It was in the fall of 1904 that a young priest arrived in Austin on a cot. When the doctor examined him he asked why the superiors had sent him south as he was in the last stages of tuberculosis. The doctor said that he could not live more than three or four days. But God had other designs and the Rev. Patrick 0’Reilly thought otherwise. He made a promise to our Lady of Guadalupe that it he be spared he would devote his life to the Mexicans.
He was preserved; by 1906 he was able to begin his work. He wrote a letter saying that if his Superiors approved he would begin his work among the Mexicans. Up to that time the Mexican Catholic was neglected, he attended Mass and church wherever he could and many times they attended St. Mary’s Church. Receiving the desired permission Father O’Reilly was able to begin his work. (The letter that he wrote is preserved in the archives at Georgetown.) To understand the remarkable life of Father O’Reilly one must realize that he was also chaplain at Seton Hospital, Austin. He began to take a census of the Mexican populace and also to make plans for a Church. Money was collected and land was bought and a Church was begun at Fifth and Guadalupe Sts. in Austin. The Mexican people at this time lived in a very immoral neighborhood. As soon as construction began on the Church the immoral element moved out. It seemed that when the Holy Ghost moved in the devil moved out. In addition to the Church Father O’Reilly also built a school, which was in charge of the Holy Cross Sisters.

    The Sisters lived in a double house and shared the facilities of the house with an American family. To describe conditions in the Sisters house one would have to spell Poverty with capital letters. Many times the Sisters had barely enough to eat there were silverware and dishes for the Sisters who resided at the school but nothing more. Many times the Sisters from St. Mary’s Academy came for a visit and to encourage the. Sisters laboring with the poor Mexicans. To embarrass the Sisters in a spirit of fun they would say they would remain for a meal. The Superior at the Mexican school was the saintly Sister Leonidas, C.S.C. She was a very remarkable woman who loved the poor she was generous to a fault, her main trouble being that her heart was often times larger than her pocketbook. She had such great faith in God that she knew that the Lord would provide. She knew that if she had it some poor Mexican family needed it worse than the Sisters. If people brought old clothes or shoes these never remained since by nightfall or the following morning some poor Mexican would have them. Sister Leonidas remained on the Mexican mission until 1937 when she was transferred to St. Mary’s Notre Dame, IN. because of her failing health. She was not to remain idle however because she soon accompanied a Sister to Deming New Mex. and while there she visited the Mexican children in that vicinity and soon had a catechism class formed. Her greatest delight was to see the young priests come and revive the Missions in her old age.
Father O’Reilly continued to fulfill his vow and spent his days, when he was not needed at the hospital among his Mexicans. He remained in a small room off the sacristy. Catholic families, especially the Farro family often brought him his meals. He worked zealously for nine years when his health failed once more. He had worked too hard for his strength and had to relinquish the work he loved so well.

    In 1915 the Rev. Walter O’Donnell was appointed pastor td relieve Father O’Reilly for a much needed rest. Father O’Donnell took up permanent residence in the small room off of the sacristy. This room was so small that when the priest extended his arms outward both hands touched the walls. Father O’Donnell was his own cook, housekeeper and general handy man. During the years that Father 0’ Reilly was in charge mission stations were established to care for the Mexicans of the ranches. Father O’Donnell continued these missions and established new ones. Among these missions were Jollyville and Garfield. At the latter place a church was built and paid for by the Mexicans. To emphasize the pioneering work and the spirit that motivated these zealous missionaries one must not fail to mention one sick call in particular that Father O’Donnell had. One on occasion Father O’Donnell was called to Liberty Hill about 29 miles from Austin. His only means of conveyance was an old buggy with two burros. It took him all night long to answer the call. Masses were said at the various missions during the week as there were so many that even with two Masses on Sunday Mass could not be alternated for the various Missions. At times Father 0’Donnell was assisted by the Rev. Peter Forrestal, C.S.C. professor at St. Edward’s University.

