Churches-Catholic

Photographs documenting Holy Cross Catholic Church from the Austin Files collection. n 1936, the Reverend Francis R. Weber, CSC, met with African-American Catholics in the home of William M. Tears and celebrated the first Mass for Holy Cross Catholic Church, the first Catholic Church to serve the needs of Austin’s African-Americans. In 1928, the city of Austin laid out a “Negro District,” south of the City Cemetery (Oakwood) in East of East Avenue to encourage Austin’s black citizens to move to that area. By 1932, most African-Americans lived in East Austin. Parishioners constructed the Holy Cross Church building in 1937. In 1942, the church established Holy Family Catholic Church to serve African American Catholics in South Austin. ​ Recognizing the lack of medical facilities to serve African-Americans, the church established Holy Cross Hospital in 1940, the first hospital in Austin to allow black physicians to practice. From a small facility on the church grounds, Holy Cross Hospital moved to a new building on 19th Street, serving the community until 1989. Sister Mary Celine Heitzman, M.D., one of the first Catholic nuns in the US to become a doctor, was the resident physician from 1940 to 1964. The church established Holy Cross Catholic School in 1941 and taught nursery through 8th grade until 1960. ​ The church community significantly supported and guided educational, social, and political issues affecting the city and state, as many of its parishioners served in elected office, including the Texas legislature’s first black Speaker Pro Tem and Austin’s first black School Board member. (2014)

Photographs documenting Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church from the Austin Files collection. The parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe dates back to the month of April, 1907. It was located on the corner of 5th and Guadalupe Streets. The Holy Cross Fathers were in charge of the parish until 1925 when the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate took over the direction of the parish. The first Oblates to come were Father Jose Prieto as pastor and Father Francis Mysliwiec as associate. Great was the rejoicing at their arrival. The new Pastor had come from the Pro-Cathedral of St. Augustine, Laredo, Texas with all the experience of sacred oratory he learned in Spain and France. He was well prepared to revive the ebbing spirits of the Mexican Americans. He began by preaching a two week's mission, and so great was the attendance and the consequent fruit of the mission that it immediately became necessary to seek a more ample site for the church and the school. On the other hand, the new families which were coming in, were located mostly to the east of the city. For this reason the Catholic Mission Guild purchased the site which is now occupied by the church of Christ the King, and a short time later Father Francis Balzola O.M.I., successor to Father Prieto O.M.I., bought the land which now comprises Guadalupe Parish. He tore down the church and school at 5th and Guadalupe, and with the materials left over constructed the new spacious church which was blessed on the 5th of September 1926. The property acquired for the new church already had a school on it. To complete the parish plant, the Father's rectory was built in December, 1926. Father Jose Aurelio Prieto O.M.I., a brother of the first pastor, became the ninth pastor, taking over on the 15th of June 1932. Under him improvements were made, such as the enlarging of the auditorium under the Church, the filling and leveling of the low parts of the yard, and changing the heating system in the school. During the early part of spring, 1953, excavation and ground work were begun and on May 31, 1953 the cornerstone of the new church was laid by the Most Rev. Bishop Reicher D.D., Bishop of Austin. From that day on, work progressed and on the Feast of the Assumption, August 15, 1954, the first Mass was celebrated in the present Our Lady of Guadalupe Church.

Photographs documenting Saint Ignatius Martyr Catholic Church from the Austin Files collection. Saint Ignatius Martyr Catholic Church was founded in 1937 by Fr. Patrick Duffy, C.S.C. The Parish, originally part of the Archdiocese of San Antonio, was to be named Holy Cross. The archbishop was in Rome when he became seriously ill. The sisters who cared for him told him that if he prayed to St. Ignatius of Antioch, he would recover. He did and promised to name the next parish in his diocese in honor of the saint; St. Ignatius was the next parish established. The first Masses for the parish were celebrated at the old Wilke-Manor (Wilke-Clay) Funeral Home at 1811 South Congress Avenue. In 1939 Fr. Duffy moved to an old house in the 200 block of West Johanna Street, which he used for church services. He did this until a new church was eventually built, which served approximately 250 families. In September 1940, the Holy Cross Sisters arrived to open an eigth grade school in the basement of the new church. For their convent, the Sisters used what had been the rectory, while Father Duffy lived in a store room of the church basement! He later acquired a home opposite the church to use as a rectory. Father Francis Sullivan, C.S.C. became pastor in 1942 when Fr. Duffy left to become a chaplain in the service during World War II. Fr. Duffy returned to St. Ignatius in 1946 and served as pastor until the arrival of Fr. Patrick Dolan, C.S.C. in 1947. Fr. Sullivan returned in 1947 and again served as pastor until 1949. Fr. Eugene Doré, C.S.C. became pastor in 1949. The parish grew at a tremendous rate during his tenure, and in 1953, five and a half acres of land were purchased for the church from the John LaPrelle Estate, which is the present location of the Church, School, Annex, and Family Center. In 1955 a new school was built on the newly acquired land to accommodate approximately 400 students. In addition to the school, a new convent was also built at this time, which was constructed by St. Ignatius church parishioners. The planning for a new church and rectory began in May of 1962. Construction began two years later, and the first Mass was celebrated in the new church in September 1965. The church was dedicated by Bishop Louis J. Reicher, D.D. on February 6, 1966. Fr. John Payne, C.S.C. became pastor of St. Ignatius in 1968. He was succeeded by Fr. L. Peter Logsdon, C.S.C. in 1974, and Fr. C. Richard Nowery, C.S.C. in 1980.

Photographs documenting Saint Mary's Cathedral from the Austin Files collection. Saint Mary's Cathedral is the cathedral parish of the Catholic Diocese of Austin located in Austin, Texas, United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, as St. Mary's Cathedral.

Photographs documenting St. Patrick Catholic Church from the Austin Files collection