Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church (Houston)
Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church (
The church, first constructed in 1911, was the first
History
In 1910 there were no Mexican Catholic churches in Houston. Some Mexicans were excluded from attending Anglo Catholic churches. Mexicans who did attend found themselves discriminated against.
The Roman Catholic church established Our Lady of Guadalupe so that White people accustomed to segregation of races did not find offense with the presence of Mexican people in their churches.[8]
In the 1920s a group of Louisiana Creole people attended OLG because of OLG was the closest church to the Frenchtown area of the Fifth Ward; the closest black church, St. Nicholas, was located in the Third Ward.[9] Because the OLG church treated the Creole people in a discriminatory manner, by forcing them to confess and take communion after people of other races did so and after forcing them to take the back pews,[10] the Creoles opted to build their own church, opening Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Church in 1929.[11]
As more Mexican-Americans settled in Houston, large numbers of people commuted from other Houston neighborhoods to OLG on Sundays to worship. Father Esteban de Anta, a Spanish man, was the first Spanish-speaking priest at Our Lady of Guadalupe. He arrived in 1919.[8] In 1923 a new church facility opened, designed with Lombard Romanesque style features [12] by the prominent San Antonio architect, Leo M.J. Dielmann.[13] The previous church facility was remodeled, and began to be used entirely as a school and for social activities.
The Oblate priests serviced the church for many years,
On Saturday August 18, 2012 the church celebrated 100 years of masses.[1]
School
The Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic School is the oldest Catholic elementary school in the City of Houston. The school first opened on September 8, 1912,
Recreation
Historically OLG held bazaars which featured popular bands. During the 1930s two musicians from Houston, Ventura Alonzo and Lydia Mendoza, performed at OLG events.[16]
See also
- History of the Mexican-Americans in Houston
- Christianity in Houston
References
- Esparza, Jesus Jesse. "La Colonia Mexicana: A History of Mexican Americans in Houston." ( Archived 2014-05-02 at the Wayback Machine) Houston History Volume 9, Issue 1. p. 2-8. Center for Public History, University of Houston.
- Garza, Natalie. "The “Mother Church” of Mexican Catholicism in Houston." ( Archived 2014-05-02 at the Wayback Machine) Houston History Volume 9, Issue 1. p. 14-19. Center for Public History, University of Houston.
- ISBN 978-0-8078-5667-3.
Notes
- ^ a b c d Struthers, Silvia. "La Iglesia Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe celebra 100 años." La Voz de Houston. August 17, 2012. Retrieved on September 4, 2012. "La primera misa se celebró el 18 de agosto de 1912 y este sábado la iglesia conmemora sus 100 años de existencia." and "Actualmente, la parroquia, ubicada en Navigation Blvd. en un barrio que sigue siendo muy hispano, sirve a 3,500 familias." and "La iglesia celebrará una misa especial a las 6.30 p.m. del sábado 18 para conmemorar el centenario." and "La iglesia tiene numerosas misas en español y cuenta con una escuela que fue inaugurada al mes siguiente de que la parroquia celebrara su primera misa."
- ^ a b Esparza, p. 3.
- ^ Kever, Jeannie. "Schools seeking help find a beacon of hope." Houston Chronicle. November 19, 2010. Retrieved on November 20, 2010.
- ^ a b Treviño, p. 32.
- ^ Treviño, p. 9.
- ^ a b c d e "History of Our Church." () Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. Retrieved on September 4, 2012.
- ^ "History Archived 2012-09-09 at the Wayback Machine." (Archive Archived 2017-02-20 at the Wayback Machine) Our Lady of Guadalupe School. Retrieved on September 4, 2012.
- ^ a b Garza, Natalie, p. 15.
- ISBN 0549635874, 9780549635871. p. 195.
- .
- ISBN 0549635874, 9780549635871. p. 196.
- ^ American Institute of Architects, Houston Architectural Guide
- ^ Robinson, Willard B. "To the Glory of God: Texas Churches Designed by Leo M.J. Dielmann", 1991, Texas Catholic Historical Society
- ^ a b Garza, Natalie, p. 19.
- ^ Martin, Betty L. "Neighborhood's Alive tour hits city's multicultural hot spots." Houston Chronicle. Thursday July 17, 2003. ThisWeek 1. Retrieved on September 9, 2012.
- ISBN 0549635874, 9780549635871. p. 197.