The Catholic Church in Navarro County had its beginning in 1871 when Father Peter Chandy came to Corsicana to establish the first church and parish. Mr. and Mrs. John Noonan were the first Catholics to settle in Corsicana, coming in 1870 from Porter's Bluff, a small settlement located on the Trinity River about 17 miles northeast of Corsicana. Additional reports declare that a Catholic missionary also visited the area that same year.

Father Chandy was ordained on March 25, 1871, in the Cathedral of Galveston by Bishop CM. Dubois and was assigned immediately to serve the McClennan, Navarro County area. With a priest in their presence, the Catholics in the Corsicana area began to raise funds to build a church. The Noonan’s donated a lot, 150' by 175', for the new church and Bishop Dubois bought additional land from them for $1,300. The first church was a frame building with a belfry and spire and was completed in 1872 at a total cost of $3,000. It was located on 15th Street and West Collin.

The first Baptism recorded was that of Elizabeth Thorpe on October 3, 1871; the first marriage between James McGuire and Catherine Grimes on October 26, 1871, and the first funeral for John Reynolds on June 15, 1881. Although there are no records of the first church members, the names of Mr. and Mrs. Patrick McCormick and Mr. and Mrs. McHenry have been associated with the early days.

After completion of the church, Father Chandy turned his attention to the education of children in the parish. In 1874 he succeeded in persuading the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur to establish the Academy of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. The school, which was located on West Collin and N. 18th Street, opened on September 7, with the staff of Sisters Mary, Rosalie and Stephanie. Five girls and six boys were the first students.

Bishop Dubois came to Corsicana to visit his new parish and school on October 8, 1874, and the Sisters and students welcomed him with a reception.

Two Sisters, Stephanie and Margaret, who served the school during those years, died in Corsicana and are buried in Calvary Cemetery. In 1879 a school building was built adjacent to the church. The school continued until 1905 when it was closed due to lack of support. In 1909 part of the church grounds were sold to the Corsicana Independent School District for $10,500. It was there that Sam Houston Elementary School was built. In 1880 Father Chandy was replaced as pastor by Father James Thion who remained for ten years. Under Father Thion the first church of 1872 was replaced by a new one that served until 1955. The cornerstone was laid in 1896.

Calvary Cemetery was purchased in 1897. Up until this time the church lawn had provided the burial ground. Upon purchase of the cemetery, all the bodies were moved to the new location. The rectory built in 1896 was replaced by the pastor in 1902 and was occupied until 1955.

It was during this time that Father C.M. Donohue was pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish. In 1891, that the northern part of the state of Texas was separated from the old Diocese of Galveston and became the new Diocese of Dallas. Corsicana was in the new ecclesiastical territory and from then on spiritual affairs of the church were administered by the Bishop of Dallas, who at the time was Bishop Thomas F. Brennan.

With the coming of Father Vitus Graffeo as pastor in October 1914, great strides were about to be experienced for Immaculate Conception Parish.

Born an Italian and ordained in Palermo, Father Graffeo was visiting one of his brothers in Fort Worth when Italian Catholics in the area prevailed upon him to ask his superiors to permit him to stay in Texas to help the Italian immigrants. He was granted the request and was assigned as assistant pastor at St. Peter's Church in Fort Worth and later as pastor in Montague.

He was instrumental in guiding several young men to priestly vocations. Among them were: Wendelin Nold, DD who became Bishop of Galveston, Father Raymond Donohue, OeD., and Brother George Edmonds, OeD. who entered the Carmelite Order.

Father Graffeo was named a Monsignor by the Holy Father in 1927 and celebrated his 50th anniversary as a priest on October 30, 1952. He died on April 21, 1959, having served as pastor at Immaculate Conception for 42 years.

Monsignor Graffeo's greatest dream was to provide a parochial school once again for the children of the parish. He had expressed his dream to his friend and parishioner, James L. Collins. Mr. Collins had come as a young man to Corsicana from West Virginia. A bachelor, he prospered as an independent oil man. His dream was to do something for the young people of Corsicana and his parish. On the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, the patron feast of the parish, December 8, 1953, Mr. Collins died, leaving the funds to build and operate the school about which he and Monsignor Graffeo had dreamed.

