goal to Educate Leaders of Faith and Character on its way to becoming one of the premier Catholic universities in the nation in this generation.