Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Texas, United States

4The Places Where We Go Podcast 5:00 PM Feb 4, 2022

Check in advance for operating hours of nearby sites
Learning that Texas had the oldest Polish immigrant settlement in the United States, we decided to add this to our San Antonio centric itinerary. We drove out to this town after our morning at the Natural Bridge Caverns. We didn’t know exactly what we would find in this town. We were able to visit the church - both inside and out. The town area is very small, with the church and adjacent Polish American center being the largest structures. We spent some quiet time inside the church. We did not know about the Polish American center prior to our visit just across the parking lot. Both that center as well as a visitor center office across the street were closed at the time of our visit. We would suggest if planning to come out to Panna Maria, find out in advance when these additional places will be open so that you can round out your time more fully after making the drive out this way. We also spent a bit of time visiting the nearby cemetery. This is probably a more meaningful experience for those with Polish heritage as was the case for our interest.

4houstonnative47 5:00 PM Mar 25, 2020

Beautiful church
We were not able to see the inside of the church due to timing, but enjoyed walking the grounds and reading the various historical markers and taking pictures. The town of Panna Maria is the oldest Polish settlement in the US and was established in 1854. There is a copper statue of Pope John Paul II and plaque from him thanking the immigrants who volunteered to settle here from Poland. The altar at the first mass was held under an oak tree. The first church was built in 1855 and remodeled in 1937. Nearby is St. Joseph's School built in 1868 and was the oldest Polish private school in the US.