    During the years that Father O’Donnell continued to work for the missions attached to Guadalupe Church Father O’Reilly was not idle. When he recovered his health once more he began to establish other missions and to open new fields of endeavor. He was invited by the Mexicans at Liberty Hill to attend .a large celebration and to say Mass for them on that occasion. This he did and from that time on he worked with these poor people. He was to establish the new missions of Andice and Bertram. So successful was he in his work that the Bishop gave Father O’Reilly faculties to work in any part of the diocese bless civil law marriages and straighten out all difficulties without having to have recourse each time to the Bishop.

    On one occasion Father O’Reilly was called from Austin to Palestine, Texas on a sick call. He went up on the train and returned the following day a distance of some 200 miles.
Once more the zealous missionary’s health failed and he asked for an assistant. The Rev. Angus MacDonald, C.S.C., volunteered. Father MacDonald did not know Spanish and spent many hours endeavoring to master it. Sister Albana, C.S.C. helped him. The saintly priest never did learn it thoroughly, but no priest loved the Mexicans more than he. When he preached the Mexicans understood because he spoke from his heart, a heart filled with humility, simplicity, and the love of God. In 1921 Father MacDonald succeeded Father O’Donnell as pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Austin.

    For three years Father MacDonald continued as pastor of Guadalupe, he continued alone as Father O’Donnell was taken from the work and Father O’Reilly was in ill health. He struggled on for three years and then begged for an assistant at the instance of his Excellency Bishop C.E. Byrne, D.D., The Bishop received word from the Provincial at that time that there was no man for the Mexican work, he added that the Mexican mission work was due to the excessive zeal of Father O’Reilly and that the primary work of the Congregation of Holy Cross was education. With the reception of this letter Bishop Byrne wrote to Father MacDonald saying that the Oblates of Mary Immaculate would take charge of the parish since the Provincial informed him that no priest was available for the work. The Oblates assumed charge on Dec. 27, 1924.

    Later Father MacDonald filled with zeal for souls assisted Father O’Reilly at Andice and Bertram; later he was to assume complete charge of these missions. Father O’Reilly who was better known to the Mexicans as Padre Patricio continued his pioneering and established a new mission at Georgetown In all these missions the Mexicans had been sadly neglected, so much so that many did not know of God of his Church except what the older ones told the younger ones. The Oblates had attended Georgetown and Father O’Reilly jokingly remarked that he “stole” this mission from the Oblates. At first he said Mass in a tent near the Mexican colony. At Georgetown the neglect of the Mexicans was especially so; this town was a Methodist and Baptist stronghold, and they were untiring in their efforts to win the Mexicans to their respective religions. The Methodists built a church for them and told them to come to their church, as they adored the same God. Many of the Mexicans who had no education could not see the fallacy so joined their church because they loved to go to Church.

    Through the Catholic Church Extension Society Father O’Reilly received a donation of $2,000 for a new church. Father O’Reilly said that it was his desire to name the church in honor of the Holy Ghost as he had a great devotion to the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity. He said he did not know of a church named in His honor so he wanted to name the church in Georgetown after the Holy Spirit. He was offered one thousand dollars towards the church and an additional one thousand if he were willing to name the church in honor of St. Helen. Being a missionary Father O’Reilly was not going to pass up such a donation and sacrificed his devotion to name the new church in honor of St. Helen. It was appropriate since Father O’Reilly was a Holy Cross priest and St. Helen was instrumental in finding the True Holy Cross.

     On one occasion when Father O’Reilly tried to obtain a piece of land for the church the word leaked out that the ground was intended for a Catholic Church. The owner originally wanted $600 for the land. When he heard it was for a Catholic church he skyrocketed the price to $6,000. He is still waiting to sell it. Father O’Reilly asked another friend, Mr. Charles Schneider of Austin, to get some land for him. This time the land was bought without difficulty because Mr. Schneider bought it in his own name. The owner of the land did not know it was for a Catholic church until the deeds were recorded in the Court House. Mr. Schneider bought the land in his own name and transferred the title to the Most Rev. C. E. Byrne, D.D., bishop. The former owner was very angry at being duped.

    The people of Georgetown were known all over the state of Texas as being a very bigoted and prejudiced group in regard to the Catholic Church. When the news spread that a Catholic church was to be erected in the town the people tried to get an injunction against it. Through all these vicissitudes Padre Patricio succeeded, and on May 3, 1931 St. Helen’s Church was blessed by Bishop Byrne. Catholics from nearby towns were present for the dedication. A family living across from the Church refused to permit cars to be parked in front or at the side of their house. The people remained in the yard threatening to soak the interior of the cars with a garden hose.

