A Survey of the Missions

It was June 1935 that Rev. Alfred Mendez and Rev. Thomas Culhane were ordained. Following ordination, Father Culhane was sent to Texas to work among the Mexicans. When he arrived, Fathers Walter O'Donnell and Angus MacDonald were caring for three missions: Georgetown, Andice, and Bertram. Father O'Donnell was attending Georgetown following the death of Rev. Francis Drummey. There were two Masses being said at Georgetown. He was using a 1934 Plymouth sedan car which was purposed by Father Drummey through a gift from his mother.

Father MacDonald said one Mass each Sunday at either Andice or Bertram. He had an old Essex car which had reached the end of its usefulness. The car would not travel more than 30 miles an hour.

About two months after Father Culhane's arrival Father MacDonald was taken sick and had to return to Notre Dame. Father Culhane accompanied him the last few times on the mission to find out the way. It was understood that Father Culhane was to take over these two missions. Father MacDonald left the first Sunday in October 1935. No Mass was said at these two missions from that date until February 1936. The reason was that St. Edward's University borrowed the Essex for a football trip. The car broke down and was useless thereafter. Father Culhane continued to accompany Father O'Donnell to Georgetown. An attempt was made to say Mass at Bertram on Christmas Day, but the car broke down and Father Culhane didn't reach the mission until all the Mexicans had departed.

In January 1936, Father Mendez arrived to assume charge of the missions and to succeed Father O'Donnell. All three missions were visited and plans were made to begin Mass once again at the two missions of Andice and Bertram. The missions at this time had one car--Father Drummey's, one church, St. Helen's at Georgetown, and two defunct missions. In addition there was a debt of $500 on St. Helen's Church. In addition, the two priests taught.

A plan was worked out whereby one priest was left at Georgetown while the other went to one of the other missions. The latter would return to Georgetown to pick up the other priest, and both returned to Austin. Among the plans formulated by the priests was a begging campaign to pay off the debt at Georgetown and make needy repairs.

During the following summer months, Father Mendez went north to beg. So successful was he that the debt was paid, the church was painted and the leaks in the roof repaired. To add to their troubles, termites were discovered. It was discovered upon investigation that the entire foundation was termite infested. This was remedied at additional cost.

In the fall of 1936 the car was beginning to show signs of wear and was in need of repairs. Through the kindness of a friend money was obtained for a new car and the old one was traded in. Shortly after the New Year it became imperative that a church be built at Andice. Money was obtained--a sum of $1,000 from the Catholic Church Extension Society for this new church. Before the church could be begun Father Mendez was taken sick from overwork and was in the hospital for six months, during which time Father Culhane looked after the mission while Father Mendez directed from a sickbed.

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