[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 25 (Wednesday, February 15, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E193]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CATHOLIC CHURCH ON RECEIVING AN OFFICIAL 
                        TEXAS HISTORICAL MARKER

                                  _____
                                 

                            HON. GENE GREEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 15, 2012

  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend 
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on receiving an official Texas 
Historical Marker. The current Pastor is Rev. Kevin A. Collins and the 
church is composed of people from all walks of life. I am proud to 
honor Immaculate Conception, located in Magnolia Park, for receiving 
this marker.
  On Monday, February 20, 2012, the Texas Historical Commission will 
dedicate the historical marker with the following text:

       In October 1911, the oblates of Mary Immaculate established 
     their Roman Catholic society's first parish in Harris County 
     and named it Immaculate Conception. The site was chosen on 
     Harrisburg Boulevard in the incorporated community of 
     Magnolia Park, which was annexed by the City of Houston in 
     1926. For the parish's first anniversary on October 6, 1912, 
     a three building campus compromising a wood-frame church, 
     rectory, and school and boarding house was dedicated. The 
     school and boarding house were administered by the Sisters of 
     Divine Providence. A consolidated school and auditorium brick 
     building dedicated in September 1936 replaced these 
     facilities, with the school auditorium serving as the church. 
     The 1912 church building was relocated two miles away and 
     converted into a brick building to serve another parish, 
     Queen of Peace, which was originally a mission church of 
     Immaculate Conception. In March 1957, a neo-Romanesque style 
     church was dedicated to complement the style of the 1936 
     school and auditorium. The boarding house ceased operating 
     and in 1969 the school closed permanently.
       Adhering to their motto as oblates of Mary Immaculate, the 
     priests of Immaculate Conception ministered to the needy and 
     conducted extensive missionary work in southeast and central 
     Texas. For decades, the priests were assigned the ministry 
     for the state penitentiary system in Huntsville. Immaculate 
     Conception was the mother church of the first predominantly 
     Hispanic Catholic Church in Houston, named Our Lady of 
     Guadalupe. At least nine parishes in Harris and surrounding 
     counties can trace their histories to the missionary efforts 
     of Immaculate Conception. Entering its second century of 
     existence, Immaculate Conception continues to be an 
     influential institution in the Magnolia Park community and 
     beyond.

  And so it is with great pleasure that I recognize and congratulate 
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on receiving an official Texas 
Historical Marker.

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