    After its dedication St. Helen’s was attended alternately by the Rev. Walter O’Donnell who was at this time teaching at St. Edward’s, and also by the Rev. Peter Forrestal.  These two priests helped Father O’Reilly when he was incapacitated by illness. During this time Father MacDonald continued the missions at Andice and Bertram.

    In January 1934 the Rev. Francis Drummey, C.S.C. volunteered for the Mexican missions. He had been a student in Rome when he was taken ill with lung trouble and had been sent to Deming New Mex. For nearly seven years he remained a patient at Holy Cross Sanatorium.  He recovered sufficiently to complete his studies at St. Edward’s University and was ordained in the University chapel. Father Drummey was the first priest to take up residence in Georgetown. He lived in a small room off the sacristy; this room must have been in many respects the same type of room in which Father O’Donnell had lived while pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Austin. It was very small; it was his office, kitchen, bedroom and dining room. He had a small cabinet in which he kept his dishes. When the side was down it acted as his table; his stove was a small electric plate. Through his untiring efforts a walk was laid and the grounds beautified what had been an eyesore soon became under his diligent care a beautiful carpet of grass.

    When one speaks of Father Drummey one cannot stress too much his pleasing personality. Few missionaries had more to overcome in breaking down prejudice than this noble soul. He had come into a hot bed of bigotry, a center famous for its Ku Klux Klan activities, a place where the name Catholic was opprobrious. There were only three Catholic American families living in Georgetown. There were however, many fallen away. One Catholic woman, the wife of the sheriff—— Mrs. Louis Lowe——, was untiring in her efforts on behalf of the Church.  She was very solicitous for Father Drummey and was invaluable to him because it was through her that Father Drummey became acquainted with the people of Georgetown. This valiant priest remained one year in Georgetown; he overtaxed his strength and was taken ill and returned to Holy Cross Sanatorium and died June 17, 1935. But that one year he crowded a life’s work. He perhaps did more to break down prejudice than generations of others. So profound was his influence on the people that they always spoke in the highest terms of this zealous priest.

    In July 1935 Father Thomas Culhane, C.S.C,  a newly ordained priest,  was sent to Texas to succeed Father Drummey. The Provincial told him he was to live in Georgetown like Father Drummey, but when he arrived in Austin the President of St. Edward's,  Father Maguire,  advised otherwise. He said that Father Culhane was a young priest and had been accustomed to  companionship.  The President said that he knew Father Culhane would ruin his priestly life by living there alone. He advised the young priest to remain at St. Edward’s for the time being and attend the missions on Sunday.

    At the time of Father Culhane's arrival,  Father O’Donnell had been attending Georgetown.  The former accompanied the latter to Georgetown each Sunday until September.  He then accompanied Father MacDonald on his missions.  Father MacDonald had developed a serious illness and was ordered to return to Notre Dame. In order to continue these missions Father Culhane accompanied the saintly missionary.

    Andice is a small community about 20 miles northwest of Georgetown. Many Mexicans lived in the vicinity on the ranches. Mass was said in an old theater rented for that purpose. The Mass was said on the stage while the ticket office was used as the confessional. The side facing the street was boarded up so that the priest and penitent were hidden from the prying eyes of the white people.  Mass was said every other Sunday, while the Holy Sacrifice was offered up at Bertram on the other Sundays.  At Bertram Mass was said in an abandoned one-room country school. It was far from the ideal for such a holy purpose because it was hidden from the road by a clump of trees. During the week it was a rendezvous of sin.  Many times as the priest entered the place to say Mass obscene and foul language would be written on the walls.  There were other evidences of sinful trysts often greeting the priest and faithful as they gathered for Mass Christ was born in a stable in Bethlehem but this place was far worse. It was the best place available at the time, and it surely needed the blessing that the priest gave it before he began the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

    Father MacDonald left for Notre Dame the first Sunday of October 1935. He had hopes of returning once more to his beloved Mexicans, but his illness steadily grew worse. He wrote to Father Culhane continually about this or that one who was weak in the faith. He was the true shepherd of souls and to him could be applied the words of our Blessed Lord? "I know mine and Mine know Me.” When he would no longer use a pen, the failing missionary typed his letters. He died August 17, 1936 a true missionary to the end. Just one week before his death he donated a new missal to the Mexican Missions.

