The Gomez family enjoys a barbeque lunch during a recent celebration honoring the 75th anniversary of St. Frances of Rome Church in Agua Dulce. Pictured from left: Lifelong parishioner Kimberly Gomez, 31, her husband Marcos, son Diego and their daughter Gabriella.

On the heels of the Great Depression, the tiny town of Agua Dulce was on the verge of becoming a bustling city, thanks to the new found abundance of oil throughout South Texas. By the mid-1930s, an influx of Czech families had settled here, learning that the area's rich, fertile soil was ideal for farming.

A small group of these immigrant families decided traveling to Robstown or Corpus Christi for church was becoming more arduous. Led by J.C. Mrazek, who donated the land and assisted by Father F. J. Kasper, who was pastor at Ss. Cyril & Methodius in Corpus Christi, the families met in January of 1934 to discuss plans for a new church in Agua Dulce.

At the meeting, Czechs John Sablatura, Karel Spicak and Mrazek were elected to officially petition Bishop Emmanuel Ledvina for permission to build a new parish.

With the bishop's approval, construction began in late January at a total cost of $3,600. On April 15, 1934, St. Frances of Rome Catholic Church was blessed by Msgr. J. J. Lannon. The church was named in honor of Mrazek's deceased wife, Frances.

This year, parishioners of St. Frances of Rome in Agua Dulce celebrated the church's 75th anniversary with two weeks of festivities, which began with a Mass celebrated by Bishop Edmond Carmody on June 21.

"We must pray for the people who started the parish 75 years ago. It took a lot of courage to make the decision to build a new church back then. We must honor their memory by continuing to do good work," said Bishop Carmody.

Close to a dozen teens also received the sacrament of confirmation at the Mass. Bishop Carmody reminded the youths to recall the sacraments they've received so far in their lives: Baptism and First Communion.

"The Lord Jesus claimed you at your baptism. Trust in the Lord. He will always be there for us. We belong to Him," he said. "Today you are filled with the Holy Spirit. Now you have an awesome responsibility to reach out to others."

Following a blessing to honor fathers in the parish in recognition of Father's Day, the entire congregation gathered outside to observe Bishop Carmody bless and dedicate the commemorative "75th Anniversary Lighted Path," a walkway on the right side of the church featuring several seven-foot tall Victorian-era lamps.

Father Jacob Valayath, pastor at St. Frances, said the lighted pathway is just one of the many improvements planned for the church this year in celebration of its founding in 1934.

"We've also added a large sign off the highway directing people to the church and plan to double the size of the hall," he said. "It's our way to show gratitude to those who sacrificed what little they had to secure blessings for future generations."

Sisters and lifelong parishioners Amparo Gonzalez, 78, and Gracie Quintanilla, 68, can still remember a vibrant Agua Dulce, filled with three grocery stores, a train depot and a drug store.

"It was a beautiful place to grow up," recalled Quintanilla. "I remember when the town was booming."

Both sisters said their favorite memories revolve around attending midnight mass at St. Frances of Rome as children during Christmas.

The second week of festivities celebrating the church's 75th anniversary included a mass on Sunday, June 28 where couples celebrating 25 and 50 years of married life were honored.

Following mass, the entire parish gathered together for a barbeque dinner, provided by the church. The community celebration continued afterwards with live music and a spirited game of bingo featuring unique household items, including half-dozen freshly laid eggs from a neighboring farm.

Dan McDonough, a life-long parishioner who was manager of a grain elevator in Agua Dulce for thirty years, said he believes the town's population was as high as 2,500 in the 1940s.

"We had a Chevrolet dealership and five cotton gins," McDonough said. "And we also had at least seven gas stations and two lumber yards. Today our population is just over 700."

Parish secretary Tootsie Matula Thompson explained the end of the population boom began in the late 1950s. Thompson has lived in the South Texas area her entire life, mostly in Alice, Corpus Christi and Agua Dulce, moving with her family as her father followed farming opportunities.

"My father had six kids to feed, so eventually, after seven years of severe drought beginning in the late 1950s, he had to find other means to support his family. Other people began leaving town to find jobs, as well. They just never came back."

Kimberly Gomez, 31, received all her sacraments at St. Frances of Rome, including matrimony. She was at the barbeque luncheon celebrating the church's rich history with her husband Marcos and their two children Gabriella and Diego.

"I'm here to celebrate and remember all the past priests who served our community, as well as all the families that came before us. It's a proud moment for our church and it's exciting to see everyone come together as a family."