Sacred Heart Catholic Church

Introduction

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Now used as a parish hall, the former Sacred Heart Catholic Church has remained an important landmark in Del Rio since it was built in 1892. It is a fine example of Gothic Revival architecture and is notable for its stonework and association with Italian stonemason John Taini, who built the church. Sacred Heart was initially administered by the Catholic order, the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. It is an official Texas Historic Landmark. A historical marker describing the life of John Taini is located just outside the main entrance.

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Sacred Heart Catholic Church was built in 1892

Backstory and Context

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The roots of Catholicism in Del Rio date back to 1884 when Bishop John C. Neraz of San Antonio sent Oblate fathers to Del Rio and other communities to establish missions. The Del Rio parish was eventually founded in 1895. Before Sacred Heart was built, the fathers celebrated mass in various buildings. The stone used to build it was sourced locally and Taini was the master stonemason on the project. The church was later expanded and modernized in 1929 to accommodate the growing size of the congregation. Fifteen stained glass windows were installed at this time as well. The congregation continued to grow and by the 1960s there were around 1,000 members. As a result, a new church building was built just to the north; the stained glass windows were reinstalled there as well. The original Sacred Heart has been used as a parish hall since then.

Sources

"Historic Marker Application: Sacred Heart Catholic Church." Texas Historical Commission. Accessed October 11, 2020. https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth428530.

"Sacred Heart Catholic Church." The Historical Marker Database. Accessed October 11, 2020. https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=111432.

Image Sources(Click to expand)

The Historical Marker Database