Mr. Collins left an estate of $13 million to be divided among the Scottish Rite Hospital in Dallas, St. Joseph's Orphanage in Dallas, Immaculate Conception Church to build and operate a school, and Corsicana Independent School District to create college scholarships for graduates of Corsicana High School. With the Collins gift, plans were made to start a building campaign to build the school, a new church, a convent and rectory. The Collins funds and a lease on the existing church property with Safeway (now Super1Foods) had assured $340,000 but $60,000 still was needed to construct a new church.

A brochure was printed that listed Dr. A.L. Grizzaffi as campaign chairman. Other campaign leaders for the drive were: W.C. Stroube, special gifts; Paul Mitchell and W.T. Dennehy, memorial gifts; V.W. Zellman, parish solicitation; Jerry Patril, arrangements and Mrs. Louis Kormos, telephone. Father Robert C. Rehkemper, then assistant pastor, was finance chairman.

Since the location on 15th and West Collin was inadequate for the planned expansion, a 22-acre site on Highway 22, on the west side of the city, was purchased for the new parish plant. Groundbreaking for the new Church of the Immaculate Conception, James L. Collins Catholic School, the convent and the rectory, occurred on Sunday, January 30, 1955. Besides the church dignitaries present were: W.C. Stroube, Bill Collins, brother of James L. Collins and Robert L. Wheelock, Sr., trustees under the will of Mr. Collins. Mrs. J.F. Stein, president of Our Lady's Altar Society, and E.B. Harrison, president of the Men's Club, also participated in the groundbreaking. The architects selected for the project were Caudill, Rawlett, Scott and Associates of Bryan and the general contractors were Busboom and Rauh of Dallas.
It was during these years of building and developing that Monsignor Graffeo became ill and parish responsibilities were taken care of by Father Rehkemper.

Invitations to staff James L. Collins Catholic School were sent out across the United States with countless "Nos" in response. Finally, the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word of Houston responded, accepting the call to staff the school. Announcement of their acceptance was made to the parish fittingly on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, December 8, 1954, the first anniversary of Mr. Collins' death.

James L. Collins Catholic School was the first and only institution staffed by the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word of Houston in the Diocese of Dallas. The school opened in 1955. In the first year only four grades, one through four, were taught with an additional grade added each year until the eighth grades were complete. Kindergarten was added in 1975; extended care in 1987, and pre-kindergarten in 1989.

The first enrollment was 47 with 17 pupils in the first grade; 21 in the second and third, and nine in the fourth grade. Classes met temporarily in the old church and did not move into the new building until January 1956.

Sister Mary De Lourdes was the first principal with three other Sisters on the faculty. The need for increased facilities necessitated an addition to the school in 1959 when three classrooms, a library, storage, office space, athletic equipment and restrooms were added in a $101,000 building program. At the same time, a full-time coach and science teacher were added to the faculty.

James L. Collins Catholic School received its state accreditation in May 1961. The Mothers' Club was  organized in October 1955, "to bring about intelligent cooperation of parents and teachers in providing the spiritual, physical, mental and social training of the child." Mrs. A.L. Grizzaffi was the first Mothers' Club president. In the late 60's the Mothers' Club became the Parent Teacher Club and remains an active and supportive organization for the school. 

Monsignor Graffeo became pastor emeritus on December 1, 1956, and Father John Mitchell was appointed pastor. He had served Bishop Thomas K. Gorman as head of the Diocesan Confraternity of Christian Doctrine program for three years.

Rev. August Merkel was named pastor on January 20, 1960. One of the most notable events of 1960 was the beginning of the Dialogue Mass. In November 1961, a new Knights of Columbus Council was named for the late Monsignor Graffeo. Father Bernard Mahoney of St. Mary's Church in Mexia dedicated the Knights of Columbus Hall in February 1963.

Several material changes took place in the parish in 1961 including a new sign for Calvary Cemetery, a paved driveway and a freezer for the rectory. Church records note that "much of our unusual parish expenses were covered by receipts from the estate of Monsignor Graffeo." Father Merkel underwent several eye operations in 1963 and in 1967 he spent three months visiting his family in Germany.

The most exciting event in 1965 was a tornado that struck the parish plant on May 10 at 2:45 pm. The children had left the school and no one was hurt, but the building suffered water damage and a decorative wall at the front gate was blown down.

A new garage and workshop were added to the parish building that same year at a cost of $45,490. It was also noted that Father Anthony Frugal was appointed Pastor in 1965.

