The Creation of the Diocese of Corpus Christi

The Civil War brought desperate times to the little village on Corpus Christi Bay when the Texas coastline was blockaded. Parishioners were adversely affected by events, which included severe food and supply shortages and the bombardment of the city by Yankee troops. One story that survives demonstrates the concern shown by early parishioner Rebecca Millard Britton for her former slaves. Citizens had been warned by the Yankee troops to evacuate the city prior to the bombardment. People fled by any means possible, but the poor had no means to accomplish such a move. Rebecca, hitching up a wagon, rushed to carry the family of Anna Moore Schwein and others to a safe place. Later, the wagon ride inland to a neighboring ranch and subsequent events were related by Anna in her memoirs.

Father John Gonnard, who followed Fr. McGee in 1863, concentrated on the educational needs of the community. He first built a two-story frame building on the church lot and named it “Hidalgo Seminary School,” a boarding school for boys. Later a day school for girls was also opened, headed by Mother St. Claude who had come at the request of Fr. McGee.

Members of the parish continued their generosity to the Church. Contributions, large and small, to meet parish needs, came from many quarters and in a variety of ways. In 1866, an Irish widow from Tipperary, Catherine Bray, for one dollar, sold two acres of land to Fr. Gonnard to serve as the consecrated burial ground we know today as Holy Cross Cemetery. Though the cemetery has grown to encompass many more acres containing the remains of approximately 6,500 souls, it began with the gift of Catherine Bray. Several months later, her gift would fill a critical need for a large burial ground for the parish. Eventually both she and Father Gonnard would rest there. Catherine died of old age, Fr. Gonnard of yellow fever.

The ravishing yellow fever epidemic in the summer of 1867 took its toll on the citizenry, and parish families were sorely tried. Fully one third of the city’s population died. The last death recorded was that of Fr. Gonnard. His death was mourned by the entire city as a profound loss to the community. He died after weeks of working day and night, not only with his own people, but also with any who needed help. The parish was left without its beloved pastor, many parishioners were dead, and its school was closed. A large number of small children were left as orphans, losing both parents to the “black vomit.”

Many parish families suffered multiple deaths leaving the survivors devastated emotionally and economically. The Dunn family, for example, lost seven members, the Cahills lost two children; Mr. and Mrs. John Kelly died; as did Mr. and Mrs. John Whelan, and Dr. and Mrs. John Cleary. The city was in chaos and put under martial law due to the large number of elected officials who had died, leaving the government without people to manage it. Numerous accounts of courage and compassion shown by clergy and laity of all denominations during the terrible siege remain in diaries, newspaper articles and official records.

People of the parish rallied, buried their dead and then set about restoring order. The assistant pastor, Fr. Peter Berthet, who also suffered from the fever, took over responsibilities as pastor of the parish after his recovery. He hired Professor Robert Dougherty to reopen Hidalgo Seminary so that children could continue their education. Adoptions of fever orphans were numerous. The Martin Kellys adopted his brother’s five children, all under twelve. Years later, for the local newspaper, those children would re-count with fondness the love they felt from their adoptive parents.

The Cahills, still grieving the loss of their two children, adopted Katherine Cleary Cahill’s two nieces and a nephew who had been left orphaned. Their descendants, five generations later, are still members of the parish family. In 1940, they donated the Cathedral’s side altars in memory of their ancestors. Mary’s altar was donated in memory of Elizabeth Cleary Mew, and St. Joseph’s altar was donated in memory of Ellen Cleary Fitzsimmons.

Mayor J. B. Murphy and his wife, Mary Margaret Healy Murphy, adopted two girls who were not related. Both had lost their parents. Mary Margaret would later, after the death of her husband, found a religious order of women, the Sisters of the Holy Ghost (now known as the Sisters of the Holy Spirit and Mary Immaculate) dedicated to the education of children at risk. These remarkable parishioners lived their faith through difficult times, which called for sacrifice and hard work. Their faith sustained them and they moved on.

Father de St. John arrived to replace Father Berthet in 1871. Though he had lived in Texas for four years, the new pastor did not speak English. He immediately placed himself under the tutelage of Robert Dougherty, a native of Ireland, who spoke several languages. It is said that the results of this effort were that Father St. John became a powerful preacher.

It was shortly after his arrival that four Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament arrived from Brownsville to take over the school for girls, which had been established earlier. The arrival of the Sisters, whose congregation had been established in Lyon, France, and whose members were from France, Ireland, Mexico and the United States seems an appropriate melding of nationalities for the young parish. The order was to have a great impact on the life of both the clergy and laity by providing quality Catholic education to rich and poor for over 135 years. Their accomplishments and contributions to the development of a faith community in Corpus Christi are truly without parallel.

In 1874, the Most Reverend Dominic Manucy was consecrated Bishop for the newly established Vicariate of Brownsville, and because of conflicts with the people of Brownsville, he took up residence in Corpus Christi. Upon finding the little church of St. Patrick’s in great need of repairs and with the population growing, he set about raising funds to build a second St. Patrick’s Church. After struggling for two years, he still did not have sufficient funds. Upon learning of this situation, Capt. Mifflin Kenedy of the Laureles Ranch donated three bells, an organ, and a fresco painting for the ceiling, in addition to the necessary funds for the building’s completion. While Capt. Kenedy was himself a Quaker, his wife Petra Vela was a devout Catholic. Their descendents would continue their tradition of dedicated support to the building up of the Church in South Texas.

