HomeMy WebLinkAboutSanta Teresa's HistorySanta Teresa's For
Spanish Catholics
By VIRGINIA SYPTAK I
Eagle Church Editor t,
Q - i a Teresa's C a t h o l i c
Church on Lucxy ...,mac a~- I
tablished in 1940 through the
efforts of the Rev. Francis D
Urbanovsky, who also became
the first pastor of the church.
Rev.Urbanovsky was assistant
to Father Gleissner of St. Jos-
eph's Catholic Church at a time
when he began to realize the
great need for a church for the
Latin American citizens of the
area who could not understand
any language other than their
native Spanish. Rev. Urbanov-
sky took i t upon himself to
learn to speak Spanish, and so
to be able to preach for this
group of people.
The first church services
were held in a tent for the
town people, and from a mo-
bile unit for workers on sur-
rounding plantations. T h i s
church, given the name, "Es-
piritu Santo," known as the
"traveling Chapel," was
brought to some 335 families.
When the first permanent
church was built, it was giv-
en the name, "Santa Teresa,"
after the "Little Flower"
Saint of France.
The church house was ready
for dedication in November of
1940. An altar of marbelized
wood had been made and pre-
sented to the church by the
Rev. Tim Valenta, who is now
pastor of St. Joseph's Church.
A large crusifix was carved and
presented to the church by
Americo Bonafazi.
The Rev. Anthony Fronter
took over the pastorate of the
church after Rev. Urbanovsky
left, and he was followed by
Rev. Joseph Pacovi in 1943. The
present pastor, the Rev. Wil-
liam Buades, was called in 1949.
Rev. Buades came all the
way from Spain. He was call-
ed by the bishop to Texas to
teach Spanish-speaking peo-
ple. He spent his first ten
years in Texas in Waco before
he was called to Bryan.
He came to this country with
almost no speaking knowledge ?
of the English language. During ;
the time he has been here he
has learned to speak English
through contact and conversa-
tion with American people and
from television, which he says
is a fine teacher of the language.
Rev. Buades, who came from
Majorica, Spain, brought with
him a love of simple things and l
an understanding of his people 1
that has helped in his ministry
at the local church.
Since Rev. Buades has been
at Santa Teresa, the church 4
has been redecorated and en-
.arged for an ever-growing
congregation. In 1954 the
church house was e r.n,i.led,
and also aY bell
towers were added.
the congregation has grown
to some 818 memben.. Two
masses are held each Sunday,
at 8 and 10 a.m., in order to
serve the entire congregation. A
choir consisting of 24 girls sing
from the balcony for each serv-
ice.
The interior of the church is
finished in blonde paneling.
Plaques portraying the stations
of the cross are situated be-
tween stained glass windows.
The baptismal is located under
one of the bell towers. An out-
standing feature in this room is
a large oil painting done by
Rev. Buades's niece in Spain. It
is a picture of the Baptism of
Jesus, with faces looking down
from within a group of clouds.
The rectory was constructed
in 1951. Before this two-story
house was built, the pastors oc-
cupied a small room in the
church.
The members of Santa Teresa
are grateful for their church
and show much pride in talking
about it. They are especially
proud of their twin bells. As
Father Buades said, "You can
hear them for so many blocks
from the church, and their
sweet tones make people so
happy."
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WITH TWIN BELLS-Santa Teresa Catholic Church on Lucky Street is one of the few
churches in Bryan that has more than one bell. The church has twin bells that can be heard
for many blocks.