Celebrating 100 Years at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church

October 29, 2006
By Diana Gonzales
Special to LIVE!

Parishioners, priests and special guests celebrated the 100th anniversary of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church this week with numerous activities including a Mass Sunday at 12 noon hosted by the Most Rev. José H. Gomez, Archbishop of San Antonio. Also participating in the service was Most Reverend Patrick Flores, Archbishop Emeritus.

The Mass, attended by about 100 people, was said on the parking lot on Cuellar Street, behind the church at 508 W. Garza St. Following the service, parishioners and guests attended a dinner in the Del Rio Civic Center.

According to the Archdiocese of San Antonio chancery office, the first Mass was held in Del Rio at the site of San Felipe Springs on May 12, 1675.

Our Lady of Guadalupe was founded in 1906 to meet the needs of the Spanish speaking community in the San Felipe section of Del Rio. Father L.E. Gudayer, OMI, the first pastor of the parish, performed the first baptism on Nov. 14, 1906.

Later, Father Charles Serodes, OMI, replaced the original frame church with one made of adobe. The present brick church was built in 1918. It was completely renovated in 1938, with only the sanctuary, sacristy and facade remaining of the original structure. The church underwent some more renovation last year.

The church's centennial celebration began last Monday, according to Fathers Jose Bernabe, Luis Gerardo Sanchez Ponce and Zapien Gomez.

Special Masses took place daily followed by activities that included drama presentations; a slide show of the church's history; a performance by the Del Rio High School Mariachi Band; ballet folklorico dances by La Casa de la Culturas danza (dance) group and matlachines; and a performance by the Mariachis Guadalupanos.