More Than a Century of Service

Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, which dates to 1899, is the oldest church still operating in Mission, but it has been able to keep up with contemporary times.

“ We say Texas friendly is spoken at this church,” says Father Roy Snipes, who is known for bringing his dog to church. “The best compliment we get is that people say they feel at home here.” Church staff member Lisa Corpus says the church has a healthy stream of members and visitors passing through its doors. Some 1,200 bulletins are printed each week during the summer months, she says, and more than 2,000 during the winter.

Besides its spiritual offerings, the church is known for its handsome, red-brick architecture. The original building was destroyed by fire in 1925, but the statue of the Blessed Virgin survived the blaze and was installed in front of the new building in 1926.

Priests of the Oblate of Mary Immaculate Order have served the church since it was founded. It honors Our Lady of Guadalupe, the name given to Mary as she appeared to Juan Diego, an Aztec, in 1531. The story is that Diego witnessed the appearance of the Virgin at Tepayec, a hill northwest of Mexico City. She spoke to him, telling him to have the bishop build a sanctuary dedicated to her on the spot, and left her image imprinted on his tilma, or cloak. Many miracles are attributed to her appearance there and to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the sanctuary built as a result of Diego’s story that today houses the sacred tilma.

Images of Mission, TX 2003 Edition

Story by John Shearer
Photo by Theresa Montgomery