    Through a strange chain of circumstance Father Culhane could not attend the Andice and Bertram missions. The car used by Father MacDonald was very dilapidated; it was put out of use by the students of St. Edward’s Uniersity. who used it to go to a football game. The other car used by the missions was needed to attend the Georgetown missions. This car was purchased by Father Drummey through a donation from his mother. The University could not afford to permit the missionaries to use their cars so the poor Mexicans had to be deprived of spiritual comforts. Some died without the Sacraments,, and others drifted away. This condition lasted from October to February.

    On Christmas day Father Culhane obtained a car from the University farm and made arrangements to say Mass at Bertram on that day. The car was an old model with poor tires and a broken glass in the door. Father Culhane accompanied by a student started for the mission about 6:30 am but he did not get to the mission until 11:30. Several miles from the nearest town and two or three from the nearest farms the two had a flat tire. There were no tools to repair the tire; there was no spare. Many cars passed the two, but no one stopped to offer aid. They received many condescending smiles from the passengers of such cars, but such sympathy did not help. The missionaries decided to drive on the flat to the nearest farmhouse. A kindhearted woman offered to drive the two to Bertram, but by this time it became very cold and rain began to fall due to a sudden norther. The woman wanted some remuneration for her kindness.  Fortunately the evening before Father Culhane had received four dollars which he had not time to give to the Superior. He had this money in his pocket. The woman said that we could by a tire in Bertram and what remained she would take. She drove the two the remaining 16 miles. But alas, it was 11:30 and Mass was scheduled for 9 am. There were no Mexicans evidently they tired waiting and had departed. A tire and tube were purchased for one dollar and the woman took the three dollars. The woman gave the tools to replace the tire, and so the missionaries began to return to Austin, They had gone only two miles when the second tire was as bad as the first. Thoroughly discouraged at such an outcome they two drove a few more miles to the first gas station and called long distance to Austin for help.  It being Christmas, the gas station was closed but the owner opened it long enough for a phone call. Help was promised, and the missionaries sat in the cold until 2 pm when a car came to return us to Austin.

    On January 5, 1936 the Rev. Alfred Mendez, C.S.C. arrived to succeed Father Walter O’Donnell who was transferred to New Orleans. Father Mendez was to assume charge of missions; it marks a turning point in the development of the Mexican missions. Plans were made and a determined effort by the two young priests was decided upon——the Mexican missions were to be developed. With the injection of new blood and the zeal of newly ordained priests Fathers Mendez and Culhane set out to fulfill their plans. Mass was said once more at Andice and Bertram. The two priests alternated the missions; one would remain for two weeks at Georgetown while the other attended Andice and Bertram. Then the one who had been at Georgetown would visit the other missions. It was the ultimate desire of the two missionaries to live on the missions, and it was the desire of Superior General the Very Rev. James W. Donahue, C.S.C. Father Donahue was imbibed with the missionary zeal of Father Moreau and said that he was going to develop the missions to make reparation for the past.

    Mass continued to be offered up in the theater at Andice and then, one Sunday as one of the missionaries went there to say Mass the theater had been razed. No word had been given either to the Mexicans or to the priest. The Mexicans were all centered about the building or the town square and were wondering what to do and if Mass would be said. It was remembered that the Mexican cemetery was a few miles away; it had an altar with a covering over it. Both Father O’Reilly and Father MacDonald had said Mass there on different occasions. As it was a warm day all went to the cemetery for Mass. The women with their bebitos crowded about the altar knelling on the bare ground, then men and boys remained in the open. Mass thereafter, until the cold weather set in was said in the cemetery. When the cold weather came the services were held on the back porch of a Mexican’s home. There was semblance of shelter here. The “reredos” was a door to through which the cold wind from the north blew. Many times that winter the priests hands would be purple, his feet would be numb with cold, many times he felt as though he were standing on his legs only and had no feet.

