St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Marble Falls, Burnet County. Now settle in, because this is a story that builds slowly, the way good things tend to do.

It starts with missionaries. By 1940, priests of the Holy Cross Order were making their rounds, ministering to Catholic residents of Marble Falls. That takes a certain kind of dedication, going where the church hasn't yet put down roots.

For over a decade, that's exactly what they did. Then, beginning in 1951, something shifted. The Catholic residents of Marble Falls started gathering for worship in a local residence.

A living room, maybe a kitchen table nearby, the smell of Sunday cooking drifting through. Nothing fancy. But it was theirs.

And people kept coming. By 1954, attendance had grown enough that a simple residence just wouldn't do anymore. The community needed a mission, and so a mission is what they set about building.

That same year, they bought property. Now here's where the story gets a little Texas-sized. When it came time to build, the Catholic community of Marble Falls didn't reach for wood or brick.

By 1957, the Texas Granite Company had begun construction on a granite structure. Granite. Because if you're going to build a house of worship in the Texas Hill Country, you might as well build it to last.

And the timing of that first mass? Christmas Day, 1957. The structure wasn't fully completed and dedicated until 1961, but on Christmas Day of 1957, they held the first mass in that new chapel.

From the very early years, parishioners were already looking outward, aiding needy residents of the surrounding area. That spirit never left. Today, St.

John the Evangelist Catholic Church continues to serve as a religious and community leader in Marble Falls. From a borrowed living room in 1951 to a granite sanctuary, they built something that was always meant to stand.

What the marker says

By 1940, missionary priests of the Holy Cross Order were ministering to residents of Marble Falls. Beginning in 1951, Catholic residents worshipped in a local residence; by 1954, attendance had grown enough to warrant a mission. The Catholic community bought property that year and by 1957, the Texas Granite Company began construction on a granite structure. The first mass held in the new chapel occurred on Christmas Day of that year, though the structure was fully completed and dedicated in 1961. Since the church’s early years, parishioners have aided needy residents of the area. Today, the church continues to serve as a religious and community leader in Marble Falls. (2008)