St. Martin of Tours: One-hundred years of faith, family and community

Members of St. Martin of Tours Catholic Men's Club, Daniel Zapata and Paul Ruiz, carry a statue of St. Martin during the procession at the beginning of their 100-anniversary celebration Mass.

Benny Guerra, St. Martin of Tours

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Lupe Ruiz was just five-years-old when his newly single mother moved her family to Kingsville from the Rio Grande Valley. A long-time parishioner at St. Martin of Tours in Kingsville, Ruiz recalls how the church has played a central role in his life for as far back as he can remember.

"I was six years old when I started as an altar boy at St. Martin of Tours," he said with a broad smile. "And I was named 'Altar Boy of the Year' several times throughout the 10 years I served as an altar boy, which was until 1964. Also, I attended St. Martin Catholic School until seventh grade."

All of his children attended St. Martin School, including his oldest grandson. But the ties to the church do not simply end there. His grandfather was a contractor and one of the builders of the current church. Currently, Ruiz is president of the St. Martin Catholic Men's Club, president of the Finance Council and a member of the Parish Council. His wife Ilda is also a member of the Parish Council, the Catholic Daughters of the Americas and an Extraordinary Eucharistic Minister.

"I had an aunt who was a nun with the Missionary Sisters of the Most Pure Virgin Mary," he said.

St. Martin of Tours in Kingsville has celebrated its 100-year anniversary throughout the year, culminating with a centennial celebration Mass on Nov. 11, followed with a banquet attended by several hundred. Every month different events and activities have been promoted.

Fourteen priests concelebrated Mass, assisted by three deacons. Among the priests was Father Leo Pérez, OMI a native son of the parish. Father Pérez is currently assigned to the Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio. Another native son, Father Peter Stanley, Chaplain at the St. Thomas Aquinas Newman Center and Chapel at Texas A&M University-Kingsville, was unable to participate in the Mass but joined the celebration at the reception afterwards.

The three deacons, Deacon Raúl G. Rosales, Deacon Tiburcio García and Deacon Danny Herrera, are native sons of St. Martin's parish. The parish has also given the church three other deacons, Deacon Tony Barbour who is retired and lives in the San Antonio area, Deacon Jerry Treviño who is retired and living in San Angelo and Deacon Arturo Flores (deceased).

Before the final blessing, City Commissioner Arturo Pecos, followed by Kara Talip, a representative from the county, presented resolutions to the church to commemorate the special occasion. Father José Naul Ordoñez, pastor at St. Martin, explained the special meaning behind celebrating 100 years.

"It is important to celebrate 100 years to honor those in our past who sacrificed so much for our parish community to thank and acknowledge those who currently do so much for the good of our parish," he said. "It's also important to educate and share our rich traditions and faith with our young people for our future."

Although the first Catholic Church built in Kingsville was St. Gertrude's, St. Martin of Tours was actually built later that same year in 1914, when church leaders decided the population of Spanish-speaking Catholics in Kingsville indicated a need for two Catholic churches.

Soon, the Missionary Sisters of the Most Pure Virgin Mary from Aguascalientes, Mexico arrived under the direction of Mother Julia Navarrete. Three daughters of the parish have joined the congregation, including Sister Guadalupe Aguilar and Sister Consuelo Ramírez, both deceased. Also Sister Oralia de la Paz who is in Washington state and was not able to attend the celebration.

By 1929, during the height of the Great Depression, sacrifices by parishioners led to the building of its first brick church that included a rectory and school. In 1940, the Diocese of Corpus Christi entrusted St. Martin of Tours to the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate.

Father Thomas Fernández, OMI was the first Oblate pastor and under his leadership, in 1946, the present church was dedicated. In 1968, parish buildings saw renovations and the purchase of property allowed for additional parking. Extensive renovation of the church and rectory was undertaken again in 1985, including the installation of its "strikingly beautiful" stained glass windows. In 2010, the Oblates relinquished the church back to the Diocese of Corpus Christi.

"My four children have been baptized, made their Holy Communion and been confirmed at St. Martin. My grandson was baptized five years ago and my granddaughter will be baptized in a few weeks," said life-long parishioner Diana Ochoa, who also has had all her sacraments conferred at St. Martin of Tours.

Father Naul Ordoñez, pastor at St. Martin of Tours in Kingsville, carries birthday cake served at the celebration dinner after Mass. Diana Ochoa, St. Martin of Tours

Ochoa said Father Ordoñez asked her to be in charge of an important duty at the church: official photographer.

"I think I have taken over 8,000 pictures since then," she said. "I'm involved in many organizations with the church from Catholic Daughters, to parish council, the centennial book committee, dinner and dance committee, hospitality ministry, to organizing church festivals."

Ochoa said being a part of the 100-year anniversary celebration for St. Martin of Tours was something she will never forget.

"As Mass started and I saw the St. Martin of Tours statue being escorted by our Men's Club, which my husband is a part of, I got really emotional and thanked God for all the many blessings he has bestowed upon me and my family," she said. "My dad was 10 years old and my mom 14 years old when our first church was built just three blocks from our home. My parents are no longer living, but my family and I were blessed to have them with us for more than 80 years."

Ochoa said she considered it a blessing from God to be a part of the anniversary celebration.

"I was so happy that so many were present to witness our church's 100-year anniversary," she said. "It brought back so many happy memories to see many of our church's previous priests be a part of this celebration as well as some priests who attended and were parishioners of St. Martin to be a part of this beautiful and memorable celebration."

One final event of the centennial is the publication of a centennial book. Father Ordoñez appointed a committee to research and write a book to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the parish. Committee members include Father Ordoñez, María Guerra, Ilda Ruiz, Sister Rafaela Valadez, Sister Máxima Cruz, Sister Consuelo Ramírez, Sister Delia Zapato, Mary Idalia Del Bosque, Rosalinda Gutierrez, Alma Flores, Diana Ochoa, Carmela C. Alvarez, Donavan Lopez and Mary Flores. The committee's goal is to provide a clear, unbiased history of facts about their parish. The committee hopes to publish the book by February 2015.