Mary Immaculate Parish

Mary Immaculate Parish
Carrollton & Farmers Branch
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Mary Immaculate Parish
by: Rutha Shackleford

On July 2, 1956, with the consent of the Holy See, Thomas K. Gorman, Bishop of the Diocese of Dallas-Fort Worth, signed a decree establishing Mary Immaculate Parish. The boundaries for the new parish were as follows:

Northern: Denton County
Eastern: Marsh Lane
Western: Elm Fork of the Trinity River (Except for Coppell)
Southern: Royal Lane to Webb Chapel, north to Northaven, east on Northaven to Marsh

In addition, temporary jurisdiction over an area south of the parish limits included an area bounded by Royal Lane and the Trinity River.

Reserving for himself and his successors the right of appointing Pastors, Bishop Gorman entrusted the care and development of the parish to the Oblieates of Mary Immaculate. All rights and privileges were granted, such as keeping the Blessed Sacraments under the usual conditions, possessing a Baptismal Font, administering the Sacraments, and other rights belonging to a Parochial Church.

Rev. Walter Arnold, O.M.I., was appointed first Pastor effective July 11, 1956. Fr. Arnold took up temporary living quarters in a rented house on Goodland Street in Farmers Branch. He held a first meeting with his people on July 25, 1956, in the home of Mr. & Mrs. James A. Webb.

The building which had been home to the old Texas Gun Club became a temporary church for the fledgling parish through the courtesy of Cato Development Company. The first Mass of the parish was held there on Sunday, July 29, 1956. (This building later became the first Farmers Branch Public Library and subsequently the Farmers Branch Community Building. It is under consideration to be razed, making way for a much larger center.

Anticipating the need for a parish school, assistant pastor Rev. John Ward traveled to Chicago on 1957 to recruit a teaching staff. As a result of these efforts, an agreement was made with Sr. Amelia, O.S.B., Mother Superior of the Benedictine Motherhouse in Lisle, Illinois.

In 1958 under the direction of the new pastor, Rev. Robert Vreteau, a permanent residence for the priests was purchased. With in the same year the building a chapel/cafeteria, was completed and dedicated on the parish property at Valwood Parkway and Dennis Lane.

Groundbreaking ceremonies were held September 13, 1959, for the first temporary classrooms. True to the promise made in 1957, 1959 also saw the arrival in Farmers Branch of four Benedictine Sisters to staff the school, bringing with them the excellence and traditions of their 1400 year old order. By 1960 five temporary buildings had been constructed, which housed 10 classrooms. By 1962 four permanent classrooms, a library and school offices were added. By 1964, the present church auditorium was built. Subsequently the old chapel-cafeteria was adapted to use as a chapel cry room.

The Obliates of Mary Immaculate served the parish from it's inception in 1956 till 1984, when they discontinued their efforts here to serve the cause of Christ elsewhere in more needed areas. Their Missionary Order had been founded in Spain in 1816, coming to Texas first in 1849 to work among the native mexican-indian population.

Mary Immaculate has been served by five pastors previous to the present pastor, Rev. Leon Duesman. Their names and years of service are as follows:
Rev. Walter Arnold, O.M.I. 1956-1957
Rev. Robert Vreteau, O.M.I. 1957-1969
Rev. James Conway, O.M.I. 1969-1972
Rev. Robert Vreteau, O.M.I. 1972-1973
Rev. Edward J. Cronin, O.M.I. 1973-1978
Rev. Adolph Kaler, O.M.I. 1978-1984

Over the years the church has received service from the following assistan pastors: Rev. John Ward, O.M.I., Rev. Thomas Kelly, O.M.I., Rev. Patrick O'Brien, O.M.I., Rev. Frank Cabanski, O.M.I., Rev Carroll Ray, O.M.I., Rev. Maurice Loiselle, O.M.I., Rev. Kenneth Hannon, O.M.I., Rev. Todd Arnberg, O.M.I., Rev. Richard Houlahan, O.M.I., Rev. Ronald Walker, O.M.I., Rev. Bill Zapalac, O.M.I., Rev. Sylvester O'Toole, O.M.I., Rev. Frank Montalbano, O.M.I., and presently, Rev. Bruce Bradley.

Mary Immaculate School now provides the community with 20 permanent classrooms, with an enrollment of 530, kindergarten through eighth grade. She has graduated approximately 1500 student since the founding of the school in 1960.

Mary Immaculate Church auditorium has a seating capacity of 750, with an average Sunday attendance of 2,628. Worship service is held on a daily basis at 6:00A.M. and 5:30 P.M.

The growth of Mary Immaculate Parish has gone hand-in-hand with the growth of the Farmers Branch-Carrollton area. The population increase of both the area and the parish has made necessary the establishment of a new parish in the North-Carrollton area, St. Catherine of Sienna Parish, and the establishment of a Mission in Coppell, St. Ann's Mission, which is under the care and jurisdiction of Mary Immaculate Parish.

Construction of a community social center for Mary Immaculate Parish is scheduled to begin sometime in 1985.

Sources:
Parish Archives
The Texas Catholic Directory
The Suburban News
Diocesan Decree

Thomas K. Gorman, Bishop of the Diocese of Dallas Fort Worth, prepares to throw the first shovel of dirt to start the building of Mary Immaculate Parish School on Sept. 13, 1959. Assorted friends eagerly watch. Note that Valwood Parkway and Denis Lane are rather devoid of settlement