Bishop Jean-Marie Odin
Father Odin conducted the first Mass in Austin on December 23, 1840. He would soon become Bishop Odin, the first bishop in the Diocese of Galveston (which included all of Texas). He planted the seeds for what became Saint Mary Cathedral, and he is considered to be the Father of the restored Catholic Church in Texas.
From Texas Churches
Saint Patrick's Church
Saint Patrick's Church, the first Catholic church in Austin and the predecessor of Saint Mary Cathedral.
From Texas Churches
Saint Mary Cathedral
Saint Mary Cathedral before addition of bell tower and stone entrance.
From Texas Churches
Saint Mary Cathedral
Saint Mary Cathedral, photographed soon after its construction in 1884. Notice the lack of the bell tower and stone entrance. This dates the photograph to the late 1890s or early 1900s.
From Texas Churches
Saint Mary Cathedral
Father Peter Lauth, priest at the time of the completion of the cathedral in 1884.
From Texas Churches
Saint Mary Cathedral
Image of Austin from the dome of the new state capitol, This image is from the 1890s, showing Saint Mary before the addition of the stone entrance and the main bell tower.
From Texas Churches
Seton Infirmary
In 1898, the Daughters agreed to consider coming to Austin if the Society would provide house and grounds suitable for a hospital. By 1900, the sum of $5,300 was raised by the Society. The money purchased “Tobin Park,” almost five acres of land on 26th Street between Nueces and Rio Grande. Seton Infirmary was granted a charter by the State of Texas on April 4, 1900. At the time, Austin had a population of just 22,258.
Rockwell Milligan, of St. Louis, Missouri, was the architect who designed the four-story, red pressed brick building in the “Southern Colonial” style. Seton Infirmary – named after Elizabeth Ann Seton, who founded the order that would become the Daughters of Charity in the United States – was dedicated on May 29, 1902. It contained 17 private rooms, 11 wards, special diet kitchens on each floor, plus separate dormitories and refectories for the sisters.From Texas Churches
Saint Mary Cathedral
Inscription on the front of Saint Mary Cathedral. The "SC" is for "Sancta Cruce," from the Congregation of Holy Cross. The Holy Cross order, founded in 1837 in Le Mans, France, managed the church in its early years. The Maltese-style cross is characteristic of the Holy Cross order. Notice the fleur de lis in the upper left and the shamrock on the upper right.
From Texas Churches
Saint Mary Cathedral
During the 1890s, the stained-glass windows were installed. The first one was donated by the pastor, Father Peter Laugh; in 1891, these first ones were set in the west wall of the church. After all of the stained glass windows were in place on the west wall, installation began on the east wall.
MaryInteriorAltarViewFINAL3000
From Texas Churches
Saint Mary Cathedral
Saint Catherine (left) and Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane (right)
Saint Catherine donor: Joseph and Catherine Fischer
Christ in the Garden donor: Joseph and Mary MartinFrom Texas Churches
Saint Mary Cathedral
Saint Cecilia (left) and Saint Theresa (right)
Saint Cecilia donated in memory of Mr. and Mrs. A.F. Martin
Saint Theresa donated in memory of Joseph and Theresa MartinFrom Texas Churches
Saint Mary Cathedral
The Annunciation (left) and Saint Louis King of France (right)
The Annunciation donated by the Rev. Peter Lauth CSC. Rev. Lauth served as rector of Saint Mary during the completion of the cathedral, and he donated this first window. Rev, Lauth served as pastor until 1898, and was joined during those years at various times by his three brothers (also priests).
Saint Louis King of France donated in memory of Louis Eilers, a Bastrop businessman, and his wife.AnnunciationMaryandLouisKingFrance
From Texas Churches
Saint Mary Cathedral
Saint Cunigunda of Luxembourg (left) and Saint Anna, Mother of Mary (right)
Saint Cunigunda donated in memory of Mrs. Mary Rish
Saint Anna donated in memory of C. LundburgSaintsCunigundaluxembourgandAnna
From Texas Churches
Saint Mary Cathedral
Saint Matthew (right) and Saint Mark (left)
Donated in memory of Joseph Limerick and wife, Elizabeth.
