Waxahachie in Ellis County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
St. Joseph Catholic Church
The Bishop of Galveston assigned Father Claude Marie Thion to minister to Catholics in Ellis and Hill counties in 1874. Father Thion organized St. Joseph Catholic Church in Waxahachie with twenty charter members that year. He conducted the first mass in the new church building in 1875. Father Thion performed the first Catholic marriage ceremony in Ellis County in 1877.
In 1890 the Diocese of Dallas was created. Because of the growth of the Waxahachie congregation, the new bishop traded the Catholic church building and land to local Methodists in exchange for $1500 and 4.5 acres of land. The graves in the early cemetery were reinterred in the city cemetery in 1892. By this time Waxahachie had a Catholic population of forty.
The church grew steadily in the first half of the 20th century, and the diocese erected a third church building in 1954. The church retained the name of St. Joseph. In the second half of the 20th century the church continued to grow. With 1360 ethnically diverse families in their second century, the congregation is active in worship, religious education, social and civic service and mission work throughout western Ellis County.
Erected 2000 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 14404.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Churches & Religion. A significant historical year for this entry is 1859.
Location. 32° 23.402′ N, 96° 50.352′ W. Marker is in Waxahachie, Texas, in Ellis County. Marker is at the intersection of East Marvin Avenue and Bethel Street, on the right when traveling east on East Marvin Avenue. The marker is located on the east side of the St. Joseph Catholic Church. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 504 East Marvin Avenue, Waxahachie TX 75165, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Site of Marvin College (approx. 0.3 miles away); Presiding Elder's House (approx. 0.3 miles away); Central Presbyterian Church (approx. 0.3 miles away); Oak Lawn School (approx. 0.4 miles away); Site of a Confederate Powder Mill (approx. half a mile away); Wyatt Real Estate Office (approx. half a mile away); Calaboose (approx. half a mile away); St. Paul's Episcopal (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Waxahachie.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 20, 2022. It was originally submitted on December 20, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 143 times since then and 36 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 20, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.