From the South Texas Catholic. Reprinted with permissioin:

100 years of service, opportunity and brotherly love in Beeville

Byline email address: Geraldine McGloin
STC Correspondent

Our Lady of Victory’s 100th anniversary celebration on May 2.   
 
Sitting in the brightly decorated well-cared-for church packed shoulder-to-shoulder with worshipers, one wonders just what Father Juan Coma would have thought if he had been in attendance at Our Lady of Victory’s centennial celebration on May 2.

The Spanish priest began the Beeville parish 100 years ago as a small mission of St. Joseph parish to provide Masses in Spanish for the growing population of the city.

“Father Coma was a man of great courage, he was also a man of prayer and sacrifice, many of the people he served were rejected and marginalized but he made sure that they had Masses and the sacraments,” said Bishop Edmond Carmody in his homily at the celebration. Other clergy present were pastor, Father Luke Thirunelliparambil, Father Flover Osorio and other priests from the diocese.

The bishop noted how the Spanish-speaking community “came from different places and cultures but united in their focus on the Lord. Father Coma and the others that followed reached out to people, not seeking power or fame, but to serve, because of this we have a vibrant and thriving parish today.”

The growth of the railroads had brought large numbers of new settlers to the area. Many of them were recent immigrants, drawn to the area by its mild climate, abundant land and agricultural work. In the early part of the century nearly a quarter of the county’s population was foreign born, with new residents from Mexico and Germany forming the largest contingents.

The clergy was keenly aware of the spiritual needs of the people of the diocese. In 1909 Father Coma erected the first house of worship for Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church to meet some of these needs. It was a frame building, 24 X 40 feet located at the corner of Ireland and Avenue D.

The mission grew rapidly and under the newly arrived Franciscans who followed Fr. Coma, it became an independent parish in 1924. The block on which the present facilities are located was purchased and a building program began, which eventually included a new church, a school, a rectory for the priests, and a convent for the sisters. Our Lady of Victory School was opened in 1924, with Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament serving as teachers.

The Daughters of Charity and the Missionaries of St. Dominic followed them in later years. The Franciscan priest, Father Turribus Christman, pastor from March 14, 1924, to July 1926, is credited with much of that was accomplished during this period.

In his homily, Bishop Carmody urged the congregation to remember those who had gone before to make the church what it is today. “Remember your ancestors whose focus was Jesus. Christ is our hope and was the hope of those who had built their first church and had turned it into a house of prayer.” he said.

In 1927 the church was moved to the new property, and in 1930 the missionaries of the Holy Family assumed sponsorship of the parish. The first pastor was Father Anthony Elsing, a Missionary of the Holy Family. By 1939 a new church was built and dedicated by Bishop Mariano S. Garriga. A new school building consisting of five classrooms, an office and a library followed it in 1946.

By 1972 the parish had completed a new parish hall and rectory and the church was renovated. The Missionaries of the Holy Family continued to serve the parish through 1997, a period of approximately 42 years.

Bishop Carmody remembered these priests saying, “Their work enriched the faith of the people, always focusing on Jesus, they were there to reach out, give hope and consolation to those they came in contact with.”

Today Our Lady of Victory is a vibrant and thriving parish. The present pastor, Father Luke and parochial vicar Father Flover, oversee a modern campus with a number of buildings in addition to the sacramental and administrative work of a parish. Those who serve as Knights of the Altar, the Extraordinary Ministers of he Eucharist, and Ministers of the Word, ushers, and the choirs enhance liturgical life. Parish life includes service and educational organizations so important to the community. The Holy Name Society, chartered in 1958, celebrates its golden jubilee (50 years) of service next year. St. Anne’s Society dating to the early twenties, is primarily an altar society maintaining the items needed for the celebration of Mass. The St. Vincent DePaul Society is active in the parish fulfilling their mission of helping the poor. Parish and Finance Councils assist the pastors with administrative and financial matters. Adult religious education is given through RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation) and is done through a network of DRE’S and teachers and coordinators. Hundred of students have been provided opportunities of learning about the faith through its programs. The newly introduced “Why Catholic?” has proven to be very helpful as well. Additionally adult religious education entitled “Life in the Spirit/ Bible Class Group began in 1999 and continues to provide education to the parish community. Youth are served through the CYO (Catholic Youth Organization), which began under Father Anthony Elsing, and Brother Jude Trevino, both Missionaries of the Holy Family in the late sixties. It has remained relevant and attractive to today’s youth, as its members are very active in church related functions. A cemetery committee’s goal is to insure that the sacred character of this special place is kept.

During his homily, Bishop Carmody urged the congregation to “Give what you can of time, talent and treasure to the church, as that is what will allow the taproots of the gospel to grow deep. You must spread the gospel so that in 50 years at the 150th anniversary there will be an even bigger celebration.”

The Mass was followed by a reception in the parish hall. Texas State Senator Judith Zaffirini presented the parish with a proclamation from the Texas Senate commending the parish and congratulating them on 100 years of service and opportunity. The Holy Father Benedict XVI had imparted an apostolic Blessing to the pastor, and parishioners for the occasion. A congratulatory letter was also received from Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, Archbishop of Galveston-Houston.

Perhaps some of the best reasons for celebrating a 100th anniversary were cited by State Senator Judith Zaffirini in her congratulatory message to the parish. She said she was “grateful for your commitment to bringing services, opportunities and brotherly love to the community of Beeville and beyond. My prayer is that you may continue to bless those who seek your services and experience further growth and prosperity for the next 100 years and beyond.”

(Sources for article: 1. The Historical Story of Bee County Texas, Camp Ezell, Beeville Publishing Co, 1973; 2. Handbook of Texas online; 3. Our Lady of Victory 100th year Anniversary 1908-2008)