By Michael Gresham
The Texas Catholic
SHERMAN — The community of St. Mary Catholic Parish gathered in celebration and prayer on April 27 for a Mass commemorating the parish’s 150th anniversary. Bishop Edward J. Burns concelebrated the special Mass at St. Anne Catholic Church at St. Mary Catholic Parish with Father Martin Castañeda, parish pastor, and Father Merlito Abiog, parochial vicar. The Saturday evening Mass was followed by a reception and was just one part of a three-day celebration of the parish milestone anniversary.
“Praise be to God for the abundant blessings bestowed upon St. Mary Catholic Parish as it celebrates 150 years of faithful service in Sherman, Texas,” Father Castañeda said. “It is truly a testament to the grace and providence of our Heavenly Father that we gather in joy and gratitude to commemorate this significant milestone in our parish’s history.”
A foundation of faith
According to parish records, the first Mass at St. Mary Catholic Parish was celebrated in a Sherman hotel room in1872. Three years later, a small chapel was built at the corner of Travis Street and Eagle Lane. This structure was soon followed by a frame church dedicated to St. Mary. In 1905, construction began on a church designed by the renowned Texas architect Nicholas Clayton. It was completed in 1906 and would serve the parish for 103 years.
To meet the needs of a growing population in the area, a new church was built in honor of St. Anne in 2009. According to the parish website, the newer sanctuary is situated across the street from St. Mary Catholic Church so that “mother (Anne) and daughter (Mary) may gaze upon each other with love and tenderness.”
“As we reflect on the journey of St. Mary Parish over the past century and a half, we are filled with awe and reverence for the countless souls who have contributed to the growth and flourishing of our faith community,” Father Castañeda said. “From the courageous pioneers who laid the foundation of our parish to the dedicated clergy, religious, and laity who have shepherded and nurtured it throughout the years, we are deeply indebted to their unwavering commitment to the Gospel.”
Unity and fellowship
Father Castañeda expressed the community’s gratitude to Bishop Burns for his presence and celebration of the anniversary Mass.
“His presence among us serves as a reminder of the unity of the Church and the bond that unites us as one family in Christ,” Father Castañeda said.
In his homily, Bishop Burns talked of that unity and how it connects all Catholics through the diocese and the world.
“Christ is the vine, we are the branches, and we stay connected,” Bishop Burns said. “And in that, we celebrate 150 years of Catholic faith here in Sherman.”
The bishop celebrated the foundation of faith that has allowed the Catholic community in Sherman to flourish for those 150 years.
“I’m so profoundly proud of this Catholic community,” Bishop Burns said. “As the shepherd of this diocese, I rejoice with this flock for staying so strong in the faith as you have.”
Father Castañeda said that the 150-year milestone is a testament to the community’s strong foundation rooted in the Catholic faith.
“Indeed, the milestone of 150 years is not merely a temporal achievement but a spiritual milestone that signifies the enduring presence of God’s grace in our midst,” he said. “It is a time for us to look back with gratitude, to cherish the memories of the past, and to look forward with hope and anticipation to the future that God has in store for St. Mary Parish.”
Rooted in tradition
A growing parish with a vibrant community, St. Mary’s community is deeply rooted in Catholic tradition, Father Castañeda said.
“The growth and flourishing of St. Mary’s as a vibrant community of faith can be attributed to our commitment to spiritual nourishment, community building, outreach, and our devotion to Mary,” the priest said. “With God’s grace and the dedication of our parishioners, we continue to thrive in faith, hope, and love, journeying together towards the kingdom of God.”
Greg Koenig, who chairs the parish council at St. Mary, said the three-day celebration provided the community an opportunity to come together to celebrate, both in faith and fellowship.
“We had quite a few people turn out,” said Koenig, a retired U.S. Army colonel who joined the parish six years ago after moving to the area from Richmond, Virginia. “You really got the chance to just see a lot of people that you don’t really see because we have so many different Masses at the parish. It was great to see all those people.”
Recognizing the significance of the sesquicentennial milestone, Koenig said the parish has plenty to celebrate with its past, present, and future.
“It’s a special community, and one reason for that is we have one heck of a pastor,” Koenig said. “He’s very dynamic, extremely energetic, and always working for our parish.”
Koenig also praised the devout, commitment of the parish’s communities, noting the unity and love of the faith. In particular, he praised the growing Hispanic community within the parish.
“They are a blessing to our parish,” he said.
A part of that Hispanic community, Isabel Albarenga and her husband Gustavo have been parishioners at St. Mary for 26 years, raising their three children in the parish. She said witnessing the 150th anniversary nearly brought her to tears.
“It was beautiful and just a very exciting time for our church,” Albarenga said, adding that she found Bishop Burns’ homily for the celebratory Mass especially touching. “When he talked about the history of our parish and the history of the Catholic Church, and how it was all connected, that was truly special.”
Like Koenig, Albarenga was quick to praise the parish priests for helping to make St. Mary a special community.
“Father Martin has brought a lot of unity to our parish. He’s been very dynamic,” she said, adding that she especially loved the work he has done within the Hispanic community. “Our community was already strong, but he has done even more to have all of our parish community come together.”
With the celebration behind them, Father Castañeda invoked the intercession of the Blessed Mother Mary, the patroness of the parish, to guide and protect parishioners as he urged them to continue their journeys of faith.
“Let us remain steadfast in prayer, united in love, and unwavering in our commitment to proclaim the Gospel message to all,” Father Castañeda said, noting that the celebration was an expression of thanksgiving to God for the blessings of the past, the graces of the present, and the promise of a future filled with hope. “Ad multos annos — to many more years of faithful witness and service to the glory of God.”
