Welcome to our Parish website. I hope that you will find this site helpful in learning about our parish and shrine.
We here at San Juan de los Lagos Parish and Shrine take great pride in knowing that we fall under the patronage of Our Mother, San Juan de los Lagos. A parish situated in the west side of San Antonio since its founding in 1952. The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, a congregation of priests and brothers, have been entrusted by the Archdiocese of San Antonio to maintain the spiritual and pastoral wellbeing of God’s people.
Here at San Juan, you will find the people of our parish to be filled with Her Spirit as they continue to be enriched by The Word and fed by the Eucharist. It is through Her Spirit that we strive to exemplify God’s love for all those who come to this Shrine to visit Our Mother or to just pray before The Blessed Sacrament.
If it’s just coming by to purchase a candle for a promesa to Our Blessed Mother, or joining us in worship, I pray that your experience with us will be fulfilling. If you never visited us or if you are looking for a place of worship, come by and see us. We are a simple parish and shrine, but a parish and shrine full of God’s joy. Perhaps you will make it your home as so many others have in the past.
May God Bless you and may Our Blessed Mother, San Juan de Los Lagos, grant your prayers through Her Son, Our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Fr. Richard Guerra, O.M.I. Pastor
Parish History
The site of the first Nuestra Señora de San Juan de los Lagos Catholic Church in San Antonio was originally occupied by a popular West Side night spot called "Cielito Lindo." That structure later on became known as the "Hall," and served as a cafeteria and the place where parishioners gathered several nights a week for bingo.
Manuel Davila, who owned the club, said that the late Hollywood character actor, Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez, once worked as an entertainer at the Lindo, and actors Lee Marvin and Kit Carson visited there when in San Antonio. The 40 x 100 foot building hosted 1000 customers a weekend, and polka dancing contests were held both inside and out. Understandably, many of the neighbors considered it a rowdy cantina.
The property was purchased by Fr. Jose Arratibel, OMI, on December 6, 1951, for $15,000. The building was then remodeled at a cost of $6,000.00 and blessed as a chapel attached to St. Alphonsus Church on February 27, 1952. The altar was placed in exactly the same spot where the bar once stood. Pews bought from a church in Houston were laid across the bandstand area, and the flashy interior was painted a pale blue. A false front and modest wood steeple gave the exterior an ecclesiastical look.
Fr. Harry Leonard, OMI, cared for the Chapel until August 1953, when Fr. Henrik Laenen, OMI, came for his first stay as priest in charge. A census was taken in that year showed that N. S. de San Juan parish had 490 families, consisting of 2110 persons.
Fr. Laenen was later replaced by Fr. Antonio Strano, OMI. In 1956, Fr. James Meagher, OMI, took over and it was he who built the present Church at a cost of $60,000.00 in 1962.
Finally, O. L. of San Juan de los Lagos became an independent parish on May 13, 1964 with the late Fr. Edward Fitzgerald, OMI, as first Pastor. Under succession of Oblate Pastors, the Parish became a people-oriented center of Christian apostolate, cooperating with area Parishes to bring Jesus' message of peace and justice to San Antonio's culturally rich West Side. Fr. Hugo Van den Bussche, OMI, amplified the work of his predecessors.
The following are the Oblate priests and Pastors who have served and/or are serving the Parish: Fr. Charles Hammond, OMI, Fr. Bob Wright, OMI, Fr. Ed Ward, OMI, Fr. Ceferino Castellanos, OMI, Fr. Blas Mocarzel, OMI, Fr. Tom Ovalle, OMI, Fr. Arthur Flores, OMI, Fr. Richard R. Hall, OMI, and now Fr. Richard Guerra, OMI (pastor) along with Deacon Albert Salinas.