325.387.2278

St. Ann Catholic Church
Sonora, Texas

St. Ann Catholic Church Sonora, TexasSt. Ann Catholic Church Sonora, TexasSt. Ann Catholic Church Sonora, Texas

St. Ann Catholic Church
Sonora, Texas

St. Ann Catholic Church Sonora, TexasSt. Ann Catholic Church Sonora, TexasSt. Ann Catholic Church Sonora, Texas

325.387.2278

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THE HISTORY OF ST. ANN CATHOLIC CHURCH OF SONORA

 THE BEGINNING  


Although administering to the religious needs of Catholics in this area was probably begun around the time of Sonora’s founding in 1890, there is little recorded history of Catholic activities before the first request was made in 1918 to establish a church here. 


Earliest records show that Father Peter Baque, originally from Catalunia, Spain traveled from San Angelo to Sonora regularly to hold services and say mass in a tiny wooden building. At that time Sonora was a mission taken care of from the San Angelo District. 


Church records show that in 1927 donations were given for completion of a church and in 19129 contributions were received for the priest’s rectory, built in November of that year. The first baptismal and other church records date back to 1929. At that time pastors of St. Ann’s Church stayed in Sonora and from here took care of the church needs in Eldorado, Ozona, Mertzon and Van Horn. 


Not until 1955 was Sonora made a parish, with Fr. Godfrey Blanck, O.F.M., as pastor. In a letter dated August 15, 1955, the Very Rev. Msgr. A. M. Bottoms, J.C.D., Chancellor, informed the Rev. Godfrey, “His excellency, the Most Reverend Laurence J. FitzSimon directs me to inform you that on August 15, 1955, he canonically erected St. Ann’s as a parish with its missions of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Eldorado, and Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Ozona. You are hereby appointed pastor of St. Ann’s Parish, Sonora effective August 15.”


The Parish was under the care of the Franciscan Order, which took care of the Southwest Texas churches, until September 7, 1967, when the Sonora parish was annexed to the Diocese of San Angelo and governed by the diocesan priest Father Michael Fernandez. The first diocesan priest to follow after the Franciscans, Father Michael provided the leadership under which the new church was built.

  

ST. ANN’S CATHOLIC CHURCH BUILDING COMMITTEE


Guiding the way for the construction of new worship facilities for St. Ann’s Catholic Church, these members of the building committee take pride in the completion and dedication of the new church. Committee members are Pete Gomez, Polo Cervantes, Cesario Martinez, Father Michael Fernandez, Louis Olenick, Monica Davis and the late Louis Davis. 


After the decision was reached to build a new sanctuary for St. Ann’s Parishioners, a building committee composed of Mrs. Louis Davis, Polo Cervantes, Cesario Martinez, Pete Gomez, Louis Olenick and the Late Mr. Louis Davis set about planning for the building. 

A debt ceiling was set at $55,000, and this remains to be paid, although actual building cost totaled around $80,000.


The San Antonio architect who drew plans for the new sanctuary, Alvin Julian, said a building such as St. Ann’s Church, capable of seating 400 people, would have cost $130,000 if all work had been contracted. 


With Father Michael Fernandez working as a contractor and parishioners and the whole town donating time and efforts, cost was almost cut in half. The main builders of the church, Norberto Ortiz and Frank Morales, deserve a large amount of credit for the work they did in the church construction. 


The Solemn Dedication of St. Ann’s Catholic Church of Sonora, Texas was held on Sunday, December 28, 1969, at four o’clock in the afternoon by His Excellency, Stephen Leven, Bishop of San Angelo. 


TOUR OF THE NEW CHURCH


Sonora Catholics have been working toward a new church for several years. First efforts were rewarded with a new parish hall, and a new sanctuary now stands as a monument to their efforts. 


With the need of a new church being evident and the people asking for a new building, the priest called a meeting of parish members, asking if they were willing to help with the building and take on the burden of building a church. Their answer was yes, and a building committee was formed, headed by Father Michael Fernandez, and including a non-Catholic, the late Mr. Louis Davis, and five others. 


A San Antonio architect, Alvin Julian, drew the plans which were accepted. They guided the building of a church made close to nature by the use of as many natural materials as possible. Native rock, donated by Stella Keene from her ranch, was hauled to the building site by parishioners.


The external shape of the church is that of a Roman cross. The Altar and Tabernacle (the main parts of the Sacrifice) were originally in the center of the church, with pews set on a semicircle so that the faithful will be close to altar and priest. The large crucifix on the back wall can be seen from all entrances to the church. Light fixtures, including the big chandelier, are from Mexico. The altar is of granite, as in the back wall, on which is mounted a redwood carving of the stations of the cross, a project that took Charlotte Wright of Midland one and one half years to complete. 


Foremost thoughts in the minds of planners, simplicity, and naturality, are evident for all to see because of the extensive use of natural products such as wood, rock, and iron in the construction of the church. Reaching 36 feet in the sky are the steeple and cross, which is made from an auger. 


Father Michael expresses' his thanks to all the people, members, and non-members, who have helped with the project, and reminds them that their efforts in building the new church will never be regretted, and will be reflected for many years in the beautiful building they have helped create. 

