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• The history of our beautiful parish is an amazing story and is worth knowing. First lets start with the apparitions in Laus, France. One day in May of 1664 Benedicta Rencurel saw a dazzling lady standing on a rock, holding a beautiful child in her arms and everyday for the next four months the lady appeared to Benedicta, and on August 29, 1664 Benedicta asked the lady what her name was. She replied, "My name is Mary." Mother Mary revealed herself as the reconciler and refuge of sinners. this is where the name comes from, `Nuestra Senora del Refugio` also means `Our Lady of Refuge`. The apparitions in Laus, France were approved by the Vatican on May 5, 2008. Her feast day is July 4th in the USA but most celebrate the feast day on July 5th. Father Fray Antonio Margil de Jesus traveled to East Texas in 1716 to set up the Franciscans Missions near present day Nacogdoches. Father Manuel Julio Silva received the holy habit of the Franciscan Order on May 2,1754. In 1791, the King of Spain sent Father Silva and Father Garza into Texas to inspect the existing missions, to encourage the missionaries in their apostolic labors, and to attempt the establishment of new missions to supplant the old ones which now had fallen into disuse or were abandoned by the Indians. New Spanish missions were built and the very last of the missions built was Nuestra Senora del Refugio. Father Silva was said to have had a strong devotion to our Blessed Mother Mary and to the apparitions at Laus, France and he choose this name for the mission. The first church building was built in February in 1793 of stone near the present day town of Long Mott. It did not do well in that location, and was moved to Mosquitos Creek in June 1794, and then to its final location on the Mission River in January 1795 present day Refugio. Sometime between 1820-1830 the mission was abandoned and allowed to fall into total neglect. New life came to Refugio in the early 1830`s with the influx of Irish immigrants and, at the conclusion of the Civil War, the parish of Refugio entered upon a new era of progress. Since 1845 a small chapel converted from the ruins of the mission had been in use, this was the second church building of Our Lady of Refuge and was known as "The Chapel", Father Henry Doyle was the first diocesan priest at Refugio, and then came Father Padey who was the first resident priest at Refugio. In 1866 came Father Berthet and he decided to build a new church and so the third church building of Our Lady of Refuge was built utilizing the stone of the old mission, and is referred to as the "Rock Church",  At the turn of the century, Father B.J. Donada came as the new priest and led constuction of the present and forth church building of Our lady of Refuge. The cornerstone of the church was laid on June 10th, 1900. Bishop Verdaguer came from Laredo to do the blessing of the cornerstone which was done on Holy Trinity Sunday. The new church was the largest frame church in all of South Texas. The first Holy Mas was celebrated on Palm Sunday, March 31, 1901. The church was dedicated by Bishop P. Verdauguer on April 24, 1901. In 1975, the church was completely renovated to preserve its pristine beauty. The Diocese of Corpus Christi was founded on March 23, 1912 and Our Lady of Refuge was added to the Diocese of Corpus Christi, Texas. I just gave the highlights of our rich and beautiful history of our great church and I invite you to continue to read more on our amazing church of Our Lady of Refuge here in Refugio, Texas.  Nuestra Senora del Refugio pray for us!  

• Nuestra Senora del Refugio

  
  

  • Nuestra Senora del Refugio 1 Photos