Church survives fire, freeway

Claretian missionaries founded this Texas Church in 1911

Immaculate Heart of Mary – June 24

- Photo by Ted Fitzgerald Immaculate Heart of Mary Church celebrates two masses daily and five on the weekends.

By TED FITZGERALD
Special to the WCR
San Antonio, Texas

One of San Antonio's attractive downtown churches, just three blocks from the city's famous Market Square and not far from the acclaimed River Walk, Immaculate Heart of Mary is a memorial to the long series of Claretian missionaries who served the people of South Texas, founding some 53 parishes in and around the city over a period of 94 years.

The story of the church goes back to 1849 when the Claretian Missionaries, sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, were founded by St. Anthony Mary Claret, a dynamic preacher and outstanding communicator of his time.

Persecuted and exiled

He promoted worldwide missionary activities and is said to have been responsible for a revival of the Church in Spain. He was personally persecuted as archbishop of Santiago de Cuba and later as a confident of Spain's Queen Isabella II, dying in exile in France in 1870.

Today, Claretian priests, brothers and lay workers number some 3,000 souls and proclaim the word of God in 54 countries around the world. They strive to fulfil the requirements for a dedicated life set down by their founder - hearts on fire with love, not daunted by sacrifices or privations, rejoicing in them with all effort directed for the greater glory of God. Communications by any available means are a large part of today's Claretian efforts, following the example of St. Anthony.

Visitors to the church are always made welcome by the office staff and clergy including Father Ignacio Blanco, a native of Leon in Spain, the Claretians' country of origin. All are particularly anxious to point out some of the artwork displayed in the spacious nave. Of particular interest is a brightly toned stained glass window that shows St. Anthony with an image of Our Lady.

Above the main altar, a remarkable statue of the church patron dominates a modest reredos. Hers is a welcoming stance, left hand on her heart, right arm extended in greeting.

- Photo by Ted Fitzgerald The welcoming statue of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, stands at the main altar of the church.

Here, and in other portrayals of Our Lady in this church, she stands on clouds above groups of cherubs. Everywhere in the large, triple-aisled nave the faithful are usually awed by the high, arched ceiling of a remarkable blue-green colour, trimmed with elaborate gold tracery.

Immaculate Heart of Mary Church and its associated parochial school face west onto the short urban loop street, but the official parish address is that of the rectory, behind the church on more prestigious South Santa Rosa Boulevard, an important downtown thoroughfare.

The church was completed and blessed by Bishop John Shaw in 1912 and has since served a large community with the purpose of preserving "the best of our Hispanic religious traditions and practices and to provide moral and spiritual leadership."

Freeway and fire

A serious setback took place in the parish when interstate Highway 35 freeway was pushed through just a block west of the church.

This attracted a variety of light industrial businesses and warehouses adjacent to it and resulted in the loss of 95 per cent of the parishioners who were forced to move out of the area.

Despite this, extensive renovations to the interior of the church were undertaken, including impressive artwork by a Claretian priest - only to be damaged a few years later in 1991 by fire.

Not thwarted by this, those who regularly return to their old parish again restored their house of God to its present glory and, although situated in their new churches, are always ready to support the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

So despite the loss of territory, with 350 families, parish life flourishes here with an impressive schedule of two daily Masses and five on weekends, two of which are celebrated in English.

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