On Christmas Day 1970, parishioners were surprised by the sound of a Verdin 600 bell and carillon pealing from the church tower. It was installed by T. Verdin Company of Cincinnati, at a cost of $3,800. The statue of Our Lady which stands in the circle by the church was given by Mary Frances Kormos in honor of her mother, Mrs. Tony DeGeorgeo. It was dedicated on May 28, 1964.

Through the Knights of Columbus, ecumenical exchanges with St. John's Episcopal Church were made.
In 1971, Immaculate Conception Parish celebrated its 100th anniversary with $40,423.01 in the savings account and no indebtedness. In May 1973, Father Merkel, who had served Immaculate Conception Parish since 1960, retired as Pastor Emeritus. Eventually, he purchased property adjacent to the church property for his home. He willed the property to the church. Father Merkel continued to assist the new pastor when he was needed. Father Merkel died September 23, 1983, and is buried in Calvary Cemetery.

One of the new pastor's first actions was to create a Parish Advisory Council, and by-laws for the group were accepted on July 31, 1973. Embry Ferguson was elected the first president and members were: Don Borsellino, Frank Borsellino, Mr. Ferguson, Emmett Gonzales, Rosemary Holy, Art Keeney, Maurice Kirkpatrick, George Kolosta, Dr. Joseph McNally, Sr., Elizabeth Rischar and Jerome Vacek. He also appointed the first Finance Committee in September 1973 with Art Keeney as chairman.

James L. Collins Catholic School continued to grow and the need for expansion was realized. Dr. Joseph McNally Sr. chaired the building committee for the $242,000 expansion which included a resource center, science laboratory, classrooms, offices and enlargement of the cafeteria. Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Dallas, under the direction of Sister Caroleen Hensgen, superintendent of schools, were forming school boards and James L. Collins followed suit with a board organized in May 1975. Dr. Joseph McNally Sr. was elected the first president. 

A gymnasium for the school children and parish hall for social activities of the parish had long been needed and on January 7, 1979, ground was broken for such a facility. In March 1980 the $272,897 parish hall-gymnasium was dedicated in special activities with Bishop Tschoepe on hand to bless the structure. Members of the Building Committee were: Gioia Keeney, chairman; Embry Ferguson, Dr. A.L. Grizzaffi, Richard Buchmann, Art Keeney, Mrs. Maurice Kirkpatrick, Maurice Legrand, Al Schriefer, Richard Skewes, Dr. James Speier, and Sister Liam. 

James L. Collins Catholic School became a contract school in May 1980. From 1981-1983, David Penque, a parishioner, served as our only lay principal. The Penque’s children attended our school.

In September 1984, a long-deserved honor was given to the late oilman and philanthropist, James L. Collins, when a Texas Historical marker was dedicated in front of James L. Collins Catholic School. Bishop Tschoepe attended the ceremony along with Corsicana Independent School District, city and county officials. In 1984 the Parish Advisory Council was reactivated after a lapse of three years and Maurice Legrand was elected president.

The Sisters of Charity of Incarnate Word of Houston had staffed James L. Collins School since its beginning in 1955 and it was with deep regret that we learned in May 1985, that after 30 years of dedicated service, the Order would no longer provide Sisters for the school. This same year saw the largest enrollment for the school, 225 students. Following a nationwide search for a religious to serve as school principal, Sister Patricia Gardner, a member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania, Ohio, was hired.

To honor the Sisters of Charity who had so faithfully served our school, Dr. Joseph McNally Sr. and his family contributed funds to set up a scholarship fund to enable children of the parish to attend the school. "Interest from the fund could be used for registration and associated fees in those instances where the pastor and school board had excused some or all of the tuition requirements and to aid tuition as needed for children of the parish."

Under the leadership of the pastor, an extensive remodeling program for the church and rectory was begun. The rectory was completely renovated, the grounds were landscaped and a sprinkler system was installed. Church improvements included inside painting, refinishing of the paneling, pews and Stations of the Cross, new carpeting and floors in the Sacristy, Baptistry, vestibule and restroom; cutting and moving of the altar and addition of steps to the altar, colored glass beneath the skylight and canopy. The bell tower was refurbished, chairs for the priest and deacon were replaced and all the brass in the church was refinished. The Stations of the Cross were embellished in gold leaf as was the engraving on the altar. The cost was $88,851.

At the continued urging of Mrs. Miriam Kindle a St. Vincent de Paul Society was organized in April 1986, with Mrs. Kindle as chairman.

In 1990 an addition of four classrooms and restrooms were added to James L. Collins School for $215,000. Father George Monaghan was assigned as pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in July 1990 and completed the refurbishing project begun by Father Flanagan.

