Woodsboro Catholics ‘remember’ 100 years

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Bishop Michael Mulvey celebrated centennial Mass at St. Therese of the Little Flower in Woodsboro on Aug. 15. See more photos below.

Alfredo E. Cardenas, South Texas Catholic

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Quoting Pope Francis, Bishop Michael Mulvey told parishioners of St. Therese of the Little Flower in Woodsboro that “a person of faith is a person who remembers.” The occasion was a Mass “concluding a year of remembering” 100 years of the parish’s existence.

The Aug. 15 Mass marked the centennial of the parish. The parish began the centennial celebration in October 2014 with a “Festival Mass.” Every month after, a celebration was held to recognize various aspects of parish life, including “All Souls,” Our Lady of Guadalupe, marriages, ministries, mothers, fathers, etc.

“It was very successful, well organized and very well done,” pastor Father Andrew Hejdak said. “People are very happy. We cooperated with the Holy Spirit.”

St. Therese of the Little Flower dedicated on June 26, 1949. Archival photos

“We stand on the efforts, the faith, the sacrifices of those who have gone before. That is the beauty of church; we stand on those that have gone before us. We stand and remember,” Bishop Mulvey said in his homily.

The March 26, 1908 issue of the Southern Messenger reported, “On Sunday, March 8, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was offered up for the first time in Woodsboro…at one time called Church…in future Mass will be said in Woodsboro twice a month…” At first services were held at “a private residence.”

In 1914 Father B.J. Donada, with Bishop Paul Nussbaum’s approval, set in motion the building of a new church. Father Stephen Dever of Philadelphia made a sizable donation for construction of the church in memory of his brother Father Bernard Dever. The first church was named St. Bernard in his honor. Bishop Nussbaum dedicated the new sanctuary on Aug. 15, 1915.

In its early years, St. Bernard was a mission or station of Our Lady of Refuge in Refugio. But when the new church was built it was listed as an “independent” church with missions in Tivoli, Austwell and Vidauri (O’Connor Ranch). The bishop named Father Joseph Duenn as the new pastor.

St. Bernard’s dedicated on Aug. 15, 1915. Archival photos

As early as 1929, Father L. W. Guilluame, of French origin, began to call the parish “The Little Flower” in honor of newly canonized French saint, St. Therese of the Little Flower. Father Guilluame reasoned that the parish had improved and enlarged the church at a cost of six times its original cost. The commitment to naming it St. Bernard had been met and exceeded and renaming it was justified since it was in effect a “new church.”

A storm in 1942 damaged the church to the point that it could no longer serve as a sanctuary and Masses were moved to the parish hall. Due to limits on materials placed by the war effort, a new church—which is still in use—was not built and dedicated until July 26, 1949.

For many years, St. Therese did not have a mission church to oversee, but in 1961, St. Mary in Bayside became a mission of St. Therese.

On October 15, 1983, Bishop Rene Gracida ordained Reynaldo Rodriguez, Jr. as a deacon, the first and only vocation to religious life from the parish.

“It is important that we not stand still,” Bishop Mulvey said to parishioners. “We must move forward.” He pointed out that society today is not the same as it was 100 years ago. “We had a Catholic society, the culture is now secular, not religious. We’re being challenged of our religious freedom by many intrusions by government.”

Bishop Mulvey greets parishioners after Mass. Alfredo E. Cardenas, South Texas Catholic

The society is faced with many “false teachings,” Bishop Mulvey said and he cautioned parishioners not “to be taken in by false teachings because it will destroy not only your faith but the image of God in us.”

He reminded those at Mass that St. Therese taught in a simple way. She understood that it was love that drove the Church; love was everything, love was eternal, love was essential. He said church groups should be animated by love, “love is in every vocation.”
“I’m working with teachers, with groups, that is the best way. That is the plan,” Father Hejdak said.

Father Hejdak is trying to impress people with the value of the Catholic faith. He hopes to give them a greater and deeper understanding of their faith. He refers to the saying in Spanish “se sembra la semilla” (the seed is planted).

“What has been remembered in this parish for 100 years is the person God sent us, Jesus Christ. Without Jesus Christi we would not be here,” Bishop Mulvey said.