St. Mary Parish History

The history and growth of the Catholic Church in Odessa began in 1932 when the five Catholic families in the city traveled to Midland for Mass. In that year, Rev. A Sirios was in charge of services for three towns: Stanton, Midland and Odessa.

From that small beginning the Catholic rise in population and in church growth rivaled the actual growth of the city itself. Odessa Catholics held the first Mass in 1937 in the old Legion Hall at Fourth Street and Alleghaney.

Celebration of Mass was continued there until a small building was erected at Fifth Street and Washington, at a cost of $10,000. St. Mary's became a parish in 1938 with Rev. Peter Morsch as its first pastor.

Under the direction of Rev. William Lensing, the church constructed one of the city's most beautiful edifices. The Parish Hall on East 18th Street and North Muskingum was constructed in 1951, followed by St. Mary's Catholic Church and rectory at East 18th Street and North Adams in 1955.

In 1961, St. Mary's School was opened in a generous-sized building at 1703 North Adams. Lay Extension Volunteers served as the first teachers. The Franciscan Sisters were the first religious order to staff the school. Students throughout the city enrolled in pre-kindergarten through the sixth grade.