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On the day of our nation’s 200th birthday, July
4, 1976, Monsignor Richard J. Shirley, a descendent of one of the pioneer
families of Corpus Christi, took over the pastorate of the Cathedral upon
the retirement of Monsignor Schmitt, who had served the community of Corpus
Christi Cathedral for over 20 years. Under Msgr. Richard Shirley the parish expanded the musical and liturgical ministry of the Cathedral and initiated a new Cathedral Concert Series for the larger community. In keeping with the parish tradition of education, he again re-opened the parochial school. He joined in ecumenical outreach to the needy in the establishment of Metro Ministries and the Loaves and Fishes kitchen. These ministries in music, education, and social service were all a part of the parish’s tradition from its earliest days. The Cathedral Concert Series was a continuation of the musical tradition. The parish has a long musical history replete with examples of parishioners’ outstanding gifts of time and talent. A newspaper account of what was probably the first concert of sacred music in the parish is dated 1888. As mentioned previously, Rebecca Britton was the first to provide the congregation with accompaniment for their hymns in the 1850’s. Though the records of subsequent organists are incomplete, we do have some information which includes examples of some remarkable service to the parish. In 1874, it was reported “Catholics were elated over the possession of a Mason & Hamlin organ with three key-boards and twelve stops. Mr. DePlanque, the organist, and Father St. John are entitled to much credit for their efforts to improve the church music.” Louis DePlanque was a Prussian born photographer who, with his family, arrived in the city in 1868 from Matamoros to set up his studio. His familiar back mark is to be found on hundreds of 19th century portraits of area citizens. DePlanque apparently also devoted considerable “untiring energy” to a fund-raising event for church repair that same year. The Corpus Christi Gazette reported on two days of entertainment, held at Market Hall, which included “music, vocal and instrumental; dramatic performances, grave and humorous, and an ice cream festival.” Parishioners performed all entertainment. The net proceeds were $330.50. It is not known how long DePlanque served as parish organist; he died suddenly in 1898 at age 56. By 1882, Emily Lavender McManus, daughter of the artist, was playing the organ for the choir, which was composed of just seven ladies of the parish. They were: Mrs. M. T. Gaffney, Mrs. Thomas Hickey, Mrs. David Murphy, Miss Mary FitzSimmons, Mrs. John McTeirnan, Mrs. James McGloin, and Mrs. Charles FitzSimmons. These ladies sang at the dedication of St. Patrick’s Church. In 1888, a newspaper account recalls that the church was packed to overflowing to hear a lecture and sacred concert. The concert, under the direction of Mrs. McManus, was highly appreciated. The lecturer, an eloquent Jesuit preacher, Rev. Father Flynn, was heard with marked attention. His subject was education and the free school system. A collection taken up for the poor amounted to $50. The Caller conveyed the thanks of Rev. Jaillet and Mrs. McManus to those who assisted in the concert, as well as to the many persons who attended the occasion and gave money for a good cause. The paper termed the event a grand success and stated that good order kept the whole evening commendable. Later, the choir grew in size and was composed of both men and women. Parishioner Roy J. Hebert directed it. Though a native of Canada, Hebert had studied for the priesthood at the Oblate Seminary in San Antonio. Gifted with a beautiful voice, he learned a great deal about liturgical music during his seminary years. After leaving the Oblates, he later married Rachel Bluntzer and moved to Corpus Christi. Still wishing to serve his Church, he began his work with the parish and the choir. The choir practiced weekly and was always ready for both parish and diocesan events, including the many weddings and funerals held in the church. At the 1940 dedication Mass for the Cathedral, Hebert acted as both choir director and soloist, responding to the Latin prayers offered by the celebrant, Bishop Ledvina. Though Roy and the choir had sung many Masses before, this time the Mass must have been extraordinary, given the circumstances. This was the first time anyone had sung in the new Cathedral. The choir, previously used to the small space of St. Patrick’s and its tiny organ, was now singing for a large prestigious group of clergy and laity in the new Cathedral with its grandly scaled nave, soaring ceiling, large choir loft, and massive new organ. The difference in the acoustics must have been astonishing. Accompaniment for the choir was in the capable hands of parishioner