History of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church - Page 4
First Graduating Class
Last Graduating Class
Our Lady of Guadalupe Church is truly an impressive parish. As one stands in front of the church on Sunday morning one can observe people coming to Mass in large numbers. There is a special spirit evident here, a long-standing loyalty, a love of their church which they have stood by through the lean years.
During this period of seventy-five years, many Oblate pastors and associates have labored in priestly work in this parish. With a most sincere "Thanks be to God", Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish and its parishioners celebrate their Seventy-fifth Jubilee. God has abundantly blessed this parish in the seventy-five years of its existence under the Oblate Fathers. Truly the early Oblate Fathers lived and worked here according to the motto of their Congregation-which still lives on today-"He hath sent me to evangelize the poor, and the poor are evangelized." What the future holds for this parish the next seventy-five years only God Himself knows, but if the spiritual and material growth continues and parallels the first seventy-five years, the next seventy-five will be truly golden ones too.
History of the Bell
1926 John E. Woody served as acting Chief of the department from Dec. 15, 1926 to Feb. 1, 1927. He was then appointed Chief on Feb. 1, 1927, and remained so until Oct. 1958. Chief Woody died on Dec. 21, 1987.
The old bell that had called the members of the Austin Fire Department to so many fires since 1887 was removed from its tower in 1926. It had hung at the top of a tower in the rear of the old City Hall. Weighing 3,597 pounds, the bell was said to be one of the purest-toned bells ever turned out in this country. The bell was sold to the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe, 1206 E. 9th St., and still is hanging in its church tower heralding services.