Saint Andrew Catholic Church

History of St. Andrew Church Community, Pleasanton, Texas

A mission church dedicated to St. Anthony of Padua was built just east of the Pleasanton City Hall near the Atascosa River in 1903. In 1913, there was a tremendous flood that overflowed the Atascosa riverbanks and damaged the church building. The small frame church building was moved a short distance away, to what was North Pleasanton, repaired, and the named changed to St. Andrew. For a number of years priests, who came down from San Antonio and/or Loire on Sundays, served the mission in Pleasanton. In September of 1946, St. Andrew church was completely destroyed by fire. Parishioners used a large tent for Sunday worship services, funerals, weddings, baptisms, and confirmation, until that too, was destroyed by a rare winter snow and sleet storm in January 1947. Parishioners dismantled an abandoned church in Prince, TX, and used the salvaged lumber to build a rectory, which was completed in April 1947. Father Victor G. Schmidtzinsky was appointed pastor a month later in May 1947, creating the parish here. Worship continued in a local theater until a new parish center (now the Catechetical Annex) was finished in February 1948. The parish center was then used as a church for the next 15 months while the church was being constructed.
The present church was completed and dedicated in May 15, 1949, by Vicar General Monsignor Patrick Geehan, representative of San Antonio Archbishop Robert E. Lucey. After the completion of the new church, the parish center (now the Catechetical Annex) became the core of church activities, including the annual picnic, club meetings, religion classes, and socials. Occasionally it was leased for community gatherings.

In the autumn of 1959, a large framework of iron pipe, topped with a corrugated tin roof, forming a pavilion, was erected over a concrete slab. This was the start of the present parish hall. In December 1959, the parish center (later referred to as the Educational Building and now as Catechetical Annex) was divided into five classrooms for religious education. Around the same time, a building referred to as "The White-house" was purchased from Humble Oil Company and moved to the parish grounds. This building is now known as the St. Anthony Building.
A new modern brick rectory was constructed and open house held on January 8, 1978. Renovations to the parish hall continued and the last major modifications and expansion completed around July 1980. This last expansion included a large modern kitchen with two walk-in coolers, two major serving lines, and a stage for performances. It almost doubled the size of the previous hall.

Major changes and modifications to the church included a new altar illustrating "The Last Supper", which was installed in May 1986 (and is now in the current adoration chapel). Remodeling of the church and restoring it to its original modified mission style was completed in 1994. Old wood paneling was removed and restored with white plaster walls and ceiling. New carpet, metal and glass doors, light fixtures and an updated sound system were also replaced. Seven beautiful stained glassed windows were installed, four depicting the life of Christ, and one each depicting St. Andrew, a Guardian Angel and Our Lady of Guadalupe. In 1995 a statue of St. Andrew, our patron saint, was placed in a niche to the right of the main sanctuary. The last major addition to our parish buildings was the construction of the catechetical center with nine classrooms dedicated in April 1997 by Archbishop Patrick F. Flores, of San Antonio.

On June 21, 1999, the parish community gathered with Archbishop Patrick F. Flores, to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the church dedication.

Renovations have continued to the parish hall and Catechetical annex, especially in 2002-03. An outside freezer to store meat or turkeys was constructed in the rear of the parish hall next to the barbeque pits. The entrance to the parish hall was remodeled and changed to allow better handicap access. A 12-foot wide covering was constructed on the front and side of the hall to allow shade and protection from inclement weather and connecting to the Catechetical Building. A stained glass window depicting Jesus with the little children was installed on the front entrance facing the street. The façade to both the Catechetical Annex and Parish Hall was changed to match the front of the church and Catechetical Center.
A major renovation and reconstruction effort costing over a million dollars was undertaken in December 2003 to expand both sides of the church. This renovation doubled the seating capacity on the inside of the church, expanded the entrance, and created an adoration chapel on the west side of the church. The addition on the west side included seven arches with personalized memorial bricks installed in the covered side entrance. After completion of the construction a rededication of the expanded church was held on November 2004 with Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Flanagan officiating.

(Compiled from Atascosa County History Book, and St. Andrew Kitchen Confessions Cookbook and amended since 1978 by Jose A. Aceves)

PASTORS WHO HAVE SERVED AT St. ANDREW CHURCH

Name Dates
Msgr. Victor Schmidtzinsky Apr 1946 to Aug 1953
Rev. Armand Florizoone CICM Sep 10, 1953 to July 1954
Rev. Kevin T. Smith July 20, 1954 to July 1956
Rev. Gerald F. Boehm Oct 1, 1956 to Sep 1958
Msgr. Alois Goertz Sep 17, 1958 to May 1962
Rev. Robert J. Walden June 1962 to June 1964
Rev. Henry Rolf June 24, 1964 to Sep 1968
Rev. Thomas J. O’Brien Sep 18, 1968 to Oct 1985
Msgr. John M. Wagner Oct 1, 1985 to May 31, 1992
Rev. Msgr. Carlos J. Davalos Jun 1, 1992 to May 31, 2006
Rev. Gilberto Vallejo Jun 1, 2006 to present Other Priests who have served as Associate Pastors include: Revs. William C. Martin; J.V. HAMALA; James L. DALEY; Edward BILY; Kevin T. SMITH; Michael O’SHAUGHNESSY; Pat FLANAGAN; James M. BRANDES; Benjamin F. BONAZZA; Leo DOLAN; Alphonse PADALECKI; Vincent De La ROSA; Eugene PRZYCHODZEN; John ORR, Owen O’DONNELL and Jesus A. Rivera. Ordained deacons have included Norman Phillips, Jose Valenzuela, Bennie Garcia, Jr. and John Dolan.