Father George created the Eucharistic Chapel from the original "cry room" and hired Sister Penny Dunn, a member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania, Ohio, as' Pastoral Assistant and Director of Religious Education. He implemented the RCIA program and also re-established a Pastoral Council of which Charles Bonin was the first president. Ed Miller and Bill Barcheeers have also served as presidents. Other improvements were the installation of a new sound system, an electronic bell system, the purchase of a keyboard and computerization of the parish offices.

Father Robert Williams came to Immaculate Conception Church on September 20, 1955. He was ordained into the priesthood on May 25, 1991. Father had a Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Dallas. He also has the distinction of being the first bilingual pastor of Immaculate Conception. He offered one Mass each Sunday in Spanish. He expanded representation on both the Pastoral Council and the Finance Committee and strived to unite our multi-ethnic congregation into one working parish family.

In April 1991, Dolores Schriefer who had been church secretary since 1971 retired and Marge Hensley was hired for the position. A highlight of 1992 was the ordination of parishioner Lewis Palos as a deacon in January. Deacon Lewis retired from 41 years of service to the police department in 2008, and from active ministry in 2023.

Sister Patricia Gardner was honored by being named Distinguished Principal of the Year by the Diocese of Dallas Department of Education in 1992. Pauline Huckaby, housekeeper and cook for the Sisters for 25 years, retired in May 1994. The school secretary since 1972 has been Barbara Palos. Through the years Immaculate Conception has had many organizations including a Men's Club, Boy and Girl Scout Troops, Camp Fire, Legion of Mary, CYO, Newman Club, Cemetery Association, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Our Lady's Altar Society, Knights of Columbus Council and Knights' Ladies Auxiliary.

Active presently are: Our Lady's Altar Society, Knights of Columbus and Ladies Auxiliary, St. Vincent de Paul Society, CYO and Cemetery Association. Our Lady's Altar Society began in 1914 and has been a supportive and sustaining group through the years. Mrs. Arthur Johnson was one of the first presidents and Mrs. Maureen Barto is president today.

Knights of Columbus, chartered in 1961, is another of our organizations which has remained constant through the years. The Knights recently remodeled and enlarged their hall. In November 1995, Bishop Tschoepe came to dedicate the facility, and the original building was dedicated in memory of D.E. Harrison. The Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary was formed in July 1989 when then Grand Knight John McCart sought the help of Renee McCartney and Josephine Becker to start the group. Mrs. Mary Loranger is president of the Auxiliary.

The Cemetery Association came into being in March 1946, when a group of parishioners united to care for the cemetery. Through the years the Cemetery Association members have seen to the upkeep of the cemetery, landscaping and the sale of lots. Embry Ferguson is president of the Association.

CYO, our youth ministry, has been active off and on through the years but is in operation today with Therese Miller as an adult advisor. Service projects and fundraisers as well as social activities are a part of the CYO program.

St. Vincent de Paul Society, since its inception in 1986, has provided help to those parishioners in need and sponsored Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter programs for food and gifts. The Advent Tree at Christmas is a St. Vincent de Paul project. Mrs. Miriam Kindle was the first chairman.

As Immaculate Conception Parish celebrates its 125 anniversary our history indicates continued growth and prosperity. We have 606 registered families and 1,500 members. From September 1994 through September 1995, Saturday and Sunday Masses averaged 736. There were 83 infant Baptisms and three adult Baptisms. Forty-four were confirmed in 1995 and five made their Profession of Faith.   Records show that there were six marriages and 14 funerals. Sixty-six made their First Communion.

Our ministries include Religious Education, Little Rock Scripture, Share the Word, readers, Eucharistic ministers, altar servers, music, youth and RCIA. James L. Collins Catholic School has 203 students and has graduated 426 students since its first class in 1960. Father Robert's staff included Deacon Lewis Palos, Therese Miller, Director of Religious Education; Miriam Kindle, RCIA; Marge Hensley, secretary; Terry Seaton, volunteer Sacristan; Phyllis Tidwell, housekeeper, Ben Salazar, custodian.

(This information is taken from the 125th Anniversary Directory.)

When Immaculate Conception Parish celebrated its 125th Anniversary it had 984 registered Families.
Average attendance at Saturday/Sunday Mass was 1,074, There were 99 Baptisms, 44 Confirmed, 16 Marriages and 16 Funerals. 91 made their first communion.