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St. Augustine Catholic Church The history of the Catholic Church in San Augustine begins in 1716, when a small group of Spanish Franciscan Missionaries, led by Padre Fray Antonio Margil de Jesus, held the first Catholic Mass in East Texas on the banks of the Ayish Bayou. They established the Mission de Los Dolores de Los Ais near present day San Augustine. The Mission’s objectives were to make claim to the Province of Texas for the King of Spain and to convert the Caddo and Ais Indians to Catholicism. |
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By 1838, there were only 2 priests assigned to the entire Republic of Texas. In 1840, Father John Timon was appointed as Prefect Apostolic of Texas. He named Father John M. Odin, an Irish Missionary, as Vice-Prefect. Together, they made an extensive tour of Texas; which included a visit to San Augustine Mission. On May 4, 1847, Pope Pius II created the Diocese of Galveston and from this new Diocese was created the Sacred Heart Parish of Nacogdoches, of which San Augustine Church was a Mission. Father L.C.M. Chambodut became the first Pastor. On April 10, 1880, Mr. M.C. Tynan, an Irish Immigrant to San Augustine, deeded the lot on which the present church stands. On the Feast of Corpus Christi, 1881, the church of Saint Augustine was dedicated and the Reverend Thomas Hennessy was named Pastor. In 1937, a new building was constructed to replace the first church. This Church was name St. James and was blessed by the Most Reverend Bishop Byrne of Galveston on December 5, 1937. On September 29, 1966 the Diocese of Galveston was divided to form a new Diocese of Beaumont. The San Augustine Church continued as a Mission until late 1975, when the Most Reverend Bishop Warren L. Boudreaux signed a decree creating the Canonical Vicariate of the Diocese of Beaumont. San Augustine was then the Vicariate Seat, with church stations at Center and Hemphill. Reverend James C. Engle was the first Priest in charge. The same decree changed the name from Saint James to St. Augustine. In September 1980, Reverend Patrick Beck became the second Pastor of the Viciariate of Saint Augustine. The church that was built 65 years ago has fought battles with time and termites. The seating capacity is insufficient and a new church building is planned to serve the parishioners of San Augustine. To this end, 21 acres of ground have been purchased beside the original trail, El Camino Real, the same road traveled by Father Antonio Margil de Jesus, in 1716. 102 W. Market |