Timeline

1519

Alonso Alvarez de Piñeda, a Spanish explorer, maps the Texas coast and travels through the Rio Grande Valley, claiming the land for Spain. 

1521 

Fray Zamora, a member of the Narváez Expedition into Mexico, is credited with establishing the town of Peñitas. 

1554 

Three Spanish ships carrying several Domincan priests are wrecked off the Texas coast. 

1747 

Spain returns to the Rio Grande Valley. Jose de Escandón maps the region and sends Franciscan priests and many colonists from Mexico. 

1753 

Fray Juan Bautista established a settlement for native converts near what is now Rio Grande City. 

1789 

Father José Gutierrez and his parishioners build a stone church called San Agustín de Laredo, the first parish church in South Texas. 

1804 

Padre José Nicolás Balli establishes the Nuestra Señora del Refugio Mission on what would come to be called “Padre Island” in his honor. 

1845 

Texas is annexed to the United States. The Rio Grande Valley becomes the center of a border dispute between the United States and Mexico, leading to the Mexican-American War. 

1846 

The Mexican-American War ends with the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, placing the US-Mexico border along the Rio Grande.   

1848

The Rio Grande Valley is added to the Diocese of Galveston's jurisdiction. 

1849 

• Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (O.M.I.) arrive in Brownsville on the invitation of Bishop Jean Marie Odin, Bishop of Galveston. 
• La Lomita Mission Chapel built by Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (rebuilt in 1899).

1852   

The Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament accept a teaching assignment in Brownsville. On March 18, 1852, they sail from a convent in Lyon, France to Texas.

1853   

• Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament open first school in Brownsville and then establish their first convent in the United States.
• Our Lady of Refuge Parish established in Roma.

1859 

Immaculate Conception Church (our present Cathedral) is constructed in Brownsville.  

1874 

• September 18, 1874: Vicariate Apostolic of Brownsville established by Pope Pius IX. 
• Bishop Dominc Manucy is the first bishop selected to serve Brownsville. 

1880 

Immaculate Conception Parish established in Rio Grande City.  

1890 

Bishop Pedro Verdaguer is appointed the second bishop of the Vicariate Apostolic of Brownsville

1899 

Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish established in Mission. 

1906  

Marist Brothers come to the Valley; assume responsibility for St. Joseph Academy (then known as St. Joseph College, founded in 1865.)

1907 

St. Anthony Parish established in Raymondville.

1909 

Our Lady of Mercy Parish established in Mercedes. 

1912  

• Brownsville Vicariate becomes Diocese of Corpus Christi.
• St. Benedict Parish established in San Benito.

1915  

St. Paul Parish established in Mission. 

1917  

• Mercy Hospital built in Brownsville by the Sisters of Mercy as the first Catholic hospital. 
• Sacred Heart Parish established in McAllen.

1924 

Resurrection Parish established in Alamo. 

1927   

• Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish established in Harlingen
•  Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish established in Raymondville.
• Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish established in Port Isabel. 
• Sacred Heart Parish established in Edinburg. 
• St. Margaret Mary Parish established in Pharr.

1928 

• Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish established in Brownsville.
• St. Joseph Parish established in Donna.

1929 

St. Joan of Arc Parish established in Weslaco.

1930 

St. Francis Xavier Parish established in La Feria.

1940 

St. Anthony Parish established in Harlingen.

1941 

Our Lady of Sorrows Parish established in McAllen.

1943 

St. Helen Parish established in Rio Hondo.

1948 

St. Joseph Parish established in Edinburg.
St. Theresa of the Infant Jesus Parish established in Edcouch.

1949 

• From 1949- 1965, Bishop Mario S. Garriga, a native of Port Isabel and the first native Texan elevated to the episcopate in Texas, oversees a period of growth in the Valley. 
• St. John the Baptist Parish established in San Juan. 

1950

Immaculate Conception Parish established in McCook.

1951 

St. Jude Thaddeus Parish established in Pharr. 

1953 

Christ the King Parish established in Brownsville.

1954 

The original Shrine of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle was dedicated in San Juan. 

1958 

Our Lady of the Assumption Parish established in Harlingen. 