Another benefactor was the architect-builder, Charles Carroll, who donated much of the labor and his time to keep the cost at a minimum. Carroll, a New York native, was the father of Mary Carroll, parishioner and former CCISD school superintendent, for whom Carroll High School is named. Others contributed as well to the new church. Mary Margaret Healy Murphy donated, among other things, statues still in use today. On Christmas Eve, 1881, the bells rang out for the first time, but services did not really commence in the church until November of 1882, as further work was needed.

A few years later, Eugenie Lavender, French-born and trained at the Louvre, gave freely of her talents to produce several fine paintings for St. Patrick’s Church. One was a rendering of the church’s patron, St. Patrick. Begun in 1897, the painting measures five by ten feet; it required the tiny 80-year-old Mrs. Lavender to stand while painting. When she died the next year, it was thought that the ordeal helped hasten her death. The painting, one of three surviving, hangs at Incarnate Word Convent. There are two others there: The Crucifixion, which hung behind the altar, and the portrait of another Frenchman, Fr. de St. Jean.

When local citizens refer to “Old St. Patrick’s,” it is to this second one, located behind the first church and situated on the corner of Antelope and Caranchua Streets. Many recall weddings, baptisms, funerals, and other rites with vivid recollection. Many more recall the church as it served Incarnate Word Academy students until it was moved in 1951. Children attended daily Mass and other services there as an important part of their Catholic formation.

Before coming to Corpus Christi in 1884, the Rev. Claude Jaillet, a Frenchman like many of the early priests and bishops after the separation of Texas from the government of Mexico, had served in several assignments and brought with him a wealth of experiences. He was to become the priest to serve St. Patrick’s parish the longest, as he would be in residence for about 45 years. Upon his arrival, repairs were already needed in the new church and a larger school was sought for Incarnate Word Academy, which had been established in 1871. The new school was completed in 1885 at a cost of $15,000. Again the architect-builder was parishioner, Charles Carroll.

Fr. Jaillet helped the Congregation of the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament secure a Charter of Incorporation from the State Legislature for the school, and it began to show wonderful signs of progress both in numbers of students and in academic achievement. Fr. Jaillet taught in the Academy daily, when possible, both religion and the secular subjects. He, himself, examined the pupils at the end of the school year. He was likewise on the Board of Examiners for public school teachers for a period of nine years. In 1888, he was able to realize another of his fondest hopes—a Catholic school for boys. The school opened under the title of “St. Joseph’s School for Boys” and was taught by the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament.

As the parish grew in terms of providing for the needs of the people, individual acts of charity were also taking place and were chronicled in the newspaper. Evidence of one such kind act is found in the 1876 newspaper ad of wealthy rancher, John Timon. It states that any poor person needing meat for food may slaughter one of his calves, and they are to “just leave the hide for him.” In 1886, Mary Margaret Healy Murphy had established a hospital for aiding the sick and poor of the city. The newspaper noted, “This good Catholic lady is devoting much of her time and money to noble deeds.” In addition, she was meeting the serious needs of the sick.

Other parishioners were active as well. Council 1202 of the Knights of Columbus was established in Corpus Christi in 1906. Charter members included John Dunn, Pat Cody, Pat Whelan, James and Dennis McBride, F. J. Mulligan,and William Cody. By 1912, the first convention of the Knights of Columbus was held in the city. Not only did parishioners support the Church and its work, many were actively involved in civic life. Lists of elected officials for city and county show parishioners were judges, sheriffs, constables, mayors, aldermen, treasurers, and clerks. Parishioners also served as first responders in times of crisis. A picture dated from the late 1800s of the Shamrock (Fire) Hose Company shows a number from the parish.

On March 23, 1912, Pope Pius X created the Diocese of Corpus Christi and St. Patrick’s Church became St. Patrick’s Cathedral with Bishop Paul Nussbaum, C.P., as the bishop. Bishop Nussbaum was to face serious problems during his administration. The 1916 and 1919 storms were both major hurricanes causing loss of life and property damage. He also faced an influx of clergy and religious due to the Mexican Civil War. They were not able to support themselves and needed help. A major epidemic hit, leaving many dead, including his most trusted staff.

Parishioners likewise faced the harsh realities caused by storms, disease and poverty, but many responded showing great courage. In August, the 1916 hurricane struck the city. Parishioner John McManigle, Deputy Constable, and others manned a Ford touring car through 90 mile-an-hour winds to move more than 150 women and children away from the frame structures that were their homes to the safety of more substantial buildings. Newspaper headlines sum up the event by saying, “Heroes of the Storm Brave Death in Removing Women and Children to Safety.”

Two and a half years later, a virulent influenza epidemic hit the city, killing many of its people. Fr. Paulinus Doran and Fr. Scheid, Cathedral pastor and his assistant, who also served as staff to Bishop Nussbaum, were among the victims. The two men died within minutes of each other in January of 1919, while the disease gripped the city. It was reported that during the outbreak there had been a funeral every day in the Cathedral, which gives some idea of the impact of the epidemic on the parish.

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