Owr Catlzolic Heritage in Texas
230
Today the Jesuits have parishes in San Antonio, Dallas, El Paso, Ysleta, and Socorro. Basilia,i Fatl,ers, C.S.B., 1901. The Most Reverend N. A. Gallagher, Bishop of Galveston, anxious to establish a seminary, purchased for the purpose the property known as the Sylvan Beach Hotel and several acres of land at La Porte early in 1901. In October of that year he opened St. Mary's Seminary, which he placed under the supervision of the Basilian Fathers. The first Rector was the Very Reverend J. T. Player, C.S.B. He served two years and was succeeded by the Very Reverend E. A. Hurley, C.S.B., who held his office until 1907. His successor, the Very Reverend T. F. Gignac, C.S.B., was the last Basilian to be rector of the seminary. The Basilians gave up the direction in 1911 and the Seminary was then administered and staffed by diocesan priests. The other Basilian Fathers who served on the staff from 1901 to 1911 were V. J. Donely, M. J. Picket, J.C. Plummer, and E. J. O'Neill. Shortly after the parish of St. Anne was organized in Houston by Father J. J. O'Reilly, Bishop Byrne invited the Basilian Fathers to take over the parish. The invitation was accepted and in 1928 the Reverend J. J. Glavin, C.S.B., became the first pastor. Under the able and zealous leadership of Father Glavin and his successor, Father T. P. O'Rourke, C.S.B., and J. B. Walsh, C.S.B, a beautiful church and a spacious parish hall have been erected and great progress made. The Basilian Fathers also take care of St. Thomas High School and the University of Saint Thomas in Houston. They were likewise instrumental in helping organize the colored parish of St. Nicholas, which was placed under the care of the Josephite Fathers in 1901. In August, 1936, at the suggestion of Bishop Byrne, Father Joseph Dillon, C.S.B., took charge of Our Lady of Guadalupe at Rosenberg, Texas, which became the Basilian center for work among the Spanish- speaking in the Diocese of Galveston. The Basilian Fathers were given the territory lying along the Brazos River Valley. Two years later, Father Dillon's success made necessary the appointment of an assistant. With his aid the work spread and in time there were five priests engaged in the work which extended from Rosenberg to Freeport, Allen Farm, New Gulf, Bay City, Angleton, Wharton, and missions at Eagle Lake, Simonton, Navasota, Courtney, Bonus,-Egypt, Glen Flora and Fulshear.•• The Jose,phite Fathers, S.S.!., 1901. The Society of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart was founded by Cardinal Vaughan at Mill Hill, Eng-
I
I
<
••Diocese of Galvei:ton. Cmte,minl, 18-17-1947, pp. 59, I 19, 147.
Powered by FlippingBook