1965 

• The Diocese of Brownsville is extracted from the Diocese of Corpus Christi. 
• The Most Rev. Adolph Marx is installed as the first bishop of Brownsville on Sept. 2. He dies two months later and is buried at the entrance of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Brownsville. 
• Sacred Heart Parish established in Elsa. 
• St. Cecilia Parish established in Los Fresnos. 
• St. Isidore Parish established in San Isidro.

1966 

• Rev. Humbert Sousa Medeiros is installed on June 29 as the second bishop of Brownsville. Under his leadership, the Diocese of Brownsville grows from 35 parishes to 58 parishes.   
• Holy Family Parish established in Brownsville.
• Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish established in McAllen. 
• Our Lady Queen of Angels Parish established in La Joya.
• Our Lady Queen of the Universe Parish and St. Theresa Parish established in San Benito.
• St. Pius X Parish established in Weslaco.

1967 

• The first diocesan newspaper Valley Catholic WItness is published in the Diocese of Brownsville. The newspaper ceases publications with the April 12 1972 edition.   
• Mary, Mother of the Church Parish and Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish established in Brownsville.
• Holy Family Parish established in Edinburg.
• Holy Family Parish established in La Grulla.
• Prince of Peace Parish established in Lyford.
• Queen of Peace Parish established in Harlingen.
• Sacred Heart Parish established in Escobares.
• Sacred Heart Parish established in Hidalgo.
• San Martin de Porres Parish established in Weslaco.
• St. Ignatius of Loyola Parish established in El Ranchito.
• St. Joseph the Worker Parish established in McAllen.
• St. Mary’s Parish established in Santa Rosa.

1968  

• Groundbreaking for La Merced Homes in Mercedes and El Rosario Homes in Mission, low-income rent housing to be administered by a non-profit board formed by the Diocese of  Brownsville.
• Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish established in Mission.
• The Church of the Good Shepherd Parish established in Brownsville.

1969 

• San Martin de Porres Parish established in Weslaco.
• Holy Spirit Parish established in Progreso.
• Our Lady of St. John of the Fields Parish established in Mission.
• Sacred Heart Parish established in Mercedes.

1970 

• St. Mary's School opens in Brownsville.
• Bishop Medeiros is appointed Archbishop of Boston. He was elevated to cardinal in 1973. 
• Our Lady of San Juan del Valle Shrine is destroyed by fire after an airplane crashes into it.   
• St. Joseph the Worker Parish established in San Carlos.  

1971-1991  

Bishop John S. Fitzpatrick is installed as the third Bishop of Brownsville.  

1973 

St Anne, Mother of Mary Parish in Pharr established.

1974 

St. Luke Parish in Brownsville established.

1980 

• A new Shrine for Our Lady of San Juan Del Valle is dedicated in San Juan.   
• Training Laity in Ministry (TLM) program initiated. Over 1,200 lay people are trained over an eight-year period as active lay ministers. 
• Program for deacons results in ordination of 83 new deacons for the diocese.

1981 

Holy Spirit Parish in McAllen established.

1982  

Casa Oscar Romero officially opens its doors to refugees from Central America. Through the years, it shelters about 130,000 refugees from Central  America and serves about 2.5 million meals.

1983  

Oratory Academy opens in Pharr.  

1990  

Small Base Communities formed. By 1991 there are over 500 active base communities. 

1991 

“Church Alive” television program produced by Father Bob Maher goes on the air on KMBH-TV.

1991-1995

Bishop San Pedro, S.J., a Cuban-born Jesuit, becames the fourth Bishop of Brownsville on Nov. 30, upon Bishop Fitzpatrick’s retirement.

1992 

Parochial school opens at St. Luke Parish in Brownsville.

1993  

Ozanam Center, a homeless shelter in Brownsville formerly called the Casa Romero Center is dedicated.

1994 

• Bishop Enrique San Pedro dies on July 17 after a lengthy illness.
• Father Bob Davola named to oversee the diocese operations until new bishop can be appointed.

1995

Pope John Paul II appoints Bishop Raymundo J. Peña on May 23 as the fifth Bishop of Brownsville. Bishop Raymundo J. Peña officially installed on August 6 as Bishop of Brownsville. He retires December 9, 2009 becoming Bishop Emeritus of Brownsville. 

1996 

• St. Eugene de Mazenod Parish in Brownsville established.
• San Felipe de Jesus Parish in Brownsville established.

