HomeMy WebLinkAboutSt. Mary's Timeline 091103Short Jfistory of St. Mary's Catholic Center
Cortege Station, Teas
1904
Father J.B. G(eissnerofSt. Joseph's Church, Bryan, Texas notwedsv young men assisting at gslass on
Sundays. The uniform indicated they were students of A aZ 91. They informed him they walked the
six miles to attend Mass.
1905
Bishop Gallagher, of Galveston Diocese, granted pennission to offer Wass as often as possible at
eZ 31 in a classroom. Ile also gave him the vestments, chalice etc. A school deskserved as an after
in the old Civil Building.
1917
After Work fWar I, a student body of Catholics increased and the need fora Chapel' became a
necessity. No money was on hand, and the income from students was meager. Father Gleissner with
full trust, prayer, and pleading at Knights of Columbus State Conventions begged for their fefp.
1924
State Deputy J.J.Driscoll notified Father Gleissner that the Knights would buy the land and build a
Chapel a basement for meeting and recreational purposes.
1926
St. Mary's Chapel dedicated by Bishop C.E. Byre. The cost was approximately $27,000. From
this time on, Christ began and remains Ifis real Presence to the Tabernacle for all Catholic students
and at the request of the Bishop, the workwas placed under the protection and guidance of the
Blessed Mother of God (A precious stone was added to the crown of good wort r of the Knights of
Columbus.
1926 to 1935
The Catholic student body increased every year The little Chapel with seating capacity of 200 was
fast becoming inadequate, even with two masses on Sundays. More and more students had to stand
outside to hear Wass. The basement of the Chapel became unusable because of water seepage.
1936
The Chapel was repaired and the basement resealed —again through the help of the Knights of
Columbus.
1940
Father Tim and a layman constructed a balcony in the Chapel to seat 80 more people.
1944
The student body reached over 800 plus Armed Force trainees made facilities very inadequate, even
with three 31asses on each Sunday. Bishop (Byre instructed 31onsignor J.B. Gl eissnerand" Father Tim
that provisions must be made to build larger and 6etterfacifities.
Problem
Since St. Mary's is not a parish, but serves students and Catholic Staff, no steady income was
available to provide the facilities. The bank balance showed 44 cents. No records of past students, no
land...only a small" Chapel begun from scratch. Letters began to 6e sent to alfformerAggies, parents,
etc. Monsignor Gleissner and Father Tim pleaded at eery Convention of Catnolu Organizations.
1950
Two blocks of land were purchased at a cost of $24,500.
1952
Funds increased though the generosity of past students, parents, and friends. Flans were made to
build the St. Mary's Student Center. In May of the same year, the State Council of the Knights of
Columbus passed a resolution and pledged themselves to donate $60,000 to be paid in ten years toward
the Student Center. (God bless the Knights)
1953
A loan was acquired from the 1 7. Z.T. (Catholic Czech Women of Teas) for $60,000 plus donations
from X.7.Z.T. and2CJ.T. Construction began on St. Wary'sStuudent Center.
1954
Bishop G.J. Richer dedicated the new Student Center. Cost $92,000.
1955
It became an absolute necessity to build a new St. Mary's Chapel. More efforts were made by
pleading letters to everyone whose name appeared on file.
1957
Construction on new St. Mary's Chapel began. An additional loan of $150,000 was made by the
XJ.Z.T.
1958
October 19, 1958, the new St. Mary's was dedcated by Bishop Richer and the St. Mary's Chapel
stands now as a memorial to the devoted and hard worljng Chaplain of the Aggies, Monsignor. B.
gleissner. 9fe died on February 28, 1958. ((fe served his belovedAggies for 49 years.) Cost of the
Chapel $302, 000.
1959
With the help of the focal Catholic carpenters, the old St. Mary's Chapel remodeled into a rectory
for the two priests assigned to this work Cost of Material was $3,250.
1962
St. Mary's Student Center was air - conditioned for $5,500.
1965
In May, the old St. Mary's Chapel and the one lot of land was sold to the ShefOil Company for
$45,000. November of the same year -- construction of the new rectory was begun.
1982
Addition of the e.�,isting office spaces were constructed to the Student Center.
1985
A balcony was constructed in the Church. It allowedfor250 more people.
1994
In November, the Capital Campaign was begun in order to raise over $4 mi[wn in order to build a
new stzulent center.