History
History Of
Immaculate Conception
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church turned 100 in 1994 and we had plenty to celebrate!
Mass was celebrated by Father Francis X. Meilinger on the second floor of a two-story barn-like structure from 1890-92. Between 1893 and 1894 the new parish was built on a foundation of hand-hewn logs.
Father John Lenert arrived from Chicago to assist Father Meilinger with the Denton, Sanger, Celina, Pilot Point, and Whitesboro mission churches until 1900. By the turn of the century, Denton’s small wooden mission was enlarged and a rectory was built. In 1901, Immaculate Conception Catholic Church was assigned its first resident pastor, Father Raymond Vernimont. Under the influence of this dedicated priest, the church and its missions continued to grow and prosper until his death in 1935.
Father Charles Smid succeeded Father Vernimont. During his tenure the church and the rectory were completely redecorated. The parish also acquired a house next to the church and designated it as a social center. This recreation hall soon became a gathering place for Denton’s increasing number of Catholic college students, who formed a Newman Club there.
In February 1946, Bishop Lynch appointed Father Smid to a newly formed parish in Abbot, Texas, and transferred Father Walter C. Bojniewicz to Denton. The church was again enlarged and redecorated between 1946 and 1954 to increase seating capacity. The parish grew to serve the spiritual needs of Catholics in Denton, Argyle, Roanoke, Sanger, Justin, Krum, Ponder, Lake Dallas, and Lewisville, as well as the over 300 college students who formed the two Newman Clubs attached to the parish.
Father George Groeneger, who became pastor in 1954, recognized that the original church was too small and beyond repair. Under his directions, plans for a new church were made.
Father Henry McGill, who became pastor in 1955, built a new air-conditioned Immaculate Conception Church on the corner of Second and Elm Streets. The construction of a parish center was started in 1960 and completed in 1966 under the leadership of Father Joseph Thomas, who followed Father McGill as pastor in 1960. It was also during Father Thomas’ tenure that the altar in the church was turned around to face the congregation, due to the mandates of Vatican II. Father Robert Littleken and Father Richard Johnson followed Father Thomas as pastor.
On October 21, 1969, the Fort Worth Diocese was created and John J. Cassata was named Bishop. Reverend Joseph Schumacher was appointed as pastor, and Denton was now a part of the new diocese. During his tenure, Sister Kay Kolb and Sister Pat Miller of the School Sisters of Notre Dame joined the parish staff as assistants to work in the total parish ministry. In October 1972, Lewisville formed its own parish, St. Phillips. The first Spanish Mass was begun at Immaculate Conception on a trial basis. At the time of Father Schumacher’s transfer in 1980, the parish had grown to over 700 families.
Father Jerome Mosman was appointed pastor in 1980 and in 1981, the church was renovated to increase seating to 375. Also in 1981, the Diocese named a new Bishop, Joseph P. Delaney. In 1984 Fr. John Mitchell was named as pastor and our first Hispanic assistant pastor, Father Hector Medina, joined the staff.
Several changes took place in 1986 when Father Daniel Williams was appointed pastor. Property was purchased on Bolivar Street, 3 houses, to expand the present parish center and for additional parking in the future. In 1989 construction began on renovation and addition to the parish center. On December 31, 1990, a multi-purpose building was dedicated as a satellite of the parish. It was on the corner of Teasley Lane and Pennsylvania Street, to the south of the main church. By 1991 the parish had 1850 families registered, more than doubled from 1975.
Father Karl Schilken became pastor of Immaculate Conception in 1992. This was his second assignment to our parish, as he had served as assistant pastor from 1982-84. During his tenure, the Teasley Lane facility was named Saint Mark Church, and it split the following year from the mother parish. He appointed a Pastoral and Finance Council and a group to begin planning for our future. He opened a St. Vincent de Paul house west of the church to provide food and clothing for the needy and redesigned the sanctuary and placed a new tabernacle in the church. In 1995 Immaculate Conception Catholic School was opened in the parish building with grades pre-K through 2nd. Each year another grade would be added. An additional house at 1401 Bolivar was purchased for future growth.
In 1996 Fr. Juan Rivero was named pastor. Additional Advisory Councils for the parish were appointed. As the school and parish grew, Fr. Juan encouraged looking into the future to meet growing space needs for the parish and school. A Steering Committee was appointed to coordinate this. A plan to increase the present worship space was put aside as more property was needed to do so.
In August of 2000, Msgr. Charles King was named pastor. Twenty-one acres of land at the corner of Bonnie Brae Street and Windsor Drive were purchased for a new parish plant to include an education facility, gym, Church, offices, and rectory.
A school Building Committee was formed and plans drawn up with a construction completion date for the school of July 2001. The Elm Street plant was sold and the parish transitioned from the Church on Dec. 26, 2003, to Mass in the gym of the school. The office building was completed in February 2004 and we vacated the Elm Street offices on February 20, 2004. The new Church was completed in October 2004 and was dedicated on October 10, 2004.
Our first year anniversary began a tradition of 40 hours devotion which we have maintained each year since. We have expaned our adoration schedule to include every day of the week. We have welcomed the invitation to stewardship by having a large increase in Mass attendance and reception of Sacraments and a generous response to the invitation to participate in two major formation programs, Light of Christ Institute and the University of Dallas School of Ministry four-year Bible Study.
In 2006, Isaac Orozco, a seminarian studying in Rome, spent his internship year at Immaculate Conception. He returned to Rome to continue his studies, returned to be ordained in the Diocese of Fort Worth and celebrated his first Mass at Immaculate Conception Church on July 8, 2007. He again went to Rome for additional studies and in 2008, he spent six months working in the parish. Rev. Victor Cruz came as Parochial Victor in April of 2008. Father Cruz also spends time at the Catholic Campus Center at the University of North Texas, Denton.
In December 2007, Msgr. King celebrated both his 50th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood and his 75th birthday with a week of parish and priest celebrations. In 2008, Msgr. King also received the Papal honor of being raised to P.A., the highest honor given to monsignors. What a joyous time for our parish.
At Easter of 2009 the first of the 16 stained, etched glass windows for the church were installed. The balance was installed at Christmas 2009.
In 2009 the parish opened its doors to a Diaconate Ordination for Alfredo Barba, a seminarian from Mexico who is studying for the Diocese of Fort Worth. Alfredo was assigned to the parish during his internship period and deacon period. Father Alfredo Barba was ordained in the Diocese of Fort Worth and was transferred to St. John the Apostle as parochial vicar.
On August 21, the parish came together with a potluck celebration and appreciation of Monsignor King’s 10th Anniversary as pastor of Immaculate Conception parish.