    The need of a church at Andice was imperative, such poverty could not continue, it was fine in warm weather but not so fine in winter. Father Mendez went north to beg. He obtained a donation from the Catholic Church Extension Society and this proved a Godsend. Both priests had begged donations from their friends but this donation from the Extension Society was an answer to prayer. Many times Father MacDonald had told the Mexicans to pray often that they would have a church.  He encouraged them and said one day they could have their church. That dream was beginning to be realized.

    Everything had been arranged, the plans were drawn up and the Provincial, Father Burns, thought that he could save the missions money by sending Brother Jerome, C.S.C. to build the church. All the plans were suddenly halted by the illness of Father Mendez. What had begun as a cold and the flu developed into a nervous heart condition. All the care of the missions was left to Father Culhane. Sickness, however, did not dampen the zeal of Father Mendez.  From his hospital bed he said that the work on the building of the church should continue. Brother Jerome spent several months building St. Rose of Lima’s Church.
Father Mendez’s illness continued. He was in the hospital five months and then was ordered by the doctor to take at least three months rest.  He went north to a resort for priests on the shores of Lake Michigan. In June 1937 Father Frederick Schmidt, C.S.C. was ordained and sent to Texas to assist Father Culhane who had been taking care of the missions.

    It had been the desire of Very Rev. James Donahue, the Superior General,  that the young priests live on the missions and leave St. Edward’s University. He asked them to rent a house if they could not buy; at all costs he wanted them to be on the missions. Early in the fall of 1937 Father Burns wrote to Father Culhane that after November 15 they were to live at Georgetown. The month of November was to prove a happy milestone for the Mexican missions. On November 7th Bishop Byrne blessed the new Church at
Andice.  About the middle of the month the two priests, Father Culhane and Father Schmidt,  took up their residence at Georgetown. Father Culhane lived in the little room formerly occupied by the late Father Drummey. Father Schmidt stayed at the home of an American family. The Provincial told them they should eat one good meal a day in order to preserve their health; that meal should be eaten at a restaurant. The two priests asked one of the parishioners to prepare that meal. It proved too expensive as the lady desired more than the restaurant so they began to eat at a cafe. The other two meals were cooked at the church. Having only one electric plate for a stove the young missionaries had to eat one thing at a time because by the time a second dish was cooked the first would be cold. Their days were spent in studying Spanish and taking up a census.

    Shortly after they began to live in Georgetown the priests learned that the house across the street from the church was for sale. Contacts were made with a real estate agent and when it was found that the rumor had foundation word was sent immediately to the Provincial. With this news Father Burns immediately sent Father Mendez back to Texas to consummate the sale. The latter had recovered and was planning on returning to the missions, and the unexpected turn in events hastened his return. The house was bought and one week before Christmas the missionaries moved into their new home. It was a strange coincidence that the house now occupied by the priests was the one occupied by the same family who refused to allow cars to be parked in front of their house seven years before when the church was blessed.

    The missionaries did not have to buy any furniture for their new home. Many friends of the missions in Austin gave something. The missionaries are indebted to the Sisters of the Holy Cross at St. Mary’s Academy, especially their Superior Sister Cor Mariae who took keen interest in the development of the work and who donated so much of the furniture. They also had the girls of the Academy make curtains for the windows. The Sisters themselves came out and personally supervised the arrangement of the house.

    In speaking of the Holy Cross Sisters one must not forget the Sisters who were still at the Mexican school in Austin—— Our Lady of Guadalupe. Besides the saintly Sister Leonidas who was mentioned previously, another who gave many years of her life to the work was Sister Albana. She arrived in Austin, to begin the second year of the school and remained on the work until 1938 when she was transferred. During these days Sister Albana together with Sister Leonidas and the other brave Sisters witnessed many days of hardship, days of real poverty, days when the future seemed dark and foreboding. But despite all their trials and hardships they never gave up.  They placed their trust and confidence in Almighty God and the Virgin of Guadalupe, and somehow things always turned for the best. Now that the missionaries had taken up their residence, Sister Albana volunteered to come out once a week to teach catechism to the children. She together with another Sister, despite their heavy schedule of classes and many other duties came out for a year each Saturday afternoon to instruct the children. Both Father Culhane and Father Schmidt learned many lessons from them.

