Our C otlroli~ JI eritagc in T exos
lilthough they were eager to accept the invitations, their limited number prevented their coming in those early years. After 1876, they made fre- quent visits to the Lone Star State to conduct missions and retreats. Not until 191 I, however, did they come for the purpose of establishing themselves permanently in Texas. Bishop Shaw offered the Redemptorists a section of the city of San Antonio. then known as Knob Hill. They gladly accepted the invitation to take up parish work in the Alamo City. Father Henry Schutten, C.SS.R., came on August 31, 1911, and estab- lished himself shortly after his arrival in a residence on Iowa and Cul- pepper Streets, sufficiently large to serve as a chapel. Various Sisterhoods generously helped equip the improvised chapel, the Claretian Fathers contributed a simple altar, and Father Thomas Brown, C.SS.R., the Provincial, defrayed the expenses of furnishing the new home. The fonnal institution of what became St. Gerard's Parish in the tem- porary quarters on Iowa and Culpepper Streets, took place on September IO, 1911. Father Schutten, C.SS.R., was joined by Father William Graham, C.SS.R., who came to assist him before the end of the year. Crowded conditions in the small residence chapel made necessary the con- 5.truction of a combination church and school on Iowa and Gevers Streets. which was dedicated on May 5, 1912. Two Notre Dame Sisters came to take charge of the school. It developed and grew so rapidly that by 192~. a high school course was added. By 1949, the enrollment had reached a total of 841 grade pupils, taught by sixteen Sisters. Before the end of 1912, a separate rectory had been built to give more room to the school children. Then a separate mission-style church was erected in 1922. The Redemptorist Fathers had assumed care of the Spanish-speaking people in the East End of San Antonio at the request of Bishop Shaw shortly after they came. On April 13, 1913, Father John B. Muehlsiepen, C.SS.R., began work among them by holding services in a small wooden chapel on Vine Street. Before the end of the year, he acquired eight lots on Nebraska Street, where he built the present church and school of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. In 1922, the Redemptorists took charge of the old Spanish m1ss1ons: Concepcion, San Jose, San Juan Capistrano, and San Francisco de la Espada. With the exception of San Jose, the three missions are still in their care and have developed into prosperous parishes. In 1949, the community of the Redepmtorists at the Church of Perpetual Help numbered 13 Fathers and one Brother. It had charge of the following mission stations: Perpetual Help, San Juan Mission, Espada Mission,
i.1 I • I I
Powered by FlippingBook