Religious Cmmmmities of Men in Tezas
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Galveston, on condition that a school for boys be erected upon it. Agree- able to the terms of the gift, a three-story building was set up that same year, which served on and off as a school. This large building was an imposing structure for its day. It was demolished in 1924 when the Jesuits withdrew. Under the enthusiastic leadership of Father O'Connor, S.J., funds were collected for a new church and work was begun in 1889. The building was an architectural gem, designed by N. J. Clayton and constructed under the supervision of Brother Otton. The beautiful church located on 13th and Broadway was dedicated to the Sacred Heart on January 17, 1892, by Bishop Gallagher. But it was not destined to last long. The terrific storm of 1900 swept away the lovely building, leaving unharmed nothing but two stained windows, and a large crucifix, which remained majestically in its position amidst the general desolation." In the summer of 1932, the Jesuit Fathers of the New Orleans Prov- ince were asked by Archbishop Drossaerts to take over the parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe in San Antonio. The parish had been established in 1910 by Bishop Shaw, who purchased a tract of land on El Paso and San Francisco streets in the west side of the city for a greatly needed new church for the Spanish-speaking. When the first building, a chapel and school combination, was blessed on Sunday, July 2, 1911, by Bishop Shaw, the Reverend John Maiztegui, C.M.F., was named the first pastor. It continued under the administration of the Claretian Fathers until 1932, when they asked to be relieved because of shortage of men. The Reverend Carmen Tranchese, S.J., was named pastor on July 11. 1932, who immediately took over his duties. His work among the Spanish- speaking has won him national recognition. The unassuming pastor and champion of the underprivileged was a native of the city of Naples. He came to the United States in 1912, and after a few years of missionary work. he was made Pastor of St. Ignatius' parish in El Paso, from where he was transferred to San Antonio in 1932. His work among the Spanish-speaking has been outstanding. To his zeal and interest are due the large housing project in his parish, the Guadalupe Community Center and Clinic, the extensive improvements of the church and school, and the founding of a Spanish parish paper, la Voe, which has grown into the Archdiocesan Spanish Weekly."
46 Diocese of Galveston, Centennial, 46. 47 Archdiocese of San Antonio, Diamrmd J11bile,, 1874-1949, pp.
202-203.
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