St. Pius X History Page

History
1960 to 1969

Priest/Deacon/Ordination History Picture Archive Founding Members

Reflections on our Parish Community

Another parting occurred as Father Kamel, our first assistant, was reassigned to the Chancery Office to become the secretary to the Bishop. He was replaced by Father Hugh Reilly. In 1960, Father William F. Moran was assigned to the parish and we continued to grow. In 1961, we numbered 1100 families. Wow what a decade this is! The scope of the building campaign is incredible.

St. Pius X became the first parish in the Diocese to exceed its goal in the Diocesan Educational Fund Campaign. The parish contributed $172,000 to help in the building of Bishop Lynch and Bishop Dunne High Schools. Meanwhile, our own school continued to grow with the completion of a second building or Primary Building which included six additional classrooms and office space.

Mr. Coyne and Msgr. W. discussing the 6 classroom project

Our parish community was honored that year by the elevation of Father Weinzapfel to the office of Papal Chamberlain, and he became Monsignor Weinzapfel. Another honor was the fact that a couple from St. Pius X volunteered to become the first papal volunteers from the diocese to go to Latin America as lay missionaries. Jim and Pat Speak made a three-year commitment and were sponsored by the parish.

In January of 1963, the Pilgrim Virgin Program began in the parish with a statue of Our Lady of Fatima sent from Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica in Chicago. Men of the parish moved the statue to a different home each Saturday, where for one week it became the center of devotion to the Rosary. Since its founding in St. Pius X, the Pilgrim Virgin Program has expanded city-wide.

Parting time came again in 1963 when Father Moran was replaced by Father George Curtsinger, and Father King moved from the status of assistant pastor to chaplain at Bishop Lynch High School with residence at St. Pius X. Our history is not always about parting. One of the most endearing individuals at St. Pius X was our maintenance manager Sam Shelby. Sam was know by his cigars which always seemed to be a stub and kicking the football at recess for the kids. Sam stayed with St. Pius X for many years.

By 1964 we were 1,250 families, and a new assistant pastor, Father Bob Thames, arrived to help minister to our growing population. Jim and Pat Speak returned after three years in Bolivia, and a new parish outreach, Operation Otomi, linked our parish with the Otomi Indian villages in Mexico's Valle de Mezquital. For four years, parish families and teenagers made a 30-hour trek by bus to work among the Otomi during Holy Week and the summer months. In return, the Mexican CFM, sponsors of the project, sent their own young people and families to Dallas to work among the Spanish-speaking. Many deep and lasting friendships were made.

In 1965, Father Patrick Lynch was assigned as assistant pastor and in 1966 Fr. Lynch was replaced by Father Michael McLane.

In August 1965, Sister Mary Attracta was named principal of St. Pius X School, replacing Sister Mary Eulalia, and Sister Mary Laurence became Superior of St. Pius X Convent.

Here we see Sr. Attracta with long time employees Martha Jo Kerr (seated) and Betty Jennings.

Fr. Monaidi

In 1966 we were blessed with the assignment of Father Anthony Monaldi. Sadly, cancer took Father Monaldi from us after two short years. In that time a bond of affection grew between him and the parishioners that even death did not break.

The dream of the first 192 families was beginning to come true. The "invisible" image they had seen in the muddy cotton field had become a reality. However, growth had been tremendous and the church auditorium was packed each Sunday. The parishioners realized that two things were lacking: a new church and a new rectory.

In typical St. Pius X fashion, the decision about how large and how expensive a church should be built was made in 1966 by the congregation. Monsignor Weinzapfel asked all the members of the parish to vote on the amount that should be spent on a church and rectory. They decided on $800,000. Bishop Gorman gave his approval to the planning process and a building committee was appointed to select an architect and follow through on construction of the new buildings.

The Dallas architecture firm of George Dahl was selected by the committee. The primary designer of the church is John Barthel. Preliminary plans for the church and new rectory were posted in the cafeteria as the buildings were drawn so that the parishioners could see for themselves and offer suggestions.

Bishop Gorman broke ground for the new church and rectory on March 7, 1967. Pictured with the Bishop are Tony Roffino and Msgr. Weinzapfel. Two days later, Father Henry Drozd was assigned to the parish to replace Father Robert Thames.

Tony Roffino, Bishop Gorman, Msgr. Weinzapfel

The first parish council was elected that year by parish-wide vote. The twelve men elected, referred to by Monsignor Weinzapfel as the twelve apostles, were to evolve into the present parish council.

By 1968 we had 1510 families. Father McLane was replaced by Father Gerald Priest, and in August, Sister Mary Roseanne replaced Sister Mary Laurence as Superior of the convent.

Skeleton of the new church

There on the hilltop the new church was materializing. When the prefabricated roof beams were put into place by a crane, one parishioner observed that it looked like Noah's Ark under construction--upside down.

1968 was another time of beginnings. The cornerstone was laid on May 26. The wedding of Jack and Susie Baker's son John was the first wedding Mass in the new Church on July 20. On the next day, the full complement of Sunday Masses began. Bishop Gorman dedicated the completed new church on September 3, 1968, the feast of St. Pius X. Dignitaries from the city, the diocese and other neighborhood churches all participated in the joyful dedication ceremonies.

Cornerstone ceremony

To close out the decade, in 1969 Bishop Gorman retired and Bishop Thomas Tschoepe was named to succeed him.