St. Mary's Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church

Duane's take

Here's my telling of the official marker for St. Mary's Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Burleson County. Now settle in, because this story starts with a long journey and ends with roots that go deep.

In the late 1800s, a number of eastern European immigrants of the Catholic faith made their way to Burleson County. They came carrying their traditions with them, their faith among the most important of all. For a while, priests from nearby towns led their worship services, traveling in to tend to this scattered flock.

The first recorded mass was held in August of 1893, with the Reverend Jacob Lauth presiding. Think about that. August in Texas.

A congregation of immigrants, far from the lands they were born in, gathered together in the heat, with a traveling priest at the front of the room. There's something quietly powerful about that image. Then, in 1895, residents and trustees bought land and built a sanctuary.

They dedicated it to the Blessed Virgin Mary of Lourdes. Four years after that, the church, which had come to be called St. Mary's Our Lady of Lourdes, bought adjacent land to serve as a cemetery.

A place of worship and a place of rest, side by side. The congregation grew over the years, adding new facilities and programs, and since 1908, full-time priests have served the community. From a traveling priest riding in for an August mass, to a full, living congregation with roots sunk deep into Burleson County soil.

That's the kind of story a road marker doesn't have to dress up.

What the marker says

A number of eastern European immigrants of the Catholic faith came to Burleson County in the late 1800s. Priests from nearby towns led worship services; the first recorded mass was in August 1893, with the Rev. Jacob Lauth presiding. In 1895, residents and trustees bought land and built a sanctuary dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary of Lourdes. Four years later, the church, which came to be called St. Mary's Our Lady of Lourdes, bought adjacent land for use as a cemetery. The congregation has grown over the years with new facilities and programs, and, since 1908, full-time priests. (2005)