1997 

• Diocese goes online with its first Diocesan web site. 
• First retirement home for priests opens in the Diocese – St. John Vianney Retirement Home, located on the grounds of the Basilica in San Juan.

1998 

• The Shrine of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle designated as a national shrine by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops.
• Atheneum School opens in Pharr.

1999 

• The National Shrine of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle designated as a minor basilica, making it one of 43 basilicas in the nation and only one of three in Texas.
• Catholic school opens at San Martin de Porres Parish in Weslaco.
• The Diocese Office of Immigration opens and begins offering assistance to immigrants seeking residency status in the United States. 
• Diocese purchases La Lomita property south of Mission from the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. The historical site once served as the St. Peter’s Novitiate, the former novitiate of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate.
• St. Francis Xavier Cabrini Parish established in Las Milpas, now known as Mother Cabrini Parish. 

2000 

• Upper Valley Pastoral Center in Alamo moved to new facility in San Juan.
• First Diocesan Synod opens June 10 with commissioning of parish delegates. 
• Benedictine Sisters of Good Shepherd start construction of their Benedictine Monastery of the Good Shepherd in Rio Grande City. 
• St. Ann, Mother of Mary Church is dedicated in San Perlita.

2001 

• Diocese enters into a collaborative effort with the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio, to open a junior college seminary (St. Joseph and St. Peter Seminary) in La Lomita. 
• Pope John Paul II appointed six monsignors in the Diocese of Brownsville.

2002 

• San Juan Diego de Cuauhtlatoatzin Parish in McAllen established.
• Guadalupe Regional Middle School opens in Brownsville.

2003  

• Capuchin Poor Clares, an order of cloistered nuns from Zamora, Michoacan, Mexico, arrive in the diocese to start a new monastery. 
•  San Juan Diego Ministry Institute begins its first fall semester. 

2004 

• San Cristobal Magallanes and Companions established in Mission.
• Our Lady of Guadalupe School reopens in Mission. 
• Pope John Paul II creates the new Ecclesiastical Province of Galveston-Houston. Diocese of Brownsville included in province.

2005 

• Lord of Divine Mercy Parish established in Brownsville.
• Pope John Paul II dies after a pontificate of 27 years.
• Benedict XVI becomes Pope.
• Pope Benedict XVI bestows the honorary title of Reverend Monsignor to six priests and awards the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Cross to two religious priests and two religious sisters.
•  New Permanent Diaconate Formation Program established.
•  St. Joseph and St. Rita Monastery of the Capuchin Poor Clare Nuns erected in Alamo.

2009 

• Bishop Daniel E. Flores, a native of Corpus Christi, is appointed by Pope Benedict XVI.
• The Diocese of Brownsville began publishing The Valley Catholic newspaper.
• St. Paul the Apostle Parish established in La Puerta. 

2010- present

Bishop Flores installed as sixth Bishop of the Diocese of Brownsville.  

2011

Juan Diego Academy, a Catholic regional high school, opens in Mission. 

2012 

Bishop Flores hosts listening sessions in each deanery to begin pastoral planning. Sessions continue in 2013.

2013 

• Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio becames pope and takes the name of Francis.
• St. Anne Quasi-Parish established in Peñitas. (2017 established as a parish)  
• Our Heavenly Father Parish established in Olmito.

2014

• Respite centers for immigrants open in McAllen and Brownsville to minister to a flood or immigrants from Central America. Thousands are welcomed, fed and clothed.
• Bishop Flores dedicates a new altar for the Cathedral on September 15.

2015 

The Diocese of Brownsville marks its Golden Jubilee.

2017 

San Pedro Quasi-Parish established in San Pedro.

2018  

Pope Francis appoints Rev. Mario A. Avilés as Auxiliary Bishop for the Diocese of Brownsville 

2023 

• The Valley Catholic transitions from newspaper to magazine. 
• Incarnate Word Academy closes after 171 years of Catholic education.  

2024 

• Respite Center celebrates 10 years of service. 
• The Diocese of Brownsville celebrates the 150th anniversary of the Vicariate of Brownsville and 60th anniversary of the Diocese of Brownsville. 

2025  

• The Diocese of Brownsville will its 60th anniversary on July 10.