Infant Jesus of Prague Catholic Church

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'm just the one passin' it along. Out in the community that started as Marianna, and later took the name McFaddin, there stands a little redwood church with a story worth knowin'. The Infant Jesus of Prague Catholic Church went up in 1916, and it didn't happen by accident.

It happened through the generosity of two people: James A. McFaddin and A. M.

McFaddin. That kind of deliberate, purposeful giving tends to leave something standing long after the givers are gone. And this one did.

The church began as a mission of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Victoria, reaching out to serve the Catholics of that surrounding community, including the workers on the McFaddin Ranch. Think about that for a moment.

Somebody looked out at those workers, out at that community, and said, they deserve a place to worship. So they built one. Now, the building itself is worth a second look if you ever find yourself out that way.

It's redwood. It has shiplap siding, which tells you something about the craftsmanship of the era. And at the gable front, there's an attached entry bay, topped by a wooden cross.

Simple, honest, and still standing as an important local landmark. Sometimes the most lasting things are exactly that straightforward.

What the marker says

Built through the generosity of James A. and A. M. McFaddin in 1916, this church began as a mission of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Victoria. It was established to serve Catholics in the Marianna (later McFaddin) community, including workers on the McFaddin Ranch. An important local landmark, the redwood church building features shiplap siding and an attached entry bay at the gable front topped by a woodencross. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1990