Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Panna Maria, Texas

The Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception was built in 1877 to replace the original 1855 church, which was struck by lightning and burned in 1875. It’s the oldest Polish Roman Catholic church in the U.S. Panna Maria, the oldest Polish community in the U.S., was settled in 1854 by settlers from Upper Silesia. The settlement was loyal to the Union during the Civil War and was often terrorized by other Texans. Panna Maria is located about five miles north of Karnes City.

Sam Kotara is a docent at the church and a member of the Panna Maria Historical Society. A native of the area and Polish himself, he is often at the church and is a wealth of historical information about the church and the town of Panna Maria.

Photos: Mike Gross, March 2021

Location
in Panna Maria, Texas, on TX SH 123 about 6 mi north of Karnes City.
Coordinates: 28.956950800,-97.897777100

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