St. Francis greets San Diego faithful

Statues of Christ, St. Francis, St. Dominic stand in front of altar screen

St. Francis de Paula – April 2

- WCR photo by Ted Fitzgerald The elegant St. Francis de Paula Church attracts many visitors.

By TED FITZGERALD
Special to the WCR
San Diego, Texas

Considered by many to be one of the more elegant houses of worship in south Texas, the parish church of San Diego, dedicated to 15th-century St. Francis de Paula, warrants a visit for anyone travelling State Highway 44 between Laredo and Corpus Christi.

The town, which was founded in 1819 on the cactus-spotted Brushy Plains, is the Duval County seat.

Time takes its toll

The twin square towers of St. Francis Church dominate the old central plaza, sadly now surrounded by once-substantial buildings, some 100 years old, in a state of disrepair, with its traditional, time-worn gazebo, a relic of celebrations of bygone years.

Popular San Diego (St. James) lent his name to land grants issued by the Spanish government in about 1800. Even before that, the site of the future town was well-known to travellers because of potable springs along the watercourse there.

After the Mexican Revolution, the area became part of that country's state of Tamaulipas then, following the 1848 Mexican War, was acquired by the U.S. and is now in Texas.

Modest beginnings

After 1867, the entirely Hispanic settlement saw an influx of sheep ranchers from the east. That year also witnessed the construction of the first public house of worship between Corpus Christi and the Rio Grande.

It was a three-by-10 metre wooden church built by unilingual French-speaking Father Claude Jaillet who had arrived the previous year carrying a Spanish dictionary and little else, but stayed on as pastor for the next 16 years.

Today's impressive sanctuary was dedicated on the Sunday following its patron's feast day in 1909, under Father Pedro Bard. Jaillet was thrilled to be able to attend the event in his old parish.

Since 1931, the parish has been under the care of the Dominican Fathers.

St. Francis de Paula

Visitors to the distinctive church are greeted in effigy by patron St. Francis from a niche high above the central entry doors.

A youthful member of the Franciscans, at age 15 he chose to live a reclusive life of prayer and penance near his Italian home.

His holiness however attracted followers and he was soon head of a new, very strict Franciscan order.

His reputation gained the attention of Pope Sixtus IV who sent Francis as a spiritual director to the French court.

Even there, his life was one of constant humility, even declining priestly ordination.

Francis died after a life spent in France, an obedient servant to his faith despite his influential role as confessor to three kings and founder of many monasteries, and was canonized 12 years later in 1519.

The first impression of visitors to his San Diego church is one of huge, smooth arches that reflect extensive recent restoration. The interior is much plainer than the original, with soft beige and off-white walls accented by faux-stone trim on columns and arches.

Communion rail remains

Focus of attention is the sanctuary, strangely still delimited by a communion rail and containing both new and original altars.

The modest reredos are ornamented in gold trim and display statues of Christ the King flanked by St. Francis and St. Dominic, founder of the Order of Preachers.

Dominic is also portrayed in one of the stained glass nave windows.

Despite being advised by phone by pleasant parish secretary Ramona (Monche) Trejo that the church is "always open," visitors should be prepared to seek out Father Benito Retortillo at the rectory to enter the building. At the same time, this 15-year veteran pastor of St. Francis' will share his font of knowledge regarding his order, its founder, the church and San Diego in general.

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