Joseph Limerick (born 1798) was a laborer, immigrating to the United States and Austin around 1850, He earned his living as a stonemason and invested greatly in real estate, both land and houses. Joseph Limerick died in December of 1888 at the age of 90 and is buried at St. Mary's Catholic cemetery. A window near the chancel of the Cathedral is dedicated to him and his wife. Limerick assisted with the construction of the Eugene Bremond properties while in his 60s (Bremond Block Historic District, NR 1970), and Bremond served as the trustee of the Limerick properties following Limerick's death.From Texas Churches
Saint Mary Cathedral
Saint Luke (right) and Saint John (left)
Windows donated in memory of John Butler and wife. John Butler was the son of Michael Butler, an Irish immigrant who founded Butler Brick in 1873. Michael Butler donated St. Mary's large bell. The large bell, weighing 2009 lbs., is from the McShane Bell Foundry in Baltimore, MD. The names of Michael Butler's children are engraved on the bell.
Michael Butler (1842-1909) was born near Limerick City, Ireland. His
father owned farms and was a contractor in the construction of public
pikes and roads. In 1866, at the age of 24, Michael sailed to New York
City, where he learned the rudiments of his trade as a bricklayer’s
helper. Within the next three years he pursued his trade as a mason in Wisconsin, St. Louis, and Little Rock before a move to Dallas in 1869,
where he established his first plant for manufacturing bricks using
clay from the banks of the Trinity River.
Michael Butler established his first Austin brickyard, Plant #1,
at the foot of East Avenue (now IH-35) on the north shore of the
Colorado River in 1873. His technique for testing clay to see if it
would make good brick was to taste it.
In 1876, Butler purchased property for his Austin Plant #2 along
the south bank of the Colorado River – between the river and
Barton Creek Road, and from Barton Creek on the west to the I&GN
Railroad right of way (east of Lamar Boulevard) and beyond to
South First Street on the east. The clay fields were at today’s Butler
Golf Park. Brick was delivered by ox cart across the river ford at the
foot of Shoal Creek or over a pontoon bridge at the foot of Brazos
Street. A ferry was used during periods of high water.
Michael Butler married Mary Jane Kelly (1854-1935) in 1878 in
St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. They lived in a brick house built by
Butler in 1877 at 200 South Lamar, near today’s Zach Scott Theater.
All three of their children were born in this home: John Francis in
1879, Mary Margaret in 1881, and Thomas James in 1885...Preservation AustinFrom Texas Churches
Saint Mary Cathedral
View of five stained glass windows above the altar, from left to right: Saint Peter, Saint Joseph, Assumption of Mary, Saint John the Baptist, Saint Paul.
Donors are as follows:
Saint Peter – Mr. Raymond Renz
Saint Paul – Mr. William Walsh
Saint John the Baptist – Former Governor Lubbock
Saint Joseph – Capt. T.W. WatsonFrom Texas Churches
Saint Mary Cathedral
Window on the west side of the narthex
Saint Dominic (left) and the Immaculate Heart of Mary (right)
Saint Dominic donated in memory of Mrs. Sweetie Villeneuve
Immaculate Heart of Mary donated in memory of Mary BlockerSaintDominicandtheImmaculateHeartMary
From Texas Churches
Saint Mary Cathedral
WW II window in the northwest corner of the church (west side of the narthex).
From Texas Churches
Saint Mary Cathedral
Four Cardinal Virtues on the East Side of the Narthex
Temperance (left) and Fortitude (right)
phronêsis (prudence/practical wisdom) ...
dikaiosunê (justice/morality) ...
sôphrosunê (temperance/moderation) ...
andreia (fortitude/courage)From Texas Churches
Saint Mary Cathedral
Justice (left) and Prudence (right)
Four Cardinal Virtues on the East Side of the Narthex
phronêsis (prudence/practical wisdom) ...
dikaiosunê (justice/morality) ...
sôphrosunê (temperance/moderation) ...
andreia (fortitude/courage)From Texas Churches
Saint Mary Cathedral
Attribution on the Immaculate Conception window.
Eugene Hutcher was the first director of the Carmelite stained glass atelier in Le Mans, France, The windows over the altar, as well as the Rose Window, apparently were made in this workshop.From Texas Churches
Saint Mary Cathedral
The Immaculate Conception 2000X3000
Donated by the Austin Bar in memory of Judge John Costa.From Texas Churches
Saint Mary Cathedral
Royal Bavarian Art Institute for Stained Glass, F.X. Zettler, Munich
From Texas Churches
Saint Mary Cathedral
Iesus Hominum Salvator (IHS): a contraction derived from the Greek word ΙΗΣΟΥΣ, Jesus, used as a symbol or monogram.
From Texas Churches
Saint Mary Cathedral, Austin, Texas
Nave, with sainted glass window of the Immaculate Conception. Shown in the bordering windows are Saint Peter, Saint Joseph, John the Baptist, and Saint Paul.
From Texas Churches
Saint Mary Cathedral
View looking north toward the choir loft and the of the Rose WIndow.
From Texas Churches