ST. ANN'S PRIEST HISTORY

1929-1931 Rev. Pablo Sokol

1929-1931 Rev. Paul Sokoh

1931-1931 Rev. Maximo Redardo, OSA

1931-1932 P. Morsch

1931-1932 Rev. O.M. Redondo

1931-1932 Rev. W. Salgado

1931-1932 Rev. Santos Abia

1931-1932 Rev. Nicolas Salgado, OSA

1932-1932 Rev. Felipe Calle, OSA

1932-1933 Rev. Santos Abia, OSA

1933-1934 Rev. Felipe Calle

1933-1934 Rev. Mariaus Arcouada

1933-1935 Rev. Mariano Arconda, Osa

1935-1936 Rev. J. A. La Heor

1935-1936 Rev. W. F. Bosen

1935-1936 Rev. J. A. Zieuta

1935-1936 Rev. E. A. Wehner

1935-1938 Rev. W.R. Bosen

1936-1937 J. J. Neff

1937-1938 Rev. C. Gutierrez

1937-1938 Rev. Bertin Harrington

1937-1938 Rev. Virgil Kaiser

1937-1938 Rev. Bertin Harrington

1937-1938 Rev. Bennet Rothan

1938-1942 Rev. Regis Darpel, OFM

1939-1940 Rev. Regis Darpel

1940-1941 Rev. Regis Darpel

1940-1941 Rev. Carol Meyer

1942-1944 Rev. Carol Meyer

1942-1948 Rev. Frederic Doeren, OFM

1942-1948 Rev. Carol Meyer, OFM

1944-1948 Rev. Frederic Doeren

1947-1955 Rev. Cyril Hermann, OFM

1948-1950 Rev. Ronnie Einhaus O.F.M.

1950-1951 Rev. Cyril J. Hermann O.F.M.

1951-1955 Rev. Howard Meyer, OfM

1951-1957 Rev. Howard Meyer

1951-1957 Rev. Godfrey Blanck O.F.M.

1955-1961 Rev. Godfrey Blank, OFM

1955-unk Rev. Julian Hastig, OFM

1957-1958 Rev. Ronnie Einhaus O.F.M.

1957-1958 Rev. Conall P. Lynch O.F.M.

1958-1959 Rev. Godfrey Blanck O.F.M.

1958-1959 Anthony Catalina

1958-1959 Rev. Conall Lynch, OFM

1959-1961 Rev. Godfrey Blanck O.F.M.

1959-1961 Rev. Ralph Zinse O.F.M.

1961-1962 Rev. Cyril Hermann O.F.M.

1961-1963 Rev. Ralph Zinser, OFM

1963-1966 Rev. Joel Byrne

1963-unk Rev. Joel Byrne, OFM

1966-1967 Rev. Cecil Kleber O.F.M.

1967-1969 Rev. Michael Fernandez

1967-1977 Rev. Michael Fernandez, OFM

1967-umk Rev. Cecil Klebee, OFM

1970-1972 Rev. Samuel Hensey, OFM

1972-1972 Rev. Vincente Vidal, OFM

1977-1978 Rev. Louis Moeller

1978-1981 Rev. John Waldron

1981-1983 Rev. Gilbert Rodriguez

1983-1987 Rev. Bernard Gully

1983-1987 Br. George Chengazhacheril

1983-2008 Enemencio (Chapo) Samaniego

1987-1991 Rev. Lawrence D'Mello

1991-2005 Rev. William (Bill) DuBuisson, OMJ

1993-unk Br. Raymond Gallegher

2005-2008 Rev. Miguel Dinio

2008-2016 Rev. Lionel Fernando

2016-2019 Rev. Terence Brenon

2019- Present Rev. Felix B. Archibong

WINDOW MEMORIALS

Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Crites in memory of the R.T. Pollock and B. H. Crites families

Mike and Rosario Ibarra

Mr. and Mrs. Gus Eustace in memory of Louis Davis

In memory of Leonardo Virgen by his Sons (Big Window)

Mrs. Pauline Thompson in memory of her family (Big Window)

Mr. and Mrs. Juan Jimenez

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Bond in Memory of Mrs. Carrie Freeborn and Mrs. Lottie Walters (Big Window)

Bennie Ball in memory of Louis Davis

Omar Pimentel

Mr. and Mrs. Norberto Ortiz

Lupe Jimenez

Louis y Alma Perez

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Bond Jr. 

Miss Mary Cook

Mrs. Juanita Munoz

Robert Zapata

Miguel Jolis Y Family

Isael Perez

Mr. Willie Duran

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Bond in Memory of Louis Davis

Mr. Valentin Favela

Sr. y Sra. Candelario Jimenez Sr. 

Mr. and Mrs. Lupe Chavez

Charles Cooper

Mrs. Meitzen

Mrs. Eulogia Flores e hijos

Abelino Sanchez, Jr. 

Jose Guerrara

Bene Guevara

Odelia Baltazar

Sofia Brown

Jose Guevara

Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Neville

Virgenia, Nina, Ozevedo

Mrs. Paul Boland

Mr. and Mrs. Augustine Ortiaga

Thomas Hernandez

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Wilson

Rafael Lozano

Hector Noriega

Mrs. Lupe Noriega

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