    Each day the priests visited families taking the census. They found many fallen away, marriages to be blessed, children not baptized, hundreds not confirmed. For the next several months they were busy administering the Sacraments and bringing back the wandering sheep. So many Mexicans were found on the ranches that new missions were established.  Among these were Rancho Blanco, Jonah and Weir. Before living on the missions few if any Mexicans came to Mass and the Sacraments. Many came only when the spirit moved them. With the residence of the priests more and more began to come to Mass. There were two Masses said at Georgetown and both of these were filled. It was a strange sight to see St. Helen’s Church filled with Mexicans at Mass. During Lent many returned to the Sacraments after a number of years. But like so many other things the Mexicans their first fervor cooled, and they began to fall back into their old habits. The change was too sudden for the Mexicans who were used to missing Mass continually.

    Father Culhane began to read out the names of each individual. He began without telling the Mexicans. The first Sunday there were about fifty at Mass. For some unaccountable reason telephones are not needed by Mexicans, nor are newspapers when it comes to spreading news. The following Sunday more than the usual number were at Mass. The same procedure of reading out the names was followed. Within a month there were more than two hundred coming to Mass. When I called out names each Mexican was very happy to say “Presente” many of them thought the priest was deaf because they wanted to make sure he heard them. If one had been to a previous Mass another of the family would immediately announce that fact. It was very amusing to see how attendance at Mass increased to large numbers. If the priest omitted a name and the person happened to be present, he would immediately tell the priest as soon as Mass was over. They took great pride in the fact that they were present for Mass and could say that they were there.

The Mexican mind is peculiar in regard to their obligations to God. If they receive Holy Communion during the Easter time they think that they have fulfilled their obligations for the year. Mass is something secondary for them, that is in many cases. When a man has not been to Holy Communion for a number of years it is very difficult to get him to confess and receive. All the stock arguments fail, and the priest often times has to resort to psychology and strategy. One man in particular was very stubborn, for four years Father Culhane had tried and failed. Towards the end of the fourth year, it was nearing the end of October, and Father Culhane had been preaching on devotion to the Holy Souls He asked the Mexican if his parents were dead. He replied in the affirmative. Father then asked him if he loved those parents to which the Mexican replied “yes”. The priest then pleaded with him to prove his love for his parents now that they needed his help more than ever. It touched a warm spot in the Mexican’s heart, and he confessed and received for the first time in twenty fire years. Many others went to confession during the next couple of years; some had been away from the Sacraments for fifty, forty, thirty, twenty-five down to one year.

    Among the fallen-aways brought back to the Church was an old Irish lady who had been away for fifty-three years. When Father Culhane visited her the first time she cursed him and used very abusive language. The priest was silent and six weeks he visited this lady daily receiving the same abuse. - Then one day he suggested Confession and Communion. It was prior to Ash Wednesday and the priest appealed to her and talked to her on what Christ had suffered for her. During all this time it is needless to say that he had prayed. The old lady consented and made a very fine confession, tears coming to her eyes. She has been faithful ever since even though blind she comes to Mass.

    Among the outstanding events at the beginning of the second year was a mission for non-Catholics conducted by the Rev. William Blakeslee, C.S.C. The mission was held in the Swedish Methodist Church and when weather permitted it was held in the grove adjoining the Church. Both the church and the grove were graciously donated by the minister, the Rev. Carl Barkquist. Despite the antipathy and the bigotry of the town the mission was well attended. It might be added here that the bigotry and ill feeling towards the Church were the result of ignorance and lack of association with Catholics because so many of the Catholics in the town were fallen-aways, some who gave up their religion for work, others because of marriage. Many of the people of the town showed a sincere interest in the Church and often stopped the priests on the Street and asked questions about the teachings of the Church. At the suggestion of His Excellency, Bishop Joseph P. Lynch of Dallas, Father Culhane began to write a series of articles for the Georgetown paper. The editor welcomed the articles and published them. Each week Father Culhane explained different articles of belief on the Catholic faith. From the comments of various citizens the articles were well received, many would stop him on the streets to ask for further explanations. Many of them were well disposed, but due to the fact they lived in a small town and everyone knew everyone else’s business they were afraid to join the Church. Many did come to Mass, however.

