On Sept. 18, 1913, Catholic Extension Society’s president and founder, Father Francis Clement Kelley, issued a check of $500 to build a mission church in Melvin, Texas.
Catholic Extension Society had confidence that this small community located near the geographic center of Texas had a bright future. Today, 108 years later, there are still people who see great potential in this mission and the community it serves.
Several years ago, Racheal Jacoby, a young mother who had just moved to the area, was holding her newborn daughter while attending Mass.
Although her spirit was warm, she noticed she was physically cold. The propane company had not come to refill the church’s tank. Frigid drafts were coming in through cracks in the uninsulated walls.
Other parishioners looked at the baby, sharing a common concern: Is it safe for her to be in here?
There was nothing more that Jacoby wanted than to have her daughter in that church. St. Francis Xavier Mission is a beloved and sacred place for the Catholics of Melvin.
It is especially important to her husband’s family. His parents, grandparents and great-grandparents had all grown up going to the church, celebrating the sacraments and life’s most important milestones. She wanted her daughter to be able to do the same.
But there was no doubt that the church was in desperate need of repair. The roof was collapsing. There were holes in the walls. Even insects and raccoons had found their way inside.
Only one question remained: Who would—or even could—take the lead on such a daunting task?
Jacoby knew that this was something she needed to do for her community and growing family.
She said,
I can’t sit idle when I know that something needs to be done.”
Finding her way home
Jacoby grew up attending an Episcopalian church in nearby Brady. She developed a strong Christian faith especially through church camp every summer.
She went to Texas Tech University for her undergraduate degree and then pursued an accounting career in Dallas.
Within a few short years, her high school sweetheart reentered her life, and they married. He convinced her to move back to their childhood hometown of Melvin.
“It was the best decision of my life. It’s been the best place to raise our family and be close to both sets of our parents,” she said.
Upon settling in Melvin, she made another life-altering decision to convert to Catholicism.
She joined the parish council of St. Francis Xavier Mission and eventually was invited to serve on the Diocese of San Angelo’s finance council.
Repairing her church
While juggling a job and new baby, Jacoby dove into the massive undertaking to repair drafty old St. Francis.
She used her hourlong daily work commute to make phone calls and push the project forward, collaborating with the church’s pastor, Father Terry Brenon. She worked within her parish finance council to raise funds and consulted with Catholics from the surrounding area who had completed their own renovation projects.
It was challenging to find a qualified contractor able to renovate a historic church and willing to work in the remote location. The town is far from any major city and does not have much more than a gas station, small café, feed elevator, post office and city hall building.
But Jacoby’s patience was rewarded.
“We ended up finding really amazing contractors,” she said. “Waiting that long was providential because we had someone who took the project as seriously as we did.”
She ensured that the pews, floors and stained-glass windows—cherished historical elements of the church—were carefully and tastefully renovated. New ceiling lights and a metal roof were installed, and the foundation and walls were fixed.
Parishioners celebrated the first Mass in the newly renovated church in September 2020.
Since then, Jacoby has seen an increase in families from the surrounding area who have made special trips to worship in the church. As word spread about the big project, she has also seen new faces—curious travelers from nearby Highway 87 who stop in to see the lovely space and attend Mass.
“The results of Racheal’s work are beautiful and will benefit the Catholic community of Melvin for generations,” said Bishop Michael J. Sis of San Angelo. “The church has a brighter and more welcoming feeling for guests and, more importantly, it is safer for families to attend.”
Jacoby’s experience is a reminder of why Catholic Extension Society continues to invest in church building and renovation in dioceses across the country.
Sacred spaces are places of welcome, where the Church can do her essential work caring for souls, passing on faith and values and transforming society from generation to generation.
Not long after St. Francis’ reopening, Jacoby and her husband welcomed a son into the world, and baptized him in the church. Her daughter, Heidi, now 4 years old, asks eagerly every week: When do they get to go to Mass?
“We want to do better for our own children and do everything we can to ensure they remain in the faith,” said Jacoby.
For me, that started with making sure they would always have a church to call home.”
One hundred and eight years after Catholic Extension Society’s original investment in this mission in Melvin, the future continues to hold great potential for the Church deep in the heart of Texas.
Catholic Extension Society is honored to share the accomplishments of Racheal Jacoby, a finalist for the 2021-2022 Lumen Christi Award. Visit this page to read the other inspiring stories from this year’s finalists.
