On February 3, 1912, the rectory was completely destroyed by fire and Father Goebbels died in the fire.  Father Joseph Klobouk came to Corpus Christi from El Campo in 1913 and was placed in charge of St. Boniface until August 6, 1918, when he was assigned to a parish in another diocese.  While here, he built a parish hall with his own money.  This hall was used as a school for one year with grades 1 to 6, but the hall was destroyed in the 1919 hurricane.  This storm also damaged the church.  During Father Klobouk's time here, the K.J.T., and K.D. were founded.

On February 2, 1922, Bishop Ledvina wrote, "I intend to make it (the parish) exclusively Bohemian and not combine it with a German congregation."  From 1923-1926 several priests were assigned to St. Boniface:  Fathers J. Kuratko and Netardus; Father Francis Cerny was appointed to St. Boniface and Robstown in 1922; Father John A. Walsh was here in 1923; Father Henry Richard from 1924-1925.  Finally in 1926 Reverend Joseph Lebey was recruited in Europe by Bishop Ledvina to become the pastor.   He held this office until 1929, when he had to leave due to illness.  He died and was buried in Wisconsin in December, 1934.

He served churches in Orange Grove, Falfurrias, and Alice before his appointment to St. Boniface in 1930.  During his Pastorate at SS. Cyril and Methodius Church, the church, rectory, convent, and school were built.  The present church was dedicated on April 8, 1948.

He was honored by Pope Pius XII by being elevated to the rank of Monsignor in 1956.   Among his many talents, besides responding to the religious needs of the people, he was a pilot and had a natural ability as a linguist, being especially proficient in Czech.   Monsignor Kasper said his last Mass as pastor of SS. Cyril and Methodius Church at 6 p.m., May 26, 1968.  He spent most of his retirement years in Flour Bluff until his death on January 2, 1987, at the age of 90. 

Monsignor Kasper

The original rectory

After the church was completed, Monsignor Kasper, in his foresight, saw the necessity for a Catholic School.   Due to his tireless efforts during the next six years, the existing school was built in 1953.  The school was staffed with four sisters of the Holy Ghost for its opening in September, 1954.

In 1968, Monsignor Englebert Bartosch was appointed pastor of the parish.  It was during this time, in keeping with the implementation of the guidelines of the Second Vatican Council, a Parish Council was established to assist in the operation of the parish.  The School Board was formed at this same time to assist in the responsibility of the operation and maintenance of the school.

In September, 1970, Reverend Patrick Higgins was appointed pastor of the parish.   He placed great emphasis upon the spiritual renewal of the parish and the implementation of the Second Vatican Council into all the activities and programs as they relate to the laity today.  Father Higgins undertook the task of reconstruction of the parish plant that had received devastating damage from Hurricane Celia in August, 1970.  The church was repaired and renovated, as was the rectory, the convent, and the school for a total cost of $161,000.00.

In July, 1981, Reverend John Killeen was assigned as pastor of SS Cyril and Methodius Church.  During the two years he was pastor, plans were formulated for enlarging the church.  Father Killeen was transferred to St. Joseph's Church, Beeville, in 1983.

Reverend Aidan Leddy came to SS Cyril and Methodius Church as pastor in July, 1983.   He and Father Sean Noone, Associate Pastor, continued the work started on plans for the enlargement of the church.  In 1984, a grant of $725,000.00 was received from the Kenedy-East Foundation which enabled the parish to complete the much needed expansion and remodeling.  A new parish hall and rectory with parish offices was completed in 1986.   Plans to acquire more parking space were also completed and an additional lot on Hakel Street was purchased for the project.  Father Aidan Leddy was transferred to St. John's Church in Robstown in December, 1986.

Father Michael Lenihan became pastor of the parish in January, 1987.  He continued with the plans for the church expansion.  He established a parish building committee and with their input finalized the plans for the expansion.  The church expansion took over a year, but with the leadership of Father Lenihan, it was completed.   The Blessed Sacrament was transferred from the temporary church, which had been in Monsignor Kasper Hall, to the remodeled church on Saturday, March 18, 1989.

Some of the original statues

Monsignor Kasper Hall

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