Our History

On  June 10, 1990 the Austin Diocese Mission Council were invited to meet in the home of Robert and Sandra Yarbrough. The meeting was to discuss the possibility of establishing a Catholic presence in Lexington. Four people representing the Catholic community were present, along with Fr. Tom Hanus (Pastor of St. Joseph’s Rockdale), Msgr. Ray Widacki (St. Joseph’s in Dime Box), and Deacon Ed Hoefling (St. Margaret’s in Giddings).

The Mission Council was made aware that all Catholics living in Lexington had to commute 19 miles to attend Mass in either Rockdale, Dime Box, or Giddings.

A meeting was then scheduled to be held on August 19^th in the home of Sally Colonna. The purpose of the meeting was to make plans for a Mass to see who the Catholics were in the area. Catholic members of the community were invited to attend. Sr. Nancy Pewterbaughof of the Diocesan Mission Council presided over this meeting. Dime Box, Giddings, and Rockdale were represented also.

The first Mass was celebrated on Sunday October 7, 1990 in the Lexington High School cafeteria. 85-90 people were present. Fr. Tom Hanus was the celebrant, and concelebrating were Msgr. Ray Widacki and Fr. Victor Mathias. Assisting were Deacon Allen Menke and Ed Hoefling. The Mass was followed with a meeting and a covered-dish supper.  Fr. Tom then offered to say Mass on Sundays at 6pm. Fr. Victor and Msgr. Ray said they would alternate with him. We were on our way.

Bishop John McCarthy appointed Fr. Tom Hanus as the first Canonical Pastor. Lexington’s Catholic community was now a mission to St. Joseph’s in Rockdale.

Due to the bad acoustics at the High School, Mass was moved to the American Legion building. The first Mass celebrated there was on January 13, 1991.

Next was finding a name for the Mission. Many saints’ names were brought up, but when the last vote was counted, Holy Family was the name chosen. We were now a Catholic family.

Easter of 1991 Bishop John McCarthy celebrated Mass. At this time, he gave Holy Family Mission the vestments that he had worn when he was ordained Bishop of Austin.

An advisory council had now been established. Sandra Yarbrough and Sharon Heller had been named Administrative Assistants and LeAnn Weiser the secretary. Our liturgy committee, headed by Virginia Schmidt, prepared meaningful liturgies for the Mission.

Christian Formation classes started in the fall of 1991. Fifteen students registered. Sally Collona, the coordinator of Religious Education for Saint Joseph’s in Rockdale, assumed the same position for Holy Family Mission.

June of 1991, Fr. Tom Hanus was transferred to St. Monica’s in Cameron. Msgr. Widacki’s Mission in Frenstat was now under the direction of St. Ann’s in Somerville. Msgr. Widacki offered to take Holy Family Mission in his care. We were now under the direction of St. Joseph’s in Dime Box, and Mass would now be celebrated Sundays at 8:30AM.

The next big undertaking was to start looking for land to purchase. In the meantime, Don Bayer who headed the committee, was offered a portable for the Mission at no cost if we paid for the moving of the building to Lexington. It was brought to a vote. It was agreed to accept the portable building and pay for the move to Lexington. We now had a building but no property to put it on. Don’s committee submitted a proposal to the Bishop for land on FM696 off Highway 77. The Diocese of Austin purchased the land for our Mission. Rain and bad weather delayed the moving of the building.