• PARISH HISTORY
  
  The original building
  
  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, 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 sqft 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.
  
  Rowdy cantina to Catholic Church
  
  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. 
  
  Building a new Church
  
  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 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. Tom Ovalle, OMI
  Fr. Arthur Flores, OMI
  Fr. Richard R. Hall, OMI
  Fr. Richard Guerra, OMI
  Fr. David Muñoz-Lopez, OMI (pastor) 
       along with Deacon Albert Salinas and Deacon Juan Carlos Carreño