Laredo in Webb County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Bishop Peter Verdaguer
(1835-1911)
Photographed By James Hulse, July 29, 2022
1. Bishop Peter Verdaguer Marker
Entrusted with the care of 42,500 Catholics, Bishop Verdaguer faced two severe problems: the extreme poverty of the Vicariate and the mobility of the many Mexican-American among his flock.The great drought of the early 1890s aggravated the situation. Bishop Verdaguer spent much of his time traveling on horseback from Laredo to Victoria and Brownsville, baptizing, marrying and confirming the faithful on south Texas ranches.
Despite hardship, three new churches were built in Laredo from 1896 to 1909. During the tenure of the Most Rev. Verdaguer, the number of Catholics in the Vicariate rose to 82,000, and the number of churches, schools and clergy increased significantly. After his death the Vicariate continued to exist until 1913, when the Diocese of Corpus Christi was established.
Erected 1978 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 419.)
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Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Churches & Religion. A significant historical year for this entry is 1890.
Location. 27° 31.776′ N, 99° 28.913′ W. Marker is in Laredo, Texas, in Webb County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of East Saunders Street (Business U.S. 59) and McPherson Road, on the right when traveling east. The marker is located in the northern section of the Calvary Catholic Cemetery. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3600 McPherson Road, Laredo TX 78040, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Refugio Benavides (within shouting distance of this marker); Santos Benavides (within shouting distance of this marker); Calvary Catholic Cemetery (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); City Cemetery (approx. 0.2 miles away); San Bernardo Avenue (approx. 1˝ miles away); Raymond and Tirza Martin High School (approx. 1.7 miles away); The Texas Mexican Railway (approx. 2.1 miles away); Webb County Courthouse (approx. 2.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Laredo.
Also see . . . Verdaguer, Peter (1835–1911). Texas State Historical Association
In addition to bringing in new religious orders,(Submitted on August 3, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)he built many new churches. In Laredo he constructed St. Peter's Church in 1896 for English-speaking Catholics and Our Lady of Guadalupe in 1899 for Spanish speakers. The Oblates of Mary Immaculate built Our Lady of Mercy in 1909, the first Catholic Church in Mercedes. On February 2, 1908, St. Anthony of Padua Church was dedicated in Raymondville, and on October 16, 1910, Sacred Heart of Mary Immaculate was dedicated in Harlingen. Verdaguer traveled, often by horseback, to preach at various ranch settlements in the area. He made pastoral journeys throughout the whole of the vicariate in 1892, 1896, and 1907, hoping to attract new people to the church and to keep members faithful. Through his efforts he managed to increase the number of Catholics in the vicariate by 40,000 by the time of his death.Photographed By James Hulse, July 29, 20222. Bishop Peter Verdaguer Marker
Photographed By James Hulse, July 29, 2022
3. Bishop Peter Verdaguer Marker
Public Domain, 1890
4. Bishop Peter Verdaguer
Photographed By James Hulse, July 29, 2022
5. The view of the Bishop Peter Verdaguer Marker from the east
Credits. This page was last revised on August 3, 2022. It was originally submitted on August 3, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 83 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on August 3, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
