Franciscan Friars of Hebbronville

06/01/2026

Sacred Heart Mission, Realitos, Texas, Duval County. The community of Realitos was established on the Santos García Spanish land grant. In 1885, Realitos was described as "a settlement, also a ranch”. Franco Cadena donated a lot to Mons. Pedro Verdaguer, Bishop of Corpus Christi in 1888 to build a chapel. Pictured above is the first chapel made of wood dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe, in 1940. A priest from San Diego Texas, would come by train once a week to celebrate Mass. The picture below is from the inside of the mission.

05/30/2026

05/29/2026

The Sacred Heart Mission, Bruni, Texas, Webb County. The town was named after Antonio Bruni, an Italian immigrant who arrived in the area around 1877 and owned a general store and a ranch. Bruni became a station stop-over on the Texas-Mexican Railway about 1881, and by 1939 the population had increased with the discovery of the South Bruni oilfield. The first chapel was built in 1916 on land donated by the Bruni family. When the Franciscans arrived in Hebbronville in 1926, they took responsibility for the mission and started to build a new chapel made of wood and dedicated it to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. That same year, Bishop Ledvina blessed the chapel and celebrated the Sacrament of Confirmation. In 1973, the sacristy was added and in 1982, a brick exterior was added. It continues to be part of the Parish in Hebbronville and it is still under the care of the Franciscans.

05/27/2026

"Be praised, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air, and clouds and storms, and all the weather, through which you give your creatures sustenance.
Be praised, My Lord, through Sister Water; she is very useful, and humble, and precious, and pure."

From the Canticle of the Creatures of St. Francis of Assisi

05/27/2026

St. Agnes Mission, Mirando City, Texas, Webb County. The townsite of Mirando City is on land granted to Nicolás Mirando. Originally it was a small ranching community. In April 1921 Oliver Winfield Killam brought in the first commercial oil well in the area. Quickly he began to purchase land in Mirando Valley and by September 1921, he started laying out the town of Mirando City. In December, a gusher at another drilling site ushered in an oil boom. Lots began selling rapidly, and the town quickly became a hub of activity. In that same year, the first chapel made of wood, was built. In 1971 realizing the old church was badly deteriorated, the community and the Franciscans, represented by Fr. Alberto Hernandez, decided to build a new church made of brick and cement. The new church was dedicated to St. Agnes and blessed in 1972. The Franciscan continue to serve St. Agnes Mission.

05/25/2026

MEMORIAL DAY

What we remember and honor on Memorial Day is heroic sacrifice. We acknowledge those who nobly gave of themselves, even unto death, for a purpose they believed was greater than themselves. Since the days just following the end of the Civil War, Americans have gathered in late May to honor those who died in military service to their country. In the spirit of the day, we can also recall, honor, and pray for all those we know who have lived lives of service and sacrifice for the good of others.

05/25/2026

St. Bridget Mission Oilton, Texas, Webb County. The actual town of Oilton, founded in 1891, originally was located to the south side of the railroad and was named Torrecillas (little towers). In 1923 people living in Torrecillas moved to the north side of the railroad tracks and named their new location, Oilton, because oil had been discovered clos by. The original chapel built in 1892 was also moved, pulled by mules, to its new location, thus making it he oldest of the Franciscan missions in this area. In the beginning, the mission was visited by priests from Aguilares, Texas. However, in 1926 the Franciscans from Hebbronville became responsible. In 1938 the sacristy was added. A brick exterior was applied to the church in 1977. St. Bridget mission still belongs to Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish and it is still administered by the Franciscans.

05/22/2026

As Hebbronville grew, people established neighborhoods on the south of the railroad. People living there found it difficult to walk from there to Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, especially on inclement weather. This was the primary reason it was decided to build a new chapel for Sunday Masses. The chapel was dedicated to the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary and it came to be known as Inmaculada, pictured above in 1953. The chapel included a small hall for catechism classes, social gatherings and fundraising events.

Inmaculada chapel was built on land donated by Angelita Ramírez. She gave three lots, located at intersection of Draper Strtet and South Maria Avenue for the building. The lots measured 50 ft x 100 ft. The construction started in 1941 with the support of benefactors Juan M. García, Sinecio Gutiérrez, Fernando Ramírez, Jesús Peña, Manuel Barraz, Benito Garza, Zoila López, Lidia Garza, Aurora Barraz, Estela Ramírez, Anita Molina, among others. It was approved by Fr. Hilario Núñez, pastor and Fr. Fernando Cisneros, parochial vicar. Cinder blocks brought from Laredo and covered with stucco were used. Its floor was wood and the ceiling had a decorative laminated cover donated by Peter Leyendecker from Laredo. Franciscan students from the Scotus College helped in the construction. On December 8, 1942, the chapel and the image of the Immaculate Conception, which to this day remains on the altar were blessed by Fr. Cisneros.

05/21/2026

SAVE THE DATE: Thursday August 6th!

Today, as we celebrate the Holy Martyrs of the Cristero War in Mexico, an event that brought the Franciscan friars to Hebbronville 100 years ago, we would like to invite you to join us to celebrate the Grand Centennial Celebration of the Franciscan presence in Hebbronville, Texas.