In 1952 it was obvious that the two churches of the San José Missions were too small for the congregation or people standing

In 1952 it was obvious that the two churches of the San José Missions were too small for the congregation or people standing. The two were San José itself and Our Lady of Light or "La Luz", as it was popularly called. Providentially a Mexican working in real estate located a choice piece of land in the center of the Mission of la Luz, a little over five acres. The land was bought. By autumn we had the Breaking of the Ground. On November 15 construction began.

During the provincial visit in January 1953 Rev. Theodore J. Mehling, C.S.C. and Bishop Louis J. Reicher agreed to make La Luz a separate parish with a resident pastor. Father Delaney's name was kept in confidence for that appointment which went into effect in April 1953. La Luz now had its first pastor and under his charge were two missions, that of San Francisco and that of Guadalupe in Garfield. San José was left with its own Mission, and Santa Cruz Mission of Buda also remained with San José.

Incidentally, the name of La Luz was to be changed. When early plans were being made for its blessing by Bishop Reicher, he pointed out that a church should bear the name or title of a Mass found in the missal, since it was supposed to have an annual commemoration or celebration in the parish. The Bishop accepted the feast proposed by Father Houser, Our Lady of Sorrows, which in Spanish remains its title, Nuestra Señora de los Dolores. It is now called commonly, simply "Dolores." The blessing took place on September 15, 1953.

By April 1953 San José Missions adjust themselves to the new and simpler setup. The pastor was Father Houser, and the assistant was Father Driscoll. San José Church had about 300 families, its mission of Santa Cruz had 40 families, all Latin Americans of Mexican descent, since St. Ignatius takes care of all Anglos in the same territory, about 15X15 square miles, south of the Colorado River, east and west, north and south.

The situation did not last long. To replace Father Donnelly in the St. Helen's Missions of Georgetown, the Provincial took Father Driscoll from San José. Father Rupp was to have come from the St. Mary's Missions of Lampasas to San José. However, Father Francis Weber, C.S.C. pastor of the St. Mary's Missions, stated that two priests could no longer take care of the seven churches in those scattered missions. Father House, Superior of the Missions, agreed to let Father Rupp remain with Father Weber, pending Provincial approval, which was received.

Beginning with July of 1953 until July of 1956, Father Edwin Bauer, C.S.C. said Sunday Mass at Santa Cruz, while the pastor of San José said the Masses at San José and looked after the Missions in their pastoral work. Father Bauer was Procurator of the Missions, terminating that office in July 1956, when he was transferred to Holy Cross parish in South Bend, Indiana.

It was stated earlier that the churches of the two Missions were too small. San José had a parish of 300 families, yet the seating capacity held 150 people. Providentially a new site of ten acres was purchased in 1954. Walter Cocke, Jr. and Company accepted the request to draw up the plans of a new parish auditorium which would serve as a church for some years. The plans were accepted in May 1955. On July 17, 1955, the Breaking of the Ground was held, with Bishop Reicher officiating. The building was begun at once and completed in January. In that same month the two-story rectory was moved to the new location.

The Solemn Blessing of the new San José church was scheduled for February 5, 1956. Due to the worse ice and freezing storm in years, the Solemn Blessing was given by Bishop Reicher on the 19th. He asked that the Simple Blessing be given on the 5th by Father Mehling, who was making his Provincial visit at that time.

--Joseph Houser, C.S.C.

Chronicler, August 6, 1956

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