The history of the Catholic Church in Texas began with the arrival of Spanish explorers and missionaries in the 16th Century. Missions throughout Texas and the southwest were established by Franciscan friars for the care of souls. Following the Texas War of Independence in 1836, Catholics found themselves cut off from Church authorities in Mexico and appealed to Rome for assistance. In response to these appeals, Pope Gregory XVI designated Texas as an Apostolic Prefecture in 1839, with five parishes for the entire state serving 12,000 Catholics.  Soon settlers from the United States, France, Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Moravia and all other parts of Europe came to Texas.  In 1842, Pope Gregory XVI raised the Prefecture of Texas to the level of a Vicariate Apostolic. Five years later in 1847, Pope Pius IX created the Diocese of Galveston, which encompassed the entire state of Texas.  In 1874, the Diocese of Galveston was split when the western half of the State of Texas was established as the Diocese of San Antonio.  Growth and development of the area necessitated the establishment in November 1947 of the Diocese of Austin as the seventh diocese in the state.  With that establishment, Caldwell, which had been a part of the Galveston-Houston diocese, became a part of the Austin diocese where it remains to today.
 
The beginning of Catholicity in the area of Caldwell dates back some 200 years when this area was consecrated by the labors of the Franciscan missionaries who wound their way over the "EI Camino Real" or "King's Trail"—now State High-Way 21--on their apostolic missions to San Antonio and East Texas.
 
The definite history of St. Mary, Our Lady of Lourdes dates back to 1892, when Rev. Charles Kacer would come once a month from Frenstat to celebrate Mass in Caldwell.  For a time, Mass was held in an empty store, and then later in Caldwell's Opera House.  In August 1893, Rev. Jacob Lauth of Austin would make the trip to Caldwell, celebrating Mass for Catholics of this area in the Charles Windhausen home.  Rev. A. Laski from Brenham would likewise come from time to time to accommodate the Catholic Czech and German families of the area.  In 1895, a small wooden church was built through the generosity of the parish members.  The first Mass was offered in the new church on August 1 of that year. Pioneering families were: Beran, Fleckenstein, Fuchs, Kallus, Kocurek, Kral, Kubena, Matcek, Matus, Noska, Novosad, Pavlas, Pivetz, Pollach, Prazak, Rychlik, Schweda, Urbanovsky, Veiss, Windhausen, and many others.  A three acre tract of land was bought for the cemetery in 1899, and Jacob Schweda was the first parishioner to be buried there in the same year.
 
The Galveston Storm of September 8, 1900 demolished this little church and all of its contents.  All this is except for the beautiful painting of Our Lady of Lourdes.  As if by a miracle, this painting was preserved from the storm. In thanksgiving for having survived the storm, the painting was placed above the main altar of the next church, a small 30' x 60' frame building, which was dedicated on September 18, 1901.  There the painting remained until September 18, 1984.  In preparation for moving to the new church being built, it was removed, renovated and put into a new frame.  Again, in 2002, it was restored through the generosity of memorials and donations from parishioners and many friends.  It hangs proudly once again in the new church.  In 1908 two side altars were purchased.  When the decision to build a new, larger, church to support the growing Caldwell community, these alters were disassembled and re-designed into the main altar, ambo, baptismal font, lectern and chairs for the main altar of our present church.  The present church was completed and dedicated by the Most Rev. Bishop John McCarthy, on February 15, 1987. 
 
Recognizing the need for the youth of Caldwell and the surrounding area to have a safe and modern environment to play sports, have dances, and above all just be kids, Rev. V. A. Svrcek built St. Mary's gym in 1970.  The gym was later dedicated as a memorial to Father Svrcek.  In later years, to help accommodate the needs of the parish, a larger kitchen and two classrooms were added to the gym by the parishioners in 1973 and 1976.
 
The Lourdes Grotto, designed to resemble the Grotto in Lourdes where Mary appeared to St. Bernadette, was constructed from local pertrified wood by Father Frank Urbanovsky and his parishioners in May, 1936.  In 1984, the little wooded church was dismantled and our present church was built and dedicated in February of 1986 by then pastor Msgr. Emilian Foltyn. During this time the grotto was also moved, and placed in its present location on the west side of the church.  A free standing Bell Tower was also added to the front west side of the church, and was dedicated in April, 1997, by Bishop John McCarthy as well.
 
In 1958 new stained-glass windows were purchased and installed in the church. These same windows were then removed in 1984, cleaned, repaired, and reframed so that they could be re-installed in the present church.  Fifteen windows, representing the mysteries of the Rosary, are on the upper, rear wall of the church.  The remaining eight windows were also re-installed throughout the new church.  Two on either side of the main entrance, four adorning the daily mass chapel, and the remaining two are in the stairwell leading to the downstairs Parish Activity Center.  Later, many of the statues from the church built in 1901 were restored and placed in the present church during the pastorate of Father Scott Mikkelson.
 
In the middle 1960's, land was purchased from the Dresher and Viess estates.  Through this purchase, a baseball field and additional parking areas were added to the parish property.  In addition, Rev. B.J. Zientek, or Father “Boli,” as he is affectionately called, started the religious education program for all school age children.
 
In 1999, providence came full circle.  Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish in Frenstat, which in 1892 had originally provided the priest to celebrate mass at the mission parish of St. Mary’s in Caldwell,  but over the years had seen its membership decrease, was assigned as a mission parish to St. Mary’s.  The land for St. Mary's cemetery expansion was purchased in 2001. Paved parking lots were completed in 2003.  The final payment of the church debt was made and a ceremonial 'note burning' was held on February 13, 2005.
 
Priests who served at Saint Mary's:
1900—1903 Father Charles Kacer, visited from Frenstat
1903—1908 Father J. B. Gleissner, from Hearne and later from Bryan
1908—1917 Father Joseph Kunc
1917—1922 Father James Kveton
1922—1929 Father William J. Skocek, died March 20, 1929; buried here
1929—1931 Fathers Elias A. Holub, Thomas Healey, & Thomas Ryan, visiting priests
1930—1931 Father Thomas Hanak
1933—1937 Father Frank D. Urbanovsky
1937—1941 Father Joseph F. Hanak
1941—1972 Father V. A. Svrcek
1972—1976 Father B. J. “Boli” Zientek
1976—1992 Msgr. Emilian Foltyn
1992—1995 Father Scott Mikkelson
1995—2010 Father Dimitrij Colankin
2010—2013 Father Brion Zarsky
2013—2019 Father Bernard Hung
2019—       Father Melvin Dornak