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Saint Joseph Roman Catholic Church Of Waxahachie

504 East Marvin Avenue
972-938-1953

The four and a half acres bought by Bishop Brennan on 4/2/1892 was located on East Marvin Avenue. A wooden frame Church was constructed under the leadership of Father Coyne in 1892. Four months later, on 8/7/1892, Bishop Brennan returned to Waxahachie for the dedication of the Church. The "Waxahachie Enterprise" on August 12, 1892 states the following about the occasion:

The Catholic church in East End Waxahachie was dedicated Sunday with the usual interesting and impressive ceremonies. The Bishop, and Priest, accompanied by an organist and two sisters came down from Dallas. The event was very interesting and a large number of Protestants as well as Catholics, were there. The church is nicely finished, carpeted and has a fine organ, which speaks well, for the earnest, and faithful efforts, of a small membership.

In the same newspaper on 9/9/1892, speaking of the advantages of living in Waxahachie, the reporter wrote, "The Catholic denomination has but recently completed a new place of worship." On this date Waxahachie had a population of 5,000, and only 40 of these were Catholic.

After completing the Church, the parishioners also had the foresight to build a small wooden frame rectory, with the hopes of obtaining a resident pastor. Their hopes were realized on 12/8/1895 when Father J.J. Doljie was appointed as the first resident pastor of St. Joseph's with missions at Hillsboro, Itasca, Mansfield and Britton. Father Doljie traveled to each parish once a month by railroad.