Cathedral Celebrates 150th anniversary

Golden flags, flowers and a mariachi performing traditional Mexican songs set the stage for the 150th anniversary celebration of Brownsville's Immaculate Conception Cathedral.

Hundreds of faithful Catholics braved the heat as they gathered outside the cathedral more than two hours before the event, sitting in bleachers or admiring recent renovations to the building.

The celebration kicked off with the traditional Mexican birthday song "Las Mañanitas" performed by Mariachi Escorpion, which continued with a nearly hour-long performance.

The High Mass began as a pipe organ filled the cathedral with a solemn hymn while a procession of more than 50 church officials from New Mexico, Texas and Mexico walked down the aisle in preparation for the ceremony, co-performed by Cardinal Daniel DiNardo and Bishop Raymundo Peña.

DiNardo currently serves as Archbishop for the Houston-Galveston Area Diocese.

"I'm humbled to be here for the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral," DiNardo said. "How honored we are of the sacrifices and the accomplishments of our ancestors who began their ministry here."

Those who arrived early were able to secure seats inside the church, which can accommodate approximately 400 worshippers.

However, the faithful kept arriving in high numbers, and those who couldn't find room inside sat across the street at the Brownsville Literacy Center, where organizers placed chairs and television screens. As the Mass proceeded, Eucharistic ministers took to the streets to share the sacrament with those outside.

The Mass was the conclusion of a four-day celebration commemorating the cathedral. Since Friday, the activities included masses, a gala dinner, tours of the cathedral and an outdoor concession sale.

"It all started about six months ago when the Bishop (Raymundo Peña) asked us if we could come up with a small way of celebrating the 150 anniversary of the cathedral," said Bob Torres, spokesman for the cathedral's 150th anniversary committee. "We came up with this four-day celebration."

The Immaculate Conception Cathedral was built in 1859 by Pierre "Pedrito" Keralum, an architect and Oblate Missionary of Mary Immaculate. The Missionary Oblates first arrived at Port Isabel in 1849 after settling in Brownsville, and they would ride on horseback from Brownsville to Roma to address the spiritual needs of the area residents.

To prepare for the 150th anniversary celebration, the committee invited area students to submit artworks using the Immaculate Conception Cathedral as a theme, said committee co-chair Rachel Torres.

The winning art was displayed at the Brownsville Historic Museum along with a new exhibit on the early years of the Catholic Church in Brownsville.

The exhibit will hold some of the artifacts used by the Oblate missionaries during the 1850s, including the crucifix carried by Fr. Keralum. Other artifacts on display include robes worn by priests at the cathedral and paraphernalia used during Mass.