Panna Maria History

Bishop Odin went to Europe in 1852 in hope of finding priests to come to Texas. 28 year old Father Leopold Moczygemba was a volunteer to serve German settlers in Castroville, Texas. In Poland they were having problems like floods and the land wasn't producing good healthy crops. Father Leopold sent a letter to his family describing a beautiful sunny land to buy. When they got the letter and sent one back, Father Leopold realized not only his family wanted to come but 150 other families also wanted to come. In October 1854 they boarded the ship, the Weser and after two months of boring traveling they finally landed in Galveston, Texas. From there, they traveled in oxcarts for three weeks. The women's skirts reached mid-calf. Father Leopold left Castroville and traveled for 3 days on horseback and met them in what is today Panna Maria. It was December 24, the day of Christmas Eve. They celebrated the first mass under a oak tree which is still standing there today. The first years were very hard for the settlers. They experienced diseases, hunger, poison insects, snakes and no knowledge of farming. The church is still standing and is the oldest Polish church in the United States of America.