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The Beginnings of St. Joseph
A devout lady, Mrs. Alice Smith, donated the money for a new church, and the once Sacred Heart Mission was made a parish under the name of St. Joseph Church. The new church was blessed on the Feast Day of the Most Holy Trinity in 1932. From this point on the name Sacred Heart disappeared from the history of the parish until the 1950’s when another St. Joseph Church would be built and the old Church moved to Texas Boulevard.
Next in succession as pastor of St. Joseph was Fr. Alejandro Primo, who served from April 1932-October 1933 and then Fr. Macario Lopez, from November 1933-December 1935. By the time Father Angel Alvarez (pictured left) succeeded Fr. Lopez in 1936, Alice was a thriving city and the Church of St. Joseph’s parish could not alone accommodate its numerous and rapidly increasing parishioners.
At first, the challenged was addressed with the building of a new church. This church, named, “Our Lady of Guadalupe,” was completed and blessed in 1940 by Bishop Ledvina. In 1948, the needs of the growing population became more prevalent and Bishop Ledvina encouraged Fr. Juan Zabala, O.P. to begin plans for the building of a new St. Joseph Church.
In 1951, Fr. Angel Alvarez took over the work of directing the project and fundraising, so that the new church could be built. The building fund was soon at an amount sufficiently large to commence construction. In the latter part of the year 1951, a Construction Committee was appointed by representatives from all the religious organizations of St. Joseph’s parish and the committee at once went to work. Tours were taken to neighboring cities to study the various architectural styles, and conferences were held with Bishop Garriga as plans were being made.
On June 22, 1952 Fr. Angel Vizcarra (pictured far left) with Fr. Manuel Lopez Tascon (pictured left) as his assistant, succeeded Fr. Angel Alvarez, and it was under Fr. Vizcarra’s leadership that the new and present-day church building and rectory were completed. The blessing of the grounds took place on the November 16, 1952 and construction of the rectory and the new church building was commenced.
On October 18, 1953, Bishop Mariano S. Garriga dedicated this new House of God. The old St. Joseph Church building was then moved to Texas Boulevard to become the place of worship for the members of Sacred Heart Mission.
On May 1, 1986, Bishop Rene Gracida released the Dominican Fathers from their 55 year commitment to he spiritual care of the people of St. Joseph and Sacred Heart Mission and installed diocesan priests.
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