Where We Worship- St. Mary's Catholic Church
Q&A with Msgr. James C. Brunner, pastor
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Q: Please give a brief history of the parish.
A: In October 1824, St. Mary's and the city of Victoria, began when Don Martin de Leon brought 41 Mexican families here to found the colony of "Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe de Jesus Victoria."
He built a Catholic church of logs where the present post office stands.
After Santa Ana's defeat at the Battle of San Jacinto in 1836, most of the original families fled to Mexico for safety.
The church was then used for a courthouse, auction house and a Presbyterian church.
On July 12, 1840, priests came charged with the task of reorganizing the Catholic church in Texas.
The original church was reclaimed, and the first marriage was performed July 28, 1840. Two days later, the first baptism.
Arriving in 1856, Father Augustine Gardet spent 35 years at St. Mary's, during which he brought the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament to Victoria and gave his home at Main and Church streets to the sisters for their convent and a girls school.
In 1868, he founded St. Joseph's School for boys and expanded it to include a cemetery.
Gardet died in 1892, and his tombstone is located on the west wall of the present church.
The present church (our fourth) was begun in 1898 and dedicated Oct. 5, 1904.
St. Mary's has "mothered" 10 parishes or missions in the area, and for a time even ministered to Corpus Christi.
Q: What activities do you have through the week?
A: Instruction in Christian Doctrine (CCD) on Sundays, bringing the Eucharist to hospitals and shut-ins, adult education in a program called Generations of Faith, youth programs, Bible studies, quilting, instructions for entry into the Catholic church, practices for our choirs, assisting the needy through the St. Vincent de Paul Society, visits by the Bereavement Committee at the time of a death of a parishioner and marriage preparation programs. Adoration chapel is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.
Q: Are you working on any projects? If so, describe them.
A: We are currently remodeling our activity center and preparing for our annual festival, which is on Feb. 8.
Q: How are you involved with the community?
A: We host Alcoholics Anonymous and, as requested, events of the Victoria Bach Festival. We also hold a vacation Bible school each summer. There is also an active Boy Scout program. Every Christmas, we help about 200 needy families.
Q: If I'm new to the community, what sets your church apart from others in the area?
A: The long history of the church and the beautiful neo-Gothic structure with its outstanding stained glass windows. The liturgies faithfully reflect the traditions of the Catholic Church.
Q: Is there anything else you'd like to share about your church?
A: It is a church with a long and proud history looking forward to serving God in the future.
SERVICE TIMES
Saturday vigil Mass, 5 p.m.; Sunday Masses, 8 and 10:30 a.m.; Masses Monday through Friday, 6:30 a.m. and 12:05 p,m.; Saturday, 7 a.m.
Pastors: Msgr. James C. Brunner, PhD, pastor; the Rev. Anthony Boateng-Mensah, associate pastor
Contact: 8:30 ...
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SERVICE TIMES
Saturday vigil Mass, 5 p.m.; Sunday Masses, 8 and 10:30 a.m.; Masses Monday through Friday, 6:30 a.m. and 12:05 p,m.; Saturday, 7 a.m.
Pastors: Msgr. James C. Brunner, PhD, pastor; the Rev. Anthony Boateng-Mensah, associate pastor
Contact: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at 402 S. Main St., Victoria; by mail at P.O. Box 2448, Victoria, TX 77902; 361-573-4328 or e-mail stmaryvic@suddenlinkmail.com.
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