In 1925, Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, staffed by the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, was the only Catholic Church where Mexican Americans could participate in Mass in Houston. In June of the same year, Father Anastascio Perez, O.M.I., an assistant at Our Lady of Guadalupe, started religious services for the Mexican Americans of Magnolia Park.
Mass was celebrated for the first time on December 6, 1925 in a home located on 71st and Navigation, a two story building owned by Emilio Aranda. This marked the beginning of the parish dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
The Aranda home served as a temporary chapel until enough funds were raised to build a two story building which became the place of worship on November 8, 1926. The second floor was the pastor’s residence and in 1929 also housed the school.
In 1928, Father Francisco Balzola, O.M.I., succeeded Father Perez. Realizing the necessity of enlarging the church, he built a rectory, enlarged the church, and bought a wooden two room building for the school.
Immaculate Heart of Mary School opened in 1929 with the Sisters of Divine Providence administering the educational program. The school closed in 1932.
Father Jose Aspiazu, O.M.I., became the third pastor in 1934. He immediately began an enthusiastic campaign to raise money for a new church. He built an addition to the rectory, erected the first convent and re-opened the school.
The school was re-opened in 1936 under the administration of the sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, of St. Jacut. In 1945, the school was moved to its present two story brick building, which served students in Grades Kindergarten through Sixth. It provided Catholic education to a primarily Hispanic population due to the surrounding demographics.
In January 1941, Father Aspiazu was transferred to the Rio Grande Valley. The community was served by Father Nicholas Diez, O.M.I., the fifth pastor.
Father Diez, whose dream was a magnificent temple in Magnolia Park, worked untiringly with this end in view until 1947 when Father Cuevas returned as pastor. Under his direction, plans for the new church edifice began taking shape. Bishop Wendelin J. Nold dedicated and blessed the present church on January 29, 1950. A dream became a reality.