    During the second year Father Schmidt further increased his mission filed to include Leander and Burnet. Mass was first said in the theater at Burnet, but Father Schmidt had to hurry through the Mass so that the theater could be ready for the afternoon performances. This proved a great disadvantage because if there were some delay at the previous mission people would have a hard time to attend Mass and be out of the building in time for the shows. The Mass was then transferred to the Lions Hall. The Mexicans in Burnet were extremely poor, they lived in tents and during heavy rains their tents were flooded with water. At one funeral the service was held outside one of these tents with the sun glaring down. The casket was placed in the open so that the people could view the remains and it remained open during the
services. It would have been better for the priest if the casket had been closed because the sun did not help the body any.

    Another outstanding event of this year was “The Gipsy Priest”, the Rev. Francis Urbanovsky. He was a diocesan priest who volunteered to carry the Word of God to Mexicans on the ranches and out of the way places, in fact, wherever there was no church. Father Urbanovsky took his trailer--the chapel on wheels. He had a truck and the trailer. He lived in one section of the truck and in the other kept his supplies. When the back of the trailer was opened it revealed an altar in which was reserved the Blessed Sacrament. Father Urbanovsky had a large tent, which he attached to the end of the trailer; in it he could seat over one hundred persons. The Gipsy priest depended upon the Mexicans for his meals and necessities of life. He spent his days teaching catechism to the children, visiting homes and hearing confessions, as well as fixing up marriages. We mention Father Urbanovsky because he visited our various missions, Burnet and Leander.

    At the end of the third year some changes were made at Georgetown. Father Mendez was transferred to the Archdiocese of San Antonio to open up a new mission field. His Excellency,  Bishop C.E. Byrne, the Bishop of Galveston, gave the missions of Round Rock and McNeil to the growing list of missions attached to Georgetown.  He said that he wanted Mass to be celebrated every Sunday at these missions; he also wanted a church build. Up to this time Father Mendez who had the charge of the missions, resided at St. Mary’s Academy and acted as chaplain because his health did not permit him to do heavy active work. Father Mendez had obtained a donation for a new church in Burnet, this donation coming from the Catholic Church Extension Society. While the donation was in the process of being consummated, His Excellency the Bishop transferred the Burnet mission to the parish at Lampasas. Lampasas was 22 miles from Burnet and Georgetown was 50 miles away. When Round Rock and McNeil were added to Georgetown the Bishop succeeded in having the above donation transferred to Round Rock. When these two missions were given to the Holy Cross missionaries, the second Mass which had been said at Georgetown was transferred to the new missions. Each Sunday from then on one Mass was said at Georgetown, and the second Mass was alternated with Round Rock and McNeil. Father Schmidt was busy caring for the following missions: Leander, Liberty Hill, Rancho Blanco, Bertram, Andice and Marble Falls. At the request of the pastor of Lampasas he continued to attend Burnet. Father Culhane attended the following missions: Georgetown, Jonah, Weir, Round Rock and McNeil. Mass was said at different missions during the week by Father Schmidt since he was saying two Masses at different missions on Sunday. In this way all the missions received the Holy Sacrifice at least twice a month.

    Round Rock was a very promising mission, as was McNeil. The Mexicans were stable and not transients. All were employed at the limekilns. At the former mission most of the land was owned by a fallen away Catholic family, Father Culhane made repeated efforts to see the members of this family to have them donate or sell cheaply a tract of land for a Church. They flatly refused to do either saying that the Mexicans did not need a church. Many difficulties arose in acquiring property because some people would not sell and other plots were too involved, and a clear title could not be obtained. Finally a real estate agent in Austin was asked to obtain property. He succeeded in acquiring an 18-acre plot at the edge of the Mexican colony; it was ideal in one sense that it was not far removed from the main body of Mexicans in Round Rock and close enough for the McNeil Mexicans to attend without difficulty, since McNeil was only five miles from Round Rock.

