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A History of St. Francis of the Tejas Catholic Church
In 1690, the Reverend Damian Massanet, with Reverend Hidalgo, Reverend Borday and twelve other Franciscan Missionary priests, brothers and companions established the first Spanish Mission, San Francisco Del Los Tejas, north of the Rio Grande River on the banks of San Pedro Creek, about 5 miles south of the Neches River. Adverse conditions caused all but Reverend Massanet, Reverend Hidalgo and Reverend Borday to leave, and these three soon set fire to the Mission and returned to Mexico.
Some 20 years later the Mission was reestablished about 10 miles farther east, but the conditions were no better than before, so San Francisco De Los Tejas was abandoned and moved to San Antonio in 1731. It is known today as San Francisco De La Espada.
In 1933, the site of the original Mission was established and the residents of Houston County secured donations and purchased 118 acres at this site. Workers of a CCC camp near the site constructed a Mission replica and graded and graveled the roads. On July 4, 1935, Bishop Christopher Byrne of the Galveston Diocese, officiated at a High Mass dedicating the Mission. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department acquired the Park in 1958, and it is now known as Mission Tejas State Park.
After 1910, whenever a Priest could travel here from Palestine, Mass was offered in the home of Mike and Hazel Younas, above their store, on block west of the Court House Square. As more Catholic families moved near Crockett, more space was needed, so Mass was offered on the 2nd story of the Bromberg Building across from the Court House adjoining the square. In the meantime, a Priest would travel from New Waverly to the Lone Pine Community to offer Mass and administer the Sacraments of Baptism and Marriage in the homes of the Shupak, Slannenas and Krenek families.
In 1930, George and Elizabeth Springman of Alto, Illinois purchase a 5 acre tract with 2 houses from Mr. and Mrs. John Ellis, which they donated to the Diocese of Galveston, and the construction of the present Church soon began under the supervision of Reverend Eugene Veillard and the approval of Bishop Christopher Byrne. Religious needs of the Catholics in the area were administered by the LaSalette Priests from Lufkin, Jacksonville, or Nacogdoches.
In July, 1966, Saint Francis was elevated to the status of a full Parish and Reverend William Hamilton was assigned as the first resident pastor. The parish, comprised of Houston, Trinity, and most of Leon Counties, covered an area of almost 3,000 square miles. Sacraments were registered as having been administered as a Parish for the 1st time in 1966, although the Sacraments had been administered at Saint Francis between 1931 and 1966 as a Mission under Saint Patrick Church in Lufkin. In December 1966, the adjoining 7/8 of an acre with a two story house and garage apartment was purchase from Sam and Mrs. Muckleroy. The garage apartment was used for classrooms and the Priest resided in the house. Bishop John Markovsky blessed the Rectory at noon, April 3, 1967.
In 1969, Reverend William Hamilton established and served Saint Leo The Great Mission in Centerville. Reverend Anselm Walker was assigned Pastor of St. Francis in February, 1970. He established Most Holy Trinity Mission in 1975 and began the Texas Department of Corrections Ministry at Eastham Unit. He also established Saint Elizabeth Seton Missions in Madison County. In September 1976, Reverend Reginald Nesvadba was assigned Pastor of Saint Francis. Bishop John Markovsky assigned Saint Leo The Great Mission to the Pastor of Saint Elizabeth Seton, which was elevated to Parish in 1978.
Reverend Rodrigue Hemond was assigned Pastor of Saint Francis in September, 1979. Renovation of the deteriorating front of the Church was begun and 50th Anniversary was celebrated with an outdoor Mass and picnic on July 12, 1981. Construction of the Parish Center was started May 27, 1981, and was finished in 1982. The Parish Center was dedicated on July 18, 1982 by Bishop John McCarthy. Reverend Charles Burns was assigned October 1982. In 1985, he requested retirement and Reverend John Weihrer was assigned Pastor of Saint Francis in June.
Between 1985 and 1991, the garage apartment was torn down and a new garage/storage room was built. The Church was reroofed, painted inside and out, new carpet and pews installed a plaza and new sidewalks laid and a cement wall poured in the front of the Church grounds. The Mize property adjacent to the Church was purchased in May, 1992.
In February 1987, The Fourteenth Texas Diocese was created. Saint Francis was transferred to the Diocese of Tyler. The Most Reverend Charles E. Herzig was installed Bishop of the Diocese of Tyler, February 24, 1987 and died September 7, 1991. The Most Reverend Edmond Carmody was installed Bishop of the Diocese of Tyler, May 25, 1992. In June and September, respectively, in 1993, Reverend Tej Lal and Reverend Virchand Lakra, of the Indian Missionary Society, India, were assigned as the Pastor and Associate Pastor of Saint Francis Church and the Most Holy Trinity Mission They have done much toward refurbishing of both locations.
For a more in depth history of St. Francis of the Tejas, click here!