Franciscan Friars of Hebbronville

Franciscan Friars of Hebbronville MUSEUM HOURS:
Monday thru Friday 9:00am to 4:00pm

OUTSIDE SCHEDULE:
Call before to book a visit: (361) 527-3865

The Franciscan Friars of Hebbronville is a religious Catholic organization of the Franciscan Province (OFM) Saints Francis and James, and is dedicated to support the spiritual, cultural and educational needs of the community of Hebbronville, Texas.

06/24/2026

Centennial Franciscan presence in Hebbronville

This is a unique picture of the First Holy Communions celebrated by the Franciscans in Hebbronville. On November 7, 1926...
06/24/2026

This is a unique picture of the First Holy Communions celebrated by the Franciscans in Hebbronville. On November 7, 1926 after receiving classes from Fr. Ruiz, about 25 children celebrated their First Holy Communion. Here they are pictured outside the Parish office, along with their sponsors, Fr. Madueño in the back, celebrated the Mass.

The Franciscans were devoted to the cultural and spiritual development of Hebbronville’s youth and, they also were dilig...
06/22/2026

The Franciscans were devoted to the cultural and spiritual development of Hebbronville’s youth and, they also were diligent in their spiritual formation. Since their arrival and with the help of volunteer catechists, they prepared the children to receive sacraments. This is a pictured of a Franciscan priest with children outside the first Scotus College building in 1938.

The fruits of the pedagogical and catechetical efforts that the sisters and friars brought to the parochial school have ...
06/20/2026

The fruits of the pedagogical and catechetical efforts that the sisters and friars brought to the parochial school have contributed to the cultural and spiritual formation of many generations that still cherish the memories in the Convento.

In 1967, the Hermanas Misioneras de la Purísima Virgen María took charge of the school until 1969 when it was closed by Fr. José Gloria. This is a picture of one of the last groups. Over time the building began to deteriorate. After several attempts to rehabilitate and restore it, the property was abandoned and condemned by Fr. Evencio Herrera in 2018.

By 1940, the school had 95 students. In 1954, it was clear the school needed to be extended. Thanks to the generosity of...
06/19/2026

By 1940, the school had 95 students. In 1954, it was clear the school needed to be extended. Thanks to the generosity of Sarita Kenedy a patron to the Catholic Church, a second building, the Sarita Kennedy East Hall was added. This picture shows the East Hall. By 1955, the school had 265 students and also a middle school program.

On August 15, 1930, the religious sisters of the Siervas del Sagrado Corazon y de los Pobres arrived in Hebbronville fro...
06/18/2026

On August 15, 1930, the religious sisters of the Siervas del Sagrado Corazon y de los Pobres arrived in Hebbronville from Mexico to teach in the new parochial school. Among the first sisters were María Eugenia, Inés de Jesús and Celina de Jesús Silva. Since the facility was not completed until September, and the nuns were to teach and live in the building, they had to live temporary in the Garza house and teach in the parish hall. Classes officially started on September 8, 1930. On October 31, the sisters moved into the Little Flower School. By the end of 1931, the school was completely equipped. Pictured here one of the first generations of students.

When the Franciscans arrived in Hebbronville in 1926, they realized there was a need for the educational and religious f...
06/17/2026

When the Franciscans arrived in Hebbronville in 1926, they realized there was a need for the educational and religious formation of Hebbronville’s Catholic youth. With this in mind, Fr. Madueño, who was the pastor, initiated the idea to build a parochial school run by religious sisters. In 1927, a lot was donated by Mr. Viggo Kohler for a building. The construction began on July 21, 1930 and by September 26 it was completed. It was blessed by Mons. John Dobourgel under the patronage of St. Therese of Lisieux, thus the name of Little Flower School, fondly remembered as El Convento (The Convent) because the nuns who taught there also made it their residence. The original building measured 84 ft x 30 ft, had three stories, a basement and a small chapel which measured 8 ft x 14 ft. It had three doors: north, east and the visitor’s door to the south. The exterior of the building was of concrete. The floors on all levels were wood.

Because of the scarcity of public schools, members of the Mexican community in Hebbronville -Asencio Martinez, Tomas Bar...
06/15/2026

Because of the scarcity of public schools, members of the Mexican community in Hebbronville -Asencio Martinez, Tomas Barrera, Dionisio and Severo Peña, Francisco Barrera and Jose Angel Garza- opened their own escuelita (Spanish-language community school) and named it El Colegio Altamirano. El Colegio enrolled students from kindergarten to sixth grade and imported its material and textbooks from Mexico. The first teacher was Rosendo Barrera until 1907 when he died, then sisters Adelina and Ernestina Carmona continued teaching. Then Miss Emilia Dávila took over, she was born in Saltillo, Coahuila and was a graduate of the Normal School (teacher’s college) in Saltillo. In her role as the sole teacher for decades and her pedagogical experience, she became the “intellectual mother” of Hebbronville’s children. Above, she is pictured with the class of 1911. In 1929, some women of the community with the support of the Franciscans, founded the Sociedad Josefa Ortiz de Dominguez to financially support the Colegio. After serving the community for more than sixty years, the Colegio Altamirano closed its doors in 1958. The building stands across the Scotus College. In 2019 the Sociedad donated the property to the Franciscan friars who currently lease it to the Head Start Program, a federal program that provides comprehensive child development services to the community.

After the Franciscans arrived in Hebbronville in 1926, Fr. Antonio Maria Gómez assigned Fr. Antonio Rábago to find anoth...
06/12/2026

After the Franciscans arrived in Hebbronville in 1926, Fr. Antonio Maria Gómez assigned Fr. Antonio Rábago to find another place in the Diocese of Corpus Christi for the formation of the new candidates to the Franciscan Order. Fr. Rábago met with Bishop Ledvina on August 24th. Bishop Ledvina called Mr. John G. Kenedy, a patron of the Catholic Church and owner of La Parra Ranch, and asked him for help to find a place for the Franciscan Postulancy. Mr. Kenedy offered his house in Sarita, Texas. It was a two-story, five room, wooden house, pictured here. Fr. Rábago returned to Mexico, but on September 13, 1926, Fr. Gómez who had initiated the project went to Sarita and took charge of the Postulancy. Fr. Gómez made some improvements and adaptations to the house. On September 29, 1926 the first 27 postulant students and five Franciscan teachers arrived in Sarita. The Franciscans were in Sarita until 1930 when they moved the Postulancy to Mexico.

Mission in Ramirez, Texas Duval County. Franciscans celebrated weekly Mass here. In 2000 it became part of the Premont P...
06/10/2026

Mission in Ramirez, Texas Duval County. Franciscans celebrated weekly Mass here. In 2000 it became part of the Premont Parish. The old chapel was demolished and a new church was built.

Address

504 E. Santa Clara Street
Hebbronville, TX
78361

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4pm
Tuesday 9am - 4pm
Wednesday 9am - 4pm
Thursday 9am - 4pm
Friday 9am - 4pm

Telephone

+13615273865

Website

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