St. Christopher’s Catholic Church and Father Roach -- the builder of churches

  • The Rev. William F. Roach (1908-1947) was assigned to St. Mary’s parish in Lampasas in 1939, shortly after his ordination. court esy photo | The Dominican Monastery of the Infant Jesus, Lufkin, texas
    The Rev. William F. Roach (1908-1947) was assigned to St. Mary’s parish in Lampasas in 1939, shortly after his ordination. court esy photo | The Dominican Monastery of the Infant Jesus, Lufkin, texas
  • The original St. Mary’s Catholic Church sat at the corner of Broad and Fifth streets in Lampasas, as seen in this newspaper photo from Sept. 30, 1936. The lampasas leader
    The original St. Mary’s Catholic Church sat at the corner of Broad and Fifth streets in Lampasas, as seen in this newspaper photo from Sept. 30, 1936. The lampasas leader

    EDITOR’S NOTE: Lampasas historian Jeff Jackson has researched a number of topics. The following is part of a series on the establishment of Catholic churches in this community.

    The Roach brothers, twins John and William, were ordained on May 18, 1939.

    Father William F. Roach (1908-1947) was assigned to St. Mary’s parish in Lampasas in the summer of 1939. It was his first assignment as the pastor of …