    The church was begun in April 1940. It was to be called St. William’s Church according to the request of the Catholic Church Extension Society. Mr. Eugene Deats, a devout Catholic of Austin and a life long friend of the Mexican missions, designed the church. It was built by Mr. John Mogoyne and sons of Sprinkle, Texas. Father Culhane was taken sick before the church was completed, and the doctor advised that he be removed from the Mexican missions because such a life was too irregular, and he also advised that a more regular life be followed for a while. In July Father Culhane was transferred to Holy Cross Church, Austin. He was succeeded at Georgetown by the Rev. Joseph Houser, C.S.C. Father Houser said the first Mass in the new church, and it was blessed by Bishop Byrns on December 1, 1940.

     St. William’s Church is serving some 67 families at Round Rock and 33 Families at McNeil. After securing these missions, Mass was first said in McNeil in the Mexican school and at Round Rock in a private home. When one of these missions had Mass the other had rosary and sermon The first Mass was always said at Georgetown and it would be 1:30 or 2 pm when Father Culhane returned to Georgetown often getting his first bite to eat--cooking it himself. Sometimes the Mexicans offered him something to eat but in most cases it would be beans or chili with tortillas and coffee made from chicory.

    Catechism was taught at McNeil every Tuesday afternoon; in the evening there would be Rosary and Sermon. On Wednesday afternoon catechism was taught at Round Rock and in the evening they too would have Rosary and Sermon. On Saturday afternoon Catechism was taught at Georgetown. After the first year of residence the Sisters could not teach these classes so they were taught by Father Culhane.  Attendance at the classes varied according to the seasons of the year. In the spring and fall attendance would drop because the children were needed for chopping cotton and f or picking it. But at other times Father Culhane averaged around 40 children. On Friday afternoon Father Culhane visited Jonah and Weir. Father Schmidt spent about five or six days visiting Mexicans on the ranches in out of the way places, he too, taught catechism. Later the Holy Cross Sisters from Guadalupe School came out on Sundays and taught catechism at Andice for Father Schmidt.

     One of the main difficulties connected with this vast mission field was the use of the car. Five years before when Father Mendez and Father Culhane came to the missions there were three missions over a radius of 200 square miles now the mission field embraced some 2000 square miles. For the use of the two missionaries there was only one car. Since Father Culhane had less distance to go he often borrowed a Mexican’s car. It was an old dilapidated car, and each time he went forth on the missions he had to make acts of faith and hope, faith in the car and hope that he would return safely. Once he evidently did not have enough of these because he was stalled for two hours on a lonely road with a puncture. Being an old car the priest could not get the spare off of the rim. There was a jack in the car but it was broken, the patches for the puncture were too small for the size of the three holes in the tire, which were caused by a large nail. Father Culhane could not leave the car because of the Mass vestments and chalice. When help seemed hopeless a Mexican came along on a bicycle and he promised to go for help. Soon another Mexican in a car came by saying he was sent by the first Mexican. The car was repaired, and Father went on his way after two hours or more delay.

    Once cannot relate a history of the Mexican missions without mentioning the invaluable assistance given Father O’Reilly by Mr. A.A. Babel. He drove Father O’Reilly to the various missions and acted as his server and general assistant. Bishop Byrne often referred to him as “the Deacon” because he did everything but say Mass and hear confessions. Mr. Babel relates that on one occasion as they were saying Mass in the open he had to hold an umbrella over Father O’Reilly as he said Mass.

    In closing this history of the Mexican missions I might add that as one reviews the list of priest one can see the Providence of God caring for the poor Mexicans. If Father O’Reilly had not been taken sick, he may have become an outstanding linguist, since few men knew languages as Father O’Reilly. Instead he came to Texas for his health and has left a record, which is a truly remarkable one, when one recalls how close to death he was. Father Drummey was another gifted priest, who gave great promise of making a name for himself in education, but sickness brought him to the Mexican work and even today six years after his death non-Catholics admire him. Father MacDonald was the Curé of Ars type; his simplicity and humility made a lasting impression on the Mexicans, and as we--the younger priests--continue in the footsteps of these heroes we have much to be thankful for, and a wonderful example of zeal to imitate and to follow.