Francis Blossman who began his incredible career as a lad of 13. On Easter Sunday morning in1904, the choirmaster at St. Patrick’s discovered the organist had left town. There was only one resort—to find 13 year old Francis, son of Corpus Christi’s leading grocer and piano student under the tutelage of Sr. Augustine at the Convent. Sometime later, after much persuasion on the part of the Sisters, a chunky, badly-scared-knee-panted boy walked up the aisle between rows of staring people and took his seat at the old pipe organ for the first time in his life. “Don’t be frightened,” Sr. Augustine whispered to him, “just imagine all those heads out there are cabbage heads instead of people.” So short-legged he was unable to reach the foot pedals below, Francis pressed the keys to the organ for which, up until that time, he had been allowed only to pump the bellows. Easter Mass was held that morning in St. Patrick’s. After that Easter, Francis played for Mass once or twice almost every Sunday for the next 49 years. In addition to playing at Mass, hardly a week went by that he did not play for a wedding or a funeral. In addition to these duties, for a time early in his career as an organist, he directed the choir as well. During his many years of service, not only did he play the old hand-pumped organ but he also mastered the newer model, a much more complex instrument, acquired by the Cathedral in 1940. At the time of his death on New Year’s Eve, 1953, he lacked three months of having served the parish for 50 years. It was this tradition of music and liturgy that Msgr. Shirley honored when he hired Greg Labus and Lee Gwozdz as new music directors and initiated the Cathedral Concert Series. Meanwhile others like Joan Hamill and parish volunteers had carried on a tradition of good liturgical music between the time of Mr. Blossman and the arrival of Lee and Greg. During these years of liturgical transition, the crypt chapel of the Cathedral was also enlarged and enhanced through the skills of parish architect, James Rome, and artist Michael Tracy, in order to serve for daily Masses. Because the spatial needs of the bishop’s offices necessitated a move of the parish offices and living quarters from the chancery building, parish architect John Wright designed a new rectory, dedicated in September of 1979. The Diocese and Cathedral parish welcomed a new bishop, Rene H. Gracida, in 1983. During his administration, Msgr. Hugh Clarke and Msgr. Leonard Pivonka served the parish as rectors while further renovations were made in the Cathedral, with the addition of a Blessed Sacrament Chapel and presbytery. The parish (with diocesan and private support) also initiated a televised Mass each Sunday to spread the Gospel and give spiritual care to those confined by reason of age or disability. During this time, the schools of the Cathedral and neighboring Sacred Heart parish merged to form Central Catholic School with an expanded campus. The parish had previously, during Msgr. Shirley’s tenure as rector, initiated the custom of serving breakfast after the morning Sunday Mass. Fr. Hugh Clarke continued the practice. The breakfasts provided both parishioners and clergy an important opportunity to enjoy some fellowship and eat breakfast at the same time. Newcomers were welcomed to the community and many lasting friendships were formed. The success of the program depended on parish volunteers to keep things going in the kitchen, as the effort was an important part of the whole idea of fellowship in the hall. In 1989, long time parishioners Leo Luna and his wife, Benilde, began helping with this popular event. The Lunas, who had joined the parish in 1954, quickly became mainstays of the breakfasts. They served in this capacity for over ten years, buying the supplies, cooking and serving each Sunday morning. Leo, a devout Catholic, had been associated with the Cathedral since 1940, when he was an altar server. As a young man he served in the South Pacific with Naval Special Forces during WWII. After the war he returned to Corpus Christi and the Cathedral. Always wanting to serve the community in any way he could, he was active in a number of organizations. He served on the City Council; he was a member of the VFW, the Catholic War Veterans, the American Legion and the American GI Forum. At the Cathedral, he served as a member of the Parish Council, a Eucharistic Minister, and an usher. He was known as “Mr. Radio” in his professional life as a radio announcer in the Coastal Bend for over 50 years. The dedication and hard work of Leo Luna came to an end with his death in July of 2002. His was a truly generous spirit serving his country during war, his city as important decision maker, and his Church in a variety of ways, even to serving breakfast to fellow parishioners. |
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