DUANE
Duane's take
Here's how the official marker at St. Louis Church in Medina County tells it — and what a story it is to tell. Now, when you're rollin' through Castroville, you might glance over at St.
Louis Church and think, nice old building. But friend, that structure has been quietly holding more Texas history than most courthouses ever dreamed of. It was built by Alsatian settlers — people who had crossed an ocean and staked everything on a place called Castro Colony, right here in the Republic of Texas.
Not the state, mind you. The Republic. These folks weren't settling somewhere established and safe.
They were planting roots in raw, uncharted ground, and they built that church to last. And then, on November 9th, 1846, someone very significant walked through its doors. The Right Reverend John Odin, C.M. — the first Catholic Bishop of Texas — came to Castroville and dedicated that church himself.
The first bishop. Of all of Texas. Dedicating this one church, in this one town, on that one November day.
But the story doesn't slow down there. In 1847, the pastor serving this congregation was a man named Claude Dubuis. Just a parish pastor at the time — and yet, he would go on to become a Bishop of Texas himself.
Two bishops, one church. You start to wonder what was in the water out here. Then comes 1868, and something happens that echoes far beyond Castroville.
The Sisters of Divine Providence opened their first permanent school in Texas right here. First. Permanent.
School. In the whole state. And the first mother house of the order in Texas was established right here in Castroville as well.
This little Alsatian settlement wasn't just surviving on the frontier — it was building the foundations of education for an entire state. This marker was placed on the hundredth anniversary of the founding of the Sisters of Divine Providence in Texas. A century of that legacy, marked right here where it began.
Some places carry history. This one built it, taught it, and passed it on.
What the marker says
Built by Alsatian settlers of Castro Colony, in Republic of Texas. Dedicated by the Rt. Rev. John Odin, C.M., first Catholic Bishop of Texas, on Nov. 9, 1846. Claude Dubuis, 1847 pastor, was later a Bishop of Texas. Here in 1868 Sisters of Divine Providence opened their first permanent school in Texas. First mother house of order in Texas was established in Castroville. Marked on 100th Anniversary of founding The Sisters of Divine Providence in Texas. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, 1966.